“My lords, if I may have a moment of your time.” The head guard kneels.

“Speak.” I tell him.

“My fellow guards and I am somewhat confused...” He chooses his words carefully.

“About what?” Breeze asks without looking away from the books.

“About your escort.”

“What about it?” I ask. He hesitates. “Say it and look us in the eye when you do. Do not insult us by wasting our time.”

“Why are they here still?” He finally says it. “It's been a few weeks now and they haven't left. What's even more insulting is that they seem to have occupied our places as the royal guard.” Oh boy...

“Insulting to whom? Exactly?” Breeze raises her head. “To us?” She gives him the glare. “Or to you?” The head guard averts his gaze. Called it.

“I believe you answered your own question there.” I speak calmy. “They are OUR escort.”

“Well, yes, we understand that much, however, we assumed they were only needed till you got here. It is us, after all, who are the Palace guards here and as such, we should be the ones guarding the royal family.”

“What is this us and them? Are we not all Noxians here?” Breeze stands from the chair. I'll enjoy this.

“Well yes, but...” The man begins to sweat. His eyes uneasy.

“But what? What is the difference between you and them? Explain it to me.” Here it comes.

“We do not trust foreigners.” He says. How weak...

“Foreigners?” Breeze steps down and her feet are right next to the guard. “Define foreigners, for me?” She circles the kneeling man. I grin.

“They are not from here…” He's digging his own grave...

“Oh? I did not think there was a difference between Noxians born here and elsewhere?” She continues to circle the guard. “I always believed that "foreigners" are supposed to be considered a different race, at least?” She's playing stupid. “How do you know, exactly, that our exclusive guard was not born here?” Silence.

“Oh?” She carries on. Her slow walk and tone alone are enough to build knee crushing pressure… I keep grinning… “Don't tell me you simply assumed?” The man does not answer.

“I wonder what you would have done if you saw a mix of races flooding the Marble Palace, threatening to take all of your jobs away from you?” Breeze sits back down.

“If that is all there is to it, then I see no problem.” She dives back into the books.

“There is.” The guard stands up. “We are the royal guard here! We are better suited!”

“Based on what?” I cut him off. “Birth place alone cannot possibly be enough. Nor your misguided preconceptions. Otherwise, you would be calling us foreigners as well.” Oh, the stare he gives me... “How do we differ from our friends? Both, the Queen and I have been away from Noxanda long enough. A lifetime, one could say. Yet that, somehow, is not enough to call us foreigners? Or is it?” I glare at the guard. “Do you not trust us then as well?” I hammer it in.

“No, that is not what I am saying…” The man holds my gaze to best of his ability.

“Then what is it?” I ask again. “Are you here merely to pout?” The guard bites his lip in frustration.

“How about we settle this the old-fashioned way.” Breeze says. “Glen.” The kid appears from the shadows on the side of the room.

“My lords.”

“Get your team and take them to the inner yard.” I tell him.

“Your men and you;” Zarri speaks to the head guard now; “have a week to prove yourselves to be better than them. Feel free to challenge them to as many fights as you wish for the next seven days.”

“Should you and your guards succeed in defeating them, you'll all be appointed as our exclusive guards.” I tell him.

“And should we fail?” The head guard asks.

“You'll be going back into training and will give up your chambers here in the palace for our team.” Zarri tells the man.

“Killing and wounding of vital parts is prohibited.” I add.

“Do we have a deal? Breeze asks.

“We accept.” Glen says without raising his head.

“As do we.” The head guard nods.

“Hell yeah! Let’s do this!” Pyro... Glen beats me to it and throws a nasty glare to the young man. I smile.

“Glen.” The kid looks at me. “Make us proud.” The kid smiles.

“We intend to.” Our team vanishes.

“One last thing before you go.” Zarri speaks to the head guard.

“Yes, my Queen?” He kneels again.

“You'd be wise not to underestimate them.” I finish her sentence.

“Despite how they look or what you think you know about them, those kids have already been to Hell and back.” Breeze gives a blunt gaze. The look on the Noxians face says he got the hint. He nods and leaves the hall, with his men following suit.

“Foreigners?” Breeze mumbles. “Don't they have better things to do?” She gets up and I sit down, pulling her to me.

“Well, we did barge in here as if nothing ever happened...” I whisper nuzzling her... “I can see how they would be dissatisfied..."

“Even if. The cowardice... Acting like spoiled brats!” The sounds of fighting reach inside the hall from the outside. We get up and take a look. Our team is kicking ass, as expected. The mumbling amongst the bystanders and the regular guard makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The confusion is evident even from all the way over here.

