Katelyn awoke a few hours later, feeling soreness all over her body. She sat up to look for the babies, looking for the bassinet in the room. After looking around, she realized that they weren't in the room. "Caesar," she said, gently shaking him. "Where are the twins?" Caesar sat up groggily beside her and said, "They were right... here. Maybe our family has them. Let's go check." Katelyn got up quickly, not caring how sore she was, worrying about her babies. She pulled a robe over her nightdress and put slippers on her feet before making her way out of the room. Caesar followed behind her as they walked down the hallway. When they made their way to the living room, they found Kara and Setti holding the twins. "There they are, all safe and sound with their aunt and uncle," Caesar said. "You both had me worried," Katelyn said, taking a sigh of relief in knowing that her babies were okay. "Sorry. We wanted to let you sleep," Kara said. "We didn't want them to disturb you. You won't be getting much sleep in the near future," Setti said. "Thank you both. Where are the others?" "Everyone else turned in for the night. They are all in the guest rooms. We told them we would keep first watch. Actually," she said, pointing towards the door. Eldore strolled into the room in just a sleep shirt and pants, looking the most casual that Katelyn had ever seen him. "Eldore. Let me guess, you had second shift," Caesar asked. He said, "With Yulie, wherever she is." "Right here," Yulie said, coming in from the door on the other side of the room. "Well, Eldore. While the twins are still asleep, I was wondering if I could take a few samples from you? The potion seems to have worked in all my trial runs to reverse aging." Eldore said, "I suppose. Lead the way." Katelyn took Eldore to her small lab.
Inside her lab, Eldore looked around at the many jars filled with liquids, specimens, and powders as she moved to her workstation. "How much research are you doing," Eldore asked. "I've been working on three main projects with a few smaller ones. It may look like a lot, but it is not. This room holds all the research I've worked on so far. I've learned so much since being here." She took out her supplies and asked Eldore to sit. She performed a skin scrape test, took a small punch biopsy, and took a saliva sample from him. She then treated each before letting them run in their different test environments. "Alright. I'm going to let these sit in the solution and run. We will know within the hour if it will work for you." Eldore nodded and said jokingly, "Let's just hope I don't turn into a Direspider from your magic potion." They both walked back to the living room to find Caesar and Yulie talking back and forth. "Alright. My turn with the twins," Katelyn said, holding her arms out. "You both need fed, don't you? Oh yes, you do," Katelyn said in baby talk. She took them back to the bedroom and took off the top of her dress, letting the twins latch on to drink.
As she held them both to her, she marveled at how she had brought the two small bundles in her arms into the world. "I'm so glad to have met your father, Carolina, Vincent. I never thought I would have this, but now, all my dreams have come true." She looked out the window as she cradled her twins, looking up to the moon that was full. She thought back to all the moments that had brought her to where she was now and realized that she really had blossomed. She felt tears fall from her eyes, happy tears, as she thought about her large family. Caesar knocked on the door and said, "Almost done? Wait... are you crying? Are you upset?" "No. I'm so happy. Just a little overly emotional from the hormones." Caesar nodded and walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her. They stayed that way for a while, watching the skies and gardens outside the window. After a little while, the babies were done, just resting against Katelyn's chest. She handed Vincent and Carolina to him, buttoning up her nightdress and pulling her robe back around her. She took Carolina back and said, "Alright. Let's go find Eldore and Yulie. I'm sure they are still waiting on us." The two walked back to the living room to find Eldore and Yulie sitting on the sofas talking.
Yulie saw the babies and said immediately said, "Alright, it's time for them to get Auntie snuggles." Katelyn shook her head, but obliged, handing Carolina to her. Katelyn sat beside her, just watching her baby girl look around, taking in the sights around her. "She is so cute. I can't wait for her to wear some of the baby dresses I got her," Yulie said. She looked over to where Caesar was still holding Vincent and said, "I also brought some adorable outfits for that little man over there. I had a feeling you would have a boy and a girl." "Thanks Yulie. I'll make sure to send pictures to you in my letters so that way you don't miss out on anything," Katelyn said. "Well, you actually won't have to write letters anymore unless you want to. The guy I met lives here in Greede. We've been getting along pretty great so far, and who knows. Maybe we will end up living together." "I'm glad you met someone that makes you happy. And, I would love for you to live closer to us," Katelyn replied. "Who is this guy," Caesar asked. "Do I know him?" "You might. His name is Ace. He is one of the people from your Adventure Guild. We went out on a few missions together and get along really well." "Ace... I know who that is. He's a nice guy. But, if he hurts you in anyway, you tell me and I will make his life miserable." "Caesar," Katelyn scolded. "What? She's like my sister," he said, shrugging his shoulders. Katelyn turned to Yulie and said, "Well, after everything is settled here in a few days, maybe we can host a dinner. I would like to meet this guy who has won your heart." Yulie asked, "You guys just want to embarrass me, huh?" "No. We are your family and we want to meet him," Katelyn said. "Okay. I'll let him know that he is in for a future interrogation," Yulie joked. Katelyn nodded and said, "I can't wait."
