Chapter 102: A Place Called Home

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: A Place Called Home

The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed softly through the pristine concrete stairwell.

Kai took the steps two at a time, his fire axe resting lazily across his shoulder, while Erik followed at a much steadier pace with a steaming mug of coffee in one hand. Even in the apocalypse, his morning coffee remained non-negotiable.

"One day," Kai muttered over his shoulder, "I’m stealing that coffee maker."

"You’ve been saying that since we bought it."

"And one day I’ll mean it."

Erik snorted.

"The machine belongs to Penny."

Kai sighed dramatically.

"So I’ve already lost."

The corner of Erik’s mouth twitched into the faintest smile as they reached the final flight leading to the twenty-fifth floor.

The heavy fire door swung open.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the exclusive hallway, casting warm beams across polished marble floors that looked untouched by the chaos consuming the city outside.

If not for the silence...

One could almost believe nothing had changed.

The brothers had barely taken two steps into the corridor when they spotted Penelope.

She stood outside the neighboring penthouse, one hand tucked into the pocket of her cardigan while the other knocked gently against the dark walnut door.

Three soft knocks.

"Killian?"

Her voice wasn’t loud.

Just enough to carry through the quiet hallway.

"Are you home?"

A moment later, the door opened.

Killian stood in the doorway already dressed for the day.

Black tactical cargo pants. A fitted black polo stretched across his broad shoulders, the sleeves hugging his toned arms without restricting movement.

His combat boots were already laced.

His fully stocked utility belt rested on the nearby console table, waiting to be fastened around his waist.

It looked less like he’d just woken up...

and more like he’d been awake for hours.

"Morning," Penelope greeted.

"Morning." He replied.

She tilted her head toward her own penthouse.

"Would you like to join us for lunch?" Penelope asked.

Killian took a moment to take in her expression, then slowly nodded.

"I’ll be over in a minute."

"Don’t take too long."

Her lips curved into a small smile.

"Or Kai will eat your portion too."

From the hallway, Kai immediately protested.

"I heard that!"

"That was intentional." Penelope replied with a mischievous wink before her laughter escaped at Erik’s resigned expression.

Killian glanced past her toward the approaching brothers.

Kai clutched his chest dramatically. "I would never steal your breakfast" He said to Killian. "My mom made enough to feed me. I just know it." He said as he rushed towards Penelope’s door.

Erik walked past him without missing a beat. "You literally stole my toast yesterday."

"I was protecting it." Kai said, sounding wounded.

"From what?" Penelope asked, genuinely curious of his response.

"It looked lonely." Kai defended.

Even Killian let out a quiet breath that was suspiciously close to a laugh.

"I’ll be right over."

Penelope gave a small nod before turning toward her own front door.

"Come on."

The four of them crossed the hallway together.

The comforting aroma of breakfast greeted them the moment Penelope opened the door.

Inside, the penthouse was already alive with quiet morning sounds.

The television remained off.

Sunlight poured through the expansive windows overlooking the city.

Near the living room windows, Aurora slept peacefully in her wooden rocking cradle, wrapped snugly in a soft cream-colored blanket. Every so often, the cradle swayed ever so slightly from the momentum Aunt Mary had given it only moments earlier.

She slept through the conversation without the slightest hint of disturbance.

From the kitchen came the familiar hiss of bacon on a skillet.

"Good," Aunt Mary’s voice called from around the corner. "Almost everyone’s here."

Kai grinned. "Aunt Lucy and Ben stayed cooped up in their apartment."

"I see." Aunt Mary responded with a smile.

The comforting aroma of home-cooked food greeted them the moment Penelope opened the door.

Unlike the bright hallway outside, the penthouse was softly illuminated by warm ceiling lights. Every blind covering the floor-to-ceiling windows had been drawn shut, blocking out the unnatural crimson rays that still lingered beyond the glass. No one was willing to risk prolonged exposure—not after everything they’d learned over the past two days.

The television remained off.

The only sounds were the gentle hum of the air conditioner, the sizzle coming from the kitchen, and Aurora’s soft breathing.

Near the living room windows, Aurora slept peacefully in her wooden rocking swing, wrapped snugly in a cream-colored blanket. Every so often, the swing moved ever so slightly from the gentle push Aunt Mary had given it moments earlier.

Without saying a word, Erik drifted toward the living room.

He crouched beside the swing and lightly brushed a finger against Aurora’s tiny hand.

Her fingers instinctively curled around his.

A small smile softened his usually stoic expression.

"Still asleep."

Penelope smiled.

"She was awake almost three hours this morning. I think she finally tired herself out."

Erik carefully slipped his finger free before giving the swing another gentle push.

"Good."

Only then did he head for the dining table.

Meanwhile, Kai had already wandered into the kitchen.

"Mom, this one?"

"The casserole goes in the middle."

"What about the rice?"

"Next to it."

Kai nodded obediently before carrying the heavy casserole dish toward the table.

"I expect everyone to remember who helped make lunch."

Aunt Mary looked over her shoulder.

"You carried it."

"I carried it carefully."

"You also stole a piece of chicken."

Kai looked genuinely offended.

"I sampled it."

"You burned your tongue."

"...It was hot."

Penelope laughed as Kai carefully placed the casserole in the middle of the table.

"I was making sure nobody got food poisoning."

"You’ve been eating my cooking for twenty-one years," Aunt Mary replied.

"I like being thorough."

Shaking her head affectionately, Aunt Mary carried over a steaming pot of vegetable soup while Penelope quickly took the platter of roasted vegetables from her hands.

"I’ve got these."

"Thank you, sweetheart."

Within minutes, lunch covered the dining table.

Grilled lemon herb chicken.

Garlic butter green beans.

Roasted vegetables.

Steamed white rice.

Fresh fruit.

A pot of homemade vegetable soup filled the room with warmth.

For just a moment...

It looked less like the third day of the apocalypse...

and more like an ordinary Sunday afternoon.

Kai was the first to sit.

He looked over the spread before grinning.

"I don’t know about you guys, but I’m never complaining about Mom’s cooking again."

"You complained yesterday," Erik pointed out as he pulled out his chair.

"I was younger yesterday."

Aunt Mary snorted as she began serving everyone.

"You were impossible yesterday too."

"I prefer ’misunderstood.’"

She set another spoonful of rice onto his plate.

"I prefer ’eat.’"

"See?" Kai looked toward Penelope with a helpless expression. "She answers everything with food."

Penelope smiled as she reached for the soup.

"Seems to be working."

Kai let out a quiet laugh before glancing toward Killian.

"So..."

He scratched the back of his neck.

"You’ll get used to this eventually."

Killian looked up.

"...To what?"

Kai gestured around the table.

"The food. Mom making sure your plate’s always full."

Before Killian could answer, Aunt Mary calmly placed another piece of chicken onto his plate.

"You’re a growing young man."

For perhaps the first time all afternoon...

Killian looked genuinely caught off guard.

"...Thank you."

"There," Kai said with a satisfied nod. "Told you."

Killian looked at the extra piece of chicken for a moment before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod.

"I appreciate it."

The conversation naturally drifted elsewhere.

No one noticed the tiny change.

Except Penelope.

As she reached for her glass, she caught the almost uncomfortable gratitude in Killian’s expression.

He wasn’t used to this.

To someone quietly caring whether he’d eaten enough.

She said nothing.

Instead, she simply smiled to herself before taking another bite.

For a little while longer...

The world outside ceased to exist.

Beyond the drawn blinds, the city continued falling apart.

Inside...

There was warmth.

Good food.

And, for the first time in a very long while...

A table that almost felt like home.