𝙼𝙾𝙾𝙽 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙱𝙰𝙲𝙺. 𝙿𝙰𝙸𝙶𝙴 𝙱𝚄𝙴𝙲𝙺𝙴𝚁𝚂

Bonus II

Bonus II:

Azalea was exhausted.

It had been a long day at work—interviewing a witness in a high-profile case, consulting on an old homicide, and reviewing psychological evaluations. Being a forensic psychologist meant navigating the fine line between law and human behavior, and some days, like today, left her drained.

Still, she eventually got to humble abode, parking her Range Rover in her designated spot and grabbing her bag from the passenger side before stepping out, her red bottoms heels clicking onto the pavement as she beeped her car on lock. She wore her usual attire—fitted gray vest with button closures, paired with matching high-waisted, wide-leg trousers. Underneath, a cream-colored ribbed long-sleeve blouse and simply dainty jewelry. Her hair was down in her usual braids (which she missed dearly), flowing down her back in a boho style.

Stepping into the familiar warmth of her house, she placed the car keys on the small side table they kept there, as well as placing her bag down. Walking past the foyer, she sighed heavily, pushing her braids back as she walked farther down the hallway before turning the corner and entering the large, open space.

The evening sun shined through the large windows, painting a pretty yellow light into the large living room as she took in the quiet silence. The floor was cleaned, the tv was off, Bijou wasn't barking, and there were no toys everywhere.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Azalea looked over to the large sliding glass doors, her facing softening back once she saw the door was slightly opened. She immediately knew that they were outside.

Slipping out of her red bottoms, she placed them neatly by the couch, her feet feeling the cold of the floor as she walked towards the doors, sliding them farther open as she slipped past them, closing them behind her.

As she did, her heart fluttered at the beautiful sounds of Milena and Malakai's laughter ringing through the backyard. Her heart only skipped another beat as she heard Elijah's cute baby giggles, squealing at something she didn't know was happening.

Walking across the stoned patio, she turned the bushes corner and the sight was enough to make her die and resurrect.

There, in the center of it all, with the evening sun shining down, on a blanket sat her wife who was blowing bubbles into the air, with Milena and Malakai chasing them and popping them. Elijah, who had recently learned to stand up by himself, kept his tiny hands on Paige's shoulder to keep himself up as Paige blew bubbles down to his level so he could pop his own bubbles.

Scattered on the blanket was coloring books, coloring pencils and crayons and Elijah's toys. It was a mess but Azalea couldn't find it in herself to complain about it when her kids wore wide smiles on their faces and her beautiful wife was the reason behind them.

Milena finally seemed to notice her, immediately squealing loudly the second her wide eyes landed on her. "Mama!" She excitedly screamed, forgetting all about the bubbles as she immediately started running towards Azalea.

Her squeals had obviously gotten the attention of Paige and Malakai who also started following after his twin. "Mama! You're home!" He exclaimed, his voice laced with happiness.

Azalea chuckled at her kids, gently kneeling down as she expected their bodies to crash into hers. And that's exactly what happened as soon as Milena was close enough, wrapping her arms tightly around Azalea's neck, Malakai soon following after her.

Paige had turned her head to look at the scene, closing the bubble tap as she placed her hand on Elijah's back, supporting him. She watched them with a look so full of tenderness and warmth—a look that would never cease to exist when it came to her family.