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As the wind softly caressed the land, the flowers sway gently. Upon the grass laid a blanket of blue, upon that sat a family enjoying the sea breeze that came from being sat by the cliffs edge. Around them wildlife watched on closely as a wild wyvern, a little over a meter long, moved low to the ground as he approached the family. The blonde male upon the blanket glanced to the side, patting his knee in encouragement; the wyvern sped up its stumpy legs and once close enough; he rested his head on the man’s knee, accepting the head scratches that came with it.
The Emperor’s hand carefully scratched at the top of the dark green beast scales, making it click its tongue in happiness and excitement as its tail swayed. As its tail moved from side to side the small girl upon her sisters lap clapped her hands. Both girls had that dark hair, their eyes different in colour however. The eldest skin was slightly darker compared to her little sister but they had an unbreakable bond for sisters by name only.
“Careful.” The Emperor said as the little girl kicked her feet in excitement as his husband quickly caught the cup that nearly took flight as others fell. The small girl pushed herself up from her sisters lap to stand on her own, balancing herself for a moment before speaking.
“Sorry!” The girl said, her light greyish green eyes looked to her father before she tried to lean down and straighten up the wooden cups that’s had fallen; it was lucky they were empty at that moment.
“That’s ok Tiana.. Come sit down please.” Terence said, encouraging his daughter to take a seat with him, but as always bold as ever she moved to sit with the Emperor, taking a seat on his lap watching as the wyvern lifted his head and sniffed at her. No fear crossed her face, no worries or even concerns, nothing, she happily patted the beasts head as her father moved his hand on top of hers to show her where to scratch at the scales, making the tail move side ways fast.
“Do you miss it Papa?” Their eldest asked, now as she picked the small flowers from the grass behind her, splitting the stems careful to thread the other flower through to begin to make a flower crown. “Being Bahamut.. I mean.”
“Every day.” Dion finally said, a soft smile on his face as he watched his youngest before glancing back to the daughter they had adopted who had saved his life, not once but twice. “But I gained so much more after that.. a sense of purpose again, a loving family, friends that will last a life time.. I live for moments like this. Just being here with you three… We love having you back home Kihel.”
“I love being back here.” Kihel agreed as Terence shifted beside her, placing an arm around her shoulder, the young woman moved in to hug the man around the waist. She would be turning sixteen in the morning, not her true date of birth, she had no knowledge of that. Terence and Dion had let her pick her own birthday, she wasn’t sure what season she was born, she just remembered as a child with her grandmother that it normally warm and sunny, so she picked a day when Sanbreque was warmest and the grass was green and full of life. “I love seeing all the flowers.. the hideaway is just vast waters; back in the Dhalmekian Republic as pretty as it was.. nothing beats these meadows.”
“More so now the flowers are in full bloom once more.” Terence agreed as Kihel continued to lean on him as he gently rocked her, before kissing the top of her head.
The family of four sat together with the Wyvern sleeping his head upon the Emperor’s lap, the connection between him and the dragon like creatures was still as strong as it had been when he had been Tiana’s age. The blonde couldn’t help the smile on his face as he watched his husband of many years begin to pick and copy Kihel making his own flower chain. The emperor smiled as he glanced down at his daughter who was now reaching out for her half eaten sandwich that laid upon her wooden lunch plate, there was no need for fine china out here on the meadows. It was nice to get away from the life of royalty once in a while, here he felt true freedom, surrounded by those who matter the most.
“Papa?” Kihel said as she threaded another flower threw the chain, as her little sister sat back on the Emperor’s lap, making the Wyvern open one eye before settling back to sleep.
“Yes my dear?” Dion responded as he looked towards her, her hands motioning to behind him as she continued to create the chain. The man glanced his head slightly but smiled seeing more Wyverns coming over towards them. “Seems we have company again… can’t have one picnic without someone joining us.” The Emperor said as the others came over close, but lay just a few meters away, these ones weren’t so brave to approach. They were much smaller than the other upon his knee, a school of pyre was what they were, lost and looking for a place to rest safely.
As the wyverns rested, the family continued they’re afternoon. Kihel spoke of her future plans, her own establishment would soon be made for her where she could treat the sick and wounded. The young woman smiled as she was reassured by her fathers that she would succeed in everything within her life, they were always the supportive people, not just to her but to everyone. As she spoke her eyes would glance down to check the flower chain was still accurate as she started a new one.
“And this boy that you like? Are we going to be meeting him any time soon?” The Emperor pressed on, making his eldest daughter blush slightly, her eyes stayed to the chain within her hands not wanting to look up.
“Maybe.” The girl said finally looking up to notice that both her fathers were looking at her, but with smiles as they were happy for Kihel to have someone special within her life. “.. how did you know… you know .. both liked the other?”
