As expected, life for Gabriela and Valerio changed drastically after they returned home from the hospital.
With all the new responsibilities, Gabriela slowly found herself in a much better place mentally. She finally felt needed. There wasn't much time left to overthink anymore. Her fears were still there, but they no longer took over her days.
She still had the occasional moment when she'd watch Nova with the twins and wonder what life would've been like if her own mother had been there too, or if her father hadn't turned his back on her and had been able to meet his grandsons.
After a short break, Valerio had to go back to work. But the moment he got home, he jumped straight into dad mode. Whether it was changing diapers, feeding the boys, or taking over during the night, he did everything he could to give both Nova and Gabriela a chance to rest.
As for the twins themselves, Holden turned out to be the calmer one, giving everyone a bit of a break. Hayden, on the other hand, seemed determined to have all the attention and wasn't shy about letting everyone know whenever he wanted it.
Life slowly settled into a new routine for the family. Most days revolved around feeding the twins, changing diapers, and catching a little sleep whenever possible. Even Bandit joined in, always hanging around the boys, making sure they are guarded.
It was exhausting, but everyone was loving this new chapter of their lives.
After several false alarms with practice contractions, Gabriela's water finally broke, right in the middle of dinner with Valerio and Nova.
The first contractions were still manageable, but as time went on the pain gradually became harder to handle.
At some point, it brought back every fear Gabriela had been trying so hard to push aside throughout the pregnancy. If it hadn't been for Valerio, she probably would've fallen into full panic mode.
Valerio, on the other hand, looked as calm and confident as ever. On the inside, though, he was panicking just as much. He simply refused to let it show. Right now, Gabriela needed him to be her rock, and that was exactly what he was going to be.
Once the pain medication kicked in, things got a little easier. It gave Gabriela a chance to catch her breath, eat something, and gather enough strength before the final push.
And finally, after hours of waiting, Gabriela gave birth to two healthy baby boys, 🩵Hayden and Holden🩵, dividing their lives into before... and after.
With Nova around in Windenburg, pregnancy and life in general got a hundred times easier for Gabriela.
She actually started enjoying this beautiful stage a lot more, with less anxiety and worry creeping into her head, mostly because Nova simply didn’t let her spiral. She always kept Gabbi busy while Valerio was away for work, which also gave him a bit of peace of mind, because leaving Gabriela alone in the house was never easy for him.
Whether it was long chats, dragging her out for walks around the city, hunting for cute baby things for the nursery, or helping her get the room even more ready for the boys, Nova always made sure Gabriela had something else to focus on.
As Valerio and Gabriela had mutually agreed, the baby shower was set to be held in Willow Creek. Gabriela really wanted to bring the family and friends together for Valerio and celebrate their happy news, and in Windenburg there wasn't really anyone besides a couple of friends and coworkers.
Upon their arrival, Nova was already outside impatiently waiting for the cab. The rarity of their family gatherings had been gnawing at her lately, and the recent mood swings with Joe weren't helping her worries either.
"Looking good, mom," Valerio grinned, hugging Nova and lifting her slightly off the ground.
"Look at you, all grown up and handsome," she smiled, carefully cupping his cheek.
"Is dad inside?" Valerio asked, glancing around.
"Yeah, buried in work as usual," Nova smiled.
"I'll go say hi." Valerio grabbed the luggage and headed up the stairs toward the house.
Gabriela, who had been standing quietly behind him the whole time, smiled as Nova turned to her with a warm, motherly look.
"Ahh, sweetie, hi." Nova pulled her into a hug immediately. "Look how big those little boys already are." She carefully touched Gabriela's belly. "How are you feeling, honey?" Nova kept fussing over her excitedly.
"Good to see you, Mrs. Snow," Gabriela started, but Nova cut her off.
"Ah, please. We already agreed, call me Nova," she smiled.
"Right... Nova," Gabriela smiled back at her. "I'm feeling a bit tired from the flight, but nothing a hot shower can't fix."
"Of course, honey. Come inside. Dinner is almost ready, so go get some rest while I finish everything up." Nova smiled and gently guided Gabriela inside.
