It was still early when Marcus woke up, the quiet hum of the house around him and the faint light filtering through the curtains. The house was peaceful, still, as if the world hadn't quite woken up yet. He stretched lazily, feeling the early morning grogginess settle into his bones. After a few moments of hesitation, he decided to get up, slipping out of bed with careful steps. He quietly padded across the hardwood floors of the guest room, the house still sleeping around him. His feet were cool against the floorboards, and he made his way to the bathroom.

As he passed down the hallway, he paused. A sound reached his ears—soft and melodic. He furrowed his brow for a moment before recognizing it. Laughter. Not loud, but bright and happy. He couldn't quite place it, but something about it was comforting. It wasn't the usual noise of the house, not the hustle of Will and Carlton fighting over the remote or Ashley's chatter with her friends. No, this was different—gentle.

Curious, Marcus glanced toward the source of the sound. He noticed that the door to Nicky's room was ajar. The giggles continued, and Marcus, despite himself, felt drawn to investigate. He had only ever interacted with the baby in passing when someone from the family was around. But now, something tugged at him to peek inside.

With slow steps, he approached the door. He wasn't trying to be sneaky, but there was something about this moment that felt private. As he pushed the door open just a bit more, he stopped and blinked in surprise. There, in the soft morning light, Hilary was standing by the crib, holding Nicky in her arms. She was fully dressed and ready for work—her bright, professional weather girl attire a stark contrast to the tender scene unfolding in front of her. She was whispering softly to him, kissing his little cheeks, and humming a gentle tune. The baby's face lit up with pure joy, and his tiny hands reached up to tug at her hair, giggling as she tickled his little nose.

Marcus froze for a second, just watching, unable to tear his gaze away. He had never seen Hilary like this before—so tender, so natural. It was like a completely different side of her was unfolding, a side he hadn't expected to see. To him, Hilary was the confident, self-assured eldest child of the Banks family, always perfectly put together, always on top of her game. She didn't seem like the type to be interested in something like toddlers. But here she was, looking completely at ease, making Nicky laugh with every gentle touch, every soft hum she made to him.

For a moment, Marcus thought about turning away. He didn't want to intrude on what seemed to be a private moment between sister and brother. But before he could make a move, Hilary caught him in the doorway. Her expression was still soft, but she raised an eyebrow when she noticed him standing there.

"Oh, Marcus," she said, her voice light, "did we wake you up?"

He blinked a couple of times, momentarily caught off guard. "Uh, no," he said, finally taking a step into the room. He wasn't sure why he felt a little embarrassed, but he cleared his throat and added, "Just... didn't expect to see you like this."

Hilary didn't answer right away. She simply looked down at Nicky and whispered something to him, causing another giggle to erupt from the baby. There was a pause before she responded, still focused on Nicky. "I come in here every morning before work. It's a routine. It's just... how I start my day. Gives me something to smile about. Makes me feel good for the rest of the day."

Marcus didn't know what to say. Seeing Hilary, the confident, fashionable woman who seemed so absorbed in her career and image, completely absorbed in taking care of Nicky, was an unexpected sight. The softer, more maternal side of her surprised him. She wasn't the kind of person he imagined would have a quiet moment like this, and it made him rethink everything he thought he knew about her.

Nicky cooed softly in her arms, and Hilary kissed his little forehead gently. She turned her head to Marcus and gave him a quick smile. "Nicky's the only little man I could ever really love," she said softly, her voice carrying a depth of sincerity. "He's the only one who could never deceive me."

Marcus raised his eyebrows slightly, catching the weight of her words but choosing his response carefully. Hilary paused, the unspoken thought lingering in the air—like most men do. She smirked, though there was genuine affection in her voice. "Well, him and my Dad, of course," she added with a little laugh, before lowering her gaze back to her baby brother. "But you get the idea."

Marcus let a soft chuckle escape as he crossed his arms. "Well," he said, keeping his tone light, "maybe it's less about men in general and more about finding someone who doesn't give you a reason to doubt them."

Hilary glanced at him, her smile flickering just slightly before settling back into place. "Yeah, maybe," she murmured, lowering her gaze to Nicky again, her fingers brushing his tiny hand.

She was lost in her own thoughts for a moment, before softly whispering to Nicky, "Okay, sweetheart, time to go back to bed." She gently laid him back down in his crib, tucking the covers around him carefully.

Marcus stood quietly by the door, still feeling like he was intruding, but unable to tear his gaze away from the calm, peaceful scene. There was something serene about the way Hilary took care of her baby brother, and it somehow gave him a deeper respect for her.

Before leaving the room, Hilary turned to him, standing tall with her usual confidence. "I won't be home for dinner tonight," she said matter-of-factly, her tone casual. "I'm meeting Kyle and some friends"

Marcus raised an eyebrow. He'd heard about Kyle before, but hearing Hilary speak about him left him with an odd feeling. He wasn't sure if it was jealousy or something else entirely.

"Have a good first day at UCLA, Marcus. Hope everything goes well."

