"Leia! You are being quiet. What’s wrong?" Xiran inquired later that night when he slipped in bed with her to get some sleep before their sons would wake up.

"Nothing," she lied.

"Come on, don’t be like that. Tell me, please," he pleaded, placing her head on his arm and his hand on her beautiful face.

"It’s just that Rumail and Amoris have decided to see the world before settling down. That’s what I wanted too before all the responsibility," she breathed out in frustration, her eyes downcast.

"Leia!" Placing his index finger under her chin he raised her face so she would gaze at him.

"We will go see the universe, this much I promise you. This was how it was destined to happen. Doesn’t mean we don’t get to do what we had decided. Have little patience and place your trust in me," his tender words had her nodding in no time.

"That’s my girl. Now get some sleep before your munchkin wakes up and clings to you," Xiran teased her about Arian and she couldn’t help but chuckle. Deadly exhausted Aselia soon fell asleep. Xiran was still awake when Arian’s shrill cries hit him and he was out of bed in no time.

"Hey, hey little fellow. Let’s keep it down, your mom has just gone to sleep, so come to your old man," Xiran gently removed him from his crib and began rocking him. Soon he stepped out of the room so as not to disturb Aselia and Ciaran.

Esma was still awake and was watching some soap operas with Rony in her lap.

"Ah! He is awake again. Let me prepare his bottle," Esma got up seeing Xiran carrying him outside.

"Let’s hope he starts taking the bottle like his brother who makes zero fuss over anything," Xiran sighed, watching his wailing son who had balled up his hands in tiny fists and with his eyes still closed, shrieked at the top of his lungs.

"Yeah, this one is a troublemaker. He wouldn’t leave his mommy alone," Esma went to the kitchen to prepare a bottle for the little fellow. Rony and Xiran on the other hand tried to pacify the screaming tiny bundle but it was of no avail.

"Here," Esma offered Xiran the bottle and he tried to feed him with it. Arian greedily took it in his mouth but on realising it was not his mother’s nipple, he opened his mouth again and began screaming his lungs out.

"Arian! My boy, please take the bottle. Let your mother rest for a while. Be a good boy," Xiran smooched him, trying to baby-talk to him but he wouldn’t have it.

"Let me try," Esma asked, extending her hands and Xiran gladly handed him over, clearly exhausted by now.

She rocked him and sweet-talked while offering the bottle but his wailing only grew.

The door of their bedroom opened and a haggard-looking Aselia emerged from it.

"What’s wrong?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Sorry, we tried to give him the bottle but he won’t have it," Esma explained while Xiran seemed agitated, she had hardly slept an hour and now she was awake again.

"It’s ok, I will take him. He doesn’t like the bottle," Esma passed him to his mother. His face was blood red from all the wailing and crying.

"Shhh! Mommy is here now," she kissed him and gently pressed him to her chest and as soon as he found what he was looking for, the baby pacified.

"Phew! He is going to be such a character," Esma shook her head at his shenanigans and Xiran and Aselia couldn’t hide their smiles.

"No doubt," Xiran summed up.

"I will head to bed. Call me if you guys need help. Come, Rony. Good night," she waved them goodbye and headed off.

Xiran took Aselia and little Arian in his arms and they snuggly settled down on the rugs by the fireplace. Hugging her closer so she could lean on him and get some rest while he fed.

"Xiran, when are we going to get them tested for the vampire gene?" Aselia softly asked. She had been dreading asking him but knew soon it would need to be done.

"Soon, we still have time. Don’t worry, sleep for now," Aselia sighed and closed her eyes. This was going to be a long and difficult journey, she could feel it but being in his reassuring embrace always brought her solace. They slept in each other’s arms.

------------

Yurian had been waiting for the right moment to speak with Frila. But the opportunity wasn’t presenting itself making him realise he had to create one and see where they stood.

He approached her as she was checking the hotel records with two glasses and a bottle of red wine. He had been living in her hotel for about a year now. She wouldn’t let him move or take his money.

"Care for a drink?" he asked, placing the glasses and bottle on the table near her, he squatted beside her.

"You read my mind, please," she cracked her neck, placing her hand on its back. Yurian poured out the wine and handed it to her. She accepted with her signature warm smile.

"The first time I arrived in Fritez was posing as a tourist and I never thought I would ever return to this place," Yurian tilted his head watching the beautiful girl in front of him, whose smile struck the chords of his heart.

"You were so dramatic at that time," Frila chuckled, recalling the incident.

"Yeah, I was young too, it has been about 3 years now," he recalled how quickly the time had flown.

"Indeed, it’s already been about two years since I lost Carios," her gaze went to the engagement ring that still adorned her finger. She didn’t have the heart to take it off. Her eyes pricked with tears, and her heart ached.

Yurian reached out and took her hand in his and gently squeezed, assuring her of his presence and the tears slid out of her eyes, she began to silently cry. Her heart, unable to hold onto all those emotions that plagued her.

Yurian instantly left his seat and hugged her, she held onto his waist and buried her face in his shirt, which absorbed her tears.

"I got you," she hardly ever cried in front of him but whenever she did he was there for her.

"I am sorry, I know I should try to move on but I am stuck in the past," she whimpered as he stroked her hair.

"You don’t have to explain yourself, take your time. But remember I will be here with you in any capacity you want me. You will never be alone," he had no intention of pushing her when she was this vulnerable but at the back of her mind he wanted to plant the idea of him wanting to be more than just her friend.

"Thank you, Yurian. You are a true friend," she finally separated from him and grabbing a tissue from the table she wiped her tears and nose.

"We were to get married that month, I had even chosen a dress," she dabbed her eyes, the tears kept streaming out.

"Let yourself heal Frila," he calmly told her, holding her shoulders. Her tears were like acid falling directly on his heart, burning it.

"I know and I swear I am trying," she hiccuped and picked up her glass to take a gulp and wiped the last of her tears. They both resumed their seats and sat silently for a while before Frila spoke again.

"Enough about me, tell me why are you still single? There has to be someone who fell for this baby face," she softly smiled at him, her crimson lips were so inviting and he struggled to not take her in his arms and taste them.

"There is, but she is not ready so I am waiting," his words carried his raw emotions and he hoped that one day she would realise that it was her.

A small "Oh!" escaped Frila and she reassuringly nodded at him. Her heart panged and deep down a thought birthed that he was talking about her but she brushed it aside.

"I hope soon, you deserve the best."

"She is the best. Come let me take you out. What would you like to eat?" Yurian changed the topic not wanting for her to dwell deep or wonder too much on it when she was in such a fragile state of mind.

"I would like to get drunk, Yurian. Can we just sit with each other, get drunk and talk nonsense? I would love to do nothing other than this," she bit her lip and watched him with expectant eyes.

"Best plan ever, getting drunk it is," he shouted, grabbing the wine bottle and raising it, Frila laughed.

Both of them left her office and headed for the bar to get drunk and loosen up. Yurian had never seen her drunk, she always remained sober and decent. This would be a new side of her and he couldn’t wait to find out how that would be.