Forever with Family

by Carven Ridge

While Chise is recovering, Elias takes the role of both mother and father. Takes place after the birth of Emma and Evelynn. Chise’s recovery is complete and she and Ruth hurry home. They returned in regular time where it was 4 months later. Elias and Chise reunite. Story of their lives as parents and a family.

10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Elias woke up to find his lovely red-haired clinging to him. She kissed his snout as she laid eyes on him. He nuzzled her nose and sat up in the bed looking at her.

Chise: "Last night was great." (giggles)

Elias: "Yes it was. Speaking of that, we need to talk."

Chise: "What is it?"

Elias: "The girls. They snuck out of the house thanks to the Ariels."

Chise: "Wait. What?!"

Elias: "Shh! They are still sleeping. Yes, they were trying to do what they did to you."

Chise: "I don't believe this... That was too dangerous Elias."

Elias: "I agree completely. But they are like you in every way Chise. They didn't go with them. The Ariels told them what I did to Stella."

Chise: "Oh…..Elias…. Are they mad?"

Elias: "Quite the opposite. They defended me."

Chise: "I'm glad." (kisses him) "We have very well-thought-of girls."

Elias: "Yes we do. They are still getting a scolding though."

Chise: "OH! Most definitely!"

When they finished with their breakfast, they brought the girls in the living room to talked.

Chise: "I heard from Daddy that you two had a little adventure last night."

Evelynn: "Yeah those sneaky bugs tricked us."

Emma: "We're sorry Mommy."

Evelynn: "Yeah. Sorry Mom."

Chise: "Okay look. I was worried when Daddy told me you left the house."

Elias: "Very."

Chise: "I mean that's something a teenager should do. And you two are 7 years from doing that."

Elias: "She should know. She did the same thing."

Chise: "Not helping."

Elias: (chuckles)

Ruth: (snickers)

Chise: "And you be quiet."

Emma: "You did that Mom?"

Evelynn: "You snuck out? Cool."

Elias and Chise: "Don't be cute."

Evelynn: "Sorry.."

Chise: "Daddy also told me that you stood up for him when the Ariels tried to take you. I'm proud of you."

Elias: "I agree. That was very honorable of both of you. And you didn't go with them. You knew your place was with us."

Emma and Evelynn: "Mhm."

Chise: "But that doesn't mean what you did was wrong. Your intentions to stick up for your dad was pure but that doesn't mean you're not off punishment. We have to ground you two."

Emma and Evelynn: "Aw!"

Elias: "I've been wondering what that meant. Evelynn mentioned it last night."

Evelynn: "Dad doesn't know what grounded means."

Chise: (whispers in his skull)

Elias: "Oh! That's what that means."

Chise: "Mhm."

Elias: "So it's like scolding."

Chise: "Yeah. Better than scolding."

Elias: "O…kay we're grounding you."

Chise: "That's right. You're both grounded for…"

Elias: "A day. Starting today."

Chise: "A day?!"

Elias: "A day. What?"

Chise: "When a kid gets into trouble, the parents ground them for more than a day."

Elias: "Oh! Okay. You're grounded for…..2 days."

Chise: (almost fell over) "Okay. Yeah. Sure. 2 days. No fruit snacks. No dessert after dinner."

Emma: "Aw. No."

Evelynn: "No candy?!"

Chise: "Nope."

Evelynn: "Aw!"

Emma: "Okay.."

Chise: "They also do chores."

Elias: "Oh? Hmm…."

Chise: "Go…..clean your room."

Emma: "Couldn't we do that later?"

Evelynn: "Please Dad? Later?"

Elias: (chuckles) "No. March."

Evelynn: (groans) "K. Come on Emma.."

Chise: "Two days? Really?"

Elias: "I am new at this. I never grounded our kids before."

Chise: "I see." (kisses skull)

Ruth: "You two are definitely Parents of the Month." (laughs)

Chise: "Oh…..shut up."

Ruth: (laughs)

---

Well those two days passed in an instant. Elias put cloaks on the girls for a trip to the grocery store. Chise was in the garden with Silver and Ruth. He transformed into is glamour and off they went with the list and bag.

