#part 124

“That’s alright, so you want to talk about what upsets you?”

Char took a small bite of her sandwich before looking at Synapse.

“I don’t know… I’m still trying to get over it…”

Synapse munched on his sandwich and pats Char’s back gently.

“Try your best alright…?”

Char swallowed her bit of a sandwich before taking another bite in silence, pondering on what to say.

“Well…?”

Char swallowed again before looking to Synapse sadly.

“It wasn’t a good dream… It was a terror…”

Synapse took a bite of his sandwich and pats Char’s back again.

“A terror in which I saw everyone around me dead…”

Synapse choked slightly but managed to swallow his sandwich.

“What prompted this?”

Char was going to take a bite of her sandwich but stopped and lowered her head.

“You know her well enough already…”

Synapse blinked before looking away.

“Oh… She still terrorises you?”

Char nodded and yawned slightly.

“She always terrorises me when I sleep… I always feel scared or about to die when I do…”

Synapse ate the rest of his sandwich and pulled Char close for a hug.

“It’ll be alright… It won’t happen…”

Char flinched and watched Synapse before looking at her sandwich.

“I’m not sure… I’m scared to be the cause…”

Synapse then pats Char’s head gently and took her sandwich before holding it to her mouth.

“You won’t be… Now eat up”

Char squints at Synapse as he held the sandwich to her mouth.

“You need to eat up, so say aaaaah”

Char moved her head away; Sinapse came back with two suitcases before whining.

“Aww you ate without me? How loving”

Synapse flinched and slowly looked to Sinapse and sighed.

“I did save one for you”

Synapse grabbed and held out the last sandwich as Sinapse puts the suitcases by Sage and held his chest dramatically.

“Oh, woe is me; brother saved me food but wouldn’t eat with me! I’m soooo jealous!”

Synapse twitched as Vanna and Sage giggled; even Char gave a slight giggle.

“Drama king…”

Sinapse stuck his tongue out at Synapse and grinned; Char, Vanna and Sage continued to giggle.

“Did I make you smile?”

Synapse blinked and looked to Char giggling and sighed.

“I guess you did something good for a change big bro”

Sinapse flinched and held his chest and flopped down onto the ground dramatically.

‘After The End!’ part 123 ‘After The End!’ part 124 ‘After The End!’ part 125 ‘After The End!’ part 126 ‘After The End!’ part 127 ‘After The End!’ part 128 ‘After The End!’ part 129 ‘After The End!’ part 130

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=214iyi-EP3U)

He took it and stood following him into the kitchen. Seeing dinner ready he smiled softly

Sentinel smiled and gave a nod. "I will go get.... Frigga... and the children."

"Thank you brother."

He nodded and left the room to go get them.

"Lets sit. After dinner feed the babies with me?"

Lies nodded. "Yes. Definitely yes."

The kids came into the room and Frigga followed. Moon rushed over to them hoping to sit next to either one. "it is good to have you on your feet again, very good." Image smiled.

"Its good to be back on my feet." Lies scooped his daughter up and tossed her a little up into the air.

Moon Laughed and gripped to him as soon as she could. "Daddy happy! I can see it."

"I'm very happy." He smiled softly.

She looked at his face and nodded. "And no more pain."

"No more pain thanks to your grandma." He nuzzled her.

She smiled and looked to the younger woman. Her mind did not understand but it was her grandmother.... "Thank you G'ma"

The women smiled and nodded. "Of course little one."

He kissed her cheek and settled her into a chair.

Image smiled at the two  seeing the two cuddle each other. Once the food was out sentinel gave the permission to dig in.

Lies smiled softly. "Its good."

Image dished out the plates for Lies Moon and him self before nodding in agreement.

"Thank you," Sentinel spoke. "I am learning my way around the kitchen more and more."

"Chosen helping?"

"Aye she is."

"She's a good cook."

"I have learned that over the past few weeks." He said smiling at her.

She smiled back lightly

Sentinel sat down in his chair and got his own food.

