Night settled softly over the house. Mina had fallen asleep on the couch beside Ellie's toys, exhaustion pulling her into a quiet, peaceful slumber. Aaron watched her for a moment — the woman who had once stood in front of him like fire, now sleeping with her guard down… in his home.
He lifted Ellie gently from where she'd rested against Mina and carried her to the nursery. The night-light cast a soft glow across the room, turning everything gold and dreamlike. Aaron sat down in the rocking chair, cradling Ellie against his chest as she blinked drowsily at him.
She made a small sound — half a sigh, half a content hum. Aaron's hardened features softened instantly.
"Hey," he whispered, brushing a finger against her tiny hand. "You're supposed to be asleep."
Her little fist curled around his finger like she understood him.
Aaron swallowed, the ring still heavy in his pocket.
"You know…" His voice was low, almost fragile. "I used to think strength was about control. About owning, conquering, tearing down anything in my way." He paused, his thumb brushing over Ellie's tiny knuckles. "Then you happened. And her."
The baby blinked slowly, calm and warm against him.
Aaron exhaled. "I want to marry mummy."
Saying it aloud made something in his chest ache — not with fear, but with a tenderness so sharp it might as well have been pain.
"I want to build more than walls and war," he whispered. "I want… a life. A future where you grow up in a house that doesn't smell like smoke and blood. A place where she laughs more than she frowns at me." He gave a breath of a laugh, quiet and wrecked. "Do you think she'll say yes?"
Ellie gurgled — a small, bright sound — and Aaron closed his eyes like it was a blessing.
He leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers.
"I'm going to give her everything I never knew how to give," he murmured. "Not just protection… but peace. If she says yes, I swear I'll spend the rest of my life proving she didn't make a mistake by loving me."
Ellie's breathing grew slower, softer. Aaron stayed there in the golden light, holding her like she was the proof that love could exist after war.
For the first time in years, Aaron wasn't thinking about revenge, or power, or blood.
He was thinking about forever.