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The former Kaleido Stage main female star yawned and stretched before rising from her bed. She glanced at the alarm clock– 9am.
That was unusual. Their house was never as quiet and peaceful at that time.
At eight, Aaron had school. So, he would be usually up and about (and not very silently) around 7 and something, which was also when her youngest, now two, would also be awake. Laura was at that clingy phase in which she only wanted one person caring for her… And that person was her mother.
Therefore, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE could blame her for thinking some calamity had struck the world, until she found Aaron reading on the living room, headphones on, Laura giggling happily on the sling on her father’s back, while Yuri calmly washed the dishes and brewed them coffee. And the kitchen had a faint scent of soup. At least, she knew what they’d have for lunch.
“Good… Morning? Shouldn’t you be at school, Aaron?” She took one of his headphones out of his ear.
“Nah. Tests are over. Only those who had bad grades must go. Not your dear son.” He answered, beaming proudly.
“Ah, okay then… Way to go.” She ruffled his messy hair. “And shouldn’t you be at work?” She glanced at her husband, who was carefully transferring the coffee into a thermic bottle, humming some song she couldn’t remember.
“One of the perks of being your own Boss is that you can give yourself days off when you think its fit to. Today is one of those days. Coffee?” He poured both a cup.
“Uh… Yes?” She narrowed her eyes, while sipping from her cup. “Aren’t you short on staff because of Ken’s paternity leave? I thought you’d given him a full month.”
“I did. Incidentally, he called in yesterday.” He answered while putting their two-year-old on her highchair, placing a small plate with sliced fruits for her to dive in. “Aaron, breakfast is ready.”
“And you accepted it? That’s unlike you.” She pulled the chair beside her so her oldest could sit. “Headphones off at the table, Aaron.”
“Well… We were short staffed. Which reminds me… You never went to visit Sora ever since Hana was born. Careful, Laura, if you do that it’s going to hurt.” He cleaned the little girl’s hands, before she rubbed orange bits onto her eyes. “That’s better.”
“Well… I wouldn’t have been able to handle visitors when either of our kids were that age. You know that.” That first month still sent shivers up and down her spine. Even though her son had been a good kid, and she had had help… It wasn’t by any means a piece of cake.
“Fair enough… But I heard Ken’s mom is back into work… And her own mother went back to Japan a week ago. I’ll be home today… You could stop by. I’m sure she could use a friend.”
“I presume.” She leered him. “Even though you knew all of that, you still accepted Ken back?”
“That’s because you haven’t seen his face…” The boy was prevented from continuing his point by a kick on his sheen from under the table. “Ouch, Dad!”
The day before…
“How long are the two of you going to wait until you get in?” May barked at Yuri’s office door, shoving both Aaron and Ken in. “What? They were standing outside for more than ten minutes.”
“You should be at Mr Hamilton’s office. And you should be at your house.” Yuri exhaled, pinching his nose. “So why are both of you in my office?” He’d finally gotten the hang of his ‘Boss’ persona.
“Grandf… Mr Hamilton told me to bring some documents here. His driver dropped me and the documents here. I’m just doing my job. He said he didn’t want you to take work home.” The boy explained. “When I was on my way to your office, I bumped into Uncle Ken… And then Auntie May dragged us in.”
“You’re working for Mr Hamilton now?” Ken gaped. “Now, that was unexpected.”
“You thought I’d spoil him rotten, huh? Since we both know soft skills are not this little guy’s best asset, he could learn one thing or two from that person.” He rested his chin onto his hands. No matter how much time would pass, and even though the businessman’s heart seemed to be thawing, the grudge still lingered on. “Pass them over. And wait here, I’ll be leaving in half an hour. Robbins, your turn.” The boy had his hand raised. “What now, Aaron?”
“You’re still using your dad face and tone. It’s weird, you two have the same age.” He rolled his eyes. That kid would be the death of him.
“See that, Robbins? That’s what happens when they are grow up. Enjoy it while you can.” That’s it, he’d hit the home run. The other man just lowered his head and scratched his nape. “Anything wrong at home?”
“Sort of… That’s partially why I’m here. Can I come back… At least just part-time? It’s not like I’m any help at home anyways.”
“That bad, huh? Tell me more.”
