The soft flurry of snowflakes in New York City added a certain magic to the atmosphere. The streets were quiet, with a peaceful hush falling over the city. 

The usual hustle and bustle had taken a backseat as snow gently settled on the sidewalks and streetlights illuminated the snowy landscape, casting a warm glow.

Thalia and Shubman were bundled up in warm coats, scarves, and gloves, enjoying the crisp air and the tranquillity of the snowy streets. 

Thalia had on a cozy, oversized cream-coloured knit sweater paired with black leggings and thigh-high boots, her hair tucked beneath a knit beanie. 

Shubman was dressed in a sleek black puffer jacket, a thick wool scarf, dark jeans, and boots, his hair slightly messy from the wind.

The two were walking hand in hand, laughing and chatting, their breath visible in the cold air as they strolled through the snowy streets of the city. 

The romance of the moment was amplified by the snowflakes swirling around them, making everything feel like a scene from a fairytale.

"This feels like something out of a movie," Thalia remarked, her voice light with excitement as she kicked a small pile of snow at the edge of the sidewalk, sending it scattering into the street. "I feel like we're in When Harry Met Sally or something."

Shubman laughed, squeezing her hand. "I'll take a snowstorm in NYC with you over any movie set," he said, pulling her closer and draping his arm around her shoulders.

They continued walking, admiring the beauty of the snowflakes as they landed on the ground. As they passed a small park, Thalia noticed a young boy, probably around six or seven years old, staring at her with wide eyes. 

His mouth was slightly open as if he had seen something incredibly rare.

Thalia paused for a moment, noticing the boy's gaze, and she smiled warmly at him. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity. 

She leaned over slightly, her voice soft and gentle. "Hey there, sweetie. Is everything alright?"

The boy blinked several times, clearly surprised by her attention. He glanced at her for a moment, his eyes still wide with wonder. 

Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke in a small voice, "Are you... are you a princess?"

Thalia laughed softly, her eyes softening with affection. "A princess?" she asked, her heart melting a little at the innocent question. 

She crouched down to his level. "Well, I'm no princess, but thank you for saying that. I guess I feel like a princess today."

The boy's face lit up with a huge grin as if he had just heard the most wonderful thing. He looked up at Shubman, still standing beside her, and then back to Thalia, his gaze full of awe. 

"Is he a prince?" he asked, pointing to Shubman, his innocent question making Thalia's heart swell with tenderness.

Shubman, always the good sport, played along with a grin. "Well, I guess I am," he said, giving Thalia a playful look. "But only if she's my princess."

The boy's eyes widened even further as if he had just stumbled upon a hidden treasure. "Wow!" he gasped. 

"You really are a prince and princess!"

Thalia laughed, standing back up to her full height. "Not really, but thank you for making us feel special," she said with a wink, giving the boy a little wave.

The boy waved back enthusiastically, his excitement evident in the way he bounced on his feet. "You're so cool!" he said before running back to his friends, chattering about the "prince and princess" he had just met.

Thalia watched the boy run off, her smile lingering. There was something so pure and innocent about his reaction that it left her heart feeling full. 

She turned to Shubman, her eyes glistening with a mix of amusement and affection.

"You know," she said, her voice playful, "I think that little boy might just be onto something."

Shubman chuckled, shaking his head. "What, you think we're royalty now?"

"Why not?" she teased. "We are in New York City. And with you by my side, I'm pretty sure we're the most important people in this city today."

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Oh, really? I think we just need to find the next snowstorm and we'll be good to go."

The two laughed together, continuing their walk through the snow-covered streets. The city around them felt so alive, despite the calmness of the snow. 

The moment was simple but beautiful—just them, walking hand in hand, making memories, and feeling like the luckiest people alive.

After a few minutes, Shubman squeezed her hand tighter, his voice dropping lower. "I think that little boy was right about one thing, though."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Thalia asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"You're definitely a princess to me," he said, his tone serious yet affectionate, his eyes never leaving hers. "And I'm just happy I get to be by your side through all of it."

Thalia's heart melted as she looked at him, her eyes softening. She leaned in, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before speaking again. 

