~Amira Levi Mazzanti~

I'm currently trying to hide behind the car seat as much as I can. Lucian is in the driver's and I'm trying to stay out of his vision range. He's glancing at me every two seconds through the rearview.

Asher is in the passenger's seat, while Rose is in the other car with the twins. Damien has gone to work. I still don't know what he does for a living.

"Bunny," Lucian said, making me sit straighter.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Why are you pushing yourself into the door?" He asked, calmly.

I stammered for an answer and pushed myself away from the door, my eyes landing on the rearview and locking with his. He looked back at the road and I sighed.

"Did you do something that you shouldn't?" Lucian narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

No. It's actually the fact that ever since he walked out the door to stinky's office, he's been looking at me like he's staring into my soul. I'm not even kidding. He's studying everything I do and I want to tell him to stop but I don't have enough courage to do that.

"No," I said, shaking my head quickly.

"What does Damien do for a living?" I changed the topic quickly. Asher turned in his seat a little, to look at me properly.

"Dex has a boxing club and a parlour," he said.

"Parlour?" I asked, knitting my eyebrows together.

"Tattoos and piercings," he said. My eyes widened.

So I have to stay on Damien's good side if I want a piercing.

"That's cool," I said, leaning back against the seat and looking out the window again.

The car ride was mostly silent after that and I was exhausted. The 'I want to sleep but I can't' type of exhausted.

"What do you wanna do today, Bunny?"

I tensed up and looked at Lucian through the rearview.

"What options do I have?" I asked, wanting him to elaborate his side of the deal.

"Anything," he said. "Something we can all do together. You know, family bonding time."

I shrugged.

"Whatever you want. I don't know," I said, looking away from him.

We reached home after the twins. Expected, because Jayden drives like a mad bull high on energy drink.

Lucian got out first and opened my door before I could. I tried to be as formal as I could and muttered a small thanks while getting out.

Asher looked at us from above the car. Well at Lucian, I wasn't visible to him. Lucian was tall and I could see him moving his eyes and talking through them. That's how I know Asher was looking at him.

I focussed on his expressions. They went from non-existent to a little confused to a frown. Then the frowny face turned to me. I took one millisecond to look away and walk away from Lucian.

I walked to the opposite side of the car and to the garage door, that was open.

Asher followed behind. As soon as we entered the lobby, I stopped abruptly. Jayden, Josiah and Rose were still here. Josiah was on his phone while Rose was talking to Jayden about something.

They stopped conversing when we entered and looked behind me at Lucian. Josiah lifted his gaze too, silently asking if there was something else they had to do or they could retreat to their rooms.

"A movie marathon after lunch?" Lucian offered. I craned my neck and looked behind at him.

"Okay," Jayden and Josiah said, together, about to trudge to their rooms.

"Would someone be so kind as to help me with Lunch?" Asher said, in an exaggerated tired tone.

It went completely silent.

Jayden yawned loudly.

"God! I'm tired after sitting for so long," he said, massaging his shoulder and moving to the stairs. "Cheese sandwich please."

Asher rolled his eyes.

"You must be tired, Rose. Let's put you to bed," Josiah said. He extended his hand and crooked his fingers for her to hold his hand. She took his hand hesitantly, looking back at me.

I smiled and nodded, telling her I was okay.

Since no one is willing to help, maybe I should offer.

'Promise you will do one of these today.'

"Can I help?" I asked, looking at Asher. His eyes brightened as he turned to me with a smile.

"And to what do I owe this honor?" He bowed, politely with a polite smile. Yep that's how polite he was.

Like a prince.

I couldn't resist my own smile which vanished when Lucian said,

"I have a meeting." He checked the time and strode upstairs, without another glance.

Turning back to Asher, I smiled again. He blew a kiss at me then started walking towards the kitchen.

I stood near the counter while Asher searched for something.

"This is the smallest one I have," he said, handing me the apron which looked too big for me.

And it was. The chest part went on my stomach. Asher chuckled and moved behind me. I saw it raise and fit perfectly as he tied a knot on the neck piece to shorten it.

He moved to tie it at my back.

"Done," he said. I looked down and it looked okay. It still looked big.

Asher's apron fit him perfectly, of course.

I'm still awestruck as to HOW the HELL did he tie it at the back himself. Like he moved his hands behind and tied the knot. I find it difficult to tie the knot when it's before my eyes.

"Okay, Assistant," Asher started, making his voice extra heavy and twirling his imaginary moustache. "Let's start cookin'."

I smiled and nodded.

"And grillin'." I twisted my own moustache, which was prettier than his of course.

He got the bread out and dug into the refrigerator for the cheese.

"Can you make the easier cheese sandwiches? You just have to grate cheese onto the bread and grill them, got it, lil chef?" He asked, pointing the spatula at me.

"Yes, chef." I saluted and grabbed the cheese.

I started grating it onto the bread.

In my normal thoughts, something new entered.

A smirk spread across my face as I looked at the grated cheese evilly.

Looking at Asher, I saw him busy with stuff and humming to a song.

I skipped to the refrigerator quietly and started looking for the perfect item to execute the plan.

Lettuce.

Rolling the leaves, so it became a thick bundle, I grated the lettuce with the cheese and tried to hide it under as much as I could.

Jayden is going to love this after refusing to help then demanding cheese sandwiches.

