"Since, it is getting worse and you're zoning out more frequently. I really think we should see a therapist." He meant for it to be a request, but it came out the opposite.

"I still don't agree with that." I shrugged, putting my elbow on the arm of the chair and resting my chin on my hand.

He looked at me for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"Okay," he said. "You're dismissed."

"What?" I asked, gripping the chair so I don't fall down.

"Unless you want to sit here and chat, you're free to go." He raised an eyebrow. There was a little bit of amusement in his eyes.

"Okay." I cleared my throat and stood up, ready to run. This was the best thing he'd said throughout the whole conversation.

I stopped abruptly just as I reached the door.

I cleared my throat and turned around.

"Lucian?" I said.

"Hm?" He asked, glancing up at me, while writing something on a paper.

"I'm sorry," I said, crossing my arms on my back and hopping on my toes nervously.

I don't know why the fuck I was doing this.

He stopped doing whatever he was doing and tilted his head to the side.

"For what?"

"For everything," I said, looking away shyly. "You know, for how I reacted and for how I spoke to you before."

"It's okay, Bunny," he said, his lips twitched just a teeny tiny bit. "Thank you."

"For what?" I asked.

"For giving us a chance," he said, simply. We nodded our head at each other and I turned around to leave.

Shutting the door, I released a long shaky breath. I was still having a mini panic attack from this meeting. His office is scary, he is scary, his voice is scary, his eyes are scary, his existence is scary.

But, he didn't bring up what happened today. Not that I mind.

"Done with the meeting, love?"

I jumped and whipped my head towards my right. Josiah was smiling, with amusement flowing from his face as he watched me while leaning against the opposite wall.

"Yeah," I said. "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing. Just passing by. Thought I'd accompany you to your room," he shrugged, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards me. He stopped a fair distance away and waved his hand for me to follow.

He wasn't just passing by. He was obviously waiting.

I walked beside him in silence. He was silent too but he was smiling.

"I'm sorry," he said, suddenly. "I should've come to check on you."

"No. I should thank you actually," I said, looking straight ahead. "I needed that time."

"I should've checked," he said, telling me he didn't really agree. He looked really guilty and like he was cursing himself.

Something that definitely doesn't look good on Josiah. He's always been an angel. Nothing less than that.

"We would've had problems then." I shrugged, watching his eyes widen a little and a dreading look to all on his face.

He stayed silent after that, looking like he was pondering over it.

"Dinner is in ten, Honey," he said, opening the room door for me. He smiled, to which I nodded in return. Josiah walked away when I moved to enter the room.

"You've been gone for more than an hour," Rose said, as soon as I stepped in.

"Yeah. It was a long discussion. We'll talk about it after dinner," I said. We were away for most of the day and I wanted to make up for it. We needed some time alone.

She nodded, watching me move closer to where she sat on the bed. I went to sit beside her and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her so her head was tucked under my chin.

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

I didn't mean to get so caught in stuff and leave her alone.

Her hand got hold of my forearm, which was under her chin as she took a deep breath in and seemed to melt into the touch.

"Nothing was your fault," she said, snuggling more into me, making herself comfortable. "Your cuddles feel like Mom's."

My mind went back to earlier events of the day.

Asher's cuddles felt like Dad's.

"You're smiling." Rose pointed out. I looked down at her, to find her smiling at me.

I shook my head.

"I smile many times," I said. What's the big deal?

"This one is the most genuine I've seen in a while," she said, kissing my cheek. Surprisingly, I didn't flinch at the sudden gesture. "I'm loving the change, Levi."

"What change?" I asked, frowning in confusion.

"You being a bit more like old Levi. Just a little bit," she said, quietly. My frown deepened.

"What if I say I don't want to be like that?" I asked, not looking at her.

"Then you're wanting the wrong thing. You should start caring for yourself."

I looked down, making her avert her gaze quickly.

"You never think about yourself. I feel pathetic depending on you for everything."

"Did any of the brothers say that to you when you were in the kitchen?" I asked, glaring at the covers.

She shook her head violently.

"No," she said, quickly. "They're nice. Lucian just wanted to make some things clear."

"Like what?" I asked, not shifting my gaze.

"Like your mental health and stuff," she said. "He scolded Jayden for acting like that towards you. We were there for so long and I got so scared, I was shaking. I wonder how Jayden was just standing there, not shaking when Lucian's anger was being thrown at him like fireballs."

Her ramble was cut short when I snorted.

"I missed it. Dang."

"Trust me. It wasn't entertaining. Even if you were angry at the person on the receiving end," she said, shaking her head, a scared look on her face.

"Then he gave a whole lecture about how we should act towards each other and..." She stopped herself.

