"But Aira wants to ride horsie!"
The little girl threw both arms around Lara's leg, pressing her cheek against it as she whined.
"Horsie! Get down!"
Aiden joined in, smacking Lara's thigh with his tiny palm.
"Get down! Get down!"
Lara looked down at the two children clinging to her.
For a moment, she said nothing.
She wanted to refuse.
Every muscle in her body ached from the mission she had just returned from. Her limbs felt heavy, her head was still swimming with exhaustion, and all she wanted was to lie down somewhere quiet and close her eyes.
But she knew what would happen if the twins started crying.
If they complained to their mother...
Lara slowly exhaled.
Then she lowered herself to the floor, first onto her knees, then onto her hands.
"Fine."
The twins' faces immediately brightened. Their tears vanished as though they had never existed.
"Yay!"
Aiden grabbed a toy whip from the floor. Aira reached for another.
