"How are you feeling?", Joshua Sweet asked Nola as both twins laid in her arms, both already starting to feed from her breasts. "Much better now.", Nola told him. "It's always a pain to deliver but at least it ends...", she said.
"Much easier though than, say, Rebecca's.", Joshua said. "You Atlanteans after all seem to deal with birth less painful than those from the surface. Honestly, I was really worried for Rebecca for a little bit with just how young she was.".
Nola nodded, "Me too, but she did good...Through you have to admit that Gabriella took far longer than the twins did...I still can't believe that Rirra got part of Gale and Kazi's genes, almost like they are giving their blessing to know that I found love again, that I found my true mate in you, Joshua...", glancing at Rirra who's suckling on her left breast, while Jivin is suckling on her right breast, and then Nola looked at Joshua who is sitting beside her with a cooing Gabriella, watching her younger siblings, satisfied after an earlier feeding two hours ago between the twins' births.
They were a bit surprised that Jivin got Joshua's baldness as it wasn't a particular strong gene for that in the family with their son, but otherwise, it was pretty standard...Then when Rirra opened her eyes...it was a major surprise...
Though maybe not truly the most surprising since Rirra wasn't the first person with different colored eyes; but they certainly were a lot more special than, say, some of the few people that Sweet had met with the same condition on the surface.
Joshua replied warmly, "And they approved of me too...All the same, does it feel like Rirra is the same soul you knew?".
Nola smiled softly, "It feels like her, yet she is a bit different in shape and such...I can't believe she came back home to me...", tears prickling at her eyes, and Rirra, feeling her mommy's emotions, let go of her own nipple for a moment, patted her upper chest with her tiny hand, gurgling at her with a little frown.
She vaguely remembered that her original body slept for ages while she was lively, stuck as a baby with her daddies in a beautiful place after the scary sounds, but she couldn't recall much except missing her adoptive mommy, Nola so much, that when her daddies asked her if she wants to be with Nola again, she was happy, and now with a third daddy to her family, and two new siblings to play with, after being in the warm place of her mommy, she vaguely knew that she didn't want to leave her mommy again, not wanting to see her hurting like how she had watched over her mommy with her daddies occasionally.
Nola looked at her daughter who's grabbing her attention, and upon seeing her little frown, "Oh, I'm alright, darling...I'm just very happy that you're home again...I love you, Rirra...", leaning down to kiss her little forehead, feeling her little hand patting her cheek.
Rirra cooed happily, and went back to suckle on the breast again, as she's not full yet, and Joshua chuckled, "Yeah, looks like Rirra is home once again...She must have missed you so much, even if Gale and Kazi kept her occupied, being her daddies and all. It's amazing how the Great Kings could do some things, though they know to leave other things alone.".
"I still just can't believe this has happened... after so long...", Nola said as Joshua nodded. "Know that feeling; I really didn't think I'd ever be a father after so many years. I mean, I knew it was still possible for me at least but I just thought with my age; I doubt I would've found someone...", he chuckled.
Nola smiled softly, "Yet here we are, Joshua...", kissing him tenderly on the lips as she sighed happily and tiredly after even the seemingly fast 4 hour labor this time with the twins, it was still hard work for her, leaning her head on his shoulder, "Three children, granted that Gabriella is a couple of months older, but it'd be legendary to keep to a schedule for them all...", smiling at Gabriella who is trying to keep awake in Joshua's arms while being awed of her younger siblings, Jivin and Rirra.
Joshua chuckled softly, wrapping his free arm around her, "Yet we got my parents to help out, along with friends occasionally at a playdate or something...They're all perfect, and all ours, Nola...And we got forever to see them grow up and all while we don't have to age physically much anymore without worrying...", with a warm smile as he kissed his wife on the temple.
Nola smiled, "Couldn't agree more with you, my teddy bear...", content to watch their children get sleepy and finish their meal, feeling right more than ever, and to make it even better, Joshua and her new parents are never leaving Atlantis, as it's home for them all.
It took a while for everything to settle down, and eventually, some of the gang knew that they had to get back to the surface, Bucky, Audrey, Manuel, and Preston.
"Are you really sure you have to go back, Preston?", Abraham asked as he, Thaddeus, and Preston was enjoying tea while Rachel and Klaus were napping, "The twins absolutely loves you, being their grandpa and all but blood, and you could always find love here. There are quite some elders around here who'd appreciate some life again.".
