How's the book so far?
I feel like im lowkey dragging it out bc i don't want it to end T T

Vera pulled out a thick, worn photobook with a scarlet cover, the edges softened by time. She lay it across her lap, her green eyes flickering with nostalgia as she traced the cover with her fingers. Zaine plopped beside her, curiosity lighting up his face as he peered at the old book.

"I brought something with me," Vera announced softly, glancing at Mars.

Mars's brows knit in suspicion. "Don't tell me it's the Red Book."

Vera smiled knowingly, her expression both mischievous and sentimental. "It is the Red Book. All of your milestones are in this." She opened the cover with care, revealing a handwritten dedication on the inside: Para meu ursinho, com amor, Mãe. (For my little bear, with love, Mom.)

Mars let out a groan, leaning back into the couch as Billie grinned beside her. "You're really doing this, huh?"

"Absolutely," Vera said without missing a beat, flipping to the first page.

Zaine's eyes widened as he leaned closer. "What's a milestone?"

"It's like a really important moment in someone's life, Z-Bear," Billie explained, nudging him gently.

"Ohhh. So, like when I got taken by dada?" Zaine asked.

"Exactly," Vera said warmly, her smile softening. She flipped the page and pointed to a baby picture of Mars—chubby-cheeked and wrapped in a blanket, wearing an expression that looked suspiciously grumpy. "Doesn't this face look familiar?"

Zaine gasped, glancing between the photo and Mars. "That looks like me! Dada, that's you?"

Mars rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, yeah. I looked like an angry loaf of bread."

Billie snorted, covering her mouth as she laughed loudly. "Oh my god, you totally did."

Vera continued flipping through the pages, revealing pictures of Mars at different stages of childhood—toddling around in colourful clothes, playing soccer barefoot in São Paulo, holding up drawings they had scribbled with crayons.

Then, Vera reached a page that seemed to hold a deeper weight. It was a medical report, carefully slipped into the plastic sleeve alongside photos from Mars's sixth birthday party.

"This," Vera said gently, looking at Zaine, "is when we found out something special about your Dada."

Mars tensed slightly but stayed quiet, watching as her mother's fingers lingered on the page. Billie reached over and placed a hand on Mars's knee, offering silent support.

Zaine tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean special?"

Vera gave him a reassuring smile. "When Mars was about your age, we found out that Dada wasn't just a boy like we thought. Mars was born with something called intersex traits, which means her body is a little different from most boys and girls."

Zaine looked at Mars with wide eyes, processing the information. "Does that mean Dada's both?"

Mars gave a small nod, her voice gentle. "Yeah, kind of. It means my body has things that don't fit into just being a boy or a girl. But that's okay, because I get to be exactly who I want to be."

Zaine mulled it over for a moment, then nodded like it all made perfect sense. "Awesome."

Mars let out a quiet breath of relief. "Thanks, kid."

Vera smiled, flipping to the next section of the photobook. There were photos of Mars playing sports, posing with friends, and even standing on stage at a school play. Each picture seemed to chart Mars's journey from childhood to adulthood, from confusion to self-acceptance.

"See this one?" Vera pointed to a picture of Mars at fourteen, standing awkwardly at the edge of a soccer field, dressed in a baggy jersey. "This is when Mars stopped trying to be what everyone else wanted and started figuring out who she were. It wasn't always easy, but she did it."

Billie looked over at Mars with a new kind of admiration in her eyes. "That's badass."

Mars gave a small, self-conscious shrug. "It was a lot of trial and error."

Zaine reached over and squeezed Mars' hand. "You're the best Dada ever. Even if you used to look like grumpy bread."

Mars burst out laughing, pulling Zaine into a playful hug. "You're not wrong, kid."

As the room filled with warmth and laughter, Vera closed the book but kept it on her lap, her gaze lingering on her daughter. "I brought this because I want you to know, Mars, that you've always made me proud. You've been through so much, and now, here you are—raising this wonderful boy and building a life for yourself."

Mars swallowed hard, the unexpected wave of emotion catching her off guard. She looked away, rubbing the back of her neck. "Thanks, mãe."

Vera reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Mars's forehead. "You don't have to do everything alone, ursinho. We're family. I'm here now—for both of you."

Mars gave a small nod, her throat tight. "I know."

Billie smiled, her hand still resting on Mars's knee. "We've got your back, babe."

Zaine, satisfied with the emotional moment, gave a little bounce. "Okay, now let's play dinosaurs! Grandma, you can be the T-Rex!"

Vera chuckled. "Ah, the T-Rex, huh? You're giving me the best one?"

"Obviously," Zaine said with a grin. "Because you're cool."

Mars leaned back on the couch, watching the two of them dive into their dinosaur game. Billie rested her head on Mars's shoulder, and for the first time in what felt like forever, everything felt... right.

Mars looked down at Billie, her heart full. "Thanks for being here. Seriously."

Billie gave her a soft smile. "Always, Marscello."

Mars grinned. "You know, you're the only person besides my mother, I'll let call me that without getting annoyed."

Billie laughed. "Yeah, well, I earned it." She leaned up and pressed a kiss to Mars's cheek, her voice a whisper against her skin. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Mars pulled Billie closer, resting her chin on her head as they watched Zaine and Vera play. This was what it felt like to be surrounded by love, by family. And for the first time in a long while, Mars felt like maybe, just maybe, things were exactly where they were supposed to be.