Note: And we now get to meet the twins! Just like Caprina (Alice) and Elora (Colette), the twins have been renamed from Conan and Iris to Milo and Mila.

Also, this will be the last chapter for a bit. I plan on writing more for the main storyline (considering this is a bonus story).

-End Note-

Winter 24

Two weeks ago on this day, the town and I celebrated the date of my twin's second birthday. And two years before that...

No, I shouldn't think about that! And I should also not think about tomorrow either! Not only is tomorrow morning Christmas, tomorrow was also her birthday.

Stop, Lucas! You'll hurt everyone if you can't keep your emotions in balance! Think of something that'll bring you joy! Anything!

"Papa?" Perfect! My children could distract me! Even if just for a moment. I'll have to put them back to bed, though; it was very late.

"Elora? What are you doing up? It's late!" I exclaimed to my young seven-year-old. Her face flushed before I noticed that she was soaking wet. I heard the sound of heavy water droplets hitting the wooden floors in the bedroom. Oh, I know exactly why she's here and what caused her to be soaked.

"I think Milo is having a sad dream. He's soaked, and so is his bed. And his rain cloud is getting bigger that it's hitting me and Mila."

"Yes, I can see that." I stood up from the seat at my desk as Elora led me into the bedroom. As she stated, my son and his bed were soaked, and the storm cloud that was above the bedroom was getting bigger with each passing second. My youngest child was still in her bed with a blanket over her head, trying to keep the rain off of her. I could tell it was to no avail; her bed, along with Elora's and mine, was soaking wet.

"Milo." I gently whispered, shaking my son before a burst of heavy wind knocked me and Elora to the floor. A second later, a thin fog covered the room.

"Sorry, papa." My son whispered softly in embarrassment before he seemed to notice something off.

"Hey, my bed's wet. And-and I'm wet."

"Technically, the whole room and everyone in it are wet. What kind of dream did you have, Milo?" I looked over at Mila. She was about as soaked as her sister. Her face held concern before the fog became thicker, covering the room entirely to where I couldn't see. I have to somehow appease him to be able to see to clean up.

"Milo, you don't need to be embarrassed." I told him softly.

"Yes, everyone has bad dreams. I do too, sometimes." Elora stated.

"Ye-yes, but none of you make a storm when you're having a bad dream." Milo said, obviously still embarrassed.

"No, but...we'll always be there for you to comfort you." Mila replied.

"Your sister's right, Milo. We're family! We'll always be there for each other." I assured him. It was silent for a moment before the fog cleared up. I stood up, helping my oldest to her feet as well. My bottom was soaked from Milo's rain.

"Now, what on earth did you dream about that filled you with such sorrow, Milo?" I asked, snapping my fingers to dry the room and all of us before taking a seat on my son's bed. A gray cloud appeared above his head, but instead of rain coming out, small white snowflakes began to gently fall on him.

"I assume you don't remember." I replied with a chuckle. He shook his head.

"I suppose it doesn't matter." I said with a sigh, planting a kiss on top of my son's head. "You three should go back to bed, though; it's very late."

"You should go to bed too, father." Mila told me sternly as I planted a kiss on her forehead, tucking her back into her bed.

"Yes, you are right, Mila. We should all be asleep." I tucked my oldest in her bed before climbing into my bed as well.

"Good night, my little starlights."

"Night, papa." My three children replied in unison. It was silent for a moment. I was starting to drift off.

"Oh. Father?" Mila's little voice asked; my thoughts came back.

"Yes, Mila?" I asked, lifting my head up, seeing her little figure sitting up.

"Did you take your medicine?" Ah, right. I had forgotten to take that stuff. Maybe that's why I was feeling the way I was.

"Oh, no. I did not." I lifted myself out of bed. "I shall do so now. Thank you, Mila."

I hated taking those pills. They made me numb. As if I didn't have emotions. But if I didn't take them, then the whole town and even the world would cease to exist. And I didn't want that. My family and the town meant more to me than my own feelings. If taking this meant that they would be safe, it's worth it. But it also meant that I wouldn't feel a thing for Caprina.

I hesitated, but just for a moment, before I slipped the pill into my mouth, taking a glass and filling it with water to take with my pill.

I have to think of our children. I don't want to hurt them. And I don't want to hurt the town, and I didn't want the world to end either.

Winter 25

I felt something poking my cheek as I groaned, opening my eyes to the sight of a vine that had grown out of the floorboards. I lifted my head in surprise before seeing my three children looking at me in concern. A small whirlwind was wandering around the house as I realized that I was at my desk and not in the bedroom.

