–

Shizuo was more than happy when he found Psyche nodding off in his carseat as they pulled into the apartment complex. He moved out of his car, and opened the door that Psyche was in, pulling the child into his arms.

Once he was back in his apartment, he found that Kida and Tsugaru had already made it back from school. "Back already?"

Tsugaru only stared onward before turning back to the television program he was watching, but Kida nodded. "We've been back for a while. I figured I should stay and help Tsu-chan out with the ladies~" he teased.

Shizuo rose an eyebrow. He knew it. It was happening. This kid would turn their kids into pimps. It was pissing him off. He took a deep breath, and counted to ten before responding. "Ladies? He's five years old."

"That's what I said!" Tsugaru argued, glaring over at the blonde teenager. "I just said Sonohora-sensei was nice!"

"Yes, nice," Kida said, wriggling his eyebrows.

Shizuo rolled his eyes, "That's not what he means, you punk. He means she's nice."

"Yeah, Sonohora-sensei is nice," Kida repeated.

Shizuo frowned, "Shut up, Kida." He moved into Psyche's room, placing the sleeping boy in the bed, noticing Hibiya's crib was empty. He walked out of the room, looking over at the teenager. "Where's Hibi-chan?"

"Kasuka-san has him," Kida said, looking up at the ex-bartender by leaning his head over the couch. "Hey, there's a carnival going on tonight near Raira! We should go!" Kida beamed over at Shizuo who didn't look too impressed.

Carnival? That meant people. That meant idiotic people who paid idiotic amounts of money to ride unsafe rides and buy overpriced cotton candy and elephant ears. ….Cotton candy and elephant ears. That did sound good. "When?"

Kida shrugged, "what about after dinner?" He suggested, since he was here all night with Shizuo and the kids – he might as well try and get some good fun in.

Shizuo looked down at his oldest son, "Wanna go?" He asked casually and for once – he thought he saw Tsugaru getting a little excited over something. Tsugaru nodded, smiling brightly.

"First though, we need to get some of these chores done," he said, pulling out the crumpled up list from his vest pocket. "I need your and Hibiya's help though. Can you do that?"

Tsugaru nodded, "what about Psyche-chan?"

Shizuo frowned, thinking about it a moment. It wasn't fair that Psyche got out of this cleaning bit, but- "I think Psyche would do more destruction then help." He told his son, "He'll have something to do later."

Tsugaru stood up on the couch, reaching his arms up in the air to be lifted. Shizuo complied, placing his eldest on top of his shoulders and carrying him into the kitchen. "Kida, it was your idea so don't think you're going to slack off while we clean. You're helping too. You can start with the dishes." He glanced up as if he could see his son on top of his head. "Want to help Kida with the dishes, Tsugaru?"

Tsugaru shrugged as he was lifted from Shizuo's shoulders to his arms, "I guess so." He said, being set down on the floor. He smiled gently over at Kasuka who was making faces to a giggling Hibiya.

"Thank you for staying, Kasuka. You can go ahead and leave if you have matters to attend to." Shizuo said, eternally grateful for his little brother. "Hibi-chan, want to help Daddy with laundry? If you do – we get to go to the carnival later."

Hibiya frowned, "the carnival is full of commoners." He huffed. Shizuo frowned, knowing this was going to be Hell if Hibiya didn't cooperate.

"But if there are commoners around," Kasuka chimed in, "more people are bound to notice someone of royalty like you." He smiled over at his nephew who now stared at his uncle with wide eyes like he was having an epiphany.

Hibiya turned to his father, "Can I wear my prince outfit?" He squealed excitedly.

Shizuo winced, using a finger to itch his ear from the high-pitched noise. Of course, Hibiya would only want to attract more attention to himself. "Sure, but you have to help me with laundry first."

Hibiya nodded excitedly, "I will!" He promised, hopping down from the counter and running to his bedroom, pulling out his prince attire and holding it up to his father. "Wash, peasant!"

This was going to be a long night – and it was just beginning.

–

"The carnival! The carnival! The carnival!" Psyche sung, bouncing next to the door while he held onto Kida's hand.

