The soft sound of laughter filled the room as you sat on the couch, your daughter in your lap. Her small hands clutched a stuffed bear, her face bright with excitement as she tried to make the bear “talk” in a high-pitched voice. You chuckled at her innocence, her ability to turn the simplest of toys into something magical.

“Momma, look!” she said, holding the bear up to your face. “Mr. Bear wants to dance!”

You grinned, taking the bear from her hands and wiggling it in front of her face, making it “dance” as best as you could. She squealed, her laughter infectious, and for a moment, the weight of the world outside this moment seemed to fade away.

You were so caught up in her joy that you didn’t even notice the quiet footsteps approaching until Klaus’s voice broke through the bubble of happiness.

“You’re spoiling her,” he said, his tone neutral.