It had been a few months since they had started living with Xavier and Rebecca. The days eventually became an enjoyable routine for the two, their sister teaching them how to use sign language, their father helping them train their magic or in Asta's case his body. As often as he was able their father also took them back to Hage village to spend time with Recca and the Father of the church. The kids would play for hours before heading back, usually with Asta completely asleep.

It was a fairly cold morning. The fall air was bringing a chill to the kingdom. Asta looked out the window of his and Yuno's room, the two boys seeing a light layer of frost on the nearby pond. It was early, far earlier than either of their family members liked them being up. Asta slowly snuck out of the room, Yuno right behind him. The crept, avoiding floorboards they knew were squeaky as they moved towards a particular room. They both got there, looking around and not seeing or hearing their father awake they gently opened the door.

There was their target, their big sister Rebecca. Completely asleep, her blond hair not in the ponytail braid they were used to seeing her. The boys nodded to each other and walked up to her bed on both sides. They climbed up, slowly and carefully not to wake her up early and gently laid down next to her, waiting for her to wake up.

Rebecca was stirring, something on her bed, no two things on her bed. They settled on her arms, and one of them was trying to get under the blanket. Her eyes opened, on her right, a tuft of ashen hair greeted her out of the corner of her eye, and a tuft of black hair on her left. Asta, halfway under her blanket visibly gulped as he mouthed something to Yuno as she turned her head. Both of her younger brothers sitting up and moving in front of her as they put their hands up and signed one simple thing.

"Good morning sis," they signed, Rebecca giving them a very sleepy smile and rubbing their heads.

"You both are up early," she yawned, the two boys nodding as she sat up in her bed. Pulling her little brothers into a big hug while another yawn escaped her mouth. "You figured out how to say that pretty fast!"

"Practice" Yuno signed, failing to completely sign his thought but still getting an affectionate pat on the head from his sister.

"Good morning sis," Asta signed again, trying very clearly to say something different. Rebecca laughed before pulling both of them into a hug. The boys squeaking as she pulled the blanket over them.

"It's too early, let's go back to sleep," she said, yawning and almost instantly falling back asleep. Her brothers were giving each other a thumbs up before dozing off next to their big sister.

Xavier woke up with the chirping of birds outside his window, a few sparrows hopping around on the sill. He smiled and got dressed, keeping the birds in his vision as they happily hopped around.

"It's getting cold," he thought, leaving his room. "The boys are going to need something warmer for winter." He walked through the rooms, knocking on the boy's room and causing the door to swing open slowly. An empty bed greeted him, he paused and took a deep breath.

"Boys?" He said, turning around in the hallway and spying Rebecca's door partially open. He took a few cautious steps forward toward his daughter's room, gently pushing the door and letting out a relieved sigh. All three of his children completely asleep, Yuno curled up under the blanket, just his face and hair visible. Asta was splayed out on top of his sister's arm and the blanket, snoring just a little. He smiled and walked back out of the room and down to the kitchen.

The three children woke up to something delicious wafting through their room. All three of them sitting up and realizing it was time for breakfast. Asta ran down in a flash, leaving his brother and older sister behind. Yuno slowly got out of bed and walked out of the room, rubbing his eyes slightly. Rebecca chuckled as she got up and walked after her two brothers, the door to the kitchen swinging a little bit.

"Hi, Dad!" Asta said, climbing onto a chair and seeing a plate of food waiting for him. His father still cooking some more food as Yuno and Rebecca walked into the kitchen, Asta already putting a forkful of egg into his mouth.

"Good morning, Dad!" Both of them said, Yuno climbing onto his chair and Rebecca sitting in hers. They smiled as they started to eat, their father finishing up his cooking and sat down with them.

"Good morning you three," he said, getting Asta and Yuno to look up as he signed the words for Rebecca. "Sleep well?"

"Uh huh!" Asta said, Yuno nodding in agreement.

"These two," Rebecca said with a huge grin. "Decided to sneak into my room to show their signing!" She rubbed the boy's heads as they giggled, Xavier's smile getting larger.

"Good," their father said, pausing for a moment to eat. "You boys have been practicing very hard. I'm proud that you're both learning so quickly." The two boys were beaming at the praise as they ate, Xavier knew how hard they were working. He had been up far later than he knew was reasonable with the boys, practicing every word they could think of.