Evelynn: "Dad?"

Elias: "Hmm?"

Evelynn: "How come you look like that when going out?"

Elias: "Daddy would look very suspicious if they saw my real face. It's sort of like blending in with people."

Emma: "So people don't know what you look like?"

Elias: "Some do. Like our friends. Angie, Alice, Stella, and the people at the College."

Emma: "What about Grandpa Yuuki?"

Elias: (nervous) "No. He doesn't know. And Mommy wants to keep it that way."

When they got off the train, the same presence watched them go to the shopping district. The 3 eyed creepy grin figure transformed into an attractive woman with an evil grin.

Mystery Woman: "You don't like the cold huh Thorn? We shall see."

Elias: "Don't separate. Evelynn hold Emma's hand."

Evelynn: "K." (grabs her hand)

Emma: "Where do we go first Dad?"

Elias: "Hmm…. First we need to get fruit. Strawberries, grapes, apples…."

Evelynn: "We grow flowers. Why we can't grow fruit."

Elias: "That is a good question. Maybe we should be frugal about that."

Evelynn: "What that mean?"

Elias: "It means growing them instead of buying them."

Emma: "Look Dad. Juice."

Elias: "Those are samples."

Evelynn: "Can we get some?"

Emma and Evelynn: "PLEEEEEEEEAAAASSEEEE!"

Elias: "Okay okay. We will."

The man gave all three of them a cup and they drunk it pretty fast. Evelynn wanted more. That made Elias shake his head. He turned and just like that, he accidentally spilled juice on the mystery woman.

Elias: "I am so sorry! I didn't see you!"

Mystery Woman: "No problem. It was my fault. Oh dear I dropped my items."

Elias: "Allow me."

Emma: "Let's help."

The girls pick up her food. One can fell by her foot and Emma picked it up. When she did, her hand brushed off the woman's leg. She got a chilling feeling going down her back. The woman kept looking at Elias in a seductive way. As she picks up the items, she purposely brushed her hand on his. That shocked him, and he completely pulled it away. It made him feel uncomfortable.

Elias: "Uh…it seems you have everything. Thank you, girls, for helping her." (backs away)

Mystery Woman: "I really am sorry. Is there a way I can make it up to you?" (gets closer)

Elias: "Ahem. No…there isn't-" (bumps into cans)

Mystery Woman: "I insist. How about a cup of coffee or lunch?" (gets in his face)

Elias: Too close! "No thank you. I'm married."

Mystery Woman: "Aw that's a shame. Good-looking man like you. Must have all the women chasing you."

Elias: "Again. I'm married."

Mystery Woman: "There's no need to be shy. I don't bite."

Elias: "You positive about that?"

Mystery Woman: (slutty) "Why don't you pinch me to be sure. OW!"

Elias looked at her rubbing her knee. Emma saw Evelynn kick her in the knee. They were not liking this lady not one bit.

Evelynn: "Sorry. I thought you said kick."

Elias: "I'm so sorry. Evelynn….(whispers) thank you."

Evelynn: (cute snickering)

Elias: "We must be off. Come on girls."

Mystery Woman: (in pain) "Those little brats…" (disappears)

Elias and the girls quickly left the fruit section to make sure they lost her.

Elias: "That woman was coming on too strong."

Emma: "…mmm…"

Evelynn: "Dad. She was flirting with you."

Elias: "Flirting?"

Evelynn: "Yeah."

Elias: "Well you two have nothing to worry about. Because I love your mother. Okay?"

Evelynn: "Okay."

Elias: "Okay Emma? Emma?"

Emma: "Hmm?"

Elias: "What's wrong?"

Emma: "That lady….. She felt like sand and she felt malicious."

Evelynn: "How do you know what people feel?"

Emma: "I guess I sorta feel their aura."

Elias: "Well I never seen her before."

On the train ride home, Elias was trying to stop the girls from eating the snacks he bought for them. They had no clue that they were being watched. When they got home, the girls ran to give Chise a hug.