"Children? What happened? Why are you three so worried-looking?"

"You were crying, papa." Elora stated in her soft voice.

"Oh?" I brushed my fingers over my cheek; sure enough, they were wet. Why was I crying? What did I dream about?

"I'm...I'm sure I was dreaming. Like Milo was last night, and like Milo, I don't remember what I was dreaming about. Papa is fine! Don't look so anxious, you three! And, Milo, you can get rid of that whirlwind." I told them, Elora and Mila looked a little better, though the whirlwind was still roaming the house.

"Think of pizza, Milo. Or finger puppets." Mila told him compassionately, grabbing his hand. The whirlwind quickly disappeared. Mila almost always seemed to know how to calm her big brother down. I guess that was an advantage of being a twin.

"I'm glad you three are better. Now, how about-?" My sentence was cut short by the front door bursting open. A huge gasp in delight was heard.

"Ludmilla! It is six in the morning! I would like to at least spend Christmas morning with my children before we have to deal with your shenanigans." However, Ludmila paid me no mind, and my three children rushed over towards her with joy.

"Ludmilaaaaa!" My three children exclaimed in delight. Embracing Ludmila as she lifted them off of the floor. They laughed in delight. Despite how Ludmila is, she was great to them.

"Oooooh! My godbabies! Your godmother Ludmila, has brought giiiiifts!"

"Please tell me they're appropriate." I said, mainly to myself, as Ludmila still wasn't paying any attention to me. Though, I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on her. She and Caprina were very good friends, and poor Ludmila even had feelings for Caprina.

I remember the hurt in her eyes when Caprina and I announced our engagement. But she just smiled and wished us well. I've always wondered why she never stopped our marriage. And though Caprina assigned Ludmila as our children's godmother, I sometimes wonder if it was because Caprina felt sorry for hurting Ludmila.

"Wow! Thank you, Ludmila!" Milo exclaimed.

"Yes, thank you, Ludmila." Elora's quiet voice rang out.

"These presents are wonderful." Mila finished. I took a few steps to see what Ludmila had brought them. They seemed to be normal toys. A rag doll for Elora, some crayons for Milo, and a book for Mila.

"Don't worry, Lucas. I had Scarlett read the book to give me the okay before I gave it to Mila." Ludmila reassured me.

"Well, I suppose if Scarlett gave it the okay, then it's safe for Mila to read." I replied with a sigh.

"Oh, I can't believe how advanced these three are for their age! Even Simone was impressed that they were able to read so early in life! And apparently Elora can now write in calligraphy? My godchildren amaze me!" She exclaimed in awe.

"Of course! After all, my children are demigods! They're going to be advanced for their age in comparison to the average human child." I stated proudly. Ludmila giggled.

"Oh, I learn something new about you deities every day!"

"I, too, learn something new about myself every day. I still don't have all of my memories, just a fraction. I don't know if I have parents or not; I don't even remember which part of the heavens I came from! What I do know is that I don't think I ever want to go back. I'm happy here, in the mortal world."

"Well, I guess if you're happy here, then that's all that matters! Just make sure your little ones are also happy!"

"Their happiness is my number one priority."

"Glad to hear it." It was silent, with only the sound of my children laughing in delight. Their happiness is my number one priority! Oh, but what if...they fall in love with a mortal...like I did? Then they'd be heartbroken! No, I can't let that happen! I'll have to find a way back into the heavens! Even if I'm happy here, their happiness matters much more!

"Are you doing okay, Lucas?" Ludmilla's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Oh? Yes, I'm alright!" I exclaimed, glancing over at her looking at me with uncertainty.

"Are you sure? You were grumbling." She said in concern as I felt my face heat up.

"Ah, ye-yes. I was...thinking of something." Ludmilla nodded her head once as if saying, 'go on.' My face burned more.

"Ah, well, there's something I want to try doing on the day of my birth...I'm hoping it will only be for the weekend..." Ludmilla gasped in delight.

"Are you asking me to watch my godbabies for the weekend?!"

"I'm sorry, Ludmilla, that's probably—."

"Sorry? For what? I'll watch them for the whole week if you need me to! In fact, I'll watch them for the whole season! The whole year, if I have to!" She turned her attention to my children.

"Did you three hear that?! You're going to be spending the spring season with me!" She exclaimed in excitement.

"I did not say that, Ludmilla! I said the weekend!"

"Sh, let me have my dream, Lukey!" She hissed sternly as I rolled my eyes at her. I'm just glad she loves them and that they love her.