#Side note but Cass adores Ellie

[soysaucevictim]

“it feels like my brain (was floating in a fishtank)”

(See warnings/summary on Ao3.)

[ Prologue/Start ] [ Previous ]

Chapter 4: Circuits of The Imagination

Vee had to work and Feed himself.

Ellis was staying in his study.

Janus always had “affairs” to attend to.

Roman said he dropped Remus off at Huntington Beach, again. Roman said he was going to a climbing gym to Feed, after that.

Vic was having a long shift at the zoo.

Carrie had the weekend off, so it was just her, Patton, and the help in Janus’s estate. She was trying to distract herself from the Dream, reading over technical manuals. She hated having new insight on what had to be going on in Steve’s mind, for who knew how long. To take his perspective as he nearly tore her family apart.

Patton, having caught up with his homeschooling, walked up to her, “Mrs. Espinoza?”

“Hm?”

“Are you feeling sad?”

“… I suppose.”

“Want to do something fun with me?”

“What would you suggest?”

“Can we go to the fair place?”

“Which one?”

“The one with the princesses and knights!”

She smiled, “Sure, let me just get ready for that, then.”

Patton grinning widely made her heart melt.

-

Remus was back at the beach, he immediately tried to swim again. It didn’t last very long, he felt his Horror was still sluggish after that meal from the yacht party. He had to swim more like a human, needing to actually hold his breath and he wasn’t as quick in the water. It wasn’t as fun.

So, he pouted at the shore line, still soothed by the waves.

After a while sitting there, Remus noticed Cass approaching him once more.

“You look particularly sullen this afternoon.”

Remus flopped backwards onto the sand, “It’s boring when FUN TIMES doesn’t want out.”

“Say, how familiar are you with your capabilities?”

“I’ve only known I was a Beast for like, a little over a year? Sooo…”

“Not much?”

“What? No! Well, kind of?”

“Hmm?”

Remus hesitated but told them about some of the things he did to Steve. He started with how he reached into the guy's mind to plant a potent Nightmare.

-

The eldritch form of his Horror loomed over the “Hero”. His uncountable eyes stared deeply into the puny thing, floating in the water and struggling to hold his breath. Threatening, inhuman noises resonated from his entire being. Remus beheld him, snaking the tip of one of his many tentacles into Steve’s mouth. The nuisance’s delicious fear was drowned out by knowing Roman could be d-

-

Remus shook his head and chose not to mention the part about his brother.

“Let’s just say that could’ve happened in much better circumstances.”

He wondered about discussing Horrorspawn. Jude was really fun to have around. It was like having some weird pet-child-thing that’s also sort of you floating around. When its time ran out and came apart, he was a little sad. It bitter-sweetly reminded him of what it felt like having a whole soul again. He held back on that note.

“So, where would you like to go, to rouse you?”

Remus wasn’t sure, he didn’t have nearly as much experience with this side of being a Beast. He assumed he’d have to single out someone specific. He thought about returning to Edison’s AutoMart or Nemeseian Blessings Yacht Club.

“Can we flip a coin?”

-

It was quite a car ride over to the Renaissance Fair grounds, but Carrie didn’t mind humoring Patton along his wandering babble. Occasionally, perhaps more than her own kids at this age, he would grow quiet.

The child really grabbed at every sense he could. The colors, textures and patterns on the staff’s garb – rich, vibrant, and fanciful. He listened to harpists, flutists, and singers perform music – adoring their charisma and showmanship. He smelled all the delicious food everywhere and wanted to try nearly everything. 

His vocabulary didn’t have such words, but Carrie could appreciate the boundless enthusiasm.

Soon enough they sat down for lunch, Carrie ordering them a couple bread bowls. Patton was having some chicken noodle soup and she helped herself to broccoli cheddar. She was amused with him scrunching his nose at the broccoli part.

She let him take the lead, and didn’t mind letting that continue. As they nearly finished their food, he interrupted her by asking, “Miss-uss Espinoza, where d’you wanna go now?”

She looked around for a few moments. She found herself transfixed by a specific pair of joined stands: a bowyer and blacksmith. The Dream reminded her of what she wielded in her nightmares, her fingers itching. She didn’t want a repeat of the Rich situation.

“Hmmm, oh. I’d like to see those folks’ wares.”

He nodded and followed her over there.