Valerio found Joseph exactly where Nova said he would be, at his desk, buried in whatever was on his screen. His full attention was locked on it as he quietly mumbled something under his breath.
"Hi, dad." Valerio stepped inside with a smile.
Joe barely reacted.
"Sorry, honey, I'm busy right now. Can we talk later?" he replied automatically, not even realizing who had spoken to him.
Valerio walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, making Joseph finally look up.
"Oh my God, Valerio. What are you... when... what time..." Joseph jumped out of his chair the moment he realized his son was already there.
"I'm sorry, son, I completely lost track of time. When did you get here? Is Gabriela with you?" Joseph kept asking as Valerio pulled him into a hug.
"We just arrived. I think mom already kidnapped Gabriela," Valerio chuckled as he pulled away. Then his expression softened. "Are you alright, dad?" he asked with concern. "You seem worried about something."
His eyes flickered toward the computer screen, but Joseph quickly locked it.
"Everything's fine, son, don't worry. I just got a bit distracted. Work stuff, you know how it is." He smiled and was already leading Valerio out into the living room for a proper chat.
Later that evening, the whole family gathered on the back patio for dinner, still buzzing over the baby news. The mood got even warmer once Valerio and Gabriela shared that the twins were boys. Even Archie seemed genuinely happy about having little boy cousins on the way.
During dinner, Valerio carefully mentioned Gabriela’s complications, trying not to make it sound too serious, though Nova started worrying immediately anyway. He also brought up the idea of taking mom back to Windenburg with him for a while, so she could stay with Gabriela while he was tied up with work. Nova gladly agreed, and Joseph didn’t seem to mind either.
Later, after everyone had gone to bed, Valerio and Joseph stayed behind at the table with Joseph’s homemade honey cider. After a few sips, Valerio decided to test the waters, hoping the alcohol might loosen his dad up a little.
"So... how's the investigation going?" Valerio asked bluntly, deciding not to dance around the subject anymore.
"What investigation, son?" Joseph looked at him with a surprise. "You do realize I have a lot of cases I can't discuss. If you're asking about something, you'll have to be more specific." He smiled and took another casual sip from his bottle.
"Conrad's case, dad."
Joseph froze for a second, caught off guard.
"What are you talking about? His case was closed eight years ago, son." Joseph still kept pretending as if he had no idea what this conversation was about.
"Come on, dad." Valerio smirked. "You do remember where I work, right? I have access to a lot of databases and records a regular person wouldn't even know exist... and from what I checked, you never actually dropped the case, did you?" He paused. "Does Lana know what you're still up to? Or mom?" he added, watching Joseph's expression shift from calm to irritated.
"With all due respect, son, this is none of your business, and frankly, it's nobody else's either." Joseph's voice remained controlled, but the tension underneath it was obvious. "I strongly suggest you stay out of it and don't say a word to the girls. The less all of you know, the better. Understood?"
"Listen, dad, I know you're trying to help, and I respect you for that. But the people you're digging into have been under government watch for years, and some of them sit so high up that even our agency can't press them the way we should. They have people everywhere. Do you understand what you're risking here?" Valerio asked seriously.
"Valerio!" Joseph snapped. "I'm telling you to stay out of it, and I won't repeat myself. There are things... out of protocol.. I can't tell you, but believe me, I've got this."
That answer didn't sit right with Valerio. He knew his father could handle the legal side just fine. What worried him was Joseph's safety, especially now that the agency had already been pressing Valerio to step in.
"Okay, dad. I trust your judgment," Valerio said carefully. "But I can't promise I'll stay out of it forever. You know I can help. My agency can help. We could both benefit from official cooperation. If that's not something you want right now, fine, but at least remember the option is there, alright?"
Joseph didn't answer. He only nodded and got to his feet.
"That's enough heavy conversation for one night. We've got a celebration to prepare for tomorrow, so let's get some rest, son?"
"Sure, dad. Go ahead. I'll come in in a minute."
Valerio stayed behind a little longer, letting the peaceful night settle around him while his thoughts kept racing.
The next day, once all the preparations were done and the guests were due to arrive, the whole house settled into a warm, easy, family atmosphere.
