Thank you so much for all your love towards JaFirst.

Trust me, that is what made me finish this chapter.

Thank you so so much. I know some of you were disappointed but I hope this remedies it.

For all who showered immense love and support, you guys are my best motivation.

I have an exam in a week. So, please keep me in your mind. Lol

I hope you all are fine. I am but sometimes it is all so difficult, you know.

Anyways, better days are ahead of us.

Love you all,

VaizHarsh

______________________________________________________________________________

The heavy footfalls resonate through the too silent hallways.

It has not been like this forever but the tragic turns of last few months has taken a toll on once a happy and vibrant soul.

It is cruel to take away the dream of having a child from a wanna be mother. It is the most damaging thing that can happen to an expecting mind.

And sadly... Mew is a silent witness.

Some things, no matter how powerful you are, are not up to your desires.

Oh, if it were... this gloominess will never touch anyone of his family and friends.

"... and the eggs hatch for birds."

"Really?" Twin adorable voices ask with wonder.

No one would even think that the person who is there for his babies have deep pain concealed in their overly excited voice.

"Daddy!!!" Mew smiles and kneels to the floor for his boys to climb on and shower him with affection. "Daddy! Daddy! Egg give bird baby. Mama birdie hug it tight and egg give baby."

"Oh, really?" Mew asks San who seems like he cannot wrap his head around the absurd idea.

"I eat baby birds." He says sadly and Mew winces.

"Hey, it is different. We do not eat such eggs."

"Really?"

"Yes, son. I have your back, buddy. I will make sure of that."

"Okay, Daddy." San gives him an adorable dimple smile while Thorn is still busy chewing on the metal stud on his collar.

"Come on, let us go see your uncles."

That gets him an excited squeal from Thorn.

He sadly watches the pretty person who is collecting his kids' stuff from floor. It must be hurting to see tiny things scattered around when...

"War..." Mew calls and as expected he receives a very pretty but obviously fake smile.

"Emperor. Wishes, Your Highness... They behaved so well today. N'San banged his head on the floor but I put ice on it. So nothing to worry about... and N'Thorn has eaten some of his lunch but he might be hungry..."

"How are you Nong?" Mew asks gently dropping Thorn back to floor and standing up. The kids run off with a giggle to play as the adults talk.

"I am fine, Your Highness. You have been so kind to me."

Mew sighs. "I received the petition today. I have withheld as long as I can but..."

War chuckles with pain. "Oh, sorry for the trouble, Your Majesty. You do not have to do that for I have received the papers as well. They asked me to stop being a hindrance to my Hus... haha... soon to be ex-husband."

Mew looks away.

Is his past haunting all his loved ones?

"I wish I am surprised but I knew one day it will come to this. So..."

"I wish things are easy for you." Mew finally says.

"Me too." War blinks back his tears. "At least, I have job now and a quarters."

"Nong, you can stay here as long as you want. I hope you know that."

"I know, Sir but I do like this independency. I have been at the mercy of someone else all my life and now I want to breath in my own space."

Mew smiles and affectionately pats War's head before leaving in search of his boys; found their bums poking out of the library bench.

"Because Daddy is the coolest." Mew feels warmth when San and Thorn could not believe daddy found them easily from their perfect hiding spot.

He finds his brother and his wife - still not trusting him - in the garden. From here it may look like they are perfectly in love but Mew is not taking any chances.

"I do not understand why this library needs these many safety protocols. I mean, it is almost a military grade contract." First scowls at the papers in front of him.

"If you are going to be away from me, then better this job treat you right." Ja says and First giggles.

"You are talking as if I am moving away from you. I am leaving for work when you also leave for work. And I like being a scholar."

"I know, Petal."

Ja smiles and his Petal smiles back at him before flicking his jaw.

"Stop it. Kids will be here any minute."

"Hey, I was only looking."

"Yeah, looking like you want to..."

Mew clears his throat and First jumps up hiding behind Ja clutching his hand.

'Good. Be wary of me.' Mew glares at the boy who he still thinks may come after his wife.

Ja stands protectively in front of his wife with a glare of his own.

The men almost growl at each other but Mew backs off first with a sigh. He is not playing such petty jealous fights with his own kid brother.

