Little Angel

Chapter 7

The crisp October breeze fluttered through the open windows, carrying the unmistakable scent of fallen leaves and pumpkin spice. Inside the Harper house, the mood was anything but chilly. It was Halloween day, and the brothers were gearing up for the big night with a blend of playful chaos and tender attention to detail. Lucas was determined to make Ella's first real Halloween memorable, and it showed.

"Xavier, hang the cobwebs a little higher!" Lucas called from the living room, where he stood with a handful of faux spiders. His voice carried a note of gentle authority as he directed his younger brother.

"Like this?" Xavier asked, standing on a stool and stretching the sticky string as far as his arms would allow. The young teenager's tongue peeked out in concentration, his eyes squinting at the delicate web he was placing above the doorway.

"Perfect," Lucas confirmed, stepping back to admire the work. "We want spooky, not tangled up like last year."

Xavier grinned, proud of his accomplishment. Last Halloween, he and Xander had gotten overzealous with the decorations, creating a massive web that practically glued them to the wall. This time, they were taking Lucas's advice—mostly.

Meanwhile, Xander was crouched in the corner of the living room, struggling to place a mechanical skeleton that was supposed to laugh maniacally when someone passed by. "I think this thing's broken," Xander muttered, shaking it in frustration. "It sounds more like it's choking than laughing."

"Or maybe it's just got a dry sense of humor," Noah quipped, walking past with an armful of carved pumpkins. His effortless smirk made Xander roll his eyes.

Lucas chuckled at their antics, the sound warm and fatherly. In a way, he'd taken on the role of not just the oldest brother, but the caretaker, the protector—the father figure for all his siblings, especially little Ella.

Speaking of Ella, she was currently napping upstairs, unaware of the spooky wonderland forming below. The living room was transforming into a magical Halloween scene, complete with twinkling purple lights, carefully placed jack-o'-lanterns, and a "haunted" tent made from blankets and pillows. The twins had insisted on making the tent just spooky enough to be exciting for Ella, but not too scary. Xander and Xavier took their roles as her guardians seriously, especially on a day like today.

"You think she's gonna like it?" Aiden asked, his voice hopeful as he carved a smiling face into a particularly large pumpkin. His hands were careful, his eyes focused on getting the smile just right. "I want her to think it's fun, not creepy."

"She'll love it," Noah assured him, setting down a line of smaller pumpkins along the window sill. "Ella's not scared of anything... except maybe broccoli."

The room burst into laughter at that. Even Lucas couldn't help but chuckle. "That's true," Lucas agreed, smiling as he thought of the way Ella's tiny face would scrunch up whenever someone tried to put vegetables on her plate. "But tonight isn't about scary stuff—it's about making memories for her."

Lucas's words hung in the air, heavy with sentiment. Each of the brothers was determined to give Ella a childhood full of joy, something they all knew she deserved. And Halloween was just the start.

When Ella finally woke up from her nap, she rubbed her eyes and made her way downstairs, her tiny feet pattering softly on the carpet. She stopped at the top of the staircase, her big brown eyes widening as she took in the transformation below. The living room was now a Halloween wonderland, with flickering orange lights, dancing shadows, and cheerful jack-o'-lanterns.

"Wh-what happened?" she whispered, one little hand clutching the railing as she peered at her brothers.

Lucas turned and smiled up at her. "We made Halloween magic, princess," he called out, holding out his arms.