"What an adorable annoying little-" Damien stopped abruptly when I punched his bicep.

"Hey! I said adorable!" He exclaimed, grabbing his shoulder. I rolled my eyes at this old man's antics. There's no way my punch hurt this man having a lifetime supply of scary scowls.

"You said annoying and little too," I said. He rolled his eyes in response.

I squeaked when he picked me up suddenly. I pushed at his shoulders to look at his face, only to scowl when I found an annoying smug smile on his face. My feet hung in the air as his smug smile widened, mocking my shorter self.

"You look adorable, Bunny," he said. He moved his face forward and placed a kiss on my cheek. Surprisingly, the smug smile from before had been replaced by a little smile that seemed more genuine.

I looked down quickly when the compliment registered in my mind after some seconds. It doesn't look that adorable.

"Thanks," I muttered, resisting the urge to wipe the kiss just to get on his nerves.

When there was silence, I looked up to see the gentlest expressions on the face that always held scowls.

I furrowed my eyebrows but he just shook his head and put me down gently.

Giving him one last look of confusion, I turned to Lucian, who was watching the theatrics the whole time. Embarrassing.

"Back by six," Lucian reminded. I nodded while Damien rolled his eyes. Lucian noticed that and turned to him completely.

I shrunk a little and stepped away from Damien, who was currently taking his time to keep calm and prepare himself for the scary experience.

"Want to try that again, Dex?" Lucian challenged. I shuddered and took another step away.

He's so scary.

"We'll be back by six." Damien nodded his head slowly. I shook my head and scowled. Why did he even have to poke the bear if he wasn't going to fight?

"Hm." Lucian turned to me with the same expressions.

I nodded my head quickly.

"Yes Lucian. We'll be back by six," I rushed out before he could start scolding me.

He blinked and all the expressions dropped from his face. His eyes twinkled and he looked to be holding back a chuckle.

"I wasn't going to scold you," He stated and moved forward. Putting both of his hands on the sides of my face, he leaned down and placed a kiss on my head. "Have fun. I love you."

A huge smile rested on my lips as I looked up. Getting on my tiptoes, I reached for his face with my hands simultaneously. Placing a kiss on his cheek, I mumbled.

"I love you too."

He smiled and straightened his spine when I pulled away.

"Alright. Let's go," Damien said, moving to the garage door.

Throwing another smile towards Lucian, I followed Damien to the garage.

"I like your piercing, Damien. It's pretty." I decided to complement him to get him in a good mood.

He stopped abruptly and turned to face me.

"What do you want?"

I froze. Fuck.

"Huh?" Acting oblivious seemed like a good option.

"Your voice sounded like Rose's, a little too sweet. What do you want?" He asked again.

"Nothing. I just like it. Jeez. Can't even digest a genuine compliment, Dexter?" I rolled my eyes.

He rolled his eyes too.

"Fine. Stop being cheeky and get in the car," he said, turning around and opening the passenger side door for me.

I rolled my eyes again and walked over to the door. When I was within reach, he extended his hand towards my face and flicked my forehead.

"What?" I snapped.

"Adjust that attitude and stop rolling your eyes," he said with a scowl on his face.

I gritted my teeth.

"Listen here, Dexter," I said. "This date hasn't even started yet and you're already getting on my nerves. I don't want my day to go bad so shut up and stop being a boring old man."

"Great. I'll change my warning a bit," he said, bending down to my level. "Adjust that attitude and stop rolling your eyes otherwise I will cancel this date."

I scoffed.

"You can't. Remember why you offered in the first place?" I mocked.

Without giving him a chance to answer, I pushed him aside and sat down in the seat.

He shut my door and walked over to the driver's side. Getting in, he adjusted the rearview a little then glanced at me.

But the glance took a long time looking at me. He shook his head and leaned towards me. I scowled, wondering what was up with his old expired brain. He extended his arm to reach for the seatbelt. My scowl vanished as he started doing my seatbealt.

During that time, he managed to get the scowl off his face and a small smile, almost unnoticeable forced its way onto his mouth.

"So, I'm going to show you where I work first," he said, pulling out of the driveway. "Then we'll go to the actual destination."

