Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Isabella and Yuugo sat in the living room with a bottle of wine, talking and laughing.

Once they got to the human world it became apparent that they were the only two grown ups of the group besides Oliver and Zack who were starting college so they've been raising the children together.

All of them.

And it sure as hell isn't easy

There's the little kids, grade school, childish bickering, mixing them in with normal kids, playdates, getting Alicia to stop biting other kids.

There's the really little kids, diapers, bottles, babies, temper tantrums, getting the older kids to help out.

There's the older kids, therapy sessions, nightmares, GCSE's, arguments, hormones, trying to get them to talk to anyone besides each other.

It doesn't end.

Yuugo poured them both another glass

"So, biggest challenges of the day. Go."

Isabella huffed exhaustedly.

"One of the babies is ill, Gilda's had a headache all day and then thoma and lanni hid her textbooks so she threatened to kill them, Ray's therapist brought up the "codependency issue" with him, Emma, and Norman again so he threw one of her ceramics at her head."

"You'd think she'd take a hint and stop bringing it up."

Isabella tilted her head to one side as she took a sip.

"You'd think wouldn't you? Ahh, what else... Yvette fell off her bike but she's mostly okay, Jemima's playing nurse, she literally set up camp in her room to stay by her side because for the two years living in the demon world every injury was a potential death, and now they're all paranoid. And we're out of eggs."

Yuugo nodded as he flicked through the channels on the TV.

"How about you?" 

Yuugo topped of his glass before answering.

"Emma helped with dinner. And set it on fire, we need to buy another frying pan. Alicia and Mark had a fight and she bit him. Norman and Nat had a disagreement so Nat played piano agressively loudly until Anna got annoyed and slammed the lid on his fingers. And one of Ayshe's dumbass dogs peed on the carpet again." 

Isabella put her empty glass down on the coffee table as she sighed.

"This is exhausting."

Yuugo nodded as he finally settled on a hospital drama and tossed the remote onto one of the armchairs.

"I hate kids."

"Hah! Bull."

Yuugo looked at her, deeply insulted by her laugh.

"What does that mean?"

"You love those damn kids don't lie. "

"I'll have you know I threatened to kill those damn kids. I let demons attack Emma and Ray, I made sure demons attacked Emma and Ray."

Isabella nodded and smiled at him.

"And then you saved their lives."

"Man, fuck you woman."

The two of them laughed a little louder then they should considering all the kids were asleep upstairs and Isabella leaned forward and grabbed the wine bottle.

"Okay, thats enough of that. We can't be hungover, not with this many kids in the house." 

Yuugo nodded as he handed her the empty glasses. 

There was a sudden yell from upstairs followed by loud crying.

The pair sighed and Yuugo looked over to Isabella.

"Rock Paper Scissors?"

Chapter Text

Yuugo stomps up the stairs, muttering various insults about Isabella to himself, before seeing one of the kids’ bedroom doors slightly ajar.

Yuugo pushed through the door to Phil’s room, and found that several of the kids had already gotten to the crying boy, namely Ray, Anna, and Alicia.

All three were trying to calm him, whilst Anna and Ray also tried to encourage Alicia to go back to bed.

Yuugo quickly crossed the room and placed a rough hand on Anna’s shoulder.

“Anna, take Alicia to her room, and go back to bed.”

Anna looked hesitantly for a moment, but Yuugo’s tone, while gentle, left no room for argument.

She walked round to the other side of the bed and took Alicia’s hand.

 “Come on Alicia.”

Anna led the girl out of the room despite her protests, and Yuugo went and sat on the edge of the bed so that he and Ray were either side of Phil.

Yuugo put an arm around the tiny boy, and hugged him gently.

Phil instantly leaned into it as he shook from sobs.

Yuugo was still surprised by how quickly all the littlest kids accepted and trusted him given... how he was, they had all been very wary at first, but as soon as they saw how much Ray trusted him, he was happily accepted as family.

he smiled at the small boy, shushing him softly before giving Ray the strictest look he could manage.

“You too Ray, bed now.”

“No. I’m staying.”

Ray grabbed Phil’s hand and the little boy squeezed it tightly, Ray gave Yuugo a triumphant look, as if this proved he was right.

Yuugo sighed as Ray shifted closer to Phil, making a point about the fact that he wouldn’t be moving.

Ray was incredibly fond the kids, but he had a special soft spot for Phil.

Yuugo suspected it was because of what they had both experienced, it can’t have been easy for either of them, knowing the truth all that time and being completely powerless, Ray was so protective over Phil nowadays, determined to never let him feel as alone as he always had.

Yuugo shook his head , knowing this was a losing battle, and simply tucked the duvet around them all tighter.

Phil sniffled as he let them both hold him, and before long he was out like a light.

Yuugo mentally kicked himself as he watched Phil sleep, with Ray still holding his hand.

