Never Not You

Doubts

A/N: GUYS I HANDED IN MY ASSIGNMENT - WAS MEANT TO BE 15 MIN RECORDED BUT I WENT OVER JUST GOTTA HOPE THEY DON'T CUT IT OFF

Downstairs, as soon as Mateo spotted Leah entering the room, his face lit up with pure excitement. "Mama!" he shouted in his tiny voice, his little legs immediately propelling him forward in an attempt to run.

It wasn't exactly running—his steps were wobbly and uneven, more of a determined toddle—but he was giving it his all.

Leah, grinned widely. "Mateo!" she called back, matching his excitement as she bent down with open arms. As soon as he reached her, she scooped him up in a swift motion and hugged him tightly before swinging him around in a playful circle.

Mateo let out a burst of infectious giggles, his tiny hands clutching onto Leah's shoulders as his laughter filled the room.

Alex, who was lounging on the couch with a snack, glanced up and smirked. "You're going to make him dizzy."

"Let him be dizzy, he's having fun" Leah replied without missing a beat, holding Mateo securely as she stopped spinning and kissed his forehead. "Aren't you, little man? You love it."

Mateo responded with a delighted squeal, his bright eyes locking onto Leah's. "Mama!" he repeated, leaning his head onto her shoulder and giggling again, as though Leah was his entire world at that moment.

Leah's heart melted as she adjusted him on her hip, her smile softening into something more tender. "Missed me already, huh?" she said quietly, brushing his hair back gently.

Mateo didn't quite understand the question, but he babbled back some version of "mamama" and "yay!" that had Leah grinning all over again.

Aurora entered the room just in time to see the two of them, shaking her head fondly. "He's going to want you to do that every time now, you know."

Leah turned toward her with a playful smirk. "Worth it."

Alex smirked and said, "What took you so long?"

Aurora pointed at Leah without missing a beat. "Her."

Alex chuckled knowingly. "Makes sense."

Leah looked between the two of them, her face twisting into mock offense. "Excuse me?"

Aurora just smiled and leaned up to kiss her softly, the gesture silencing any further protest from Leah.

In Leah's arms, Mateo began to wriggle, his little hands reaching out toward Aurora as he babbled something unintelligible but determined.

"Oh, alright, come here, mi amor," Aurora said, taking him gently from Leah's arms. As soon as he was settled against her, she switched to Spanish, her voice soft and warm. "Hola, mi amorcito, ¿tuviste una buena siesta?"

Mateo babbled in response, his tone cheerful and affirmative, his tiny hands playing with a strand of Aurora's hair.

Aurora kissed his forehead before putting him down on the floor. She crouched beside him and asked, "¿Quieres comida o jugar? Do you want food or to play?"

Mateo's face lit up as he said, "Pway pwee!"

Aurora chuckled, brushing a hand over his soft curls. "Alright then, let's play."

She followed him to his toy box, sitting cross-legged on the floor as Mateo began pulling out his blocks and cars, babbling a mile a minute. Aurora listened intently, nodding along and responding with just enough Spanish or English to keep the game going, fully immersed in his little world.

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Leah, watching from the couch, smiled at the sight of them. She turned to Alex, who was scrolling through her phone, and said softly, "How lucky am I?"