"Okay." I nodded my head. I was excited to see his studio. A smile appeared on my face as I tried not to get too excited and bounce in my seat.

"Rules," Damien stated, never taking his eyes off the road.

I groaned.

"Did you have to spoil my mood like that?"

He ignored my statement and started listing the expectations.

"The basics. Stay by my side all the time. Do what you're told. If I say no to something, don't argue, don't throw a tantrum and don't be disrespectful. Be a good kid and we will enjoy today."

"Okay Damien," I said, half-heartedly. I wanted to throw a tantrum and curse him out already but I didn't want to make him angry and get this date cancelled.

"That was suspiciously quick," he mumbled.

I blinked when his hand moved from the steering wheel to my forehead. He checked my temperature by putting the back of his hand on my forehead.

"Seems normal," he mumbled.

I rolled my eyes at the theatrics.

His hand moved to the top of my head and the tips of his fingers dug into my skull. He moved my head around, rotating it a little.

"Doesn't seem empty."

This bitch.

I raised my own hand and slapped his hand. Hard enough so he retreated it back to the steering wheel.

"Why are you acting different?" He said. He looked at me with suspicion, so I looked away quickly.

"I'm not." My tone got defensive.

"You are. I'll ask again. What do you want?" He asked, without taking his eyes off the road this time.

Fuck it.

"Can I have a tattoo or a piercing? A piercing preferably," I said. For extra effect, I had pulled on my puppy eyes and jutted my lower lip out.

He slammed the brakes, abruptly pulling the car to a halt. His head snapped towards me but just as fast as he snapped it towards me, he turned it back when he came face to face with this look.

"Wipe that look off your face, Amira Levi," he gritted.

"No," I said. "Please, Damien. Just one piercing."

"No," he said. He shook his head and a look of horror crossed his face.

"Why?" I whined.

"They hurt!" He said, looking at me like I was out of my mind.

"But you have so many of them!" I pointed at his tattoo covered arm.

That's unfair.

"I got these without permission," he stated. "I was fourteen."

I gasped.

"I'm two years too late!" I said. "You should let me have at least one now."

He shook his head. A second later, I found his hand resting on my head. He started speaking as gently as he could.

"I can understand you like these, but there's no way Lucian will let you get your skin pierced."

"But-" I stopped, eyeing his arms and hands. "There's no way you got all these behind his back. He even let you have a tattoo studio."

Damien shook his head again.

"I started behind his back. He was furious when he found out. Don't get me started on how I survived his wrath."

I crossed my arms and slumped in my seat.

"Doesn't explain letting you have a whole studio," I mumbled.

"Two years." I looked at him briefly. "It took two years of me fighting with Lucian, before he finally agreed for the studio."

"How did he agree?" I asked. Maybe I could use that trick to get permission.

Damien frowned. He didn't take his eyes off his hand that rested on the steering wheel. He sighed and his hand lifted to rub on his face.

"Let's not talk about it, Bunny. You're not getting a tattoo or a piercing."

I pouted and looked out of the window. This was so not fair.

"Do you still want to see the studio?" Damien asked quietly.

I turned my pouty face towards him.

"Yes."

He looked at my pout and scowled.

"If you try to throw a tantrum once we get there, I'll drag your ass back home. Is that clear?"

"You do know this is not how you talk to your little sister and this is not the way you start a cool date?" I scowled. Glaring right into his eyes, I found it hard to win this glaring contest.

I don't know what Damien was thinking, but his glare slowly started vanishing, until his eyes had a gentle look in them.

"Alright, Bunny. I'm sorry," he said. "Let's start over. This is the first time we're spending some quality time together, so we will forget the arguments and start with the day."

He extended his hand as he said that and put his fist before me.

"Deal," I said, bumping my small fist with his large one.

"I love you," he said, out of nowhere. I blinked and my gaze lingered on his face for a little too long. He was smiling a little while looking back at me.

"I love you too," I said, finally when I saw nothing but genuine expressions on his face.

I looked out and allowed my small smile to widen. This bitch became soft suddenly but I'm not complaining.

I don't know if I deserve so much happiness but I will enjoy it while it lasts.

As I put the side of my forehead against the window, my gaze lifted to look at the sky full of white clouds.

