A few years later,
It was a quiet Sunday morning, the kind that wrapped the house in sunlight and soft laughter. The Vander home—tucked on a small hill just outside the city—was alive with movement and warmth.
Lily sat on the living room rug with her legs crossed, carefully helping Lance fit a puzzle piece into the half-finished ocean scene spread before them. His chubby fingers struggled with the curved edge, his tongue poking out in concentration.
"I got it!" he squealed when it clicked into place.
"You did!" Lily clapped. "That was a tough one."
Allison, who had been perched beside Aaron at the kitchen counter drawing mermaids with sparkly markers, glanced over.
"Lance, that's the easy piece," she said knowingly, brushing her dark curls out of her face. "The hard one is the dolphin's nose."
Aaron chuckled, resting his chin on his hand. "Oh, the expert speaks."
"I am the oldest," she reminded everyone proudly, holding up one finger. "By a minute."
"Sixty whole seconds," Aaron agreed. "A true veteran."
Lance crossed his arms. "Well, Daddy says I'm faster."
Lily raised a brow. "When did he say that?"
"This morning!" Lance grinned. "When I brushed my teeth first!"
"Fair enough," Aaron laughed. "Speed demon."
Breakfast had long passed, but the lazy rhythm of the day was just beginning. Outside, the sky was a perfect blue, and a soft breeze danced through the trees.
"Let's go to the park," Lily said suddenly. "Let's pack a picnic."
Allison immediately dropped her marker. "Can I bring Giraffey?"
"Of course. Giraffey always comes," Aaron said, already standing to grab the cooler bag from the pantry.
Lance, not to be outdone, ran to find his beloved toy spaceship. Within twenty minutes, they were loading into the car: sandwiches, fruit, juice boxes, and one determined dog plushie in tow.
The park was only ten minutes away, but as usual, the twins insisted on narrating every turn and road sign like they were on an epic road trip.
"Red light means stop! Green means go!" Allison announced.
"I see a squirrel!" Lance added.
At the park, they laid the blanket under a tree. Lily leaned against Aaron, her head resting on his shoulder as the twins darted around collecting acorns and shouting about space missions and jungle princesses. She watched them run, their laughter echoing across the grass.
"They're getting so big," she murmured.
Aaron wrapped an arm around her waist. "Too fast."
"But they're happy." She glanced up at him. "You think we're doing okay?"
He smiled. "I think we're doing better than okay."
Later, after a round of tag left them all breathless, they settled on the blanket with juice and snacks. Lance climbed into Lily's lap with a sticky apple slice. Allison curled up beside Aaron, her tiny hand holding his shirt.
"Mommy," Lance whispered, resting his head on her chest, "when I grow up, can I marry you?"
Lily laughed softly. "Sorry, buddy. Daddy already beat you to it."
Lance frowned. "Okay. Then I'll marry Allie."
"Ew!" Allison shrieked, but she was giggling too hard to sound serious. "You can't marry your sister, Lance!"
"Then I'll marry Giraffey."
"Giraffey's mine!"
Aaron raised a brow. "Well, looks like we have a dramatic love triangle on our hands."
Lily wiped her son's sticky cheeks with a napkin and kissed the top of his head. "You're both too young for all this."
"But when we're big, we can do anything," Allison said wisely, leaning into her father.
Aaron nodded. "That's right. As long as you're kind. And honest. And maybe help clean up your toys."
The twins groaned in unison.
The sun dipped low in the sky by the time they headed home, two tired kids asleep in the back seat, heads tilted in opposite directions. Giraffey was wedged between them, a silent witness to the day's adventures.
Aaron reached over and took Lily's hand as he drove.
"You ever think we'd end up here?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head, smiling. "Not like this. Not this perfect."
He kissed her hand and kept his eyes on the road. "I did."
She didn't respond, just squeezed his fingers, watching the golden light flicker through the trees.
They were the Vanders. And for now, everything was right.
"ITS THE END, DID YOU LOVE THIS STORY? I ENJOYED WRITING IT HAHA"