Sunday afternoons at the Baker house had become a tradition. Between their hectic schedules, Jordan and Maya made it a priority to carve out time for family, and lately, that had included Bruno more than ever.

Bruno had been a constant in their lives for years, but in the past few months, their bond had deepened. He wasn't just family by association-he was family, period.

"You're burning it, bro," Jordan teased as he stood beside Bruno at the grill, watching him attempt to flip a burger that was definitely overcooked.

Bruno shot him a glare. "Man, it's charred, not burnt. Adds flavor."

Jordan smirked, stealing the spatula from his hand. "Yeah, well, I think Maya and the kids would prefer something edible."

Maya sat on the patio, laughing at their playful banter as she cradled a glass of lemonade. Her pregnancy cravings had been all over the place, but today, she just wanted a classic backyard cookout with their family.

"Bruno, I love you, but I trust Jordan with the grill more," she called out.

Bruno scoffed, crossing his arms. "Disrespectful."

Jayden and Noah ran past them, chasing a soccer ball across the yard. "Uncle Bruno, come play with us!" Jayden yelled.

"Yeah, you gotta play!" Noah added, stopping in his tracks with his hands on his hips. "Mommy said you used to be good at soccer."

Bruno gasped, clutching his chest. "Used to be? Y'all got jokes today."

Maya grinned. "I mean, you are getting old..."

Bruno groaned but jogged toward the boys anyway, ruffling Noah's hair before taking off with the ball. Within seconds, the yard turned into a full-on game, with Jordan eventually abandoning the grill to jump in, too.

Maya watched them with a full heart. This-this was what mattered. No matter how crazy their lives got, these moments grounded them. Seeing Jordan and Bruno laughing like brothers, watching Jayden and Noah light up when they were around him-it reminded her how lucky they were to have people who truly cared about them.

Bruno collapsed onto the grass after scoring a goal against Jordan, breathing heavily. "Alright, I'm officially retiring from soccer," he declared. "This uncle business is exhausting."

Jayden flopped down beside him. "That's okay. You're still the coolest uncle ever."

Bruno grinned, pulling both boys into a playful headlock. "Damn right, I am."

Jordan walked over to Maya, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "You happy?" he asked softly.

She leaned into him, nodding. "More than ever."

As the sun began to set, laughter filled the air, and for a moment, there were no outside pressures, no expectations-just love, family, and the promise of always having each other's backs.

As the evening settled in, the backyard lights flickered on, casting a warm glow over the patio. The smell of grilled food mixed with the crisp night air, and laughter continued to echo around them.

Bruno leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out as he nursed a cold drink. "Man, I needed this," he admitted. "It's been a minute since I just got to kick back like this."

Jordan nodded in agreement, flipping the last few burgers onto a serving plate. "Yeah, life's been moving at full speed lately." He glanced over at Maya, who was helping Jayden and Noah fix their plates. "We don't get enough of these slow moments."

Bruno smirked, nudging Jordan's arm. "You sure you ready for another kid, though? You're already getting run ragged by these two."

Jordan chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, I was built for this. Maya, on the other hand, she's the one who deserves a trophy."

Maya shot him a playful look as she handed Noah a plate. "Damn right, I do."

Bruno laughed, watching the easy way they interacted. "You two got it figured out, huh?"

Maya took a seat next to Jordan, resting a hand on her belly. "We're figuring it out every day."

Bruno took a long sip of his drink before setting it down. "You know, I don't say it enough, but I appreciate y'all. More than you know." His voice was softer now, more serious. "You guys-this family-you're my people."

Jordan and Maya exchanged a glance before Jordan clapped a hand on Bruno's shoulder. "You're our family, too, man. Always have been."

Maya nodded, her expression warm. "And you always will be."

Bruno exhaled, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good. 'Cause I'm not going anywhere."

Jayden and Noah suddenly ran up, interrupting the moment as they tugged at Bruno's arm. "Uncle Bruno, come sit with us!" Noah demanded.

Bruno groaned dramatically. "Man, I can't even get a second to be emotional around here?"

Jayden grinned. "Nope!"

Bruno chuckled, standing up and letting the boys drag him toward the outdoor couch. Jordan pulled Maya closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as they watched their boys laugh with Bruno.

"This right here," Jordan murmured, "this is everything."

Maya smiled, resting a hand over his. "Yeah. It really is."