After the late-night conversation with dad, Valerio didn't bring the investigation up again. He had already made his own conclusions, and with Lana arriving for the party, he had no intention of ruining the day for Gabriela's sake. So he pushed his worries aside and let himself enjoy everything the celebration had to offer.
Everyone they had invited made it to Willow Creek. Some stayed for a day or two, while others only stopped by to congratulate the new parents and spend a little time together before heading back to their own lives.
Even if the reunion was short, it still felt good to have everyone under one roof again, celebrating the two little boys who would soon become the newest additions to the family.
Valerio and Gabriela couldn't stay much longer either. Nova would be joining them a few days later, once she had taken care of everything she needed to in Willow Creek.
By the time the celebration finally came to an end, almost everyone was asleep, exhausted after the long and eventful day. Valerio, however, stayed up a little longer and ended up spending the rest of the evening with Archie.
The two of them bonded over video games and casual boy talk, something Archie had clearly been missing without a proper father figure around. And despite losing almost every single game to Valerio, he genuinely enjoyed the time with him.
Even if it also confirmed one thing... Archie was a terrible loser and had absolutely no idea how to lose gracefully.
The early stages of pregnancy were going well for Gabriela. Valerio was trying to surround her with as much love and care as he possibly could. However, the more time passed, the more anxious Gabriela became. The story of her mother passing during childbirth due to complications was always sitting somewhere in the back of her mind, and all the hormonal changes definitely weren't helping either.
To calm Gabriela down a little, they decided to go for a check-up earlier than planned. Unfortunately, there were indeed complications starting to develop.
"Please do not panic, but I need to inform you that you are developing premature rupture of membrane complications," the doctor explained as he moved the probe over Gabriela's belly.
Gabriela's face went pale as she looked at Valerio with fear in her eyes.
"What does that mean, doctor?" Valerio asked seriously, trying to keep his composure.
"The membranes around the babies can rupture earlier than they should, and if that happens, it can lead to various complications. However, this is still a very early development, and there are ways to keep it under control until delivery," the doctor replied calmly, trying to reassure them. "We will need to monitor the situation closely and start some medication, but you should be just fine if you follow the rules and prescriptions."
He smiled as he set the probe down.
From that point on, Gabriela was forbidden from doing any physically demanding activities. Her diet had to be monitored closely, and regular check-ups became part of the routine. It was also strictly recommended that she avoid stress as much as possible.
Despite all her efforts, the anxiety from the news kept creeping in, and it only got worse whenever Valerio wasn't around.
"The doctor said not to worry, so please, honey, don't stress yourself over something you can't control. We're doing everything we can to keep you and the babies strong and healthy. The doctor is a professional, I checked him, trust me, he's the best, and we're in good hands," Valerio tried to calm her down as they sat together on the couch after he came home from work.
"I'm trying, Valerio, and it's easier when you're here, but as soon as you leave for work and I'm left alone with my thoughts... it all comes rushing back, and I can't stop worrying. About everything," she admitted quietly as her voice was threatening to break.
"Unfortunately, I can't stay away from work for that long and still have to show up from time to time..." Valerio said, almost thinking out loud. "What if I ask my mom to come stay with us for a while? Would that help you feel a little better?" he asked, looking down at her as she lay against his chest.
"I don't want to be a burden to her," Gabriela mumbled.
"Nonsense," Valerio said immediately. "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to be the first one around the babies." He let out a soft laugh. "I'll talk to her when we go to Willow Creek for the baby shower."
He smiled and kissed her forehead.
Before their trip to Willow Creek, Gabriela and Valerio had a couple of jump scares that ended with rushed hospital visits. Thankfully, the doctor assured them there was nothing to worry about. Gabriela's body was simply starting to prepare for the delivery of two perfectly healthy baby boys.
Thankfully, the old woman didn't have much to move and little of it was heavy. She was really up there in age, almost ancient, and definitely needed the help.
Not that I'm stronger than the average woman or anything but I'm fit and I do have yoga to thank for it. Yoga does have a lot of benefits going for it, mainly, and this one is my favorite, but it reduces your cortisol. That is, it lessens the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis which is a good thing for you and your body. Like, stabilizing your blood sugar and just in general helping your entire cardiovascular system.
