River and Rigby would be back this evening, and I was kind of nervous. It was dumb, but Devan and I taken a massive step since they left. Their return was obviously going to affect our relationship. They’d sounded cool about it over the phone, but that was a lot different than seeing it in person.

I’d made dinner, a beef bourguignon that was slowly braising in the oven, as well as some fussy filled chocolates with the stuff that Rigby had bought me. It had been… a pleasure. It had been a long time since a task had given me so much joy. I wondered how long I’d been coasting through life doing what I should, just because it was safe, not because that’s what I wanted to do?

When had I given up the simple things that made me happy?

Devan was at work, so it was just me and Huey home as I danced around the kitchen, making parmesan bread on a giant fresh baguette I’d picked up from the fancy store in our neighborhood. At least no one thought I was a teenage mother here, because if I was, there would be no way I could afford beef that must’ve been given acupuncture and positive affirmations before it was slaughtered, since it cost as much as someone's daily wage.

I leaned down and sang an old Bruce Springsteen song to Huey, whipping my hair from side to side just because it made him laugh. The Boss had been my dad’s favorite, and he’d always sung his songs to me. I wanted Huey to have a little piece of that, even though he’d never meet the man himself.

Sometimes, when it was early in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep, I thought about how I’d eventually explain this situation to Huey when he was older. What he’d call me. Would he call me Nova? Would he call me Mom? This situation was so fucking hard, and I didn’t think it would get any easier as he learned that somehow we were different to other families. I wasn’t sure if having three male parental figures would help or hinder that. But I mean, in for a penny, right?

I spun on the tiles in my socks, making Huey kick his legs as Springsteen sang about being born to run. On my second turn, something caught my eye, and I stuttered to a stop. Rigby and River stood in the entryway to the kitchen, their expressions both soft.

“You’re back!” I scooped Huey out of the bouncer and sped toward them. I’d missed them. “How long have you been standing there?” I asked with mock disgruntlement.