Carina's alarm beeped softly, cutting through the quiet of the early morning. With a sleepy groan, she reached over to turn it off, not quite ready to face the day. Just as she settled back into the pillow, she felt Maya shift beside her, snuggling in closer. Maya's arm draped over Carina's waist, and Carina smiled softly, not wanting to move.

"I don't want to get up," Carina murmured, her voice heavy with sleep. The warmth of the bed and the feeling of Maya's arms around her were too good to leave just yet.

Maya, barely awake, mumbled something incoherent but clearly in agreement, tightening her hold. Carina let out a small laugh, knowing she had to get up but allowing herself 10 more minutes to relish the moment. The world could wait a little while longer.

Those few minutes of quiet snuggling felt like bliss, but soon enough, Carina sighed and started to sit up, stretching reluctantly. "Okay, time to get ready," she said softly, though a part of her still wanted to stay under the covers.

Just as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the sound of little feet pattering down the hallway reached her ears. Before she could say anything, Alex burst into the room, his excitement contagious.

"Mamma! Mommy!" Alex called out as he ran toward the bed, his face beaming with energy.

Carina held up a hand, trying to remind him. "Alex, remember, we knock on—"

But before she could finish, Alex had already jumped onto the bed, wriggling his way between Maya and Carina's now-empty spot. Maya stirred, waking fully as Alex snuggled up to her, his little arms wrapping around her.

Maya chuckled sleepily, hugging Alex close. "Good morning, buddy," she murmured, her voice still groggy but filled with warmth.

"Morning, Mommy!" Alex said, his excitement bubbling over as he buried his face against Maya's chest, clearly thrilled to be in bed with them.

Carina shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips as she watched the scene unfold. "You're impossible," she teased, walking over to grab her clothes for work. "But I guess it's a good way to start the day."

As Carina moved around the room, getting dressed and ready for work, Maya and Alex snuggled under the covers, giggling and chatting softly. Every now and then, Alex would peek over the edge of the blanket to watch Carina put on her scrubs, his eyes filled with curiosity and admiration for his mom.

Maya, now fully awake, smiled up at Carina as she finished getting ready. "You're going to be amazing today," she said, her voice full of affection and pride.

Carina leaned over the bed, pressing a quick kiss to Maya's forehead and then to Alex's. "I'll be back tonight, and we can have more snuggles, okay?"

Alex nodded enthusiastically. "Okay, Mamma!"

With Carina nearly ready to head out the door, she paused to glance back at Maya and Alex, still snuggled up in bed. "So, what do you two have planned for today?" she asked, grabbing her bag from the chair.

Alex, sensing an opportunity, popped his head up from the blanket and gave Carina his best puppy-dog eyes. "Can I stay home with Mommy? Please, Mamma? I don't wanna go to preschool today."

Carina raised an eyebrow, turning to Maya with an amused smirk. "Oh, really?" she asked, already sensing where this was going.

Maya looked at Alex and then back at Carina, her grin playful. "I mean… I don't mind if he stays with me today," she said with a shrug, clearly giving in to Alex's plea.

Carina rolled her eyes, laughing softly as she shook her head. "You're such a pushover, Maya," she teased, walking over to the bed and giving them both a playful look. "He's got you wrapped around his little finger."

Maya laughed, nudging Alex. "What can I say? He's hard to resist."

Alex giggled, pleased with himself as he snuggled back into the blankets. "Yay! I get to stay with Mommy!"

Carina leaned down, giving both of them a quick kiss. "Alright, but just remember, we still have the last bit of unpacking to do," she reminded them, her tone both playful and serious. "And don't forget—we need to pick up some things from the store."

Maya waved a hand dismissively, grinning up at her. "Don't worry, we'll handle it. Unpacking, errands, all of it."

Carina gave her a knowing look, amused by Maya's confidence. "I'll hold you to that," she said with a chuckle before heading for the door. "Have fun today, my loves."

Ensuring she heard the front door closing completely she turned to Alex. "Hey, buddy," Maya said softly, turning to face Alex. "Can I ask you something?"

Alex looked up at her, his big, curious eyes focused on his mom. "What is it, Mommy?"

