I stared at Celine while she stuffed her mouth adorably with the lasagna pie I made and nearly lost the ability to think.

Because she looked precious.

Ridiculously precious with sleep-tousled hair, my shirt engulfing her frame and the faintest trace of a smile lingering on her lips.

My heart ached in that instant as I watched her eat at our dining table as if this was our regular lunch everyday as a couple. Just her and me, living a normal peaceful life.

My heart didn't ache just painfully right now. But deeply.The kind of ache that comes from loving someone so much it becomes impossible to measure.

I brushed a strand of hair from her face.

Carefully.

Tenderly.

Then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead.

The urge to keep her here surfaced immediately.

Powerful.

Instinctive.

Ancient.

To simply stop time.

To keep her safe in my arms forever.

To shield her from every difficulty ahead.

Every stress.

Every challenge.

But that wasn't love.

Love wasn't keeping her from her life. Imprisoning her here between four walls.

No.

Love was supporting her while she lived it.

Cheering for her.

Believing in her.

Watching her grow.

Watching her become everything she was meant to be.

And my Little Flame had so much left to do.

She had her ballet performances coming up. Dreams to chase. A present and future she was building and cultivating with her own hands.

I was proud of her for it.

So incredibly proud.

But I was worried to the very marrow of my bones about the possibility of Kyron hurting her again. I wasn't a fool. No matter the amount of resources and men I had in my possession, Kyron would not give up on getting to her. Even more so if he confidently believed my father had his back. I knew that much.

But I wouldn't worry Celine or Elysium. No. Never that. I would protect them with all I have. Even if my legs were broken, I would still crawl to them and shield them with my heart.

The feel of her hand settling gently over mine while she ate, squeezing comfortingly made me look up into her reassuring eyes that silently comforted me.

"You're over thinking again. Come back to me, Eli" Celine said with a soft gaze.

My perceptive little Flame.

I squeezed her hand back gently and intertwined our fingers together, grateful for the peaceful domestic atmosphere. For this small reprieve from my mind.

"No way.. You got tattoos?"Elysium's stunned voice made both me and Celine look up towards the doorway.

"That's what you were hiding all this time! You showed Mamá but not me?"Elysium asked indignantly and I cursed myself for having not put my shirt back before coming downstairs.

"I would have shown it to you later tonight, little lion."I responded, earning a scoff from him as he circled around me, observing all my tattoos.

So much for wanting to take my time to show them the tattoos..

"You're totally making it up to me right now" Elysium demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. For an 11 year old kid, he was damn authoritative when he wanted.

Dios mío, dame paciencia para lidiar con este niño.

(Translation : Dear God, give me patience to deal with this child)

"Alright, lay your demands" I asked, staring up at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You're letting me colour them. With my markers." Elysium announced, a grin plastered on his face as if he didn't just ask me to let him use me as a canvas.

Celine barely held in her laughter. The traitor.

"Absolutely not." I grumbled but Elysium did not relent.

"Come onnnnn!"Elysium whined."It would totally improve your look. Your tattoos look boring right now. They're mostly black and gray. It's like living in the 1950s. Let me colour them"

I gave him a very offended look. "Boring? They represent what's precious to me"

"Yeah and it's missing my touch. So you gotta let me colour them. It lacks neon pink. Look at this grim reaper. He looks sad. He clearly needs a rainbow mohawk." Elysium retorted, going behind me again.

Celine's laughter finally echoed in the living room. "I'll get the markers!"The little menace said before heading upstairs.

I sighed giving in. He had a point. The tattoos either represented me or Celine. Not him. Well not yet at least. "Fine."

I would never win against these two either way.

"See it wasn't that hard. Tough people like colors too, Cas. Don't be close-minded. Just let me do my work. I promise I'll stay inside the lines."Elysium grinned excitedly as I stood up and sat on the famous stool known for putting me through hours of strained posture while he decorated my face with stickers.

"By the time you're done, I'm going to look like a walking coloring book"I grumbled just when Celine came back with the markers. Markers, Landon the second traitor had actually brought the other day for him.