It was so much harder to tell Ray what to do then it was with the other kids, he was so independent despite only being fourteen, and more often than not he just wasn’t having it.

Yuugo could give him the firmest glare he could manage, he could lecture, he could raise his voice, he could scold, and he could even threaten punishments, but Ray would just look at him and roll his eyes, as if he was entirely untouchable and they both knew it.

He looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand, it was just gone 3 in the morning.

He could’ve sworn it was only midnight a moment ago, honestly the days would drag on for years back at the BO632 shelter.

Nowadays it was all a mad blur that left him exhausted by the end of the day.

He looked across Phil’s tiny form to see Ray now half asleep and decided to test his luck.

He got up, gently shifting the sleeping Phil off of him and tucking him in, before quickly picking Ray up and carrying him out.

Ray was too tired to really argue with him so just mumbled in annoyance.

 “Put me down you ugly bastard.”

Yuugo scoffed as he shoved Ray’s bedroom door open with his shoulder.

“Well aren’t you a charming little asshole.”

He put Ray down to bed and moved to tuck him in only to have Ray shove him away indignantly.

“I’m not four Yuugo, piss off.”

Yuugo lightly smacked his hand and tucked him in anyway.

“One of these days I’m gonna wash your mouth out with soap, teach you to watch your language.”

Ray sticks his tongue out at Yuugo and the older man laughs.

“So you’re not four but you’ll stick your tongue out at me in lieu of a decent comeback?”

“Goodnight Yuugo.”

Yuugo smiled.

“Night little brat.”

Chapter Text

Yuugo looked at the finished pancake batter and eyed it questioningly.

He’d gotten up early to make pancakes for breakfast and it had turned out... not good.

“Hey, Bella!”

Isabella walked into the kitchen, took one look at the pancake battery and cackled.

“So I’m guessing the witchy cackling means it’s not supposed to look like that?”

Isabella grinned evilly as she clattered around the kitchen making a pot of tea.

“No, no it is not.”

Yuugo scowled at the... I mean can he even call it pancake batter at this point?

“I should throw this away before the teenagers come and make fun of me, shouldn’t I?”

Isabella nods, and gives him a knowing look before gesturing to herself

“I mean if you think this is bad? They’ll rip you apart. Throw it away.”

Yuugo sighs and pours the pancake slop in the bin, before getting another pot down to make coffee.

“So what’s going on today?”

“Nothing much, I have to be at the cafe for 8am for my shift. And today’s therapy sessions are... Norman, Gilda, Nigel, Emma, Thoma and Anna.”

Yuugo groans and pours a mug of the freshly made coffee.

“And I guess I’m piling em all in the car and driving em?”

Isabella grins again and clinks her mug against his .

“Have fuuuuun.”

“I hate you. I hate you very much.”

The thumping and yelling from upstairs starts, the kids getting up, getting dressed and rushing around like maniacs.

“Oh dear god here they come.”

Isabella nods as she puts cereal, milk, bread, butter and a few spreads on the table.

“Brace yourself.”

Thoma and Lanni are the first through the door, dressed like pirates and nearly knocking Isabella over.

“Oh for the love of- why are you dressed like pirates!?”

Thoma grins up at Yuugo innocently.

“it’s fancy-dress day at school.”

Jemima walks in arm in arm with Alicia.

“He’s lying, he’s a liar.”

 Thoma glares at the girls.

“Shut your mouth Jemima.”

Isabella rolls her eyes and send the boys upstairs to get dressed.

The kids all rush in making toast and cereal, the older ones helping themselves to tea and coffee, everyone loudly chatting amongst themselves.

Ray walks into the room already looking annoyed, he is quickly followed by Emma who is talking animatedly through laughter.

“Will you shut up already? It’s 7am. 7AM! It’s too early for you and your shit.”

Emma stops laughing and slaps his chest harshly.

“Ray! The kids are here.”

Ray waves her off dismissively.

“they’ve heard worse.”

“Yeah, from you Ray!”

Yuugo laughs at them before noticing Isabella glaring at him and gesturing to the two of them insistently.

Yuugo clears his throat and addresses them.

“Emma’s right Ray, you have to stop swearing in front of the kids.”

Ray looks at Yuugo and bites his lip trying not to laugh.

“I’m serious Ray, are you hearing me!?”

Ray nods still trying to stifle a laugh.

“No, no, I hear you.”

Emma and Ray turn around and start making toast both trying not to laugh, Emma snorts loudly after a moment and Ray kicks her.

“Oh my god, shut up.”

“I’m trying!”

“you’re gonna make me laugh.”

Yuugo turns around and looks at Isabella in complete and utterly disbelief the woman sighs and buries her face in her free hand.

Yuugo shakes his head deciding to just move on.

