Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tora waited patiently for his hamster to say her goodbyes. The kids had all come to see them before they left and had decided to drive them to the airport.

They were headed to the States this time. A place called Glacier Park.  Once the kids were about 3 years old, he and Bobby had taken a family vacation twice a year. This is the first one the kids wouldn't be joining them and it was hitting Poppy hard.

They had a cozy cabin with a fireplace for 5 whole days.  There was plenty of hiking and rafting if they wanted or just lazy days sleeping in curled around each other.  Tora voted for that.

"Sweetheart,  we need to go.  They've already called our flight.  Bye kids.  Love you."  

He raised his arms and they all crowded in, giving one last hug.

Tora pulled his hamster close and steered her away and to the gate.

Once he stowed their carry-ons, Tora sat next to his teary eyed wife of 30 years.  

"It's not the end of the world Sweetheart.  We'll see them next week.  They're adults.  We're adults and can celebrate our anniversary with some sexy alone time."

She bit her lip and nodded, looking up at him.  Pft pfft.  She was still so beautiful.  Her soft voice floating up to him.

"Remember our first family vacation?"

Tora chuckled.

"Pretty fuckin hard ta forget Bobby."

The plane took off as they recounted the unexpected trip.

Chapter Text

Tora looked at Poppy in concern, fairly certain something was broken. 

She had explained what a vacation was and they agreed they wanted to spend a few quiet days at a seaside resort.

Neither one of them would have to really do anything except play with the kids, but now....Poppy had lost her friggin mind.

She'd started making list after list of everything that HAD to go with them.  She was frazzled trying to decide what to take, what activities to do, what snacks to bring....

"Lotion, castle making molds, buckets..."

They had agreed on simple.

"Bobby, you said the resort had all that stuff."

She nodded her head, not really paying attention. 

"They do.  But what if it's all checked out by someone else?"

Tora sighed.  They'd talked about this.  How they didn't want the kids to grow up entitled and/or spoiled.

"Then they do without and form walls with tha're hands.  Ya not bringing all that.  I refuse ta haul it Bobby.  It's just supposed ta be us and the kids."

Poppy bit her lip.  He was right.  She just wanted to make sure he had a good time.  Her Tiger, of course, knew her well.

"I'll have a great time cuz I'm with you and the kids.   Ya got the definition wrong though.  So far there's nothin relaxin about vacation."

He was horrified when his hamster's eyes filled with tears, so he quickly pulled her into his arms.

"S'ok sweetheart,  ya just excited.   I get it.  I'm happy ta go whenever and wherever ya want.  But right now I'm stressed with school, ya're stressed with work,  and the kids are a handful.  We need ta be able to relax and let it go."

He gave her a kiss.  A very long kiss.

"Let's dial it back.  It's our first time.  Start small. The kids and I won't know the difference.  We're going to an ocean resort that has activities ya want ta do.  Sign us up for 1 activity ya really want ta do each day.  The rest will be spent on the sand with the kids.  Will that work?"

"Oh but..."

"Poppylan no.  I can't cope with all this.  Lazy days at the beach sound perfect.  I want ta grow old with ya, not have a heart attack hauling around a bunch of stuff we don't need.  Ya gotta dumb this down for me....please, only stuff we really need."

It was hard won, but his therapist stressed to him the importance of his feelings, as well as his partners.  They were both valid and deserved a voice.

His instinct was to do whatever, give whatever, his Bobby needed or wanted, but it wasn't always right to do so.

While he'd always strive to make his hamster happy, he'd learned to pull back and discuss things.  They both had.  She had been just as conditioned to please, and while it rarely reared it's head, it had shaped her.

"Steady remember?"

S--STOP

T--THINK

E--EVALUATE- my personal needs & wants

A--ASSESS- my partners needs & wants

D--DELIVERY- compromise til both parties are happy.

Y- You did it!

Poppy nodded and smiled.

"Thank you.  I need to remember it's not my job to please everyone."

"Nothin ta be sorry for.  When the kids are old enough ta carry their own shit, ya can have free reign.  Right now...I want simple.   That means I need the kids, I need you and I need ya ta not worry and stress over making everything perfect.  As long as I have those 3 things?  I'm golden."

His sexy ass hamster smiled.  The first real smile he'd seen since she started planning their vacation.

"So I shouldn't pack this then?  We don't really need this do we?"

She held up a slinky royal blue lace and silk babydoll nightie.  His mouth went dry.

There wasn't enough there to cover her generous breasts and she might as well not bother with the scrap that were the panties.  He cleared his throat.

"I'm willing to compromise."

Chapter Text

Tora's legs were cramped but the view made up for it.  He knew the ocean was large but he didn't understand that it was bigger than some continents.  Well he knew, he'd seen pictures but to see it for real was a shock.

He would have liked to sit by the window but he had Qira and Gina between himself and that coveted spot. 

Poppy had Ian ahead of him and an empty seat that they'd paid for.  Tora hadn't wanted a stranger sitting with them.  Poppy had just rolled her eyes at him.

The kids had been a trial during the first leg of the trip.  Their ears hurt and the girls got sick.

Once that has passed, they'd had a quick snack of fruit and dip that Poppy had brought then they'd fallen asleep.  

Poppy warned him that landing would hurt their ears too but thankfully they were still sleeping.  They elected to leave them that way until they landed.

There were 3 carry-ons, all with long shoulder straps; chosen specifically so Tora could carry them as cross-bodies.  The kids clothes and favorite items were in 1 and she and Tora each had 1.   Tora refused to let her check any baggage.  The resort would do any laundry they had.

They wound their way to the front, Poppy carrying Qira, the smallest.  Tora had Ian on his shoulders and Gina in his arms.  They were quite the site and people stared.

Quincey had hired them a car and they found it easily as it waited at the curb.  The driver held a placard with the name 'Wilkes' in bold letters.

The kids were restless and needed to move and whined quite a bit on the way to the resort.  Tora turned around from the front seat.

"Hey, munchkins.  Settle down. Be respectful of the driver.  He needs to concentrate.  Once we get there we'll change and go straight to the beach so you can play ok?"

"Dad I'm hungry."

"Me too."

"Me thoo."

Qira only lisped when she was excited, which was all the time.

"Ok.  We'll eat first then play."

Poppy's alarmed voice had Tora whipping around again.

"Ian where did you get that?  Give it to me."

"It's mine, unca Quincey gave it to me!"

"I want some!"

"Me thoo! Me thoo!"

Ian stuffed the gum in his mouth and grinned while chewing furiously. 

"The fuck Bobby?  Where was that?"

"I don't know and watch your language."

The girls started pulling on Ian to get him to share and Ian, well, he doted on them so the sweet boy took the gum out of his mouth and started pulling it in to pieces to share.

"No!"

At the resort

Tora lined the kids up and held them in place while Poppy tried to get the gum out of their hair.  Qira only had a little bit and it was easily removed.

Gina not so much.  Several frustrating minutes and a brief haircut later and Gina was crying.  

"I'm sorry, it just wouldn't come out.  Your hair will grow back and it's a lesson to you to listen."

Next she turned to Ian who had tears in his eyes.  

"I'm sorry mom.  Don't cut my hair."

At 3 the kids were a handful for sure but they were so thankful the kids were easy going.  Well, usually. 

It broke her heart to see the gum in Ian's hair.  He wanted to be just like his dad, hair and all.

"I'm sorry sweetheart,  I'm going to have to cut it.  No more gum, for any of you, until you're older."

Ian cried the entire time.  Poppy thought the shorter hair was cute on her son and told him so. 

"I had short hair for a long time son.  I grew it out as an experiment before I met your mom and liked it.  You can grow it out again.  Won't take long."

Poppy got teary eyed.  Tora tried to talk to the kids with the proper language.  You not ya, etc.  He wasn't always successful but he made a conscious effort.  With her not so much and she found that she really liked that.  She truly didn't mind his speech, found it endearing actually. 

She wiped her eyes feeling nauseous.  They needed to eat.

The kids sniffled their way through a meal, whining about their hair.  Then the next moment, forgetting all about their hair, ran screaming with excitement to get changed.  That's the easy going part of the kids.  The hair wouldn't be an issue again.  Poppy looked at Tora who was staring at her.

"I need a nap."

She snorted.

"Sorry Tiger.  They need to run and the beach will tire them out."

Screaming from the kids' room had them both running.

Chapter Text

It was a long night after a long day.  They hadn't taken off until early evening.  It was 2 am now and Tora needed to stretch.  He'd kept in shape and while he wasn't as buff as he once was, he still had a well sculpted body. 

He had changed up what he could do to work out as he'd aged.  Impact activity was limited, his knees would only take so much.  He had picked up Pilates, and Yoga helped too.  He and Poppy did those together. 

He ached more.  Was stiff if he sat too long.  Was sore if he did too much.  He figured after the life he led, he was lucky to be alive, so he'd take sore.  He was able to stretch it out and be fine.  At almost 60 he was pretty fuckin happy, aches and all.

He peered down at Bobby, asleep on his shoulder and smiled.  How did she get more beautiful each year? 

He glanced around at all the sleeping passengers.  He'd stretch a bit, walk the aisle then try to get some sleep.  Flying had never really been his thing.  He'd had the kids to distract him in the early days and even when they were older he was distracted with them.  He grinned.

When the kids had gotten much older, Poppy had distracted him.  He got up and stretched his arms up, loving the pull on his muscles, his shirt riding up revealing that he did, indeed, keep in shape.

He walked back and forth a couple of times, noticing only a few still awake.  He did a few stretches then looked down at Bobby and smiled.

A tickle on her cheek woke Poppy up.  Golden eyes stared back at her, a mischievous smile graced his lips.  Tora had aged well.  There were laugh lines at his eyes and mouth and silver in his long hair, but he was still just so gorgeous to her.  He just got better looking each year.

Thanks to the exercises they did together, Poppy still pretty much looked like she did when they met.  She hadn't really changed her hair much since the length allowed her to do so much with it.  There were a few strands of grey but for mid 50's it wasn't bad.  She had some lines too, mostly around her eyes.  