"What are you stressing about?These are washable. They come off in the shower." Elysium replied by uncapping the red marker with a wide mischievous grin that promised nothing good.

I bit back my response as he rounded the stool and started with my back.

Of course, he chose the grim reaper first.

"Cas, stop moving. You're making the grim reaper look like he's wearing makeup." Elysium chided me, making me huff in exasperation.

"He's a grim reaper, little lion. He doesn't wear makeup." I responded while my little Flame laughed, enjoying my misery thoroughly.

"Well, right now he has pink eyeshadow and a green nose. So, he's a fabulous grim reaper now"Elysium's laugh made my lips twitch despite myself.

Celine being Celine lifted her phone up and started recording, eyes beaming with happiness. "You look marvelous right now"

I gave her a deadpan look that only lasted barely a few seconds. The brightness in her eyes made me cave in as always. "You're both dangerous when you team up against me"

"I know Cas, we love you too" Elysium grinned moving to my right arm where the ballerina was. "Also, Fire isn't black and grey, Cas. Fire is bright orange. And yellow. If the ballerina is supposed to look inflamed, at least add colours to it"

"Fine. But you stay strictly inside the lines of the ballerina's outfit." I grumbled, accepting my fate.

"Even the moonflowers look lonely without any color."Elysium responded, face scrunched up in concentration.

"Those flowers bloom in the dark, Little lion. They don't need bright colors."I retorted.

"They do. Let the artist do his work alright. You just sit and don't move" Elysium said.

"Don't forget the vines!"Celine added with a cheeky grin.

"Sure thing. Mamá" Elysium replied happily.

I remained seated for God knows how long until finally Elysium walked around me, admiring his work. "See, now your tattoos are fixed. It was definitely giving me depression and unresolved trauma vibes. I fixed it now. You're healed" He announced, making me stare at my own chest and arms now covered in colourful colours instead of its usual black ink.

Begrudgingly, it looked great. I was almost tempted to actually get those colours permanently.

Fuck it. I would do it.

For my little lion.

"So?"Elysium asked as he stood next to Celine, both of them admiring his work.

"It looks good" I replied before adding "I'll make sure to add them permanently to the tattoos"

They both paused. Celine with her eyes wide. Elysium's mouth slightly open.

"You're serious?"He asked in a barely audible voice.

"You said it yourself. It lacked your own touch, now that you added it. I will keep it" I whispered softly meaning every word.

Elysium's eyes shimmered with emotions and before I knew it, his arms wrapped around me tightly. Head buried against my chest, he mumbled "This was supposed to be a moment where I annoyed you. Not you turning my heart as soft as a marshmallow"

A soft laugh escaped me despite myself, my arms closing around him protectively. "Well, consider it as payback for straining my back muscles for hours"I said teasingly ruffling his hair.

Elysium snorted, hugging me close."You're lucky, I love you this much.. Papá(Dad)"

Both Celine and I froze.

This was the first time he called me dad. Even after that conversation in the back garden, he stuck with Cas.. So I understood he needed time but nothing could have prepared me for the way my throat tightened at hearing him call me like that.

Papá.

"El día que te tuve en mis brazos por primera vez se convirtió en un recuerdo muy preciado. Pero escucharte llamarme papá ahora mismo es el más valioso de todos. Te quiero, hijo mío."I whispered, placing a soft kiss on his head while wrapping one arm around my little Flame too.

(Translation : The day I held you in my arms for the first time became a very cherished memory. But hearing you call me "Dad" right now is the most precious one of all. I love you, my son.)

Her eyes shimmered with tears in response, fingers stroking Elysium's hair as he stared up at me with soft vulnerable eyes. "Yo también te quiero, papá. Eres el mejor."

(Translation : I love you too, dad. You're the best)

Right then and there, with Elysium's hazelnut brown eyes staring at me with so much love and adoration. My little Flame's comforting presence in my arms, I knew I had found my home.

A home I never thought I would get to have.

But one that I was fully intent on keeping.

For Eternity.