The sun blazed overhead, its heat intense, while a gentle summer breeze played across the faces of two young children.

Briony wore a soft beige sundress and a floppy bucket hat, a protective mask covering the lower half of her face.

She took a few steps forward, crouched down, and opened her arms wide, ready to welcome her two children-

James, seeing this, set Little Nina gently on the ground.

Little Nina and her brother, Mario, charged towards Briony with all the speed their little legs could muster.

Standing beside Briony, Stewart watched the two bundles of energy barrel toward their mother. Worried they might knock her over, he stepped forward and intercepted them just in time.

The kids couldn't stop themselves and crashed right into Stewart, each grabbing onto one of his long legs.

"Whoa!"

"Ow!"

Both children looked up in surprise.

Stewart glanced down at them, his narrow eyes softening, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

been a while,

hair with both hands,

kids stared up at him, frozen for a

a few seconds, Little Nina was the first to

"Daddy!"

lit up with delight as she bounced on her toes, arms

arms, his voice full of warmth. "Did

Nina squealed, planting a

He looked down at Mario, tousling his hair again. "Mario, didn't you miss

still hugging Stewart's leg, quiet

it was as if his dad had gone away to become a star in the sky, and now, suddenly, he was back-no longer

and feelings swirled

still crouched nearby,

him into a gentle embrace, stroking his soft cheek, and whispered in his ear, "Daddy never turned into a star. He's always been just fine. He's

Mario turned to look at

crouched down to meet his son's gaze. His eyes were full of tenderness. "Do you want a

the emotions he'd been holding back

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