Family Time

This is set in the far future and was written purely to help me get back in my writing mood! I hope you guys enjoy regardless!

- Bay

Ferris

"Zephyr, that's enough!" I exclaimed as I watched my youngest zoom around the living room. He had recently gotten ahold of his wings and ever since we've had to keep him in doors. "Zephyr!"

He hollered at the top of his lungs as he crashed into the ceiling fan once again and tumbled onto the couch with a thud. Panic flared up inside me and I rushed over to check if he was okay. I brushed the dust off his face and checked for any injuries, scratches or other. I only stopped when I noticed the tears in his eyes were from the laughter.

"You're in big trouble young man." I grumbled and helped the both of us up. "Just you wait until your dad comes home."

Zephyr made it obvious that he didn't care. In fact I was certain this boy was on a fast track path of becoming the biggest troublemaker I've ever met.

"Did you see that papa?! Did you? I was flying!" He shouted excitedly. "My wings are so cool too!"

He twisted his head awkwardly to get a good look of his wings, a pair almost identical to mine. I smiled briefly in pride but it was quickly wiped off when I heard the familiar yelling coming from upstairs. I sighed, brushing it off. Zaelyn said he had it under control.

Our oldest, Zuriel, had gotten into a nasty brawl at school. Not only did we get multiple calls from the principal and a few parents but Zuri offered no explanation as to why he had an outburst. Gods forbid that one of the parents have an unbiased and truthful answer.

I've learnt to let my children have their space so when Zuriel came home I let him go his own way. However, Zaelyn didn't like that idea and decided he needed to have a chat with his son.

"Why are they fighting papa?" Zephyr asked. His demeanour changed quicker than mine. I shrugged it off and gave him a smile, brushing his platinum locks back and planting a kiss on his forehead.

"Don't worry about it, Zeph." I said lightly. I gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze before leaving him for the kitchen. "Come help me make dinner and I won't tell pop-pop about your crash course."

He puffed out his cheeks and crossed his arms over his chest. He may look like me but he definitely takes after Zaelyn. So much sass!

With one dramatic hair flip, my youngest gave me the equivalent of flipping the bird. "Pop-pop doesn't scare me. I'll just outfly him!" He cheered. I could already see Zephyr flying out the window while Fraener tried scolding him.

I had to remember to fae/child-proof the windows..

"Oh yeah? Pop-pop doesn't scare you?" I teased. He had his eyes closed but one curious emerald peered up at me.

"No!" He bit back.

"Big Ol' scary Pop-pop? Fire-breathing pop-pop?"

Zephyr's cheeks deflated and he opened both his eyes, his heterochromia eyesbecoming more and more uncertain. "N-No!"

His emerald and gold orbs flicked to the window and I was quick to use my oh-so threatening index finger to stick him in place. "Don't even think about it mister! Trust me when I say your father will one hundred percent catch up with you."

He clenched his fists and started running for me. "Ok ok ok papa! Please don't tell pop-pop!" He wailed, clutching onto my shirt and letting a few sobs out. I wanted to call him out on his child crocodile tears but I withheld and instead ran my hand through his hair and gave his back a few pats.

"It's alright Zephyr, I won't tell him anything. Let's go make din-"

"Won't tell me what?" A deep voice startled me. I instinctively placed a hand around Zephyr and stuck the other one out in the direction of the voice. The minute my eyes landed on my target I directed the magic projectile to the side, instantly killing off the begonia on the windowsill.

"God, Fraener!" I gasped. I noticed the guilt in his eyes before any sort of panic set in. "You could've at least let me know you were back instead of sneaking up behind me."

He took a step toward me but Zephyr wriggled out of my grasp and towards his father. The little tyke scaled his dad easily and didn't stop until he was resting on his shoulders.

"Pop-pop! You're home!" He exclaimed happily as he played with Fraener's silky hair.

The house rumbled with the dragon-shifters laughter. As I watched the two interact and tell each other about their days I couldn't help but feel the panic and slight frustration leave me and my core warm up again.

"Did you get into any trouble today, mister?" Fraener asked playfully. I already knew the moment Zephyr paused to think that his cover was blown and I didn't even have to open my mouth.

"No?"

"You did what?!" He gasped, looking to me for answers. I chuckled before walking over and pecking my husband on the cheek. I took Zephyr from his shoulders and set him on the floor. Of course he tried making his daring escape but one glare from his dad and a firm hand on his shoulder kept him in place.

"Go on Zephyr," I encouraged. Fraener crouched down to look him in the eyes.

Eventually we indulged in a well practiced ritual of getting Zephyr to retell what he did wrong and why he did it, what he was gonna do to make up for it and that he was sorry. Once he got the last few words out Fraener thanked him like the professional business dad he was and then we commenced kisses and cuddles.

