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[ never before has alisaie so deeply, keenly known what it is to feel bittersweet.

arriving on hydaelyn again, surrounded by the familiar walls of the rising stones, eorzea's peoples and lands safe, restored, full - is it not what she had dreamt of since first she awoke in that icy pod? since she looked out over a wide vista of stars and attempted to process the fact that her home was gone? mourning an entire world had been a monumental effort, and when the news had come that their homes could yet be salvaged she had never been more relieved.

that relief, of course, had been soon followed by a sweeping despair. they were to return home, and only home, the natha had a duty to fulfill, to see to it that everything was restored exactly as it was, no exception, no compromise. for the greater good, they had insisted, and alisaie's heart had broken clean in two. she had made so many connections, so many close friends, she had carved a life out for herself on el nysa and -

- and prompto. to lose him forever was an ache she could not bear. she had already lost so much, so many, and to lose him.. of course she fought. she railed and shouted herself hoarse, she petitioned the natha again and again, begged, but they would not be moved. and so she was home again, surrounded by familiar walls and familiar friends, but on her clothing she could still smell prompto's skin, the sensation of his last kiss clinging to her mouth like a ghost.

a week of stunned grieving was all she allowed herself, but alisaie would not be defeated. traveling to other worlds.. it is possible, she has seen it done. the ascians, the warriors of the first - all had traveled between the planes, and alisaie was entirely certain, with all of her heart, that his eos was one of the many echoes, the worlds connected to her own by the sundering of the mothercrystal. prompto was gone and yet he still somehow felt so very close, just out of reach of her touch, her voice, her heart.

the pregnancy, of course, had been.. entirely unexpected. the natha had rendered them sterile, but she can only assume that they had reversed it some time before their restoration of their homes, long enough for him to quicken within her womb and leave her with a soul to remember him by, a sweet child with her own dark eyes and prompto's fair hair, and smile, and laugh that breaks her heart to hear. but gods she loves him, this little sunshine boy who thrives on touch and love, who sleeps well and smiles often and gives her the extra drive she needs to work, to finish, to find the way to drive open the doorway between their worlds. it is unstable, and unable to linger for long, it is entirely possible that this is a one-way trip, that she will never be able to find her way back, and that is all that stalls her. prompto is her heart, her husband, the mother of her child - but hydaelyn is her home, her family is here, and the thought of leaving her brother behind forever, leaving urianger, and the scions..

gods, it is nearly enough to unmake her, to convince her to abandon her work.

but they remind her, all of them, that prompto too is her family, that their child deserves to know his father, that if she does not make this step she will never see him again. she will.. simply have to do it again, to find a way to keep the doorway open. and if she has not, at least she has said her goodbyes, she has made her peace, and decided what it is that she needs.

and so that is what brings her here at last, to eos, where the air is thick with darkness, where the aether is in upheaval. gods, this is the home he had returned to? this is where he has been? the atmosphere is heady and oppressive, the roads swarmed with terrible daemons. she had made the right decision.

finding him, however, was much more difficult. finding her way to a well lit station had been difficult enough in a foreign world, and she had learned quickly to arrange her hair to cover her ears, avoiding questions she does not have the time to answer. but soon enough she had learned of him, where he was, and how to arrive there - to a city called lestallum, the last great bastion against the doom hovering on the horizon.

alisaie's heart is pounding when she arrives before the worn wooden door, in a narrow staircase with yellow walls, the paint peeling and the light harsh. she's ruffled and dusty with travel, exhausted and anxious, smelling of sweat and chocobo but once she had arrived in the city she could not bring herself to wait another second before searching him out, finding him. hefting the sleeping child higher on her hip, alisaie presses a kiss to his pale blonde head, taking a deep, stilling breath.

and she knocks. ]

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[ Ah, so, it's a bit too soon to bring that up, huh? Prompto flashes her a grin, maaaaaybe trying to play it off like he was teasing more than he was. ]

W-well, suuuure! But — w-we can worry about that later. Heh...we already got two lil' munchkins to worry about for now.

