The most difficult trial I will ever face begins now.

"Wha...what are you going to paint, Reegan?" I ask the freckled girl sitting with me in the art room. Isabella draws fairly elaborate clothing designs beside her sister, uncaring of my presence. I'm unclear if that is a good or a bad sign.

"I'm painting a paperweight for Papa," Reegan replies. The paperweight is a rock she must have found outside. She starts painting flowers and butterflies on it, successfully ending our short-lived conversation.

Holy Mothers, help me. I don't know if I can do this.

Across the room, Lore sits with the little ones. Initially, he wanted me to sit with them since Oliver has taken a liking to me, but I can't escape this insistent yammering in the back of my mind that I may frighten Ashby again. Maybe Angel will throw paint at me to protect her brother and everyone will become upset. My panic led to Lore agreeing to keep close to them while I tried spending time with the others. It's not really going well...

Darika has chosen not to paint. She's at the back of the room with Arline sculpting some clay. Apparently, she enjoys that more than painting. Sir Biscuits lays on the counter near them, waiting for a ball of clay to fall so he may play with it. Sir Biscuits has certainly laid claim to the estate. He goes wherever he pleases and has no issues with the children lugging him around. If anything, I think he enjoys the constant attention.

Missy isn't as confident. She hasn't left the second floor, but I've caught her going into the kid's rooms to sleep with them. She doesn't mind laying on the floor either. She simply hasn't mustered the courage to go down the steps yet and we've told the children not to force her.

Nalo and Hyun Woo have taken up residency under the tables, giggling while they scribble on the paper using colored pencils. Suppose it would be safer for them to have pencils than paint. Especially since Bailey is with them, laying at their sides and licking their faces or hands when they get close enough to do so.

"Are you into fashion, Isabella?" I ask, worried she's ignoring me when she doesn't respond for a drawn out moment.

"Yep," she finally replies. "I want to be a designer. Papa bought me a sewing machine last year for my birthday."

"She made me a really pretty skirt," Reegan added, putting a smile on Isabella's face.

"That's very nice of you. Do you make clothes for all your siblings?" I ask.

Isabella nods. "For Papa, Arline, Cyan, and Draven too. I made Draven socks since he wears his uniform all the time."

"Smart." This time, I managed to end the conversation without meaning to. Isabella and Reegan become focused on their art, leaving me to paint an awful hillside that no one can tell is a hillside. Nalo was the closest by guessing it was a lump of grass. That should explain my artistic abilities.

"This is going terribly," I whisper to Lore after we've moved from the art room to outside. Some of the kids are discussing what game they want to play, allowing Lore and I to speak in private. "I can't keep a conversation with them. I don't know what to do."

"You're thinking about it too much." He chuckles. "And this isn't only about talking to them. Having you around more and allowing them to see you like this," he tugs on my attire, one of the suits we purchased from Vexsis, "will help them grow more accustomed to your presence and maybe even like having you around. Although I have to tell you that you've already won over the little ones."

"R-Really?" I sputter.

"You convinced me to get them pets, Seren. They adore you."

"They adore the pets I helped get."

"If we're being honest, is there really a difference in the eyes of a child? Now, come along, we have games to play." He brushes his hand against mine, momentarily linking our fingers, then releases. I miss the warmth immediately. Heaving a breath to work up my courage, I follow Lore to the center of the yard where the children wait.

We spent the day with the kids as planned. I play the role of a fierce dragon that tries to kill the king (Lore) and am tracked down by the powerful knights (Oliver, Nalo, and Angel.) I'm not sure what it means to play the role of the now dead dragon, but at least I get to lay down for a bit. Playing with the children is more exhausting than any training regime. I don't know where they store all that energy.

After that, I find myself drawing with chalk on the fountain alongside Ashby and Angel. Ashby sits on one side of me scribbling a picture of Missy, I think. At least the colors are accurate and I believe that is a cat. Angel, on the other hand, keeps staring at me.