Ugh, please don't tell me I should be a doctor, I hear that all the time and if I hear it one more time I might just stab someone and send them to an actual M.D.
This is my 4-th generation heir and at that time of gameplay his fiancée - Syobhan Fyres. I guess they fit this challenge quite well. Not gonna lie, in the process I couldn't stop thinking that I'm creating some kind of a catalog with jewelry or perfumes 😂.
Это мой наследник 4-го поколения (тот еще говнюк) и на то игровое время его невеста - Шивон Фирс. Думаю, они вполне подходят для этого челленджа. В процессе меня не покидала мысль, что я создаю какой-то каталог ювелирных украшений или духов😂.
Apologies if you’ve already done it, and feel free to skip 💙
Rules: Create a Sim who radiates pure luxury and stylish elegance. Whether it’s a glamorous evening gown, a sophisticated designer look, or a perfectly tailored suit — anything that showcases class and refinement is welcome. Let your creativity run free and show how your Sim combines wealth, style, and personality.
Allowed are: your favorite Sim(s), or a completely new one one or multiple Sims normal Sims or Occults any age pets CAS / gameplay / render screenshots.
After stopping by Willow Creek for a brief visit to see her family for Winterfest, Lana finally had some time off from work, which also gave her a chance to see Kyle.
The two of them were still... a "thing". What kind of thing exactly, Lana wasn't sure. She felt good around him. Comfortable. Easy. That was exactly how she wanted it to stay. But did Kyle want the same? Honestly, she had never really thought about it. If he kept coming back, then this arrangement was fine with him too... right?
Whenever they were together, things usually unfolded the same way. After another passionate woohoo, sometimes not even just one, Kyle would cook one of his signature meals for her. They'd chat about life, or more often about whatever was currently bothering Lana, spend a little more time together, and eventually she'd leave and go back to her own life until the next time they met.
This visit didn't seem any different. At least... not for Lana. Kyle, however, had something else in mind.
"Oh my God, I could never get enough of your cooking, Kyle. This is absolutely amazing." Lana praised the meal as she happily kept helping herself.
"At least once in a while you get to eat a proper meal. Those damn shakes you practically live on aren't healthy meals, Lana." Kyle shook his head, watching her with amusement.
He hesitated for a second. "You know... I could keep your diet balanced and cook for you whenever you wanted..."
He glanced at her. "...if we moved in together at some point."
"Yeah..." Lana laughed. "You're funny."
She looked back at him. "For that, you'd have to quit your five-star restaurant job and move to Del Sol Valley. Besides, I'm barely ever home anyway, so there'd be no point in you turning your whole life upside down for me."
She laughed again, turning the whole conversation into a joke.
Kyle smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"So... how much time do we have before work drags you back?" he asked after a brief silence.
"About a week, I think. Delilah booked me a few auditions after the whole holiday season."
"Perfect." Kyle stood up. "Finish eating. We have a plane to catch."
Lana stopped chewing. "Wait... what?" She blinked. "A plane? Where?"
"I booked us a short vacation in Mt. Komorebi." He walked out of the bedroom carrying his suitcase. "Looks like I got lucky you never unpacked."
He picked up her luggage as well. "And before you say anything..."
He looked at her with a grin. "I already bought all the winter clothes and gear you'll need, so I'm not accepting no as an answer."
Lana tried arguing, but every excuse she came up with, Kyle already had an answer for.
A few hours later, they landed in Mt. Komorebi.
By the time they'd settled into their rental and unpacked, the weather had taken a turn for the worse. A heavy snowstorm rolled in, forcing them to stay indoors. Neither of them minded though.
Kyle had booked a beautiful place with its own private onsen and a small spa area, and they happily took full advantage of it.
Later that evening, Kyle cooked again, determined as ever to make sure Lana actually ate something nutritious.
Cooking wasn't exactly Lana's strong suit, so she mostly kept him company. They laughed, shared a bottle of wine, danced around the kitchen while dinner bubbled away on the stove, and everything felt... easy.
