kingdom - hollanov - @taylorswiftmicrofic - word count: 686 - click here for my hollanov microfic archive on ao3
"One story before bed?" Jade whined, her big, brown eyes making Ilya's heart ache as they reminded him of Shane. "Dad always tells us stories when he's home."
"Jade, you have to go to sleep," Shane said from the armchair, smiling fondly as all of the Pike children cuddled up to Ilya on the couch. "It's your bedtime."
"Oh, Hollander, you are killjoy," Ilya said, waving his hand in the air. "One story will not kill anyone. Plus, if boring Pike can tell story, so can we!" He grinned as Shane shot him a warning look. "Okay. Let me think." he looked around for a moment, clearly seeking inspiration. "Ah! Okay, once on a time there was two kingdoms. One was kingdom of yellow and black and one was kingdom of blue and red. And each kingdom had beautiful prince..princess."
The children made ooohh and ahhhh noises, settling into the cushions.
"Of course, the princess of the yellow and black kingdom, Lily, was a little more beautiful than princess of other kingdom, Jane, but is not important," Ilya said with a smirk, eyeing Shane, who snorted derisively. "Anyway. One day, the princesses met. Because...uh...they are having a painting made. And after painting, they realize: they are in love!"
The kids let out little yelps of delight, making both Shane and Ilya smile.
"Yes, yes, is very romantic. But there is problem! The kingdoms, they are enemies!" Ilya exclaimed dramatically, throwing his hands in the air and beaming as the kids gave him scandalized looks.
Shane couldn't help but grin fondly, entranced by the way Ilya spoke to the children.
"So, Lily–she is the more beautiful, more talented one, yes? She is very brave. She asks Jane to meet her to have...um..."
"Have tea!" Shane jumped in, narrowing his eyebrows at Ilya, who grinned and winked.
"Yes, tea! The princesses, they are very good at tea. Love tea very much," Ilya agreed, stifling laughter as the two of them avoided eye contact so as to not lose it completely. "And they have tea together often, yes? And fall so much in love."
"But it was a secret? The love?" Jade asked, eyes as wide as saucers.
"Yes," Ilya nodded somberly. "Very sad, right? The princesses were very scared that their love would not be accepted by their kingdoms. And then one day, very bad thing happened."
"A...letter. A letter that was sent between them. Was found by Jane's friend and both kingdoms found out," Ilya replied, nodding his head like he was delivering terrible news.
And of course, all of the children were staring at him with rapt fascination, like this was the most terrible thing they hear in their lives. Shane grinned at the sight.
"What then?" Arthur asked, fully in awe.
"Well, some people, they do not like it. Many people in both kingdoms were very angry. They say the princesses were being...betraying," Ilya explained heavily, but Shane could hear the emotion in his voice. "The princesses were very sad, that their love was treated this way. Like was not real."
"But it was," Jade frowned indignantly, like she was ready to fight kingdoms herself.
"It was," Ilya agreed, smiling softly at her. "So what do they do?"
"No, no," he admonished, smiling. "They find new kingdom. A red and black one, with both of their colors. This kingdom loves and accepts them, and is happy for them and their love. And now, they are together forever, happily ever after."
Shane smiled along with the kids, eyes finding Ilya's.
"Good! They should be happy," Jade said with a grin, hopping up and dragging Ruby with her towards their bedroom.
"Mmm. It was a good story," Shane agreed, standing and gesturing for Arthur to get up as well, while Ilya helped Amber. "Inspired by anything in real life?"
Ilya grinned. "No, Hollander. Do not be so stupid. Fairy tales are not real."
But as they walked together with the two youngest Pike children off to their bedrooms, grinning and bumping hips, it kind of felt like they were.