The afternoon sun hung high in the sky as the group split up in front of Cinderella's Castle, the energy at the park still buzzing. The older kids, including Sofia, Mateo, Joelle, and Waylon, were eager to jump onto the big roller coasters and thrill rides. Roman and Galina, ever the adventurers, led the charge toward the more intense attractions, promising to meet up later for lunch.

Isa and Jey, however, had a different plan. With Kingston by their side, they headed toward the smaller, gentler rides-those that would let him ease into the excitement of the park without feeling overwhelmed.

Kingston's eyes darted between the different options-bright colors, whimsical characters, and slow-moving vehicles. "I wanna go on that one!" he exclaimed, pointing at a small ride where colorful teacups spun in circles.

Isa chuckled. "Alright, buddy, let's do it."

Jey laughed, giving Kingston a playful look. "You sure you're ready for this, little man?"

Kingston's face lit up with determination. "Yeah! I can do it."

The three of them climbed into one of the teacups, Isa sitting beside Kingston while Jey took the controls. The teacup spun slowly, a soothing motion that was far from the intense roller coasters the others had opted for. Kingston's laughter filled the air as the ride picked up speed.

"I'm going to spin it faster, Tía Isa!" Kingston said, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Just be careful," Isa warned, though she couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm.

Jey gave a knowing glance to Isa. "Looks like we got a future thrill-seeker on our hands."

Isa raised an eyebrow but smiled. "I think we've got a few years before that's a problem."

As the teacup spun around and around, Kingston's joy was infectious. Isa couldn't remember the last time she had seen someone so excited over something so simple. It reminded her of when she was a little girl, the way small things seemed to make the world feel so magical.

After the teacup ride, they moved on to other gentle attractions-a carousel with brightly painted horses, a small boat ride through a pirate-themed waterway, and even a Dumbo ride where they could control how high they flew. Kingston clung to Isa's side, occasionally squeezing her hand when the rides gave him a little thrill.

Jey kept pace with them, playfully teasing Kingston about being the fastest horse on the carousel or the most daring pirate on the water. Kingston, never one to shy away from a challenge, would grin wide and take each moment with a sense of pride that made Isa's heart warm.

By the time they wrapped up their round of rides, Kingston was practically bouncing with excitement. "That was so fun!" he exclaimed. "Can we do more?"

Isa smiled, ruffling his hair. "Of course, sweetie. But how about we grab some snacks first? You must be hungry."

"Yeah!" Kingston nodded eagerly.

Jey placed a hand on Kingston's shoulder as they walked toward the snack stand. "I think you deserve something sweet after all those rides. Ice cream sound good?"

Kingston's face lit up. "YES!"

Isa chuckled. "I swear, this kid has a one-track mind."

They got in line at a nearby stand, all three of them chatting and laughing, while the other family members were off enjoying the bigger rides. Isa took a moment to look around, noticing how perfect the day was. Despite the chaos of family life, of everything that had happened in the past year, she had this-moments like these where everything felt right.

Jey turned to her, as if sensing her thoughts. "You know, this feels like the start of something special," he said quietly.

Isa smiled, her heart feeling fuller than it had in a long time. "Yeah... I think it is."

As they sat down on a bench, savoring their ice cream, Kingston happily telling them about his favorite part of the day, Isa couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected turn her life had taken. With Jey by her side, and now Kingston looking up to her in a way she never expected, she felt a new sense of belonging-one that was just as much about family as it was about healing.

For the first time in a long while, Isa felt at peace, knowing that even the smallest moments could have the biggest impact. And maybe, just maybe, there was still room for more surprises along the way.

As the afternoon sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the park, Isa, Jey, and Kingston continued to enjoy their time together. The small, peaceful moments seemed to carry more weight than the thrill of the bigger rides. Kingston, no longer shy, had become more comfortable with Isa and Jey, his quiet nature giving way to bursts of laughter and excitement that could only come from pure joy.

"Where to next?" Isa asked, wiping a bit of ice cream from Kingston's cheek.

Kingston looked around, scanning the area like a true adventurer. "I want to see the castle! The big one!"

Isa grinned, taking his hand. "You mean Cinderella's Castle?"

"Yes!" Kingston nodded eagerly. "Can we walk there?"

"We sure can," Jey said with a soft chuckle, taking a step closer to them. "That's the best part of the day, walking around and soaking in the sights."

As they strolled toward the castle, the park seemed to come alive with lights. Music filled the air, and families crowded the pathways, some hurrying to make their dinner reservations, while others lingered near shops, trying to decide on the perfect souvenirs. But none of that mattered to Isa. In this moment, all she cared about was the sound of Kingston's voice, his soft chatter about the rides they'd been on, and Jey's quiet laughter as he joked around with the little boy.

"Hey, what if we stop by the gift shop after we see the castle?" Jey suggested, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You know, pick out a souvenir or two?"

Kingston's face lit up. "A toy?"

"Sure," Jey said, grinning. "You can pick out whatever you want."

Isa shook her head, laughing softly. "Jey, you're spoiling him."

"What else is family for?" Jey winked at her.

They reached the base of Cinderella's Castle, and Kingston's gaze went wide. He stood still for a moment, taking in the towering beauty of the structure, before looking up at Isa. "It's so pretty," he whispered, his voice filled with awe.

Isa smiled softly, her heart swelling. "It really is, isn't it?"

Jey's arm wrapped around Isa's waist as they both looked at Kingston. "You've got good taste, little man."

The sun had begun to set, and the castle lit up with twinkling lights, reflecting off the water of the nearby moat. The entire scene felt almost magical, like something out of a fairy tale, and in that moment, Isa realized just how much she appreciated these little slices of happiness.

As they stood there for a while, taking in the beauty of the castle and the peaceful energy around them, Kingston tugged at Isa's hand. "Can we take a picture?"

Isa chuckled. "Of course. Let's get a picture of all of us in front of the castle."

Jey smiled at the idea, pulling out his phone. "I'm all about memories," he said, clicking a few quick photos of the three of them standing together, smiling and laughing.

Kingston beamed up at the camera. "I'm gonna show Mom and Dad," he said proudly.

"Roman's gonna love that," Jey replied, giving Kingston a wink.

Isa felt a warmth in her chest as she looked at the picture-her, Jey, and Kingston. It felt right. It felt like a new chapter in their family story was beginning to unfold. She wasn't sure what the future held, but in this moment, with her family around her and Kingston's innocent joy, it didn't matter. She felt grounded, connected, and loved.

The evening carried on, and after their castle photos, they made their way to the gift shop, where Kingston picked out a small toy car. Isa couldn't help but smile at how proud he was of his choice. "You're sure you don't want a plush toy instead?" she teased, her voice warm.

"Nope, I like this one," Kingston said with a decisive nod, clutching the toy car like it was the best prize in the park.

As the day wound down, they headed back toward the hotel to meet the rest of the family for dinner. Kingston's eyes were drooping with tiredness, but he refused to let go of his new toy.

"I'm ready to rest," he said, his voice soft.

"You did great today, buddy," Jey said, tousling Kingston's hair as they walked back.

Isa wrapped an arm around him, guiding him toward the hotel. "Let's get you to bed, little adventurer."

Kingston's sleepy smile was the perfect ending to a perfect day. As they made their way to the hotel, Isa felt content, grateful for the family she had, for the memories they were making, and for the unexpected bond she was forming with Kingston.

At the end of the day, she knew this was just the beginning.