Chapter 18: Love and Gifts

Alex and I help Robin out of her bed, we have gotten permission from Miss Bernet to take home Robin, as long as we make sure she gets proper meals. At first Robin is a bit wobbly, but within minutes she is walking by herself, although she looks like she might fall over sometimes. Slowly but surely we make it back to the house. When we finally reach home we all headed to the bedroom so Robin can lay down again.

“Robin you feeling ok, do you want to talk later?” While the conversation is important, making sure Robin is ok is more so. “I am fine.” Welp seems like I can’t avoid it any longer. “Ok, first, I want you both to know that you two mean the world to me. In my short time in this world, I feel deeper bonds with you girls, than any other person back on my home world. Without you two I would be alone and sad, or probably dead by now.” I can feel the sweat running down my back, and my heart is racing. I look them in the face, and I see smiles.

The anxiety I was feeling turned to pure happiness, without expressing any word, I knew that they felt the same way about me. But it quickly turns back into fear, “Unfortunately that is where the problem lies. Robin, I ignored any signs of affection because I wanted you to experience freedom, to know of others before you decided truly. Yet, when I don’t expect it you spring a confession on me. Alex, I am sorry that I didn’t notice you were a girl, but now I truly see you as one. Since both of you are so important to me, I don’t want to harm our relationship. I want to be together with both of you, and if I say yes to Robin, then that may make Alex want to leave.

But if I say no to Robin then that may make her want to leave, I mean if either of you left I feel like a part of me would be missing.” “John” “Robin without you around my mornings would be uncomfortable, Alex who would motivate me to keep pushing.” “Boss” “Without Robin I wouldn’t feel safe, Without Alex I feel like the a light in my life would be gone.” “John/Boss!” “Huh? Ah sorry my thoughts and emotions started to run away from me.” Realizing that I was starting to ramble I was brought back to reality.

“What I am trying to say is that I would feel bad if I loved one, and pushed away the other.” Letting my whole heart out there I hope that my troubles are understood. “John, it’s ok we have the agreement.” I am not sure what Robin is trying to say. “Boss what Robin is trying to say is that our agreement already takes care of that. Robin and I never worried about who would get your affection because we decided to share it.” Share my affection what are they talking about?, “Um what do you mean?” Alex pulls out a piece of paper from her shadow storage, “Per the agreement, Neither Robin nor I will try to monopolize your affection, and the one who is to have intercourse with John/Boss first will be his first wife, and the other will be the second.”

I hold my hand out towards the paper and Alex hands it over. Reading the agreement, I slowly realize that these two never even thought about me only loving one of them. Also they already our planning for marriage! “Girls, um I am really flattered and I truly do love both of you, but I don’t know if I am ready for marriage.” The idea of polygamy isn’t new to me, many great hiking areas are in the Utah area, which has tons of religious groups that believe in polygamy. Though I feel like I am skipping over very important steps here.

“John, do you love me?” Robin takes one of my hands in hers and stares right at me. “Yes I do.” A smile blooms on her face, and it takes away my worries. “Boss! What about me do you love me?” Alex jumps at me and I quickly catch her with me free arm. “Haha, yes I love you also.” A smile comes to her face, and it brightens my world. With both of my arms full, I realize I am quite the luck man, but Alex’s face quickly comes towards me. With no way to counter she lands a kiss directly on my cheek. “Hehe I got his first kiss!” “Alex, that is no fair. John lean forward, I need to tell you something.” I might need to tell Robin that she isn’t as sly as she thinks, but following what she asks I lean forward where her face can easily reach mine. A cold but pleasant kiss was landed on my other cheek.

The kisses came as a surprise, but definitely not unwanted. Feeling the mood is right I kiss both Robin and Alex on their cheeks. Alex starts squirming in my arm and Robin’s face turns a bright shade of red. I was about to kiss them again, but I heard a knock on our door. Slightly annoyed that our precious time got interrupted I headed to the door with a bit of a sour face on. Opening the door I see Jessica, “Hello Jessica how can I help you?” I let a bit of my annoyance out in my voice.

“Sorry did I come at a bad time?” Alex pushes me to the side, “No no sorry Boss is just a anxious because Robin is still recovering.” Alex covers for me, guess it isn’t a good idea to get pissy at her. “I see, well I have been told by my father to have your group come meet him in his office, but if Robin is still recovering then I will tell him it will have to be later.” “It’s ok” Robin pops up from behind us. “I am feeling better, if the head wants to see us then we should go.” Seems like she is feeling better, that's good to hear. “Well then if you three are ready shall we be off?” I quickly make sure we have everything we need and then off we go.

“Dad, I have brought John’s group.” Jessica opens the door and announces our presence. Walking in it seems that it is only Scarson this time, and not all three trainers. “Thank you Jess, stay here please this will pertain to you also.” Scarson motions for all of us to take a seat in front of his desk. Once seated he gets right to the point, “Well I called you here for two things. First about the completion of your trainers. Second I have a quest that I believe would be very well suited for you.

Starting with the completion, I would like to congratulate you three on passing the Verix family basic training. While it may be only the beginning all three of you showed amazing talent, hardwork, and perseverance. With the successful completion, I would like to present you three with rewards, usually we would have had the reward a lot earlier, but most time more than a month to complete the basic training.” Scarson reaches down into his shadow and pulls on three different objects. I can see one sword, a gauntlet, and a tiara.