Caesar came over and sat next to Katelyn, placing Vincent into her arms. He began to fuss a little and squirm in her arms. He squinted his eyes and little nose, which made Katelyn realize, "He needs a diaper change." Then, similar sounds started coming from Carolina and she said, "They both need a diaper change." Caesar grabbed Carolina from Yulie and made his way with Katelyn to the other room. "So, who's in charge of diaper changes," Katelyn asked. Caesar looked at her and said, "I don't know how..." Katelyn shook her head and mumbled, "Should've known." She then walked over to the changing table and took out two newborn diapers. She pulled out some wet wipes, powder, and dry cloths and began to unwrap Vincent's diaper. She said, "This is how you change a diaper. First, you unwrap the old one. Then, if it's pee you just wipe them clean and replace it. If it's poop, you wipe them with a wet cloth like this and then wipe them dry with another cloth. Then you put a new diaper under their butt, put a little powder like this, then wrap the new diaper into place." Caesar asked with an amazed look, "How did you learn to do all this?" "My parents used to leave the house for a few minutes here and there when I was younger. It used to be around the corner from our house, so they left me alone with my baby brother. I used to change his diapers when he was a baby when I used to watch him." "Wow. That's a lot for a kid to learn." "It taught me a lot. I used to love caring for him when we were alone for those short periods of time." Caesar nodded and said, "I guess that it is my turn." He brought Carolina to the table and unwrapped the diaper, making a face at the sight. He quickly disposed of the dirty diaper and cleaned her before wrapping her in a new diaper. Katelyn nodded and said, "You did good. I'm sure you will get even better with time." He said, "That's a lot. I didn't know kids were so complicated." Katelyn said, "Alright, I believe it is time for these two to lay down. Let me place them in their bassinet and then I will check on my work in the lab." She brought the babies to the bassinet and asked Caesar, "Watch over them while I'm gone for a few minutes?" He nodded and placed a kiss against her lips. "We will be waiting right here." She left the room quietly, shutting the door carefully behind her.
She made her way to the lab to check on the samples and marveled at how well the potion had worked. The cells looked as if they were from another person. She said, "Only one way to find out if this truly works." She pulled up the liquid version in a syringe, grabbed her supplies, and went back into the living room where Yulie and Eldore were talking about their travels. "It's ready Eldore. Are you ready to test it and see if it works?" Eldore looked a little scared but nodded and said, "Like I said, you better not turn me into a Direspider." Katelyn shook her head with a laugh and said, "I don't even think that is possible. Do you want me to give it to you here?" "Yes, I suppose." Katelyn walked over and pulled out her supplies. She first swabbed his arm with some disinfectant, then gave him the shot. She disposed of the needle then placed a bandage over the little drops of blood that began to bleed out of his arm. "Alright. Now we wait," Katelyn said. The three sat down and Katelyn listened to Yulie talking about some of the bounties she had hunted in the last couple of months. After about twenty minutes, Eldore placed a hand to his temple and said, "My head is feeling a little dizzy. I think I need to lie down." Katelyn pulled out a notebook as Eldore laid his head back on the couch he was on. She took notes of the time and the symptoms as they appeared. "Are you feeling anything else," Katelyn asked. He said, "My stomach feels a little nauseous as well." She jotted that down before walking over and kneeling on the floor next to the couch. She checked his pulse and found that it was slightly faster than normal, but otherwise strong and steady. She checked his blood pressure and it was normal. She said, "Alright. Everything seems fine for now. We will check back in another twenty minutes and see if anything has changed." So, the three sat and continued to talk while the potion took effect.