Terence eyes glanced to his husbands as the Emperor did the same back to him, their eyes locked too just for a moment before they both let out a chuckle. “I fell in love with your Papa slowly, from a young age I knew I had feelings for him. By the time I was thirteen their was no turning back. I told my mother at sixteen and she kissed my forehead and told me she always knew..” The man said as he smiled a little more looking back at his daughter. “How could I not fall in love with him? He had beautiful golden eyes.. skin so soft.. a smile on his face would make me have butterflies.. his voice would make my heart race..” Terence said with a smile as Dion reached a hand out towards him. The Emperor’s consort leant forward, leaning over the wyvern to kiss his husband knowing right away that’s what he wanted. The blonde touched the Dragoon’s face, patting his cheek slightly before rubbing his nose against his own, making them both smile more as Tiana, still upon the Emperors lap, looked up watching them with just the crust of her sandwich left within her hand.
The wyvern on Dion’s knee suddenly huffed making both men whom were trapped within one another’s eyes laughing slightly before pulling away from one another. Normally it was Tiana who would break their romantic moments unintentionally, so the wyvern huffing was amusing.
“Oh I’m sorry are we disturbing your siesta?” The Emperor asked the wyvern as he moved his hand back to that special part and began to scratched at his head once more.
“You two are adorable.. you know that?” Kihel said as she watched her sister climb off the emperor’s lap, taking the crust in her hand and throwing it on the floor just off the blanket.
“Tiana.” Terence said sternly as the girl lifted up her hand and pointed to the sleeping pyres.
“For them.” The little girl said defensively as she moved over to her father as she put her arms up towards him, not wanting to be told off for her actions. Terence put the flower chain down he was making before picking her up, standing himself up with her lifting her high in the air making her giggle.
“You’re trying to feed the wyverns your crusts?” The head of the Dragoons asked as he held his daughter on his hip as she nodded her head. “You should be eating your crust. It’ll make your hair curley.” Her father told her as she giggled and hugged him around the neck.
“Not as adorable as those two.” Dion smiled watching his husband with their daughter. “Should we walk off lunch?”
“That sounds like an idea.” Terence said as he put Tiana back on her feet, Kihel waved her little sister over. Knowing her sister signal, she moved over to her as Kihel stopped her in front of her, placing the hand made flower crown on top of her head, making the little one giggle again and clap.
“Look we match.” Kihel tells her little sister as she placed the other she had made on top of her own head making Tiana clap.
“Which means this one is for you.” Terence said as he knelt down and took the one he made, ever so formally, he than reached out and placed it upon the Emperor’s head.
“It’s perfect.” The Emperor smiled as as he nudged the wyvern to get him to move. The winged beast huffed again but gave the blonde his leg back as he shifted away backwards. “Help me up please.”
“Of course.” Terence said as he helped his husband to stand, Kihel reached for the Emperor’s walking stick that was on the grass beside the blanket, before standing up and giving it to him.
“Thank you my heart.” Dion says softly to Terence, making sure the flower crown didn’t slip from his head. “And thank you too Ki’.” The Emperor said accepting the stick and taking a few steps back so he was off the blanket.
Terence knelt back down, letting Kihel stand with the Emperor as he recollected and tidied away the picnic set. Tiana got her fathers hint and one by one helped to collect the items and putting them inside the wicker basket. Once the man had finished tidying away he scooped up his daughter, placing her once again on his side. “We’ll leave the basket here. We can collect it when we walk back.” The Dragoon said as Dion nodded with agreement.
Allowing Tiana to walk once more, Terence traded places with Kihel, letting the girl walk in front with her sister, who happily holds her hand. The ocean breeze is calm but still danced around them, the sea air filling their lungs, as they walked away from the picnic basket and the wyverns resting near by. “We’re so blessed by Greagor.” Dion said quietly to his husband, as Terence allowed him to thread his hand threw his arm as they walked.
“We are very my love.” The Consort said as he kissed his husbands cheek as they walked, the cane helping the Emperor to move across the royal meadows. Dion felt his cheeks warm where Terence’s lips had touched, even after all these years the man made his heart race and fill him with a warmth he could never explain.
The two men followed behind their daughters, loving listening to Tiana speak non-stop to her big sister as she held her hand. Not to far away from the cliffside a flock of adolescence Chocobo’s chased one another as a larger one watched over them. Dion paused, causing his husband too as well, he took in a deep breath, enjoying the breeze and freedom this place made him feel. The Dragoon just watched his husband a soft smile upon his face as he did so. Many years ago you could view Drakes Head from these fields, a stunning sight, one that the Emperor missed.
“I wish we could save these moments together forever..” The Emperor said as he watched Kihel picking up her sister and spinning her around within the wild flowers.
“Forever doesn’t feel long enough.” The Head of the Dragoons tells his husband as Dion leans on him for a moment just watching the smiling faces of their girls.
“You’re right… it doesn’t does is..”