I just hated being away." He looked at her. "We should talk." Lena's pulse kicked up. "Now, if you're ready," she sat down, leaving space between them.
I'm ready. Adrien leaned forward, hands clasped. 3 months ago, I stopped because Sophieie saw someone who needed help. I didn't know you. Didn't know if you'd stay an hour or a day.
But you're still here. And somewhere along the way, this stopped being temporary. For me, too, Lena said quietly. The kids love you. They trust you.
Sophieie wants you at every school event. Thomas asked your opinion on everything. Marcus got suspended defending your honor. He paused and I I don't know when it happened, but I started looking forward to coming home because you'd be there. Started planning my day around having dinner with you.
Started feeling like we were building something real. Lena's throat tightened. Adrien, I'm not asking you to be their mother. They had a mother. I'm not trying to replace Catherine.
He met her eyes. But I'm asking if you want to stay. Not as help, not as temporary, as part of this family. as he stopped, seeming to struggle for words. "As what?" Lena whispered.
"As someone I love," the words hung in the air between them. "You love me," she repeated, testing the shape of it. "Yes, no hesitation. I love you." And if that's too much, too soon, I understand.
But you asked what I wanted, and that's the truth. I want you here. I want Lena kissed him. It wasn't planned, wasn't thought through. She just leaned over and pressed her lips to his, stopping the words that were making her chest hurt in the best possible way.
He froze for half a second, then kissed her back. Gentle at first, then deeper. His hand came up to cup her face, and she leaned into it, into him, into this impossible thing that was happening. When they broke apart, she was crying. "Hey," Adrien said softly, wiping tears with his thumb.
"What's wrong?" Nothing. Everything. I don't know. She laughed watery.
I thought I was broken. Marcus said I was defective and I believed him. And then you stopped at that bus shelter and you didn't see someone defective. You just saw someone who needed help. You're not broken.
Adrien said firmly. You never were. I can't have kids. I know. I have three already.
But Lena, he took her hands. I'm not Marcus. I don't need you to give me children. I need you to be you. To be here, to keep burning dinner and making Sophieie laugh and teaching Thomas algebra.
That's what I need. She kissed him again harder this time, trying to convey everything she couldn't put into words. He pulled her closer, and she went willingly, fitting against him like she'd been made for this exact spot. Dad. They broke apart to find all three kids standing in the doorway, staring.