Hello, I am here again. Sorry for the long wait. I'm already busy with other stories at the moment and haven't exactly thought about this one. But now I am back again. I hope you enjoy chapter 4.

Greetings Petit Erik

After four days of sailing on the sea, they finally arrived in Piraeus. The boys were very excited to finally get to know Alexia's home country. And she herself was also happy to finally be back home. Just before they reached Piraeus, she quickly packed her clothes into the suitcases and stood at the railing once again with the three of them. Suddenly Erik pointed forward with one arm.

"I can see the land. Does that mean we'll be there soon?"

Alexia chuckled at his impatience and stood behind him.

"Yes, that's Piraeus. And yes, that also means we'll be there soon."

The three of them jumped for joy around her and when the ship finally docked, they couldn't wait to get off it. When the time finally came, they rushed down the boat ramp, leaving Alexia to quickly follow and catch up with them.

"Wait a minute," she said, laughing, "you three don't even know your way around here yet. Besides, we haven't even reached our destination yet."

Three pairs of big eyes looked up at her.

"What do you mean we haven't reached our destination yet?" asked Merik.

"We haven't reached our destination yet. About another hour's ride in the carriage and then we'll be there," Alexia explained.

The three groaned, but got into the carriage anyway. Alexia grinned and got in as well.

When they finally arrived after an hour's drive, they all got out delighted. When the three boys got off, their eyes grew as big as saucers.

"Is that?"-

"Yes, that's Athens. And we're finally there," Alexia answered Gerik's unasked question.

They could look directly at the city before them. And you could tell from the eyes of the three boys that they had never seen anything like it.

"This is really where we're going to live?" asked Erik.

"No," replied Alexia, "come with me. I'll show you where we're going to live."

So together they walked on. The coachman had already gone on before with their luggage. So they could walk the rest of the way quite relaxed and enjoy the sun.

5 minutes later, they had reached their final destination. The boys' jaws dropped.

"This..."-

"Is the Royal Palace of Greece. And your new home," Alexia said.

"You mean we're going to live in it?" asked Erik.

"That's exactly what I mean. Come along."

Together, the four of them walked to the castle gate, in front of which two guards stood. When they saw Alexia, they immediately let her pass with a bow. She nodded to them and the three boys followed her, now trembling slightly with some fear. The other people they encountered bowed as well. When they arrived at the door of the palace, Alexia knocked on it. After checking to see who she was, she was immediately opened. Meanwhile, a servant informed the king. A short time later he also appeared, together with his wife. When he saw his daughter, he immediately went down the stairs to the entrance hall.

"Alexia!" he exclaimed with joy.

She immediately turned at her father's voice.

"Daddy!" she also exclaimed, jumping into her father's arms.

"Slow down, little one. I'm not as young as I used to be," the king said, laughing.

Alexia laughed too and went to greet her mother.

"Hi, Mom," she said, pulling her into a big hug.

"Hello, dear."

Her mother was much calmer than her husband in temperament and tempestuousness, and often she acted as his calming influence.

Suddenly, a loud thump sounded from upstairs and two boys ran along the upper floor and rushed down the stairs as well.

"ALEX!"

Alexia turned around.

Her eyes grew wide and she rushed forward.

A short time later, the three of them were involved in a big hug.

"Man, did I miss you guys," she said.

"We missed you too," said a brown-haired boy with green eyes.

"Finally fighting again," said another boy, who had black hair and blue eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, finally again, huh?"

"Definitely!"

While the three siblings greeted each other warmly, the king looked over at the three boys.

They were standing close together and were obviously afraid. But their eyes were only on Alexia. It was clear to the king that they had complete confidence in her. After Alexia separated from her siblings, she turned to the three boys. She smiled at them and walked to them. Then she stood behind them to introduce them to the others.

"Mom, Dad, my brothers. I'd like to introduce you to someone."

The four people addressed now looked at Alexia and the three boys. They had pressed up against Alexia and were obviously trying to huddle even closer. They were all afraid of the persons' reactions. They had tears in their eyes, which soon threatened to fall when suddenly Alexia's mother approached them.

"Hello, I'm Cynthia. I'm glad you're finally here. Alexia has already told us about you."