The craftsmen immediately looked at her strangely, as she approached. She wasn’t sure who to greet first, the smith chuckled, “Wherefore holla thither, maiden! Mine own name is Giles, what doth thee desire?”

The bowyer rolled her eyes, “You can call me Tasha. As you can probably tell, I fashion the bow components around these parts. Let me know if anything catches your eye.”

Carrie was fast in saying, somewhat flushed about Tasha’s imposing and attractive figure, “Name’s Carrie. C-can I have a crossbow, Tasha?”

Tasha raised an eyebrow, “Do you know how to use one, ma’am?”

Carrie straightened up, “Well, I’ve had some firearms training, when I was in the Air Force. But-.”

Her throat closed up, she didn’t want to touch a gun, but she needed this.

Tasha shrugged, “You’re in luck, I have something ready to go behind the bench.”

Tasha was quick to start giving her some pointers and running down the thing’s specifications, “Normally, this would cost you a couple grand, but we can negotiate a generous discount on it. You can also have a quiver of bolts on the house. I highly recommend you practice on the range while you’re here.”

Carrie glanced around, “Do you normally do this for customers?”

Tasha smiled at her, “I- we know-”

Giles bellowed cheerily, “Tasha, art thee trying to steal business hence from me? Shame on thee!”

Tasha had a look of endearment, “Honey, please. You take all this far too seriously.”

“Yet, thee did marry me!”

Carrie was entertained by this banter, it did make her think of Vic’s own charm.

Giles turned to face her, “Art thee eke interest'd in one of mine own fine blades, as well?”

“This might sound weirdly specific, but do you have anything like a rapier?”

“Alas, an estoc is the closest thing I has't to eft. I wilt asketh something about these purchases.  Art thee planning on most wondrous deeds, slaying the savage beasts of this realm?”

That froze her a moment, she felt something in these two. They weren’t Beasts but- she whispered to them, “A-are you two Heroes?”

Giles sobered, hushed and out of character, “Yes. We are. I warn you, if you abuse our courtesy, you’ll regret it.”

Tasha simply said, “We have our ways.”

Carrie nodded, “T-trust me. I just want to protect- protect-”

She looked around to see Patton had wandered off.

She panicked as she completed her transaction and gathered everything up. Estoc sheathed at her belt, the crossbow and ammunition in their cases.  The craftsmen gave her an understanding look, “If anyone asks, you’re just a family friend of ours.”

She had to find him.

-

Remus was back in Cass’s car.

The coin flip had Remus gleefully telling Cass about how he upturned a certain used car dealership before they met. He wondered if the business recovered after that mess, after seeing the news coverage on it.

Remus mentioned, “I don’t know WHAT you did back at the yacht club, but I’m so looking forward to seeing how the BOTH of us can go rile them up.”

Cass recited a few more verses in response:

“Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

They that tarry long at wine, they that go to seek mixed wine.”

Remus snorted, “Must’ve been some good shit.”

“You could say that.”

There was silence so Remus fiddled with the radio, Cass didn’t seem to care about being asked. Remus’s tastes were eclectic, but he was in the mood for the station that played a lot of indie rock.

And if you leave here, you leave me broken, shattered I lie I'm just a crosshair, I'm just a shot, then we can die

They had some luck catching strings of green lights heading deeper into Santa Ana. Cass was taking the scenic route to get there.

“Which of the Edisons do you think will be the most... appreciative of our services?”

“I guess the guy with the BlackBerry?”

“Duly noted.”

I know that starting over's not what life's about But my thoughts were so loud I couldn't hear my mouth My thoughts were so loud-

“Oh, and I’ve been meaning to ask if you can tell me more about yourself?”

“Well, I-”

Their conversation was cut short by one garishly hot pink SUV careening through the intersection at their side.

Before he knew it, Remus lost consciousness with an unbearably loud crash.

- 

After some frantic scanning, Carrie saw Patton again, across the lane through the stands.

One moment, he was giggling and clapping at a singing lute player. The other, his attention taken by a stranger with a camera, crouching down and tapping his shoulder. This stranger seemed so friendly, but she felt the Dream’s whispers kicking up on approach.

Said stranger had Patton following her.

Carrie started running toward them, fearing for the child. 

