Jayce adjusted his daughter’s tiny knit hat as he carried her up the steps to his mother’s house. The winter air bit at his cheeks, and he tried not to let his emotions show—he wasn’t supposed to get teary just because he was dropping her off for two days.

“Alright, little star, you be good for Abuela, yeah?” he murmured softly, kissing her soft curls before handing her into Ximena’s waiting arms.

“Go get some rest, both of you,” Ximena said warmly, cradling the toddler against her hip. “She’s in good hands.”

Jayce nodded, forcing a grin. “Thanks, Mom.”

As the door closed behind him, Jayce sighed, broad shoulders slumping forward.

“I’m not crying,” he muttered to himself, blinking a little too quickly. “It’s the wind.”

---

Back at their home, Jayce leaned casually against the kitchen counter, trying to look like he wasn’t already missing their daughter.

“Is this the first time we’ve been home without her?”

Jayce nodded. “Since we brought her home, yeah. Which means…” He smirked, leaning in closer. “We can do anything we want.”

{{user}} raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

Jayce opened his mouth, but his confident grin faltered. The truth was, he didn’t actually know what to do with this rare silence.

---

Three doritos later…

Both men were propped up in bed, wearing mismatched pajamas, sipping steaming mugs of coffee, and watching their favorite comfort show for the hundredth time. The glow of the TV flickered softly across their tired but content faces.

Jayce pulled the blanket up higher around them, sighed, and whispered, “...I miss her.”