Aria stood in the kitchen, humming softly as she packed a small container of sliced apples and a sandwich cut into puzzle pieces—Eli's latest obsession.
Eli padded in, his small feet thudding softly against the floor. His curls were a wild mess from sleep, and he rubbed at his eyes like he was still halfway in a dream.
"Is Daddy coming again today?" he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.
Aria looked over her shoulder and gave a gentle nod. "He is. You remembered?"
Eli nodded. "You said he would if he brought better snacks."
She smiled, placing the container into a small lunch bag. "He said he'd try."
Eli tugged at her sleeve. "Can I give him a score? Like… out of ten?"
"A snack score?"
"Yeah. One for taste. One for fun. One for squishiness. That's important."
She laughed softly. "Alright, Judge Eli. Make sure your pencil is sharp."
There was a knock on the door not long after. Eli ran to it, already grinning. Aria followed more slowly, wiping her hands on a towel.
When she opened it, Elias stood there holding a paper bag in one hand and a small carton of orange juice in the other.
"Peace offering," he said, lifting the bag like a treasure.
Eli peeked inside and lit up. "Gummy worms and mini muffins! You upgraded!"
"I take snack criticism very seriously," Elias said, stepping inside.
"Did you read my snack review?" Eli asked, grabbing the bag.
"I might've framed it," Elias replied with mock seriousness.
Aria gave him a half-smile. "You're aiming for redemption."
"I have a long way to go," he said, glancing at her, then looking away.
Eli climbed onto the couch, pulling out a toy piano from under the coffee table. "Can we practice now, Daddy?"
Elias looked over at Aria. "If it's okay with your mom."
She nodded. "Ten minutes. He gets distracted if it goes longer."
"I do not!" Eli protested with a huff.
Elias laughed. "Let's test that theory."
They sat together on the floor, the toy piano between them. Elias tapped a key. "C major. Like this."
Eli mimicked him, tongue sticking out in concentration.
"No, like this," Elias said, gently guiding Eli's fingers. "There. Hear the difference?"
"Yeah. Mine sounded like a cat falling."
"A very dramatic cat," Elias teased.
Aria stood by the counter, mug in hand, watching. She leaned against the sink, not wanting to interrupt the moment.
"You know what I think?" Eli said.
"What's that?" Elias asked.
"I think if we get really good, we could play in a band."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What would our band be called?"
Eli thought for a second. "The Muffin Tigers."
Aria stifled a laugh.
"That's fierce," Elias said. "Do we roar between songs or just eat muffins?"
"Both."
"You're the boss, buddy."
After ten minutes, Elias stretched. "Break time?"
Eli flopped onto the rug. "Forever break."
Elias chuckled. "You sound like me after a single gym session."
"Do you go to the gym?" Eli asked, suddenly curious.
"Not really," Elias said, glancing sheepishly at Aria. "Used to. Now I lift legal files and coffee cups."
"Strong arms," Eli declared, squeezing his bicep. "Still soft, though."
Elias gasped in mock offense. "Excuse you!"
"Soft and squishy. Like a muffin. You belong in the band."
"I feel honored."
Aria shook her head, amused by the two of them.
"Wanna see my new drawing?" Eli asked suddenly.
"Of course," Elias replied. "Do I get to guess what it is again?"
"Yup! And no hints this time."
Eli ran to his room, and Elias stood, walking toward the kitchen.
"She always this quiet in the mornings?" he asked softly, leaning against the counter.
Aria looked at him, then at her mug. "Just watching."
He nodded. "Want me to stop?"
"No," she said after a beat. "It's… nice. Seeing him happy."
There was a pause.
"You're doing great, you know," Elias said.
She tilted her head slightly. "At what?"
"Everything. Him. Holding it all together."
"I don't feel like I am most days."
He looked at her carefully. "But you are. He's kind. He laughs a lot. He draws ridiculous detective maps. That's because of you."
Her lips twitched. "You think so?"
"I know so."
Eli returned then, holding a messy drawing.
"This is me and Mama at the zoo, and this is you, Daddy, holding the map upside down."
Elias laughed. "Sounds accurate."
"I also gave you a mustache."
Elias squinted. "And a monocle?"
"You looked like a detective," Eli said proudly.
"I'll take it," Elias said, ruffling his hair. "Detective Muffin Tiger."
"That's our first album name!" Eli declared.
They spent the rest of the morning playing with building blocks and watching cartoons. Elias stayed through lunch, helping slice cucumbers while Aria made sandwiches.
At one point, while Eli was distracted rearranging his plastic dinosaurs, Elias leaned in.
"He told me yesterday he wants to be a 'stay-home explorer.'"
Aria raised an eyebrow. "What does that even mean?"
"It involves snacks, dinosaurs, and never leaving the couch."
Aria chuckled. "Sounds like a solid life plan."
"I mean, minus the couch part, I kind of envy it."
She glanced at him. "You're t
"I have to," he said simply. "It's the only thing that matters."
After lunch, Eli crawled into Elias's lap and yawned dramatically. "Can we read the lion book again?"
"Of course," Elias said.
"I want the roars again."
"You'll get the deluxe edition."
They settled into the couch. Aria tidied up the plates in the kitchen, listening to Elias read with exaggerated voices, watching Eli's face light up at every pause.
When the book ended, Elias gently carried Eli to his room for a nap. Aria followed, and they stood side-by-side at the doorway once more, just like the night before.
"He trusts you," she said quietly.
"I'm grateful for that."
They returned to the living room. Elias picked up a stray crayon from the floor and then turned to her.
"I should probably go before he wakes up and tries to guilt me into staying for movie night."
"He's good at guilt."
"He gets it from you."
Aria smiled faintly. "Probably."
There was a beat of silence.
"I like being here, Aria."
"I know."
"Not just for him."
She looked at him. "I know."
He hesitated for a moment, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card.
"What's that?"
"Eli wanted a family day this weekend. I found a small indoor play area. Thought maybe the three of us could go."
She took the card, studying the details.
"I'm not pushing," Elias added quickly. "Just… thought I'd try."
"I'll think about it," she said.
"That's enough for me."
He stepped toward the door, pausing with his hand on the knob.
"Aria?"
She looked up. "Yeah?"
"Do you think we could ever be… something again? You and me?"
She didn't answer right away. Her hand tightened slightly around the card.
"I don't know, Elias," she said finally. "Some days I still wake up angry. Some nights I'm not sure what we were."
"I understand."
"But I also know Eli needs you."
"I need him too. And… you."
She met his eyes, something quiet and honest flickering there. "Let's just focus on today."
"Okay," he said. "Today's good."
"Bring better snacks next time," she added.
"Again? I brought muffins and gummy worms!"
"He said the gummy worms were too short."
Elias groaned. "High standards, that one."
She smirked. "Takes after his dad."
He looked surprised but pleased.
Aria walked him to the door this time.
And when he stepped outside, she didn't close it right away.
Instead, she stood there for a few seconds, watching the hallway, before quietly shutting it—leaving the silence behind with a trace of warmth still in the air.