Chapter One Hundred and Six
...
Layla woke up mid-afternoon on Saturday to several hundred notifications from her friends in the group chat. Scrolling through them curiously, she was glad to see their eager and excited responses to the spikebomb. After checking Ethan's timetable, Layla sent a message to him and Grant about modifying the spikebomb so it could be held. Layla then returned to the group chat to see what else had happened while she and Warren were sleeping.
Warren woke up about ten minutes later, groaning and covering his face. "If it's before noon, I'm setting something on fire."
"It's almost two o'clock," Layla said.
"That's too close to midday," Warren said after a moment.
"I know. But we got the spikebomb working, and Ethan and Grant are going to work with me so we can actually hold it properly," Layla said. "Adam's been monitoring the police for us."
That woke Warren up and he sat up to look at her. "What's happened?"
"Detective Jordan told Detective Fisher about what happened when she went to interview me and how Monty and Tyrone arrived. Fisher's suspicious and she's going to start surveilling you at a distance."
"So what are we going to do?"
"Craig's going to start hanging around you more often. If he's going to be kidnapped, then why not have it happen in front of the police?"
Warren blinked, not expecting that response at all. "That's actually really smart. Who thought of that?"
"Jewel; she's just as worried about Craig being kidnapped as Craig is."
"Okay. So what do I do about the detective? Just go about my business?"
"Basically."
"Why do I feel a 'but' coming?"
"But I think you should do the firefighter's cadet training. It starts next week on Saturday mornings to replace the language classes," Layla added. "What's wrong?" she asked, feeling disappointment from her wrist.
Warren sighed. "I thought you would replace the language classes, hippie; we're not spending a lot of time together, and I miss you," he admitted.
Layla moved over, tugging on Warren until she could sit on his lap. "I know, Warren. I miss you, too. We've got today together."
"The day's almost over, hippie."
"The rest of the night, then," she cajoled, her arms around his neck as she kissed him, a slow and luxurious kiss that made Warren feel like they could have weeks together, not just hours. "The cadet training is an hour, you've got an hour free after that; would you like to spend that time with me?"
"Always, hippie," Warren replied breathlessly, smiling his broad, warm smile that always made her heart skip a beat.
"I love you," Layla said, kissing him firmly.
Warren kissed her back, running his hands up her thighs and under her shirt, his hands splayed against her skin. "I love you," he murmured as they drew apart.
Layla pulled back, her hands dropping away from Warren. He went to question her when Layla pulled her shirt up over her head, his mouth going dry at the sight of her. She smiled at his stunned expression and took his hands, pressing them to her ribs.
"I'm cold, keep me warm?"
"Anything you want, hippie," Warren said, stepping closer to her to share his body heat.
Layla smiled at him brightly and kissed him again, her hands stroking along his biceps and sinewy forearms before moving to the front of his jeans.
"Hippie?" Warren queried, his voice catching as she tugged his jeans down over his hips, the material pooling at his feet.
"Hmm?" Layla asked, her hands paused on her own jeans as she looked at him.
"Are we really doing this?"
"Yes. Do you want to?" she asked.
"Hell yes. I just... what about the six months?" he asked, hoping he wouldn't regret his question.
Layla smiled broadly. "This week was almost six and a half months, Warren."
"Really?"
She nodded. "I honestly thought you'd bring it up the day six months were over, but you haven't."
Warren shrugged. "I was planning on asking if you were ready, but I've been pretty satisfied with what we've been doing. Even if we got interrupted last time."
"Do you want to keep doing that then?"
Warren let his hands drop away from Layla's body, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her firmly. "I just want you, hippie. I'll have you however you want me."
As Layla licked her tingling lips, Warren's gaze dropped to her mouth instantly. She smiled in response, wicked and sharp. "I want you naked, on your back, and under me."
Warren grinned back at her and pulled his shirt off, tugging his briefs down so the material joined the denim at his feet, stepping out of them both. "Anything you want, hippie."
Layla reached into the pocket of her jeans, pulling out a condom and throwing it over to Warren. He had the condom on before she'd reached the bedside, his dick already half-hard in anticipation and desire and because his girlfriend was half-naked and there was no other response he could give. Layla opened the bedside table, showing that she'd prepared with a tube of lube and extra condoms in the drawer.