“Okay nevermind, look can you just tell Norman he has therapy at 10? So do you by the way Antenna.”

Ray opens his mouth to speak before Emma interrupts him.

“I’ll tell him.”

Ray looks at her curiously.

“Where is Norman anyway?”

Emma clears her throat nervously

“Upstairs, but don’t worry I’ll tell him.”

Ray eyes her suspiciously.

“Why are you being so weird? Why don’t you want me to talk to Norman?”

“Because he’s mad at you.”

Yuugo is 100% sure Ray’s head is about to explode.

“He’s mad at me? Why is he mad at me?”

At that moment Norman walks in and quickly grabs an apple from the fruit bowl.

“Morning.”

Ray folds his arms and glares at the boy.

“Why are you mad at me?”

Norman looks at him blankly before smiling.

“I’m not mad at you.”

Before anyone can question him Norman turns and leaves, Yuugo quickly yells after the boy.

“Therapy at 10, don’t forget!”

“Okay!”

Ray looks at Emma angrily, who just nods.

“He’s mad at you.”

“He just said he isn’t.”

Emma shrugs.

“Yeah, but he’s lying.”

Ray scowls and storms out of the room.

Yuugo sighs.

“Is Norman actually mad at Ray or are you just being a bitch?”

Emma rolls her eyes.

“First off you just told Ray off for swearing in front of the kids.”

Yuugo tries to say something but finds he has no response to that.

“Second, yes Norman is mad at Ray.”

Isabella raises an eyebrow.

“Why...?”

Emma shakes her head.

“Oh I can’t tell you that.”

Emma leaves the room without another a word, and Yuugo and Isabella sigh in dismay.

“Well that’s today’s mystery. I gotta go I’m gonna be late for my shift.”

Yuugo nods and takes her mug for her.

“See you.”

“Don’t let the kids burn the house down.”

Yuugo rolls his eyes as Isabella leaves.

Don walks through to the kitchen and goes to toss an apple core in the bin, before noticing the thrown away pancake batter.

“Who threw up in the bin?”

Yuugo groans.

Chapter Text

Yuugo leans against one of the two minibuses they use as cars, tapping his foot impatiently as he waits for the kids. Isabella was taking the little kids which meant he was stuck herding the high school age ones.

“If you brats don’t get out here in the next five minutes, you are walking to school! And if you do that, you’re gonna be very late!”

As he speaks, Anna and Nat walk out of the house and climb on the minibus, Anna leans back out to talk to Yuugo.

“Good luck with that five minutes thing, Yuugo. Ray’s arguing with Norman soooo...”

Anna shrugs and goes to sit down.

Yuugo grumbles to himself angrily, before yelling through to the house again.

“I’m going to count to ten and then i am leaving! 1! 2! 3!”

A few more of the kids pile out of the house, chatting while they get on the bus. Yuugo quickly grabs Emma and pulls her aside.

“Where are Norman and Ray?”

“Arguing.”

Emma goes over to sit with Gilda.

Yuugo drags a hand down his face.

It had been a week since they had found out Norman was mad at Ray, and despite Norman’s constant denial, Ray had been stressing about it non-stop.

“Norman and Ray, you have five seconds to get on this bus before I make you walk!”

Norman walks out if the house, Ray following close behind.

“C’mon Norman, would you just tell me?”

Norman pinches the bridge of his nose.

“For the last time there’s nothing to tell I’m not mad at you.”

“Yeah, well I know that’s not true! I know you’re pissed at me, why won’t you tell me why?”

Norman purses his lips and turns around to face Ray.

“Right now I’m pissed at you because you wont drop this.”

Norman turns on heel and gets on the bus, leaving Ray on the verge of boiling over.

He stands in silence for a minute before pulling at his hair and quietly shrieking in frustration.

“Hey, hey, calm down!”

Yuugo grabs him by the shoulder, gently grabbing at his hands.

“Don’t do that.”

“If he would just grow up and tell me what he’s so mad about I could fix it.”

Yuugo sighs and pats the boy’s shoulder.

“I know kid, just give him some space, he’ll come around.”

Ray nods, not really listening, and gets on the bus, sitting away from Norman and opting to put his headphones in and stare out the window.

Yuugo shakes his head as he finally gets in the driver’s seat.

The sooner those two reconcile, the better it’ll be for everyone.

“Thanks for coming in ladies.”

Right after lunch, Isabella had been called into the younger kids’ primary school for a meeting with their teacher.

And Thoma and Alicia.

And the kid Alicia punched.

And his mother.

“It’s no trouble.”

“Well it’s certainly very much trouble for me!”

Oh here we go.

“I have a very important job, and I can’t afford to be called into emergency meetings in the middle of the day!”

The woman glares at Alicia and Thoma.

“Especially not to deal with the little rats who attacked my son.”

