Seungyoun was a treasure, then and now. Seonghwa was overjoyed to learn he made it out, even when his servant apologised endless times because he wasn't able to save Seonghwa's mother from the rubble of the falling castle. Seonghwa soothed him she would want to be with her home and he never would have forgiven himself if she had been taken by the orcs, but Seungyoun vowed his eternal loyalty once more to make up for his shortcoming.

Lonan and Fiorello were healthy and hungry after their birth. And though they happily suckled away on Seonghwa's swollen chest that was full of milk once more to provide for them, the seraphim inherently also needed a diet of protein to grow healthy. Seonghwa's body didn't provide much of that and it had been no problem before since Aodhán was an elf for the largest part and Morana grew her teeth early to gnaw on the meat she needed to grow, but his two babes were entirely too small to find what Seonghwa's body didn't provide for them.

Luckily, the harem realised before the twins needed to hunger. San went out to hunt some easily digestible birds with Wooyoung, but they were stumped on how to prepare them.

Seungyoun was their saviour before they had to admit to the seraphim that some half-elven children were under San's guidance that needed care. The servant read up on the topic and easily prepared a baby-safe meal and soon, the two winged treasures had equal amounts of meals provided by Seonghwa and the mixture Seungyoun ground into a puree.

San was so proud to see his two sons doing well. They permanently kept the family on their toes, lifting into the air seconds after waking up from their slumber to flail through the room. The cave system wasn't easily baby-proofed, so someone always watched over them to pluck them back down.

Yeosang humourously suggested getting a net to catch them, but Seonghwa wasn't kidding when he agreed he might have built a safe dome of fabric for them back at the Moon Castle.

They made it work, though, since so many people were there to be involved. Yunho loved switching the two about and pretending he lost one, only to find him behind the other. Similarly invested, the puppies were smitten with the two. Their eyes were open by now and provided the only way to tell the twins apart until they developed further.

Their eyes were twice-blessed, which was common among elves but rare among seraphim. Both had different coloured eyes, and they mirrored one another.

Lonan's left eye was a white opal colour, with specks of green and purple to resemble the gem. The right was a crystal opal, more golden in its hue and streaked with a sky blue.

Fiorello fashioned the same eyes in the reverse vision, his left golden and the right side a pale white shine.

They were equally gorgeous and Seonghwa was so charmed they had elf eyes to their otherwise rather limited elven traits. Morana also loved staring at them, making up grand comparisons about the sea and Hongjoong's gems to describe their eyes to Mingi.

The titans celebrated the birth of the children with a banquet in Seonghwa's honour. After he recovered for a few days, they were invited to dinner with the titans in their indoor garden so Seonghwa and his harem could move without worries to be seen. Everyone was curious to meet his spawn, and Seonghwa was equally prideful to show off his beautiful family.

There were no grand garments to don. No crown to pick. It was just them.

San struggled with his cloak. It got in the way of his hope to carry the twins on his arms and while Seonghwa was very happy to carry one each with him, he soon realised San wished to be strong for his children. To carry them until they could fend for themselves. To teach them how to wield various weapons. Having only one hand became shameful to him at once and he visibly suffered with his frustration.

Seonghwa pulled him aside before they left for their celebrations. Yeosang held the twins outside and Yunho told a story about one of his parents' dogs birthing ten puppies at once. If Aodhán and Morana had nightmares about Seonghwa after this, it was his fault.

San stopped fumbling with his clothing when he was alone with Seonghwa, but the knit in his brow remained. He felt inadequate with one hand. Though he hadn't expected two children, he wanted to treat them equally.

The elf's gentle touch to his cheeks focused his gaze. The frustration in his eyes mellowed.

"My love," Seonghwa began as he traced his fingers to the stump, cradling it gently through San's sleeve. He kept it wrapped up in fabric since the sight was macabre for the children to look at. Seonghwa heard of warriors in the past who felt the pain in lost limbs as if they still had them. San would never admit to his suffering, so Seonghwa was extra careful with him.

"Did Hongjoong never offer you help with this? There are multiple ways magic can provide you with a new hand. Utensils, even, if you don't trust the spells altering your body."

San glanced at the ground. They knew each other for too long for him to get upset with Seonghwa's noticing. Telling him off would only disappoint the elf, so San exhaled.

"It serves as a reminder. Keeps me keen so the same won't happen again," he replied, but Seonghwa caressed his flesh with sorrow. The arm attached to it still trained hard, never losing its strength in long years.

"I would like you to not torment yourself with its vision. I am here. I adhere to your sacrifice, but I also know you will punish yourself through this. The twins would be happy getting to hold a hand each and having their hair braided by you." Seonghwa lifted San's arm to press a kiss to the fabric covering his scarred skin. San closed his eyes, afflicted by the restrictions of his past, which came to haunt his presence anew, clashing with his trust in Seonghwa.

But San knew only healing awaited him by committing to this elf. So he lowered his eyes.

"My peerless paramour..."

