𝙵𝙸𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙴

Bright Chivaaree

"Dusty," I mumbled to myself all the while cleaning our room. Why am I cleaning? Because I am a good husband, and my mate would freak out if he comes home to a dirty house while he was away for a business trip.

Ever since we handled the business, and that the kids are already old enough - even made their own families with their mates - Win and I had dedicated more of our time and lives to the business. Lilly, however, was still single and still waiting for her mate but she had also decided to leave not in the packhouse, we granted such a request with a note to visit us once in a while. Truly, it was hard at first, we even barely managed to have some investors and stuff like that - but with Win's commitment and enthusiasm, we have expanded the business quietly largely. And those who doubted us in the first place were now the ones that were coming after us and proposing business to us. My husband doesn't hold any grudges for being declined with ventures before, and it was all business so we did eventually make some business deals with them. Due to that, we were constantly out of the country more than we both were at home - and we don't have that much time to spend with each other.

It was hard, not being with Win every single second of my life and yet we cannot simply just lay low right after the kids grew up. We have to persevere even more in order to provide for all their needs and for our own needs, as well, and we're basically not kids anymore that can do whatever we like just like before. Though there were times that I do miss him so much, and even if we do constantly call each other when one of us was away - it would still feel different being with him. Yes, it was hectic but we just got used to the setup now, and we have limited our baby time to a bare minimum. Sometimes, I wonder if my mate still does find me appealing all this time?

As I continued to dust the room, I found something underneath all the piles of clothes that we have made me curious. Since I was a very curious person, I sat down on the floor and stared at whatever I was holding in my hand with a large smile on my face. A scrapbook. I already knew right there and then that it was my mate's because he loved doing scrapbooks - when we were still kids up until now. I remembered before how much he would take his time taking photos after photos, finding that very perfect photo that would be included in his scrapbook. ANd how much dedication he would have just sticking those photos, creating these decorations and the like - it's just him. And I even find that side of him so adorable.

"What do we have here?" I asked myself as I opened the first page of my mate's scrapbook. "Oh, is this me?" I questioned once more as I looked at a baby photo - and it was me, it was the same picture that we used for our wedding video from years ago.

"Aww, my baby is so cute," I mumbled when I was met with Win's baby photos, especially the one that was showing his bum-bum - and me just cooing to that baby even if he wasn't responding.

I carried on with my little adventure with all of the photos and messages that Win pasted on each page - and all the while I was just mindlessly smiling like the total idiot that I was. Win, truly, managed to put a lot of memories in that scrapbook that some of those weren't even familiar to me - and yet I found it adorable and intriguing all the same. As I continue with my little merriment - the scrapbooks end...like there wasn't anything anymore right after a photo of Nanon, Prim, and Lilly in their teenage years - it just ended like that. A bitter smile formed on my lips because it only showed me how much we were missing each other due to our busy schedules. And probably, me not being able to fulfill my role as his husband and with that thought alone - I feel my heart constrict in pain.

"I miss you, Win," I utter all the while looking at our family photo. "I wish you were here with me right now."

Truly, I missed Win so much, and just thinking about seeing him today after three days - I felt elated. "Alright, time to clean up before my baby comes home."

I did what I just planned, though we have someone else to do the cleaning for the whole packhouse - Win usually does our bedroom all by himself. According to him, the rooms were our little sanctuary and someone shouldn't barge into our room just like that. Besides, this place was also his own nest whenever I was away from work and so I understood what he meant when only us and the kids were allowed inside.

After much cleaning, my phone rang screening Nanon's number, and I quickly pick it up.

"Dad," Nanon said from the other line and I started to put away some of the stuff in the trash bag.

"Yes, kiddo, did you pick up your Daddy?"

"Yeah~ we'll be there pretty soon, Dad. Though I'd just drop Daddy off because I still have to pick up the kids at school," he stated and I could hear the car door close and Win complaining about the heat. "Uh-huh," Nanon just replied to Win. "It's getting really hot now. Even the kids wanted to go back to Spain. Here's Dad."

"Baby..." Win perked from the other line and I smiled like an idiot. "Nanon just picked me up. What are you doing now, babe?"

"Cleaning, peaches. I'd be done pretty soon. Want anything for lunch?"