Alicia, who had been biting her tongue until now, speaks up, raising her voice quite a bit.

“He started it!”

The teacher calmly looks to the other boy.

“Cameron is that true.”

Cameron, who has an ice pack pressed to his face that he absolutely does not need, shakes his head feigning tears.

“Nuh-uh, I never touched her!”

“He was saying stuff, he was being such a jerk, He always is!”

“That’s enough Alicia.”

Isabella quickly quietens the girl and takes a breath.

“Thoma do you have anything to say about this.”

Thoma shoots Cameron a dirty look before folding his arms sulking.

“Nothing Alicia hasn’t already said.”

The group sit in uncomfortable silence for a moment before the teacher clears her throat.

“Well if no one has anything else to add, all three of you are to be suspended for a day. Perhaps some time away from school and each other will give you all time to calm down.”

As Isabella nods her agreement Snarky Bitch Mom decides to argue some more.

“That’s ridiculous, my son is completely innocent! He shouldn’t be punished, these two violent delinquents should be expelled!”

Isabella starts gathering Alicia and Thoma to head home, the latter rolls his eyes at the other mom, muttering under his breath.

“How about you stuff it, old lady.”

Isabella quickly grabs Thoma as the woman gears up to have an absolute meltdown.

“Thanks you so much miss Edwards, I’ll be speaking to both of them at home.”

Isabella slams the door shut behind them, and quickly drags the two kids down the hall, the sound of Cameron ‘s mother screaming at miss Edwards following them all the way to the main doors.

Once they’re safely on the bus, the kids sat in the two front seats next to the driver’s spot., Alicia speaks up.

“That woman ought to take a xanax.”

Isabella sighs as she pulls out of the parking lot.

“You’re not wrong. God, why are you two fighting again? We’ve talked about this.”

Alicia moves to answer her, but Thoma beats her to it.

“It’s the other kids’ fault mom!”

“It can’t be the other kids’ fault every time Thoma!”

Alicia starts to back Thoma up.

“But it is Mom, they always say stuff!”

“What stuff?”

Alicia bites her lip, suddenly going quiet.

Thoma interjects.

“Farm kids. Happy meal. Demon food. They don’t even know what it means they’ve just seen snippets on the news.”

Dear christ.

Isabella sighs and pull the bus over so she can really focus on the two kids.

“I am really sorry that that’s been happening, and if you’d told me I could’ve done something about it, but you can’t just lash out and start fights with people. Okay?”

Thoma and Alicia nod, and the latter sniffles a bit slumping down in her seat.

Isabella sighs, starting the engine up again.

“Come on, let’s go get ice cream.”

Chapter Text

Various members of the family sit scattered around the living room, when Ray slams the door open and marches over to Norman.

“I’ve had enough of this, I can’t keep walking on eggshells around you! So just out with it what have I done to upset you?”

Norman groans in exhaustion and leans back against the sofa.

“Nothing! What is wrong with you?”

Ray scowls at Norman accusingly.

“Yes you are, Emma told me as much!”

Norman turns to look at Emma, who sighs in his general direction.

“You guys had that fight the other week, remember? You were telling me how annoyed you were?”

Norman looks completely clueless for a moment, before...

“Emma, do you mean... Monday before last? When we were fighting about a TV show? Were you even listening when I told you about what happened?”

Ray blinks at Emma, looking at her like she’s grown a second head.

“Are you telling me that’s what I’ve been stressing about?”

Emma bites her lip.

“I’m sorry! In my defence, you know I tend to blow things out of proportion.”

In the next breath Yuugo finds himself physically separating the two teenagers, while Norman watches on, looking remarkably unsurprised by this turn of events.

“Right, stop it, stop it, stop it! Now if one of you kills the other I’m going to have to fill out a lot of paperwork, so go to your rooms.”

Emma quickly runs out of the room while Ray glares after her.

The latter starts to leave, only for Yuugo to hold onto his arm still.

“Not yet, we’re gonna wait until Emma’s safely in her room so you don’t kill her.”

At the sound of a bedroom door closing, Yuugo releases Ray who turns to storm out the door, stopping to quickly glance back at Norman.

“So everything’s fine, and Emma’s just stupid?”

Norman nods, laughing to himself.

“As usual.”

Yuugo swears he can actually see the tension leak out of the teen, before he heads upstairs.

Norman looks at Yuugo and rolls his eyes.

“Those idiots could make a spectacle out of anything if they put their minds to it.”

Yuugo nods.

“Be glad you’re not their... adult person.”

Norman snorts and Yuugo tries to remind himself what he likes about any of these kids.

Chapter Text

Hi just wanted to let everyone know, im gonna be really busy for the next 9 months as I have some exams to get ready for, so this fic is going to be on hiatus for a while.

It is NOT discontinued and as soon as i have some more spare time on my hands I will be returning to it

💗💗💗