"Hey sweetheart."

She smiled and really looked at her man.  The smile and the twinkle in his eyes had her darting a look around, knowing exactly what her tiger wanted.  She always thought this part of a relationship waned after so long, but almost 30 years and it was still an almost every day thing....and she loved it.

Tora's hand brought her out of her musings and she took it with a smile.

A whisper. 

"Frank"

Nudge nudge

"Frank!"

'Huh?  What is it Helen?"

"Do you hear that?"

He strained to listen and finally heard what his wife of 40 yrs was hearing.

moan  moan

uh uh moan

oh god Tora!

ung ung ung

Fuck sweetheart

fuck!

moan moan

Frank cleared his throat and looked at his beautiful wife.  She had a weird look on her face.

"What?"

"Think we can do better?"

Chapter Text

She was so tired.  She always was these days.  The triplets were on the go from the moment they woke up until they closed their eyes at night.  Why she thought a change of venue and calling it vacation would change that, she didn't know.  When they got back, Poppy was putting them into a play group.

"Mommy!"

She could hear the hoard stampeding down the hall and briefly thought about hiding, then immediately felt guilty.

"Mommy!"

She braced herself for the onslaught as the kids barreled through the bedroom door.

"Hide!  Dinosaur!"

She then heard Tora making roaring noises and thumping down the hall.  She watched in amusement as Ian shoved Gina under the bed and told her to be quiet.  Qira was in the corner, trying to cover herself with a blanket.  Ian helped her then turned to Poppy.

"Hurry Mama -Hide!  Dinosaur!"

Poppy smiled at the earnest look on his face, scrambling back on to the bed, covering herself with pillows.  Once Ian was satisfied all the girls were 'safe', he hid behind the door just as the Torantasaurus came through the door.

The giant dinosaur costume had arrived via resort delivery from Quincey for Tora.  Poppy giggled at Tora in the costume and he immediately turned toward the noise.  She heard Ian gasp then shout.

"Leave alone!  Come and get me!"

He then pushed the dinosaur before running out the door.

Tora was proud of Ian.  Having heard his children plotting on how to capture the dinosaur, he dutifully put on the costume and proceeded to chase them.  Ian hid the girls and was now the distraction, turning Tora away.

"Mommy?"

Poppy uncovered herself and stared at her girls.  They looked so serious.

"We help Een."

They held out their hand and, smiling, Poppy took them and got a lesson in stalking dinosaurs. 

They crept to the living room where Tora was making his roaring noises.  Ian was darting back and forth, looking gleeful.  He smiled big when the girls showed up, but frowned when he saw Poppy.

The girls jumped on the dinosaur, overwhelming it with their sheer enthusiasm.  When it fell to it's side, Ian joined them.  Poppy stood up from her crouch and immediately fell over as a wave of nausea & dizziness hit hard.

"Mama!"

Ian laid down next to her, his golden eyes serious as he patted her cheek.

"Baby not happy?"

"I'm fine sweetheart.  Just tired." 

"Bobby?"

She held Ian's hand and watched, fascinated, as red bloomed in his eyes then receded back to gold as he pointed to Poppy's middle.

"Not mama.  Baby."

Poppy lay there in shock.

What?

Chapter Text

Tora smiled faintly, remembering his shock when Poppy told him about Ian.  It was all so many years ago now.  He kissed his sleeping Bobby's head then closed his eyes remembering....

Tora stared down at the image on his phone.  He was speechless, then he wasn't. 

"What the fuck??!  How is this possible?  Who is this?"

Gyu and Quincey were silent.

"Guys?  What have you found?"

Quincey cleared his throat.

"There was that man remember?  Martin thought he saw you that night but it wasn't you.  I told you about Keb, and then it just fell off our radar when everything went down.  The picture is of the current Royal Family."

Tora had never heard of them.

"The royal family?  No idea who that is.  We have clans, not a dynasty."

Gyu took over.

"They are considered royalty.  Descendants of King Ulaan.  They ruled the whole Northern Kingdom for several centuries until the deceitfulness of the Balthumens lost them Narin City and the surrounding communities 150 years ago. 

They have prevented them from going any farther, allowing them their land in order to keep everyone else safe. 

They rule from the edge of Moonbright, all the way to the farthest territory to the North, West and East, and South along the border of Narin past Quin-lo."

Tora stared at the picture in his hand.

"Why haven't we ever heard of them?"

Quincy snorted.

"Because they appoint each of the city's officials and oversee them.  Their rule is passed through the officials.  They, apparently, are kind and believe that a thriving family is a happy family. 

They charge a fair tax for the upkeep of the towns and are studious in caring for the citizens. 

Unlike the Balthumen's, they are humble and believe it is their duty to take care of those in their territory."

Tora reverently rubbed his finger over the family in the picture.

"I want to go there.  See them.  Quincey, can you make that happen?"

Quincey smiled.  Tora so rarely asked anything for himself.  

"I sent a letter a week ago, outlining my proposal for piece and my intention of merging the Narin Territory with theirs.  I made it clear I had someone I wanted them to meet, and included your picture. 

I imagine it will take some time for them to investigate and reply."  

Tora was jarred awake by turbulence.  Fuck,  he hated flying.  Looking at his phone, he saw that they had several hours yet before landing at their first stop.  There was a 2 hour layover before their connecting flight to their final destination.  

He glanced down at Bobby, surprised she hadn't woken yet.  The plane was still shaking a bit. 

He was just about to stand and stretch when he heard a ding and the pilots voice quietly apologized for the disturbance and to please put their seat belts on.

Bobby still hadn't woken so he did up her belt before doing up his own, then looked across the aisle at the old couple still sleeping.  He unbuckled and went to them, ignoring the flight attendant telling him to sit down.

He leaned over the woman next to the window and carefully secured her belt before turning to the man just waking up.  He startled when he saw Tora leaning over him.

"I'm sorry sir.  They are asking we buckle up.  There is some turbulence.  I secured your wife.  Left me help you."

The man shook his head but he had arthritis and his gnarled fingers couldn't get it done.  Tora took over then handed the man a blanket before retaking his seat and doing up his own belt.

Bobby snuggled close and kissed his chest.

"I love you."

Tora put his arm around the woman that had saved his life so many years ago.

"I love ya too sweetheart."

Chapter Text

He was gonna puke.  He didn't need to do this.  He didn't.   He had a family and he fought hard to keep them.

If he was a from the royal family, why didn't they try to find him huh?  Why was he left with a sadistic bastard like Vincent.

"Tora?"

He ignored Quincey and just stood there.

Despite his job, what he'd had to do to stay alive...Tora was a gentle soul.  He still had nightmares...probably always would.  

If these people were family...no, of his blood, then....why?  That lost little boy inside him cried, but he refused to let the tears fall.

His guts churned and he turned around.  He'd made it through without them.  He had a family.  One he loved.  He didn't need this. 

He took a step and thought of his Bobby and the kids and kept walking, conscious of Quincey falling into step with him.

His best friend said not a word, just walked with him until they heard a door open behind them.

A quiet, female voice floated to him.

"Tora?"

Chapter Text

He didn't want to turn around.  Didn't want to see who the voice belonged to.

"Tora?"  

This time there were tears in the voice.

Fuck.  He hung his head and shook it, trying not to feel guilty.  He had no reason to feel that way. 

He started walking away again only to be stopped by the sound of running feet.

"Please!  Wait!"

Then more feet.

"Momma stop!"

Tora sucked in a breath.  Was that his..? 

"Please don't touch him."

Quincey's words made him wince and close his eyes.  He couldn't make his feet move.  He couldn't. 

"Please."

"Momma come away.  Not so close."  

Footsteps stopped behind him and he could hear the woman crying.  Poppy would have his balls if he didn't talk to them.

Without turning around, he quietly asked his first question

"Am I your son?"

"Yes"

He clenched his hands.

"Then why didn't you come for me?"

More weeping and Tora got mad.  He turned around.

A small dark haired woman stood before him and a man who could be his twin but with dark eyes.  He was younger than Tora, 3 years younger maybe.

More people were running out of the house.  More family that he was not a part of.

His golden eyes deepened to amber.

"Why did you leave me with that bastard to be tortured; trained to be a killer?"

He looked at the new-commers.  A small woman with dark hair, dark eyes  Another man, a twin to him with gold eyes but younger.

An older man with golden eyes pulled the crying woman close.

"I've got a pretty fuckin distinctive look.  Did you even try?  I was all over Narin.  Were there any authorities even lookin for me?"

He turned his back to walk away.

"Do you know what I've had to do?  What I've had to live with?"

"We've been looking since you and Keb were taken."

He ignored the man.

"I was tortured, beaten and starved on a regular basis.  Psychological and emotional abuse were a regular thing.  I was alone."

The woman cried harder.

"We had patrols out every day searching the surrounding areas from where you were taken.  The only lead we ever got was from Keb when we found him"

Quincey touched his arm in support.  When Tora shuddered, he circled his arm around his shoulders.

"Is this your boyfriend?"

Tora growled and turned around.  He pinned the pipsqueak with the defiant gaze with a deadly look.

"You don't get to ask questions.  None of you do.  You gave that up when you lost me.  Then again when you failed to find me."

The older man...his father?  Spoke quietly.

"We know that.  It was my failing that you were taken.  If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have found Keb."

He gestured to the boy that had asked the question.  He drew himself up and looked Tora in the eyes.

"You told me where to run and when.  You gave me food when you found it.  You kept us alive.  There were men after us.

I was only 3 but I remember because you drilled it into me to remember the details, to tell our parents.  You kept track of the roads and houses, the garbages we raided.

You made me recite it over and over.  You told me where to go, how to hide to get there without being seen.  You were only 6 but dad had already been instructing you and you kept me safe and used yourself as bait so I could run for help."

Tora's mind whirled.  Everything was so fuzzy when he was that young.  After talking with his therapist, he realized he let himself forget in order to keep his brother safe.

"We have been concentrating on Narin for the last 20 years.  5 years ago, we had information that led us to Vincent Balthumen."