Maya took a deep breath, her heart fluttering slightly as she prepared to ask the question. "How would you feel if I asked Mamma to marry me?"

Alex blinked, his small brow furrowing in thought. "Marry her? What does that mean?"

Maya smiled, realizing she needed to explain it to him in simpler terms. "It means that I would ask Mamma if she wants to be together with me forever, like a family. It's a way of saying we love each other and want to be together for always."

Alex's eyes widened with interest. "Forever? Like superheroes?"

Maya chuckled softly, nodding. "Yeah, kind of like superheroes. It means we're a team, and we take care of each other, just like how we take care of you."

Alex thought about it for a moment, his little mind processing the idea. "Will we all live together forever?"

Maya smiled, reaching over to gently ruffle his hair. "Yes, we'll all live together, and it would mean that Mamma and I are both your family—forever."

Alex's face lit up at the thought. "I like that," he said with a big smile. "Can I be there when you ask her?"

Maya's heart swelled with love at his enthusiasm. "Of course, buddy. I wouldn't do it without you."

Alex leaned in closer, clearly excited about the idea. "Are we going to have a party too?"

Maya laughed softly. "Yes, if Mamma says yes, we can have a big party to celebrate."

Alex grinned, the idea of a celebration clearly making him happy. "Okay! I want you to marry Mamma!"

Maya couldn't help but smile at his excitement, feeling a sense of joy and reassurance at his response. "I'm really glad you're excited, buddy. It means a lot to me." Maya leaned in close, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Well I guess we have a special mission today."

Alex gasped, his excitement growing. "A mission? What kind of mission?"

Maya grinned, enjoying how easily Alex was caught up in the excitement. "It's a very important errand," she explained. "Super top-secret stuff. We have to go somewhere and pick something up. Do you think you can help me with that?"

Alex's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Yes! I can do it! What are we going to get?"

Maya smiled, keeping the mystery alive. "You'll see when we get there. But we need to get ready soon because it's a mission that only you and I can do."

Alex bounced on the bed, unable to contain his excitement. "Okay, Mommy! Let's go!"

Maya guided Alex into the kitchen. "But first," she said with a grin, "every secret agent needs a good breakfast."

Alex giggled, climbing up onto one of the kitchen stools as he watched his mom move around the kitchen with purpose. "What's for breakfast, Mommy?"

Maya tapped her chin, pretending to think hard. "How about pancakes? A super-secret, special agent breakfast."

"Pancakes!" Alex cheered, his face lighting up. "Yay! Can I help?"

Maya smiled at his enthusiasm. "Of course, buddy. You can be my assistant chef."

They worked together in the kitchen, Maya measuring the ingredients while Alex stirred the batter with all the seriousness of a real chef. They laughed and chatted as they flipped pancakes on the griddle, the room filling with the comforting scent of breakfast.

Once the pancakes were done, Maya plated them with a flourish, placing a stack in front of Alex. "Here you go, special agent," she said with a playful wink. "Fuel for our big day."

Alex dug in, his little face glowing with happiness as he devoured the pancakes. "These are the best pancakes ever!" he declared, his mouth full of syrupy goodness.

Maya smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest as she watched Alex enjoy the meal. "I'm glad you like them, buddy."

With breakfast behind them and the promise of their special mission ahead, Maya and Alex got dressed and prepared to head out. Maya grabbed the list Carina had left on the kitchen counter, tucking it into her pocket before turning to Alex, who was still brimming with excitement.

"Ready, buddy?" Maya asked with a grin.

Alex nodded eagerly. "Ready!"

Their first stop was the mall. As they walked through the entrance, Alex looked around, slightly puzzled. "Why are we here, Mommy?" he asked, tilting his head.

Maya smiled, her tone playful. "Well, special agents need the right gear, right? We need to look the part. That means we need secret agent clothes."

Alex's eyes widened in excitement as he took in the idea. "Secret agent clothes?" he repeated, a smile spreading across his face. "Like in the movies?"

Maya nodded. "Exactly. We'll find something cool to wear."

They made their way through the mall, heading straight for the clothing section. Maya led Alex to a rack of little suit jackets and ties, holding up a black jacket for him to try on. "What do you think?" she asked, holding it up against him.