Seonghwa granted him a tender smile. He also wore his scars with honour. Didn't try to shun the events that shaped him into who he was. San would bear the reminder of his suffering that day, but an artificial hand would ease his frustration.

"Don't cling to that chapter of our past. Let us overcome it together. And reach for the future with all the help we can provide to each other. There is strength in moving on as well," Seonghwa sang to him, and San's soul found its rest under his light. When he nodded, Seonghwa's smile was proud of him.

"I'll talk to Hongjoong," he whispered, loyal to Seonghwa's demands. It was the only way to guise self-care for the tormented seraph. His emperor's wish to keep his knight in the best condition.

"We can go together. I'm sure he will help," Seonghwa smiled back at him. He lingered, offering himself in their moment of privacy, and San couldn't help his fond grin. His handsome dimples dug into his cheeks as he brushed Seonghwa's hair behind his ear.

"You are gracious and kind as ever," he praised, while Seonghwa tilted his head, pulling them closer.

"Since I love you so," he whispered before he sealed their promise with a kiss. They didn't linger too long, but their lips on each other carried so many memories. Seonghwa still remembered the first time he kissed San. Until now, so much changed and yet they were the same.

Soothed, San pulled back to settle Seonghwa's hand on his crippled arm. He led him gracefully, steadfast, no matter how others perceived him. Proud of him, Seonghwa accompanied him back outside to the rest of the family. Morana was dying of boredom on the ground, so she and Mingi started playing with the puppies until Seonghwa emerged. Yeosang scrutinised the pair, but he found nothing to make a cheeky comment about. In passing, Seonghwa stuck his tongue out at him for his assumptions. Yeosang sprouted a snapdragon at him.

"Let's get going. Everyone awaits us," Hongjoong snappishly reminded them of the time. Bemused with their jealousy when they were all so equal to him, Seonghwa floated among them down the tunnel leading to their new home. Asteria lingered nearby with a box to carry them all and Mulberry already perched inside, squawking at her as if to communicate. She listened full of interest.

"There you are, shining star," Asteria greeted them when the group wandered onto the ledge to climb into the box she aligned for them. San flapped his wings to carry Seonghwa in his arms and he safely landed in the box to peer up at the massive titan while the others arranged themselves. Asteria so curiously watched the two tiny bundles babbling and giggling about, never dull with all the interesting people around to look at.

"Thank you for picking us up," Seonghwa smiled back at her. "Did we have the others wait?"

"They know to amuse themselves through the eternities," Asteria replied, taking off with the box once everyone was accounted for. Seungyoun was already with the cooks of the giants, working hard on the festivities. Seonghwa would make sure he took a rest after all this.

The titans prepared food and drink everyone would enjoy. Their moon stones and sun stones specked among each other in a gorgeous kaleidoscope of light breaking on the crystals and glowing mushrooms of their cave. With Yeosang's help, the gardens inside the cave were livelier than ever. The grass was tall and soft and the trees lush with blossoms and fruit that grew to the titans' size.

The group gathered on a platform among the ruins of marble so they were easily visible and wouldn't wander under a shifting knee to get squashed. Seungyoun awaited them there with cushions and plates for everyone. The bowls of this kingdom were the sturdy leaves of their plants, and the delicious scent of the dishes tickled Seonghwa's nose.

"We brought fish from our recent trade with the nymphs. The meats are boar and deer," Asteria caught them up while they spread out. Mulberry merrily dipped to his bowl to gobble down his meat while Buddy ran around the edges of the platform, checking out the titans closest to them.

Everyone was invited who didn't have to guard the borders. Those people would switch shifts later. The council of their eldest were present, their children, and many others Seonghwa got to know in passing. They stepped softly upon the rich earth and spoke hushedly, so his children wouldn't startle.

Aodhán loved the titans. He was awed by their size and all their knowledge, even begged Hongjoong to learn to fight from them instead of magic lessons. Unfortunately, they weren't equals, so the boy couldn't, but he still loved to listen to their classes.

Jongho was in a conversation with Crius right away, pondering the earth and its endless tales. Seonghwa made sure the twins were taken care of and wouldn't fly away before he sat down. Wooyoung had one of them on his lap to feed him, San held the other. In the years of tending to Morana, Wooyoung understood the duties of a parent. He was still over-confident and Seonghwa wouldn't leave him alone to teach his kids how to battle the ocean in their flight, but he had fun with their development.

Though it was his opportunity to play around, he had matured in these years, even if he didn't want to admit it.

Seonghwa leaned into Yeosang's shoulder when the dryad handed Mingi the bowl of meat, so he could take some for himself and Morana. Yunho was with him, helping out without ever tiring of the demon.

How lovely his family was. How strong.

Seonghwa never wanted to leave them again. With their strength, he could rebuild the home they once loved. Could show his children who they were and the beauty of the outside world.

Seonghwa toasted to the future with them. Relishing their laughter and their healing glow, the merry song of his babies' souls.

Right after, he had to tell Morana she was too young to drink with Wooyoung, so maybe that was the only part he had to take back.