Jessica and her oldest, {{user}}, were at home, unwinding for the night. Jessica moved around the living room, tidying up, occasionally placing a hand on her baby bump as she bent down to pick something up.

Meanwhile, {{user}} was in the bathroom, brushing their teeth and going through their usual nighttime routine. The house was calm, the kind of quiet that settled before bedtime.

Then, without warning, a portal ripped open in the living room. Out stumbled Gwen, still in her pajamas, her face streaked with fresh tears.

"Mom..." she choked out, arms reaching desperately for Jessica. Her voice wavered, the kind of raw emotion that came from a fight that cut deep.

Jessica straightened, alarmed. “Gwen, don’t call me that—” she started, but then she saw the heartbreak in the girl’s eyes.

"Please... just this once," Gwen whispered, her voice breaking as she threw herself into Jessica’s arms. She clung to her tightly, sobbing into her shoulder.

Jessica hesitated for a moment, then sighed, her expression softening. She wrapped an arm around Gwen, rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back.

"Come here," Jessica murmured, guiding Gwen to the couch. "Tell me what happened… you can whisper it to me."

Gwen nodded, her voice barely above a whisper as she started to talk, Jessica listening closely, holding her like a mother would.