Elias paced in front of the toy store, holding a list that Aria had written in neat cursive.
"Snacks—no peanuts. Extra shirt. Wet wipes. Small water bottle. Don't buy anything that makes noise," he muttered, reading aloud. "Don't let him eat too much sugar. No bouncing castles. Avoid dogs."
He looked up and muttered, "Why do I feel like I'm going to war?"
Behind him, Eli was skipping along the sidewalk, holding Mr. Snuggles in one arm and humming loudly.
"Are we going inside now?" Eli asked, peering through the glass at the rows of toys.
Elias nodded, steeling himself. "Yes. One toy. That's the rule."
Eli looked up at him with wide eyes. "Can I carry the basket?"
Elias handed it over without question. "But no heavy stuff, okay?"
"Okay!" Eli chirped and bolted inside.
Elias followed quickly, trying to keep up as Eli zigzagged through aisles, his excitement bubbling over.
"Mr. Snuggles needs a new friend!" Eli announced, grabbing a stuffed lion and holding it beside his beloved dinosaur.
"That's a pretty big friend," Elias noted.
"He's brave. Like you."
That made Elias stop.
He crouched. "You think I'm brave?"
Eli nodded without hesitation. "You came back."
Elias swallowed the lump in his throat. "Yeah. I did."
The boy turned back to the shelves, finally settling on a small firetruck with flashing lights. "This one. It doesn't make noise."
Elias blinked. "That's… very considerate."
"Mommy said no noise. So I picked quite fun."
"Remind me to give you a raise."
Eli tilted his head. "What's a raise?"
"Never mind," Elias said with a chuckle.
As they approached the counter, Eli looked up at him. "Daddy, can I have chocolate milk too?"
The word stopped Elias in his tracks.
He looked down slowly. "What did you call me?"
Eli blinked. "Daddy. Can I?"
Elias knelt beside him, heart racing. "You called me Daddy."
Eli nodded. "You are, aren't you?"
"Yes. Yes, I am."
The cashier, an older woman with a kind smile, watched the moment unfold in silence.
"I'll get you all the chocolate milk you want," Elias whispered, brushing a hand through Eli's curls.
"One," Eli said seriously. "Only one. Mommy said two is too much sugar."
Elias laughed, a sound full and real.
They left the store, firetruck and chocolate milk in hand, and walked to the park nearby.
Eli climbed the jungle gym with determination while Elias sat on the bench, watching every move.
At one point, Eli shouted, "Daddy, look! I'm Spider-Man!"
Elias stood up instantly. "Be careful, Spider-Man!"
Aria had warned him Eli was fearless. She hadn't exaggerated.
When Eli finally slid down and landed in the sand, Elias rushed over.
"You okay?"
Eli grinned, brushing himself off. "Super okay."
They sat together on the bench, sipping drinks and watching the sky turn orange with the approaching evening.
Elias leaned back, soaking in the moment. "You having fun?"
"Best day ever," Eli said without hesitation.
Elias smiled. "Mine too."
After a while, Eli turned to him. "Were you scared to meet me?"
Elias paused. "Yeah. I was."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't know if you'd like me. Or if I'd be good at being your dad."
Eli tilted his head. "But you brought chocolate milk and firetrucks. That's already good."
Elias laughed again, pulling him into a hug. "You're amazing, you know that?"
"I'm small. Not amazing."
"No, you're both."
Eli leaned against him, resting his head on Elias's chest.
"You smell like books," the boy mumbled.
"I work in an office."
"You should work in a toy store."
"I'll consider it."
When they finally returned to Aria's apartment, the sun had dipped behind the buildings, casting golden light across the hallway.
Aria opened the door before they even knocked.
"Well?" she asked, scanning them.
Elias looked exhausted but glowing.
Eli ran in first. "Mommy! He let me pick a toy and we had chocolate milk and I climbed the tallest slide and he didn't even freak out when I almost fell!"
Aria's eyes widened. "You almost fell?"
Elias held up his hands. "He was fine. Spider reflexes."
Aria gave him a pointed look, then ruffled Eli's hair.
"You good?" she asked her son.
"The best," he said, skipping to his room. "I'm gonna show Mr. Snuggles his new friend!"
When he was out of sight, Aria turned to Elias. "So?"
"He called me Daddy."
Her breath hitched. "He did?"
"Twice."
She smiled. "He doesn't do that lightly."
"I know."
There was a pause.
"Do you want to stay for dinner?" she asked.
Elias blinked. "You sure?"
"It's just spaghetti."
"I love spaghetti."
She gave him a look. "You used to say it tasted like wet paper."
"I've grown," he said, hand on his chest. "I'm evolved now."
She rolled her eyes. "Come in, evolved man."
As they cooked together—Aria chopping onions, Elias stirring sauce—the atmosphere felt almost like old times. Comfortable. Familiar. Except now, there was a little boy in the background singing to his stuffed animals.
"How did he do with you?" she asked casually.
"He was… perfect."
Aria glanced at him. "You were worried."
"I still am."
She stopped chopping. "You did good, Elias. Good."
"Thanks."
After dinner, they all sat on the couch watching a cartoon. Eli curled between them, eyes half-closed.
As the credits rolled, Aria turned to Elias. "Do you want to put him to bed?"
He blinked. "Me?"
"Yeah. He'd like that."
Elias nodded slowly. "Okay."
She watched him gently carry Eli to his room, whispering a bedtime story he made up on the spot. Eli didn't protest. Just smiled and whispered, "Goodnight, Daddy," before dozing off.
Elias stood by the bed for a long time, just watching him sleep.
When he returned to the living room, Aria stood up too.
"Thanks for letting me have today," he said.
"You earned it."
He hesitated at the door. "Can I see him again soon?"
"Tomorrow," she said. "If you're free."
His face lit up. "Always."
He lingered a second longer. "Goodnight, Aria."
"Goodnight, Elias."
And just like that, he left—but with something different in his step. Not lighter. Not heavier. Just fuller.
For the first time in a long while… he was whole.