The next morning, Ava sat on the back steps of Emily's house, a mug of coffee warming her hands. The air was crisp, edged with the first real signs of fall. Golden leaves scattered across the backyard, the sky a bright, unbroken blue.
She watched the neighborhood slowly come alive — joggers passing, kids with backpacks, a golden retriever trotting loyally after its owner.
Peaceful. Normal. Things she hadn't let herself enjoy in a long time.
Inside, she could hear the clink of dishes, the low murmur of Julian and Emily laughing over something she couldn't make out.
It made her smile, small but real.
She pulled the sweater tighter around herself and closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the morning.
She wasn't alone for long.
The screen door creaked, and Julian appeared, carrying a plate with two fresh croissants. He handed one to her without a word and sat down beside her, shoulders brushing lightly.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, the comfortable kind that didn't need filling.
"I could get used to this," Julian said finally.
Ava took a slow sip of her coffee. "Me too."
He tilted his head. "You thinking of moving somewhere quieter?"
She chuckled. "Not yet. I'm not ready to trade skyscrapers for backyard fences."
Julian smiled. "Fair enough."
There was something softer about him today. No hidden tension. No careful watching like he was afraid she'd bolt.
It wasn't the old version of them.
It was something new. Something steadier.
A foundation being rebuilt, brick by brick.
They spent the morning helping Emily clean up, Ava folding blankets and stacking games, Julian running dishes and laughing when Rob tried to dodge cleaning duty.
It was easy.
Natural.
Until the knock at the door.
Emily frowned as she wiped her hands on a towel. "We're not expecting anyone."
Julian moved to answer it, and Ava stayed behind, drying her hands.
She wasn't prepared for the voice that followed.
"Well, I'll be damned. Little Ava Sinclair. I almost didn't recognize you."
She turned sharply, heart skipping.
Standing in the doorway was a man she hadn't seen in nearly eight years.
Tyler Cain.
Her father's former assistant — once the young, ambitious intern who grew into Jonathan Sinclair's trusted right-hand man.
Tyler looked older now. His dark hair had thinned a little at the temples, and there were fine lines around his eyes, but the easy grin was still the same.
Ava blinked. "Tyler?"
He stepped in, setting down a canvas bag, and pulled her into a quick hug — firm, familiar, but not lingering.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, stepping back, stunned.
"Emily's husband Rob is my cousin," Tyler said, laughing. "Small world, right?"
Julian closed the door, looking between them, curious but saying nothing.
Ava tried to gather herself. She hadn't thought about Tyler Cain in years. After her father's fall, most of Jonathan's close circle either vanished or carefully kept their distance.
Tyler hadn't reached out.
But seeing him now stirred a rush of old memories — late nights at Sinclair Corp, birthday cards from the team, the way he used to bring her snacks when she did her homework in her father's office.
Back when everything still made sense.
They all sat around the kitchen island, fresh coffee brewing again, Rob and Emily chatting like this was the most normal thing in the world.
But Ava could feel Tyler's eyes on her sometimes, studying her the way you study something you weren't sure how to touch.
Finally, when there was a lull in conversation, he leaned toward her.
"I heard you're making waves at Easton," he said quietly.
Ava smiled politely. "Trying."
"Your father would've been proud."
Something in her chest tightened.
"Thanks," she said, careful.
Julian caught her eye across the counter, his expression unreadable.
Tyler added, "If you ever want stories about the old days, you know where to find me. I kept a lot of those memories alive."
She nodded.
But something about the way he said it... stayed with her.
Like maybe he knew more than he was letting on.
Later, when Tyler and Rob wandered off to watch a game on TV, Ava and Julian stayed back in the kitchen, clearing plates again.
"You okay?" Julian asked softly.
"Yeah," Ava said. "Just… surprised."
"I didn't know they were related either," Julian said. "You want to leave?"
She shook her head. "No. It's fine."
But she kept glancing toward the living room, where Tyler laughed loudly at some replayed touchdown.
So much from her past kept finding its way back to her.
Maybe that wasn't an accident.
Maybe it was time she stopped running from it.
They stayed a little longer, played a few rounds of cards with Emily and the kids, and then finally made polite excuses to head back to the city as the sky started to darken.
The drive home was quiet.
Comfortable.
Julian tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, humming along to an old song on the radio.
Ava rested her head against the window, thinking.
Not just about Tyler.
About everything.
About how life kept folding in on itself, bringing back faces and memories she thought were lost.
About how different Julian felt beside her now — not a safety net, not a crutch.
A choice.
One she wasn't ready to make yet.
But one she wasn't afraid to keep in her hands either.
When they reached her apartment, Julian walked her to the door.
He didn't ask to come in.
He just stood there, waiting.
Like he was leaving the decision to her.
Ava turned the key slowly.
Then looked back at him.
"Come in," she said.
Not because she needed him to.
Because she wanted him to.
Inside, she tossed her keys on the counter and kicked off her shoes.
Julian shrugged off his jacket, setting it neatly on the back of the chair.
He turned to her, hands in his pockets.
Neither of them spoke for a minute.
Then he said, voice low, "I don't expect anything tonight, Ava."
"I know."
"But I'm here if you want me."
She walked closer.
Until they were a breath apart.
Then, carefully, she leaned her head against his chest.
His arms wrapped around her easily, holding her close, no rush, no demand.
Just warmth.
Safety.
She closed her eyes.
And for once, she let herself just be held.
Not as a fighter.
Not as a survivor.
Just as Ava.