Alex looked in the mirror, his face lighting up as he saw himself in the tiny suit jacket. "I look like a real secret agent!" he exclaimed.

Maya chuckled. "That's the idea. Now, let's find a tie."

After picking out a matching tie, they headed to the register. As they were about to check out, Alex's eyes landed on a display of sunglasses nearby. "Mommy, look!" he said excitedly, pointing at the sunglasses. "Secret agents always wear sunglasses!"

Maya grinned. "You're right. We definitely need those too."

They added a pair of sunglasses for each of them to the purchase, and with their new secret agent gear in hand, they were ready to continue their special mission.

"Now we're ready to take on the world," Maya said with a wink as they left the mall, Alex proudly carrying his new suit jacket and sunglasses.

With their new secret agent clothes packed up and Alex bouncing with excitement, Maya helped him into the car, buckling him into his seat. As she clicked the seatbelt into place, she gave him a playful grin.

"Alright, special agent Alex," Maya said, leaning in slightly. "Are you ready for the next part of our super-secret mission?"

Alex's eyes lit up, his face full of excitement. "Yes, Mommy! I'm ready! What's next?"

Maya chuckled, her heart swelling with affection for her son's enthusiasm. "You'll see, buddy. It's a very important errand, so we need to stay sharp."

Alex nodded seriously, putting on his new sunglasses as if to fully embrace the role of a secret agent. "I'm ready!" he declared, his little voice full of determination.

Maya smiled as she got into the driver's seat, glancing back at Alex in the rearview mirror. "Alright, let's go, partner."

After their successful trip to the mall, Maya parked the car in front of the jeweler. As she helped Alex out of the car, he looked up at the store, a look of recognition flashing across his face.

"Mommy," Alex said, tugging on Maya's hand. "Is this the place with the rings?"

Maya raised an eyebrow, surprised by his question. "How do you know about the rings, buddy?"

Alex hesitated for a moment, his little face scrunching up as if trying to decide what to say. Then, suddenly, he slapped his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide with realization. "Oops! That was a secret!" he mumbled through his fingers.

Maya knelt down, gently pulling his hand away from his mouth. "It's okay, Alex," she said, her voice soft and reassuring. "You're not in trouble. But how do you know about this place?"

Alex looked around nervously, then leaned in close to whisper. "Mamma brought me here. She told me it was a secret, though."

Maya's heart warmed at the confession. She smiled, stroking Alex's hair. "Well, you know what? I won't tell Mamma you spilled the secret. And actually, I have a little secret too."

Alex's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What is it?"

Maya leaned in, keeping her voice low. "We're here because I'm going to pick out a ring for Mamma. I'm going to ask her to marry me."

Alex's face brightened instantly, his earlier nervousness vanishing. "You are? Yay! Does that mean I get to help pick it?"

Maya grinned, standing up and holding his hand as they walked toward the door. "Yep! You're my secret agent today, remember? You're going to help me find the perfect ring for Mamma."

Alex nodded eagerly, his excitement bubbling over once again.

As Maya and Alex stepped into the jeweler's shop, the soft sound of classical music filled the air, and the light reflected off rows of glittering diamonds and gemstones displayed in glass cases. A friendly jeweler greeted them with a warm smile, gesturing for them to come closer.

"Good afternoon," the jeweler said. "How can I help you today?"

Maya smiled, holding Alex's hand as they approached the counter. "We're looking for an engagement ring," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "Something special."

The jeweler's eyes twinkled with understanding as she gestured toward a display of rings. "You've come to the right place. Let me show you some options."

For the next half hour, Maya and Alex looked through an array of sparkling rings. There were classic solitaires, elegant bands with intricate designs, and sparkling diamond clusters. Each ring was beautiful, but none of them quite felt right.

As they moved on to another section, Alex suddenly pointed to a ring with three sparkling diamonds nestled side by side. "Mommy, look at that one!" he said excitedly.

Maya leaned in, her eyes widening as she saw the ring Alex was pointing to. It was a stunning three-stone diamond ring, each stone symbolizing something important—the past, present, and future, or perhaps a symbol of the three of them as a family.

"I like this one," Alex said, his face glowing with enthusiasm.