Chise: "Hey. You had a good time?"

Evelynn: "Sure did."

Emma: "We got snacks."

Chise: "No eating those before dinner. What about you? Did you get the fru-"

Elias gave her a deep kiss. It was surprising for her. It came out of nowhere. She was somewhat flattered by it. It felt wanting and warm and it made her weak in the knees.

Elias: "It's you want. No one else."

Chise: "Hey what brought this on?"

Evelynn: "A lady was flirting with Dad and I kicked her in the knee."

Chise: "You did what?"

Emma: "She wanted Dad."

Elias: "It's fine. I just want you to know that I love you so much. I would never hurt you that way."

Chise: "I know that."

Elias: "I'm glad." (kisses her deeply)

The twins giggled as they dashed into the kitchen while their parents continued to kiss passionately. Later that day, while playing outside with Ruth, Emma stayed under the tree still thinking about why the woman felt like sand. Ruth and Evelynn came to see if something was troubling her but pushed it aside.

---

One day, the whole family went to the park. When they got there, they saw Alice with her 4-year-old son.

Alice: "Hey guys!"

Emma and Evelynn: "Aunt Alice!" (hugs her)

Alice: "You two are getting so big! Wow! I mean it. You're both getting taller. Well considering how tall your dad is."

Elias: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Alice: "Oh nothing." (wicked smile) "Go play with the twins Will."

Will: "Hi Emma. Hi Evey."

Evelynn: "Let's go play Wilbur!"

Will: "Yeah."

Emma: "Wait for me."

Alice: "Did you tell Bonehead?"

Chise: "No I didn't tell him."

Elias: "Tell me what?"

Chise: "UH! NOTHING!"

Elias: "?"

Alice: "Ugh! Screw this. Hey mage. Does Chise look different to you?"

Elias: "She looks the same. Why?"

Alice: "You know. Does she still look like oh…I don't know, still in her teens?"

Elias: "What are you saying?"

Alice: "Chise still loo-"

Chise: "It's nothing!"

Over next to the slide, Emma, Evelynn, and Will played on the swing. They went as high as they could. When they got higher, they jumped. Emma got tipsy but landed on her feet safely, Evelynn landed perfectly, and Will landed on his foot but lost his balance and fell. He started to cry. The adults heard that. Alice was about to get up but saw Evelynn picked up Will and wipe the sand off his body. She then grabbed Emma and Will's hand and they sang Ring Around the Rosie.

Alice: "Evelynn is a really good kid isn't she?"

Chise: "Yeah. Sometimes it feels like she's the older twin while Emma is the younger twin."

Elias: "True. Our daughter may be rebellious but when it comes to Emma, she is very caring."

They watched as the kids ran even farther out. When they came to the play set, they saw two girls on the jungle gym.

Evelynn: "Hey."

Girl #1: "Hi."

Girl #2: "What's up."

Will: "Can we play with you?"

Girls: "Sure."

Emma: "I'm Emma. Emma Ainsworth."

Evelynn: "I'm Evelynn Ainsworth."

Girl #2: "Sisters?"

Emma and Evelynn: "Twins."

Evelynn: "This is Wilbur Renfred."

Emma: "Just call him Will."

Skyler: "Nice to meetcha. I'm Skyler."

Emma: "Isn't that a boy's name?"

Skyler: "They were expecting a boy. But it works for girls too."

Brooke: "I'm Brooke."

Evelynn: "Come on let's play."

They played tag for what felt like an hour. Elias, Chise, and Alice watched as the twins tried to get Will to chase after them. He was having a great time.

Alice: "My kid's a bit shy but at least he has the girls to look out for him. Thanks you two."

Chise: "I'm just glad that they get along so well. Just like us."

Alice: "Well some of us."

Chise: "I know right?"

Elias: "I'm still right here."

Chise and Alice: (laughing)

Renfred: "Alice."

Alice: "Hey you. Finally you're back."

Chise: "Good to see you again."

Renfred: "It's been some long. Haven't seen you since their first birthday. …Ainsworth."