"Petal, you can go inside if you want." Ja says and before the man finish his sentence, First haphazardly collects all his papers and runs off to the room.

Mew watches him run and then thinks, maybe he should give the kid some space. After all, he is his little brother-in-law.

"You are something else." Ja grumbles. "Why do you scare him off and then look at him like you kind of like him?"

Mew huffs.

"Please tell me, the kids are behind me." Mew says but Ja shakes his head with a smile. "Boys!!!" Mew exasperatedly hollers and hears two muffled giggles.

He cannot turn his back for a moment; the troublemakers will hide somewhere.

"I have got them." Ja says. "They are in the bushes. I saw them crawling inside."

Mew groans but goes to collect them himself. He does not get enough time to spend with them as it is. Especially with N'Mild...

Sigh!

Mew drags, one by its leg and the other by its hand, out of the bush and hug them tight before warning his sons.

Thank God, his wife cannot hear his thoughts. Or it will be another round of scolding for addressing his babies as 'it'. What can he do?! It just slips out like that.

"Be with your uncles. Behave well. Do not eat all the sweets... then what else?" Mew thinks.

"No fire." Thorn adds helpfully.

"Yes. Do not play with fire... much. As long as you do not hurt yourself like last time." Daddy Mew is not as stern as Mama Kana and the kids know it too. "Now, give Daddy kissie..."

Mew closes his eyes and if there is any reward to parenting, it is this and it makes all the troubles worthwhile.

"Okay. Daddy has to go now. I love you both."

He receives nothing for his undying love except a pull of cheek from Thorn and two excited jumps on his thighs from San.

Well, kids show their love differently but they are more heartfelt than many adults' empty words.

"Go." Mew permits with a smile and he watches his kids until they safely reach their uncle with excited squeals.

He is thankful for Ja and First to come here and stay in the palace. Especially First. He knows the kid is uncomfortable in his presence but one letter from Gulf, they are here just like that.

And about Gulf...

"... it is your dad, who went to help those people. You know that, baby? Of course you know. So when you grow up, be like Daddy. So, this is Papa Siwa... with your big brother Thorn... Hey, look who is here, child? It is your Daddy. Say hi."

Mew smiles when Gulf slowly stands up from his maternity chair where he has been rubbing his swollen tummy and going through family picture book.

He waits patiently for Gulf to get back to his feet. The healer has said Mew has to back of a little. Apparently such movements are good for his Guppie. It is not as strenuous as it looks.

Mew takes breath after his wife stands up straight... well as straight with a heavily pregnant belly. Gulf may go to nesting soon and Mew is worried that he has not picked an appropriate place yet.

So, the healers have suggested to take Guppie for a walk as it may stimulate the need to pick a place.

"Where are my children?" Gulf asks first as he leans to his hubby's chest.

"With their uncles. Thorn only had a little of his lunch today."

"That kid! I knew he will not like Taro roots. Tsk. It is okay. He likes Ja's soups." Gulf grumbles and slowly starts walking. "So, he may... ouch..." Gulf bends to the side a little and takes a calming breath.

"What is wrong?"

"Na, baby twisted. It is okay."

"So, what was I saying? Ah, yeah, Thorn will have Ja's soups. Did you scare First?"

"What?! Tua-eng... Noooo..."

Gulf glares and those doe eyes well up pretty fast.

Crap!

"I did not scare him. Ja was with him already. He was signing some papers. So we could not chat."

Gulf sniffles. "Okay. First has been through lot. Do not add more to his problems. I have seen them, P'Mew. They are in love."

Mew nods.

What he has seen today, has proved what Gulf has said. They seem to be in love.

"So I was thinking I want pickled onion soup for dinner." Gulf says and Mew nods again.

This opinion does not matter. There is a high chance that his wife's food preference will change at least four times before each meal.

It is up to his best not to remind his wife that he cannot have pickles for dinner.

Mew pecks Gulf's glowing cheeks and his wife cuddles closer.

He hopes this time Gulf will not suggest going for a hike to the nearby hill. He does not want another teary episode of 'what if I want to nest on the top of the hill.'

Then he ignorantly said nobody nests on top of a hill; then Gulf cried and said that Mew implied that Gulf is a nobody and... which ended with 'proving' Mew did not love Gulf because he was fat now...

Sigh!