“I just hope this won't backfire on us...” Zarri says with concern clear in her tone. I kiss her shoulder.

“They would have already tried to kill us by now at least once... This is simply a matter of bruised pride. Men can be touchy about that, sometimes...” I keep my voice low. “Once the difference in skill will be established, they won't have a choice but to admit defeat. They won't be able to avoid the reality and will have to take a different approach. Wasn't that how you saw it?”

“Those were kids. These are old-timers...”. Zarri rests her head against my neck. “They can just quit and revolt.” I giggle.

“If that would be the case then I'd say good riddance. That would only prove our point. It's time for change. This is the next step...” I tighten my arms around my wife's belly...

“Who says they aren’t testing us?” She puts her arms on mine. “Biding their time?”

“Even if, it’s barely been a few weeks. It’s not enough to make a decision. Let alone organize an assassination of such degree.”

“Hope so…” She takes a breath.

“What is it?” I ask exhaling right into her ear.

“What if the child doesn’t like me?”

“What makes you think they won’t?”

“What makes you think they should, in the first place?” Zarri looks up at me with a question mark in her eyes.

“How about you worry about it when it does happen, instead of trying to guess what may or may not happen, before it even happens.” I tell her softly.

“I’m so scared…”

“Don’t be… I’ll be right there with you, every step of the way…” I tell her and a long moment later I laugh quietly under my breath.

“What?”

“Finally, the day has come when I get to be the one you lean on… I get to be your strength now…” I kiss her.

“I’m surprised you allow food in here…”

“This isn’t your average, everyday library here. Visitors are allowed into the Archives for set hours only. From six o’clock in the morning till nine in the evening. It’s best to bring food with you, since it takes a while to get to everything. That is why we have guides serving as waiting staff too. They also make sure that our guests take proper time and care to have their meals, so no damage comes to the documents in the meantime.” The Master of the Archives breaks it down for me.

“Sounds to me like they are our guards more than our guides...” I glance through the aisles of shelves as we walk by.

“Call it what you wish. The point remains. This is Ocana. She will be one of your guides during your stay here with us.”

“One of?” I ask nodding to the girl. “Where's the rest of them then?” I ask looking around.

“We switch every two days. There's five of us on the team that was assigned to you. We will meet with you by the entrance and guide you here every morning, as well as escort you out or guide you around.” Her voice sounds as if it is coming from within a grave…

“Why the switch every two days?” I ask again. For a Primerian, she’s ghastly pale…

“It is quite exhausting maneuvering through the archives, for one. Besides that, we have other responsibilities as well. Scribing and working in the kitchen, to name a few.” She answers with a drowned-out stare.

“So, the Archives even have their own kitchen set up?” Amazing.

“Kitchen, barracks, laundry, once you're assigned to the Archives you can never leave.” Ocana smiles like a dead body.

“The Archives are extra high maintenance. They require delicate work, attention to detail and dedication.” The Master answers. You forgot the part about it draining lifeforce too...

“Tell me. Why would the Concord send only one person for this?” The Master stares me down, suspiciously again for the twenty-seventh time today. I was waiting for that...

“Because I am the best man for the job.” Say what? I hear my own voice speak. “Only I know what we need and what to look for. It narrows down the search. Also, it will help sifting through the information, as well as help notice anything that may have been overlooked otherwise.” I don't sound like myself...

“How confident.” The Master stares me down one last time. Twenty-eight… “Good luck.” He nods and leaves without me even offering a thank you.

“I was told you're interested in Rebirth?” Ocana poses a question.

“Yes. Anything even remotely related to it. Anything about before the 200 Years of Darkness and well, anything else that might help. Maps included.”

“Why maps?” She asks as we walk through the shelves again.

“Geographical records can be just as helpful as Historical. The changes of the land should be noted in them, thus providing intel that may help us. I won't know till I look through it first.” I explain.

“How long are you planning on staying here?” She asks again without turning around.

“I have six months.” She stops and turns to face me.

“Are you insane?” She asks staring at me.

“Yes.” I answer, holding her gaze. She doesn't say anything else for a little longer.

“These are the records for the Existara Pre-200. Oldest to newest.” The girl gestures from the side of the shelf toward the end... Somewhere in the distance... Oh boy.

“Thank you.” I take my robe off, fold it neatly and place it on the ground by the shelf.

“What are you doing?” Ocana stares at me again as I sit down on the robe.

