The next day arrived swiftly, with the golden morning sun casting soft rays across Ivy’s face.

"Wah! Wah! Wah!"

The loud cries of little Hope soon echoed throughout the base, waking Ivy, Aria, and Lila from their sleep.

"Mommy!"

Aria and Lila chorused excitedly the moment their eyes fell on Ivy, who had slept between them the previous night.

"My sweethearts," Ivy called affectionately, opening her arms wide.

The two girls immediately threw themselves into her embrace, giggling happily as Ivy pulled them close and planted soft kisses on each of their foreheads.

"I missed you girls so much," she whispered warmly.

The girls smiled brightly.

Meanwhile, Hope’s cries continued.

"Let’s get this little mama," Ivy said with a light chuckle as she gently picked the crying baby up into her arms. "Now what’s wrong, Mama? Did you miss Mommy? Are you hungry? Do you want some milk?"

Almost immediately, Hope’s crying began to subside. Though her eyes remained closed, the familiar scent of her mother seemed to calm her down.

"She cried yesterday, Mommy," Aria said with a small pout. "I think she missed you a lot."

"We kissed her many times so she wouldn’t feel lonely," Lila added proudly.

Ivy smiled softly at the girls.

"I know, and I appreciate that. I missed all three of you too. In fact, I spent most of yesterday thinking about coming back home to you girls."

The girls beamed at her response.

Still carrying Hope, Ivy carefully got to her feet.

"Melody, clean up the house."

Almost instantly, several automated cleaning devices emerged from their storage compartments and began moving around the base, sweeping, dusting, and organizing everything.

"Whoa!"

Lila’s eyes widened in amazement.

"That’s so cool!"

"What would you girls love to have for breakfast?" Ivy asked while gently feeding Hope, who had now settled comfortably in her arms.

"Fresh toast, eggs, and orange juice!" Aria replied excitedly.

Ivy nodded before turning toward Lila.

"And what about you, sweetheart?"

"The same thing!" Lila answered with a cheerful grin.

The young girl then moved closer and rested her head against Ivy’s side.

Ivy gently stroked her hair.

"Good choice."

Then she looked toward the kitchen area.

"Melody, prepare breakfast for the children. Also make peppered chicken and white rice for Darren and me."

{Right away.}

The AI’s voice echoed softly through the base.

Immediately, activity began inside the kitchen. Gas burners ignited on their own, pots moved into place, ingredients were gathered automatically, and the sounds of cooking soon filled the room.

Aria and Lila stared at the sight in complete disbelief.

"Mommy, is it a robot?" Aria asked curiously.

"Yeah," Lila added. "How is the food cooking by itself?"

Ivy laughed softly.

"You can think of Melody as a very advanced robot. She’s responsible for managing the house, operating the appliances, helping with chores, and making sure everyone is comfortable."

"That’s amazing," Aria murmured.

A few moments later, Hope had finished feeding and drifted back to sleep.

Ivy adjusted the sleeping baby carefully in her arms before standing.

"I’m going to say good morning to Mr. Darren. You two should brush your teeth, take your baths, and get ready for breakfast."

"Okay, Mommy!"

The girls quickly hopped off the bed and hurried away.

Smiling to herself, Ivy made her way out of the base.

Outside, the morning air was fresh and cool.

Darren was already awake, seated on a wooden bench while cleaning one of his weapons.

The moment he noticed Ivy approaching, he rose to his feet.

"Good morning, Captain," Darren greeted respectfully.

Ivy raised an eyebrow.

Before she could question the title, Darren quickly explained himself.

"I’ve been thinking," he began with a slight smile. "I think it’s better if I call you Captain instead of Miss Ivy."

"Oh?" Ivy replied curiously.

Darren nodded.

"Well, you have three children. If I keep calling you Miss Ivy around strangers, people are going to start asking questions. And trust me, some people are incredibly nosy. They’ll wonder why a woman with three children isn’t being addressed as Mrs. Something."

A playful grin appeared on his face.

"So, to avoid unnecessary questions and awkward conversations, I’ll just call you Captain. It’s professional, respectful, and nobody will think twice about it."

Ivy couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh.

"You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?"

"I try my best," Darren replied proudly.

Shaking her head in amusement, Ivy carefully sat down on the nearby bench.

"It’s fine, Darren," she finally said.

Soon, the food was ready, after which Ivy, Darren, Aria, and Lila sat together and enjoyed their breakfast. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful as the girls excitedly talked about seeing Pearl again while Darren occasionally joined the conversation.

Before long, everyone had finished eating.

"Alright, sweethearts," Ivy began as she gently adjusted little Hope against her chest. "Mr. Darren and I have to go check up on Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

She paused before a smile spread across her face.

"And you girls are coming with us. It’s been a while since you’ve seen Pearl, hasn’t it?"

The girls’ eyes lit up immediately.