Finally, they went to the hill, Mew had an angry nail scratch from Gulf on his forearm; then he was thrown out of the bedroom when they were back.

Well until his crying wife woke him up at 2 in the morning, apologized and let him back in the bed again.

So, he would rather avoid another such episode if he can help it.

But sadly, no nesting instinct so far.

Which is kind of good because mothers who go to nesting detach from everyone for the last days of their pregnancy. So, that means when Gulf goes to nesting Mew will not able to see Gulf as much and certainly cannot sleep with him.

But, what if nesting strikes at the last moment and they are not prepared... and Gulf will go through so much trouble because the space is uncomfortable and...

"Tee-rak?"

"Yes, tua-eng..."

"I want to sit down."

"Okay... here... come on."

Mew points to a smooth rock and sits himself before patting his thighs.

"Noo...." Gulf mumbles.

"What is wrong?"

"I will break your thigh. I am fat now." Gulf sniffles and starts crying.

"You are not fat, baby. You are pregnant. Remember what the healer has said? This is for our child, darling. It is good that you are plump. Remember?"

"Yeah... sorry..." Gulf wipes his eyes and sits slowly on Mew.

Mew just wants to squish his Guppie but lately all his wife's body is sensitive. He does not want to hurt his adorable beauty.

But damn that sensitivity comes handy when they have privacy.

Mew gives that pink lips a hard smooch until Gulf giggles and pushes him away.

"Maybe I can give you a foot massage tonight?"

"Promise this time we will stop at foot massage."

"No promises. It is cruel to me when you look this beautiful and tempting, with your pregnant belly." Pregnant because of Mew.

Damnation.

That sends some perverse pleasure in him.

This beauty is now like this because he took this temptress to his bed... he took this deliciousness over and over again... and now, look what that did.

Gulf gently pushes on Mew's chest as he throws his head back with a moan. "Stop touching me there. We are outside..."

His fingers have indeed found its way in the maternity gown to Gulf's pretty little secrets and as expected with a simple flick of his fingernail, Gulf is done.

Gulf slowly opens his eyes as he comes down from ecstasy and Mew wants to enjoy his wife again.

The parted lips, the hickey on the neck that Mew has just given him and the sweet, addicting scent of Gulf's essence...

"Let us go back home." Gulf whispers and Mew eagerly nods making the seductress give out a self-satisfied giggle.

"You are so gorgeous, babe..." Lust is making Mew's head fuzzy but he is as caring as the expecting father. He holds his wife's belly in his hands as he makes 'not-so-sweet' lust ridden love.

Pregnancy makes everything... 'everything' bigger and plumper.

Goodness.

He mercilessly takes his wife again, until his wife passes out of intense pleasure and exhaustion.

"I love you so much, Gulf. Inside out. I love you. Do you feel my love?" Mew whispers when his wife back to the land of living splayed on his chest, naked and still tempting.

God! Gulf's stomach is gorgeously glowing and to see Gulf slowly rubbing it lovingly... it does things to Mew's heart.

"Because if you do not feel my love, then I have failed miserably as your husband."

"I feel it each moment of my life, tee-rak. Now it is a thousand fold more for I bear your essence in me... again."

Gulf says looking up to his mate and gladly receives the scalding hot kiss on his already kiss swollen lips.

"I love you P'Mew." Gulf smiles before falling asleep.

Gulf feels so pretty. He feels being pregnant is the best feeling ever. His husband clearly knows how to sate all his desires and wipe all his insecurities.

Gulf feels he is so precious to Mew and isn't that the truth.

Yet, his heart pains for a few moments the next day but Gulf has enough reasons to believe everything happens for a reason.

Yes, he may get hurt a bit but what follows later is immense joy and this incident proves it right.

Mew is confused at the several of the entry permits lying on his desk first thing in the morning and all of them are from his distant political allies.

Well not his allies per se, Mew has given them the word that he will not destroy their teeny tiny bits of lands ruled by whimpy rulers if they pay him taxes and stay out of his vicinity.

What are such people called? Irrelevants?

Hmmm... maybe he should add such a word to his political glossaries.

Yet, for all of them to request an audience with him is... curious.

And that too because the rulers are not coming, only messengers and their gifts.

Curious turns to wrath which the Emperor has not felt in a very long time.

