Things would be easier if Veiled Lily was interested in reuniting with her children, but she's distant from all of them, as she was before everything went down. Truthless Recluse is definitely not bothered by this. Definitely not.
What he is bothered with is Sage's sudden interest in his children, dropping the subject of marriage, even any possible romantic relationship between them, (again not bothered. Definitely not. Definitely.) to focus on them. Which he gets but his hackles are raised.
"Why me?" White Lily asked, "You know I've never been..." He grimaced and returned the last of his borrowed books to Pure Vanilla's bookshelves, "Good with children."
"You're the only one of us I trust with this." Pure Vanilla answered honestly, she licked her lips nervously.
White Lily mulled over her response for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you for trusting me."
Pure Vanilla nodded shakily and tried to control her blush as White Lily undid the clasp holding her Soul Jam on her chest. Her overcoat fell off her shoulders, leaving her in her dress and body suit.
Pure Vanilla's hands reached up and shakily undid the knot in his cape. The leaf cape fluttered to the floor and Pure Vanilla got started on his button up.
White Lily bent down and kissed her cheek, "You're shaking...we can wait if you're —,"
"No." Pure Vanilla shook her head. White Lily turned so that their noses brushed, his thumbs brushed over her shoulders as his hands crept up her neck and cupped her cheeks in his hands. Pure Vanilla tried to find something to say, anything to say, but her mouth opened and closed uselessly until White Lily sealed his lips around hers.
Truthless Recluse woke with a pounding headache.
He'd spent the past month since reviving his children relearning how to be a parent. It was harder than he remembered, but last time he'd had White Lily (as...hands off as she'd been) to help him.
He heard his door open and braced himself as two little bodies flew onto his bed.
"Mommy, what's for breakfast?"
"Mommy, can I have chocolate syrup in my cereal?"
He smiled. If Veiled Lily hadn't responded to his letter by now about their children's return, it was likely she was busy or...
He pushed those thoughts away, his children needed breakfast. He yawned and walked his children down to the kitchen. Vanilla Orchid helped her little brother up into his seat before she took her own.
"I'll get it!" She shouted, climbing back down.
"No, no, no!" Truthless Recluse herded her back into her seat, "You stay right here." He put a spell on the stove so the children couldn't get close and the food would remove itself before it burned, "Keep an eye on your brother." He instructed.
He walked to the door, wiping his hands off on his nightgown before he answered the door.
"Sage." He glowered at him deadpanned.
"So, I was looking into children's development. You said they hadn't aged?" Sage had a bag with him.
"So, I've come to offer you some basic fine and gross motor development activities. I wasn't sure how developed your children were, but of course, being of Virtuous descent, I'm sure they're right on track. Of course, that would be me assuming."
This would mark the fourth day Sage had returned to give him stuff for the kids.
Truthless Recluse almost missed him begging for marriage.
He could smell breakfast was done, so he let Sage ramble on about this and that that he brought in his bag and softly closed the door.
He ignored the ache in his chest and returned to his children to enjoy a quiet breakfast.
