"Merial, come on we need to go." Caspian, the father of now 3 children, called upstairs to his eldest. He stood at the bottom with his son Calder who was 2, only a year behind his big sister. He had blond curly hair that everyone loved to touch and cute brown eyes with the longest eyelashes. Calder yawned sleepily and lay his head down on his Daddy's shoulder, a sure sign he was thinking of falling asleep.

"Don't go to sleep on me Calder, you have to meet your new little brother." Caspian said bouncing his tired child in his arms. "You have to stay awake baby; we're going to see Mama."

Merial still hadn't emerged or replied to her Dad so Caspian walked up the stairs to her bedroom. "Come on darling, Mama wants to see you." There was a faint sound of shuffling coming from her wardrobe.

"RAAA!" The little 3 year old girl roared leaping from her wardrobe and grabbing onto her Daddy's legs. The little outburst startled poor Calder who was trying to sleep making him cry. Caspian groaned out of frustration and tried to comfort Calder and detach Merial from him at the same time.

"How does Mama do this, huh?" He asked his children. After Calder calmed down and Merial decided to actually listen for a change they were out of the door and walking down to the beach 10 minutes later. Everyone one was excited to meet the new born Prince who had arrived in the early hours of this morning. Caspian and Jonah spent a few hours just the two of them with their new born until Jonah went to sleep and Caspian came back to the house where Merial and Calder were being watched by their nanny to bring them to meet their new brother.

Caspian held Calder in the water letting him think he was swimming on his own whilst Merial twisted and turned showing off and flicking her red tail. Her black hair and dark red tail looked amazing together and Caspian knew she would make a very strong Queen one day.

"Daddy look!!" Merial shouted pointing excitedly.

Caspian turned around and saw a pod of dolphins approaching making squeaking and clicking sounds amongst each other.

"Careful Princess, don't rush up to them."

"I know what to do." She said and started swimming on her side as they approached.

Caspian recognised them as a pod that is seen in the Kingdom's grounds quite often and they had played with Merial before so he wasn't worried. He sat on some coral with Calder placed in his lap who was waving his hands at the dolphins. Caspian watched Merial play with them for a while and gave Calder a swimming lesson. A curious dolphin approached them a few times taking interest in Calder and all the excited noises he made. Calder tried to reach out a touch him multiple times but the dolphin wouldn't let him get too close and seemed to enjoy teasing him. Caspian swam towards Merial and the rest of the dolphins who were playing with a leaf. Calder laughed happily and the dolphin that was following them was allowing Calder to touch him. As Caspian turned around the dolphin darted off to join his pod.

"He's scared of you, Daddy." Calder wined trying to reach for the dolphin again.

"Well we've got to go see Mama now, he's probably waking up and he'll want to see you."

"Mimi, Mimi!" Calder shouted to Merial. "We go see Mama now and new baby!!"

Merial swam over to her Dad and brother telling them about the dolphins as Caspian swam towards the Palace with his 2 children hanging off of him and waving to the pod of dolphins behind them.

"Is the baby nice?" Merial asked as she pulled her Dad down the palace halls.

"He's lovely Merial but you both must be quiet when you go in as he might be sleeping."

"I wanna see Mama too."

"You will Calder, don't worry."

Merial knocked gently on the door before opening it and running over to Jonah who was holding the sleeping now born.

"Mama!" Both the children squealed as Caspian shushed them.

"Hello Darlings, I missed you." Jonah whispered smiling brightly.

"We missed you too can I see the baby?" Merial asked jumping up to try and get a look at him.

"Yes of course, meet your new brother, Atlas." Jonah smiled showing his excited children their new brother.

"Awww! I love him." Merial breathed touching his small head.

"Can I hold him please?" Calder asked bouncing slightly to get one of his parents to pick him up.

Caspian picked up both Calder and Merial and let them sit on the bed next to his husband. They were very careful and sat quietly with their arms stretched out and waiting. Jonah placed baby Atlas in Merial's arms first and she looked down at him in wonder. Calder peered over her arm and kissed his brothers head.

