HAPPINESS WE SEEK FOR

Chapter 15

Weeks had passed by. Life for the Olsen-Stan household had found a semblance of routine, though the transitions weren't without their bumps. The children, including Elia, were doing their best to adapt. The adults, too, navigated this new rhythm, balancing work, parenting, and the subtle shifts in their dynamic as smoothly as possible.

Elia, however, had begun to notice the change in her parents' schedules. Mama and Daddy were getting busier. Lizzie had been flying back and forth between Los Angeles and New York, juggling press junkets for her latest films and the ongoing filming of the new Avengers movie. Sebastian had his own projects piling up, leaving them with little uninterrupted family time.

Elia felt that nervous flutter in her chest again—what happens when I start physical school?
Her parents would be away for work, traveling as they always did, while she'd be stuck in school, unable to go with them. And though she knew this was part of their job, the thought of being left behind gnawed at her. I like online school just fine. Why do I have to change?
The longer she sat in her thoughts, the more doubt crept in, making her second-guess the decision to leave the comfort of online classes.

-/-

Lizzie and Sebastian had just returned to LA after a whirlwind weekend in New York. It was a chaotic trip—full of interviews, press events, and red carpets. They'd brought Elia with them, but since their schedules were so packed, she spent most of her time with her aunties.

When time allowed, Elia would tag along with Lizzie to press junkets and interviews. Her parents' friends—Lizzie's castmates—couldn't get enough of Elia. They gushed over how polite and sweet the teenager was, and Lizzie beamed with pride every time. She even bragged to Sebastian about it through texts, playfully arguing over who would get to bring Elia to work the next time.

After the hectic weekend, the family was back home in Los Angeles, enjoying a much-needed break. Lizzie and Sebastian decided to host a dinner with their Avengers family that night, something they hadn't done in months. Busy schedules had kept them from their usual gatherings, and they were eager to reconnect.

Lizzie stirred awake, snuggled into Sebastian's warmth. The morning sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow across their bedroom. But as she woke fully, her heart skipped a beat, and she sat up suddenly.
"Where's Eli?" she whispered in panic, her pulse quickening.

Sebastian, still half-asleep, wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her back down. "Shhh, calm down, honey," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "She woke up early. Luna was barking to go out, so Eli took her to play in the backyard."

Lizzie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. But the unease didn't entirely leave her.

"I still get spooked when I can't see her," she admitted quietly.

Sebastian kissed her temple, his voice soft with understanding. "I know." He knew all too well how the trauma lingered. Ever since Elia's accident and the months she spent in a coma, Lizzie had been plagued by nightmares. She would wake up in a cold sweat, haunted by the fear of losing Elia again. Sebastian was the only one she had confided in about those nights.

"I'm just a little concerned that you slept through Luna barking," Sebastian teased gently, hoping to lift the mood.

Lizzie laughed, shaking her head. "I haven't slept well in days. You weren't in bed with me long enough to cuddle properly. One of us is always up early or getting home late."

"What time is it?" Lizzie asked, furrowing her brow.

"Eight."

Lizzie's eyes widened. "She woke up before nine on her day off? That's... unusual."