A sudden benumb of confusion, tightened the young lady's heart as she arched an eyebrow, hearing the magical words which she had heard from her partner and certain people who appreciate and like her for what she is. But in this case, it was much different. Jude genuinely perceived the red-haired woman not only as her spiritual twin due to their similarities, moreover as a special person. One of the fewest female friends with whom she would have the ginormous pleasure to spill the tea and cry on her shoulder. Ramona and Charlotte were part of her female friends' group though they paid a visit to her colleague twice a month. Likewise, Jude's friendship with Valerie grew rapidly in the past months as they gained more mutual trust. Due to the fact, they were often along. Especially when Timothy's gone to work on weekdays. Leaving 2 women, his wife and their maid with Ellie and Tristan. 

"This incident that occured this week isn't as remarkable as our mutual trust and friendship, Val. You are sincere, sly and amazing person. You are outspoken as you aren't afraid which fool is going to criticize you." The older woman held the younger one"s hand in hers, exchanging gazes with smiles, as the first one was reliable and the another one a vulnerable.

Valerie had always being suppressed in her entire life like Jude. Valerie was a tough cookie just like her. Nonetheless, when she was in beloved or trustworthy people's presence, she isn't a tough cookie. She was as impotent and sweet as a cinnamon roll. The both women had grown with one parent, being bullied at school, having bad luck with men as it formed their character as they get used to ignore what the others think of them eventually, besides they are much potent characters especially in their adulthood. 

"That's so kind of you though I already know who I am." The younger woman murmured as Mrs.Howard observed her moving lips.

"I am proud of you, Val." Jude pat her friend's shoulder with her only free hand as they cackled along afterwards.

"You are so special for me, Judy." The younger woman uttered each syllable in low voice with a sunny, optimistic smile illuminating her face. 

A silence floated, encircling them with its shadows as Jude's smile grew abruptly as she heard those heartwarming, genuine words coming from the red-haired woman that sat next to her. In the interim, the former nun's hand released the maid's one as Valerie's hands transported on her hips, sensing her lukewarm palms contacting her creamy flesh. 

As they commenced to discuss something else as their topic changed, all of a sudden somethign struck them as they turned their faces to behold from where the click of unlocking gates's noise was coming. For Jude's surprise, Timothy was earlier at home. An euphoria reigned in her heart, freezing her mind immediately as she was numb to see the love of her life earlier back from work. It was just rarely when Mr.Howard is back at home earlier than the usual. It depends of his schedule and boss, of course. 

After the laquered in black iron gates' wings dissolved widely as the former priest stepped in his and his wife's territory, locking the gates as the both women got from the bench, walking up to him to welcome him as Jude cheerfully jumped into his protective arms, dangling her arms as they encircled his upper back whilst his around her mid back. Ms.Volkova couldn't help as she watched them with true delight, a coy, delighted smile developed on her face. On other hand, she had such powerful feelings for the blonde as she wished it was her woman. As soon as, she realised she had a woman next to her, she kicked out her lesbian thoughts on Jude after the couple swapped a short, however, loving, sweet kiss as Timothy moved on to greet the younger lady with a simple nod, kind words. 

"It's a surprise you are back at home earlier, sweetie." Mrs.Howard exclaimed as she gave him a sarcastic, tempting smile.

"I know. Ms.Lynch couldn't stop praising my hardwork as she allowed me to leave work earlier today." 

"That's great, Timothy. You deserve congratulations for this."

"...Thank you, rare bird!" He cupped her face in his both mammoth hands, pressing his lips on her forehead as her hands were on his shoulders, her thumb kneading his muscular, broad shoulders through his shirt's fabric. 

In the meanwhile, the young maid gaped at the magnificent, breathtaking diversity of flowers as they were distributed on plots. Her hazel green eyes were already lost in its polychromatic scenery as nothing else mattered to her, barely paying attention if anyone was nearby or not, walking up to the tulips plot as she crouched down, scrunitizing as she held delicetely with two fingers the tulip's leaf, the short, mildly prickly grass teasing her toes and feet's sensitive skin.

Suddenly the couple approached the crouched woman as they looked down at her, attempting to not scare her, whereas they had a maid, a guest who shouldn't underestimate as much as their love blinds the Howards. 

"I know you are behind me." Valerie exclaimed casually as she turned her back to face them as she looked up at them with a smirk spreading across her lips. It was particularly amusing she didn't flinch when she noted their presence behind her. 

"Glad to hear it." Jude replied amiably with a slight giggle. 

"I hope we didn't scare you." Timothy said.

"You haven't actually." She rose her body as she stood against them, patting the former monsignor's shoulder friendly as they chuckled altogether. "You are lucky." The younger woman mocked them.

"Eventually you are the lucky one who didn't flinch." The former nun exclaimed sarcastically.

"I don't get scared easily. I am fearless." 

"That's a God blessing." 

"There's no God. We have somebody who is somewhere in the sky, rulling us, nevertheless we don't have any clue who it could be." It was certainly evident that Ms.Volkova wasn't pious at all. Despite the Howards were slightly disappointed of her lack of belief in God and the heavenly stuff, they prefered to oppress their disappointment as they didn't want to awaken negative impressions beyond the young lady's worldview. 