"So....." Narvi spoke. "You are better? really really better Father?"

He took a breath. "I won't say that I won't have bad day, emotionally...mentally..., but physically I am completely better."

She nodded spinning her fork against the plate. "But we can help with that right?"

"Yes." He answered. "Be there for me...because you are my strength as I am yours."

"You don't even have to ask father, We will always be here for you."

He smiled and nodded

Image smiled at Narvi and ate as conversation started, some about Frigga, some about the day, all of them seemed to agree it has been a long day.

"I says we make a pillow pile in the living room and curl up."

"I agree with that." Image said.

"With babies too?" Moon perked up

"Everyone. Family pile."

"Can we all sleep together tonight? We wont get sent back to your rooms later?" Vali asked

"Yes. Like when you were kids. All of us. No being sent back to your rooms."

The newer twins smiled brightly at the idea showing their eagerness for it.

He looked around to the children and adults present, including the Thors’ and Frigga. "Bring your two favorite pillows and a blanket."

They nodded and slowly stood up. "Us too?" Ashes asked

"All of you."

They looked at each other and nodded smiling. "Aye, we will get what you requested."

Image looked over to lies. "Do you count as a pillow?"

Lies smiled and nodded

"Daddy is not a pillow Papa!" Moon giggled

Lies laughed softly

"well Darn." Image responded. "What will I sleep with now?"

"We'll think of something." He kiss his cheek

Image smiled. "Aye, I am sure that we will."  Moon wiggled out of Lies's lap  and turned to face them speaking rapidly. "I be right back, I go get the pillows and blanket now okay?"

"Okay. Don't run."

"Okay daddy." She said going to her room

Lies hugged Image and walked with him to the living room

Image smiled "should we strip the couch of the pillows?"

"Yes." He nodded, smiling

He smiled and playfully and still gently batted Lies with one of the throws pillows

He laughed and gently batted back

He swatted again chuckling. "Such a tame pillow fight"

He pounced and kissed him silly

They fell back onto the couch and image returned the kisses giving another chuckle

He nuzzled him

He wrapped his arms around him and kissed his horns

He groaned

Image smiled. "I am really, really likening the horns."

He nipped gently.

Image bopped his nose

He laughed

Not letting him go he relaxed a bit more. "Honestly. How are you?"

"Right now I'm good.

"Good." He stroked his hair giving a gentle smile. "I think the slumber party idea will be good for you."

"I use to do this a lot for the kids. I miss it."

"Then there is more than one reason to do it then." He smiled. "The babies and Moon, and Ember and Ashes, this will be their first time."

"And yours."

"and mine." he confirmed "And Sentinel's"

"Chosen I'm sure will fill him in."

"We should get the dogs in here too." Image mused with a nod. "But we need to feed the babies first."

"Yes." He smiled

Image played with the ends of his hair. "I don't want to move though."

"Nor I."

Image smiled at him and kissed his lips gently. "I love you Lies. Always and forever."

He nuzzled. "Good cause you are going to be with me for that long."

"Naturally." He whispered. "I would not have it any other way."

Lies smiled softly

He smiled more than chuckled as one of the babies cried out. "I think we are being called, however."

"Aye." He hugged him and helped him up

Image took the offered hand and followed him to the nursery where Philip, now easily getting on to his feet was standing in his crib crying for the attention.

"We hear you." Lies gently picked him up.

He instantly curled up in his arms whimpering. "It is feeding time for them." Image mused picking up Adair.

"Do we have bottles made up?"

"In the little fridge" Image said walking over to the fridge and pulled out the needed bottles passing one to Lies for Philip.

He took it ad settled in with bottle and baby

Image smiled and stood feeding Adair.

Lies hummed softly

"I love watching you feed the kids, It makes my own heart flutter"

He looked up at him

"I mean it."

He blushed some

He smiled, "And when you blush...." He started. "I just like watching you."

"Image..."

"Sorry... That sounds bad."

"No...it just makes me want you."