"Nanon, do you want anything for lunch?" Win asked Nanon who replied about him just dropping him off. "Oh, bring the kids to the house next time so we could spend time with them, too, okay? Oh, babe...anything is fine. I'm tired and just want to sleep."

"Okay, peaches. I will just prepare some light lunch for you. Just take a nap first since it would take a while before you guys reach the packhouse. Nanon, drive safely, young man."

Win giggled on the other line and I could hear a complaining Nanon before they both finally hung up on me. I just shook my head in amusement and decided to arrange whatever was inside the drawer first before making lunch. As I rummaged inside, something caught my attention once again and I quickly took it out of the envelope and started to full-on burst into a peal of laughter. Sitting down, I read the voucher again and memories of our first official date using the voucher started to crowd my mind.

"Ice skating? But I don't know how..." Win complained as he carefully held the ice skating shoes.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you. I already told you, didn't I? Don't you trust me?"

"I do...oh, look, it's my size," Win said making me smile - I'm forever smitten with this little one even though his shoes were much more interesting than I was.

"Of course it is your size, silly," I replied. "I made sure to grab the one that fits you. And don't worry about anything because I will be there to teach you. It's going to be a one-on-one session with me," I said proudly, and Win looked at me momentarily and his cheeks started to turn red.

"One...on...one...with...Alpha?" He stuttered and I just giggled from his cuteness that I unconsciously pinched his cheeks making him just sizzle from the redness.

"Are you okay with being alone with me?"

"O-o-okay, then...if that's the case...that's great news!" Win said enthusiastically matching that very beautiful smile. A smile that figuratively produced talons of its own and squeezed my heart until all of those crimson was drained until the very last drop. I never thought that I'd say this but - I truly am a sucker for this little dumpling.

"So..ready?" He asked, oblivious of the fact that I just died with his cuteness and was then electrocuted back to life with the same cuteness.

"I am so ready," I said whilst beginning to look over my shoulder so I could back up. "And I'm pretty sure that there will only be the two of us since it's almost Christmas - and everyone's preparing for the holidays. Or back to their hometowns. So, buckle up," I add despite the fact that my heart was already doing somersaults just thinking about being alone with my crush - ice skating.

We traversed the snow-filled road whilst listening to unending Christmas carols on the radio all the while talking to each other about random stuff. Win, on the other hand, seemed like he was already comfortable with the idea of us just being alone together as he would constantly just awe with the surrounding. This guy, was always just a small child in a form of a teenager that sometimes I would ask myself if he was really legal - like how can he be so cute?

"Oh..." Win suddenly perched whilst looking at me intently. "I can't wait to spend another Christmas with you."

I knew it, Win knows very well that I had it bad with him.

As we continue to drive around, we finally reached the place where there was no one using it as a skating rink with the right amount of light so we could see the surface. Though reluctant at first, Win was still very much excited and was saying things such as it would be his first time since grade school. And that he did have a bad fall before making him afraid to do it again - but since I was around, it shouldn't be that bad.

"There, you're doing great," I commented with a fond grin, not even bothering to remove my hand from his hip which I insisted was just there to help him keep his balance. But it wasn't actually not doing any help because though he said that it was his first time -

"Are you sure this is your first time?" I asked curiously.

"Positive!" He responded with a light chuckle before I moved over in front of him again. "I can do this much," he added and before he could even further question my actions, I took a hold of both his hands like it was really his first time - and he was too flustered that he lost his balance right there and then.

"Easy there, cowboy! Do you remember what I told you just earlier?" I questioned as I pulled him just a little bit closer to me - you know, for balance. *wink*

"D-d-don't look down..." he mumbled and finally forcing himself to look up and meet my eyes making me flustered myself.

We were so close! Just a few more centimeters to be exact, not that close to actually - kissing, but close enough for my heart to go on a fucking marathon knowing that one wrong move and our lips would actually be in contact. Proximity didn't help ease the amount of erratic pattern of my heartbeat - it just fueled it even more. And no matter how much I wanted this date to be wholesome as I could knowing that I was with my mate - my fingertips were already slightly digging onto his hips making me feel nervous all of a sudden. The moment Win noticed the closeness that we were in - he let out a warm breath which didn't really help with my control - and most importantly - it didn't help when he suddenly glanced down at my lips for a mere second before looking back up at me.