Throughout the next three hours, Katelyn noticed changes in Eldore's body that were miniscule, but seemed to be the signs she was looking for. His skin filled out and was no longer wrinkled. His hair changed back to his natural black color. Finally, he was able to stand and Katelyn noticed that he was taller in stature and his muscles seemed to have more mass and definition. It seemed by the time that the effects seem to diminish that Eldore was in his late twenties. Katelyn said, "I can't believe that it worked. This could put years back onto your life. I wonder if the potion is done working." Eldore looked into a mirror and said, "I look like I'm young again. I can't believe it." He then did a double take as he realized that his voice had also changed slightly. "Dang, Eldore. You are going to have all the ladies chasing after you," Yulie said as she noticed the changes to his body. "Everything seems sharper and more in focus. I feel like I could run a marathon and not be tired. My body doesn't hurt anymore." Katelyn said, "Well, it is almost early morning. You guys should go get some sleep and we can check on you later tonight and see if anything else has changed. I would like to get some measurements before you sleep Eldore so that I can compare them later tonight. I don't want you to turn into a young child again." Eldore shook his head but obliged, walking over to Katelyn. She measured the circumference of his arms, legs, chest, waist, and head. She also measured his height and weight and noted everything in her notebook. She then said, "Alright. I will check you later tonight to see if anything else has changed. After this is over though, I will destroy this research. I wouldn't want this information to fall into the wrong hands or anything." "It is probably for the best. Go and be with your children and Caesar. I'm sure they are waiting for you." Katelyn nodded and gave Eldore a hug. "I'm glad that you are my friend, Eldore. Thank you for being like a father figure to me and a good mentor to everyone during our times of need. I'm sure that no one has told you that enough." Eldore gave her a hug back and patted her back. "Thank you, Katelyn. You have no idea what this all means to me." She nodded before walking out of the room.
She made her way to the dining room, which was where she found Caesar, the twins, her parents, Kara, Setti, Lena, and her brother. Her parents were holding the twins with looks of awe on their faces. When Katelyn walked into the room, everyone turned to look, most likely knowing what she had been working on. "The potion I have been working on was a success. Eldore has turned back the clock by at least twenty-five to thirty years. He has his whole life ahead of him." Everyone let out a cheer which startled the babies. They started to whine which made Katelyn realize, "It's feeding time." She took the twins to the other room and quickly fed them before returning to the kitchen with the others. Caesar sat a large plate of food down on the table in front of her and took the twins, passing them back over to her parents. "Time to feed you now. Can't have you hungry." Katelyn pulled him in for a kiss before turning to her place. She started to dig in, having not realized how hungry she had gotten over the past hours. "Thanks for this. I can't even remember the last time I ate," she said. "Yesterday morning. You skipped at least two meals," Caesar said. "Oops. Just got a little sidetracked. But the train is back on the tracks now." Caesar shook his head at her with a small smile on his face, remembering how often she would forget to eat when caught up in other tasks. It never failed to amuse him. "I'm glad that I'm here to cook for you. Sometimes I wonder how you survived on your own for so long." "I would eat eventually when I started to feel it. I wouldn't starve myself." He laughed as she took a piece of food and flung it at him.
"Food fight," her brother yelled. "No, don't," Katelyn said as a big gob of food hit her in the face. She pulled out a napkin and wiped her face, throwing a chunk of food back at her brother. Her parents decided to move the twins out of the room as a free for all started. Kara was the first to leave as her hair became saturated with juice from Lena's cup. Setti left with her, covered in what looked to be jelly or jam. Katelyn ducked behind one side of the table with Caesar as Lena and her brother flung food at them. "How do we end up in these situations," she asked. "You mean chaos. I think it's just our lives. It's how we live and a part of everything we do. But I couldn't live in this chaos without you," he said, pulling her in for a kiss before standing and making his way over to the other side of the table. He ended up covered in food, but laughed as he picked up Katelyn's brother and Lena and deposited them both in the fountain outside. Katelyn walked up next to Caesar and wrapped an arm around him, pulling him in for a kiss and said, "I couldn't survive this chaotic world without you either." Right as she went to pull Caesar in for another kiss, a bucket of water was poured over both her and Caesar's heads. She didn't even react to the water soaking through her hair and clothes. Instead, she said, "Alright. We should teach these two a lesson in who to pick a fight with." Caesar took her hand and said, "As long as you are by my side, my beautiful Countess." And with that, the two lived happily ever after with their chaotic found family.