The gifts are people.

For you, Mighty Emperor, in the time when the Empress is out of commission.

Mew looks at the gathering in front of his throne and then he looks at his wife, Gulf.

Those eyes are sad and they are welling up faster. A huge tear droplet falls down to the rosy cheeks to his wife's lips. Quickly, a steady flow of tears makes a river on his wife's face.

Mew looks back to his 'gifts'.

Heavy scented, heavily ornamented but scantily clad.

Some has already shaking their bodily assets and cooing at him. His pregnant wife; his Prima Plimora is seated just left to him and...

Mew takes a deep breath and clever courtiers already leave the chamber without making a peep.

He stands up and Haeser starts glowing in his hand.

"In count of five... Whoever or whatever gifts that may remain will be massacred by me..." Some has already started running as the Emperor is speaking. Good. "There will be no trial and the bodies will be burned at the outskirts of the Capital City."

Two assassins fall graciously from the roof in front of the Emperor and starts counting. Even they wish for Siwat to be here to calm down the furious Emperor but ever since his wife has the stomach bug... Mew is uncontrollable.

One.

Two.

Three.

Mew smirks when the palace empties that fast. Good.

"My Empress." Mew calls and Gulf covers his face and wails.

"I... will not be able to take care of you."

This is exactly why Mew keeps his wife away from stupid people.

"Oh really. I thought you took 'good' care of me last night." Mew reminds his distraught wife, kneeling in front of the throne.

"When I go to nesting?" Gulf asks and Mew winces how red his wife is looking.

"Darling, it will be at most a month. You have waited for me more than that period. Do you trust my loyalty?"

"Of course but you do not have to remain... you know... without..."

"I have to. I am mated to one. I cannot imagine anyone on my body. I do not want anyone to touch me the way you touch me. I cannot think of it, my darling Sunflower. But please stop crying. It is bad for our Little One. I am not going anywhere, Mama Kana." Mew kisses Guppie's stomach and slowly rubs to calm him down.

Thankfully that is enough for Gulf to wipe his tears and hug his neck tight.

Phew.

Bloody power hungry idiots.

He turns to his clerks. "Arrange the army. Send 15 of soldiers under the command of Section Brigadiers. Send a message to these 'allies'. They have ten days to hand over the power of their land and merge with Galodhikkeera. They will report to General Brigadier Ja. If anyone refuses, I will personally make sure of their destruction. They have disrespected my Prima Plimora and our unborn child. I take it personally."

The clerks already start working on the scrolls and it is only his wife's touch on his shoulder is making him think calm and wise.

The temptation to barge into their pathetic excuses of castle and murder each one of them is very high.

"Was hiding behind the flower vase, Supreme Commander." An assassin pushes forward another 'gift' and Mew sees red.

His eyes glows and Haeser gets thirsty again, until the 'gift' starts crying.

A child?

The seductive aesthetic covers a literal child.

What in the name of...

Disgust crawls up his throat when the child weeps. "I cannot find them. They left me. I am sorry."

Shiya.

"They said my faen is here. I am here for my faen. I do not know anything. Please do not kill me."

Mew feels a shaking hand on his elbow.

"Khun Phi... it is a child." Gulf mumbles. "They have sent us a child."

Gag!

"I will go. I just do not know where. Do you know my faen?"

"What is your name, child?" Gulf asks gently as the boy, 10 or 11 years at most, stands there hiccupping.

"They call me Metawin. But they said my faen will give me new name. Are you my faen?" Mew swishes his Haeser and the boy falls to his knees. "Please do not kill me. I could not find the door. I will go. Please."

Mew stares at his wife for a few seconds. "Khun Phi... he is just a child."

Mew does not reply but leaves his chamber; anger seeping out of his every pore.

Gulf stares at the exposed thigh of the child. How can anyone be so cruel and...

Gulf shivers at the implication. They have handed out the child for P'Mew.

Gulf brushes of the tendency to vomit as his pregnancy issues but he knows it is not. Even though child marriage is banned in Galoddhikeera, some remote regions still promoted it.

"Your name is Win, right?" Gulf asks gently and the boy nods. "Okay. Let us get you out of this clothes, okay? You must be cold."

The boy nods.

"And how about some food? You must be hungry."

