53. Benjamin

Iwatch Zara's eyes sparkling with the kind of love and contentment that seeps out into the room, infecting everyone with a dose of feel-good. I think how lucky I am. How lucky we all are to have her in our lives.

"Henry, mate, you're hovering like a bloody helicopter. Let me breathe, will you?" Liam complains, turning his focus back on the sizzling pan. But he's got that softness in his voice that means he's only half serious.

Henry just raises an eyebrow at him and steps back with a smirk, giving Liam his coveted breathing space. "Just making sure we don't end up with charcoal for dinner."

I lean over to Zara and whisper, "Ten quid says they'll end up with curry on the ceiling." I'm rewarded with her snorting laughter that she tries to stifle with her hand.

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the chaos in the kitchen unfold. I've come to love these moments. The place was cold and unfeeling with Nicole. Now, we're not just existing together; we're living—a proper family. Mia is safe and loved upstairs and we're about to enjoy a home-cooked meal courtesy of our very own culinary duo.

The smell of spices fills the air, and Liam finally looks like he's got a handle on the curry situation. He gives it a taste and seems pleasantly surprised. "Shit, this is actually good," he says with genuine wonder.

Henry slaps him on the back. "Told you it'd be fine if you actually followed the recipe."

I catch Zara's eye and nod towards the pan. "Looks like I owe you ten quid," I say with a chuckle.

She shakes her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Keep your money, love. I'd rather bet on how many times Liam will sneak tastes before it's actually served."

"Okay, you're on," I agree, grateful for the lightness we've cultivated in this house. The tension that used to hang heavy is gone, replaced by laughter, the occasional culinary mishap, and a whole lot of love.

Mia starts fussing over the baby monitor, cutting through our bets and merriment. I stand up from my stool. "I've got her," I say, already moving towards the stairs.

Back upstairs, I pick Mia up from her cot and cradle her against my chest. She quiets almost immediately, big blue eyes staring up at me as if I'm the only thing that matters to her. "Hey there, little one," I whisper, rocking her gently. "It's not just us anymore. You've got an amazing woman downstairs who loves you more than life itself. That is what you deserve, my precious girl. You will never know the pain of being without a mum because you have one. A better one. The best one anyone could ask for."

Mia gurgles, grabbing onto my finger with her tiny hand, and it's like she understands.

I sway gently back and forth, and murmur, "One day, hopefully soon, you will have a brother or sister and then more after that. Daddy wants this house filled with love for you, sweet girl."

I turn as I hear a noise behind me.

Zara stands there with tears in her eyes and holds up the baby monitor. "Could hear you."

"I know," I reply with a smile.

"You really want more babies?" she asks carefully.

"So many. Are you up for that?"

"With you three? More than up for it. I want it."

I nod, grateful for this omega who has shown me what love is supposed to look like.

Mia's soft breathing syncs with mine until she's calm enough to lay back down. I tuck her in her cot, my heart full to bursting.

We head back downstairs, hand in hand, smiling like idiots in love.

"Just in time," Liam announces as he removes the curry from the heat, his face flushed from both the cooker and pride.

Zara lets go of me and crosses over to him, wrapping her arms around him. "You're perfect, and this is going to be amazing," she murmurs before he swoops down to kiss her.

"Aww, shucks," he chuckles, pulling back. "But leave the praise until after."

"Deal."

Henry starts to set the table, placing a kiss on Zara's forehead as she passes by him. "You okay?" he asks gently.

"Yeah, just overwhelmed, but in a good way," she replies, helping him with the plates.

Liam looks over at us, a knowing twinkle in his eye. "So, what are we celebrating?"

Zara and I exchange a glance, and it's like there's an invisible thread that connects us all. It doesn't need words – it's written in our shared laughter and the ease of our movements around each other.

"We're celebrating family," I say finally, pulling out the chairs for us to sit down. "And what we have now, and what's hopefully coming soon."

Their faces light up with comprehension and joy, as we sit down to eat. The curry is perfect—flavourful and just the right amount of spice. Liam's proud grin is infectious as we heap praise onto him.

"Looks like you've got some competition in the kitchen," Zara teases Henry playfully.

"Oh, I don't mind at all. As long as we're together and happy, that's all that counts," Henry replies, giving her hand a squeeze.

Liam raises his glass. "To family, love, and a future with more little feet padding around."

We all agree, filling the room with the unmistakable sound of a family that's found each other at last.