Reggie 🏀😂 — Athletic, goofball, certified “dad joke” dealer. When he’s not working out or cracking bad jokes, he’s probably sneaking snacks and kisses.

Elisa 🍲💐 — Shy, warmhearted, total foodie. She’s the glue of the family and the reason there’s always something yummy on the table.

Ashley 🐻🎀 — Cuddlebug supreme and unofficial household CEO. Loves hugs, costumes, and somehow makes even broccoli look cute.

[Reggie]: You’re still up?

[Elisa]:Couldn’t sleep. She just fell off to sleep not too long ago.

[Reggie]: Yeah… I figured. I’ve been looking at some stuff.

[Reggie]: Hear me out — I checked flights from San Myshuno to here.

There’s one next month that’s not too bad. Maybe we surprise her?

[Elisa]: Reggie...

[Reggie]: I’m serious. Just for a weekend. They could see each other, get some time together.

[Elisa]: They’re twelve. They’ll be okay.

[Reggie]: Ashley is not fine.

[Elisa]: Well paying that much money right now will not help her or us.

[Reggie]: Then maybe we plan something for spring. Give her something to look forward to.

[Elisa]: You and your plans.

[Reggie]: Is there something else that’s bothering you?

[Elisa]: It’s just… she told me she wants to change her room. She said she’s ready for something that feels older.. I feel like I’m losing my baby girl and having another baby all at once. How am I supposed to do both?

[Reggie]: We just do what we always do. Figure it out together.

[Elisa]: You make it sound so easy.

[Reggie]: It’s not easy for me either...

[Reggie]: She used to follow me everywhere, Ellie. I couldn’t even wash the car without her tagging along. Now she barely says goodnight. It’s like I blinked and lost her.

[Elisa]:You didn’t lose her, Reg.

[Reggie]:Feels like it. Feels like... I’m not her hero anymore.

[Elisa]: You still are. You will always be. It’s just that she really is... growing up.

[Reggie]: Tell me about it.

[Reggie]: She’s gonna be okay.

[Elisa]: We all are.

[Reggie]: C’mon, mama. Let’s get some sleep before one of us starts crying again..

[Elisa]: Too late..

[Elisa]: Okay… lower. No, lower.

[Reggie]: I’m afraid if I go any lower, I’ll get smacked.

[Elisa]: If you stop right now, you definitely will.

[Elisa]:Ohhh, yes. There. Don’t move. Ever.

[Reggie]: So this is my life now?

[Elisa]: Exactly. You signed up for this the moment you looked at me that way in college.

[Reggie]: And I’d look at you that way all over again. And over. And over.

[Elisa]: See? You ruin everything.

[Reggie]: How? I was being sweet!

[Elisa]: No, you were being you. Which means my massage is now over. Punishment time.

[Reggie]: (groans) You can’t be serious.

[Elisa]: Oh, I’m dead serious. Grab the other ball.

[Reggie]: I feel like I’m training for a circus act.

[Elisa]: You’d make a great clown.

[Reggie]: I walked right into that.

[Elisa]: Yes. Just like you walked me into this pregnancy.

[Reggie]: Oh, we’re blaming me now?

[Elisa]: You’re the one who said, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’

[Reggie]: And you said, ‘Famous last words.’

[Elisa]: And yet, here we are. Famous. Last. Words.

(They both laugh)

[Elisa]: Hey, look who’s home! My favorite daughter.

[Ashley]: I’m you’re only daughter, but hey.

[Reggie]: What’s up, Bug?

[Elisa]: Did you have a rough day?

[Ashley]: Not really. Just… tired.

[Reggie]:C’mon, that doesn’t sound like my girl. What’s wrong?

[Ashley]: Nothing.

[Ashley]: Atlie’s not coming. He said he’d try, but he can’t.

And everyone keeps talking about Sadie Hawkins and soulmates and… (Cries)

[Reggie]: You’re okay. I’ve got you.

[Elisa]: Reg, give us a minute?

[Reggie]: Yeah, I got you.

[Elisa]: Thanks babe.

[Elisa]: So… want to tell me what’s really bothering you?

[Ashley]: It’s just… everyone keeps talking about soulmates. Like you’re supposed to just know. But I don’t even know if that’s real.

[Elisa]: You’re still so young, Ashley. You don’t have to know. Half the adults I know still don’t.

[Ashley]: Do you and Dad believe in it?

[Elisa]: I believe in choosing each other. Even on days when it’s hard.

[Ashley]: What if I never find that?

[Elisa]: You will. But for now, it’s okay to just… be a kid. You’re normal, Bug.

[Ashley]: (sniffles) Yeah? You sure?

[Elisa]: (smiles) Of course I’m sure. Now how about we turn this night around?

