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Almost at midnight, Logan woke up to the pelting of the rain on the windows and a chill breeze that blew in the room.
He got out of bed, carefully making sure, not wake up Charlie.
He threw back his T-shirt and went to close the window that was open. He looked out of it, at the scenario outside.
"This atmosphere is so calming." he thought to himself and sighed.
He closed the window and drew the curtain over it.
Little light filtered through the curtains and fell on Emilie's face.
He was returning to the bed, when his gaze fell on Emilie.
He smiled at her innocent face and neared her.
He sat on the edge of the bed, lightly, and stroked her soft hair.
He stared at her for a while, while his heart thumped heavily.
"I wish, we have a family like this someday, together." he thought scratching his head. He blushed looking at Emilie and Charlie.
He placed a light kiss on Emilie's forehead.
"Sleep well, my angel." he wished Emilie, mentally.
He went to back to sleep with a smile.
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Logan woke up early in the morning, around 6.
Both Emilie and Charlie were fast asleep.
He did he did his quick morning workout routine and then headed to the bathroom, with his belonging.
He came back, feeling fresh and energized for the day.
He kept back his dirty clothes in the bag, he had brought along with him.

Emilie wasn't up yet. He decided to not wake her up, either.

He went to kitchen and made waffles.
He prepared a strawberry smoothie for Charlie and himself and coffee for Emilie.
Logan finished up and kept the milkshakes and coffee in the refrigerator and went up to wake up Emilie and Charlie.
He entered the room and saw that Emilie was now up, but lay beside Charlie. He noticed that Charlie had his fingers wrapped all around Emilie's index finger and she was smiling at that.
Emilie realized that someone had come in the room, so she turned her gaze towards Logan.
"Where were you?" she inquired, in a low tone.
"Making breakfast?" Logan replied.
"Okay.." she muttered
"Are you sure you not tired? You can get some more sleep." Logan asked
"No I am fine. I should not oversleep. I'll become even more lazy." she said shaking her head.
"Well, pandas are lazy." Logan said snickering to himself.
Emilie stared at him for a while, suppressing a smile.
"Whatever" she muttered.
Emilie went to the bathroom. Logan went to wake up Charlie.
He didn't know how to wake kids up but still thought of giving it a try.

"Charlie, wake up."
No response.
"Charlie, please wake up. I have made you your favourite breakfast." he said and shook him.
"Charlie" Logan said, raised his voice a bit.
Charlie shifted.
Logan started tickling Charlie.
Charlie started laughing and opened his eyes.
"Someone was deliberately ignoring me." Logan said, tickling Charlie more.
Charlie nodded, rolling on the bed laughing.
"You!!" Logan said
Logan picked him up in arms and got out of the bed.

He spun Charlie around, while Charlie released a hearty laughter.

"Come on big boy! It's time to clean up." Logan said, holding his hand. He was about to leave the room when Emilie called him.
"Yeah?" he asked
"I'll do it." she said.
"Okay." he said
Emilie took Charlie's hand and lead him to the bathroom.
She left him to freshen up.
"Emilie don't go anywhere." said Charlie
"I'm right outside" she replied.
She went inside as she heard the sound of flushing. She then helped Charlie brush his teeth and bath him, which turned out to be fun.

They then went to have breakfast.

They saw that Logan was already drinking something and typing something on his phone.
"Is that a strawberry shake?" Charlie asked suspiciously.
"Where's mine?" he narrowed his eyes.
Logan averted his gaze towards Charlie, with an amused smile.
"This is yours. I drank mine already." Logan teased, shaking the glass in front of Charlie.
Charlie ran towards Logan. Logan jumped out from the chair and sprinted out of the room, still holding the glass. Charlie followed him.
Emilie went inside the kitchen, laughing. She opened the refrigerator, where she presumed that breakfast would be.
She saw her coffee mug inside, and an other glass with pink fluid.
"This boy is such a teaser." she said to herself.
She took out her mug and that glass of strawberry smoothie.

