January arrived quietly over the Grimshaw estate, wrapping the world outside in a pale, steady snow.
The kind of winter that didn't feel harsh—just distant.
Like the world had decided to slow down for a while and breathe.
Inside the mansion, everything was warm.
Firelight flickered against the walls.
Soft lamps stayed on even during the day now.
And in the center of it all was Leah—resting carefully on the sofa, one hand supporting her lower back, the other placed gently over her stomach.
Nine months.
Almost at the end.
Almost there.
Izana sat nearby at first, reading documents he had already read twice without really processing them.
Zarek was on the floor in front of them, completely absorbed in arranging his toys with extreme seriousness.
The lion plush sat in the middle like a commander.
The teddy bear sat slightly behind it like a strategist.
And a small pile of objects Zarek had decided were "baby supplies" sat off to the side.
A spoon.
A ribbon.
A wooden block.
Leah stared at it for a moment.
"…What exactly is this collection supposed to be?"
Zarek looked up proudly.
"Babies need."
Izana finally glanced down.
"…That is not medically accurate."
Zarek immediately straightened.
"Lion says it is."
Izana paused.
"…I see."
Leah laughed softly.
"I think Lion might be getting too much authority in this house."
Zarek gasped.
"Lion VERY smart."
Izana closed the document slowly.
"…Noted."
Leah smiled into her hand.
The atmosphere was calm.
Domestic.
Warm in a way that had become rare in their world.
For a while, there was only the sound of the fire and Zarek quietly narrating his toys' "important duties."
"Lion protect babies."
"Teddy help."
"Block is… block."
Leah hummed softly.
"Very important role for the block."
Zarek nodded seriously.
"Very."
Then—
Leah shifted slightly.
A small pause.
Her hand pressed a little firmer against her stomach.
Izana noticed instantly.
His attention left the documents completely.
"Li."
"I'm fine," she answered automatically.
But her voice wasn't fully focused.
It was already turning inward.
Listening.
Zarek noticed too.
He crawled closer immediately.
"Mama?"
Leah smiled softly down at him.
"I'm okay, sweetheart."
But then—
her breath caught slightly.
Because a movement pressed firmly against her palm.
Not subtle.
Not soft.
Distinct.
Zarek froze.
"…Babies?"
Leah exhaled lightly.
"Yes."
Izana was already beside her now.
His hand gently covered hers over her stomach.
"…Movement?"
"Yes," she said quietly.
"They've been doing it more today."
As if answering her, another kick followed.
Stronger this time.
Leah inhaled sharply.
"Oh—."
Zarek's eyes widened dramatically.
"THEY FIGHTING?"
Leah immediately laughed despite herself.
"No, no— they're not fighting."
Izana tilted his head slightly.
"Both of them?"
"Yes."
Another kick followed almost immediately after.
Zarek gasped.
"AGAIN."
Leah nodded.
"They're very active today."
Izana didn't speak for a moment.
He was focused.
Not tense.
Just attentive.
Like he was learning their rhythm.
Understanding them already.
Then quietly:
"They respond quickly."
Leah smiled.
"That's one way to put it."
Zarek suddenly leaned forward and pressed his ear directly against Leah's stomach.
"Hello," he said very seriously.
Leah blinked.
"What are you doing?"
Zarek didn't move.
"Talking to babies."
Izana watched silently.
Zarek continued:
"Stop kicking Mama."
A pause.
The room went completely quiet.
Even the fire seemed softer.
Then—
a small movement again.
Right where Zarek's ear rested.
Zarek gasped so loudly he fell backward onto the carpet.
"THEY HEARD ME."
Leah burst into laughter.
Izana didn't laugh immediately.
But his eyes softened in a way that rarely happened.
"…They're responsive," he said calmly.
Zarek sat up instantly.
"Babies smart."
Izana nodded once.
"…Possibly too smart."
Leah smiled at him.
"You sound like you're evaluating a threat."
"I am evaluating behavior patterns."
Leah laughed harder.
As the afternoon continued, the house settled into a gentle quiet.
Zarek eventually drifted onto the sofa, still clutching lion plush like it was on duty.
Leah remained in the same place, though now she had shifted slightly to get more comfortable.