"Knew I'd put out, huh?" Warren asked, a teasing tone to his voice.
"Hoped," Layla corrected, a tad too serious to be teasing.
"Fuck, hippie. You could ask me to go down on you during a bank robbery and I'd fucking do it," he said, trying to emphasise just how much he wanted and loved her.
Layla seemed surprised by how genuine he sounded but smiled a moment later. "I'll hold you to that one day, Warren."
"Look forward to it, hippie."
"So do I. Now, stroke your cock until you're hard for me," she said, Warren following her instruction immediately. "I'm nervous, so we'll need lots of lube," Layla said, biting her lip. She took the lube out of the drawer and set it beside Warren.
"I'll be gentle," Warren promised, kissing her hand and squeezing.
"I know. Nerves aren't bad, it just means this is important to me."
"No candles and flower petals?"
Layla rolled her eyes. "With our powers? Probably not a good idea; I'd prefer the Hive didn't burn down around us. And flower petals are a waste of perfectly good flowers; do you know how many flowers are killed each year to make a bag of petals? Which people don't even clean up once they're used in weddings and other events. It's... are you laughing at me?"
"A little, yeah. Good laughter, I promise, hippie. Only you could be going on a rant about flower petals while I'm stroking my dick."
Layla laughed. "Oh, shut up and kiss me."
Warren was all too happy to comply, tugging his girlfriend down onto the bed beside him and kissing her so hard they were both breathless.
"The lube's digging into my back, Warren."
Warren grinned and slipped his hands under Layla's body to find the lube, deftly undoing her bra while he was there. Layla arched off the bed so he could get the tube, her bra slipping off her shoulders with her movement.
"Want me to take your jeans off?" Warren asked, already kissing her torso and heading down to her soon-to-be-bared breast.
"Not yet, I like the friction. Is it okay on your cock?" Layla asked.
"Hurts a bit, but I kind of like it," Warren replied, his hips already rutting against her denim-clad thigh.
Layla smiled and sat up, dislodging Warren. He was going to complain, but then Layla took her bra off completely, and undid the button and zip on her jeans.
"You're... Super Jesus, hippie; you're not wearing any underwear."
"Like you said: I hoped you'd put out," she teased. "Now, stop trying to take control. You're lucky I let you undo my bra."
"Very lucky," Warren agreed, cupping one of her breasts.
"Warren. On your back," Layla said, her stern voice catching as he stroked her nipple with his thumb.
"Anything you want, hippie," he said, lying back on the bed and wishing he could touch her everywhere already.
Knowing that Layla needed the control to help calm her nerves, Warren breathed to control himself and focused on Layla's pleasure and needs. There would be plenty of time for his own pleasure and needs, and Layla never denied him for long once she had what she needed anyway.
Layla smiled at the sight of her boyfriend lying on his back, his cock hard and twitching, and waiting patiently for her. She knew from past experience that she could keep him waiting for minutes or even an hour and he wouldn't move without her permission. The control was a heady sensation, even more real than the vines that controlled others, and she loved Warren all the more for it. Kneeling beside him, she stroked his hair back from his face and kissed him, licking into his mouth and tugging his hair back sharply to get his mouth at the perfect angle for their kiss.
"You liked that?" Layla asked, feeling the spike in his pleasure as the pain faded.
Warren licked his lips. "Yes, hippie."
"Good," Layla murmured, her fingers tangled in Warren's hair as she massaged his scalp. "My body's cold, warm me with your power? Slowly," she added.
Warren concentrated, even as he wanted to stay in the floaty feeling of Layla's fingers in his hair, and increased the temperature of the air around her, slow and gentle. "Is that better, hippie?"
"Much better. Thank you."
Layla watched as Warren resisted the urge to doze, her ministrations against his scalp never failing to make him docile and sleepy. She withdrew her hand from his hair and wrapped her hand around his cock, the sudden and intense heat making Warren jerk up off the bed. "Okay, Warren?"
"Yes, hippie. Didn't expect it, that's all," Warren replied, blinking and focusing on her with a reassuring smile.
"Okay. I'm going to straddle you now; don't cum unless I tell you," Layla added, even as she moved to straddle him, her jeans tight over her thighs and hips.
