The elevator ride felt longer than it actually was.
Lillian stood beside Sebastian while he leaned lightly against the wall.
He was exhausted.
The hospital had discharged him.
That didn't mean he was healthy.
Far from it.
The doctor had made that painfully clear.
The elevator doors opened.
Lillian led the way down the hallway.
Sebastian followed.
A small backpack hung over his shoulder.
Inside were his medications, discharge paperwork, and Ellie's drawing.
When they reached the apartment door, Lillian unlocked it.
Immediately, a familiar voice echoed through the apartment.
"Mommy!"
A second later, small footsteps thundered across the floor.
The door had barely opened before Ellie appeared.
The little girl launched herself toward Lillian.
"Mommy!"
Lillian laughed and knelt down.
"Hi, sweetheart."
Ellie wrapped both arms around her.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
The little girl squeezed her tighter.
Then her bright blue eyes shifted.
Past Lillian.
To the tall man standing behind her.
Sebastian froze.
Ellie stared at him.
For a second, neither moved.
Then her face lit up.
"Daddy!"
The word hit him directly in the chest.
Before he could react, Ellie ran toward him.
Sebastian completely panicked internally.
He had handled hostile shareholders.
He had handled billion-dollar negotiations.
He had handled corporate disasters.
A three-year-old running toward him?
Absolutely terrifying.
Then Ellie threw her little arms around his legs.
And every coherent thought immediately vanished.
"Daddy!"
Sebastian looked down at her.
Slowly, carefully, he rested a hand on her blonde hair.
"Hi, Ellie."
The smile she gave him was enough to make his chest ache.
Behind her, two familiar figures stood from the living room sofa.
Thomas Parker.
Caroline Parker.
Lillian's parents.
Sebastian hadn't seen them in years.
The atmosphere immediately became slightly awkward.
Thomas studied him carefully.
Sebastian looked thinner.
Paler.
Tired.
Nothing like the confident young businessman Thomas remembered.
"Mr. Parker."
Sebastian spoke first.
Thomas nodded.
"Sebastian."
Neither man seemed entirely sure what to say next.
Finally Thomas crossed his arms.
"You look terrible."
Lillian sighed.
"Dad."
"What?"
Thomas shrugged.
"It's true."
To everyone's surprise, Sebastian actually laughed.
"A lot of people have told me that recently."
Caroline shook her head.
"You gave everyone quite a scare."
Sebastian's smile faded slightly.
"I know."
Caroline's expression softened.
"Just focus on getting better."
For a moment, nobody mentioned the past.
Nobody mentioned the breakup.
Nobody mentioned the three years Sebastian had unknowingly missed.
Instead, Caroline simply walked over and gave his arm a gentle squeeze.
"Take care of yourself."
The simple gesture surprised him.
After a little while, Thomas checked the time.
"We should go."
Caroline nodded.
They had only stayed to make sure Lillian made it home safely.
Now it was time to give them space.
Thomas grabbed his coat.
Then looked at Sebastian.
"If anything happens, call."
Sebastian blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Thomas shrugged.
"You're stuck with us now."
The statement caught him off guard.
Before he could respond, Thomas was already heading toward the door.
Caroline smiled.
"Call us if you need anything."
Then she added:
"That includes you too, Sebastian."
For some reason, that affected him more than expected.
He simply nodded.
"Thank you."
A few moments later, the apartment became quieter.
The front door closed behind Thomas and Caroline.
And suddenly it was just the three of them.
Lillian.
Ellie.
Sebastian.
Ellie immediately grabbed Sebastian's hand.
"Come!"
Sebastian blinked.
"What?"
"Come!"
She started pulling him deeper into the apartment.
Lillian smiled.
"Good luck."
"You're not helping."
"Nope."
Ellie dragged him straight toward her room.
The moment they entered, she pointed dramatically.
"My room!"
Sebastian looked around.
Colorful walls.
Books.
Drawings.
Stuffed animals.
A room built entirely for a little girl.
Ellie immediately began introducing him to everything.
Every single thing.
Her favorite books.
Her favorite blanket.
A stuffed bear.
A toy dinosaur.
Several drawings.
And finally—
A stuffed rabbit.
Ellie picked it up proudly.
"My bunny."
The rabbit looked slightly worn from years of love.
Sebastian smiled.
"Bunny?"
Ellie nodded enthusiastically.
"My bunny."
Then she hugged it tightly.
As if demonstrating exactly how important it was.
Sebastian smiled.
"It looks very important."
"It is."
The seriousness in her voice nearly made him laugh.
For the next hour, Ellie continued showing him every corner of her world.
And Sebastian listened to every word.
Every story.
Every explanation.
Every random observation.
As if each one were precious.
Because they were.
Eventually, Lillian guided them back toward the guest room.
The room itself was simple.
A bed.
A dresser.
A lamp.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing remotely comparable to his mansion.
Yet somehow it felt warmer.
Less lonely.
Ellie immediately climbed onto the bed.
Then looked between the two adults.
"Daddy staying?"
Sebastian froze.
Lillian froze.
Then Ellie asked:
"Daddy staying forever?"
The room instantly became awkward.
Ellie remained blissfully unaware.
Lillian recovered first.
"Daddy is staying until he feels better."
Ellie considered that.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
Problem solved.
Children truly were remarkable.
The afternoon passed peacefully.
By dinner, Sebastian was exhausted.
Not because of work.
Because of Ellie.
The little girl somehow possessed endless energy.
During dinner she talked constantly.
About preschool.
About cartoons.
About a bird she'd seen.
About a classmate.
About bunny.
Mostly about bunny.
Sebastian listened to every word.
Never once looking at his phone.
Never once seeming distracted.
Lillian noticed.
And quietly looked away.
Because it hurt.
Not in a bad way.
Just enough to remind her how different things could have been.
Later that night, bedtime arrived.
Ellie immediately made a request.
"Daddy story."
Both adults froze.
"What?" Sebastian asked.
"Daddy read."
Lillian looked amused.
Sebastian looked terrified.
Twenty minutes later he found himself sitting beside Ellie's bed with a children's book in his hands.
Completely out of his depth.
He cleared his throat.
Then began reading.
Awkwardly.
Carefully.
Like he was reviewing a complicated contract.
Ellie loved it.
By the middle of the story she was smiling.
By the end she was fighting sleep.
And shortly afterward, she drifted off completely.
Peaceful.
Safe.
Sebastian sat there quietly for a moment.
Just watching her.
His daughter.
Then he carefully stood.
And left the room.
Closing the door softly behind him.
When he turned around, Lillian was waiting in the hallway.
Neither spoke immediately.
Sebastian glanced back toward Ellie's room.
A soft smile touched his face.
Then he looked at Lillian.
"Thank you."
She understood immediately.
Not for the apartment.
Not for letting him stay.
For Ellie.
For letting him know her.
For giving him a chance to be her father.
Lillian's expression softened.
"You're welcome."
For a moment they simply stood there in the quiet hallway.
And for the first time in years, Sebastian felt something he thought he'd lost forever.
Home.