Izana immediately noticed.
"You've moved again."
Leah looked at him.
"I shifted once."
"Three times."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you counting?"
"Yes."
That was the end of the discussion.
Leah sighed.
"I'm fine, Iz."
He didn't respond to that.
Instead, his hand moved carefully behind her back, adjusting the cushion without asking.
"…Better?"
Leah blinked at him.
Then smiled.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
another movement.
Stronger than before.
Leah inhaled softly.
Izana's attention snapped instantly.
"…Again?"
"Yes," she said gently.
"They're doing this a lot today."
Izana didn't look away from her stomach now.
"…Stronger."
Leah nodded.
"They've been getting stronger every day."
A quiet silence followed that.
Not uncomfortable.
Just thoughtful.
Then Izana said quietly:
"They're preparing."
Leah looked at him.
"For what?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"…Arrival."
Her expression softened.
"That's one way of putting it."
Zarek stirred slightly from the sofa.
Half asleep.
Still clinging to lion plush.
"…Babies loud…"
Leah smiled at him.
"They are, aren't they?"
Izana glanced at Zarek briefly.
Then back to Leah.
"They don't sleep much."
Leah hummed.
"I've noticed."
Another movement followed almost immediately.
Leah placed her hand over it.
"They're restless today."
Izana's gaze remained steady.
"…Consistent."
Leah laughed lightly.
"That sounds like a report."
"It is."
She shook her head.
Of course it was.
Evening settled slowly.
Snow outside grew heavier, pressing softly against the windows.
Inside, the fire burned low but steady.
Zarek was eventually carried upstairs by Elias after insisting the babies required "night instructions" involving strict rules about sharing.
Leah had listened to every word with increasing amusement.
Izana, as always, took it seriously.
Now, the house was quieter.
Just them.
Leah sat back against the sofa, exhaling slowly.
Izana sat beside her.
Not reading anymore.
Just watching her.
"…Tired?" he asked quietly.
"A little."
He nodded once.
Then his hand moved again.
Resting over her stomach.
Almost immediately, a small movement answered him.
Izana didn't react outwardly.
But his eyes softened.
"…I can feel them."
Leah turned her head slightly.
"You can?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
Then he added quietly:
"They respond to you more."
Leah smiled.
"I think they respond to everything."
Izana considered that.
"…Then they will be difficult."
Leah laughed softly.
"I'm sure Zarek will approve."
At the mention of their son, Izana's expression shifted slightly.
"He's excited."
"He's very excited."
A pause.
Then Izana said:
"…He is already acting as though he is responsible for them."
Leah smiled warmly.
"He's going to be a very serious big brother."
Izana didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"He already is."
That made Leah go quiet for a moment.
Softly emotional.
Because it was true.
Zarek already treated the twins like they were real people.
Like they were already part of the family.
Like they had always been there.
The room settled again.
Fire crackling softly.
Snow falling outside.
Izana's hand still resting on her stomach.
Then—
a stronger movement.
Leah exhaled.
"…They're getting very active tonight."
Izana's gaze remained steady.
"…They're close."
Leah turned toward him.
"Close?"
He didn't elaborate.
But something in his expression changed slightly.
Something grounded.
Certain.
Like he already understood what was coming.
Leah shifted slightly.
"…Iz."
He looked at her immediately.
She smiled softly.
"I think they're just impatient."
That earned the faintest hint of a smile from him.
"…Like their brother."
Leah laughed.
"Yes. Exactly like their brother."
A quiet pause followed.
Then Izana leaned slightly closer and pressed his hand a little more firmly over her stomach.
Not protective in panic.
But in presence.
In connection.
And quietly—almost like a promise—
he said:
"…Not long now."
Leah's voice softened.
"I know."
The room fell into silence again.
Comfortable.
Heavy with anticipation.
Not fear.
Not uncertainty.
Just waiting.
Above them, Zarek slept soundly, one arm around his lion plush, already dreaming of the babies he had appointed himself guardian of.
And below him, in the warmth of the firelit room, two parents sat together—feeling every movement of the lives they had created.
Two tiny storms.
Getting closer.
Ready to change everything.