Just as I put the other slice of bread on top of it, Asher turned to me.

"How's it going, honey?" He asked, smiling sweetly.

"Great." I answered, smiling brightly. I'm loving myself right now.

His own face brightened and he nodded, looking quite happy.

"How many should be enough?" I asked, after I was done with the second one.

"Four maybe," Asher said, glancing at the sandwiches.

"Okay." I resumed my work.

I was done before Asher. I put the sandwiches at a side, ready to be grilled. Asher was still cooking so I stood there, watching what he was doing, while shuffling my feet.

He looked at me, probably feeling me staring. He looked at my finished work and stopped what he was doing.

He stepped back wiping his hands on his apron.

"Come here," he said, waving his hand towards him.

I walked over to him and stood before him.

I suppressed the squeak that threatened to escape my mouth when he picked me up from under my arms and sat me on the counter near him and far away from the stove.

"Now you sit here and watch closely." He booped my nose and chuckled. He moved back to cutting the veggies for the sandwich Lucian prefers.

"You work so hard," I commented. He made sandwiches of everyone's preferences.

He chuckled.

"I love cooking. So this is not counted as work. It's kind of like a stress relief," he said.

I nodded, kicking my feet a little.

"So how's it? King Elijah Verlice wanted to try this new recipe for his little hearts," Dad said, leaning against the table, looking at me closely.

I looked at him and smiled sweetly, to which he blew kisses and pretended to swoon. I chuckled and took the first bite.

"How's it? How's it?" Dad bounced on the spot, mimicking Mom, causing her to smack his bicep.

"It's great," I said. My eyes widened. "It's delicious."

"Little heart one loves it!" He said, coming over to my side. Standing beside me, he leaned down and placed his iconic kiss on my cheek, covering my whole cheek. Ugh.

I scrunched up my face and took hold of the hem of his T-shirt, wiping the saliva off with it.

He chuckled and looked at Rose for her approval.

She chewed slowly and nodded.

"It really is delicious." She smiled at him, making his own face to brighten.

"And that is little heart two giving a thumbs up!" He pointed at Rose like she had just won a reality show.

He moved forward to give her a kiss too, but she scrambled away quickly.

"Aww," Dad said, pouting rather adorably for a big scary man.

"No," she said, running away giggling when he ran after her. He caught her within seconds as she giggled uncontrollably, safely tucked into his arms.

"Yes," he said, attacking her with kisses, then sitting her back down on her seat.

"Now the big heart's turn," He said, going to sit beside Mom and leaning against the table with his elbow on it. We couldn't see his face.

Mom looked at his face rather horrified. I don't know what look he was giving her, but she looked scared for her life.

Hesitantly, she took a bite and the look on her face told it all. It was amazing!

But she fake frowned.

"It's okay. Just okay," She said, nodding her head slowly.

"I know you said that on purpose, so you can escape from my kisses. No can do, sweetheart," Dad said. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him.

"Not in front of the kids, Elijah!" Mom scolded.

"Close your eyes, babies," Dad said, without taking his eyes off her.

Mom's face was turning red as she looked at Dad.

Instead of kissing her on the cheek, Dad hid her face by moving his head in front of it.

My eleven year old self put it that way, at least.

Rose put her hands on her eyes, while I kept looking.

I know what they are doing. I've seen them do that on their wedding.

My eyes widened when the realization hit me.

They just did the wedding kiss!

A snap interrupted my thoughts. I blinked and looked at Asher.

"Can you hear me, Bunny?" He asked, with a frown. I nodded.

"Great. Do you get what I'm saying clearly?" He asked, once again making me nod. I could.

He breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Can I kiss your head?" He asked, looking at me for permission. I nodded again.

He wiped his hands on his apron again. Taking two steps towards me, he stood between my knees. His hands moved to both sides of my face, as he placed a kiss on my head.

"What is this for?" I asked, looking at him.

"What do you mean?" He asked, keeping his hands on both sides of my knees and bending down a little.

"The kiss. Why did you do that?" I asked, pointing to my forehead. I was just curious. That's all.

He chuckled.

"Because, sweetheart." He looked at me, then lifted his hand to grab mine and intertwine our fingers. "When something out of ordinary happens, I want you to feel safe and I want to assure myself that you're safe."

I tilted my head. Do all forehead kisses mean that?

It's scary how much he reminds me of Dad.

"Why did you ask that?" He asked. I shrugged my shoulders and looked at the counter behind him instead.

"You said there was a special meaning to every gesture," I said. "I was just curious what it meant to you."

He chuckled and kissed my knuckles. Like a prince again.

"Every loving gesture revolves around love, safety and affection. We'll talk about it in detail someday, then we'll share what these mean for us. Okay?"

I nodded.

His other hand returned to the side of my face as he stroked my cheek with his thumb softly.

"Thank you, Bunny."

"For what?" I asked.

"For trying. I know how hard you're trying and I'm grateful as well as proud of you for it," he said, softly. His voice had quietened down.

"It's not a big deal," I mumbled, looking away shyly.

Most of it seems like happening on its own.

Maybe I was just having an unnecessary control on everything that now that I let it loose, everything is falling back in place on its own. I'm just going with the flow.

The flow seems smooth and calm though. Feels like it's all falling back into place.

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