You're at a friend's party and after partying for a while you start feeling tired so you decide to find a quiet place to relax. After looking around the house for a bit you accidentally stumble into a room

You look around and see your friend's twin sister, Selene lying on the bed in the corner of the room. She looks at you surprised and quickly sits up in bed, settling on the edge of it as she looks at you.

You quickly apologize to her but she just sighs and shrugs slightly "It's fine, no need to worry..." She says and gives you a small smile "You can stay here for a bit if you want too..." She says in a quiet and hushed tone before patting the spot next to her on the bed

"Um... Hey? Rico?" She calls after him, sounding a little worried now that he's left her room suddenly like that. She stands up and walks over to the doorway to watch him go, biting her lower lip nervously as she wonders if she did something wrong or if he was just embarrassed about coming into her room. She hadn't meant for it to sound like an invitation...

"Oh, hi Gabby..." She says with a soft smile as her twin sister enters the room. She glances back at the doorway to see Rico disappearing down the hallway before looking back at her sister "He was just here for a bit, but he left... I think he went to find another quiet spot."

"Oh..." Gabby says with a frown before turning back to Selene and leaning in a little conspiratorially. She whispers into her ear, "You should go talk to him you know..."

"Really?" She whispers back, her eyes going wide with surprise. "I didn't know... I mean, he looked familiar but..." She trails off, blushing slightly as she remembers how close they were before Rico left. "I-I should probably talk to him then, huh?"

"Yeah..." Gabby nods in agreement and grins at her sister playfully "You know you want to."

"Wha-what?" She squeaks out, her cheeks flaming red now as realization dawns on her. "No way... That can't be..." Selene shakes her head slowly, still not quite believing it even though she knows it has to be true. Rico was the one who looked familiar and who she'd had such a crush on for years.

"Yeah, I'm serious." Gabbie giggles, nudging Selene with her elbow playfully. "

"I-I did not!" Selene protests, even though she knows it's a lie. Her face burns even hotter at the memory of telling her parents about how cute she thought Rico was. "Well..." She mumbles, looking away and blushing even more deeply. "Maybe I did... But he probably doesn't even know that I exist."

"Nah," Gabby says with a grin, shaking her head. "I doubt that. Come on, let's go find him together."

She takes a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach as she follows Gabbie out of the room and back down the hallway. Her heart races a mile a minute as they search for Rico among the partygoers, finally spotting him standing near one of the windows on the other side of the house. Selene's cheeks heat up even more at the sight of him; he looks so handsome in his suit, even if it is a bit formal for a casual party like this.

Courage mustering, Selene takes a few steps forward until she's standing right in front of Rico. She tries to think of what to say but all that comes out is a squeaky "H-hey..." Her eyes dart away from his face, feeling even more self-conscious now than before.

Rico looks surprised for a moment before a slow smile spreads across his lips. "Oh hey there," he says in that smooth voice she's always loved. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"It's fine, really..." She murmurs, biting her lower lip nervously as she glances up at him from under her eyelashes. "Gabby just wanted me to make sure you were feeling okay." She pauses, looking back down at the floor again. "And... I wanted to say hi too, I guess."

Rico chuckles softly and leans in a little closer, his breath fanning gently against her cheek as he whispers, "Hi there, Selene."

Her heart flutters wildly in her chest as Rico speaks, his warm breath tickling her skin and sending shivers down her spine. "You're... um..." Selene trails off, unable to form a coherent thought let alone another sentence. She tries again, mustering up all the courage she can. "I-I've seen you in some things before," she admits sheepishly, gesturing vaguely in Rico's direction as if that explains anything.

"Um... Well..." She hesitates again, feeling more and more awkward by the second. "You were on some TV shows I watch..." Another pause. "And you were in this movie that came out last year." Selene's face flushes even brighter at the memory of sneaking off to the theater with her best friend just to see Rico's film.

Rico laughs, shaking his head as he looks down at her. "Oh wow, really?"

"It's no big deal," she protests with a small smile. "I mean, I like your work." She pauses, looking up at him from beneath her lashes again. "You're... really handsome in person too," she whispers, feeling herself blush even harder as soon as the words leave her mouth.