“I mean… I try to help, but she just… Won’t listen? Like she just doesn’t trust me. My mom had to get back to work and her mom is back in Japan. Even though she is clearly worn off… She just won’t let me do anything.”
“Well… Mothers can get irrational and exposed when the kids are involved. It’s quite scary, if you ask me. You two have never actually had a fight, have you?”
“The hell, dad? Why is that relevant?” The boy queried, confusedly.
“Language, Aaron! Ken here is too good. He rarely stands his point harshly when it comes to Sora. Your mom and I were a bit different at that. We’d had our share of arguments before you were born, so some things came easier to us at that.”
“He is afraid of hurting her feelings by showing he can help, without saying that she is overreacting and making her cry.” He snorted. “Because that’s what happens. They cry. Because they are vulnerable and exhausted.”
“Even mom?” The boy furrowed his brow.
“Especially mom, buddy. More than you can even imagine. She keeps that sturdy façade, but she’s as weepy as it can get, when it’s about you or your sister.” He replied, ruffling the boy’s flaxen hair. “But neither of you ever heard that. I’ll allow you back, if you promise you’ll think of a way to talk to Sora about it. Deal?”
“I suppose I can try.” The American nodded.
“Good. Now get back home. You’re not needed here today.”
“Thanks… Boss.”
“No problem.”
With that, he left; and so, did them.
“You really think he can do it?” The flaxen haired kid asked his father, eagerly, as they made their way towards his crimson convertible.
“Nah, not really.” The man snorted, hands on his pockets.
“WHAAAT?” The boy shouted. “Wait… You look too calm. You do have a plan, right?”
“Perfect, scream louder, so the whole world gets it. Maybe… Fasten your seat belt.”
“I know… I’m not five anymore!” He scowled. “So, mister evil mastermind, what’s the scheme, and how can this humble minion help?”
“Really? You could have spared me of the evil bit.” He burst into laughter. “First, we’re going to get some groceries. Next, we’re going to need mom, because auntie Sora listens to her more than to anyone else. But she can’t suspect things are so critical. Here’s how things are going to be…”
Back to present time…
“Also, take some leftovers, so that she won’t have to worry about cooking. I’ve already packed them.” He pointed towards a bag onto the counter.
“As if leftovers were supposed to be warm still.” Their eldest murmured.
“Aaron.” Yuri exhaled, through gritted teeth.
“Okay, stop it, the two of you. I’ll go, but will you three be alright without me?” She side-eyed her two-year-old daughter, who was threatening to cry, by now back on her father’s arms.
“I’m seriously offended, Ms Hamilton. You dare underestimate my parenting abilities.” He pretended mortification. “Just go. We’ll be fine.” He kissed her cheek.
Sora and Ken had moved to an apartment midway from their own to Kaleido Stage, about 15 minutes driving. She had thought about calling before, but was afraid she could ring whenever Sora was putting the little one to sleep – She herself hated whenever that happened.
She knocked twice, before realizing their house wasn’t even locked in the first place, with the key still on the lock, in the inside. That was unlike them. Had anything happened?
She noiselessly straddled in, placing the food bag onto the table. There were unfolded clothes on the living room carpet and sofa, and the washing machine was on, so someone had to be home. The kitchen had a pile of dishes to be washed. It was a mess.
“Anyone home?” She called, not too loud to startle, neither too quietly so she wouldn’t be heard. It was then that she heard sobbing from a nearby room.
The blonde followed the sound, meeting her previous’ partner shaky figure. Apparently, she had finally managed to get her daughter to sleep and was sitting defeatedly beside the baby crib, head buried on her knees. She was clearly drained. No wonder she hadn’t even realized when she called, or wandered in. “Hey there.” She whispered, patting the younger woman’s shoulders.
“Layla-san?” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were coming.” She tried to lighten up. “Let’s go, I’ll make you some tea.” She yawned, rising from her spot.
“Don’t worry about that. Let’s begin by locking your front door. I’ve just had breakfast at home.” Their little girl was almost a copy of her mother having inherited Sora’s brown hair and facial features. “She looks just like you on those baby pictures you showed me before.”
“Yeah… I get that a lot. That “meme” saying that the kid made the mother suffer for nine months and ended up like their dad doesn’t work at our house.” She smiled tiredly, not moving an inch. “I guess I forgot to lock the door after Ken left. I told him I would… But Hana cried, and it just slipped away.” She had deep circles around her eyes. She appeared even more tired than when they had been training for the Legendary Great Manoeuvre.
