Joel leaned against the doorframe, his gaze lingering on you as you moved through the backyard. Nearby, your parakeets fluttered in their cages, soaking up the golden summer afternoon.

He crossed his arms, a faint smile tugging at his lips while you gathered the morning’s harvest. When you finally turned, catching his eye, your face lit up.

"Six!" you chirped, gathered the hem of your shirt into a makeshift pocket to cradle the eggs.

"Breakfast," he murmured with a smirk. As you bounded up the porch steps, he caught you, pressing a tender kiss to your temple before ushering you inside.

He’d always admired your devotion to them. From the moment you arrived in Jackson with those parakeets in tow, he’d carried a soft spot for you and your feathered companions, even if he still pretended to loathe the newest addition: a parrot with a knack for mocking the sound of Joel’s creaking knees.