Alerted, the stranger gripped his arm far too tightly, making him whine in pain as they sped away from Carrie. The Dream was nearly screaming at her, “You know what she is, kill her. Kill. Her. KILL HER!”

She shook her head, thinking, “I can’t, not here! I just need to protect my- the child.”

She still gripped the estoc, not caring what others would think, hoping to corner the stranger.

They were running toward the park side of the venue, where the attendees grew sparse. Carrie was grateful when they finally started to slow down. It was clear the Beast had more stamina than the child, since Patton had to stop and catch his breath a few times. Her angry yanking and dragging him along only made so much progress.

Eventually, Carrie closed the distance, unsheathed her estoc, and pointed it at the kidnapper, “Let. Him. Go.”

Carrie noticed a strangely dull look in Patton as he stared expectantly at the Beast.

“Who might you be?”

Carrie practically growled, inching closer to the Beast, “What does it matter?”

“Why? I’m this ever so precious child’s mother!”

Carrie glanced at the two of them, not seeing any resemblance whatsoever. A rational part of her mind could drum up plausible reasons, but, “I don’t believe you.”

The Beast crouched in front of Patton, cradling his face to look at her, “Pattycake, sweetie. You believe me right?”

Patton hummed, “I-”

Carrie thrust the estoc closer, nearly puncturing her neck.

The Beast pulled her hands away from Patton, startled. Her gaze still went back to the child, “O-okay, I’m just his auntie Roxie! Do you remember that time-”

Carrie broke, “I will find you and turn you into a PIN CUSHION, if you so much as TOUCH that child OR ANY other. And I will RELISH it.”

A quiet part of Carrie was disturbed about the notion, drowned out by the Dream beckoning her forward. Suddenly Roxie’s expression dropped and she leapt away from Patton, wearing the same terror Rich did. Roxie stammered, “P-please, I-I need my family… I-I need…”

“DON’T make me kill you where you stand, fiend.”

Carrie was fighting the beckoning urge to destroy her utterly. The only thing resisting that was not wanting Patton to witness it.

“A-alright, alright. F-fine. D-don’t kill me. I’ll-I’ll get out of your hair…”

Roxie scrambled away from them, quickly getting far enough to have the Dream grow quiet again.

Carrie looked down to Patton, knelt to rest her hands on his shoulders, “Kiddo, a-are you alright?”

Patton seemed to shake out of the daze, wincing about the bruising on his arm, “She did something. Everything got so quiet, I-I could only hear her voice. I was scared and I couldn’t- couldn’t-”

Patton broke into tears and clung to her, she held him comfortingly, “Shhh, I won’t let this happen to you ever again. Not under my watch. You’re safe, now.”

“I wanna go home.”

“I understand. Let’s go, then.”

-

It was a miracle that the SUV didn’t hit square on Cass’s car, but toward the rear half of the sedan. It was the driver’s side too, narrowly avoiding a direct hit to Cass and barely dampened some of the force on Remus.

As all the airbags deployed, Cass fish-tailed to their left and came to a screeching halt. In moments, both vehicles had to’ve slammed the brakes.

Remus stirred moments after that. He was dizzy and nauseous, his vision swimming between blinks. He slurred, confused and disoriented, “W-what happened?”

Cass was surprisingly more alert, eyeing the other vehicle.

Remus thought, “Oh yeah, we got hit, didn’t we?”

Cass looked back at Remus, “Be careful, don’t move.”

Remus swore he was tasting blood. It took a lot of energy just to try to focus on his surroundings. He wondered if he was going to die.

Cass summoned some unearthly strength ramming open the partially caved in door and stepped out to confront the other driver. The SUV wasn’t nearly as crumpled up as the sedan, but she really shouldn’t have been able to walk out of this like she did.

As she stepped toward their vehicle and the airbags started to deflate, Remus vaguely recognized her from somewhere. Thinking made his head hurt. Did he just see a holster on her? Keeping his eyes open for a very long time hurt.

Cass got in between her and Remus, “Oh, it’s a relief that you were alright after that. Shall we exchange insurance information and settle this amicably?”

Cass sounded so calm, and so did the other driver, almost sweet-sounding, “I do apologize, Father. Oh! It seems you had a passenger, is he quite alright?”

“I will call for help, after we’ve done this formality. You may call me Cass, for now.”