The man sighed.

"We had glimpses of who we thought was you but we couldn't ever get facial recognition.   You're good son.  Real good."

There was pride in his voice, as well as sadness.

"We kept digging and finally found an informant that worked for Vincent.  He told us what he knew about the Tiger of Ares Street and for a price, the deals that were being made.

He was certain another man within the clan, Martin, was trying to prove you were sabotaging the deals and wanted you dead."

Tora looked at him close, watching his reaction.

"I did sabotage the deals.  Every fucking one of them.  I wanted out since I was first taken by Vincent.  Once I met Bobby, Quince and I made plans to get out.  

We drained all the money, blew up the deals and raced like hell to have alibis."

The man pinned Quincey with an intense stare. 

"We're happy to meet you Bobby."

Quincey's mouth fell open.

"I I'm not, Um I'm not Bobby, I'm Quincey Balthumen."

All at once, every person standing there, save Tora,  drew a gun and pointed it at Quincey's head.

Chapter Text

"No!"

Tora lunged in front of Quincey, holding up both hands.

"He's my brother!"

Cautiously,  Tora's dad lowers his weapon.  The rest reluctantly follow his lead.

"Explain."

Tora looked at his dad.  Really looked at him.  It was like looking in a mirror, 30 years into the future. 

"I know we messed up,  but please, how does the head of the Balthumen empire become your brother?"

Tora looked at Quincey and nodded for him to come out and help explain.

Tora was startled awake when the oxygen masks dropped.

Fuck!  He reached for Poppy's mask as the pilot's voice told everyone to stay calm.  

"We're flying through a storm folks.  Our contacts tell us it's a doozy but short lived. 

Stay seated. Stay calm.  We do not need casualties on board because someone tried to go pee.  

The masks activate if the plane shakes too much.  You can ignore them for now."

"Tora?"

He heard the shake in Poppy's voice.

"It's ok sweetheart,  no matter what happens we're together."

"Really?  Straight to dead scenario?  C'mon big guy, if we go down, let's at least look for a parachute or a blow up raft or something."

Pfft pfft.  

"I love ya Bobby."

"I love you too Tiger.  You were mumbling in your sleep.  What's on your mind honey."

Tora smiled.

"Our first vacation and everything that followed.   Remember when I met my parents then waited a couple months to introduce you?"

*Bahaha 

"They were expecting a man.  I still don't know why you told them Bobby.  You've never explained. "

Tora's face flamed.

"I was nervous and scared.  I was thinking how I have a home with you, my Bobby, I didn't need them and then it just slipped out."

"When do we get to meet Bobby?"

Tora stopped walking and slowly pinned Keb with a look that anyone in his circle would quake at.  Numb nuts here just stared at him

Tora just kept walking to the patio ahead.   He and Quincey had been talking with his family for a couple of months now and he wanted to introduce Poppy and the kids to them.

They had showed him all the evidence that they had tried to find him. A 'war-room' of sorts was setup in a side room with pictures, paper clippings, and links to news articles pinned to the walls.  

The last picture they had of Tora, him with short hair and a green dinosaur shirt, was framed on the south wall. 

Computer generated images of what Tora might look like as he aged, we're in a row following it.  It was so close to his likeness, it was creepy.

A couple of months later, Tora was starting to let down his guard.   

He'd had Gyu digging and he hadn't found anything that would warrant keeping Poppy and the kids away.

He'd asked for a meeting of just his parents, but of course Keb trailed him peppering him with questions.  Nosy little shit.

Tora rounded the corner and saw his parents sitting at the table eating breakfast and he stopped.

"Sorry.  I'm early.  I'll wait in the car."

"Don't be silly, come sit.  Have a bite."

Tora shook his head.

"I ate."

He didn't want it to be awkward but it felt that way.  Not because of anything they said or did.  He just didn't know where he fit with them.

They had history they talked about that he was not a part of and couldn't contribute a word to the conversations. 

Poppy told him it was ok, that they were trying to give him their history, the knowledge of it, so when stuff came up, he'd at least know what they were talking about.

Made sense.  Didn't make him feel less awkward but Poppy said it would get better and he believed her.  Poppy was genius with people.  He trusted what she said.

Quincey was waiting with Poppy and the kids in the driveway.  He just needed the balls to introduce them.

"I need to talk to ya alone."

He eyed Keb.

A guarded look passed their faces, then concern.

"Of course.  Keb?  If you could excuse for a moment please?"

Keb's shoulders slumped, then he turned away and went inside.

"I..."

He didn't mean to make Keb feel bad he just....

"It's ok son.  He worshipped the ground you walked on when you were little.  He was devastated when we could't find you.  He just wants you back.  To be close again."

Tora didn't know what to do with that information.

"Want ya to meet someone."

*Gasp

Do we get to meet Bobby?"

Tora winced.  He hadn't explained that Bobby was actually Poppy.  The one time he'd tried, his dad had been distracted by Tora's tattoos.

He'd tell Poppy about that later and texted Quincey.

A minute later, Tora watched his parents who were watching where the footfalls were coming from.  The confusion on their faces were kind of funny.

Poppy didn't think so.

"You didn't tell them Bobby was a girl did you?"

"Um...no?"

"Is that a question because you're not sure?"

Tora winced again.

"Sorry sweetheart.  Bobby slipped out and I never got the chance to correct it.  Wanted to protect ya too."

Poppy cupped his face and smiled.

"I got your back Tiger."

Tora smiled.

*Gasp

"Oh!  He smiled!"

Tora blushed.

"Hi, I'm Poppylan.  Only Tora calls me Bobby and I want to keep it that way.  Call me Poppylan or Poppy."

She reached out a hand to Tora's mom, who tearfully pulled her into a hug.

His dad stared in confusion at Tora.

"You call her Bobby?  Why?"

*Bahaha

"It's our story of how we met.   Maybe one day Tora and I will tell you.  Today is for other things.

It's so very nice to meet you both.   I see where Tora gets his coloring and size, not to mention our s.."

**Throat clearing

"Right.  Well, we better talk fast because Quincey alone is not capable of holding back the hoard."

A look of alarm crossed the dad's face.

"Don't worry." 

Poppy reassured him.

"You won't need a weapon."

Tora smirked.

"This is my wife Poppy and these.."

He swpet his arm out at the racket that could suddenly be heard.

"...are our kids.  Ian, Gina and Qira."

Keb stood there, gun in hand, having heard the noise, a goofy smile on his face.

"I'm an uncle?"

Chapter Text

Keb looked at the kids in awe.  He hung back watching his big brother interact with his kids.  The little boy was in a battle stance in front of his sisters.

Keb smiled and his heart squeezed. 

He'd missed Tora.  He hadn't felt like a whole person for many years after they got lost.

He and Tora had done everything together.  He'd been the best big brother a person could ask for.

When he'd found out what had happened to him after the Balthuman pig had taken him...Keb had been gutted.  Especially since he knew that Tora had deliberately used himself as bait so Keb could run.

He surreptitiously wiped his eyes.  He had been hoping to renew his relationship with Tora but his brother was still standoffish-even with their parents.  He was quiet, closed-off and stoic.

Today was the first they'd seen him smile and it was at his wife.  WIFE!!  His dreams of a relationship crumbled.  No way, with a wife and 3 kids, did Tora have time for him, and rightfully so.  Didn't look like Tora wanted that anyway.

"Keb"

Keb was jolted from his musings and jerked his head up.  Tora was standing in front of him.

"Come meet Poppy and the kids."

Then...Tora smiled at him.  Oh god.  Please don't let himself cry.  Mom had told him that Tora needed time to adjust, but it had been almost 3 months.  This was the first he'd said anything to him.  

He'd been hurt by that.  In truth, he couldn't fathom what Tora had gone through, how that shaped him.

"If you want.  Ya don't have to."

He sound uncertain and Keb didn't like that and his eyes popped wide.

"I want to.  They look adorable."

"Fuckin' right they do.  Little shits too.  Don't let 'em bully ya."

Keb raised an eyebrow and Tora snorted.

"You'll see."

As they got closer, he could see the little boy still standing in front of the girls.  He growled if they tried to get around him and Keb smiled big as he saw the mom, Poppy, kneel to talk to him.

"Ian, it's ok.  These are your grandparents.  Your dad's mom and dad."

The boy shot a look to his mom and asked,

"Like granpa Henry and granma Janice and granny Alice?"

Poppy smiled and Keb liked her immediately.

"Yes.  Now look at the man.  What do you see?"

When the boy, Ian, turned back, Keb sucked in a breath.  His eyes.

"His eyes."

Tora's chest rumbled.

"Yea, poor kid.  Got it from me.  And Trigoan I guess."

Keb's head whipped around.

"Not poor kid!  Blessed!  Only those with golden eyes can rule.  They have the sight and can rule with wisdom for the coming years." 

Tora's eyes went to his hairline and he took a step back.

"What the fuck!??"

Chapter Text

"I have to admit Tora, that freaked me out too when I first heard it."

Poppy snacked on celery and peanut butter after giving Tora the container of strawberries.

"Same.  Just like the tattoos."

Poppy smiled, still amazed that her husband had remembered his dad's teachings at such a young age.  

Even after he forgot Keb, he remembered the tattoos. 

"I couldn't believe that either."

                                       🌺🐠

Tora stared at Hanja.  She was his sister and was a female version of him, right down to the eyes.  Her build was slighter, of course, but holy shit.  Freaky.

"How did you know to get the tattoos if you say you forgot about us?"

"Hanja!"

"No mom, I wasn't born yet so he wouldn't remember me but he should have remembered everyone else.  He got the tattoos.  Why didn't he come back?"

His mom hung her head and Tora didn't like the look of defeat in her slumped shoulders.  He glared at Hanja.

"That was low.  She's ya mom.  She brought ya up right.  Look at ya.  All sleek and shiny.  Educated, but no manners."

"Tora!"

He pinned his mom with a look she was coming to know well.

"No.  Ya respect ya elders.  Alice woulda had her balls if she had any for disrespectin ya like that.  I should know."

