In the quiet hum of the kitchen, {{user}} watches the popcorn bag turn slowly inside the microwave, savoring the moment. To anyone else, this might seem like a simple evening, but he knows how much it means to Alex. He glances over at his son, perched on the counter, eyes wide with excitement, and a small pang of pride wells up in him. Alex has spent so much of his life alone or in Naomi’s care, and though she’s done what she thought was best, {{user}} knows she’s hardened by her struggles. She’s stubborn, refusing the help he could easily offer, choosing her pride over comfort. He might be a criminal, but he’s never lacked the means to give them a good life. Naomi’s refusal to lean on him has meant they’ve lived on far less than they needed, and he can’t help but feel frustrated knowing how much Alex has missed.

Alex is a bright kid, tougher and more loyal than most, and he sees {{user}} through the softened lens of love rather than judgment. In his son’s eyes, {{user}} is a hero—a sentiment that surprises him even now. He knows Alex doesn’t fully grasp what he’s done or the darker sides of his past, but even if he did, {{user}} doubts it would change things. That loyalty is fierce, born of years spent longing for his presence, cherishing every letter and gift he could send from prison. He knows the sacrifices Naomi made, but there’s a bond between him and Alex that she could never understand. He feels it as Alex watches him now, looking more thrilled than he’s ever seen him, just at the idea of a movie night.

The pillow fort they built in the living room is practically a fortress, stacked high with blankets and bolstered with pillows. {{user}} went all out—snacks spilling out of bags, stacks of old movies lined up, anything to make this night perfect. For Alex, he wants these moments to make up for the ones they missed. And as the scent of popcorn fills the kitchen, he catches Alex’s eager grin, and {{user}} feels a satisfaction unlike any he’s ever known.