[ But since he wasn't around for Louie's birth, he probably has no idea how wrecked her vagoo is, I mean, he probably thinks they're gonna do it tonight. ]

[ they are definitely not gonna do it tonight. or tomorrow night. or for a little while, tbh. sorry prompto. if you're good maybe she'll give you a handy. maybe. ]

.. yes. I am more than happy to keep focused on what we have for now, thank you.

[ NO MORE BABIES, PROMPTO. she has suffered enough for now!! carefully, she wipes luna's face, leaning forward to smile at her, speaking far more gently and softly than she had with prompto. ]

Are we nice and clean now, hmm? All better.

[ He'll be good, he'll be good!!!!

Though she suitably puts him in his place, the way she leans down to speak so sweetly to Luna has him all but melting, the sight of Alisaie's gentleness nearly as heartwarming as bathing the babies themselves. He finishes washing the suds off of Luci, before padding his thumb softly across her cheek. ]

Clean as a whistle. Isn't that right, Luci-boo?

[ You better believe the nicknames are already out in full force. He resists the urge to tickle her further, instead reaching up for a towel to lay across his arm before reaching back into the water to scoop his darling little girl up for drying. ]

Come to papa...

[ He presses a little kiss to the crown of Luci's head before beginning to pat her dry. ]

[ look, it's not like she doesn't want more babies!! someday, at least. maybe. but she's hormonal and still very sore, and bleeding, and the absolute last thing on earth she wants to think about right now is being pregnant and giving birth. maybe he can carry their next kid, then she'll feel better about all of this.

anyway, luci-boo. weh. alisaie is just as gooey inside about prompto being cute with the babies as he is about her being cute with the babies, even if he's pretty much always cooing at them. maybe she'll roll her eyes at it eventually, but for now, it's still sweet.. this is why she fell in love with him, after all. he is strong and hard-working, yes, but it is his soft heart that drew her to him the most, and kept her loyal and loving even so many years - and a long separation - later. it is what makes him different from so many other people. special.

but enough of that mush, alisaie flips the drain on the tub and scoops luna into a towel as well, holding her carefully and sitting back on her heels to carefully pat the water from her hair. ]

All clean now, little love. Now it's Mama's turn..

[ she can already feel the water against her skin, the heat sinking into her sore bones.. ahh.. ]

[ Darn right it's her turn! So once Prompto has Luci dry and snug as a towel burrito, he reaches for Luna to relieve Alisaie of her. It's about to get dad vs. twins and toddler again, but at least Louie seems content to play quietly in his room for now.

... Actually, maybe he should be worried that it's so quiet... ]

Okay, this is your one chance to not worry about the kids for the next eighteen years, so don't waste it! [ He's kidding. Hopefully. Probably. ] Take your time. By the time you're done, I'll have these angels jammified and ready for dinner.

[ Or he figures they'll be hungry about then. Look, all he knows is babies eat a lot. And sleep a lot, and poop a lot...

He stands moving back towards the doorway. ]

Want me to get anything for you?

[ Yes, he has an armful of two babies, but he can grab her something with his...foot? Maybe??? ]

[ by ready for dinner he means ready for the tiddies, doesn't he.. she's gonna stretch this bath out as long as possible!! also, jammified. ]

No, Prompto, I shall be just fine..

[ she says, smiling dryly, but just after she approaches him to press kisses to each of the twins' soft, downy little heads, and then another to prompto's nose, then the corner of his mouth, lingering through a smile. ]

I think I can handle this.

[ Well, Prompto definitely isn't gonna try feeding them. Both the twins and Prompto will be ready for the tiddies, tbh.

His fussing quiets with her warm smooches, though, and he returns the favor with one of his own to her brow. ]

Just...don't rush it, if you hear sounds of distress. I can handle this.

[ Famous last words.

But there he goes, toting both babies out of the bathroom so she can bathe in peace. He's so excited to get them in their jim-jams!!! ]

[ don't ruin her lovely relaxing bath with sounds of distress, please.. she just wants one hour of peace and comfort!! alisaie's brow knits with worry, but she sighs and pulls back, leaning to flip on the water again so the tub can refill. ]

.. all right, well, I believe in you.

