Chapter Text
“Look at my new dress, Jote!” Meline danced around the corridor, twirling around so the fabric of her dress was spinning through the air. “Lovely, little princess”, the woman complimented her, while she walked next to her.
It was late in the afternoon. Joshua and Jote had arrived after lunch and after the couple had gotten changed, they joined the others, who were on their way to the birthday celebration of the Crown Prince. “I still cannot believe we are in Stonhyrr, invited by the King himself”, Joshua mumbled as they followed the other guests into the richly decorated hall.
“Feels like yesterday that we signed the peace negotiations”, Clive whispered, looking a little bit uneasy as they made their way through the crowd. Just like Jill, who wore a long elegant dress, he was dressed in the colours of the North while Joshua and Jote’s clothes were dyed in red.
“And do not forget that we are guests of honour, thanks to Dion”, Jill added and smiled at the omega, who was walking next to her. “I could not let the child or his father die...”, Dion mumbled, adjusting his grip on Odile, who he held in his arms. “We know that. And it is good to have a powerful ally on our side”, Joshua replied, looking gratefully.
“Anyway, let us just enjoy the evening”, the blonde omega continued, motioning for Kihel to grab her sister’s hand before Meline was able to disappear into the crowd.
All three girls were wearing the same dress made out of turquoise and white fabric, while their parents’ clothes were made out of the same material. “I hope there will be dancing”, Meline exclaimed while she glanced around, her eyes curiously scanning the other people.
“Sleipnir said there would be”, Kihel answered, her head following her sister’s. “Will you dance with me, uncle Clive?” Big brown eyes looked up at the taller man, who looked stunned. “Y-yes, of course. Although I have to admit that I am not a good dancer...” “It’s alright”, Meline said and shrugged her shoulders, “just don’t embarrass me in front of everyone.”
“Meline!” Baffled the adults all looked at the girl, who grinned widely. “It was just a jest!”, she answered before pulling her sister with her, disappearing quickly. “I am terribly sorry Clive”, Dion mumbled while Terence looked after their daughters, shaking his head.
“No need to worry. Despite his own beliefs, Clive is a very good dancer!”, Jill answered instead, patting her husband’s shoulder. “But she should not have said that”, Meline's father protested and then sighed, “Meli clearly is a handful. But fortunately, Kihel always manages to keep her at bay.”
“Well, she is a little whirlwind after all”, Joshua agreed and chuckled. “Sometimes she is more like a storm”, Dion interfered and looked down at Odile, who was starting to get bored and had therefor begun to chew on her chocobo plushie. “I wonder how you are going to be when you are grown up...”
Because of the many people attending the feast, it took them a while until a servant spotted them and walked them to their seats: As guests of honour, they were of course seated at the main table, flanking the royal family.
“I never thought I would find myself sitting at a king’s table...”, Terence whispered as they all had settled down, “I have to admit that I am feeling a little bit uneasy.” “Well... My father had never invited us to dinner, so how should you know how to feel”, Dion answered and gave his consort a reassuring smile.
“Not that I minded much...”, the alpha replied and looked at his plate, loaded with foreign food. Although they still led a somewhat comfortable life, Dion and Terence still preferred simpler meals, with sweets for Dion and the girls being the only exception.
“Well, we can at least try it”, the brown-haired man shrugged his shoulders and picked up a piece of meat with his fork while he simultaneously handed his youngest daughter a spoon full of something that looked like a mashed vegetable. Automatically Odile opened her mouth and closed it around the spoon, before she looked at her father with big eyes as she swallowed the food.
Only seconds later, a smile appeared on her face and she opened her mouth again, demanding more. “It’s really good!”, Dion agreed with his daughter, while he chewed on his own food. “I am glad you like it. We wanted to import some of your food and drinks but unfortunately the trading system is not running smoothly at the moment due to storms around our coast.”
As soon as Sleipnir sat down next to Dion, a maid hurried over and placed a plate with food in front of him as well. “No need to trouble yourself. Your wine is really good”, Terence replied and raised his goblet filled with a dark liquid. “Yes, I would never have thought that wine could be even produced in Ash”, Joshua joined their conversation from the other side of the table and took a sip as well.
“It is not easy to cultivate the land, but we manage”, the silver-haired omega answered proudly, his face showing a smile as his son appeared at the table, closely followed by Kihel and Meline.
“Oh, food! Looks good!” Eyeing the food, Meline sat down on a chair, starting to grab pieces of meat from her father’s plate. “Stop drooling and eating my food”, Terence reprimanded his daughter, but could not hide his smirk. “But I am hungry”, the girl pouted but squealed happily, when a plate was placed in front of her. Without waiting, she grabbed the fork and began eating.
