27. Babies, Findings and Answers

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Phoenix was taking a stroll outside the Iron Fortress. It wasn't the best thing to do, all he wanted was to be away from home for a little while. Today was the last day. The last day he had to think about his answer. Cormac would stop by today and things will take off from there. Whether it be to a great future or a bitter end.

Will he face the same fate as his father? Phoenix looked around at Seridina as if it was the first. Fillers bound by a shackle. People looking away as if there was nothing happening before their eyes. Others hiding their hearts in the darkness so they could live a good life without lacking anything of sorts.

They weren't living no matter how much they convinced themselves. To truly live, they had to face their fears, even if that meant having to live in the Iron Fortress. Siobhan words played in his mind. She was happy. It was funny, it was funny how the place that was meant to bring about sadnesses brought them happiness. Phoenix knew, he's met his happiness in the form of a great boy that happened to be the prince.

The real sadness was in Seridina. He saw more scowls and look of disgust rather than cheerful smiles. Dark clouds hovered overhead, blocking the light that needed to shine in their hearts. It was depicting for his heart. He's hurt the people he cared the most about. Seeing Rebel look at him with such hatefully eyes and Rocco unable to look at him. Mae crying along with Siobhan.

He's been staying at the book house as he said he would. Rebel needed to come to terms with the truth along with Rocco. And Phoenix needed to tell himself that his intentions weren't bad. "Watch where you're going you filthy brat." A man cursed as he bumped into Phoenix, almost sending him face first to the floor.

He stopped himself, watching everyone. Someone came and stood before him. Phoenix looked away from a man dragging along his filler, the girl was visibly hurting and it angered Phoenix. It always did. Now he had a chance to change it.

"Axton," he said as he looked up at the man. He was the last person he expected to see. Now that Axton was here, he could tell him what he needed and be done with him. "I can't say I'm happy to see you."

"I missed you and this is what I get." he said. Phoenix rolled his eyes, irritated by his words. He would usually go along with his wits. "You've been missing for sometime."

"The deal is off." Phoenix said. Axton wasn't visibly surprised by his actions. "I don't care what you want to do next. I have no intention of doing what we've been doing. I'm only here to tell you what you wanted."

Axton reached out and ran his hand along Phoenix's head. It didn't feel the same as when Cormac did. He shook away from the touch. " I've only been using you the same way you've been using me." he admitted, smirking at Phoenix. "Have you decided that what you're doing is fruitless. Have you come to your senses dear Phoenix?."

"It pains me to admit it to you but yes." Phoenix responded honestly. "I haven't given up though. I'll approach differently from now on." He looked towards the castle. A place he had always looked at with much hate. Now the person he loved resides inside. His eyes was filled with longing, awaiting his arrival.

"That's something I've admired about you. You never known when to give up." Axton complimented. He followed Phoenix gaze which was fixated on the castle. Axton found it odd, the look in his eyes was something he's never seen since he's known the boy.

Phoenix reached for his pendant. It was the first he wore it out. He needed something that assured him during the things that were happening. "I miss him", he thought. "I'll bring about the life you wanted for everyone dad." It was the first he thought about his parents so deeply. He got to know them a little from Stella and that made him feel closer to them.

Axton noticed Phoenix holding onto something through his shirt. He pulled on the leather braiding that it was attached to. Phoenix was surprised by his actions, trying to hold it back before Axton could take it out. The pendant was revealed, golden wings carved onto it. Axton held it in his palm, caressing his thumb over it.

His reaction was to laugh at the pendant, making Phoenix confused. He snatched it from Axton and placed it back. Axton ran a hand through his dark hair, laughing at his own stupidity. "Where did you get that from? I can't believe you have something like that."

"It was my father's." he said, wanting to wipe the grin from off his face. "He left it for my mother and she gave it to me."

Axton stood silent for a few minutes. Wondering how best to deal with the situation. "Who was your father?" He proceeded to ask.

Phoenix was reluctant to tell him, seeing Axton was getting a kick out the situation for some reason. "Emory." he replied reluctantly.

His cheerful expression fell immediately, replaced with a serious one. Phoenix knitted his brow in confusion at his sudden change. Axton gave a squeezed to the bridge of his nose, trying to hold back a smirk. "My brother will love such good news along with her." He said to himself in a soft voice that Phoenix was lucky to catch, making him all the more confused. "Who are you Phoenix?" He said, not forgetting the boy before him.

"What do you mean?" Phoenix raised a brow.

"I mean do you know who you are?"

"Of course I do." Phoenix replied quickly.

Axton shook his head. "I'm not too sure. Be a darling boy and don't get caught. That would result in something we both wouldn't want."

"Wait!" Phoenix called after him. "I haven't found this Relufian person." with that out of the way, there wasn't anything more binding them together. Their time ended here.

Axton waved a dismissive hand at him. "No, you did." he spoke. "I'm looking forward to the next time we meet."

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Phoenix sat in the book house later that day. Feeling the loneliness take him over. The book house was deadly silent, night befalling and his patience wearing thin. He was wondering if Cormac would come. He made a promise, maybe something came up and he wasn't going to make it.

It was the third day and Phoenix just though of waiting the rest of the day through. He slowly got up from the ground. The book house feeling empty though full. When did the place feel so dull without Cormac? He remembered the first time Cormac came to the book house. That was also the first time they dance. It was a memory that led to greater and happier things.

Phoenix closed his eyes, imagining Cormac before him. His hand in his and Cormac's hand rested on his waist. He moved his feet as if he was dancing with Cormac. Sending him to a place where he wasn't alone in the book house but in Cormac's arms.

"Can I join you?" A voice pulled him back to reality. He turned, seeing his ears wasn't deceiving him.

