Caelum is with Luc and Halo in the garden, carefully bundled up as they walk through the path carved into stone.

Luc had stopped crying and had slowly opened up the first night in Aixatarieno. His sadness practically melted away when he saw baby Halo sleeping in his cot. There was a giddiness inside him that only managed to grow when Halo sleepily wrapped his little fingers around Luc's thumb.

It was precious and within a week Luc had nestled into their home as Aerglo appointed soldiers to search for his parents within their realm.

But despite all their efforts, there was nothing nothing. No one had lost a child, no one was looking.

And it's around the time their soldiers should be arriving home when something happens.

Something not good and Caelum is unaware until it's almost too late.

•●•●•

Aerglo is outraged when he finds out the battle in the north had never stopped.

However, fear soon replaces that anger when soldiers upon soldiers appear at the palace doors.

Aerglo doesn't fear for xemself, xe fears for Caelum and their child, their little ones.

Xe goes in search of them, heart racing when xe can't find them in their room.

Xe does what xe can and orders xyr guards to protect the palace entry, protect their people.

Blood begins to spill and Aerglo is helpless until xe finally finds Caelum.

Caelum's arms are full with their little bundle, Luca hanging onto his leg as they chatter about the "pwetty flowers". Seeing xyr family fills xem with relief until a sharp knife is pressed to xyr throat.

"Give me my son back," Thuban orders, voice filled with desperation, "tell me where he is."

Aerglo stops breathing, stops moving, "he's over there."

Thuban looks at where Aerglo was staring at moments before.

Xyr heart swells at the sight, Luc chatting up a storm and giggling when the stranger ruffles his hair.

"Luc?"

And Aerglo can feel when Thuban tenses at the soft voice of a newcomer.

It's then that Caelum turns around and faces them, heart hammering inside his chest at the sight.

Of Aerglo being held back with a knife digging into xyr throat by a stranger that can be none other than Thuban, the ruler of the Atabilefens.

He wants to focus on Aerglo, but his eyes are drawn to the human. To the obviously pregnant human waddling towards them.

He looks down at Luca who tugs at his arm, wanting to let go.

But Caelum doesn't know if it's safe, if he can trust them when his mate has a knife to xyr throat.

On instinct Caelum pulls Luc back, hiding him away from the approaching stranger.

"Arun, don't!"

The pregnant stranger stops at the call of his name. Arun?

"Please," Arun says, eyes begging Caelum, "please let me see him, let me see my son."

"Daddy!" Luca shouts, peering around Caelum's leg.

Arun drinks in the sight of his precious baby boy, healthy and most importantly unharmed, safe.

"Luca!" Arun cries.

Caelum looks down at Halo as he fusses and the panic he'd feel of losing him overwhelms him.

He let's go of Luc's little hand and watches as he toddles toward Arun, toward his daddy.

Arun falls to his knees, engulfing his son in a tight hug with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Luc, you're in so much trouble," he sniffles.

"Sowwy daddy!" Luca apologizes with his own tears.

Thuban let's go of Aerglo then, and quickly approaches xyr mate and child, hugging both when xe is close enough.

"Papa!" Luca shouts in excitement.

Aerglo coughs a bit, holding xyr neck to stop the bleeding from the superficial cut.

Xe's not worried about xemself, xyr focus is solely xyr mate.

Xe glances across the garden to find Caelum shaken but relieved and safe.

Thuban looks at the boy with the baby in his arms. The fussing growing into crying, the soft wail drawing xyr attention to the little bundle.

"Just as you would do anything for your mate and children, I would too. So don't you dare approach them," Aerglo hisses, shifting into something big, something Caelum has never seen before.

Thuban gives Aerglo a small nod, quickly pulling xyr family away.

With a low growl and xyr tail, Aerglo nudges Caelum away from the reunited family.

Thuban looks at Aerglo sheepishly, "we... I apologize."

"You should've realized I would never harm your offspring, with or without the knowledge that they were yours," Aerglo snarls.

The sound is low, deep enough to rattle the surrounding structures.

The sounds of fighting stop and Aerglo hides Caelum and Halo away from their sight as xe leads them inside, growling at anyone who gets too close.

"Are you okay?" Caelum asks, tentatively reaching out to touch the healing wound.

Aerglo doesn't answer, simply licks Caelum and their child, smothering them in xyr scent.

"You found us, we're okay," Caelum reassures, "They didn't hurt us."