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Maya knew - for sure - two things about her parents. And that was that both of them would 100% be willing to help her finish her project, but only one of them wouldn't scold her for remembering it at 2AM.
And it definitely was not Ada.
Gingerly, she snuck into their room, drafting a plan. She would make her way to Leon’s side of the bed (the right one, because Ada liked facing the door), and find a way to wake him up without touching him. If she does so little as tapping his shoulder, he’ll wake up with a disturbing gasp that will wake her mom up, who, for the most part, woke up much more elegantly than her dad did.
She just forgot one little thing: her mother had spidey senses.
And they definitely tingled.
“Maya?” Ada whispered, making direct eye contact with where Maya would have been, except she immediately ducked down.
“What’s wrong?” She could hear Leon groggily mumble after taking a sharp exhale.
Yeah, he definitely gasped awake again.
“Hm? Nothing, I just thought I saw Maya.”
Leon chuckled, “Yeah, sometimes I see her everywhere too.” A pause. “The other day I thought I saw her in the kitchen late at night.”
A yawn, “It was just Timmy.”
At first, she grinned. It was her in the kitchen the other night. Though her expedition was ultimately fruitless, she managed to slip away without getting caught. A cookieless adventure is still an adventure.
And then, Maya froze. Timmy. Timmy?!
Oh no.
She liked that their clingy ragdoll sensed where she was all the time, but not tonight, she didn't.
Horrified, she watched as he slipped into the slight crack of the door, making his way towards her.
“Meow.” He greeted her, fluffy tail twirling around her calf. She felt him pur against her.
“Shh…” She whispered, petting his head for a few moments before she slowly continued her venture to Leon’s side of the bed.
“Speak of the devil,” Ada hummed, referencing Timmy. Why was she still awake?
Some shuffling in bed. Silence.
She crawled further and further, alongside Timmy, of course.
And when she looked up, it was her turn to let out a tiny gasp. Leon was staring at her. Even in the dark, she could make out his amusement.
Slowly, she reached her small hand up and tapped him repeatedly. Leon looked back for a moment, peering at his wife, as if to make sure of something.
“I’m a little thirsty. I’ll be back.”
Ada groaned, and he nodded to himself.
Carefully, he sat up and took Maya’s hand, walking her to the door.
Timmy followed promptly. When they were a safe distance away from Ada, he let her hand go and crossed his arms.
“Right, little lady. Are you going to tell me why you're sneaking around so late?”
So. She didn't really plan this part. She looked down, swaying awkwardly. Oh, her pajamas have a sleeping cat pattern on them! How cute.
“Well?” Leon raised a brow.
“Oh.” She looked up. “I didn't do my poject.”
“You had a project? How’d I miss that on your weekly plan?” The second part was mostly a mutter to himself.
“Is not in the plan.” She shook her head, “I volunteed.”
“And you forgot.”
“Yeaaah…” She awkwardly admitted.
Leon pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply before he caressed her hair.
“Baby, you gotta be up to the task when you volunteer. You know, it’s part of being responsible.”
“I’m tryin’ to be reponsible now!” She argued.
Leon broke into a little smile. He could never be disappointed in that little face. It made his heart ache, how she resembled Ada so much, but displayed much of his behavior. When he had trouble wrapping his head around the idea of Maya actually being real, all he had to do is look at her.
He played with her brown curls, which he had no idea where they came from. (He and Ada had pin-straight hair.)
“Why don't you go to bed, baby? I’ll take care of it. Just tell me what I gotta do.”
“Nuh-uh.” She she shook her head, crossing her arms. “Is not reponsible to make you do my work. And I also lost the paper.”
Leon took a deep inhale. “Then… what are we waiting for?”
–
Glitter, pink paint, and tons of stickers. That’s what Maya said constituted the four seasons.
“I… don't think that’s gonna cut it, baby.” Leon whispered, helping his daughter pick out from her arts and crafts stash.
“Why not?”
Leon raised a brow, “You just said we needed to make a valid reiteration of the four seasons?”
Maya frowned, “No, I didn't.”
Which was true, for the most part. She just said: “Daddy, we need pretty roses for spring.” And he figured out the rest.
But of course, with Maya, he had to compromise.
For summer, she could paint pink beach balls. For winter, the snowgirl was made of silver glitter and pink sunglasses, and for spring… pink stickers.
With three of the four seasons complete, Maya began to yawn, and, without giving it much thought, made her way to the couch.
Leon chuckled, watching as she gave into sleep immediately. He attempted to take her back to her room, of course, but she just pushed him off.
“Will wake up in a few minutes. Promise.” She yawned.
Yeah, right.
He pressed a kiss to her cheek and finished Autumn all by himself.
–
Ada usually woke up to Leon practically smoldering her.
Not this morning, though.
She looked around to notice the empty bed, the duvet peeled back as though he had intended to come back.
And then she remembered last night.
The water.
She frowned, cautiously making her way towards Maya’s room. Curiously, she wasn't there, either.
She progressed further down the hallway, into the living room, and– ah. There they were.
Colored pencils, glitter, and several paint bottles were placed neatly in a box that certainly wasn't there last night.
On the coffee table was a wide foam board with surprisingly alright paintings depicting the four seasons. Strips of tape parted each scene from the other. Clearly, the intention was to peel them off once the paint dried.
But more importantly, on the couch was Leon cradling their daughter lovingly, her head buried in his chest with his neck hanging over the couch.
Yeah, he’ll feel that one later.
Soon, Timmy joined her. “Meow,” The cat seemed to greet her.
She picked him up, and he melted into her arms, purring softly.
Slowly, she made her way towards Maya, pressing a kiss to her cheek, and then a kiss to Leon’s cheek.
His eyes immediately fluttered open, and as he lifted his neck, he winced.
“Oh.” Ada cooed, massaging the back of his neck for him.
He only laughed in embarrassment.
“What are you doing here?” She whispered, although she had an idea.
“Our little trouble maker forgot she had a project to submit.”
“Mhm.” Ada hummed, playing with Leon’s messy hair.
“I saw. It’s cute, honey.”
Through her soft smile, he could see something else. He narrowed his eyes on her.
“What?”
Ada chuckled. “Nothing, nothing. I really like it!”
“Say it.” Leon urged, careful not to wake Maya.
“She told me about this project a week ago.”
“No.”
”Knowing how responsible your daughter tends to be,” Emphasis on your, “I took it upon myself to make it.”
”You’re joking.”
Ada smiled, “Hey, yours has a glittery snowman. Could never beat that, even if I tried.”