'Happiness doesn't last long.'

Sadness doesn't last long. That's what Dad believed, at least.

"Why the tears, sweetheart?" Dad asked, entering my blurry vision. He crouched down before me while I sat on the couch, so we were face to face. His hand lifted to my face as he ever so gently wiped the tears away.

"Jenny's puppy died," I mumbled, feeling more tears gather in my eyes just as another trail of tears flowed down my cheeks.

"Jenny as in the street dog?" He asked. His voice was so soft, it felt like soft calming music.

"Yes." I nodded my head. "Her and her other puppies are so sad."

"Sadness doesn't last long, baby. Don't worry. The little one is in a better place. Jenny will mourn for her child, yes, but at the end she will wish him good luck for his journey ahead." He ran his fingers through my hair while saying that in a comforting tone.

"What journey?" I asked.

"The journey to the heavens. The little one is going to play in the clouds and shine like a star. And if he's good and God permits, maybe he will return as an angel and look after those who cared for him. Like you, my precious heart." He booped my nose, making me blink slowly before asking the next question.

"But what if she's sad forever?" I said. My bottom lip trembled as I blinked furiously to clear my vision.

"As I said, sadness doesn't last long. Happiness always finds those who've suffered. All you have to do is clear your vision and spot the happiness."

I blinked. The sound of the songs playing entering my ears just now. I turned my head to look at my brother, who was vibing to the music, in his own world.

I think my vision has cleared. My new family makes me happy. They try to keep the smile on my face and admire it more than I thought someone other than Dad would.

Lucian might be scary but I know he's trying. He's struggling to juggle between a parent and a brother but he will come along.

Damien must've felt me staring, because he turned his head briefly to glance at me.

"What?"

"You all make me happy, you know," I said. His eyes widened a little and he seemed to be struggling to keep them on the road.

"All?" He asked, with a ridiculous expression on his face.

"Yes." I smiled, nodding in confirmation. "Even if you annoy me with your boring bossy old ass."

"Don't curse." He scolded, throwing a pointed look towards me.

"This is exactly what I was talking about," I said. I rolled my eyes. "Even if you try to be the parent figure and try to keep me from doing stuff, like cursing and not eating, you still make me happy."

"Are you sure you're talking about me?" He asked. I scowled and turned my head to look at him. My scowl vanished when he spoke his next words.

He lifted his hand from the steering wheel and put a finger up as he counted.

"Because as far as I remember, I hurt you, I was a bitch to you, we've argued a lot and I've done stupid shit. I don't see anything that should make you happy."

"But among all of that, you've cared for me, loved me. You made sure I ate, multiple times, which seems like a small thing but isn't. In fact, we're going on this date because you wanted me to eat." I shrugged. "And you've apologised and changed. Tell me you didn't do any of it."

I looked at him with a challenging glare. Damien was slumped against his seat, deep in thought.

"I did," He muttered, finally.

"And that's why you make me happy," I concluded. I looked out at the skies again and smiled.

"It's-" He stopped. Again, his voice was the gentlest I had ever heard it. "It's good to know. Feels nice."

He lifted his hand and put it on his heart. He glanced at me again and gave me a smile before returning his gaze to the road.

"My heart feels happy." He mumbled, patting his chest softly.

"Mine too." I smiled.

We went silent after that. Both of us basking in the comforting warmth that lingered after that conversation. The warmth that both of us have never felt and whose effect was probably felt by his heart too.

My phone rang. Damien turned the music down when he heard the ringtone.

"Hey," I said. A smile appeared on my face when I heard the loud chatter of people in the background. There was a chorus going on and someone was definitely playing a guitar.

"It's going really good," Rose said, before I could ask.

"That's good. The background is a vibe though," I said.

"Yeah. Felix started his own concert," she said. Her voice wasn't too audible.

I smirked.

"Uh huh." That's all I said. That was enough to get me the reaction I wanted.

"Stop doing that, Levi," she said.

"Doing what?" I said. "Aww. Is little Rosie Posie blushing?"

The phone was snatched from my hands very rudely.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. I reached for the phone that Damien quickly tossed into his opposite hand and put it to his ear.

