Morning came slowly.
Cold light barely touched the edges of the curtains.
The mansion was still quiet.
Not fully awake yet.
Only the faint sounds of distant staff moving downstairs disturbed the silence.
Izana was already awake.
He lay still for a moment.
One arm resting loosely across Leah's waist.
His gaze fixed on the ceiling before slowly shifting beside him.
Leah was asleep.
Peaceful.
One side of her face pressed slightly into the pillow, hair falling loosely across her cheek.
Izana watched her quietly.
Then reached up carefully.
Brushed the strands away from her face.
Slow.
Gentle.
Leah stirred faintly at the touch but didn't wake.
Izana leaned down.
Pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
Then slowly sat up.
The bed shifted slightly beneath him.
He paused immediately.
Waiting to see if Leah would wake.
She didn't.
Only adjusted slightly under the blanket.
Izana stood.
Quiet as ever.
Then walked toward the bedroom door.
The nursery beside their room was dim when he stepped inside.
Soft early light filtered through the curtains.
Zarek was awake already.
Lying in his crib.
His small teddy bear with the red ribbon pressed tightly against his chest.
Izana stopped beside the crib.
Looked down at him.
"…Morning."
Zarek blinked slowly.
Then moved slightly at the sound of his voice.
Izana's expression softened immediately.
Not hidden.
Not restrained.
Just there.
He reached down carefully and lifted him from the crib.
Zarek settled against him instantly.
Still gripping the teddy bear tightly.
Izana adjusted him automatically.
One hand supporting his head.
The other steady against his back.
"…You're awake early."
A small sound answered him.
Izana moved toward the changing table.
The morning routine had become natural now.
Familiar.
Comfortable.
He laid Zarek down carefully.
Then reached for the teddy bear.
"…Let go."
Zarek didn't.
His tiny fingers tightened around the ribbon instantly.
Izana tried again.
Same result.
A small unhappy sound followed immediately after.
Izana paused.
Looked at him.
Then exhaled quietly.
"…Fine."
He stopped trying.
Worked around the bear instead.
Again.
The change itself was quick.
Efficient.
But Izana lingered afterward.
One hand resting lightly over Zarek's stomach.
Watching him.
Then—
he leaned down.
Pressed a soft kiss there.
Zarek laughed immediately.
Bright.
Small.
Warm.
The sound pulled a faint smile from Izana instantly.
Another kiss.
Another laugh.
Izana shook his head slightly.
"…You always do that."
Zarek kicked slightly.
Still smiling.
Izana watched him for another second longer than necessary.
Just to hear it again.
Then he lifted him carefully back into his arms.
The teddy bear still trapped firmly in Zarek's hand.
Izana adjusted the blanket around him.
Then turned.
Leaving the nursery.
The hallway felt different today.
Heavier.
Every step toward the bedroom carried something quieter beneath it.
Something reluctant.
When he stepped back into the bedroom, Leah was awake.
Still lying down.
Watching him.
Her eyes moved first to Zarek.
Then to Izana.
A small pause.
"…You're thinking too much again."
Izana walked toward the bed slowly.
"…No."
Leah gave him a tired look.
"…That was unconvincing."
Izana sat carefully on the edge of the bed beside her.
Zarek still in his arms.
Leah studied him quietly.
Then glanced down at the blanket around Zarek.
"…You adjusted that blanket wrong."
Izana immediately looked down.
Leah smiled faintly.
"…You looked."
"…Because you said it was wrong."
"…It isn't."
A small pause.
Then softer—
"…You're nervous."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he adjusted the blanket anyway.
Leah watched him do it.
"…You really don't want to leave."
That landed directly.
Izana's hand stilled briefly against the blanket.
Then—
"…No."
Simple.
Honest.
Leah's expression softened immediately.
She shifted slightly closer.
"…You have to."
"…I know."
Silence settled for a moment.
Then Zarek suddenly made a small sound.
Unhappy.
Another followed immediately after.
His face scrunched slightly.
Izana looked down instantly.
"…Hey."
The crying started softly.
Not loud.
Just uneasy.
Izana adjusted him closer against his chest.
One hand rubbing lightly over his back.
"…Shh."
The crying weakened slightly.
