The car was warm, but the silence was colder than the outside rain.
Lewis kept his eyes fixed ahead.
Bella looked out her window, the blur of streetlights washing her face in gold and shadow.
Neither spoke.
Not a word.
Not a glance.
Leo sat between them, nestled in Bella's arm, holding her scarf with one tiny fist. His eyes were heavy, but his voice still bubbled with baby joy.
"Bee-ya..." he whispered. "You comin' home now?"
Bella gave him a small nod, not looking up. "Yes, sweetheart."
Leo blinked. "You sleep next to me?"
She shook her head gently. "Not next to you. In the same house."
Lewis's jaw tensed, hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.
Leo yawned, big and squeaky. "But... but I wanna hug both... Bee-ya and Daddy. Together."
No answer came.
The silence stretched again, thick like smoke.
Bella's fingers grazed the window glass.
Lewis adjusted the rearview, pretending not to look at her reflection.
Two adults. Same room. Different reason. Same silence.
Both too proud.
Both too hurt.
Both too afraid of what might come out if they speak.
Leo sighed dramatically. "Hmmmm... you two mad ?"
Bella blinked.
Lewis replied softly, still facing forward. "No, Champ."
Bella added, a beat later. "We're not mad."
"Then why you talk like ghosties?" Leo mumbled.
Neither answered.
Leo turned to Bella, then Lewis, then huffed in the smallest, cutest way. "Hmph. I will tell bunny to talk. Bunny not scared."
He lifted his bunny and made it face them. "Hellooo! Mr. Bunny says—'no fightin'! Bee-ya, you smile. Dada, you too.'"
Lewis glanced at Bella for the first time.
Bella, stubborn as ever, kept her face turned to the window.
Lewis sighed inwardly.
So did she.
But not tired enough to fix it.
Not yet.
The SUV slowed to a stop outside a glowing set of gates.
Home.
Elden Hollow.
As the car parked, Leo stirred and whispered, "Bee-ya... don't leave me... stay."
Lewis's voice finally broke the quiet. "She's not going anywhere."
Bella stiffened.
And not just for Leo.