Maya smiled, her heart swelling as she looked at the ring. It was elegant and meaningful—exactly what she had hoped to find. "I think you're right, buddy," she said softly. "It's perfect."

The jeweler smiled, recognizing the special moment between them. "A wonderful choice," she said. "This three-stone ring is a classic, and it carries a lot of meaning."

Maya looked down at Alex, who was beaming with pride. "What do you think, partner? Should we get it for Mamma?"

Alex nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mommy! She's going to love it!"

Maya felt her heart race as she nodded to the jeweler. "We'll take it."

As they finalized the purchase, Maya couldn't help but feel a surge of joy and anticipation. The three-stone diamond ring was perfect, not just for Carina but for their entire family. It represented everything they had been through and everything they were building together.

With the ring safely tucked into a velvet box, Maya and Alex left the jeweler's shop, both of them filled with excitement for what was to come.

With the important mission of picking out Carina's ring successfully completed, Maya and Alex headed to the grocery store for the last stop of their day. Armed with Carina's grocery list, they wandered through the aisles, gathering the items one by one.

"Alright, buddy," Maya said, glancing at the list as they neared the end. "We've got everything on Mamma's list. Now, what should we have for dinner tonight?"

Alex paused in the middle of the grocery store, his little face scrunching up in thought. After a moment, he looked up at Maya and, in his usual blunt honesty, said, "I think you should just buy something already cooked because you really can't cook as good as Mamma."

Maya blinked, and then a burst of laughter escaped her as Alex stood there, completely serious. "Well, thanks for the honesty, bud," Maya said between laughs, ruffling his hair.

Alex grinned, clearly proud of his observation. "It's true, Mommy."

Maya shook her head, still chuckling as they continued down the aisle. "Alright, I guess you're right. Let's pick up something for dinner then."

As Maya chuckled at Alex's brutally honest comment about her cooking, she noticed a soft laugh coming from behind them. Turning around, she saw an older lady, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she pushed her cart past.

"I couldn't help but overhear," the lady said with a warm smile. "Out of the mouths of babes, right?"

Maya grinned, glancing down at Alex, who was still grinning proudly. "Yeah, he's definitely not shy about his opinions."

The lady chuckled again, her smile kind. "Well, at least he's honest. That's something to appreciate."

Maya nodded, laughing along. "Very true. I'll take the honesty, even if it's about my cooking skills."

The older woman gave Maya a wink as she continued down the aisle. "Sounds like you're doing a great job, Mom. Cooking skills aside."

Maya smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest from the brief encounter. She turned back to Alex, who was still looking up at her with a big grin. "See, even she agrees I'm a great mom," she teased, playfully bumping his shoulder.

Alex giggled, nodding. "Yeah, you're a great mom, even if you don't cook like Mamma."

Maya laughed as they continued their shopping, the lighthearted moment leaving her with an even bigger smile on her face.

As Maya finished loading the last of the grocery bags into the back of the Jeep, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, smiling as she read Carina's text: "Should be home around 6 PM. Can't wait to see you both. Love you."

Maya checked her watch. It was just after 2 PM, leaving them about four hours to finish their secret agent mission. Plenty of time. She glanced down at Alex, who had been so full of energy all day, now rubbing his eyes as he stood by the car door.

"Looks like we've got some time, buddy," Maya said as she helped him into his car seat. "We'll get everything done before Mamma gets home."

But as she buckled him in, she noticed Alex yawning—a big, tired yawn. "You getting tired, pal?" Maya asked, her voice soft with affection.

"Mmm, maybe just a little," Alex mumbled, his head resting against the side of his car seat. His eyelids fluttered as he tried to stay awake, but sleep was quickly overtaking him.

Maya chuckled softly as she climbed into the driver's seat. "Looks like my special agent might need a nap."

Mid-conversation, Maya glanced back and smiled. Alex was already sound asleep, his small body slumped in the car seat, completely exhausted from their exciting day of adventures.

Shaking her head with a tender smile, Maya quietly started the Jeep and drove home, the quiet hum of the car engine soothing both of them.

With Alex fast asleep, Maya carried him inside, careful not to wake him as she laid him gently on his bed. He barely stirred, his little face peaceful as he settled into his nap. Smiling to herself, Maya quietly closed his bedroom door and got to work.

