Chapter 25

Vien buried her face in her hands as Blair chatted animatedly with Gabriela. The three of them sat on the couch, with Blair comfortably perched on Gabriela's lap.

"Mommy, are you and Gabi together now?" Blair asked, her curious eyes bouncing between them.

Vien drew a sharp breath, trying to steady herself. "Sweetie, I just told Gabi that I'll give her a chance. We're not—"

"Can I be Gabi's baby too, Mommy?" Blair interrupted, her tone full of excitement.

Vien blinked in surprise. "What?" she stammered. "Blair, that's—"

"Of course, you can be my baby too," Gabriela interjected with a warm smile. "You're your mommy's baby, so that makes you mine too."

"Hold on!" Vien hissed, raising a hand to halt the conversation. "Both of you need to stop cutting me off." She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, feigning sternness.

Blair giggled, unfazed. "But can I, Mommy? Can I be Gabi's baby too?" she asked again, looking up at her mother with hopeful eyes.

Vien swallowed hard, flustered as she avoided Gabriela's gaze. "She just said yes, didn't she, sweetie? Besides, if she didn't want you as her baby, I'd reconsider giving her a chance," she muttered.

Gabriela clicked her tongue and shook her head. "And haven't I told you, Vien, that I'm not just pursuing you? I'm earning Blair's trust too," she said with a playful chuckle.

Vien rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, you've earned her trust all right. So much so that she's more attached to you than me. Look at this kid—she's clingier to you than she is to her own mother!" she teased, laughing softly.

Blair beamed and leaned her head against Gabriela's chest. "See, Mommy? I told you, Gabi's nice." She paused, sitting up to meet Gabriela's gaze. "But, Gabi, don't hurt my mommy, okay? I'll be really sad if you do."

Gabriela's expression softened as she looked at Blair, then at Vien. "I'd never hurt her," she said sincerely, giving Blair a reassuring smile before throwing Vien a cheeky wink.

Vien clicked her tongue, slouching against the couch with her arms crossed.

"Mommy might be a little jealous, Blair," Gabriela whispered to the little girl, though her words were loud enough for Vien to hear.

"I am not," Vien retorted, shooting Gabriela a glare.

Gabriela grinned and slid an arm around Vien's shoulders, pulling her closer. "Then stop sulking and come closer," she teased, her smile widening.

Vien huffed, pretending to be annoyed, but a small smile broke through. "You two are teaming up against me. How is that even fair?" she complained, moving closer to them.

Gabriela shrugged, her smile softening. "Thank you, Vien," she said quietly. "For giving me a chance."

Vien felt her cheeks warm and her heart skip a beat. She glanced away, her voice quiet but firm. "Well, you'd better prove you're worth it. You know I can always change my mind," she said, attempting a casual shrug.

Gabriela chuckled softly, her gaze steady and warm. "Fair enough, Vien. I promise you won't regret it."

Blair grinned, hugging Gabriela tightly. "Mommy, you can't take it back now. Gabi's part of the team!"

Vien sighed dramatically, leaning her head back against the couch. "Looks like I'm outnumbered here."

"Don't act like you don't love it," Gabriela teased, nudging Vien lightly. "You're just pretending to be annoyed."

Blair giggled, nodding in agreement. "Mommy always pretends, but I know she's happy!"

Vien raised an eyebrow, smirking at her daughter. "Careful, Blair. You're getting too smart for your own good."

"She gets it from you," Gabriela interjected with a playful smile. "Stubbornness and all."

Vien narrowed her eyes at Gabriela but couldn't suppress the small laugh that escaped. "Alright, alright. Let's not gang up on me too much tonight."

Blair climbed off Gabriela's lap, her energy suddenly shifting. "I'm going to draw us as a team! Mommy, Gabi, and me!" She ran off to grab her drawing supplies.

Once Blair disappeared into her room, Vien let out a small breath, her shoulders relaxing. Gabriela glanced at her, her expression softening. "You're really good with her, you know."

Vien shrugged, a faint blush creeping up her neck. "She's my world. I'd do anything for her."

"I can see that," Gabriela replied, her voice gentle. She reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from Vien's face. "I hope one day I can be a part of that world too. Fully."

Vien swallowed hard, her heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in Gabriela's words. "One step at a time, Gabi," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "One step at a time."

Gabriela nodded, leaning back against the couch but keeping her gaze on Vien. "I'll wait, Vien. However long it takes."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the room felt quiet. The distant sound of Blair humming to herself in the other room was the only thing grounding them back to reality.