She craned her neck around to see Remus more closely, her fake smile trembled slightly, glancing back to Cass, “Oh, you can just call me Di, and-”

Remus moaned, “… that… name…?”

Her eye started twitching, ever so slightly, “Gosh, is that one of those… day laborers?”

Remus thought some less-than savory things about that, but he still listened to Cass.

“Child, what does that have to do with-”

She shoved Cass aside and stared at Remus with a creepy, subdued smile, “Ah, I knew the vermin behind ruining my beloved hubby’s big day was around here somewhere. I was looking EVERYWHERE, for you! This can’t stand, you see?”

Remus swallowed some more blood, feeling a familiar wrongness about her.

Cass was stern, “You’re over the line.”

“And you’re going to regret intervening on my MISSION.”

She stepped back and the space in front of her rippled. Remus’s guts twisted, peering into the gate. It was a familiar deep sea crevasse, shimmering in a tiny crack in reality. He feared what she would do if she got inside his Lair, but couldn’t make himself move or think to stop her.

She was about to enter it before Cass yanked her away, “I know the game you’re playing here, but I will not let one of my charges be harmed by one such as yourself.”

In between Remus’s blinks, Cass turned into something incomprehensible in his stupor.

Diane’s eyes became saucers, “W-what ARE y-!?”

Cass wrapped something around her neck and lifted her up. She desperately tried clawing herself free. The mass was somehow both solid enough to squeeze the life out of her, but not enough for her hands to find any purchase.

Cass’s voice seemed to reverberate from their entire body, distorted, yet serene:

“A good man takes care of his animals. But even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”

She gagged and fought uselessly, before going slack in their grip.

The intense emotions that wafted from her had quieted, as Cass dropped her unceremoniously. Remus wasn’t even sure if Cass was looking at him, until they shifted back to their “human” form.

Cass swiftly tapped something on their phone, “Yes, Emergency? I’m over at… I just witnessed a car accident. Someone is badly injured. Please, you have to-!”

Cass crushed the device in front of Remus and told him, “Don’t tell them anything.”

Remus slurred, “¿Quiiién? ”

He couldn’t keep his eyes open. The question went unanswered.

The last things he heard was the sound of something being dragged along, doors opening and closing, and a car driving away.

He felt an overwhelming tiredness cloaking him from there.

-

It was a long and quiet car ride back to the estate for Carrie and Patton.

She grimaced whenever she glanced at the kid favoring his injured arm. She muttered to him once, “I’m sure Vic can help you feel a little better. I’m sorry-”

Patton smiled at her despite the wincing, “’sokay. She-”

He gulped, Carrie nodded, “No. It was my responsibility to make sure that didn’t happen.”

“You’re sad again.”

Carrie was mentally repeating to herself that this wasn’t going to happen again.

Patton carefully touched her arm as she drove, “I know you care about me, Miss-us Espinoza.”

She smiled a little and was caught off guard by him saying, “It’s like Vee says, ‘shit happens and then you die’.”

She sputtered at that, “Young man, language!”

Patton gave an all-too innocent shrug.

When they arrived, Vee was there and clearly restless. Patton was quick to run to him for a hug. Vee was smiling until he saw the subtly darkening bruise on his brother’s arm. The older brother was glaring daggers at Carrie immediately.

“On your life, you BETTER not’ve laid a hand on him.”

Carrie waved her hands in placation, “Patton just asked me to take him to the-”

Patton supported her, “The Renaissance fair, Vee! It was a lot of fun!”

Vee was snarling, Carrie knew it was about her but he was facing Patton, “Fun? Why are you HURT.”

He then turned to Carrie, “And why are you armed to the TEETH now!?”

Patton wasn’t fazed, “She scared off a bad lady. Who did something weird to my head, I think?”

Vee desisted, barely, “Bad. Lady?”

“She was kind of like you and Mama Jannie – but… scary?”

Vee looked almost insulted a moment, Carrie would’ve snorted if the tension wasn’t so thick.

The older brother looked at her, cautiously glancing at her weapons, “Did you kill her?”

“No. I think I found something that she feared? Or…”

Vee went rigid, “You inflicted that on her.”

She retreated for a moment, “I-I had to do something!”

Vee slackened and sighed, “I don’t smell any new blood on you. I don’t really see that kind of restraint. Ever. In people like you.”