She saw Logan running in the corridor on the above floor.

"Thanks for the coffee, mister." she yelled
"Pleasure, madame." Logan yelled back.

The doorbell rang a moment later.
Emilie kept her coffee on the table and opened the door.

There was a cute girl standing, whom she recognized as Elisa. She holding a small box.
Emilie bent down on her knee.

"Hey sunshine! How are you?" Emilie asked her, patting her cheek.
"I am good. How have you been?" replied Elisa sweetly.
"Oh! I am great. Having fun with Charlie." Emilie said
"Charlie is here?" Elisa questioned
"Yes." replied Emilie, getting up.
"Charlie! Elisa's here. Come down, baby." Emilie yelled.
She turned back to Elisa and noticed a boy standing behind her, at a distance.
Emilie narrowed her eyes. She instantly recognized that boy as Zack.
"Hey Zack! What's up?" she said to him.
"He's my brother." said Elisa
Emilie bent down again.
"Oh...." Emilie said, the new information settling in her mind.
Zack came forwards. He was also holding identical boxes to that that Elisa had held.
"We were just giving some cupcakes to our new neighbours. Thought it would be a good way to get to know them." Zack said, smiling.
"We live in that house" he said pointing to a house at end of the lane. It was built with brown and off white stones and had large window panels.
"That house?" Emilie asked quietly.
Zack nodded.
A sad look crossed Emilie's face.
"Many years ago, a best friend of mine used to live there." she said staring at the house.
Zack was looking at Emilie with an intent look, all this while.
Logan and Charlie came back running, pulling Emilie out of her trance.
She squeezed shut her eyes and then opened them again with a smile.
"Charlie! See, Elisa!" Emilie said, grinning.
Charlie gave her a shy wave, blushing.
"Oh! And Logan this is Zack. Zack this is my best friend Logan." Emilie introduced.
Zack gave a small wave to Logan.
Logan returned it with a small smile.
"You know this guy?" Logan whispered to Emilie.
"Duh! How else would I introduce you guys then? I met him at school." Emilie whispered back.
"Zack, if you want I could get you introduced to the other neighbours." Emilie voluntarily asked.
"Umm...okay. These kids can have fun together, till that time." Zack replied, nodding.
"Cool then! I'll come back in a minute." Emilie replied back.
"Come on kids! Let's come inside." she said excitedly to Elisa and Charlie
"Zack you wanna come?" she asked
"Nope! I am cool here. Another time, maybe." Zack replied.
Emilie shrugged.
Emilie kept that box on the kitchen island and made the kids comfortable in the drawing room.
She was going out.
"Em, you want me to come?" Logan asked. Concern was all over his face.
"No. I am cool with Zack. I'll be in the neighborhood only." she replied
"Don't be jealous bestie. I won't ever leave you for any other person." she added, winking at Logan.
"I am not jealous." he protested
"Ya ya" said Emilie in a sing-song tone.
She went outside and set out with Zack.
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Outside, the sun shined brightly and the sky was a little cloudy. The leaves of the nearby planted trees, rustled in the breeze.
"Did your parents buy that house or are you guys on rent in there?" Emilie asked him.
"Yes, they actually bought it. They found it very.....magnificent." Zack replied, shrugging.
"Do you know anything about the owner or something? Where they are currently?" Emilie inquired.
"Nope." Zack replied simply.

"Okay. Here comes the first house." Emilie stated, stopping.

"The owner of this house is Mr. Smith. He loves cupcakes. You are at a benefit. Go now, ring the bell." Emilie said, persuading Zack.
Zack rung the bell and minutes later came out Mr. Smith. He was a man in his middle 40s.
"Hello!" he greeted.
"Hello, sir. I am Zack Castor. I live in the house at end of the lane." Zack introduced himself and handed over the box to him.
"He's new here and thought it would be polite to introduce himself to the neighbours with some delicious cupcakes." Emilie added.
"Oh! That's great. Nice to meet you Zack. Thank you for these." Mr. Smith said smiling.
Zack smiled back.
"How are you Emilie? It's been I saw you out in the neighborhood." he inquired
"I am great. School, you know. See you later Mr. Smith. Have a good day!" Emilie said politely.
"You too! Bye" Mr. Smith said and went inside.