Shizuo shifted Hibiya on his hip, and looked at the three that were now standing in front of the door. "Okay, were going to the carnival-"

"The carnival! The carnival!"

"Psyche," Shizuo stated firmly which caused the boy to stop singing. "Now, here are the rules for going to the carnival. You are with a grown-up at all times – that means you are with me or with Kida." Shizuo paused for a moment, "maybe I should get another grown-up since...I'm not even sure if Kida counts." He mumbled in thought.

Kida frowned, "HEY!"

Shizuo frowned, sighing. "Fine, whatever. If worse comes to worst – I'm calling someone in." He told the teenager who huffed. "What the hell was I talking about?"

"Rules for the carnival!" Psyche replied excitedly, throwing his free hand in the air, still bouncing on his feet, humming happily to himself.

"Yeah, so – always be with a grown-up. That's me, or Kida. Tsugaru doesn't count as an adult, Psyche, and Hibiya that goes the same for you too." He said, turning to the raven who was cradled in his arm. "What else?"

"Don't talk to strangers," Tsugaru chimed in.

"Stay with Kida!" Psyche piped up, only really having a one-track mind.

"No whining, or throwing a fit when something doesn't go your way," Shizuo added, giving stern glares to both of the raven-haired boys.

Hibiya sighed dramatically, "Can we go already? My people are waiting." He huffed, moving his arms up to shift his crown, making sure it was placed on the center of his head. Shizuo and Hibiya stared at each other for a while, before Shizuo broke his character, letting out a small chuckle. Hibiya was more than amusing.

"Lets go!" Psyche bounced, throwing his hands in the air.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Shizuo muttered under his breath, moving out of the apartment with the rest of the group. He was situating everyone in their respective car seats in the car when he heard his phone buzz against his hip. He sighed, pulling the phone out, and seeing the familiar name. "Were still alive, what do you want now, louse? Don't you have a job to do?"

Izaya pouted on the other line, though he knew the blonde couldn't see him. "I just wanted to know how everyone was doing! Just because I had children with a monster doesn't mean I don't miss those little monsters." He argued, there was a small pause before he spoke up again, "What are you guys doing?"

Shizuo smirked in response, "You miss us." He said into the phone, loving to take advantage of the informant when he was feeling, motherly, shall we say.

Izaya pursed his lips, "I just said I missed the little monsters. Didn't your protozoan brain hear me the first time? I didn't say anything about missing you, Shizu-chan, but you should learn to answer the question you've been asked. What are you guys doing today?"

"Were going to the carnival," the ex-bartender murmured as he buckled in Hibiya, shutting the door before moving to the drivers seat.

Shizuo could imagine the way Izaya was pouting, and about to throw a dramatic fit on the other line for not waiting until he got back from his work.

"Of course you would just think to go without me!" Izaya, like presumed, jutted out his bottom lip in jealousy.

"I'm getting sick of your mouth already," Shizuo muttered, "I don't know how I could stand dealing with the boys and you with Kida at the carnival."

"Shizu-chan~ you love my mouth."

"Tch, the only good thing about your mouth is getting to shut it up," Shizuo responded, turning on the car engine.

"Shizu-chan, are you trying to get me excited at work with your dirty mouth?" Izaya teased on the other line.

Shizuo's grip on his cell phone tightened, hearing the phone make a cracking sound. "I'm hanging up, louse." He said, flipping the phone shut and throwing it in a empty cup-holder.

"Carnival! Carnival! Carnival!" Psyche chanted in the backseat.

Shizuo's grip on the steering wheel tightened. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take of Psyche. "How much longer is it to this damn place?" Shizuo asked through gritted teeth, watching the teenage boy in the passenger seat shift to look at their GPS.

"Half-hour."

Shizuo wasn't sure how much more he could take of this. A pain shot through his head, and he used a hand to massage his forehead, slowing down at a red light – he had finally began to relax again.

"Dada," Hibiya said.

"...Yeah?"

"Are we there yet?"

A/N: Sorry about the long hiatus of this story. I'm working on it! Promise! Don't forget to R&R :)