Vien cleared her throat, standing abruptly. "I should check on Blair. She gets too quiet when she's up to something."

Gabriela smiled knowingly, watching as Vien walked toward Blair's room. "Take all the time you need," she murmured to herself. "I'm not going anywhere."

Vien leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, as she watched her daughter chatting with Gabriela in her room. A soft chuckle escaped her lips, the sound of the rain outside a soothing backdrop. Gabriela lived just across the street, yet here she was, a regular fixture in their home.

"Mommy, can Gabi sleep here with us tonight?" Blair asked suddenly, her innocent eyes lighting up with excitement.

Vien blinked, caught off guard. She straightened up. "Blair, Gabi's house is literally right across the street. Why would she—"

"Please?" Blair interrupted, her pout in full effect. "I want the three of us to sleep together!" she announced with a giggle.

Vien glanced at Gabriela, who looked as startled as she felt. With a chuckle, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "And why exactly do you want Gabi to sleep here?" she asked, amused.

Blair grinned, her excitement uncontainable. "Because I want to sleep beside her! Mommy, you'll sleep there," she said, pointing to the left side of the bed. "Gabi will sleep here," she continued, pointing to the middle. "And I'll sleep here," she finished, pointing to the right. "We can all cuddle!"

Vien scoffed, clicking her tongue. "Sweetie, Mommy and Gabi aren't even officially together. That's not—"

"Please? Just this once?" Blair clasped her hands together, her big eyes pleading.

Vien laughed softly. "How many times have you said, 'just this once,' Blair?" she teased. "And don't you have your own room?" she added.

"Then I'll sleep with Gabi in my room!" Blair declared confidently.

"Nope, not happening," Vien said, shaking her head, though she couldn't help but smile at her daughter's persistence. "Gabi needs proper rest, sweetie. You'll just keep her up talking all night if she sleeps with you."

Blair pouted, her energy deflating. "Fine," she mumbled.

Gabriela chuckled, clearly trying to suppress her laughter. "How about this? I'll stay until you fall asleep, Blair. Does that sound good?" she suggested gently.

Blair's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Mommy, can she do that?" she asked eagerly, looking to Vien for permission.

Vien sighed, a smile tugging at her lips. "Fine, fine. Do I even have a choice when the two of you team up against me?" she said, rolling her eyes in mock defeat. "But only until she falls asleep," she added, pointing a finger at Gabriela for emphasis.

Gabriela laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Got it. Unless, of course, you change your mind," she teased with a shrug.

"You're impossible!" Vien muttered, shaking her head.

Excusing herself, Vien stepped out of the room to take a call from the BioSynthix Medical Group. The conversation stretched on for an hour. When she finally returned to her room, she frowned at the unexpected silence. Slowly, she pushed the door open.

Her brows rose at the sight before her—Gabriela was sitting on the bed, her back leaning against the headboard, cradling a sleeping Blair in her arms. Vien softened, chuckling quietly as she approached. Gently, she peeked at Blair to confirm she was fast asleep.

"Gab... Gabi," Vien whispered, leaning closer to try and lift Blair. But Blair stirred, her tiny hands clutching at Gabriela's sweatshirt. Clicking her tongue in defeat, Vien softly patted Gabriela's cheek. "Gabi... Gabriela," she called again.

Gabriela frowned as her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times before glancing down at Blair. "Oh, sorry, I must've dozed off," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. "Should I take her to her room? Or would you rather she sleeps here with you?"

"Just put her in the middle," Vien said, shifting to make space and pulling the blanket aside.

Gabriela stretched slightly and rubbed her eyes before carefully laying Blair down in the center of the bed.

"Right," Gabriela muttered, standing to leave. "I should get going."

"Just stay the night. You've already fallen asleep; you might as well rest properly here," Vien said, stopping Gabriela in her tracks.

Gabriela opened her mouth to protest but froze when Vien fixed her with a pointed glare. "Don't make me repeat myself," Vien warned, her tone firm as she gestured to the empty space beside Blair. She gently shifted her daughter closer to make room. "It's not like I'm going to kill you in your sleep," she added with an exaggerated eye roll before lying down and wrapping an arm around Blair.

Gabriela gulped, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "O-okay," she stammered, realizing she didn't have much of a choice. Slowly, she climbed into bed and lay down.

"Goodnight, Gabi," Vien mumbled, her eyes shutting, though her cheeks felt impossibly warm.

"Goodnight, Vien," Gabriela replied softly, sneaking a glance at her before turning onto her side. Closing her eyes, she couldn't help but smile as sleep took her once again.