"This is a nightmare."
I burst out laughing, watching James stumble back as Zeal latched onto his leg like a koala on caffeine while Zia darted around the restaurant booth, waving a straw like a lightsaber.
"We told you it wasn't easy," Zayne added, sounding far too amused for someone who should probably be saving his friend.
James threw us both a desperate look. "They multiply when you're not looking."
"There's only two of them," Emily said through a snicker, sliding into the booth beside me with a basket of fries for backup. "You'll survive."
He didn't look convinced. "You sure about that? I think one of them bit me."
Zia popped up beside him. "That's because you said you were a card… cardy…"
"Cardiologist," James said helpfully, brushing fry salt off his sleeve.
Zia frowned. "What's that?"
Before he could answer, Zeal climbed onto the seat next to him and leaned in close. "Yeah, what's a carty-o-gist?"
James blinked slowly, feeling cornered. "It's… uh, someone who fixes hearts."
"Like magic?" Zeal asked, wide-eyed.
"Sort of," James said. "But with medicine and tools and—"
"Do you fix broken hearts too?" Zia interrupted, tilting her head dramatically.
Emily choked on her drink, while I bit back a grin, ignoring James' cry for help.
"I mean, technically…" James began.
"Have you fixed Daddy's heart?" Zeal cut in again.
James blinked. "I... uh..."
"Where did you meet Daddy?" Zia jumped in before he could answer. "Did you go to school together?"
James looked like he'd walked into a press conference. "We were in med school, yeah. Your dad sat next to me. He didn't talk much."
Zeal whispered to Zia, and they both giggled. "What's med school?" He asked curiously.
James sighed theatrically. "Do the questions ever end?" He asked me.
"I'll let you know once I find the answer." I giggled. "Until then, you're on your own James."
The twins exchanged a glance. "So you're Uncle James then," they declared in unison.
James blinked again. "I... I guess?"
Zia nodded seriously. "Okay. You're stuck with us now."
"Great," he muttered, "my life's work led to this moment."
Zayne returned to the table carrying two small plates— one with cut up chicken nuggets, the other with tiny fruit slices. Without a word, he sat between the twins and began feeding them with the ease of someone who'd done it a hundred times.
He wiped Zia's chin, handed Zeal a drink, and then leaned over to whisper something that made them both burst out laughing.
James watched the scene, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "What a sight to behold. The great Zayne Aster, spoon in one hand, sippy cup in the other. I should've taken a photo."
"You still can," I said, teasing.
"You know what? You're right. Why didnt I think of that!" James pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. "This moment lives in my heart forever now."
Emily chuckled beside me, nudging James with her elbow. "You're holding up better than I expected."
"Barely." He gave her a lopsided grin. "If I survive this lunch, I expect a medal."
"Oh, I'll get you a sticker."
"I'm holding you to that."
Their eyes lingered just a moment longer than necessary. Nothing too obvious. But I noticed it, and so did Zayne, who raised an eyebrow at me as he leaned back in his seat. I shrugged, biting back a smile.
It was subtle, sure, but there was something there.
The table buzzed with noise and laughter. The twins took turns quizzing James on everything from dinosaurs to space aliens "Do cardiologists know about aliens?" Zia had asked... while Zayne patiently wiped sticky hands and cut up more food.
It hit me then just how natural this all felt.
Not the chaos. That was to be expected.
But the warmth. The laughter. The way Zayne looked at the kids like they were the best thing that ever happened to him. The way he still glanced over at me sometimes, even when he thought I wasn't looking.
It all felt like a dream I didn't want to wake up from.
"Mommy," Zeal tugged on my sleeve, "can we go show Uncle James our dance?"
"Dance?" James asked, already backing away. "I— uh, maybe after dessert—"
Too late. They were already dragging him from the booth.
I leaned back with a laugh, sipping my drink.
"Is he gonna be okay?" I turned to Zayne laughing.
"He'll survive," he shrugged, not one bit bothered for his friend. "Are you okay?"
I smiled at him. "Yeah. I'm okay."
More than okay, actually.
He nodded, his hand brushing against mine under the table.
My heart skipped a beat and I stared at the band on my finger to distract myself. I was never a fan of jewelry but I had a special place in my heart for this one.
From across the room, James's voice rang out.
"Zayne! Your daughter just tried to bite me!"
"That sounds like Zia," Zayne said casually.
"She's strong!" James shouted again.
"You're on your own!" Zayne called back.
"Unbelievable!" James huffed. "I deliver your fake marriage and this is the thanks I get?"
"You're family now," I yelled. "No refunds!"
Emily shook her head, watching James being dragged around like a ball. "He's going to throw out his back," she muttered.
"Or his dignity," I added.
Zayne sipped from his drink. "He didn't have much of that to begin with."
Emily snorted. "I should go help."
"You just want a front-row seat to the chaos," I said.
"Guilty." She grinned, standing. "I'll be back with a play-by-play."
Zayne laughed. "Careful. If they rope you into dancing, there's no escape."
"Challenge accepted."
From the front of the restaurant, James spotted her and called out, "EMILY! SAVE ME!"
"Coming!" she shouted back, clearly delighted.
"They're gonna be the death of me," James muttered dramatically as Emily joined the chaos. "Death by adorable children."
"Oh, relax." Emily patted him on the back. "Don't be such a drama queen."
"You've had four years of practice. Excuse me for being a little out of shape," James shot back.
"I bet I could do it in just a day." She winked, then turned to the twins. "Let's get him, guys!"
"Yeah!"
And just like that, James had one more person chasing him down.
This wasn't what I expected when I woke up this morning.
But the day couldn't have been any better. Sometimes, the best moments sneak up on you when you least expect it.
"This sticker better be worth it!" James shouted as he was twirled in a circle.
Emily laughed. "You're earning extra sparkles at this rate."
I leaned into Zayne. "We should probably warn him about bedtime stories."
"Nah," Zayne smirked. "Let him suffer."