"Is something wrong? Are you thirsty or hungry?" I ask, looking over my shoulder. "Lunch is about ready, but we can grab a snack."

Angel shakes her head. She scratches the chalk so roughly against the fountain that she almost breaks the chalk. Then she stares at me again. I offer a puzzled smile. Have I done something to offend her? Maybe Ashby got frightened of me again and she feels the need to protect her brother, but then she states, "I don't hate you anymore."

"Oh... that's... okay, that's really good."

"But that don't mean that I like you either!"

"Angel," Ashby whines. He surprises me by sneaking under my arm to sit in my lap. My stomach does flip flops when he makes himself comfortable, deeming my lap an acceptable place to sit while he draws and talks to his sister. "You said you liked him this morning because of the doggy and kitties."

Angel blushes. "I-I did not! I said I liked Bailey and the kitties, not Seren."

Ashby leans his head back so he looks up at me and whispers, "She's lying."

"Am not!"

"Are to!"

This back and forth continues, but I don't mind. Sitting here with them, Ashby in my lap and Angel hugging my arm, likely unknowingly, brings an old but familiar feeling to my chest. It reminds me of my family, my real one. My mom, my dad, and my brother sitting at the kitchen table bickering or snuggling in front of a warm fire on a cold night.

I sense someone watching me. Looking to my right, I discover Lore. Darika's practicing her trait again with Arline's assistance. Lore must have been helping at some point too, but now he has his attention on me. A soft expression rests on his features, something deep and nurturing that makes my toes curl. When he smiles, I lose my breath, then he turns away and I can breathe again. Although I lost my breath a few more times throughout the day, catching Lore's attention here or there and noticing how obviously his affection swims in his eyes.

By the middle of the afternoon, I'm ready for a full night's rest and then some. The kids are returning to class, following Arline from the main house to the school building. However, Hyun Woo has yet to leave my side. He stared at me through most of lunch then quietly followed me around while playing more out in the yard.

"What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Nothing," he says. We fall into a long silence, then I choke on my own saliva when he asks, "Are you and Papa dating?"

"Wha--huh? What, uh, what makes you ask that?"

"You've been staring at him a lot and he has stared at you a lot and I saw him hold your hand earlier, unless maybe you were scared after playing knights and dragons? I get scared sometimes after playing that and hold Papa's hand too."

I don't know what to say. I could go along with what Hyun Woo's saying, but..."Would it bother you if we were dating?"

Hyun Woo takes his time seriously considering this, going so far as to rest a hand under his chin. His eyes narrow in deep thought, like he's trying to decipher the world's greatest mystery. Then he looks at me and states, "No. Papa seems happy when you're around and I like when Papa's happy, so I think I'd like it if we had two Papa's."

"Oh, that's... that's great, uh, you should hurry after Arline. You don't want to miss your lessons," I say, placing a hand on his shoulder to nudge him gently forward.

"Okay." Hyun Woo hurries down the hall, having easily forgotten our discussion or maybe he wasn't all that interested. I, on the other hand, almost drop to my knees from the overwhelming emotions whistling through me.

Lore and I need to be more careful if the kids are already suspecting us after a mere day of playing with them. Even if Hyun Woo said he would be okay with it, that doesn't mean the other kids will be.

I head to Lore's study where he ran off to after Draven informed him that he had a call. Knocking on the door, I poke my head in to find Lore seated at his desk. He has the phone in one hand and he scribbles on a paper with the other. Sounds like it has to do with one of his businesses, based on what he's saying. Spotting me, Lore smiles and gestures for me to come in. He holds up a finger to signal he'll be another moment so I wait patiently on the couch.

A few moments later, Lore hangs up and asks, "Have the children gone back to class?"

"Yeah, they're with Arline."

"Today wasn't so bad, was it? The kids didn't mind playing with you, so are you feeling any better about them?"

"I... think so? In a way, but earlier, uh, Hyun Woo said he caught us holding hands and asked if we were dating."