Xavier smiled, all three of his lovely children took their education as seriously as he did. Even if Asta was struggling compared to Yuno and Rebecca, the young boy still did his best, and that was all Xavier would ever ask of him. They finished their meals, Asta quickly taking everyone's dishes over to the sink. Yuno pulled over a stool and climbed up, Asta handing him the dirty dishes as they began cleaning up. Rebecca focused her magic on creating a pocket of warm air, the wet plates, glasses and utensils all drying off before Xavier would take them to be put away.

Once the dishes were cleaned, Xavier grabbed a few canteens of water, and they all went outside for training. Rebecca continued her magic control training, creating pockets of heat and cold around the yard. Yuno had progressed astonishingly fast and was already working on controlling his magic while moving things around with his wind. Asta, still not showing any magical ability at all was set to train his stamina alongside his father, running around the area the other two were working.

Yuno watched as his father ran a few laps around the training ground with Asta, helping his brother work on his stamina. He focused, moving small leather balls around in his magic. He was happy with what he was able to do, spinning the balls around him before stopping to get a drink. He sat down smiling as he kept swirling his wind magic around, it wasn't serious training to him, he just enjoyed being with his family. He felt his father rub his head and smiled as he faced him.

"Pacing yourself Yuno?" Xavier said, sitting next to the boy. His son nodding and drinking some more water,

"Yes Dad," he said, starting to create another small gale of wind around his practice equipment before stopping. "Dad," he said nervously. "Can... can I go play with Asta?" his smile was too nervous for how simple the question was.

"Of course you can Yuno," he said, happily patting his son's head. The worried smile faded away into what X loved seeing, the boy ran off, joining his brother as he ran and both of them laughing. Smiling, happy; their father sighing as he mentally put his hand on his face. "You can take the man out of the knights, but you can't take the knight out of the man," he muttered, happily watching the two boys start racing around the yard.

"Something wrong Dad?" Rebecca said, drinking some of her water as she sat next to him. He didn't sign anything to her for a moment, both of them looking at the two boys running around some more.

"I need to remember they're both four," Xavier signed, rubbing his head and blushing out of embarrassment. His daughter giving him an unimpressed look as he continued. "I'm too used to you begging me to train you." Rebecca laughing as she took another drink from the canteen.

"I wasn't that energetic as a kid dad!" She said, putting the canteen down. "I didn't ask you to train me that much," Xavier now giving her a knowing smile.

"How many mornings did you wake me up to train again?" he signed, Rebecca standing up and blushing a bit.

"I was four!" She almost shouted, her dad's teasing getting her to just a bit. Her dad laughing and wiping a tear from his face as Rebecca's face got a little redder. Both of them remembering a four-year-old girl waking Xavier up to train at the crack of dawn. Memories of her tiny blonde head divebombing Xavier's bed every morning to get to training. They laughed some more, watching the boys run around and play.

"Maybe we should join them," Xavier signed, Rebecca nodding as they both stood up and joined the boys. Xavier picking up Asta and Rebecca picking up Yuno, and starting to run around the yard with both boys on their shoulders. Asta demanding they race with them on their backs, the older family members more than happy to oblige.

"Go Go!" Asta cheered, Yuno giving Rebecca a sign to start running as they both took off. The two boys were hanging on tight as the race started, Xavier getting ahead of Rebecca just by a bit. His age and longer legs giving him a bit of an advantage as they ran, but Rebecca was staying hot on his heels as they started turning around the house. Both of the boys were cheering as they rounded the next side of the house, Xavier loving the sound of the boys laughing, and Rebecca loving the glimpses of Asta and Yuno's laughing faces.

They stopped after passing the front door, two delivery birds sitting on the doorstep letters in their talons. The boys climbed down from the backs of their family as Xavier opened the letters. The boys saw something on his face they hadn't seen in the few months they had been there. His face was glowing, they swore he was actually making it hard to look at with how radiant his smile was. Rebecca laughing a bit as their father held the letter close to his chest. His water magic somehow forming a mist around his head, making his smile almost completely blinding to look at.

"Is Zeke coming home again?" Rebecca said, the two boys looking at her and seeing her own face shining with a huge smile. Xavier nodding, getting Rebecca to let out an excited squeak.

