@keep_calm_and_write_ said:

#theirthings any type of cute scene with Brendon and Sydney! I was so sad when the story ended, I can't wait to read any chapters in this book about them

Rating: Non-mature

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Sydney Kingston's POV

"Mummy," my eldest daughter, Isabella called and I entered the dining room to see her peering curiously at me, her homework piled up around her.

"Yes, darling?"

Isabella bit on her lower lip and beside her, Andrea was doing her music homework. "Could I ask you something?"

I raised an eyebrow at her. At ten years old, Isabella was rarely this quiet. "What is it? Schoolwork?"

She shook her head and blonde curls like mine tumbled down her back. "Today at school, Miss Katie was talking about..." her voice trailed off hesitantly.

"About?" I prompted and by now, Andrea was paying attention to us, her curiosity gained by her older sister's hesitance. Despite being the middle child, Isabella was hardly quiet and was like her older brother who garnered most of the attention in the Kingston household.

As of now, Cayden who was fourteen was more into sports and was now beginning to tower over me and I longed for the days when he had been a mere toddler. Like her older brother, Isabella was very much into sports and being in the outdoors with the other kids. My youngest child, Andrea was vastly different from her siblings. At seven years, she was still quiet and kept to herself, preferring to spend her time indoors with either the piano or the violin.

"Miss Katie was talking about the Blood Exchange," Isabella finished, her grey eyes waiting for my reaction and true enough I inhaled sharply.

"Miss Katie had no right to talk about that to ten-year-olds," I said with mild irritation as Andrea darted her eyes between me and her older sister.

"It wasn't her fault, but we were talking about the old legends during History class and one of the boys in my class asked about it," Isabella protested quickly, not wanting her favourite teacher to get fired.

"Alright, what did she say?" I questioned warily.

Any mentions of the Blood Exchange was actually met with some distrust. Many had felt that it was a coward's way out on dealing with life. For couples that had children, those children would be left alone if one of their parents passed as the other would follow. Hence, any mention of it was scarce and the practice highly discouraged. It was also an easy way for higher ranking wolves to be killed as they could attack their partners instead.

It was a well-kept secret that Brendon and I had done the ritual as it wouldn't do good for us and our family if people knew that getting rid of the Alpha or his mate was made easier. It took the saying 'kill two birds with one stone' to a highly accurate meaning.

To be honest with myself, now that I had children of my own, if I weren't put into that situation where Brendon and I had almost died, I would have never taken part in the ritual. The very thought of leaving my children all alone if Brendon and I were dead, sent my heart plummeting to my gut.

Sure, I've taken many precautions that if anything were to happen to either Brendon or I, all three of my children would go to Sarah and Rhett and if they were unable to do so, the next guardian would be Sean and his mate.

"She said that it was something no one did anymore and that it can't be undone and is also highly looked down by society," Isabella parroted and I nodded, marginally pleased by the teacher's response. "Did she say why it was looked down by people?"

Isabella nodded and began, "It was because bad people took advantage of the sacred ceremony."

"That's right," I sat down, a feeling of unease creeping up my spine. "So, what did you want to ask me?"

Isabella stared at me, mouth open in attempts to ask her question and I waited patiently. Again, I was struck with the fact that she was hesitant and somewhat reluctant to speak her mind and that got me worried.

"Why did you and Daddy do the exchange then?"

Only our family and my siblings knew that Brendon and I had taken part in the Blood Exchange and I had extracted solemn promises from my children that they were never to repeat what they knew to anyone. And of course Brendon and I planned to answer this together and we've already planned on what to say but however, my mind went blank.

Andrea was now watching me, waiting for my reaction to the question that Isabella had posed.

"I didn't want him to die," I said softly, eyes meeting Isabella's grey ones before landing on Andrea's.

"Die? Why would Daddy be dying?" Isabella pressed, eyes wide in horror while Andrea was looking at me earnestly.

Brendon and I hadn't really told the whole story of our difficult past to our kids and now, I was regretting blurting that out.

"I've told the story how I met your father many times," I said gently, trying to soften the heavy impact of my previous words. "We didn't have a good first impression and at the same time, there were bad people who wanted your daddy and I gone so that the European pack would have no Alphas so that they could take over," I explained and both of my daughters were listening with rapt attention.

"So, someone attacked your father and even though I didn't like him at first, I didn't want him to die. Back then, I never thought I would have Cayden and the both of you. So I did the only thing I could do," I finished and Andrea blinked, quietly digesting the story.

Clearly, the story I've told them had many crucial points cut out. Brendon and I had agreed that the truth of the whole story should never be revealed and furthermore, I didn't want our children knowing the awful rocky past that their father and I shared.

"Oh, I see," Isabella mumbled and I stared wistfully at them.

"Of course, if I wasn't in that situation, I would never have done it because if anything were to happen to us-" I reached out to take their small hands in mine. "- you three would be left alone and I don't think I could bear that. Nonetheless, promise me, that both of you would never repeat this to anyone and that you wouldn't take part in the ritual."