He smiled before crossing the room and kissing his cheek. "Maybe we are able to sneak away during the night."

"I would like that."

"Then that is what we will do." He smiled shifting Adair in his arms and Alaska joined the conversation "Daddy!"

"Yes sweetie?"

"Daddy!" She cheered again. before going into babble

"You don't say." He smiled, listening

The girl giggled getting Image to chuckle. "I also think it is great that her first work is you. The love you Lies."

"I'm glad..." He wanted to do right by his children this time.

"You are a good parent Lies."

He looked up

"You are..."

"I try."

"That is all we can do." Image smiled. "I don't know anything about parenting you teach me what I know."

He smiled softly

Image smiled back and pulled the empty bottle away from the baby and went to change children to feed Alaska who was still babbling.

Lies laughed softly

Image smiled and tried cooing to her "Talking makes it hard to eat honey."

Lies grinned

She kept talking and leaned back against the wall. "You finding this amusing?" Image asked looking at lies

"Oh yes." He smirked

He chuckled and tried still to feed Alaska finally getting the bottle in. "There we go." He looked at Lies. "How is Philip?"

"Done now." He smiled at the baby.

Philip coed happily and reached out the take Lies's hand. "Good. I am sure that the children are in the room now."

Lies let him, smiling softly

"Aye. Lets join them."

Alaska finished her bottle quickly and image burped her. "We should. Let me get Adair. Grab blankets for them?"

He nodded, gathering everything.

Image smiled and followed lies out of the room chuckling as moon was sprawled out in the middle of a mass of pillows.

"Comfy bunny."

"Yes Daddy." She responded "Very comfy."

He chuckled and made a little nest for the babies to curl up in.

Narvi and Vali walked into the room with pillows and blankets laughing at how Moon was sprawled out in the middle.

He smiled at them and helped them set up.

More and more the others came into the room in pairs. Ember and Ashes, Slephier and Jor, Hela and Fen"

Lies helped each, hugging them tightly when he finished

They all smiled and eagerly returned the hug. "This will be fun." Hela smiled. "I feel like a child again."

"Wait till I bring ice cream later." Lies chuckled

"Oh nine." Hela said "It is like being a child again."

He chuckled and gently ruffled her hair

She chuckled and fell on the pillows scooping Moon into her grasp and Narvi and Vail laughed joining.

Lies watched, smiling contentedly. For a moment all his cares and pain were gone.

The others joined leaving Embers and Ashes standing whispering to each other, but smiles on their face.

"Girls are you going to join us?"

"Yes," Embers nodded coming out of the whispered conversation with Ashes. "Can you pass me the pillow Father?" She asked sweetly.

"Of course." He handed one to her.

She smiled and took it before swatting him with the pillow playfully.

He yipped and laughed softly

"Come now father. Is this not a game that is played?"

"Yes." He bopped her back with another pillow

She chuckled and did it again.

"its rather tame." Ashes said moving to stand on the couch. "There has to be more pillows around here."

He waved a hand and there was more pillows

"Perfect." The black haired girl said picking one up and bopping Lies with her own.

He laughed moving them away from the babies and fending the off with little bops and taps

The girls went against Lies tag teaming.

"Should I make it even?" Fen asked with a chuckle

"Sure." He answered between laughter.

He smiled and stood up and joined the fight swatting at his sisters

Lies smiled and winked at image.

Image smiled and jumped in the war zone joining the girls team

"Oh! I see how it is!"

Image laughed and swatted him with the pillow. "Maybe? What is your counter offer?"

He gave him a hot once over

"Oh now.... that is a good counter....." Image spoke.

Embers swatted Lies. "Steeling my team members Father?"

"Just the one." He laughed dancing away.

"its okay." Narvi said jumping up. "I am here Embers."

Image moved over to Lies's side

Lies kissed him before fending off an attack

Image returned the kiss then went back into the fight swatting at the three girls.

Lies laughed brightly.

it continued on for a but before Narvi playfully acted like she was killed.

