Chapter Text
Many years later. . .
The Palais was always a bustling building, it was the hub for the city of Fontaine and the important figures worked there. Always a Steambird reporter or some new one for an up and coming gazette. Some knew what wasn’t worth risking your neck for an interview and well one was quite literally poking the bear.
“Should I reiterate that there is a strictly two party consent law with interviews and those affiliated with the Palais, active or retired, family and spouses are forbidden from engaging in interviews?” Wriothesley growled at the reporter who had been trying to hound Zagreus to answer some questions.
The boy was now hiding behind his father, clearly rattled from the stranger engaging and asking very personal questions. Thinking he could get some answers from the kamera shy boy. Zagreus was an easier target than his intimidating father and unsettling sister.
Melinoe was looking at her father giving a murderous gaze at the reporter that was starting to sweat a little realizing he’s angering Wriothesley.
“Daddy, can I maim him?” The reporter let out a squeak of fright, how could a seemingly innocent little girl say something like that?!
“Sadly no, you don’t have the jurisdiction.” Wriothesley sighed heavily, like it truly was such an inconvenience.
Melinoe gave a little sigh as well, moving closer to her brother and taking his hand. “Don’t worry Zagreus, I won’t let anyone make you uncomfortable.” The reassurance from his sister eased Zagreus and then some when the reporter made up some excuse and scampered away. Walking briskly passed a melusine Phantom who was just about to intervene.
Wriothesley glared daggers at the retreating reporter, looking down at his son who was still shaken by the stranger. The former harbinger lifted some of his coat up and wrapped his arm around Zagreus pulling him close to hide under it. “It shouldn’t be much longer.” Wriothesley felt Zagreus hold onto him, Melinoe went over to say high to the melusines excited to see her.
It was only ten more minutes of waiting when the Palais doors opened and the one the small family had been waiting for stepped out. Forever now looking so much more comfortable in the outfit the melusines made for him than his judicial robes ever.
Melinoe noticed her maman coming down the steps and skipped over to him. “Maman, did you finish your work?” Taking his hand when offered and giving it a squeeze.
“I did my little dove, now we can go home.” Neuvillette gave his daughter a beaming smile. While he has stepped down as Iudex he did have to periodically go into the Palais to keep in check the laws and mandates the new judges and Iudexes were handling. The two walked over to where Wriothesley was and the former harbinger was ready to answer, noticing Neuvillette looking around for Zagreus.
“He’s here,” Opening a little of his coat to show the boy still pressed up against his side and holding on. “Someone ambushed him for an interview when he wandered a little away from me.”
Neuvillette bristled hearing someone made his baby get stressed but the culprit was gone. “I see, I wish they would leave our children alone.”
Wriothesley was inclined to agree.
The family walked across the bridge towards the Aquabus station elevator, taking it down to the main Aquabus line. While waiting they had garnered the attention of many Fontaine citizens whispering and gossiping. It wasn’t often seeing the whole family together, mainly one parent with the children.
Finally the bus had been positioned to go back to the Romaritine Harbor station. Melinoe did a little hop skip onto the bus and up the stairs. Zagreus jumped the gap after her while Wriothesley took one step on and held his hand out for Neuvillette. Something he didn’t need to do as the dragon was always sure foot around anything in the water but the gentlemanly act will not go ignored. Neuvillette placed his gloved hand in Wriothesley’s, giving him a thank you as he stepped onto the Aquabus and ascended up the stairs.
Wriothesley followed and sat down on the side his children picked for the ride. Zagreus leaned against his father while Melinoe looped her arm in Neuvillette’s for comfort and attention.
Only a few others joined them on the ride over, many didn't travel to the port and the Aquabus into the city was way more crowded. The melusine conductor announced for everyone to remain seated and keep hands, feet and other extremities inside the Aquabus at all times.
“What shall your father cook for dinner?” Neuvillette looked at his twins.
“Didn’t know I had volunteered to cook.” Wriothesley teased.
“You are the better cook between us and I’m sure the children would skip another soup night.” Neuvillette got nods from both of them, while soup was good it can get boring to those who aren’t rabid about liquids.
“I believe we have some steaks in the cryo box, I’ll cook those up with some sides.”
“Daddy, can you make your sauce?” Melinoe giving pleading eyes, Zagreus joining her as well.
“Please daddy.”
Wriothesley can’t say no to those faces ever. “Of course, anything for you my dears.”
With the promise of their favorite sauce to go alongside dinner the twins were more than eager to get home.
When the Aquabus rounded the mountains near the port and the tall structure came into view the twins started to fidget in excitement. They were almost home, though in fact they passed it. There was a collection of homes near the Aquabus line that had been almost abandoned, up until back when still a harbinger Wriothesley secured the land and property to be a back up base for the House of Hearth. Now it is home to his true family.
The Aquabus came to its stop and everyone got off, the twins hopping over the gap and Wriothesley once again holding his hand out for Neuvillette. The family headed to the elevator to take it down a floor to the shipping yard where boats are brought up or down. Their family boat docked and the twins were already waiting for their parents to get in.
A small boat ride to their homes and the twins were rushing inside the two story cottage that had been refurbished and extended for them to live here permanently.
This location was also close to Mererus Village so many melusines popped in for visits to the Iudex and his children. A group seemed to have been waiting to see Neuvillette and the former Iudex happily approached them. Wriothesley was on dinner duty so that is where he headed, the kitchen.