[ she says, hoping she will not regret these words!! but she believes them anyway. prompto is.. prompto, but he is helpful and kind and he loves his children, she knows he's a superdad beneath all the fuss and mess.

so, in goes a generous amount of bubble bath. he can do this.. ]

[ He can do this!! He has long been a dad in training, and since he wasn't able to be around for Louie's birth and infancy, he's even more determined to do his best now.

To his credit, it's not a complete disaster. In fact, he's reasonably successful, even if Luna manages to pee on him before he can get a fresh diaper on her (seriously? She couldn't do that in the bath??) and Luci manages to grab a fistful of his hair and nearly rip it out of his head. Babies are so tiny and fat. How is their grip so strong????

But that aside, Prompto manages to get them both dressed in their first-night-home PJs, a feat that is once again made much simpler by the fact that they are not yet mobile. He then checks in on Louie to make sure he hasn't made a complete disaster of his room, and, well — he kind of has, but only so he can arrange his toys into some kind of miniature city. Prompto sets both twins down on the bed so he can sit down among the city with Louie, playing along with the strange world that Louie has put together.

At one point, he plays the part of a dinosaur, and cries out loudly: ]

No! Noooo! I'm too young to die! I must be avenged!

[ There's nothing to be concerned about. ]

[ praise be to thaliak that she was able to enjoy a nice long bath without interruption..!! she'd heard a few mishaps muffled through the door, but it didn't sound like the house was on fire, and there were no explosions, so it was easy enough for alisaie to lounge back in the tub, close her eyes, and relax.

relax as much as a new mother ever can, at least. a part of her mind remains focused on the sounds around her, waiting for catastrophe to strike at any moment, but for the most part she can appreciate the copious, fragrant bubbles and the magnificent heat of the water that soaks right into her bones, soothing her joints and easing aches that she's had for weeks. it isn't until the chill of the cooling water rouses her from an impromptu nap that alisaie finally drains the water and rinses herself off with a quick shower to scrub away the stench of a month long hospital stay. once she has dried off and slipped on a thick, comfortable robe, she can finally say that she feels something like herself again.

rubbing a towel into her damp hair, alisaie follows the sound of prompto's voice and louie's squeals, leaning in the doorframe to witness her four children at work. ]

Haven't you a phoenix down in your pocket for just such an occasion?

[ and why is there a dinosaur in the city?? this isn't we're back!! ]

[ Who says it's not??? It's Louie's world, anything he says, goes! And right now there's a dinosaur in the city, being attacked by a giant chocobo plush. That is, until Alisaie comes along and offers her words of wisdom.

Prompto tips a look up at her, smiling broadly. What do you know, she got her warm bath, and nothing went catastrophically wrong! Though the girls on the bed are starting to get a bit fussy. Luci whines a little cry of protest, and Prompto plucks her off the bed, bouncing her gently in his arms. ]

'Course I do! I'm never unprepared. [ Never. ] Let's see, here...

[ With his free hand, he reaches for a small plastic chicken. It'll have to do as a phoenix down in a pinch, and he touches it to the dinosaur's head. ]

Huh? What's that? I can suddenly feel the life flooding back into me! I'm saved! All thanks to Mommy.

[ Louie cheeses a big grin up at her, too. Like father, like son... ]

[ wow the chocobo is the villain in this story?? incredible..

but disaster is averted at the last second, the dinosaur is saved, just in time for the babies to begin fussing. alisaie gives them a cursory glanceover, but they all seem to be intact, the onesies aren't even backward!! amazing. granted, prompto has no idea what he's in store for.. while they're still little infants they're relatively easy. they sleep a lot and can't do much but lay around and make a mess, but once they learn to crawl and scream..

well, she'll not spoil the future for him, prompto has many wonderful years of learning how to be a parent during the early stages of a child's life. then it truly will be dad vs. twins and a toddler. soon.

alisaie smooths her fingers through louie's fair hair as she passes, leaning to scoop luna up as well, cradling her close. ]

Have we all had supper?

[ it's almost bedtime, her favorite time. ]

I gave Louie some delicious and nutritious microwave pizza! Let the girls try some, too. Lemme tell you, they weren't a fan of the sauce...

[ ... ]

Kidding. Tooootally kidding. I gave 'em bottles, though, so they should be right 'n' ready for bed.