She smiled when he nodded with determination in his gaze, obviously trying to mentally prepare for whatever she might do. Leaning down to kiss him gently, Layla started to rock her hips back and forth, brushing up against Warren's cock with each movement. He held himself as still as possible, his muscles clenched and tight beneath her, and Layla watched each spasm and desperate attempt for control curiously. Resting her hands on Warren's pecs, she started to grind down against him, heat gathering in the pool of her stomach and something coiled tightly, aching for release.
"Okay, Warren?"
"Intense," he replied through clenched teeth. "Don't stop. Please," he added.
Layla nodded and continued to grind down until the thing coiling inside of her was as desperate as Warren's thrusts and spasming muscles. Standing off the bed, Layla soothed Warren's confusion at her departure by gripping the brand around his wrist. "I won't be long," she replied, Warren relaxing at her promise.
Layla pushed her jeans down over her hips and returned to her position straddling Warren's waist. He groaned gutturally at the heat emanating from her pussy, his hips jerking, desperate for more. Layla leaned over to kiss Warren, pressing her breasts, stomach, thighs, and pussy against his body, swallowing the desperate moan that emitted from her boyfriend.
"I need your fingers, Warren. Don't forget the lube," Layla instructed.
"Yes, hippie," Warren replied, already uncapping the lube and adding a dollop of the sticky substance to his fingers. "Ready?"
Layla nodded, trying to calm her racing heart. They'd already done this before, so she knew how this part worked and just how long it would take to get her ready for a girth like Warren's. Forcing herself to unclench and relax her body in general, Layla almost moaned at the feeling of Warren's finger sliding into her pussy. For all that they'd done this before, this time there was another intent and reason for his touch entirely.
"Talk to me, Warren?" Layla asked, shifting on his fingers and swallowing hard as he eased his fingers in and out slowly, drawing out her desperation and pleasure.
Warren let out a ragged breath, as though all of his concentration was on her body and his fingers, and he couldn't spare the effort to breathe, let alone talk. "You... Fuck, hippie. I can't... Words aren't enough."
As if to prove it, a flood of his emotions came from her wrist. Need, want, desperation, eagerness, anticipation, desire, love. He loved her with every fibre of his being, loved that she loved him, loved that she wanted him, loved that he would soon be inside her, loved that she had prepared everything, loved everything she was doing, loved everything she had yet to do, loved everything they were going to do together. He wanted everything and wanted to give her everything.
Layla's orgasm hit without warning; there was no build-up, no crescendo, it simply crashed upon her with the weight of Warren's emotions, and she let out a scream that rang in his ears. The coil inside her released, warmth filling her body as her orgasm made her body shake and tremble.
Warren added a third finger, working to stretch Layla so she could fit him comfortably and with as little pain as possible. He watched as Layla came down from her orgasm slowly, recognition and realisation filling her eyes piece by piece. She smiled and kissed him firmly, clenching her pussy around his fingers in a way that made his dick twitch and throb in anticipation.
"Layla."
He spoke her name with a plea, a prayer, and above all, praise. Warren could have spent years praising Layla like a deity, unworthy to utter her name but unable to do anything else in her presence.
Layla smiled at him, her eyes flashing green as she rose up on her knees, his fingers slipping from her body reluctantly. "Warren, help me? Please?"
"Anything you want," Warren promised, his breath stuttering as she lowered herself onto his aching dick, his hands guiding her and positioning himself carefully. "Okay, hippie?" he asked when she stopped halfway down, her eyes closed as her breath caught in her chest.
"I just... need a minute," Layla murmured, her pussy clenching around him tightly, trying to reject what it considered a foreign object inside her.
"Did you bring any of your toys? We could use one if you need more time?" Warren offered, trying to look over to the drawer.
"No. I want you."
Warren nodded and kissed her firmly, running his hands along her sides to help ease her muscles and help Layla relax. She kissed him back, the slow kiss turning hard and fast as Warren let one of his hands drop between them to tease and circle at her clit.
He worked on her clit until Layla lowered herself fully down, the kiss between them becoming a shudder as Warren filled Layla completely.
