Domestic Bliss, by lyradaemon

Chapter 1: Happy Birthday

Disclaimer: I own nothing; I borrowed it all from Anne Bishop.

I'm writing this in between chapters of my current BJT fic, 'Sapphire'. For all of you following it: DON'T WORRY! I haven't abandoned it, I just decided to write a little something else. It's a short little fic about life for Lucivar and Marian. Hope you like it!

"Papa!" A shrill childish voice shouted in his ear.

Lucivar opened one eye, saw his son, then promptly closed it again.

"Papa wake up!" Small hands shook his arm. Lucivar moaned sleepily.

"'S too early," he mumbled, burying his face in his pillow. The figure beside him stirred.

"Lucivar it's your son's birthday. You're not allowed to ignore him."

"Yes I am," Lucivar replied churlishly. "It's my sleep time." He snaked an arm around his wife's waist. "Besides, I have more important things on my mind now…"

Marian snorted and sat up. "Wake up Lucivar before I kick you." He sat up rather alertly. Marian grinned at her husband before turning to Daemonar. "Happy Birthday sweetheart," she said, pulling him into a hug.

"I'm old now," Daemonar replied, kissing his mother's cheek.

"Seven isn't old," Lucivar said, tousling his son's hair. "Wait til you get to my age; then you'll feel old."

Daemonar regarded him thoughtfully. "You're not that old Papa; well, not as old as Saetan."

Lucivar tried very hard not to laugh. "I don't think he'd appreciate you saying that," he said calmly, lips twitching.

"Do you want to go downstairs and open your presents?" Marian asked with a bright smile. Daemonar jumped up and down on the bed excitedly. Lucivar rolled his eyes before sliding under the covers again. Marian gave him a hard kick before climbing out of bed. "You'd better be down in a minute Lucivar," she warned. "Otherwise you won't be allowed any cake today."

Lucivar laughed.

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Several hours later Marian stood glaring at her husband. "You're helping, Lucivar," she said firmly. "No arguments."

Lucivar glared right back. "But you know I'm useless with children!"

"Well Daemonar's managed alright so far. It won't be that bad; all of them are well-behaved – well, usually anyway." She frowned.

"Precisely: usually. I don't want to have to deal with countless young children at a birthday party. Someone will get hurt and then it will be all my fault."
Marian sighed; she had to admit it, Lucivar was right. Whenever something went wrong, he was always blamed it for.

But still, he had promised he'd help out at Daemonar's birthday party. Marian had actually been the one to suggest the idea, and at first Lucivar had been firmly against the whole thing. But Marian had – with some very sneaky persuasion – changed his mind, and so invitations had gone out to the various children Daemonar wanted to invite.

That was several weeks ago now. It had been a good idea at the time, Marian thought darkly to herself. Right now, all she wanted to do was nothing. And with eight young children about to be set loose in her house, the future wasn't looking bright.

"They're just going to be here for a few hours Lucivar. Then they'll all go home and we can have some peace and quiet again." Marian looked imploringly at him. Lucivar seemed to give in.

"Oh alright. But if they start crying, I'm having nothing to do with it."

"Fair enough." Marian stepped forward, slipping her arms around his waist. Lucivar smiled as he leant down to kiss her sweetly. "I should probably go and finish arranging things," she said regretfully when they broke apart, her eyes slightly glazed. "They'll be here soon."

Lucivar gave her one last kiss before releasing her. "We'll have to finish that off tonight," he said with a sly grin before heading off to find his wayward son.

Marian sighed as she set about preparing the last of the dishes for the party. She had made all of it – right down to huge chocolate cake covered in black – Daemonar's favourite colour – dragons. There were countless little sandwiches and cakes decorated in icing the colour of each of the Jewels – always a hit with little people, she had found. There were plenty of small meat pies and even some fruit slices. Marian insisted on healthy eating for her son.

Just as she was fixing a dragon wing back onto its owner (it had decided very inconveniently to fall off) Marian heard voices coming from outside. She peered out of the kitchen to see Lucivar talking to someone at the door. Wiping her hands on a cloth, she went to join him

A young whirlwind barrelled into her as she approached. Bending down she picked little Selene up and set her wobbly on her feet. "Daemonar's in his room sweetheart," she said kindly to the rather bemused girl. Selene smiled brightly at her before rushing off in pursuit of Daemonar.

"Sorry about that," Morghann said rather apologetically, brushing the heavily falling snow out of her green eyes. "I think she's just a bit excited."

"So am I."

"What was that Khardeen?" She asked her husband sweetly.

"Oh, nothing…" he replied absently; when Morghann turned her head he winked at Lucivar who grinned in return.

