As Oliver stares deeply into his companion's eyes, he hears faint footsteps behind him. Oliver slowly looks back and sees his children—Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, George, and Jean—marching towards him. The children gather close to one another, forming a bashful herd like lambs. Knitted brows and glistening eyes reflect their worries, their faces bearing coldness while their mouths remain tightly sealed.

     Oliver, Gregory, and their children traverse a corridor, passing numerous closed doors. Eventually, they arrive at an open doorway. Stepping aside, Oliver's eyes remain fixed upon his kids while Gregory widens the door, unveiling the children's bedroom on the other side.

     Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, George, and Jean filed through the doorway, one after another, finding themselves in the sanctuary of their bedroom. As they reached the safety of their haven, they turned back, gawking at their parents and drawing close to each other in a tight-knit cluster. Words formed in their minds, ready to be spoken, yet an unspoken agreement held their breaths captive.

     Oliver lowers himself to one knee, and so does Gregory. Their eyes meet, exchanging a silent understanding that transcends spoken language. Closing his eyes, Oliver takes a deep breath and sighs.

"...Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, George... Jean," Oliver said. "...You all are wonderful. No matter what happens, we love you all, and our love for you shall go on... forever. Remember that, alright?"

     The children take one bashful step forward as they lean in closer. However, their timid minds resist taking another stride towards their fathers. Oliver's face lights up with a gentle smile, radiating warmth and reassurance. With open arms, he hugs his children, drawing them near. As Oliver closes his eyes, he embraces his kids tightly.

     Gregory mirrors Oliver's actions, encircling his spouse and children with his loving embrace. He slowly lowers his head, shutting his eyes. He then leans his forehead against Oliver's shoulder as they hold each other.

     Everyone closes their eyes as their frowns transform into soft smiles. The warmth they share transcends the coldness of the day as their bodies press against one another. Each person holds the other tightly, their embrace gradually easing, yet the connection remains strong.

     Oliver and Gregory reluctantly pull back from their children, rising to their feet as they step back from the floor. Oliver and Gregory slowly retreat towards the door, their eyes locked on their children. A shared smile illuminates their faces, conveying their reassurance as they bid each other farewell with a nod.

     Gregory's hand reaches for the door handle, causing the hinge to emit a gentle creak as he gradually pulls the door closed. Oliver and Gregory glimpse through the narrow gap in the closing doorway, their eyes locked on their children. As their smiles widen, a bittersweet joy fills their hearts. Finally, the door closes softly, temporarily separating them from their beloved children.

     In the solitude of a room, Cal occupies a wooden chair, his posture rigid as he stares at the empty seat before him. A frown casts a shadow upon his face, his eyes shifting restlessly, fixated on the sight of his bare feet. Cloaked in black, a priest carrying a bible enters the room, and the door closes softly behind him, leaving a faint echo through the walls. Stepping forward, he settles into the seat in front of Cal and lays the bible on his lap, fixing a penetrating gaze on Cal.

"Good day," the priest greeted.

Cal's response came in a subdued tone, barely above a whisper, as he averted his eyes, fixated on the floor. "...Good day..."

The priest's smile remained kind and patient. "Alright..." he said. "...Repeat after me."

Cal nodded silently, his gaze still fixed blankly upon the ground. "...Right."

"...Our Father."

"Our Father..."

     Cal and the priest begin praying in solitude. Meanwhile, Oliver and Gregory, accompanied by Frederick and their companions, reunite in the grand lobby of their mansion. A silent stillness descends upon the gathered group as they exchange contemplative glances, each person immersed in their thoughts.

"Who art in Heaven."

"Who art in Heaven..."

     An air of silence struck Oliver and his companions, enveloping them in a tranquil atmosphere. Their eyes met, lips remaining wordless, as they communicated through their gazes. The room fell into a moment of stillness, only to be disrupted by the rhythmic tapping of Oliver's heels resonating against the floor.

     Taking a step forward, Oliver positioned himself in front of Bethany. Their eyes locked, and they offered each other a subtle, affirming nod. A smile graced their faces, radiant and filled with warmth, before they embraced in a swift but genuine hug.

"Hallowed be Thy name."

"Hallowed be Thy name..."

     As Oliver released his warm embrace, he smiled at Bethany before turning his attention to Sarrah. Standing tall with a straight back and a proud chest, Oliver timidly smiled and raised two fingers to his brow. Sarrah mimicked the gesture, and the two embraced, closing their eyes in a sincere moment.

"Thy kingdom come."

"Thy kingdom come..."

     After pulling away from Sarrah, Oliver approached Edgar. Edgar straightened his back, his keen eyes illuminating the moment. They then hugged each other, and their faint breaths filled the air. Oliver slowly rested his head upon Edgar's chest, attuned to the rhythmic thumping of his heart while Edgar tenderly ran his fingers through Oliver's hair.

"Thy will be done... on Earth as it is on Heaven."

"Thy will be done on Earth as it is on Heaven..."

     Releasing his embrace, Oliver nodded at Edgar before approaching Sophia. He stood before her, placing his hands behind his back. Their eyes locked, and in that fleeting moment, a deluge of memories flooded over them, visible in the gleam of their eyes.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

"Give us this day... our daily bread..."

     Oliver and Sophia then leapt onto one another's arms. With an outpouring of warmth, they squeezed each other as they closed their eyes, surrendering to the embrace. Nuzzling their faces into each other's shoulders, their hearts met and beat in unison.

"And forgive us for our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

"And forgive us for our trespasses... as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

     The extended embrace between Oliver and Sophia ignites a flame within their hearts, casting a radiant glow around them. They hold each other with a firm yet gentle embrace, wrapping their arms around each other. As the moment lingers, they gradually lean back, their eyes locked onto each other's shimmering gaze.

"And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."

"And lead us not into temptation... but deliver us from evil..."

     Oliver made his way towards Frederick, closing the distance between them. Standing before his adoptive father, he couldn't help but be swept away by a flood of cherished memories they had shared. His broad smile reflected his deep gratitude for the precious moments they had experienced together. Oliver sought time to stand still, wishing for the eternity of those connections.

"For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory."

"For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory..."

"Forever and ever."

"Forever... and... ever..."

     Oliver and Frederick enveloped each other in a tight embrace. Their arms created a comforting cocoon around their bodies, offering solace amidst the chill. With closed eyes, they savoured each passing second. Peace washed over them, and Oliver silently hoped for the moment to stretch into eternity. As their racing heartbeats gradually slowed, tranquillity settled within them.

"...Amen," Cal and the priest concluded their prayers, their voices harmoniously blending.