"Here I thought you forgot about this," Lore says from where he stands in front of the animal adoption center in Nosa. Cyan and Draven stand behind us, both equally confused.

"We're getting an animal?" Cyan asks. I take note of how his fingers wiggle at his side. He shoves them in his pockets, feigning disinterest regardless of how his eyes sparkle. "I thought His Grace didn't want the kids begging for a dozen of them."

"I tried explaining this to Seren, but he insists that we get a dog." Lore's words make Draven scowl.

"Not a dog person?" I ask the butler.

"Not when I know I will be the one cleaning up after that dog and all the other animals that will inevitably follow." Draven crosses his arms. I swear I see him reworking his daily work schedule to adjust everything to a pet until I pat his shoulder.

"Don't worry, we're going to work with the kids so they can become responsible with the dog." I swing open the door and step inside. When I hear the dogs barking, my fingers twitch too. I won't lie; I've wanted a pet ever since I was a kid. A dog to play fetch with or a cat to cuddle up with by a warm fire. We didn't have them at Trinia. Kids honing their magic plus pets pointed towards potential disaster. I never got one of my own because I lived in the barracks, so this is kind of a big deal for me too.

Inside, there's a small waiting room with a couple of chairs. In front of the door, there's a long counter with a few purchasable pet items and brochures on food or training centers. Two doors are open behind the counter, one obviously leading towards the kennels where the dogs bark and a few cats meow. The other door might lead to a supply room or offices, seeing as a man a few years younger than me steps out of there.

"Good afternoon My Lords," he says, standing tall at the counter. "I'm Harrigan, how may I help you today?"

"We're hoping to adopt a dog that is good with children," I reply, trying to keep my voice level, which isn't working because Lore leans towards me.

"Are you sure we're getting a dog for the children and not for you?" he whispers against my ear. Smiling, I push him away.

"Great, we've got quite a few that would do really well with children. If you would wait here, I can bring out a few for you to get to know." Harrigan gestures at the sitting area. He disappears towards the kennels after we take a seat. Cyan stands around the counter poking through the toys because, apparently, even dog and cat toys pique his scientific interest.

"We're only getting one," Lore says beside me, although his serious expression softens when I take his hand. His gaze drifts around the center, hesitating on Cyan's back then shifting to Draven. The butler has certainly noticed our connection, though makes no verbal mention of it.

"I told you, I just want to be careful around the kids, but here we can..." I interlock our fingers, sharing a smile that makes Lore release a rare bashful laugh. He holds my hand tighter, informing me that I can convince him to get two dogs, if I want to.

Moments later, Harrigan and an older woman with slightly graying hair steps into the room. The woman has a dog on a leash that looks as equally excited to see us as she is. Harrigan remains behind the counter while she walks into the waiting area.

"Lord Seymour," she says, approaching us with the dog that I immediately kneel to meet. "It's such a pleasure to have you here. I'm the owner of this center, Marigold Tenner."

She continues speaking to Lore about doing everything she can to ensure he finds a great addition to the family. And I think Harrigan wants to be a new addition too because he has his attention on Cyan. I take notice of how the worker leans against the counter, smiling charmingly at Cyan's slowly reddening expression. The scientist shifts his weight from one foot to the other, visibly unsure of how to respond to Harrigan's obvious flirtation. But then his lips slip into a smile and he laughs. My curiosity gets the best of me; I look at Draven. He stands tall, hands set firmly behind his back with an almost expressionless face. Almost being the word one should focus on. There's a darkness to his normally vibrant orange eyes and the slightest twitch of his lips that strain to prevent a frown. Suddenly, his gaze softens. He stares at the floor, shoulders slumped forward as if he has admitted defeat before even trying.

My attention strays to Marigold when she takes the dog to hand off to Harrigan. He sends Cyan a wink that makes him freeze then stare at the counter cluelessly. Harrigan retrieves one dog after another until a golden retriever comes trotting into the room with a tail fluffier than a feather duster.

"Oh, not Bailey," Marigold says. "I don't want to separate her."

"From who?" I ask, intrigued by the golden sweetheart that sits almost daintily at Harrigan's side.

"Bailey's family had a sudden move and were incapable of taking their pets. The owners brought two cats in with them and I would rather not separate the three if I have to."

"How are the cats with children?"

Lore gently knocks his foot against my thigh. I ignore it.

"Great, they came from a family with a three year old and a seven year old," Marigold replies.

I look at Lore, who stares back at me. He furrows his brows, shakes his head, then groans when I eagerly nod. Lore sighs. "Bring the cats out."

Harrigan hands Bailey's leash to me so I can give her the chin scratches she deserves. Harrigan returns to the counter to talk to Cyan. I'm about to get up to speak with Draven about the jealousy he's clearly showing when Lore beats me to it.

"You're making a strange face," Lore whispers, bringing Draven's attention to him.

Draven cocks a brow. "I beg your pardon?"

Lore nods towards Cyan, but keeps his attention on Bailey, who has come to rest her head in his lap. He scratches Bailey's ears while saying, "You aren't required to always be the perfect butler. There's nothing wrong with seeking what makes you happy outside of work. In short, it won't kill you to act like you have a heart every now and again."

I pinch Lore's leg. This time he ignores me. Draven, however, watches Lore for a drawn out moment. Heaving a breath, he glances towards Cyan, who has picked out a few toys that he speaks to Harrigan about. If the worker was trying to flirt, I think he has failed and he is now stuck explaining the toy's mechanisms to Cyan. Draven surprises both of us by moving towards the counter to join them.

