The grocery store was buzzing with people as Carina pushed the cart down the aisle, Alex happily walking beside her. His little hands were full of energy as he helped pick out items to make their dinner special. They were already planning on pizza night, but Alex's imagination was running wild with ideas for toppings and snacks.

As they strolled past the pasta section, Alex suddenly looked up at Carina with wide, excited eyes. "Mamma, can we have a sleepover at the new house tonight? I wanna stay there with my toys!"

Carina smiled, her heart swelling at the idea. She loved how excited Alex was about the new penthouse and how quickly he was beginning to feel at home. "Of course, tesoro. A sleepover sounds like a great idea."

Alex beamed, practically bouncing in place. "Yay! Can we bring my toys too?"

"Absolutely," Carina agreed, chuckling at his enthusiasm. "After we finish up here, we'll stop by the apartment and grab some clothes and toys for you. It'll be fun to have our first night at the new house together."

Alex's excitement only grew as they made their way through the rest of the store, picking out the final items for dinner. Once they reached the checkout and packed everything into the car, they headed to their apartment.

When they arrived, Alex darted into his room, gathering as many toys as he could fit into his little backpack. Carina smiled as she watched him, his excitement infectious. She grabbed some clothes for herself and Maya, making sure they had enough for their impromptu sleepover.

After they were packed and ready, Carina loaded everything into the car and buckled Alex into his seat. As they began driving back to the penthouse, Carina decided to call Maya to let her know about their little sleepover plan.

The phone rang once, then twice, but no answer. Carina frowned slightly, glancing at the phone as it continued to ring. She was sure Maya would pick up—she usually answered right away. But after a few more rings, the call went to voicemail.

Carina ended the call, her brow furrowing in mild confusion. It wasn't like Maya to not answer, especially since they'd been in such close contact all day.

"Mamma, are we going to tell Mommy about the sleepover?" Alex asked from the backseat, his voice filled with excitement.

Carina smiled, pushing aside her momentary confusion. "Yes, tesoro. I'll tell Mommy when we get home. I'm sure she'll love the idea."

As they continued driving toward the penthouse, Carina's mind wandered back to the unanswered call. She knew Maya was likely still out on her run, but a small part of her couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

As Carina and Alex stepped into the penthouse, Alex immediately took off running, his little feet pattering through the halls. His voice echoed through the open space as he called out, "Mommy! Mommy, where are you?" Carina couldn't help but smile as she set the grocery bags on the kitchen counter, listening to his excitement.

After a long day of unpacking and running errands, she felt a warmth fill the house. The penthouse was beginning to feel like home, especially now that Alex's laughter echoed through its walls. Carina started pre-heating the oven for dinner, planning to make the pizza they had picked up at the store. She unpacked the groceries methodically, her mind wandering to Maya, who still hadn't returned from her run.

Just as Carina placed the last of the groceries into the fridge, she heard Alex's voice again, but this time, it was more urgent. "Mamma! Mamma, I found Mommy! She's outside!"

Carina wiped her hands on a towel and made her way toward where Alex's voice was coming from. As she reached the living room, she found Alex standing near the sliding glass doors that led to the terrace, tears welling up in his eyes. "I can't get to her, Mamma! I don't know how!" he cried, reaching for the door handle, but struggling to open it.

Carina's heart softened as she knelt beside him, gently wiping his tears away. "Shh, tesoro, it's okay," she said softly, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I'll go check on Mommy. You stay inside, alright?"

Alex sniffled, nodding as he wiped his face. "Okay," he whispered, though his gaze stayed fixed on the terrace, his little body filled with worry.

Carina stood up and unlocked the door, sliding it open with ease. A cool breeze greeted her as she stepped onto the terrace, the city skyline visible in the distance. She glanced around until she spotted Maya near the far end, completely engrossed in something.

As Carina walked closer, she noticed that Maya wasn't just standing idly—she was pacing around, examining the space, her mind clearly at work. The intensity in her posture told Carina that Maya was deep in thought, likely focused on some idea or plan. Carina's curiosity piqued as she approached.

"Maya?" Carina called out gently, her voice soft yet concerned. "What are you doing out here?"

Maya blinked, startled out of her thoughts as she turned to face Carina. "Oh, hey," she said, slightly flustered. "I didn't hear you come home."

Carina stepped closer, folding her arms as she studied Maya's expression. "Alex was worried. He couldn't figure out how to get to you, and he thought something was wrong."

Maya frowned, her face softening. "I didn't mean to worry him," she said quietly, glancing back toward the terrace door. "I got caught up in an idea, and I guess I lost track of time."

