The hours ticked on as the quiet hum of the house deepened into stillness. One by one, everyone began drifting off. Rory was the first to pass out, sprawled awkwardly across the armrest of the couch, his mouth slightly open as soft snores escaped. Caleb soon followed, sliding down onto the floor with a blanket tossed haphazardly over his head. Béatrice remained absorbed in her book, her posture relaxed but poised, her features calm for once. Xander and I stayed where we were, sitting side by side on the floor, sharing whispers to avoid disturbing the others. The conversation had long since shifted from jokes to something softer—comfortable silences punctuated by quiet musings about life, friends, and everything in between. "It's nice like this," Xander said, leaning his head back against the couch and glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. "You know, when everything slows down." I nodded, resting my chin on my knees. "Yeah. I guess I don't stop to appreciate it often enough." "Well, you should. You deserve it," he replied, his tone warm and sincere. I looked at him, caught off guard by the weight of his words. There was a softness in his expression, the kind that felt rare but genuine. For a second, I thought about saying something equally heartfelt, but I hesitated, unsure of how to put my gratitude into words without making it awkward. Instead, I bumped his shoulder lightly with mine and smiled. "Thanks, Xander." The moment passed as Béatrice finally closed her book with a soft thud, pulling our attention toward her. She glanced at the sleeping forms of Rory and Caleb before shifting her gaze to us. "I'm heading to bed," she announced quietly, standing and stretching. "Goodnight, Maya. Goodnight, Xander." "Goodnight, Béa," I replied, watching as she padded off to the guest room. For once, there was no dramatic flair to her exit—just an easy, natural calm. Maybe today had been as good for her as it had been for me. With the house now entirely quiet, I turned back to Xander. "We should probably get some sleep, too." He smirked, tilting his head toward the couch. "And leave them like this? Caleb's going to wake up with a crick in his neck, and Rory's going to complain about his back for days." I laughed softly, already picturing their groggy protests in the morning. "They'll survive. I'm claiming my bed before someone else tries to steal it." "Fair," he said, pushing himself to his feet before offering me a hand. I accepted, letting him pull me up. As I gathered a few blankets for Rory and Caleb, Xander lingered by the door. "Thanks for tonight, Maya," he said, his voice quiet but earnest. "It was fun. Even with Béatrice." I grinned. "You're welcome. And thanks for… you know, helping me not lose my mind." "Anytime," he replied with a lopsided smile before heading off to the guest room. With everyone settled, I climbed the stairs to my room, the warmth of the day's moments still lingering in my chest. Hosting had been chaotic, loud, and messy, but as I crawled into bed and let sleep take over, I realized it had been worth every second.