"I am not allowed to eat until I see my faen." The boy looks around as if to see his faen. "I will get chubby if I eat and then my faen would not come for me."

Gulf squeezes his eyes shut.

"Well, you do not have to worry about the faen at the moment. You can eat. If a faen comes looking for you, I will surely inform you."

"You will?"

"Yes, Win. I will." Gulf tries to smile.

"That is very kind of you, Sir. So I think I am okay to eat and also wear some warmer clothes." Win says wiping his eyes and Gulf has to smile at the adorable way the child has done that.

"Come on." Gulf stretches his hand and the boy winds his palm around Gulf's fingers without even knowing what or who Gulf is.

Even after years passing by, Gulf still pains thinking about how he has met his adopted son.

"Well, I am kind of glad my faen is not coming for me. I like it here. I like you. You let me eat whatever I want." That is all his Win has said when asked to stay with Gulf after so many months of not finding his faen.

Well, that is a story for another time.

Thorn and San is happy to have another person to play with and that is that.

Mew on the other hand is adamant in throwing the kid out but Gulf is not letting such an innocent child back to streets again where he can end up in worst places.

Win is not going anywhere, according to Gulf.

Hence, Win goes nowhere. He stays in the palace away from the eyes of Mew and he has gotten so good at that, even Mew forgets to remind Gulf how this is such a bad idea.

Gulf's nesting comes gradually. From wary of Mew's touches to not being able to stand the presence of other people.

Though Gulf is sleeping next to him now, Mew knows Gulf will soon need a place to give birth. He has asked the servants to clean the palace top to bottom for Gulf to choose.

It does not help that Mild is... actually pregnant.

They have never thought of that. Every time Mild puked, all of them, including Mild believed it is because of Gulf puking. It is natural right?

Turns out, they have another child in the family.

But it is not as easy as it is for Gulf.

Mild's maternal organs had deeply suffered due to multiple abortions and the healers had suggested they may not conceive again after San.

So, chances are Mild's health may get affected due to this pregnancy... and even the Royal Healers are sceptic if it will adversely affect Mild.

They are thinking of planned abortion.

Mew rubs his chest.

They have some more test results to come in, since the child is this far long.

Sigh!

Mew only prays to keep his family healthy. They have not gotten attached to this child. Even Mild is considering this planned abortion for it may affect the new child too.

He hears tiny whimpers from the children's room and he slowly rolls away from his sleeping wife with a chaste kiss. "Be back, Gup."

He opens the door and sees San has woken up at night and ended up playing only to fall asleep again cold on the floor.

Tiny whimpers are, his son shaking in his sleep because of cold.

Mew gently picks him up to his chest and slowly rocks him to warm him up.

The door opens from the other end and Mew smiles at Siwat standing there rubbing his eyes.

Dark circles adorn the man's eyes and he looks sickly pale. "I got him. You go sleep."

Siwat tries to smiles but ends up sighing and sitting on San's bed.

"You look dead." Mew says.

"Thanks." Siwat says dryly.

"How is Nong?"

Siwat is silent. "I do not think he will go through the abortion."

"What? I talked to him and..."

"I know. He is attached. I can tell. I do not know, man. How are we... " Siwat cannot put his thoughts to words. Mymi is his everything. He cannot let anything happen to his wife.

"Are you crying?"

"What? No... just... what if..." Siwat wipes his face with the end of his shirt.

"I have talked to Gulf's healer. He said he does not find anything abnormal in Nong. But he has suggested some other healers that he knows of. They are monks of Cakripnovel Monastery. They will reach here in two days. Let them decide. And Siwa..."

"Mmm?"

"It is not like the old times. You know I am here for your every need. Any healers... any medicines, Nong and you are not fighting this alone."

Siwat nods. "That is why I have not gone crazy yet."

Mew smiles. "Go and be with your wife. Let the decision be his. It is his body. We will support him no matter what."

Siwa looks at his son who is now snoring peacefully on Mew's shoulder. "I got him. Go and take rest."

He goes with a tired sigh back to his bedroom, to see Mymi has shifted in his sleep. His heartbreaks when he sees Mild's hand is protectively thrown over his stomach.

He knows what Mild's decision will be. He can only pray that he is strong enough to accept his wife's decision.