He swung his head back to Hanj...his sister.

"Ya want ta know why I didn't come back?  Cuz I was in a fuckin cage.  When I wasn't in a cage, I was beat to within a inch of my life.  A dog ta be trained by Vincent fuckin Balthuman.

I don't remember Keb either.  If I don't know 'em, I can't lead anyone to him.  'parently I was a trouble maker so he needed to beat me inta submission."

He heard his mom sob and saw the look of horror on his sister's face.  Tough shit.  His life was hell and he owed the young woman in front of him nothing. 

Movement behind him had him spinning around, knife in hand ready to throw when he recognized Keb.

"The fuck ya doin walking up behind me like that?  Ya got shit for brains?  What the fucks wrong with ya?  Ya been trained at all?"

Keb just stood there gaping like a fish, his face pale.  Tora moved so fast.

"Tora."

The gentle deep voice of Trigoan penetrated the anger and he turned his head to look at his father.

"Enough.  They don't deserve your anger.  I do.  I am the one that failed.  I am the one that lost you and Keb that day.  Your mother went into a shop while I stayed outside with you and Keb."

His dad stood, walked over to the koi pond and stared into it's depths, speaking as if he was back at the shop that fateful day.  His father seemed to age 10 years before his eyes.

"We exercised.  'Peonies & Koi fish', do you remember?  We did it often and it was your favorite Tora. 

Your grandfather told it to you on your 2nd birthday as he did for Keb, Hanji and Trigo.  My granfather told it to me on my 2nd birthday.

It will be my privilege to tell it to your children if you allow it.  It pains me that your children are already past the age..."

His shoulders slumped and Tora didn't know what to do.  His mom crossed to his father and put her arm around her husband.

"It's not your fault.  After years of searching, we know that the children were targeted by our enemy.  They saw the golden eyes and took our children.  It was not your fault."

"They were my responsibility.  Just because we had enjoyed a few years of peace, I let down my guard."

He turned back to Tora, studying him.  He then took the stance, glanced at Keb and Hanji, who did the same, surrounding Tora who braced himself.

Standing still, his father spoke.

"Our heritage is long and honorable.  We come from a long line of great kings.  In centuries past we had vast armies to keep the peace."

He closed his eyes.

"King Ulaan was the first.  His red eyes heralded our destiny and burden.  The privilege of protecting our people."

As one, Trigoan, Keb and Hanji moved with grace.  Their bodies flowing, dipping low- legs swinging out, turning and rolling to their backs.  Arching their bodies, they flipped upright to flow in the other direction as his father kept talking.

"We train our minds, our bodies to flow with the land.  To become one with it.  Our bodies are strong, our heritage true. 

Like the koi in the pond we flow with ease, using the currents to strengthen our bodies....bring peace and calm to our minds."

They all three removed their shirts.  Hanji alone had a cover.  Just enough to keep her modesty.  All three had identical tattoos to Tora. 

He was shocked and stared at them.  Studying them.  How is it they were the same?

He watched as they continued to flow and Tora...remembered.  A bit.  He used the same movements when he was working by himself.  He had never used the movements when training others.

"Our heritage is a well kept secret.  Only those in Ulaan's direct line are allowed to know."

They all kept moving and Tora was compelled to take off his shirt as images, faint, flickered through his mind.  An older man with silver strands in his hair, dipping and swaying.

Tora took the stance and moved with the others when his father spoke again.

"We train, we protect.  Always.  Our minds, our hearts, our family, our honor.  Always, we remain true."

Tora bowed low but kept his measured pace on instinct as his father continued.

"We stand tall and numerous as the Poppies of the fields in remembrance of those that have gone before us."

Tora straightened and stood tall, pausing to take a breath before moving again.  His movements echoed those of the other 3 and his eyes burned.

"We fight fiercely.  We fight fairly.  We stand before those that are weaker.  We hold up those that cannot stand on their own.  We shelter those in need."

They all crouched in a battle stance and held it for long minutes, breathing deep.  Tora felt the peace that usually flooded him when he did this. 

He closed his eyes and the picture of who must have been his grandfather came to him again.

Tora automatically went into a single handstand, holding there as peace continued to spread through him.

"We cannot allow ourselves to become what we protect against.  Balance is necessary.  We strive to do what is right.  To keep our humanity, our integrity, our honor."

Down they went slowly, on one arm to hold themselves out on a plank before changing arms and doing it again.  All four of them in unison. 

His mother dipped and swayed amongst them and Tora almost faltered.

"We are to hold our focus; keeping our sight clear on what is important."

They all crouched low, defensive stance, before slowly rising, placing their palms together and bowing at the waist.

"We are Ulaan."

Chapter Text

"Oh, you have a bit of..."  

Poppy flicked her chin.  Tora glanced at her.

"What was that sweetheart?" 

He smirked as her eyes flicked to his chin.

"See something ya like?"

His hamster swatted him and he chuckled.

"Stop that ya perv.  You have juice on your face."

Tora's eyes twinkled and he swiped his hand across his forehead.

"Better?"

Poppy huffed then displayed a Tora worthy smirk.  Removing her seat belt, she straddled Tora's lap.

"Here let me."

She licked his chin, stopping to nibble here and there.  Tora grabbed her thighs.

"Fuckin hell Bobby."

Poppy sat up, smiling.

"Ya so beautiful sweetheart.  Whatch doin with a thug like me?"

She shrugged.

"To be fair, you're a boss level thug."

she smiled, a blush on her round cheeks.

"I kept waiting for someone better to come along but... you're the best thing that ever happened to me."

Chapter Text

"I wonder what the kids are doing?"

Tora smiled into Bobby's hair and kissed her there. 

"We've only been gone 10 hours sweetheart.  They're fine.  My parents are there if the need anything but they're over 30 years old Bobby."

"I know, I just....I miss them.  I worry being King is too much for Ian."

Tora chuckled.  His hamster doesn't want to admit that her kids don't need to rely on her anymore.  Have spouses in fact.

"The boys found feisty hamsters like you to keep them in line and the girls have men, screened and trained by me, to protect them."

Poppy huffed. 

"There is more to marriage than that."

Tora chuckled again.

"I know that sweetheart.  Ya can't deny they all have a love like ours.  They have kids.  We have grandkids.  I know ya worry.  So do I and I miss 'em too...but Bobby."

His hamster looked up when he paused.

"I only really need you everyday.  To see you everyday.  Touch you.  Hold you.

I love our family with everything in me, but I'm ok taking a break from them.  Be with me sweetheart."

His Bobby's eyes filled.

Fuck.

"Don't cry sweetheart.  Don't mind me. I'm golden.  Whatever ya need.  We'll call as soon as we can 'k?"

His Bobby raised tear drenched, remorseful eyes to his. 

"I'm sorry Tora.  I'm here with you.  I am.  It's just a little weird to not have the noise of the kids here with us.  But I'm looking forward to spending uninterrupted time with you."

She kissed him.  Softly.  Sweetly.  Then with more urgency. 

Tora nudged her back.

"Ya perv."

Pfft pfft

His Bobby ran a finger under one golden eye.

"I love your eyes.  Your indecently long lashes."  

She looked thoughtful.

"What are the odds of having a golden eyed child?  I never understood it."

Tora told her what he was told.

 👀 👀  👀  👀  👀  👀  👀  👀  👀

Tora listened, half in fear, half in fascination,  as his father and grandfather spoke of the secret legend.  

Ian was fidgeting beside him but listening.  Mesmerized by the old man with the golden eyes.  

Tora figured him to be 75 give or take a coupla years.  He had thought his father was king but it was this man who still ruled.

"Our family history starts with the great king Ulaan.  A fierce warrior.  An honorable warrior.

With his red eyes, he was led by the spirits.  Precognition came early to him and was consistently accurate. He was led to the clearing where he found his future wife.

They had five children, all born with golden eyes.  Three lost their golden color and turned dark by the age of 5.  Of the 2 remaining, only 1 had precognition.  Iris's that bloomed red before receding to gold.  

Only those with golden eyes and precognition are allowed to rule.  Our ancestry has shown that of those that rule, they remain alive until the next ruler arrives.  There are a few notable cases where the old one was more than a century old before the next eligible took their place.

In that case, a younger figure head is put into place to keep the peace as most would protest an older ruler, such as your father.  My great grandmother was Queen.  She was 117 when I became King.  My grand father held the title until he had to turn it over to my mother, who, when I was ready, turned it over to me."

He looked at Tora with clear eyes.

"Your father holds the title, but I rule.  Now that Ian is here, his training will start."

Tora was shaking his head.

"No.  He will do want he wants.  I will not force my kids like I was."

His grandfather smiled in understanding.

"He will have no choice.  His ancestry is ingrained in our lineage.  What he wants, what he has for skills, will coalesce into that which he was born to be.  A King.

You have great instinct, but lack precog.  Ian has already shown that he has it.  Congratulations by the way.  How is Poppy?  We haven't seen her for a couple of weeks."

It was a double question and Tora answered it as such.

"She's sick.  All the time.  Can't hardly leave the house.  I don't like to be away from her right now.  We would have asked you to our place but she didn't want you seeing her like that."

The old man smiled in relief.  He was afraid she didn't like them.

"I am sorry she is feeling so poorly.  My wife was the same with our 3rd.  We had all single births as did your father, but multiples run in the family.  Twins are very common."

Tora really didn't need to hear that.  Poppy was already big.  They already had triplets, what the fuck would they do with twins?  Although he figured they'd be easier than triplets and it's not like the older ones couldn't help with the younger.

Tora shook the images of five kids under 5 away to think about later and asked the question that had been bugging him.

"Gina and Qira weren't born with gold eyes."

His father answered.

"No but they will get darker, like Keb's."

At Tora's look his dad chuckled while his grandfather explained.

"There are four outcomes for eyes.  They are born as your girls, then they turn dark by the time they are five.  There is no precognition, no chance to rule.

They are born golden, but turn dark by age 5.  There is no precog, no chance to rule.  Like Keb.  I should state here that just because they cannot rule, does not mean that they do not have a place.  I will explain that later."

