"Scarlet! What a pleasant surprise this is!"
The loud, excited voice of Carswell Thorne preceded the man himself into the Kesley's living room. Scarlet, lying on the couch, rolled her eyes and smiled.
"It's not a surprise to see me in my own living room, Thorne."
Thorne grinned at her, then turned to Wolf while Cress sat down beside Scarlet.
"It's so good to see you! How are the twins?"
"Sleeping, for once," Scarlet yawned. "They were up all night."
Wolf glanced up at a plaintive cry from the bedroom. "Not anymore," he corrected ruefully, and as his wife started to rise, he added, "I'll get them, Scar. You lie back down."
Thorne fluttered his eyelashes and clasped his hands before his heart. Cress blushed, giggling slightly, and Scarlet rolled her eyes again. Wolf reappeared, his huge arms full of blanketed baby girls, both of whom were howling at the top of their voices.
Thorne drew back slightly. "Aces, those two have a set of lungs!"
Wolf transferred the babies to his shoulders, shhhhing softly and pacing back and forth. Scarlet held out her hands and Wolf carefully handed her a rapidly quieting bundle.
"Oh," Cress cooed, leaning over to look at the tiny girl's face. "Scarlet, she's beautiful!"
Wolf smiled proudly. "Her name's Maha," he said quietly. "Look at her eyes."
Cress's eyes locked on the baby's blue ones. "Like the flowers," she breathed. Wolf smiled again.
"And the other one?" Thorne inquired, pointing to the bundle in Wolf's arms.
"Michelle," Scarlet replied. Her eyes misted slightly. Cress gave her upper arm a squeeze.
"How did you quiet them so fast?" Thorne asked.
Wolf started to answer, but Scarlet cut in. "Why?"
Cress blushed again as Thorne smiled mysteriously.