"Who exactly is making you blush?" He said, failing to hide the annoyance. I gritted my teeth and punched his bicep in frustration.

"Rose is blushing!" I said as soon as I entered through the front door.

"I'm not!" Came the flustered response from behind me.

"Dad!" I yelled quickly, before Rose could stop me from telling.

"Levi!" Rose whisper yelled the warning. I ran away quickly, dumping my bag on the bottom step.

"Why is my little bookworm blushing?" Dad appeared. I ran to him and stepped behind him. Peeking from his side, I saw Rose giving me a warning look.

"Remember that british guy, Harvey?" I asked, looking up. Dad looked down and furrowed his eyebrows. After a few seconds, his old mind finally remembered who I was talking about.

"The one that is popular?" He asked. "With the blue eyes?"

"Yes yes." I nodded quickly. Rose facepalmed and groaned.

"Wow, little heart." Dad turned to her. "Got the popular guy, huh?"

"I didn't get anyone-"

"Yet," I added. "He's totally swooning over her after he met her at that party."

"Is he?" Dad asked, looking down at me again. I nodded.

"I don't care." Rose groaned. "I'm not interested."

"Why?" Two voices whined together. Rose rolled her eyes, avoiding looking at the two pouty faces currently giving her puppy eyes.

"Because I'm not," she stated simply. I huffed.

"You're interested in no one except books, Rosie Posie," I muttered.

"Did he propose?" Dad asked, turning his gaze to me, knowing I would spill the tea.

"Yes. But Miss Rose ruthlessly declined another guy," I said. "How will we find a prince if it keeps going this way?"

Dad smiled.

"Don't worry, baby." He leaned down to place a kiss on Rose's head. "Dad will find your prince and a kind one at that."

Rose smiled brightly, making me smile too.

"I will help!" I said, jumping between them to get my after-school kisses.

"Sure." Dad chuckled. "We will find your prince too." He kissed my head too and smiled warmly.

"But tell me if your prince goes to your school." He chuckled. "I'd like to know who loves my little hearts enough to want to be their boyfriend."

"Aurora Rose, if you try to hang up-" Damien was cut off when I punched his bicep again.

He slammed the brakes and turned to me sharply. Pulling the phone away from his ear, he gave me a pointed look.

"Stop interfering." That's all he said.

"You should take your own advice, Damien," I said. "Can't you guys let us be?"

"Oh? What does 'let us be' mean?" He gritted. "Being careless and falling into someone's trap?"

"It means stop interfering," I gritted. "Give me my phone back and don't stick your nose in our conversation."

Damien clenched his jaw and took a deep breath.

"Alright, Rose. We'll talk about it later. But Bunny will not be available on this phone for the rest of the day," he said, before hanging up and putting the phone in his pocket.

I clenched my jaw and looked out. I crossed my arms and dug my nails in my biceps.

I heard Damien take some deep breaths to calm himself down. I rolled my eyes when he started the car after a while.

"You're not my guardian," I muttered which caused him to kill the engine again.

"Excuse me?" He said. I turned my head to face him.

"You are not my guardian." I emphasized each word. "You can't just snatch my phone and confiscate it."

"Oh?" He tilted his head to the side and said in a mocking tone. "What makes you think that?"

I rolled my eyes and looked away.

"There are some papers that clearly state that Lucian is our guardian." I turned to give him a sweet smile. "Do you know how to read?"

"And there's lots of papers that will state and prove that I am your elder brother and there's something along 'never distract the driver because it can cause an accident' in kids' books. Do you have common sense?"

I rolled my eyes again.

"You didn't care about an accident when you decided to snatch the phone," I said.

He sighed deeply and rubbed his hands over his face frustratedly.

Without another word, he started the carriage and began driving again. I kept peeking a glance at him as he radiated anger. All he was doing was clenching and unclenching his jaw.

And for some reason, I was getting the urge to cry out of frustration. Maybe I was being too grumpy.

The silence was cut when Damien decided to speak again.

"All I was saying was you shouldn't be getting involved with boys," he said that a lot calmer than he was speaking a minute before. "I don't want someone to hurt you two. That's why I want you to stay away from boys, especially Rose because she is more prone to fall into someone's trap."