Tora glanced at Ian who was still listening raptly, except he saw a flash of red in his eyes before they went golden and Ian left his seat.

"Where ya going?"

"Uncle Quincey."

Huh, he hadn't heard anything.  Tora turned to follow Ian to the drive, which was empty.  Just as he took Ian's hand to turn him back, Quincey's car pulled into the lane and he honked.  Well, Georgia honked as Quincey was a menace driving.

Tora gave Ian a speculative look as his son ran to Aiden's door and they whooped in delight before running off back to the patio.  Summer, their daughter, was sleeping in her seat.  she was just barely a year old.  Her white blond hair so like her father's.

Tora bent to give Georgia a kiss on the cheek.  

"How ya feelin'?"

Georgia smiled widely.

"Like utter shit but at least it's only in the morning so far.  Poor Poppy.  I'm heading there now.  I'm just dropping Quincey off with Keb."

Tora looked at the time.

"I'll call an order in and have it delivered.  Don't let Poppy cook."

Georgia laughed.

"Jonathon already took care of it.  I'd better be going before summer wakes up, she doesn't care for the seat and will scream her head off."

Quincey kissed his daughter's cheek, then gave his wife a lingering kiss before waving goodbye.

"Didn't know you were gonna be here."

Quincey shrugged.  

"Keb asked about training.  I can tell you right now, that it will not be a good fit.  I watched him the other day and while he does fine, he's just not into it."

Quincey looked at Tora who sighed.

"Trigoan asked me to take it over.  He knows Keb wants to do the financial side.  He's really good at that I guess.  A genius."

Quincey smiled.

"It's a good fit for you too.  Especially if Ian will be training."

Tora scowled.

"I don't want that for him.  At least not this young."

Quincey shrugged.

"It wouldn't be like how we were raised you know."

Tora sighed but kept walking to the patio where he found the boys along with Keb.

Quincey bowed respectfully then turned to Keb.

"Ready?"

"Us too!"

Quincey turned to Tora with a raised eyebrow.

Tora motioned the boys over and squatted down to their level.

"Ya pay attention ta Quincey.  I've told ya before, no fuckin around.  Ya want ta play ya stay here.  If ya want ta go with Quincey ya pay attention and learn.  Got it?"

They looked at each other the way their dads do and came to a silent agreement.  With a serious look, the 4 year old Ian stood in front of his 3 year old cousin and addressed his dad.

"We'll pay attention."

Tora smiled and gave his son a hug, whispering in his ear.

"I'm proud of ya.  Ya can play in the pool after k?"

Ian smiled big and grabbed Aiden's hand to follow Quincey and Keb to the training field.

A throat clearing turned Tora's head.

"Your language could use some work."

Tora walked back to the table.  Anyone looking at him could tell that he was angry.  He prowled silently while pinning his father with an unflinching stare.

"I'm over 30 fuckin years old and danced to another man's whim all my life.  This is how I learned ta talk.  Ya don't like it I'll take Ian and go.  Ya can fuck right off.  I don't owe ya a thing."

He turned to leave but his dad's hand on his arm stopped him.

"I'm sorry.  I don't have a problem with your language, I meant in how you speak with the children."

Tora growled and his grandfather chuckled.

"Stop Trigoan, while you're behind.  It's not the traditional way to speak but he clearly loves his children.  They, in turn love their father and are not afraid of him.  Let it go."

His eyes bloomed red and he smiled at Tora nodding.

Tora turned away, staring at the fire.  Even though it was November, they preferred the patio outside rather than sitting indoors and Tora didn't mind.  The outdoor pool was empty and covered, the kids' floaties tranferred to the indoor pool.

"I tried to clean up my language after I met Poppy.  Tried ta be different for her.  Dress different, talk different.  I knew she deserved that respect but she..."

Tora huffed out a breath, thinking of that night in Moonbright.

"She told me she liked me the way I was and I didn't need to change for her.  If I wanted ta change my speech, I could, but not because of her. 

I tried harder after the kids were born, but it's so ingrained in me that I got tongue tied tryin to constantly concentrate on the way I talked. 

The more attention was paid to it the more the kids picked it up.  

Poppy said she loved me for it but to stop trying to change who I was because she loved me."

He shrugged.  

"I talk the way I talk.  We told the kids I was raised differently and that my speech wasn't what it should be and they should learn correctly from their mother, since she's a genius."

He was done talking about this and looked at his grandfather.

"The eyes?"

The housekeeper came out with a fresh pot of tea and they all sat at the table while she poured.  When she had left the old man spoke.

"As I was saying, there are four scenarios.  The 3rd is they are born gold and remain gold.  You, your father.  The instincts are much more pronounced, but no precognition, no chance to rule.  The 4th is they are born gold, remain gold and bloom red.  Me, Ian.  They are the ones who will be Kings or Queens.

There has never been an instance where one like me has passed before the next one takes over.  I was not worried as our aging is slower until the next is born. 

I found a few strands of silver when I turned 45, after you were born, but it wasn't until 6 years ago that it became heavier.

That is when you met Poppy?"

Tora was too stunned to speak.  He just knodded.

"I started slowing down a year ago.  I will start training with Ian first as my aging will catch up with me once he turns 15. 

I won't suddenly be decrepit.  I still won't look my age until Ian is ready to take over, by which time I will look and act my age which will be...let's see...84 when Ian is 15, assuming he's ready by the time he's 25.  94.  Give or take."

Tora gaped at him.

"What the fuck?"

His grandfather laughed as he replied with a twinkle in his golden eyes.

"What the fuck indeed."

Chapter Text

Tora stuck his head into the women's bathroom.

"Gotta go Bobby, calling our flight."

He was leaning against a wall opposite the door when a red faced Poppy emerged, curious women watching as she was kissed thoroughly by a large hunk of a man.  Lucky girl.

The layover had been brutal.  Apparently winter hit early, and what was supposed to be a quick 1 hour change planes layover took 8, as once the storm passed the wings had to be de-iced.

The weary travelers made their way thru the ticket center and boarding bridge.  It was cold and Poppy shivered.   It was no where near this cold at home.  Ever.

They'd had time to walk outside but they'd only lasted a couple minutes each time they ventured out.  Ice pellets propelled by the biting wind forced them back in each time.  Still, the fresh air had been welcome.

Tora stowed their luggage and his exercise bar before sitting down.  The airport had been busy but he was able to get security to let him use their large office to work out. 

It was the only time he ever showed his Royal Guard badge.  Pfft  Pfft.  At least it was good for something.

He'd had to prove himself to the posturing security guards of course.  Every damn time he went someplace new, some snot nosed law enforcement wanna-be had to goad him.

Tora had the utmost respect for law enforcement.  It was a hard and sometimes dangerous job.  Yes, there were some bad apples but there were in all walks of life and he had learned that most cops were great people.  They did the best they could in a difficult field of work.

It was the few young kids, full of themselves, thinking they were all that and eager to show off their skills that irked him.  Proving them wrong was always fun though, like the two he met today.

Tora led Poppy back inside, got her a cup of hot sugar with a side of coffee and a water for himself before heading for security. 

He had rolled up his sleeves and had pulled half his hair back as he usually did.  He kept in shape and he got quite a few stares, which made the 2 young guards bristle.

Tora showed his ID and badge, sizing up the 2 punks and sighed at what he saw.  He didn't want Poppy to witness this but being in a strange place, no way he was letting her out of his site.

"I'd like to see your Captain please."

They drew themselves up.

"You can speak with us."

Tora just pinned them with his golden eyed stare.  Heads of mafia quailed at the look and when he repeated he wanted to see their Captain, they caved, furious and eager to put him in his place.  

The Captain emerged from his office and Tora was happy to see a well put together man.  Fit.  The same type of build as himself only a bit smaller.  Not young, maybe 40. 

He shook his hand waiting for the male dominance bullshit so many were fond of.  There was none with this man. 

Tora handed him his ID and Badge, which the man looked at with raised eyebrows.

"I'm Captain Baker Mr. Ulen."

Tora smiled and corrected him.

"It's Colonel Ulaan."

The man looked again at the ID and badge then whistled, before handing it back.

"My apologies, Colonel.  What can I do for you?  Are you here in a professional capacity?  You're quite a ways from home."

"My wife and I are on vacation.  Our 1 hour layover has turned into who knows how many hours.  I was hoping to be able to use your space to get a work out in.  The cramped planes makes me itchy. 

I need to keep myself from cramping.  Could I use a doorway here, or do you have somewhere out of the way I could go?  My wife will go where I go."

Captain Baker smiled.

"I do.  I was thinking the same myself.  The stranded passengers are all behaving themselves so I can spare a few minutes. 

I've converted a larger cubicle into a space.  Not ideal, but better than nothing."

He looked at Tora.  

"You mentioned a doorway.  You have a bar?"

Tora raised his bag and the Captain led Tora to the space.

"I have about 15 minutes of paperwork to see to, then I'll join you if you don't mind?"

Tora just nodded.  He preferred to work alone but if working with the Captain got him the space he wasn't going to protest. 

He'd been eyeing the kids too and they were not pleased to see he was welcomed by their Captain.  He smirked. 

Let the games begin.

Chapter Text

Tora put his arm around Poppy and spoke quietly in her ear.

"Sorry ya gotta see this sweetheart."

She gave him a look of concern.

"I thought I was imagining it.  Don't kill them ok?  I want to sit in that jacuzzi tub in our cabin - not a jail cell."

Pft pfft

"I'll just rough 'em up a little."

Derek looked at Corey.

"He looks pretty fit.  I think we should leave him alone.  Guys in his prime."

Corey scoffed. 

"Palease.  Dude is a poser.  He looks impressive, but these Royal Guard people don't actually do anything.  I'm sure he'll be glad to learn some new moves."

Derek looked at him doubtfully, then at General Ulaan, taking the opportunity to study him.

His hair was long, with a few strands of silver.  His shoulders were broad, his thighs thick.  He had to be 6' 3" or better.  Dude was built.  He barely stretched before asking for a restroom.  He took his wife and bags with him.

