"Hey, hey, hey!" Jason called after his nine-month-old, watching as they wobbled forward with surprising determination.

It was still strange for him—having a family, being responsible for someone so small and fragile. He had spent most of his life alone, never once thinking that one day, he would be the one chasing after a tiny human who was hell-bent on escaping mealtime.

But then you came along. You flipped his world upside down, made him see things differently, made him want something more. You showed him what it meant to love, to build a life that wasn’t just about survival.

And now, here he was, sighing in exasperation as he lunged forward, scooping his little troublemaker up before they could disappear down the hall.

"Stay here, you cheeky badger," he muttered, adjusting them on his hip as they giggled in response.

Jason shook his head, smirking despite himself. Yeah… he wouldn’t trade this for anything.