Carina raised an eyebrow. "An idea?"

Maya nodded, her gaze shifting toward the far side of the terrace. "I've been thinking… with us living here now, we don't have a backyard for Alex to practice soccer. And I know how excited he is about his new team, so I was trying to come up with a solution."

Carina's expression softened as she listened. "And what did you come up with?"

Maya gestured toward the open space of the terrace. "I was thinking we could build a kicking cage out here—something enclosed, so Alex can practice without worrying about kicking the ball off the building. It would give him a safe place to play and keep him active."

Carina smiled, her heart swelling at Maya's thoughtfulness. "That's a brilliant idea, tesoro. Alex would love that."

Maya sighed in relief, her shoulders relaxing. "I just want to make sure he has everything he needs here. I don't want him to feel like he's missing out because we moved into the penthouse."

Carina stepped forward, reaching for Maya's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You're an amazing mother, Maya. Alex is lucky to have you. And this kicking cage idea is perfect. We'll make sure he has everything he needs to thrive here."

Maya smiled, the weight of her earlier worries easing. "Thanks. I just… got a little lost in my head about it."

Carina leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Maya's lips. "That's okay. But next time, maybe don't disappear without letting us know? Alex and I were worried about you."

Maya chuckled softly, nodding. "Deal. I didn't mean to freak anyone out."

"Come on," Carina said, giving Maya's hand a tug. "Let's go inside. Alex is waiting for us, and dinner isn't going to cook itself."

Maya smiled, following Carina back inside the penthouse. As they stepped through the door, Alex ran toward them, his face lighting up in relief when he saw Maya.

"Mommy!" he cried, wrapping his arms around her legs. "I thought you were lost!"

Maya knelt down, pulling Alex into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, buddy. I was just outside thinking about something special for you."

"What special thing?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.

Maya smiled down at him. "How would you like a soccer practice space on the terrace?"

Alex's eyes widened with excitement. "Really? I can kick the ball out there?"

"That's right," Maya said, ruffling his hair. "We're going to make it safe, just for you."

Alex beamed, his worries forgotten as the excitement of the idea took over. "That's so cool!"

Maya couldn't help but feel a rush of affection for Carina. She looked into her wife's eyes, warmth radiating between them. Without a second thought, Maya stepped closer, sliding her hand around the back of Carina's neck and pulling her into a deep, loving kiss.

Carina melted into the kiss, her body instinctively leaning into Maya's. The connection between them felt electric, a shared moment of love in the middle of all the chaos of the day. For just a few seconds, it felt like the world was theirs alone.

But as their kiss deepened, they heard a familiar little voice from across the room.

"Ewwwww!" Alex groaned dramatically, still standing by the sliding glass door, watching them with a mix of amusement and mock disgust. His nose wrinkled up as he made a face, clearly not thrilled by the sight of his parents' affection.

Maya and Carina both burst into laughter, their kiss breaking as they turned toward Alex, who was now crossing his arms and shaking his head in that innocent, playful way only a child could.

"Why do you always do that?" Alex asked, half-smiling, half-complaining.

Maya grinned, wiping away a tear from laughing so hard. "Because I love Mamma, buddy."

"And that's what happens when people love each other," Carina added with a playful smile. "They kiss sometimes."

Alex scrunched his face again. "Yeah, but not all the time!" he teased, trying to keep his serious expression, though he was clearly holding back a smile.

Maya and Carina exchanged a loving glance before Maya knelt down to Alex's level, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Alright, we'll save the mushy stuff for later. Let's go get that pizza in the oven, huh?"

Alex nodded eagerly, his previous "eww" moment quickly forgotten as his focus shifted to dinner. "Yeah! I'm hungry!"

Carina smiled to herself as she headed into the kitchen, the sound of Alex's eager voice carrying behind her. She could hear the excitement bubbling up as he chatted with Maya about the special sleepover he had planned for their first night in the new penthouse. While Carina busied herself with the groceries, the love and joy filling their home felt like the perfect backdrop to their new beginning.

Meanwhile, Alex tugged on Maya's hand, practically bouncing with excitement. "Mommy, guess what! Mamma said we're going to have a sleepover tonight in the new house! All of us together!"

Maya's face lit up, her heart swelling at Alex's enthusiasm. "A sleepover, huh? That sounds like a great idea," she said with a grin. "I love sleepovers."

Alex beamed, his energy contagious. "We brought my toys and my backpack, and we're going to have pizza! It's going to be so fun!"

Maya chuckled, pulling him into a quick hug. "That sounds awesome, buddy. And you know what? Since we're having a sleepover, how about we go check out your new room? Do you want to see how we painted it?"

