《Aftermath || Robert Baratheon》Chapter XLIV

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290 A.C.

Livia could only sigh, half in frustration, half in resignation.

"What are the three of them up to now?" Livia asked, looking up at Jaime.

Five years and Robert was still causing such a ruckus wherever he went. She'd be fine if he did it on his own but of course, he had to involve their sons.

"Wrestling. By the beach." Jaime answered, chuckling.

"Seven hells, they're supposed to be at their lessons right now." She shook her head before she finished braiding the hair of her youngest daughter. "There you go, my sweet."

The little girl jumped from her seat, running to her uncle's legs, clinging unto one of them whilst giggling. "Nuncle!"

"Hello there, Sabine." Jaime greeted, bending down to pick up his niece, playing with her dark hair, streaked with dark gold strands. "At this point, you're the only obedient child."

Sabine nodded, laughing before inserting one of her thumbs in her mouth. Jaime has always been her favorite uncle, much to the dismay of her uncle Tyrion.

Livia immediately took Sabine's thumb from her mouth and into her arms once again. She turned to Jaime. "Do you mind going to the kitchens and having the cooks make some honey cakes?"

"Of course, sister. What are you going to do?" Jaime asks, crossing his arms.

"Stop the boys from hurting themselves, of course." Livia answered, worriedly. If Robert hurt the boys, he was in for an earful.

Jaime laughed. "Do not worry. If anyone's going to get hurt, it would probably be Robert."

He left with a swish of his cape, humming a tune to himself. She was glad to see him so happy and confident with himself. The years had only made him more like a golden lion. More sure of himself. She was glad that Jaime found his own healing.

She turned to the little girl in her arms. "Well Sabine, shall we go and save your father?"

Sabine nodded vigorously, her raven hair flowing freely. "Yes Mama!"

Livia was careful to walk towards the ocean, down the steps, descending towards the beach where Ser Barristan was watching from afar while the king was wrestling with his sons.

Cassian and Johan, one year apart, their raven hair identical, stood with their feet apart and arms loose while they stared warily at their father. They looked tiny compared to their towering father.

"Do you think you two stand a chance against me?" Robert asked, his voice booming as he donned a wrestling stance.

Robert, sporting his usual white tunic and black breeches, accompanied with leather boots. He looked much better than when he arrived a week ago.

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He had just returned from the Iron Islands, fighting against the Greyjoy's rebellion. He had left months before and the children missed him dearly. Especially little Sabine.

But he returned. He kept his promise still, that if he should leave, he would always return to her, to his family. 

Even after the years, he was still built like a warrior in every way. His muscled form, his stormy blue eyes, his mischievous smile, his raven hair, and his grown stubble.

Even now, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, he could still make her heart race with a single glance, with a single smirk. Livia thanked the gods every day that their children inherited much from him.

"Two against one, father. Our number is greater than yours." Cassian retorted, smirking. 

Robert only laughed. "You mean two boys against one man, already trained in warfare and bla-"

He was not able to finish. Cassian and Johan met each other's eyes before charging their father together, knocking Robert off his feet and onto his back.

Livia could only shake her head at the view. Walking closer to the sight, Robert was groaning in pain while Cassian and Johan laughed loudly. Even Ser Barristan barely hid a smile.

Livia placed Sabine down beside Robert.

The little girl looked down at her father, before hugging him. "Papa, I save you."

"Yes you did, my darling. You saved me." Robert sat up, embracing his daughter before turning to his sons with a glare. "Liv, take care of those hooligans, those heathens!"

Livia only rolled her eyes before striding to her boys with her hands on her hips. "What did I tell you, boys?"

Johan looked up at her innocently. "That we should go for the legs."

Cassian mirrored his expression, continuing. "Because he might complain all night about his shoulder if we go for his arms."

Livia broke into a smile, leaning down to plant kisses on both their foreheads. "Those are my boys."

Robert gasped from behind her. Livia turned, her hands on Cassian and Johan's shoulders, spotting Robert looking at her with a shocked expression.

"Liv, how dare you? You support those heathens?" Robert exclaimed. "Traitor!"

Sabine looked widely confused before echoing her father. "Trayder!"

Livia smirked before answering. "We have honey cakes in the kitchen. What shall it be then, Sabine?"

Sabine looked between her father and her mother before sauntering up to Livia, who immediately lifted her. "Honey cakes!"

Robert fell back unto the ground, covering his face and fake-crying. "My own family. Gone. Why!?"

Sabine seemed to have felt bad, demanding to be put down and running to Robert. "No more cry!"

