On her other side, Lucien had shifted in his sleep and she ended up in the middle. His body was turned slightly away, but his small hand was wrapped around hers with such gentle possessiveness that her smile widened in the quiet morning air. His fingers were delicate, warm, and trusting, and even in sleep he held on as if he feared she might disappear the mont he let go.
Alina lay still for a mont, letting the softness of the scene sink deep into her chest. Their tiny breaths brushed her skin. They looked so adorable she almost didn’t dare move, afraid to break the perfect sleepy cocoon they had created around her.
She lifted her free hand and gently brushed Sable’s hair back, smiling when he nuzzled closer with a sleepy hum. Then she turned slightly to look at Lucien, his long eyelashes resting on his cheeks, his tiny hand holding hers as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
A warm softness spread through her entire chest.
Sable woke up first, a tiny rustle of blankets breaking the quiet morning. Still half-asleep, he nuzzled deeper into the warmth beneath his cheek, rubbing his head in slow, sleepy circles like a baby kitten enjoying its favorite pillow. Alina’s stomach rose gently with each breath, and he sighed contently, humming to himself.
But then, as his sleepy little brain caught up, sothing clicked.
His eyes blinked open.
He froze.
And in the next heartbeat he shot upright like soone had set fireworks beneath him, his little hands flying to his mouth, his eyes huge and horrified.
"Mom...?" he squeaked, looking between her stomach and her face as if he had committed a grave cri. "Did I sleep on your tummy?"
Alina bit back her laughter as she pushed herself slightly upright, her hair falling over her shoulders. Only then did she realize how tightly Lucien was holding her arm. The mont Sable panicked, Lucien’s fingers twitched and he blinked awake, lifting his head groggily.
"Hm?" Lucien mumbled, still half-asleep. He followed Sable’s wide-eyed stare, then looked at their mother’s stomach, then at Sable again. "Why are you screaming?"
Sable, anwhile, was spiraling.
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry," he babbled, voice cracking as he poked her tummy with trembling fingers. "Did it hurt? Did I squish you? I know I’m heavy. Dad said I’m getting chubby. Mom, tell if I broke sothing. Please."
Lucien finally woke up fully, tightening his hold on Alina’s arm possessively as he frowned. "You didn’t break her, Sable. You’re not a boulder."
"But I slept on her tummy," Sable wailed.
"You always sleep on everyone," Lucien yawned. "It’s normal." Whenever they slept together, Sable always ended up hugging Lucien’s arm or snuggling into his side. When Dad slept with them, Sable clung to his long legs. He was used to it. Sable was very cuddly.
Alina couldn’t hold her laughter anymore. Her chest shook softly as she reached forward and gathered Sable into her arms before he dissolved into full tears. His little body was warm, flustered, and trembling, and she stroked the back of his head until his breathing settled.
"Sable," she whispered softly, "you didn’t hurt at all. You’re not heavy. You’re my baby. You can sleep on anyti you want."
Sable sniffled, his voice tiny. "...Really?"
"Really," she promised, kissing his forehead. "I like being your pillow."
Lucien, still hugging her arm possessively, lifted his chin. "See? You panicked for nothing."
Sable wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, then curled into Alina again, this ti gently and purposefully, resting his cheek on her stomach like it was the safest place he knew.
"...I’m still sorry," he whispered shyly.
Alina smiled and caressed his hair. "And you’re still forgiven, my little sunshine."
Lucien scooted closer with a soft grumble, placing his head on her shoulder, his fingers still wrapped around her arm as if afraid she might disappear.
Alina rembered the way Sable said Dante told him he was getting chubby. Her heart squeezed gently as she looked down at him now. Yes, he was chubby. His cheeks were full and round, his little arms soft. But to her, it was nothing but baby fat, precious, adorable, perfect. She lifted her hand and pinched his cheek lightly, unable to resist.
"You’re not chubby," she whispered. "You’re just my cute little dumpling."
Sable blushed so deeply his ears turned pink, and Lucien humd in agreent as he snuggled closer to her side.
And then a deep voice filled the room.
"You all forget Dad after you got Mom."
Alina turned toward the doorway and her breath slipped right out of her chest.
Dante was standing there, leaning casually against the fra with his arms folded, but nothing about him felt casual. He looked like a painting brought to life in that crisp white shirt perfectly fitted across his chest and shoulders, the dark pants framing the long, powerful lines of his legs. His hair was slightly ssy, his jaw sharp and clean, and his crimson eyes had shifted into a forest green that sohow made him look even more dangerously handso.
He looked like the kind of man who could ruin a woman with a single glance.
And right now, that glance was directed at her.
She didn’t even realize she was staring until his smirk deepened, slow and confident, like he could feel her heartbeat from across the room. His eyes trailed over her face and the babies tucked against her, then back to her again, the smirk widening when he noticed how her gaze lingered on the way his shirt outlined his shape.
His tongue pressed briefly against the roof of his mouth, a tiny movent, but it sent heat rushing to her cheeks.
Lucien twisted around. "Dad, why are you standing there like a statue?"
Sable blinked. "Dad... why does your face look funny?"
Dante ignored both of them. His eyes remained locked on Alina.
"Good morning, Lina," he said softly, the way he spoke her na lingering in the air like warmth.
And Alina, flustered beyond help, looked down at the babies quickly, because if she kept looking at him with that expression, she might forget how to breathe.
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