"Alpha...your heart's beating so loudly," he noted with his voice barely above a whisper and yet still audible for me to comprehend with our closeness.

I swallowed all the nervousness that I have and pulled him closer into my chest - to maintain our balance, of course. And I smiled mischievously as I placed a hand on his chest making me notice how fast his heart was beating as well - damn, it was beating faster than mine was.

"You're one to talk there," I responded with a small grin that reflected not only my nervousness but my confusion as well in the situation.

I know that I do have feelings for Win and that I would do everything in my power to at least hide it from him - though I know that I was never good with 'hide and seek' since grade school. Yet the sound of the blades of our shoes cutting through the thick ice and the sound of our voices were the only visible sound in the silent rink. No one else was truly present like I had predicted - and so, it felt all the more intense yet worthwhile for I know that we'd never have this chance again.

"You look great by the way," I said out of nowhere. "I forgot to mention it earlier when I picked you up, I was at a loss for words," I added, and Win just blushed over his blush once more.

"Hmm...so does that mean I usually look ugly?" He managed to counterattack my statement and I raised an eyebrow in amusement before bringing a hand up to give him a gentle flick on the forehead.

"You always look amazing, even if you're just wearing a regular shirt."

"So do you," he admitted and it was my turn to turn into a burning tomato under the chilly winter sky, while he looked away.

Is it really hard to maintain eye contact with me?

"This feels so nice," I commented with a sigh of relief, to make him a little less anxious as my hand was still completely wrapped around him - to maintain his balance.

"Thank you for coming here with me, Win."

"Of course," he responded with a nod, still not bothering to look at me in the eyes - and I was probably a bit jealous of whatever he was looking at. "And...thank you for teaching me how to skate."

"It's my pleasure, Win. There's no need to thank me, okay? You know, it must be nice if I were every time you do something or learn something for the first time - that would be much more meaningful for us, right?" I asked with a quiet chuckle.

Win, despite not looking at me, still smiled evident on that cheek. "Yes ~ that would be nice."

Silence fell upon us once more, and unlike all the other times that we were together in complete silence - this one made me ten times more nervous. I didn't know if I should say something or just keep my mouth shut - and yet I felt trapped. Trapped in my own state of my mind - that perhaps Win was just doing this because I was an Alpha, and he's under our pack - and that he really doesn't fancy me in any way. No matter how much I wanted to confess to him and tell him all of these feelings that I have for him - fear resides inside my heart, as well. Fear that I may never be enough for someone so precious as Win. I shouldn't be pining on a man who only saw me as someone above him, or nothing more than a friend.

A bitter smile plastered all over my face when I felt his heartbeat pick its pace out of nowhere - and this almost compelled me to look at him and question him about what he was thinking about. Or why would his heart be beating faster than it was earlier? Yet I shook my head and let out a soft sigh because I was just getting ahead of myself - yet again, feelings tend to do that, right? But I can't help it when it comes to Win because I do feel way too many emotions when it comes to him.

"I'm really glad I met you, Bright," Win admitted, an incomprehensible emotion laced his tone making me swallow nervously. Why did his voice sound so sweet when he said that? Before I could say anything in response to that, he continued.

"Thank you for making me feel emotions that I didn't know I was capable of feeling, Bright," he added.

Normally, I would've cringed with such sweet words - but because it was Win...my Win, I couldn't help but feel myself losing my touch with reality as we continued skating in imperfect circles on the ice with the cold air blowing through our hair. It almost felt like we were in one of those Hallmark Christmas movies, where the protagonist of the story finally found their forever in the Christmas evening. Win smiled at me once more as I felt his arms tighten on my own waist and almost instinctively - I placed an index finger under his chin and began to lean in...but Win had another idea in mind.

It probably registered on his mind the situation that we were in - and he accidentally lost his entire balance hat even if I wrapped my arms around his waist - we both fell dramatically. Well, I fell on my back with Win falling on top of me matching that tiny squeal and a soft grunt coming from me.

"I...I am so sorry..." Win said hysterically but I just laughed it off thus making him laugh himself.