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Captain Baker snickered.  If he wasn't mistaken, his 2 colleagues were about to have their asses handed to them.  He looked down at the google page in front of him. 

According to this, Colonel Ulaan was the eldest son of the former king.  Father to the current.  He didn't look it, but if the information was true, the Colonel was 60 and responsible for training one of the finest fighting forces on that side of the world.  

He had tried to drill into his men respect and appreciation for the experience of older co-workers but these 2 were a little denser than most.  Each had come from privilege and never had a negative word uttered to them in their lives.

The academy can only take you so far...teach you so much.  He himself had been taught street fighting from a man who had eventually partnered with him on the force.  Moves the academy would never get away with teaching.  They were still best friends.

You had to keep yourself in shape and continue learning.  Never taking anything for granted and these 2 had never believed that it applied to them.  They had been transferred to him to train and fuck his life but he hated it because his hands were tied.

He smiled.  Colonel Ulaan was the best thing to happen to those 2 idiots out there, and he himself couldn't wait to learn from him.  He quickly changed into his workout clothes when he saw the Colonel head to the restroom with his wife in tow. 

                      💪💪          🥋🥋             💪💪

Tora changed into his workout clothes of black pants and black wife beater before changing his mind and putting on the shorts he liked and going shirtless.  He smirked at Poppy's in-drawn breath.

He flexed for her before putting on the soft soled slipper shoes he favored.

"Let's go sweetheart."

He caught a look at himself in the mirror and shrugged.  He still looked the same as when he met Poppy.  His body wasn't quite as tight as it used to be but only he felt the difference.

He had recently touched up his tatts and they looked impressive if the drool on Bobby's chin were any indication.

"Uh Bobby?  Ya gotta little uh..."  He pointed to her chin.

"Ya need a towel for that?"

She smacked him and he laughed, grabbed her and kissed her till she was breathless.

Grabbing the bags in 1 hand and his girls hand in the other, they made their way back to the office area where he saw all three waiting for them.

He was glad to see the Captain was busy warming up.  Maybe he could be talked into sparring with him.

Said man smiled when he saw him.  The other 2's faces showed amazement and Tora smirked.  He knew what they thought and he couldn't wait to show them different.

Without a word, he took out his bar and placed it in the door way, up high before stretching.  Ten minutes later he placed his padded bar cuffs on his ankles and grasped the bar before proceeding to do chin ups at a rapid pace with both arms.

100 sets later he placed 1 arm behind his back and continued the chin ups, completing 50 before switching arms and doing 50 more, after which he swung his legs up and hooked his ankle cuffs to the bar.

Derek stood watching with trepidation as the very large tattooed man did sit-ups while hanging upside down.  Effortlessly.  He was a machine, not even breaking a sweat.  He'd counted 200 chin ups, half of which were 1 armed.  Holy fuck.  He could do 100 chin ups but holy hell.

The man's body was a work of art.  Sculpted muscle covered in tattoos.  His leg had a prowling tiger on it.  It was more than obvious the man was in top shape and his unease grew.

The Colonel did a solid 15 minutes of the sit-ups before unlocking his ankles and standing up.  He handed them to the Captain.

"Help yourself."

The Captain took them but murmured.

"I'm not sure..."

Tora took them and knelt, strapping them on.

"Use your core.  Do too much, too soon, you'll blow out your lower back.  Start small.  Little crunches.  Rest.  Then again.  Work at it and build yourself up.  It's great for strengthening your lower abdomen and back.  A strong core will carry you through just about anything."

He grabbed the bar and showed the Captain how to place his legs before helping him into place.

"Nice and slow."

He watched the Captain, correcting his form here and there before turning to the 2 watching.  They hadn't even stretched yet.

"Ready to spar?"

Ready?  Corey scoffed to himself.  Dude may be built but he'd show him a thing or 2.

He advanced quickly on the giant and blinked.  His breath whooshed out.  He stared at the ceiling from where he lay on his back.  What the hell?  He rolled over and got back up before advancing again.

The man was a blur of movement and Corey was on his back again.  It took him a minute to understand what happened.  The first trickle of unease skittered down his back as he slowly got to his feet.

The Colonel was relaxed, just watching him, his creepy eyes tracking his every movement.  Corey felt his face flame when the man raised his hand and crooked his finger at him.  Furious, he moved in fast.  He ducked low and tried to catch the man around the waist but found his face planted into the floor instead.

He was up and twirling around, swinging only to have his hand caught in an iron grip, and he was once again landing on his back, his breath gone.  He heard skin slapping skin and saw his buddy Derek land beside him, a shocked look on his face.

"Ya lettin your emotions rule ya.  Concentrate on your body.  On your opponent.  My granddaughters spar better than you."

Grand..what the fuck??  DAUGHTERS??   Oh hell no!

He vaulted up and, ignoring Derek telling him to stop and think, he advanced fast and aggressively swinging his fist in a hard right hook.  It was taken out of mid air and held in that same iron fist, his forward movement stopped.  He stared into golden eyes.

"Ya not thinking.  This is not a personal gripe against ya.  Sparring means we each try ta learn something.  So far I've learned that ya know nothing."

Tora pushed him back, letting go of his fist.

"Clear ya head of the notion that ya're the best.  Ya not better than me.  I've got more years experience than you've been alive.  Ego won't win in a fight.  If ya gotta chase someone down, ya're gonna be out of breath.  

Ya need to train every day.  There will always be someone better than you."

Corey scoffed.

"You think you're the best?"

Tora shook his head.

"Didn't say I was the best.  I said I'm better than you.  My son is better than me.  I trained him until he exceeded me.  His cousin is very good too.  My daughter is a close match to me.  All are better than you.  Ya know why?"

Corey just stared defiantly at him.

Tora sighed.

"Cuz we use our head.  We put our ego's aside.  Discipline is our friend.  Control ya temper.  We train every day. Ya in a profession that doesn't allow you, shouldn't allow you, to feel entitled.  Ya there to protect others.  If ya want glory, then police work ain't for you.  Now try again."

Corey looked at Derek, his eyes telling him to listen to the guy.  Ok.  He said this was not a personal thing and to let it go.  He'd always had a hot head, that's how he got where he was.  It was a discipline post for starting a fight.  He blew out a breath.  You'd think he'd learned by now.

Closing his eyes he tried to calm the anger that always simmered inside him.  He had a shit life and because he came from money, people thought his life was a bed of roses.  They forget that roses have thorns.

When he opened his eyes, the man in front of him had a look of understanding on his face and he came nearer and spoke so no one else could hear.

"Use it.  To prove to yourself, if no one else, that you are not the shit stain they think you are.  Use ya head."

He stepped back and put his hands up, palms out.

"Let's see ya hand/eye coordination."

After that, Tora had fun.  He worked with all of them for over 3 hours.  He pulled his punches with the kids but he got a good work out with the Captain, who was good.  Tora was better, but it was good all the same.

When the Captain called a halt, they were all breathing heavy.  Tora's body felt good.  Loose.  

"You two.  Go shower and relieve Wilson and Jones."

Derek thanked him before leaving and Corey held out his hand.

"Thank you.  Truly.  Thank you.  How did you know?"

Tora's eyes got distant before he shook his head.

"I was looking in a mirror kid."

"Did you mean it?"

Tora grabbed the towel the Captain handed him.

"What?"

"You don't really have a granddaughter do you?  She really better?"

Tora just knodded.

"No way!  You're not old enough....are you?"

Pft Pft  

"Ya really want ta know?"

Corey swallowed and looked at the floor.  Damn.  A geriatric kicked his ass.

"Lay it on me."

Tora just stared at him before handing him a card.

"Come see me sometime."

Chapter Text

Keb was exhausted.  Tora and Poppy had only been gone a couple of hours and he was already wiped.  How did those munchkins have so much energy?

After his brother had introduced his kids to him, Tora had been more friendly towards him.  Or comfortable.  Whatever.  He was just happy to have his brother back and he LOVED the kids.

Tora had told him that the kids knew some moves and he could tell right away that Tora had been working with them on self defense.  They thought it great fun when Keb asked Ian if he had been training like the men in the field.

Little guy had puffed out his chest.

"Dad's teaching me."

The girls, of course, chimed right in.

"Me too!"

"Me Thoo!"

They were adorable and Keb fell hard.  Ian was a miniature Tora and had no trouble picking up moves. 

He worked with the girls a bit and while they were twins, it was pretty obvious that they were not evenly matched when it came to the physical stuff. 

Gina had a much better sense of balance.  Her eye hand coordination was better as were her reflexes.  

Qira not so much.  He'd had a chance to get to know Poppy a bit and Qira was more like her, while the other 2 took after their dad. 

He really felt for her.  He knew what it was to not quite measure up.  He too lacked the ...whatever it was that made Tora, Tora.

Keb volunteered to have the kids when Poppy said there was a movie she wanted to see.  Tora said the kids would be a problem and she deflated.

"Lemme call Janice."

Keb had blurted out that they could stay there and he'd watch them, then was horrified.  He knew nothing about kids.  3 at one time was...what was he thinking?

Tora gave him a look of suspicion,  Poppy gratitude.

"We won't be gone long, dinner and a movie."

They were gone so fast his head spun.  He didn't even get to ask questions.  They were just...they ran out.   Which worried him a bit.

Poppy was 3/4 of the way through the pregnancy and huge.  Maybe it's twins this time.  Poor Poppy,  she was so small.

He looked at Ian and Gina who were cleaning up the sparring gloves, while he and Qira got out the paints. 

He had worked with all of them on numbers, doing math and learning how to spell.  It was clear that Poppy had already been working with them.  

They all knew their letters and could spell their name along with Quincey, Jonathon, Aiden, Summer and Georgia.  Keb helped them with their grandparents names then started in on thier blood grandparents. 

Math was a different story.  Qira smoked them.  They were learning fine but Qira was faster and it made him happy to know that she could outdo them for a change. 

They were all smart, which wasn't surprising since  Poppy was smart.  From what he gathered, people had a tendency to underestimate Tora due to his background, but he was a very intelligent man.

