Domestic Bliss, by lyradaemon
Chapter 2: Any Ideas?
A/N: I AM SO SORRY that I haven't updated this in 2 months: I was so caught up in exams I didn't have the time, and since I've been home I haven't really been up to writing anything. BUT: I have a few ideas for my other fics, as well as this one, so I should be updating relatively frequently now.
"What in Hell's name are we going to do?"
"I have no idea."
"We've got to keep them busy."
"How?"
"I don't know!"
"You're the mother around here – do something!"
"It's not up to me to do anything!"
"Yes it is! They're children. You're meant to know how to handle them!"
Marian glared at her husband. "This is as much your job as it is mine, Yaslana. Now think."
Lucivar returned the glare but began thinking. Hard. They stood there for several minutes, both of them lost in thought, before Lucivar suddenly gave a whoop of joy. "I've got it! We could give them a sleeping draft to send them to sleep until tomorrow-"
He was cut off by a smack on the arm. "Don't be so ridiculous Lucivar! You can't drug them."
"Well let's hear your brilliant ideas then." He folded his arms and raised and eyebrow expectantly.
Marian frowned. "We could play some more games…"
"And watch them bicker amongst themselves again? Don't think so."
Pause.
"Make something?"
"They'd burn the place down."
"Umm…cook something?"
Glare.
"Ok…read a story?"
"If you can find a book long enough to keep them occupied."
Silence again.
Marian gazed out the window seeking some divine inspiration when it suddenly hit her. "That's it!"
"What's it?"
"The snow! They could play in the snow!" Marian turned to Lucivar, eyes bright. "All we have to do is wrap them up warmly and let them loose. They'll wear themselves out, then they'll sleep so soundly tonight we won't be disturbed."
Lucivar's grinned slyly, "what a wonderful idea…"
She smacked him gently on chest. "I wasn't thinking about that," she chided but with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Although now that I think about it…" She leaned forward and kissed him sweetly. An arm snuck around her waist and pulled her closer. "We should probably go and get them ready," she began slightly breathlessly as Lucivar's lips trailed down her neck. "Lucivar…"
He pulled back and grinned at her. "I suppose you're right. As usual."
-------------------------------------------------------
"Yay! Snow!"
"I love snow!"
"I hate snow!"
"No you don't!"
"Do too: you get all wet and-"
"Shut up Arianna."
"Don't tell me to shut up-"
Marian held up her hands. "All of you just be quiet or you're not going anywhere." Eight pairs looked at her, startled. She surpressed a chuckle. "Now, do all of you have your coats and hats on?" Eight nods. "Mittens?" Seven nods and a frown.
"Mine don't have any fingers."
"They're not supposed to Selene darling."
"Oh."
"Are you coming too Mama?" That from Daemonar.
"Papa and I will be outside to make sure you don't get hurt," Marian replied.
"Will you join our snowball fight?"
Marian blinked. "We'll see."
Just then Lucivar appeared, wearing a thick jumper, gloves and hat. "Ready?"
"Lucivar you're not going out in that." (A/N: how many times have I heard that?)
Lucivar looked down at himself, slightly bewildered. "Why not?"
"It's freezing outside! You need a coat." Marian placed her hands on her hips sternly. "Go and get one."
"But-"
"Go Lucivar."
"Yes mother," he replied meekly and went off in search of a coat.
Marian turned back to the gaggle of scarves and woolly hats. "Right. Are you ready?" They all nodded their agreement, hopping up and down in excitement. "Out you all go then!" She flung wide the Eyrie door and the herd of little children threw itself outside without another thought. Marian closed her eyes and whispered, "May the Darkness be merciful," before following them out.
Snow flew in great lumps through the air, proceeded by whoops of delight and resulting in cries of dismay. Marian had to duck and sidestep some wayward snowballs flung wildly into the ever-increasingly dark sky. Suddenly one hit her square in the face and she gasped at the icy cold, pawing it out of her eyes. A deep laugh gave the perpetrator away.
"LUCIVAR!" She yelled after her husband. Grabbing handfuls of snow in her gloved fists she ran after him. "I'm going to get you for that!"