"And?" I asked.

"I think you should agree to see a therapist," she said, making me stop my hand, which was rubbing circles on her back. "Seeing how it's affecting you and how everyone is trying to help, I think you should think about yourself too."

I shook my head.

"I can't-"

She cut me off.

"Please Levi." She sat up, so she was sitting on her knees while looking at me. "I've always trusted you with everything. Trust me with this. Do it for me. Please."

I frowned, looking away when her human eyes turned into puppy ones.

"They're nice to you?" I asked, effectively changing the topic.

"Yes," she said. I turned my head to face her. "They're nice to you too. I don't know as much as you about things, but from my side, they're trying. Lucian was so angry before you entered and then he calmed down suddenly. You could see it in his actions."

I didn't have any argument to that. Seeing this, Rose went on.

"And when Damien entered and got to know about what happened today, he was angry at you first for disrespecting Jayden but then he got furious with Jayden for ignoring you like that. Because he was kinda in-charge. So Jayden got scolded by all three of them. Damien got so scary that even Josiah looked a little scared."

"Babies! Dinner is ready," Josiah sang, knocking on the door.

Rose backed away and climbed down the bed. I was still lost in my thoughts when she extended her hand.

"Let's go, Levi." She smiled. I nodded and took her hand.

Opening the door, a cheerful brother came into view.

"Why are you trying to take Asher's job?" I asked.

"Because he's busy working with Lucian and I had to come get the babies," He bent down to my level and smiled sweetly.

He looked behind me and his smile brightened more. Can't blame him. When I looked behind at the smile on Rose's face, my own lips twitched.

"Let's go," Josiah said, stepping back to clear the way. He started walking, with us following him.

Lucian and Asher weren't there when we reached the kitchen.

"Do we still have to sit away from each other?" I asked, looking at Josiah.

Damien looked at me then at Josiah. Jayden kept his eyes on his phone but I knew he was listening.

"No," Damien answered instead. Jayden lifted his gaze from the phone, giving him a look, to which Damien nodded. "But it would help us bond better if you sit with your brothers instead."

I looked at Josiah who shrugged and kept standing. Just the oldest three had fixed seats. That's why Josiah was looking at us expectantly, waiting for us to sit so he could take the remaining seat.

Rose pulled her hand out of mine and took the seat beside Damien, who looked at her, then looked at me to see if I sat beside her or on the other side.

Well. Rose decided already. If she wanted us to sit beside each other, she would've waited for me to move and sit together.

That's why I moved to the other side and took my seat in the middle chair, across from Rose.

Jayden was sitting beside me, so Josiah went to sit beside Rose.

Asher entered the kitchen next, the cold look on his face vanishing when his eyes landed on us. It got replaced with a warm smile. Lucian entered behind him. His expressions stayed the same. Non-existent.

Asher took his seat beside me, while Lucian sat at the head, putting his elbows at the table and clasping his hands together. He looked us over, stopping his gaze on me for a little too long.

I squirmed uncomfortably, looking down to see if this man screaming 'perfection' is checking for any flaws in my outfit.

"Can we go tomorrow?" Damien asked, referring to the cool date. I sat up straighter, looking between Lucian and him.

"No. It's sunday and we're all spending some time together," Lucian said. Hearing the finality in his tone, Damien simply nodded and accepted his order. Not like he had any other option.

Since the food wasn't here and everyone was asking for permission or telling Lucian about stuff, I decided to speak.

"I think I'm ready to see a therapist," I said, looking at Lucian but looking back down when he turned to me.

Silence fell on all of us. I looked up at Rose for some support and got enough courage and confidence when I saw her smiling. She mouthed a thank you and nodded.

"That's great, sweetheart," Asher said, sharing a look with Lucian. Lucian nodded and turned to Damien.

"Arrange a family session with Nicholas," Lucian said. Damien muttered an okay and nodded.

I perked up at the name but Rose beat me to it.

"Stinky-butt?" She asked, before shying away from the attention and slumping back down in her chair.

Jayden laughed at the name.

"I forgot we named him that."

"Not we. You were not on our team." I scowled. Jayden smirked.

"I suggested the name," He said, turning to share a look with Rose. Rose nodded her head to confirm it.

Sheer betrayal. That's what I felt.

"Then we're gonna change the name," I grumbled, muttering a thank you when the food was put before me.

"So am I still on your team?" Josiah asked, looking between me and Rose. I shrugged.

"You're on our good side." Rose shrugged too.

"Can I-"

"No." I cut Damien off.

Him and Jayden can politely eat the kelp I'm seeing in the food.

I gagged and put my hand on my mouth so I don't throw up.

