The Nightfall compound's private bath was a sight to behold—massive, luxurious, and designed with an elegant blend of natural beauty and refined craftsmanship. The bath could easily accommodate a hundred people, though tonight, it was just our family gathered under the soft glow of bioluminescent lights embedded into the stone. The steam rose in gentle tendrils from the water, carrying with it the faint scent of lavender and other calming herbs. The stonework around the bath shimmered with enchanted runes that kept the temperature perfectly soothing, and waterfalls trickled into the pool from multiple corners, adding a gentle soundtrack to the serene atmosphere.
As we all eased into the water, the playful energy from earlier was still present, but there was a deeper intimacy as well, the warmth of the bath only enhancing the closeness we felt.
"Rosé," Rosalia began as she stretched lazily, her eyes glinting mischievously in the soft light. "You've really outdone yourself with dinner tonight. I think we're all a little spoiled now."
"Well, I do what I can," I replied with a grin, leaning back against the smooth stone. "But it's not like any of you are lacking in spoiling me either."
Nadia, sitting beside Rosalia, laughed and splashed water playfully in my direction. "Oh, don't act like you don't love every second of it, Rosé."
I smirked, wiping the water from my face. "Maybe I do," I said, my tone teasing. "But only because you all make it impossible to resist."
Mira, who was seated on the other side of me, shook her head with a soft smile. "You always know how to say just the right thing," she remarked, resting a hand on my arm. "But, really, that pudding was something else. I think I felt more at peace with every bite."
"I'm glad you liked it," I replied, turning my gaze toward her. "I was trying to capture a little bit of the essence of Elysium in every spoonful."
"Essence of Elysium?" Hestia interjected from across the bath, raising an eyebrow. "Are you trying to show off again?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Wouldn't dream of it, Aunt Hestia. I just thought it would pair nicely with the Celestial Dew Salad."
Eldara leaned forward from where she sat beside Hestia, her platinum hair glimmering in the dim light. "It did," she said, her voice calm and serene as always. "Though I think you're going to have a hard time topping that meal next time."
"Next time, maybe I'll just let one of you cook for a change," I shot back playfully, glancing around the group.
"Let me?" Selene echoed from the far end of the bath, her violet eyes narrowing slightly, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "Since when do you let us do anything?"
Aurora, sitting beside her twin, laughed softly. "I think what he means is that he's far too used to being in control," she teased, glancing over at me with a wink. "Isn't that right, Rosé?"
I shrugged with a grin. "Maybe. Or maybe I just enjoy taking care of all of you."
Cassie, ever the shy one, spoke up from her spot near Seraphina. "Well, we enjoy being taken care of," she said quietly, though her words carried the warmth of sincerity. "You make everything feel so... safe."
"Safe?" Seraphina repeated, her golden eyes turning toward Cassie with a soft smile. "That's one way to put it. But I think it's more than that, Cassie. Rosé has a way of making everything feel... complete."
Illyana, who had been relaxing in the corner with her arms stretched out along the stone, tilted her head and grinned. "Complete, safe, spoiled—I mean, there's nothing Rosé *can't* do, is there?"
I laughed, shaking my head. "You all give me far too much credit."
"Far too little, more like," Nadia shot back, her red hair damp and sticking to her back as she moved closer to me. "You've always had a way of making everyone feel special, Rosé. That's why none of us can resist teasing you."
"Oh, is that why?" I teased, raising an eyebrow at her. "I thought you just liked seeing me flustered."
Nadia grinned. "Maybe a little bit of both."
Rosalia, who had been floating lazily beside us, interjected with a sly smile. "Speaking of flustered... Do you remember that time you tried to make us breakfast and nearly burned the entire kitchen down?"
Everyone laughed at that, the memory a distant but fond one.
"Hey, I was still learning!" I protested, though I couldn't help but laugh along with them.
"I seem to recall a lot of smoke," Liora chimed in from the opposite side, her teal eyes twinkling with amusement. "And not in the good way."
"At least the fire didn't spread too far," Autumn added with a grin. "You managed to contain it pretty quickly. Maybe that was the first time we realized you were good under pressure."
"Yeah, but he's always been good at that," Elara said, her voice calm and thoughtful as she rested her chin on her knees. "No matter what happens, Rosé is always there to make sure everything works out."
"That's because he thrives on chaos," Selene quipped, giving me a knowing smile. "He might look calm on the outside, but we all know there's a storm of power in there."
"She's not wrong," Aurora added, her golden hair glimmering as she moved closer. "But I think we all love him for that, too."
"Love him for a lot of things," Mira agreed, her soft voice filled with warmth. "Though tonight, I think I love him most for that dessert."
I grinned at her. "I'll have to remember that for next time."
"Speaking of next time," Illyana said, her tone turning playful once more, "what do you say we make a little bet on who gets the next surprise from you, Rosé?"
I raised an eyebrow at her. "A bet, huh? What are the stakes?"
"Simple," she replied with a mischievous grin. "Whoever wins gets to spend an entire day with you, alone. No interruptions."
The rest of the family exchanged curious glances, and soon, the bath was filled with a chorus of agreements and playful banter about who would win.
"Alright, alright," I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender. "You're all on. But don't say I didn't warn you when I make it difficult."
"That's exactly what we're counting on," Rosalia replied with a wink, her silver eyes glinting in the low light.
As the night continued, the laughter, teasing, and playful flirting only grew. The warmth of the bath, combined with the closeness of the family, made everything feel right. And though the conversation danced between teasing challenges and heartfelt moments, the unspoken truth was clear to all of us: this was our life, filled with love, laughter, and a bond that would never break.