Preston sighed deeply, "Abraham, I really need to figure everything out with my estate and I have created a will for the descendants of Joshua, Steve and Peggy, Audrey, and hell, even Mole if he had luck there, but as it's clear now that I have to fix the will again, for Joshua is now staying forever with Nola and his parents and his children which I couldn't blame him for, and for Steve and Peggy, they absolutely love their cottage, and I doubt they would want to live in such a lavish and huge mansion, and for Audrey, she got Bucky now, and I still don't know what their plans are after the war ends and all, though I know they are determined to have a wedding surrounded by family like the Rogers family on Bucky's side, including his other sisters, and Audrey's family including Manuel and her older sister...Bucky would have to work on a story to put Rebecca out of the picture somehow, though not faking her death, but something, to at least satisfy his other sisters' concerns and such, as Rebecca found her mate and got her daughter. And...you know what happened with Mole.", with a weary frown, as the others bowed their heads in respect for a moment.
Thaddeus replied, "And you don't know if they would like to live permanently in the mansion either...", and Preston nodded, "Yeah.. Audrey and Bucky seems the type to live humble yet busy lives in a way...Cookie and Packard were insisting that they would be happy being guests of the mansion but keeping up the bills and such to live in their age...".
Abraham hummed thoughtfully, "How about just keeping them as the owners, and you could suggest to them that they could use the mansion as a bed and breakfast inn or something of the sort?".
"Maybe; that's not actually a bad idea.", Preston admitted. "I honestly had no real idea what to do with the place once I pass... which I'm hoping I've still at least got another decade or two left in me... don't start making me sound like I'm already getting my affairs in order.", Preston shook his head with a small smirk on his face.
Thaddeus replied with a small chuckle, "We won't...Still, you know you can come back here after the will's set, and you could always fake your death...After all, your brilliant ideas with Abraham's help got me out of a sticky situation, remember?".
Preston chuckled, "Indeed, Thaddeus...And yeah, that's true...Perhaps some sort of chickenpox or something...The rich club would easily believe that one over a car crash when I got a really good driver...But like a slow build or something...After all, they would believe that I came home from a vacation in a safe place south in Florida or something, due to the war and such...".
Abraham replied, "That sounds quite believable enough.", with a nod, "And you can still get a thrill of excitement around here with love as there are some good single elders.", with a smile. Preston sighed deeply, scratching his cheek, and Thaddeus raised an eyebrow, knowing that tick.
"What is it, Preston?", Thaddeus asked softly, and Preston replied, "Apparently, the few single elderly women, all beautiful and good in their own ways, has lost their mates due to the wave, heart attacks, the rare accident in scavenging, or old age, and even if they saw that I'm handsome and eccentric at times, they...they fought over me, that is, the younger elders that is, who aren't too set in the ways, and you know me, I had to get out of there as I didn't want them to get hurt over me...It was when I realized that I am too set in preferring privacy over socializing at times...Something I'm regretting now since I became a multi-billionaire...And there's the issue of making time worth it when I know 20 years can go easily, and...I wouldn't want to put a woman through that when they deserve better...especially with widows and such...", with a sigh.
"There's something else, isn't there?", Abraham whispered softly, and Preston nodded softly, "Probably because I was living under the Heart for those past four months, being a Atlantean friend and all, I get the feeling that there's a woman my age on the surface, but I barely get the notion that she would be a new friend, a teacher, or something more as she feels like she's very sick yet determined to keep on fighting...What, I don't know, but she has been fighting...straining her down and all.", with a concerned look.
Thaddeus blinked, "You got a vision?", and Preston shook his head, "No...peculiar feelings when I go on my meditation time. I get the notion that my crystal will recognize her by something I don't know about, where I wouldn't recognize her until that happens...".
"Sounds confusing.", Abraham admitted as Preston nodded, "Yeah, I know, I wish I could show you two, make it easier than how I'm explaining it, but I think that's the best way I could do that.".
Thaddeus replied, "All the same, we're going to miss you, Preston.", with a small smile, and Preston smiled, "I know. I'll miss you guys the most, especially the two imps...", referring to Rachel and Klaus.
Two toddlers suddenly came out of the nursery, tears flying as they sort of ran, hugging Preston's legs, with Rachel crying, "Papa, Daddy, make Grapa 'Eston stay!", with Klaus nodding, "We luv you, Grapa!", sniffling, surprising the men as they weren't able to make full sentences since they were only saying two or three simple things at a time, until now, that is.
"K-Klaus...", Thaddeus whispered, "Did... did you just say your first full sentence?", as the young boy nodded. "You know Rachel said a sentence too, Thaddeus.", Abraham reminded him as she pouted.
Thaddeus looked apologetic, "Sorry, Rachel...Still, about time...was starting to wonder...", as Preston picked up the twins into his lap, hugging them with his arms respectively, "I love you two imps, but I have to go back to the surface...After all, I have to keep the sub secured for another trip if Steve and Peggy wants to go next time and such to show Brookyln, and of course, for Bucky and Audrey to check on Rebecca and little Helena occasionally after the war, and who knows what else?".