"Zeke?" Asta said, scratching his head. Looking at both of his older family members.

"Is, that our other dad?" Yuno said, looking between the two, Xavier nodding happily.

"Yes Yuno," He said, signing for Rebecca. "Zeke is my husband, and he finally s able to get some time away from the border." His face was full of warmth as he kneeled down. "He's going to love you two." The two boys hugging him as four growls rang out from their stomachs.

"Maybe we should make lunch first dad," Rebecca laughed, opening the front door for them. The two boys running in ahead of them as Xavier, seemingly floating with happiness went inside. "Don't forget the other letter!" she said, Xavier, coming out of his love-induced trance with a sheepish grin.

"Right, right," he said, placing the letter from Zeke on a shelf nearby. He opened the other letter, the paper seemed rougher as he scanned it. "Boys!" he said, calling Asta and Yuno back into the room. "This letter's for you two."

Asta rounded the corner first, running up and politely taking the letter from his dad. Yuno joining him after a moment and looking over the letter. It was short, and the handwriting was messy, but they were able to figure out what it said.

"Asta and Yuno,

When can you visit again? A new Sister is here, and she's really nice and pretty! Visit soon so we can play!

Recca."

"New sister?" Asta said, the boy scratching his head. "What does she mean?"

"I think that means Father Orsi has someone helping him now Asta," Xavier said, Yuno looking over the short letter a few more times.

"When can we visit again?" Yuno asked, Asta, nodding excitedly alongside his brother. Their faces now somehow sharing the same sparkling glow as their father.

"How about a few days from now," Xavier said, gently ruffling the boy's hair. "That way all of us can go," both of the boys cheering and hugging him. Rebecca laughing as she watched the scene before the growls of hungry stomachs reminded them why they were inside in the first place.

The lunch was good, Asta insisted on trying to help his dad prepare things by carrying all the not sharp tools to him. Yuno sat patiently, Rebecca helping him practice more sign language. It took a bit of time, all four of their stomachs growling as Xavier put the finishing touches on the soup he made. Asta sitting at his place at the table as the soup was dished out. All of them waited for him to sit down as well before starting to eat.

Asta, as usual, finished first. He got up and put his dishes as best he could on the counter, before running to the door. "I'm gonna go clean our room Yuno!" he said with a huge grin, leaving before his family could respond. They all sat there, confused as Xavier signed what Asta said to her.

Upstairs Asta burst into his, and into his brothers shared room and closed the door. The boy walked slowly to his side of the bed and bent down beneath it. He pulled out a bag, rather large for a child that already had a few objects inside. Some money, a few stuffed toys and some extra clothes. He did his best to count the coins, his allowance from his father for when he took them shopping.

"one, two, three..." he counted, for just a minute. "fifteen." He finished, the larger numbers throwing him off slightly as he put the coins back into the bag. He looked around, making sure the door was still closed. Then he took a look at the toys, pulling a rather large plush bird out and hugging it tightly before putting it back. It was his favourite after all, so it hurt just a little to think of giving it away.

"Recca needs this more than me," He murmured, not hearing the door quietly slide open as he looked down. "I can always get another one."

"Another one of what?" Yuno's quiet voice came from the doorway. Asta looking up and seeing him with Rebecca and Xavier, a few dustpans and brushes in their hands. Asta tried his best to kick the bag under the bed.

"N-nothing!" The boy laughed, knowing none of his family would believe him.

"Asta," his father said, calmly walking towards the boy. "Is everything okay? You can tell me." Asta looking down as the bag was still poking out from under the bed. A few coins rolled out since it was thrown haphazardly.

"Can I open the bag Asta?" Xavier asked, Rebecca and Yuno walking up next to him. Asta nodded, still looking down as if he had broken a rule. Xavier gently patted his head as he grabbed the bag slowly with his free hand, sitting down next to Asta as he opened it. A smile on his face as he saw the contents, and put things together in his head.

"...These were going to be gifts for Hage village right?" He said slowly, signing to Rebecca as well as he picked Asta up and sat him on the bed.

"Yes dad," Asta said, still sounding like he was expecting a punishment. "They never have a lot, and you keep getting us cool toys and nice clothes, so it felt... wrong to have so much." Xavier motioned for another family hug as Yuno climbed on the bed and Rebecca stood beside him. "Am... I in trouble dad?" He said as his family embraced him.