Then returned.
Leah watched quietly.
Then spoke softly—
"…He knows."
Izana looked at her.
"…What."
"…That you're leaving."
Zarek cried harder this time.
Small hands gripping tighter against Izana's shirt and the teddy bear.
Izana's jaw tightened faintly.
Not anger.
Just something heavier.
He leaned down slightly.
Pressed a kiss to Zarek's forehead.
"…I'm here."
The crying softened briefly.
Then returned again.
Leah reached out slowly.
Her hand cupping Izana's cheek gently.
Thumb brushing across his skin.
Izana leaned into it immediately.
Small.
Instinctive.
"…You're worrying him."
Izana exhaled quietly.
"…I know."
Leah's voice stayed soft.
Steady.
"…We'll be okay."
His eyes stayed on her.
"…You'll be alone."
"…For a few hours."
"…Still."
Leah shook her head slightly.
"…You trust me."
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…Yes."
"…Then stop looking at me like you're leaving forever."
Izana didn't answer.
Which answered enough.
Leah smiled faintly.
Sad around the edges.
"…You'll come back tonight."
"…Yes."
"…And we'll still be here."
Another pause.
Then softer—
"…Go."
A knock echoed faintly downstairs.
Dante.
Waiting.
Izana didn't move.
Leah noticed immediately.
"…You're stalling."
"…No."
"…You definitely are."
Another knock sounded below.
More impatient this time.
Leah huffed quietly.
"…He's probably getting annoyed."
"…Dante doesn't get annoyed."
"That somehow sounds worse."
A faint sound escaped her.
Almost a laugh.
Zarek calmed slightly hearing her voice.
His crying fading into softer noises.
Izana looked down at him carefully.
Then back at Leah.
Still not moving.
Leah leaned forward slightly.
Careful.
Then pressed a soft kiss to Izana's cheek.
"…Go do your job."
Izana closed his eyes briefly at the touch.
Then opened them again.
Looked at her.
Then at Zarek.
Like he was memorizing both.
Finally—
he stood.
Slowly.
Leah reached out for Zarek carefully.
Izana hesitated before giving him over.
Only a second.
But Leah noticed.
Then he carefully transferred Zarek into her arms.
Leah adjusted him against her chest instantly.
Zarek settled for half a second.
Then—
Izana stepped back toward the door.
And Zarek started crying again immediately.
Sharp.
Loud enough this time to fill the room.
Izana froze instantly.
Turned back.
Leah bounced him gently.
"…Hey, hey…"
But Zarek kept crying.
His small hands reaching outward blindly.
Toward Izana.
Izana stepped back to the bed immediately.
One hand brushing lightly over Zarek's head.
"…I'm here."
The crying weakened slightly.
But didn't fully stop.
Leah looked up at Izana softly.
"…He really knows."
Izana stared down at him quietly.
Then leaned down.
Pressed another gentle kiss to his forehead.
"…I'll come back."
Zarek cried again anyway.
Smaller this time.
But enough to tighten something visibly in Izana's expression.
Leah reached up again.
Resting her hand lightly against Izana's wrist.
"…Go before he convinces you not to."
A small pause.
Then finally—
Izana stepped away again.
This time forcing himself to keep walking even as Zarek cried behind him.
The sound followed him to the door.
To the hallway.
Down the stairs.
And every step away from it felt wrong.
By the time he reached the entrance hall—
the atmosphere had changed completely.
Staff stood straighter immediately.
Silence spread through the mansion.
Dante waited near the doors.
Dressed already for business.
Focused.
Controlled.
His eyes shifted once toward Izana.
Then briefly upward.
Toward the second floor.
He heard the crying too.
"…You're late."
Izana's expression had changed already.
Not softer anymore.
Not warm.
Controlled.
Sharp again.
But something tired lingered underneath it now.
"…Move."
The doors opened.
Cold morning air cut through the entrance hall instantly.
Outside—
black cars waited.
Men armed and silent stood nearby.
The world Izana had ignored for a month waited exactly where he left it.
Dangerous.
Patient.
Unchanged.
Behind him—
faintly—
Zarek was still crying upstairs.
Izana paused for only a second.
Then stepped outside.
And the doors closed behind him.