Steve turned at the tone, and slowly stood as he listened. He acknowledged the response with a short nod. Scattered shouts from children and his wife echoed behind him.
"If you want them, even here, I'll spend every waking moment finding you," he promised softly, heart clenched with fear and determination before he turned around abruptly, catch two decidedly ghostly entities that sharpened into a boy and a girl as they laughingly collided with him and were swept up each in one arm.
He squeezed his eyes closed and stood, embracing both.
"You know there are Gingerbread houses ready for the building, if you're not all too busy" came the call from the other void-doorway. Steve beamed and turned, both his small boy and girl laughing delightedly in his arms and latching around his neck.
"Be right there, sweetheart," he called, turning and walking towards the 'kitchen' with his most precious cargo in hand and ignoring their delighted protests of "ew!" and "you and mom are gross!".