WINTER'S SWEET EMBRACE

The translucent light had dissolved, and before he knew it, Vincent was back in the familiar living room, standing in the same spot from which he had disappeared.

"Haha! Yes! I’M HOOOOME!"

Throwing his arms in the air like he just don’t care and yelling at the top of his lungs, his sneakers squeaked as he bolted across the room.

"Mama! I’m back! Mama, where are you?!"

He skidded around the corner toward the main staircase. Halfway up the steps, a figure stumbled out from the second floor’s hallway.

Maribelle stood at the top of the landing, looking adorably disheveled.

Her white-silked nightgown was half-undone, slipping carelessly off her shoulder and her long hair was messy around her face. Her wide eyes blinked groggily, looking like she had literally just been risen from the dead.

She gasped softly and rubbed her eyes. "V-Vinny...?"

"MAMA!"

He triggered a burst of divine power, transforming, and shooting himself into the air like a rocket.

Maribelle’s face lit up with joy. "BABY!"

She vaulted off the top landing and launched herself straight into the open air.

They collided mid-flight, wrapping their arms around each other in a tight embrace, spinning around in circles high above the foyer.

Landing gently on the ground, she cupped his cheeks and started peppering his entire face with rapid-fire, smothering kisses. "My baby! Oh, Vinny I missed! I’m so glad you’re okay! I was so worried about you!"

"I’m totally fine, Mama! I missed you too."

As Maribelle stepped back to get a good look at him, her nose twitched slightly. She leaned in, taking an exaggerated sniff near his collarbone.

Her sweet smile immediately flipped into a playful scowl.

"Phew! My goodness, Vinny! You stink! You reek of dirt, smoke, and... is that draconic saliva on your wings?!"

"Well, yeah... I’ve been flying through forests, breaking in and out from prison caves, and fighting elves and bandits for the past two days–"

"Nope! Absolutely not!" Maribelle grabbed his wrist and dragged him up the stairs toward the master bath. "You are telling me every single detail of what happened, but we are doing it while we take a proper bath!"

"Sweet! Not gonna lie, a bath sounds amazing right now."

....

Minutes later, after a thorough scrubbing and shower, the mother and son sank into the gargantuan, steamy marble tub. The water was infused with soothing floral oils and rejuvenating properties.

Vincent leaned back and rested the back of his head comfortably against his mother’s bare chest as the warm water lapped at their shoulders. Maribelle giggled softly, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind and pulling him tight against her.

"Ahhh... man, I needed this. You have no idea how bad it is to sleep on a dirt floor in a forest."

"Haha. I do, actually. Now, tell me everything. What happened after you got pulled into Pristina?"

"Hmm. Well, first off, I woke up in a prison cell next to my apparent white-haired girl named Maelle Ebony."

"Wait. Did you just say Ebony?"

"Yeah, why?"

"... Vinny. The Ebony family is... No. That’s in the past and he’s dead... You know what, I’ll let Maelle explain. Sorry about that, baby. You can continue."

"... Right. Anyways, turns out she was kidnapped by slave-trading bandits and nearly died before managing to summon me. Before passing out, she ordered me to take her away from that place.

"So I broke us out of the mountain prison and flew us through this never-ending forest. Once I found somewhere relatively safe, I healed her up. I couldn’t just leave her unconscious body in an unknown location, so I stayed the night with her.

"The next morning, after searching for people to give us directions to this place called the Imperial Capital, we got ambushed by elves who thought we were bandits. No worries though, they gave up as soon as I transformed.

"They took us to their place called the Silver-Leaf Sanctuary–"

"The Silver-Leaf Sanctuary?! I remember helping in building that place ago with your dada. We did it because we saved a bunch of them from slavery but had nowhere to put him. Ah the memories... Were they nice?"

"Eh. Kind of, I guess. In any case, we made a deal with their Elder – a blindfolded woman named Bran–"

"BRAN?! BRAN IS STILL ALIVE?! AND SHE’S THE ELDER OF THE SANCTUARY?!"

"You know Elder Bran?"

"Know her?! She’s the little brat who’s always trying to steal my Dusty! How the heck is she still alive after half a million years!?"

"C-Calm down, mama! It must be an elf thing!"

"Hmph! I don’t trust her. You need to be careful around her, Vinny. She might be thinking of sinking her dirty little mitts in you."

"Don’t worry. I doubt I’ll ever see her again, haha haha... Anyways, continuing the story; Maelle made a deal with Bran. If we could safely rescue their kidnapped elven children from the bandits, then she’ll safely guide us out the forest."

"Stolen children?! Oh, those vile, disgusting bandits! Tell me you pulverized them, Vinny!"

"Oh, I totally erased their mountain," Vincent smirked proudly.

"I fought this huge dinosaur-with-scales looking monster and used a divine punch to detonate it and its master. Now the kids are all safe back at the sanctuary, Maelle and this raven-haired elf called Roxa are heading to the imperial capital while I rest up here."

"Oh, my brave little hero... you did so well. I’m so proud of you, baby." She kissed the top of his head softly.

"And I’m glad you didn’t faint when I came back this time."

"Haha. I knew once you were in Pristina, it wouldn’t be long before you’d come back since time here and there isn’t dilated. Though... the longer you take, the more my motherly instincts make me worry."

