MAYA, my love.

CHAPTER 42

Jared and Sophia exhaled in unison, finally feeling the weight lift from their shoulders as they settled into the quiet comfort of their home. Lilo, was safely back from the hospital, and the eerie silence that had dominated their lives during her absence had now been replaced with the soft, reassuring rhythm of her breath as she slept soundly.

Sophia sat beside Lilo's bed, her eyes tracing the rise and fall of her daughter's chest with each steady breath. It was a sight that filled her heart with both peace and sorrow. Just days before, Lilo had been a fragile shadow of herself, pale and gaunt from the illness. Now, as she slept, Sophia could scarcely believe how calm and untroubled her face appeared. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, trying to not cry again.

Jared stepped quietly into the room, his face softening as he gazed at his daughter's peaceful form. A faint, affectionate smile touched his lips. "Is she still asleep?" he asked, his voice low and gentle, as if not to disturb the fragile moment.

Sophia nodded, her own voice filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "She is. She's so tired, but... oh, Jared, look at her. She's so calm now. I can hardly bear to remember her face when she was so ill. Thank God we're through that."

Jared knelt by Lilo's side, pressing his hand to her forehead tenderly. He was grateful as there was no fever. His eyes met Sophia's and they shared a moment of mutual relief.

"I should be getting to work now," Jared said softly, rising to his feet, but Sophia's voice halted him mid-step. She moved slowly and caught the hem of his sleeve. Her head was bowed down as she didn't look at Jared.

"Jared, please..." she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Don't go today. You've been so busy for so long, and I... I just want you here with us. I need you with us."

Jared paused, and his heart softened as he took in the vulnerability in Sophia's eyes. The quiet plea in her voice broke something inside him, and he quicklt turned around and stepped closer to her, picking her up drawing her into his lap. She nestled against him, her face pressing into his shoulder as a quiet sob escaped her. The dam that had held her together for so long finally broke, and tears flowed freely. Her voice shook as she spoke, her words full of the deepest fear and love.

"I was so afraid, Jared," she confessed, her voice quivering. "You and Lilo are all I have."

Jared held her close, his arms wrapping around her with quiet strength. He whispered softly into her ear. "I'm here, Sophie. I'm not going anywhere. I'll call off work and stay right here with you both today. Ok?"

As her sobs quieted and exhaustion finally overcame her, Sophia fell into a peaceful sleep in his arms. Jared gazed down at her face. The lines of worry that etched her features pained him, and he felt the familiar pang of regret for the time he had lost while being away. Too many moments had slipped through his fingers, too many milestones in Lilo's life passed without him. Sophia had been through a lot alone.

He knew, deep down, that the shadow of war might soon return, and he could very well be called away again to serve alongside his highness. He wondered how he would find the strength to walk away from this—his family—again.

But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside. For the sake of freedom, every soldier had to leave their loved ones behind, to risk everything for a cause greater than themselves. To preserve the freedom of his country, himself and his family, he would shove his feelings down and go fight again. If need be he would do it all over again. It was the life he had sworn to live.

Jared said a quiet prayer that these moments with his family lasted a bit longer. Gently, he lifted Sophia from his lap and laid her down on the bed beside Lilo, making sure they were both tucked in snugly under the blanket. With a tender kiss on each of their cheeks, he took a seat in the chair beside their bedside, watching over them as they slept, his heart full of love and gratitude. The world outside could wait. For now, he had everything he needed, right here, with the two people he loved most.