Little Mario and Stewart exchanged glances and smiled, neither of them bothering to argue with the little girl.

"That's right. Our Little Nina is the big sister," Stewart soothed his daughter, "From now on, Mario should listen to his sister, and he needs to look out for her, too."

"I will!" Little Mario promised, his small face serious. Maybe it was the time he'd spent with Stewart, but lately, you could see more and more of Stewart's expression in the boy's eyes.

Little Nina wasn't having it. "Mario's the timid one! I'm the brave one. I should be the one protecting him!"

Stewart couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, you can protect Mario."

Then Little Nina piped up again, "Daddy, can Mario go to the same preschool as me? That way I can see him all the time. If other kids try to pick on him, I'll be there to protect him!"

She was such a little chatterbox, always saying whatever came to mind.

Stewart cherished these moments with his children, but he hadn't forgotten the time. It was getting late, and the kids needed to sleep.

“There'll be a chance for that in the future," he said, ruffling his daughter's hair. "Right now, it's bedtime. I'll go find a storybook. Both of you, under the covers."

"Okay!"

Little Nina nodded enthusiastically and rolled over, settling into a comfortable spot.

Little Mario lay down as well.

Stewart went to his study to grab a book and came back to find the two little ones lying neatly in bed, with just enough space between them for him.

his shoes, and half-reclined

kids rolled over in perfect sync, their tiny hands and feet draped across

their eyes, clearly

himself, opened the storybook, and began to

a wild old forest, there lived a pair of silly

alone in bed, tossing and turning, unable

Little Nina beside

this was something she

were right there in the bedside drawer. All it would take was

considered taking one, only to change

one in the morning,

it anymore. She

little bedside lamp, and reached for

Knock, knock.

tapped on

Briony froze.

"Bryn, are you awake?"

It was Stella Joyner.

closed the drawer, got up,

her. "Knew

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