A week after the date, on a calm and golden afternoon, Rachael found herself back at her parents’ house, helping in the kitchen. The comforting scent of pastry and chocolate filled the air as she and her mother worked side by side on dessert — a rich chocolate nanab pie.

The steady rhythm of rolling pins and clinking bowls filled the room until her mother’s amused voice broke through.

“Careful, dear, you’re gonna mash the nanabs into mush,” she teased, sprinkling a bit of flour onto the table.

Rachael blinked, realizing how vigorously she’d been mixing, and slowed her pace. “Sorry, Momma! I’ll take it easy.”

Her mother, Madeline, a plump and cheerful Purugly, chuckled—a warm, rumbling sound that made her whole body bounce. “Dear, it’s just dinner! You should relax or you’ll end up with wrinkles like your old momma.”

Rachael couldn’t help but laugh, her tension melting away. Madeline had always been like that—bright, affectionate, and endlessly patient. She gave the best hugs, baked the best sweets, and somehow managed to make every room feel like home.

“You’re right, Mom. Thanks,” Rachael said, smiling as she began to roll the dough again.

Madeline placed a paw over her daughter’s and began to roll alongside her. “You should be worrying more about how your papa’s going to handle the whole thing,” she said with a knowing grin.

Rachael froze mid-mix. “Oh no…” she muttered, just as the sound of heavy footsteps came from the hallway.

“Handle what now?” a gruff voice asked.

Both turned to see a scruffy-looking Typhlosion stepping into the kitchen, already loosening his tie. He sighed deeply before sinking into a chair.

“Hey, Papa!” Rachael greeted, brightening immediately.

“Hey, pudding,” he replied with a tired grin. “What are you doing here?”

Madeline gave him a pointed look. “We’re having a guest over, remember? Her boyfriend?”

The Typhlosion—Eric—blinked, pulling out his phone to check the date. “Ah, geez, it’s today? Sorry, kiddo, completely slipped my mind.”

Madeline and Rachael exchanged a knowing chuckle. It was nothing new. Eric was one of the MCPD’s top detectives—sharp, dedicated, and utterly hopeless when it came to keeping track of normal life. When he got caught up in a case, the rest of the world tended to fade away.

“No worries, Dad,” Rachael said kindly. “Must be a big case you’re working on.”

Eric nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, can’t say much, but it’s a tricky one.” His expression shifted, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes. “So, Rachael… should I go good cop or bad cop on this boyfriend of yours?”

Rachael groaned, crossing her arms. “Dad, we’ve been over this. Felix is a sweetheart. He even helped me when I had to pull an all-nighter!”

That only made Eric’s grin widen. Flames flickered along his neck. “So, evil cop it is, then—grk!”

He didn’t get to finish the sentence before a rolling pin came down on his head.

“Madeline!” he yelped, rubbing the sore spot.

His wife stood behind him, rolling pin in paw, eyes narrowed in mock fury. “That’s enough of that, mister. There’ll be no ‘evil’ anything. Now march yourself upstairs and change your outfit before our guest arrives.”

Grumbling under his breath, Eric trudged up the stairs, tie still dangling around his neck.

Mother and daughter shared another laugh. Rachael brushed a bit of flour off her dress and sighed, glancing at the clock. “I’ll go wash up—he should be here any minute now.”

Madeline smiled, turning back to finish the pie. “Don’t worry, dear. Everything will be just fine.”

The warm scent of chocolate and nanab filled the kitchen once more, wrapping the house in the kind of peace that only came from family, love, and a well-timed rolling pin.