Alex's eyes widened with excitement, his little feet already ready to run. "Yes! I wanna see! Is it finished?"

Maya stood up, taking his hand. "Yep, it's all done. You're going to love it."

With that, Maya led Alex toward his room, his excitement growing with every step. As they neared the door, Alex practically vibrated with anticipation. Maya couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw the superhero mural they had worked so hard on.

As they pushed open the door, Alex gasped, his eyes going wide as he took in the bright, vibrant colors of the walls. Spider-Man, Batman, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles leapt out from the mural, watching over the room like guardians of his little kingdom.

"Wow!" Alex exclaimed, his voice full of awe as he ran into the room. "It's amazing, Mommy! It's like… like I'm in a superhero movie!"

Maya's heart swelled with pride as she watched Alex dart from corner to corner, taking in every detail. "We thought you'd like it," Maya said with a grin. "Now you've got your very own superhero headquarters."

Maya watched as Alex darted from corner to corner of his new superhero-themed room, his excitement contagious. He was bouncing with joy, pointing out every detail with wide eyes and a beaming smile. But in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Alex's happy expression shifted, and suddenly, his little body shook with sobs. His face crumpled, and tears streamed down his cheeks as he began crying so hard that he couldn't speak.

"Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" Maya asked, her voice gentle but filled with concern. She knelt beside him, her heart aching as she tried to understand what had caused the sudden shift. But Alex only cried harder, his little chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.

Maya's heart pounded with worry. "Alex, it's okay," she whispered, trying to soothe him, but he was crying too hard to answer. Seeing that words weren't helping, she quickly scooped him up into her arms, cradling him against her chest as he continued to sob.

Not knowing what else to do, Maya carried him to the kitchen, where Carina was preparing dinner. As soon as Carina heard Alex's cries, she turned, her face immediately filled with concern.

"Maya, what happened?" Carina asked, rushing over to them.

"I don't know," Maya replied, her voice strained with worry. "He was so excited, dancing around his room, and then… suddenly, he just started crying, and I can't figure out why."

Carina gently touched Alex's back, her soothing presence calming him just slightly. His sobs continued, but the feel of both his moms there seemed to offer a little comfort. "Shh, tesoro, it's okay," Carina whispered softly. "We're right here. You're okay."

They stood there, holding Alex between them, as Carina stroked his back and Maya rocked him gently in her arms. Slowly, Alex's sobs began to ease, though his little body was still trembling from the intensity of his emotions.

"Hey, buddy, can you tell us what's wrong?" Maya asked gently, brushing the hair from his tear-streaked face.

As Alex's sobs faded into sniffles, he wiped at his tear-streaked face, trying to pull himself together. He looked up at Maya and Carina, his little brow furrowed in thought. "But… but we can't have a sleepover here," he said softly, his voice still trembling.

Maya and Carina exchanged a concerned glance. "Why not, buddy?" Maya asked gently, brushing a hand through his hair.

Alex sniffled again, looking back toward his new room. "Because I don't have a bed here. My room's empty… and I can't sleep without a bed."

The realization hit Maya and Carina simultaneously—of course, Alex's room wasn't fully set up yet. All the excitement about the new space had overshadowed the practical detail that Alex's bed hadn't been moved in yet.

"Oh, sweetheart," Carina said softly to Alex. "You're right, we haven't moved your bed over yet. But that doesn't mean we can't have a sleepover."

Alex looked up at her, confused. "But… where will I sleep?"

Carina smiled, her eyes twinkling as she glanced at Maya before turning back to Alex. "I was thinking we could all have a big sleepover in the big bed in our room. What do you think? We'll all snuggle together tonight."

Maya's face softened, instantly understanding Carina's solution. "Yeah, buddy. We'll all sleep in the big bed, and it'll be just like a fun family sleepover. What do you say?"

Alex's tear-filled eyes slowly brightened as he considered the idea. "All of us… in the big bed? Like a real sleepover?"

The tears that had clung to Alex's face melted away as his excitement returned. "Yeah! That sounds awesome!"

Carina laughed softly, pulling Alex into a hug. "I'm glad you like the idea, tesoro. We'll make it a fun sleepover, and tomorrow we can work on getting your room ready."

Alex nodded eagerly, the sadness from earlier completely forgotten. "Okay! I love sleeping with you guys."

Maya grinned, ruffling his hair. "That's the spirit! It'll be a super fun sleepover, and you'll get to see your new bed in no time. But tonight, it's all about the big bed."

Carina stood, offering her hand to Alex. "Come on, tesoro. Let's finish getting dinner ready."