"Not a chance," Xavier said, "Yuno, did you know about this?"

"Y-yes dad," he said nervously. Xavier smiling and breaking the hug to rub their heads.

"I'm proud of you two, so generous at your ages," he said, still signing things for Rebecca. Both of the brothers looking confused for a moment. "But, in the future, tell me, and we can get them brand new toys."

"Can we keep giving them money and clothes too?" Yuno asked, Asta, nodding in agreement. Reaching into the bag and pulling out his stuffed toy bird.

"Of course, it's your money to use how you see fit," he said, Rebecca leaning in and giving the boys a warm hug. "Now, let's get cleaning for Zeke."

The boys nodded, Asta happily putting his toys back where they belong on a dresser. Yuno, with Rebecca's help, made their bed, flattening out the sheets. Xavier swept, though there wasn't much dirt in the room. They finished and went onto different parts of the house, cleaning as a family as the sun started to go down.

"Rebecca," Xavier signed, looking at Asta and Yuno. the two boys covered with visible dirt smudges from cleaning for hours "Can you give the boys a bath?"

"Asta, Yuno it's time for a bath." She said, nodding to her father as the two boys smiled. She grabbed their hands and led them to the bathroom, Xavier going into the kitchen to prepare dinner. The man smiled, and went through their food stores, pulling out the highest quality meat they had in the house. Herbs, garlic carrots, tatoes all around a gorgeous cut of beef. He took a match and started the oven, apple tree wood to give a bit of a flavour as he set the meat to cook.

Upstairs Rebecca was helping the two boys wash their hair, her clothes getting soaked as Asta splashed around in the water as she cleaned his hair. Asta would never admit he was ticklish, but his siblings could feel his giggles being held back. The boy wiggled more as Rebecca gently cleaned the soap out of his hair, leaving the ashen hair smooth and clean. Yuno was already started on cleaning his own hair, carefully washing it while doing his best to keep soap out of his eyes.

Rebecca finished with Asta's hair and made sure he cleaned behind his ears. She then moved over to Yuno to help keep soap out of his eyes as he washed his hair. Asta still splashing around in the water as she helped Yuno clean his hair. They finished up, Asta still splashing away from them in the large bathtub. She could tell he was laughing a bit, Yuno smiling as she got up and grabbed two towels for the boys.

"Your turn?" Yuno signed at her, Rebecca nodding and focusing her magic into the towels to make them warmer. She wrapped them around the two boys and watched as their faces grew even happier from the warmth. They both dried off as she walked them to their room and had them change into new clothes, before going back and cleaning herself.

Asta and Yuno walked out of the room, Xavier had set out some fancier than usual clothes for them. Button up shirts and fancy pants for both of them, Yuno got dressed with no complaint. Asta, however, had trouble with the clothes, the hyper boy needing his brother to help him. They stepped out, somehow managing to do it at the same time as Rebecca. She was wearing a blue tunic, similar to her normal clothes but instead of them being pure blue, they had an embroidered red trim on her long sleeves. They all smiled, and smelt the dinner cooking from the kitchen. They all ran downstairs, Xavier adjusting his hair in the main hallway.

"He's almost here," Xavier said and signed at the kids. Asta looking confused.

"How can you tell dad?" the boy said, Xavier having a realization.

"Well Asta," he said a few pangs of guilt in what he was about to say, "Once you get your magic you'll be able to sense when other people are around you." Asta nodding and happily going on about what his magic might be. Xavier finding the guilt building up inside of him, but he wasn't sure how to tell him the truth. "Maybe Zeke will have an idea," He mused as he felt someone touch down outside of the building. They all waited, watching the door as the lock clicked, a small curse rang out since the person locked the door. It was unlocked again as a man walked through the door.

He was a little taller than Xavier, just by a few inches, a red scarf wrapped around his face. His hair was the same shade of blond as Rebecca, and in a ponytail that reached just above his feet. The boys looked at his clothes, a maroon tunic and white pants. A clothing style they were used too now, similar to their older family members. But for the first time, the very first time he was wearing a rather small, grey robe. The symbol of a deer adorned on the left side in dull gold. He smiled and removed the long red scarf and hung it up on a small stand in the corner.