Both of their little heads nodded obligingly and I relaxed before gently caressing the top part of their hands with my thumbs.

"Can I see the mark?"

I slowly moved the classic strap of my watch further down to reveal the black lettering of my chosen's name.

"Wow," Isabella breathed out, her eyes wide with interest and awe. Slowly, her fingers reached out to trace the name and Andrea stared at it with an unreadable expression on her face.

I stared at the both of them urgently. "Promise me again that you would never take part in the ritual."

Isabella nodded and turned back to her homework, the topic was forgotten and I looked at Andrea to see her staring at me with a thoughtful expression on her face as though she was scrutinising me before she turned back to her music sheet.

* * *

Later that night once the children were all asleep and I was curled up with Brendon on the couch as we watched a film, I decided that right now would be ideal to bring up the events of the day.

And about our youngest daughter.

Andrea Jalisca Kingston was someone who spoke rarely, was reserved and kept her emotions to herself. As a mother, it worried me to never be able to guess what she was thinking of feeling. She was just seven years old for heaven's sake!

Brendon was like her at times and I guess that is why he is the only person able to get through to her and because of that, they had a special bond that I was a tiny bit envious of.

"I think you should speak to Andrea," I started and immediately began telling him about the topic of conversation earlier.

"I know, Andrea told me before she got to bed."

I blinked and gaped at him, wondering when such a talk could have occurred without my knowledge. "Oh, what did she say? She seems... troubled."

Brendon sighed and he seemed tired, more so than usual. "She's just concerned that something would happen to us, hence leaving her and her siblings alone."

I swallowed harshly, understanding her point of view. After all, something similar had happened to my siblings and I. "Well then, what did you say?" I pressed quickly, wanting to know what was going on in my daughter's head. Sometimes, it scared me on how little I knew of my own daughter's thought and emotions.

"I answered her honestly. That we would do anything to ensure that everything would be alright. But of course we both know that I can't guarantee anything despite her being seven, she's incredibly smart," he sighed once more and I bit my lower lip.

"Sometimes, I wish that we didn't take part in the ritual so that if anything happens to either of us, our children would still have one of us to look after them," I murmured softly, my grip tightening on Brendon's hand as I spoke.

"But if neither of us completed the ceremony, we wouldn't be where we are today," I added. "If I didn't have the kids, I don't think I could live without you," I confessed quietly and Brendon merely pulled me closer to him.

I tilted my head to meet his eyes and what I saw soothed the subtle unrest in me. "I understand and I feel the same way too," he replied and raised our intertwined fingers together before brushing a kiss on my knuckles while his eyes were still fixed on mine.

My heart warmed at that mere action. No matter how many years have passed, I marveled at the man that I called my mate, my chosen and my husband.

A soft tender smile formed on my face and I leaned upwards and our lips met in a kiss that was so utterly loving and warm and I could feel it all over my body and the kiss even made my toes curl. His arm around my shoulder tightened his hold while the other released my hand to cup my cheek, deepening the kiss.

Slowly, his hand moved to my hair, tangling his fingers in my blond curls as he pressed me into the couch. I let out a soft groan when his hands slid down to my waist, cold fingers stroking my exposed skin where my top had ridden up on my torso.

Knowing that we would probably continue this activity later in the privacy of our bedroom, I pulled away and panted lightly, catching my breath as I rested my forehead on his. Brendon shut his eyes, fingers rubbing soothing circles on my skin with the pad of his thumbs.

"I love you," I said quietly, my fingers curling into the dark shirt he wore.

"And I you," he replied, eyes opening to meet mine.

I smiled as I took in his features for what seemed like the millionth time and I guessed that he knew I was still feeling uneasy regarding Andrea's thoughts on the matter as well as the unconventional topic for conversation I had with our daughters as he raised his hand to caress my cheek tenderly.

"Don't worry about Andrea, this quietness and reservation she has is a short phase. She'll grow to become more outspoken as she ages," he assured and my smile softened at his attempt to comfort me.

"I know, I just don't want her or any of our children to be worrying about things that they shouldn't be worried about. They're children, they should play more and think less about morbid things," I sighed.

"We can and will do our best to ensure that nothing would happen to them," Brendon answered, his quiet voice taking on a confident and firm quality. "Yes, definitely. But are you not worried about what could happen?"

His eyes gleamed with tenderness. "As long as I have you by my side and with our children, I'm ready to take on the world."

No words were needed and I curled neared against him to press a lingering kiss on his lips.

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A/N: Hi guys! Here is the first drabble of Sydney and Brendon and I hope you enjoy it! :) Again, let me know what you think! 

If you want to request for a drabble/one-shot, please post it in the comment section and be detailed as well as tag it with #theirthings so it's easier for me to catch your requests if not, I'm afraid I'll miss it!