Carina knelt down beside Alex, her eyes soft and curious as she asked, "Tesoro, now that you've seen your superhero room, what do you think? Do you like it?"

Alex's face lit up once again, his excitement returning in full force. "I love it, Mamma! It's the best room ever!" He bounced on his toes, his energy rising once more. "I can't wait to sleep in it when I have my bed! Spider-Man is right there, watching over me, and Batman too!"

Carina smiled, her heart swelling at the joy in his voice. "I'm so glad you love it. We worked hard to make sure all your favorite superheroes are there."

Maya chimed in, leaning against the counter with a grin. "Yeah, buddy. We wanted you to have the coolest room ever, and it sounds like we succeeded."

Alex nodded enthusiastically, his earlier sadness completely forgotten. "It's going to be so much fun! I can pretend I'm in a superhero hideout!"

Carina chuckled softly, ruffling Alex's hair. "Exactly. It's your very own superhero headquarters. And you can add any new superheroes you want as we go."

As the evening wound down, Alex busied himself in his new room, carefully unpacking some of his favorite toys. His earlier worries seemed forgotten, replaced with the joy of rediscovering his action figures and superheroes. Meanwhile, Maya and Carina settled into the living room, relaxing after a long day of moving and organizing.

Maya reached for her phone as it buzzed with a notification. Glancing at the screen, she smiled. "I just got the email about Alex's soccer team."

Carina looked over, curiosity piqued. "Oh? What's the team called?"

Maya scrolled through the email and grinned. "The Elephants. And their team colors are red and blue."

Carina's eyes lit up with a wide smile. "Red and blue? That's perfect! Those are the colors of my hometown team back in Italy!"

Maya chuckled, leaning over to show her the email. "Really? What are the odds?"

Carina nodded, her smile filled with nostalgia. "It's a sign. Alex is going to be a natural on that team."

Maya laughed softly. "I hope so! He's definitely excited about soccer, and now he gets to wear the same colors as your Italian team."

Carina leaned closer, reading through the rest of the email. "It looks like practice starts next week. He's going to be so happy when we tell him."

With the email read, Maya called out to Alex, "Hey, buddy! Come here for a second. We have some exciting news for you!"

Alex came running into the living room, his little face filled with curiosity. "What is it, Mommy?"

Maya smiled, holding up her phone. "We just got the news about your soccer team. You've been placed on a team called the Elephants, and their colors are red and blue!"

Alex's eyes widened with excitement. "Red and blue? That's awesome! Like Spider-Man!"

Carina grinned, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Exactly! And guess what, tesoro? Those are the same colors as my favorite team from Italy when I was growing up."

Alex's face lit up even more. "Wow, really?"

"Yep," Carina confirmed, her voice filled with warmth. "It's like you're already part of a special soccer tradition."

Maya chuckled. "And practice starts next week, so you'll get to meet your teammates and start kicking the ball around. Are you excited?"

Alex nodded enthusiastically, bouncing on his toes. "Yeah! I can't wait to play!"

as the night began to settle over the penthouse, everything was winding down. Maya and Carina had finished cleaning up after dinner, and Alex had unpacked some of his favorite toys, setting them up in his new superhero room.

Carina stood by the sink in the master bathroom, calling out to Alex. "Tesoro, time to get ready for bed. Come on in!"

Alex padded into the master suite, still bubbling with leftover energy. As he walked into the bathroom, his eyes immediately landed on the enormous bathtub in the center of the room. He froze, his eyes going wide as he stared at it.

"Mamma," he said in awe, pointing at the tub. "Is that… a swimming pool?"

Carina burst into laughter, shaking her head with amusement. "No, tesoro, that's not a swimming pool. It's just a big bathtub."

Alex tilted his head, clearly not convinced. "It's really big. It looks like I could swim in it!"

Carina crouched down to his level, smiling warmly. "Well, it's big enough for a fun bath, but no swimming in here. Maybe one day we'll try out the big tub together, okay?"

Alex giggled, clearly entertained by the idea. "Okay! But I still think it looks like a swimming pool."

Maya, who had wandered in just in time to hear Alex's comment, chuckled from the doorway. "He's got a point. It's practically the size of a pool."

Carina grinned at Maya, giving her a playful nudge. "Maybe for him, but not for us."

Maya stood at the door, watching as Carina helped Alex climb into the big bed, his small frame disappearing under the massive blankets. His laughter echoed softly through the room, and despite the long day, his energy hadn't quite run out. Carina smiled as she tucked the blanket up to Alex's chin, her eyes sparkling as she watched him settle in.

