Ch 45: Delightful

Serena's POV

After finishing my anatomy class—which mostly involved me wrangling Rodan and Leon while trying to teach them how not to break their own bones—we left the library. The boys immediately bolted toward the open space, laughing and chasing each other like tiny feral beasts. Cristina, safe in my arms, watched them with big, fascinated eyes, occasionally cooing and wiggling her little fists in encouragement.

I sat on a bench beside Brianna, watching the kids with the patience of an overworked mother who had long since accepted her fate. Valerie leaned against a pillar, smirking like she was watching an entertaining play. Cecilia, as always, stood nearby with her arms crossed, radiating her usual regal but exhausted guardian energy.

Then came the knock at the door.

Cecilia sighed—because, of course, she was the one who had to deal with it—and went to check. She returned shortly after, looking mildly impressed.

"Delivery man," she announced.

At that, Valerie perked up, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Oh! Take the tools."

Tools? My brain immediately started connecting the dots.

Tools meant construction. Valerie ordering something meant a grand scheme was in motion.

I turned to look at the backyard again. We had been eating our meals outside for a while now, mostly because it was nice and the weather was pleasant, but also because the boys insisted on picnics. Which was great! Lovely, even. But after several days of sitting on blankets in the grass, my back was filing complaints, and my dignity as an S-rank hunter was in shambles.

Wait.

'Were we finally getting a proper outdoor dining area?'. I turned sharply toward Valerie, who met my gaze with an infuriatingly smug smile.

Oh. This was delightful news.

No more kneeling on the ground. No more shifting uncomfortably on a blanket while trying to eat like a proper person. No more Rodan rolling onto people's plates like an overexcited puppy. We were getting a formal dining space. A place with chairs. The sheer luxury.

I sent Valerie a silent look of gratitude, which she accepted with a smug tilt of her chin. I would never say it out loud, but for this? I owed her one.

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By the time evening rolled around, Brianna and I were deep in the kitchen, making sure to prepare a proper feast for the grand opening of our blessed new dining space. If we were finally going to eat at a table like civilized people, then the occasion demanded something worthy.

And we did not hold back.

Here's what was on the menu:

Roasted garlic butter chicken, golden and crispy.

Herb-crusted lamb with a rich rosemary sauce, creamy mashed potatoes drowned in homemade gravy.

Honey-glazed carrots, caramelized to perfection.

Freshly baked bread rolls, warm and soft.

A decadent chocolate tart for dessert, because we deserved it.

When we finally carried everything outside, I nearly teared up.

The dining area was beautiful.

Valerie and Cecilia had outdone themselves. String lights were hung around the space, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden table and sturdy chairs. A centerpiece of fresh flowers sat in the middle, adding a refined touch. The entire setup felt cozy, elegant, and—most importantly—comfortable.

I turned to Valerie and Cecilia, placing a hand over my heart. "I'll admit it. You two did good."

"Very good," Brianna agreed with a nod of approval.

Rodan, however, had one singular priority. "Are we gonna eat here ALL the time?!" he asked, eyes wide with childish hope.

I crushed his dreams immediately. "Unfortunately, no. Just for lunch and dinner."

Rodan's face fell, but after a dramatic moment of devastation, he deemed it an acceptable deal. With renewed enthusiasm, he grabbed Leon by the wrist and dragged him toward the chairs.

We all took our seats, my little family settling on the right while Brianna and the others took the left.

And just like that, our first dinner at our new, sacred dining table began.

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The meal was perfect. We ate, talked, and enjoyed the comfort of not sitting on the ground. For once, I could actually focus on my food without worrying about Rodan accidentally kicking my plate. Life was good.

Then, Cecilia suddenly coughed.

I glanced at her, confused, but before I could say anything, Valerie made a small "Oh," sound—one of those sounds. The kind that meant she knew something important.

My eyes narrowed. "What?"

Valerie shrugged, the picture of fake innocence. 'Suspicious'.

We waited. The entire table fell into expectant silence as Cecilia calmly chewed her food, taking her time, knowing she had everyone's attention.

Then, finally, she spoke.

"I've decided to adopt a baby."

Silence—then chaos.

I nearly leaped out of my seat in excitement. Brianna gasped, clapping her hands together. Rodan and Leon slammed the table like a pair of rowdy drunks.

"Where's the baby?!" Rodan demanded, looking like he was ready to start a search party.

Leon, however, had a different reaction. His excited expression wavered slightly, and a small frown crept onto his face.

Oh.

I recognized that look. That was the "oh no, I have to share attention now" face. The classic child's jealousy frown. It was honestly adorable.

Cecilia, being Cecilia, noticed immediately. She set down her utensils, got up, and walked over to Leon, kneeling beside him. Her voice was soft but firm.

"Just because I'm adopting a baby doesn't mean I'll ignore you."

Leon didn't say anything. He stared at her, his tiny brows furrowed in deep contemplation. Then, slowly, he tugged on her sleeve and held out his arms.

Everyone paused.

Cecilia, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around him in a gentle but reassuring hug. Leon buried his face into her shoulder, his grip tight.

I exchanged a look with Brianna, who was already dabbing at her eyes as if this were the most emotional drama she had ever witnessed.