Siwat tries to move the hand from the tummy but ends up covering it with his own hand too.

Well, Moon Goddess does not make mistakes or that is what they believe. But somewhere along the way, the parents have indeed thought of this life as theirs.

Gulf on the other hand goes to nesting the other day itself.

As luck would have it, his stubborn wife does not pick any of the spacious rooms that they have cleaned and carefully arranged.

No...

It is the dingiest room, near to the staircase and pillar of the palace.

It barely holds a bed and a nightstand.

Mew winces when Gulf goes right to the corner to set up his cute place. Despite some angry words and scratches, he is able to keep Gulf away from his favourite place until a useable bathroom could be arranged for the mother and also a soft bed to lie on.

Mew is promptly thrown out and Gulf falls to the bed with a contented sigh and falls asleep.

At least Thorn is allowed to enter the room and Mew drags along.

He spends the night lying on the bed watching Thorn hugging his mama tight until he is sure his son has fallen asleep. Then he leaves with his child to sleep in his room without disturbing the nesting mother.

But it also stops several days prior to Gulf giving birth but thankfully he is able to manage his son well.

'Mama went to get your baby' is enough for Thorn to behave properly.

Several servants are deployed at Gulf's beck and call outside the room and only the healer monk enters his room for frequent checking.

"I do not care how silly, how important it is to you but if my wife so much as whisper my name, inform me. Even if I am in court or dying or sleeping... or in the middle of night... Got that?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The call comes in the middle of night.

It is time.

Healers are already inside and the Empress needs to see his husband.

Mew rushes to the room and holds the pale shaking hands that is stretched towards to him.

"I am scared, Khun Phi..."

"What for? You are doing great." Mew sits by his wife's pillow, giving a squeeze to his palms.

"Do you love me, P'Mew?"

"With everything that I am, darling. I love you."

"Hmmmphhhh..." Gulf moans and then screams as his body forces him to push. "I... I..."

"You are so strong... You have got this, tua-eng. I am here with you."

"You fereking made me pregnant." Gulf screams.

"I know darling; I know..." Mew winces.

"Why are you not suffering?!!!" Gulf accuses.

"I am watching you in pain darling. You are not alone." Mew wipes Gulf's sweat.

After 2 hours of intense waiting and screams, his child is born and oh, does he sound so angry to be born.

"Emperor, Empress, your son is here."

The healer monk hands over the son to the father with a soft smile.

Mew never have ever accepted anything as precious as his seconds old baby boy.

"Aww..." He cooes when he takes a look at his baby boy.

Little eyes still sealed.

It will take three days for the Little One to open his little eyes.

Little feet still in birth pouch tail that is pointed down.

It may take a week for little legs to kick out of it.

Mew's eyes water.

He has another child.

A son.

His wife is so damn perfect to make this perfect being. Mew presses a gentle kiss on the tiniest forehead he has ever seen.

"My child..." Gulf frets, fighting through the tiredness.

"Here, tua-eng, my darling, my precious Sunflower... We have a son. He is perfect. You did so well."

Gulf starts crying and Mew gently places his son who is twisting his little head to search for his mother's warmth on mae's chest.

Mama shifts his gown aside, so his son can seek out his nipple and take his first suck of immi.

"Your child P'Mew..." Gulf says and Mew chuckles wiping his eyes.

"Yes, darling." He presses a kisses on Gulf's forehead too. "I love you... Thorn is waiting for his little baby. I have not told him yet. I will bring him after our little one opens his eyes."

Gulf nods as he watches his little boy wiggling on his chest searching for immi.

Mew cuts his thumb on the edge of his dagger and swipes on his new born son's forehead before doing the same to Mama.

It is a custom that symbolically states Mew has accepted the paternity of his child and has accepted Gulf as his legal spouse.

It is not at all necessary for they are mated for eternity but...

Mew's heart pains. He was not there for his Thorn.

Was his Thorn this tiny?

Was he...

Mew smiles when his new born found his way around mama's chest and is now rubbing tiny lips on immi.

"He is not drinking P'Mew..." Gulf worriedly says. Thorn had found immi right away but his new baby boy is only licking around the edges.

Mew slowly rubs Gulf's hand to calm down his wife. "Look he has got it. It looks like he is contemplating if drinking immi is worth it."

