The morning light crept through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow across the small room.
Damon woke first, his eyes opening slowly. For a moment, he just lay there, listening to the quiet breathing of Svetlana beside him and the soft whimper of Ava stirring in her small bed.
He shifted, careful not to wake Svetlana, and sat up.
His hair was a mess, and his shoulders felt heavy from the night before, but there was a small smile on his face. He stood and stretched, feeling the tightness in his back ease a little.
He pulled on a simple T-shirt and stepped over to Ava's little bed. She was already sitting up, her small hands rubbing at her eyes. Her hair stuck up in all directions, and she blinked up at him with a sleepy smile.
"Morning, little troublemaker," he said softly, reaching out to brush her hair back from her forehead.
She mumbled something he couldn't quite catch, her voice still thick with sleep.
