The afternoon that they spent in the village tired off the children that when they came home, they barely had energy left for dinner time. However, they went on with the routine satisfactorily but after such a sumptuous meal, Willow and Wolfe retreated to their chambers with Darryl.

Although Darryl did not have an ounce of idea that Xhemin and the children would follow him to the Manngan Island, the house he built was good enough for them—even bigger actually as it had an extension for guests. He built it longing for his family and so he sure had built every spot he could that would somehow made him feel like they were with them, the tree house and the children's chambers were examples of those spots. That night, he sure was very glad to have built chambers that would somehow alleviate the children's comfort. He knew adjusting to a simple life would be hard for them as he had seen them with the luxury of living under Ziggy and Xhemin's care.

​​

However for Willow and Wolfe, the changes they had encountered so suddenly didn't affect them much as they were used to changing places before when they were still hiding abroad with Ziggy. Truth was they never felt at home anywhere and it was only then when they knew they would be living with Xhemin and Darryl that they felt settled. Besides, the Manggan Island was a beautiful place and their father's household, although simple, looked very well crafted and very comforting for them.

After a hot bath that Darryl himself drew for them, the children settled on their beds. Their chamber was big, with so much space for their explorative minds. Their beds were even made uniquely as it took Darryl time to explore avant garde ideas to make such good furniture. It was like they were being held on wooden caves and surprisingly, the mattress beneath was very soft and warm.

"Hmm, I like this room so much Appa," Willow expressed as she was rubbing her cheeks on the Willow.

"My bed is so soft it feels like I'm laying on pure cottons," Wolfe also voiced out, eyes closed as he was feeling all the good feelings while lying on the bed he knew his father worked hard for.

"If you will sell this one, it should sell out in just a second," Wolfe blabbered on unconsciously.

"Really?" Darryl smiled. He had never felt so accomplished with his woodwork specially that he had only learned the skill in Manggan Island previously. However he was able to strengthen the craft when he lived in the Loch after the incident that took Winter's life as he did use it as main source of income. Back then he didn't think much of the craft and only then did he realize that perhaps he had been earning real good that time as he was able to support himself in the Loch mainly by making small furniture.

"I heard you had been selling out furniture and wooden toys," Willow recalled. Some children she talked to in the village told them how good their father was with making toys and asked if the toys in the tree house were for them. Darryl had always let children go and explore the three houses so those children might have visited once and was amazed by it. "The children said you make good toys,"

"You talked to the children?" Darryl was a bit surprised at it. Does this mean Willow can speak Manggan language? He never heard her speak much of the Manggan tongue and so he wondered.

"I know the Manggan tongue, if that's what you are wondering," Willow told him. "Dada taught us the language, me and Wolfe,"

"That's good to hear," Darryl smiled. He doesn't really remember expressing his gratitude to the young sire for saving and taking care of his children. Perhaps he did, perhaps he didn't. However he knew, deep inside Ziggy knew how he was very thankful to him in many ways. "Your dada taught you many things,"

"Speaking about dada," Wolfe opened his eyes and turned to her father. In a moment, he got off the bed and took something from the little bag he brought from the mainland. It was a white envelope and he ran to Darryl to give it to him, "He told me to give this to you. He said it was a secret, don't tell Imma" Wolfe then smiled victoriously as if he was very glad to have accomplished a secret task.

Darryl was intrigued but he did take the little thing and put it in his pockets. A little later, he told a bedtime story to his kids which they only managed to listen the half of it. They were then snoring satisfactorily and Darryl just smiled and made sure their blankets were on. Then he kissed them good night and turned their oil lamp off.

In the other room, Xhemin was obsessively looking at herself in the mirror. She was in the couple's room and had just finished her hot bath. After dinner, she took time cleaning the kitchen's mess and washed the dishes before she too retreated in Darryl's room. For minutes, she familiarized herself with the place and decided to plunge into some hot water to relieve her stressed muscles. They had walked almost the entire village market and unlike Willow and Wolfe who were then riding her horse, Darryl and her had done it on foot so her feet then were sore. It had been long since she walked that far but she didn't really notice the long journey, not until when she had nothing to do anymore. Good thing Darryl was the one who tucked the children to bed and she had some time to relax. However her peaceful relaxation didn't last long when she suddenly remembered the promise she made to Darryl this morning. She did promise some 'later' to him and God knows how the Lagdameo heir's mind works on those types of promises.

Immediately she panicked and ended up brushing her long hair mercilessly. Her heart was beating so fast and when she heard the door closing and opening, she was almost breathless.

Sh*t! Why does she suddenly feel like it's another wedding night?