One Week, One Kid (side story 3)

Side Story 3: One Week, One Kid

Mia had her bag packed before Aaron even agreed.

"She's already attached to you," she said, shoving snacks into a ziplock. "And Eli? She thinks he's a literal angel."

Aaron scowled. "I don't do diapers."

"She's six."

"Still too close to diapers."

"You'll be fine."

Eli, from the kitchen: "We'll be fine."

Day 1 was easy.

Mia's daughter — Lily — arrived with a pink backpack, a tablet full of cartoons, and an armful of stuffed animals. She waved at Aaron like he was a mountain she planned to climb and hugged Eli like she was returning to a favorite pillow.

"Do I sleep in your bed?" she asked.

Aaron choked on his water.

Eli laughed. "You get your own room."

"Oh," she said. "Can I decorate it?"

Aaron: "It's for a week."

Lily: "So yes?"

Aaron: "…Fine."

By Day 2, she had named all the houseplants.

By Day 3, she had drawn three very detailed pictures of "Uncle Aaron yelling at the clouds" and one of "Eli as a wizard prince."

Eli framed it.

Aaron didn't argue.

Day 4, the storm came.

Lily woke up crying from a nightmare — thunder shaking the windows, her stuffed bunny missing.

Eli calmed her first, pulling her into his lap in the hallway, whispering soft stories about silver moons and dream dragons.

Aaron found the bunny under the couch.

Then, without thinking, he picked her up — bundled in Eli's blanket — and carried her to their room.

Lily clung to him, wide-eyed.

"Are you mad at the storm?" she whispered.

Aaron, gruffly: "A little."

"Can you growl at it?"

Aaron didn't hesitate. He looked out the window, clenched his jaw, and growled low and deep into the night.

Lily gasped.

"You're like a bear knight!"

Eli bit his lip not to laugh.

Aaron turned back and tucked her under the covers.

"Sleep. The storm's scared now."

Day 5, Lily made pancakes.

They were terrible.

Aaron ate two anyway.

Eli kissed his cheek in thanks.

Lily shrieked and shouted, "Ew!"

Then drew a picture of them kissing in front of a dragon.

She titled it "The Prince and His Bodyguard."

Day 6, Eli found Aaron sitting on the back porch with Lily curled against his side, fast asleep.

He didn't move when Eli stepped out.

"She wants to live here forever," Aaron said.

Eli leaned against the post, soft. "Would that be so bad?"

Aaron didn't answer right away.

Then: "I wouldn't mind hearing little feet in the house. Not hers. Not all the time. But maybe…"

Eli's voice was quiet. "Maybe one day?"

Aaron met his eyes.

"Yeah. One day."

Day 7, Mia returned.

Lily didn't want to leave.

She clung to Eli, then to Aaron — who stiffened, then awkwardly patted her head.

"Don't cry," he said. "You're not dying."

"I love you!" she wailed.

Aaron froze.

Then said, "I know."

Mia smirked. "You're a natural."

Aaron glared. "Don't push your luck."

That night, Eli found the framed picture Lily had drawn of their little "family" — him in a white cape, Aaron in black armor, Lily on his shoulders.

He left it on the nightstand.

Aaron didn't say anything.

But he didn't move it, either.

[End of Side Story 3: One Week, One Kid.]