“Meline, mind your manners”, Kihel scolded her sister with a worried look. “Ugh, Kihel, you sound like father!”, was all her little sister said and although Sleipnir could not suppress his amused chuckle, Dion was surprised that the young girl did not look offended over her sister’s comment. More so, she seemed rather proud, her eyes twinkling.
“I do?”, she asked carefully and upon receiving an enthusiastic nod from Meline, Kihel glanced at her father, who winked. “Well, it runs in the family”, Terence answered confidently and now it was Kihel’s turn to nod enthusiastically. “This also means that you, Meli, take after your dad”, the alpha added with a grin.
“You are just jealous”, Dion answered, while he demonstratively put another piece of food into his mouth. He winked at his consort, who rolled his eyes in mock annoyance, before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
The rest of the evening passed quickly, filled with stories of Clive and Jill’s adventures during their travel through Valisthea and fairytales Joshua told the children. “If you want to be alone, just go”, Dion heard Jill whisper to Terence.
The three of them were sitting on a couch in an alcove, watching Joshua, who had just started another tale about Shiva and her companion Fenrir. Kihel – holding Odile in her arms – Meline and the little Crown Prince sat with him and Jote on a fluffy rug, while Torgal lay next to them, dozing.
“As much as we want to, I fear that Odile needs to be put to bed soon. And Meli is also more sleeping than listening to the story”, Terence answered, looking at his daughters, one already sleeping with her face cuddled against her sister while the other was fighting to keep her eyes open. “We can look after them. We’ve promised after all”, Clive joined in, while he made himself comfortable in an armchair.
He sighed contently as he let his head fall back. “But you have entertained them all evening”, Dion replied, reminding the older man that he had danced with their two oldest daughters almost an hour. “Looking after them while Joshua talks them into sleep will be a piece of cake”, Clive answered and smiled.
“But they will not stay with you if they are sleepy...” “Just leave that to me, Terence!”, Jill smiled widely as she rose from her seat only to kneel next to Kihel. “It is getting really late”, she started but was immediately interrupted by three loud voices.
“But Joshua hasn’t finished his story!” “I know, I know. What do you say if we move to Clive and my chambers, where Joshua can continue his story while you all get comfortable. Oh, I know! We could build a blanket fort!”
“A blanket fort?” Now all the children’s eyes were on her, even Meline was wide awake again. “Yes... Do not tell me, that you do not know what that is!” She smiled amused as she saw three shaking heads. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
Instantly, the girls were on their feet, while Joshua picked up the Crown Prince, excusing himself to look for his parents, only to appear a few minutes later with their approval to take the boy with them.
In the meantime, Clive had gathered Meline on his back, while Jote had taken Odile from Kihel. The girl had firstly wanted to hand her sister back to her parents, but Joshua’s mate had reacted quickly, explaining to the girl, that her sister could stay with them.
“Are you coming as well?”, their oldest daughter asked once the group had stepped out of the growded hall and into the hallway. “No, we go back to our room. Jill will bring you back later”, Dion answered, inwardly hoping that he didn’t need to explain more detailed why they would not be joining them.
“We need some time alone”, Terence quietly told Kihel, who simply nodded. “I will watch over Meline and Odile. Good night, papa!” She gave them both a kiss on the cheek, before she hurried after the others.
“Isn’t our oldest daughter a true angel?” “Yes, she is such a great big sister”, Dion agreed as they entered their bedchamber a few minutes later.
After closing the door, Terence sat down beside his consort, who was sitting on the bed. For a few minutes both men enjoyed the silence that hung comfortable between them. “Did you know”, the omega finally broke the silence whispering, “that I thank and pray to Greagor every day for giving me my family?”
“I know, love. And I am happy to be part of it”, the alpha answered, gently kissing Dion’s cheek and pulling him into a tight embrace. Both men looked into each other’s eyes, before their lips met in a soft kiss that slowly turned fiercer. They only broke apart, when the need to breath became too strong, a flush visible on both of their faces.
“But I have to admit”, Terence said after taking a deep breath, “that I like you best when you chant my name like a prayer.” The dark-haired man smiled, while his fingers started to pull at Dion’s clothes.
Taken aback by his consort’s bold words, Dion just opened his mouth, while the fingers under his clothes moved over his skin. “So what do you say, my dear husband”, the alpha whispered, while he pressed one knee between Dion’s legs, spreading them as he did so, “if we continue to extend our family? After all, we always wanted to have a big one.”