The Best Souvenir

The steam from the onsen rose in lazy swirls, curling around Diana’s sheer black blouse that she’d swapped for a light kimono over her black lace underlayer, and Beckett’s black yukata, the chains at his side glinting faintly in the dim lantern light. The mountains stretched in quiet grandeur behind them, and the crisp scent of cedar mixed with the subtle aroma of Diana’s lavender-and-nightshade perfume.

Beckett sipped his herbal iced tea, surgical mask still in place, gloves resting neatly on his lap. Diana leaned back, one hand lightly brushing his shoulder, the other holding her own drink. She exhaled a soft, contented sigh.

“So…” she said, eyes gleaming, “I suppose it’s time we tell them.”

Beckett tilted his head, his dark eyes hidden behind glasses, a faint blush creeping into his cheeks. “Them meaning… the family?”

“Of course.” She leaned closer, nudging his mask down ever so slightly with a teasing smirk. “They’ve been waiting longer than you think.”

The Announcement

A few days later, in a quiet tea room in Kyoto, Diana and Beckett gathered their families for what was intended to be a casual souvenir exchange. Beckett had picked out a few small trinkets for the Bloodbriars; Diana, true to form, had smuggled in her own “souvenirs”: carefully curated selections of her favorite Japanese josei, shoujo, and even some BL and GL manga, along with rare otomes she had painstakingly hunted down. Beckett had his own picks of sleek JRPGs, the kind that reflected his love of smart, introspective romance routes.

Terry and Damien were already gathered with the kids from the family, curious, while the Vonreichsins—Monica and Viktor in particular—were there for the first time as potential grandparents.

Diana stood, adjusting her kimono and giving Beckett a playful tug of his mask. “We have a little… surprise.”

Beckett’s gloved hands were folded neatly on the table. “It’s twins,” he said softly, letting the words hang in the air.

The room froze.

Terry’s jaw dropped for half a second before she burst into laughter. “Twins? Well, that’s… efficient as you would say somebodies hands was all over them to no ones surprise hehehehe but seriously its totally awesome for both of you and super happy you guys and the twins too.”

Mira and Lina smirked knowingly. “About time,” they said, as if they had been anticipating this moment for years.

Beckett’s parents merely shook their heads, grinning beneath the stoic exterior they always carried. “We’re not surprised,” Cordelia said softly. “But we are thrilled. Thrilled, indeed.”

Monica gasped, clutching Viktor’s arm. “Finally! our first grandchildren—and they’ll be… mini-Bloodbriars, I presume?”

“Of course,” Diana said, with the tiniest smirk, pressing a quick kiss to Beckett’s masked lips. “And the best souvenirs from Japan aren’t these little trinkets, or even my rare manga collection…” She waved a hand at her stack of carefully curated books. “…It’s the twins.”

The twins—already mischievous in womb-like anticipation—seemed to giggle in unison.

Family Reactions

The Bloodbriars were ecstatic. Terry fussed over her sister-in-law while simultaneously critiquing every detail of the manga and games Diana had brought. Damien whispered discreetly to Beckett, marveling at how even the smallest gestures revealed the couple’s unique personalities and that its not everyday in his line of work someone becomes a parent and hes glad to hear that he is going to be one and that he'll defiently be a great father so would diana as a mother too.

Monica and Viktor, naturally haughty but deeply loving, fussed over Diana, fussing over her kimono, commenting on how poised she looked even in the announcement moment, while secretly marveling at Beckett’s quiet brilliance and stoic charm.

“The games,” Diana said softly to Beckett later, as they arranged seating for tea, “all of them… reflect us. The JRPGs, the otomes, the stories we love… they’re just different mirrors of what we’ve built together.”

Beckett, mask half-lowered, glanced at her. “So… they’re like a safe space,” he murmured.

“Exactly,” she replied, tugging gently at his scarf. “A little world where we get to be… completely us.”

The Vonreichsins and Bloodbriars alike exchanged glances. They understood now: this family was expanding, yes—but in the way only a family of outsiders could grow: thoughtfully, lovingly, with just a touch of mischief.

A Quiet Moment

Later, as the families mingled, the twins—already exhibiting quiet intelligence and morbid curiosity—crawled over Diana’s lap and Beckett’s arms, whispering to each other in hushed, plotting tones.

“They’re… incredible,” Diana said, brushing a lock of hair from Beckett’s face, her hands lingering on his gloves. “And look at them—they already take after us.”

Beckett merely adjusted his mask and took a quiet sip of tea, his heart quietly swelling. Even in the chaos of family excitement, he knew exactly what mattered: Diana beside him, their twins on their laps, and the gothic, chaotic harmony of both their families quietly approving everything.

“Finally,” he murmured, “the Bloodbriars have more members.”

“And the Vonreichsins have their first grandchildren,” Diana added with a playful smirk, leaning against him. “All as planned.”

The tea room erupted in laughter and gentle teasing, the families quietly marveling at how perfectly this union had been made.

All was well.