Keb taught the kids cribbage, which was a great counting card game.  He created paint by numbers that required then to do math in order to find the color they needed.  

They boxed, they ran, they painted, they colored, they had the playdoh out.  Keb was exhausted.  How long until Tora & Poppy came back?

"Unca Keb?  I wanna swim."

"Me too."

"Me thoo!"

Keb groaned.

Chapter Text

Keb smiled at Qira, her tongue sticking out as she painted.  His dad and mom had the other 2 on the training field, but Qira had wanted to stay with him.

Two weeks ago, Keb had babysat for the first time.  He'd watched them a few more times since then, mostly when Poppy went to the doctor.  She was getting close now.  

She was having contractions this morning and Tora had dropped the kids off before racing Poppy to the hospital.  His brother was a wreck, fearing something would happen to Poppy.  He couldn't relate, not yet.

Keb smiled faintly while looking at Qira.  He wouldn't mind a kid or 2 of his own.  He smiled wryly.  He needed a wife first.  So far he hadn't found anyone he liked well enough to pursue a relationship.  As far as family traditions went, he was a little slow in finding his mate.

Qira moved her hair out of her face, smearing paint through the strands and Keb smiled as he moved to sit behind her with the comb from his pocket and hair tie he kept around his wrist.

Qira automatically held herself up a little straighter, used to her mom doing the same for her.

"How come you know how to do my hair?"

Keb smiled faintly while combing out the snarls.

"I like to braid my own hair once in a while so I've had practice."

Qira chose a different color and Keb watched her fill in the armor plate on the soldier on her canvas.  Impressed he asked who it was.

"Daddy.  I saw of picture of him in the library, cept'in he had red eyes."

Ah, King Ulaan.  Tora did look just like him.  So did grandpa.  And Ian.

"Unca Keb?"

Hearing the concern in her voice, he secured the hair tie then asked what was wrong.

"Didn't they have gold paint?"

Puzzled, Keb inspected the picture more closely.  Kid was pretty good.

"Who?"

"The one who painted daddy."

Understanding dawned and he chuckled.

"I don't know munchkin, I'm sure they did but that picture in the library is not your dad.  It's King Ulaan.  He lived a long long time ago.  He had red eyes sometimes.  Your dad looks just like him."

He took a closer look.

"You did a good job painting this.  Where did you get the drawing?"

"Unca Jonathan.  He likes to draw with me.  You like to paint and read and number with me.  You two are my favorite."

She continued to paint, her little pink tongue working her teeth, without a care in the world; as if she hadn't just squeezed his heart so hard he could barely breathe.  Tears came to his eyes.

"I like you too munchkin.  Thank you for numbering with me too."

Chapter Text

Tora felt pleasantly tired, his cramped muscles eased after the good workout he'd gotten.  He was finally able to relax a bit.  Looking through the brochure, he pointed to the rafting section and showed Poppy.

"Looks like fun."

Poppy furrowed her brow.  

"Too bad you won't get to try it.  If we like the area, we'll have to come back when it's in season.

"Whad'ya mean?"

She just stared at him.

"It's winter Tora.  You know, snow, ice and very very cold.  I heard someone at the airport say it was supposed to reach -45 below wind chill where we were.  I looked up the weather where we are going.  Those activities are closed for the season already.  Too cold.  Too much snow."

Tora frowned.  He hadn't thought of that.  It didn't get near this cold at home.  Huh.  What else did they have.  He thumbed through his booklet and saw people dressed heavily, faces covered, hurtling down a mountain on two narrow pieces of wood.  

These people were nuts.  Intrigued, he read on.  20 minutes later he decided he'd like to try it.  He turned to Poppy, who had been watching him the entire time, a soft smile on her lips.

"You want to try it don't you?"

He smiled.

"I do, yes.  Ya game?"

"With my balance?  Not on your life.  But I will cheer you on while I wait at the bottom with a cup of hot chocolate."

"Deal."

He sealed it with a kiss.

Chapter Text

"Be good."

"Daaaad."

Keb chuckled and held up his hands.

"Ok ok.  Go on.  Have a good time."

He sighed as he watched her walk away.  Damn.  They grew up so fast.

He inhaled and took in the scent of his wife.  Turning, he wrapped his arms around her and promptly got lost in kissing her.  Her lips were a special piece of heaven.

His phone buzzed and his wife giggled.  It buzzed again and he growled.

He was going to Kill.His.Brother.

Bzz  bzz  bzz

Another lingering kiss.

Buzz bzz bzz

Holly giggled. 

"Might as well answer it.  He'll just keep at it until you do."

Talk to Tora or kiss his wife?  Huh.  Not a tough choice at all.  He pulled her close and took her li...

Bzz Bzz

Keb jerked away and Holly giggled again. He glared at the phone and answered.

"I'm busy.  Go away."

He turned back to Holly, his heart and....

Bzz Bzz Bzz

"The fuck ya doin'?"

"Very important stuff.  Go. Away."

Holly giggled again.

"Yeah, sounds real important.  We gotta go."

Keb sighed.  

Holly ran her fingers over his chest.  He promptly forgot his name and resumed kissing her.

"Oi!  Shit for brains!  Dial it back let's go!"

Keb sprang back, pushing Holly behind him and glared at a smirking Tora.

"That wasn't nice!"

"Like I give a fuck.  Ya're ride is leaving.  You miss it, explain it yourself why ya're late."

He turned to Holly and gave a tip of his head.

"Ya look nice."

Holly smiled at the gruff man.  Her closed off brother on law.

"Thank you."

Tora stood there awkwardly then huffed and walked away.

Holly smiled softly and looked at Keb.

"I like him"

Keb sighed but smiled.

"Me too."

Chapter Text

Poppy yawned.  How she could be so tired was beyond her but her travel experience has taught her that doing nothing but sitting made her tired.  She gratefully stretched her arms all the way up then down to the floor.

"Here sweetheart,  put ya coat on."

She pushed her arms in and raised her face for a kiss. 

"I got everything,  let's go."

They napped when they got to their room. It was 10 am and they woke up in time for lunch.  

Looking over the brochures of what the lodge had to offer, Tora decided to try the skiing right off.  Poppy was happy to trail along and watch.  There was a festival later in the week that Poppy was keen to go to.

Poppy watched, her heart in her throat, as Tora raced down the hill.  This was his 5th time.  The first 2 times he was on a much smaller hill while an instructor showed him what to do.  He, of course, aced it and swiftly moved on to bigger hills.

That was when they first got here..  Poppy was frozen.  Stamping her feet, she tried to warm up a bit and had just decided to go in when Tora came to a stop next to her.

"Ya cold?"

"A bit yes."

"One more time, then we can go eat and warm up." 

He kissed her swiftly and adjusted his coat.  Of course he was going again.  He absolutely loved skiing.  Poppy shook her head while she admired both her husband and the scenery.   It was beautiful here.

They'd been here for 3 days so far and had done a lot of stuff.  Skiing, snowshoeing,  snowmobiling,  ice fishing.  

They toured ice sculptures and strolled around the streets at the craft fair.  It was their winter carnival and absolutely beautiful with everything strung in lights.

Poppy had tasted all sorts of foods, wines and desserts.  She bought bracelets and sweatshirts and had a wonderful time.  Tora too let loose and whooped down the hills.

They'd spent time at the spa getting massages,  facials, manicures, pedicures and buffed til they glowed.  They spent time in the hot tub and glorious evenings in the room with the fireplace burning merrily. 

It was all amazing but her tiger was keeping something from her.  He was being sneaky so she hadn't figured it out yet.  She couldn’t imagine what it could be.  Once the clans went legit, Tora told her everything, always.

He asked 1 more time before turning away.

"Ya sure ya don't want to come with?"

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.  She had only intended a peck but Tora had other ideas.

"Maybe I should stop now and we can go back to our room."

He kissed her again....with great purpose. 

"What do ya think sweetheart?"

Poppy pulled away,  her mind muddled. 

"What?"

Tora smirked and kissed her again.

"Should we go back to our room?"

Poppy's eyes widened and she looked around.  Her faced flamed when she saw several people watching, many with appreciation.   

She glanced at Tora.  He had a shit eating grin on his face.  Well, 2 could play that game and she wouldn't be quiet either.

"Sounds perfect.  I have a wonderful little lace number I've been saving."

She turned and walked away, those in hearing distance smiling. 

She could hear Tora rapidly removing his gear.

Score 1 for the hamster!

Chapter Text

"Hi baby girl."

"Daddy!"

Qira hurried to her father and gave him a big hug.  When she pulled back, Tora pinned her with his golden gaze.

Qira started to sweat when he said nothing.  She never could withstand 'the look',  and had been very well behaved growing up.  Gina not so much, but Qira hated the look and disappointing her dad.

Tora smirked when she started to squirm.  He kept at it a few more seconds before crossing his arms and speaking softly.

"What's his name?  Where does he live?"

Qira's mouth gaped open and Tora shook his head.

"Nevermind.  I just want his name.  Actually, I don't really need that either."

Qira tried speaking while Tora pulled out his phone and started typing.

"What?  Why?  I?  How did?  What?"

Tora's chest rumbled.

"Which question should I answer first?"

He went back to pinning her with the look.

Qira squirmed.  It's not like she did anything wrong.  She hasn't said yes and certainly hasn't dated without her parents knowing so why did she feel so guilty?  

What did her dad know?

"Daddy?"

Her voice squeaked and she blushed, hating the weakness.  She cleared her throat and tried again but Tora held up a finger for her to wait.

A minute or so later, the door banged open and a breathless Aiden stood there.  He saw Qira looking trapped and his protective instinct kicked in.  He looked at his Uncle Tora and his instinct shriveled. He closed his eyes.

"Shit."

"Shit is right.  When were you going to ask me for permission?"

Aiden squirmed.  He loved his uncle, he did.  But he was a bit...a lot intimidating.   He pulled in a breath and gathered his courage.  He couldn't look at Qira or he'd cave.

"Uh."

Oh, nice start Aiden.  Qira must think you a total ninny, that's why she won't date you.

