They quickly settled into their new routine, Tabitha and Dante happy and content with Kunikida living with them. They still saw Chuuya once every few months, Dazai was pleased that Chuuya was true to his word, he was always early, and never overstepping the role he had decided to take in his children's life. It also allowed Dazai and Kunikida to have some time alone as a couple, they went on their first proper date, Dazai surprising Kunikida with a trip to a fancy, expensive restaurant.

Their lives together couldn't have been happier.

It put Dazai on edge, like something big was going to happen soon, he talked to his therapist about it, and it helped alleviate his fears for a short while, but it was always in the back of his mind.

Tabitha and Dante hadn't long turned nine, and they were once again joining Dazai and Kunikida at work for the summer holidays. Dazai had treated Tabitha and Dante to lunch at the café and they were making their way upstairs to the Agency, Tabitha and Dante racing each other to see who could reach the Agency floor first, Dazai following behind them. As they almost reached the top Dante tripped on the last step, and bruised and cut his knee, the shorts he was wearing not covering the area.

He screamed. Dazai run up to help him, grabbing a tissue to stem the blood, as he tried to calm Dante who was crying and wailing. Tabitha watched from the side of Dazai.

"It's alright, it's just a small cut," Dazai tried to reassure him, he leant forward and kissed the tissue, "see I've just kissed it all better."

"No good! I want Papa!"

"Papa? Is that an imaginary friend I haven't met yet?" Dazai asked confused, making a show of looking around for this mystery 'papa'

"Nooooo" Dante wailed and cried even harder. The door to the agency burst open, Kunikida running out holding a first aid kit, as the others watched from the doorway.

"Sorry couldn't find it," he explained

"Papa!" Dante's tears started to slow as he caught sight of Kunikida. Kunikida quickly cleaned and placed a plaster on the cut making a big show of kissing the cut better. Content her brother was alright Tabitha ran on to the agency office, Dante not letting go of Kunikida, as Dazai put the first aid kit back together, and followed, muttering something about needing the toilet as he entered the agency.

He pushed opened the door to the bathroom, leaning against the sinks as he tried to stop the tears, lost in his thoughts he jumped when he heard the toilet flush. Yosano equally surprised to see Dazai when she stepped out, she washed her hands then caught sight of Dazai's teary eyes.

"Is everything alright? I heard the scream but you didn't sound scared so I thought Dante was okay."

"He is," Dazai sniffled, "just a scratch, but Dante is my little drama queen," Dazai tried to smile, but the tears started again, he continued in a low voice, "he called Kunikida 'Papa', they've always called him 'Kuni-kun', I've never encouraged them to call him anything other than his name, of course they knew they had the option, but I didn't want to force that sort of parental bond with them" Dazai's voice trailed off as he buried his head in his hands, not able to stop the tears.

"I'll go get Kunikida" Yosano knew this was beyond her ability to deal with.

A few minutes later Kunikida pushed open the door to the bathroom.

"Dazai? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," sniffle, "these are happy tears."

Kunikida pulled Dazai in for a cwtch

"Dante called you 'Papa'" he murmured into Kunikida's chest.

"He's never done that before."

"I thought it was an imaginary friend," Dazai laughed

"I like being called Papa, Kuni-kun is great to, but I never expected them to call me Papa" Kunikida's voice was wavering as the moment sunk in. After taking in the look of joy on Kunikida's face, Dazai pulled him in for a kiss.

"Neither did I, that's what threw me off," Dazai laughed, his tears finally stopped.

"Take a moment to calm, I'll go back and join us when you're ready."

"Okay" Dazai sniffled.

Following that day Dante alternated between Papa and Kuni-kun for Kunikida. Dazai didn't think Tabitha was going to join her brother in the use of Papa, which was fine, it was her choice.

It was almost a month later and Tabitha was inconsolable,

"Sweetie, you can go to bed without sheepy for tonight? I'm sure we'll find him soon."

"Sheepy will be lonely if he doesn't have company for bed tonight" she wailed.

Dazai sighed, he had spent the whole day looking for the stuffed sheep, the same one Chuuya had bought when they were a month old, whilst Kunikida took them to the park and kept them occupied, but toy was nowhere to be found.

"I'm sure sheepy is on an adventure with his friends, and he'll be back soon to tell you all about his adventures." Dazai tried to reassure her.

"But it's bedtime sheepy's always here for bedtime." She sniffled as the tears continued to fall. Dazai was at a loss, no other tou would do, and the one she wanted had disappeared. Kunikida entered the room, his hands behind his back,

"Guess who I found?" he moved his hand to the front and in it, was the sheep.

Tabitha squealed, snatching the sheep, "Thank you Papa!" she grinned then cwtched Kunikida.

"Silly Sheepy going on such a late adventure, you're lucky Papa found you." Tabitha told the teddy. Dazai almost started tearing up at the interaction, but managed to hold himself together until their bedtime rituals were done. With the children tucked into bed, Dazai and Kunikida fell into their own bed.

"You saved our night Kunikida, where did you find it?" Dazai asked

"Well… it's a small toy…"

"You cheat" Dazai laughed

"It worked, I'm just sorry I didn't think of it sooner,"

"I love you Doppo" Dazai kissed him. It wasn't the first time he had said it, but it felt different, as Dazai had realised the big thing he'd been expecting to happen, was going to come from him.

"Love you to"

A week later, Kunikida was out for the afternoon and Dazai was alone with his children, they were in the living room and Dazai couldn't stop fidgeting.

"Is everything alright Dada?" Tabitha asked.

"Yes, I have a question for you two." He told them pausing the movie they had been watching. "I know our family has changed over the last few years, and I want your opinions on a decision that will affect all of us."

"Is Papa Kuni leaving us?" Dante asked, concern in his voice

"No, no, no, nothing bad like that." Dazai took a deep breath, "I want to ask Kunikida to marry me, if he says yes that means he'll be a permanent part of our family. But if you two aren't ready for that, I'll wait, until we're all happy about that decision."

"He'd be ours forever and ever?" Tabitha asked

"If he says yes, then he will be."

"Will there be a wedding?" Dante asked

"With cake?"

"Hang on, are you two happy if Kunikida and I get engaged?"

"Yes!" Tabitha and Dante yelled together

"Then yes, there will, hopefully be a wedding and a cake, but you two can't say a peep of this to Kunikida, okay?"

They nodded.

Not trusting his children to keep a secret, Dazai proposed to Kunikida that very night, in the kitchen after they finished their dinner. It wasn't the grand gesture he'd wanted but the surprise and joy on Kunikida's face was worth it.