The first sound Will heard that morning wasn't his alarm.
It was a soft thump, followed by the quick patter of small feet and a hushed, conspiratorial whisper.
"Shhh, you'll wake Daddy."
He cracked one eye open and caught sight of Lyra crouched at the foot of his bed in her pajamas, hair still mussed from sleep. In her hands, she clutched the kitten like a precious jewel—its little black head poking out, blinking owlishly in the early light.
"Lyra," his voice was gravelly, still deep with sleep. "What time is it?"
"Not late! Just… morning." She flashed him a smile that was far too bright for such an hour. "I'm gonna feed Midnight before school."
Midnight. Of course she'd already named it.
Rubbing his face, Will pushed himself up. "You could've waited until breakfast."
"But he was hungry," Lyra protested, hugging the kitten closer. The tiny thing gave a faint, squeaky mewl—betraying her case perfectly.
Will sighed, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. "Fine. But I'm helping. You're not carrying a saucer of milk over my rugs alone."
In the kitchen, chaos bloomed like it had been waiting for them. Lyra darted to the fridge, dragging a chair across the tiles with a screech. The kitten, freed onto the counter, sniffed at everything with unabashed curiosity, tail flicking.
"Lyra, no—keep him off the—" Will started, but the kitten promptly jumped down onto the floor and made a beeline for his slippers.
Lyra giggled. "he likes you!"
"he's trying to kill me before coffee," he muttered, catching the kitten mid-pounce and setting him gently on the floor.
They finally got a shallow saucer filled, and Will knelt with Lyra to set it in the corner of the kitchen. Midnight lapped eagerly, little pink tongue flashing.
Lyra sat cross-legged beside her, chin propped on her hands. "he's so cute… do you think Mommy will like him?"
"She already said yes, remember?" Will reminded her, softening despite his morning grumpiness. "But we'll still have to teach you how to take care of him."
"I can! I'll feed him and brush him and—" Lyra launched into a list so long Will half-suspected she was negotiating for a pony next.
By the time breakfast was done, both child and kitten had managed to tangle themselves in equal trouble—Lyra spilling a bit of milk on her sweater and the kitten attempting to climb the dining chair legs. Will found himself juggling school lunch prep with the occasional, "Midnight, no," and "Lyra, shoes, now."
When they were finally ready, Lyra insisted on kissing the kitten goodbye before heading out the door. The kitten mewed after her, watching from the blanket nest in the living room.
On the drive to school, Lyra leaned back in her seat, still beaming. "Daddy… I think Midnight missed us when she was alone in the rain. But he's happy now. We made him happy."
Will's fingers tightened on the wheel—not in worry, but in the quiet way someone does when something inside their chest warms unexpectedly. "Yeah, kiddo," he said, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. "We did."
When they got home later that afternoon, Eliza's flight would be landing. He couldn't wait to see Lyra's face when she showed her mother their newest family member—though, if he was honest, he was curious to see Eliza's reaction too.