Warning: Updates will be delayed due to finals. Afterwards, I'll crank out some chapters to make up for it.

Kalista stood outside of Zed's room, sending him a flurry of messages on her communication device. She sighed and leaned against the wall, annoyed that she had to deal with all of the kids. She relaxed her arms, exasperated that they were her responsibility at the moment. She knew she would have to entertain them, as their attention spans were quite low. Luckily she heard footsteps. Zed? She asked, turning her head around to find Aatrox instead.

"I've been looking everywhere for Zed. Have you seen him?" he queried.

Kalista shook her head. "I haven't seen him at all."

The kids seemed kind of alarmed. They were also disappointed because Zed was their favorite, and undoubtedly the best with children. Aatrox sighed.

"Come on, let's go to my room. It's basically untouched since I never come here..." Aatrox explained with a bit of a chuckle.

"All right. I'd suggest mine, but it's quite the opposite of yours... I'm pretty bad at cleaning up, to be honest."

"Hey, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses." Aatrox told her, starting to walk. Kalista and the kids followed. She made sure to contact Zed again and tell him they were going to Aatrox's place and that he should meet them there. Along the way, they ran into Kha'Zix and Rengar.

"Hey Kalista and Aatrox!" Rengar exclaimed, walking up and shaking their hands. Kha'Zix just raised his hand and said, "Greetings."

"Hey Rengar and Kha'Zix. How are you two doing?" Aatrox replied.

"Pretty well." Kha'Zix explained. "Also, the League says we can take our kids back, if you want."

"They're great to have, but it'll definitely be great to have a burden off our backs. They're all yours." Kalista nodded. The two kids waved at their previous caretakers, gave a smile, then jumped up and hugged their counterparts. Aatrox and Kalista walked away, laughing as the two hunters were assaulted.

Soon enough, the two and their four kids found themselves at Aatrox's room. He unlocked the door, ushering the kids towards the television. After that, he pulled Kalista to the side.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Kalista looked confused. "Sure, what for?"

Aatrox took a sniff, nodding as if he fully understood something. "I smell blood on you. Care to explain?"

Kalista widened her eyes subtly before replying. "Oh, it's nothing. I accidentally cut myself earlier."

Aatrox looked skeptical. "Mhm. That's why." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Kalista knew Aatrox had her in a corner, but decided to keep staying adamant in hopes he would let off her. Aatrox circled her like a vulture circling their prey. "Are you sure? It's a pretty potent cut, and it..." Aatrox sniffed again. "Doesn't seem to be bandaged or treated." Kalista locked her gaze with Aatrox's, determined to prove her point. This, however, allowed Aatrox to search her eyes for emotion. He opened his mouth to retort when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"This isn't over. I'll find what's up even if it kills me." Aatrox explained, opening the door to find Shen helping Zed walk. Aatrox was about to help Zed too when he was assaulted by the kids, who were absolutely elated to see him. The kids clung to his legs, disappointed he was gone for so long. He ruffled his kid's hair, giving a hearty laugh. "It's good to see you guys again!"

While Zed communicated with the children, Aatrox couldn't help but give a smile. He really has a knack for this, doesn't he? It's very impressive how much of a bond he has made with them in such a short time... Eventually, Kalista shooed the kids back over to the couch while the four sat at a table. "What happened, Zed?" Kalista asked with obvious concern in her voice.

Shen started to answer with, "I let my rage take me over and-" before he was interrupted by Zed. He calmly replied, "Atonement for my sins. It was well-deserved."

Shen gave a sigh. "Zed and I... We used to train together under my father. However, he had a natural bias towards me, due to me being his biological son. Zed, under the pressure of trying to win him over, poked his head around somewhere he shouldn't have. Because of this, the shadows grasped his mind, corrupting it until the League fixed it while still retaining his powers. I didn't realize the pressures he was under and that I was talking to the Zed from my childhood and not the monster he was corrupted into. When he decided to brave up and apologize, the rage from the past flooded my senses and led to some violence. I struck at him and... and he took the brunt of all my attacks. I didn't realize what I did until he was on the floor, blood tainting his clothes. I quickly rushed him to the medical facilities here, but I still feel guilty for doing such a crude thing."

Zed smiled. "I'm pretty sure we've all fucked up at least once in our life, right? After all, we're not on this side of the League for no reason..." His statement was greeted with unanimous nods around the table."

"So are your injuries healed?" Aatrox queried.

"Yeah, for the most part. The magic they've harnessed is pretty potent, to be honest."

"Does it still hurt at all?" Kalista asked.

"To be honest, my head still kind of hurts, and there's a dull pain in my stomach, but it's not unbearable. Magic only heals the physical wounds," Zed replied.

The group talked for roughly an hour before Shen left, leaving the three friends to chat. Eventually, Aatrox decided he had to get some rest.

"I'm going to go to sleep. I'd suggest you guys leave," Aatrox said, bluntly stating his point.

Zed laughed at Aatrox's routine behavior. "Yeah, yeah, we're leaving. Let's go, Kalista."

And with that, the two left Aatrox's room. He started to walk to his bedroom when he saw the kids asleep on the couch.

Shit. I forgot to hand them off.

This is going to be a rough morning for me... Aatrox thought, the potential mishaps that could occur racing through his mind at a million miles per hour. He pushed the thoughts away, deciding he would be able to deal with them more easily after a long night of rest.