"If my little troublemaker does not appear and give me the hugs and kisses I deserve, she's eating her favourite kelp for dinner," Dad called out, walking through the hallway slowly.

"You know you will take two minutes or less to melt, Dad," Rose said, from somewhere in the house.

"I can make her eat enough of her favorite food in two minutes," Dad said, in his mock evil voice.

I put my hand on my mouth to keep the giggles in.

"Last chance or I will make a dish just from kelp." Dad said, making me jump and run out of the closet I was hiding in.

A small pitter patter of my footsteps was heard as I rushed to him. Standing before Dad, I craned my neck to look up at him and smiled.

"You asked for some love, your highness?" I asked, poking my lips out and throwing flying kisses his way. "I hope this love hits you so hard, you forget kelp exists."

"Aww," Dad said, looking at me adoringly. He bent down to my level. "Don't tell your Mom but I hid them. They're yucky."

I could imagine Mom screaming, "It's good for you!"

It's not. It's simply yucky.

"Then you deserve some love from the princess." I moved forward and kissed his cheeks. He growled like a cartoon monster and grabbed me, pretending to bite my nose and cheeks off, but instead placing kisses on my face.

Everything about this man is hugs and kisses and love. Nothing else.

"Bunny." I snapped out of it, cursing myself for zoning out again.

But for some reason, it's not in my control. It just happens on it's own.

"Are you okay?" Josiah asked.

"Yeah," I muttered, lowering my hand from my face.

I looked at the food with a disgusted look.

Thanks for the food, God. But please do something about the kelp.

I prayed silently, closing my eyes for a moment, then opening them, hoping the kelp was gone.

It was still there and I could hear a heavy voice. Eat and suffer, my child.

Without lifting my head up, I peeked to my left, to look at Lucian, only to find him looking right back at me. I jumped and picked up the spoon quickly.

"Do you not like the food, Bunny?" He asked.

"No. It's good," I said, taking a bite, careful of the yucky enemy.

"Hm. That's good," Lucian said, staring at me. I took another bite and glanced at him to see he was now talking to Damien about something.

I looked to my right to see Jayden busy on his phone.

Keeping a close eye on Lucian, I started picking out the 'not likable' part of the meal and started piling it at a side, making sure it wasn't visible from the left side. Not visible to Lucian, to be specific.

I looked up and locked eyes with Rose. She looked at me pitifully, before her eyes landed on the pile and she smiled knowingly.

Jayden's phone rang, so he turned a little to his side, facing opposite to me.

I looked around the table. Lucian was talking to Damien. Asher was listening to them. Josiah was talking to Rose.

Picking up as much as I could in the spoon, I threw the kelp in Jayden's plate, making sure to spread it, so it looked less suspicious.

I acted nonchalant and started eating again. When Jayden was done with his call, he turned back around and I saw him frown at his plate, from the corner of my eye.

I fought the smile that threatened to appear on my face. After a few seconds, he started eating again.

Plan successful. Dad would be proud.

I kept piling the enemy aside whenever I had any in a bite.

When I got the chance again, I threw all of it in Jayden's plate again.

"Hey!"

Fuck.

"Yes?" I asked, giving him a deadpanned look.

He narrowed his eyes at me then looked behind me.

Shit.

"She's not eating all of her food, Lucian," he complained, making me snap my head towards Lucian. Lucian looked at him, then looked at me, then looked at my kelp-free plate.

"She's putting all the kelp in my plate," Jayden complained again.

"No I'm not!" I exclaimed.

"Yes you are. How else is it spread out all over the edible part when I picked out all of it-"

Oh. Glad he stopped himself but it still was too late. Dumbass.

Lucian glared at Jayden now, who looked sheepish and looked like he was cursing himself. Looking closely, I saw the pile he almost talked about.

"I saw what you did, Bunny. You two are not leaving until you finish everything on your plates," Lucian said, looking between me and Jayden.

"Here. Have yours back," Jayden said, throwing it onto my plate again.

"Hey! You put yours in my food too," I exclaimed, picking out all of the kelp he threw and putting in his plate.

I swear he added a little of his pile in mine.

He gritted his teeth and attempted to put it back in mine, but I picked up my plate and moved it out of his reach.

"No!" I yelled, narrowing my eyes.

"Kids." Someone sighed. "Stop fighting and eat. It won't be a warning next time, I will stop this fight myself," Lucian warned.

I turned to my left, facing Asher and put my plate in my lap and started eating.

At least I got rid of that thing.

"This is unfair," Jayden mumbled.

Damien laughed, causing the others to laugh too. I just stared at them blankly, inwardly jumping with joy.

Seems pretty fair to me.