"Betrayal breaks you to your core,
Making your heart hollow, which was once a whole"

....................................................

King Harold stood in a long hallway of his Castle,staring at the family photograph hung in the centre.

It was when the children were very young, and Angela was not born.
Claire had Charlie in her arms while Eva stood next to him.
He smiled seeing his children's young smiling faces, but when his eyes landed on Claire, it vanished.

His hands tightened into fists and he looked away from her face.
What did he not give her to get rewarded with her betrayal?

Was his love not enough?
Did her hatred for Eva, the only thing that mattered to her?
He loved her, but maybe she never did.

Because you don't hurt the ones you love. Or do you?

He could feel tears in his eyes when he heard his son calling from behind.

"Dad? What happened? Why aren't you ready?"

He turned around to look at his son, now the present king of Avanguard.
Proudness and happiness engulfing him on seeing him in his attire.

"Why Son? Something special I don't know of"

Charlie sighed, holding his father's shoulders and looking at his exhausted face.

"Dad Eva is visiting! She will be arriving any minute now and you aren't even ready!"

King Harold's tears got replaced with a feeling of joy.
His heart swelling in happiness on listening to the news of his daughter's arrival.

"Oh really? When? I should be getting ready? Why didn't you tell me earlier Son?"

Charlie chuckled, rubbing his head.

"I was so busy in the preparations..it may have slipped my mind"

King Harold just gave him an irritated look to which he sheepishly smiles.
Turning around, he left to get ready for her welcome.

While Charlie stared at his fathers retreating back and then at the family picture he was stating a few minutes ago.

Knowing well how badly his Dad missed his mother and how her betrayal has broken him.
He may smile on the outside but within he was damaged beyond repair.

....................................................

Eva was holding Darian in her arms while Daniel's arm was casually resting on the seat behind her head.

The little boy was far asleep while Valerie was consistently chatting with the driver or fighting will be called more appropriate.

"No! The previous song! "

Her small fingers were messing with the stereo system she had no idea of while the driver was politely trying to stop her.

Daniel was busy on a phone call, getting irritated with Valerie's voice in the background.

"No...I am sorry King Jordan...I am not able to hear you!"

He was shouting on the phone, but still, his voice was lower than that of the two who sat in front.

"Will you stop fighting for a minute! I am on a call here!"

He finally shouted in desperation making both of them go silent.

"Yes, King Jordon.No the arrangements have been made. I will be out of Kingdom for a few days....yes....will contact you soon. Bye"

Ending the call, he placed back the phone in his pocket and the very next second the fight again started.

Holding up his hands in surrender he looked at Evalinge who chuckled.

"What do you feed her? So much energy! Is it even natural?"

"Love"
She replies making him smirk at her.

"Yaa love that is spoiling her. I can see her as a spoiled girl a few years from now"

"Oh come on! She stands for what is right! Plus she is your daughter, so she can't tolerate injustice"

He just smiled, leaning back his head on the seatrest and closing his eyes.
His ears now accustomed to Valerie's useless talks.

"Tired?"

She asked making him look at his stalker.
He just lifted her hand that was enclosed in his, to his lips and placed a lingering kiss.

"I am fine"

She placed her head on his shoulder, enjoying this journey till it lasts.
His calm heartbeat making it feel like a lullaby and she soon drifted to sleep.

He looked at her sleeping form.

His eyes taking in her features.
His hand automatically moved up to place the flick behind her ear.
But not before holding her long locks between his fingers and rotate them to his heart's content.

He saw some speed breakers approaching and his hand was placed on her head from behind,
Stopping her head from moving and her waking.

Placing a long kiss on her forehead, he smiled.

When he turned in front, his eyes met mischievous ones of Valerie.
She was telling him that she had caught him and she was not going to leave it so easily.

She will taunt him in front of her.
Telling her how her father looked at her while she was asleep.

Daniel warned her with his eyes while Valerie just smirked at him in response.
Making Daniel run his hand through his hair and smile.

His little princess was something.

A few hours later, they saw the grand doors approaching. Elle and Darian, we're still asleep, Daniel's eyes landing on a woman standing outside the door and pleading the guards.

The woman had a rugged cloth wrapped around her, in name of protection from the chilling winds.
She didn't look any good than a beggar.
Daniel tried looking closer but the car was already moving inside.

Blocking her frame and face from his eyes.

Ignoring, they entered to see Charlie waiting outside for their arrival.
His hands intervened with a beautiful girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Their welcoming smiles making Valerie shout in excitement and both Eva and Darian to wake up from their sleep.