“It's easier to move without the folds of the robe getting in the way, plus, it makes a nice pillow this way.” I tell her taking the first scroll from the bottom shelf.

“The maps are kept in a separate section of the Archives.” She tells me.

“Great. May you please refer the maps, from the oldest one of Existara, to the first one after the first Rebirth and each Rebirth up to the 200 Years, to the scribes to begin copying them?”

“You're not going to take a look at them first?”

I shake my head. “No reason. It takes time to accurately copy a map. I'll look through them once the copies are done. I will also need copies of Existara after the 200 Years after each Rebirth. Up to the last one, 50 years ago. I assume the cartographers here have a better handle of where each map I need is? Would you mind making the request for me?” I look up at the girl. She hesitates.

“Understood.” Ocana nods. “Try not to wonder off. Neither the Archives, nor Repperi will be responsible for your disappearance should you get lost here.”

“No worries. I can't afford that either way.” I look at her. “I'll be right here.” I add with a smile. She waits a moment longer and leaves. I take the next scroll...

“Why do you try so hard?” I hear a voice. A girl stands next to me. I feel like I've seen her before?

“What do you mean?” I ask her.

“Why push yourself so much? “

“I have a mission to fulfil.” I answer skimming through the book.

“There are plenty of others who can do this.”

“Yes. I’m aware.” I pause. No. Not it. I put the book back and take the next one. “But I want to do this. It's my responsibility.”

“Says who?” The girl persists.

“Says I.” I flip the pages again. “This is important for me. I want to help.”

“Help who?”

“The people.”

“What people?” I detect a hint of resentment…

“The people that took a chance on me. They believe in me. That means a lot to me. Besides.” My eyes capture something and I feel my lips mumble...

“Besides what?” The same demanding tone snaps me back to reality.

“Besides. We only have one world. I want to help protect it.”

“Nobody is asking you too.”

“I know.” I tell her. “I was given a chance though and I don't want to regret not doing something about it.”

“There are other ways you can do that.” The voice insists.

“True. But I choose this way. I want to do this. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I'd walk away from this.” The nagging tone stops my existence’s interrogation. My mind slowly retracts back into the text.

“Your lunch, sir.” A gentle voice speaks somewhere close by. It takes me a few moments to realize the words are meant for me. I quickly snap out of it and look down. A Primerian woman is holding a tray with food.

“Food? Oh yes, of course, one moment.” I put the scroll on the ladder and step down.

“Thank you…” I freeze.

“Ocana.” The girl smiles at me.

“Ocana! Right, sorry about that.” I take the tray from her and sit down on the ground.

“This is the fifth time I introduce myself.” She tells me and I almost choke on my first bite… Idiot! I grab one of the feather’s and stab my forearm. I drag the damn thing across, breaking the skin.

“What are you doing!” Ocana kneels next to me. I keep my focus on the arm. I trace the letters casting Torch, searing the name into my skin.

“So, I don’t forget again.” I tell her shaking the arm. She stares at me. I stop breathing. Suddenly she bursts out laughing.

“There are easier ways to remember a name, here, let me show you…” Ocana crawls over to me, pushing my chest down, till my back hits the ground. She undoes my pants and slides her hand in… Oh no… She strokes it hard. She takes it out and puts her mouth over it. The wet warmth sends electrifying shivers across my entire body.

“Please… Stop…” I mumble. Ocana looks up at me.

“Don’t you like it?”

“That’s not it.” I shake my head.

“Is this your first time?” She asks quietly.

“No. That’s not the case either. I have had experience with this.”

“Then what?” She squeezes the tip gently. “Am I not attractive enough?” She persists.

“That’s not it either.” I take her hand of my hard on and stick it back inside the pants. Damn that’s tight.

“Are you gay?” Oh Gods… I cover my face with my hands…

“No. I am very much attracted to women, of all races.” I adjust the damn thing and sit down cross-legged.

“Then why?” Ocana insists.

“I cannot enjoy the physical pleasure if my mind is not in it.” I see the confused look on her. I sigh. “I’ll try to explain it as clearly as I can.” I put my thoughts in order.

“Ok. Here’s the thing. I have something I need to take care of and I only have about six months total to do it. I am already half way through that time and unfortunately for me, I have a bunch of documents to go through still. Are you following so far?” She nods. Good.

“Now, because I am so immersed into what I need to do, my mind is constantly buzzing. Processing the information. Sadly, it won’t rest till I’m all finished researching. As a result of that, I am unable to focus my mind on anything else. Still with me?” I ask Ocana. She nods.

