Solar had been fine when she was still pregnant. In fact, he was as thrilled as the other elemental even if he tried to deny it.

But everything seemed to change once their daughter was born.

Solar didn't fawn over Norah like the others, or smoothed her with kisses and hugs. Solar kept a clear distance, barely touched her, or made direct eye contact. He actually managed to make Halilintar, of all people, look like the most affectionate person in the world, and Yaya didn't exaggerate here.

Still, the light elemental version of her husband had his own way to take care of their daughter: through the others.

For some reason, Solar was always the first one to respond whenever Norah needed something, even before she cried. Instead of approaching her, he would alert the others. Yaya had thought he was just afraid of getting dirty at first. However, Solar didn't change his expression when he cleared the dirty diapers, something Thorn and Blaze always had that funny expression whenever they took the job. Without fail, Solar made sure of all Norah's needs were met, that she was comfortable enough. If Boboiboy divided, anyone could easily spot him near the place their daughter stayed. Always close, he could even sit for hours by her crib, guarding her sleep.

Her husband didn't neglect Norah. He just... kept his distance.

This strange behavior disturbed Yaya a little bit, she admitted. Solar was prideful. He would get defensive and closed off if she carelessly brought it up. Hence, despite dying to ask, Yaya reminded herself to be patient and wait for the right opportunity.

The opportunity such as tonight.

"You sneaked out again." Yaya leaned against the door frame, addressing the black figure near her daughter's crib. Her husband, in his light power form, barely showed a sign of being startled. He probably had heard her when she searched for him around their house.

Shifting a yawn into her hand, Yaya took off the wall and tiptoed over him. Solar continued to observe their daughter with great interest. Norah was curling into a cocoon inside her orange blanket, her choice of today's color. She munched on it while snoring softly. A tiny fist curled around the cloth.

Hesitated, her husband reached a hand down, gently caressing the infant's cheek as though she might break into pieces if he added too much pressure. It was the only time Yaya ever saw him like this. Ginger. Doubtful.

Afraid.

"... Something inside me seems to demand me to stay near her ever since the day she was born." Solar finally mumbled after taking his sweet time. Successfully separating Norah's mouth from the blanket, his hand hurried to retract like their daughter suddenly became a red-hot iron. He placed it on the crib frame, gripping tightly, straining his knuckles.

Yaya set her hand on top of his. Her husband stiffened for a moment but soon, his body relaxed under her touch. She warped her other arm around his waist, snuggling close. Almost instinctively, Solar reciprocated. His cheek rested on the side of her head and he let out a sigh.

"I can't help it. I just feel... connected with her."

Yaya listened patiently as he unraveled his thoughts. Something told her it wasn't simply a father-daughter link. This was Solar speaking, an elemental power, not Boboiboy. Even if she didn't fully understand the difference, she could guess it was important, at least to him, and it related to Norah somehow.

"Then why did you keep your distance?" Yaya inquired before she was aware of it. The following silence settled inside the room was deafening if not for Norah's ever small snores. After a long moment, Solar spoke up. His voice was uncharacteristically low.

"I... I don't know. This connection- this power... I doubt it'd be good..."

His arm tightened around Yaya, unconsciously clinging for comfort. Solar's paranoia of the destruction spelled as his natural power wasn't unknown. From Captain Vargoba's incident to Retak'ka, no one could blame him for it. In fact, Boboiboy had always more or less gotten hurt whenever it was a matter involving his elemental powers.

Like a price for them, Yaya pursed her lips. Solar, perhaps, was one of the elementals taking it the hardest. After all those years, the guilt still wracked him.

And seeing their daughter grow up more and more like Boboiboy, he feared the same fate might befall her someday.

Yaya frowned. Trauma wasn't something able to fade away overnight. However, what kind of wife would she be if she let it torment her husband further?

"Boboiboy- Solar."

Solar flinched at the name, his body automatically tensed. Turning her body so that she remained inside his embrace, Yaya faced him. She could easily spot the bags under his eyes, or how his hair was more disordered than normal.