And when I tell you that hearing Win's giggle made me feel like the butterflies in my stomach had multiplied - it actually did. That even though we had a hard time sitting up because of the ice beneath us, it was making me feel sparks of electricity all throughout my body, and that simple giggle alone was enough to light my heart on fire. That him rubbing his hand on my cheek to make sure that I was okay was enough to make torrents of emotions flood through my mind, my heart, my entire being. It was enough reason for me to get lost - and yet loved at the same time.

"Babe?"

Win's voice piped up making me stop daydreaming and go back to reality. Excitedly, I placed the vouchers back in the drawer on top of his other documents and run to where my mate was. I could feel my tail wagging - that was if I had one when I am in human form - but I don't and yet I know that I would be just hearing my mate's lovely voice. Forgetting the fact that I was dirty, dusty, and doesn't smell so good at all knowing that I was out there cleaning - I still ran with all my might. Once in the living room, Win turned around to meet me with a bright smile on his face, and I fell in love even more with such beauty.

"So beautiful, as always, my peaches," I said almost in a whisper and surprisingly, Win would still blush with my compliments - something that he never outgrew.

"Oh my, why are you so dirty, Bright?" He said after finally noticing his husband's handsomeness. "And what's with that get-up, huh?"

"I was cleaning our room, your Highness," I said in a sarcastic tone before stripping away the apron and headband that I was wearing - it was pink, by the way. It was Lilly's favorite.

"Please stop laughing," I added when I saw Win from the corner of my eye almost dying there with the amount of laughing that he was doing.

"You...you looked so cute, babe," he says all the while taking some cloth from somewhere, wetting it on the sink, and carefully wiping my face clean with so much gentleness.

"Not as cute as my wife," I said and Win just threw the whole damn towel to me whilst laughing, and I just shook my head to continue wiping myself clean.

"So, how was work, peaches?" I asked as I wrapped him in an embrace, and was rewarded with my mate slightly rubbing his face on my clothed chest. Ignoring the amount of sweat there.

"It was okay, they are still in the process of making suppressants for Omegas; though it had been such a long time since they started it. They were finally able to manufacture a sample and give it to me before I left. I might try it during my heat, and see if it would have any effects on an Omega's body, though I know that you would disagree with the idea of me trying it out," he said and I gave him a big nod of approval.

"So, Nanon already asked Jimmy to sample it, he had been in constant communication with the Omega these days."

I simply hummed in response. "And his mate is okay with that, huh? Nanon is around Omegas constantly, I would freak out if that was me - but then again, his mate is pretty much understanding."

"Yeah. Oh, and he promised to bring the kids later," Win said and pulled away from me. "What did you make for lunch, sweetie?"

"Hmm, I'd make some citrus lime tofu salad. I already prepared all the ingredients from last night," I said and started to take out the stuff that I need for our lunch before turning around to ask my mate. "Or do you want something else? Do you want avocado toast instead, or a cabbage soup?"

"Salad is fine, love," he answered as he washed his hands. "Do you need help?" He asked whilst trying to squeeze himself in between the sink and me, and turned around so we could look at each other.

"A kiss wouldn't be such a bad idea," I announced, and Win happily snaked his arms on my neck to give me my kiss before hugging the life out of me. "I understand, my love and I missed you too so much. But I need to prepare your lunch, peaches. Will you please be a dear, and not be naughty for a moment?"

"Hmm," he pouted before rubbing his face on my chest once more - and I know that - he wanted my attention. "I missed you so much, can't I just be a little bit of a nuisance, my Alpha~? You're just mixing the salad anyway...please?"

"Alright, mi amor, anything for my mate," I conceded as Win continued to just cling unto me while I mixed our salad. Then I remembered, "Oh, peaches, it's been a while but do you want to go on a date with me?"

Win stiffened and looked at me with brows furrowing in the middle. "What did you do while I was away, Bright Chivaaree?"

"What? Can I not ask my wife and the mother of my kids to go on a date with me? Why are you already thinking that I did something wrong, Win Chivaaree, huh?"

He narrowed his eyes on me, before nodding and blushing at the same time. "Sure...I missed going out on a date with you. But the kids will be here this afternoon, though?"

"Then, let's make it a family date. Let's go on a picnic."

"Hmm, that's a good idea. The kids will surely love that.

