The low hum of the venue's speakers reverberated through the air as Billie sat at the electric piano on stage, her fingers gliding lazily over the keys. The soft chords of "lovely" filled the empty arena, echoing off the walls like a gentle wave of melancholy. In her lap, Zaine lay draped over her chest, fast asleep, his small hand clutching a fold of her oversized hoodie.

The sound engineer, hunched over the mixing board a few feet away, gave her a thumbs-up. Billie gave a small nod in return, her focus mostly on the boy breathing softly against her. She adjusted her arms slightly, cradling him closer so he wouldn't stir.

Her team tiptoed around the stage, hauling cables and adjusting equipment with practiced care, doing everything they could to keep things running smoothly without disturbing her little passenger.

"Can we run that again, Billie?" her sound engineer, Matt, asked through the stage monitors. "Maybe one more time with the bridge?"

Billie glanced down at Zaine. His curls brushed against her chin, and she could feel his tiny body rise and fall with every peaceful breath. She kissed the top of his head, inhaling the scent of his soft shampoo, and smiled softly.

"Yeah, let's do it again," she said, adjusting her posture so she could keep Zaine steady while still hitting the keys. Her voice was soft but sure, drifting through the space like a lullaby.

Earlier in the day, Zaine had been a storm of chaos. He was always a bundle of energy, but today was different. Maybe it was because Mars wasn't with them—he always felt more grounded when Mars was near. Or maybe it was just one of those days where everything in a five-year-old's world felt too big. Either way, Zaine had kept the entire crew on their toes from the moment he woke up.

He'd darted through dressing rooms, giggling madly as security tried to gently corral him, only to escape and reappear moments later with his little arms full of snacks from the catering table. He'd helped the stagehands by tangling up wires and climbing she speaker stacks, which gave everyone a mild heart attack. Even Billie's tour manager, who had seen it all, was visibly exhausted after chasing Zaine for an hour.

"Kid's a menace," he had muttered to Billie, wiping sweat from his brow. "I dunno how you and Mars do it."

Billie had just smiled, shrugging. "We just do."

Despite the chaos, Zaine had stayed glued to Billie's side for most of the day. If she went into the green room, he followed. If she grabbed a water bottle, he reached for her hand. If she tried to practice with the band, he tugged on her hoodie, demanding her attention. And when it finally got too much, his little body ran out of steam all at once.

Now, with the mischief worn out of him, Zaine lay curled up on her like a satisfied kitten, his tiny snores barely audible.

As Billie finished the final notes of the song, she let the sound linger, her hands hovering over the keys. The moment was peaceful, and for a brief second, everything in her world felt perfectly aligned. No expectations, no stress—just the quiet intimacy of a stage, her music, and the boy she was beginning to think of as her own.

The engineer's voice crackled over the monitor again. "Perfect. I think we're good to go."

Billie exhaled, giving the engineer a small wave. "Thanks, Matt." She turned her gaze downward, brushing a stray curl from Zaine's forehead.

As the crew began wrapping up cables and shutting down equipment, Billie sat back on the piano bench, rocking slightly as Zaine shifted in his sleep. She loved these small, quiet moments—moments where she could breathe, away from the whirlwind of fame and expectation. She kissed his forehead again, marveling at how easy it felt to have him close.

Her phone buzzed on the bench beside her, and with one hand still supporting Zaine, she reached for it. The name Mars lit up the screen, followed by a message.

Red<3: Just finished my set. Miss you both. Call me when you're free?

Billie's chest tightened. She could picture Mars clearly—her strong, broad frame slumped in a dressing room chair somewhere in Toronto, sweat still glistening on her skin from the stage lights, her dark curls sticking to her forehead.

Billie texted back one-handed:

"Miss you too, babe. Zaine wore everyone out today. He's passed out on me rn."

A response came almost immediately:

Red<3: My little menace. Love him. And love you.

Billie smiled at the screen, warmth spreading through her. Mars had a way of making everything feel lighter, even from thousands of miles away.

Once soundcheck was wrapped, Billie carefully stood from the piano, balancing Zaine against her chest. He stirred slightly but didn't wake as she carried him offstage and into the quiet of her dressing room. She settled onto the couch, cradling him against her, and let herself relax into the cushions.

For a moment, she thought about what it might be like if Zaine stayed with her for the rest of the tour—if Mars could join them, the three of them traveling from city to city, like a strange little family on the road. The idea felt warm, comforting.

She let herself dream about it for a little while, tracing lazy patterns on Zaine's back as he slept.

The door creaked open a few minutes later, and Alex peeked his head inside. "Hey. We're heading out soon if you wanna grab dinner before the show."

Billie shook her head, her fingers still combing through Zaine's curls. "Nah, I'll stay here with him. He needs the rest."

Alex gave her a small smile. "You're good with him, you know."

Billie's heart softened at the compliment. "Thanks."

Alex lingered for a moment, then gave a little nod. "Alright. We'll bring you something back."

"Cool," Billie murmured, her attention already drifting back to Zaine as Alex slipped out of the room.

When Mars finally called later that night, Billie answered on the first ring, careful not to wake Zaine, who was still fast asleep in her lap.

"Hey," Mars's deep, familiar voice came through the speaker.

"Hey," Billie whispered, a smile tugging at her lips. "You sound tired."

"I am," Mars admitted. "But I'd rather hear about your day. How's Zaine?"

Billie glanced down at the boy curled up against her. "Out cold. He ran everyone ragged today. Your son's a little hurricane."

Mars chuckled on the other end. "Yeah, that sounds like him." There was a brief pause, then Mars's voice softened. "I miss you."

Billie's throat tightened. "I miss you too."

There was a comfort in the silence that followed—one of those rare moments where words weren't necessary.

"Wish I was there," Mars murmured.

"Me too," Billie whispered back. She traced a small circle on Zaine's back, her heart full but aching at the same time. "You will be, soon."

Mars hummed in agreement. "Yeah. Soon."

As Billie ended the call and set her phone aside, she leaned back into the couch, holding Zaine close. The little boy murmured something in his sleep, his small hand curling tighter into her hoodie.

Billie closed her eyes, letting the sound of his breathing soothe her.