She held out her hand, which the three looked at first with suspicion. When they finally overcame their fear and shyness, they shook her hand. The queen unceremoniously pulled them into an embrace. They were shocked by this at first, but eventually relaxed in her arms. When she let them go, the king and Alexia's brothers introduced themselves to the three. When all embarrassment had fallen, they chatted animatedly. Alexia, meanwhile, ordered some servants to prepare for the three rooms. They bowed and went up the stairs to the second floor. When they returned later and told Alexia that everything was ready, she thanked them warmly.

She went back to her parents and brothers, who were still talking to the boys. She gently placed a hand on Erik's shoulder, who flinched briefly in response, turned his head and looked at her.

"I'd be happy to show you your rooms, if you can tear yourself away from my parents and siblings."

Erik grinned, nodded, and told the other two while Alexia talked to her parents.

"I'd like to give them a room near mine. Don't take offense but I think those three trust me the most."

"Of course we don't hold it against you. I also think the three of them will have to get used to us before they trust us," their mother said.

"Thanks, Mom."

She went back to the three and together they went upstairs. Here she showed each of them her room. The three of them couldn't get out of their amazement. Alexia grinned and was very happy that they liked it so much.

"Shall we unpack your clothes first and then have a little look at the surroundings?"

They nodded and jumped with excitement. Alexia laughed and ran from room to room, quickly putting her things away. The three eagerly helped her and after a short time they were done. Then they returned back downstairs. Alexia briefly told her parents where she was going and then they set off for the city.

She led her small group into the city, showed them the Acropolis and led them to a house at the end. There she knocked lightly on the door. The door opened and the opener's eyes grew wide. Then a joyful cry rang out.

"Alexia!"

The girl who had opened the door jumped into her arms delightedly.

"Hello, little one," she said, hugging the child.

"You're back," she said.

"I am," Alexia replied, "and I even brought someone with me."

With that, she pointed to the three boys who were standing behind her.

The girl looked behind her and her eyes grew big. Then a big grin stretched across her face and she hopped out of Alexia's arms.

"Is it them?"

Alexia knew exactly what she meant.

"If that's what you want. And so are your sisters. Where are they anyway?"

"Oh, they're still inside. Wait, I'll go get them and Dad."

With that, the child ran back inside. Alexia grinned and straightened up again. A short time later, the girl returned, this time with two other girls and a man in tow. Alexia smiled and greeted the father of the three warmly.

"Gustave, it's always a pleasure to see you," she said.

"The pleasure is all mine, Alexia," he said.

The other two girls jumped around them.

"Us too, us too!" one called up to the two adults.

Alexia giggled and turned to the girl.

"Yes, Christine, you too."

And with that, she pulled the girl into a hug. She giggled and her golden curls bounced with the movement of her head. A moment later, another pair of arms wrapped around her body.

"Hello, Emmy."

"Hello," came a slurred reply from behind her back.

"Everything okay?"

"Hmm."

"Alexia?"

"Hmm."

"Who are the three boys you brought?" asked the first girl, who was named Sierra.

Alexia grinned.

"You didn't forget your own question from earlier, did you?"

"No but do you think they would like it?"

"Why not? Just ask them."

Sierra nodded and walked toward the three boys, who looked at her anxiously. But she walked up to them, held out her hand and said: "Hello, I'm Sierra. I'm glad to meet you."

The three looked at her hand for a long time, until finally Merik walked forward and gently grasped it.

"Hello," he said shyly, "I'm Merik. And these next to me are Gerik and Erik."

With that he pointed to the other two boys who were standing to his right and left. They also shook her hand.

The other two girls turned to their sister and also approached the three boys. After greeting them as well, they talked or went to play in the big garden, which was behind the house.

"Do you think they can become friends?" asked Gustave Alexia as they watched the children were watching.

She replied: "The way I see it, they already are."

Indeed the girls were about 2 years younger than the boys. But that did nothing to their their friendship. They played and talked with each other as if they were they were the same age. Here, the boys could finally let their imaginations and feel like children. Alexia was now more than happy that she had freed the three from the cage.

As the afternoon drew to a close Alexia finally had to leave with the three of them.

"Can you please come back?" asked Christine, hugging Erik goodbye.

He returned it tenderly.

"If Alexia allows it."

"Of course I'll allow it. Why not?"

"I don't know," he replied.

"I would accompany you only for the way here because you don't know him yet."