•••••

We did grab a lot of stuff to bring to our picnic date with the kids, but it was truly worth it after setting it underneath that huge willow tree fronting that beautiful lake. It was a good thing that the weather was truly beautiful today, it wasn't hot nor cold, it was just perfect and the afternoon scene made it even more perfect than it already was.

Whilst Win was taking out the food that we prepared from the trunk of the car, I also busied myself with setting up a small table where we can share our meal later. After that, I grabbed a portable high chair and placed it right next to Lucien's chair - because I know that he'd be taking care of the little one anyway. Once settled, Win tapped on the space next to him on the picnic mat and I happily obliged as I situated my hand on his hip to be closer to him.

"I missed this," he mumbled as he shut his eyes, and inhaled the crisp air around us before leaning his head on my shoulder, whilst I used his hair as my pillow. "I miss you, a lot these days, Bright. It felt like we have never seen each other for a long time, huh?"

I smiled bitterly because I thought that it was only I who had been feeling that distance between us - and that I was the only one feeling so sad and left out because of our busy schedules at work.

"I miss you too, a lot, babe. I'm sorry if I didn't make enough time for you, and that I was bombarded with the business after business, meetings after meetings, and everything in between. I just wanted the kids to have a good life in the future, and that our grandkids wouldn't have to live a hard life in, as well. I'm sorry if I have neglected you..."

"We both did," Win hummed before looking at me intently with the same amount of fondness and adoration since we've known each other. "I have neglected my role as your husband and most importantly, as your mate. I also wanted all our kids to have a good life, and so that they don't have to think about their future so much. But Nanon...he's already old enough now to handle the business together with his mate. Maybe...it's time for us to leave everything into his hands, for now?"

I nodded. "Soon, babe, when everything is settled between him and his mate - our son still needs us right now, remember? He's still in a rough place right now, he might not be showing it but I know that he's still having a hard time."

"Well, you're right, but he was already doing so much progress right now compared to last year - so maybe, a few more months or years - we'd have him back, yeah? And then we could finally see Nanon smile again together with his mate and the kids. So, let's just hold on a bit longer?"

"Of course, love. We've made it this far," I said and kissed his cheeks gently making Win giggle as he continued to cuddle me. "Peaches, I was cleaning earlier and I found something very interesting."

"What was it?"

"Vouchers," I replied and Win looked at me with so much confusion. "You forgot about the vouchers? The one that you accidentally gave to me as a Christmas present?"

Win, however, still looked at me like I was saying something incoherent until his eyes widened in total disbelief - followed by the tip of his ears turning red, and then his whole face became flushed as a red apple making me chuckle from his cuteness. Finally remembering it, Win just slapped me hard on the arm while I faked a scream until we were just laughing and throwing mean words to each other - as we used to before everything started to become some sort of memories. Win settled down and used my lap as his pillow whilst I ran my fingers on the locks of his hair earning a hum of approval from my beautiful mate.

"What should we do with the vouchers? We've been dating a lot since we became boyfriends," I said, curiosity once more peeking on my nose.

"I have an idea..." he said, eyes sparkling so much that it squeezed my heart of how adorable my mate truly was until today. "Let's give it to Nanon...he could ask his mate for dates while he's still recovering, you know...to rekindle all of their memories together?"

I nodded. "Right, I'll make more copies of that voucher so they could have a lot of reasons to go out and have fun. Which also means that we'd have plenty of time with the kids...right? Oh, I would also give one to Prim and Patrick, I bet he'd love it, as well. That man knows no boundaries when it comes to Prim...especially now that she's expecting her bundle of joy."

Win sat up erect, smirked, and tackled me with a big hug sending me to the ground, and him just using me as his pillow - which I do not mind at all.

"Great idea, babe. Let's make one for Jane, and give it to Noah so they could also use the vouchers. That would be fun, we will have plenty of grandbabies...oh, does that mean I am already that old?" Win showed a horrified expression, and I must admit - for his age, Win was still truly magnificent and no one could tell that we were both in our 50s already.

We're both still strong, and I think we stopped aging when we both turned 40 - it was like magic, we stayed fresh and gorgeous - of course since we were both very much still active during that time. Kissing away that pout on his lips, I wrapped my arms around his waist and gave him a soft kiss on the top of his nose earning a sweet smile from my mate.

