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|| FAMILY TIME || CHAPTER 35
IT WAS A CRASP EARLY WINTER morning. The sun had just begun to peek over the horizon, casting a soft golden hue through the windows of their small house.
Tom and Nyx were both in the kitchen, preparing for the day ahead. The house was unusually quiet, save for the soft cooing and the occasional gurgling sound from their one-year-old twins. It was their day off—no battles, no dark tasks, just a day for the family.
Selene and Apollo had been a handful since they'd arrived in the world. Their dark eyes—those striking black eyes that mirrored their mother's—sparkled with mischief and curiosity.
The house was filled with the sweet chaos of their first steps, their babbling, and the unspoken love that their parents felt for them. Nyx had always dreamed of a moment like this, a moment when life was peaceful, and everything felt right.
At the kitchen table, Nyx was carefully preparing a small breakfast for the twins.
Fruit, porridge, and soft bread were spread out across the table, with tiny spoons and bowls in place, ready for the little ones to enjoy.
"I can't believe they're nearly one already." Nyx murmured, gazing fondly out of the window. "It feels like just yesterday we brought them home."
Tom, standing by the counter, looked over at her with a soft smile. "Time flies.", he said quietly, his voice full of tenderness. "But we've made the most of it, haven't we?"
Nyx smiled in return. "We have."
Before they could say another word, the sound of small feet pattering across the floor interrupted them.
Selene, with her usual energy, toddled over to Nyx's feet, her tiny hands reaching up toward her mother.
Nyx bent down, lifting Selene into her arms with ease. "Good morning, my little sunshine," she said, pressing a kiss to her daughter's forehead.
Selene giggled, her small fingers grasping at her mother's hair. She pointed toward the pancakes Nyx was preparing.
Tom chuckled from across the room, turning toward their son, Apollo, who was still struggling to pull himself up from his play mat. His little face scrunched in concentration, but when he saw Tom, he brightened, reaching his arms up to his father.
"C'mon, Apollo," Tom said gently, lifting his son into his arms. "Let's get some breakfast."
Tom kissed Apollo's soft curls before walking over to the table, where Nyx had placed small bowls of porridge and fruit for their children.
He gently sat Apollo into his high chair, fastening him in before turning his attention back to Selene.
"She's going to be a handful when she gets older, isn't she?" Tom asked, watching as Selene eagerly reached for her bowl.
Nyx laughed softly as she placed a small spoonful of porridge in Selene's mouth. "Just like her mother," she teased, her eyes glinting with amusement.
Tom raised an eyebrow at her. "Is that a compliment, or am I in trouble?"
Nyx smirked but said nothing as she handed Selene a piece of fruit, watching her daughter eagerly try to eat it.
After breakfast, the family decided to spend the day at the park, enjoying the fresh autumn air. It wasn't too cold, but the crisp breeze carried with it the scent of fallen leaves. The twins, now dressed warmly in cozy outfits, were already babbling as Tom and Nyx walked hand in hand toward the park.
Selene was the first to break away from her parents, her tiny feet moving clumsily over the grass. "Walk! Walk!" she cheered, reaching for the nearby playground equipment. She'd learned to walk a few months ago, and now, she loved nothing more than exploring and discovering new things.
Tom smiled, watching her with affection. "You've got it, haven't you?" he said to no one in particular, his heart swelling with pride.
Nyx chuckled, holding Apollo close in her arms as he giggled and reached out, fascinated by the sight of the leaves falling from the trees. "They're growing so fast. I'm not sure I'm ready for them to be this independent."
Tom chuckled softly, leaning over to kiss her temple. "We'll always be there to guide them. But right now, they just need to be kids."
As they reached the swings, Tom took a seat on the bench nearby, still holding Apollo, while Nyx stood behind Selene as she excitedly clung to the swing. Selene let out a high-pitched squeal as her mother gently pushed her, sending her higher into the air.
Nyx smiled, her eyes softening with affection. "You'll be up there with the birds soon enough, won't you?"
Selene's laughter filled the air as she kicked her feet again, trying to reach for the sky.
Meanwhile Apollo was content in his father's arms, looking at his sister with wide eyes, the wonder of the world just beginning to show in his gaze.
"Tom," Nyx said softly, her voice full of emotion as she watched Selene, "I never imagined it would be like this—how perfect our little family is."
Tom nodded, his arms holding Apollo a little tighter. "We've made it perfect, together," he said, his voice filled with tenderness.
After the park, they returned home and the children quickly settled down for their naps. Nyx and Tom, now sitting on the couch together, shared a quiet moment.
The house was peaceful again, the noise of their children's energy replaced by soft breathing.
"We're lucky," Tom whispered, his gaze fixed on Nyx as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"We are," Nyx agreed, closing her eyes. "I couldn't ask for anything more."
In that moment, as they sat together on the couch, with their children sleeping peacefully upstairs, Nyx knew that no matter the dark path the world might force upon them, she and Tom had already created something that could never be taken from them—something too precious to be destroyed.
Their little family.
And so, as the day turned to evening, their world was quiet and whole, filled with love and the quiet joy of watching their children grow. And for Tom and Nyx, that would always be enough.
