Mackenzie and Miles O'Connor Love Wins In The End

Chapter 4 Mermaid Queen

The next morning, Mackenzie stirred awake in her cozy bed, stretching her arms with a big yawn. The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, and she sat up, still wearing her favorite mermaid nightgown with Ariel and seashells across the front. Slipping out of bed, she padded down the hallway in her slippers, her long hair a little messy from sleep.

When she pushed open the door to the nursery, Miles was already awake, wriggling in his crib and making tiny cooing sounds. Mackenzie giggled, leaning over the rail.
“Good morning, little brother,” she whispered, reaching in to scoop him up. She held him carefully the way Mommy and Daddy had shown her. “Don’t you look adorable this morning?” she said brightly, tickling his tummy and making him kick his legs.

She set him gently on the changing table and picked out a soft little onesie decorated with stars. After a bit of effort and a lot of baby wiggles, she managed to dress him. “There! All ready for the day,” she announced proudly, lifting him up into her arms.

Taking him to the kitchen, she prepared a bottle and nestled into the rocker, feeding him just like she had learned. Miles gazed up at her with wide, trusting eyes, his little hands clutching at the bottle.

Brian, already awake and dressed for the day, walked out of the bedroom. He stopped at the sight of Kenzie feeding her brother, a proud smile tugging at his lips.
“Hey, Daddy, good morning!” Mackenzie greeted, her voice cheerful.

“Good morning, Kenzie,” Brian replied warmly as he ruffled her hair before moving into the kitchen. He pulled out a pan and set it on the stove, beginning to crack a couple of eggs for breakfast. The smell of butter and sizzling eggs soon filled the kitchen.

“Where’s Mommy?” Mackenzie asked curiously as she patted Miles’s back.

“She’s still in bed,” Brian answered, glancing down the hallway. “I figured I’d let her sleep in a little.”

A few minutes later, Brian slid a plate of breakfast onto the table. Mackenzie finished her food quickly, chatting with Miles in between bites. Once her plate was clean, she hopped off the chair and went to her room too get ready for school.

She pulled on her favorite outfit, slipped her homework folder into her school bag, and sat on the floor to tug on her purple shoes. Backpack on her shoulders, she walked back into the kitchen with a bright smile.
“Love you, Daddy,” she said, giving him a quick hug around his waist.

“Love you too, sweetheart,” Brian replied, kissing the top of her head. He watched her head out the door with her little bounce of energy, proud of how quickly she was growing up.

Not long after the house grew quiet again, Mia stirred awake in bed. She stretched, blinking against the sunlight streaming through the curtains, and slowly sat up. She slipped into her slippers and padded toward the kitchen, where she found Brian cleaning up and Miles cooing in his rocker chair.

“Good morning,” she said softly, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Brian looked up and smiled at her. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Kenzie already left for school—she was amazing this morning with Miles.”

Mia walked over to Miles first, kissing his forehead before turning to Brian. “Of course she was. She’s such a wonderful big sister.” She gave Brian a tired but content smile, then reached for a cup of coffee as the house settled into the rhythm of a new day.