He couldn't just walk out and leave her in that state. It wasn't in the protocol, and it certainly wasn't part of his job description; it was simply a matter of basic human decency. “Alright, first of all, take a deep breath and go wash your face with some cold water,” he said gently. He unzipped his heavy jacket and hung it on a hook. Looking closer, Angelina read the name on his uniform nametag: Kotov Maksim Sergeyevich. “Do you mind if I come in?” Angelina shook her head, gesturing toward the bathroom. Maksim washed his hands and walked into the living room where Peter was resting. Angelina watched him, rooted to the spot in sheer amazement. The police officer handled the baby like a seasoned pro—navigating the swaddling clothes with absolute, effortless ease. Within minutes, Peter had drifted off to sleep right on the sofa. “Do you have a crib?” the man whispered. The student pointed toward the large cardboard boxes. Maksim gave a quick nod and immediately got to work assembling it, with Angelina helping him lift the heavier pieces. “By the way, what did you name him?” he asked quietly. “I haven't really thought of anything yet,” she replied. “At the clinic, they just put him down as Peter Ivanov.” “Peter is a good name. Strong. But if you want, you can always change it later. You've got time.” An hour later, the apartment looked entirely different. A baby crib stood in the bedroom, a high chair was set up in the kitchen, and a small infant bathtub was resting in the bathroom. Maksim guided Angelina to a chair at the kitchen table, threw on her apron, and began tackling the mountain of dirty dishes in the sink. “Do you have anything to eat?” “A little bit. I ordered some food delivery earlier today.” “You should eat; you need to keep your strength up,” he said. “I'll finish up here, and if you don't mind, I’d love a cup of tea, if the offer stands.” “Of course, I'd love to make some! You’ve been such a lifesaver,” Angelina said. Maksim smiled, looking at her with a warmth that felt deeply comforting. Angelina popped a plate of chicken and pasta into the microwave. A quiet settled over the kitchen, and as she watched him, she couldn't help but wonder: How on earth did my life change so fast? Yesterday I was just a regular college student. Today I have a baby. And now, a cop I’ve met exactly twice in my life is washing dishes in my kitchen. Why do I feel so incredibly safe around him? “I must look so foolish right now,” she murmured, breaking the silence. “Inviting a near-stranger into my apartment like this.” Maksim let out a low chuckle. “Maybe,” he smiled, “but since I haven't kidnapped you yet, you might want to save your dinner before it burns.” Angelina gasped, quickly pulling the hot plate from the microwave. She burned her fingers, letting out a sharp hiss and cursing under her breath. “Hey, are you alright?” Maksim asked. “I don't even know,” she sighed, rubbing her hand. “Everything is just falling apart. My parents can't make it to the city yet. I'm completely overwhelmed. Classes are a mess, and then there's my job... Oh god, they're probably going to call me any minute because I completely missed my shift today.” “Sounds like a total trainwreck of a day.” “One that I brought entirely on myself. I was just being stupid and overconfident.” “Stop right there,” he said, his voice firm but laced with a gentle tenderness. “You are not stupid. You did something most people would never have the guts to do. You took in a helpless child. That’s not stupidity, Angelina. That’s true bravery.” Angelina looked up, meeting his eyes. He was looking back at her with absolute sincerity, without a hint of mockery. She quickly looked away, blinking rapidly so he wouldn't notice the sudden tears stinging her eyes. Maksim quickly navigated her shelves, finding everything he needed to set the table. He poured a fragrant, seasonal blend of orange and cinnamon tea into her nice ceramic cups—the kind stores only brought out right before the winter holidays. “You can open those chocolates over there,” Angelina offered, pointing to a shelf. “I bought them to try them out.” Maksim pulled out a box of chocolates wrapped in festive holiday foil. “Are you sure?” “Yes,” she smiled. “I don't like giving gifts if I don't even know what they taste like. Besides, they don't carry my usual favorite brands here. I don't have much of a sweet tooth anyway, so they've just been sitting there for a week.” They sat together in the warm kitchen, sipping their tea while the snow continued to fall outside. Below her window, the faint, steady hum of a snowplow could be heard clearing the heavy drifts from the street. But inside, the room felt incredibly cozy and still. “Do you... do you have any kids of your own?” Angelina asked quietly, staring down into her teacup. Maksim’s gaze lingered on the wall for a long moment. “No,” he replied softly. “I was married once. We wanted a family, but things just didn't work out. Then came the divorce, the long hours at work... it just never happened.” “Oh... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to pry...” “Don't worry about it. It's fine. I'm used to it by now,” he chuckled weakly, trying to lighten the mood. “But I practically raised my nephew when he was little. My sister's boy. That's why handling Peter wasn't too much of a challenge, in case you were wondering.” Angelina looked at him with a wave of sympathy. He didn't look pitiful—just tired, and perhaps a little lonely. In a way, he looked exactly how she felt. Within another hour, Angelina’s eyes began to feel heavy, her head nodding off. The grueling day had drained every last drop of her energy. “Go get some sleep,” Maksim said softly, rising from his chair. “I should get going.” Without waiting to be asked, he quickly washed their teacups, tied up the trash bag, and peeked into the bedroom one last time to ensure Peter was fast asleep. Only then did he step out into the hallway. He laced up his heavy combat boots and pulled on his thick winter jacket. “Thank you,” Angelina said, leaning against the doorframe. “Seriously. If it weren't for you... I don't even know what I would have done.” “Call me if anything comes up,” he replied, looking back. “You have my number.” She nodded, fighting back a yawn. As she reached out to flip off the hallway light, her eyes caught the leather folder resting on the console table. “Wait, you forgot your paperwork!” Maksim turned around at the door. “Oh, right,” he smiled. “Tell you what—I'll just come back for it tomorrow. Get some rest. It's not urgent.” Angelina locked the door, leaning her back against it and pressing the leather folder tightly to her chest. Her heart was fluttering just a little bit faster than usual. He’s coming back tomorrow, she thought. A sudden, unexpected wave of warmth and relief washed over her. She tiptoed into the bedroom. Peter was fast asleep in his brand-new crib, his little mouth slightly open, looking exactly like a tiny angel. Angelina sat down on the edge of the mattress, gently smoothing his blanket, and whispered: “I think we're going to be just fine.” Outside, the holiday lights on the building across the street flickered to life, casting a warm glow of red, green, and gold through the frosted window. It was as if the city itself had decided that everything was going to be just fine.