He squeaked.  Then scowled.  Fuck this.  His father was Quincey fucking Balthumen and he would not squeak again.  Or shit himself.  

"Well sir, I've been asking her out for months and I thought if she ever said yes, I'd come to you right away."

There.  He did it.  He had to concentrate to keep his legs from shaking.  He shuffled his feet nervously and shot a look to Qira.  She was still froze in place.

"Aiden."

He whipped his head back to Tora.

"You're dismissed."

Aiden was confused.

"Sir?"

Impatiently Tora growled and Aiden's tan faded.

"Ya heard me."

Aiden fled.  He closed the door behind him and squeaked again at the eager voice.

"Well?"

Both his fathers stared back at him with looks of Pity.

Irritated, he Barked at them.

"Well what?"

Jonathan placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Did he give you permission?"

"No.  He dismissed me.  I never want to be on the receiving end of that expression again either."

Quincey nodded sagely. 

"I've peed my pants at a look from him."

At Jonathan's scowl and Aiden's panicked look he added quickly.

"Course that was years ago."

Aiden glared at them both.

"How did you know?"

Quincey gestured dramatically. 

"Puleeease.  What kind of fathers would we be if we didn't notice these things?"

Aiden looked at them dubiously. 

"Mom told you didn't she."

It was not a question,  but they both answered.

"Of course not."

"She did."

Chapter Text

Tora turned back to his daughter.  Hard ta believe she was old enough for this.  Qira was a lot like Poppylan.  Soft, gentle, empathetic, kind.  Tora struggled to find words when they were young.  What to say, what not to say.  He took his ques from his feisty hamster and he did alright.  

Those early years when the kids were little, they were so busy.  Poppy trying ta make a go of her own business.  Tora in school.  Trying to turn the clans around.  The triplets were busy and then they got pregnant again.  Fuck he'd never been so tired in his life.

He had vowed to always have time for his kids.  Ta be there for them.  He hoped he succeeded.   Poppy said he was a good dad but he hadn't known what he was doing.  Poppy had laughed and said that no parent knows what they are doing.  Ya fly by the seat of ya pants, hold on to those ya love, and love em hard. 

He'd done that.  Hopefully now, looking at his baby girl, he was strong enough ta let go.

At least it was Aiden.  He'd been training him since he was a toddler.  He couldn't ask for anyone better really.  Aiden was solid and Ian's shadow.  He was to Ian what Tora was to Quincey.

For the longest time Ian, being older, protected Aiden.  That slowly changed as Aiden got stronger and Ian started training ta be king.

He was perfect for Qira.

"Why haven't ya said yes?"

His tone was soft and he hugged her when she teared up.

"I want to, but I also don't want to ruin or lose his friendship.   We've been raised like brothers and sisters and I don't want to lose that."

Tora set her away from him and Qira couldn't decipher the look on his face.  Like he wasn't in the room, but somewhere else long ago.

Tora sighed and spoke quietly.

"I've been where ya are 'cept I wasn't raised with her.  She came outta the blue and shook my world. Other than ya Uncle Quincey, no one else had befriended me up to that point."

He smiled softly.

"There were the elders Alice, Janice, Joe and the rest, but they were like parents, not friends."

His eyes misted thinking of those that were now gone. 

"Anyway. My life was dangerous and I wanted her safe so I pushed her away.  But I missed her.  I worried someone else would figure out how amazing she was.  I wanted her, but didn't want to lose the delicate balance of friendship she offered me."

He turned to his daughter.

"If he makes ya happy.  If he makes ya crazy.  If he makes ya mad.  If he makes ya feel safe and reckless at the same time.

If he makes ya feel wanted.  If he makes ya feel heard.  If he makes ya feel loved.  If he makes ya shiver and burn..."

He waited for her reply.

She nodded, tears spilling over.

Tora shrugged.

"Then it's worth takin a chance.  I like him.  He's good for ya."

She threw her arms around him, crying into his chest.

"I love you daddy."

"I love ya too baby girl.  Now go put him out of his misery."

As the door closed behind her, Tora spoke to the room.

"How'd I do sweetheart?"

Poppy stepped from the shadows and hugged her tiger hard, her eyes streaming.

"I love you."

Tora hugged her back, completely content.

Chapter Text

Quincey and Jonathan stared at Tora with a look of horror.

"You want to what?"

Tora smirked.  He understood their expressions.  He was a little horrified himself, but also determined. 

"Give our girls a weekend off from the kids.  Send them to a day spa ta be pampered.   That place over by Buthain has a winery Poppy has wanted to try and the spa is part of the resort."

He looked at his best friend and Jonathan, who, Tora had to admit, had become a good friend as well.  Their expressions hadn't changed. 

Jonathan recovered first.

"What about the kids?"

Quincey nodded and added.

"Yes.  Where are we sending them?"

Tora and Jonathan both gave him a disgusted look.

"We're not sending the kids away Princess,  only our wives."

"But whose going to watch the kids?"

Tora pinched the bridge of his nose.

"We are."

Jonathan looked dubious and Quincey scared.  He should be.  The kids were a handful.

"But there's 9 of them." 

The whine in his voice would have been funny if Tora hadn't felt like whining himself. 

"They deserve a weekend of pampering.   We're mafia for fuck's sake.  We can handle 9 kids for 3 days."

"3!!??  You said a day spa!"

"I said a weekend.  A long weekend."

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

"I can't believe the boys did this for us.  Look at this place.  It's gorgeous!"

Poppy looked around their suite of rooms.  It was beautiful.   Rich cream carpet, mauve see through lace curtains, so as not to obstruct the breathtaking view, a stone fireplace.  

A large comfortable black couch, flanked by 2 easy chairs with mahogany end tables and floor lamps with mauve shades faced the large TV. 

The kitchen was stocked with food and there was a wine fridge full of bottles waiting to be sampled.

She hadn't seen the bathroom yet, but Georgia had said it was just as decadent as the rest of the place. 

They each had their own bedroom too, complete with huge four poster beds.  

It was late Thursday evening as they both had to work that day but they had a glorious 3 days off with no kids and a full schedule of pampering ahead of them.  

Poppy, unpacking her bag, was determined to enjoy herself.

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

"I'm exhausted.   When are the girls coming back?  It's been forever since they left." 

Jonathan snorted. 

"They left last night honey after the kids went to bed. You better put your big boy panties on.  We have 3 whole days ahead of us."

Quincey groaned then cringed when he heard the hoard approach. 

They came, they ate, they screamed and laughed, they left, leaving Quincey a hot mess.

"How do the girls do it?"

Jonathan's usually smooth hair was a tousled mess after dealing with the spillage on the table.

Quincey pulled him close.

"I love the hair, looks good."

He pulled him in for a kiss that lingered.

"Oi!  Kid patrol!"

Jonathan pulled away with a start and blurted. 

"I'm coming!"

Quincey grinned.

"Not yet, but you will.  You definitely will."

 Jonathan blushed and stared at Quincey.

"Oi!"

Jonathan ran after the kids.

                           🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆

Poppy's cell phone rang. 

She was not going to look. 

She was not going to look.

She glanced at Georgia who shook her head vigorously. 

Georgia's cell phone rang. 

They looked at each other with big eyes.  Georgia pulled out her phone.

"Should I look?"

Poppy bit her lip. The ringing stopped , then both phones started up again.

Chapter Text

*Giggle

"That tickles."

"Then I'm not doing it right. "

*Gasp

"Y y you're d doing it ri..."

*Moan

*Crackle crackle pop 

"Mmmm, I love the wood fire."

*Gasp

"POPPYLAN! What are you doing?"

"I must not be doing it right."

*Growl

"Ya doing it right......fu u u u .."

*Crackle pop

*Crackle Crackle

*Snuggle under blankets

*Sigh

Chapter Text

Georgia read the screen.

"Jonathan".

Poppy knodded at hers.

"Tora".

Sigh

"We better answer."

Georgia nodded but neither one moved.  The phones stopped.

They started ringing again.

Poppy looked at Georgia and lifted her phone,  Georgia watching.

"Hello?"

T: ........    .........   .........  .....

Poppy erupted, 

"What are you....?"

Georgia answered her phone.

"Georgia. "

J: .......   .......     .........  ...... 

Poppy and Georgia shouted together.

"What??!!

Poppy scolded.

"What are you doing on your dad's phone?  I thought there was an emergency!"

T: ..... ...... ....... .....   .......  ....... ...

"Being told you can't have icecream before dinner is not an emergency Gina!"

T: ......  ...... 

"No!  Now put your dad on!"

T:  ..... ...... .... ........ ..... ...   .........🥺🥺

"Nope, the tears won't work.  You picked your dad's pocket Gina, wha..."

T:  ........  ....... ........ ........ .......😇

Poppy scowled. 

"Ian picked your dad's pocket and gave it to you to call.  Thank you for throwing your brother under the bus.  Now put your da...."

T: "Oi!! What are you doing with my phone?  Gina!"

*ruffle ruffle

"But daaaaad."

Sorry sweetheart.  It won't happen again."

"Of course it will happen again.   Ian successfully picked your pocket."

"No sweetheart.  I let him pick my pocket.  We're workin on some stuff.  The mistake was underestimating our son.  He picked the phone and before I could instruct him on what he did wrong, he took off.  Little shit's fast.  I caught him, but he had already passed the phone to Gina and THAT little shit is good at hiding."

Poppy couldn't help but chuckle.

"I'm sorry sweetheart.  I want ya ta have a good time.  The kids are fine.  Turn your phones off.  Go dark for the weekend.   We got this.  Love ya."

*click

Poppy looked up to see Georgia watching her.

"Jonathan apologized profusely. "

Poppy chuckled.  She knew that Jonathan had taken Quincey's phone as he was the most opposed to this weekend away.  Not because he didn't want Georgia to have fun and relax.  No.  He was terrified of the hoard of munchkins and Jonathan knew he'd be calling Georgia steady.

"Aiden pick his pocket?"

Georgia rolled her eyes.

"No.  Quincey did."