Rico chuckles, reaching out to gently cup her cheek with his hand. "Oh Selene..." He whispers, looking into her eyes intently. "You are so sweet."

Her heart skips a beat as Rico touches her face; it sends shivers down her spine and makes her feel warm all over. "I-I don't know..." She stammers, looking away briefly before meeting his gaze again. "You just are... You have this... charm about you."

Rico smiles softly at her words, leaning in closer still until their faces are only inches apart. His eyes drift down to her lips, lingering there for a moment before he finally speaks again. "

Her breath catches in her throat as Rico moves even closer, their bodies almost touching now. She can feel the heat radiating off him, making her heart race even faster. As he leans in even more, she parts her lips instinctively, waiting for his kiss.

But instead of pressing his mouth against hers, Rico hands her a folded piece of paper. "Here," he murmurs, his voice hoarse with emotion. "This is a ticket to the premiere of my next film."

Her heart sinks a little as she realizes what's happening; Rico doesn't want to kiss her after all. She takes the ticket from him, feeling both disappointed and relieved at the same time. "T-thank you," she manages to say, looking up at him through her lashes. "I... I really appreciate it."

Rico smiles down at her, his gaze flickering between her eyes before he finally steps back, breaking the contact. "You're welcome."

Lying in bed late into the night, Selene can't help but replay the entire encounter with Rico over and over again in her mind. A part of her is disappointed that he didn't kiss her like she thought he might; another part is relieved at the same time. It was still such a surreal experience to be so close to him, to feel his breath on her skin...

She glances down at the ticket in her hand, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

She glances up as Gabbie enters the room, a grin spreading across her face when she sees her sister. "I can't sleep," she admits with a yawn, shrugging off the covers and sitting up on the bed. "Too much excitement tonight."

Gabbie laughs softly, walking over to sit down on the edge of Selene's bed. "Well, I think you have something else to look forward to,"

"His what?" Selene asks in surprise, her eyes widening. "You mean... he's never kissed anyone before? Really?" A small gasp escapes her lips as the implications of this sink in. If that's true, then not only did she nearly get to kiss Rico, but she might have been his first ever kiss!

Gabbie nods slowly, looking amused by Selene's shocked expression. "Yeah... At least, that's what he told me once."

Torn between excitement and nervousness, Selene lies awake for hours after this conversation with Gabbie. The thought of finally telling Rico how she feels, about admitting her crush on him... It both thrills and terrifies her at the same time. Finally, just as the sun begins to rise outside her window, she decides that she needs to do something. Tomorrow, when they're back at school, she's going to find Rico and tell him how she really feels.

The next day finds Selene pacing nervously outside the doors of her English classroom, her heart racing a mile a minute as she tries to work up the courage to go inside. She takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders, finally pushing open the door and stepping into the room. Rico is already there, sitting at his desk near the front of the class, looking as handsome as ever in his uniform.

"H-hey Rico," she says hesitantly, walking slowly towards him. "I-I just wanted to... say something."

Her cheeks feel hot and flushed as her gaze darts between Rico's face and the floor. She takes another deep breath, forcing herself to meet his eyes again. "I-I just wanted you to know that... I think you're really amazing," she says in a quiet voice. "And... well, I've had a crush on you for as long as I can remember."

There's a moment of silence as Rico processes this information.

Her heart leaps into her throat as Rico speaks; she can feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "R-really?" she asks, hardly daring to hope that he means it.

Rico smiles softly and nods, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah... really." His fingers linger on her skin for a moment before pulling away, and his smile grows wider as he says, "I think you're pretty amazing too, Selene."

The world fades away as Rico leans in closer, his lips pressing against hers. Selene closes her eyes, feeling a shiver of delight run down her spine at the contact. She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer as their kiss deepens. As they share this moment together, she can't help but feel like all of her dreams have come true.

When Rico finally pulls back, he gazes into her eyes with an expression of such adoration that Selene is left speechless. "

A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she thinks about this newfound happiness. "How about tonight?" she suggests, reaching up to brush a stray hair from Rico's forehead. "We could go out for dinner and then maybe see a movie or something."

Rico chuckles softly, leaning down to press another kiss to her lips. "Sounds perfect," he whispers before pulling back with a grin. "I'll meet you outside the school after classes, okay?"

