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Jora laughed quietly at that, the sound soft and a little disbelieving as she looked down at the babies and then back at Sage. “I know,” she murmured. “It doesn’t feel real sometimes. I keep looking at them and thinking—how were we ever that small?” Her fingers brushed lightly over one tiny hand, careful and reverent. “How did we get from there to here?” She leaned into the peck he pressed to her head, smiling when he said they were stuck with them forever. “Good,” she replied without hesitation. “I don’t want an escape clause.” There was warmth in her voice, a quiet certainty. “I want them to always know they belong. No matter how old they get.” At the mention of Lyra, her smile turned fond and a little amused. “Oh, absolutely,” Jora agreed. “She can be big and strong and brave—and still be our baby.” Her gaze softened. “I hope she never stops coming to us when she needs comfort. Even when she’s grown.” She shifted closer when he relaxed, fitting easily against him, one hand resting over his chest as if anchoring herself there. Feeling his steady breathing, the warmth of the sun, the quiet of the room—it all settled deep into her bones. “This,” she whispered, eyes drifting shut, “is everything I ever wanted.” |
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Sage laughed softly when she mentioned that they were once that size. "It is strange, isn't it," he mused, sort of eyeing her. "Considering you're taller than me, I do wonder how you were ever this size," he added with a teasing grin. "Must have been a big baby. I'll have to ask your mom." He was moslty just messing around, of course, but he did make a mental note to see if her mom had any baby pictures of Jora. Stories. That sort of thing. He'd known her well as kids of course, but baby stories were a whole other matter. Embarassing pictures were even better. As she talked about the kids still coming to them for help when they grew up, he hummed in thought, pausing for a moment before responding. "I think they will," he mused. "I mean...they see how close we are to your mom. How much she's helped us." He shrugged. "It's a good example for them." At her small whisper a few moments later, he just smiled softly, a small nod of his head answering quietly without jostling her or the babies that were carefully nestled among them. |
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Jora snorted softly at his teasing, rolling her eyes even as a smile tugged at her lips. “Oh, hush,” she murmured, bumping his knee lightly with her own. “I was perfectly normal-sized, thank you very much. If you start asking my mom for baby pictures, I will retaliate with stories about you.” Her eyes glinted with playful warning, though the warmth never left her expression. “And I know there are embarrassing ones.” She grew quieter as he spoke about the kids watching how they treated her mother, the teasing easing into something thoughtful. Jora nodded slowly, her thumb brushing absentmindedly over his knuckles. “You’re right,” she said softly. “They’ll learn that family doesn’t stop being family just because you grow up. That asking for help isn’t weakness.” Her gaze dropped briefly to the babies, voice lowering. “That love doesn’t expire.” When he answered her whisper with that small, steady nod, something in her chest eased even further. She leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder, careful of the babies between them. “Good,” she breathed, just as quietly. “That’s all I needed.” She stayed there, wrapped in him and their children, letting the moment stretch—safe, gentle, and whole. |
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Sage felt his grin widen when he was told to hush, a delighted laugh escaping him when she mentioned retaliating with stories. " Ah, so there are embarrassing baby pictures," he crowed, making up his mind to ask about them first chance he got. 'Oh please, stories of us running around as kids has nothing on baby pictures," he added with a grin. This would be fun. As she kept talking though, he nodded along. "They'll know that strength comes from those who you love, and who love you in return," he thought out loud. He paused for a moment, lips turning upwards slightly. "I've learned that love is the best strength someone can have," he added. When their conversation slowed though, he was content to let it drop off. To allow them to just soak up the peace and quiet of the moment. The sun on their faces, their arms around each other and the babies. It was nice....a rare moment of quiet with new kiddos. |
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Jora let out a quiet laugh at his crowing, shaking her head as she glanced sideways at him. “You’re insufferable,” she murmured fondly, though the way her fingers tightened around his for a moment betrayed how amused she really was. “And you are absolutely underestimating how incriminating childhood stories can be.” Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “I’ll be prepared.” Her expression softened again as he spoke, that playful edge melting into something warm and steady. Jora nodded, eyes lingering on the babies nestled so securely between them. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “Love teaches you how to stand back up. How to be brave without being hard.” She glanced up at him then, voice gentle but sure. “I’m glad they’ll grow up knowing that.” As the conversation ebbed, she didn’t feel any need to fill the silence. Jora leaned into him more fully, breathing slow, letting the sunlight warm her skin. One hand rested protectively near the babies, the other still linked with his. This—this calm, this closeness—was everything. The world could wait. For now, she was content to simply be here, wrapped in love and quiet, holding onto a moment she knew she’d remember for the rest of her life. |