"I thought... Fuck, just, let me," Layla muttered, incomprehensible to Warren until she gripped his shoulders, slid her body up and back down again, almost too soon for his poor aching dick to handle.
He held her by the hips, hoping to control her rhythm, but knowing he wouldn't even if he could. This was about Layla and her control. "What did you think?"
"I didn't think it was meant to feel like this."
"Like what, hippie?"
"Perfect," Layla admitted, her cheeks red at the admission.
Warren smiled, broad and warm, and kissed her. Layla kissed him back until they were both breathless, then she started to move, her nails digging into Warren's shoulders as his fingers dug into her hips. Warren touched and stroked Layla, focusing his attention on her breasts and squeezing them in time with her pussy around his dick. His eyes practically rolled back in his head as Layla caught onto the rhythm and started a new faster tempo, a wicked smile on her face at his response.
"Fuck, hippie. You have to cum soon. I'm not going to last much longer," Warren groaned.
"Almost there. Need something more," Layla admitted, her orgasm right there but the release evading her.
Warren nodded, thinking the best he could while his girlfriend was riding and squeezing his dick and her breasts were right there and his fingers were working on her clit just as desperately. Her smile had turned into a determined and desperate expression, her teeth biting her plump bottom lip just like he wanted to do, knowing how the brief burst of pain would become pleasure.
The thought gave him an idea and Warren grabbed Layla's wrist as she desperately tried to get off, his fingers tight around her fire brand. He didn't explain or state his intention, powering up with a blare of flames around Layla's wrist and his fingers. Layla's orgasm was fast on the heels of his burst of power, her scream echoing in the lower Hive and her breathing ragged in his ear. Warren's eyes really did roll back as Layla returned the favour, thorns piercing his wrist as he came hard.
Layla concentrated on her breathing, trying to gain control over herself once more, and stroked Warren's back and the new welts she'd added with her nails. Warren caressed her sides lazily, his thumbs stroking her breasts with each downward motion.
"Okay, hippie?" Warren asked.
"Better than okay," Layla replied, smiling and kissing the curve of his neck and shoulder.
"Good. Give me ten minutes, maybe fifteen, and we'll do it again."
"Okay. I'll pee while you're doing that."
"Hmm?"
"I read a lot about what to do after penetrative sex; peeing is important to stop urinary tract infections," Layla said, shrugging.
Warren thought about it for a moment and gave a nod. "Do you need water?"
"I think I want water in general, not just for this. Sex is thirsty work," she said with a grin.
Warren agreed with a noise, licking a line between Layla's breasts. "Mmm, very salty. We're going to need a lot of water, hippie."
Layla laughed and kissed him before heading to the bathroom. Warren grinned and headed upstairs to the Hive to get them both a glass of water.
...
"We've got a shitton of responses; someone worked out the code, so it went viral. Well, as much as something like this can go viral," Adam amended. "Some people think it's a prank, others are planning to go full-scale. The Super Bureau has no idea since I changed to a different message board."
Layla blinked at Adam's rush of words, her brain trying to figure out what he was talking about. Understanding filled her a moment later. "Right. Okay, that's good to know. We can't have them go full-scale though. Can you add a warning for them to reduce the scale?"
"I'll add it, but they might not listen. Those that claim to be smarter should listen, but only time will tell," Adam said, already typing on his computer.
"That's enough. The ones who don't listen will only have themselves to blame," Layla said firmly.
"Yeah, pretty much. You two finished down there? I want access to the projector and map."
"We're in our room, not in the training arena, Adam."
"Hey, I don't care where you're fucking, I'm not risking walking in on it. Might scar me for life."
Warren snorted. "Gimme the phone, hippie."
"No, I won't let you traumatise Adam."
"Not gonna," Warren said.
Layla handed her phone over reluctantly.
Warren grinned. "Nothing we did last night would scar you. It's what we're doing today that will."
"That's it; you're without a phone for the rest of the week," Adam muttered.
"It's Sunday, Ace."
"Yeah, you're lucky I like you. Now, do the soundproof vines or something. I'm turning Lay's phone off; I'll let you know if there's anything urgent."
"Thanks."
"Eden is still in bloom, by the way."
"So?"
"It's the middle of a hot summer's day; even with Layla's power, they usually wilt a bit around this time," Adam said.