Patton looked up at Vee and smiled encouragingly, “It was amazing, V-!”

Vee seemed to melt, “Look. Maybe I should tell you m-”

Carrie’s phone buzzed. She hesitated a moment, but her gut told her to answer it.

“We’re with the Providence Saint Anne Hospital, is this Carrie Espinoza?”

“Speaking.”

“Are you Remus Espinoza’s mother?”

Carrie felt a cold pit settle in her stomach, “Yes, why?”

“He was in an accident and admitted to our care a few hours ago. His condition is stable but still being monitored. We have already contacted your husband, will the two of you be available to come here to see him?”

“Y-yes, of course! I can go right now. A-and I’ll try to get his brother there too.”

“Okay, do you have something to write down the phone and room numbers?”

She shakily pulled out a notepad and pen from her bag and jotted everything down before the call ended. Patton tugged at her pant leg, “Is Remus okay?”

Vee seemed caught off guard and concerned. She briefly wondered if it was for her.

Carrie simply said to the two of them, “I can only hope so.”

-

“Thank you for giving us some more detailed history to add to Remus’s charts, Mr. And Mrs. Espinoza.”

Carrie, Vic, and Roman stood near Remus’s room, talking with his doctor.

Vic asked, “How is he?”

The doctor answered, “Remus experienced some whiplash injuries and a concussion from a side-on impact. Given some of his test scores, we just ordered a CT scan and would like to hold him for a couple days.”

Carrie asked, “What happened?”

The doctor glanced at some charts before answering, “The first responders were admittedly puzzled by it. It looked like a hit and run, both drivers involved weren’t on the scene. And the vehicle your son was found in was registered to… an out of state missing person. You might get more information from the police department on that.”

Roman fidgeted, “Is he going to be okay? Can we see him?”

“We still have to wait a little bit to be certain, but Remus appears to be in better shape than expected. But, yes, take it easy with him. We don’t want to-”

Remus shouted from his room, “I can hear you!… ow.”

They filed in quietly and orderly.

Vic held the hand that didn’t have an IV in it and ruffled Remus’s hair, “Oh, mijo. What have you gotten yourself into?”

Remus winced in thought before shrugging, “I… don’t remember?”

Carrie’s demeanor softened, “Easy, Rejoe. You can tell us when you do.”

-

The moon was waxing outside.

Remus didn’t remember when he last fell asleep. Or if he had passed out.

He was lying in a hospital bed, confused why he was there a moment, before his senses caught up. He was told not to strain himself physically or mentally. As much of a contrarian he liked to be, when he tried to claw at what happened in the car accident his headache flared up.

Teeth. He remembered seeing too many of them. But nothing coherent to connect with it- it was like a nightmare. But then, Remus knew he couldn’t have those anymore. 

He regretted immediately his impulse to shake his head to clear it. All he got from that was an intense dizzy spell. He laid back, to quell the predictable nausea, and huffed, “This sucks ass.”

It was a small miracle he didn’t break anything else in the crash, that’s what the nurses said to him, anyways. Remus tended to avoid that growing up – he guessed being an actual monster just made him weirdly flexible.

His bed was pretty close to the window.

When he turned to face it one of the several times hoping for the scenery to change faster - Cass showed up, turned back to him and looked outside. Cass simply said, almost embarrassed, “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Huh?”

In a few more blinks, Cass was gone.

When asked, the nurse told him his last visitors were hospital staff and family, no one else.

-

@milktea531 @r0sethrills

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[ Next ]

[abraxos-is-toothless]

Coming Home

Elriel Fic- One shot

This is my first ever fic so I hope you’ll all forgive me if it’s absolutely terrible but I did the best that I could:))

————————

Azriel had been gone for nearly a month on his latest task given to him by Rhysand. It’s the longest he had been gone in a while and his heart had never ached so much in his very long existence. Not until her. Not until the tiny little being she gave him. Azriel always thought she was the greatest miracle in his life, yet she always had to surprise him and gave him one more.

Gods he needed to be home now. He needed to be home weeks ago.

He was still flying back over to Velaris from the Continent and wasn’t close enough to winnow yet. Just thinking of them caused that achingly happy flutter in the pit of his stomach. All of the pain, torture and misery he was handed in his life made feel like this would never happen, that he’d never get what he’d always wanted. Longed for.