It is true. Why is he here in the cold when he was in his happiest place ever?

The parents take a calming breath when finally, the baby latch his baby mouth around Gulf's immi and starts suckling.

"Have you decided the name yet, tua-eng?"

"Uh uh..." Gulf starts dozing off. "Tharn. We will call him Tharn. Thara Kirigun. My dad's ancestry."

"Prefect. Tharn, he is. Thara Kirigun, a name suited for a warrior prince."

Mew watches his wife slowly falling asleep along with his Little One, Tharn.

Mew smiles and then leaves the mother and child, so they can properly rest.

Yet, he thinks how he was not there for his first born. His son, Thorn.

He finds the baby shrieking and playing with his animal buddies and waves his black panther to call back its babies.

The mama panther growls and the babies starts whimpering for leaving their furless brother.

"Daddy!!!" Thorn picks the rut in the litter who he has named Star and shows proudly to him. "Star ran today."

Mew smiles. "She did? Told you she is strong."

He rubs his forefinger on the animals' snout before picking him up from his son. "Good job, Star but she looks tired already. Why don't we let her rest with her mama?"

"Aww... but we playing."

"But look her mother is waiting." Mew places Star under mama panther and the gentle beast bites her child's neck to pick her up while her siblings happily runs around their mother.

"See you tomorrow." Thorn sadly says goodbye to his furry friends and lets his dad pick him up.

"Son..." Mew starts. How can he apologize to his child for the grave mistake he has once done? He is sure when Thorn is an adult, his son will surely make him pay.

Thorn is already so protective over his mae.

One time, Mew' hand accidently knocked his elbow on Gulf's head and Thorn went berserk. As adorable was it to watch, Thorn kicked Mew's shin multiple times until Gulf could calm him down.

"Remember how daddy was not with mae for some time?"

"Uhuh... but mae got Thorn. So okay." Thorn is busy trying to remove the stud off Mew's collar. Today is the day he will get this shiny ball. Then he will eat it. It is too pretty not to be eaten.

"Well, daddy is so sorry for that."

"Okay." Thorn does not know why daddy is telling him this.

Mew quickly cuts his thumb once again and swipes over Thorn's forehead. "You are my son, Thorn and I love you so much. I promise I will be a better father each day than I was the day before. I swear to you."

"Mae say no swear."

Mew laughs. "Yeah, my bad. Do not tell on me, okay?"

"Sweet?" Thorn blinks with fake innocence to keep the secret and Mew growls, trying to gobble him up.

"Here." Mew gives Thorn the candy and the stud on his collar is saved for the time being. "so... have you thought of your baby's name?"

"Uhuh... I call Bub."

Mew laughs. "Bub? Why bub?"

"Cos he my baby."

"How do you know it is a he?"

"My baby a boy."

Mew chuckles. "Okay... so Bub is short for baby."

"Uhuh..."

"But when your name is Thorn and your baby's name Bub, how will people know he is your baby?"

Thorn frowns and look at his dad who sounds so stupid. "I tell."

"Oh, you wise old man!" Mew tickles the sassy king. "How about Tharn? Tharn is a name that makes people think 'oh this is Thorn's baby. His name is Tharn.'"

Thorn thinks so hard frowning and even stops licking his candy. "Mm... but I love Bub."

"Good. Bub is a good name. You can call him Bub but when you talk to other people, tell your baby's name is Tharn. Win-win."

Thorn frowns some more but what his daddy says makes sense. There is lot of trouble in pleasing people. So this is the best option they have; Thorn deducts.

"Okay!" Thorn resumes back to licking his candy again, leaving his dad to chuckle.

He can already see Thorn falling head over heels with his baby brother. It will be heart-warming to watch. He will make sure his sons will get the best brotherhood ever; something he and Ja could not have.

"What will you say to mae when you see him?"

"I love you mae, Thorn miss Mae."

"Okay. What will you say to Bub when you see him?"

"I love you Bub. You are my baby Thorn."

Mew laughs.

"What Daddy say?"

Mew hugs Thorn to his side.

"Daddy loves his family so much."

Thorn giggles. "Daddy, Mae, Bub, San and Thorn... Family"

Mew smiles. "Yeah buddy. You are my family and I love you.