And the blonde knew that feeling herself all too well. She went to the front door, closing it, and putting the food in the fridge before going back to where they were. Sora hadn’t moved a muscle.
“It’s terrifying, isn’t it? When they are sleeping, you’re told to rest, but you just can’t, wondering if they are breathing or if anything bad can happen, right?” She nodded. “How long since you slept… Or showered… Or had any time for yourself?”
“I don’t… know? It’s just… She can’t do anything on her own. And she is so small, and defenceless.” She was sobbing again. “Ken’s mom and my mom made everything look so simply, when they were here… But now that we are alone… I get lost. I’m a terrible mother. Even you with Laura… You all are such amazing moms… And I’m here, a crying, absolute mess.”
“Come on now…” She hugged the smaller woman, rubbing her arms soothingly. “It’s not easy. It’s harder than any stunt we’d ever had to face.” The younger acrobat once again just nodded. “Even on stage, we have our partners to support us, right? If it looks simple on the outside, it is because I have a lot of help. Even now. I am here just because Yuri is with the kids.”
“How… Can you trust him to be with them? I mean, If I feel like I am doing everything wrong and I am her mother, how can I trust anyone else to look after her? Even Ken… He’s great but… Somehow, I just can’t get to rely on him.” They sat on the floor, so that she could still be close to the sleeping infant.
“Really?” She was somewhat dumbfounded. “I don’t see why you can’t let him help. I mean, he’s been with you all along, even when I was being the Wicked Witch of the West. I guess if I were to name your biggest supporter, it would have been him, by far.” The blonde smiled. “I’ll tell you something, but it stays between us.”
“On our first month, I was deadly afraid of walking around with Aaron in my arms, because I thought I’d drop him. I know, it’s silly. But I did. I think the fact that he was born earlier than he should and everything else made it even worse. Like somehow it was my fault.” She took a deep breath.
“So, Yuri would be with him around a lot. I mean, if he never dropped me on stage, he wouldn’t drop our son. Yet, I felt terrible. Because which mother would be afraid to carry her own son?” Sora opened a half-hearted smile. “Point being… You’re doing a great job, you’re just tired.”
“I hope so…” She looked at her daughter once again. “Hm… Would it be okay for you to watch over her while I shower? I’ll be very fast, promise!”
“Sora. You don’t have to be very fast. Breath. Take a nap, rest a bit. I’ll keep both my eyes on her. And they are well open.” She patted the Japanese girl on her back. “Shoo. Off you go. And I mean it.”
Layla was glad that the girl really allowed herself to shower and rest. The child stirred on her sleep. The washing machine beeped, announcing the clothes were freshly clean. The older acrobat quickly spread them on the clothesline, keeping the door to the nursery half open, so she could see if the infant ever woke up.
Next, she began to fold the clean clothes that were laying on their living room. The amount of laundry during the first months is unbelievable, she remembered that all too well. Even with all the help, she still wondered how they had managed it, sometimes. Just as she finished the last pile, she heard faint whimpering.
Well, at least she had inherited Ken’s blue eyes, the poor guy.
“Hey there, little flower. I’ll have to do while your mom is resting a bit.” She cradled the baby close to her chest, calming her down. “There you go, such a good girl. Now, let’s put these clothes in their place before she wakes up, shall we?” She said, while placing the girl on a sling she’d found in the laundry.
When Sora finally awoke, she had been changing the girl’s nappy into a clean one. “Hi! Just in time. I guess she was beginning to become hungry. And so must you be. It’s almost past lunchtime. I’ll get something for us.”
She opened the fridge and was instantly glad that she had brought food from their own house. She hadn’t realized it at first, but their fridge was practically empty. She warmed up a portion of soup that she didn’t recall eating before.
“As if leftovers were supposed to be warm still.”
She laughed to herself, recalling their eldest’s words. Yuri would never send them leftovers. He’d probably cooked it all fresh, hence why the kitchen scented of food in the morning. He had also portioned them in a way things could be easily frost, for later. As expected from him.
“That smells good.” Sora commented while strolling into the kitchen, the baby girl gurgling in her arms.