Warren was curious about it, but not enough to move from where he was with Layla. "Send a photo to us? We're not leaving our room until we have to."
Adam groaned and ended the call.
"I said not to traumatise Adam, Warren," Layla said, taking her phone back.
"I didn't say anything specific; it's his own imagination that'll scar him," Warren countered, smirking.
"Not the point. I like Adam."
Warren grabbed Layla around her waist, tugging her back onto the bed with him. "You like me more, right?"
"Hmm. Only for the rest of the week," Layla said teasingly.
Warren laughed and kissed her warmly. "Love you too, hippie."
Layla gasped as he tickled her sides, his fingers' torture changing to a long caress as Warren touched her body everywhere he could reach. Then Warren covered Layla's body with his own, alternating between kissing and touching her in various places, simply because he could.
...
"I hope that you can forgive us. We thought we'd told the movers 4pm, not 4am, but there seemed to be a misunderstanding or miscommunication. We're so sorry about the noise and trouble it caused you and your wife," Yuki said, looking upset at her neighbour's stern expression.
"Oh, it's all right, dearie. George is grumpy no matter the time of the day," Mildred said, patting her husband's hand.
"Please, enjoy the housewarming and apology party. There's food in the kitchen," Andy said, George nodding and heading to the kitchen without a word of goodbye.
Mildred looked embarrassed by her husband, smiled quickly at their new neighbours, and hurried after her husband. "George!" she hissed.
"Don't worry, they'll move out a few weeks after the laundromat is operational again. They've forgotten how noisy the machines are," Honey said, smiling at Andy and Yuki as she offered a gift bag and a plate of choc chip cookies.
"Uh, just how noisy are they?" Andy asked.
"Oh, not at all. It'll just be their excuse to move," Honey said.
"Hi, Honey!" Ichiko called, waving from where she was sitting with Ry and her brother.
"Ooh, you brought cookies. You're amazing," Craig said over Honey's shoulder. "I'll just take that to the kitchen for you, shall I?"
"Please don't fight George for them."
"I don't know who George is, but I'd fight myself for them," Craig snickered, taking the offered plate.
"Please excuse him; he's a growing teenager, who apparently has no manners along with a bottomless pit instead of a stomach," Victor said, sighing and shaking his head. In their pram, Elliot and Elijah giggled happily, reaching their chubby fists up to the new people. Victor smiled at Andy and Yuki as they cooed over his sons. "Thank you for inviting us to your housewarming. We brought you a present. It's, uh, under Elliot. Hey, c'mon, it was behind your seat, how'd you get it in there?"
"Spatial manipulation. Look out for the cookies."
Victor held the present loosely at Honey's explanation and warning. "What?"
Honey shrugged. "They're babies; they want what they want, and they've figured out how to get what they want."
Victor didn't know what to say in response to that.
"Sorry to interrupt and ask this, but who are you?" Andy asked, looking between Honey and Victor in confusion. They knew Honey, obviously, but the newcomer with Craig and two babies - while they were cute - were strangers.
"Oh, my God. I'm so sorry. I'm Victor, Craig's guardian, and these two are my sons, Elliot and Elijah," he introduced, smiling again and holding out a hand to shake.
"You're Connor's Victor?" Yuki asked, grinning broadly and her eyes lighting up as she looked over to Connor.
Connor was looking at the newcomer and completely ignoring Ichigo and Ichiko's competition to see who could shove as many marshmallows into their mouth as possible, while Ryuu and Craig egged them on.
"Oh, geez. They're going to puke again. I've got them, love," Andy said, kissing Yuki's temple before going to stop their children.
"You know about me?" Victor asked, his ears and cheeks turning pink as he looked over to Connor, only to see him watching him intensely.
"Oh, yes. Connor's spoken very highly of you. I'm so pleased to meet you. Come with me, we'll talk," Yuki said, Honey grabbing the pram before Victor could protest.
There was a familiar look in Yuki's eyes that had Victor wondering if she'd ever met his mother.
"Will they be all right?" Connor asked, coming over a second too late to save Victor from Yuki's interrogation.
Honey grinned. "They'll be fine. Yuki's going to love Edith."
Realisation filled Connor's eyes and he groaned. "Dear god, she's going to join the betting pool, isn't she?"
