Quiet Winters, Warm Moments

The soft patter of snowflakes against the windows and the occasional gust of wind filled the estate with the soft music of winter. The grandiose mansion had never looked more peaceful. As winter crept closer, the air outside was crisp, and inside, the warmth of family wrapped itself around every room like a comforting blanket.

Leina sat cross-legged on the sunroom rug, her long hair cascading like a dark waterfall behind her. She'd been quiet, but the peace was a part of her as she flipped through one of the many books scattered around her. Her Samoyed, Diane, was sprawled out beside her, content and warm, while Leina absently ran her fingers through Diane's thick fur. Diane loved winter, and it was clear the dog was relishing the chill of the season.

"You're getting better at that," Levy teased from the doorway, standing with his plate of toast in hand.

Leina didn't look up from her notebook but smirked slightly. "I'm not drawing, Levy. I'm just thinking."

Levy raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. He dropped down beside her, leaning back against the couch with an easygoing shrug. "Thinking about the debate again?"

"No," she said, though her tone was thoughtful. "Just... everything."

The room seemed to pause at that. It wasn't like Leina to get so introspective, but these days, everything had been harder to ignore. She didn't press herself to talk, and Levy didn't push her. Instead, he accepted the silence, content in his sister's presence.

Down the hall, the twins, Liam and Louis, were wrapped up in their world. The sounds of tools clinking and the excited mutterings about a "mini-snow generator" filled the house.

"It's almost done!" Louis shouted from the hallway, his excitement palpable.

"If you count the sparks flying everywhere as part of the process," Liam chimed in with a grin.

Their playful bickering was interrupted by a call from the kitchen. "Not in the house!" Giselle's voice came through the open door, half-command and half-amused.

"Too late!" A flurry of snowflakes, artificial but still spectacular, burst from their contraption, scattering across the floor and splattering the walls with a dusting of fake snow.

Lester strolled by, towel in hand, clearly unamused by the scene. "You two are going to flood this place before the real snow hits."

"Exactly the point!" Louis retorted, eyes shining with mischief.

Giselle peeked out of the kitchen, her apron slightly off-center. Logan had tied it for her that morning, but she never quite got it right herself.

"Logan!" she called, sweetly. "Your sons have turned the hall into the North Pole."

Logan emerged from his study, hair slightly tousled, a soft sigh escaping him as he took in the scene. He shot a glance at Giselle before responding. "Winter spirit alive and well, huh?"

Giselle gave him a playful glare. "If by that you mean the impending destruction of my walls, then yes."

Without missing a beat, Logan pulled her into a quick hug, brushing a kiss against her temple. "But you love it," he whispered.

"Maybe. Slightly." She rolled her eyes but leaned into him. It was a dance they did often—loving, teasing, but always with warmth.

The front gates buzzed, drawing the family's attention. James, the Reinhardt's ever-dutiful butler, adjusted his coat and answered the intercom. A familiar voice came through, as calm as ever.

"Alexander Smith here. I'm not here on business. Just... visiting."

James blinked in surprise but quickly masked it. Though his role was to serve, protect, and even drive the Reinhardt children to and from school—acting as both butler and sometimes a bodyguard—he had always carried out his duties with complete professionalism. "You'll find the household in high spirits today, Master Smith."

"Good. I'm bringing cookies," Alexander replied with a chuckle.

A short while later, Alexander stood at the threshold, scarf tightly wound around his neck, a box of homemade cookies in hand. His usually composed demeanour softened the moment he entered the warm chaos of the Reinhardt home.

Lester greeted him first with a quick fist bump. "Alex! What brings you here today? Thought you had tutoring?"

"I did. But then I remembered I haven't gotten Leina's thoughts on this new limited edition Law Riots book yet." Alexander smirked, though it was clear his visit was as much about the cookies as it was about seeing Leina.

Lester raised an eyebrow. "Mm-hmm. And the cookies?"

"Totally unrelated," Alexander responded, grinning.

Leina was still in the sunroom when Alexander found her, wrapped in a thick blanket, absorbed in her notebook. The light from the windows in the sunroom spilled across the floor, the cold winter air making the windowpanes fog up, but there was no fridge to be found in the sunroom. It was just her and her dog in the warmth of the room, the rest of the world fading away. Alexander paused in the doorway, taking in the scene for a moment before stepping forward, catching her attention.

"You know," he said with an easy tone, "people open windows for fresh air, not dramatic reading ambiance."

Leina didn't flinch. She simply plucked another grape from the bowl beside her, her notebook resting in her lap.

"Hmm... You're one to talk. Last time, you used a flashlight and nearly blinded Louis with your 'trial scene, '" she teased, her lips quirking up in amusement.

Alexander leaned against the doorframe, unbothered. "He dared me to act out a courtroom scene in the dark. I delivered."

She glanced at him with narrowed eyes. "Barely."

The easy banter between them flowed naturally. As Alexander reached for a grape, he was faster than she expected, holding it out of her reach. Leina paused for a moment, debating whether it was worth the effort to get the grape back.

"Give it," she said, her voice calm.

"What if I say no?"

"Then I'll write you into a very embarrassing mock trial scenario again," she warned, her tone dry.

Alexander relented with a grin. "Fine. But only because I'm afraid of what you'll do to my fictional persona."

There was a pause, and for a moment, Leina looked at him properly. The winter chill had painted his face with a rosy hue, his dark hair slightly tousled by the wind, his scarf clinging to his neck. He looked so... normal, and yet, there was something in his expression that made her heart race slightly, something warm and reassuring.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.

Alexander blinked in surprise. "You're the one who had to deal with everything lately. Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Leina looked away, pulling the blanket closer around her shoulders. "I'm... thinking. About how people hide things."

Alexander shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yeah, me too."

She leaned back against the counter, her fingers absentmindedly running through her hair as she stared out the window. "It's like everyone's pretending things are back to normal, but I know it's not. I feel it."

"I know what you mean," he said softly, his gaze distant as he spoke. "But maybe pretending helps... until the real thing catches up."

They both fell into a companionable silence, the only sounds the distant laughter of their siblings and the soft rustle of the trees in the backyard as the snow piled higher.

"Winter's here," Alexander said, almost to himself, glancing at the foggy window.

"It is," Leina responded. "But maybe that's not so bad."

He offered her a lopsided smile, one that unexpectedly warmed her chest. "You always make the cold seem warmer."

Leina turned her head away quickly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "And you talk too much."

Alexander chuckled softly. "Debatable."

"Also, here's the book," he added, watching her practically leap to grab it. He smiled as he watched her read, glad to see her enjoying it and not lost on things that she was too young to be focusing on.

...

As the evening deepened and snow continued to fall gently outside, the mansion was filled with warmth—both from the fire in the hearth and from the laughter and conversation shared between family members. Though the world outside was getting colder, inside, there was nothing but warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

Even if things were changing, even if the unknown loomed on the horizon, tonight, the Reinhardt family was just... a family.

And that was enough.