#vanserrabros

“Can you say papa? Pa pa?” Eris said holding his almost-year-old son, Nova. He was the perfect spitting image of Eris, minus his violet eyes and wings which he had inherited from Lyra. Sweet little Nova stared at Eris with his big violet eyes as if he was taking in hte words Eris had just said. His little brows scrunched and his nose wrinkled. Eris thought he was trying to concentrate. “Go on, Nova, Pa pa.” Eris encouraged.

A rumble came from his lap and Nova’s face relaxed. Eris frowned. He heard an amused laugh from behind him, Bran, one of his younger brothers.

“You are still trying to get him to say papa?” Bran laughed again his matching amber eyes twinkling with amusement. 

“He’s going to say papa,” Eris defended trying to not smell whatever his son had released. He was going to have to change him before Lyra came to get him. It was a rare day when Eris had his morning free so he could let Lyra sleep in a bit, now that Nova mostly ate baby food and didn’t need to be by her side at all times. 

“Sure he will,” Bran said sitting beside him on the couch and waving at Nova. Nova giggled in response his first few teeth showing.  Bran laughed and then scrunched his nose. “By the cauldron, how can something so cute release such a foul odor?”

Nova giggled again. 

“Oh is that funny?” Bran cooed pinching Nova’s cheek lightly. “ Can you say Bran? I’ll even settle for Ban,” he encouraged. 

Nova blinked at him. 

A soft yawn came from Eris's bedroom and he looked behind him to see Lyra leaning on the door. 

“Mama!” Nova said excitedly. Eris whipped his head back and looked at his son in disbelief. 

“Did he just say?” Eris gasped a smile on his face.

“Mama!” Nova repeated his little voice filled with so much excitement. 

“That’s right,” Lyra said stepping closer to the couch. She bent down kissing Eris’s cheek and then kissing Nova’s head. “Are you having a good morning?”

Nova gave her a toothy grin, “mama!”

“You’re taking this better than I thought you would,” Bran commented. 

“I’m fine with his first word being mama as long as it isn’t Ban,” Eris replied.

Lyra chuckled, “who’s this?” She pointed to Eris.

“Mama!” Nova answered. Eris frowned.

“Nevermind,” Eris grumbled.

“No, it’s fitting! You were such a mother hen during the pregnancy,” Lyra teased. 

“Were?” Bran questioned, “he still is.”

“Why are you here again?” Eris asked his brother.

“I needed my daily dose of Nova,” Bran said making silly faces at Nova. He responded by grabbing at Bran’s face. “He wasn’t at breakfast so I figured I’d come here first before heading out for my duties.”

“Sorry Bran, it was a long night.” Lyra said with a sleepy smile. 

“Long cause of Nova or cause of Eris keeping you up?” Bran smirked. 

“Out!” Eris growled but Lyra just laughed. Bran hurried out of the room.

Lyra dropped down into Bran’s spot and leaned her head on Eris’s shoulder. Nova was now crawling between the two of them and babbling along, his wings moving every now and then. 

“Dada will probably be next,” Lyra said reassuringly her hand squeezing his knee, “it’s just cause he’s a mama’s boy. Just like his dada.”

“Mama,” Nova said as he sat in the small gap between them. He looked up eying both of them expectantly.

“Yep, Mama,” Eris encouraged. “Who am I?”

“Da,” Nova said and mumbled some other gibberish.

Eris’s eyes widened, excitement filling them, “Da, he said Da!”

“He sure did,” Lyra laughed, “though he also mumble some other gibberish.”

“Who am I Nova?” Eris asked again. 

Nova stared for a moment. Brows furrowing again. Eris remembered he needed to be changed.

“Oh gods,” Eris groaned preparing.

“Dada,” Nova said as if trying it out, “dadadada dada dada.”

He repeated a toothy grin on his face. Eris cheered and Lyra laughed. Eris scooped up his mini me and cheered. “That’s right! I’m dada!” 

“Dada!” Nova giggled.

“Wait till Bran hears!” Eris grinned. 

It was now dinner time and Eris had been waiting to brag all day. He was so proud of his son. Two words in one day! 

Eris made sure to arrive extra early to the dinner table. Lyra and Nova would meet him here because he was coming from meetings. Hugo arrived first brows raised.