Eva's eyes held fear and Daniel just made her place her head on his shoulder.

"Relax, it's just her excitement. We have reached"

Assuring that everything was fine, she looked outside to see her brother and his wife waiting for her.

The car stopped and Valerie was the first one to barge outside, to be followed by Darian's excited but small steps.

King Harold joined and Eva was the first one to hug him.
They continued to remain in each other embrace as Daniel did a bro hug with Charlie.

"You have grown thin my child...don't tell me you are overexerting yourself?"
Harold asked assessing his daughter.

"Dad!"

"Hey young man! Are you not taking care of my daughter? Why is she looking thin?"

I laughed while Daniel tried or acted looking guilty.
Bowing, he acknowledged dad, but dad wanted his answer first.

"I am sorry your highness, you see your daughter here is as stubborn as yourself.
She won't listen to me let alone do what I say"

Eva stares at Daniel in anger, warning him to continue, and Daniel loved doing it.

"Not only that your highness, but she also refuses to sleep on time. Training and fighting is the only thing she is in love with.
Even her husband feels neglected and unloved sometimes"

King Harold's angry glare moved to Eva, while Daniel smirked.

"Is it true?"

Eva needed an escape now, her father will not leave her without a proper scolding.

"Yes, Grandpa! Mom no longer tells me bedtime stories! She is always busy hitting people. Hitting is bad..right grandpa?"

Valerie and Daniel high-fived and Eva's hand lifted in defence.
This little monster Valerie...wait till I tickle you tonight!

"What am I listening, daughter? Haven't I told you not to use your skills on others! You can harm yourself!"

"Dad! I was just training the-"

"Not a word more! And why are starting at my grandchild! You scold her and I will look into it!"

Valerie jumped into her grandfather's arms.
Showing Eva her tongue, she hid behind him.

Everyone chuckled while Eva stood there, with eyes cast down, accepting her father's scoldings.
Because after all, she knew this was his father's love and his ways of showing it.

..................................................

Everyone sat in the grand table, enjoying the wonderful family gathering.
Charlie's hand was intervened with Anna's who chatted with Eva with a bright smile on her face.

"So Charlie bear! What is the special occasion?"
Eva asked taking a bite of the baked potatoes in her plate.

Charlie looked at Anna and nodded.

"Actually Eva...we wanted to share the news with everyone"

This called for everyone's attention.
Anna had their undivided attention and she gulped.

"Actually...I....we...."

She looked scared and Charlie just squeezed her hand for motivation.
Eva's eyes also motivated her.

With Anna's gaze shifting between Eva and Charlie, she just blurted out.
Making the entire table to go silent all of a sudden.
Some folks dropped while others mouths.

"We are having baby Charlie bear!!"

The reaction was epic.
Deadly silence engulfed the large hall.
As everyone took their time interpreting the words and the good news.
The two kids were too innocent to understand this.

Valerie just laughed at how odd this sounded while our poor Darian hated bears.

"I don't..want bears..can you give us rabbits instead, Aunt Anna?"

If that was not enough to break the silence, Valerie's next words definitely did.

"No! I like bears! Can you give us more? Maybe 2 or 3?"

Laughter followed while Anna blushed crimson red.
Eva hugged Anna and Charlie, while King Harold sat there, not believing such a piece of great news.

His eyes were moist with tears of joy and how he wished the seat next to him was not empty and the child could get the love of two mothers.
I.e mother and grandmother.

Celebrations were called and the kids were explained of these bears being their cousin little brothers and sisters.

Happiness got redefined, but soon someone entered making Harold silence down.

There stood the same lady who was begging for entrance.
The guard's voice was urgent, seeking forgiveness for their inability to stop the woman from entering.

"She just ran inside when the doors opened! Apologise your highness! "

While Harold stared at the guard, not happy with his incompetence.
Everyone else was busy enjoying the good news, not bothered by the intrusion.

"Haven't I told you countless times to not let her enter!"

His angry voice made the lady step back in fear.
Her eyes turning glossy and her frame shivering.

"Please...I beg for my mistake"

"Get out!"

He said with finality.
To not let her words affect his insides and made him change his decision.

The guards pulled back the lady harshly, making the cloth wrapped around her to drop and her face to become visible to everyone.

Her pleadings died down as her gaze interlocked with those innocent brown ones of her stepdaughter.
And she couldn't help crash down in sobs and helplessness.

"Mom?"

Came Eva's voice and that's when all the laughter silenced down and they all started at the begging lady in rags.

....................................................

You reap what you sow,

But some pure hearts can convert cactus seeds into lotus flowers.

....................................................