Taking him by surprise, she squinted his cheeks with her palms. Yaya almost burst into laughter at the silly, dumbfounded expression Solar made. His silver orbs glinted, catching the moonlight, as beautiful as she remembered. The usual orange glasses had gone as he visited their daughter.

"Love." Yaya whispered, her gaze softening the moment their eyes met. "Norah is the luckiest girl to have you as her father. I've watched you attend to her and frankly, I doubt I could be that attentive, even though I'm her mother. You always seem to know exactly when she needs something, or simply decides to make a fuss. I have to say I feel jealous sometimes at how Norah took to you. She always smiles whenever you're around."

"It's a blessing if our daughter is going to be a brilliant star like her papa." Tiptoing, Yaya planted a tender kiss on her husband's forehead. "As her mother, I couldn't be happier."

She had to giggle once she pulled back to look at a speechless Solar. He was gaping at her as though she was the only thing in this world, and Yaya's heart swelled in love and pride that she was the one making it. She swore his eyes had moisture for a moment.

Unable to help herself, Yaya pecked his lips with another kiss. This time, she felt a small smile lifting them. Solar leaned in and deepened the kiss. His hands moved around her back, pulling her closer while hers tilted his head. They remained in the other's embrace until it left them out of breath.

Taking a quick puff of air into his lungs, Solar dipped down for another round but a finger on his lips stopped him.

"Not in front of Star." Yaya mumbled breathlessly. Her cheeks flushed in a deep red shade and Solar didn't think his face fared any better.

"But she's sleeping." He whined. However, an unamused look from Yaya shut him up. Solar pouted before his face lit up again.

"We can continue in the our room, right?"

"You certainly recovered fast." Yaya rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips.

"What can I say?" Grinning, Solar kissed her cheek lovingly. "My wife is just awesome."

:::::::::

"You went to such a length just to help him. I'm going to be jealous of my own self at this rate."

Yaya halted for a moment at her husband's choice of [him], not [I]. Setting the plate she just cleaned aside, she glanced over at Boboiboy whose cheeks were puffed up like a child hearing it was the second favorite.

"Don't be silly. You are making it as if you and him weren't one." Drying her hand, Yaya flicked his forehead. Boboiboy made a protesting sound and pouted even more. "I'm doing it for my husband."

"Still...!"

He's silent by the look Yaya's having. Her hands were placed on her hips.

"You aren't innocent either, Boboiboy bin Amato. Don't think I don't know you borrowed Solar, and other elementals, to speak up."

"It was easier that way..." Boboiboy sank away under his wife's accusation. A sigh left Yaya at his sullen look. She wondered how sometimes she felt like she got two kids instead of one infant.

"Silly husband. You know you can always tell me everything, right? I'm your wife. Your burden is mine." Cupping Boboiboyz's face, she turns his head to her. "It feels easy to divide because they are your separate aspects. But in the end, you and they are one person. You can't just use them as an excuse to avoid facing your problems directly. I know raising a child is hard. I'm afraid, too. It's hard to know if we screw up somewhere or not. But I think I can do it. Because I got you, just as you got me. We are in this together... and even if you are against the world. You aren't alone, whether you like it or not."

"So don't close me off, and struggle on your own... then seek Gopal for advice. Trust me, I love that man as my brother but not all of his ideas are as [brilliant] as he likes to think." Yaya grumbles the last part that her husband finally cackles up. Letting out a sigh, Boboiboy covered her hands with his. He pressed them further into his cheeks and closed his eyes.

"It's amazing that you always know what to say..." Whispering, he leaned his forehead against Yaya's. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Yes, love. You've told me every day." She giggled, tilting her head to kiss his cheek before looking him in the eyes. "And I love you, too. Never forget it."

"I really don't know if I could live without you anymore." Boboiboy chuckled, a genuine smile spreading on his face. He kissed her lips before pulling her into his arms, burying his face into the place between her shoulder and neck. Patting his back, Yaya absently ran her other hand through his brow hair, humming a soft melody. She closed her eyes, feeling content and loved in her husband's warm and tight hug. They had each other. Together, they could face whatever the future had in store for them.

All's well.