“Are you feeling well?” Hue asked. Eying Eris skeptically. 

“I am, I got news,” Eris grinned.

“Lyra’s pregnant?” Hugo asked.

“What? No,” Eris said. At least she didn’t say anything about being pregnant.

Cole and Bran arrived next and Eris smirked at Bran.

“Hey Mama,” Bran teased.

Cole snorted and Hue raised a brow. 

“Nova got his first word.” Bran explained to Hue as the Lady of Autumn arrived. Eris hoped Lyra and Nova would show up before Beron. That way he could gloat. 

His mother gave him a knowing look. Nova no doubt showcased his two words in tea today.

“Actually he has two words,” Eris corrected. 

“Really?” Bran asked, “Ban right.”

“No,” Eris said as the door opened revealing his wife and son who ran to him on wobbly legs.

Hugo and Pyre grew up with Eris, his other brothers were not born until after the war, and Lucien his youngest of six brothers was born centuries later. Though he was not close with his brothers, he considered Hugo and Pyre the ones who knew him best. They had seen him slip up and lose his mask of the cruel Autumn Heir more than anyone else besides his mother. Admittedly, Eris didn’t have many good childhood memories.

His mother told him he had stayed in her care up until Pyre was born and after that he was treated like a pawn for Beron. He was trained as the Heir in his father’s standards. He didn’t have many bright memories but one he held dear was him and two of his brothers trying to fish.

“You’re cheating!” Hugo snapped at Pyre. Pyre responds by hurling mud at Hugo hitting him right in the face. 

Steam rose from the mud, making his face dry with the mud as he clenched his fists. Eris noticed the fish they were supposed to be catching moved quickly away as the water started to warm. 

“Enough,” Eris ordered as he grabbed one of the fish and hurled it into his pile by the shore. “You’re scaring off the fish.”

“He is scaring off my fish,” Hugo pointed to where Pyre stood with a stick making ripples near Hugo to spook the fish. 

“Then move,” Eris snapped grabbing another. “And Pyre, try to catch some. The object of the game is to get the most.”

“I already caught enough,” Pyre said pointing to his heaping pile of fish. He was probably in the lead. Pyre continued to make ripples in the water with the stick. Hugo released an annoyed huff and moved away from his spot. 

Much to Eris’s annoyance he moved closer to his own, “Not here. Go somewhere else.”  

Pyre moved closer too and scared the fish near Eris and Hugo. “Stop it!” Hugo ordered and squared up pressing his chest to Pyre. It was comical given the growth spurt Pyre had had this summer. Hugo barely reached his shoulders, he was barely eight years old and compared to Pyre was less skilled in sparring. Pyre also seemed to make the same observation as Eris had and laughed. He dropped the stick and pushed Hugo forcing him to fall into the waist-high water.

“Really?” Eris growled as he dropped his arm down in the water for Hugo to reach. He felt his small hand wrap around his wrist and pulled up. Hugo emerged from the water, auburn curls clinging to his face, his eyes burning with rage as he coughed for air. 

“You’re dead,” Hugo growled ready to attack Pyre but Eris grabbed him by his tunic. 

“Stop fighting and catch the fish.” Eris snarled at Hugo. Hugo turned his anger on Eris and glared. He snatched his hand from him and crossed the river to the other end. 

“Idiot,” Pyre laughed as he looked at Hugo’s abandoned pile. “He left it unsupervised.”

“Don’t touch his pile,” Eris warned. He was growing tired of his brothers. Why the Hel had he indulged his brothers in this stupid competition? They wouldn’t eat the fish, maybe he could give some to Fern and Cheddar, his two smoke hounds. Cauldron above he missed his hounds right now. He could be curled up beside Cheddar reading in peace, instead he was here dealing with his two obnoxious brothers.

Pyre ignored him and moved to the pile scooping some into his own. Eris glanced over to where Hugo was quickly growing another pile. Eris had to give it to Hugo, he was the youngest and smallest, but he worked hard and was more determined than Pyre ever was. 

