The first flakes of snow drifted softly outside the tall windows of Ahad's home, blanketing the garden in pristine white. Zara and Mina stood by the window, their noses pressed to the glass, squealing with delight as they watched the snow pile up.

"Baba! Baba! It's snowing!" Mina shouted, her voice echoing through the hall.

Ahad was in the study, seated at his desk, a stack of papers in front of him and his phone pressed to his ear. His conversation was serious, his tone clipped as he discussed a security matter with one of his men.

"Baba!" Zara joined in, her little feet pattering against the floor as she ran into the study, dragging Mina with her.

Ahad looked up, his hard expression softening instantly. Without hesitation, he held up a hand to his phone. "One moment," he said, his voice gentler now.

"Baba, look!" Zara pointed toward the window.

"It's snowing!" Mina added, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ahad set the phone down entirely, much to the shock of the man on the other end of the line, and crouched to their level. "Snow, huh? Have you ever built a snowman before?"

Both girls shook their heads vigorously.

"Then it's time we changed that," he said with a grin, ruffling Zara's hair.

"But what about your work?" Naira asked, appearing in the doorway with an amused look on her face.

Ahad glanced at her, his smirk deepening. "It can wait. Snowmen are more important."

Bundled up in coats, scarves, and gloves, the girls ran out into the garden, their laughter echoing as they stomped through the fresh snow. Ahad followed behind, carrying a thermos of hot chocolate and a bag filled with small accessories for the snowmen they were about to make.

Naira lingered on the patio, wrapping her shawl tightly around herself as she watched.

"You're just going to watch?" Ahad called out to her, arching an eyebrow.

She shook her head, smiling. "I'm supervising."

"Supervising, huh?" he muttered. "We'll see about that."

Turning his attention back to the girls, Ahad crouched down and began showing them how to pack the snow into firm, round balls. "Like this," he explained, his large hands moving deftly. "You want it to stick together, or your snowman will fall apart."

Zara tried to copy him, her tiny hands struggling to pack the snow tightly. "Like this, Baba?"

"Close," Ahad said, leaning over to help her. "Here, let me show you again."

Mina, meanwhile, was busy patting together an uneven mound of snow. "Baba, mine's bigger!" she exclaimed.

"Bigger doesn't mean better, gudiya," Ahad teased, his voice warm.

"Bigger is always better!" Mina argued, crossing her arms in a pout.

Ahad chuckled, glancing at Naira. "They've gotten comfortable with me, haven't they?"

"You're their Baba," Naira said, her tone fond. "They know they can get away with anything now."

After an hour of playing in the snow and building not one but three snowmen, Ahad ushered the girls inside, insisting they get warm before they caught a cold. He helped them peel off their wet gloves and coats, his hands moving quickly to brush the snowflakes from their hair.

"Hot chocolate," he declared, steering them toward the kitchen.

"Extra marshmallows!" Zara demanded, climbing onto a stool.

"And whipped cream!" Mina added, her hands waving dramatically.

"Bossy, aren't you?" Ahad teased, but he began preparing their drinks exactly as requested, lining the cups with marshmallows and cream until the girls squealed with delight.

"You spoil them too much," Naira said, leaning against the counter.

"They deserve it," Ahad replied simply, handing the first cup to Zara. "Besides, I've been outvoted. This house is run by you three."

Zara and Mina laughed, their faces smeared with whipped cream as they sipped their hot chocolate. Naira smiled softly, her heart full as she watched the scene unfold.

Later that night, after the girls had fallen asleep, Ahad and Naira sat in the living room, a warm fire crackling in the hearth. Naira curled up on the couch with a blanket, her legs tucked beneath her, while Ahad sat beside her, his arm draped along the back of the couch.

"You look tired," she said softly, glancing at him.

"Not too tired to listen to you," he replied, leaning closer.

She laughed lightly, shaking her head. "I talk too much sometimes."

"No," he said, his voice firm. "Never."

His gaze was steady, filled with an affection that made her cheeks warm. "I could listen to you all night, Naira," he said. "You and the girls-your voices are the best part of my day."

Her heart swelled at his words, and she leaned against his shoulder, feeling safe in the quiet strength of his presence.

"Thank you," she murmured after a while.

"For what?"

"For everything," she said. "For loving them. For loving me."

Ahad tilted his head to press a kiss to her hair. "It's not something I have to think about," he said softly. "It's who I am now. You three-you're my everything."

As the fire crackled softly in the background, Naira felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The hesitations and doubts that had once held her back were gone, replaced by a warmth she knew she could always rely on.