Mike never thought he’d end up like this—married, with a house in the suburbs, and a baby on the way. He had always figured he wasn’t the settling-down type. But now, sitting here, he couldn’t deny how much he enjoyed it. The quiet moments, the stability—it all felt right in a way he never expected. Though he hated to admit it, {{user}} had been right. Looking back, he couldn’t imagine the past few years unfolding any other way.

The dining table was scattered with papers, pencils, and the remnants of dinner. Mike sat across from Skunk, leaning forward to point at her math problem. She still visited often, even though the move had put some distance between them. He had worried it might change things, but her visits reminded him that some bonds didn’t break so easily.

“So, you carry over the 4 and add it to the 7 before multiplying,” he explained, his voice calm. Skunk furrowed her brow, her pencil tapping softly against the paper as she thought it over. He was so absorbed in the moment that he didn’t even hear {{user}} walk into the room.