Rachel pouted, "Wanna you stay, Grapa...You happy 'ere.", as Klaus nodded, "Yeah! Tell Grapa, Papa, Daddy!", looking over at his fathers with a pout.
"They certainly don't want to say bye...", Abraham sighed as Preston nodded, "I know... I hate doing this to them. I've really come to love these two so much in the short time we've been here...".
Thaddeus looked at Rachel and Klaus, "Rachel and Klaus Thatch, Preston really has to go. He needs to help our friends, to find a way to end the war at last, to arrange things up there, so they wouldn't suspect anything if he comes back here, maybe with a new someone you might possibly want him to be happy with, and don't think about sneaking on a ride or you will give us real heart attacks, is that clear, young lady and young man?".
Klaus and Rachel looked sad, pouting as they nodded resignedly, and Rachel whispered, "Why we cannot go?", and Abraham replied, "You two would be safe with Preston and us, I know that, but you know that the surface is not kind to even the notion of a single father with children without a mother to mind them, even with Preston as a grandfather and all, especially with the thought that men should work and all with women at the house, even if things are changing somewhat, and most of all, they would be very suspicious if two men showed up together with you two, and you know how we had a hard time to hide our love for each other...and if they saw something wrong with that, they would see something wrong with two men raising a child, let alone twins, they...they would pull you two away, my sweethearts...and me from your papa...", with a choked sob as Thaddeus rubbed his back, kissing his temple, holding him to his side.
Both children felt a pain deep down inside. One they knew before when the Swastikas began being raised all across Germany and the Horst Wessel Leid blared at the rallies. At least in this case, it would be driven by hatred over whom was born as, but more of hatred of a certain love that many still remained closed minded to.
Klaus spoke softly, "We not wanna hurt you, Daddy, Papa...", as Rachel nodded, sniffling, "We sorry, Grapa.", looking back at Preston with a shamed look that they are making things a bit worse.
Preston then rubbed the twins' backs, "It's okay, Rachel and Klaus. Listen to me right now, even if I'd be more than very happy to be your grandfather, you two, the rich club and everybody else who heard of me, they know that I never married or had children per sec via rumors and all, and sure, they don't know the details of my actual family, like having siblings or such, but they would still be suspicious of your fathers, if either of them came out to be a long-lost brother or something, they would notice that something's off. So, I would want you two to stay here, be safe, and keep your fathers happy for me, okay?", with a nod.
Rachel and Klaus hugged him together, snuggling into his chest and he smiled, ruffling their hair with his hands, "That's my good, clever imps...", kissing their foreheads, glancing at Thaddeus and Abraham who has calmed down in his mini breakdown, holding hands as they held each other.
"It sucks though...", Thaddeus spoke up. "That we can't just simply see you all the time; live a few hours away and take a car ride or train to you whenever we want...", with a sigh. "I know. It's the sacrifice we did make though by deciding to stay here...", Abraham squeezed his hand.
Thaddeus gave him a small smile, returning the squeeze fondly as Preston replied, "And I'd want to keep my dearest friends safe, you two, and as for you imps, since I'm not leaving for a few hours yet...do you want to help me make dinner and help set the table?", with a smile as sometimes he'd do dinner. He may be old and sometimes spoiled with a butler and such back at the mansion, but he still remembers his college days and his childhood life where he could have to cook on his own and such.
Rachel and Klaus nodded, "Yeah!", with wide smiles, willing to spend the most of their time left with their adopted grandfather, and Preston chuckled, "Alright, then.", letting them off his lap, "Why don't you two go wash your hands, and join me in the kitchen?".
They nodded, almost sprinting off to the bathroom in their toddler way, using the toddler steps in one of the bathrooms, and Abraham chuckled, "I'll help them.", as he got up, kissing Thaddeus on the lips tenderly, and went to help his children.
Thaddeus glanced at Preston, "Even if this woman would be just a friend, I hope you'd find some happiness by helping her out.", and Preston smiled, "Thanks, Thaddeus...Could you help out with some of the heavy stuff for me, please?".
"Sure thing.", Thaddeus smiled as they got up from the table, to go start the procedure of preparing for dinner, and so, after a well-meaning and hearty dinner, and a stroll with a few detours that the twins took Preston to look at, they arrived at the city center where the narwhal transport is set to go off, seeing most of the extended family off to the side, with Rebecca and Helena having their goodbyes with Bucky, Audrey, and Manuel, with Dazis to be the driver once again to drop the quartet in the air pocket to the sub.