On a Saturday morning at Felix's house: After a the trouble he had caused Stephanie for the past few weeks, he woke up early to make breakfast for her and Jay.Felix quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Stephanie. He knew he had a lot to make up for—weeks of working late, missed dinners, and countless evenings where she had carried the load alone. This morning, he was determined to show her just how much he appreciated everything she did for their family.
He tiptoed down the hallway and into the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves as he set out ingredients. He planned to make Stephanie's favorite: fluffy pancakes with fresh berries, a side of scrambled eggs, and warm coffee. He glanced over at the clock; it was early, but he wanted everything to be perfect by the time they woke up.
As he poured the pancake batter into the sizzling pan, the familiar smell began to fill the kitchen. Felix smiled, imagining the look on Stephanie's face when she realized he'd taken the time to do something special for her. He added a sprinkle of cinnamon to the batter, just the way she liked it, and then started on the eggs.
Just as he was finishing up, he heard a quiet shuffling from the hallway. Jay appeared, rubbing his eyes as he looked around, still half-asleep.
"Hey, buddy," Felix whispered, bending down to give him a gentle hug. "You're up early."
Jay looked up at him, a little confused. "Dad, what are you doing? Are you making breakfast?"
Felix chuckled softly, tousling Jay's hair. "Yeah, I wanted to surprise Mommy. You want to help?"
Jay's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. Felix handed him a spoon, showing him how to stir the fresh berries in a little bit of sugar. Jay giggled as he watched the berries turn syrupy and bright.
"Mommy's gonna love this!" Jay whispered, looking up at his dad with a grin.
"I hope so," Felix said, smiling. "She deserves something nice, don't you think?"
Jay nodded solemnly. "Yeah, she's the best."
Felix felt a surge of warmth at that—knowing Jay recognized how special Stephanie was. He placed the last pancake on a plate, arranging everything neatly, and poured two cups of coffee, making one just the way Stephanie liked it: a dash of cream, no sugar. Jay carefully carried the bowl of berries as they walked back up the stairs towards the bedroom.
Felix nudged the door open with his foot, and Stephanie stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked over, blinking in surprise at the sight of Felix and Jay standing there with breakfast in hand.
"Good morning, beautiful," Felix said softly, giving her a warm smile. "We wanted to bring you breakfast."
Stephanie's face softened, a mix of surprise and confusion he looked at Felix then at Jay. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?" She questioned looking at Felix.
"Work doesn't matter right now, all that matters right now is you." He replied helping her get up, "We made your favorite pancakes." He said placing a small portable table over her legs and placed the food infront of her. "Did you help Jay?" She asked him. Jay smiled brightly and nodded, "I helped with the berries."
Stephanie smiled, touched by their thoughtfulness. She reached over to ruffle Jay's hair, her heart melting at the pride shining in his eyes. "Well, then, thank you both. This is the sweetest surprise."
Felix sat down on the edge of the bed, watching as Stephanie took her first bite of the pancakes. She closed her eyes, savoring the familiar taste, and let out a small, contented sigh. "These are perfect. You remembered the cinnamon."
"Of course," Felix said, his gaze soft. "I know it's your favorite."
Stephanie looked at him, her expression softening as the weight of the past few weeks hung between them. She knew Felix had been trying, but work had demanded so much of him lately, and she'd felt his absence deeply. Seeing him here, prioritizing her and Jay, made all the difference.
Jay, perched beside her on the bed, grinned as he picked at a pancake. "I told Daddy you'd love it," he said proudly.
"And you were absolutely right, sweetie." She leaned over, giving Jay a kiss on the forehead, then looked up at Felix, her expression grateful. "Thank you for this. Really."
Felix took her hand in his, a hint of apology in his eyes. "I know I've been out of the picture a lot lately, and I'm sorry. I don't want you or Jay to feel like you're not my top priority."
Stephanie squeezed his hand, her voice gentle. "I know you're doing your best. And I appreciate it." She paused, taking a breath. "But I do miss you. We miss you."
Felix nodded, his gaze steady. "I know. And I'm going to do better—I promise. From now on, weekends are family time. No more work, no more calls. Just us."
Jay's face lit up. "Does that mean we can go to the park today?"