“Right, because of that, I cannot enjoy something like sex. Your efforts would just be wasted without me feeling any satisfaction, which, in turn, wouldn’t be satisfying for you either. Right?” She nods.

“If I’m going to be engaging in something mind blowing and exhilarating as the bodily pleasures then I would prefer to have my head in the game. Only that way mutual satisfaction would be achieved and both sides would be happy. So, until I am able to shut my mind off from the research, I’d rather not do anything else. I prefer to save the best things for last and take my time doing them. Am I making sense?” I ask her again.

“So, you won’t sleep with me till all of this over?” She answers with a question of her own.

“Pretty much, yes.” I agree. She takes a bun and stuffs in my mouth.

“Then let’s pick up the pace.” She climbs the ladder and continues reading the scroll I put down earlier. I cough a bit and sip some water.

“Everything that has Rebirth mentioned in it – right?” Ocana calls out. I nod and continue eating my meal.

Breeze puts the scroll down. Her face looks pale.

“Something the matter?” I lean closer. She screams out. Blood gushes out on the floor.

“ILLA!!!” I yell at the top of my lungs. I throw the damn scrolls to the ground. I try my best to help Breeze stand up. Glen’s right next to me, supporting Breeze from her left.

“What’s happening?” The boy sounds the same way I feel.

“The child…” Zarri whispers.

“Mistress!” The Cleanser gets here just as Breeze starts gasping for air…

“She’s suffocating…” Glen says. We lay her down with her head to the side.

“She’s in labor.” Illa tells me. “She won’t make it…”

“The HELL SHE WON’T!” I roar again.

“Her body is failing! It can’t withstand the strain!” The girl is in panic. “At this rate…”

“Cut me…” I look at Breeze. “Save the child…”

“Cut her.” I say, my voice sharp and clear. “Cut her open!” I stare at the Cleanser.

“Illa! Get a grip!” Drew’s here too now. More blood spills out of Breeze… The girl smacks her hand down onto the marble.

“Knife.” She puts her hand out. Glen’s right there with one of his. “Hold her.” Illa cuts the dress right above the belly. Glen and I take up positions by the sides of the marble slab. Breeze screams out. Blood floods the table.

“Don’t you dare!” I keep my eyes on Zarri. Her hair’s drenched in sweat. Her face lifeless.

“Don’t!” I beg the universe… She screams again… I tighten my grip as convulsions move her body of the desk… A baby’s cry reaches my ears. I turn and see a tiny, squishy thing, covered in blood… A boy…

“Breeze, it’s a boy…” I whisper…

“It’s not over yet.” Illa tells me.

“There’s one more.” Drew says. One more… Twins…

“Hear that! Twins!” I look at Zarri, her gaze is fading… Don’t! Don’t take her from me! I squeeze her arm… Another cry. A girl! My face feels wet… Tears… Another Cleanser girl takes our girl and covers her in a towel too.

“She’s going!” Glen shouts. I look back at my wife. The boy has his fingers on her throat.

“We’re working on it!” Drew answers.

“Illa!” I call out in sheer desperation… The girl doesn’t answer me.

“Potions! We need time! She won’t make it!” Erin rushes over with a few vials and forces them down Breeze’s throat. She chokes. The Warr-Clenaser pulls back and tries again.

“Feed her mana.” I finally snap out of it. “Giver a mana one! Quick!” I glare at Erin. Tigglia hands her few more vials with a different liquid in it. Erin quickly pours one into Zarri’s mouth.

“Well?” I ask the other two.

“Just a bit more…” Illa says. Come on, Breeze! I know you’re too stubborn to go out like this!

“Done.” Drew lets out a sigh.

“Steady.” Glen nods. “Too weak though…”

“Keep feeding her mana potions.” I give the order. No one even says anything. Odri covers Breeze with a bedsheet.

“My children?” I look over the hall.

“Right there.” Pyro points to the left. Some of the Palace maids are gently washing up the twins. The boy gets wrapped up in a clean towel and the girl brings him to me. I stare at our son…

“Take the children back to our chamber. Stay with them for now.”

“As you wish.” The girl nods.

“Can we move her?” I ask Illa.

“In a bit. We’re having a stretcher brought here.”

“Thank you. For safely delivering my kids and saving my wife.” I tell the Cleanser girl. “Thank you all.” I bow my head. Nobody answers me. Four Noxians bring the stretcher in. We gently lay Breeze on it and take her to our bedroom. They put the stretcher with Zarri on it straight on the bed.

