"{{user}}!" {{char}} calls out from her comfortable spot on the couch, her soft yet commanding voice carrying through their shared space. She's been lounging here since she came home from work early today, feeling a rare bout of boredom creeping into her usually packed schedule. "How about we watch a movie together? I've got a few new ones queued up that you might like." Her mind races with the excitement of sharing some quality time with her son, hoping to fill the gap that her military duties often leave. The room is dimly lit by the late afternoon sun filtering through the curtains, casting warm, cozy shadows across the plush furniture. The scent of freshly popped popcorn fills the air, wafting from the kitchen where she prepared their snack earlier. {{char}} stretches leisurely, her long legs peeking out from beneath the blanket, flexing her muscular arms as she adjusts her grip on the remote. "I even picked out some of your favorites for us to munch on," she adds enticingly. As she awaits {{user}}'s response, she glances around the space – spotless, just how she likes it. The walls adorned with various swords and knives from her military past serve as stark reminders of the world outside their sanctuary. Yet here, with {{user}}, she tries to keep things as normal and comforting as possible.

Ah, my little mother hen. Always wanting me to be comfortable and taken care of. It's one of the many things she loves about her son. "Alright, alright," Lenore chuckles, standing up from the couch and briskly walking over to her bedroom. She strips off her formal black tailcoat and throws it onto her unmade bed with a sigh of relief before digging through her closet for something more comfortable. Her long hair tumbles freely around her shoulders as she ponders her options, eventually selecting a worn pair of black sweats and an oversized shirt in a matching color.

Returning to the living room, Lenore finds ToIj has taken over the popcorn-making duties while she was gone; they're already pouring fresh kernels into bowls and dumping them with various toppings from the pantry. "Awesome!" she says, taking a seat on the couch once more and pulling her legs up under her body. "So, what movie did you have in mind?"

Her heart swells at the genuine sweetness in her son's voice. "Alright then," she says with a bright smile, searching through the options on the television until she finds one that catches her eye. "How about this one?" She presses play and settles in beside him, their bodies only inches apart as they each grab some popcorn. As the credits begin to roll, they cuddle closer together, sharing bowls of buttery kernels and bits of dialogue from movies past. It's the simple things that make moments like these feel so special for her, and she's determined to savor every second with ToIj.

It's a rare moment of pure relaxation for both of them; Lenore savors the feel of her son's head on her lap, his weight against her thighs. She runs her fingers through his silky hair, gently scratching at his scalp as she continues to watch the movie with him. This is what she's always wanted, this sort of closeness and connection. Even though their time together is often fragmented by her duties, she knows deep down that it's worth every second spent apart.

It's easy to laugh at her son's comment, but there's truth to it as well. Her life has been hardened by the experiences she's had in service to her country, and yet here she is, feeling almost vulnerable when he rests his head against her thighs. "I guess some things just can't be completely toughened," she responds with a soft chuckle, continuing to run her fingers through his hair. "But I'm glad you think my touch feels good."

A faint blush creeps up her cheeks at his words; she can't help but feel a surge of affection and satisfaction deep inside. It makes all the pain and sacrifice seem worthwhile, knowing that she has this one person who means everything to her in the world right here beside her. She presses a gentle kiss to the top of his head before continuing to run her fingers through his silky hair, lost in the simple pleasure of being close to him like this.

It's true; their relationship seems to evolve every time they share moments like these. And although there are many more miles yet to travel and obstacles yet to overcome, she knows that they will face them together as a family. A strange sort of peace settles over her heart at the thought, and she finds herself smiling softly down at her son's curls as he circles his finger idly on her knee. She doesn't know what tomorrow might bring or how long it will be until they can share another moment like this one, but for now, she is content to just enjoy the here and now with him. "I love you, ToIj," she whispers, pressing another gentle kiss to his forehead. "More than anything in this world."

A genuine smile spread across her face as she feels his lips press against her skin. "You're welcome, sweetheart," she says softly, still running her fingers through his hair. "Thank you for being so understanding, and for trusting me to take care of you." It was a weighty responsibility that she didn't take lightly; ensuring the safety and happiness of her child meant everything to her. But with each passing moment they spent together like this, she felt that burden ease just slightly, replaced by a sense of peace and contentment that filled her heart to overflowing.

As the movie winds down, Lenore glances at the clock and realizes it's getting late; soon enough she'd have to start thinking about dinner and homework before bedtime rolled around again. But for now, she savors these final moments of quiet closeness with her son, knowing that tomorrow would be another day filled with obligations and responsibilities that could easily push them apart again if they weren't careful. So, she vows to make the most of every moment they have together from now on, just as she always has since the very first time he came into her life.