"I love you, Shubman. You're my prince, my hero."

His smile deepened as he gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "And I love you, my queen," he whispered. "Forever and always."

As they continued walking, their footsteps soft in the freshly fallen snow, the air between them was filled with warmth despite the cold. 

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being their laughter and the gentle crunch of snow beneath their boots. Shubman's thoughts were drifting, thoughts about the future, about them, and about everything he wanted in life.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, he blurted it out, his words hanging in the chilly air.

"So... do you ever think about having a family one day?" he asked, his voice coming out much more serious than he intended.

Thalia, who had been looking at the snowflakes gently falling from the sky, turned to him, startled for a second. 

She had been so caught up in the magic of the moment that his question caught her off guard. She looked up at him, her brow furrowing in surprise, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

"Wait... What?" Thalia asked, her eyes widening slightly as she tried to process what he had just said.

Shubman rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, realizing the random nature of his question. He had never planned to bring up such a heavy topic on such a lighthearted walk, especially not like this. He shot her a sheepish grin.

"I mean," he started, fumbling over his words, "I don't know, it just kind of popped into my head. I was thinking about us... about the future... and... yeah, I guess I was just wondering if... if you ever thought about starting a family sometime."

Thalia stood still for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. The question hung between them, and her breath caught in her chest. 

She looked up at Shubman, searching his face for any signs of uncertainty or hesitation. But all she saw was sincerity.

The cold air seemed to stand still as if waiting for her to answer.

She blinked a few times, trying to collect her thoughts. She had never expected such a question, especially in the middle of a casual walk. 

Her lips parted as she took a deep breath, her voice soft and a little hesitant.

"I—wow, okay," she said, still a little taken aback. "That's... that's a big question. A really big one."

Shubman looked away briefly, suddenly feeling like he might have made a mistake by bringing it up so suddenly. He gave her an apologetic smile. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make it awkward. It's just, I've been thinking about it a lot. You know, us... together. I know we've only been married for a little while, but sometimes I can't help but picture us having a family. Kids, us, all that."

Thalia's heart fluttered at his words, her eyes softening as she reached for his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

She had always known Shubman was someone who thought deeply about the future, but hearing him talk about it in such a vulnerable way made her heart swell.

"I think about it too," she said, her voice sincere. "It's kind of hard not to, right? We've talked about growing old together, travelling, building a life. And... yeah, family is definitely something I've thought about. It's something I'd love... one day."

Her words seemed to settle into the air between them, like the snowflakes that continued to fall gently around them. 

Shubman looked at her, his heart skipping a beat as he saw the earnestness in her eyes.

"You really think about it?" he asked softly, his voice almost a whisper.

Thalia nodded, giving him a small smile. "Of course I do. I've always wanted a family, Shubman. And you're exactly the kind of person I would want to build that with."

Shubman's chest tightened, and he felt his emotions surge in that moment. He had always wanted a family, a sense of home, and now, standing here with Thalia, he knew that she was the one he wanted to share that with.

"God, you don't even know how happy that makes me to hear," he said, his voice thick with emotion. 

"I... I want that too, with you. I just want to make sure we're ready for it, you know? I don't want to rush it, but I don't want to waste time either. I want everything with you, Thalia. Everything."

She smiled softly, squeezing his hand tighter as they walked closer to each other, their bodies almost touching as they continued through the snowy streets.

"We've got time," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "We'll figure it all out, together. One step at a time."

Shubman grinned, feeling lighter as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Yeah, one step at a time. But, damn, I can't wait for the day I get to call you my baby mama."

Thalia burst out laughing, her head thrown back as the sound of her laughter filled the winter air. "You're such a dork," she teased, nudging him with her elbow.

But beneath her playful words, there was a soft, undeniable warmth. She knew that no matter where life took them, as long as they had each other, they were ready for anything. 

And the thought of building a future together, of growing their own family someday, was a dream she had never imagined would feel so perfect.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!
- I hope you guys are having a great day so far, and I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
- GOD THEY'RE SO POOKIES
- also comments on the chapter?
- I hope you guys liked this one!

- with lots of love, supraja 🫶