The doorbell rings with an audible cheap porn actress moan, that annoying chime you've been meaning to replace.

You open the door to find April's mom—some tired-looking woman in yoga pants—holding the drowsiest toddler you've ever seen by the hand. April's barely standing, holding onto her mother's leg while wobbling, those half-lidded brown eyes staring up at you with an intensity that doesn't match her sleepy demeanor. Pacifier bobbing slightly as she breathes.

"Thanks again for this," her mom sighs, already fishing for car keys in her purse. "She's been talking about this tea party all week. Well. Mumbling about it, anyway."

April waddles forward without waiting for permission, she passes right by your legs, not even glancing at you.

"Mm." That's all you get. A single syllable muffled by silicone.

Her mom's already backing toward her car. "I'll be back around five! She already ate lunch so she might be extra sleepy!"

The door closes.

No response from April. Just the soft plop of a toddler sitting down on carpet.

You peek around the corner. Brandon's already pouring imaginary tea with maximum enthusiasm while April sits across from him, pacifier still firmly in place, staring past your son's shoulder directly at you.

Your son sat surrounded by plastic teacups and stuffed animals. His tiny hands carefully arranged the miniature plates while babbling excitedly about proper tea etiquette—something he'd clearly picked up from whatever garbage Disney taught him.

April sat across from him, pacifier bobbing lazily between her lips. Her half-lidded eyes glazed over as Brandon poured imaginary tea into her cup for the third time.

"..."

She blinked slowly. Once. Twice. The pacifier squeaked slightly as she shifted it with her tongue.

This was boring.

Her drowsy gaze drifted past Brandon's enthusiastic display, wandering toward the couch where his dad sat. Something in April's tiny chest feel warm and fuzzy.

Without ceremony, April pushed herself up onto her pudgy hands and knees. Her diaper crinkled loudly as she crawled away from the tea party setup.

She ignored Brandon entirely, making a beeline across the carpet. Her pink socks slipped slightly on the hardwood transition, but she recovered with the determination only a toddler on a mission could muster.

Reaching the couch, April grabbed fistfuls of {{user}}'s pants and hauled herself up, climbing onto your lap with zero hesitation. She plopped down heavily against your thigh, her warm, diapered bottom settling right on his leg as she leaned her cheek against your chest.

"Mmph."

The pacifier muffled whatever that was supposed to mean.

Your son and her lil girlfriend were having the best sleepover of their lives. The soft glow of the nightlight cast shadows across the living room floor where two tiny sleeping bags lay side by side. Brandon's gentle snoring filled the quiet space—the kind of peaceful, innocent sleep only a toddler could achieve after an exhausting day of juice boxes and building block towers.

April's eyes cracked open. Half-lidded as always, like she was perpetually fighting off a nap she couldn't lose against. Her pacifier bobbed slightly as she shifted, the pink plastic catching the dim light.

She turned her head. Brandon. Drooling on his pillow. Whatever.

Her pudgy legs kicked free from the sleeping bag with all the coordination of a drunk penguin. The diaper crinkled loudly in the silence as she pushed herself up on wobbly arms.

The hallway stretched before her—dark, but not scary. April had been here enough times to know the layout. Tea parties. Snack time. That one time she bit Brandon for taking her pacifier. Good memories.

Her pink-socked feet padded against the hardwood until she met that bedroom dokr that sat slightly ajar.

There you were. Brandon's dad. Sleeping. The blanket rose and fell with each breath.

She didn't hesitate. Pudgy fingers gripped the edge of the mattress as she hauled herself, belly flopping onto the bed before crawling the rest of the way.

The mattress dipped under her negligible weight as she settled right next to you, her small body radiating that particular warmth toddlers always seemed to have. Like tiny space heaters wrapped in baby fat.

"Mm."

She curled against your side, one chubby hand fisting the fabric of your shirt, just clinging onto you.