Finally the Illyrian mountains were in his line of sight and he could do what he’d been wanting to do since he first left them. Home. He could go home. Winnowing back to their little cottage drained him slightly after the long flight but Azriel found he didn’t care once he was close enough to catch her scent. Gods that wonderful scent that made him think of roses and sweet cakes. Walking through the archway to the door made his heart rate pick up in a way that excited yet scared him, he would never understand how they managed to turn him-a male who nearly all feared with the exception of her- into a big pile of mush.

Azriel had only just closed the door to the cottage when there was a flurry of long golden brown hair and then he was being squeezed tight around his torso, that enticing scent engulfing him. He curved his arms around her waist, tucking his head into the crook of her neck and said “I missed you too El, so much”. She pulled back to look at him with one of the brightest smiles he had ever seen and simply told him, “As I you, but I have a surprise for you”. Taking his hand, linking their fingers together, she started to lead them upstairs where he knew their son, Luka’s, nursery to be. As they walked through the house he took every inch of her beautiful figure in, noting a few small different things since the last time they were together.

Elain was wearing a pale pink sweater that was given to her last year for winter solstice by Mor -the devilish female noticed how much he got flustered when she was wearing anything pink- that was slightly baggy, covering those luscious curves he loved to so much. He thought about them more than he should have while he was gone. Azriel then realised she was wearing pants that were very clearly not hers, he knew this from how extremely tight they were as he ran his eyes over her behind. Mother above Feyre. She may be his High Lady but she was definitely paying for this in the training ring later.

He focused on the sound of her bare feet padding across the wood floor towards Luka’s room to try and distract himself. Not that it was working very well. Once they reached the door she turned back to him and seemed to vibrating with the excitement that was clearly written on her face and asked him “Are you ready?” He gave her a small nod of his head and they walked in together. Luka, the spitting image of his mother except for his nose and mouth was sitting up in his crib as they came through the door, his little black wings spread wide, and he gave his father the most joyous squeal once he caught sight of him. There were beginnings of small faded shadows that had not been there before hinting maybe he’d also have his father’s gifts, making him chuckle because Uncle Cass was about to have his hands full in a few years when training began. Azriel was still laughing when he moved forward to pick the boy up, but his wife beat him to it. He looked at her with what you could clearly see was confusion on his face. “Ellie? Is there a reason I’m not allowed to hold my son after being gone for a month?” He didn’t mean for there to be a bite to his words but he’d missed them both more than he thought possible and just wanted, no he needed the confirmation that this was actually real. That he wasn’t dreaming from his bed a thousand miles away.

Her smile dropped slightly and there was a small flicker of emotion before she explained “We have something to show you first. Isn’t that right little grub?” Luka giggled in her arms as Elain tickled his sides. It was a sound Azriel wanted to commit to memory. She moved away from him to put a few feet between them and told him to crouch down, so he did as she asked but had no idea what going on until she crouched also and plopped Luka on the floor in front of her. “Put your arms out like you would for a hug and call his name. Trust me you’ll see.” Doing as she said he watched as Luka looked to his father with what he would call a very dopey grin and pushed one foot forward. Azriel’s breath caught in his throat when he finally understood what her surprise for him was. Luka kept putting one chubby leg in front of the other trying his hardest to get to him, and he was struggling to keep back the tears that threatened to spill at the sight.

His High Lord would also have a debt to pay in the ring for making him miss so much.

His son was only a few steps away from him when he got unsteady and started to fall, so without thought or hesitation, one of his wings shot out to prop him back up right. Luka laughed at that as shadows surrounded him and he seemed to move slightly quicker to get past those few steps to his father, and once he was close enough Azriel finally took him into his arms and stood, putting his head to his son’s neck like he had to his mother, breathing in that intoxicating baby smell. He pulled back as he felt Elain approach looking at her with such awe he could see an adorable flush begin on her cheeks. He had no idea he’d been crying until he felt her hands on his face, her thumbs just under his eyes brushing away the last few tears. Drawing her into his arms also and holding his family tight he whispered “Thank you El for giving me this life, for loving me unconditionally and for bestowing on me the greatest present a male could ever ask for. I am so so lucky to be your husband and even luckier still to be his father.”