There were still groceries to put away and a few lingering boxes that needed unpacking. Maya moved efficiently around the kitchen, putting things in their rightful places and mentally checking off the tasks she had left. Once everything was in order, she plopped down onto the sofa with a satisfied sigh.

Pulling out her phone, she opened a search engine to start looking for a restaurant to order dinner from—something that Alex would enjoy and that would be ready before Carina came home. Just as she was about to tap on a nearby spot, she heard the soft patter of little feet.

Looking up, she saw Alex standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes sleepily and holding his stuffed animal in one hand. He padded over to her, crawling onto the sofa and snuggling into her side without saying a word.

Maya wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close as she kissed the top of his head. "Hey, buddy," she whispered softly. "Did you have a good nap?"

Alex nodded, still too sleepy to speak, and burrowed deeper into her side, letting out a contented sigh. Maya smiled, her heart warming at the simple but sweet moment. She put her phone down, letting her search for dinner wait just a little longer.

For now, this was exactly where she wanted to be—snuggled up with Alex, enjoying the quiet before the evening's plans came together.

After a cozy moment on the sofa, Maya glanced down at Alex, her phone still in hand. "Hey, what do you think about ordering from Mamma's favorite Italian restaurant tonight?" she asked softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Alex perked up, his sleepy eyes now sparkling with interest. "Yes! I love that place! And Mamma will be so happy."

Maya grinned. "Alright, let's pick out some dishes."

Together, they scrolled through the restaurant's menu, choosing a variety of dishes they knew Carina loved. From rich pasta dishes to a few sides and a dessert, they made sure to include all her favorites. Once they had made their choices, Maya placed the order, arranging for it to be delivered just in time for dinner.

With that settled, Maya turned to Alex, a playful glint in her eyes. "Now, how about we make it extra special? What do you think about setting the table with candles and a fancy tablecloth?"

Alex's face lit up at the idea. "Like a fancy restaurant?" he asked, bouncing up excitedly.

"Exactly," Maya said with a smile.

They got to work, rummaging through their boxes to find the perfect tablecloth and some candles. Maya let Alex carefully place the candles on the table while she unfolded the cloth, draping it neatly over the table. Together, they set the plates and silverware, the atmosphere slowly transforming into something warm and inviting.

As they stood back and admired their work, Alex grinned. "Mamma is going to love it!"

Maya smiled, nodding in agreement. "I think so too, buddy."

Maya stood at the edge of Alex's bed, neatly laying out his little suit jacket and white shirt alongside her own clothes. Everything was going perfectly according to plan: by 5 PM, they would both get dressed, the food was scheduled to arrive at 5:30, and Carina was supposed to walk through the door at 6 PM sharp.

But just as she finished setting out the clothes, her phone buzzed with a new message. Glancing down, she saw Carina's name on the screen. Her heart sank slightly as she read the text: "Hey love, not sure I'll make it home for 6. A mother just went into labor, and I might be here longer than expected."

Maya felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. She had been so excited to surprise Carina with the fancy dinner and all their planning. Taking a deep breath, she typed back a response: "Okay, just let me know as soon as you know what time you'll be home."

She put her phone down, glancing over at the clothes she had laid out for both herself and Alex. They had put so much effort into making the evening special, but now the timing was uncertain.

Alex, noticing the shift in Maya's mood, wandered over. "Mommy, what's wrong?"

Maya knelt down to his level, smiling softly. "Mamma might be a little late tonight. She's helping a baby be born."

Alex tilted his head, his brow furrowing. "But… we have our secret agent clothes ready. Can we still wear them?"

Maya chuckled softly, her heart warming at his question. "Of course we can. We'll get dressed in a little while, and we can still have fun. And when Mamma gets home, we'll make sure she sees everything we planned."

As Maya sat on the edge of the bed, her phone buzzed again. She looked down at the screen, seeing Carina's message: "Is everything okay? You seemed disappointed in your last text."

Maya smiled softly at the concern in Carina's message. Even in the middle of a busy workday, Carina always made sure to check in on them. Maya quickly typed back a response: "Everything's fine, I just was wondering when you would get home."