"Oh, Come on, tell me," I whined for I don't know what time but Christian kept smirking, irking me more. I pouted and closed my arms at my chest in annoyance because of his lack of response.

I just woke up this morning, from the sweet sleep at night. Note the sarcasm. And when I was about to receive a lull, he came up with Mine, Christopher and Aletha bag saying we are going somewhere special and when I asked what about him, he just said that he has some errands and we are going somewhere. I never took care of one child and now I have two of them, so it's very difficult, but I am grateful that I have Christian and helpers of the house with me. But, at night, all of them are oblivious of the fact that we have kids at home. When one sleeps the other cries, leaving me with no time to have for myself and bestowed with a shred of sleep. I am not complaining at all, I only desire a deep slumber for once.

We stopped in front of my house and I mumbled, "You should have told me before." He just smiled in return and began to say,

"Look, Sophie, You and the kids are gonna stay for a while. When I'll be back, I'll tell you everything. Until then wait for me."

"What about you?" I asked, turning to him. He pinched my cheeks and replied, "I have things to do. Wait for me. I promise I will be back soon" I looked at him for a second and sighed, "Okay, take care of yourself and come soon." I said as we both got out.

Of course, I can't hold both of them so I held Aletha and he held Christopher. We walked in and Mother's face lit up in happiness.

"Look, Who is here!" I chirped when I came inside with a grin. Mother became so elated upon seeing us. She kissed all of us foreheads one by one and smiled radiantly. She then held both Christopher and Aletha and sat down on the sofa. Woah, now that's what you call a pro. She, who has twins of her own, holding two of them at the same time is no big deal for her, except the fact she is old now and can't carry them for too long. "I'll take my leave," Christian said, giving me a peck on my cheeks.

"Wait, Where are you going?" Mother asked and Christian took and replied, "I have some things to do, till then Sophie will live here." He said and left.

"What things?" Mother asked me and I shrugged my shoulders and took a seat beside her. "Who knows? He is just in a hurry. I wonder why?" I mused and she hummed in response.

"By the way, is Eugene at work?" I asked, playing with Aletha.

"Yeah.." She replied.

And the rest of the day, we continued to talk and play with the kids. It was a fine day. Mother told me how we used to be like in our childhood. She told me I was calm and Eugene was noisy and taking care of a noisy kid is very hard because he'd wake me up too causing both of us to cry at the same time. I am thankful Christopher and Aletha both are calm, even though I want them to turn into devils after growing up otherwise, what fun would It be to have a kid at home? I chuckled at my thought.

In the evening, Eugene came. His tired face turned into a gleeful one upon seeing his nephew and niece. He forgot all his worries when he looked at them, just like Christian. No matter how tired he is, he loves playing with them, giving them all of his attention and affection. That's what I love about them.

He quickly freshened and began to play with them as I and Mother cooked dinner.

"So.. you are staying here?" Eugene asked as I was leaning on the wall. I gave him a nod. He didn't ask anything further and smiled and continued to play with Aletha. I tilt my head in confusion but decide to shrug this off.

I then put Aletha and Christopher to sleep and walked out to have dinner. As we were having dinner, I began to say,

"A few weeks ago, Bast- Roger came with his wife. After losing Merlin, they realized their mistakes and begged for my forgiveness."

"So.. what did you say?" Mother asked timidly.

"I forgive them," I said biting a bite of my food calmly as they both looked at me shocked because no one expected this from me; even myself.

"I said that I will not accept him as my father but I forgive him and... maybe we can be on good terms in future." My words surprised them both because neither them nor I can even think that I forgave them. It was unpredictable because I once told them if any of them talk to Roger, I will cut my relations with that person. Such a level of hatred I used to feel for him.

"Actually he also came to me and asked for forgiveness... I also did the same, I have forgiven him but I can't accept him as my father." Eugene said nervously. "I was afraid of your reaction so I didn't tell you.." I let out a titter and I bumped fists with him.

"Now, That's my brother!" I cheered. Mother seemed rather nervous so I said, "You don't have to forgive him. You don't even have to acknowledge his presence. But, If you want to accept him as your husband, I'll not stop you."

"No! It's that... We have already divorced... when you were ten... " She said rather afraid but none of us showed an exploding reaction. Instead, I joked to lessen the tension in the air because everything is fixed and there's no need to be distressed about anything anymore.

"Oh, I see, Now I know why he didn't come back when I got him arrested and here I thought he got afraid of the Almighty Sophie."

"Hahaha! Almighty!? Oh, You mean Airbag?" Eugene laughed. I cannot bear to hear any jokes about my weight. It pissed me off the most. I complained,

"Mother! He and his cousin, Christian, both make fun of my weight, scold him and your son-in-law too."

"At least decided he is mother's son-in-law or my cousin."

"Both!" I said closing my arms at my chest.

"Get a girlfriend first!" I said. Puffing.

"Hey, I'm just 23, I am not dying to meet my Queen." He mocked referring to the nickname Christian calls me.

"Oh, I thought you were out of ideas to bewitch a girl." I scoffed.

"Oh dear Sister, I have a lot of ideas but I can't find a girl of my liking," he smirked.

"Miss Amelia Skye, I am telling you, your son's intentions are too wicked," I reported. He gasped and replied, "For your kind information, I am very gallant."

I mimicked him under my breath. We both had a staring competition and then broke into a laugh.

The rest of the dinner went like this, filled with chatters and laughs but not too loud because they'll wake the kids.

After dinner, I came to my room and saw two angels sleeping peacefully on the bed as there's no crib here. I cautiously set pillows on the corner so that they won't fall and shifted in a corner. I plopped on my elbows as I stared at their angelic form. I decided to call Christian but he didn't reply. Seems like he has slept or else it's impossible for him to not pick up my call. I also fell asleep.

