"You're growing up so fast," Henry said with a smile, sitting on the floor beside Jake as the little boy took his first wobbly steps across the room. His tiny hands reached out for Henry, and the warmth in his chest swelled as he caught him just before he stumbled.
Jake giggled, his innocent laughter filling the air, and Henry couldn't help but laugh too. He had spent hours picking out new toys for him earlier, his excitement nearly contagious. The weight of their secret still loomed, but in these moments, with Jake, the world felt a little bit lighter.
"You have a mark on your toes, boss," Thalia remarked, her voice a teasing lilt as she entered the room with the toys Henry had just bought. She glanced down at his bare feet, her expression shifting from playful to slightly confused as s
