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We settle around the coffee table—Carrie, Ronan, and Fallon on the couch, me and Killian on the loveseat.

“However much help you’ve had, and however glad we all are that Caitlin and James are here, I’m sorry you had to deal with everything so young,” Carrie says, and it takes a moment for the words to sink in.

“I … Oh. I feel like I should be the one apologizing to you. I know this is probably the last thing you want to be dealing with while you’re unwell. I’m sorry. I had no—”

“Scarlett. You have nothing to apologize for. First, I’m doing just fine. Don’t listen to Killian—he’s a worrier.”

“You have cancer, Mom,” Killian says, frowning at her.

She waves him away. “It’s a minor thyroid cancer. As I’ve told you several times, the doctor is confident the surgery and treatment I’ve done are enough and I won’t need anything more.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” he argues, and I know him well enough to hear the worry in his voice.

“No, but I feel right as rain. Now let me talk to Scarlett without interrupting—you’ve been hogging her for weeks.” She turns back to me. “As I was saying. You didn’t know he was married. That’s not your fault. Listen, Dom has never been a faithful husband. I’ve known that for as long as we’ve been married, but I have a good life, a comfortable life, so I just never did anything about it. Between you and me, I’ve never really cared what he’s gotten up to. I had my babies.

“But if I’d had any inclination that he was going to bars to meet eighteen-year-olds … Well, we wouldn’t still be married, I’ll say that much. I have no anger toward you, only him—on your behalf, and on your children’s behalf. He’s never been a great partner or dad, and you don’t deserve how he’s treated you.”

It’s not unlike what my parents have been telling me for years, what Piper and Landon have been telling me, and what Killian has been trying to drill into me since he got here. But I think I needed to hear it from Carrie, because her words make a sense of relief wash over me from head to toe. Like maybe somehow, someday, I might be able to forgive myself for getting pregnant so young with a married man. Like maybe my kids can have a paternal family, even if Dom can’t step up and be the dad they deserve.

I know it’s going to take me more than one conversation and a few weeks of letting Killian in to really wrap my head around it all, but for the first time, I let myself have a little bit of hope.

“Basically, he’s a dick and we’re all on your side here, Scarlett,” Fallon chimes in with a grin that doesn’t quite meet her eyes. She tilts her head. “Can I call you Scar? Kill calls you Scar— Wait. Kill and Scar. Cute.”

Huh. That is kind of cute, actually. “Scar is good, yeah,” I say, because I’m still processing everything else.

“I think what Fallon is trying to say is that we know our dad hasn’t been there for you and the kids, but they’re Michaelsons, which makes you one too. And we take care of family,” Ronan says.

Fallon nods. “Exactly. What Ro said. But with more emphasis on our dad being a dick.”

The telltale creak of someone walking up the porch steps sounds through the front door, and both Killian and I turn to look.

He clears his throat. “Let’s keep our use of the word ‘dick’ to a minimum around the kids, yeah?” he suggests, squeezing my shoulder.

Fallon agrees as I stand up and head to the door to greet Landon and the kids. I called Landon earlier and asked him to pick them up from school, and he offered to feed them and help with their homework to give Killian and I some time with his family before they descended. He also promised to let them know they would be coming home to meet some new people, and said he’d bribe them with treats to get them to be on their best behavior. They’re easily bribed.

“How was school?” I ask, kneeling down to help James unzip his jacket while Caitlin tears hers off.

“It was so good! We learned about the solar system, and Ms. Neumann made us coloring sheets to color in the planets! I got an extra one so James can do it, too,” Caitlin says, bouncing on her feet like she always does when she’s excited.

“That sounds fun! I bet we can find a book about space to read at bedtime,” I suggest, and Caitlin and James exchange a look.

“That would be cool, but can Killian read it? He does voices better,” Caitlin says matter-of-factly. I want to be offended, but she’s not wrong.

“He does do voices better,” I agree, standing up and hanging James’s jacket on the hook by the door. “Thank you for picking them up,” I tell Landon.

“It’s all good. Everything going okay?” He peers over my shoulder and I follow his gaze to Killian and his family. It’s not a massive living room by any means, but there’s a half-wall that gives enough separation between the door and the sitting area. They’re speaking among themselves in low voices, probably to give me a chance to explain to the kids, but Killian sees me looking and stands up.

“It’s going really well,” I tell Landon as Killian kneels down to hug the kids.

“They’re being nice to you?” Landon asks and I snort.

“Far nicer than I deserve, probably.”

“Scar—”

Before he can give me trouble for saying that, I turn my attention to Killian and the kids. He’s still kneeling, listening to Caitlin tell him about the solar system.

“And Mama said we could get a book about space to read at bedtime!”