The rest of the day passes in a blur of excitement and nervous energy as Selene counts down the minutes until she can be with Rico again. Finally, the last bell rings and she dashes out of her classroom, hurrying to meet him outside. When she sees him standing there, looking just as handsome as ever in his casual clothes, a smile lights up her face and she feels butterflies dance in her stomach all over again.

"Hey you," Rico says with a grin, reaching out to take her hand. "

She nods eagerly, squeezing his hand back as they begin to walk together. The rest of the evening is filled with laughter and conversation as they get to know each other better over dinner and then at the movies. As they stroll along the boardwalk afterwards, Selene can't help but feel like this was just the beginning of something truly incredible.

"So," Rico says, breaking the comfortable silence that has fallen between them, "what do you want to do now?"

She glances up at him through her lashes, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Well," she begins with a dramatic sigh, "I was thinking... since it's our first date and all..." She trails off teasingly, leaving Rico to wonder what exactly she has planned.

"And?" Rico prompts, grinning down at her. He can feel his heart racing in anticipation of whatever she's about to suggest.

With a mischievous glint in her eye, Selene takes Rico's hand and pulls him towards an abandoned carousel that sits on the edge of the boardwalk. "I was thinking... we could ride this," she says with a shrug, as if it's no big deal.

Rico laughs, shaking his head in amusement. "You are something else, you know that?" He follows her over to the carousel, taking a seat on one of the colorful wooden horses as she climbs up onto another.

As the carousel begins to turn, Selene leans back against the horse's neck, watching Rico with a contented smile on her face. The wind ruffles through her hair and she can feel the warmth of his gaze upon her as they ride together in silence for a while.

Finally, Rico breaks the silence. "This is perfect," he says softly, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. "I've always loved carousels."

As they continue to ride, Selene allows herself to daydream about what their future together could hold. A warmth spreads through her chest at the thought of spending the rest of her life with Rico; it feels so right, so natural. She wonders if he feels the same way...

Eventually, the carousel comes to a halt and they climb down from their horses, laughing as their legs wobble beneath them. "Well," Selene says, linking her arm through Rico's, "

I think we've had enough fun for one night. Shall we head home?" She looks up at him with a hopeful expression, silently begging him to continue on this journey with her.

Rico smiles down at her, his eyes filled with love and adoration. "Yeah," he says softly, "I think that sounds like a great idea." He leans in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before leading her away from the carousel and back towards their shared future.

The wedding was a perfect day; sunny skies, blooming flowers, and the love of their family and friends surrounding them. As Selene stands beside her soon-to-be husband, she can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment wash over her.

Rico looks at her with so much love in his eyes that it takes her breath away. He reaches out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face, the simple gesture speaking volumes about their connection.

"

She smiles up at him, feeling a tear slip down her cheek. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," she whispers, squeezing his hand tightly. "And no matter what happens, I'll always love you."

As they exchange their vows and seal their commitment with a kiss, Selene knows that this is the beginning of a new chapter in her life; one filled with endless love, laughter, and happiness thanks to the man standing beside her.

As they walk back down the aisle as husband and wife, Selene can't help but glance around at all the familiar faces that have come to share in their special day. Her parents beam with pride beside her siblings, who are grinning from ear to ear. Rico's friends look on with happy tears in their eyes, and she knows they approve of this new chapter as well.

When they reach the front of the church, Rico turns to face her and takes both of her hands in his. "Thank you,"

he whispers fiercely, "for giving me the courage to take a chance on us." She feels her heart swell at his words, knowing that she's given him just as much strength and love in return.

Together they step out into the world as husband and wife; ready to face whatever challenges and joys life has in store for them... together.

Two weeks into their honeymoon, Selene and Rico are relaxing on a secluded beach, lazing under a colorful umbrella as the sun dips lower in the sky. The warm breeze carries the scent of saltwater and tropical flowers, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore provides a soothing background to their conversation.

"So," Rico says casually, rolling onto his side to face her, "I've been meaning to ask you...

Her heart skips a beat as she meets his gaze. This is it; the moment she's been waiting for since they first started dating. She swallows hard and nods, hopeful and nervous all at once. "Yes?"