"And here I thought you were somehow oblivious to what was happening between those two," I mumble, glancing at Lore.

He rolls his eyes. "They've been like this for the last three years. It's exhausting."

"You've never brought that up?"

Lore purses his lips, then shrugs. "Initially, I thought it would be strange if I mentioned anything, particularly Draven. He has always been a stubborn perfectionist, which I never complained about as he seemed to take joy out of his work."

"But?" I urge.

"But," he smiles at me. "They are making me want to rip my hair out and I love my hair too much to risk that."

He and I laugh just as Marigold returns with a cat carrier. She sets it on the ground and opens the door to release a white cat as fluffy as Bailey's tail and rather confident because the cat saunters out like it owns the place. The second one is a calico cat with big golden eyes that doesn't stray far from the carrier.

"What do you think?" I ask Lore, picking up the white cat that Marigold claims is called Sir Biscuits because he likes to make biscuits, as I soon learn when he starts doing that on my thighs. Oh, this is so wonderful. My insides are turning into mush! The calico one is Missy and she takes a liking to Draven, or at least an interest because she sniffs his shoes and tries to bite the laces. Surprisingly, he doesn't shoo her away.

"I think we came here for one pet and we're about to leave with three," Lore replies.

"Implying that you've accepted your fate and I don't need to make an argument for why we should take all three?"

Lore squishes Bailey's face a bit in his hands, staring down at her wide brown eyes. "I guess they're... all very cute."

"Mhm."

"The kids will be happy to have them."

"Uh huh."

"And you will be too, so I guess I don't have any other choice." He looks at Marigold. "We'll take all three."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

We return to Seymour Estate with twice the amount of luggage than what we left with, although a decent amount of that luggage has to do with a bouncy golden retriever and her fluffy meowing friends. Cyan carries a box of items for our new additions; toys upon toys that he thoroughly discussed with Harrigan to ensure the best quality.

Draven opens the doors and sets our luggage aside. A few maids scurry over to retrieve them, both staring in awe at the pets. They giggle during their departure. Lore makes a few quick notes to us that we'll introduce the kids to the pets one at a time so as to not overwhelm the animals. Cyan, Lore, and I take the pets and their belongings to their own room so they can adjust to their new surroundings. Just in time too because the children's voices echo in the floor below calling for their Papa. Lore steps out of the room and gives me a look that puts a smile on my face.

"This is going to be great, I promise," I tell him, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. Then we head down the stairs to greet the children.

They rush towards Lore, who kneels in the foyer to meet them. He's smothered in kisses and frantic hugs. The children speak so vehemently that Lore has to remind them that he doesn't have the superpower to decipher what they're saying when they all speak at once. I'm surprised when Nalo, Ashby, Angel, and Oliver actually come over to say hello to me. Nalo hugs my waist. Angel hugs me with Ashby, although I think it's because she wanted to make sure I didn't try anything mean based on her little glare during said hug. Then Oliver holds out his hands to be picked up. He gives me a tight hug that makes me want to melt into a puddle of goo.

"Welcome back, Seren," he says, blinking those big baby blues at me that clearly states the question he's about to ask. "Did you convince Papa to get us a dog?"

I bite my lip and look over his shoulder at Lore. He's telling them a bit about our trip. I look back at Oliver and grin. He breaks into a wide smile. "Really? Really, really? Papa got us a dog?"

"Why don't you go ask him?" I sit Oliver down. I've never seen someone move so fast. He practically teleports to Lore's side, tugging eagerly on his jacket. Lore leans over, smiling when Oliver whispers in his ear. Lore's gaze meets mine and he shakes his head.

"I do have an announcement to make," Lore says, probably pausing for dramatic effect or because he finds it humorous how Oliver bounces like a jackrabbit. "There are some furry friends upstairs--"

The kids start screaming.

"Who you will meet one at a time."

The kids groan.

"We do not want to overwhelm them."

"You said friends and them," Darika remarks. "How many are there?"

"Three. A dog and two cats."

The kids squeal and giggle amongst themselves. That excitement grows even more when Lore guides them upstairs. I keep a few steps behind, watching and listening to the children meet our furry additions one at a time. Lore goes into the room with each kid for a few minutes, then comes out to get the next. After Oliver's turn, he comes running over to hug my legs rather tightly for such a small guy.

"Thanks, Seren," he says, showing a toothy grin. "We're gonna love them so much and-and we're gonna make them really happy, I promise."

I ruffle his golden curls, chuckling. "I'm sure you will."

The worries about the church, even Lore's remaining secrets, remain at the back of my mind. Stress can't even ruin this moment of watching the kids cheer and Lore eagerly speaking to them. He sits on the floor, uncaring of the expensive suit that he'd complain about getting dirty if anyone else were to make him sit on a floor. Here, he doesn't care. He just hugs his kids and listens to them tell exaggerated stories of their playdates.

This is what I wanted, this warmth of a home. A real one that maybe I can be a part of too.

- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -

To those celebrating, Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! To those who aren't, I hope you still benefit from good food LOL Get them leftovers, save on some money for meals. Stay safe and warm everyone. Anywho, Seren has succeeded in getting the kids a dog and two cats lol Lore also gave Draven a little push towards Cyan. Our big happy family is getting even bigger and more loving! Will Seren be accepted into the home by everyone, including the kids?