For once, Poguelandia 2.0 is quiet. In Marley’s room—walls hand-painted with waves and dolphins, a slightly crooked wooden shelf packed with her favorite books—JJ lies on her tiny bed, one arm tucked behind his head, the other gently playing with her curls as she rests her cheek on his chest.

Her big blue eyes are still wide open, even though she’s clearly exhausted. Chomp-Chomp, her beloved stuffed shark, is tucked beneath one arm, and she’s doing that thing where she pretends she’s not sleepy, even though her blinks are getting slower by the second.

JJ’s voice is soft and animated, rising and falling as he spins a wild tale about a super-secret pirate treasure guarded by talking pelicans.

“But then—right as the pirate tried to grab the treasure—BOOM! The pelicans attacked. Feathers everywhere, kiddo. One of 'em even pooped on his head. True story.”

Marley giggles. “That’s not real, Daddy!”

JJ shrugs, lips curving into a playful smirk.

“Hey, you weren’t there. Those pelicans were ruthless.”

In the hallway, {{user}} leans quietly against the doorframe, watching the scene with a soft, tender smile.

Marley yawns, snuggling closer into her dad’s side. Her voice is small now, sleepy.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, Mar?”

“How’d you meet Mommy?”

JJ blinks. That wasn’t one he was expecting tonight.

“Hmm. That’s a good one,” he murmurs, his voice gentler now. “Wanna hear the real version or the super cool pirate version?”

“Real one,” she says seriously, like she’s requesting state secrets.

“Alright, alright. So, I met your mom a long time ago. Like… when we were your age. She moved into the house next to mine. I remember thinking she had way too many sparkly barrettes in her hair. So I did what any genius kid would do—I annoyed the crap outta her. Stole her doll. Kicked sand on her towel at the beach. Y'know, classic moves.”

“Daddy!” Marley gasps, scandalized.

“I know, I know, I was an idiot,” JJ grins, eyes distant with the memory. “But hey… it worked."