When the conversation once again drifted into more serious territory, Lana, as usual, brushed it off with another joke. She didn't even notice Kyle's mood shift and by the time the wine had fully kicked in, Lana had simply fallen asleep in his arms.
The next day, the weather wasn't much better. It definitely wasn't good enough for skiing or snowboarding, but by the evening the snowstorm had eased just enough for them to head outside and explore. The streets were still beautifully decorated for Winterfest, making the whole town feel cozy despite the freezing cold.
When the weather turned again, they ducked into the first bar they came across. It was packed, with karaoke night already in full swing. Lana and Kyle had signed up for the duet competition and ended up taking first place.
The evening passed effortlessly. Lana felt her anxiety and worries slowly fade into the background. Until...
Kyle, slightly tipsy and riding the excitement of the evening, grabbed the microphone one last time.
"Uhh... hi again, everyone... Yeah... it's me again. The annoying guy who stole your spotlight today." Crowd laughter echoed through the bar. "Anyway, I promise this is my last song tonight."
Someone whistled from the back.
"I want to dedicate this one to the gorgeous woman who's here with me tonight." Kyle looked straight at Lana. "She walked into my life completely unannounced... twice... and somewhere in a proccess, I got...attached to her, I guess." A soft smile spread across his face. "Lana... this one's for you."
The music started. The crowd cheered. Lana stood frozen. The gesture was beautiful. The song was beautiful. She genuinely loved every second of it. But...
The only thing growing inside her was anger. Anger at everything that had happened over the last few days. Anger at Kyle. Anger at herself. Anger at the feelings they'd both promised would never exist.
When the song ended, Kyle stepped off the stage and gently kissed her in front of the cheering crowd, completing what was supposed to be a romantic gesture. But for Lana, it was the final straw.
The moment they sat back down at their table, her expression said everything.
"What was that, Kyle?" she blurted out, struggling to keep her temper under control.
"What got into you?" Kyle asked calmly. "It was just a song, Lana. A simple gesture to show you I care. You didn't like it?"
"I did." She took a shaky breath. "But that's not what I'm talking about."
"You liked it." Kyle smiled gently and reached for her hand. "Then let's leave it at that, okay?"
Lana pulled her hand away. "No, Kyle. We are not leaving it at that."
She pointed between the two of them. "We agreed. This..." She paused. "...was never supposed to become more than occasional fun."
"And it wasn't, Lana." Irritation crept into Kyle's voice. "But I can't pretend I don't care about you. Is that really such a problem?"
"Yes!" She answered almost immediately. "That is exactly the problem. You're making something complicated that was never supposed to be complicated. This vacation... all these gestures... the song..." She struggled to find the words.
"It's not what..." Her voice caught in her throat.
"It's only a problem because you keep making it one." Kyle sighed.
"You're terrified of letting anyone get close because you've been hurt before. You've been betrayed. I know." He paused. "But guess what? You're not the only person whose life has been completely messed up."
He looked at her for a moment. "The difference is that I learned to live with mine." Another silence. "And you're still living in yours."
Lana's expression shifted from anger...to confusion... to complete emotional breakdown, she tried to keep inside.
"You're just a scared little girl who's pushing away everyone who cares about her." He looked away for a moment before continuing more quietly. "For what? To make everyone else hurt the way you did?" Another pause. "Or are you simply terrified of getting burned again?"
He watched tears finally begin rolling down her cheeks.
"I don't want to hurt you, Lana." His voice softened. "But you need to figure this out yourself first..." He picked up his jacket. "...before it's too late."
Kyle walked out of the bar, leaving Lana sitting there alone... Completely lost.
When Lana finally came to her senses and walked outside, Kyle was nowhere to be seen. She tried calling him. Voicemail.
She didn't know what else to do but head back to the rental, hoping he'd already returned, especially now that the weather had taken another turn for the worse.
He wasn't there either.
After crying herself to sleep, Lana eventually managed to get some rest, although it was anything but peaceful. She kept waking up from strange, vivid dreams. She had hoped Kyle would be back by the time she woke up. He wasn't. It started worrying her.
