Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Dark Swan series or anything related to it.
Spoiler Alert: This story contains LOADS of spoilers for all four books. Don't continue reading if you haven't finished the series.
This is a continuation of my story It's Good to be Back. This can probably be read without reading that one, but you should go back and read it anyway.
The first couple of months after I left Isaac and Ivy back in Alabama had been hard for me emotionally, but entirely uneventful as far as death threats and hunting parties were concerned. I had become quite good at managing my time between three kingdoms (the Thorn Land, Rowan Land, and Oak Land), visiting my parents, and occasionally seeing Tim and Lara. The news from the kingdom was all good. The lands had regrown fully and the food stores were almost back to normal. It continued to surprise me how hardy things in the Otherworld were, though I knew it shouldn't. Dorian's lands had finally shifted back into their perpetual state of autumn, a change that was strangely comforting to me. It felt like a sign that things really were settling down.
Roland had received word from Candace twice since I had left. The twins were "growing like weeds" and they were right on time for all of their milestones, according to the books. She was surprised at that, since the doctors had said they may be a little slow in developing, since they were born so prematurely, but I knew better. They were technically 3/4 Gentry. They wouldn't be slow doing anything. This worried me a little. What if they started developing their magic while they were still in Alabama? Candace and Charles knew nothing about their genetics; they thought my children were simply my human children and, for some unknown reason, it was dangerous for them to be around me. I had no idea what gentry children were like, what their growth and development timeline was. I knew that they took much longer to age than a human, but when did that kick in? Would my babies look like babies for too long? How much of my human genetics had they inherited and how would it affect them? I was worried about how long Candace could keep my secret if they started calling up thunderstorms in their terrible twos, or building sand castles on the beach without touching the sand. I had to figure out a way to carefully ask Dorian about gentry children, if he even knew anything about their development. It was unlikely, him being a guy and all, but I couldn't risk asking anyone else. What if they figured out why I was asking? It would be bad enough for Dorian to find out, but for someone to know he was their father before he did… and what if I accidently told that someone something I didn't mean to and they figured out a way to find Ivy and Isaac? I couldn't bare that. Not now, when everything was starting to work out. No. I had to ask Dorian. And soon.
On my last visit to my parents' house Roland had given me a thick envelope from Candace. She was making good on her promise to keep me updated with pictures and notes about the twins. I had nearly ripped the brown paper to pieces as I rushed to see the new images of my children. We all looked over them together; even though I was pretty positive she had made sure Roland and my mother had received a copy of them as well. We double checked each photo carefully to make sure there was no way they could be located by some identifying feature. Once we were sure I packed them safely in my bag, excited about showing them to Dorian later. I hadn't told my parents about sharing the pictures with Dorian, knowing Roland would disapprove implicitly. I had, however, finally caved and told them about the twins' real parentage. I had debated that decision for a long time, but finally decided that in my children's best interest. Roland needed to know so that he could look out for any signs that they were living up to their heritage. Every detail he received from Candace was later scrutinized to make sure that whatever they were doing was strictly human baby behavior.
My mother hadn't exactly been thrilled when I told her about my relationship with Dorian, and considering her history with gentry kings I wasn't surprised. I was, however, floored when Roland came to his defense.
"You know that I feel the same way you do about them," he indicated the Otherworld inhabitants, me excluded, "but I trust Eugenie's judgment and she seems to have made a good choice with this one. He has proven his loyalty to her and that he doesn't want the same thing as the Storm King." My mother cringed at the title my biological father had gained and Roland put his arm around her.
"I'm sure you'd feel different after you met him. One day." I had added. Having Isaac and Ivy had awakened some hidden part of me that yearned for a family. A part of me I had been sure didn't exist. For the first time in my life I was actually seeking my parents' approval for my boyfriend. I felt ridiculous, but I couldn't help fantasizing that one day, one very, very far away day, they would all get along and my children would have a mother and a father who were as stable and loving as the ones I had grown up with. It was an absurd fantasy in the world I lived in, but I couldn't get it out of my head.
My mother had eventually been convinced that Dorian being their father was actually the better option than Kiyo, who had no qualms about killing me to make sure my son would not be born. I was sure that his opinions would not have changed if he really had been the father. His loyalty to Maiwenn and her cause was too strong for even blood to break. Even though my mother and Roland had accepted my choice to continue my relationship with Dorian, I still didn't want to push it. I decided that they really didn't need to know the depths of Dorian's interest in the twins, or the depths of my indulgence.
I know it's a bit of a slow start, but details are important. Don't worry, the next chapter will be up soon and much more interesting. I promise. Please R&R