"Hey, don’t worry about me, Mama. Nat and Dee taught me well. My combat and survival instincts are topnotch."

"I know, baby... I know."

A sly, mischievous smirk suddenly curved her lips.

"Speaking of Nat... you two kind of left things on a massive cliffhanger before you got summoned the day before yesterday. You still haven’t responded to her confession."

Vincent’s cheeks flushed red as he splashed the water awkwardly. "A-Ah... yeah. That..."

Maribelle leaned over his shoulder and looked at him with playful eyes of curiosity. "So? How do you actually feel about Natasha, Vinny?"

"I mean... Obviously, I love her too," he muttered softly. "I’ve loved her for a really long time. When I see her... I’m going to accept her confession."

"EEEEEK~!"

Maribelle squealed in delight, rubbing her soft cheek against his and wrapping her legs around while squeezing him tighter. "I’m so, so happy for you both! My baby boy is going to get his first girlfriend!"

"Haha! Mama, stop! Honestly, I’m kind of surprised by your reaction!"

"Surprised? Why would I be surprised?"

’Because you’re super clingy and protective over me.’ "Dunno. Thought you’d disapprove of her or something."

"Haaa. While I am a tiny bit sad that your attention will be split between me and Nat now... I’m far happier for her. Natasha has never expressed those kinds of romantic feelings for anyone in her entire life. Plus... she’s my best friend alongside Deina."

Her expression suddenly drifted into a worried frown. "Speaking of Deina... I’m actually a little worried about her–"

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Mari! Mari, Are you in there?"

"Dee! Yes! I’m in here with my baby!"

"LITTLE BIRD IS BACK?!"

"Hey, Dee!" Vincent called out. "I’m back!"

SLAM!

The bathroom doors burst open. Seeing Vincent resting comfortably on Maribelle’s bare chest in the steaming tub, her golden eyes flashed with absolute delight.

"VINNY!"

SPLASH!

Deina dived straight into the giant marble tub fully clothed, creating a massive tidal wave of warm water.

She erupted from the surface, splashing over to Vincent and wrapping her arms around his neck in a smothering hug.

"Little Bird! You’re back! I missed you so much!"

She fondled his blue hair as she stared deeply into his sapphire eyes.

Her gaze glazed with a sudden, intense affection. Leaning in dangerously close, she pressed her supple chest against his and tilted her head as her glossy lips parted, going straight in for a deep, passionate kiss–

"Okay, okay! That’s more than enough from you, Dee!"

Before her lips could touch his, Maribelle snatched Vincent and flew out the tub.

Maribelle landed gracefully on the dry floor beside a woven basket of fresh, fluffy towels and clean clothes. "Come, baby. Let me dry you."

"Alright."

"So unfair, Mari~! You get him all to yourself!"

Maribelle leaned in close to him and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss, before slipping her tongue. A surge of warm divine power poured into his body, vaporizing every drop of water on his skin and hair, leaving him completely dry, warm, and refreshed.

"There. All done."

Unbothered by her motherly fussing, Vincent stood completely relaxed as Maribelle began sliding a clean white shirt and dark trousers onto his body, his limbs moving automatically to accommodate her as if he was used to this.

Which he was.

As she buttoned his shirt, Vincent turned his head toward the dripping wet Goddess in the tub. "Hey, Dee... where’s Nat? Did she come with you?"

Maribelle’s hands paused slightly on his shirt collar. "Ah... right. About Nat..."

Deina leaned back against the edge of the marble pool, resting her chin on her hand with her signature smirk.

"Ever since your little summon incident; Nat has been sulking at her home in despair. You better hurry over to her place and snap her out of it before she turns into a Fallen Goddess."

’A Fallen Goddess?’

"All done!" Maribelle patted Vincent’s chest, stepping back to admire her fully dressed son.

"You can use my divine smartphone on the bedside table in the bedroom, Vinny. Just look up Nat’s contact, and it will give you her coordinates to her home."

Vincent beamed, giving his mother a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Mama! You’re the best! See ya later, Dee!"

"Bye, Little Bird! Good luck with Nat!"

As his presence faded down the hall, Maribelle looked at Deina floating in the tub with a sad smile.

"You know... you could have told him how you feel, Dee. You love him just as much as Nat does."

Deina’s sad smile faded into an unbothered look. Taking her hands off her chin, she leaned her head back against the marble edge, staring up at the ceiling.

"And what kind of best friend would I be if I stole Nat’s spotlight right when she finally built up the courage to confess?"

"So you’re content with just hiding your feelings? Dancing around him forever?"

"Dancing is my favorite pastime. Besides... imagine all the endless material I’ll have to tease Nat with once those two are officially together! It’s going to be glorious!"

Maribelle shrugged, turning toward the door. "Suit yourself, Dee."

"Hey Mari! You should really get Vinny his own smartphone! I wanna talk to him at night!"

As Maribelle walked out of the bathroom, closing the doors behind her, silence fell over the steamy room.

Deina floated alone in the tub. Slowly, she sank down into the water until her lips were submerged beneath the surface, letting out a soft trail of tiny bubbles.

She then sat up and looked at her pathetic smile reflected on the surface of the water.

"...Of course I want to be in the spotlight. But I’m scared..." she whispered as her golden eyes glistened with longing affection.