Her thoughts were all over the place. She worried whether he was physically alright, whether something had happened to him out in the storm. At the same time, she couldn't stop thinking about their argument from the previous evening. She was angry with herself for being so indecisive. And strangely enough... She wasn't angry at Kyle. She was angry at Conrad.
Why was she still thinking about him? Why did he still have such a strong grip on her? Why couldn't she simply move on and enjoy her life?
She took her morning coffee outside. The weather had finally calmed down, and the cold mountain air helped clear her mind a little.
By the time she stepped out of the shower, Kyle had returned to the rental.
Before Lana even had the chance to speak, he gently stopped her. "Just... give me a few minutes, okay?"
He stood there holding a beautiful bouquet of her favorite red roses.
"Listen... I'm sorry about yesterday. I said a lot of things I didn't really mean." He took a slow breath. "Yes, I care about you, Lana. I really do. But because I care about you, I don't want to push you into something you're not ready for." He looked into her eyes.
"I like what we have. I like being around you. If this easy, no-strings-attached relationship is what you want to keep, then so be it. I don't want you to change for me. If you ever change..."
He smiled lightly. "...I only want it to happen because you wanted it. Because you're ready." He lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry."
Another short silence followed. "And you don't have to say anything to this either. Let's just enjoy the rest of the vacation... and each other's company while we still have the time."
Lana opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself. Instead, she simply smiled.
"Thank you, Kyle... I..." She looked down for a moment.
"I'm sorry too." Another pause. "I promise I'll figure it out..."
She gave him a weak smile. "...someday."
"Someday works for me." Kyle gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
The rest of their vacation flew by in the familiar rhythm they knew so well. They enjoyed each other's company, explored everything Mt. Komorebi had to offer, and left the difficult conversations behind. Every now and then, Lana noticed a trace of bitterness in Kyle's smile, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it came.
"I really thought my body would remember all those skiing skills from when I was little, but apparently not," Lana laughed as Kyle brushed the snow off her jacket.
"I mean... it wasn't that bad." He fought hard not to laugh.
"Yes, it was." She looked at him.
"Okay..." He finally gave up. "It was kind of hilarious."
He laughed. "But hey... you did your best."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she shivered in the evening cold.
"Despite me being completely against this vacation at first..." She smiled. "...I'm actually really grateful you dragged me all the way here. I had an amazing time. Getting my mind off everything turned out to be exactly what I needed."
"And the company wasn't that terrible either, was it?" Kyle teased, already leaning closer.
"No..." She smiled with her voice growing quieter as his lips brushed against hers. "...it wasn't."
It’s the last week of Moon Joy June, and we’re feeling the love for our home planet.
This week’s prompt is “Earth,” so we’ve compiled some previously unreleased images of Earth captured by our Artemis II crew this past April. If you’re feeling inspired, share your creations on Tumblr with the #ArtemisArtShow hashtag!
With school being over and the Winterfest holidays getting closer, Archie was spending more time doing his favorite things. However, being at the Snow residence during this time also meant taking part in all the family holiday activities.
"You called for me, grandpa?" Archie shouted as he ran downstairs.
"Yes, son. Come over here and help me." Joseph looked over at him, handing him a box of holiday decorations.
"Ugh... I'm not really into this, grandpa. You know that. Besides, I have a game tournament in a few hours. The boys are waiting."
Archie tried to escape the "fun," but Joe managed to convince him to stay. Somewhere in the middle of it all, his mood shifted from "Ugh, I hate this" to "Huh... didn't know decorating the tree, listening to Winterfest music, and joking around with grandpa could actually be fun."
The next morning, Archie woke up to his phone ringing nonstop. Growling after being dragged out of bed so early, he grabbed it from the nightstand.
"You better have a really good reason for waking me up at six in the morning," he mumbled with his eyes still closed.
"If you didn't stay up playing video games until sunrise, it probably wouldn't hurt this much," Karina giggled from the other end of the call.
"Anyway, Snow, get your grumpy ass out of bed. I'm in Willow Creek and I'm already dying of boredom here. I need some actual fun."
She paused for a second, just long enough for Archie to open his mouth and complain.