Felix grinned, looking between Stephanie and Jay. "Absolutely. We can spend the whole day together. We can do anything you want once we take mommy to the doctor to check on your little siblings."
Stephanie's eyes widened in surprise and delight, a soft smile spreading across her face as she looked at Felix. "How did you know I have an appointment today?"
Felix chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee, watching Stephanie's reaction with a playful gleam in his eyes. "What, a husband can't keep track of his wife's checkups?"
Stephanie laughed, shaking her head as she looked at him. "You've been so busy with work; I didn't think you'd remember. I just… I didn't want to add to your plate."
Felix reached over, taking her hand in his. "Steph, you and Jay are my world. These babies are part of that world, too. No amount of work is more important than this."
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, her expression softening. "Thank you, Felix. It means so much to me that you're here."
Jay, munching happily on a pancake, chimed in, "So, after the doctor, we can go to the park, right?"
Felix grinned, ruffling Jay's hair. "Yep! The park, the ice cream shop—whatever you want, buddy. Today's all about you and Mom."
Jay's face lit up as he rattled off ideas—maybe the zoo, maybe the arcade, and maybe even a movie if they had time. Felix laughed, nodding along, already mentally planning the day ahead. Today was going to be special, a chance to put everything else aside and focus on what really mattered.
Once they finished breakfast and cleaned up, Felix helped Stephanie get ready, making sure she was comfortable. They piled into the car, Jay chattering excitedly in the backseat about all the things he wanted to do after the appointment. As they drove, Felix reached over, taking Stephanie's hand once more.
When they arrived at the doctor's office, Felix guided Stephanie inside, keeping a steadying hand on her back. Jay held her other hand tightly, looking around with wide eyes, clearly intrigued by the bustling waiting room.
Inside the exam room, Stephanie settled onto the cushioned table, and Felix sat beside her, keeping Jay on his lap so he could see everything. The doctor arrived, greeting them warmly before beginning the ultrasound. Stephanie held her breath, her eyes on the screen as the first image appeared—a faint, fluttering heartbeat, steady and strong.
Felix's eyes lit up, his hand tightening around hers as he whispered, "There they are…"
Jay's eyes were wide as he stared at the screen, his mouth forming a small "o" as he saw the tiny forms on the monitor. "Are those… the babies?" he whispered.
The doctor nodded, smiling at Jay. "Yes, those are your little siblings. See how they're moving?"
Jay's face broke into a delighted grin as he looked from the screen to Stephanie, then to Felix. "I'm gonna be the best big brother ever," he declared proudly.
Stephanie chuckled softly, brushing a hand through Jay's hair. "You already are, sweetheart."
The doctor pointed out each baby's tiny limbs, explaining their growth and development. Felix watched intently, feeling a mixture of awe and gratitude that he was able to be here, sharing this moment with his family.
After the appointment, they left the clinic, stepping out into the sunshine with an excited energy between them. Jay practically bounced beside them as he tugged on Felix's hand. "Now the park, right, Daddy?"
Felix laughed, nodding. "Yes, the park it is! Let's go show those monkey bars who's boss."
They spent the rest of the day just as they'd planned, making their way from the park to the ice cream shop, and even stopping at the zoo for a quick visit. Felix found himself lost in the simple joy of being with his family, watching Stephanie laugh as Jay raced from one exhibit to the next, showing off his "big brother" skills by explaining to each animal that he was going to have two new siblings.
As evening settled in, they made their way home, worn out but happy. Felix carried a sleepy Jay inside, tucking him into bed while Stephanie slipped off to their room to rest. After he kissed Jay goodnight, Felix found Stephanie already curled up on their bed, a soft smile on her face as she watched him come in.
He sat down beside her, reaching for her hand. "Today was amazing," he said quietly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Thank you for reminding me what matters."
Stephanie leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You reminded me, too. I know work keeps you busy, but knowing you're here… that makes everything feel right."
Felix pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "From now on, I'm making more time for this—for us. Our family deserves all the love and attention I can give."
Stephanie wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. They stayed there, content in each other's presence, the quiet peace of the day settling around them like a warm embrace. In that moment, Felix knew he'd found his balance, and he was determined to hold on to it—for Stephanie, for Jay, and for the two little lives they'd soon welcome into the world.
TBC