"When will we see the baby?" I asked after a moment, my heart already soft from the scene.

"In about a month and a half," Cecilia replied.

The group erupted into congratulations again. Rodan immediately began making grand plans about being the best big cousin ever (A/N - you sure about that?). Leon, still clinging to Cecilia, nodded solemnly, as if accepting his fate.

Then Brianna, ever the enabler, clapped her hands. "We should go shopping! Serena and I were already planning to go, so we might as well all go together."

"Absolutely," I agreed. "This is an event now."

And just like that, another mostly peaceful day in our family came to a close.

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Cecilia's POV

After dinner, we all parted ways, each returning to our respective homes for the night. Serena and her family happily made their way back to their cottage, while Brianna and I walked back to ours with Leon.

Once inside, Brianna excused herself, leading Leon to his room to get him ready for bed. I went straight to our bedroom, peeling off my outer layers with a sigh. The long day had finally caught up to me, and the warm comfort of our home made it all the more noticeable.

A hot bath sounded like a good idea.

I gathered my things and headed to the bathroom, letting the warmth of the water soothe my tired muscles. By the time I stepped out, steam curling around me, I was feeling much lighter.

Then, I noticed Brianna standing there, holding my pajamas.

She smiled at me. "Are you done?"

I returned her smile. "Yes."

Brianna gave me a small nod before walking past me into the bathroom. I changed into my pajamas and settled onto our bed, lying back against the pillows. The house was quiet, save for the faint sound of running water from the bathroom.

I was just starting to relax when the bedroom door creaked open.

Leon.

He hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, quietly shutting the door behind him.

I frowned slightly, pushing myself up on my elbows. "Leon? What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare? Are you hungry?"

That was odd. We just ate, so hunger didn't seem likely. And he didn't look particularly scared, so I wasn't sure about the nightmare either.

A moment passed. He shook his head.

Leon didn't offer an explanation. Instead, he approached the bed and looked up at me expectantly.

Understanding what he wanted, I helped him climb up, adjusting the blanket around him. Once he was settled, he looked up at me again and hesitated before finally asking, "Can I sleep here tonight?"

I blinked.

Leon was independent, at least compared to most kids his age. He liked his own space. Sure, he had moments when he clung to us, but he never outright ASKED to sleep in our bed.

Still, I nodded. "I don't mind. But we should wait for your mom, okay?"

Leon gave a small nod and leaned against me.

I handed him my phone, figuring he might want to watch something before bed. He took it, but instead of being completely focused on it like usual, he stuck close to my side.

That was even stranger.

Leon wasn't the overly affectionate type. He was naturally reserved, more observant than expressive, so this level of closeness was rare. I adjusted his position slightly to make sure he was comfortable, but I said nothing. If he wanted to stick close tonight, then so be it.

A few minutes later, Brianna came out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair. Her eyes immediately landed on Leon, who was curled up beside me.

She raised an eyebrow. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Leon looked up from the phone. "Can I sleep here tonight?"

Brianna frowned, glancing between me and him. "Why?"

Leon shrugged. "I just want to."

I had a feeling there was more to it than that, but I didn't press him.

Brianna sighed. "If your Aunt Cecilia is okay with it…"

"I don't mind," I assured her.

Brianna gave me a long look before exhaling, clearly too tired to argue. "Fine. But it's past your bedtime. We're sleeping now."

Leon didn't protest.

We all got into bed, Leon positioned between the two of us. I turned so that my back faced them, ready to drift off—

Until I felt a small tug on my pajamas.

I opened my eyes and glanced over my shoulder. Leon was staring at me, his expression quiet but searching.

I turned slightly to face him. "Do you want to say something?"

Leon hesitated before finally speaking, his voice small.

"If you really adopt a kid… I won't have to fight for your attention, right?"

I froze.

Oh.

Now it made sense.

His hesitation, his sudden need for reassurance, his request to sleep here—he wasn't just worried about the new baby. He was worried about me.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

Then, I shifted my position so I was half-lying down, reaching out to pat his head gently. "Leon," I said softly, "you'll NEVER have to fight for my attention. No matter what."

Leon studied my face, as if trying to determine if I was telling the truth. Then, after a moment, he nodded, seeming satisfied.

He turned toward his mother and muttered, "Mom, hug me."

Brianna, clearly still confused by his sudden clinginess, hesitated before doing as he asked. She wrapped an arm around him, holding him close.

Then Leon looked at me. "Aunt Cecilia too."

I blinked.

Brianna stiffened slightly. She wasn't the hugging type, and she definitely wasn't the sharing-a-hug-in-bed type. She looked like she wanted to say no, but instead, she turned to me, waiting for my answer.

I smiled. "Of course."

It was rare for Leon to request something so openly. If he needed this reassurance, then I had no reason to deny him.

I fully laid down, wrapping my arms around both of them.

Leon quickly relaxed, his small body warm between us. Within minutes, his breathing evened out, and he drifted into sleep.

Brianna, who had started out stiff, eventually softened as well, though she let out a tired sigh.

I glanced down at the two of them, taking in the sight of their peaceful faces.

A warm feeling settled in my chest.

Slowly, I smiled.

And with that, I let myself fall asleep.