Rico smiles mischievously, running his fingers through her hair. "I was wondering if you were ready... to take the next step." His meaning sinks in, and Selene feels a blush creeping up her neck.

She bites her bottom lip, trying to decide how she should respond. On one hand, she's incredibly excited at the prospect of finally sharing this intimate moment with Rico; on the other, there's a part of her that wants to savor it, make sure they're both ready and comfortable.

After what feels like an eternity, she looks up into his eyes and says softly, "I... I think so."

The words send a shiver through her as Rico leans in to kiss her. His lips are warm and gentle against hers, coaxing her closer until she feels the heat of his body pressed against hers. She wraps her arms around his neck, arching into him as their desire grows, unspooling like a ribbon from deep within them both.

When they finally part for air, Rico looks down at her with an expression that makes her heart skip a beat. "Are you sure?"

She nods, unable to form words as they both stand up and head back towards their private cabana. The walk seems to take forever as the anticipation builds inside her, making it hard to focus on anything but the feel of Rico's hand in hers. When they finally reach their destination, she can barely contain her excitement as he leads her inside, closing the curtains to ensure that they'll have privacy.

"Anything I want?" she repeats, tilting her head to one side as she meets his eyes.

His words send a thrill of power coursing through her veins. She can feel the heat growing between them, and knows that this is it; their chance to finally make love for the first time. Slowly, she reaches up to untie his shirt, revealing the toned chest beneath. Rico groans softly as she runs her fingers over his defined abs before trailing lower still, unable to resist exploring every inch of him.

She nods, not trusting herself to speak as Rico's hands move to undo the buttons of her dress. The fabric falls away, revealing her lacy bra and the curve of her breasts before sliding down her body to pool at her feet. Rico gasps softly at the sight, his eyes trailing over her naked flesh with a hunger that matches her own.

He helps her out of her dress, tossing it aside before pulling her close again, their bodies pressed tightly together as they seek relief from this aching need.

It's almost too much to bear; the feel of Rico's erection pressing against her through their underwear, his hot breath on her neck, his hands roaming freely over her skin. She arches into him, moaning softly as she feels the head of his cock brush against her entrance.

"Are you ready for me?" he whispers, voice rough with desire. Selene nods frantically, unable to form words as she's overcome by this overwhelming need to be taken by him.

When Rico finally pushes inside her, it's like nothing she could have imagined; hot and tight and impossibly good. She cries out at the sensation, her body arching up to meet his as he begins to thrust deeper, harder. The bed creaks beneath them as they find their rhythm, lost in the passion of the moment.

As Rico moves within her, she feels a building pressure deep inside, and with a loud cry she comes, her body tensing around him as waves of pleasure wash over her.

Rico's thrusts grow faster and harder as he feels the tension coiling tight within himself. With a hoarse cry, he gives in to the release, pulsing inside her as his orgasm washes over them both. They collapse together on the bed, breathing hard as their bodies twitch with aftershocks of pleasure.

It's only once they've caught their breath that Selene realizes how right this feels; how much she loves Rico and wants to spend the rest of her life with him.

As the passion begins to fade, Selene smiles up at Rico, a mischievous glint in her eye. "That was fun," she says teasingly, running her fingers along his chest. "But I think we could both go another round." She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, hoping to see the same desire reflected back in his eyes.

Rico groans softly and rolls onto his side to face her, propping himself up on one elbow. "You are insatiable,"

She laughs, arching her back as he trails his hand down over her stomach and lower still, cupping her through the damp curls of her pubic hair. "I can't wait," she whispers, reaching up to wrap her fingers in his hair and pull him closer for a kiss.

As they begin their second round of lovemaking, Selene feels the familiar tension building within her once more, and she knows that tonight will be one of endless pleasure and intimacy between them.

Their lovemaking continues throughout the night, fueled by their intense desire for one another and the knowledge that this is just the beginning of something truly amazing. As the sun begins to peek through the curtains, casting a warm golden light across the bed, Selene sighs contentedly, nestled in Rico's embrace.

"I love you," she whispers sleepily, her words muffled against his chest. She feels him shift slightly before he wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her closer still.

