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Jora laughed at his little crow of victory, shaking her head as she adjusted her hold on Kaiya. “Alright, alright—enjoy it while it lasts,” she teased, lips curving warmly. “You don’t get many ahas over me.” At his pout, she leaned in just enough to brush her knuckles against his arm. “And you’re always hungry. That doesn’t make it a defense.” She watched him dig his heels in about not being dramatic, her smile turning knowing and fond. “You’re absolutely dramatic,” she said lightly, “just… endearingly so.” Her eyes softened then, the teasing easing into something gentler. “You care deeply. That’s where it comes from.” Her gaze followed his down to Caspian, who was nearly finished with the bottle. “Careful,” she murmured, amused. “He’s going to start demanding seconds if you keep encouraging that little glare.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “And don’t think I didn’t hear that ‘we’ll show them.’ I know exactly how that look starts.” At his comment about her having him wrapped around her fingers, she smiled—slow, affectionate, unashamed. “I never denied it,” she said softly. “I just use my power for good.” She squeezed his hand again, grounding, familiar. Jora turned with him toward the window, watching Lyra dart through the yard, sunlight catching in her hair. The sight pulled something quiet and full into her chest. “Yeah,” she murmured, resting her head lightly against his shoulder. “We all are. Right where we’re meant to be.” |
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Sage had just snickered softly when she agreed, nodding his head along. "No, I suppose i don't," he'd thought out loud. "That just measn when I do get one, I hold onto it forever," he added with a teasing grin, a playful wink added on just for good measure. He rolled his eyes at her comment about being dramatic, figuring she'd won this one. He wouldn't be able to arge about that, especially not after she called it endearing. "See, it has it's positives," he noted with a soft laugh, shaking his head softly in defeat. "Oh please, he does it every time anyway," he snorted when she mentioned teaching Caspian to scowl in order to get things. "He just looks grumpy all the time," he msued. "Don't you," he added, cooing at the baby and shifting him slightly to set the empty bottle down in the sink. Her last few comments just brought a smile to his face, and he squeezed her hand gently. "And that's where we'll stay," he agreed, looking back out the window and leaning agaisnt her side gently. |
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Jora huffed a quiet laugh at his wink, giving him a sidelong look that was equal parts fond and unimpressed. “You absolutely would hoard it,” she said dryly, squeezing his hand in response. “Tuck it away and bring it up years later like it’s some sacred relic.” There was no bite to it, though—just warmth, the kind that came from knowing him too well. At his easy surrender on the dramatic front, her smile softened. “Mm. I suppose it does,” she admitted. “Makes life… loud in the good ways.” She leaned in just a little, shoulder brushing his. “I wouldn’t trade it.” She glanced down at Caspian as Sage cooed at him, amusement flickering across her face. “He really does,” she murmured. “Like he came into the world mildly offended by everything.” Her thumb brushed over the baby’s cheek, gentle and practiced. “At least he knows what he wants.” When he squeezed her hand, she laced her fingers with his fully this time, settling into his side without thinking about it. Her gaze followed his out the window again, watching Lyra’s endless motion, the island breathing quietly around them. “Good,” Jora said softly. “I don’t want anywhere else.” |
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Sage just nodded along on response to her comments about hoarding his aha, giving her a grin. "Absolutely," he agreed with a chirp. "It's definitely a sacred thing," he agreed, attempting to keep his face serious as he spoke, and when he failed miserably , he just gave up and grinned at her. He nodded as she spoke again though, and looked down at the little boy in his arms with a small laugh. "To be fair, he was probably nice and warm and cozy inside you. I'd be coming out annoyed if I was suddenly pushed out of my nice cozy bed and into a weird, cold room," he noted. "He certainly does," he grumbled, though in a fond manner. He squeezed her hand gently back, a soft hum rising in his throat as he watched Lyra outside. Caspian was falling asleep against his shoulder too by now, and he could wholeheartedly agree with Jora. This was perfect. They needed nowhere else. |
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Jora laughed quietly at his failed seriousness, her eyes crinkling as she watched him give in. “You don’t have it in you,” she teased softly. “You try, but it never lasts.” Her thumb brushed over his knuckles, affectionate and absentminded, like it had always belonged there. At his comment about Caspian, she hummed in agreement, gaze dropping to the baby as well. “I can’t say I blame him,” she admitted. “Warm, steady, safe… and then suddenly everything’s bright and loud.” Her mouth softened into a small smile. “I’d be grumpy too.” She leaned in just enough to brush a kiss to Caspian’s temple before letting him settle fully against Sage’s shoulder. She stayed there, tucked into Sage’s side, watching the slow rise and fall of their son’s breathing as sleep claimed him. Outside, Lyra’s laughter drifted faintly through the open air, grounding everything—proof that life was moving exactly as it should. Jora exhaled, long and content, resting her head lightly against Sage’s arm.
“Yeah,” she murmured, barely louder than the house itself. “This is it.” |
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"maybe not," he'd mused softly when she claimed he didn't have it in him. "But I do think my attitude makes up for it," he added with a more mischevious grin. He knew he was teasing a lot ....but he was in a good mood. It was so nice to be home. Besides, he knew Jora didn't mind. He hummed in agreement to her comment about suddenly everything being bright and loud, chuckling softly. "There's a reason they all come out screaming," he noted with a shrug. "Can't say any of it seems appealing to me," he added, tone laced with amusement. He just smiled when Jora leaned against him, pressing a light kiss to her head and looking back out the window. Soon, they'd have to start figuring lunch out, and deal with calling Lyra inside and cleaning her up. Getting the babies taken care of. Lunch made and set up and everything taken care of for them. But for now? For now, there was nothing to get done. No chores, no needy screaming kids, no dire situation they needed to tough out. It was just them, their island, their home. So he could stand there happily for now and just let himself relax. |
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Warming, with Sleet and Heavy Icing