[ Since someone took so long in the bath!! He doesn't look too put-out, though, even if bottle-feeding two babies takes a lot of coordination. All his experiences with twins so far has taught him that he would really appreciate a third arm. ]

Think the only one here who still needs supper here is you!

[ And, uh, himself, but whatever, he'll grab something once the kids are sleeping. ]

[ ah yes, a healthy dinner. but fed is fed, and alisaie will take it. ]

Go on and brush your teeth then, young ser. I'll be along to tuck you in shortly.

[ louie groans, because brushing your teeth is lame, but he marches off to do it nonetheless, while alisaie bounces luna gently on one arm to quiet her, her tiny little fists curling into alisaie's damp hair, nice and gently and sweetly, not trying to pull it out of her head. maybe if prompto's hair weren't so distracting then babies wouldn't want to yank on it.. ]

But all right, I suppose we should forage for something as well.

[ she says, passing by prompto on her way toward the kitchen. she's not so foolish as to buy even for a second that she's the only one who needs to eat!! ]

[ Right, she knows his tells all too well, and if he had eaten something, he would have mentioned it, so forage they will. With a sigh, he climbs to his feet once more, legs somewhat asleep from sitting on the floor, and he continues to bounce Luci gently as her eyes start to droop. ]

That's right, Luci-bean, juuuust go to sleep now, I'll keep you safe and warm...

[ Prompto's voice is rather soothing when he isn't screeching like a chocobo, and moreover, both girls had heard a lot of it while Alisaie was in the hospital. Luci starts to settle further, her head resting against his shoulder as he follows Alisaie into the kitchen. ]

What d'you think? Do we have story time in us tonight?

[ He loves reading to Louie, and he's sure he can summon the energy from somewhere, but even he, the energizer bunny, is beginning to drag. He can't wait to fall into bed...and then be woken up in an hour by crying, but whatever, that's future Prompto's problem. ]

[ luci-bean!!!!

luna, fortunately, is not being quite so fussy - she's already slumped against alisaie's chest in a doze, her tiny hands curled in her mother's hair. for as exhausted as she is, alisaie is so unbelievably happy to be home.. they just have to make it through supper before she can finally rest.

for now, once they have reached the kitchen alisaie carefully, geeently lowers luna into one of the two wooden baby rockers standing by the counter, rocking it back and forth a few times to settle her before she can wake too much. ]

If you mean you will read to us, then by all means.

[ Following suit, Prompto lowers Luci into the other rocker once she has settled down enough that he dares to let go of her. It's odd — while Alisaie and Prompto had talked plenty about how to tag-team this whole parenting infants thing, he's finding he doesn't need to overthink it as much as he thought he would. It just...feels natural, to be doing what they're doing. But then again, they've always had a way of being so in sync, even when they first fell in love. They make an amazing team for a reason. ]

Of course that's what I mean! I've been practicin' by very best story time voices for the girls, I'm not gonna miss the chance to show off for 'em.

[ Grinning, he moves around the counter, reaching into a cupboard. ]

For you, my lady.

[ He pulls out...a bouquet of roses!

Just kidding. It's not roses. It's a bag of fresh butter cookies from the bakery, all for her. ]

[ i mean a bouquet of roses would have been sweet and she would have appreciated it, but a bouquet of cookies is far better tbh. if she didn't love him already, she would fall in love with him all over again, now.. the look that dawns over her face is awash with love and desire - for the cookies. prompto, too, but mostly the cookies. she can smell them from here.. ]

Oh..

[ she breathes the sound, and it sounds positively inappropriate tbh, like sin given breath, and she's quick to accept the bundle from him, tearing it open gleefully. ]

Have I mentioned how very much I love you?

[ oh god, the smell when she opens the bag - sugar and vanilla and butter - it's so good she could die. ]

The hospital fare was less than enticing..

[ It's okay, he's long known he's her secondary lover. Cookies will always been first in her heart. Actually, now that they have kids, too, he's probably third...maybe fourth after Peo. Oh well, he can live with being fourth, especially when his efforts earn him reactions like this. ]

Figured you deserved somethin' sweet after putting up with hospital mush for weeks. [ With a chuckle, he leans in to press a soft peck to the corner of her jaw. ] Eat up! You want anything else? Think I'm gonna make a sandwich.