"Oh, I'm down" She fell back landing on the pillows. "Go on with out me,"

Vali snorted and bopped in her face. "over dramatic."

She scrunched up her nose and threw her pillow at him. "I had to exit the game properly."

"Riiiight."

"I did! Right Father? I have to do it properly."

"Yep." He grinned

“See." Narvi spoke and rolled on her stomach. "Ice Cream?"

"Yes." Lies nodded

Image smiled "I can go get that started."

"Thank you love."

He nodded and walked into the kitchen and pulled out all the bowls They had just enough for everyone.

Lies went back to join the pile, starting a story.

As Image got the bowls ready he brought them out one at a time passing them to everyone. Frigga and the Thor's as well. His own bowl in hand he sat down next to Lies

He was making little illusions to go with the story.

Image smiled and put the bowl for Lies in front of him amused by how everyone was so into it, so willing to go back to their childhood.

Lies laughed as the illusionary prince and princess kissed and broke apart with equally sheepish looks.

"They shy?" Moon asked looking to her parents.

"Yes." He answered chuckling

'Why Shy? Will they be better?" She prompted taking a bite of her own teat.... sugar free ice cream

"They are young and newly in love."

"Oh." She whispered "They get better yes? Married?"

"You have to listen to the story." He teased

She pouted and nodded "Okay... tell story!"

Lies returned to the story.

Image smiled and leaned against Lies, relaxing some letting his words fill him of the two that fell in love.

As the story progressed Image would probably recognize parts of the tale from their own romance.

And he did more and more image would see where the story matched and what Lies was making up. He hummed happily as Lies spoke letting him tell it from his perspective, a side he had not heard before.

Lies gently ran his hand through his hair the story ended with a small wedding and a kiss shared with full hearts

"They lived happily ever after." Moon said with a happy sigh. Image smiled and put his head on Lies's shoulder. "Aye, they and I bet they do to this day."

Lies smiled at him

Image smiled back and Narvi sighed. "That was a beautiful story. Wish is happened in real life."

Lies smiled. "Every story has a bit of truth."

"I know, you have explained that more than once Father, It is just finding the truth."

"Ask Image about the story."

Image smiled. "I can tell one similar."

Lies smiled a little too.

"Ohhh." The young girl spoke.... "I understand now. It was you two."

The jotun nodded

"Wow." Moon started "And you lived happily ever after?"

"Yes."

"Yay!" She crawled over into their laps. "Good Story!"

Lies laughed, petting her back

"We think so too." Embers and Ashes spoke at the same time.

He gestured all the kids over for a hug

They all, minus the babies, climbed over the mass of pillows and piled on top of them being careful not to hurt Moon. "Thank you for sharing that Father."

"You are welcome children."

"I think it is time to sleep." Vali whispered letting himself go slack against them.

"Sleep well children

They nodded and took to their spots and blankets after the story, they all felt like Lies was getting better, and they all could sleep more at ease. Even Frigga and The Thor's took their spot on the sea of pillows.

Image kissed his cheek and smiled

Lies playfully used chosen's tummy as a pillow, gathering Image up.

Image smiled and curled up with him holding him close. "I Love you."

"Love you too."

"That was a good story. I Like how you told it."

"Hmm?"

"The prince and the princess, young love, shy at first then ends with the wedding.... I like it."

"Its us."

"It is..... Now was the wedding our first one in Vegas or the one Frigga is holding, when she is up to par?"

"Both."

"We get two happy endings..... I like that." He chuckled.

He smiled back. "Aye."

"But as long as I have you, and this family, OUR family. I have the happy ending."

He nodded.

"You are my happy ending." he whispered nuzzling into him.

"And you are mine."

"You seem happier tonight, out of all nights so far." He commented. "Being with the kids really helped huh?"

"Yes. Being with all of you."

"I am sorry we kept you separate for so long."

"Its okay. I understand why you did."

"I know now, Not too. I wont make the same mistake."

He hugged him

Image returned the hug getting as close to him as he could.

Lies relaxed slowly, falling asleep.