The Extremely Happy Time Machine

Previously

…Lily watched Sir Reginald and Flikker, their figures now silhouetted against the joyous scene. She saw the knight’s eyes, no longer filled with gloom, but twinkling with a shared mirth. She understood then, with a clarity that surprised her, that happiness wasn't just something you found; it was something you helped create. And in that moment, as the familiar hum of the time machine beckoned them home, Lily felt a surge of pride, not just for her uncle’s invention, but for the small, silly jester and the grumpy knight, and for the simple, profound joy they had found together.