My chest tightened. "I should''ve been there."


    Her eyes flicked to mine, full of quiet understanding. “You''re here now."


    I nodded slowly, the words settling deep inside me.


    I couldn''t bring myself to be angry with her for keeping me away. Her reasons made perfect sense to me. If the roles were reversed, I probably would have done the


    same.


    Lance, sensing the shift in tone, stood. "I''ll grab coffee," he said. "Give you two a minute."


    When he disappeared into the kitchen, I set August back on the rug beside his brother. The twins immediately grabbed each other''s hands, babbling nonsense to one another, and Iughed quietly.


    "Guess they don''t need words either,” I said.


    Ellie smiled. "They have their ownnguage."


    I looked at her for a long moment. "You look happy here."


    "I am," she said softly. "It''s peaceful." Something in her expression told me there


    was more that she wanted to say, but I didn''t push.


    I nodded, then nced toward the kitchen where Lance was humming off-key. "He seemsfortable here."


    She smiled faintly. "He''s good with the boys. Hees by sometimes."


    "I know," I said. "He told me."


    Something flickered across my face before I could stop it, not anger exactly, but something raw. "He mentioned that he was here a lot after..." I hesitated. "After you left."


    Ellie''s smile faded. "He helped. I didn''t have anyone else. Just Lance and Cassian.'' "I''m d he did," I said quickly. "I owe him for that.” I hesitated, then added more quietly, "I just wish it hadn''t needed to happen that way."


    Ellie looked at me then, really looked. I knew that she could see it, the exhaustion in my eyes, at the guilt that lived there, but didn''t consume me like it once had.


    "The past can''t change," she said gently. “But what we do with it can."


    Before I could answer, Lance returned with three mugs. "I found your coffee stash, Ell. You''ve been holding out."


    Ellieughed softly, the tension breaking. "That''s because Cassian drinks it all when he visits."


    I took the cup Lance offered, grateful for the small distraction. I listened as they chatted-the easy rhythm of old friends, the sound ofughter bouncing off the walls.


    For a fleeting moment, I let himself imagine it - this apartment, this warmth, this small life with her and our sons. The sound of the boys''ughter filling every corner. My chest ached with it.


    When Lance mentioned his fiancée, I blinked, startled


    "She''s actually not so bad," Lance said, grinning. "Funny, dever, and doesn''t mind that I''m terrible at dancing,"


    Ellie raised a brow. "That''s progress"


    25 Bonus


    "Shocking, I know,” Lance said “Maybe I''m finally growing up.”


    I smiled faintly, sipping my coffee. "You? I''ll believe it when I see it."


    Lanceughed, the sound easy and untroubled. "You''ll see ''m full of surprises.”


    Elle smiled, and I felt that same old flicker of jealousy stir in my gut - not because of anything she did, but because Lance fit so easily into her world. He belonged herein a way I didn''t yet.


    But when I looked down at the twins again, both of them watching me with curious eyes, I knew I wanted to.


    I wanted to belong here- with them. With ber.


    When are leftter that afternoon, I lingered at the door, reluctant to go. The twins had fallen asleep in their ypen, tiny chests rising and falling in perfect rhythm.


    "Thank you." I said quietly. "For letting mee."


    Ellie smiled. “You''re their father, Nn. I want you to be part of their lives.


    I nodded, something like hope flickering in my chest. "Still Thank you


    Lance pped me on the shoulder as we stepped into the hall "You did good in there, big brother."


    I gave a fairngin, "Did 1?"


    "You don''t break anything, no one cried – that''s a win in my book."


    I smiled, the pressure in my chest seeming to ease just a fraction. “I''ll take it."


    As we walked away, I nced back once more through the open door — at the quiet apartment, the soft glow of afternoon light spilling across the twins'' faces, and Ellie''s silhouette as she tidied up their toys.


    I pulled the door closed and listened to the lock click into ce, sealing my family safely inside.


    For the first time, the ache in my chest didn''t feel like punishment.


    It felt like a promise.


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