Christine grinned and turned to Erik again.

"So does that mean you'll be back?"

He smiled at her.

"It seems so."

"Yay!" she exclaimed, falling around his neck again.

He laughed and was careful not to fall over because of her impetuous manner. The other two did not fare any differently. They too had made fast friends with the other two girls and they did not want to let them go so quickly. let them go.

"Please come back quickly," Emmy mumbled into Gerik's shirt and hugged him tightly.

"We will," he said just as quietly and hugged her.

Sierra and Merik took the longest. She almost crushed him in her embrace.

"Uh... Sierra, ... I... can't... breathe."

She looked up at him.

"Oh, sorry," she said, grinning.

"It's all right," he replied, smiling.

"Can we come to your place sometime?" she asked.

"I guess so. Or Alexia?"

"Sure, no problem. I'd just let my parents know beforehand and you guys could come."

"Could we also spend the night at your place sometime?" asked Christine.

"It's all no problem. As long as the boys are okay with it?"

"Of course!" then rang out three times.

With that, the girls fell around their necks again.

"And your father is okay with it."

The three girls slowly turned their heads toward their father, who stood in the doorway with an amused smile. Instantly they were glued to his leg, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

"I don't see anything wrong with that," he said.

His children cheered, hugging him first and then rushing back to the boys and pulling them into an equally tight embrace. The three of them just laughed and hugged them tightly as well in farewell before heading home with Alexia.

"That was the best day of my life," Gerik sighed with a smile.

"Mine, too," the other two agreed with him.

Alexia walked beside them, smiling. She was very happy that the children had made friends so quickly. She was especially pleased, however, that the boys accepted them unconditionally. It seemed that the boys' faces were not noticed by them at all, even though they were completely exposed. She felt that this pleased them boys the most. That finally someone was their friends and their face was immediately accepted without a blink. Thus, they floated the whole way home in a state of happiness.

By the time they arrived at the castle, it had gotten a little darker and they quickly got changed since it was time for dinner. When they were ready, they all quickly ran down the stairs and followed Alexia into the dining room. There, her parents and siblings were already seated.

"Sorry I'm late, Dad," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

She did the same to her mother before teasingly ruffling her youngest brother's hair and pinching the other's neck. He swatted her hand away and she grinned. Her parents just shook their heads in amusement. Alexia grinned and took her seat before sitting the three boys down next to her.

"Well, if everyone is ready, we're ready to go. May I?" the king said, and dinner began.

During the meal, there was lively conversation about the day, what events took place, Alexia's boat trip with the boys, or their little outing tonight. The three boys enthusiastically brought themselves into the conversation and talked vividly about their new friends.

"I should have known you were up to something with those three," their father said playfully serious, but Alexia just shrugged and grinned.

"I didn't know you'd mind," she said.

"I didn't either," her father replied, laughing.

So the meal continued to pass in this happy mood.

After dinner, everyone relaxed in the large library, which also housed a piano. The boys were immediately on fire for it and sat down on the stool. Then they started to play some piece and played it in absolute perfection. When they finished it, they suddenly heard applause behind them. Surprised, they turned around and saw Alexia and her family applauding them. They bowed and sat down. There was some more talking and when it was finally time, Alexia and the boys said goodbye and went upstairs.

"I loved it today," Erik said as he put on his nightgown.

"Me too," Gerik and Merik agreed with him.

"So there's a chance you guys might want to do it again?" asked Alexia.

"Definitely," Merik answered and went into the bathroom.

The other two followed him. Alexia put their clothes on the chairs of their desks and prepared their beds, so all they had to do was lie down in them. When the three of them came back from the bathroom, they immediately crawled into their beds and wrapped themselves with the warmth of their blankets.

"Please no story today," Alexia pleaded, "I'm dog tired."

"So are we," came back three times.

"Well, have a good night and sweet dreams," she said.

She gave each a kiss on the cheek, turned out the light in their room and went to her own. She quickly got ready and slipped into her bed. Then she said to her window, overlooking the fountain which stood in the castle garden: "Good night, Papa." And whoever would have passed by that fountain at that moment would have seen that there were a few ripples moving in the otherwise calm water. Almost as if they were wishing Alexia the same. And who knows, maybe they did. But no one could say, since no one had ever experienced it themselves before.