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Timeline: Ten months into parenthood "So we're locked for the Jingle Ball performance?" Ryan scanned the faces on her laptop screen, each window showing another member of her production team. "Because Jazmine's team needs those stage plots by Friday.""We got you, Ry," Tremaine chimed in, his Atlanta drawl coming through clear. "Just waiting on confirmation about that hydraulic lift situation.""Good. Because if we're gonna have her floating over the audience while hitting them runs, I need to know that lift is secure as hell." Ryan's fingers drummed against her desk, a habit she'd picked up from Sophie years ago. "Last thing we need is another BET Awards situation."Laughter came through the Zoom call. Ryan glanced at her watch – 6:45 PM. "Alright y'all, I gotta bounce. My girls are waiting, and if I miss bedtime again, Sophie's gonna have my head.""How is my favorite niece?" Erika's voice piped up. "She drumming yet?""Chile, that baby got rhythm for days. Sophie swears she's gonna be the next Sheila E," Ryan smiled proudly.After a chorus of goodbyes and promises to connect tomorrow, Ryan closed her laptop. She gazed out at the darkening city skyline, the evening commute winding down below. Sometimes she still couldn't believe this was her life – executive producing for some of the biggest names in the game, all while coming home to the family she never knew she needed.Her X3 hummed to life, heated seats kicking in against the chilly weather. The opening notes of SZA's latest slow jam played through the speakers, but before Ryan could settle into the vibe, the music switched. Suddenly, "The Wheels on the Bus (Trap Remix)" was blasting through her premium sound system."Jesus," Ryan laughed, turning it down but not off. Her carefully curated spotifly playlist had been hijacked months ago by Camden's favorites. Now her Recently Played was a mess of lullabies, educational bops, and whatever Sophie deemed "baby-appropriate turn up music."Lake Shore Drive was its usual jumble of traffic, but Ryan didn't mind. She used to hate the slowdown, back when every minute felt like a deadline. Now? Now she caught herself grinning at the polaroid clipped to her visor – Sophie and Camden at the park last weekend, both of them cheesing hard, their matching dimples on full show.The garage door rolled up, and Ryan pulled in next to Sophie's car (which definitely needed a wash, but that was a conversation for another day). She grabbed her bag, the designer leather now sporting a few cheerio crumbs and what might be baby drool."Sophie?" Her voice called through the kitchen as she hung up her coat. No answer, but that wasn't unusual these days. Between Camden's nap schedule and Sophie's in-home music lessons, their timing didn't always line up.She was washing her hands at the sink when she heard it – Sophie's voice coming down from upstairs, pitched high and goofy in what Ryan recognized as her "Mr. Monkey" voice."Oh no! What's that sound?" Sophie was saying. "Could it be... a DRUM!"A peal of baby laughter followed – that full-body giggle that always hit Ryan right in the feels.She crept up the stairs, drawn to the nursery and paused in the doorway, taking in the scene that made her fall in love all over again.Sophie sat cross-legged on the nursery floor, her braids pulled into a messy top knot, wearing one of Ryan's old tour hoodies that she'd claimed years ago. Even in sweats and long tube socks, she was still the most beautiful woman Ryan had ever seenCamden was propped against her legs, their daughter's curls wild probably from rolling and crawling around. Mr. Monkey – Camden's favorite since birth – was doing an interpretive dance while Ms. Giraffe provided commentary."And then," Sophie raised Mr. Monkey high, her voice dropping to a stage whisper, "the jungle heard something amazing..."Camden's eyes were big as moons, her little butterbean fingers already crinkling Sophie’s sweats. A bubble of spit giggling at the edge of her lip."BOOM-ba-da-BOOM!" Sophie's mouth-made drum solo bounced off the mint green walls. Mr. Monkey bumped to the beat while Ms. Giraffe swayed. "The animals had never heard such a funky beat!"The baby's laugh burst out – that deep belly giggle that was pure Sophie, right down to the way her nose scrunched up.Ryan pressed her palm against the doorframe, drinking in the sight of her girls lost in their own little world.But then Sophie added a crash cymbal effect – maybe a little too realistic – and Camden's face crumpled. The laugh transformed into a startled wail, fat tears rolling down her chubby cheeks.Ryan's body tensed, maternal instinct screaming to rush in and scoop up their baby. But she held back, watching as Sophie smoothly transitioned from storyteller to comforter."Oh baby girl it's okay," Sophie cooed, already reading the specific pitch of Camden's cry. This wasn't her hungry cry or her tired cry – this was her 'something spooked me but I'm also maybe being a little dramatic' cry. "Mama's got you. See? Mr. Monkey's sorry he was too loud."Sophie stood with Camden secured against her chest. Their daughter's cries softened as Sophie began to sway side to side, adding a two-step that Ryan recognized from countless late-night tours. But now instead of a drumline, Sophie was creating a gentler rhythm – pat-pat-pause, pat-pat-pause – against Camden's back."That's my girl," Sophie whispered, pressing kisses into Camden's hair. "Feel that beat? Just like we practiced."Gradually, Camden's sniffles faded. She nuzzled into Sophie's neck, one hand clutching her mama's braids while the