I am aware it's been a while since I last posted, but I have a good reason: life has been keeping me busy, and I honestly wasn't able to think clearly about a concrete story. I often use my daydreams to lay the foundation, so to speak, and they can change, most commonly after I do some writing and share it. I don't know why, but that always triggers a change. So, coming up with something to happen in the Dkverse after that can be... tricky.

I might make an AU to my Dkverse series soon, of what could happen if DeLaynie had a different backstory, and wasn't Norse, but Greek. and this alternate universe may use the Navi from avatar in a whole new way. and Amos may have DeLaynie in his care sooner than in this one.

she will still have a crappy life, if I choose that path, and I am NOT sorry. I'm a sucker for recovery from tragedy.

now, I present to you: three times Amos had one of his kids in his bed, and one time they all were there.

third person POV

DeLaynie

Amos Kane was sound asleep, his breathing even. he had been moved into his new home in Fame City, a city for demigods, for several days now. He had grown used to sleeping with one leg missing and was nice and comfy.

But his sleep was to be interrupted.

A young girl, his adopted daughter, DeLaynie Kane, was outside his room debating going inside. She had a bad nightmare about the collapse of the demon school, as she had taken to calling it. She didn't want to be completely alone with just her cat.

So, she opened the door quietly. DeLaynie kept reminding herself she was too old for this, but she was too desperate for comfort to not go seek him out.

As soon as she reached the bed, DeLaynie shook her dad awake gently.

"Dad? Daddy?" DeLaynie whispered.

"Hm?" Amos mumbled as he woke up. "whatcha doing here, D train?"

"didn't want to be alone." she mumbled weakly.

"Oh honey, come here."

DeLaynie crawled into his bed, letting him pull her close.

"You're always welcome to sleep in my bed. And ask me to be with you. You're my daughter after all."

Amos knew she had trouble asking for help. And he held nothing against helping her.

"Even if I'm too old for it?"

"You're autistic, I think we've got a good excuse."

So, he pulled her in, letting her sleep on his chest. DeLaynie was too wiped to really care about anything anymore.

The pair then drifted back to sleep. And their sleep remained uninterrupted for the remainder of the night.

Nico

Nico had been in his new place for a week and a half and was getting used to the calm yet somehow also chaotic presence his foster sister could have. He was also getting used to having an adult who wasn't a god or immortal actually care about his wellbeing. Amos liked to check on him every hour, offering very welcome distractions from the mini-Tartarus that was his mind. Even if he acted like he didn't care.

But tonight was not a good night. A nightmare of Tartarus, his father saying he wasn't good enough, visions of Will dying, it all overwhelmed him so bad he couldn't make himself go back to sleep.

So now, he was pacing, trying not to cry from terror. He was the Ghost King; he didn't cry because of nightmares. but here he was, shaking like a child because of some stupid dreams. It probably would not be this bad if he had remembered his medicine, but he'd been so tired had forgotten to get it.

That was when he heard the door open: with Amos Kane, his new caregiver, on the other side.

"Nico, you ok?" he asked gently.

He had realized he forgot to give Nico his meds earlier. So, he decided to check on him, just in case. and he also decided to have him sleep in his bed for the remainder of the night, so he wouldn't be alone if he had another nightmare.

"I'm fine." Nico grumbled.

"Yeah, I'm calling bull crap. Try again."

"I said I am fine." Nico said, his voice raising in volume slightly.

"Nico, I know you had a nightmare. It's ok to seek comfort from someone. DeLaynie has come to me before. and I don't think less of her. Heck, I'm proud of her for it. she has trouble asking for help, so when she does it, I always remind her, she can always come to me. Now come on, I have your meds. You can sleep in my bed for the rest of the night."

"Not a baby." Nico grumbled.

"No, but you are a child still. A child who has been through far too much to not be given affection."

Nico gave up, realizing the battle was a losing one.

Once Nico had his meds, he climbed into the bed, and slept a bit away though, not wanting to be too close.

"I'm too old for this."

"I don't care. It means you get some safety, or at least a sense of it."

As Amos fell asleep, Nico moved a tiny bit closer.

True to his word, Amos did not mind it when he woke up to Nico using his chest for a pillow.

And he kept the laughter to himself when Nico woke up, utterly mortified.

Adrian

Adrian had woken up crying. his nightmares were some of the worst. and the fact he was alone in his room was not helping. he cried for several minutes, and he only stopped when his Daddy came in.

"Hey buddy, you ok?"

Adrian shook his head.

"Come on, my beds warmer. You can sleep with me tonight."

Adrian took him up on it almost immediately. It was infinitely better than sleeping alone.

Once they made it there, Adrian got in the bed, and pulled the blankets over his little head. Amos smiled, and rubbed his back soothingly.

"Sweet dreams." Amos said.

He'd only had this kid for a few days, but it already felt like he'd had him for a lifetime.

As Amos drifted off, he sent a silent prayer of thanks that this was his life.

everybody

Amos had just grabbed a drink from the fridge, the coolness of the milk soothing him.

it had been two months since he officially adopted Nico and had received Adrian. And almost a year since he met his daughter. Every day was an adventure for him, more so than when he lived in The House, and time was just flying by.

He was heading back to bed, and he caught a surprising sight: all three kids were in front of his door bout to enter.

he had a feeling he knew why though: there was a pretty bad storm, and it was probably spooking the kids.

"Looking for something?" Amos asked.

All of the kids jumped, getting a smile out of him.

"Let me guess: the storm is scaring you?"

"Yes." DeLaynie admitted.

Straight to the point might as well be her middle name.

Amos got the kids into his room, allowing them to sleep with him.

They may have been too old for it, but he really didn't care. They had been through a lot, and deserved the ability to find comfort from someone who they would always know cared about them.

Amos climbed into bed, letting them each climb up beside him.

DeLaynie slept on his right, using his chest as a pillow. She often curled her legs up, nice and tight.

Nico usually used his own arm for a pillow as he slept on the left.

Adrian, however, typically slept deep under the blankets, using his dad's legs for a pillow and stayed like that till morning.

Amos didn't mind it, as it meant they were all close. and he would know when they chose to get up.

As each of them drifted to sleep, Amos smiled, kissing each one's head.

"Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let your ba take flight."