“First Alex, my very own student. Your reward is a darksteel longsword, this beautiful sword is made of darksteel which increases the effects of dark element applications. Your strikes will be heavier, swifter, and deadlier.” He pulls the sword out of the silver metal sheath to reveal a black sword that is about half the height of Alex. The metal seems to absorb the light, and gives of a weird feeling while looking at it. Alex picks up the sword, and I can feel the gravity around us getting heavier. A big smile appears on her face as she is staring at the sword.

“Good it seems you like it. Next is Robin, my wife has had nothing but praise for you. For your reward the tiara, this tiara is know as the mermaid’s circlet. Similar to Alex’s sword, this tiara helps with the control of your water element.” Scarson hands over the tiara to Robin, it’s base is a silver metal with beautiful mermaids carved into the sides surrounding a lovely light blue gem in this front. After a couple of seconds Robin carefully places the tiara on her head, and it looks really good on her. The design is simple enough that it doesn’t contradict Robin’s look. “It looks really good on you Robin.” “I agree Robin”, Alex seems to like it also. “Thank you both us you.”

“And final our mysterious traveller, I am truly sorry about Brock’s personality, he is a bit sadistic sometimes. But, even with that you were able to overcome your challenges, and more so. For that I would like to reward you with this gauntlet. The mithril protector, a special type of metal that only the best of miners can find. It has the special property of increasing your defenses, and it will constantly give off a small bit of earth elemental power. Along with the fact that it by itself is incredible durable and can easily stop steel swords. Truly made for someone that wants to protect those precious to him.” Scarson hands me the gauntlet and the first thing I notice is the weight, it barely weighs anything. The whole gauntlet is an aquamarine color, with a very beautiful design engraved on the forearm area. Slipping the gauntlet over my left hand, I move my fingers and wrist. My movements don’t feel restricted at all, and it fits perfectly.

“It looks good.” “It looks really cool, I want one!” Seems like both Robin and Alex both like my new gauntlet. Unfortunately I can’t test out the increased defense, but I feel like this piece of armor will really help me. “Thank you Scarson, it will definitely help me me protect these two.”

“No, don’t thank me you three deserve this. But, remember I am expecting big things from you three.” “Yes, and I believe we will deliver.”

“Well then now that is done on to the second reason for bringing you three here. I have been requested by the guildmaster of the adventurer’s guild, to send some of my family members for a quest. While he did not state the exact quest, I believe it has to do with bandit activity on the road towards netfir. A town to the southeast of here. If I am correct it should prove a very valuable experience, but it would also be too hard at your current level. That is why I will have Jess accompany you three as your healer. She will only be healing, and will have minimal interference. Of course this is only if you accept the quest.”

While the quest does sound interesting, Robin is still recovering and I still want to spend some time with these two. “Robin, Alex, what do you guys think, personally I would like a couple more days of peace before we do anything.” Robin gives me a shrug, “I am fine with your decision.” When I look towards Alex she seems a bit uncertain, “Mister Scarson would this quest have anything to do with slavers?” Ah, does this have something to do with the group of slavers she escaped from? “I am not a hundred percent certain, but I believe it does as many illegal slavers have been spotted coming from the bandit’s location.” He seems quite knowledgeable on a quest that he wasn’t told about.

“Boss can we do it. I remember my time as a slave, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone that isn’t deserving.” Alex is giving me puppy dog eyes, and they are working quite well. “Sure, but make sure Robin is ok with it also. Remember she is still recovering.” “Robin are you ok to do it?” “Sure Alex.” Looks like even Robin isn’t immune to puppy dog eyes. “Great I will inform the guildmaster. You should head over to the guild earlier tomorrow. He will fill you in on all the details. Also Jess,” “Yes dad?” “Remember you are only there to heal.” “Got it dad.”

We soon left the head’s office, and on our way out made plans with Jessica to meet in the main building’s diner in the morning then head off from there. On our way home I decided to remind the girls of what happened earlier. When they weren’t paying attention I slipped my hands into theirs. While hand holding may not seem like a bit step up, I feel like it shows our new relationship. “I know you are courting me this time.” While Robin’s face doesn’t change much I can still notice a tinge of red on her cheeks.

What surprised me was that Alex quickly pulled her hand back. It hurt me a bit to see her react like that, “Ah no sorry Boss it's just that I have calluses on my hand. It won’t feel good to hold my hand.” Alex rubs her hand against her callused palm, and shows a sad expression. I am actually surprised that Alex has a more girlish side. Before she can notice I grab hold of her hand again, “It doesn’t matter to me if your hands are callused or not, I just want to hold them.” Her sad expression changes to a big smile, and she leans in and kisses me on the lips. “You can hold me all you want.” She shows me a smile that is a mixture cute and sexy.

My attention gets turned to my other hand though as it is now being squeezed between a vice grip. “Um Robin you are slightly hurting my hand.” “I see you don’t want to hold my hand.” Robin’s usually neutral voice sounds icy, and I think the surroundings just dropped a couple of degrees. “Robin remember, I love both of you, and of course I want to hold your hand also.” A give her hand a light squeeze to show her that I have no intentions of letting her go.

“Good, but hold it closer.” Ah, this pattern again, pulling Robin in closer I give her a kiss on the lip. Seems like she didn’t expect me to know what she was trying as she looks partially shocked, and partially happy. “I love you Robin, and I love you Alex.” “I love you, John.” “I love you also.” With both of them hugged close to me, we make our way home. When we go to bed no hanky panky happens, but instead of hugging Robin’s tail, I am now just hugging her. I can also feel Alex’s arms wrapped around my waist, and the modest hills lightly push against my back. I truly am a lucky man.