As the sun finally reached the tree line, Eris called Hugo back over so they could count and then leave. He watched the younger boy try to figure out how to carry his heaping pile back across. Pyre snickered as he watched him too. Finally, Hugo removed his drying shirt and scooped as much of his fish up into it. He waded over and dropped his down beside his pile that now only held four fish. 

“Hey!” He protested and glared at Pyre, “You stole from my pile.”

“No I didn’t,” Pyre argued.

“Yes you did,” Hugo said pointing to his three times larger pile. 

“Prove it,” Pyre challenged arms crossed. Hugo’s eyes slit as he contemplated how to prove Pyre stole from him. He looked to Eris.

“He probably saw it, right Eri?” Hugo asked using the nickname Hugo had given him when he was still a toddler and refused to use Eris. Eris hated to admit he loved the nickname, he couldn’t love it though. Beron wouldn’t allow him to bond with his brothers. 

“No,” Eris said, “and don’t call me Eri, Hugo.”

Pyre gave him a smug smile. Eris wanted to shove him into the river like he had done to Hugo but he opted for a different route. He scooped half of Pyre’s pile onto his own catch, making him the winner. “I won,” Eris smirked at his brothers. He raised a brow for a challenge. 

Typical Pyre, took the bait.

“That’s not fair! Those were mine,” Pyre complained. 

“Prove it,” Eris crossed his arms using his own challenge against him. Eris was the tallest and strongest. He had proven his strength time and time again sparring against his brothers. Pyre growled and moved to shove Eris. He dodged it and kicked Pyre making him fall into a muddy patch. 

Hugo laughed. He looked ready to thank him but Eris couldn’t have that so he pushed him into the mud too. Hugo looked up shocked, his bottom lip wobbling and his eyes silvering. 

“Don’t cry,” Eris snapped. Gods he hated crying, Beron had caused enough of that already to him. Beron would no doubt do the same to Hugo. Hugo blinked the forming tears down and looked at the mud. Eris gave him a cruel smile matching Beron’s and turned to the pile pulling two fish for his hounds, the rest could go to the wildlife that found it. 

A splat was heard as mud collided with the back of Eris’s head. He felt his temperature rise and turned to glare at Hugo and Pyre who high-fived each other.  They teamed up. Eris dropped the fish, scooped up some mud near the river and hurled it at the two retreating brothers.  

Eris heard laughter from Hugo as he ducked behind a tree. Pyre was slower and got nailed in the face with the mud. He returned the favor tossing more mud at Eris and then turned on Hugo who tossed mud at him. 

Finally, as the sun set, they called a truce covered in mud head to toe. They retreated to the Forest House and snuck into the residential hall where their mother stood nervously awaiting their return. 

“Why are you covered in mud?” She asked inspecting the three boys.  Worry filled her eyes, “Hurry get cleaned before your father sees you three, and don’t be late for supper. He’s in a foul mood.”

“He’s always in a foul mood,” Hugo huffed. 

Their mother gave him a sad look her hand brushing his muddy cheek. “Move quickly, I’ll have Esmerelda lay out some clothes.”

Hugo and Pyre moved down the hall, “Eris.” His mother said stopping his own feet. 

“Yes, mother?” Eris asked.

“Did you have fun?” She asked mischief in her eyes as if she knew what they had been doing.

“Don’t be silly Mother,” Eris scoffed but couldn’t help the corners of his lips quirking up, “we don’t have fun.”

She let out a small laugh, patted his shoulder, and nodded for him to get moving. And he did. 

“This is Nova,” Eris said holding his infant son. His eyes were the same beautiful violet as his mother’s, Lyra, who stood beside Eris with an encouraging look on her face.  Despite Eris being worried about Lyra and Nova’s safety in the mortal realm, she had pushed for this day to happen. Lyra had all but hurled a pillow at his head for saying that it wasn’t safe. Vassa and Jurian weren’t in the humble human home they had right now. Hence, it was the perfect time for an uninterrupted meeting, where Eris didn’t have to worry about other unpredicted factors. Not that he was concerned about the mortals or whatever they both were now as they were both changed in their world.

Eris caugglancedLyra as she bounced from foot to foot watching Lucien’s reaction. It was still beyond Eris why Lyra cared so much about Lucien. Yes, he was the courtier for the Night Court but from what she had told him, Lucien and Lyra barely talked to each other because they rarely crossed paths.