The two of them ran through the children, knocking more than one of them over as they went. Lucivar always remained ahead, pausing only to hurl more snow at his outraged wife who never quite managed to catch him. Eventually he stopped and Marian, not realizing, barrelled into him, knocking them both to the ground. With an Eyrien war-cry which startled Lucivar, she proceeded to pound him with snow, all the while spitting curses at him which made even him blush. Lucivar finally managed to grab her wrists, halting the barrage of snowballs and grinned up at her. "Had enough?"
She tried to free her hands but it was no use. "Not nearly enough…" she panted breathlessly, struggling against his tight grip. "Let go of me!"
"I don't think so," he chuckled, then tilted his head up to kiss her. Startled Marian relaxed and Lucivar quickly let go of her wrists, instead wrapping his arms around her. Deepening the kiss somewhat he reached on hand inside the warm layers of clothing and stroked her skin, causing her to gasp in surprise. "Lucivar…"
"What are they…?
"Eww!"
"That's gross."
Marian's head shot up to see the children standing a few feet away. Daemonar rolled his eyes, embarrassed at his parents' outrageous display of affection. "Oh. Your father and I…we were just…" She trailed off and looked at Lucivar for help. He just grinned. Huffing about 'men' she hauled herself to her feet, dusting off the snow. "Why aren't you children playing?"
"'S too cold."
"No it's not; you've only been out here for fifteen minutes."
"Is too." (A/N: my mum made me play in the snow with my brothers on boxing day in Canada when it was -25C. The conversation went something like that.)
Marian sighed. This wasn't quite going to plan. "So you want to go in?" They nodded. "Fine…"
They (and Lucivar) trailed after her back to the Eyrie. She ushered them in before closing the door behind them. "Get undressed and then I think it's time for bed. It's been a busy day for all of you. I'll bring in some hot chocolate, but only if you're ready in time." They all rushed of amid excited shouts and Marian turned to Lucivar. "So. What are we-"
A look of horror crossed Lucivar's face. "Where are they going to sleep?"
Marian's hand flew to her mouth. "Mother Night! I'd completely forgotten about that." She paused thinking. "We've got some spare blankets somewhere…" Her voice trailed off as a huge pile of thick, fleecy blankets and fluffy pillows appeared in the middle of the hall. She looked at Lucivar, smiling delightedly. "I love being married to an Ebon-Gray Warlord Prince sometimes."
Lucivar cocked an eyebrow. "Don't you mean all the time?"
"Mmm," was his only reply as Marian scooped up some blankets and pillows and headed off to the big sitting room with them. Lucivar looked at the rest, then at his struggling wife, shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to follow her with the bundle floating along behind him. "Cheat," Marian muttered as she noticed what he'd done.
Within moments the little ones came running back in, dressed in pyjamas (Lucivar, while searching for a coat, had somehow had the wonderful idea of calling in seven pairs of night-wear. Who said husbands don't have common sense?) and they promptly stopped when they saw the heap of bedding on the floor.
Daemonar was the first to speak. "We're having a sleepover?" He asked, golden eyes wide. Marian nodded with a smile. "Yipee!" He shouted an threw himself onto it all. "I've always wanted a sleepover!"
"Wow!"
"Ooh, this is going to be fun!"
"I want to be next to Daemonar."
"I said so first!"
"No you didn't."
"Did too!"
"Oh hush the lot of you," Lucivar said sternly. They all gulped. "Just take some blankets and a pillow, find a space and lie down. Then you'll all be next to Daemonar." He ignored his wife's baffled look. "Now you can have your hot chocolate and then it's bed." Eight small mugs of cocoa appeared in their hands and were promptly drunk reasonably quickly since they weren't all that hot (Daemonar having burnt his mouth on countless occasions). When they finished the mugs disappeared and eight suddenly drowsy little persons snuggled down under the warm covers.
"Ready to go to sleep then?"
"Mmf."
"I'll take that as a yes then. Goodnight all of you."
As Marian and Lucivar left they could already hear quiet snores coming from the sleeping children. Making their way to their own room, Marian commented, "You put something in the cocoa didn't you?"
"Maybe."
She worked her fingers into his. "Brilliant idea."
Lucivar chuckled. "I thought so too." He opened the door and let Marian go through first. "Because now we have all the time to ourselves."
THE END
A/N: There you have it. I'm sorry if that chapter's a bit disappointing, but I am rather rusty on the whole writing front. Still, I hope you enjoyed it anyway – let me know what you think! (By the way: keep an eye on 'Sapphire' as I should be updating any day now…)
Love lyradaemon x