"Oh, probably. I think she might win, too."
"You mean I won't?" Connor asked, tickling Elliot and picking Elijah up when Honey grabbed Elliot.
"Sorry, no. Now, let's get these two settled before George and Craig start fighting over the cookies."
Connor frowned. "Who's George?" When Honey pointed out the balding man, Connor's frown deepened. "You mean Craig's going to fight an old man for cookies?"
"I still don't know who's starting the fight, honestly," Honey said with a frown of her own.
Going to the small playpen set up in the corner, Connor and Honey set the twins down with some of their toys. Honey went back to the pram to fold it up and put it out of the way. Ryuu joined Connor and the twins a moment later, wincing when Elijah grabbed his long hair.
"Hey, we've talked about grabbing," Ryuu said, tugging his hair out of Elijah's grip and tying it up on top of his head in a knot.
Elijah babbled something incoherently.
"He wants you to do the Rapunzel braid," Craig translated, holding a paper plate filled with cookies. "Here, I got cookies for everyone. Well, when everyone arrives. There was an old guy totally judging me for it, so take one when he's watching, okay?"
"Okay," Ry said, seeing that the old guy was muttering to his wife and not looking at them yet. "I don't know how to do the Rapunzel braid. I can do a plait and a bun, and that's it," he said, pulling his hair out of the bun to do a plait. "How's that?" Ry asked, showing it to Elijah, who babbled again.
"Dishonour on you, dishonour on your cow."
"He didn't say that," Ry said, rolling his eyes at Craig.
"You're quoting something, right?" Connor asked in confusion.
"Mulan. Wait, you haven't seen Mulan? Where's their DVD collection? Or streaming? Either way, tell me they have Mulan to watch; we're putting it on right now," Craig said with a grin.
"Now see here, young man. You can't go around with a plate full of cookies like that. What about the rest of us?" George demanded.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Craig, language," Connor said sternly, looking to the twins who were, unfortunately, watching the argument with great interest.
"Sorry, Connor. Let me rephrase: who the fudge sticks are you?"
"Now, don't go bringing fudge sticks into this! This is about cookies and how you have far too many," George said pointedly, glaring down at the plate of cookies.
"I filled a fairly small plate with cookies, and there's still, like, fifty left on the serving plate. Why do you want these ones?" Craig asked incredulously.
"That's not the point I'm trying to make, you stupid boy!"
At those words, Connor stopped distracting Elliot and Elijah, and stood up to his full height, facing the older man and crossing his arms over his chest. George's eyes widened at the solid muscle and tall man looming over him. Considering his own shorter stature, it wasn't difficult for others to loom over him, but he'd assumed the man was older due to his silver hair and thought he'd be safe.
"Apologise," Connor said firmly.
George stammered, still stunned by Connor's size, but then straightened up as tall as he could manage. "No. I stand by what I said: he shouldn't have that many cookies."
"George. George, dear. I think we should leave. Once you've apologised, that is. It's obviously time for your afternoon nap and you're grumpier than usual," Mildred said, nudging her husband in the ribs sharply.
"I'm trying to make a point, Millie."
"George."
He clenched his jaw and looked at the ground. "Sorry."
Mildred smiled at Connor quickly, hoping she could appease the tall man's angry expression with sympathy and a touch of empathy for an old woman with a doddering old fool for a husband. "Now, isn't that better? It's been a lovely party, and please thank Sookie and Landy for us," she said, practically dragging George to the door.
George glared back at the group, his eyes widening when he saw the serving plate of cookies in the playpen. "Now they've got the whole plate! It's not fair, Mildred!"
"Aw, damn it. You two are going to be sick all night."
"Not to mention hyper all day," Ry said, wincing as he helped Craig clean up the mess of broken and spit-soggy cookies on the floor.
"Not a good combination," Connor said distractedly, seeing Yuki returning with Victor, the latter looking pale from her interrogation. After Edith, Connor could completely empathise. Leaving the twins with Craig and Ryuu, he headed over to Victor, looking at him with a gentle smile. "Are you all right, darling?"
Victor blinked up at him, blue eyes wide. "Next time Mother attacks someone, we have to stop her."
