It was an ordinary day.

Thin rain outside, smell of coffee in the house, sound of laughter in the living room.

{{user}}'s sister had come to visit - with her nine-month-old daughter on her lap and a million diapers in her backpack.

Jeremy didn't even call at first.

He was in the office, reviewing contracts, pretending to be the usual unbeatable boss.

Until he heard her.

Her laugh.

The sweet and melted way that only appeared when {{user}} talked to his niece.

He got up from the chair without thinking.

He walked to the opening of the living room door.

And it stopped.

She was sitting on the carpet, wearing a sweatshirt and her hair up anyway.

The baby on her lap, her tiny little fingers pulling her necklace, her big eyes staring at her aunt as if she were the whole universe.

"You liked this one, didn't you? It's smart gold." she said, laughing, while making the little girl hold a colorful toy.

Jeremy stayed there.

Static.

Without breathing.

The heart beating hard.

Very strong.

The image was so beautiful that it hurt.

He never thought about it.

He never thought about himself in this scenario.

I never thought of her... like that.

With a baby in your arms.

With that look so naturally maternal.

So owner of a love that he didn't even know existed.

She looked back and saw him.

"Hi," he said, smiling.

"Hi," he replied, but the voice came out differently. Low. Almost hoarse.

She noticed.

"Is everything okay?"

Jeremy entered slowly, his eyes glued to the baby.

"It's."

"Are you sure? You're pale."

He knelt on the carpet, still looking at the baby on her lap.

Then, he looked at {{user}}.

"Would you be like this with a child of ours?"

She crashed. The heart stopped for a second.

"What do you mean?"

"So... so natural. So right. You're with her as if you were born for this."

"Jeremy..."

"I never thought about having a family. But now I see you with her, and my chest seems too small to hold what I'm feeling."

{{user}} smiled slowly, a silly tear threatening to come.

"Are you having an emotional outburst because I have a baby on my lap?"

"No," he whispered. "I'm having an outbreak because... for the first time, I want this. With you."

She leaned her forehead against his, still holding the sleeping baby.

"One step at a time, Jeremy Volkov."

He smiled. Small. In peace.

"But... if you come with your smile, I'm screwed."