‘It’s because he’s your brother and you two deserve to have a relationship,’ her words entered his mind answering his question.

‘Reading my mind, my beautiful daemati?’ He teased back in his head.

‘Just making sure you don’t run,’ she told him in his head, amusement lacing her words.

Eris stared at his son before returning his amber gaze to Lucien. “Lyra,” Eris grimaced as a foot belonging to his wife stepped on his foot, “I mean, Lyra and I, want you to meet your nephew,” Eris said and watched his youngest brother, who stared at them with wariness. 

His mechanical eye whirred studying Eris and then Lyra, who continued to give an infectious smile to Lucien, and then finally stopped on Nova who was watching Lucien with interest. His big violet eyes shined bright as he blinked at him.

“My nephew?” Lucien repeated and Eris heard a bit of strain in his voice as he stared at the babe. 

“Yes, that is what happens after a female is pregnant,” Eris said Lyra tapped his foot again. Eris huffed in frustration.

‘Be nice!’ she scolded down the bond her smile not faltering. ‘You are healing your brotherly bond remember? You wanted a better relationship with your brothers. Lucien is one of those brothers.’

‘Why do I have to be nice when he is asking silly questions? He knew you were pregnant from Winter Solstice,’ he replied. 

‘He is shocked you would share this moment with him,’ Lyra explained.

‘Fine,’ Eris said and looked down at his son once more who still stared at Lucien.  Eris wondered what had his interest. Maybe his eye? Or his hair that was the same color as their own?

 “Nova. He was born a few months ago,” Eris said aloud. “I wanted you to meet him and I wanted to extend a peace offering.”

“A peace offering?” He repeated and raised a brow looking to Lyra for answers. “Your idea?”

“No,” Lyra replied smoothly, “your brother said he wanted to make amends with all his brothers and he wanted Nova to know them. I am just here for moral support and to pull my son away if you two decide to punch it out.” She said the last part jokingly but Lucien frowned. 

There was a silence in the room as they all stared at each other, waiting for a response. The only noises were the whirring of Lucien’s mechanical eye and the occasional coos from Nova.

“Can I hold him?” Lucien asked. 

Lyra looked to Eris expectantly and for a moment Eris debated. He didn’t know why, of all of his brothers, Eris never could fault Lucien as someone with an ulterior motive. Granted, as he finally grew closer to his remaining brothers in Autumn, courtesy of Lyra insisting on it, Eris now knew that none of his brothers were truly cruel. Eris nodded and Lucien carefully stepped forward hands out as Eris gently placed Nova in his arms.  He mumbled some instructions to him, emphasizing to take care of his little Illyrian wings.

Lucien’s lips quirked up and a twinkle shone in his russet eye. “He’s beautiful. Though I’m not surprised given who his mother is.”

Lyra laughed, and Eris’s heart squeezed at the sound. “That’s what Bran said too but your mother says he’s the spitting image of Eris when he was a babe.” She amended, “minus the eyes and wings of course.”

Lucien let out a small laugh and then a sniffle. 

“Are you crying?” Eris said incredulously. 

“No,” his brother replied swiping the tear with his shoulder. “Something got in my eye.”

“You’re crying,” Eris pointed out as he tried to blink the damned tears from his own eyes. 

“So are you!” Lucien argued. Nova cooed and more tears fell from the Vansera’s. 

Eris heard his wife shift from her spot. He turned to see her smiling proudly at them. “You’re smiling at my crying?” Eris asked. 

“Only because they are good tears,” she replied, “now go hug your brother.”

Eris sputtered and so did Lucien, “no.”

“Not necessary.”

Lyra made a dramatic sigh, “Fine at least apologize or say whatever is on your chest. It won’t fix your relationship right away but it’s a start. And one day, Eris and I would love to have you over for dinner. When Beron isn’t in the equation of course.”

“You want that?” Lucien asked Eris. 

“Of course,” Eris said. “I am sorry for everything, you know?”

“Be more specific,” Lyra encouraged. 

“I’m sorry for not being what an older brother should be,” Eris said, “I thought I was protecting you by making you hate me. Making all of our brothers hate me but it wasn’t fair to you or the others.”

