Roset stood in the kitchen, twisting the silver ring on her finger, nervous habit she thought she'd broken. Hino was out tending to the compost pile, and Lea sat cross-legged on the floor in the living room, drawing with fat crayons, her tongue peeking out in concentration.
Eliot was reading beside her, occasionally glancing at the picture she was working on.
"It's a bear," Lea announced, holding up a wildly colourful creature with big ears and a purple belly.
"Looks like a very friendly one," Eliot smiled. "Does it have a name?"
"Mr. Softberry."
Roset took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Hey, can I talk to you both for a moment?"
Lea looked up. Eliot gave her a curious glance and nodded, sitting straighter.
Roset lowered herself to the floor next to them, brushing a few stray crayons aside. She glanced at Eliot first, his eyes already narrowing with that subtle intuition he had.
"I, um… I've been feeling off lately," she began.
"Like sick?" Lea asked, concern knitting her tiny eyebrows.
"Kind of," Roset said with a soft smile. "But it's not bad-sick. It's… baby-sick."
Eliot blinked.
Lea tilted her head. "Baby-sick?"
Roset reached out and gently took her daughter's hand. "It means there's a baby growing in my belly."
There was a pause, stillness stretching the moment.
Then: "A baby?" Lea squealed, launching herself into Roset's arms. "Like a real one? A tiny one?"
"Yes," Roset laughed, hugging her tightly. "A real one. A tiny one that will get bigger every day."
Eliot exhaled, and Roset looked over at him. His face was still for a moment, then cracked open into the widest smile she'd seen on him since he arrived.
"That's amazing, Roset."
She nodded, her own smile trembling with the weight of it. "It feels different this time. Good different."
Lea pulled back just enough to place her hands gently on Roset's stomach. "Hi, baby," she whispered, beaming. "I'm your big sister. I'm gonna share my toys. Not Mr. Softberry, but the other ones."
Roset laughed, tears springing to her eyes.
Eliot leaned in, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. "You're going to be an incredible mother again."
"And you're going to be a very busy uncle," Roset said, dabbing her eyes.
He chuckled. "I'm ready."
Hino walked in a moment later, wiping his hands on a towel, and paused at the scene: Lea curled against Roset, Eliot smiling with a stunned glow in his eyes.
Roset looked up at him.
"She knows."
Hino raised an eyebrow.
"Both of them," she clarified.
He chuckled and came over to kneel beside them. Lea reached out with one hand and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"There's a baby inside mummy!" she shouted in his ear.
Hino winced playfully. "What? Really?" He turned to Roset, eyes soft. "News travels fast."
Roset rested her head on his shoulder, heart full. For once, no words were needed.