"Mom!!" Nathaniel and Kathleen exclaid happily, relief washing over their faces as they saw their mother walk into the living room.
Athena chuckled at the sight of them awake at such a late hour. She squatted to their height and opened her arms wide for them to rush into her embrace. As they nestled into her bosom, she kissed their heads and cheeks intermittently, inhaling their calming, familiar scents.
"Couldn’t sleep?" She asked them when she finally disengaged from the long hug.
The twins shook their heads in unison. "We were waiting up for you with Aunt Gianna. How is Mr. Ewan? Is he better now?"
Athena nodded with a smile, grateful she could even provide that answer, having seen the sorrow in their eyes as they posed the question. She watched as they sighed with relief before looking ahead.
"Father Antonio!" They scread, rushing to hug Antonio, who had chosen to wish them goodnight before heading back to his apartnt. He lifted them both in his arms and tapped their foreheads gently with his.
"How are my babies doing?"
"Fine!" They chorused, before turning to greet Aiden, who was relaxing against the doorfra.
"Good evening, Uncle Aiden!"
Aiden ruffled the hair on their heads, pleased when they laughed and tried to move away from his hand but to no avail. He then walked into the living room proper and sank into the sofa.
Turning to Gianna, who was talking with Athena with distinct enthusiasm, he flashed a wide grin, signaling his desire to make a request.
"Please, tell there is food. The Chinese noodles we had earlier made no impact on our stomachs!"
Athena scoffed. "So you knew, and you brought them to ..."
Aiden shrugged. "That’s why I added the snacks you liked. Don’t be so ungrateful..."
Athena opened her mouth, suddenly energized for a banter, when Gianna cut in with a laugh. "Please, you two should cool off. There is food, and that is all that matters."
Aiden grunted happily. "You are the best, Gianna. Don’t mind your friend."
Athena mimicked his sentence with a comical expression that made Antonio and the twins burst into laughter, while Gianna disappeared into the kitchen to start dishing out the food.
Monts later, everyone lounged around on the thick Persian rug, its lush texture and intricate patterns exuding luxury as they settled in to watch a cartoon on the television. It felt like carpeted heaven beneath them, warm and inviting, muffling all sounds. The richness of its fibers lent an air of opulence to the cozy living room, enveloping them in a comforting embrace.
That was until Athena yawned. "You all should go to sleep," She said, prompting Antonio and Aiden to scoff.
"That you are sleepy doesn’t an we should all go to sleep," Aiden retorted.
Athena paused, surveying the two n, each wearing a smug smirk. "Well, this is my house, and it’s ti for my children to go to sleep..."
"But Mom, school hasn’t opened yet! Can’t we enjoy so late-night TV watching?" Nathaniel pleaded, employing his best puppy-dog eyes.
But Athena remained unmoved, especially when she glanced at the clock and saw the ti—twenty-five minutes past eleven.
She shook her head and got to her feet. "Up, up..." She clapped her hands. "Let’s go to bed and leave the adults to their vices!"
Gianna stood up, dusting off her backside as though it were covered in dust. "I am going to bed too. I think I am sleepy."
Aiden and Antonio sprang up before she even finished speaking, pulling the kids along with them. "Go with your mother because we’re heading out too." They ruffled the kids’ hair and wished Athena and Gianna goodnight before walking out of the living room.
Gianna followed them to lock the door behind them, leaving Athena alone with her children.
"What are you waiting for?" She asked them, holding back a smile. "To your room now!"
Kathleen pouted but began to move with her brother, whose only sign of dissatisfaction was the slight frown etched on his face.
Athena let out a laugh when they disappeared into the corridor. Those children will not be the death of . She thought with a mix of amusent and exasperation.
On second thought, however, she decided to follow them, wanting to appease them with a bedti story.
Three bedti stories later, the kids were still wide awake. Athena’s voice was growing hoarse from tiredness, and Gianna, having peeked in once and wished them goodnight, hadn’t co to her rescue.
Instead, the latter had sent a text that read: Good luck! I hope to see the eyebags tomorrow morning!
What fickle friends!
Athena tsked, looking at her children, who were staring back at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Why aren’t you two sleeping?"
"We slept in the afternoon while waiting for you."
Oh, that would explain it, Athena thought, placing the storybook on the nearby drawer. She was done with reading.
"So..." She adjusted the duvet snugly across their chests, seeing as they had chosen to sleep on the sa bed. "I hope you are okay..."
The twins, noting her assessing gaze, nodded, understanding why she asked. Hadn’t they all seen Ewan bleed from the head before Aiden had turned their heads away?
"We are okay, Mom. A bit shaken at first, but we’re fine now that he’s better." Nathaniel answered, gently tapping his mother’s cheek.
Athena sighed in relief, holding his little hand to her cheek. "I’m sorry you had to see that. I am sorry for the stress I have put you both through during this period. It was selfish..."
"Mom, please..." Kathleen interrupted. "Don’t beat yourself up now that this is over. After all, we didn’t do the research all by ourselves. We had help! So don’t worry about our health or brains."
Athena’s jaw dropped in surprise. "You had help? From where?"
Nathaniel and Kathleen exchanged furtive glances, their eyes alive with mischief.
"Well, I... Nathaniel stumbled upon a group of elite cyber warriors in the dark web. He impressed them enough that they added us to their elite group. We solicited their help during this period; they did most of the work. They also help us run the press company. They’re actually co-shareholders."
Athena’s eyebrows almost touched her hairline at Kathleen’s words. Her children never ceased to amaze her.
"So, quit worrying, mom. We are learning at our own pace. The group usually do the tough work."
Athena smiled then and dropped a kiss on their foreheads. "You will tell about your friends later so I can thank them properly..."
Nathaniel chuckled. "Mom, they don’t know we are six years old. And we’d rather it remain like that..."
Athena pressed her lips together and nodded, rising to her feet. "I see," She said, actually grasping the situation. "Goodnight then. I love you."
"I love you too, Mom," The twins chorused chirpily before shutting their eyes.
Athena watched them for a few monts, her heart full of gratitude, before walking out of the room. It was ti for that long sleep.
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