By the time the car returned to the mansion, the city had gone quiet.
Rain still clung to the streets in silver reflections beneath the headlights, but most windows were dark now.
Almost everyone asleep.
Dante pulled the car to a stop near the front entrance and looked toward the backseat.
Izana was still holding the teddy bear.
Carefully.
One hand around the small stuffed body while the red ribbon rested between his fingers.
Dante stared at it for a second before sighing quietly.
"…I can't believe this night happened."
Izana opened the car door.
"…It's over."
Dante muttered under his breath—
"For you maybe."
Izana ignored him completely and stepped out into the cold night air.
The mansion doors opened immediately.
Staff bowed slightly as he entered, but nobody spoke loudly.
The house felt asleep.
Quiet.
Warm.
Safe.
Izana walked through the halls slower than usual.
Not because he was tired.
Because he was listening.
For crying.
For movement.
For Zarek.
The teddy bear stayed in his hand the entire time.
When he reached the second floor, he noticed the bedroom door slightly open.
Soft light spilled into the hallway from inside.
Izana stepped through quietly.
The bed was empty.
But the nursery door beside it was open too.
And inside—
Leah sat curled into the nursery armchair with Zarek against her shoulder.
Still awake.
Still trying to soothe him.
Zarek's crying had weakened into tired little sounds now.
Exhausted.
Upset.
Leah gently rubbed his back while whispering softly to him.
"…I know, sweetheart."
Another small cry escaped him.
"…I know."
Then—
Izana stepped into the nursery fully.
And everything changed immediately.
Zarek noticed first.
Even half asleep.
Even tired.
His eyes locked onto the teddy bear in Izana's hand instantly.
A tiny sound left him.
Not crying this time.
Excited.
His little hands immediately reached outward.
Leah looked up at the same moment.
Relief crossed her face instantly when she saw Izana standing there.
And then she noticed the teddy bear too.
"…You found it."
Izana walked toward them quietly.
"…Yes."
Zarek reached again immediately, small fingers opening and closing impatiently.
The crying had already stopped completely.
Izana knelt slightly beside the chair and carefully placed the teddy bear back into Zarek's arms.
Instantly—
Zarek hugged it tightly against his chest.
Like he thought it might disappear again.
His whole body relaxed almost immediately afterward.
Leah watched in disbelief.
"…Oh my god."
Zarek rubbed his face sleepily against the teddy bear and let out a tiny satisfied sound.
Completely calm now.
Izana's hand moved gently over the top of his blonde hair.
"…There."
Low.
Soft.
"…You're alright now."
Zarek blinked slowly up at him.
Already half asleep again.
Leah's eyes shifted back toward the teddy bear.
Then paused slightly.
The ribbon.
Straightened carefully again.
Her gaze slowly lifted back toward Izana.
"…You fixed the ribbon."
Izana looked down at it once.
"…It was twisted."
Like that explained everything.
Maybe it did.
Leah stared at him quietly for a moment.
Then looked back down at Zarek again.
He was already drifting back to sleep against her shoulder now, tiny hands still tightly wrapped around the bear.
Leah exhaled softly.
"…He really wouldn't sleep without it."
"…I noticed."
Leah's eyes shifted back toward Izana again.
"…What happened at the office?"
A pause.
Izana's expression didn't change.
"…Nothing."
Leah gave him a look immediately.
Tired.
Knowing.
"…Iz."
Silence lingered for a second longer.
Then finally—
"…A member I banned had it."
Leah went still.
Not dramatic.
Just immediate understanding.
"…He took it?"
"…No."
Izana's hand rested lightly against the side of the crib now while he spoke quietly.
"…He picked it up after the meeting."
Leah watched him carefully.
"…And then stayed there waiting for you."
Izana didn't answer immediately.
Which was answer enough.
Leah looked down at Zarek again.
Then back toward Izana.
"…What happened?"
A pause.
Then—
"…I got it back."
Simple.
Final.
But Leah knew him too well.
Knew what that calm tone meant.
Knew how dangerous quiet Izana could become.
Her voice softened slightly.
"…You didn't hurt him."
Izana finally looked at her fully again.
"…No."
That mattered.
Leah realised it immediately.
Because months ago—
before her.
Before Zarek.
Before any of this—
he probably would have.
Not because of the teddy bear.
Because of the disrespect.
But tonight he hadn't stayed for punishment.
He retrieved what belonged to Zarek—
and came home.
Leah's expression softened.
Not relief exactly.
Something warmer.
Something quieter.
"…You came all the way back just for that."
Izana looked down toward Zarek again.
The baby was fully asleep now.
Face pressed against the teddy bear.
Tiny fingers still trapped in the ribbon.
"…He was crying."
Like that alone justified everything.
To him, it did.
Leah felt something ache softly in her chest at the answer.
Because there was no hesitation in it.
No embarrassment.
No regret.
Just certainty.
She shifted slightly in the chair before gently reaching one hand toward Izana.
Her fingers brushed lightly against his wrist first.
Then slid into his hand.
Izana's fingers closed around hers automatically.
Leah leaned her head back against the chair and looked at him quietly.
"…You're a good father."
Izana immediately answered—
"…I'm trying."
That almost hurt more somehow.
Because he meant it seriously.
Leah smiled faintly.
Tired.
Warm.
"…You don't even realise you already are."
Silence settled softly around them after that.
Not heavy.
Not tense.
Just quiet.
Safe.
The nursery lights stayed dim.
Soft gold against the walls.
Outside, rain continued tapping lightly against the windows.
Inside—
everything had finally calmed again.
Izana carefully reached toward Zarek once more and adjusted the blanket higher around him.
Gentle.
Slow.
Making sure the teddy bear stayed tucked safely against his chest.
Zarek shifted slightly in his sleep but didn't wake.
Leah watched Izana for another moment before finally asking quietly—
"…Are you going to sleep tonight?"
Izana glanced toward her.
"…Probably not."
"That wasn't the correct answer."
"…I know."
Leah sighed softly.
Then shifted slightly in the chair to make room beside her.
"…Sit down."
Izana looked at her for a second.
Then finally lowered himself into the chair beside her.
Close enough that their shoulders touched lightly.
Leah leaned against him almost immediately.
Exhaustion finally catching up to her again.
Izana let her.
One arm resting loosely behind her while his other hand stayed near the crib.
Near Zarek.
Always close enough.
Minutes passed quietly.
Neither speaking much anymore.
Just listening to Zarek's soft breathing.
Watching him sleep with the teddy bear safely back in his arms.
Eventually Leah's voice came quietly against Izana's shoulder.
"…You know he's going to become spoiled."
Izana looked toward the crib again.
Then toward the tiny hand gripping the red ribbon.
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…I know."
But there was no regret in his voice at all.