Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Lost •|| WINTUMN + ARRI + ELLIE ||•

Prompt: Ellie accidentally got lost.

T

he morning was crisp, the air tinged with the faint scent of dew and the distant aroma of someone's early breakfast. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional chirp of a bird or the rustling of leaves in the wind. It was peaceful— until Autumn and Winter Fortune-Knight returned home.

As they stepped up the front porch, Winter furrowed his brow. The door was open.

"My sweet, did you leave the door like this?" Autumn asked, her voice hushed but urgent.

Winter shook his head. "No. And Arri always keeps it shut."

A chill ran through Autumn's spine as she pushed the door open fully. The house was still, eerily so. The usual sounds of their daughters— Ellie's little feet padding against the wooden floors, Arri’s occasional complaints about schoolwork— were absent. Something was wrong.

"Ellie? Arri?" Autumn called, stepping inside with Winter close behind.

Silence.

Autumn's heart pounded. "Where are they?"

Winter checked the living room, the kitchen, even the small laundry room. Nothing. "Ellie!" His voice was sharper now, worry creeping in.

Autumn rushed up the stairs two at a time, heading straight for Ellie's room. The toddler’s bed was empty, the blankets slightly rumpled but no sign of the little girl.

"Winter, she's not here!"

His footsteps thundered up the stairs. "Check Arri’s room."

Autumn hurried down the hall, practically throwing Arri’s bedroom door open.

Arri was there— but she wasn’t awake.

She was slumped over her desk, her head resting on her folded arms. Schoolwork was spread out around her, notes scribbled in the margins, a pen still clutched loosely in her fingers. She must've stayed up late studying.

"Arri!" Autumn rushed over, shaking her daughter's shoulder.

The nineteen-year-old groaned, blinking groggily. "What? Mom?" She rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep. "What’s going on?"

"Ellie’s missing!"

That woke Arri up instantly.

"What?" Arri shot to her feet, her chair scraping against the hardwood floor. She was already moving before Autumn could explain, dashing down the stairs two at a time.

Winter was outside now, his face tight with panic as he scoured the backyard. Autumn was checking every nook and cranny of the house, from the basement to the hallway closets.

Arri, heart hammering, ran to the street.

"Ellie! Ellie, where are you?!"

Her voice echoed through the quiet neighborhood.

A door creaked open across the street.

"Arianna," called a familiar voice. Mrs. Holloway, their elderly neighbor, stood on her porch, her expression gentle yet concerned. "Are you looking for Ellie?"

Arri spun around. "Yes! Have you seen her?"

Mrs. Holloway nodded, stepping aside to reveal a small figure standing behind her. A little girl with curly black hair and wide blue eyes, clutching a stuffed bunny.

"Ellie!" Relief flooded Arri as she ran across the street.

Ellie’s face lit up. "Awwi!" She toddled forward, arms outstretched.

Arri scooped her up, holding her tightly. "You scared us! Why did you go outside?"

Ellie sniffled, burying her face in Arri's shoulder. "Woke up, no one home... wanted to find you."

Mrs. Holloway patted Ellie's back. "I saw her wandering outside, looking confused. I didn’t want to leave her alone, so I brought her inside and gave her some juice while I tried to figure out where you all were."

"Thank you," Arri said sincerely, her voice thick with emotion.

Autumn and Winter rushed over then, both of them looking breathless and frantic. The moment Winter saw Ellie in Arri’s arms, he exhaled deeply, rubbing a hand over his face. Autumn immediately reached out, running her hands over Ellie’s little arms and face as if making sure she was really there.

"Ellie, you scared us," Autumn said, her voice shaking slightly.

"I sowwy," Ellie mumbled.

Winter took her from Arri, hugging her tightly. "Don’t do that again, okay? Stay inside. You wait for us."

Ellie nodded against his chest.

Autumn turned to Mrs. Holloway. "Thank you so much for looking after her."

Mrs. Holloway smiled warmly. "Of course, dear. She's a sweet girl."

Arri let out a long breath, exhaustion washing over her now that the adrenaline was fading. "I'm so sorry— I must've fallen asleep and didn't hear anything. I thought she was still sleeping..."

Autumn pulled her eldest into a hug. "It’s okay, sweetheart. It was just a mistake. A scary one, but it’s okay now."

Winter placed a hand on Arri’s shoulder. "You’re always so responsible, Arri. This isn’t your fault."

Arri swallowed, nodding as she leaned into her mom’s embrace.

Ellie peeked up from Winter’s arms. "I fownd you," she said, smiling sleepily.

Winter chuckled, pressing a kiss to her curls. "Yeah, you did, little love"

And with that, the Fortune-Knight family walked home— together.

[A/N: Well, good morning little munchkins! :'D To my readers who have kids, EVEN IF THERE'S SOMEONE WHO CAN LOOK AFTER YOUR CHILD BUT ISN'T AWARE YOU'RE GONE, LET YOUR ABSENCE BE KNOW (not sure if that made sense). I almost had a heart attack this morning because my sister was nowhere to be found and the door was open. SHE'S FIVE. And she was at our neighbor's house thank god, but... Both me and my older were upstairs in our rooms asleep. It was kinda my fault bc I didn't hear shit even tho I wake up at the slightest sounds, but that was terrifying. Perfect way to start my Monday to be honest.]

[A/N: And not a SINGLE word about how this is the third(?) time I changed the name I use for the Wintumn baby.]