Chapter 210
[ 1,246 words ]
Once Upon A Time.
I was still in Ma’s arms when the back door creaked open. Pa stepped in from the yard, boots muddy, sleeves rolled up, the
smell of smoke and pine clinging to him. He took one look at me and grinned, that deep, rumbling kind of grin that always
managed to pull a smile out of me no matter how heavy I felt.
“Well, look who the shadows dragged home,” he said, giving me a firm slap on the back. “What are you doing here, son p>
I shrugged, trying for casual. “Thought I’d stay for a while, if that’s alright p>
Before Pa could answer, the front door banged open and Elias came in, trailed by half a dozen laughing kids. They were
shouting over each other, arguing about whose turn it was to pick the next story. Elias shot me a tired but amused look
over their heads.
“Alright, little gremlins, into the lounge room. Shoes off, no jumping on the couch,” he ordered, steering them toward the
hall. When they were finally gone, he turned back to me, that easy grin spreading across his face.
“Good timing,” he said, clapping my shoulder. “Could use an extra pair of hands around here p>
I laughed quietly, some of the weight lifted from my chest. “Yeah,” I said. “I think I could use the work p>
Evening at the orphanage was a kind of chaos I’d forgotten how to love. The halls echoed with laughter, feet pounding on
the wooden floors, and the smell of dinner still lingered in the air, spaghetti and garlic bread, Ma’s favourite quick meal
when the place was full.
Elias was in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, his hair a mess from wrangling a dozen kids through bath time. “You want to
make yourself useful?” he called over his shoulder, scooping ice cream into bowls. “Grab the spoons before they riot p>
I grinned, opening drawers until I found the mismatched set, some silver, some plastic, one that looked suspiciously like it had been stolen from a café. “You sure you’re feeding them ice cream this late? You’ll never get them to sleep p>
Elías just smirked. “That’s why you’re here, big brother. Reinforcements p>
The kids poured in moments later, loud and full of energy, faces still pink from warm baths. Ma followed with her gentle
but firm smile, herding them to the table like a seasoned general.
“Alright, everyone, one scoop each,” Elias announced. “No trading, no complaining, and definitely no food fight”
“Even if he starts it?” one of the boys asked, pointing accusingly at his friend.
“Especially if he starts it,” I said, setting the spoons down.
That earned a few giggles, and soon enough, the sound of spoons clinking and sugar-fueled chatter filled the room.
5:34 pm
ppp
Once Upon A Time.
Watching them, I couldn’t help but smile. They reminded me so much of us when we were younger-wild, loud, full of life
before we understood what it meant to carry the weight of the worlds.
When dessert was over, Elias caught my eye with a grin. “You thinking what I’m thinking p>
I sighed dramatically. “If you’re about to say bedtime, I’m not fighting that battle p>
“Not bedtime,” he said. “Game time p>
Groans and cheers erupted at once. Elias ignored them, dragging a deck of cards from the shelf and plopping it onto the
coffee table in the lounge. “Alright, Snap. Winner gets bragging rights. Loser does dishes tomorrow p>
The kids crowded around, forming an uneven circle on the floor. Elias sat cross-legged with them, shuffling the deck like a
magician while I perched on the arm of the couch, pretending not to care but secretly keeping score. The room filled with
shouts of laughter and mock outrage as cards flew and rules were broken every two minutes. Elias cheated shamelessly. I
let him, mainly because watching him let the smallest kids “catch” him and win was better than any prize.
By the time the game ended, half the kids were yawning, heads drooping against pillows. Elias clapped his hands softly. “Alright, gremlins, off to bed. Stories in five p>
There were a few groans, but no real resistance. Ma herded some of them upstairs, her soft voice carrying lullabies and
reminders about brushing teeth. Elias leaned back on his hands, letting out a long breath.
“Thanks for helping,” he said, looking up at me. “It’s good having you here again p>
I nodded, watching the last candle flicker low. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “It’s good being here p>
He smiled, tired but content, and I found myself smiling back. Maybe this was what I needed, not the roar of the
Underworld or the ache of the bond I couldn’t have. Just this. The laughter, the warmth, the peace of knowing that, for
tonight at least, everyone I loved was safe.
A slight tug on my pant leg snapped me out of thought. I looked down to find Rosie staring up at me with those big brown
eyes. Her curls bounced as she shifted from foot to foot, clutching a little stuffed wolf under one arm.
“Can you read me a story, Ellie?” she asked, he voice soft but hopeful.
I groaned, “Ellie? Really? That’s what we’re going with now p>
She giggled, completely unbothered. “It’s cute p>
“Debatable,” I said, but I couldn’t help smiling. “Sure, kiddo. Come on p>
She lifted her arms automatically, and I scooped her up without thinking. She tucked her head under my chin, the faint
scent of bubblegum shampoo and crayons clinging to her hair. The weight of her reminded me of a time long ago, before
2.3
5:34 pm
PPP.
Once Upon A Time.
everything got so tangled and heavy. I carried her upstairs to the room she shared with a handful of other girls, where the walls were covered in hand-drawn pictures and glittery stickers. Setting Rosie down, I glanced at the bookshelf along the
wall, half of it filled with worn spines, the other half with picture books that had clearly been loved too hard.
“Any suggestions?” I asked.
Rosie’s hand shot up. “I want the one about fated mates! The one where the princess gets saved by her prince
I sighed, fighting a smile as I reached for the familiar pink-covered book with a fraying corner. “Of course you do p>
So much like Macey.
I lowered myself onto the rug, the old boards creaking beneath me, and Rosie scrambled into my lap without waiting for
an invitation.
“Alright,” I said, flipping open the cover. “Once upon a time, there was a princess p>
“Who didn’t need saving,” Rosie interrupted proudly, already grinning.
I chuckled, smoothing her hair back. “That’s right. A princess who didn’t need saving… but still had a prince who loved her
enough to stand beside her anyway p>
Her eyes went wide, hanging on every word, and I felt something/ease in my chest. Maybe stories like this weren’t just for
the kids. Maybe they were for the fools like me who still believed in them, too. By the time I reached the last page, Rosie
was asleep, curled against me with the stuffed wolf tucked under her chin. I stayed there a while longer, listening to her
even breaths and the quiet rustle of the orphanage settling/down for the night.
Comments
R Visitor
Elliot and Elias are going to be fabulous fathers!
7 days ago
18
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