Ash munched happily, but then it suddenly froze.

Its wings flared. Its golden eyes glowed with excitement, alert, bright, almost trembling with joy.

Without hesitation, it spun toward the door.

Lucy, quietly watching from the couch, straightened a little, lifting her brows in surprise. She knew Ash's senses weren't normal. Its instincts dwarfed anything human. If it reacted like that.. there was only one possibility. Bruce was near.

Lily felt the shift in the air before she understood it. Her heart leapt, feet already pounding after Ash. "Ashy-boo!! Is Big Brother coming?!"

Ash nodded rapidly, so fast its tiny horns flickered, wings flapping in frantic joy, tail lashing through the air as if it couldn't contain its excitement. Excitement practically sizzled off its small body.

Lily was about to follow it...

But then, Lily suddenly stopped short and turned to her mother, eyes shimmering like wet gemstones. "Mum... can I go outside? Please? I want to welcome him!"

Lucy stared for a moment, then melted completely. That ridiculous sweetness… that open yearning… no mother on any plane could resist that.

She sighed, warmth bleeding through her composure. "Fine, Lily. Go welcome your brother."

Ash hopped to the door first, lifting a tiny claw and working at the lock with surprising precision until a clean metallic click echoed. The door swung open.

Ash shot out first, wings fluttering in excited bursts, and Lily bolted after him… hair bouncing, gown billowing, laughter chasing both of them into the cooling evening air.

.....

Meanwhile, watching Lily and Ash happily rush outside, the small smile on Lucy's face widened without her realizing. Seeing her child that joyful was always the best experience a mother could ever receive, and Lily's laughter filled her with a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

She exhaled slowly, a quiet sigh slipping past her lips. "Ever since his awakening… this entire house has changed. I've never seen Lily this happy before…" Her voice wavered, soft with disbelief, yet full of gratitude.

"And even though this household is in debt, and I've been breaking myself just trying to keep us afloat... the confidence with which he spoke that day..." Lucy closed her eyes, remembering Bruce's eyes, the determination in his voice, the certainty that didn't shake even once. "Why do I feel so confident in his words?"

It should've terrified her. She was neck-deep in obligations, and soon enough, those collectors from their so-called relatives would come knocking for every coin owed. None of that weight belonged to Bruce. Every mistake, every debt, every ruined promise, those were hers and her husband's burdens alone. All of it came from trusting family too much, from believing blood would never betray.

There was a saying: Blood is thicker than water. But who could have guessed their own blood would turn out to be green snakes in green grass... wolves wearing soft sheep's wool?

And yet, despite everything, her heart refused to panic. It was calm, warm, steady — as if it already believed her son would keep his promise and pay it all off. It felt strange, almost unfair, placing such a heavy responsibility on Bruce's shoulders. Stranger still was how easily she trusted him, when she should've been ashamed for letting him carry burdens he never caused.

But she couldn't help it.

Her heart blossomed with quiet, overwhelming warmth.

"Thank you, Bruce…" Lucy whispered to the empty room, voice trembling with hope. "You're the best son anyone could ever ask for."

As a mother, she was endlessly proud of him.

....

Meanwhile, Bruce, knowing the stall wasn't too far from home, walked the familiar path back with unhurried steps. The evening air was crisp and clean as it breezed across his skin, and for the first time in a long while, he let himself simply enjoy it. A stillness, a peace, something small and quiet… but real.

He could already sense their presence before he even reached the compound gate.

Lily and Ash, two bright little sparks flickering just outside the house, full of life.

Lucy was still inside, calm, steady as always.

A small, genuine smile tugged at Bruce's lips. He didn't speed up, didn't break into a run. The fact that Ash had already sensed him, and was practically bursting with excitement, curved something warm and protective in his chest. The bond between them was deeper than mere ownership. Ash felt like family too.

Moments later, Bruce stepped into the compound.

SWOOSH!

Ash flared its wings, body blurring into a streak of gold as it shot toward him at breathtaking speed. The world barely finished blinking before the little dragon cub curled itself around Bruce's neck, nuzzling against him as though it had just reunited with its missing heart.

Its warmth, its scent, its tiny claws hooking lightly against his clothes, all of it felt like home.

Bruce's hand rose automatically, fingers stroking the cub's soft scales.

Behind him, Lily was still catching up. She noticed Bruce a split-second too late, and the moment realization hit her, she broke into a run, voice cracking with excitement.

"Big Brother!!!"

Her tiny legs flew across the open space, and when she reached him, she leapt. No hesitation. No fear. Just absolute trust, blind and pure.

Because he had never once failed to catch her.

And this time was no different.

Bruce extended his arm and caught Lily perfectly, effortlessly, as though she weighed nothing. His other hand never left Ash, the embrace of two precious lives settling against him at once.

"Yay!!" Lily squealed, breathless with joy when Bruce tossed her gently into the air. He caught her immediately, then threw her again, spinning her higher each time. Every rise felt like soaring toward the moon, every descent like a warm, safe drop back into the arms that never wavered.

Her laughter rang like tiny bells, bright and unrestrained. The exhilaration in her chest made her feel as though she was riding a roller coaster, like she was flying on the back of the wind itself.

Bruce repeated the motion several more times, Lily squealing with every lift as the moonlight brushed her cheeks. She loved it, that thrill of a fall she didn't fear, a moment where danger didn't exist, because Bruce's hands would always be there.

Eventually he stopped. Too much excitement for someone that young could be unhealthy. The last thing he wanted was to overwhelm her little heart.

With a light breath, Bruce willed a bag of candies and chocolates into his hand, and he offered it to her.

Lily gasped like she'd discovered treasure. "Treats!!!"

She hugged the bag to her chest with both arms, cheeks puffing happily:

"Thank you, Big Brother!"

Then she hopped off his arm and landed with two soft taps on the ground, moving proudly to walk beside him toward the house entrance, matching her steps with his.

Bruce turned to Ash, scratching softly at its little forehead, right between the horns, the spot he knew the cub adored. "Good job, Ash. You did really well taking care of Mom and Lily."

Ash nodded with solemn pride, eyes glowing as it pressed its head more firmly into Bruce's hand, begging for more affection. It puffed its chest out, as though reporting a perfect mission.

Lily crossed her arms with a cute little pout, eyes glimmering with mock jealousy. "Bad people didn't come, so Ash didn't protect me! He just played with me!"

Bruce let out a quiet sigh, fighting a helpless smile.

'Such a troublesome child…' he thought, though the tenderness in him swelled. 'She's right, technically. There was nothing to protect her from while I was away… which is a good thing. I hope it stays like that.'

He reached out and patted her head too, gentler than the wind.

Instantly, Lily lit up. She beamed at Ash, wiggling her chocolate-filled fingers. "Don't worry, Ash! I'll give you lots and lots of candy and chocolate when we play next time!"

Ash blinked, stunned for a moment… then wagged its tail, excitement shimmering in its eyes.

Home. Warm. Safe.

And Bruce stood in the center, holding all of it together.

....

A/N:

This chapter was extra long. I almost cut it out, but I decided to give it a proper end.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.