The morning sun spilled across the city like melted gold, casting soft amber hues over the jagged rooftops of Orange County.
Birds fluttered across power lines, singing songs far too innocent for the lives of the people beneath them.
But inside Sienna Hale's mansion, something rare bloomed.
Not power.
Not ambition.
Something gentler.
Family.
Jayden stood at the edge of the grand foyer, staring at himself in a gilded mirror he'd never care to own.
His usual black on black ensemble was replaced with something new a navy polo, sleeves rolled, paired with clean tailored jeans and spotless white sneakers.
Leo had snorted when Jayden walked out of his room earlier that morning.
"You look like you're about to coach a Little League team," Leo had joked.
Jayden didn't answer.
Just checked his watch and walked out.
Now he waited in silence.
The soft sound of socks skimming polished marble announced her first—Amelia, bounding down the staircase in a powder blue dress dotted with tiny sunflowers, holding a sparkly backpack like it was sacred treasure.
"Uncle Jayden!" she shouted, leaping toward him before he could even shut the door.
He caught her mid air, letting out a soft laugh.
"You planning to knock me out before the day starts?"
"I made you King of Today," she declared proudly, placing the paper crown on his head.
"But you can't tell anyone, or I'll lose my wand powers."
Jayden gave her a mock serious nod.
"Your secret's safe. No one messes with royalty."
From the entrance, Sienna appeared.
And for a second, Jayden forgot how to breathe.
She descended the staircase like she was gliding, not walking.
Hair tied in a loose braid, cream cardigan over a casual top, jeans tucked into low cut suede boots. No makeup. No armor. Just… Sienna.
"Sorry," she said, slightly breathless.
"Amelia insisted on braiding both our hair. I lost the argument."
Jayden's gaze softened as he looked at her.
"You won."
She paused. Blinked. Then smiled.
She smiled at the sight of him holding Amelia. "So… ready to survive a sugar-loaded eight year old and a judgmental amusement park crowd?"
Jayden grinned.
"I've handled mercenaries with grenades. How bad can it be?"
The drive was filled with sunlight through the windows and Amelia's unfiltered commentary from the backseat.
"Do you know why giraffes have long necks?""Because God ran out of leg parts?" Jayden guessed.
Sienna snorted, covering her mouth. Jayden smiled and caught her eye in the rearview mirror.
"I forgot what this felt like,"
"Just… being in a car. No deadlines. No bodyguards. Just… being...me."
"You're good with her,"
she said softly, once Amelia's humming faded.
"She makes it easy."
Sienna turned to look at him. "Most men are afraid of kids. You act like she's yours."
Jayden didn't look at her. "Maybe because I never had a childhood myself. Watching her live one… makes me want to protect it."
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was full of things neither dared say.
The amusement park buzzed with life kids screaming joyfully from spinning rides, vendors yelling out for pretzel sales, music playing from tinny speakers perched on faux castle walls.
The pavement radiated heat, the scent of hotdogs and cinnamon wafting through the air.
Jayden walked between Amelia and Sienna, his arm brushing against the mother's more times than coincidence could explain.
Amelia dragged them toward ride after ride each one more chaotic than the last.
Jayden survived a spinning teacup, three rounds of bumper cars, and a game where he knocked down weighted milk bottles with a baseball that felt like cement.
"Uncle Jayden won me the fox!" Amelia yelled, holding up a massive stuffed animal nearly her own size. "And he didn't even cheat!"
Sienna raised a brow.
"Not even a bribe to the carnie?"
"Tempted," Jayden said. "But I played it straight for the kid."
They shared a look.
Not flirtatious. Not forced.
Something deeper. Unspoken.
They sat on a bench while Amelia devoured a rainbow swirl ice cream with reckless abandon.
Sienna leaned in close.
"She's happy. Like… real happy."
Jayden watched the girl twirl in place, laughing at nothing.
"She deserves to be," he replied. "Both of you do."
Sienna turned to him, her tone quiet but serious.