"I'm sorry to be here so early Marian," the Queen of Scelt continued. "It's just that we've got so much to do today, and I want to get it all done before we have to come and pick up Selene again."

"Don't worry about it. The others will all be here soon anyway," Marian replied before making a face. "Then it will be chaos, I'm afraid."

"Oh dear," Morghann grinned. "Maybe you can put something in the cake to keep them quiet."
"Morghann! What a dreadful thing to say!" Khary said, pretending to sound shocked. "Proposing to drug your daughter now are you?"

Morghann glared at her husband. "Well it's what I'd do if we had to have eight small children running around the house."

Lucivar laughed; everyone knew that Morghann loved all the First Circle babies as much as they all did.

Just then a rather disgruntled sounding voice came into hearing. They all recognized that deep, sensually-edged voice.

"Stop complaining Daemon," another voice replied; Jaenelle.

"Well I don't see why I had to come," Daemon said as the two of them came into view, along with a walking bundle which looked suspiciously like a small child. "I would have been much happier staying at home."

"I'm sure you would have, but it's tough; you're here now." Jaenelle looked up and smiled brightly at the four of them standing in the entrance of Lucivar's eyrie. "Hello!" She called.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Lucivar said, catching her in a big hug. "Such a pleasant surprise."

Jaenelle grinned before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Nice to see you too Lucivar." She turned to Marian. "How are you coping?" She asked sympathetically. "I can't imagine that looking after dozens of wayward children is particularly easy."

Marian laughed. "It's not that bad Jaenelle. In fact there's only Selene and Daemonar here at the moment; the others should come soon."

"Talking about others, we've got one to add to your collection." She ushered the bundle of furs and scarves forward. "Elan came to the Hall with Giselle because Grezande wasn't feeling very well. Daemon and I-" which provoked a glare – "offered to bring her along with us, since we wanted to say happy birthday to Daemonar."

Two large startling green eyes peered through a gap between one of the several hats she had shoved on her head. "Mmf," was all she could manage.

Marian laughed and took her mittened hand. "Come with me sweetheart; you can get some hot chocolate if you like."

Jaenelle hugged Morghann, kissed Khardeen then ran into the eyrie to look for her beloved nephew. Daemon gave a huge sigh of relief; four pairs of eyebrows rose at him.

"It's a long story," he said reproachfully.

"We've got plenty of time," said Lucivar.

"I'm going shopping with Jaenelle."

Four faces took on a look of sympathy. "Sorry to hear that," Khary said consolingly. "Good luck."

"How did you manage to get dragged into it?" Lucivar asked, looking worried. Just about all of the First Circle males had ended up going shopping with Jaenelle at some point or other; one of the more legendary ones had been when Mephis had gone with her. Jaenelle had ended up with so much stuff that Saetan – not to mention his money – had almost had a heart attack. Shopping with Jaenelle was beyond exhausting; she could keep going for hours, as could all the other females. Although Marian had admitted to being beaten on several occasions.

Daemon grimaced. "I didn't actually realize that we were going to go shopping," he admitted. "Jaenelle had said she wanted to see Daemonar to give him his birthday present, so I agreed to come along too. Then Elan turned up and Jaenelle offered to bring Giselle along with us. And then, only a few minutes ago, Jaenelle announced we were off to Amdarh." He shook his head, sadness clouding his golden eyes. "I'm not sure if I'll make it back alive."

Lucivar and Khardeen laughed; they knew that feeling. "Don't worry Daemon, I'm sure you'll enjoy it," Khary offered.

"Besides, you could demand a reward for going along," Morghann added, breaking off her conversation with Marian, who had returned from unwrapping Giselle. Daemon brightened considerably.

Just then Jaenelle appeared again, grinning happily. "I think you'll have your hands full today Marian," she remarked, pulling her coat tighter around her as she stepped back out into the cold air. "Those three are already completely gone with excitement."

Lucivar groaned.

"Daemon and I should probably get going," she said, kissing Marian on the cheek and hugging Lucivar. "Shouldn't we darling?"

"Whatever you say sweetheart," Daemon replied resignedly. As Jaenelle turned the other way he winked at the four of them. Morghann giggled. "See you later."

Khary slipped his arm around Morghann. "We should set off too I think," he said. "We'll be back this evening to pick up Selene."

"Have fun," Morghann said. Marian rolled her eyes. "Good luck."

Marian and Lucivar stepped back into the eyrie and dusted themselves off. "I think the snow's getting heavier," Lucivar remarked.

"Undoubtedly. You'll probably have to clear it away at some point," Marian replied. "Otherwise we'll never get them out of here."

