New family pic now that baby April is a toddler! ❤️

Photo mode is great, but a bit hard to use when you have a baby. At least I managed to get this cute family picture!! ❤️

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦... . . . . 🖤🤍

I am obsessed with them 🥺

Really enjoying the step-mom life haha ❤️

And that's it for now! I was really looking forward to tell more of Ren's backstory. Hope you guys enjoyed this update! The feed is already updated: bsky.app/profile/lili...

A: Thanks for sharing all of this with me. I'm really happy you found yourself, Ren. And I'm also happy you're back in my life. I hope we won't ever lose contact again. R: Yeah, I hope so too, Ash. I'm happy to be with my best friend once more.

A: Well, I liked them. And you don't strike me as the person who'd care about what others think or say now. So you can stop hiding your freckles... If you want to, of course. R: Yeah... I guess you're right.

R: With time I got so good at doing makeup that I could even hide my freckles. A: That's right, you had freckles as a kid. R: I still do. They were another reason for kids to bully me, so I decided to hide them.

R: As a teen, I started letting my hair grow and wearing more feminine clothes. I felt happier. But it was only after a long hormone treatment and some surgeries that I could finally look in the mirror and see... me. I know it may sound weird, but it's true. I didn't feel at home in that male body.

R: At least my mom was on my side. When she heard about what happened, she sent him away immediately, telling him she'd pack his things for him later. She never forgave him and he disappeared from our lives again.

R: He didn't just yell at me... he actually hit me. Geoffrey said he would never accept his son to behave like a girl. A: That's horrible... I'm so sorry, Ren.

R: But Geoffrey walked into the room and when he saw me like that, he got very angry. He started yelling at the me, and that made me remember of when he and mom used to fight. But this time, I was his target.

R: With time, I started admiring the way my mom would wear her make-up to work. And one day, while she was out, I went to her bedroom and played with her make-up. It probably looked terrible at the time, but I felt so happy. It was the first time I looked in the mirror and saw myself as a girl.

R: Geoffrey said he wanted to redeem himself for being distant for so long, and he didn't seem to mind that Aya wasn't his child. He said he wanted to live with us and take care of us three. And for a while, it really felt like we had become a complete family.

R: It was then that Geoffrey came in the picture. A: Geoffrey? R: My "father"... they broke up when I was still little because they used to fight a lot. But they met again on one of mom's tours and got close again.

R: First of all, I think I need to give you some context. As you probably remember, we went back to Komorebi because my mom got a great opportunity there working with something she liked. She was a tour guide in her hometown. Mom was so happy. And while she worked, our grandparents took care of us.

R: But it was only when I was close to become a teenager that I really started understanding how I felt. It was then that I realized I had this suffocating sensation that I had been born in the wrong body.

A: Ren... could you tell me how it happened? How did you know you were a girl? I mean, if it's okay for me to ask... R: I don't mind, Ash. Well, you remember how the boys used to bully me saying I looked like a girl, right? Even then, I never cared much about it, and that's why they'd get violent.

Ash and Ren went to the backyard. They sat on the swing to talk a little more, just the two of them.

A: She was. I wish you could have met her in life. I told her so much about you and our adventures. R: Well, now you can tell me everything about her and your adventures together. I'd love to hear it!

A: There you are, I was looking for you. He noticed she was standing before all those pictures who held so many memories and emotions. A: So you've met Rhi. R: She was beautiful. She really seems like an amazing person.

M: I'm sorry, Iris... I didn't mean to upset you. I: I know you didn't. And... I'm sorry for being paranoid. Maybe it's nothing. I just... don't want any of us to forget mommy... A: We won't. And it's okay, Iris. We understand. M: Yeah. Don't worry, Iris. We're in this together, as always.

I: Don't get too close to her. She's trying to win you over so she can date daddy. Did you see how she was smiling at him at the table? M: Aren't they just friends? Aunt Rose is daddy's friend too. I: Aunt Rose has uncle Kai. She's trying to steal mommy's place! I know it! A: Iris, breathe...

Ren watched the two vanishing into their bedroom and sighed deeply. Even though she was a bit sad, she didn't judge them. She knew she couldn't. They were children and they were suffering. It was normal for them to be defensive about someone who was still a complete stranger to them.

I: I was talking to my sister, not to you, miss. Ast: Iris... I: Tsk. Mauve, come on, we still have to do homework. Mauve knew very well they had already done their homework, but it didn't seem like a good idea to go against Iris at that moment. M: Okay...

The emotional moment was interrupted by Iris and Aster who came out of their room and saw that scene. I: What's happening here, Mauve? R: Your sister was just showing me the pictures of your mom and...