She blinks blearily at the ceiling, trying to orient herself in this unfamiliar room before her gaze lands on Rico, still fast asleep beside her. A contented smile spreads across her face as she takes in his features; the way his hair sticks up in all directions from sleep, the soft stubble shadowing his jawline, the way his chest rises and falls with each breath.

She's just about to drift back off when she feels a sudden surge of desire welling up inside her. With a quiet groan, Selene rolls onto her side to face Rico, taking in his sleeping form once more. The memory of their lovemaking the night before is still fresh in her mind, and she can't help but wonder what it would be like to have him inside her again.

She jumps at the sound of his voice, startled out of her thoughts. Rico blinks blearily up at her from where he's propped on one elbow, his hair falling over one eye. "Morning," she whispers back, unable to keep the heat from her voice as she takes in his tousled appearance.

Her cheeks flush at his directness, but she can't deny the truth of his words. "I... I just want you," she admits softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Rico grins lazily before leaning in to kiss her, his lips warm and gentle against hers.

After their lovemaking session, Selene feels more connected with Rico than ever before. They spend the rest of the day exploring the resort together, holding hands and laughing as they stroll along the beach or swim in one of the many pools. The warmth between them is palpable, and Selene can't help but feel grateful for this new chapter in their relationship; a chapter filled with love, trust, and endless passion.

"What's the Alaskan Malamute House?" she asks curiously, her grip tightening on Rico's hand. He smiles down at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"You'll see," he says mysteriously, leading her through the resort to a secluded area in the back where a sign proclaiming "Alaskan Malamute House" hangs on a wooden post.

The Alaskan Malamute House turns out to be a small petting zoo, filled with adorable dogs of all shapes and sizes. Rico leads her over to a particular pen where a group of the fluffy white dogs are playing together, their tails wagging furiously as they welcome them into their space.

"They're so cute!" Selene exclaims, reaching down to pet one of the dogs who immediately comes over and nuzzles her hand for attention. "I had no idea there was a house just for these guys."

As they continue to play with the dogs, Selene can't help but feel a strange connection to these animals; their strength, their loyalty, and their unconditional love all resonating deep within her. She wonders if Rico feels the same way...

Finally, Rico turns to her with a mischievous glint in his eye. "You know what would be even better than just visiting them?" he asks, leading her away from the pens and out of earshot of the other guests.

"Really?" she squeaks, barely able to contain her excitement. "You'd want that?" Rico grins down at her, his expression fond and teasing all at once.

"Well," he says with a shrug, "it is your birthday soon... And what better present than a new puppy?" Selene can feel tears stinging the backs of her eyes as she throws herself into Rico's arms, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you,"

She nods vigorously, her heart swelling with happiness. "I'd love to have him." Together, they return to the pen where their new puppy is playing and introduce themselves to the shelter staff, filling out the adoption paperwork with excitement and anticipation. Soon enough, they're loading a crate into their car, the fluffy white dog yipping happily as he settles in for the ride home.

Over the next few weeks, Snowy becomes a beloved member of their family; joining them on walks along the beach, cuddling up with them on the couch while they watch movies, and even accompanying them to the gym for workouts. Rico and Selene both find joy in teaching him new tricks and playing fetch together in the backyard.

As they grow closer as a family with their new addition, Selene can't help but feel grateful for Rico;

As they grow closer as a family with their new addition, Selene can't help but feel grateful for Rico; for the way he opened himself up to her and showed her a love she never knew existed. It's in these moments that she knows, without a doubt, that she wants to spend the rest of her life with him; raising families together, facing whatever challenges come their way side by side.

"Rico,"

She takes his hand in hers as they stand on the beach watching Snowy frolic in the surf, and she feels a new sense of resolve welling up inside her. "I love you," she says simply, looking up at him with shining eyes. "And I want... more."

Her meaning is clear, and Rico's answering smile tells her everything she needs to know. He leans down, pressing his lips to hers in a tender, passionate kiss that speaks volumes about the depth of their feelings for one another.

As they walk back toward the house, Selene's hand still entwined with Rico's, she knows that their future together is bright and full of possibilities. And with Snowy by their side, they'll face whatever comes their way - as a family.

