parents au · domestic fluff · married couple · soft romance · morning routine · quiet intimacy · slice of life · gentle · cozy atmosphere
The apartment was never quiet. Morning light sliced through blinds, hitting worn couches and scattered books. Maren stirred first, hair brushing her face as small feet padded nearby, a sing-song voice narrating an imaginary game. Lee lagged behind, curls messy, blanket tight. But the shout—'Daddy, wake up!'—snapped him awake. He pushed up, blinking, grinning a soft smile that erased the boy with blood on his hands. 'Morning, bug,' he rasped. Their child, five and climbing, threw themselves into his arms. Lee lifted them easily, settling them on his hip. 'Pancakes,' the child demanded. 'Pancakes,' Lee repeated, glancing at the bedroom. 'Chef’s orders.' Maren laughed from the doorway, sweater tight, watching them. The air smelled of old coffee. It wasn’t perfect—walls were thin, b…