"Meet me at the Winterfest Market at ten."
Before he could protest, the call ended.
Archie let the phone drop onto the floor and buried his face back into the pillow, hoping to steal at least a little more sleep.
By ten o'clock, they were both at the market.
Seeing each other in person after spending so many hours talking over the phone somehow felt... awkward. The lack of sleep definitely wasn't helping either.
They grabbed hot chocolate from one of the stalls, exchanged a few generic jokes and playful insults, then sat down on a nearby bench.
The silence that followed only became heavier. Archie noticed Karina staring into the distance, completely lost in her own thoughts.
"Everything alright?" he finally asked.
"Huh?" She blinked, as if he had just pulled her back to reality.
"Oh... yeah. Everything's fine." She smiled faintly. "Just... family."
She looked around at all the children laughing and running between their parents.
"Seeing all these happy families during Winterfest makes me feel... weird." She let out a nervous laugh. "You know what my dad said after forgetting to pick me up from the airport?"
Archie simply shrugged.
"He looked at me and went, 'Oh, Karina... is it already the end of the month? Didn't expect you here so soon.'"
She laughed, though there wasn't much humor behind it.
"And that's after I reminded him multiple times that I was coming. I even texted him again before my flight." She kicked some snow with her boot. "Turns out he'd already booked a vacation with his new pregnant wife and Stewart... and forgot to include me."
She shook her head. "He tried to hide it and re-book, but I'm not stupid. I could tell from the way he suddenly started nervously masking it all behind his work."
"Damn..." Archie muttered. "That sucks."
He looked at her for a second before speaking again.
"You know... if your dad decides to leave you behind for the holidays... you could always come over to our place." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm pretty sure grams and gramps wouldn't mind having a guest."
Karina smiled. "That's really sweet of you. Thanks, Archie."
She sighed. "But I think he managed to re-book everything. Looks like I'm getting dragged to Mt. Komorebi with the rest of them."
"The offer's open whenever." Archie smiled back. "Anyway... enough talking about all this family crap. You came here to have fun, right?"
He jumped off the bench, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the skating rink.
"I bet you've already forgotten what ice even feels like in your forever sunny Ciudad Enamorada."
They laughed, struggling to keep their balance.
"Must be weird celebrating Winterfest without snow while you're melting in that scorching heat."
"Honestly? It's not that bad. I can sip a refreshing mojito on the beach while listening to Winterfest music." She grinned proudly. "Besides... I'm better at skating than you are."
After spending way too long laughing, slipping, and falling on the ice, both of them were freezing.
"Movie?" Archie suggested.
"Please."
The local cinema was only showing Winterfest-themed movies. The only interesting-looking one happened to have horror in the title.
"Winterfest Horror..." Karina laughed. "Well... this should be interesting."
Surprisingly, the movie turned out to be pretty decent. It had quite a few jump scares. Karina barely reacted to any of them.
Archie... Not so much.
"You're actually adorable when you jump like that." She giggled.
"I wasn't scared." Archie defended himself. "I was just... surprised."
"Uh-huh." She smirked. "I've seen scarier ads than this."
Archie rolled his eyes. "Shut up."
After the movie, neither of them felt like going home just yet. They wandered into the arcade instead. One game turned into a full-on competition. The final score? 4:3.
"Haaa!" Karina threw both hands into the air.
"I won!"
"Please." Archie scoffed. "I was going easy on you."
"Yeah, yeah." She grinned. "Keep telling yourself that."
"Fine." He raised both hands in mock surrender. "You won."
He nudged her shoulder. "You're actually pretty good. I'd even say you're better than Lucas sometimes. If you want, you should join us one day. We have casual tournaments every now and then. Nothing serious. Just for fun."
"And you're not afraid I'll steal your spotlight?" she teased.
Archie simply rolled his eyes.
"I'll think about it." She smiled. "Thanks, Arch."
As they sat at a table finishing off some snacks, Archie checked his phone. It was getting close to the curfew Joe had given him.
"Sooo... it's getting kinda late. I promised gramps I'd be home by ten. Want me to walk you home?"
Karina looked at him in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"What?" he asked.
