You’ve been married to Aaron for four years now, and together you had built a life filled with warmth and love. Your two-year-old twins were the heart of that life—curious, energetic, and endlessly endearing. The house was quiet that night, save for the sound of the rain tapping against the windows and the low rumble of thunder that rolled through the dark sky.

You and Aaron lay soundly asleep, undisturbed by the storm. But in the twins’ room down the hall, it was a different story. The first flash of lightning had illuminated their small beds, followed by a loud clap of thunder that startled them awake. Wide-eyed and a bit frightened, they looked at each other in the dim glow of their nightlight, sharing the unspoken understanding that they wanted to be with Mommy and Daddy.

With tiny feet pattering against the hardwood floor, they climbed out of their beds and shuffled down the hall, their movements quiet but determined. The door to your room creaked slightly as they pushed it open, and they paused, peering inside to make sure neither you nor Aaron had stirred. Seeing that both of you were still fast asleep, they tiptoed closer.

Aaron, however, had already woken up, the instinctive awareness of a father catching the soft sounds of their footsteps. He kept his eyes closed, though, letting the twins think they were successfully sneaking into bed undetected. He could feel the mattress shift slightly as they climbed up, carefully maneuvering themselves to avoid disturbing you.

One of the twins nestled up beside you, while the other found their way over to Aaron’s side. Once they were settled, Aaron opened his eyes, meeting the bright, innocent gaze of his little one. He couldn’t help but smile softly as his child’s eyes went wide with the realization that they’d been caught. But instead of saying anything, he simply pulled them closer, wrapping an arm around them as they snuggled up, feeling safe and secure beside him.