They were visiting her sisters before Solstice and her younger sisters birthday. But they hadn't realised how crowded his small apartment in Velaris was for a family of three.
They had let young Melody sleep with them on the first night, since Lucien had decided on a simple one bedroom, but the two had quickly realized it was not like when she was an infant. Her seven year old child was a big bed hog, and since then, the two were just grateful Lucien had invested in the sort of couch that pulled out in a bed. No, it was not ideal, and it was quite cramped, but they had made due.
That was, until the day before Solstice, the day they were supposed to go to the River House and help, and then spend the night there, before enjoying Solstice festivities, as well as her sisters birthday. That was until they wok up, and reized they could not leave Luciens small apartment given it was completely snowed in.
"Well can't you just use your fire to melt a path? We're going to he late!" Elain had exclaimed, looking to her mate, trying to keep calm, as their daughter was looking through the small kitchen, trying to find something to make herself to drink.
Melody, now seven, refused to let her parents help her in getting her food or drinks throughout the day, always trying to be more independent, the only rule she had to this though was it had to be simple, and at least one of her parents had to be around. Ever since the first time, at five, when she had made a disaster in their kitchens back home, and it had taken hours to clean.
"Or, we could just, stay here today, and go tomorrow." Lucien had responded, smiling down to Elain.
Elain, furrowed her brows in confusion as well as frustration as she looked up at her mate. "Lucien, tomorrow is Solstice, as well as my sisters birthday. We are currently snowed into your tiny apartment, and you are the only one with fire who can melt the snow. We need to be there to help set up." She says looking towards her mate, trying hard to keep from getting worked up, not wanting her daughter to see it.
Though it seemed her mate had other things in mind, as he took hold of her waist, and pulled her close, hugging her, before bending down to whisper in her ear. "You've been out, all week. Shopping alone. Leaving Mel and I alone. Let us just take today as a day for the three of us, and then tomorrow, nice and early, we will go over, and make sure we are there before everything begins."
Elain felt herself closing her eyes, smiling for a moment, before stepping back to answer. "I was shopping for gifts. You know why you and Melody could not come. Melody, well you could bribe her with cooking whatever she wants in the kitchen, unsupervised, and she'd tell you those secrets of yours that keep your hair so perfectly soft and shiny." Elain started, seeing the beginnings of realization spark within Luciens russet eye, as the metal one whirled towards their daughter in question.
"She wouldn't." Lucien said, though it sounded more like a hopeful question instead.
"I would. Also, can I? Is that something I can do mummy?" They heard the soft, curious voice of their daughter come from the kitchen, holding herself a class of what looked like the juice of many many mixed fruits.
"No." Both Elain and Lucien had answered together.
"And you, you may be great at keeping political secrets. But the truth is, my love, that when it comes to personal secrets, you try, but it's written all over your face what the secret is. You don't need to read minds to know." Elain smiled.
Elain couldn't help the smile as she saw Lucien look as though he wanted to say something, but not knowing what to say in response to what she had said.
"We will stay here for today. But tomorrow, we go, first thing in the morning." Elain added on. "And Lucien? For what it's worth, you were with me, the entire time I was shopping. Just like you're always with me. You never leave." She added quietly, too quiet for their daughter to hear.
She was referring to his heartbeat. She was always able to hear his heartbeat. It never went away now. There was never a time where she stopped hearing it, and for that she was grateful.
Lucien had then smiled before pulling her close again and leaning down before kissing her softly, not wanting to do much more, with Melody in the room.
"Stop! I'm trying to drink my juice!"
Elain smiled against her mates lips before pulling away, and looking to her daughter before asking, "So what mixture of fruits have made up your juice today?"
Later that night, Elain was just lying down on the pulled out couch, as Lucien came out of the small bedroom of his tiny apartment.
"This place felt much larger when it was just me." He had said, as he had gotten under the sheets and blanket next to Elain, smiling as he looked at her.
"You didn't have Melody or myself around then, and even then, Melody is seven, and the older she gets, the smaller this place will feel, so I'm sure it was bigger when it was just you." Elain responded, curling up into her mates side as he had lied down, before he even had a chance to get comfortable himself.
"Speaking of, Mel has finally fallen asleep." Lucien responded, wrapping his arms around Elain, and pulling her even closer.
"I figured that." Elain said, looking up to Lucien, a tired smile pulling at her lips. "You wouldn't have come out yet if she wasn't."
"She tried to sneak candies in, did you know?" Lucien asked, his eyes closed, as he began tracing his fingers along Elains arm. "Solstice chocolates, candy canes, as well as some caramelized squares."
"I did not. It wouldn't surprise me though. She seems to have gotten her love of sweets from you." Elain responded curling in even more, making sure to have her head resting above his heart, so she could hear his heart far more clearly. His heartbeat being her favourite music and most effective lullaby.
The two of them, for having done nothing all day, enjoying the day as a family, and listening to their daughter sing carol after carol, then as their daughter rewrote the lyrics to the carols, were exhausted. It was a perfect day, though they were exceedingly tired.
"I'll have you know," Lucien had started, pushing himself up slightly, and grabbed the candy cane from the table to the side of the couch. "That you are the one who makes all the sweet things that I eat. So if I love sweets to much, it is entirely you're fault. Besides, I don't even like candy canes."
Elain gasped, looking at her mate in shock. "Candy canes are delicious! They're the best, they're always reliable as they never change, and they're beautiful to decorate with until you are ready to enjoy their delicious sweetness." Elain had explained, trying to keep her voice low, so as not to wake their daughter.
"Well then, my lady," Lucien had started, before pulling her closer. "Since you love candy canes so much, why not suck my candy cane?" Lucien asked, in a whisper against her ear. He seemed shocked though, when it did not have the desired effect.
Elain couldn't help the laughing as she pushed back and sat up.
"Oh gods Lucien!" She had cried out, before remembering to control the level of her voice again. "How long has it been? Seventeen years. We've been officially mated seventeen years, and I've put up with a lot. Handled a lot of your euphemisms, but that has to be the worst!" Elain couldn't stop laughing, as she looked back to her mates shocked face.
It had taken her a moment to calm down again, as she smiled down to her mate. "Candy cane? Really?" She asked, before lying back down, curling back up against Lucien, smiling.
That was the moment the two of them heard a confused yet searching call from the bedroom.
"Daddy! Where'd you go? Come back! Daddy!"
Elain looked up to Lucien smiling softly. "Tomorrow night, there is no tiny apartment. Tomorrow night there are actual separate bedrooms. Tomorrow night, you will make it up to me for that horribly awful euphemism. I know you'll enjoy it too." Elain said, smiling, before pushing herself up to give the male she loved more than any other a quick deep kiss.
"Get back in there. Before our child fully wakes up and starts singing carols again." Elain smiled, watching as the love of her life, unable to come up with a response, went to go get their daughter back to sleep again, as she curled back up under the blankets herself and happily fell asleep, ending the perfect day.