Jonah and Caspian smiled at their children taking such an interest in their brother. Some children didn't get along with their brothers and sisters but from looking at the family and how nice the Merial and Calder were to Atlas, you could tell he would be loved and protected by all.

Atlas at 8 months

"Come to Mama Atlas," Jonah encouraged as the smiling baby started to crawl towards him. "That's it baby, come on."

Atlas giggled and lay down resting for a minute before trying to crawl again. Caspian walked through the door immediately stealing the attention from Jonah as Atlas started to crawl towards his father squealing and laughing happily.

"Hey baby boy." Caspian cooed reaching down and scooping the baby up at his feet. "Did you miss Daddy?"

Atlas giggled and babbled lots of cute sounds and grabbed a fist full of his Daddy's hair in his excitement.

"Ow baby let go." Caspian tried but Atlas just kicked his legs a babbled louder. Jonah could be heard laughing and came to his husbands rescue making Atlas let go to his hair.

"Someone's excited to see me." Caspian smiled and nuzzled his child's soft skin making him giggle. Caspian felt he had a special bond with his youngest and had an overwhelming sense of protectiveness over him. Atlas laid his head on his Daddy's shoulder as he walked into the kitchen with Jonah. Caspian sat down and bounced the baby on his lap and rocked him gently whilst Jonah made dinner. Atlas got fussy after a while and started sucking on Caspian's chin and tapping his face with his little starfish like hand. Caspian made a bottle for him and took him into the living room for somewhere quite to feed him.

"Daddy's special boy, aren't you?" He cooed. Atlas looked up at his Dad smiling and gurgled whilst waving his hands about. "Shh baby, Daddy's got you."

After he was fed and burped Atlas fell asleep in his Daddy's arms wrapped in a warm blanket.

Atlas at 4 years old

"No!"

"Atlas." Caspian warned.

"I'm not going!" He shouted and threw his new patent leather navy shoes.

"Right, naughty step for 4 minutes." Caspian said trying to sound cross as he walked away and into the kitchen where his husband was.

"Didn't work?" Jonah asked.

"No, he really hates it." Caspian sighed, his heart breaking at the sound of Atlas' cries.

It was the first week into pre-school and Atlas hated it. He said some of the other boys teased him and called him a girl because of his hair. Atlas had long hair that was so blond it was white. He loved it and it suited him really well. His big sister Merial had long hair and Atlas had always admired it and wanted to grow his hair long like her. No one had ever made a big thing about his hair and only ever admired it so when he started pre-school with all the other children, he was confused as to why the other boys made him feel like a girl.

"I'll sit with him through the morning and try to slip away at some time; it might help him get settled." Jonah suggested wrapping his arms around Caspian's waist. "He'll be alright, don't worry."

"Yeah I know he will." Caspian sighed cupping Jonah's face in his hands and leaning down to kiss him.

"Let's go then." Jonah said leading the way.

After a while Jonah had managed to get Atlas' shoes on and got him to agree to try pre-school again. Caspian was reading Atlas a story and he was eating a slice mango for being a good boy.

"You ready now baby?" Caspian asked his son gently.

"Yes Daddy." Atlas nodded and stood up. Jonah wiped his hands so they wouldn't be sticky from the mango juice and readjusted his soft jumper.

"You look beautiful baby; don't listen to anyone who tells you anything different. We love you so much and those boys aren't worth listening to."

"Yes Mama, I love you." Atlas said letting go of his Daddy's hand to hug his Mama.

They took a boat ride to a nearby island where all the schools in that area were. Caspian and Jonah walked Atlas in letting him put away his lunch box and come out into the area where all the other children were. Atlas started to shy away and hide behind Caspian's legs.

"Let's go to the books baby. You can show me your favourites." Jonah said holding out his hand.

