Chapter 37: Steps Toward Trust

That evening, the house was filled with the sound of laughter and clinking plates as they gathered around the dinner table. Lani had made pasta, and Lily was enthusiastically twirling her spaghetti, getting sauce all over her face.

Elias chuckled as he wiped her mouth with a napkin. "You're making a mess, Princess."

Lily grinned. "It tastes better this way!"

Luca, who had been mostly quiet, finally spoke. "Mom, is it true that Elias is moving in?"

Lani hesitated, glancing at Elias. They hadn't discussed it yet, but she knew it was bound to come up.

Elias set his fork down. "What do you think, Luca?"

Luca shrugged. "I don't know. You already spend most of the day with us. It just makes sense."

Lani sighed. "We haven't decided yet, but…" She looked at Elias. "Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea."

Lily clapped excitedly. "Yay! Daddy should stay forever!"

Elias smiled softly, but his eyes met Luca's, searching for any resistance. Luca didn't say anything, but after a long moment, he gave a small nod before going back to his food.

Elias took it as a victory.

Later That Night…

Lani was cleaning up in the kitchen when she felt Elias's presence behind her.

"You didn't have to do that," he said, taking a dish towel and helping her dry the plates.

Lani smirked. "I figured you should practice, since you might be doing this a lot more if you move in."

Elias chuckled, then turned serious. "Are you sure about that? About me being here all the time?"

Lani set a plate down. "I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't sure."

Elias exhaled. "It's just… I don't want to mess this up, Lani. I don't want to disappoint them."

Lani turned to face him fully. "Elias, you being here, loving them—that's what matters. Luca will come around in his own time. Just be patient."

Elias nodded slowly. "And what about you?"

Lani raised an eyebrow. "What about me?"

Elias hesitated. "Are you ready for this? For us?"

Lani's heart skipped a beat. She knew what he was really asking.

She reached up, brushing a stray hair from his forehead. "I've been waiting for this for a long time, Elias. I think I'm more than ready."

For the first time in a while, Elias felt something he hadn't dared to hope for.

Peace.

After the kitchen was cleaned up, Lani and Elias found themselves sitting on the couch, both nursing cups of tea. The house was quiet—Lily had fallen asleep first, snuggled into her blankets with a stuffed bear, while Luca had retreated to his room, probably still processing everything.

Elias glanced at Lani, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup. "It still feels unreal sometimes."

Lani tilted her head. "What does?"

He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Being here. Having a home that actually feels like one."

Lani softened. "You've always had one here, Elias. Even before you realized it."

Elias let her words sink in, his heart warming at the thought. He had spent years feeling like an outsider, like someone who didn't belong anywhere. But now, things were different.

Lani set her cup down and turned to face him fully. "I meant what I said earlier. If you want to move in… I want you here."

Elias looked at her, searching for any hint of hesitation. "Are you sure? I don't want to rush things."

Lani smirked. "You're not rushing anything. Besides, Lily already decided you're staying forever."

Elias chuckled. "Yeah, I don't think I have much of a choice with her."

Lani laughed softly, then took a deep breath. "But seriously, Elias… we've spent so much time apart, living separate lives when we should've been together. I don't want to waste any more time."

Elias stared at her, his heart pounding. He wanted this—he wanted them. But a small part of him still feared that he wasn't enough.

Lani seemed to sense his hesitation and reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "You belong here, Elias."

His grip tightened around hers. "Then I'll stay."

A gentle silence filled the room, broken only by the distant hum of the night.

For the first time in years, Elias wasn't running away. He was home.

The Next Morning…

Lily was the first to notice something was different. She came running down the stairs, rubbing her sleepy eyes, only to find Elias already in the kitchen, making breakfast.

Her eyes widened. "Daddy, you're still here?"

Elias turned, flipping a pancake onto a plate. "Yeah, Princess. I'm staying."

Lily gasped dramatically, then ran up and hugged his waist. "YAY! Best day ever!"

Luca walked in next, eyeing the scene with a neutral expression. "So, you're really moving in?"

Elias nodded, watching his son carefully. "Yeah. If that's okay with you."

Luca was quiet for a moment before shrugging. "Whatever. As long as you cook good food."

Elias smirked. "Deal."

Lani, who had just walked in, chuckled at their exchange. She wrapped an arm around Lily and smiled at Elias. "Welcome home."

Elias met her gaze, his heart lighter than it had been in years.

"Yeah," he said softly. "I'm home."

To be continued…