Tedros let out a sigh and he slumped into his chair, head in his hands.
Axel gaped at him.
What was happening?!
"Axel, I try my hardest to be a good father for you."
Axel's eyes widened and his heart constricted painfully.
"But you and I... we're just so different."
Axel stared at his father as he lifted his head from his hands and looked at him, his face showing so much regret.
"I tried everything I could. Everything I thought a father should show their son. I tried to teach you how to sword fight, and you almost lost an arm. I tried to teach you how to hunt, and you befriended all the animals. I tried to teach you the bow and arrow, and you almost killed by best guard. And somehow during all of this... your sister thrived. She was good at everything I tried to teach you and so I taught her instead. She's the swordsman and the hunter. She's the one I taught to throw and the one I taught all of my advice on flirting. On flirting, Axe."
Axel put his head down in shame.
"But I still tried. I tried to talk to you about your books and your magic, but I just couldn't understand a word you said. I tried to help you practice your bird calls and whistles and whatever else. But I didn't understand any of it. I tried, Axe, but I could never understand what went on in that big head of yours. But you're not a disappointment, Axe. I try to show you that everyday. And I can't believe you think I'm disappointed in you."
Axel's heart stopped beating.
His father... had done all that?
Looking back, Axel could only remember it from his point of view.
His father trying desperately to try and teach him anything and everything he knew.
And then Theresa was there.
And she was just so good at everything.
And then Axel tried to show him what he was learning, and his father wouldn't understand any of it.
And soon he stopped explaining.
And then it was always him and Theresa.
And Axel was left behind.
But Tedros did try.
He tried his hardest.
But Axel... Axel hadn't.
He'd given up on their relationship.
And that was his fault.
He felt tears filling his eyes and he tried to blink them away, but they were falling down his cheeks now.
"Dad, would you like to try and show me some of that again?"
Tedros' eyes shot up and he laughed, clearing away a few of his own tears.
"No."
Axel's heart sank.
It was too late.
"I think I'd rather hear about the spells you've been working on."
Axel gaped at him and Tedros laughed.
"Come on," he said, putting an arm around Axel's shoulders and leading him out of the room.
Axel was already rambling on about the first spell, but for once he slowed down.
He explained it in more detail.
And soon Tedros was understanding.
And he was smiling at Axel like he always smiled at Theresa.
And it was at that moment that Axel realized something very important.
Tedros had always looked at Axel like that.
He just hadn't been paying attention.
Tedros pulled him to a stop after a moment and looked into his eyes, setting him hands on his shoulders and making Axel feel the weight behind the words he was about to speak.
"I'm proud of you, Axe. I'm proud of your dedication and your intelligence. And I'm proud of what you did at the Trial by Tale. That takes a real Ever and I couldn't be prouder to say you're my son."
Axel sniffled and Tedros wrapped an arm around him again.
"Keep telling me about that spell."
And by the time Axel had finished, they were at the armory.
His heart stopped.
Did...
Did he actually want to sword fight?!
Because Tedros has a sword in his hands.
"I know you don't like to use the sword, but I think you should at least hold this one," he said.
Axel frowned in confusion before his eyes landed on the blade.
He recognized it.
Excalibur.
He looked back at his father and Tedros grinned at him, just like Theresa did.
Axel took the sword with shaking hands.
"You're my son and you have the right to carry this sword, even though you don't know how to use it. Your mother always said that magic was more dangerous anyways."
Axel admire the blade in his hands.
A sword had never felt right in his hands.
It was always awkward and heavy and he had no idea how to use it.
But this one felt right.
That didn't mean he magically knew how to use it, but he felt right about what it represented.
After a minute, he handed it back to his father who had a proud look on his face.
Tedros turned and pulled something off the wall.
It was a blue jacket with the lions of Camelot on each arm.
Axel gaped at it.
Tedros smiled and settled it around Axel's shoulders.
Most coats didn't fit Axel and slid right off of him with ease.
But this one... he could tell it had been tailored for him.
"I had this one made for you specially about three days ago. Guess that's a good thing too."
Tedros wiped his eyes and laughed.
"I think I'm going to need another one to be made because Theresa sure isn't going to pry hers out of Amber's hands."
Axel laughed and wiped his eyes with his palm.
Tedros sheathed Excalibur and was back to walking beside Axel.
His son was talking about a spell and his brain was working overtime to understand what he was saying.
But for once Axel was making sure Tedros understood.
And Tedros could ask a question without Axel thinking he was making fun of him.
It was one of the best moments of his life.
~
Agatha and Theresa watched from afar, both grinning at the two boys.
Agatha went to wrap her arm around Theresa's shoulders, but she realized that her daughter was too tall for her to do that.
It left a pang in her heart.
She was growing up far too fast.
But she put an arm around Theresa's waist.
Theresa leaned down despite the height difference and put her head on her mother's shoulder.
Somethings never changed, it seemed.