Zephyr headed to the living room leaving me and Fraener in the kitchen. It was left silent for about a minute but the sound of tomatoes being sliced was the final straw.

"I'm sorry for scaring you earlier," he said slowly. I turned to see his daring golden orbs staring at me. No matter how many years that pass us I'll never stop blushing at his gaze.

"It's okay, Fraener. I'm just glad you're not hurt." I smiled back at him. He frowned and took a step closer.

"That's not the point, the point is that I could've tr-"

"Fraener.." I sighed. I took a step too. "It really doesn't matter. I'm just glad that you're home."

His eyes softened and his big arms extended for me. I happily embraced him, enjoying the familiar warmth he never failed to give me. My chest fluttered with the same butterflies I felt when I first fell for him. He tucked my head into his chest but only for a minute. Soon after I found my lips gliding against his and a soft hum vibrating my chest.

Just as we willed ourselves to deepen the kiss, a loud door slam shook the house and heavy footsteps thudded down the stairs.

Zaelyn let out a frustrated growl as he entered the kitchen. "You will not believe how disrespectful he can be! Honestly, if I had talked like that to my father I would've been-"

Fraener and I awkwardly looked at our husband as his red face relaxed in realisation and his scowl turned into more of a petty frown.

"Keeping me out of all the fun while I act like a real adult, huh?" He sighed dramatically, lips puckering into a pout. I snorted and Fraener shook his head.

"Hello to you too, Zaelyn," Fraener brushed off with an eye roll, untangling from me and resuming his tomato slicing. Zaelyn walked over and quickly pecked me on the cheek before sneaking up behind Fraener and hooking his arms under his. He playfully squeezed his pecks and laughed like a schoolboy.

"Zaelyn- be careful!"

"My favourite hunk's back!"

"Zaelyn!" I gasped, gesturing to the living room. Zephyr was an eavesdropper and picked up on words easily, two deadly combinations.

The last thing I wanted was my little boy running around school calling people hunk, or that his father was a hunk. What would the PTA moms think?!

Zaelyn took on a bashful look before backing away. Things fell silent yet again as we worked in the kitchen. Well, mainly Fraener and I while Zaelyn occasionally stole some food. While we prepared dinner I let Fraener finish off while I prepared the boys' lunch for tomorrow although as I was making the second sandwich I felt a heavy feeling sink in.

I tried ignoring it but the father in me couldn't. Not when Zuriel was upstairs and bottling everything up. Maybe some interference was needed in this case?

"Did he tell you why he did it?" I asked out of the blue. I heard Fraener pause, then start up again. Zaelyn looked up at the ceiling as if he'd find prying eyes then back at me.

"No." He said quietly. We both glanced over to the living room. "I-I don't know what to do,"

"He's growing up, Zae. We expected this, remember?" Fraener set down his utensils and turned around, leaning against the countertop. I bit down on my tongue.

"He beat someone up, Frae! I know we agreed to give him his space but this...." he let out a strained groan and hid his face in his balled up fists. "This is different. This is different and I'm worried."

We looked to Fraener for guidance, as per usual, but this time he looked as lost as we were. We all loved Zuriel- he was our son, after all! We certainly didn't care about all the 'blood' shit. He would always remain my baby.

My baby who had somehow learned to mask his emotions over night. Zuriel was always prone to violence but it recently spiked, right after we told about his adoption. There were clues- for one, he didn't have my green eyes or platinum locks- but more importantly we didn't exactly know what Zuriel was. His birth certificate was nowhere to be seen and the documents were fudged. We knew he was most likely some form of demon but that was all.

This only made it harder in understanding him.

"I'll try talking to him again- or maybe Fraener could try? You know, put on your stoic business man face?" Zaelyn offered with a small smile. Fraener went to speak but I opened my mouth first.

"We're not treating a talk with our son like a battle strategy." I sighed, quickly washing my hands and dropping my tea towel in the sink. "I'll talk to him."

They looked at me as I fidgeted with my knuckles. Zuriel hadn't really talked to me much after the adoption talk. It had only been three or so weeks but it was a blow right to the stomach.

I headed for the stairs but Fraener stopped me short. I looked up to see matching desperate eyes. "If all goes well, offer him dinner. Then ask if he wants to have a family chat."

I smiled softly and nodded. Fraener didn't show it often but I knew he was aching not knowing what was going on with his son.

I braved the stairs and navigated the familiar halls before stopping at Zuriel's door. I hesitated before knocking, watching the blue light from underneath the door dance across the floor. What if he didn't want to talk? Or if he openly shunned me?

I was snapped out my thoughts when the door swung open and stopped midway. I stared wide eyed at my son, having to look slightly up. They grow up too fast.