Hanging up his coat and then sitting on the small bench he unbuckled his boots and slid those off. The almost identical pair Zagreus wore was already put into the small cubby space in the side closet. Wriothesley unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and rolled sleeves to his elbows and removed his gloves, setting them on a hallway table.
His keen hearing picked up the twins in their rooms playing so with his children accounted for Wriothesley started on dinner.
The former Harbinger now enjoys the more mundane things, especially tasks that bring smiles to his children. When he was almost ready to plate everything up the enticing smell drew his children down from their rooms and to the dinner table. Neuvillette had already come back in and set the table, pouring himself a glass of water for himself and the twins.
Dinner was set and everyone at the table started to enjoy the meal, the twins very happy Wriothesley made his sauce that just has the meat tasting ten times better. The silence at dinner was comforting, everyone was so intricately intertwined with one another they knew about the day's activities and events there wasn’t much to discuss.
After dinner was done the twins put their dishes away and helped clean up, small chores to teach them responsibility. When finished Melinoe went up to her room, probably to continue playing with her dolls or do crafts. Zagreus wanted to stay close to Neuvillette so joined the hydro sovereign on the couch enjoying a chalice of water and a film on the small picture screen.
Wriothesley tended to the mail that he picked up while in the city, with their address being so far away they relented in getting a mail box in the city. It was usually stuffed with a lot of junk mail until Wriothesley came across a letter from Snezhnaya.
Opening it up and unfolding the letter immediately recognizing the handwriting of Odette. Reading his dearest sister’s words as she updated him on their family in the nation of Cryo, ending it with another request for them to visit.
Wriothesley will bring it up to Neuvillette when they retire to bed.
When it was the hour to put the twins to sleep, Wriothesley helped brush both Melinoe and Zagreus’ hair in their small bathroom. The twins said he always does it best and ties the perfect braids for bed, pigtails for Melinoe and one solid braid for Zagreus. Wriothesley first tucked in Melinoe, handing his daughter her favorite plushie which was a rifthound of all things.
“Goodnight my dearie.” A kiss to her cheek and forehead, his daughter giving him a hug before she settled. Wriothesley stepped out while Neuvillette went in to bid his daughter goodnight.
Zagreus was in his room waiting, Wriothesley sat on the edge of the bed and tucked the covers up to Zagreus’ chin, making sure all of his important plushies were arranged. “Goodnight my little love.” A kiss to Zagreus’ temple, getting a big strong hug from the boy.
Wriothesley pulled away and let Neuvillette come in to wish his son goodnight, the soft reassuring words of his maman that what happened earlier today won’t transpire again.
The former harbinger went to his shared room with Neuvillette and began to dress down for bed. Neuvillette joined him in the silent routine of getting ready for bed. Neuvillette put on one of his many soft nightgowns and sat before his vanity brushing his long hair. While Neuvillette was elegant to bed, Wriothesley just pulled on some comfy pants and called it that, taking off the decorative pillows and comforter from the bed and putting them away.
“My sister wrote, she would like for us to visit again. Or at least the twins.” Wriothelsey felt like bringing it up now. Pulling the covers back and sliding into his side of the bed.
“Mmh, perhaps when the weather won’t be so cold.” Neuvillette kept brushing his hair, acknowledging Wriothesley through the reflection in his vanity mirror.
“I’ll write back that we’re thinking about it.”
A sound of agreement from Neuvillette as he finished off the brushing and stood from his stool and glided over to the bed, back turned to Wriothesley who began to separate the dragon’s long white hair into sections to braid.
“Though should we just surprise them? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind an additional guest tagging along with us.” Wriothesley focused on the braiding, mindful of Neuvillette’s ribbons.
The dragon hummed as a hand moved to gently touch his middle. “I do think Melinoe and Zagreus should be the first to know…when we’re way past viability.”
Wriothesley tied off the end of Neuvillette’s braid with a bow, snaking his arms gently around Neuvillette, placing hands over Neuvillette’s shielding his middle. The two had thought it cruel irony or perhaps divine punishment that when they finally decided to become a pair, a united pair navigating all their past feelings, issues and regrets having more children became almost impossible. Was this their instincts taking revenge over them not solidifying a bond in the past, as it became harder for Neuvillette to fall pregnant then if he did lose those fetuses in miscarriages.
The twins were unaware of their parents having been trying to give them more siblings but it doesn’t escape their notice over the years how less touchy their parents have become.
Neuvillette didn’t want to flinch or shrug off Wriothesley’s touch but when he indirectly caused some of his biggest heartbreaks…
“Just a few more weeks then it will have lasted the longest.” Wriothesley presses a kiss to Neuvillette’s exposed neck.
Neuvillette lets out a small sigh leaning back into Wriothesley who now holds him more securely around his shoulders, allowing the dragon to melt into his touch.
“And just like we agree if it's a girl we’re naming her Nonnette.”
Neuvillette can’t help but chuckle, it pulls him out of thoughts of going through another heartbreak and into happier ones of perhaps holding a little Nonnette or Rene, the names Wriothesley picked.
“Agreeing to let you name this child seems to be biting me in the arse as one would crudely say.”
“Even you can swear elegantly, but you got to name the twins. I had no say in it.”
“Oh? You could have had a say in it, if you didn’t abandon me.” Neuvillette arched a brow as he looked over his shoulder, giving the former harbinger a scolding look.
“Still going to hold that over me?”
“Until death do us part.” A little playful nudge of their noses before Neuvillette lightly bites at Wriothesley’s lips for a kiss.