The chickenpox episode began to fall into the souvenir box of their mind, and life regained its course. Jonas, too, was back to his old self again.

The man worked relentlessly to catch up with his work. Sierra did not know how much someone self-employed could work. She imagined they had more leisure time, but Jonas proved otherwise with the strict schedule he kept. He worked eight, sometimes more. As soon as the glasses decorated the bridge of his nose and framed his face, Sierra knew the man was tired, and when he placed a blue screen, it was the indication that Jonas's exhaustion reached its limit.

The man watched her and forgot Sierra observed him as well. Leone liked to see what Jonas was up to too. He would use his father's leg as support and try to see what he was doing. Jonas would pick him up and place Leone on his knees before pursuing his work while Leone's hands would get into mischief.

Sierra would follow the endearing scene. The father and son relationship scared her for what it was. No matter how heartwarming, the woman did not forget the expiry date attached.

It broke her heart for Leone, who Sierra knew already loved his father. The infant even picked up some of Jonas's mimics, which made it difficult for Sierra, who directly found herself thinking of the man. Blue eyes and blonde hair, Sierra imagined how handsome Leone would be.

In those moments where her mind began to fantasize, and her heart started to conjure feelings, Sierra did a mental harakiri, sectioned her heart into perfect halves, and prayed the days would fly directly to Jonas's departure.

That night Leone sat quiet, too quiet.

What caught Sierra's attention was his lack of interest in Jonas, who worked silently in his corner.

Sierra lifted Leone; again, the child burnt with fever.

"Jonas, there's something wrong with Leone."

The boy excessively drooled while chewing frantically on one of his toys.

Sierra pulled it out, "stop it, Leone, don't chew your toys."

Leone blinked in dismay as if to say are you testing me? Before letting out the mother of all high pitch soprano notes that made Jonas jump from his chair. From then on, the little boy began to pull on his hair while throwing his head back.

What had Sierra done?

The woman panicked, "what's wrong, Leone?"

Leone cried, he was in immense pain, and Sierra regretted having bothered him.

The little boy versed all the gibberish he had to say as he tried to explain in ba-ba language how he suffered while drool and tears trickled down his face.

Jonas left Sierra with Leone only to come back after having washed his hands.

"What are you doing, Jonas?"

The man opened Leone's mouth and placed a finger on his lower central incisor's gum before doing the same to the upper.

Leone stopped moving. He looked at both of them with a sorrowful face.

In front of Sierra's bewildered stare, Jonas proceeded to the explanations, "he's teething, Sierra."

"How did you guess?"

The man beamed proud of himself, "well, since the chickenpox incident, I thought I should upgrade on my knowledge too. The books you have are instructive."

"So what are you going to do now? You're not going to spend your evening with your finger in Leone's mouth, are you?"

"No," Jonas took Leone from Sierra's hands, "can you get a clean cloth, wet it, and bring it over ?"

Sierra did as asked.

"What are you going to do with this? Sierra asked as she passed the man the wet cloth.

Jonas lightly rubbed it on Leone's gum, "there isn't much to do when it comes to teething. We just have to bear with it as we did with the chickenpox."

Sierra nodded, "I know there are some soothing droplets, and I heard about some special rings and toys he can chew."

"It's about all we can do for him. I'll sleep with him tonight. You've got to work tomorrow," Jonas said.

"No, Jonas, I won't let you do this time. In a few months, you'll be gone. I won't be able to rely on you then, so let me do."

Jonas had almost forgotten the reality of their situation, which was temporary. Though it was hard to admit, Sierra was right such endeavors would be tackled alone by her in the future.

Somehow the idea did not appeal to Jonas anymore, but at the same time, the man fixed the rules. Jonas found himself imprisoned by the promise he made during the mediation.

"Let's take turns then. I'll wake you up."

Sierra fixed a spot as she always did when reflecting, and Jonas waited for the answer.

"Okay, let's do that."

The woman was about to turn to leave when Leone began to cry, "I'll take him now then."

