Sera laughed softly, a sound that lit up the kitchen brighter than the morning sun. “Alright, alright,” she said, glancing over at him with a playful glint in her eye. “You’re off the hook.”

She nudged his side gently with her elbow as she flipped the pancake, the edges starting to crisp just right. The smell of banana and butter filled the air, warm and sweet, grounding.

At his words, though, her teasing faded into something quieter. She looked at him, really looked at him, her heart tightening in that way it always did when he smiled like that—genuine, alive, here.

“I know,” she said softly, a small smile pulling at her lips. “And I’m so damn lucky you do.”

She leaned over, brushing her nose against his cheek before kissing it gently. “I love you too, Finn. More than pancakes. Which, honestly? Says a lot.”

Sera grinned as she took a bite of her pancake, savoring the sweet, buttery warmth. She nodded with exaggerated seriousness, eyes twinkling. “Way more than pancakes,” she said with a playful flick of her fork. “But don’t let it go to your head.”

She reached out with her foot under the table, nudging his gently, her smile softening into something more tender. Watching him across from her, calm, present, alive—she let herself fully feel it. The weight of gratitude. The quiet, steady joy of an ordinary morning that almost didn’t happen.

“This,” she said quietly, resting her chin in her palm as she looked at him, “this is everything I ever wanted. Just you and me. Simple, real, safe.”

She gave his hand a little squeeze and added, a soft laugh in her throat, “Though if you did flick batter again… I’d probably still love you.”

Sera smiles "love you too" she replies back, taking another bite of her pancakes with the hand Finn wasn't holding.

After finishing her pancakes, she got up from her seat, brining her plate to the sink.

Sera leaned back in her chair, watching him with soft eyes as he moved around the kitchen. There was something comforting in the way he spoke to her—gentle, full of love, like she was something delicate and precious. It always made her heart flutter, even now.

She stood up and padded over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind and resting her cheek against his back. “Hmm,” she hummed thoughtfully, her voice muffled by his shirt. “We could go out for a little walk… or stay in and watch something curled up on the couch. I’m happy doing anything, as long as I get to do it with you.”

She looked up at him then, resting her chin against his shoulder. “But… a walk might be nice. The sun’s out, and I kind of want to hold your hand and pretend we’re in one of those cheesy romance movies.” A playful smirk tugged at her lips. “You up for being my leading man, Finn?”

Sera laughed softly, her fingers tightening around his as he took her hand. There was a flutter in her chest, one she never quite got used to—like every time he looked at her like that, smiled like that, her heart had to relearn how to beat.

“Well then, mister leading man,” she teased, bumping his shoulder with hers as they headed for the door, “you better be ready to dramatically twirl me under a streetlamp or dip me in the middle of the sidewalk. I have very high expectations for this romantic stroll.”

But beneath the playful tone, her heart was full. Just holding his hand, hearing his laugh—it was enough to make the world feel right again.

As they stepped outside, she glanced over at him, the sunlight catching in his eyes, and her smile softened. “I’m really glad you’re here, Finn,” she murmured. “I’ll never stop being glad.”