"You don't have to do this, Jayden. The gifts, the attention, the—"
"I'm not doing it out of guilt," he cut in gently. "I'm doing it because when I'm around her… around you… I feel something I never thought I'd get."
"What's that?"
"Peace."
And right then, like a scene written by fate, Amelia returned and stood before them with her hands on her hips.
Amelia beamed up at him. "You're like a superhero."
He smirked. "More like a reformed villain."
"Nope. You're my hero. And heroes take their families on rollercoasters."
Jayden froze. Sienna blinked.
"Family?" Sienna echoed, voice soft.
Amelia looked up at both of them, dead serious. "Do you wanna be my dad?"
Sienna gasped. "Amelia!"
Jayden crouched down, met her eyes. "That's a big question."
Amelia shrugged, gripping the hem of her dress. "The kids at school say they go to the park with both their mom and dad. I don't have one of those… But you feel like one."
Jayden swallowed something thick in his throat. He looked up at Sienna, who was frozen, lips parted, eyes wet.
He turned back to the girl.
"I'd be honored."
Amelia leapt into his arms and hugged him tight. For a moment, the noise of the world faded. No gunshots. No whispers of war. No blood in the streets.
Just joy.
Just a little girl, a hopeful mother, and a man who never thought he'd be called "Dad."
Jayden had texted Leo earlier that morning. Just one word: "Prepare."
Now, on the edge of the city where a small private meadow sat tucked between hills, a perfect picnic was waiting.
A soft red blanket.
Fold-out chairs. Food from Sienna's favorite bakery lemon cakes, fruit tarts, garlic bread, and her beloved iced matcha. A battery-powered speaker played old jazz, blending into the rustling leaves.
Sienna gasped. "What is this?"
Jayden shrugged. "Plan B in case the rollercoasters killed me."
Amelia raced around the field, yelling, "This is the best day ever!"
They sat. They laughed. Jayden removed his shoes and let the grass touch his feet for the first time in years.
He leaned back, arms behind his head, watching clouds drift by.
Sienna joined him.
He could smell the faint scent of her shampoo as she lay beside him, Amelia curled between them, her tiny arms spread like angel wings.
Jayden turned his head to her. "If this were a movie, what happens next?"
Sienna looked at him, eyes soft. "I don't know. I usually skip to the part where the heroine gets heartbroken."
He frowned. "I don't like that version."
"Me either," she whispered.
Sienna sipped lemonade, sitting barefoot on the blanket, her blouse sleeves rolled to her elbows.
Jayden lay back with Amelia sleeping on his chest, her little hand clutching his shirt.
A breeze rolled through the trees.
"I haven't felt like this in years," Sienna said.
Jayden opened one eye. "Like what?"
"Like maybe the world isn't out to break me."
He sat up, gently repositioning Amelia onto the blanket.
He looked her in the eyes. "You're not alone anymore."
Sienna bit her lip.
"Is this real?" she asked.
Jayden leaned closer, voice low. "You tell me."
They didn't kiss. Not yet. But the closeness the shared breath, the mutual ache was louder than any kiss could be.
Somewhere nearby, wind chimes sang from a tree branch.
And for once, Jayden Colman ghost, legend, reaper felt human.
He looked at Amelia sleeping under the trees, her head tilted back with a faint smile.
Then he looked at Sienna.
And he knew…
He'd burn every city in the world to protect this peace.
As the sun dipped low and fireflies began dancing in the brush, Amelia slept with her head on Jayden's lap, soft snores escaping her lips.
Sienna sat close, her eyes glossy as she looked out at the hills.
"I think you broke me today," she whispered.
"How so?"
"I never thought I'd feel this again. Light. Whole. Human."
Jayden looked down at the girl he once saved.
And up at the woman he was starting to love.
"I think… this is what heaven looks like," he murmured.
She smiled.
And this time, they kissed.
Soft. Slow. No rush. No heat. Just warmth.
Two broken people, finally healing.