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Sage had just snickered when she mentioned having a large amount of embarrassing stories from their childhood to share around. "I dunno, i think it would be well worth it," he noted with a grin, settling down against the wall as he'd spoken. He nodded in agreement to her next comment, knowing their children would have more love than they could possibly know what to do with. It was a good thing. He wasn't sure how long they lay there, but soon enough Lyra had burt in with more bottles, excitedly proclaiming that it was lunch time and that they would be hungry. He rubbed a hand along his face to shake the grogginess from his eyes as Lyra plopped down inbetween him and Jora, peering down at the babies expectantly. Luckily, they were awake and Lyra hadn't woken them. They would likely be getting hungry, so he nodded with a sigh. "Why don't you start with Saiya this time," he suggested, to which she nodded eagerly and handed him the bottle for Caspian, which the baby latched onto right away. |
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Jora huffed out a quiet laugh at his snicker, tilting her head to look at him with mock offense. “You say that now,” she murmured, eyes glinting with fond amusement, “but just wait until they’re old enough to start asking questions.” Still, there was no real protest in her voice—only warmth. “I think it’s worth it too. If it means they grow up knowing where they come from… and how loved they are.” She shifted slightly against the wall as Lyra burst back in, the sudden energy drawing a soft chuckle from her. “Lunch time already?” Jora teased gently, though her gaze immediately dropped to the babies, instinctively checking them over. Seeing that they were already stirring eased the last of her lingering worry. When Lyra settled between them, Jora lifted her arm to make space, brushing a kiss into the girl’s hair before looking down as Sage suggested she start with Kaiya. She watched with quiet pride as Lyra eagerly took the bottle, hands careful despite her excitement. “That’s it,” Jora encouraged softly. “Slow and gentle, sweetheart. She’s still little.” Her fingers hovered close, ready to help if needed, but she let Lyra do it herself—trusting her. As Sage fed Caspian beside them, Jora looked between all three of them, her chest tightening with something warm and overwhelming. She reached out, resting her hand briefly on Sage’s arm, grounding herself in the moment. “We make a pretty good team,” she said quietly, more to herself than anything. |
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Sage had focused on the little boy in his arms while he suckled...the quiet energy he had, the way his hands curled around his own fingers, barely able to wrap around one of them so far. He loved him so much. Loved them all. He did glance up now and again to watch Lyra and her little sister interact, Jora lingering nearby in case anything happened. Nothing did, of course...Lyra was careful to do the right things. It was just so sweet to watch. All of it. He glanced over at Jora with a smile when she reached for him arm, leaning voer to peck her head gently. "We do," he agreed. 'And now we have two more little members who will grow up to be very valuable to out team," he added, looking back down at the baby in his arms, sucking at the bottle for the last little bit of milk that lingered there. |
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Jora watched him with a softness that never quite left her eyes, the way his attention stayed fixed on Caspian like nothing else in the world existed. It still amazed her—how gentle he was, how naturally it came to him. She shifted a little closer, her shoulder brushing his as she looked down at the tiny hand curled around his finger. “They already are,” she murmured quietly in response, voice warm and certain. “Just by being here.” Her gaze lifted briefly to Lyra, carefully feeding Kaiya under Selene’s earlier instructions, then back to Sage. “And they’ll grow up knowing they belong. That they’re needed. Loved.” She reached out, lightly brushing her thumb over Caspian’s knuckles when he finished the last of the bottle, careful not to disturb him. “You’re doing so good,” she added softly—not just to the baby, but to Sage too, even if she didn’t say it outright. Her eyes flicked between all of them again—Lyra, the twins, Sage—and she felt that familiar swell in her chest, heavy and bright all at once. Jora leaned her head briefly against his shoulder, letting herself rest there. “I wouldn’t trade this team for anything,” she said quietly. |
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Sages gaze had flickered to Jora as she leaned over, running her finger along Caspian's skin as the little boy finished off his bottle. He smiled softly at the sight, the warmth in her voice sending the same feelings of adoration through his chest. He shifted to set the bottle off to the side, since it was empty by then, and moved to place Caspian gently over his shoulder to burp him. It was becoming habit by then....something easy. Something the grounded him in a way he hadn't expected. Something very, very special. Her words brought a smile to his face, this one wider than before. "Me either," he agreed. Then he paused, a slight wrinkle to his nose. "Though, I think three kids is plenty," he mused. "Imagine if we get another set of two....that's a lot," he added with a laugh. Of course, if it happened he'd be overjoyed. But there was enough. It was a good number. Not too many, but it gave them each siblings. Someone to spend time with. To play with. They'd grow up together. And that was very, very important to have. |
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Morning Snow followed by Sunshine
