#royharper

Thursday of Valentines Week 2026!

Jason hummed softly, chopping vegetables in rhythm with the hum of his old ceiling fan and the kids’ chatter.

 Lian’s math flashcards were scattered across the counter, a pencil tucked behind his ear as he muttered through conjugations.

Rowan leaned against his leg, face focused on drawing chaotic little dragons in his notebook. 

Jason glanced down, smiling, before flipping a chicken breast in the pan with practiced ease. A contented sigh escaped him, the kind of breath that carried both exhaustion and peace.

Across town, Alice stretched the last notes of her ballet class in the studio, toes pointed perfectly on the polished wood. 

She smiled at the emptiness around her; the silence wasn’t lonely, it was peaceful. She thought of her kids, of the smell of dinner wafting from home, of Roy with ink-stained hands and a grin only she could pull out of him, and of Jason’s soft chuckle drifting through the apartment like warm sunlight. 

Soon enough, she’d be back, and the small chaos of her family would feel like the most perfect homecoming.

Jason sat at the table with an ease that would have made Alfred proud. He’d have to tell him how well the recipe was turning out. 

Lian looked up, bright and mischievous, eyes wide. “Jay-Jay, can we taste the pasta?” 

Beside him, silent Rowan had found a stool and climbed onto the counter, settling on the other side of him. 

Roy’s motorcycle rumbled softly down the street as his pocket dinged—the new security system was working perfectly, the camera chiming even before he parked. 

He swung his backpack over one shoulder, the familiar scent of ink and leather clinging to him. He thought of Alice’s gentle laugh, Jason’s distracted but tender gaze, and the tiny hands of his children tugging him toward the kitchen..

The door opened. Alice set her bag down and peeked up, hearing little feet pattering down the hallway. 

Lian and Rowan sprinted to her, hugging her legs and chattering excitedly about their day. “Mamma! Look what I drew!” Rowan exclaimed, holding up a scribble of a dragon soaring above a cityscape. 

Alice laughed, scooping them both up in a circle of warmth. She kissed their foreheads. “Well, that’s stunning, love."

Jason leaned against the counter, watching the reunion with a soft grin as Roy’s hand found his on the countertop. Roy had snuck in through the garage, a mischievous glint in his eye, and in one quick, playful move, wrapped both the kids and Alice in a hug. The room filled with the sound of warm laughter, echoing through their little home.

They ate, they laughed, and they debated whether Rowan’s dragon looked more like a cat (Roy) or a cloud (Jason). Later, Jason returned to the garage to prepare for patrol with Roy, while Alice tucked the kids into bed, soft kisses and whispers of “I love you” floating through the room.

Alice met them in the garage. Both geared up, and she gave them each a quick kiss on the cheek.

“How long will you be gone?” Alice asked.

 “Depends on whether the replacement info was right or wrong,” Jason replied. “Maybe around 2 or 3 a.m.”

 “It’s usually right,” Alice said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

 “You’ll call if you need anything,” Roy added.

 “Yes, you know I will,” Alice said softly.

 “And you better call if there’s trouble—no playing hero,” she warned.

Roy smirked. “What do you think I get all dressed up for?”

They shared a laugh, the kind that lingered even after the words faded. Alice watched them leave, tracking their movement with a quiet smile.

She walked back through the garage to the kitchen, then to the kids’ room, glancing at them as their chests rose and fell in peaceful sleep. Finally, she made her way to bed, crawling into the too-large, too-empty space beside the quiet night.

But in that moment, she was thankful.

And there, in their quiet apartment—amid the scent of pasta and ink, the laughter of their children, and the comfort of their routine—love carried them all. To this peace. To this home.