withresolve | (no subject)

It was early evening, and the Walker family was settling into their usual routine. Dinner and dessert had both been delicious, and as they all ate happy chatter and laughter filled the house. The dishes and plates were then washed and put away, and the kitchen cleaned. After that Lenalee and Allen had played with their children outside beneath the summer sky as the sun set.

Lucy and Lucian, the twins, shrieked with joy as they climbed all over their father. They were always full of energy, bold and curious...a real handful. Little Elena, who was a few months over one year old, was much more shy. She had a tendency to cling to Lenalee, clutching her favorite stuffed animal. While Allen had his hands full with the twins, Lenalee gently encouraged Elena to play, pushing her on a swing and rolling a ball back and forth with her across the grass.

Bathtime came, and everyone was scrubbed clean and put into pajamas: first the twins, who always made a mess, then the youngest. Lenalee guided them as they were instructed to put away their own toys, proud that even at such a young age her babies were learning responsibility. The parents took turns with each task, tired but fully enjoying caring for their little ones.

Since it was summer the windows were open, allowing a cool evening breeze to drift in, rustling the curtains. Lenalee went around the house, Elena on her hip, making sure doors were locked and a nightlight was on in each room. The children were beginning to tire, occasionally yawning, which was a good sign. They had played hard all day...hopefully they would sleep through the night.

As much as Lenalee loved and adored her children, she was looking forward to having Allen all to herself for at least a few hours before they, too, needed sleep. Already she had showered and slipped into a nightgown and robe. She headed for the nursery where she could hear Allen talking to Lucy and Lucian.

Standing in the doorway of the nursery, she gazed at her husband quietly, love and longing shining brightly in her eyes. No man could compare to her Allen. She truly believed that he had been made for her, and that she had been made for him. They completed each other, balanced one another, and bettered each other. Their love for one another was pure, and together they had created three perfect little angels. They were giving their son and daughters the best childhood they possibly could.

In her opinion, their life together was perfect.

Suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed with all the love she had in her heart, she cleared her throat. "Allen...did they decide which book they want us to read?" she asked. Each night one child would pick out a story to hear before bed.

Lenalee walked into the nursery, smiling at Lucy and Lucian, reaching out to caress their sweet faces. She carefully took Elena and laid the little girl down in her crib. "Time to settle down, lovey," she said softly. "One story, and then it's time to sleep." Lenalee tenderly arranged her baby girl so that she was comfortable. Then it was time to tuck the other two in. She laughed as they made faces at her, but didn't protest. Everyone loved story time, after all.

Threaded | Flat

The kind of life Allen had now was one that he honestly never expected to have. At least he never expected to until the day his path had crossed with Lenalee's only for the two of them to walk side by side into the future. Well almost always. There were some bumps in the road that had forced them apart on several occasions. But rather than weaken the feelings they had for one another, those trials and hardships had galvanized their feelings into the unwavering love they held for one another.

That love had even bore fruit. Three of them in fact. The two lovely twins that were as radiant as the sun and the newest twinkle on the canvas of their world's sky. Elena. The twins were so lively they put even Allen's training to shame sometimes. They had clearly inherited all of the strength and endurance from himself and Lenalee. Which made it quite the challenge to thoroughly wear them down to the point of sleep. Elena by comparison was a little easier to handle. A young one like he did come with her own challenges for a parent but by now the two of them had already been through the first time so with her, there were far far fewer mistakes.

Allen was just about to open the book the twins had picked when Lenalee walked in with the last of their adorable litter of stars. "Lucy picked Sleeping beauty. Now now Lucian it's her turn don't roll your eyes like that." He playfuly chided his son reaching over to ruffle his soft hair with a grin.