Yuki grinned. "I look forward to meeting your mother, Victor. Where did George and Mildred go?" she asked, looking around with a frown.
"They left after George started an argument with Craig over the cookies."
"Oh. Is it bad that I don't want them to come back?" Yuki asked in a low voice, wincing at how she already disliked her neighbours.
"In this case, no. Come on, darling. Let's get you some food and water," Connor said, leading Victor over to the kitchen, the gap where the cookie plate had been leaving a large space on the counter.
"The cookies..." Victor trailed off, looking around the room.
"Elijah and Elliot already got them," Connor confirmed.
"Damn it. I was going to start them on solids next week," he said with a sigh. "Not that I was going to give them cookies in the first place."
"I don't think they'll wait for your timetable, darling."
"I guess not. Did you buy a housewarming gift on Honey's list?" Victor asked as he filled a plate with finger food.
"I didn't get a list. I bought them a plant; Yuki will miss her garden in here."
"There's a greenhouse on the roof," Honey said from beside them. "I missed the fight?" she asked in disappointment, seeing the cookie plate missing.
"Yeah. George isn't a very nice man."
"Not really, no. I think he prides himself on it," Honey mused, shaking her head. "Oh, don't drink the punch, Vic; it's got watermelon in it."
"Ah, damn. Thanks for the warning."
"No problem. Ooh, quick. The kids are going to say their first word."
"What?"
Victor and Connor both left their plates behind, practically running across the apartment to hear Elijah and Elliot.
"What's going on?" Ry asked in alarm, Craig looking around and wondering if he should power up.
"They're going to talk, shh," Honey said, recording the twins with her phone.
Elijah and Elliot looked up at their father expectantly, smiling broadly.
"Say Craig; c'mon, you can do it," Craig whispered.
Elijah frowned at him, then smiled brightly. "Punzel."
"Rapunzel got a mention before me?!"
"He loves Tangled, you know that," Victor said, trying not to show his own disappointment.
"Yeah, but he should love me more," Craig said with a pout. "Okay, Elliot, c'mon. Don't let me down: Craig," he said, over-enunciating his name.
Silently, Victor tried to will Elliot to say Dad or any equivalent name.
Elliot giggled at Craig's expression, then gnawed his fist. Noise sounded behind the gathered group as others arrived for the housewarming party. "Ace!" Elliot said excitedly.
"What?!" Craig said incredulously.
"Who called me?" Adam asked with a frown, looking to the group. Terrence, Robin, Warren, and Layla were with him and didn't recognise the voice, either.
"It was Elliot, and I'm going to kick your - "
"Craig," Victor said firmly, a warning in his tone.
He sighed and exhaled. "Fine. I'm fine. I need food," Craig muttered, heading over to the kitchen.
"I was Elliot's first word? Awesome. Hey, high-five," Adam said with a grin, holding a hand out for Elliot.
Elliot giggled and slapped his hand several times.
"Close enough, lil dude."
"How'd he even see you from there? We were all blocking the view of the door," Ry said, frowning.
"Hey, Ry. I meant to ask and I never did: what does your name mean?" Honey asked curiously.
Feeling as though he was being distracted on purpose, Ry couldn't help but wonder why. The others seemed to realise that they didn't know the answer to Honey's question either, and waited expectantly.
"Ryuu means dragon."
"Why'd you choose it?" Robin asked.
"Because I had the chance to choose a name that meant dragon, so I took it. I wasn't wasting that opportunity," he said, grinning.
"Ooh, you've got Mulan!" Craig said. "Can we watch it, please? Connor doesn't know the dishonour line, so we have to make him watch it for that, at the very least."
"We haven't opened everyone's housewarming presents yet," Andy interjected. "We have to do that."
Craig looked disappointed but nodded. Ry squeezed his father's hand gently; while animated violence was a far cry from anything real, they still hadn't worked out everything that set Connor's panic attacks or fight/flight responses off. After the things that had happened to him, Connor had more fight than flight, so if he did watch Mulan, he needed to be at home where Ry could calm him or fight him down if necessary.
