"Good Morning, Moya Luna,"
Father was in a good mood - something happened last night.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Mother let out a giggle.
"Your Father and I were just getting to know each other a little better," she claimed, patting the dark king on his knee.
He smiled at the gesture, obviously pleased. My eyes widened.
"You were talking all night?"
"Indeed, little Leksi..."
"Little? You do realise I am eight hundred. I have centuries on you, both of you..." I emphasised, eyeing the Darkling as I said that last part.
"Oh, come now, Leksi, I just meant..."
"You're still our little girl," Mother finished for him.
She came to me, bringing me into her embrace that I could not fight. As I let her hold me, she gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. There really was no winning with her.
"You really love your mother, don't you?"
His tone was gentle and meaningful, but there was something melancholy to it. Why should such a positive thing be so... mournful?"
"I do," I acknowledged, "my Father too."
I watched as something broke in him. The despair in his eyes was gone, replaced with, I don't know what... longing? Before I realised he was on the bed with us. Both Mother and I were in a crushing embrace. We laughed as the air was squeezed out of our lungs.
"Father, we can't breathe," I jokingly wheezed.
Immediately he let go, cupping my face in his hands and pressing a kiss on my forehead.
"I love you too, moya rebe."
"You do?"
"More than anything," he whispered.
I knew how he felt about me. He had shown me countless times, even as I tried to deny it. But something about him saying it out loud; was just what I needed.
"Well, look at you, Leksi. You've achieved the impossible. You have the mighty Darkling wrapped around your finger."
The comment did not bother Father at all, surprisingly. He just continued to hold me close like a precious jewel.
"Leksi," he inquired gently, "would you care to tell me about your dream? Your Mother has told me some things, but I'd like to hear more from you."
"Well., I'm not sure what it means, but I think they were moments from the future, well, your future, anyway."
He nodded for me to continue.
"I saw the moment you and Mother decided to have children. Mother had to convince you."
He seemed pensive, reflective.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why so reluctant?"
I already knew the answer, but I wanted his answer.
He sighed.
"Like I once told you, Leksi, I never thought I would have such a luxury. For many centuries alone, I watched as children doted on their parents. They would love them, only to grow up to bury them. It was a mindless, never-ending cycle. Some parents even buried their children - lost to war or sickness, a perversion of the cycle. And in my case, probably the only option."
"I'm sorry, Father."
His tone was sombre again - so much pain. It was then I realised that even though I had lived many centuries, I never had spent them alone. Mother and Alistair had always been there. And Mother would have had the Darkling. But there had been a time when he had no one.
"There was no point, not until..."
"Not until Mother came along," I finished his thought.
"But even then, it wouldn't have necessarily been guaranteed."
"After all, my aunt was..."
"Otkazat'sya, I know."
He seemed taken aback by my knowledge.
"How did you..."
"You think I don't know my family history?"
"I suppose it's not something I'm used to, moya luna."
"But your grandmother was otkazat'sya. Neither you nor Mother are. The chances for you to have..."
"Well, I know that now, Leksi," he said giving me another squeeze. "What else did you see?"
"Um... well, that was actually after Alistair and I were born."
This piqued his interest.
"And what did that look like?"
"I was a baby, actually..."
A warmth seemed to cross over his features.
"And?" he beckoned, his voice gentle once more.
"Well, I was in my chambers, and Alistair was playing with me."
He grinned.
"And then?"
"Then, you reprimanded him telling him to go back to his duties."
He nodded as if that were something to be expected.
"That's normal to you?"
"Well, if he is a general like you say, then yes, there were probably things he needed to do."
"Aleksander," Mother admonished.
He did not respond, only prompting me to continue.
"Once he left, you came in and picked up where he left off - summoning shadows at my demand."
"At your demand?"
"Yes," I smiled, "it seems that baby me was quite fascinated by shadows and couldn't get enough of the shadow puppets..."
Father's eyes began to glisten; a certain alacrity was there that wasn't before. Again, he reached for my face, all emotion at the forefront.
"For once in my very long life, I have a future to look forward to."
"Speaking of the future... looks like the Little Palace is not going to run itself."
Outside my chambers were Ivan and a maid waiting for the Darkling to give them their orders.
"Right, I suppose the day must begin."
He reached for Mother's hands, leaning down to kiss them.
"I shall see you at dinner, Miss Starkov?"
She smiled, giving him a graceful nod. Then her gaze turned to me.
'What about Leksi?"
"Ah, yes..." he acknowledged.
"Don't worry about me. I'll have dinner in my chambers tonight. I could use the alone time."
Father did not argue.
"Right, I suppose that settles that. Miss Starkov, I believe you have training. And Leksi, enjoy your free day."
"Really?"
"Yes," he replied.
He was already off to see what Ivan had prepared for him. Mother was also now preoccupied as the made escorted her off to training. Just as the door was about to close, the Darkling was back.
"Leksi?"
"Hmmm?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"You know what."
I grinned knowingly, "Take care of my Mother for me."
"Well, you obviously came from somewhere, didn't you?"
I frowned.
"Don't make this weird, Father."
He laughed, a free, hearty sound.
Like a Father.
"Rest well, moya tsarevicha."
"Enjoy dinner, Father."
It was nice to see him smiling.
Hi guys,
I know it's been a hot minute since I last posted. Just had a lot of exams and have my last one next Wednesday! Wish me luck. :) Sorry, this was kind of another fluffy chapter. I hope it was okay and that you have enjoyed reading so far. Thank you so much @lovebeyondwords for naming the last chapter. As always, hope you have a lovely weekend and would love to hear your thoughts on the chapter and any name suggestions. Thanks for reading!