72

72
Emilia’s POV
The kitchen was filled with the smell of fresh coffee and eggs sizzling on the stove. I stood by the counter, pouring myself a cup of coffee, and watched Alaric out of the corner of my eye. He was sitting at the table with Francesca, who was chattering away happily about the park yesterday. His face was relaxed, a slight smile playing on his lips as he nodded along, responding in that soft, gentle tone he only ever used with her.
I tried not to stare, but it was hard not to notice the difference in him. There was something lighter about Alaric this morning, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It was subtle, but I could see it in the way he sat back in his chair, his posture less rigid. The dark cloud that usually hovered over him seemed to have lifted, at least for the moment. It made him look… younger, almost.
I took a sip of my coffee, leaning against the counter as I watched them. It was strange to see him smiling. Not the small, tight-lipped smirk I’d seen before, but a real, genuine smile that reached his eyes.
Francesca giggled, pointing at the tiny stuffed bear she’d insisted on bringing to the table with her. “Look, Daddy, Teddy wants pancakes too!”
Alaric chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Teddy can have a little bit, but only if he promises not to make a mess.”
“I promise,” Francesca said in a high-pitched voice, pretending to be the bear.
I couldn’t help but smile at the sight, a warmth spreading through my chest. He looked so different from the man he always was now.
I pushed the thought away as I grabbed the plate of pancakes from the stove and brought it over to the table. Alaric looked up at me, and for a moment, our eyes Met. There was something different in his gaze, a kind of ease that hadn’t been there before. It was like he was letting his guard down, just a little.
“Those smell good,” he said, his tone lighter than usual.
“Thanks,” I replied, setting the plate down in front of him. “I figured we could all use a good breakfast after yesterday.”
He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You’re right. We probably wore Francesca out with all the running around.”
Francesca huffed, crossing her arms in mock indignation. “I wasn’t tired! You were tired, Daddy!”
Alaric raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. “Oh, is that so? I seem to remember a certain little girl falling asleep in the car before we even got home.”
She giggled, clearly delighted at the teasing. “That wasn’t me. That was Teddy!”
I laughed, sliding into the seat across from Alaric. “Well, it looks like Teddy needs an extra helping of pancakes, then.”
Alaric’s eyes met mine again, and there was a softness there I wasn’t used to seeing. It made my stomach flip, and I quickly busied myself with cutting up Francesca’s pancakes, trying to ignore the way his gaze made my skin tingle.
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily. It was simple-light talk about the weather, Francesca’s plans for the day, a few jokes here and there. It felt… normal. Like a family sitting down for breakfast together, instead of the complicated mess we actually were.
Alaric leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee, and I noticed the way his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners when he smiled. It was such a small thing, but it felt special. I realized I hadn’t seen him this at ease before. It was like he’d finally allowed himself to relax, at least for a little while.
“You’re in a good mood this afternoon,” I said before I could stop myself. The words slipped out, casual but curious.
He glanced at me, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. “Am I?”
I shrugged, trying to play it off. “You’re smiling more.”
He looked almost surprised by that, as if he hadn’t realized it himself. He set his coffee cup down and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Maybe I am,” he admitted, his voice softer now. “I guess it’s been a while since I’ve had a morning like this.”
I raised an eyebrow. “A morning like this?”
He nodded, his gaze drifting over to Francesca, who was busy pretending to feed her bear. “Peaceful,” he said quietly. “Simple.”
I leaned back in my chair, watching him. “You know, you’re different when you’re like this.”
He looked at me, his expression curious. “Different how?”
“Less guarded,” I said honestly. “It’s nice.”
He held my gaze for a moment, something unreadable passing through his eyes. “I could say the same about you,” he said, his tone quiet but sincere.
It took me by surprise, and I felt a flush creep up my neck. “Maybe it’s just the pancakes,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
He smirked, but it was softer than usual. “Maybe.”
We fell silent for a few minutes, watching Francesca.
Francesca’s voice broke the silence. “Can we go to the park again today?”
Alaric chuckled. “You really liked it, didn’t you?”
She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. “Yes! And I want to go with Emilia too.”
I glanced at Alaric, half-expecting to see a flicker of annoyance or hesitation, but instead, he just nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
His eyes met mine again, and for a second, it felt like we were on the same page, like we were a team. It was a strange, unsettling feeling, but I couldn’t say I hated it.
“Alright,” I said, smiling at Francesca. “The park it is.”
We finished breakfast in a comfortable silence, and as I stood to clear the plates, Alaric reached out and caught my wrist. I looked down at him, surprised.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice low.
“For what?” I asked, confused.
He shrugged, but there was something vulnerable in his eyes. “For this. For… being here.”
I swallowed, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. “You don’t have to thank me, Alaric.”
He let go of my wrist, but the warmth of his touch lingered. “Maybe I do.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded, giving him a small smile. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a step in the right direction. A crack in the wall he’d built around himself.
And for the first time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, we were making progress.