"A Moment of Peace"

As the evening wore on, Ashley decided it was time to get the kids ready for bed. She started by bathing Alex, who loved the sensation of the water and the gentle soap on his skin. Avery, who was sitting in her bouncy seat nearby, giggled and cooed as she watched her big brother get clean. Once Alex was done, Ashley handed him a towel and he began to dry himself off, his stimming subsiding as he enjoyed the simple task. Avery, on the other hand, was getting restless. She wanted to play, and Ashley couldn't resist her baby's charms. She picked up Avery and began to swing her around the room, laughing as Avery squealed with delight. "Wheeee!" Ashley exclaimed, twirling around the room with Avery in her arms. Alex watched with a smile, happy to see his little sister having so much fun. As they played, Ashley turned on the sensory lights in the room, casting a colorful glow over the space. The lights seemed to mesmerize Avery, who gazed at them in wonder. Ashley took advantage of the distraction to give her children a goodnight kiss. "I love you, Alex," she said, hugging her big son tightly. "And I love you, Avery," she cooed, nuzzling her baby's soft cheek. As she looked at her two children, Ashley felt a sense of peace wash over her. Alex was growing up to be such a big boy, now four years old and learning new things every day. And Avery, just six months old, was already bringing so much joy and light into their lives. Ashley smiled, feeling grateful for this moment of peace, before reality set back in and she remembered that she still had to have a conversation with Avan about the pregnancy. To distract herself from the looming conversation, Ashley decided to do some more cleaning around the house. She put on some music and got to work, scrubbing the kitchen counters and tidying up the living room. As she worked, she hummed along to the music, trying to push aside her thoughts about Avan and the pregnancy. She knew she couldn't avoid the conversation forever, but for now, she just wanted to focus on the present moment and enjoy the peacefulness of the evening. As the hours ticked by, Ashley continued to clean and tidy, trying to distract herself from the conversation that was to come. But as the silence of the house grew, she couldn't shake the feeling that Avan's return was looming, and that soon she would have to face the music and talk to him about her fears and doubts.