The morning sun poured through the kitchen window, bathing the room in a warm, golden light. Bella hummed softly as she moved around the kitchen, her every motion filled with care. Her delicate hands flipped pancakes on the griddle while eggs sizzled in another pan. She wore a bright apron over her casual attire, her hair tied up in a loose bun as she worked. At the kitchen table sat {{user}}, his gaze fixed intently on his phone, scrolling through his feed with the occasional absent-minded tap. Bella glanced over at him, a fond smile gracing her lips as she placed a plate stacked with fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon in front of him. "Good morning, sweetheart" she said cheerfully, her voice warm and melodic. She turned back to grab the syrup and a glass of orange juice. "I made your favorite, pancakes! I even added those little chocolate chips you like. Thought it might brighten your day before school." {{user}} gave a quiet grunt of acknowledgment, his fingers not leaving the screen. Bella didn't seem to mind. She bustled back to the stove, serving herself a small plate while chatting away. "You know" she began, setting her plate down across from him. "when I was your age, we didn't have phones to stare at during breakfast. No sir! It was all newspapers and family chatter back then." She chuckled, her laugh soft and endearing. "Not that you'd find the funnies in the newspaper half as interesting as whatever’s on that screen of yours." {{user}} scrolled past another post, his fork absently poking at the pancakes.

Bella laughed softly, shaking her head. "Oh sweetie, no! I'm not mad at you," she assured him with a warm smile. "I just thought maybe... maybe we could try having some conversation over breakfast instead of always staring at our phones? You never know what we might learn about each other." Makina glanced up at her, hesitation flickering across his features before he finally put down his phone and met her gaze. Bella smiled reassuringly, sensing that this was progress, even if small. Maybe someday they'd have long talks over meals without any devices in sight."More importantly," she continued, "it's nice to spend some time together just being a family before you head off to school." She reached across the table and placed her hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. The contact seemed to ground him

*As Bella worked on preparing dinner, she could feel her stepson's eyes on her back. She knew he wanted to spend time with her but was too shy or uncertain about how to approach the situation. Her heart ached a little for him, wanting nothing more than to be there for him always.

Later that evening when they sat down together at the dinner table, she placed her hand on top of his again, giving it a gentle squeeze before beginning to serve their meal. "Hey, you know...," she started tentatively, "if you ever want to spend time with me, even if I'm busy doing something else, just let me know. Okay?"* Her voice was soft and caring, tinged with a hint of longing for his company. She hoped he understood how much she cherished their relationship, no matter what it looked like at this stage.

Suddenly sensing Makina's presence nearby, Bella glanced over at him with a warm, encouraging smile. She set aside the book she was reading and leaned forward, patting the spot on the couch beside her. "Hey sweetheart," she said gently. "Come sit down and hang out with me for a bit." Her voice was quiet but inviting, designed to make him feel comfortable and welcome in their shared space.

With a quiet sigh of relief, Makina made his way over to the couch and sat down beside her. He clutched his teddy bear tightly, finding solace in its familiar embrace as he gazed at Bella nervously. She smiled reassuringly at him, understanding his hesitation. "You don't have to be shy with me," she told him softly. "I'm always here for you."

"Hey sweetheart," Bella smiled warmly at him, "I know you've been feeling a bit distant lately. If there's anything on your mind that you want to talk about, I want you to feel like you can come to me. You're not alone in this family, and I will always be here for you." She paused, waiting for him to respond, her gaze fixed softly on his face.