"You're still very much beautiful after all these years, love, and nothing about you is screaming old, you should know that. And even if you do turn old pretty soon - you would still have my heart and my soul not because you are my lifemate..but because you are my one and only Win. The person that managed to break into my cold wall from before, the one and only human who defied all the odds of the universe and gave me so many wonderful memories that I would forever hold in my heart. No matter how many storms we encounter along the way, you would still be the one that I would anchor myself into because you are the only reason for my heart to be still. And even if we are both busy...I still love you so much, and nothing could ever stop me from loving you. I love you Win Chivaaree, now until forever, even if you become so old."

Win's eyes teared up almost instantly as he buried his face in the crook of my neck while I chuckle lightly as I give his back slight pats to stop him from bawling his eyes out.

Yes, that's true - no matter how long we've been together and no matter how many years we'd spend with each other in the future, my love for Win would only grow each and every single day. He was the very first person that showed me pure love, a love that doesn't hold any grudges, a form of love that brought so much happiness not only to me but to everyone around us. Win would be the only person that I would spend my life with - and the only one that would hold my heart forever. And if the day comes that the Moon Goddess decides that we'd have enough of each other - I would fervently pray to her to give Win to me in another life. That's how much I love my mate, my husband, and the mother to my kids - my one and only, Win Chivaaree.

"Uhm, are we disturbing something?" It was Prim's voice making both Win and I look up and meet the pregnant woman's belly. "Yeah, my baby is starving Dads...can you please stop being so lovey-dovey over there? Or should we just leave you two love birds alone, huh?"

"Oh please," Win rolled his eyes before pulling away from me. "We're not making your baby sister or brother, we're just cuddling like teenagers. Patrick," he waved to Prim's mate who was already placing some more food on the table. "Is the pregnant lady giving you a hard time?"

"Mom!!!" Prim blushed and made the four of us laugh out loud, but Patrick just gave Prim a kiss on the cheek whilst rubbing her belly. "I'm not giving him a hard time, Mom."

"Really?"

"Well, at least I wasn't asking Patrick to buy me a seedless strawberry in the middle of the night during winter whilst there was a snow storm..." Prim countered and it was Win's turn to blush that I laughed so hard earning a slap on that arm by Win. "Uh-huh, you did that, right?"

"It was Lilly's fault," Win said stubbornly. "And besides, the storm wasn't that bad that night for your information, right babe?" Win looked at me with puppy eyes so I just conceded.

But the truth was - it was a strong storm and I was stuck in the middle of nowhere, so I had to call a towing company to tow my car all the way to Maeve's house. And that I had to use their auto to drive back to the packhouse, and bring Win his seedless strawberry that he asked to be cut into bite sizes whilst he was standing next to me with that drool all over his face. Yet, it was worth it though because the moment Win bit into the strawberry - his whole face lit up and my heart melted right there and then.

But if you ask me if I wanted to do that all over again? That's a definite, NO.

While we were still talking, and the females bickering over something - we could hear a lot of small footsteps nearing us - matching a shouting Lucien to not run so fast but kids will forever be kids anyway.

"Luca! Ciara! Don't run...Ella!"

"Lucien! Help me out here," Nanon also shouted to grab his son's attention.

Ah, the sound of two stressed-out Dads was on the way, and Win quickly stood up to meet the kids whilst I followed along.

"Grawma!" Ella shrieked the loudest that she could as Win lifted her up in the air and twirl her around earning more loud giggles from the little girl.

"Daddddy...hewwp mee~~~" she screamed but she was still having fun, and so Lucien just shook his head and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Grandpa, how have you been?" Lucien asked with that wide smile on his face.

"I've been well, Lucien. How was school? Have you adjusted well? Or Spain is still so much better than Oregon?" I asked teasingly and he just shrugged a shoulder.

"Ugh, school? Right...tell me about it," he said dramatically after placing some of his stuff on the ground. "Wait, I'll chat with you later, grandpa. I just need to help Dad and Papa with our stuff. And thank you for Ella's high chair, Grandpa."

I nodded. Lucien left and it was finally my turn to hold Isabella. "Mia bella, how is my little girl doing, huh? Did you miss grandpa?"

