This is the bonus chapter for the new collection received. 😊😊😊😊😊😊
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The next morning dawned bright, spilling gold across the apartment. Aria woke in her own bed, surprised to find she had slept straight through until the sun was high. The nursery door was half-open, laughter echoing faintly through the halls.
She padded barefoot into the living room and stopped in the doorway. Leon was down on the carpet in his shirtsleeves, all three babies climbing over him as though he were some great mountain. Lila had hold of his tie, Amara tugged at his hair, and Elias—calm as ever—sat against his side, content to observe while chewing on his bunny's ear.
For a moment, Aria just watched. The scene was chaotic, but it was the kind of chaos that made her heart full.
Later, as Leon took the triplets down for their nap, she found herself in the kitchen with a quiet cup of tea, reflecting. The week had been grueling, yes, but she had survived it. More than that, she had grown into it. She had learned how strong she could be, how patient, how resourceful. She had learned that while Leon was her partner and anchor, she wasn't helpless without him.
It wasn't pride that settled in her chest, but a kind of peace.
When Leon returned, he slid an arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her temple. "I owe you," he murmured, as though reading her thoughts.
Aria leaned into him, smiling. "No, we owe each other."
And for the first time in days, she felt not just tired or overwhelmed, but balanced. Whole. Ready for whatever new rhythm their little family would fall into next.