He placed kisses to both their foreheads and watched as Luka brought his hands up to squeeze his cheeks with another beautiful squeal, then turned his face to the female who gave him everything and more. Once their eyes locked together, hers lined with silver, she whispered back to him “Forever Az, Forever. I will love you always.”

Forever sounded good to him.

———————

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[beyonceswigs]

Please please talk about the names you picked out for Liam and MC’s kids and their backgrounds!! I love hearing people talk about their characters.

Ah! okay okay, I hope it doesn’t come off that I’m visibly excited to talk about them lmao ( because I am fjfjjfd)

Here’s a little bit about them since I haven’t gotten far to birthdays yet lol.

Theodore:

His full title is Prince Theodore of Cordonia and the determinant eldest of the family (and I may switch him out to make his sister the one born in TRH idk yet). His nickname is Theo among family and friends, and he’s the spitting image of Liam but has Liere’s personality. He’s confident, direct, trusting, lionhearted, and isn’t afraid to put people in their place. He also very loudly states his opinions to nobles, in front of them, while staring them in the face. Literally, he is his mother.

Araminta:

Her full title is Princess Araminta of Cordonia, and she’s the second to be born, and everyone calls her “Minty” beside anyone who’s required to address her by her title. She’s the exact opposite of her brother and is more like her father. She’s polite, slow to anger, and has a heart as big as her entire body. She’s such a sweetheart, very soft, and if she were real, you would cry yourself to sleep because how can anyone be that fckin PURE. She adores both of her parents, but she is a confirmed Daddy’s Girl, and Liam falls apart every time they’re together it’s almost sickening lol. She looks precisely like Liere with a tiny bit of Liam.

Cassian:

His full title is Prince Cassian of Cordonia, and his third to be born and is a little prickly among others who don’t know him. His nickname is “Cass” or “Cassi,” and he’s not standoffish per se? But he’s wary of his title, and the dangers come with it, so he’s not as friendly as the others. He’s straightforward and gets to the point, wasting no time to move on to the next diplomatic conversation, and it’s his siblings that got him into the most shenanigans. Cassian is a mix of both of his parents.

Side note: there’s a tiny moment where the royal family went to Paris for Christmas. Araminta took him on a mini-tour of the Eiffel Tower during the night, and she quotes, “I’ve never seen Cass react so emotionally to the skyline, I almost cried with him” LOL.

Eleanor:

Her full title is Princess Eleanor of Cordonia, and she’s the fourth to be born. Her family and friends call her “Ellie” or “Elle.” She wasn’t intended to be named Eleanor at first, but Liere’s due date begins to grow closer to Eleanor’s birthday. As predicted, she gave birth on the exact day, so Liam and Liere decided to name her Eleanor in honor of her late grandmother. It doesn’t help that she’s the spitting image of Liam and has a little lot of Eleanor’s personality in her. She loves to sing, play instruments, and has a sickening knowledge of knowing when to be fair, Theo hates it, Cass loves it.

Augustine:

His full title is Prince Augustine of Cordonia, the fifth to be born and the last boy. He doesn’t have a quirky nickname unless you drop the “-stine,” which usually is the case. Augustine is very goofy and the comedian of the bunch. His personality is if Maxwell and Liam where to be combined, and that’s what comes out of it. Maxwell taught him how to twerk when he was ten, and it took his parents three years to break him out of it, and it’s just fkfkkdkd he’s a mess a colossal mess and tries to keep his personality at a minimum during royal events ( AT LEAST) 😂

Sidenote: His name was going to be Constantine, but Liam and Liere decided on making his name just similar, not exact. I also don’t know who he closely resembles?? Probably Liere.

Lydia:

Her full title is Princess Lydia of Cordonia, and she’s the sixth to be born and the last child. She’s the baby of the group, so everyone is extremely protective of her, and she hates it lol. Compared to all of her siblings, she’s the shyest. So t’s a little harder for her to come out of her shell compared to others. She retreats to books and her studies to try to hide from all the courtly politics. Her love for stories has helped her grow into wanting to become an author. She resembles both Liam and Liere.

Sidenote: She writes stories, and during stormy nights, Liam is with her under her blanket, holding his phone light so she could read some of the stories she’s written throughout the day to him. After she falls asleep, he collects the work she’s written and puts them somewhere safe. He also reads them during some of his most stressful moments, and it gives him peace to deal with the next set of problems. 😭