Back at home, life settles into a comfortable rhythm for Rico, Selene, and Snowy. They spend their days exploring the expansive grounds of their mansion, going on long walks through the woods or relaxing by the pool. In the evenings, they often gather in front of the fireplace, enjoying each other's company as they share stories and laughter.

As the weeks turn into months, Selene finds herself growing closer to Rico;

Whenever she looks at Rico, she sees not only her soulmate but also a part of herself reflected back. The bond they share is unbreakable, and it's this connection that makes her feel confident enough to make such a bold request. Her eyes meet his as she speaks, her heart racing with anticipation for his reaction.

"I love you," she says simply, "and I want our family to grow. I want twins." Her words hang in the air between them, weighted with emotion and longing.

The shock of Rico's immediate agreement almost sends her reeling; it feels too good to be true. But as she looks over at Snowy, sitting loyally by her side with his tail wagging furiously, a new thought occurs to her. Perhaps... perhaps this is what fate has in store for them all along.

"Thank you," she whispers, leaning forward to press a kiss against Rico's lips before glancing down at Snowy with a smile. "I think we're going to need a bigger house."

Together, they dream of the future; of their twins running through the halls of their mansion, of the laughter and love that will fill every corner. And with Snowy by their side - or rather, in their bed - they know that no matter what challenges come their way, they'll face them as a family.

It's been a little over five months since Rico agreed to the idea of having twins with her. She'd gone to the doctor earlier that day for a routine checkup, but now as she leans against the counter in the kitchen, clutching at her stomach and trying not to throw up, she knows something is definitely wrong.

"Rico," she gasps out between heaves, "I don't feel well." Rico looks up from where he's sitting on the couch with Snowy, concern etched into his features.

As they drive to the doctor's office, Selene can barely keep her eyes open; exhaustion weighing down on her like a lead blanket. The nausea continues to come in waves, making it difficult for her to concentrate on anything else but the feeling of her stomach rolling and churning.

When they finally arrive at the doctor's office, Rico helps her out of the car and up the steps, leading her inside where a nurse takes her back to an examination room.

Hours later, after several tests and a long wait, the doctor finally emerges from the hallway with a grave expression on his face. Rico and Selene exchange worried glances as he sits down beside her, hands folded in his lap.

"The test results came back," he says quietly, "and I'm afraid they indicate that you are not carrying twins." Her heart drops into her stomach at his words; a cold dread settling over her like a blanket of snow. "In fact," the doctor continues, "

you're carrying triplets." Rico and Selene exchange wide-eyed glances as the reality of their situation sinks in; three babies growing inside her. The doctor explains that while it's rare, it does happen occasionally, and they will need to monitor her closely over the next few months to ensure both she and the babies remain healthy.

As they drive home from the doctor's office, Selene can't help but feel a mix of excitement and terror washing over her.

As the months pass, Selene finds herself growing larger and larger with each passing day. Her pregnancy progresses smoothly despite her initial concerns, and she takes comfort in knowing that Rico is right there by her side; supportive and loving as ever. They spend their days planning for the arrival of their triplets, painting the nursery walls a cheerful shade of yellow and picking out tiny onesies and booties.

The day finally arrives when Selene goes into labor, and she and Rico rush to the hospital together.

After what seems like an eternity of pain and exhaustion, Selene finally hears the sound of tiny cries echoing through the delivery room; three healthy baby girls have been born. As they're placed on her chest for skin-to-skin contact, tears of relief and joy stream down her cheeks.

"Oh my goodness," she whispers, looking up at Rico with a mixture of awe and disbelief, "they're perfect."

As the weeks turn into months and the triplets grow stronger and more independent, Selene finds herself marveling at the bond she shares with her husband and children. It's a love that transcends anything she ever could have imagined; fierce and unyielding in its protectiveness yet gentle and giving in its nature.

And as they all sit together on the couch, watching cartoons or laughing over stories from their day, Selene knows that this is where she belongs - here with her family, surrounded by love and support.

The years pass quickly; the triplets growing into beautiful young girls who take after their mother in more ways than one. They share a close bond with both Rico and Selene, always looking out for each other and supporting one another through thick and thin.

As they get older, Selene can't help but feel a sense of pride swell up inside her as she watches them navigate the complexities of adolescence.