"I don't come here that often, and you're seriously trying to ditch me because of your house rules? Come on, Archie..." she laughed.
Archie let out a long sigh. "Fine... what do you have in mind then?"
"School." She smiled mischievously.
"School?" He narrowed his eyes. "Care to elaborate?"
"Show me your school." She shrugged. "You've talked so much about me moving here..." She paused. "I'm not saying I will... but if I'm even going to consider the possibility, I should probably know what 'here' looks like." She was already putting on her coat.
"I... don't..." Archie started to protest.
She tossed him his coat. "Waiting outside."
Then she disappeared out the door before he could argue.
By the time they reached the High School, it was dark and quiet. It felt strange being there at night. The main building was locked, so they wandered around the school grounds, talking and joking as they walked.
When they reached the gym building, Karina suddenly stopped.
"Wait..." Her eyes lit up. "You guys have a pool?"
"Yeah... kinda." Archie shrugged. "I barely use it outside of PE, though." He turned to check on Karina, only to find her already standing at the entrance, casually picking the lock with a hairpin.
"Wait... what are you doing?" he whispered sharply. "What if we get caught?"
"We won't." She glanced around. "I don't see any cameras. Do you?"
Archie instinctively looked around. Nothing.
"See?" With a quiet click, the lock opened.
Karina quickly walked inside. Archie stood there for a second, questioning his life choices.
"What the hell am I getting myself into..." he muttered before following her inside.
The moment she got to the building, she started taking off her jacket. Then her shoes. Then everything except her underwear.
"Karina..." Archie stared at her. "What the heck are you doing? Don't tell me you're actually going swimming."
"You're damn right I am." She was already standing on the diving platform. "And you're coming too."
She laughed before diving gracefully into the water, splashing Archie in the process.
It took a surprising amount of convincing, but eventually she managed to talk him into it.
"Well, Snow?" she called from the pool. "Are you gonna stand there gawking forever, or are you getting in?... Come on. I can't wait all night."
"Fine... fine." Archie sighed as he stepped toward the edge.
The water looked... cold. He dipped one foot in, immediately pulled it back out, and slowly started backing away.
"Aww..." Karina teased. "Don't tell me it's too cold for your sensitive skin."
Archie didn't answer. Instead, he turned around, walked several steps back......took a running start... ...and launched himself into the pool with the biggest cannonball he could manage. A massive wave crashed over Karina.
"Oh, no you don't!" she yelled through laughter.
The next few minutes turned into complete water war. Splashing. Chasing each other through the water, trying to dunk one another and laughing way louder than they should have, considering the security guard being in the next building.
After they finally calmed down, Archie floated on his back for a moment. "Where did you even learn to pick locks like that?"
Karina shrugged. "When your mom punishes you by locking you in your room for being a brat..." She smirked. "You learn a trick or two."
Archie laughed. "So... what does that make me?.... Your accomplice in crime?"
"Mhm." She nodded. "But only if we get caught."
They both laughed. A few seconds later... A flashlight beam swept across one of the windows. Both of them froze.
"Uh..." Archie whispered. "I think that's security."
The flashlight moved again. Apparently, the guard had heard them.
"Run!"
They flew out of the pool, grabbing their clothes as they bolted through the back exit before anyone could catch them.
By the time Archie walked Karina home, it was already midnight.
She smiled. "Thanks for today." "I really needed that."
"Honestly..." Archie smiled back. "Turns out I needed it too." He laughed. "Guess we're officially criminals now."
"Nah." Karina shook her head. "We would've been criminals if we'd gotten caught." She grinned. "Instead, we're just two sneaky masterminds who had a great day."
"Fair point."
"Anyway..." She looked toward the house. "I'd better get inside before my dad sees me... or before my dumb twin brother rats me out."
They shared one last hug before saying goodbye.
It was too late for buses, so Archie started the walk home. The streets were quiet. Snow crunched beneath his shoes. He found himself thinking about the day. About how much fun he'd had. About how easy everything had felt.
And even if the night ended with Joseph catching him trying to sneak back into the house and giving him an earful for missing curfew... It had still been an amazing day.