But once in her arms, the boy continued to bawl as if he heard milk was banned worldwide for infants.

Jonas went to the kitchen, filled one of Leone's milk bottles with water, and returned.

The little boy stopped wailing once his mouth found itself occupied. Sierra went back to her room with him, but half an hour later, the cries shook the apartment's walls to where Mrs. Micheal came knocking.

"Goodevening, Jonas. I know kids are difficult, but please try to keep it down."

"Sorry, Mrs. Micheal," Jonas apologized solemnly before closing the door and going to find Sierra.

Sierra had no choice. For this mission, teamwork was essential. All sacrifices found justification when it came to Leone.

"Sleep with us."

Jonas blinked, "pardon?"

"You seem to handle all the technical aspects well, and he's clinging to me. It will be easier if we're in the same room."

"Alright."

Jonas accepted.

The debates on the action's moral legality could wait.

The man used to speaking from Sierra's bedroom door frame hesitated to enter until the woman prompted him to come inside.

Sierra nursed Leone, who took multiple bites in her tee. Jonas avoided looking at tee's collar that drooped and revealed the lace of Sierra's bra.

"Oh no," Sierra said as she felt the dampness spreading from Leone's diaper to her arm.

Jonas grimaced, "diarrhea is one of the side effects of teething." The man took Leone from Sierra's arms and brought him to the bathroom, where he washed and changed him while Sierra cleaned herself up too.

There were in Sierra's bedroom once more. It seemed the baby wanted neither one to leave him as he sought for them to be as close to him as possible.

So Jonas and Sierra sat at the edge of her bed, taking turns to carry or wipe.

Sierra did not know when she fell asleep, but it was Leone's cry that woke her. The weight of Jonas's arm trapped him. Jonas was sound asleep, and Sierra could only imagine how exhausted he was not to hear Leone. She freed the child and began to pace with him.

It was that hour; the toothache had nothing to do with Leone's awakening. Cecile's autopsy said she died around three AM, so it was no surprise that the child woke up to cry at that crucial hour's time frame.

"There, there, Leone, I know. I miss her too."

She turned to look that Jonas was still asleep and took off her tee-shirt. Leone sought a good position on her bosom and rested his head. The direct body contact always appeased him. Sierra caressed his hair and carried on pacing, "I'm with you, Leone. You're not alone."

The woman did not even hear when Jonas got up; she only realized when a plaid fell on her shoulders," I'm sorry to have left you."

"It's nothing, Jonas. I know you're tired too."

They returned to the bed where they both sat with Leone, who slowly fell asleep.

"He still remembers; that's why he wakes up like this. Leone was there, and he sat next to his mother's lifeless body for I don't know how many hours. When I think of that, I know I will never abandon him."

"But Sierra, you have your life. Raising him isn't a fickle mission. So many things could happen. Imagine if being with him puts your job in peril or if the man you decide to be with rejects him?

Sierra turned to face Jonas, "it won't happen. I won't let it. If a man can't accept Leone, then he isn't meant for me. I let Cecile down, but I won't do that to him.

Jonas sighed, "if guilt is what is motivating youㅡ."

"No, it's not guilt Jonas, it's love. The love I have for Cecile and the love I have for Leone. It's stronger than anything right now."

Trials, Sierra was still on the starting blocks.

Jonas was no longer a spectator. He walked along the sidelines rooting for her. The status irritated him as the man began to wish to run the race with and not against her.

The two fell asleep and woke up eye to eye facing each other under Leone's malicious smile. None knew when the baby woke up, but it appeared he had sat silently for awhile watching over them.

For Sierra, the chain of events between the Chickenpox, Chickenpox: The Return, and Teething: I'll Be Back was too much. The woman sat up, "I'm not going to work today. I'll call in sick."

The news made Jonas sit up too, "Sierra, are you serious? What about yourㅡ."

"The promotion can wait. Let's spend the day together."

"Ah-ba."

"I think Leone approves the idea," Jonas replied, eyes and lips beaming with glee.