"There's always someone who rules over us but I am clearly sure it's God."

After Jude expressed her opinion, the 3 adults entered in the house as Timothy let the ladies enter first, thereafter shutting the door as they walked up to the living room whilst Timothy kicked off his shoes, joining the ladies. 

What astonished Mr.Howard was actually that Ellie and Tristan weren't with them. He was sure that they were either sleeping or playing in their special room upstairs. As he wanted to make sure if the children were alright during the both women's discussion, he interrupted them as excused himself politely, asking Jude if their little angels were asleep in their cots, as a response in return he received that they were already asleep, taking an afternoon nap. 

Sometime later...

As the afternoon's lightness peaked, starting to descend the sun itself as it was the moon's turn to climb the heavenly, divine stairs in the nocturnal sky, dropping its moonlight spontaneously anywhere, the night was another tentative part of the day.

Whilst Timothy and Judy sat on the carpeted living room's floor, spending extra time with their children as they wanted to teach Ellie and Tristan to speak their first words fluently, without any struggling, the oldest child was in his mother's arms as she felt more relatively closer to her mother rather than to her father, whereas Tristan was baby Timothy.

The Howards family had already a dinner altogether as Jude decided to cook something more exoctic, connecting with the summer's vibes rather than her favorite meal of all time- Coq au Vin. 

"So you babyboy, can you say "dadda" or "mama"?" Timothy pinched playfully his son's nose as he looked up at his big chocolate eyes which reminded of him when he used to be a child. A typical resemblance as Mr.Howard can ideally see in his own son's brittle, fair complexion his younger self, excluding that Tristan is blond and has his mother's sweet button nose. 

Primarily, the little boy pursed his tiny lips as he sucked his thumb nervously as he stared with his huge chocolate brown eyes at his father's warm, sympathetic eyes, cooing beatifically as his father warned him that it's not good for him to suck his thumb with composed voice. 

"Da-da." The little boy uttered unfinished word as he opted to spell the word utterly, taking the first steps to abstain himself from using his limited vocabulary which is going to be part of his daily life until it improves, apprending a few more words.

"Close enough, cinnamon roll." Jude swinged her daughter in her arms as she watched how the younger child is trying to pronounce without difficulty his first word.

"Say it again, Tristan." 

"Mama." He turned his head away as he looked at his mother as he giggled gleefully to his mother as he felt pride in his wee, still beating heart. 

Timothy wasn't offended that his son utter his word "mama" instead of "dadda" though "mama" was the easier word for the little boy himself. Likewise Tristan's older sister looked up at him with uncertain gaze as her puzzled, howsoever, excited hazel eyes looked up at her younger brother's genuinely happy facial expression. Jude narrowed her eyes at her daughter as she rocked her in her arms, announcing her with a silent, eloquent murmur "It will be your turn too, big girl. Don't worry!". 

Afterwards Jude's eyes returned to her slightly younger son whose determination and courage resolved the bids. 

"Congratulations, daredevil!" 

"Bravo to you, Tristan. You did it!" The parents didn't miss their opportunity to encourage not only Tristan and praise him for his success, furthermore it motivated the little girl Ellie to utter abruptly her first word relucantly. Without warning.

"Mama." A female infant voice could be heard from Jude's arms that echoed in the living room, fulfilling Judy and Timothy's hearts with warmness, love and pride. Especially overwhelmness that invaded the proud parents of twins' hearts, melting them. 

Suddenly they turned their heads as they faced Ellie, glued eyes to the brave little girl who had just said her word without a fear. She received congratulations too like her brother. No longer after 5 minutes, the both twins spelled correctly and fluently their second word "dadda" as it rendered the former pious faces of a notorious institution even more gleeful than ever. They had realised what a miracle to hear a baby especially their own creation to utter their first words, although the hurdles. 

They felt guilty as they were collaborating even before their union as a nun and a priest, when they were urged to send the inmates' children and babies in the orphanage "St.Ursula", hearing abundance of baby, toddlers and children crying, squawks of being lonely, abandoned, seperated from their biological parents. Besides perfectly recalling their cooing, babbling, unfinished words even fluently spelled simple words for a baby that broke their hearts though they used to be a part of the church as it was their morbid, abominable obligation. 

To be continued...

An author note + spoiler in the future chapters: I have thought of adding one more friendly character in this story, who used to be one of the loyalest people to Jude during her nunnery in Briarcliff until he was murdered by the possessed Sister Mary Eunice (according to AHS series). However, he is going to be an inmate due to the new Monsignor's scepticism and possessed Sister Mary Eunice, despite Mother Claudia's attempts to rescue one of Jude's beloved old friends. Moreover, he survives after his throat was being sliced by Sister Mary Eunice's razor, thereafter being stripped off of his position as a security guard of Briarcliff as he is sent in the solitary as the younger nun knows that he would be endangering her and her reputation by communicating and seeing more often with Jude, subsequently planning their escape from Briarcliff. As an addition, I won't mention it's character's name until the chapter where he is going appear. One last thing, I would like to add to this spoiler is actually that one day Howards are being informed in the late 60s that one of the former security guards is being hospitalized in the crumbling asylum, who is well-known to the Howards family as well. :))