“I’ll take care of the rest.” I tell them. Everyone leaves. I stand next to the bed and stare at Breeze’s chest. It’s barely moving… I look at the kids in the cradle, next to the bed. The boy is a copy of Zarri. The girl looks like a mini me… I smile and place my hands on their tiny bodies…

“Don’t worry, I’ll get your mommy back to you soon enough…” I go into the bathroom and start up the fire under the basin. I get a few bowls, one for the water one for the dirty towels. I take a bunch of them out of the chest by the window. I walk over back to the bed. I throw the bloody sheet onto the ground. I carefully slip the rest of the dress off Breeze and throw it down too. I pat her face clean with a damp towel first, slowly making my way down her neck, chest, arms and stomach. I wet the towel into the warm water again and gently wipe the blood of the inner thighs… Going down her legs, all the way to the feet… I take a clean sheet and cover Breeze.

“Glen. Arra.” I call out. The two of them pop up from the shadows.

“Help me with the stretcher.” I tell them, sliding my arms under Zarri’s back and picking her up. Glen does the same with the legs, while Arra pulls the stretcher out from the other side. We carefully lay her back onto the bed.

“Thank you.” I tell them and they slip back into the shadows, taking the stretcher with them. I gather up the pillows and pile them up, in the middle of the bed, into something between a nest and a chair. I take Zarri into my arms and slide over to the pillow pile on my knees. I place her down slowly and check her pulse again. Steady. Good. I cover her up with the blankets. The kids haven’t made a sound yet. I lay down next to my wife.

“Laira?” I reach out.

“Oh, hello!” I hear a cheerful voice.

“Is this a bad time?”

“Not at all.” She waits. “You sound terrible…”

“Breeze gave birth just now…”

“That’s great!” I feel the excitement. “Wait, she’s…”

“She’s a few weeks too early…” I finish her thought…

“How is she?”

“Alive.” I tell her. “Sleeping.”

“Thank goodness…” I feel a sigh of relief.

“We have twins. A boy and a girl…”

“THAT’S WONDERFUL!! MARCUS!!” She screams inside my head. I don’t even flinch.

“Twins?” I hear a manly voice. “Congratulations! We’ll go look for a ship first thing tomorrow morning!”

“Thank you.” I tell the two. A cry reaches me. I smile. “Looks like the kids are up…” I say.

“We’ll tell Percival about the good news!” Marcus.

“Let me know how everything goes…” Laira adds quickly.

“I will.” I tell her and crawl out the bed. Both of them have their tiny mouths wide open. How can something so tiny make so much noise? I smile and try to calm the twins down… Not working. I look over at Breeze. Thanks to Percy’s lessons I know exactly what I need to do… I take the girl into my arms and put her over my shoulder. Next, I take her brother and put him on the other shoulder. I sway side to side, making shushing and whooshing sounds, trying my best to calm them just a little before I can get their meal ready…

“Please…” I whisper… “Just a little bit… I only need a little bit of time…” I keep on rocking them. I feel the girl quiet down a little. The boy too.

“There we go, good.” I sway a bit more and lay the twins down into the cradle. I give it a gentle push…

“Right, now you.” I look over at Zarri. I expose her breasts and begin rubbing them gently to help stimulate the milk flow… I put my mouth over one breast and gently pull on the areola… I feel a warm liquid squirt inside my mouth…

“Now the other one…” I pull on the other nipple and the same sensation reaches me. I position Breeze’s arms in a crescent moon shape and get up to get the twins. I take the boy first and place him down into his mother’s arms. I guide the breast closer to his little mouth. He latches on instantly. I see the little cheeks get to work.

“That’s my boy alright.” I giggle. I take the girl and set her down next to her brother, under the other breast. I help her navigate towards it. She catches on quickly too. I sit down next to them, gathering up their mother’s hair into a messy bun, right below the crook of the neck. I watch the two gorge themselves…

“Percival! PERCIVAL!” I wake up from the loud voice inside my head.

“Who is it?” I mumble.

“Did I wake you?” A soft girl’s whisper asks me.

“I believe so…” I murmur again.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure if you were asleep or at work again…”

“It’s ok. Did something happen?” I rub my eye.

“Yes, Breeze gave birth.” It finally clicks to me whom I’m speaking to. Miss Laira.

“Already! She’s early!” I quickly jump up in my bed. “How did it go? Is she ok?”

“Yes. She’s with us still. Crile will keep me posted…” I feel an instant relief.