other reached for Mr. Monkey, already forgiving him for his loud performance.Ryan watched Sophie's face as she peered down at their daughter. It was a look Ryan had seen countless times – when Camden first smiled, during midnight feedings, when she first crawled — every single "first" moment – like she couldn't believe they'd created something so perfect. Like Camden was sugar and sunshine wrapped in brown skin and baby rolls.The same look Sophie used to give Ryan during those early tour days, when she thought Ryan wasn't paying attention. The look that said you're magic, and I can't believe you're real.Ryan had to catch herself on the doorframe, her soul overflowing with all the feels from watching her wife and baby girl together like this. This was her why – this right here was why she'd fallen so hard for Sophie Moore. The woman could turn any space into shelter, any moment into music. It wasn't just the big moments – their wedding, Camden's birth, moving into this house. It was these quiet ones too. The way Sophie could turn a random Wednesday evening into something that felt like a blessing.Camden, drowsy against Sophie's shoulder, blinked heavily at the doorway. Then those big brown eyes lit up as she spotted Ryan, her little body wiggling with recognition despite her sleepiness. That movement made Sophie turn, and – My God – the way her whole face softened when she caught Ryan watching them...Sophie's smile was timeless. Didn't matter how long they'd been together, that look still made Ryan's heart skip several beats, taking her back to when they first caught feelings for each other in that cramped practice space.Sophie took in the sight of her wife still in her work clothes - fitted slacks and that cream sweater that made her dark skin pop, her hair, much longer now, fell perfectly despite the wind outside. Some things never changed - Ryan still dressed like a runway model on business, even if her designer bag now came with baby accessories."How long you been standing there, creep?" Sophie kidded as she swayed with their daughter.Ryan opened her mouth to fire back something smart and petty, but the words caught in her throat. All she could do was llook at them – her wife, her baby, both halves of her heart. This was hers. This little family they'd created. This love that kept growing, kept surprising her with how big it could get."Come here, baby." Sophie held out her arm – the same tattooed bicep Ryan had drunkenly kissed at an afterparty two years ago – now dotted with pureed sweet potato.Ryan crossed the room, sliding into the space Sophie made for her. She pressed a kiss to Camden's nose, breathing in that sweet baby scent, then tilted her face up to meet Sophie's lips – tender, well-known, like coming up for air."Someone's fighting sleep," Sophie whispered against Ryan's temple as Camden's eyes fluttered, still trying to stay awake now that her mommy was home."Just like her mom," Ryan ran a gentle finger down Camden's cheek. "Always trying to stay up past her bedtime.""Which mom you talking about? Because I seem to remember somebody staying up till 3 AM last week 'just checking one more email.'""Well, I guess I'm talking about mommy," Ryan defended, "and hey, it's not my fault my client was on the other side of the world.""Yeah, yeah."They settled into their bedtime rhythm after a diaper change – Sophie humming softly while Ryan grabbed Camden's favorite blanket. Together they rocked, a perfect three-part harmony, until their daughter finally lost her battle with sleep.Ryan carefully laid Camden in her crib, both of them holding their breath during the transfer. But their baby girl just sighed, clutching Mr. Monkey closer as she drifted deeper into dreams."Come on," Sophie tugged Ryan's hand, leading her downstairs. "I got that wine you like."Minutes later, they were curled up on the couch, Sophie's legs draped over Ryan's lap as she poured them each a glass. "So, tell me about this meeting. Is Jazmine really about to be floating over the audience?"Ryan took a long sip. "Girl, if we can get this hydraulic situation worked out. But listen—""Please tell me Erika's not gonna have her in another one of them barely-there bodysuits. My timeline still ain't recovered from the last wardrobe malfunction.""Actually—Erika said, and I quote, 'Either we putting her in a turtleneck or I'm quitting. These nipple covers ain't in my job description.'"Sophie nearly choked on her wine. "Not the nipple covers!""I know right?" Ryan giggled, her hands massaging Sophie's calves in her lap. Her fingers worked the muscles there, a habit born from years of knowing exactly where Sophie carried her tension after a day of chasing their daughter. They settled into the type of silence, you know — the kind that came with knowing someone so completely that words weren't always necessary.Sophie's foot nudged Ryan's thigh. "Hey.""Hmm?""Thank you."Ryan's hands paused their massage. "For what?""For being you. For loving our baby girl the way you do. For choosing this life with me.""Soph…" Ryan scooted in closer, cupping Sophie's face with a loving caress."Thank you for giving me this life. For showing me what real love looks like." Her thumb traced Sophie's cheekbone. "I spent so much time managing everyone else's dreams, I almost missed out on my own. Thank you for not letting me."Sophie's hands found Ryan's waist, pulling until she was straddling her lap "I think we can both take the W on this one." She kissed her with that same patience that had worn down Ryan's walls years ago.Through the monitor, Camden's baby snores provided the sweetest kind of soundtrack.