By the time the car returned to the mansion, the rain had softened.
Not stopped.
Just quieter now.
Thin streaks of water slid across the windows while the gates slowly opened ahead of them.
Inside the car, Izana still held the wrapped present himself.
The dark ribbon remained perfectly straight beneath his fingers.
Dante noticed.
Again.
Not because it was unusual for Izana to carry something personally.
Because of how carefully he carried it.
Like it mattered more than the weapons deal they had just completed.
The car came to a stop near the entrance.
Guards immediately stepped forward beneath umbrellas.
One moved automatically toward the back door to take Izana's things.
Izana stepped out before the man could speak.
The wrapped gift stayed firmly in his hand.
The guard immediately stepped back.
"…Boss."
Izana didn't answer.
Already walking toward the entrance.
Dante followed quietly behind him.
The mansion doors opened.
Warm air immediately replaced the cold rain outside.
The atmosphere inside felt different from the warehouse.
Softer.
Alive.
The scent of cedar and faint fireplace smoke lingered through the hallway.
Christmas decorations had slowly begun appearing throughout the mansion over the last week.
Subtle.
Elegant.
Warm lights wrapped around stair railings.
Dark green garlands along the walls.
And in the living room—
a large Christmas tree stood near the fireplace.
Elias sat nearby in an armchair reading his newspaper.
Glasses low on his nose.
The firelight flickering softly across the room.
He looked up the moment he heard footsteps.
His gaze moved first to Izana.
Then to Dante.
Then immediately to the wrapped present in Izana's hand.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Well."
Izana stopped near the entrance of the room.
Elias folded the newspaper slowly.
"…I assume that's not for Dante."
Dante looked mildly offended.
"…That's unfortunate."
Elias ignored him completely.
His eyes stayed on the present.
Then softened slightly.
"…First Christmas."
A pause.
Then Izana answered quietly—
"…Yes."
Something warm settled through the room at the simple word.
Elias leaned back slightly in his chair.
Then gestured toward the tree.
"…You should put it there."
Izana's eyes shifted toward the Christmas tree.
Toward the empty space beneath it.
For a second he just stood there.
Still.
Then he walked over slowly.
The lights from the tree reflected faintly across the dark wrapping paper.
Izana crouched carefully.
And gently placed the present beneath the tree.
Not hurried.
Not careless.
Careful.
Like the moment itself mattered.
When he stood again—
he looked at it quietly for a second longer than necessary.
A small smile touched his expression before he could stop it.
Elias noticed immediately.
So did Dante.
Neither said anything at first.
Then Elias finally spoke softly—
"…You look happier."
Izana glanced toward him once.
The smile faded slightly.
But not completely.
"…Maybe."
That answer alone made Dante stare at him briefly.
Because before Leah and Zarek—
Izana would never have admitted something like that aloud.
Elias smiled faintly to himself.
Then picked his newspaper back up again.
"…Go upstairs."
Izana looked toward him.
Elias nodded once toward the upper floor.
"…They've been waiting for you all day."
That shifted something immediately.
Izana turned toward the stairs without another word.
Dante stayed downstairs.
Watching him go.
Then muttered quietly—
"…He really did change."
Elias didn't look up from the newspaper.
"…Good."
Upstairs was quieter.
Softer.
The lights lower.
The hallway familiar.
As Izana approached the bedroom, he noticed immediately—
the nursery door was open.
He slowed slightly.
Then looked inside.
Leah sat curled carefully in the armchair near the window.
A blanket draped loosely over her legs.
Zarek asleep against her chest.
The nursery lamp cast warm golden light across both of them.
Everything else disappeared for a second.
The tension from the warehouse.
The conversation.
The danger.
Gone.
Just this.
Izana stepped inside quietly.
Leah looked up immediately.
The exhaustion in her face softened the second she saw him.
"…You're home."
Izana walked toward her slowly.
Then leaned down automatically.
Pressed a soft kiss against her head.
"…Yes."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…How was it."
Izana's eyes moved briefly toward Zarek before answering.
"…Finished."
Leah understood immediately that he didn't want to discuss it further.
So she didn't push.
Instead she shifted slightly in the chair.
Careful not to wake Zarek.
Izana crouched beside them.
His hand moving instinctively toward Zarek.
Gentle fingers brushing lightly against his tiny hand where it rested outside the blanket.
Warm.
Small.
Zarek stirred faintly in his sleep.
Then settled again.
Leah watched the interaction quietly.
Then spoke softly—
"…He only stopped crying an hour ago."
Izana's hand stilled slightly.
His eyes lifted toward her immediately.
"…What."
Leah's expression softened.
"…He cried after you left."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…For a long time."
Something shifted in Izana's face at that.
Not visible to most people.
But Leah saw it instantly.
The guilt.
The ache beneath it.
Izana looked back down at Zarek again.
His thumb brushing lightly over the tiny fingers wrapped around the blanket.
"…You should've called me."
Leah shook her head gently.
"…He's okay."
Izana stayed silent.
Leah continued softly—
"…He just missed you."
The room fell quiet after that.
Not uncomfortable.
Just full.
Izana stared at Zarek quietly for another long moment.
Then—
even asleep—
Zarek's tiny fingers curled instinctively around Izana's finger.
The movement was small.
Automatic.
But it froze Izana completely.
Leah smiled softly when she noticed.
"…See?"
Izana didn't answer.
Couldn't.
He just looked down at the tiny hand holding onto him.
Carefully.
Like it was something fragile.
Something impossible.
Leah watched him quietly.
Then teased softly—
"…You've become his favorite person."
Izana immediately answered—
"…No."
At the exact same moment Zarek tightened his grip slightly around his finger.
Leah laughed quietly.
"…That's unfortunate timing for your argument."
A faint breath escaped Izana.
Almost a laugh.
Almost.
Then he slowly lowered himself fully to the floor beside the chair.
Still holding Zarek's tiny hand carefully.
Resting beside Leah now.
Close enough that his shoulder leaned lightly against her leg.
Leah's fingers moved gently through his hair automatically.
Soft.
Slow.
Neither of them spoke for a while after that.
They didn't need to.
The nursery stayed warm and quiet around them.
Christmas lights from the hallway faintly glowing through the open door.
Zarek sleeping peacefully between them now that Izana was home.
And for the first time all day—
Izana finally looked at peace too.