[Elisa]: Girls’ night. You, me, chocolate chip cookies and Princess Diaries.

[Ashley]: Even though you’re not supposed to eat sweets?

[Elisa]: Shh. What the baby doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

[Ashley]: So... when are you guys leaving?

[Atlas]: As soon as we get back. (pauses) My dad keeps saying it’s just “a plane ride away,” but… it feels bigger than that.

[Ashley]: Oh. That’s ummm... soon.

[Atlas]: Yeah... Too soon.

[Ashley]: You’re really gonna like it there though… right?

[Atlas]: Maybe. But it won’t be here. (looks at her) And you won’t be there.

Ashley]: I know. I’m going to miss you so much.

(Ashley turns to him. He shifts, nervous but determined.)

[Atlas]: Hey, um… I— I got you something. I was gonna wait till we were back home but… this feels like the right time.

[Ashley]: Atlas, what—?

[Atlas]: They’re just… earrings. My mom helped me pick them out. (grins shyly) She said they looked like you.

(He offers them to her; she hesitates.)

[Ashley]: You didn’t have to—

[Atlas]: I wanted to. (softly) Please?

(She nods, and he gently leans forward to put them in her ears.)

[Ashley]: (smiling, still shy) Sooo.. tell me. How do they look?

[Atlas]: (looks at her for a beat too long) Perfect.

[Atlas]: (clears throat) Come on—before my mom thinks we got eaten by a bear or something.

[Ashley]: (grinning now) Race you back!

[Chris]: Looks like Celeste’s out cold. Guess that means we’ve officially outlasted the night.

[Elisa]: I don’t blame her. I almost joined her five minutes ago.

[Elisa]: So… tomorrow’s the big day, huh? You ready for everything that comes with it?

[Chris]: The move? Yeah. Logistics-wise, we’re good. Emotionally? Not so much. Celeste’s already been quiet all evening — she’s trying to hide it, but she hates goodbyes. Especially with you.

[Elisa]: Yeah… she told me earlier she’s pretending tomorrow isn’t happening. I think I’m doing the same thing.

[Chris]: (gentle laugh) Can’t say I blame you. You two found each other at just the right time. But pulling apart... it feels like an unraveling for sure.

[Elisa]: That’s exactly what it feels like.

[Chris]: You know, when you and Reggie first moved to San Sequoia, Celeste kept saying, “I think I found one of my people.” And she was right.

[Elisa]: (smiles faintly) Yeah, she saved me in ways she doesn’t even know.

[Chris]: How are you holding up, Ellie? Really. With the baby coming and all the change.

[Elisa]: (shrugs) I’m trying to take it one day at a time. Some days that works. Some days… it doesn’t.

[Elisa]: It’s weird. Everyone’s so excited, but I’m still catching my breath. This pregnancy’s felt heavier somehow — not bad, just… weighted. Like the memories from last time still live in my body.

[Chris]: That kind of fear lingers. Doesn’t mean you’re not grateful. Just means you’re human.

[Chris]: Or maybe you’re an alien. Because you got my boy out here stressing like he’s trying to solve world peace just to make you happy.

[Elisa]: Oh, please. Reggie’s fine. He knew what he was signing up for when he decided not to use protection that night. We’ll be fine. He says... You have nothing to worry about he says.

[Chris]: Signing up for or surviving?

[Elisa]: You’re dramatic.

[Chris]: And you’re wearing my boy out.

[Elisa]: Honestly Chris... (deep breath) You know what scares me, Chris? It’s not the pregnancy or the changes—it’s loving another kid. I love Ashley so much it hurts sometimes. I don’t ever want her to feel like she’s being replaced… or like she has to share a space she’s always had all to herself. You and Celeste make it look so easy—with Atlas and Ori. It’s like you were both made for this. But me and Reggie? We barely figured out one.

[Chris]: Ellie... You know you’re not all that tough. You’ve always been built for love. Even when you try to hide it behind that tough act. But I’ll tell you. You don’t run out of love—you just find out it multiplies. Ashley’s not losing you. Your heart is going to make room for more.

[Elisa]: What am I going to do without you?

[Chris]: I’m just a phone call away. But forreal, think about giving my boy some.

[Elisa]: How about you minding your own business? And worry about getting in your own bed.

[Chris]: Oh don’t you worry. As soon as we get home, I might have to send the kids back with you.

[Elisa]: You’re ridiculous.

[Chris]: Nah.. but you and Reggie are going to be just fine. And our future linebacker in there is too.

[Elisa]: Our? We don’t even know what the sex is.

[Chris]: Oh yeah. It’s definitely a boy. But once again, you worrying about the wrong kind of sex right now.

Celeste: Remind me to never do this again. Between the bugs, the toddler meltdowns, and sleeping on the floor when I have a perfectly good bed at home... no thank you.

