"No, no, no!" Clopin grabbed the three-year-old Saphir by the collar of his tunic, stopping him from running out of the tent and into the night-time celebrations, "It's bedtime!"

"NO!"

As Saphir whined and struggled to get free, Clopin spotted Esmerelda attempting to sneak out as well.

"Get back here, young lady!"

Esmerelda just giggled, flashing her older brother a wicked grin, before making a dash for it…. Only to run right into Imelda.

"Ah, ah, ah." Imelda lifted the child into her arms, giving her a little shake when the three-year-old attempted to wriggle free, "Isn't it time for you two to be in bed?"

"No!" "No!" Both twins cried out in unison.

"Yes!" Clopin groaned, "Please, I'm not above begging!"

Lifting Saphir up into his arms, making sure to keep a tight hold of him, Clopin then headed to grab Esmerelda, practically throwing them onto the thread-bare mattress and mass of blankets that constituted as their bed.

Before they could leave the soft area, Clopin suddenly held up his hand, "Ah, ah, ah… if you stay in bed, then I'll tell you a story about Papa."

Much to Imelda's surprise, the twins stopped immediately, beaming grins on their faces as they leant back against the blankets.

"Right…. Finally." Clopin sighed and took a seat opposite them twisting around to smile at Imelda, "Thank you, I think I have them handled now."

"If you're sure… I'm just a call away."

"Thank you, Imelda."

Once she was gone, Clopin turned his attention back to his siblings, smiling when he realised that the eager look hadn't disappeared. "Alright…" he shuffled a little bit closer, "… what kind of story do you want to hear?"

"One about Daddy and Mummy!" They both cried out in unison, not seeming to notice the flash of pain that appeared on their brother's face.

It had been so long since he'd even thought about his Dad and second mother… it's not because he wanted to forget about them… it was just because of all the new responsibilities he had to take on.

"What- " he cleared his throat, "- what kind of story?"

"A happy one!" Saphir quickly spoke up, "Can Mummy dance like Esme?"

Clopin's mind flashed back to when he was around ten, warming up next to the fire as his parents danced around it, leaving Clopin to laugh and clap along to the beat.

"I can tell you the story about their song?" he asked, smiling as the twins nodded eagerly, "Alright, well, it all began around seven years ago."

********Flashback**********

"Saber, enough!" Maria giggled, trying to shield her neck from the scratchy beard as Saber attempted to kiss her, "Saber, Clopin is watching!"

Saber turned and winked at his son, who was smirking, sewing up his new puppet, "It's nothing he hasn't seen before."

"Doesn't mean I want to see it again Papa!" Clopin groaned, sticking his tongue out at his Father when the older man smirked at him and continued with what he was doing.

As Maria and Saber continued to giggle and flirt with one another, Clopin soon forgot about his puppet, gently placing it on the blanket next to him as he watched them.

"I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with n'er a fear of drowning." Saber then started to softly sing, "And gladly ride the waves of life, if you will stay with me."

Almost instantly everything fell silent as he continued.

"No scorching sun, nor freezing cold, will stop me on my journey. If you will promise me your heart."

Saber then paused, clearly waiting for his wife to continue on the song. When it looked like she wasn't going to, he frowned in disappointment and took a step back.

"… And love me for eternity." Maria eventually finished, before turning to Saber and shaking her head, "You're are such a charmer and a poet. You know I don't need things like that to be happy."

"How about if I bring you rings of gold?" Saber continued, a beaming smile on his face, "Compose you songs about my love?"

"I only want your hand to hold, I only want you near me."

The pair wrapped their arms around one another, feet moving in a fast-paced dance, laughing as Saber reached out and grabbed Clopin's hand, pulling him into the dance. For a few minutes, they danced around the fireplace, until they were too tired and collapsed onto a pile of blankets, Clopin wrapped up in his father's arms as Maria kissed him on the forehead.

******End Flashback******

Clopin sighed wearily as he finished the story, noticing that the twins were finally asleep, curled up next to one another, hands gripping each others' clothing.

Slowly, he closed the curtain that separated his area from theirs and collapsed onto the pile of blankets that acted as his bed.

There were some days when he could think about his Papa and feel nothing but happiness and joy at the memory, remembering him as a fun-loving man who did anything he could to provide a good home for his son and wife.

Then there were the days like this.

Days were even the smallest thing reminded him of his Papa, and caused him to feel like his heart was being ripped out of his chest, like he couldn't breathe

"Papa…" he whispered, "… I need you."