The fluorescent glow of the department store cast an artificial warmth over the shelves, the air filled with the subtle hum of background music and the occasional murmur of last-minute shoppers.
"Alright, let's start with the basics," Aiden muttered, eyeing the towering display of plush toys to his right. "She's turning what, thirteen?"
"Fifteen," Garrison corrected, running a hand down his face. "Fifteen, and I barely know what she likes."
That weight sat heavy between them-an unspoken truth Garrison was still struggling to admit to himself. He had been part of Marisol's life for only two years, stepping in after her father had passed, and he wasn't sure if he'd ever actually stepped into that role the way he should have.
Aiden sighed, grabbing a random stuffed dragon and holding it up. "Alright. What do we know? Favorite color? Favorite band? Anything?"
Garrison glanced around the shelves like the answers might be written on the price tags. "She likes music, I think. She draws sometimes, but I don't know if it's just a hobby or something she really cares about. Her old man-" He cut himself off, jaw tightening. "Her dad used to take her to those kpop concerts when she was younger. I think she still listens to that kinda stuff."
Lila hummed, flipping through a rack of jewelry. "That's a start."
Rowan, meanwhile, had wandered to the video game section, already skimming through titles. "She's a gamer then, right?"
Garrison frowned. "I... I don't know. I've only seen the other two playing all the time."
Lila shot him a reassuring smile, placing a hand on his arm. "Hey, it's okay. That's what today's for, right? You're trying. That's what matters."
Garrison forced a smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "Trying and failing. But yeah. I just... I want to do something for her. Make up for all the times I wasn't there."
Aiden smirked, nudging him with his elbow. "Then let's do this right."
They moved through the store, building the perfect 'Daddy-Daughter' day. A hoodie in her favorite color. A sketchbook, so she could draw whatever she wanted. Concert merch from a band she might still listen to. Lila picked out a charm bracelet-something Garrison could keep adding to over time.
Rowan, on the other hand, had stopped by the video games, holding up a new RPG title with a satisfied grin.
"You have no idea if she even plays video games," Lila pointed out.
Rowan shrugged. "And? Maybe she wants to, but no one's introduced her to the good stuff. If she doesn't want it, I'll take it."
Lila rolled her eyes but laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
Garrison eyed the small pile of gifts in the cart, fingers brushing over the bracelet. "You really think she'll like all this?"
Aiden clapped him on the back. "Dude, even if she doesn't, she'll see what you're trying to do. And that'll mean something."
Garrison doing his best to picture the day, nodded. "Yeah. I hope so."
They had snuck out after dinner, Garrison using work as an excuse. It wasn't entirely a lie-he was always on call, always one phone buzz away from something needing his attention. But tonight, it had been about this. About finally doing something right.
They stopped at the local off-brand Starbucks, the kind of place that tried too hard to be cozy but still smelled good enough to be worth the stop.
They slid into a booth, coffee steaming in their hands.
"I still think you should've gone with the dragon plushie," Rowan mused, stirring her drink with a plastic straw.
Lila smirked over the rim of her cup. "Because you wanted it."
"Hey, it was cool. Cool things should be appreciated."
Garrison shook his head with a soft chuckle, sipping his coffee. "I think we did alright. She's gonna love it." His voice carried a rare, quiet certainty, one that made Aiden glance at him with something close to admiration.
He was a good man. Maybe not the most present father, maybe too tied to his badge, but he was trying. And sometimes, trying was the hardest part.
Aiden leaned back, tapping his fingers against his cup. "So, what's the plan for the big day?"
Garrison's lips twitched into a small, almost sheepish smile. "I figured we'd start with breakfast, then shoot over to disneyland. Maybe end with a movie and ask what her favorite place for dinner is."
Rowan raised a brow. "Damn, disneyland. You're really pulling out all the stops arent ya."
"Spare no expense, right," Garrison murmured, his fingers curling slightly around his cup. "Its just, This is my chance to remind her that she's always gonna come first like her new siblings, no matter what."
Lila's gaze softened. "That's a beautiful way to show it."
Aiden smirked, raising his cup in mock salute. "To grand gestures and last-minute fatherly redemption."
Garrison shot him an amused look, shaking his head. "You're an ass, you know that?"
"Part of my charm."
"So, you two pick out names yet?" Garrison asked, stirring his drink before nodding toward Aiden and Lila. "Boy or girl?"
Lila's hand instinctively rested against her stomach, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We don't know yet. We wanted it to be a surprise."
Garrison raised a brow. "No hints? No instincts?"
Aiden shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. "I dunno. Part of me thinks it's a girl."
Lila smirked. "I think so too."
"So what's the name?" Garrison leaned back, genuinely curious.
"If it's a girl, I want to name her Amara," Lila said softly. "It just... feels right."
Aiden hummed into his cup. "I was thinking Sylvie."
Rowan shot him a look over her drink. "Of course, you would."
Aiden raised a brow at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Rowan didn't answer immediately. Instead, she slowly sipped the coffee in her cup, her expression unreadable. "Nothing," she said eventually, though the sharp edge in her tone suggested otherwise. "Just figured you'd go for something like that."
Lila glanced between the two of them before quickly steering the conversation back on track. "And if it's a boy, I was thinking Leo."
Aiden smirked. "Leo's solid."
Rowan, however, didn't look quite as entertained. "Kieran wasn't brought up."
Garrison frowned. "Who's Kieran?"
Silence.
Aiden's fingers curled slightly around his cup. Lila's shoulders tensed. Even Rowan seemed to regret saying it, quickly looking away.
"It's not important," Aiden said, his voice casual-too casual. "Just an old name from the past. Doesn't matter."
Garrison, perceptive as always, could tell that wasn't the full truth, but he let it go. He had enough on his mind already.
"Well," he said, exhaling, "whatever name you go with, the kid's gonna be lucky."
Lila's smile returned, softer this time. "Thanks, Garrison."
For a brief moment, everything felt easy again.
Then Aiden's phone rang.
She frowned, glancing at his screen. "Works calling baby, it's okay, you should take it."
Lila watched him answer, her gut sank at the way his expression darkened as he listened.
Then Garrison's phone rang.
He answered, his expression still light. "Garrison speaking."
A beat.
Aiden saw the exact moment everything changed.
Garrison sat too still, his knuckles whitening around the cup.
"What?"
Aiden leaned forward. "Garrison..."
Garrison's coffee hit the table with a sharp clatter, his body frozen, his free hand trembling against the tabletop.
"No," he muttered. "No, that-there has to be a mistake."
His voice wavered, breaking on the last syllable.
Aiden felt Lila shift beside him, uncomfortable by the silence. Rowan continued to sip her drink, confused by what she had heard.
Then Garrison was standing. Moving. His chair scraped against the floor, the sound grating and violent.
Aiden barely had time to process before he was running after him.
The gifts lay forgotten on the table-wrapped and waiting for a birthday that would never come.