[Reggie]: You’re looking at the wrong person, because this whole “let’s go camping” idea was Elisa’s, not mine.

[Celeste]: Elisa? Pregnant Elisa? She would’ve rather booked a cabin with Wi-Fi and room service.

[Reggie]: (laughs) You’re right about that.

[Reggie]: So… San Myshuno, huh? Feels like it’s coming fast.

[Celeste]: (sighs) Yeah. Too fast. It still feels unreal — we only found out a week ago.

[Celeste]: I mean you know. Our company landed this big investment, and now everything’s scaling. All I’ve been hearing for the past few years are words like “expansion strategy” and “new market potential” and now it’s here.

It’s actually happening. Now.

[Reggie]: (nods) How’d the kids take it?

[Celeste]: Ori’s three, so she just keeps asking if her toys get to come too. Atlas… he said he was fine. But you can tell. He’s trying to be brave about leaving everyone—especially Ashley.

[Celeste]: Which reminds me. How did Ashley take it?

[Reggie]: She doesn’t know yet. Atlas came to me and asked if he could be the one to tell her. Said he wanted to do it his way.

[Celeste]: (nods slowly, a sad smile) Yeah… that’s Atlas. Always holding the heavy stuff close until he can make sense of it.

[Reggie]: You ever just… look at you and Chris and wonder how you pulled it all off? Two kids, thriving careers, still smiling? I mean… I know the story from his side, but how... how’d you know they were yours?

[Celeste]: With Atlas, I just… knew. We’d been trying surrogacy for a while, and it kept falling through. Then one day I got this call — this little boy who needed a home. We said yes before we even saw his picture. Then, a few years later, the agency called again — a newborn baby girl. And I couldn’t say no.

[Celeste]: My favorite part is watching Chris be their dad. The way he talks to Ori like she’s got something wise to say, or the way Atlas lights up when he’s around him. He was made for this.

[Celeste]: Don’t worry about Elisa. She’ll come around once she sees that sweet baby’s face. She always does.

[Reggie]: Yeah… I hope so. You know, when Ashley was born, it was rough. Traumatic even. We don’t talk about it much, but I think it stuck with her. Every time we mention the baby now, I can feel her go somewhere else — like she’s trying not to feel anything at all.

Ashley: C'mon slowpoke! You're gonna miss it if you don't hurry!

Atlas: I'm coming. I'm coming! Don't rush me!

Atlas: Hey... Ashley... um... I need to tell you something

Ashley: Whoa! Watch it! You're wobbling too much!

Atlas: It's.. uh.. it's important..

Ashley: Bet you can't catch me now!

Ashley: Okay, here goes!

Atlas: Wait.. are you sure? I need to

Ashley: I've got this Atlas! Don't worry about me!

Atlas: (quietly to himself) I have to tell her... today... before we go...

Ashley: Ready? Watch me!

Atlas: Ashley... I...

Ashley: I'm jumping!

Ashley: Wheeee!!

Atlas: Okay.. okay... don't fall...

Ashley: I freaking did that!

Atlas: Yeah... you did it...

Atlas: Once again you prove that you really are amazing (to himself) I'm really going to miss her.

Later that evening, Elisa and Ashley took a moment just to be — school stories, cheerleading updates, and of course, the elephant in the room: the new baby. Ashley’s been a little worried, but Elisa reminded her who’s boss (spoiler: it’s still Ashley).

Then Elisa floated the idea of a camping trip for fall break — and guess what? Ashley is all in. Spooky stories, s’mores, and some quality time with her bestie Atlas? Sounds like the perfect plan.

Fall break just got a whole lot cozier. 🔥✨

It’s spooky day in San Sequoia, and the Rogers decided to throw a Halloween party 🎉🍬 — full of all the food no one actually touched 🙄🍕🥤. And the costumes? Let’s just say many guests didn’t get the memo. No costumes. Just pure chaos. A hot mess. But hey, a fun mess nonetheless!

Ashley got her picture day photos back today and, honestly… she’s serving looks like she’s about to drop her debut album. This child knows she runs the Rogers household — between snack negotiations, TV schedule control, and now these photos, she’s unstoppable.

Meanwhile, Elisa is somewhere in the kitchen telling Reggie she needs to “mentally prepare” before she frames these pictures. Spoiler: she’s still crying.

Yes.. I know that was cheesy but they're not ❤️.

The Rogers fam got their spooky vibes on — carved pumpkins, festive decorations, and yes, Elisa whipped up a pumpkin pie 🍂🥧 (okay, technically sweet potato pie, but shhh… storytelling magic 😅). Meanwhile, Nicola’s blowing up the phone with “Can I come stay?” vibes, but girl, she’s saving her Sulani sunshine for Harvestfest 🌾✨.