Aro smiled down at the toddler in his arms. It was hard to believe that a year had passed already. "Hi Hazel," he cooed. The dark haired girl smiled shyly up at him. "Daddy!" She said, watching his face light up like a beacon. She loved to make her daddy smile.
Aro's study once was filled with books and all manners of other important stuff, but that was long since pushed aside. Now it was filled with cute little stuffed toys and blankets, even a small bed for naps. He had to admit, having children really did give him a warm, fuzzy, kind of lighthearted feeling. He sighed happily, rubbing Hazel's back until she fell asleep.
Callie poked her head into his study. "Hey Da!" He motion for her to be quiet and her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm going out with Cai and Dora, ok?" He nodded and she disappeared.
Callie had grown more over the last year than anybody expected. She had stopped growing at the child's age of six, but mentally and physically she was eighteen. In three years, she would assume the position of Queen of the guard and probably with her steady partner Demetri.
In three years, the small child in his arms would look and act like a twelve year old. Aro frowned, a deep rumble building in his throat. It seemed too short, but for a hybrid, it is how life was. Hazel moved against him, entangling her tiny hands in his hair. Her favorite pastime, Aro thought. Marcus had found that out the hard way but Aro didn't mind as long as she didn't pull. He let the growl in his throat die out, lest he keep his daughter from her rest.
Marissa didn't even bother to knock, sliding in his office like silk through his fingers. He didn't even notice her come in until he was nearly assaulted by the three year old Gabriel. He smiled down at his son, wondering how he had gotten in his office, until he looked up to see his mate standing there almost expectantly.
He gasped quietly. His senses were failing him; he hadn't even sensed her coming in. She smiled to him, picking up Hazel from his arms.
"Seems like the twins aren't the only one who needs to go to bed." She whispered quietly, Gabriel on her other hip.
"What time is it?" He asked, rising to take at least one of the children from her. She shrugged, moving away from his help.
"Late." She continued on down the hallway, kicking open the door to the twins' room lightly and laying already asleep Hazel down and hyperactive Gabriel down and tucking them in, kissing their foreheads softly. Aro stood in the doorway, embracing his wife tightly once the door had been shut.
"How late is late?"
"Well past anyone's bedtime. It's around two in the morning, Ari." He nodded; no wonder he couldn't focus on anything.
"Why are you still up?" She smiled, kissing his cheek, intertwining their fingers.
"I'm missing a cuddling partner." He chuckled.
"Alright, alright. I'm needed." He murmured, locking the door behind them.
The next morning would come with a wake-up call of their usual diet. It only meant that Callie and the others had had an extremely productive hunt, going after the criminals and werewolves of Volterra and reining in a bountiful group of prey.