“Right? And I bet it tastes as good as it smells. It’s his mom’s recipe. If there is something I can’t beat him is food. And I’ve tried… Sometimes.” She laughed. “Aaron always shoves me away from the kitchen, saying it’s his and dad’s territory. I’m allowed to use the teapot and coffee machine, though. Here.” She placed a bowl of soup for each of them. She couldn’t help but smile seeing the girl’s happy face as she ate, looking already much healthier than hours before.
“Ms Layla.”
“Yes, Sora?”
“Thanks for today.”
“It was nothing… That’s what friends do.” The younger mother smiled, nodding. “And don’t be that hard on yourself. You can count on us whenever you need, okay? I hadn’t visited before because I know how hard these first weeks can be.”
“Yes… It was tougher than training for the Angel’s Act. With Leon. On one of his bad days.” They both laughed soundly.
“And… Let Ken help. He is her father, after all. Moreover, he had a little sister, so he surely knows a thing or two. And if he doesn’t… You can figure it out together. That’s what partners do, isn’t it?”
“Yeah… I will.”
Just as they’d finished their meal, Ken arrived back at home. Turns out he was coming back slower, only part time. And probably, remembering how their house had been when she had first arrived, he had to be worried. She didn’t know what surprised him more: the fact that the house was habitable again, or that Layla Hamilton was the one washing their dishes.
“And I wondered why Laura and Aaron were at the Kaleido Stage today. Now I know.” He whispered to Sora, kissing the top of their daughter’s head.
“Oh, were they now? Someone told me he had a day off, but maybe I misheard it.” Of course he’d do that. In a way, she was relieved: she’d judge him if he had taken a day off while Sora was in that state and Ken was working. “Well, now that you are back, I guess I can go. There is more soup on your fridge. You can freeze up some for an emergency. We did that a lot. Take care, you three.”
After running some errands on the city, she finally arrived back home, receptioned by her giggling two-year-old daughter, who came running happily towards her, stretching her chubby arms to being picked up.
“Hey sweet pea! Have you been good to daddy and your big brother?”
“Yup!” She nodded, showing a piece of paper with lots of coloured lines, which she assumed had been something she had been drawing. “Laura maked this. Laura played with Aaron and Papa.” She was a little energy ball.
“That looks very nice. I’m glad you had fun. Now, where are Aaron and Papa?” She pointed towards their living room, mimicking someone fast asleep. She quietly paced towards the spot, where she found the two snoring soundly, splayed on the carpeted floor.
Some things would never change, and the way Aaron loved to sleep with his head onto his father’s chest was one of them.
Her take – Yuri had probably set Laura up for an afternoon nap (hence why her blanket was placed in between them), but she had decided she would only sleep if all of them did – and that’s roughly how things always ended that way.
“Come on, baby girl, let’s take a shower while those two rest for a bit, and we’ll wake them up later for dinner.”
“Otay!” She whispered happily.
“That was nice of you.” She laid beside him. The kids were finally each in their rooms, and that was usually when they had time for themselves.
“Hm?”
“Cut the act. I know it wasn’t your day off. And Sora needed me more than the kids. I got it.”
“Yeah, she usually listens to you. Robbins looked terrible when he went to my office yesterday. Aaron was there, that’s why he said you hadn’t heard Ken’s point of view. And that’s because I told him to use ‘stealth mode’.” He laughed to himself. “I didn’t tell you how bad I thought things were, otherwise, you’d freak out. And don’t say you wouldn’t.”
“Never said that.” She leaned onto his shoulder. “We’ve really become parents, haven’t we?”
“I suppose.” Three knocks in the door. “Yup. We did.”
“Hi… May we come in very quickly?” Aaron and Laura placed themselves on the door, pillows in hands.
“Do you mean: May we sleep with you two?” Yuri snorted, mocking their eleven-year-old, who went red.
“I just came to bring Laura; I’m fine at my own bed.” He placed his sister in between them, and she pulled the sleeve of his pyjamas, calling his name. “Or… I guess I can stay a little bit. Just until she sleeps.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” The Russian pulled his son into a tight hug, while the little girl was already yawning on her mother’s arms.
“Stop it, Dad! I can’t breathe! Why do you always do that?” The man chuckled. “Did it work?” He whispered. “You two only talk about the serious stuff when we are not around.”
“Yes, it did. They’ll be fine.” His mother answered already sleepily. “Sweet dreams, all of you.”