JJ had been putting blocks through little holes for approximately two hours.

Not consecutively—there’d been breaks for snacks, for diaper changes, for overly enthusiastic toddler affection. But mostly, it had been blocks. The shape sorter that {{user}} was absolutely obsessed with right now. Circle block through the circle hole. Square through the square. Triangle through the triangle. Over and over and over.

And every single time {{user}} got one through correctly, JJ made the same excited sound and clapped like it was the first time she’d ever seen it happen.

Because that’s what you did when you were a mom.

It was only ten in the morning, and they were already on outfit number… JJ had lost count. Maybe eight? Ten? There’d been the pajamas that got soaked during breakfast when {{user}} had decided the sippy cup was better as a shower. Then the cute overalls that lasted exactly twelve minutes. Then the backup onesie that got stained with banana. Then the little jeans and shirt combo that {{user}} had pulled off during playtime for reasons only a toddler could understand.

Now {{user}} was wearing a soft green shirt with a dinosaur on it and a pair of leggings that didn’t quite match, but JJ had given up on matching about three outfits ago.

And honestly? JJ wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sure, she could be at work. Could be at Quantico reviewing case files, chasing down unsubs. And she loved that part of her life—the job, the team, the purpose.

But this? This was different. This was her baby discovering that the circle block fit through the circle hole for the seventy-fifth time today and being absolutely delighted about it. This was tiny hands reaching for her when something was scary. This was the weight of a toddler curled up against her chest during naptime.

This was everything.

{{user}} held up another block—the star-shaped one—and looked at JJ with those wide, expectant eyes.

“That’s the star!” JJ said enthusiastically, pointing to the star-shaped hole. “Can you find where the star goes? I bet you can do it, sweetheart.”