The morning light crept through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow across the small room.
Damon woke first, his eyes opening slowly. For a moment, he just lay there, listening to the quiet breathing of Svetlana beside him and the soft whimper of Ava stirring in her small bed.
He shifted, careful not to wake Svetlana, and sat up.
His hair was a mess, and his shoulders felt heavy from the night before, but there was a small smile on his face. He stood and stretched, feeling the tightness in his back ease a little.
He pulled on a simple T-shirt and stepped over to Ava's little bed. She was already sitting up, her small hands rubbing at her eyes. Her hair stuck up in all directions, and she blinked up at him with a sleepy smile.
"Morning, little troublemaker," he said softly, reaching out to brush her hair back from her forehead.
She mumbled something he couldn't quite catch, her voice still thick with sleep.
He bent down and picked her up, holding her small weight easily in his arms. She clung to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
He carried her to the small bathroom, setting her down on the edge of the sink.
She kicked her feet a little as he dampened a cloth and gently wiped her face. She squirmed, but he just smiled, holding her steady with one hand.
"Hold still," he said, his tone calm and patient. "We've got to get you cleaned up so Mama doesn't scold me later."
Ava giggled and tried to grab the cloth, but he kept it just out of reach.
Once her face was clean, he brushed her teeth for her, her small hands gripping his wrist like she always did.
She made a face at the taste of the toothpaste, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"You're a fighter, Ava," he said quietly. "Just like me."
When he was done, he reached for the small brush Svetlana always used to do her hair. He looked at Ava's messy curls and then at the brush, feeling a flicker of uncertainty.
"Okay," he said, his tone quiet but determined. "Let's see if Daddy can make you look pretty."
Ava watched him with wide eyes, her small hands gripping the edge of the counter.
He worked slowly, pulling the brush through her hair in careful strokes. She winced once, but he paused, murmuring an apology.
He didn't know how to braid like Svetlana, so he settled for gathering her hair into a small ponytail, using one of the soft ties she liked. It wasn't perfect, but it was neat enough.
He looked at her in the mirror, meeting her bright eyes. "There," he said. "All done."
Ava reached up to pat her hair, her little face serious for a moment before she grinned at him.
He lifted her again and carried her down the wide hallway, their footsteps quiet on the polished floors.
The kitchen was bright and airy, filled with the warm smells of coffee and fresh bread.
Damon set Ava down in her high chair, fastening the strap carefully. He moved to the counter and started on breakfast, cracking eggs and slicing fruit.
As he worked, he glanced back at her. She watched him with bright eyes, her small hands drumming against the tray.
He smiled at her, feeling that quiet certainty in his chest again.
Svetlana finally woke up, her hair still tousled from sleep. She walked into the kitchen, blinking against the bright light.
Damon looked up from the stove, a soft smile on his face. Ava was still in her high chair, playing with a piece of fruit and giggling.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Damon said, his voice light and teasing. He wiped his hands on a towel and stepped over to kiss her cheek.
She smiled, her eyes bright even in her drowsy state. "Morning," she murmured. She leaned into him for a moment, breathing in the warm, rich smell of coffee and eggs.
Ava let out a small squeal, waving her arms. Svetlana laughed and walked over to her, brushing her tiny hand against Ava's cheek. "Did Daddy feed you already?" she asked, her voice warm.
"She's been my helper," Damon said. He was still at the stove, turning eggs in the pan. "And she's got her hair all done, don't laugh."
Svetlana turned, her eyebrows arching as she took in the small ponytail. It was neat, but a little crooked. She grinned, her voice soft. "You did good," she said.
He shrugged, a hint of pride in his eyes. "I tried."
She sat down at the table, watching him move around the kitchen.
He brought her a cup of coffee, the steam rising in soft curls. She wrapped her hands around it, feeling the warmth sink into her fingers.
"Thank you," she said. Her smile softened as she watched him work.
Damon set a plate in front of her, toast, eggs, a small pile of fresh fruit. "Of course," he said.
He sat down across from her, glancing at Ava, who was busy eating pieces of banana and talking to herself in her small voice.
For a few minutes, they just ate together, the quiet of the morning wrapping around them. The clink of forks and Ava's soft babbling were the only sounds.
Svetlana looked up at him over her coffee cup. "So," she said, her voice light. "You meant it last night? About getting married soon?"
He nodded. "I meant it," he said simply.
She smiled, her eyes bright. "Good," she said. "Because I've been thinking… maybe it's time to start planning. Really planning."
He leaned back in his chair, watching her with a steady, content look. "Tell me what you want," he said.
She laughed softly, her voice warm and a little dreamy. "I want it to be outside, with lots of flowers. Ava can be our flower girl, if she doesn't eat the petals first."
Damon laughed, shaking his head. "She probably will," he said.
Svetlana reached across the table, resting her hand over his. "I don't need it to be fancy," she said quietly. "I just want it to be us. Our family. I want to stand there with you and promise everything I've got."
He squeezed her hand gently. "That's all I want too," he said.
Ava let out another squeal, making them both laugh. She threw a piece of banana across the table, her small face lit with excitement.
Svetlana shook her head, still smiling. "We'll figure out the rest later," she said. "But I want to start, Damon. I'm ready."
He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "Then we'll start," he said. Searᴄh the NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
In that simple kitchen, with their daughter babbling and the morning light filling the room, they sat together.
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