"Why Marian, I thought you wanted a horde of children running riot around your wonderfully tidy house," Lucivar said innocently.

"Don't make it worse than it already is Lucivar," Marian warned.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he laughed before kissing her soundly.

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Over the next half an hour or so the rest of the invitees turned up; Arianna – Kalush and Aaron's daughter; Ash, the son of Sceron and Astar, Luc – Chaosti and Gabrielle's son, as well as two young Eyriens who Daemonar was best friends with, Lilian and Thalovar. Their parents had come to Kaeleer from Terreille – like so many of the other Eyriens there – when they had had enough of Dorothea's corrupt influence.

Finally Marian had them all in the main room of the eyrie together and they were being surprisingly well-behaved.

"Ow! Don't hit me Luc!" Arianna snapped, glaring at the smaller boy, rubbing her arm.

"It wasn't me!" Luc protested, forest blue eyes wide. "It was Ash."

Arianna turned to Ash and thumped him on the arm. Ash began to cry. "She hit me!"

"Well he hit me first!"

Daemonar hit Arianna: "Don't hit people at my party!" He said sternly.

"Ow! What did you do that for?"

"You thumped Ash."

"Yeah, because he hit me first!"

"No he didn't!"

"She hit me!"

"You're such a bully Daemonar."

"So are you."

"Shut up Luc!"

"Shut up Arianna!"

"She hit me!"

"Enough!" Marian shouted. "I don't want to see any of you hitting each other again, do you understand?" Ash was still bawling his eyes out. Marian scooped him up into her arms. "Shh sweetheart, it's alright, you're not hurt." She stroked his hair tenderly.

"She hit me…"

"I know she did, but it's alright. She's not going to hit you again."

"He did it first."

"That's enough Arianna," Marian chided.

"Yeah, and you blamed me," Luc said.

"Luc," Marian said warningly, still holding a tearful Ash. She looked over at Giselle and Selene, who, along with the two small Eyriens, looked completely bewildered. "Don't worry, they've stopped," she said to them soothingly. Selene nodded, eyes wide. Marian sighed.

"Right. Who wants to play a game?" She asked, trying desperately to change the subject. The idea met a chorus of deafening yells. She winced. "How about…lets see, how does 'pass the parcel' sound?"

"Yay!"

"I love pass the parcel!"

"Oh, I hate it…"

"I'm going to win!"

The last one was announced by a very confident looking Luc. Marian smiled. "Don't get your hopes up sweetheart." She looked at Ash who had his thumb firmly in his mouth. "Do you want to play Ash?" She asked. He shook his head firmly, casting a hateful glare at Arianna. "Ok, then you can sit with me, how does that sound?" He nodded.

The game passed pretty uneventfully until there was a shriek from Lilian. She dropped the paper she was holding and scrambled to her feet. That was soon followed by an even louder yell from Giselle and Selene who both leapt aside.

"A spider!'

"Ugh!"

"I love spiders!" (Thalovar)

"I hate spiders…" (Arianna, shuddering)

"Ooh, give it here…"

"Lucivar!" Marian yelled.

Moments later Lucivar poked his head around the door, looking slightly sheepish. "Yes?"

"Did you put a spider in the paper?" She asked sternly, Ash on one hip, hand on the other.

"Umm, well, I could have…" he trailed off beneath her glare.

"You can sort this mess out then," she replied, handing him a bemused Ash and striding out the door in the direction of the kitchen. Lucivar took one look at the gaggle of terrified and excited children and groaned.

Ash tugged his black hair. "'m 'ungry," he mumbled around his thumb.

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After an almighty struggle to get the children settled down again, Lucivar was in a terrible temper. So when Marian came back in to announce that it was time to eat, she was startled to see them all sitting there in absolute silence.

"What in Hell's name happened here?" She demanded incredulously.

There nearest child – Selene – whispered conspiratorially, "'S a game."

"Oh." Marian looked suspiciously at her husband. "And what game could that be?"

"Shh! We 'ave to be quiet!" Selene replied in hushed tones, looking very serious about the whole business. "Ovverwise, we won't get any cake."

Marian rolled her eyes. Striding over to her husband who had a grim look of satisfaction on his face, she hissed, "It's not a very good game Lucivar."

He looked mildly surprised. "They're quiet though."

"The words 'children's birthday party' don't know the meaning of quiet," she said.

"Still, it worked. Eight silent children. Quite an achievement."

Marian glared at him. "Alright," she announced. "I think you've had enough of that game."

All eight glanced at each other but said nothing. Marian's eyebrows raised. "You told them not to look at each other too?"

Lucivar shrugged. "Seemed like a good idea at the time."

