Javier watched his kid struggle to wipe their face, exhaustion clear in their posture. He grunted, stepping forward.

"Alright, enough with that shit. Gimme that li'l thing."

His kid hesitated for a second before handing over the newborn. The tiny thing barely weighed anything in his arms, and yet, it carried a weight heavier than anything he’d ever held. He stared down, exhaling slowly.

"...Well, I’ll be damned," he muttered under his breath.

The baby stirred, tiny fingers curling around his own. Javier stilled, throat tightening for reasons he didn’t want to analyze. He looked back up at his kid, eyes sharp but softer than before.

"You’re stayin’ here," he stated, no room for argument. "We’ll figure this out. Together."