Ethan sat on the porch steps, fiddling with a loose thread on his sweater. His gaze drifted to the garden where Lucas kicked a soccer ball listlessly. "Think she'll ever stop crying?" he sighed, glancing at the window where the faint wails of Sophie could be heard. "I hope so," Lucas replied, pausing to catch his breath. "But Mom seems happier now. That's gotta be good, right?"

Clara cradled Sophie in her arms, her eyes tired but content. "You boys want to help me change her?" she called, her voice inviting yet weary. Ethan exchanged a look with Lucas, both hesitating at first. But as they watched their mother, they nodded in unison and approached her, curiosity mingling with their reluctance.

Lucas handed Clara a fresh diaper while Ethan watched intently. Clara guided them through the process, her hands deft and confident. "See? It's not so bad, right?" she smiled, looking at her sons. "She looks so small," Ethan remarked, his voice soft with wonder. "Yeah, she's kinda cute when she's not crying," Lucas admitted, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips.

Ethan and Lucas sat side by side, their conversation flowing more freely now. "Remember when we built that castle?" Ethan reminisced, pointing to the sandbox. "Yeah, and how we pretended it was a fortress," Lucas laughed, his eyes brightening. "Maybe one day, Sophie will play with us too." The thought settled between them, a small spark of hope and anticipation for the future they were slowly beginning to embrace.

Clara tucked Sophie into her crib, her heart full as she watched her sons linger a moment longer, Ethan gently touching Sophie's tiny fingers. "Goodnight, my loves," she whispered, feeling grateful for this unexpected journey they were on together. As Ethan and Lucas headed to their room, they felt a little more like a family again, their hearts open to the changes unfolding around them.