"I'm home," he said, Xavier almost immediately pulling him into an embrace and kissing him. They held each other for a moment before, to only Zeke's surprise, Asta tackled hugged him.

"Hi, dad!" The boy almost shouted, looking up at Zeke with a huge smile. Zeke hesitating for a moment out of surprise before gently ruffling his hair. Yuno followed his lead and walked up to give Zeke a hug as well. Rebecca letting out a small giggle and joining the hug.

Zeke smiled and hugged back, the kids letting go as Xavier held his arm, just loose enough for him to sign. "Rebecca, you've grown!" is daughter nodding as he started speaking.

"And you two," He said, looking at the two boys. Their eyes meeting his and all three of them smiling. "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you two sooner."

Asta and Yuno smiled some more, hugging the man's legs. "It's okay," Yuno said, the more timid boy managing to out smile his brother. "Nice to meet you, papa!"

"Papa?" The two adults and Asta said, looking at Yuno who was still smiling.

"We need to tell you apart somehow!" Yuno said, both parents blushing and signing something to Rebecca.

"Yes!" The girl shouted, her face full of glee at the idea. "Dad and Papa! It's perfect!" It was officially a family hug as she barreled into all four of her family members and accidentally tipping them over into a pile on the floor. All three of the kids chiming in with Papa and Dad getting the two adults to turn bright red.

"A-all right you three," Xavier signed, the pile dispersing letting their parents stand up. "Dinner should be ready, so let's eat." The kids nodding and dragging both of them to the table, Zeke sitting down as he watched Asta and Yuno start setting the table. Rebecca made tea, her magic letting her boil the water and steep the herbs in a flash.

Zeke had to hide a bit of drool at the food his husband was bringing out. A perfectly smoked roast, his favourite, especially considering how long he had to eat military rations. His eyes caught Asta and Rebecca, drooling just a bit. "Guess he's picked up a few of her habits," he thought, Xavier, slicing the meat and laying it out for everyone. As soon as everything was ready, Xavier passed out water and tea to the family, sitting next to Zeke

"Welcome home dear," Xavier said, the kids swearing they could see sparkles around his head again, the same with their papa.

"You said that already dad!" Asta blurted out between a few bites of food. Coughing a bit as something went down the wrong way before drinking his water to get it clear. His brother was gently patting him on the back as he let out a burp.

"Asta, you need to swallow before talking," both parents said almost immediately. The boys laughing as Rebecca fussed over Asta, and got him some more water. They kept eating, the kids asking about Zeke's adventures. He left out the harsher details, much to Xavier's relief, the kids all lighting up as he told the story of him fending off enemies while protecting his allies. A few more stories went on the kids all asking for more details and receiving the same answer. "When you're older."

It was late, Asta struggling to stay awake listening to his parent's stories of being knights. Yuno had already fallen asleep and Rebecca carried him to bed, she was coming back to do the same with Asta. He wiggled, his sister focusing her magic on making his clothes extra warm and cozy. He waved goodnight to his parents, them both giving him a kiss on the head as they had done with Yuno. Falling asleep as soon as Rebecca got him in his bed next to his brother.

The parents heard the door to the boy's room close, along with the door to Rebecca's. Zeke let out a content chuckle.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner Xavier," he said, his husband kissing him on the cheek.

"It's all right, I know they've been looking forward to meeting you since they arrived." The brown-haired man said, leaning on Zeke while they sat together. "At least now they can start sending you letters when you go back."

"True," the long blond haired man said, leaning back on his husband. "Though, about Asta..."

"I know," Xavier said, a sad expression forming on his face. "He has no magic, doesn't he?"

"Not a bit," Zeke said, his expression matching his husband. "With how he was looking at me when we were sharing our stories I think he wants to be a knight."

"That's going to be difficult," Xavier continued, both of them looking up towards the stairs. "I had hoped maybe my senses were wrong, and that maybe his magic was just going to be faint."

"I did too but," his husband said. both of them were quiet for a moment.

"What if we make sure he has options?" both of them said, laughing as they were on the same wavelength.

"Well, good thing we have money for hobbies then," Zeke laughed, kissing his lover's cheek. Both of them discussing things to introduce their family too as hobbies. They went to bed after forming a list, the two men enjoying each others warmth in bed as they fell asleep.

"Tomorrow's going to be interesting."