With that, she was gone, leaving Marcus standing in the hallway, still processing everything he had just seen. For the first time, he saw Hilary in a new light—a little more human, a little more tender and still so far from him.

The sun was setting as Marcus walked back into the Banks' backyard after his first day at UCLA since his transfer from New-York. Still, stepping onto a new campus brought its own set of nerves. He had spent most of the day trying to get a feel for the place—navigating the sprawling grounds, meeting professors, and introducing himself to a few classmates. But now, he was back, ready to unwind.

As he reached the basketball court, Will was already there, spinning the ball on one finger, a cocky grin plastered across his face. "Yo, Marcus! You ready to get schooled again?"

Marcus smirked, setting down his bag. "Schooled? Pretty sure I'm the one who dunked on you last time."

Will gasped in mock offense, clutching his chest. "Oh, so that's how it is? Alright, let's see if you can back that up." He tossed the ball to Marcus, who caught it with ease.

The game started lightheartedly, both of them exchanging playful jabs as they moved across the court. Will, as always, couldn't help himself from running commentary. "Man, I gotta ask—how was your first day at UCLA? Any fine honeys catching your eye yet?"

Marcus paused mid-dribble, giving him a look. "Really, Will? That's your first question?"

"Hey, I'm just saying! A new campus is like a buffet, and you, my man, are the main course. You've got the looks, the vibe, future lawyer, the whole package. Don't even try to act like you're not drowning in attention."

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head as he took a shot. The ball arced perfectly into the hoop. "It's just my first day. I'm not exactly out there handing out business cards."

Will grabbed the rebound, spinning the ball in his hands. "Come on, don't play modest. You're telling me not one girl caught your eye? Not even one?"

Marcus hesitated, a faint smile creeping onto his face. "Nah, not really."

Will stopped dribbling, giving him a skeptical look. "Uh-huh. Sure, Mr. Mysterious. You're telling me you didn't notice anyone? Marcus, if I looked like you, I'd need security to keep the ladies back."

Marcus laughed, dribbling the ball again, though a slight blush crept up his neck. "Appreciate the compliment, but no. Not interested."

Will leaned in, grinning like he was onto something. "Ohhh, so that means there's someone already on your mind, huh? Who is it?"

Marcus froze for a moment, the ball still in his hands. His thoughts flashed back to Hilary—the softness in her voice that morning, the way she had cradled Nicky, her laughter, her confidence. But he quickly shook it off, trying to keep his tone casual. "Nobody, man. Just focused on school and taking that bar exam next year."

Will smirked knowingly but let it go, stepping back to guard him again. "Alright, alright, I'll let you slide. But if you're keeping secrets, I'll find out eventually."

Marcus just laughed, focusing back on the game, though his mind wasn't entirely on it. Hilary's image lingered at the

edges of his thoughts, no matter how much he tried to push it away.

After a few more plays and jabs, Marcus hesitated, then decided to shift the conversation. "Hey, Will," he started, dribbling slowly, "can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"What's the deal with your cousin Hilary?" Marcus tried to sound casual, though his heart was beating a little faster. "She's almost never around at night or even for dinner with everybody. Not that's any of my business..."

Will stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms and leaning against the garage wall."Hil? Man, you already know the 's always got something going 's the popular one of this 's got dudes falling over themselves just to breathe the same air as her. I mean, she's got that whole 'untouchable queen' thing down to an art form."

Marcus nodded, quietly agreeing with everything Will said. Gorgeous didn't even begin to cover it.

"But," Will continued, his tone softening, "lately she's been... different. Distant, you know? She's not really around much anymore. Says she's 'partying with friends' all the time. I mean I know she's an adult and all but..." He trailed off, his expression darkening.

Marcus felt a pang of curiosity—and something else he didn't want to name—as he pressed a little further. "But what?"

Will shrugged, picking up the ball and spinning it in his hands. "I don't know, man. She doesn't talk about it much. And that Kyle guy she's been hanging around with..." He paused, frowning slightly. "I've seen him a couple of times, and... I don't know, something about him doesn't sit right with me. Just a gut feeling, you know?"

Marcus frowned, trying to keep his expression neutral. "You don't think he's good for her?"

Will shook his head. "It's not even about that. I mean, Hilary can handle herself, no doubt. She's not one to let anyone mess with her. It's just... I don't know. Dude's got this vibe. Like, he's hiding something, or he's not who he's pretending to be. I can't put my finger on it."

Before Marcus could ask anything else, Ashley came bouncing into the backyard, interrupting their conversation. "Hey, Will! Mom wants to know if you finished your homework before you started goofing off."

Will groaned, rolling his eyes. "Man, can't a guy get a break?"

Ashley gave him a pointed look. "I'm just the messenger. Don't shoot me."

As she skipped off, Marcus stood quietly, the weight of the conversation still hanging in the air. He glanced at Will, who shrugged and went back to dribbling. But Marcus's mind was elsewhere. Hilary's absence, her demeanor, and Will's unease about Kyle all swirled in his thoughts. He didn't know why it mattered so much to him—but it did.