The sound of childish screaming caused Santana to stop from where she was looking over the various documents. She should feel jealous of the fact that her husband was currently enjoying his time with their children, but she enjoyed her work. She had finally managed to convince Russell to put Charlie in charge of half of the empire. It was the perfect chance to test her theories, on how to increase the wealth in the empire and hopefully put an end to any of the rebellions that would pop up. A banking institution had been set up, to centralize the government, she had reformed the tax code to be fairer to the poor and had started to fund the maintenance of highways to keep the flow of trade going.
She had made more than a few mistakes, and despite the fact that her husband had no interest in governing, he had sat with her and helped her think of ideas on how to make it better. Now she was working on the next great piece of legislation.
There's another childish scream and Santana puts down her pen and decides it's the perfect time to take a break, if only so she could make sure that her husband wasn't trying to get their children into trouble. She heads to the window and looks down into the courtyard and her eyes widen at her daughter who was covered head to toe in a thick coat of mud. Charlie instead of being scandalized seemed to be laughing at her current situation.
Perhaps she had spent to much time on fixing the empire, because her daughter was quickly turning into a miniature version of her father. It was the perfect time for a break as she immediately heads to the courtyard to inform her husband that Isabel was supposed to be in classes, learning. Not outside playing in the mud with her father. The doors to the courtyard open and she swears she sees one of the guards wincing. "Charlie."
Charlie turns to look at his wife, noting the irritated look on her face. "Isabel! Your mother has decided to visit us! Give her a hug."
Santana stops immediately and turns to her five-year-old daughter who was making a beeline towards her. "Isabel! Do not—" It was too late as Isabel ran into her legs tackling her to the ground.
"Mommy! Did you come and play?"
Santana was about to correct her daughter when Charlie flopped down beside her. She gives him a dirty look and promptly smears some mud on his face. "I suppose I can. Shouldn't you be in lessons?"
"You've forgotten to eat again, it's after lunch, we decided she would have lessons in the morning and then she could have afternoons to start her training," Charlie said looking at Santana and shaking his head, she had thrown herself into work and while he was impressed he was worried. The changes were making some of the nobles uneasy and their increased tax burden was not boding well for their current reign, but the people were happy.
"Oh," Santana blinks, "That explains where Alexander is."
"His nap should be over soon," Charlie said with another shake of his head, "You've lost track of the day again Santana."
"The empire—"
Charlie frowned, "The empire is doing fine Santana, your children on the other hand have only me as a parent these days."
Santana blinked, under normal circumstances she would be annoyed by his comment but the wry smile on his face made her laugh, she had spent most of her days drafting ideas, and talking to the various merchants and leaders of the people. They hadn't had sex in what felt like ages and she knew she only saw her children at breakfast and dinner. "That certainly explains the mud," Santana says dryly.
"We're going to play with the horsies!" Isabel explains to her mother.
"Really? Are you ready to choose your first horse?" Santana asks looking at Charlie who nods, at least he hadn't done that without her.
"Yeah! There are—baby horses." Isabel explained to her mother who smiled. "Daddy says I can have one, and I can name it."
"Really?" Santana said nuzzling her daughter, there was no saving her dress.
"Yeah," Isabel said nodding and then looking up, and frowning slightly at her brother, who was toddling beside his nurse who was holding his hand.
"Bel!"
Isabel immediately tries to turn and run as Alexander begins to run towards her, she didn't know why he followed her everywhere. "Look mommy!" Isabel said as Alexander finally stops and turns to his mother and grins at her.
"There's my favorite little man," Santana said holding her arms open for her son, who took a step forward and stopped to sneeze. The sudden explosion of heat caused Santana eyes to widen as the nurse jerks away from him. He was completely engulfed in flames. "Charlie!"
Charlie turns and looks at his son who continued to make his way towards them a ball of flame. A grin appeared on his face. "His powers have come—"
Alexander sneezes again and this time the flames disappear and there is an explosion of ice that flies from his body and he laughs at the funny face his father is making as he nearly slips on the patch of ice.
Santana immediately grabs her son and pulls him towards her, as she looks at the carnage of the garden and the look on Charlie's face. This wouldn't bode well for her. She could already hear the comments now. "Charlie?"
"Daddy?" Isabel said smacking him in the face.
Charlie looked at his son and then Santana for a moment. "You and—Lucas eh?"
Santana rolled her eyes and shoved him, she wasn't going to dignify that with an answer.
Isabel stared at her brother and held her hands out, "Boom!" she shouts and there is an explosion of air and fire flattening the bushes. "Look at what I can do mommy!"
Santana looked at the burning flattened bushes and sighed, "I see Isabel that's impressive isn't it Charlie?"
"Yeah, do you want to see what I can do?" Charlie asks his daughter.
"No," Isabel answers looking at her brother and poking him in the face. Alexander makes a face and smacks her, causing her to raise her hand to smack him back.
"Isabel don't you dare." Santana snaps causing Isabel to stop and scowl. "You're supposed to protect your brother remember?"
"No!" Isabel said her eyes watering a tantrum incoming.
Charlie immediately pulls his daughter away, "Snack time," he announces sufficiently distracting his daughter. He looks at his wife and his son, "We'll talk about this situation later."
Santana shook her head, "You don't actually believe that I would—with Lucas?" Santana scoffs.
"No, but Lucas is going to make fun of me." Charlie points out.
"Ah so this is about your ego," Santana said with a roll of her eyes. "For all we know this is only a phase he's going through. He's your son."
"I know and I love him even if he is yours and Lucas's love child."
Santana gently shoved him again but then takes his hand as they head inside. "Charlie."
"I'm joking, he's too handsome to be Lucas's spawn."
