The mansion was unusually quiet that morning.
Not silent.
Just peaceful.
The kind of peaceful that only happened when Izana and Dante were away.
A few hours earlier, Izana had left for a deal, with Dante following close behind as usual.
Now it was just Leah, Zarek, and Elias.
The spring sunlight streamed through the large living room windows, casting warm patches of light across the floor.
Leah was curled up on one end of the sofa.
Zarek was tucked against her side beneath a blanket, his lion plush sitting on his lap.
Across the room, Elias sat comfortably in an armchair reading the morning newspaper.
Every now and then he would turn a page.
Otherwise, he remained quiet.
The television played softly in front of them.
A family movie.
At first Zarek had been more interested in his plush lion than the film itself.
But that quickly changed.
The movie followed a little boy and his parents.
The boy went on adventures.
Played games.
Made mistakes.
Learned lessons.
Normal movie things.
Zarek watched with growing interest.
Then, about halfway through the film, a new character appeared.
A baby.
A tiny baby girl.
Immediately Zarek sat up straighter.
His eyes widened.
"Baby."
Leah smiled.
"Yes."
The baby in the movie yawned.
Zarek pointed.
"Why baby little?"
Leah adjusted the blanket around him.
"Because she's younger than everyone else."
Zarek considered that.
"Oh."
A few minutes later the baby started crying.
Zarek frowned.
"Why she cry?"
"Babies cry when they need something."
"Oh."
The answer seemed acceptable.
For now.
The movie continued.
The little boy became a big brother.
He helped feed his sister.
Played with her.
Read stories to her.
Protected her when she was scared.
Every scene seemed to capture Zarek's full attention.
Leah noticed.
So did Elias.
Although Elias pretended to be focused entirely on his newspaper.
The baby girl laughed after her brother made a silly face.
Zarek immediately laughed too.
Then pointed.
"He make baby happy."
"He does."
The movie moved forward.
The baby got older.
The siblings played together.
Shared toys.
Built forts.
Went on adventures.
By the time the movie reached its final scenes, Zarek was completely invested.
The credits finally began to roll.
The happy family stood together on the screen.
The older brother hugged his little sister.
The music swelled.
Then the movie ended.
Leah smiled.
"Did you like it?"
Zarek nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"I thought you might."
The room settled into a comfortable silence.
For approximately five seconds.
Then—
"Mama?"
Leah looked down.
"Yes?"
Zarek stared at her very seriously.
The way toddlers did when they had reached an important conclusion.
"I want baby sister."
Leah froze.
Completely.
Across the room—
the sound of a newspaper lowering could be heard.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Leah blinked.
"...You do?"
"Yes."
Elias was no longer pretending to read.
Not even slightly.
Leah looked at Zarek.
Zarek looked back.
Entirely serious.
"Why do you want a baby sister?"
The answer came immediately.
"Play."
Leah smiled despite herself.
"You want someone to play with?"
"Yes."
"What else?"
Zarek started counting on his fingers.
Or attempting to.
"Read books."
"Mmhm."
"Share toys."
"Okay."
"Hold hand."
Leah's heart melted.
"And?"
"Keep safe."
That one hit a little harder.
Because it was almost word-for-word what the little boy in the movie had said.
Leah reached over and brushed some hair back from his forehead.
"That's very sweet."
Zarek nodded.
Clearly pleased.
Across the room, Elias was watching the entire exchange with amusement.
Leah looked at him.
He immediately lifted the newspaper.
Pretending innocence.
It didn't work.
Not even a little.
A moment later Leah asked another question.
"Where do you think baby sisters come from?"
Zarek frowned thoughtfully.
A very serious expression.
He thought.
And thought.
And thought.
Leah waited patiently.
Elias was already struggling not to smile.
Finally Zarek reached a conclusion.
"The store."
Silence.
Then—
Elias folded the newspaper over his face.
His shoulders shook once.
Leah burst out laughing.