Mauve suddenly hugged Ren. And she could feel the little girl really needed that. R: And even if you can't see her anymore, know that she'll always be watching you and taking care of you from where she is. And her love for you all is definitely still very real, just like your love for her.

M: She 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 us, you mean... because she's not here with us anymore. I... I'm trying to be strong, but I miss her so much... R: Oh, sweetie... you don't 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to be strong. You can cry as much as you want. Of course you miss her. That means she was a wonderful mom who'll live forever in your hearts.

After some time, Mauve took Ren upstairs to show her an area decorated with photos of Rhiannen, Ash and their kids. M: This is mommy. Her name's Rhiannen. R: Your mom is so beautiful Mauve. She seems very happy in all those photos. I'm sure she loves you all a lot.

She was super curious about Ren and was asking her lots of questions. Ren would answer everything with a smile on her face, feeling happy that she was getting along with at least one of Ash's kids.

After dinner, Iris and Aster went upstairs to their bedroom. But Mauve wanted to stay a little longer in the living room with the adults.

Mauve, who had her dad as her superhero, was really happy to see him smiling again after many days of pure sadness. The delicious food made by his grandpa really helped Aster feeling more comfortable at that table. But Iris still wasn't sure about what to feel. Something seemed wrong for her.

The table was set and everything looked delicious. Daxion had really outdone himself. The elders talked about their lives as they ate. Ash and Ren talked a lot too. It was amazing how in such short time they were both smiling and laughing at each other nonstop.

D: How about we eat before the food gets cold? Everything's ready! Daxion quickly changed the topic. H: Good idea, darling! Ash looked at Ren and gave her a little nod and a smile, as if trying to tell her it was fine. But she felt bad for touching a subject which brought sadness to his kids.

I: Daddy and mommy used to sing a lot together... but now that she's not... here anymore... nobody uses that machine. Ren felt her chest ache. R: Oh, I... I'm so sorry, sweetie...

It was then that Ren looked around and noticed a karaoke machine in the corner of the room, next to Ash's trophy stand. R: You guys have a karaoke machine? That's so cool! I didn't know you liked singing, Ash.

R: I am! And he gave me one too. Asu: I still remember the first days after they exchanged bracelets... Ren wouldn't take it off, not even to shower! H: Oh, Ash did the same. The smell was... Ash & Ren: 𝘔𝘖𝘔...!

R: It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Ren, a friend of your dad's. This is my mother Asuka. Asu: You're all so adorable! It's my first time seeing triplets in person. M: Are you the friend who gave him his bracelet?

Ash came with the kids to introduce them. A: These are my children. Iris, Mauve and Aster. Although they were triplets, each child reacted in a different way. Iris seemed to raise walls around her. Mauve waved and smiled in a polite manner. Aster tried to shrink in his shyness.

H: I'm glad you two could come, Asuka! It's great to see you. Ren looks beautiful and she seems really happy. Asu: Thank you, Honey. Yeah, I'm so proud of my daughter!

D: You became a beautiful young woman, that's true. But it's still you, Ren. Those words made her feel a little emotional. He spoke as if he had always known how she felt. And that wasn't far from the truth. Daxion's powers allowed him to read and understand the feelings and thoughts of humans.

Ash guided the two to the living room and Honey and Daxion came to greet them. D: Ren! You've grown so much, my dear! R: It's been a long time, Mr. Daxion. You must be... 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 with how much I've changed.

Ash: Oh, it's okay. By the way, Ren... you look very pretty. The comment came with no second intentions and an honest smile. Still, Ren felt her cheeks getting warmer as she smiled back. R: Thank you, Ash.

Asu: It's so nice to see you too, dear. Look at you! You're so big and handsome. You're not that skinny little boy who used to run at the park with my Ren anymore! The three of them laughed. R: Sorry my sister didn't come. Aya is missing home and prefered to stay and chat with her friends online.

Ren arrived with her mother, Asuka Sakamoto, and Ash came to greet them at the door. A: Welcome! It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Sakamoto.

Harvestfest finally came, and Honey insisted on decorating the house, even if the mood wasn't the best amongst its residents. That was her way of trying to put some color in her son's world.

A: Ren, come on! You forgot you traveled to Henford with us on my parents' birthday? You're practically family too. Ren smiled, unable to hide how happy those words made her feel. R: Okay, I'll talk to my mom and my sister.

A: So, what do you think of coming here with your family to have dinner with us? My parents would love to see your mother again. And you could meet my kids. R: Are you sure? I don't wanna be a bother... This is a family thing...

A: I see. Well, dad loves these holidays because he likes to cook. We won't have a big celebration... but he insists on at least having a Harvestfest dinner. He says food makes people feel better. R: And he's right! I still remember all the delicious food I ate whenever we played at your house.