The next afternoon, Vox and Alastor decided it was time to share their news with Niffty in a special way. They took her out for ice cream at a cozy little parlor just down the street from the hotel, a place decorated with bright colors, cartoonish animal murals, and a generous selection of toppings—perfect for a six-year-old. Niffty's eye sparkled with excitement as she darted between the tubs of sprinkles, chocolate chips, and gummy worms, carefully picking her toppings with a small, concentrated frown.

After they'd all settled with their sundaes—Niffty's towering with whipped cream and gummy bears—Alastor gave Vox a small nod, and Vox smiled, turning to Niffty.

"Niffty, we wanted to tell you something important," Vox began, speaking gently. "You know how Alastor and I have been spending a lot of time together?"

She nodded, munching happily on a gummy bear. "Uh-huh! You're like... best friends, right?"

Alastor chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Even more than that. We're officially back together, as partners. It means we care about each other a lot, and we're going to look out for each other—and for you."

Niffty's mouth dropped open, but her face quickly broke into a grin. "Oh my gosh! Like in the movies?" She tilted her head, looking between them with a mix of fascination and curiosity. "Does that mean you love each other?"

Vox nodded, and Alastor chimed in with a gentle smile, "Yes, we do. We wanted you to know, and we thought maybe you'd have some questions about it."

Niffty looked down, twirling her spoon thoughtfully. After a few moments, she asked, "Are you two gonna live in the same room now? Or can I still come visit you?"

Alastor laughed softly. "You can visit us anytime you want, sweetheart."

She beamed at that, clearly reassured. "Okay!" Then, with a tiny, mischievous smile, she asked, "So... who's better at kissing?"

Alastor and Vox shared a look, trying to hold back laughs. Vox cleared his throat. "Well, that's a secret between us, I think. But I'm glad you're happy for us, Niffty."

"Very happy!" she replied with a nod. She reached out, giving each of them a sticky little hug, her face glowing with excitement.

As they left the ice cream parlor and headed back to the hotel, Niffty skipped along the sidewalk, her delight evident as she recounted how much fun she'd had. Vox and Alastor exchanged a warm glance, each feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the little family they were building together right there at the hotel.