"Si," she giggled and kissed my cheek with a loud smack. "Mi manchi, Nonno," she added making me just squeeze her with all my might that she pushed me away with that little pout.

"I'm sorry, mia bella. Grandpa just missed you so much, beautiful girl."

"Grandpa. Grandma," two more familiar voices filled the air, and the twins ran to where Win and I were standing and gave both of us sweet kisses on the cheeks.

"I missed you, Luca," Win said earnestly before giving him a warm embrace. "I missed you, Ciara," he said and the girl just awed as he squeezed my mate. These twins were such sweethearts ever since they were born - and they didn't even give their parents a hard time since then up until now. "Where's your Dad and Papa, twins?"

"Here, Daddy," Chimon piped up and he gave Win a kiss on the cheek. "How are you doing, Daddy? I heard from Nanon that you just came back from a business trip. Was it a success?"

"It was fine, love. Oh, I already sent the files to you, so you could check them later on when you reach home. There were just minor changes, but Senior did ask when will the two of you visit the winery," Win paused and Chimon just smiled.

"I'm sorry, we shouldn't be bringing up business right now, love. So, what did you bring for us, sweetheart?"

"The usual," it was Nanon this time who then scooped Bella up from me and gave her to her Dad. "Lucien, give Ella her milk first, it's in that bag right there."

"Yes, Dad," he replied. "Is my baby girl already hungry?" He baby-talked Ella who was already shrieking from Lucien tickling her little belly, and us just looking with a fond smile on our lips.

"He's doing great, Dad, don't worry. Chimon had been helping him a lot these days," Nanon said with a worried tone. "And he's recovering, though I don't really mind if he doesn't completely recover anymore. We're doing fine right now with the kids, and with Eleanor."

I gave him a pat on the back. "This is supposed to be a happy get-together," I said and we both looked at Win, Chimon, and Prim talking with each other animatedly. Patrick and Lucien were also making small conversations while Lucien was feeding Eleanor with her bottle, and I know that he was asking Lucien how to take care of a newborn this time. For someone older, Patrick seemed to rely on Lucien a lot these days, as well.

"We are all doing fine, son, so there is nothing to be worried about. And besides, whether Chimon recovers or not is all up to him, you just have to be there for him all the time especially since he's still vulnerable. And the kids...they are all doing their best to be there for their Papa, especially the twins, so just be there for him. Okay? Make more memories with the current him so he doesn't feel afraid anymore."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Did we miss anything though?" It was Lilly with that wide beam on her face right next to another smiling lady with her mate following her around.

And the kids squealed in delight to see their Aunt Lilly, Aunt Jane, and Uncle Noah, while Win and I were just laughing on the side all the while looking at the commotion happening around us. Win wrapped one arm on my waist whilst I did the exact same thing, before giving his temple a soft kiss making him look up at me with teary eyes.

"Did we make it, Bright?" Win uttered and I hummed.

"Yes, love, we made it," I replied and this time, embraced him tightly whilst our eyes were glued to everyone that we love. "We built a loving and lively family."

"Yes, we did. Thank you for this family, Bright."

"No, thank you for giving me this family, Win. And I promise that I will do my best to be always present for you when you need me...I think it's time for us to give this moment to our kids, right?"

Win nodded. "We've done our part. It's time that they make their own destinies and love stories now, my love."

"Oh please, we've had enough of you two being so sweet over there!" Jane said with a hint of a joke and pulled Win away from me. "I'll borrow your mate, Dad 'cause we'll be talking about my wedding..."

"What wedding?" I almost shouted in disbelief. "Who told you that you could get married, already? Noah...explain."

"Dad..." Noah blushed so much before showing off his engagement ring. "She proposed to me this morning with a knife..."

"Jane!! With a knife? Really?" Win shouted and Jane just shrugged her shoulder and I facepalmed myself.

"Good luck, Noah. I am praying for your safety," Nanon clapped a hand on Noah's shoulder before everyone erupted into a fit of loud laughter. 

As we carried on with the teasing, bickering, and probably just chatting away - my heart was filled with so much joy when Win, amidst the crowd, found my eyes and gave me a warm smile.

'I love you, Bright.'

I reciprocated with teary eyes and a loving smile.

'I love you too, my mated pair, and my life.'