As the laughter slowly faded and their makeshift Ranger battle came to a close, Alia suddenly sprung up from the carpet, ran straight to Dianne, and threw her arms around her waist in a tight hug.
“Tita Yanyan…” she mumbled into her shirt, cheeks warm and glowing. “This is the best day ever. I won’t forget it, pinky promise.”
Dianne melted, her arms instinctively circling the little girl. She kissed the top of her head, eyes softening with emotion. “You mean that?”
Alia nodded eagerly. “Cross my heart. Even the part where Kuya fell off the couch.”
Lucien, still sprawled on the floor beside Aidan, snorted. “Yeah, that was a highlight.”
Dianne giggled… until a realization hit her like cold water. She gently pulled back and squinted at both twins suspiciously.
“Wait a second.” Her voice turned mock-serious. “Did either of you… take a bath today?”
Aidan and Alia looked at each other, then back at her with the guiltiest grins in the universe.
“…No,” they answered in perfect unison.
Dianne dropped her head back with a groan. “Oh no. Not again.”
Lucien raised a brow, curious. “What do you mean ‘again’?”
Dianne gave him a look—one he’d grown familiar with since this whole babysitting adventure began. “Let’s just say bath time is not ‘Ranger-approved.’ It’s a battlefield of tears, foam, and betrayal.”
Lucien chuckled and stood up, brushing imaginary dust from his pants like he was reporting for duty again. “Well then,” he said with a dramatic sigh, “I guess it’s time for the Blue Ranger to go to war once more.”
He clapped his hands. “Alright, Rangers! To the bathroom! We must scrub off the dirt of battle and restore our powers!”
Alia gasped. “Do I get bubble powers after the bath?”
“Only if you let me wash your hair,” Dianne teased.
“I’m in!”