"Papa.." he said aloud. My heart melted at the simple address. "I thought you were dad."

His ever-judgmental russet eyes softened as he looked down at me. I scanned his face just to double check everything was still there. He had a nasty bruise forming just under his eyes and a small cut on his lip. Before I could notice the dried blood just on his Cupid's bow my instincts had me reaching out for his face and brushing it away.

He gave me a weird look when I began pushing his recently dyed hair away from his face and checking for any other injuries. Right, teen boys needed boundaries.

"I- uh...." My hands fell from his face and back at my sides. I fumbled to find the right words, scared I might say the wrong thing and have a door slammed in my face. His eyes flicked to the side and he gave a small grimace.

"I just wanted to talk, actually!" I quickly said. His eyes snapped back and I smiled awkwardly. "Please, Zuri."

He gave a pause before shuffling back and allowing me into his room. As I entered I tried my best to refrain from complaining about how his clothes were all over the floor and instead sat on the bed. I waited patiently for him to sit next to me and when he did we just.... sat in silence.

"Y-Y'know, we don't have to talk about... the incident if you don't want! We could talk about school- wait no not that. What about-" Zuriel stopped me mid rant with a loud groan. He flopped backwards onto the bed and covered his face with his hands.

"We could talk about the girls at your school.."

He gave me a weird look.

"Or the boys!"

"Just say it!" He groaned. I let the words linger in the air for awhile, trying to decipher what he meant. Had I forgotten something? He was breathing more ragged and he turned on his side.

"Zuri, I don't.... I don't know what you want me to say."

"J-Just say it! I know it's been on your minds since..." he paused with a small sniffle. My veins chilled to small frozen tubes at the sound of him crying, my heart breaking even further when my I reached out to comfort him and he shook me off. "Since the talk!"

I looked around the room as if what I needed to say to him was written on one of the navy blue walls. I tried going off what Fraener, Zaelyn and I had gone over but I stopped my self short. I took a deep breath and fought between what I wanted to hear and what he needed to hear.

"You don't want me anymore.." he weakly sobbed. It was muffled and just under a whisper but that didn't stop me from picking it up. My chest constricted with a fear mix of heart ache, guilt and frustration.

"Zuriel!" I gasped. I got up from the bed and crouched down by his side. He had his hands tightly glued to his face so I settled a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you ever say that again!"

He peered through a small gap in his fingers. I tried my best to refrain from wiping away his tears as they fell but I couldn't help it. He didn't oppose my touch and let his hands fall away when I pried.

"You are our son, Zuriel, I would never give you up-" He stopped me midway.

"I'm not your real son." He protested. He said it with so much confidence it hurt.

I felt my own tears press to the surface as more droplets streamed down his face. I originally thought that he had taken it well, that the fleeting glances and avoidance was a phase that would wear off but it turns out he was the opposite. I was ignorant in thinking he was okay and I blamed myself for allowing this to fester into something unlike him.

Instinct took over and I helped a cautious Zuriel up and hugged him tight. I wish I had some of Fraener's body heat to provide as much comfort as possible but instead I warped my aura to provide a similar effect.

His body shook in my arms with every sob that past us. I tried keeping my own crying down to just sniffles for the sake of Zuriel but it was hard.

"I-I'm sorry, papa." He whispered into my ear. I patted him softly on the back and shushed him, my mind reeling back to the very first nights when we would wake up crying.

I did have to admit, hearing him call me papa was a relief.

"See? I'm still your papa, Zuri, and you're still my baby." I told him firmly, lighting pulling us apart so I could look at him. His beautiful russet eyes gleamed with tears both gone and coming.

"Your fathers and I don't give a single fuck about blood-"

"Papa!" He gasped. I didn't like swearing in front of the kids so hearing it was a shock for both of us. I smiled warmly and continued.

"It doesn't bother me that I don't see my green eyes or platinum hair, I don't care that there isn't a single orange strand on your head- Gods be thankful you don't have your dad's... incubus tendencies!" I moved my hands and gingerly placed them above his heart. Of course, I didn't fail to notice the look of mild disgust. Yeah, I probably shouldn't mention his father's incubus tendencies...

"The only thing I care about is you. I care that you know you are loved, Zuriel. I'll be damned if anyone tries to argue that you are not my son. You included."

He finally smiled a small, happy smile. It made my heart clench a little less and the knots in my stomach loosen up. My shoulders relaxed as I brought him in for a hug one last time.

"I love you, Zuriel." I didn't expect much of an answer because, as I was learning, as soon as boys hit puberty they treated showing affection like a disease.

He mumbled something which he purposefully made inaudible. I chuckled, accepting his small show of love.

"Is dad still mad at me?" He asked once I finally pulled away. I didn't want to sugar coat it nor did I want to be blunt but I knew Zaelyn was still probably fuming.