"This is the biggest bed ever!" Alex exclaimed, his voice full of awe as he wriggled excitedly under the covers. "It's like a superhero bed!"

Maya laughed as she crossed the room, sliding into bed on one side of Alex while Carina nestled in on the other side. "Well, I guess that makes this the ultimate superhero sleepover," Maya said, grinning down at him.

"Yeah!" Alex giggled, his little face beaming with happiness. "Can we do this every night?"

Maya smiled, leaning over to give him a kiss on the forehead. "Maybe not every night, buddy. But tonight is special. It's our first night in the new house."

Carina nodded, her voice soft as she leaned in, stroking Alex's hair. "That's right, tesoro. And tonight, you get to sleep right between Mommy and Mamma. Just the three of us."

Alex snuggled deeper into the bed, looking up at both of them with wide eyes. "I love sleepovers," he murmured, his energy finally starting to fade as his eyelids grew heavy.

Maya chuckled, her hand gently resting on Alex's small shoulder as she glanced across the bed at Carina. "I think we all do, buddy."

The room was warm and quiet, the gentle hum of the city outside barely audible as the penthouse provided a peaceful sanctuary from the busy world. The blankets enveloped them, soft and comforting, as they all settled into the bed. Alex, nestled safely between his two moms, seemed to relax into the safety of their embrace.

As his breathing slowed and his little body stilled, it became clear that Alex was finally drifting off to sleep. Maya and Carina exchanged a knowing smile over his small, sleeping form.

Maya watched him for a moment, the stillness of the room amplifying the quiet joy that filled her chest. She looked over at Carina, her voice a soft whisper. "I think he's out."

Carina smiled, her eyes filled with warmth as she gazed at Alex's sleeping form. "He had quite the day," she whispered back, her hand reaching across to take Maya's. "But I think it's safe to say he loves his new home."

Maya gave Carina's hand a gentle squeeze, their fingers intertwined as they both took in the moment. "I can't believe we're really here," she murmured, her voice filled with awe. "We've made it, Carina. This is our home now."

Carina leaned over, brushing a soft kiss against Maya's lips. "Yes, we're really here. And it's just the beginning. Our family, our new chapter—it's everything I could have hoped for."

Maya smiled against her lips, the warmth of the kiss grounding her in the moment. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," Carina replied, resting her forehead against Maya's for a brief moment before pulling back, her gaze filled with affection.

— — —

The house was quieter without Alex's excited voice bouncing through the halls. Ben and Miranda had graciously agreed to keep him for a sleepover, giving Maya and Carina the space they needed to focus on the last push of their move. It had been a whirlwind few days, and the quietness felt strange but necessary as they worked through the final stages of packing.

Carina stood in the kitchen, boxing up the last of the dishes with methodical precision. Maya, meanwhile, was busy in the living room, carefully sorting through the final piles of their belongings, making sure nothing was left behind.

"I can't believe we're almost done," Carina said, pausing to wipe a bead of sweat from her forehead. "It feels like we've been moving for weeks."

Maya laughed softly from across the room. "That's because we have been. I don't think I've been this tired in a long time."

Carina walked over to her, brushing a gentle kiss against her cheek. "At least we're in the final stretch. Once the truck gets here tomorrow, we'll finally be able to settle in."

Maya nodded, her smile softening as she glanced around at the nearly empty space. "I can't wait to just be done and focus on making the penthouse our home."

Carina smiled, giving her hand a squeeze. "Me too."

With Alex happily enjoying a sleepover at Ben and Miranda's, they were free to work without interruptions, and it allowed them to tackle the bigger tasks—like disassembling the bed frames, packing up the last of the furniture, and ensuring everything was ready for the moving truck.

They had decided to move their current bed into the guest room and the guest room double into Ale's room. With Maya still having her bedroom furniture, they decided to move their current bedroom set into Alex's room giving him more space to grow into the furniture.

Maya had spent the better part of the morning packing up the bedroom. Clothes were strewn across the bed in neatly organized piles, ready to be boxed. She'd just pulled a load of clothes out of the dresser drawer when something small and solid slipped from between the folded items and fell to the floor.

Frowning slightly, Maya bent down and picked it up—a small box, simple yet somehow significant in its weight. As she turned it over in her hand, curiosity tugging at her, she heard Carina's voice from the doorway.

"Maya…"

Maya looked up, and there stood Carina, her expression somewhere between surprise and sheepishness. The look in her eyes told Maya that whatever was in the box wasn't something she was meant to find—at least not yet.

"What's this?" Maya asked, raising an eyebrow, her tone playful but intrigued.