~
"Do you really like this... this princess?" Hester asked.
"Her name is Theresa."
Hester sighed.
"Do you really like Theresa?"
Amber nodded, clutching bag around the straps that were sling over her shoulders.
Inside the bag, she knew she'd find the coat belonging to Camelot's heir.
Hester looked like she was chewing rocks.
"Fine."
Amber smiled thinly at her mother and then turned around.
Hilda was grumbling under her breath.
"Just don't be so affectionate."
Amber pushed her.
"I'll do whatever I want."
Hilda was suddenly grinning.
"There's the Amber I know!"
Both girls were laughing.
Dot, Kiko, and Dede saw that the family of four was more relaxed and joined them as they raked down the road.
"I still can't believe we didn't get to go to the Ball...," Dede said with a sigh.
"You'll go this year at school," Hester pointed out.
"Yeah, but...," Dede trailed off and shook her head.
"You're right. It doesn't matter."
All four parents exchanged a look and Hester sighed.
"Fine," she whispered in Anadil's ear.
The albino smiled at her wife.
"I think I left something at the castle," Kiko said before turning and jogging back.
Both Covens exchanged looks.
The young Coven was wondering what the girl could be doing while the older wondered if it was a good idea to leave Kiko in charge of this.
~
Kiko arrived at the castle out of breath but with a mission.
She hurried to Agatha.
"I need some carrier pigeons."
Agatha raised an eyebrow, but she led her friend to them anyways.
On the way Kiko told her about the plan.
Agatha was grinning by the end and she helped Kiko write the letters.
~
Each of the families got a letter, including Hester and Anadil.
Thy exchanged a look before opening it up.
"Do we have to set up the decorations?" Hester moaned.
Anadil shoved her.
"It's for Amber. And Hilda, but mostly Amber."
"Fine."
Anadil nodded and quickly wrote a response on the back of the first letter before sending the bird on its way.
~
"Why am I in charge of music?!" Sophie moaned.
"Because you're the only one that listens to the cheesy romance music!" Anadil growled.
"Why exactly isn't Tedros helping?" Beatrix griped.
"Because he and his son are spending time together," Agatha snapped.
"Why exactly should I care?" Ravan asked.
"Because your kid will love this," Hort said with a warning look.
Ravan grumbled and went back to work.
"Sophie, that song is inappropriate," Nicola said.
She'd been moderating her wife while simultaneously putting up decorations.
It was a talent only someone married to Sophie could have.
~
The kids were all back in the garden, having been dropped off by their parents while they did something vague but still important.
They were forbidden from coming inside.
Theresa was sharpening her sword while Amber tried to pretend she wasn't impressed by the girl's skill.
"What do you think they're doing in there?" Hilda asked.
"Probably trying to come up with a punishment," Nathan said nervously.
Theresa sheathed her sword and set the sheath on the ground.
"They're not punishing us."
Everyone looked at her.
"They're not! They're probably just talking about the book. Maybe complaining about how this is going to make them popular again."
Amber and Hilda snickered.
"Our moms complain about that all the time," Hilda said.
Amber nodded in agreement with an eye roll.
"I just hope people at school won't read it," Dede said nervously.
Whether they showed it or not, everyone was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of their new classmates reading about them.
"I'm sure it'll be okay," Serenity said.
Dede shrugged noncommittally.
Theresa stretched out on the ground and Serenity fell back on her.
"Seriously?! This again?!"
Milly was laying on her shoulder, which made Amber glare at her darkly.
Hilda also glanced at Milly with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Don't be jealous, Amber. She's just a pillow," Serenity said as she pulled out a fairytale and started reading it.
Amber considered before she laid down and put her head on Theresa's stomach beside Serenity.
The princess squawked and stared at everyone else for help.
Even her girlfriend wouldn't help her!
Amber moved closer and Theresa couldn't let herself be upset with the other girl being so close.
~
"Are we ready?" Agatha asked as she looked around the room with a smile on her face.
"I think so," Nicola said giving everything one last look.
"Sophie, tell me you didn't add that song," Nicola said without looking over her shoulder.
Sophie gaped at her.
"How did you even know that?!"
"I doesn't matter. What matters is that you remove it."
Sophie sighed and grumbled under her breath before removing the song.
Nicola nodded.
"Yup. I'm pretty sure we're ready," Nicola said with a smile.
"Go get them then, Hes," Agatha said
"Why does she get to tell them?" Kiko whined.
"Because you'd laugh and end up telling them before they even got here," Hester pointed out as she walked out.
~
Axel ran his hand along the hem of the coat reverently, a smile on his face.
Tedros smiled and led Axel to the garden.
"Wait here for a bit?"
Axel frowned in confusion, but he nodded anyways.
Tedros headed inside and a few minutes later Hester came outside.
She had her normal blank face.
"Come with me. We're done talking," she said before turning on her heel and striding out of the garden.
The kids scrambled to follow after her.
What they saw would shock them.