"Your dad just needs some time to cool down. I suggest apologising.." I started but he instantly gave me a look.

"Zuriel," I warned. "I suggest apologising. It'll inflate your father's ego to the point where it collapses in on itself and he'll apologise too."

He diverted his eyes to the floor and pursed his lips into a line. I could practically see the thousands of thoughts swirling around in his head while he tried to voice them.

"Okay. I'll speak to dad." He gave in. I smiled brightly but turned it down a few notches. The air was still very serious and I didn't want to make it awkward. "Is pops home?"

I nodded and he cursed. I laughed, a hint of a smile returning to his lips.

We stood in silence for about a minute, soaking in the silence and each other's warmth. For a brief, fleeting moment I realised how grown up he had become yet he still felt like the baby I brought home. It wasn't long before I recognised the familiar giggles of Zephyr and both my husbands whining.

"Are you hungry?" I asked. It didn't matter what the answer was, I was gonna make him eat something. He thought about it for awhile before answering.

"Yeah, I guess- but, you don't want to know why I did it?" His face contorted from content to questioning, and just like that his eyes put up a wall. I couldn't read his emotions that easily anymore.

"I do, but it's a topic for a family chat, don't you think?"

Ha, nice Ferris. Real smooth.

He gave me an apprehensive look. He furrowed his brows and went to speak but I gave him a reassuring squeeze. He rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Wanna come down now?" I asked as I left him and stood by the door. He swayed his head from side to side and held a hand to his head.

"I will soon, I just have a headache.." he muttered.

I smiled at him and walked back, placing a gentle hand over his temple. I focused on him, our bond and my love, listening in for his heart beats and light breathing. It wasn't long before a green light emitted from my palm and I felt a small headache prodding the side of my skull.

"You didn't have to, papa." He whispered. I smiled back at him and planted a soft kiss on the spot where my hand used to be.

"Of course I did. Now come, let's go tell your brother off." I teased. He followed closely behind until I abruptly stopped and looked around his room.

"Open a window, Zuriel! It's so stuffy in here- I'm suffocating!" I complained. He had a shocked expression and was probably trying to decipher if I was joking or not. I was being completely serious, actually. Being a parent didn't just mean consoling your child it meant telling your child to close a previously closed door or open a window.

I should tell Zephyr to stop growing up so fast too. I wasn't prepared for two teenage boys.

"Meet you downstairs, pa. I might as well clean up before you start nagging me about that too." He groaned as he unlatched and opened his window. I smiled in satisfaction before leaving his room and joining Fraener at the bottom of the stairs.

I felt myself feel a bit dizzy as I took my last step. Fraener caught me before I could finish my descent and lifted me off the stairs. I snuggled into him as the headache came into effect.

"I trust everything went well?" He asked. I felt him push his soothing heat forward and suddenly I was engulfed in a world of comfort.

"Perfectly," I mumbled. "Family chat is scheduled for after dinner. Eight P.M sharp."

My chest vibrated with his laughter. He lifted me from his arms and we indulged ourselves in a light kiss. It was only interrupted by Zuriel's loud shrieking and a series of "ews" and "boos".

"I didn't need to see that." He whined as he made his way past us. I snickered just as Fraener hoisted me onto the ground.

Zuriel headed for the dining room immediately but Fraener stopped him. "Ah- go wash your hands, young man."

"But, pops-!"

"No buts! Sink. Now."

Zuriel groaned loudly before dragging himself to the kitchen sink.

We both heard Zaelyn's loud screaming and went to the living room to investigate. What we found was both concerning and amusing at the same time.

"Pop-pop, papa! Look!" Zephyr exclaimed happily.

Our youngest son was propped on his dad's shoulders and giggling like a maniac while he pulled and tugged at his hair. He had his wings out which fluttered happily while he made Zaelyn scream.

"He just flew up and sat on me! Get this demon child off!" Zaelyn pleaded while he flailed around the living room.

Zaelyn, not daring to harm Zephyr, resulted in him being able to do absolutely nothing against his son as he assaulted his hair.

"You kids are giving me hair loss!"

Fraener chuckled before slinking back into the kitchen. Zuriel replaced his father and watched his brother and dad. Of course, much like everyone but Zaelyn, he couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm so glad I'm not actually related to him," he said with a snicker. My face fell and I gave him a small smack on the shoulder.

"Whaaaat? Too soon?"

I rolled my eyes, ignoring his obvious joke and went to help my husband rid him of our child. It took some time, a lot of hair loss, and a stern scolding from Zaelyn but eventually we left the living room unscathed and hungry.

Today was a long day, but I was glad everything worked out. I was happy, my husbands were happy and my sons were happy. Everything was perfect.