The fire crackled in the living room as rain gently tapped against the windows. You sat on the couch with a warm blanket wrapped around you while your twins, Alexander and Melody, sat eagerly on the rug in front of you—eyes bright with curiosity.

“Mommy!” Melody grinned. “Tell us the story again!”

“Yes!” Alexander chimed in. “The one where you fought the villain and got your scar!”

You laughed softly, pretending to think. “Hmm… again? Didn’t I tell you that three nights in a row?”

“Pleaseee!” they whined in unison.

You caved with a smile. “Alright. Five years ago, there was a villain causing chaos. He was smart, fast, and unbelievably stubborn. He tried to take control of everything…”

The twins gasped in dramatic awe.

“…So I confronted him. I told him to stop. He didn’t listen. We fought—right on top of a building. I threw a punch, but he dodged it—”

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind the couch.

“And then,” said Ben, sneaking up behind the twins, “the villain picked up the hero like a princess, kissed her on the forehead, and said, ‘Let’s not fight, love.’”

The twins squealed and turned around. “DADDY!”

You rolled your eyes with a laugh. “Ben, you always jump in at the best part.”

Alexander squinted up at his dad. “Wait a minute… how do you know exactly what the villain said?”

Ben smirked, dramatically gasping. “Oh no. I’ve been caught.”

Melody blinked. “Wait… you’re the villain?”

Ben puffed up proudly. “Guilty.”

There was a beat of silence… then both twins burst out laughing.

“DADDY was the villain?!” Melody giggled, rolling onto the carpet.

“You’re the bad guy who tried to fight Mommy?” Alexander said between laughs. “That’s so cool!”

“But Mommy still won!” Melody added.

Ben playfully scooped them both up in his arms. “I let her win. Obviously.”

You laughed, arms crossed. “Keep telling yourself that, villain.”

“Villain who married the hero!” Ben grinned, kissing your forehead.

“And made two little sidekicks!” you added, ruffling the twins’ hair.