Andy had discovered this the hard way a year after Connor had returned. They'd been watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with their children when Snow White's anxiety and fear combined with the storm and creepy-ass terrifying music had set Connor's fight response off. They'd been lucky that the kids were getting snacks in the kitchen since they didn't like the scene themselves, and Andy had been able to subdue his best friend before they returned, the VHS tape mysteriously destroyed and the coffee table in pieces.
"All right, presents!" Ichigo said eagerly, looking hyper from his overindulgence in marshmallows.
His sister looked calmer at first glance, but a second glance showed that Ichiko was trembling from the excessive sugar and sweetness. Her leg jittered against the floor as she tried to look older and more mature than her brother.
"Okay, take a seat, we'll start on them now. Thank you so much for coming to our party and being so welcoming. I can promise we won't have movers here at 4am again," Yuki said with one more apologetic smile, a few people laughing in response, much calmer about it now.
All of the presents from Layla, Warren, and their friends were plants, Yuki and Andy looking overwhelmed at the number of plants and their small apartment. Honey's present provided an explanation and keys to the greenhouse on the roof of the building.
"It's not for community use?" Yuki asked in surprise.
"It was until George decided to grow marijuana there," one of her neighbours said, rolling their eyes.
"I think that's why he's so grumpy now," another said, snickering.
"Probably why he wanted all of the cookies for himself," Craig muttered to Ry, who laughed behind his hand.
"The rest of us have black thumbs, so if you can keep any of this alive, you're welcome to use it for yourself," another neighbour offered.
"That's extremely kind of you all; thank you. I'll make sure to share any vegetables and fruit that grow," Yuki promised with a smile.
Her neighbours had bought gifts of food, gift cards to various stores, and a gift hamper with things for both Andy and Yuki and their children. At the bottom of the pile was an A4 envelope from George and Mildred. Inside was a piece of paper listing the building's guidelines for residents with the noise restrictions highlighted in yellow and circled in red.
"Welcome to the building," one neighbour said wryly.
"Don't worry, they'll be gone in a month. Just make sure to mention the noise from the laundromat," Honey said to the neighbours gathered.
"But we can't hear the laundromat, Honey," one neighbour said, not seeming surprised by Honey's statement.
Another laughed brightly as the penny dropped. "Oh, but George will lose his marbles, thinking he can hear it."
"Anything we can do to make it two weeks instead of a month?" one person asked.
Honey shook her head. "Don't try it or they'll stay out of stubbornness and spite."
"Damn it. Uh, darn it. Sorry."
"How do you know Andy and Yuki's neighbours?" Connor asked Honey curiously.
"I used to live in George and Mildred's apartment. I tried to warn the building committee not to accept their rental application, but my message arrived a day late thanks to a power blackout," Honey said.
"Can we go see the greenhouse now?" Yuki asked.
"Yes. Let's move this party onto the roof; the sun will be setting soon. It makes up for everything else."
"Nearly everything," one neighbour said with a snicker.
"I'll look after Elijah and Elliot if you want to see the sunset," Connor offered Victor.
Victor smiled and shook his head. "I'm happy to stay down here with you and the boys."
"You're going to try to get them to say Dada, don't lie," Honey called with a laugh as everyone else headed upstairs.
"Shut up, Honey."
She laughed again, pointing her phone at them. "Oh, boys?"
Elijah and Elliot looked over to her in confusion.
"Say Dada for Aunt Honey?"
"Dada!"
Victor's eyes widened at their response, his face lighting up with pure happiness at the sound. "They said my name!"
Honey pressed a smacking kiss to his cheek. "You're welcome. I'll send you both the video."
"Thanks, Honey," Connor said, hugging her warmly even as Victor hugged Elijah and Elliot excitedly behind him.
"No problem. See you upstairs later," Honey said, leaving them to join the others on the roof for the sunset.
The fading sunlight played over Victor's features, his face an expression of happiness and wonder as he looked at his children, and Connor felt those three words on his tongue again.
Not yet, Kemp. You don't want to scare him away, Connor told himself firmly.
Moving to sit next to Victor, Connor hugged him around the shoulders and kissed his temple instead. Victor turned to him, grinning widely and kissing him eagerly, Elliot and Elijah happily babbling away to each other.
This was enough. For now.
...
End of the hundred and sixth chapter.
Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed the update!
A/N: I'll be returning to the usual schedule of uploading one chapter at a time.