“And the child”? I ask after a moment.

“Twins. A boy and a girl.”

“Wow. How nice.”

“It is.” A long pause. “Well, I’m sorry to have woken you up.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s quite alright.”

“Do you want us to come pick you up?” Sir Marcus.

“No, go straight to Ravenna. I’ll meet you there. The ships leave twice a day.”

“Perfect. See ya soon.”

“Goodnight, Percy.” Miss Laira.

“Goodnight.”

My eyes pop open from a vague feeling on my skin. Arms tighten around Breeze out of sheer reflex... I don’t see anything in the dark.

“Hi…” A voice. I look down and see Zarri’s eyes looking at me.

“There you are…” I nudge her head with my chin. “What took you so long?”

“How long this time?”

“A week…” I hold her to me.

“Why?” A feint whisper…

“Why what?” I keep my voice low…

“Why bring me back? Why go so far for me?” Breeze reaches for my lips with her fingers…

“What makes you think I do it for you?” I let a strand of her hair slip down my fingers. “I do it because I am selfish and greedy... I want you and I don’t care what I will have to do to bring you back to me…” I play with another blue strand…

“I promised myself back then, should I ever have you in my arms again, I won’t ever let you go. If you'll die - I'll bring you back. If I die - I'll come back to haunt you. The only way this ends, is if we die together. Don't underestimate me. I will tie you up, chop you up, or throw you in a cell…” I let the words sink in…

“If that still won't be enough, I’ll use Forbidden Dark Magic if that what it takes to keep you by my side…” I brush my fingertips down her arm…

“You're mine. I wasn't strong enough to chase after you once and once was more than enough for me. I'm not waiting for later or tomorrow. Someday or one day does interest me. Now is all that matters. I let go of the past a lifetime ago. I have no use for it anymore. I'm done letting it suffocate me. All I want now is more of what lies ahead…” I keep stroking her arm.

“And what that may be?” She asks in a quiet breath…

“You. More of you... And all that comes with you…”

“You'll get sick of me that way...”

“You ever get sick of your favorite meal? Neither do I...” I answer without letting her say anything…

“The world never interested me in the slightest. Not then, not now. I made the mistake of letting go what is mine and I won't repeat it. Watching you gives me joy. Losing you cripples me. Having you, makes me want to live. I never get tired making love to you. That exhilarating feeling flowing through my entire body only charges me up, making me crave more of you… More of us. More of a life with you... There are no dull or boring moments for me when you’re near me. You don't even need to speak or do anything. Just lay right here, next to me... All I ever wanted, all I ever needed is here, in my arms... And the cradle over there too…” I add, tickling her side softly… I feel Breeze twitch lightly under my touch…

“When did you figure that out?” She asks gently touching my jaw with her fingertips…

“Right from the start. The very first moment I saw you shift. At that moment my life flashed before my eyes... I saw a vision of you, with a baby in your arms... That was all I needed to stay close to you…”

“I never thought you to be a believer in divine intervention…”

“I may not believe in a higher power, but I do believe we are destined to face certain challenges in life that faith brings us in order for us to grow and become stronger… Perhaps that was simply a warning for me, not to give up on you until I will be able to make that vision come true…” I rest my head on hers…

“I see your wisdom has improved with age…” I feel the mockery in her voice…

“Well, you were busy being a brat, so that left me…” I feel a soft elbow try to nudge my ribs… I smile. The kids let us know they are finally awake…

“You’re up, mommy…” I wink at her, slipping out of the bed. Breeze props herself up and gets in position. I wait a moment longer before she is comfortable and hand her our girl. I see Zarri flinch at the bite. I take our boy and give him to his mother too. The little one grabs the breast with his mouth and drinks up the milk in gulps. I sit back down, cradling my family…

“We need to name them…” I tell my wife.

“You haven’t yet?” She keeps her eyes on the twins. I shake my head.

“I wanted to do it with you… I like the name Reina though…”

“Reina… I like it… How about Xander?” She tilts her head to me.

“Sounds great.” I snuggle up to Breeze and watch the kids in her arms. “Xander and Reina…”

“I can’t believe they are real…” Her voice breaks up a little. She flinches again at a tug…

“By the way, how did they…?” She asks looking at me. My face gives me away…

“You didn’t...” Breeze stares at me… I lick my lips and grin.

“And? How did it taste?” She asks with a slightly disapproved yet amused look in her eyes.

“Delicious, of course…” I tell her proudly. She shakes her head with a smile.