The room was quieter now.
Not empty—never that—but softened, as if the world itself had learned to speak more gently after what had just happened inside it.
Leah rested against the pillows, exhausted but peaceful.
One of the twins lay safely in her arms, wrapped in soft white blankets.
The other rested carefully in Izana's hold, as if even breathing too hard might disturb something fragile and new.
Izana hadn't moved far from her side since everything ended.
He still hadn't let go of Enzo.
And he didn't intend to.
Outside the door, footsteps approached.
Then it opened.
Clara stepped in first, her expression immediately easing the moment she saw them.
"Finally," she said softly, exhaling like she had been holding her breath for hours.
"We were starting to think you'd keep them all to yourselves."
Behind her came Elias, calm but visibly relieved, and Dante—who looked like he was trying very hard to act unaffected but failed immediately the moment his eyes landed on the twins.
Zarek was in Clara's arms.
The moment he saw the room, he went still.
"Babies…" he whispered.
Clara smiled faintly.
"Yes. Your babies."
Zarek blinked.
Then immediately became serious.
As if he had just entered something important.
Something official.
Clara walked forward and carefully lowered him onto Izana's lap.
Zarek landed quietly, steadying himself with both hands on Izana's arm.
Izana adjusted him instantly without looking away from the twins.
"Careful," Izana murmured.
Zarek nodded.
"I careful."
Then he leaned forward slightly.
His eyes locked onto what Izana and Leah were holding.
Two tiny bundles.
Two new lives.
His expression changed completely.
"…Babies," he said again, softer this time.
Leah smiled gently.
"Yes, Zarek."
Izana's voice was calm, steady.
"You have a brother and a sister."
Zarek blinked slowly.
"Brother…"
Izana shifted the baby slightly in his arms.
"This is Enzo."
Zarek stared.
"Enzo…"
Then he looked toward Leah.
"And this?"
Leah's hand brushed lightly over the second baby.
"Your sister."
Izana answered for her softly.
"Elara."
Zarek repeated carefully.
"Elara…"
He seemed to be testing both names in his mind, as if making sure they were real.
Then very seriously:
"I big brother."
Leah's smile widened slightly.
"Yes, you are."
Izana gave a faint nod.
"That's correct."
Zarek seemed satisfied by this confirmation.
He turned his attention back to Enzo immediately.
Slowly, cautiously, he leaned forward.
Clara watched closely from the side.
Elias stayed quiet.
Even Dante didn't speak.
Zarek extended one small finger.
"Touch?" he asked softly.
Izana didn't stop him.
Only watched.
"Careful," Izana said quietly.
Zarek nodded again.
"I careful."
His finger reached Enzo's tiny hand.
The moment they touched—
Zarek froze.
Completely still.
"…Small," he whispered.
Leah let out a soft laugh under her breath.
"Yes… he is."
Zarek didn't move his hand away.
He just stared.
Like he was trying to understand something very important.
Then—
Enzo moved.
Barely noticeable at first.
A tiny shift of fingers.
Then, suddenly—
Enzo's small hand curled.
And grabbed Zarek's finger.
The room went silent.
Even Clara stopped breathing for a second.
Zarek's eyes widened instantly.
"…He hold me."
Izana's gaze softened almost imperceptibly.
Leah's expression melted into something warm and emotional.
Dante muttered quietly:
"…That's actually insane."
Elias didn't respond, but his eyes softened slightly too.
Zarek stayed perfectly still.
Not pulling away.
Not scared.
Just… stunned.
Then very softly:
"Enzo… like me?"
Leah's voice was gentle.
"I think he does."
Zarek blinked once.
Then nodded like that settled everything in the world.
"Good."
He carefully adjusted his finger so Enzo could hold it better.
As if deciding this was now his responsibility.
Then he looked toward Elara.
She stirred slightly in Leah's arms.
Zarek leaned a little closer.
"Elara small too."
Leah nodded.
"Yes."
Zarek thought for a moment.
Then declared seriously:
"I protect."
Izana looked at him.
"You will?"
Zarek nodded firmly.
"I protect Enzo. I protect Elara."
A pause.
Then, very seriously:
"No cry."
Izana's voice remained calm.
"That might be difficult."
Zarek considered this.
Then simply said:
"I try."
That earned the faintest hint of a smile from Izana.
"…That's enough."
Clara finally let out a quiet laugh.
"Well," she said softly, "that's the most serious three-year-old I've ever seen."
Elias nodded once.
"He takes his role seriously."
Dante crossed his arms.
"I think we're all doomed."
No one disagreed.
Leah shifted slightly, adjusting Elara carefully in her arms.
The baby made a small sound.
Leah's entire expression softened immediately.
"Oh…"
Clara noticed.
"She looks like you."
Leah smiled faintly.
"And him."
Her eyes flicked briefly to Izana.
Izana didn't deny it.
He rarely did when it came to things like this.
Zarek watched Elara closely.
Then whispered:
"Pretty."
Leah's smile widened.
"Yes, she is."
Izana's gaze remained steady on both children.
Black hair.
Blue eyes.
A combination of both of them.
He exhaled slowly.
"…They're here," he said quietly.
Leah nodded.
"They are."
A pause.
Then Izana added, softer:
"Both of them."
For a moment, the room simply existed like that.
No urgency.
No movement.
Just presence.
Clara watching quietly.
Elias standing slightly back, unusually still.
Dante pretending he wasn't emotionally affected at all.
Zarek sitting carefully on Izana's lap, still holding Enzo's finger like it was the most important job in the world.
Leah holding Elara close.
Izana sitting beside her, steady as always, his hand occasionally brushing over hers without thinking.
Zarek broke the silence first.
"We family now."
Leah looked at him.
"Yes," she said softly.
Izana followed quietly:
"…We are."
Zarek nodded once, satisfied.
Then, still holding Enzo's tiny hand, he leaned slightly back against Izana.
Comfortable.
Certain.
Like everything had finally settled into place.
And for the first time since the room had filled with urgency hours ago—
it finally felt like peace.