Ch 41: Back to Normal

Serena's POV

I woke up with something warm wrapped around me. At first, I thought it was a really affectionate blanket, but then I realized, Oh right. Valerie.

She was hugging me like I was her personal body pillow. I smiled at the sight of her sleeping face, peaceful and content. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. Sweet. But also, time to get up.

Carefully, I tried to free myself from her vice-like grip. Honestly, if I ever needed to be smothered by someone, I'd be okay with it being Valerie. But, there was cooking to be done.

With some delicate maneuvering, I managed to slip out of her hold, though I'm sure she was going to try to cling to me in her sleep. I stood up, stretching out the kinks from my back. Cooking breakfast. That was the game plan.

The kitchen was calling me.

Now that I think about it, The Perfect Wife System hasn't pinged me with any quests lately. 'Hmm. Did it just give up on me because I'm already the perfect wife?'. Maybe it's on vacation. It wouldn't surprise me. Systems tend to do that, right?

Shrugging, I rolled up my sleeves and went into full mom mode. Breakfast needed to be hearty today.

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Cooking Time!!

First, the bacon. You can't start the day without bacon. It's a universal rule, right? I laid out the strips in a hot pan, listening to the satisfying sizzle as they cooked. The smell wafted up like a heavenly scent sent to test my willpower. And for a moment, I considered just eating the whole pack and calling it a day.

Then the eggs. Scramble them with a little milk for fluffiness. Because I'm not just feeding people here—I'm impressing them. The eggs should be light and airy, like little clouds of perfection. If they come out like rubber, I will reconsider my life choices.

Next, toast. Bread. Butter. It's simple, but it's a necessity. No one should have to suffer through breakfast without something buttery to chew on.

A small salad on the side because, balance. You can't just give your family carbs and meat. They need something green to feel better about themselves.

The finishing touch, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, just enough to make everything taste like it was made by a professional.

There. A masterpiece. I stepped back, admiring my work. That's right, I'm basically a kitchen wizard. No one can take that from me.

Satisfied, I walked upstairs to wake up Valerie. Of course, she was still in bed, looking far too comfortable for my taste. I nudged her. "Valerie, wake up."

She mumbled something unintelligible and rolled over, stealing the blanket in the process.

"Valerie."

She blinked up at me, all groggy eyes and messy hair. Then, like some movie star in a romantic scene, she kissed my cheek. "Morning, hon." she said in a sleepy voice.

I grinned. "Morning, sleepyhead."

She sat up slowly, stretched dramatically, and then got up to head towards Rodan's room. Meanwhile, I slipped into Cristina's room. My baby girl was still asleep, and my heart melted. She looked like a little angel, with her soft hair and chubby cheeks.

I couldn't resist. I picked her up and kissed her all over her face, which she responded to with a soft, sleepy coo.

"Good morning, my little sunshine," I whispered. She opened her eyes a little, still in that dreamlike state. A little more snuggling, and she was awake enough to coo in response.

We headed downstairs, but as expected, neither Valerie nor Rodan were there. Typical. I gave them a few more minutes. I mean, I could go up and yell at them to get down here, but where's the fun in that?

Five minutes later, I went upstairs to check again, still holding Cristina. When I opened Rodan's door, I found Valerie asleep, hugging our son like she was afraid he was going to float away.

I stood there for a second, just staring at the scene. They were adorable. But seriously?

"Hon."

No response.

"Valerie."

Still nothing.

So I did what any rational woman would do: I poked her forehead.

She groggily opened one eye and smiled sheepishly. "Morning, hon."

I shook my head in exasperation. "Up. Now."

I made my way downstairs, making sure Valerie would actually follow.

Sure enough, Valerie came down holding a still-sleepy Rodan. I smiled. "Good morning, sleepyheads."

Rodan blinked, yawning. "Morning, Mommy."

We sat down to eat, and naturally, they both complimented my cooking.

"This is amazing," Valerie said, reaching for more bacon.

Rodan, with all the enthusiasm a child could muster, grinned and said, "Anything Mommy makes is always delicious!"

I chuckled. "Flattery will get you extra bacon."

Rodan's eyes lit up.

Valerie raised an eyebrow. "Hey! That applies to him, but not me?"

"Nope. You fell asleep again."

Rodan giggled, clearly enjoying watching Valerie suffer.

As we ate, Cristina started making her usual loud baby noises. "Feed me, woman." I took a deep breath. The baby bottle was retrieved, and I cradled my daughter while feeding her.

This peaceful, ordinary morning? It was everything I ever wanted.

Then Valerie casually dropped the bomb: "Rodan, you're starting your classes today."

Rodan looked at her, then nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, okay!"

I was relieved he wasn't panicking. He was a lot braver than I was at his age.

After breakfast, Rodan took off for the bathroom, and Valerie went upstairs to pick out an outfit for him.

I played with Cristina in the living room until I noticed her eyes getting heavy. She was fighting sleep like a little champ, but eventually, she drifted off in my arms.

Seeing her so calm and peaceful made me feel all warm inside. So, I decided to leave her at her crib and go upstairs and grab some clothes for myself to wear. I picked out a simple white t-shirt and shorts, because sometimes, simplicity is key.

When I went back downstairs, I found Valerie staring lovingly at Cristina, who was still peacefully asleep in her crib.

I smiled, watching them both. This, right here, was my life. Peaceful. Happy. And completely perfect.