"Now, we have Mrs. Randall, next door. She's a little paranoid woman, so don't mind if she comes out a little rude to you." Emilie told
"Check." Zack said and smiled.

Zack rung the bell again.
This time a woman, who looked like she was in her late 60s came out.
She gave Emilie a small smile and narrowed her eyes when she saw Zack.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Mrs. Randall, this is my friend Zack. He's new in the neighborhood. He thought it would be nice to introduce himself to his neighbours." Emilie spoke, before Zack could say anything.

The old woman somehow liked Emilie, so she thought it would be better if she spoke on behalf of Zack.

"He also brought some cupcakes." Emilie said offering Mrs. Randall the box.
Zack just nodded, smiling.
"Nice to meet you ma'am." Zack said.
Mrs. Randall stared at Zack for a while, as if reading him, and finally nodded. She then went inside.
"That wasn't bad." Zack said.
"Yeah. Better than I expected." Emilie said grinning.
"Come on, just two more houses." Emilie said, moving forward.
Zack rung the bell of the next house.
A boy, who looked of his age came out.
"Hey Emilie! You look beautiful." said the boy.
"Hi! Thanks" Emilie replied politely.
"Hi! I am Zack. I am new in the neighborhood. I live in the house at the end of the lane." Zack introduced himself.
"Ya Kevin. He studies at our school also." Emilie added
Zack handed over the box to Kelvin.
"Cupcakes" Zack said.
"Thanks man. Nice to meet you. Would love to be your friend." said Kevin, giving Zack dap.
Kelvin closed the door, giving them a wave.
Zack started laughing as soon as the door closed.
"What's funny?" Emilie asked, who also started chuckling. It soon turned into a hearty laughter.
Slowly, Zack's laughter faded.
"Just wanted to see how you look while laughing." Zack said, smiling at her.
Emilie went blank for a moment.
She cleared her throat, out of habit. (whenever she got nervous)
"Only one house left." she said looking forward and changing the topic.
Zack shook his head, smiling to himself.

From that house came no response, so they left for Emilie's house.
They were walking side by side in silence.
Emilie kicked a pebble on the path.
"Old habit." Zack muttered to himself.
"Did you say anything?" Emilie asked
"I...was saying is Charlie your brother.?" Zack asked
"No we don't share the same DNA. But he's nothing less." Emilie replied, a lovely smile covered her face.
"Okay. Is he your best friend's brother? The one at your house?" Zack inquired
"Not his brother either. He's Ana's brother. She's my other best friend." Emilie said.
Zack nodded.
They stopped as they reached Emilie's house.
"Wanna come inside now?" Emilie asked
"Fine." Zack replied
Both stepped inside together and went to the drawing room.
"Elly, time to go." Zack said gently.
Elisa looked at Zack and then at Charlie, as if deciding whether to go or not.
But she got up and went to his brother's side.
"Bye. See you Charlie. Love you Logan." Elisa said with a cheeky smile.
Emilie looked deadpan.
As Zack left the drawing room with Elisa, Emilie started laughing.
"She loves you. So soon?" Emilie said between laughs.
"Looks like my charm worked on someone." Logan said, joining Emilie in laughing.
"I'll come back in a minute." said Emilie going out of the room.
Zack was standing on the porch with Elisa.
"See you, neighbour. Have a good day!" said Emilie happily.
"Soon." Zack said, bringing his hand forward.
Emilie shook hands with him.

This handshake sealed the beginning of a golden bond.

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Phew!!!
Finally!
I am really sorry for not updating for so long. I also told about my health. Those who don't know, I have feverish for most part of this month and my migraine has been acting up a lot.
I hope you like the chapters!!!
Thank You for 761 reads. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Lots of love from me.
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Stay healthy,
Kartiki. 😘