I blinked, feeling a strange mix of relief and wonder. It was as though time had bent itself around our journey, protecting what mattered most. I knelt down slowly, careful not to startle him, and held out my arms.
Grayson’s little face broke into a grin, and before I could even blink. I scooped him up, holding him close, feeling the warmth of his tiny body, the soft weight of him against my chest. Elias crouched beside us, his hand resting on Grayson’s back, and the three of us sat together in the courtyard sunlight, breathing in the moment, the quiet hum of life around us.
“We’re finally home.” Elias whispered, his lips brushing my temple as he leaned closer.
I nodded, tears slipping down my cheeks, but this time they weren’t sorrowful—they were filled with relief, with joy, with ever