***

It's been a few days and Christian didn't contact me. I puffed and was angry at him. No, it's an understatement; I was burning with wrath. I sat on the sofa angrily as my mother asked, "Hey, Why are you so angry?"

"Where the hell is your nephew!? Can't he call me for once?! What kind of errand is that?" I yelled frustratedly.

"Well, Here is her Nephew." I heard Christian's voice as I turned my head to his direction. He was leaning on the wall smirking at me. For a second, I want to jump in his arms and smile widely but I held my exhilaration in me and turned my head away showing that I am not talking to him.

"Oh, Seems like someone is angry, right princess?" He said bending on Aletha's level and caressing her cheeks. He kissed her forehead and asked Mother, "Where's Christopher?"

"Sleeping." Mother replied. He then turned to me and then at Mother and asked, "So, They will not disturb for an hour or so? I want to take Sophie with me."

"Oh, No, No. You guys go. If they cry for their mother, I'll call you."

"That would be great. Now, then." Finally, his sharp gaze is upon me. My heart skipped a beat as I suppressed my smile.

"I am not going anywhere with you!" I said childishly while pouting.

He chuckled and walked closer, "Not coming?" He asked and I shook my head 'no'.

"Okay then." He shrugged his shoulders and I looked at him in disbelief but before I could say something, he threw me over his shoulders and took me with him. He walked out and put me down on the ground as I shouted,

"What the hell!? I said I do-" He cut me off by placing his lips upon mine. He gently pressed me against the car as he ran his hand in my hair, taking me into a passionate kiss filled with in-depth emotions. The elegance of his lips melts me as a blush crept upon my cheeks. I became so enthralled in the pleasure of it that I forgot that I am angry at him and kissed him back. He smiled into the kiss and slowly pulled away and smiled, "Forgive me for my delay and for not contacting you. Come, I have to show you something." He said lovingly. I let out a chuckled and shook my head. "You sure know how to vanish my anger," I said. "Thank you." He chuckled and we sat in the car with him.

The drive was silent as I felt so flushed and his smirk made my heart race against my chest more. I love the way he sways me in the wind of his love, it gave me a vast ocean of endearment.

We went home and stopped at the entrance as my eyes widened by the sight before me.

Our house was being demolished.

I gasped and turned to Christian as I burst,

"What is this? Why are they doing this to our home? What is this all about? Christian stop it." I said in vexation but he kept on smiling. I punched his arms slightly and yelled, "Stop smiling! Stop them. How can we do this to our home!? What kind of work you were doing these days!? Make it stop!"

He took a deep breath and held my shoulder. "Sophie. Listen." He looked intensely at me. I timidly looked at him and gave him a hesitant nod and he continued,

"Do you remember the night of our marriage?" He asked, direly staring deeply at me. My heart skipped a beat as a shiver went down my spine remembering that horrendous night. Upon hearing it, I was at a loss of words. I couldn't speak as a dread swept across my face. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked down I muster some courage and replied to him with my shaky lips,

"I... I .. have annihilated... all negative memories of us from my mind... Please... don't talk about it." I could barely speak about it, afraid and startled by remembering it. A tear sprang to my eyes but I held it back. He pulled me close as his breath lingered on my skin forming goosebumps all over it. It wasn't just a simple breath but exhalation of anger. He is angry not at me rather at himself. He grit his teeth as his grip on my arm tightened. He scowled holding back his emotion with great difficulty. "Forget-" He cut me off as he began to growl,

"Maybe you can forget it but I can't. I fucking can't forget it, Sophie. Our wedding night is my greatest nightmare, I couldn't tell you but it scares me to think about it. I am amazed that I still have you with me after all the chaos. Sophie, Every time I try to sleep your crying face hit me like an arrow and made me realize how.. how... menacing I was, how much I have defiled you... how insensible, cruel and pathetic I was... I... I couldn't take it anymore; it hurts. This whole house gives me terrors Sophie. I am just a coward who was so scared to accept the love of others in the apprehension of losing it after receiving it.

But, You are here with me now, Sophie and gave me so much happiness that it overcomes my every insecurity. You have become my salvation Sophie and I want to start our lives anew with our children away from these bad memories. I don't want to face this place of abhorrence ever again. We'll live somewhere else away from this place. We will start a new life, You me and our kids. You'll come with me, don't you?" He said with a glint of shame and desperation in his voice as a tear rolled down his cheek. I formed a sad smile as a tear also was released by me and I replied,

"I'll stay with you till my last breath. You have my heart, I cannot go anywhere else other than you. You are the destination of my every journey Christian. I love you so much, Christian. My everything starts with you. I want to be where you reside, you are my everything.

I know this house has nothing but bad memories but it also held good ones but don't worry we will not live here. I am with you. Whatever your decision is I'll stay with you. We will start our lives anew." I grinned cupping his cheeks and placing a soft kiss over his lips. He smiled widely and pulled me in a tight hug. I felt so protected in his arms, I hugged him back. Like a safe shelter. I inhaled his scent which gave me everlasting tranquility, loving him with all my soul. We slowly pulled away and he said,

"We'll start our lives. A refreshing start, away from every detest. Filled with happiness, the sound of laughter and sweetness. With our sweet family" He smiled cutely, brushing his nose against mine. I giggled and replied with an 'of course'.

He put his arms around my waist as we both turned to the demolishing of that house of awful memories. Obliterating all the horrific moments spent there and ending it for now and forever.

"So, what will happen to the land?" I asked.

"Hmm. Maybe we'll build an orphanage there." I made an 'o' face as I cling on his arms and closed my eyes and we remained like that.

The benediction to have you in my life gave me so much happiness that even sadness is a way to bring me close to you...