Lucien’s face went neutral as he stared at Eris his mechanical eye whirring once again, scanning him for ill intent. Lyra stepped forward cautiously. Eris grew on edge forming a plan to get his mate and son out, if Lucien attacked. He did not expect to see Lucien let out a choked sob as more tears fell down Lucien’s face and Lyra handed him a tissue. 

“I don’t hate you,” Lucien said after a moment. “I looked up to you even when you shoved me away. Betrayed, yes. But I couldn’t hate you. Hugo sent me a letter a few days after Tamlin took me in. He said you tried to stop it, tried to get Beron not to punish me but he locked you up.”

“I tried,” Eris said bowing his head. “I am so sorry I couldn’t stop him from hurting Jesminda.”

“I’m sorry about Vic” Lucien said. “I didn’t want him to get hurt. He was a sweet hound.”

Lyra reached out for Nova as he grew fussy. Lucien handed him to her and then he shocked Eris pulling him in for a quick hug. He released him so quickly and cleared his throat wiping the tears. 

“Jurian and Vassa will be back soon,” Lucien said. 

Eris nodded. A weight on his chest felt lighter. “We should head back too.”

Lyra nodded beside him, “We’ll try to visit soon,” Lyra promised moving to the entry hall. Eris turned to follow but Lucien stopped him. 

“Eris,” Lucien said, “I mean it, I do not hate you. Though our relationship may not be like Lyra and Rhysand, I would like to have a brother.” He smiled at him. 

Eris returned it with a genuine one, “I would like that too.”

Eris followed Lyra out and to the border.  

“I am having Feyre paint that,” she grinned once they entered Spring. 

“Do not,” Eris said half-heartedly. 

“Come on!” She sighed, “One of these days I’m going to have you and your brothers in matching outfits.”

Eris cringed at the thought of that, “never happening.”

“We’ll see!” She replied in a sing-songy voice, “Oh, and my brothers too! And Nova! Oh, he would look so cute in a little matching outfit!”

Eris laughed as she continued, “I will only willingly match with Nova.” Eris told her with mock seriousness. 

“Happy birthday Eris,” his mother said as he and his mother stood in the kennels where an energetic smoke hound pup barked and wagged her tail playfully. She ran around the room excitedly knocking over a pale of ash from the cleaned furnace in the kennels. It didn’t deter her as she continued her energetic sprint around the room. Rue laughed and Eris couldn’t help but smile at the pup. 

She was so different than Cheddar and Fern, her demeanor more energetic than their calmer one. Her fur was black like the midnight sky and her eyes blue. They had a mischievous gleam in them that reminded Eris so much of a Night court girl with midnight hair. It had been two years since he met the girl, Lyra. She was trouble, he knew it but he couldn’t help but laugh as he stared down at the hound that also seemed to spell out trouble. 

“Thank you, Mother,” Eris said beaming. He loved his hounds and now he had another that he would get to train to be just as skilled as his others.

“You’re welcome my sweet boy,” his mother said squeezing him into a tight hug. Normally he would gently push her away. He couldn’t be affectionate in public, not when his father could catch wind of it, but today was his birthday, and noone but the hounds would know. And Eris knew who they were loyal to.

“What will her name be? You always come up with such good names,” she said with a hint of teasing.

Eris had named his first Cheddar and his second Fern, nothing was regal or gave off court-hounds with those names but when the hounds crossed paths with others they were sure to move, not even his brothers would stand in their way. Only Lyra Castellan, the daughter of the High Lord of Night was brave of enough to stand in front of them. Cheddar had greeted her like an old friend licking her face. Despite her strange reaction to Lyra, Cheddar and Fern were fierce.

Eris scoffed, “How about Lyra? Name her after the Night Court girl since this pup seems like trouble just like her.” 

His mother lightly swatted him. He gave her a shocked look that she met with a look of disapproving. “Pick another name, Eris Vanserra.” She ordered, “Do not name your hound after that sweet girl.”  Eris continued to gape at his mother. Sweet girl? Lyra was far from sweet. 

“Fine,” he said and looked around the room his eyes landing on the spilled ash, “Cinder then?”

The pup barked and jumped up and down seeming to like the name.