Phoenix ran towards the other boy. Eagerly pressing his lips against his. Cormac cupped Phoenix cheeks, keeping the kiss going just a little longer. Breaking away only for a short while to catch their breaths. A single kiss wouldn't suffice  for  the days they were apart. They shared another one, slight moan escaping Phoenix lips.

"Do you even need to ask." Phoenix finally responded, teasing Cormac's lip with a kiss. "The answer will always be the same."

"I've missed you so much." Cormac said as he pulled Phoenix into his embrace.

"Excuse me your highness," Phoenix heard someone else's voice. He peeked around Cormac's arm to see a boy looking away with red cheeks. He looked up at Cormac who was too indulged with the reunion of his lover that he forgot the boy behind him.

"This is Iker," he introduced and the boy bowed to Phoenix. "He's a friend of mine." Phoenix wasn't too convinced as he looked at the boy. "You can trust him." Cormac added.

"It's nice to meet you." Iker spoke up. "I've heard a lot about you from Prince Cormac."

"I'm Phoenix as you know." he said, not leaving Cormac's embrace as he nested in his arms and Cormac keeping a hand on his waist to keep him close. "Has he said good things about me?" Iker looked towards the Prince before nodding.

"Why are you here so late?" Cormac asked. "I figured you'd be home."

"I missed you as you could tell." Phoenix responded. Cormac adored the fact that Phoenix had missed him . He couldn't shake the feeling of there being something else. Phoenix caught onto to it and added. "I had a little squabble with the others. I'm here to reflect on my actions. "

Cormac gave him a light kiss. "I'm sure you'll work things out with them. They're your family and you love them."

"Don't forget I love you too." Phoenix chipped in, going in for another peck on Cormac's lips.

Iker excused himself to go look at some books. Wanting to ignore the love birds that reminded him of how lonely he was. He was happy the prince had found someone, though he wished they would act all loving when he was gone.

"Do you have your answer?" Cormac finally asked. "I can't tell you how sorry I am for lying to you. I was a wreck for the last few days."

"Please don't put yourself in such a situation again your highness." Iker chipped in. "I'd hate to pull you out of bed again and watch you mope." He earned a laugh from Phoenix. 'I'm sorry' he mouthed to the Prince, seeing he didn't want Phoenix to know about that.

Their conversation came to an haul when Mae came rushing in. She was huffing for breath, pulling at Phoenix as the words couldn't leave her lips just yet. She calmed down a bit, catching her breath. Mae didn't waste any time in saying what she intended. "Siobhan is having the baby!"

Phoenix waited no time in rushing out the book house. Iker and Cormac followed him along with Mae. He wondered how Siobhan was handling things. If Stella was already with her along with Nevaeh. He was out of breath by the time he was there. Phoenix ran ahead of the others, wanting to be there for Siobhan.

He lifted the curtains and went inside. Nevaeh sat beside Siobhan on the bed, holding her hand in hers. Siobhan gave Phoenix a weak smile when she saw him. He slummed to the floor, Nevaeh moving aside so he could speak with Siobhan.

"It's finally happening." she said in a weak voice. "I don't think I'm ready Phoenix."

"Everything is going to be okay Siobhan. Ma will help you through this along with Nevaeh." Phoenix assured her. "I'll be here too along with the others. The newest member of our family will be joining us."

I need to talk to you about something." Siobhan said when she saw Ace along with someone she didn't recognize enter.

Phoenix shook his head. "We'll talk when this is all over."

Stella rushed in moments later with all the things she needed. Nevaeh rushed him along with Iker and Cormac out. He could hear the pain filled screams of Siobhan as they waited outside. Mae clung desperately onto Phoenix, hoping Siobhan was okay. Phoenix didn't see the other three in sight.

Cormac held onto Phoenix's hand. He too was worrying, assuring Phoenix that all will be well. Iker paced back and forth, not knowing what to do. It was his first time witnessing something like this. He clenched his hands together as he desperately hoped all would be well.

Stella came out sometime later, wiping sweat from her brow. "Siobhan she..." Stella trailed, making them all fill with worry that it would be bad news. "Siobhan had twins." she smiled. "A boy and a girl."

Phoenix smiled widely at the good news. Stella told him he could go ahead and have a look. He and Mae went to greet the newest pair to their family. Iker and Cormac waited outside. Nevaeh held one of the babies as Siobhan held the other. Mae started in awe at the two. Suddenly Poppy along with Rocco and Rebel came rushing in.

"I didn't expect twins." Siobhan chuckled. "Would you like to hold him?" Phoenix was hesitant as he took the baby boy in his hands. He was beyond happy for Siobhan. She was a mother to Poppy, Rocco, Rebel and Mae. He knew she would be able to raise these two to be great.

"About what I said earlier." Siobhan spoke. "I've also been doing some thinking over the last few days. You said Ace and you were going to make the lives of everyone better. Not only in Area fifteen, but also in Seridina. I'm not angry at you. I want you to do that. Give us somewhere we could live peacefully. Give these baby that." She wiped away her tears as she smiled lovingly at Phoenix.

He had already found his answer. That was what he worked for all these years. He wasn't going to let the opportunity slip. If he had a chance to rid the hate that was between the Seridians and fifteen he was going to along with Cormac. They all were from the same Kingdom. They lived on the same grounds. The only thing that separated them was a gate and he was going to break it down.

"How are we going to make things right?" Phoenix asked as he left Siobhan and met back with Cormac and Iker. Cormac took it as his answer.

"You just need to come to my coronation." Prince Cormac said. "Iker here will come for you and make sure you make it inside. Things will begin to change."

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