[ He's a bit too tired for pancakes right now, sorry. But maybe in the morning... ]

[ yeah i mean.. yeah.. that is all true. but she has room enough in her heart for cookies, children, peo, and prompto, luckily for him. she has a lot of love to give.

she's giving a lot of it to these cookies right now, shoving two of them right into her mouth and chewing gratefully around a pleasured groan. they taste just as good as they smelled, nice and buttery and sweet. mmm.. prompto's kiss earns a smile, and though her mouth is full she still turns her head enough to bump her nose affectionately to his cheek. ]

A sandwich is just fine.

[ another cookie, and she leans onto one hand, the other still gently rocking the baby bouncers. the girls are nicely tuckered from their bath. smiling, alisaie speaks again in a soft, squishy sort of tone. ]

You're so good to me..

[ Yeah, he's done good. He always knows he's hit a home run with she gets all doughy-sounding like this, and he grins to himself as he reaches into the fridge for some sandwich fixings. It's well stocked, but no thanks to Prompto himself — he has to give Ignis credit for that one.

When he turns around, he wears the same smile, soft and warm and full of joy. Sure, the world is still blanketed in darkness, and they face a tough road ahead, raising not one, but three children now in a world like this. But with her at his side, what could he ever have to fear? In this little space they have carved out in the universe, in this moment, everything is peaceful, everything is perfect.

Instead of responding, he sets the fixings on the counter, turns to her and slips his arms around her waist, before lowering his mouth to hers in a kiss that is as slow and sweet as it is intense and deep, the kind that will leave them both breathless when he pulls away.

She already knows all his reasons. This is just a reminder. ]

[ no.. he abandoned the sandwiches so soon!! couldn't he cuddle her after there's real food in her belly?

.. but okay, she can't really complain about this. it's unexpected and sudden, so her breath hitches a little, but just as soon she's lifting her arms and slipping them easily over his shoulders (still holding the cookie bag in one hand), and tilting her head to kiss him more properly.

it's a good kiss, the kind that makes her belly tighten up and her heart skip and leap up into her throat, the fingers of her free hand curling into his collar to hold tight. with her teeth dragging his lower lip, she smiles coyly against his mouth, nuzzling her nose alongside his own, breathing his breath, kissing between soft, murmured words. ]

Missed me, did you?

Mmm...dunno what gave you that idea...

[ He murmurs back, right against her lips, his mouth pulling into an irresistible smile It's been some time since he's just been able to hold her and kiss her like this, so even though there are things to do, sandwiches to be made and children to be put to bed, he lets the moment linger, kissing the corner of her mouth, nose pressed to her cheek. ]

I love you.

[ He whispers reverently, before pressing a line of soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck, where he buries his face against her skin.

He missed her so damn much. ]

I love you.

[ oh.. his kisses stray from her mouth, down her throat, and alisaie arches into it, tipping up her chin and closing her eyes and soaking in the feel of his mouth on her skin. they've always been touchy and affectionate, and it's been a month since he could last really hold her like this, full in his arms, squeezing her close.

murmuring under her breath, alisaie turns her head to nip playfully at his ear, her smile curving against his cheek. ]

I love you, too.

[ her answer comes easily as always, though it does not come without a twinge of guilt tugging at her heart. gently, she smooths a hand over the back of his shoulders, down his spine, and up again. ]

I am.. sorry.

[ He maintains this space against her then, breathing in her skin, pressing soft, fluttering kisses again and again to the sweep of her neck. How had he once gone for years without being able to hold her like this? How had he ever known a time in his life where she wasn't at his side? This month apart had been so long, hard on the children, but him as well. Prompto is not the sort of person who can go it alone, and he had missed her presence keenly, had not adjusted to her absence in their bed. At last, things can begin to return to normal.

...You know, as normal as they can be with two infants in the home, anyway. ]

Don't be. You have nothing to be sorry for.

[ Which goes without saying...but still. ]

All that matters is you're home now. With us.

[ With all of them, their family. ]

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using the same icon twice in a row...how embarrassing

WOW HOW DARE YOU

:kissing_closed_eyes:

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