Elias: "Renfred."

Renfred: "Your girls are adorable."

Elias: "Thank you."

Renfred: "I would hope they are not causing trouble for my son."

Chise: "Oh no…."

Alice: "Here we go….."

Elias: "And what does that mean?"

Renfred: "If they are like you, he shouldn't be around them."

Elias: "DIE…"

Chise: "Let's not fight."

Alice: "Please don't. We're all parents here."

Elias: "There is nothing wrong with my girls."

Renfred: "Let's keep it that way Bonehead."

Will: "Daddy!"

Renfred: "Hey. Are you having fun?"

Will: "Yeah!"

Alice: "Make nice you two."

Chise: "Don't fight in front of the kids."

Evelynn: "Fighting sounds cool. Put em up!"

Chise: "No fighting for you."

Skyler: "Hi."

Brooke: "Hey."

Elias: "Who are these little girls?"

Emma: "That's Brooke and Skyler."

Chise: "Hello. We're the twins' parents."

Skyler: "You're pretty."

Chise: "Aw thank you."

Brooke: "Our Moms are calling us. Bye."

Skyler: "Bye."

Evelynn: "Wait. Why you leaving?"

Skyler: "We have to go. We have school tomorrow."

Evelynn: "School? What's that?"

Brooke: "Elementary School. We're in the first grade. Bye."

Evelynn: "…..Bye… Elementary School…."

Elias: "Evelynn."

Evelynn: "Hmm?"

Elias: "Let's go home." (takes her hand)

Evelynn: "Mmm…" Elementary School…..

All day, those words were pondering Evelynn. How come she never heard of that from the parents? What's it like? Are there more kids? One day, she drew pictures with Emma. She didn't know what she was drawing. Emma saw a picture of Skyler and Brooke.

Emma: "What's that?"

Evelynn: "Oh. A picture."

Emma: "Pretty. You really can draw Evelynn."

Evelynn: "Yeah?"

Emma: "Let's show Mom."

Evelynn: "Is Dad home yet? I wanna show him too."

Emma: "Mom?"

Chise: "Yeah?"

Evelynn: "Is Dad home yet?"

Chise: "Almost. Not quite. When he gets here, we're having ramen for supper. What's this Evelynn? You drew this?"

Evelynn: "Uh….yeah.."

Chise: "This is really good."

Evelynn: "Thanks Mom."

Chise: "Are these your new friends? What's this question mark here?"

Evelynn: "Elementary School."

Chise: "Oh?"

Evelynn: "Is that a place?"

Chise: "Yes it is."

Elias: "I'm home."

Evelynn: "Dad's home!"

Emma: "Yeah!"

Chise: (laughs) "Go get him!"

The girls ran towards him and he just scooped them up. He twirled them around as they hugged and laughed with him.

Elias: "Hey! Come here." (laughing)

Chise: "Welcome home." (kisses him)

Emma: "Dad. Wanna see the pictures we did?"

Elias: "Pictures?"

Chise: "They were coloring today."

Elias: "Oh."

Emma: "Tada!"

Elias: "Is this me?"

Emma: "Yeah! And Mommy too."

Elias: "Very nice."

Chise: "Look at this one."

Elias: (surprised) "This is yours too Emma?"

Evelynn: "No. Mine."

Elias: "Evelynn… this is incredible. You're really good."

Evelynn: "Thanks."

Emma: "Daddy where do you go every day?"

Elias: "I go to the College."

Emma: "What's that?"

Chise: "It's a school."

Evelynn: "A school?! Really?!"

Elias: "That's right. Sweetie what's with this question mark?"

Chise: "She wants to ask you something."

Evelynn: "Uh well."

Elias: "Don't be shy." (puts them down)

Evelynn: "Dad what's an elementary school?"

Elias: "Uh….well…."

Chise: "It's like the College only for little kids."

Elias: "Oh!"

Evelynn: "It's a school isn't?"

Elias: "It would seem s-"

Evelynn: "How come me and Emma don't get to go?"