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"I'm fine now. Honey cakes you said?" Robert's mood shifted immediately, standing up quickly and carrying Sabine. "Come, Liv and heathens! Let us fill our bellies with sweets and forget about all the fighting."

"We still won though." Cassian answered, with Johan snorting in the background.

Before their father could snark a reply, Cassian and Johan ran up the stairs, obviously racing while Livia and Robert followed with Sabine.

"Would you stop calling our sons hooligans and heathens?" Livia said, glaring.

"It's a term of endearment, my love." Robert sheepishly said, bending down to press their lips together and intertwining their hands.

Livia sighed, her eyes falling on Sabine who had proceeded to rest her head on her father's shoulder. "Why don't you just call them by their names instead, darling?"

"Where's the fun in that?" He asked, bursting into laughter. 

They walked in comfortable silence, heading to the kitchens. When they arrived, Cassian and Johan were already there, stuffing their faces with honey cakes.

Robert placed Sabine down on one of the seats and handed her one of the cakes. Sabine smiled toothily. "Thank you Papa."

Robert pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving towards Livia, his arm automatically circling her waist.

Livia smiled at the sight, seeing their children happily eating and chatting, their family. Gods, it was unbelievable how far they had come.

"Sabine has you wrapped around her little finger, doesn't she?" Livia said, grinning.

Robert chuckled, pulling her closer. "Maybe we should have another daughter."

"Clearly you underestimate the pains of childbirth." She raised a brow at him.

"It's only fair." He shrugged. "After all, you have Johan and Cassian on your side, while I only have Sabine."

Instead of a snippy retort, she leaned her head into his shoulder, breathing in his musky scent. "They missed you so much.

"And I missed them. Everyday, I imagined seeing their faces when I returned." He answered, before turning to her. "And you? Did you miss me?"

Livia turned to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Do you even have to ask that? You know I did."

With that, she connected their lips in a passionate kiss. His lips were so soft and gentle yet fierce in caressing her own. They could have kissed forever for all they cared.

"Ew!" Sabine shrieked.

Johan said. "They're doing that thing again!"

Their voices were followed by sounds of gagging, making Robert and Livia turn to their children with a frown.

"Father, mother, not in front of the food please." Cassian begged, making the other two laugh.

Robert shook his head at them. "What are the three of you complaining about? How do you think you were brought into this world?"

The three children immediately covered their ears, shouting.

Livia was just about to scold Robert for being so blunt with the children but it was too late.

She was already laughing.

°•°•°•°•°•°

Robert smiled from his view at the doorway.

Currently, he was leaning near the door, watching the scene before him unfold.

Livia had just put Cassian to bed, tucking him in for the night.

Gods, he could still recall the time when he used to swaddle Cassian or when he would watch Livia sing to their son when he woke up in the middle of the night. Even when they had countless of sleepless nights, it was all worth it to see how brilliant his son had grown up to be. 

He'd grow to be a good man, that much Robert knew.

His thoughts were paused for a moment when Cassian spoke. "Father, can we go hunting tomorrow?"

Grinning, Robert replied. "Of course we can."

However, Livia interrupted them. "Absolutely not! You already skipped your lessons today when you decided to have your little wrestling match at the beach today."

"But mother!"

"But Liv!"

"No means no." Livia answered firmly. After a few seconds, she kissed Cassian's forehead. "Please, my darling. For me."

Cassian sighed deeply before nodding. He could never say no to his mother. "Yes mother. I'll attend my lessons tomorrow."

She smiled, pushing his hair back from his face. "I love you, Cassian. I promise, we'll go hunting soon. Good night."

"I love you too, mother. Good night." Cassian said. "I love you, father. Even if you are horrid at wrestling."

Robert snorted. "Good night, son of mine who ate too much honey cakes today."

Livia blew out the candle by Cassian' bedside, submerging the room in darkness.

Silently, Robert and Livia left their son's chambers and heading to their own.

Once they arrived, they changed into their nightwear before slipping into their bed.

"Cassian's such a sweet boy." Livia remarked, her head on Robert's chest.

"To you, he is." Robert replied.

Livia chuckled. "You call him a heathen and you want him to be sweet to you?"

"Of course!" Robert played with her hair and as if he couldn't help it, he matched his lips with hers deeply. "I believe we were interrupted earlier today."

She smirked, beginning to pepper kisses on her jaw. "Were we?"

He rolled them over, with him towering on top of her, planting kisses on her neck. "Another daughter, if you please."

She laughed, connecting their lips once more in a raging heat.

"How can I resist that face?"

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