Lore snickers. "Leave it to Hyun Woo to notice. He always has a knack of figuring things out that he shouldn't. That's why Cyan had to cast a spell on the locks to the cathedral. He managed to pick the locks before."

"Really?" I laugh. "Where did he learn how to do that?"

"I truly have no idea. That boy should be a detective with how he snoops out any information he's interested in. Probably read about it in a book, but what did you tell him?"

"I asked if it would bother him if we were."

"What did he say?" Lore asks after I've taken a moment too long to continue.

Heat simmers beneath my cheeks. My words come out as a quiet hum, "He said no because you seem happy with me and he likes when you're happy so maybe two Papa's wouldn't be so bad."

Lore's smile shines so brightly it risks rivaling the sun's brilliance. I love seeing him wear such a genuine expression. While Lore smiles often, they're typically in jest or even out of feigned politeness. But at times like this, I get to see that genuine smile that makes my heart sing and wonder if he ever feels the same looking at me. I hope he does out of an almost childish greed to be wanted by him. How hopeless is that?

Standing, Lore quickly approaches to sit beside me. His hand rests on the back of my neck, rubbing soothing circles into my goosebump covered skin. "That's good to hear, isn't it?" he whispers, leaning forward to rest his forehead against mine. "Two Papa's does sound nice."

"That's a bit rash, don't you think?"

"Considering how long you've been dancing around your feelings," he chuckles when I pinch him. "Sorry, I mean how long we've been dancing around our feelings, I don't find wanting us to be rash."

Lore catches my lips in a quick kiss making me want to eagerly agree with him. I love it here with him and the kids and this sense of normalcy. A family where we eat together and talk about our days no matter how bland, where we spend the holidays together, and laugh over silly birthday gifts. It's exceedingly wonderful in its simplicity, but...

"Just because Hyun Woo is okay with us doesn't mean the other kids are. I think we need to remain careful."

"We will, but there's nothing wrong with being happy about this. I want you to feel at home here, Seren. I want you to see how much the kids truly adore you and I..." He grows silent, eyes as blue as a clear evening skin. He kisses me again, slow and soothing, but enough to leave me breathless and wanting more. Our lips brush when he adds, "I want you to find the family you really deserve. I admit that I'm incredibly hopeful that you find it here with us."

"I'm pretty sure I already have. I don't know if I'm allowed to be happier than this."

"You are, you absolutely are, and I'm going to show you that there is so much more than this." Lore cups my face, bringing me in for another kiss and another. His body presses against mine, pushing me back onto the couch. I moan against his lips, against the tongue forcing past my lips to eagerly wreak havoc on my senses. I can't get enough of him. I want more and somehow he always gives me that. It almost feels like I'm being spoiled, like this is too much and I don't deserve it, but I refuse to give it away. I don't want these feelings to ever go away.

"Seren," he whispers against my lips.

"Hmm?" I hum, thinking of nothing else than kissing him again. Lore gives into me, letting me kiss him until we're breathless. He retreats to rest en elbow on the couch beside my head. Hovering above me, I notice a dark tint to his eyes, one that he shows at night when we're lost to each other.

"Can I take the lead this time?" he asks. My heart skips a few beats. My toes curl. He moves forward, rubbing our overheated bodies together. I curse against his lips, groaning when they move down to mark my neck.

"Yeah," I finally answer, shivering when Lore pulls back to smile at me. One of those teasing smiles again, although this one is promising a very long and intense evening, which has me sputtering, "Just, um, it's been a while so..."

"I'll be gentle," he purrs, which doesn't sound convincing. I release an embarrassing squeak when Lore nibbles on my lip, whispering, "Only tonight though."

If I had a thought, they cease to exist when Lore tugs me off the couch with his room as a very clear destination in mind.

- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -

Seren has spent more time with the kids and seem to be winning them over! Hyun Woo likes the idea of having two Papa's, and Lore agrees that sounds quite nice. Do you think the other kids would be okay with Seren and Lore being together? Our boys are so domestic! And yeah, next chapter will be mature lol