Morning came quietly.
Soft light slipped through the curtains.
No urgency.
No noise.
Just stillness settling into something new.
Leah woke slowly.
Not all at once.
Her eyes opened halfway.
Closed again.
Then opened properly.
A quiet breath left her.
"…Okay…"
Her voice was barely there.
Her body felt heavy.
Sore in ways she hadn't experienced before.
Every small shift reminded her.
She didn't move yet.
Just lay there.
Letting the feeling pass through her.
Then—
she turned her head.
And stilled.
Izana was asleep.
Sitting slightly upright against the headboard.
Zarek resting against his chest.
Held securely in his arms.
One hand supporting his back.
The other curved protectively around him.
Neither of them moving.
Leah blinked slowly.
Her expression softened.
"…You stayed up…"
A small pause.
Then quieter—
"…Of course you did."
She studied him.
His face relaxed—but not fully.
Like sleep hadn't reached deep enough.
Zarek was completely still.
Safe.
Warm against him.
Leah smiled faintly.
"…You didn't even try to rest properly."
She shifted slightly.
Careful.
Her body protested immediately.
She paused.
Then tried again.
Slow.
Controlled.
Her eyes returned to them.
Zarek tucked into Izana like he belonged there.
Izana holding him like he wasn't letting go.
Leah's smile softened further.
"…You're both impossible…"
A quiet breath left her.
Then—
she made a decision.
Carefully—
she moved closer.
Each motion slow.
Measured.
She reached out.
Gently.
Her fingers slipped under Izana's arm.
Lifting it slightly.
Just enough.
Not waking him.
Her other hand slid under Zarek.
Supporting his head.
"…Okay…"
Soft.
Focused.
"…I've got you…"
She lifted him slowly.
Careful not to shift too much weight.
Not to disturb the balance.
Zarek stirred.
A small sound escaped him.
Leah froze instantly.
"…Shh…"
Barely a whisper.
"…It's okay…"
She held him closer.
"…We're just moving a little…"
She glanced at Izana.
Still asleep.
Still.
Good.
Zarek shifted again.
His face scrunched slightly.
Another small sound.
Then—
a soft cry.
Leah's heart tightened.
"…No, no… shh…"
She rocked him gently.
Slow.
Careful.
"…It's okay… he just needs to sleep…"
Her voice stayed quiet.
Trying to keep the calm.
"…Daddy didn't rest… so we're being quiet, okay?"
Zarek didn't agree.
Another cry followed.
Slightly louder.
Leah adjusted her hold.
"…Hey… it's okay…"
Her hand moved over his back.
"…You're safe… nothing's wrong…"
Another cry.
Stronger.
Leah's expression shifted.
"…Why—."
She stopped herself.
Took a breath.
Tried again.
"…Okay… okay… we'll fix it…"
She rocked him more steadily.
Trying to remember everything.
"…Maybe you're uncomfortable…"
No change.
Zarek cried again.
Leah's shoulders tensed.
"…I'm doing it right…"
Half to herself.
"…I am…"
Another cry.
Persistent.
Leah bit her lip lightly.
"…Why isn't this working…"
Behind her—
movement.
Subtle.
Then—
"…Li."
Izana's voice.
Low.
Still rough with sleep.
She looked up immediately.
"…I didn't mean to wake you."
Izana was already moving.
Sitting up.
Closer.
His eyes immediately on Zarek.
Then her.
"…It's fine."
Zarek cried again.
Izana reached out.
Gently.
"…Give him to me."
Leah hesitated.
Just a second.
Then carefully passed him over.
"…I don't know what I did wrong."
Izana didn't answer that.
He adjusted Zarek instantly.
Natural.
His hand settled over Zarek's back.
The other supporting his head.
"…Hey…"
His voice changed.
Softer.
Warmer.
"…I'm here."
Zarek's cry wavered.
Still there.
But weaker.
Izana shifted him slightly closer.
"…Shh…"
His thumb moved slowly over his back.
"…You're okay…"
Another small sound.
Then quieter.
Izana leaned his head slightly closer.
"…I've got you…"
Zarek's body relaxed.
Bit by bit.
The crying softened.
Then faded.
Leah watched.
Silent.
Zarek's breathing steadied.
Then—
he settled.
Asleep again.
Izana didn't stop immediately.
Still moving his hand lightly.
Making sure.
Then—
he leaned down.
Pressed a soft kiss to Zarek's forehead.
"…Good."
Leah stared at him.
A pause.
Then—
"…That was really fast."
Izana glanced at her.
"…He just needed to settle."
Leah blinked.
"…I was trying to do that."
"…You were."
A pause.
"…It didn't work."
Leah narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…I noticed."
Izana adjusted Zarek slightly.
"…You were adjusting too much."
Leah crossed her arms loosely.
"…I was trying different things."
"…He doesn't need that."
A quiet pause.
Leah leaned back slightly.
"…Right."
Izana noticed the shift immediately.
He looked at her.
Then—
slowly—
he leaned closer.
Careful not to disturb Zarek.
And pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
Warm.
Lingering just a second longer than usual.
Leah blinked slightly.
Caught off guard.
"…What was that for."
Izana pulled back slightly.
"…You're overthinking."
Leah stared at him.
Then—
a faint smile appeared.
"…That's how you comfort people now?"
"…Yes."
"…You should've started doing that earlier."
"…Noted."
Leah exhaled softly.
The tension easing.
"…He calms down with you really quickly."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Just looked at Zarek.
Then—
"…He trusts me."
Leah nodded slowly.
"…Yeah…"
A pause.
Then—
"…Still not fair."
Izana glanced at her.
"…What."
Leah shifted slightly.
"…I carried him for nine months."
A small pause.
"…And he listens to you in five minutes."
Izana's expression softened faintly.
"…He doesn't choose."
"…It looks like he does."
"…He responds."
"…To you."
"…To calm."
Leah narrowed her eyes.
"…So now I'm not calm."
"…You were worried."
That stopped her.
She exhaled.
"…I was."
A quiet moment passed.
Then—
"…Okay… that's true."
She leaned back slightly.
"…Still annoying though."
Izana looked at her.
"…He'll like you more."
Leah blinked.
"…You think?"
"…Yes."
"…Why?"
Izana answered without hesitation.
"…You're softer."
Leah stared at him.
"…Excuse me?"
"…He'll prefer that."
A pause.
Then—
Leah smiled faintly.
"…So I win eventually."
"…It's not a competition."
"…It is now."
Izana didn't argue.
Leah looked at Zarek again.
Then at him.
"…You're good with him."
Izana didn't respond.
But didn't deny it.
Leah exhaled slowly.
"…I'll get there."
Izana glanced at her.
"…You will."
"…You sound very sure."
"…I am."
Leah smiled softly.
Then closed her eyes for a moment.
"…I'm still tired."
"…Rest."
"…You too."
Izana didn't answer.
Leah opened one eye slightly.
"…You're not going to."
"…No."
She sighed quietly.
"…Of course not."
A pause.
Then softer—
"…Stay close."
Izana didn't hesitate.
"…Always."
Leah's eyes closed again.
Sleep returning.
Slow.
Gentle.
Zarek rested quietly in Izana's arms.
And Izana—
didn't move.
Didn't need to.
Not anymore.