"So did marrying you," she grumbled. "Well, if you're hungry…" She said to the children.

Eight small figures jumped to their feet, then immediately began complaining of stiff legs and arms. Selene actually toppled over. "How long did you have them like that for?" Marian demanded. Lucivar opened his mouth, but she shook her head. "Then again, I don't think I want to know."

"Yay! Food!" Daemonar yelled gleefully before running full-out towards the kitchen. The others followed.

"I think you might need to go and start moving some of that snow," Marian remarked, picking up bits of discarded coloured paper. "It's getting heavy out there."

Lucivar groaned. Again.

"It'll make up for having them sit there like that," she retorted.

Lucivar actually managed to look embarrassed. "Sorry about that," he said.

Marian chuckled. "It's alright, love. They'll survive." She kissed him quickly on the lips. "Now go and get shovelling."

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For small children they could certainly eat a lot, Marian concluded as she watched the eight of them devour everything in front of them. Finally they had eaten as much of the sandwiches and pies as they could manage.

"Shall we have the cake now?" She asked, clearing away the plates using Craft. Eight little voices yelled their agreement; she grinned.

: Lucivar: She sent. :Cake time:

She set out clean plates for the cake before producing the chocolate masterpiece itself. There were several admiring "Oohs" and "Ahhs." "Does everyone want some?" Eight nods. "Are you ready to blow out the candles?" She asked Daemonar. He nodded, eyes wide with anticipation.

They had all just started eating the cake when the door flew open and a shirt-less Lucivar strode in. Marian's eyebrows rose appreciatively; Arianna blushed; Daemonar rolled his eyes; Luc ignored him completely; Lilian dropped her piece of cake on the floor; Giselle missed her mouth; Thalovar started to choke on his piece; Ash carried on eating and Selene burst into tears.

Lucivar looked down at his glistening chest. "Oh. Mother Night." Turning around he called in a spare shirt and began buttoning it up. "Sorry about that."

Marian was too busy trying to give Thalovar a glass of water as well as calm Selene down to answer. Lucivar ran his hand through his hair. "I never realized I had that kind of effect on people," he said with a grin.

"You don't," Marian retorted. "Now could you please pick up Lilian's cake and wipe Giselle's face? She's managed to get it everywhere."

Lucivar did what she told him. When everything was sorted out again, he pulled Marian aside. "Daemon just told me that he and Jaenelle are going to be stuck in Amdarh, so they can't get back to pick Giselle up."

"Oh, wonderful."

"And Khary and Morghann are kind of stranded too."

"Mother Night." Marian rubbed her face. "What are we going to do?"

"Keep them here?"

"What, both of them?"

"We can't do anything else."

:Marian? Lucivar:

:Gabrielle:

:Look, I'm really sorry, but it doesn't look as if I'll be able to come and pick Luc and Ash up. The snow's so heavy we more or less unable to travel. Is there any chance they could stay with you for the night:

Lucivar groaned but Marian gave a mental nod. : Of course. Selene and Giselle are staying her too, since Morghann and Jaenelle can't get up here to pick them up.:

:I'm really sorry; I didn't mean for this to happen.:

:Don't worry. Looking after a gaggle of excitable children will be no problem: Lucivar remarked dryly. :No need to be concerned for us:

Gabrielle laughed, but sounded apologetic. :We'll be here first thing in the morning. I hope you enjoy the rest of the party:

:Oh, we will.: The conversation ended.

Lucivar looked at Marian. "I don't believe it."

"Nor do I," she replied despondently. "Do you think we should contact Kalush and Aaron? And Lilian and Thalovar's parents too – just to see if they can make it or not?"

"I suppose so," he sighed. "I just hope they can."

Several minutes later Marian turned back to her husband apologetically shaking her head. Luicvar stared. "You're kidding."

"No. They can't make it either."

"Oh…" Lucivar's swearing was particularly creative.

Marian frowned at him. "Swearing isn't going to make anything better Lucivar," she remarked.

"It makes me feel better," he snapped. "I don't believe it. I'm going to be stuck her with eight little children. I know the eyrie's big, but it's not that big."

"I know."

"It was your idea in the first place," Lucivar said accusingly.

"What? Don't you dare start blaming me, Lucivar Yaslana. You agreed to the party too."

"Yes, but it was your idea."

"Do you want me to kick you?"

"No."

"Then shut up."

They were silent for several moments. Finally they looked at each other, despair written on their faces.

"What in Hell's name are we going to do?"

A/N: Poor Marian and Lucivar! What are they going to do? Send me lots of reviews, and I might be persuaded to tell you! Lyradaemon x