The night was still young, and the stars were shining bright in the sky. The warm glow of the fire lit up the faces of the family members as they sat together, all wrapped up in warm blankets. Antrodos and Laussinna were laughing heartily at one of Illyanna's jokes while Agnes snuggled close to her mother. Max was trying to teach Matterinna how to play a card game, but she was having a hard time keeping up. It was a perfect picture of a happy family, even though it was not complete.
Antrodos looked at the kids and smiled. "You guys have grown so much. I remember when you were just little ones running around the house," he said, feeling a little sad that he had missed out on so much of their lives.
Laussinna put her hand on his and gave it a squeeze. "We've missed a lot, but we'll make up for it," she said with a determined look on her face.
Max leaned his head on Agnes's shoulder, and Illyanna wrapped her arms around both of them. "I'm just glad we're all together now," he said, and the others nodded in agreement.
Matterinna was sitting a little apart from the others, watching them with a sad expression on her face. She had always admired this family, and wished she could have one of her own someday. But she knew that it was not possible, as she was just a maid.
Max noticed her looking sad and motioned for her to come and join them. "Come on, Matterinna, you're part of the family too," he said with a big smile on his face.
Matterinna's eyes widened, and she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice quivering with emotion.
"Of course," Max said, patting the space beside him. "We're all family here, and that includes you."
Matterinna felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, and she quickly made her way over to Max's side. She felt a little awkward at first, but the warmth of the family soon made her feel at home.
Antrodos passed her a cup of warm tea, and Laussinna offered her some of the freshly baked cookies. Max and Illyanna started to bicker about something, and Agnes looked up at Matterinna with a smile.
"It's good to have you here," she said softly, and Matterinna felt her heart swell with happiness.
As the night wore on, the family chatted and laughed, reminiscing about old times and making new memories. Matterinna was in awe of how close they all were, and how they always had each other's backs.
When it was time for bed, the family all hugged each other goodnight, and Matterinna felt a sense of belonging that she had never felt before. As she lay in bed, she smiled to herself, thinking about the happy family that she had found. She knew that she would always cherish this moment, and that she would do anything to protect this family, just as they had protected her in the past.
As she drifted off to sleep, she knew that she had found a new home, and a new family.