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A light breeze blew by, sending flurries all around them. Sarah smiled as she shielded her eyes, keeping her gaze on the scene in front of her. Charlie was on his knees, wrapping the scarf around their daughter's neck and face while she giggled. Rex was trotting around them, claws keeping him from slipping on the ice they all stood on.
Mina laughed as her dad stood away from her, only to stumble and fall on his ass. She glided around him as Rex beelined for the downed man to smother him in licks. Spluttering through the assault, Charlie tried, to no avail, to push the overly excited German Shepherd away from his face. Sarah joined her daughter's laughter as she skidded to a stop next to her husband.
“Come on, Rex. Give Charlie some space,” she told the dog, giggling, extending a hand to help Charlie to his feet.
He wobbled, holding onto her, then slowly let go as he regained his balance. He glanced between his wife and daughter, a smile gracing his face.
“Well, I know who she gets those skills from.” he winked at Sarah, causing her to laugh again.
“Really?” she teased. “And who would that be?”
“Who? Well, me, of course!” he answered brightly, pushing forward on his skates.
Only to yelp a moment later as Rex plowed into him, pushing him into a mound of snow at the edge of the ice rink.
“Obviously” Sarah answered with a laugh as she stopped next to him. She glanced back towards their daughter, watching her glide gracefully across the ice.
Charlie huffed as he pushed himself off the snowy ground, shaking the snow from his head. Seeing Sarah watching Mina, he grinned mischievously. Leaning back on his knees he reached out, swiftly grabbing her hand and pulling hard.
With a yelp Sarah went down, a cloud of snowflakes thrown in the air by her fall.
“You guys are so silly.” Mina commented as she reached them. Rex barked in agreement, joining the 5 year-old on the ice so she could pat him.
Caught in Charlie's bear hug, Sarah struggled in vain to get off him, only for her husband to roll them around with a laugh.
Now kneeling over her, Charlie looked down at his wife with a smile. As he leaned in for a kiss, Sarah waited for his eyes to close before shoving a handful of snow in his face. She laughed as he pouted, snow stuck in his beard and eyebrows, then pulled him down to lock their lips together.
“Gross!” Mina yelled out before skating away, leaving her parents to their business.
Half an hour later, the trio and Rex were bundled up inside the chalet they had rented for the week. Snuggling under thick blankets and sipping hot cocoa in front of the roaring fire, Mina was laughing as Sarah kept teasing Charlie about his skating skills.
Lights flickered across their contented faces, the wind howling quietly in the background. Sarah glanced at Charlie, taking in his thoughtful expression.
“Feeling nervous?” she asked, smiling softly.
He glanced at her, squeezing her hand under the blanket.
“Not that much. It's just...” he trailed off for a moment, before letting out a sigh.
“Things will be quite different starting next month, yeah. I'm just trying to come to terms with it I guess.”
“Yeah.” she answered, ruffling Rex's fur as the dog leaned its head on her lap.
“Papa will be the best super... super... superhero!” Mina exclaimed.
The two adults laughed.
“Superintendent, sweetie.” Sarah corrected, flicking their daughter's nose and making her giggle.
“Seeing Uncle Joe as the chief is going to be nice, too.” Charlie added, winking at her.
“Yeah! And Rex will be able to stay at home with me, now!” Mina beamed, grabbing the dog's head to hug it.
Rex barked gently, licking her face. The grey fur on his muzzle was more pronounced now, but he was still eyeing them with the sharp gleam in his eyes that was so familiar to Charlie and Sarah.
“He might come into work with me a few times a week, you know. Especially when you start school, pumpkin.” Charlie added, much to their daughter's chagrin.
“Nooo,” she whined. “Rex will come with me to school! I'll show everyone how cool he is!”
“And sometimes he'll come to work with me!” Sarah interjected, nudging Mina playfully.
Mina huffed slightly, puffing her cheeks as she looked at her parents.
“Fiiiiine,” she drawled out. “I guess I can share Rex with you two.”
Sarah got quiet for a moment, which Charlie noticed. He turned towards her, worried.
“Everything ok, Sarah?”
She smiled shyly, glancing between the three other members of her family.
“Mina.” she said softly, waiting for her daughter to look at her. Sarah glanced at Charlie for a moment before continuing. “Do you think you'd be able to share Rex with someone else as well?”
“What? Who wants Rex too?” Mina asked worriedly.
“You haven't met them yet,” Sarah answered. Gently she leaned forward, letting the blanket fall off of her. She then placed her hand on her belly, a smile blooming on her face.
“Would you mind sharing Rex with your younger brother or sister?”
Silence met her words, Mina thinking it over seriously while Charlie gaped at his wife.
“Sarah?” he croaked. “Are you... Do you mean..?” he trailed off.
She smiled at him, nodding with tears in her eyes.
“Yes, Charlie. I'm... I'm pregnant.” she chuckled wetly, emotions overcoming her.
Charlie was suddenly a storm of movement. He stumbled off the couch, struggling to free himself from the blanket before coming to a sudden stop in front of the love of his life.
Gathering himself he knelt on the couch in front of Sarah, reaching out for her. Stroking her arms he smiled at her, the expression lighting up his face in ways Sarah had rarely seen.
“We're going to have another baby!”
Charlie laughed, tears of happiness streaming down his face. He leaned forward, reaching out to pull Mina close to his side, hugging Sarah and leaving space for Rex to sneak into the family hug.
Rex barked, happy to be included, and licked all of his humans' faces, tail wagging. Mina spluttered, then joined in the happy laughter of her parents.
Life was about to get even more exciting for the small family. But they were ready for it, looking forward to the new changes.