Atlas nodded and reached out grabbing Jonah's hand tightly as he was lead to the corner where all the books were. Atlas pulled out a few and sat down on Caspian's lap. Most of them had mainly pictures with very few words but one was a story the children were read sometimes. Caspian read it for Atlas who snuggled into his chest and relaxed to the sound of his voice.

Atlas made a friend called Lily in the next few days of pre-school and since then they were inseparable. Lily protected Atlas from the other children if they ever said anything bad to him and Atlas looked up to her and admired her so much. Caspian and Jonah weren't worried about leaving Atlas there anymore and didn't have to battle with him every morning about whether he was going to pre-school or not.

---

Caspian and Jonah walked behind their 3 children who were racing through the Palace halls to find their Granny and Grandad as well as Uncle Bennett and Uncle Leo and their cousins. Ervin, who was the same age as Merial and Tide who was a few months older than Atlas. Atlas kept stopping just to check his parents were following before racing to catch up with Merial and Calder.

"Grannny!!" Merial and Calder cried as they leapt on Coralia who hugged them both.

"Granny! Granny! Over here!" Atlas squealed running up to her.

"Don't you all look lovely, now where's Mama and Daddy?" She asked.

"We ran ahead because they are slow." Merial said walking into the lounge and shouting for Ervin (Bennett and Leo's eldest) to come play with her. Everyone was at the door to Seaton and Coralia's private quarters greeting Caspian, Jonah and the children. Jonah and Bennett went straight over to the big Christmas tree all lit up and their eyes filled with happiness. Since 2 humans were now part of the royal family some human traditions snuck in and the favourite being Christmas. Some merpeople in the Kingdom have decided to celebrate it and others haven't. It's not been as big as a Christmas on land but mermaids and mermen still enjoyed having a celebration like humans did.

The children played together and even though Atlas kept coming back every once in a while everyone was very happy. As Atlas grew up Caspian and Jonah had been noticing how attached Atlas was to them. They didn't mind and just thought it was how some children were and he'd grow out of it as he grew up. He always liked to check everyone was okay and see where his Mama and Daddy were.

"You okay baby?" Caspian asked his son as he climbed into his lap.

"Yeah Daddy...sleepy." Atlas replied snuggling into his father's chest.

"Atlas, Atlas! Come play!" Tide said trying to persuade his playmate to stop sleeping.

"Tide," Bennett called to his son. "Leave Atlas alone he wants to have a rest for a while."

"But why?! Only babies have naps!" Tide cried stomping off.

"Tide, come here." Leo said sternly getting up and following his pouting son.

"Sorry," Bennett said. "He can get like that sometimes."

"Don't worry Bennett, honestly." Jonah said brushing back his son's long white hair.

The rest of the day and evening went smoothly. Everyone moved to the dining hall and had dinner then it was present time for the children. They all sat underneath the tree excitedly as their Granny and Grandad gave out the first presents. Merial took charge in telling everyone where to sit making her parents smile. She was always the one to lead when there was a group of children.

The evening drew to a close and Jonah and Bennett put the children to bed. The adults stayed up talking and enjoying the quiet without the noise of the children.

"Tired, Kitten?" Caspian asked Jonah pulling him into his lap and peppering his neck with kisses.

"Mmm," He replied. "Who knew kids were so tiring."

"Not us." Caspian chuckled standing up with Jonah in his arms and walking towards the room they would be spending the night in. "Goodnight everyone!" He called getting a chorus of "Goodnights" back.

Caspian undressed his husband slowly kissing along his shoulder and up his neck.

"You're so beautiful Jojo." Caspian murmured.

"I love you." Jonah said turning around and wrapping his arms around Caspian's neck. "It still seems so unreal we have three children together."

"I know, I'm so lucky to have you all, I'm so grateful. I love you."

Caspian brushed Jonah's hair out of his eyes and kissed him softly. His hands skimmed up Jonah's back feeling the silky smooth skin underneath his palms.

"Thank you for the best seven years of my life."

-

Thank you for reading! Book 2 will follow Atlas as the youngest child and the first few chapters will be out in 2-3 weeks. It's called 'New Depths'.