Chise: "Well it's just... you're both reall-…."

Evelynn: "I wanna go to school. With our friends."

Chise: "The things is sweetie….."

Elias: "You can't…"

Evelynn: "What?! No way! I wanna!"

Elias: "No baby you can't."

Evelynn: (pouts, lays down)

Elias: "Uh….Evelynn…?"

Chise: "What are you doing?"

Emma: "Sis?"

Evelynn: "IWANNAGOIWANNAGOIWANNAGOIWANNAGOIWANNAGOIWANNAGOIWANNAGOIWANNAGO! NO FAIR! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" (red eyes)

Elias: "Evelynn the answer is no."

Chise: "Sweetie. Don't be a brat."

Evelynn: "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I WANNA GO TO SCHOOL! I WANNA GO TO SCHOOL DAD! I WANNA GO!" (kicking and screaming)

Elias: "Evelynn settle down."

Chise: "Come on Evelynn…."

Emma: (shakes head)

Throughout the whole day, Evelynn put on the poutiest face imaginable. And she was doing it at Elias. Why won't they let me go, she thought to herself. She held on tightly to his leg begging and pleading as he walked around the house. All he did was groan. He just lifts his leg up so that his skull was in her face. And again, he said no. She got down and just pouted some more. After they finished their supper, Evelynn just cried at the table while watching Silver Lady clean up.

Evelynn: (sniffles) "Why can't I go Silver? It's not fair… I just wanna play with Skyler and Brooke…. No fair Dad….."

Silver: (writes note)

Evelynn grabbed the note that she written. She looked at Silver and saw a smile from her. She then continued with the cleaning. She read it and became silent:

Your father is looking out for you and your sister. You two aren't exactly NORMAL like the other children.

Evelynn: (sniffles) "….."

Evelynn looked back at Elias who was sitting in his chair reading one of his books. She cried some more and walked towards him. Elias saw that and just sighed. Here come the tantrums again he thought.

Elias: "Evelynn."

Evelynn: (gets in his lap, hugs him)

Elias: "Hey…"

Evelynn: "I won't change in front of the other kids….. I'll be good. I promise Dad."

Elias: "Baby…."

Evelynn: (sniffs) "I won't show my fangs. Or horns. Or red eyes. Or scales. Or my tail.. Please let us go."

Elias: (sighs, hugs tightly) "Wait. You have a tail?!"

Evelynn: (sniffs, shows tail) "Yes."

Chise: "She really wants to go."

Emma: "I want to go too Dad."

Elias: "Summer vacation starts next week. I'll…..(sighs) I'll think about it."

Emma and Evelynn: (gasps) "YEAH!" (jumps and hugs him, giggles)

Elias: "WOAH! GIRLS! Can't breathe!" (laughs)

Chise: "Girls. Don't choke Daddy."

Elias: "Please let go! You're too big for this!"

The twins just giggled, nuzzled, and kissed him while Chise just laugh. They were not aware that the same mystery woman was leering threateningly at them through the window. With that, she vanished. As Elias helped them in the bed, he nuzzled them good night. He then joined Chise in bed.

Chise: "Still thinking about it I see."

Elias: "It's a lot to think about. I'm just worry about them is all. You know how Evelynn is. She has a temper and she is spirited."

Chise: "She's 6. I was like that at her age."

Elias: "She has a tail."

Chise: "A tail?! Really?!"

Elias: "What if they're seen transforming? Again the temper. I do not recall where she inherit that from."

Chise: "She got it from you."

Elias: "Eh?!"

Chise: "Yep."

Elias: "I believe it was from you."

Chise: (grumbles, laugh)

Elias: (laughs)

Chise: "Well we have till September. Let's just sleep on it for now."

Elias: "Yes. Let's."

They went to bed cuddled in each other's arms still thinking it through. In the girls' room, Emma felt something as she slept. She tossed and turned, breathe heavily, then calmed down. Before she went back to her slumber, she muttered a word.

Emma: "…Ashen…." (sleeps)

Notes: He had better be dead. That trickster...