Zarek looked between them.
Confused.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Leah laughed again.
"Nothing at all."
Zarek remained suspicious.
But eventually accepted the answer.
The rest of the afternoon passed peacefully.
The topic seemed forgotten.
At least for a while.
Unfortunately for everyone involved—
it wasn't forgotten.
Not even close.
That evening the front doors finally opened.
The sound immediately caught Zarek's attention.
His head snapped toward the entrance.
"Da-da!"
He jumped off the sofa.
Then took off running.
Leah barely had time to react before he disappeared into the hallway.
At the entrance, Izana had just stepped inside.
Dante entered behind him.
The moment Zarek appeared, Izana's expression softened slightly.
"Da-da!"
Izana bent down and effortlessly caught him as he launched himself forward.
Zarek wrapped his arms around his neck.
Izana stood.
Holding him securely.
"Hello."
"Hi."
"Good day?"
"Yes."
Dante took one look at Leah's expression and immediately became suspicious.
Leah looked entirely too amused.
Elias wasn't helping.
He was smirking.
That never meant anything good.
Izana noticed too.
"What happened?"
Leah smiled.
"Nothing."
That answer immediately told him it was definitely something.
Dante sighed.
"Here we go."
Leah opened her mouth.
But she never got the chance.
Because Zarek decided to handle it himself.
"I want baby sister."
The hallway went completely silent.
Dante immediately looked away.
Elias suddenly found a painting on the wall fascinating.
Leah wanted to disappear.
Izana blinked once.
Then looked down at Zarek.
"...You do?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Movie."
Izana stared at him.
Zarek stared back.
Apparently that explanation covered everything.
Leah was trying very hard not to laugh.
She was failing.
Badly.
Dante pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Movie."
"Movie."
"Of course."
Izana adjusted Zarek slightly on his hip.
Then asked calmly:
"What if it's a baby brother?"
The room became quiet again.
Everyone waited.
Zarek frowned.
Thinking.
A very serious consideration.
His tiny eyebrows furrowed.
He looked genuinely conflicted.
Then finally—
he shrugged.
"Otay."
Leah laughed.
Elias laughed.
Even Dante looked amused.
Zarek looked proud of himself for being reasonable.
Izana almost smiled.
Almost.
That night, after dinner, bath time, and stories, Zarek was finally ready for bed.
He sat on his mattress surrounded by important bedtime necessities.
His teddy bear.
His lion plush.
And a blanket that had somehow become tangled around his legs.
Leah fixed the blanket.
Then kissed his forehead.
"Goodnight."
"Night Mama."
"Sleep well."
"Otay."
Leah smiled and stood.
Then quietly left the room.
The door remained slightly open.
She had only taken a few steps down the hallway when she heard a tiny voice.
Curious, she paused.
Inside the room, Zarek was talking.
Not to another person.
To his plushies.
Leah carefully peeked through the doorway.
Zarek was holding the lion plush in front of him.
Completely serious.
"Baby sister soon."
Leah immediately covered her mouth.
Trying not to laugh.
A pause followed.
Then Zarek looked at the teddy bear.
Thinking.
"Maybe baby brother."
Another pause.
Then a small shrug.
"Otay."
Leah quietly retreated before he noticed her.
Still trying not to laugh.
Later that evening, she found Izana in his office.
He was sitting behind his desk reviewing documents.
The room was quiet.
Peaceful.
Leah stepped inside.
Still smiling.
Izana glanced up.
Immediately noticing the expression.
"...What?"
Leah sat down beside him.
"Nothing."
Izana stared at her.
"That isn't true."
She laughed.
"It really isn't."
Izana set down his pen.
"Li."
She laughed again.
And somewhere upstairs, completely unaware of the chaos he had caused, Zarek slept peacefully with his teddy bear and lion plush beside him.
Still fully convinced that a baby sister—
or maybe a baby brother—
would be arriving any day now.