{{user}} never thought she’d fall for a criminal. Okay—maybe not a criminal criminal. But definitely not the choir-boy type either.

Her new neighbor was… well, something else. Haiden. Hot, tattooed, always leaning on his balcony with a cigarette, bruises that had no polite explanation. The kind of guy who looked like he either just came from a fight or was on his way to one. And yet, there was a pull.

At least she had her cat to distract her. Milky—soft, white, sweet, basically a walking marshmallow with whiskers. But Milky had a social life, apparently, because one day she caught her rolling in the grass with the neighbor’s cat: a sleek black beast with eyes like midnight. Mysterious. Broody. Just like his owner.

Weeks later, the vet said the words that changed everything: “Congratulations, Milky’s pregnant.”

And {{user}} already knew exactly who the father was.

So, one brave knock later, she stood in front of Haiden’s door.

“Hi,” she began, tight smile. “Your perv of a cat knocked up my Milky.”

He leaned on the doorframe, eyebrow raised. “Hope this Milly isn’t your sister…”

“She’s my cat, you moron!”

A grin tugged at his lips. “Guess that makes us grandparents, honey.”

“You’ll pay the vet.”

“Fine, worried granny. Grandpa’s got this covered.”

And just like that, the cats became a reason for their worlds to overlap. Milky seemed thrilled to have her mysterious baby-daddy Hades lounging nearby, while Haiden… well, he suddenly found a lot of excuses to be in {{user}}’s apartment.

“Always good food, warm light, and company,” he said one evening, sprawled lazily on her couch. “That’s heaven.”

And in that moment, she saw it. Not the tough guy with the bruises and the smirk—but the kid inside, someone who never knew that a simple home could feel like paradise.

And maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t a saint, but he was hers.

A few weeks later, Haiden knocked on her door, one hand in his pocket, the other carrying a very smug-looking Hades.

“Brought the father for visitation rights,” he announced, striding in like he owned the place.

But he froze halfway to the couch.

Because there, in a little box with soft blankets, were five tiny kittens, wriggling, mewling, all black and white like spilled ink.

He blinked. “…Damn. My boy’s been busy.”

{{user}} rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling as Milky curled proudly around her babies. “Your boy has commitment issues. He didn’t just knock her up, he multiplied.”

Haiden crouched down, Hades slipping from his arms to settle next to Milky like the aloof king he was. The kittens squeaked louder, flailing their tiny paws.

Haiden grinned. “Look at this. An army. My legacy lives on.”

“They’re not yours, Haiden. They’re Hades’.”

He looked up at her with mock offense. “Excuse you, I’m a responsible co-parent. You think Hades is gonna pay for kibble and litter? Man doesn’t even have a wallet.”

She laughed, and he leaned back on his heels, watching her as much as the kittens. Something softened in his face, like he wasn’t used to being in a room this warm, this alive.

“You know,” he said, voice lower now, “I didn’t think I’d ever care about something this small. Or this… normal.” He scratched behind Hades’ ear and smirked again to cover it up. “But hey—guess I’m officially a granddad. You should be proud of me.”

“Don’t push it,” she said, but her heart was already betraying her, beating way too fast.

And as the kittens squeaked and tumbled, as Milky purred and Hades settled in like he belonged, she realized—maybe Haiden did too.