{Banana Smoothie} ✔️

Chapter 8

October 20th

  Atlas's POV

All of the kids collectively agreed that we wanted to go out back to have a picnic like we did when we were younger.   We just wanted it to be us kids though, so Seren being actually smart suggested we told our parents where we were going so they didn't flip the fuck out.

With Lyra on my back, my siblings and I made our way to our parent's room.  The chances of them saying yes is even better with all of us.  Especially EJ, get him to giggle or something and Dad says yes to everything.

I raise my fist to knock stopping when I hear sobs on the other side.  I immediately put a finger to my lips, turning to shush them all.  Em quickly gets closer putting her ear against the door like the nosy child she is.

"Dray I am 35! I can't! I mean how?" Papa shouts making me extremely worried he hardly ever gets mad.  Or when he does it's because Dad's being an idiot.  "Baby I'm sorry, we were both drunk" he groans. 

"Merlin this is why I don't drink" Papa whines and all you can hear is shuffling around for a while.  "We were drunk how could you make the potion" Papa adds both of them going silent again for a second. 

"I mean I'm a potions teacher" Dad tries to bud in right after his husband burst out into a sob and I let Lyra slide off of my back before throwing the door open.

"Who made Papa cry!" Seren, Emerald, and I shout at the same time startling all of us really.  "Hey that was cool" Em laughs getting hit in the head lightly by her sister. 

EJ comes running in going straight for Papa hugging his leg.  "Don't cry" he mumbles trying to make him feel better while both parents stand frozen in terror.

"How much did you hear," Dad asks looking between us and his lover who picked up a pouting Emerson.  "Um, a lot" Em chuckles nervously making me physically facepalm.

Lyra was standing between us extremely confused as we all just kinda stood there. "Hey, baby I'm okay" Papa coos to EJ who was starting to get upset from all the commotion. Once he thought he seemed to be calm, he continued to bounce him looking back over to us "does that mean you guys know what we were talking about" he asks his voice close to breaking.

"No" "yes," We all said no except Seren. "What! you know," I say surprise turning to her as she smacks her head. "You all are idiots... context clues people!" she shouts the last part, placing her head in her hand.

"Ooo tell meee!" Em squeaked practically trying to crawl over Lyra and me. "No it's not up to me, they don't want us knowing yet, I'll let them tell you when they're ready" She smirks before turning to leave "I'll wait for you in the common room" she starts to walk off Lyra catching her hand.

"But what if they say no" Lyra tries to tug her back in the room knowing Seren was the one that we used to persuade them into doing everything. "They will say yes... I have blackmail now" she giggles evilly before skipping off.

"That's a scary child" Dad laughs, Papa shooting him a glare. "Well, yeah, sorry to interrupt your moment I'm just going to take this back" I walk forward taking EJ from his arms and walking towards the door the others already halfway out.

"We're going out back for a picnic see ya soon" Lyra chimes in before dashing down to where Seren was waiting. Making it into the common room I set Emerson down, and he quickly runs ahead as I do a quick headcount.

"My sibling are here... Ivy has Imani and Iris has Isla... where's Asher?" I mumble to myself getting an answer a moment later as arms wrap around me from behind. "I'm here" he giggles.

I turn around and he puts his arms to his sides bouncing on his toes.  "How are your parents" I quietly ask his eyes darting to the floor.  "A little better, papa is taking it the worse though" he sighs and I nod in response.

Taking his hand, I squeeze it reassuring him as best as I can. "Em you have the food, Seren has the big ass blanket we're all goo-". "Language" Asher cuts me off squeezing back.

"Tch" I pout before pointing to the door "well let's go then" I hide my enthusiasm as the toddlers twist and turn, attempting to get out of their sisters' arms. Once they are successful they book it to the door going as fast as their little legs will take them.

Herb quickly opens it wishing us a "good picnic" while I give him a quick high-five on the way out "see you in a bit friend" I smile and he waves. "bye friend" Herb cheers before pushing the door shut.

"Your parents did say yes to you being out here right," I ask the boy next to me.  "Mhmm they said as long as I wasn't alone" Asher smiles squeezing my hand again.  "Pinky promise" I nudge him and he nods quickly "I pinky promise" giggling he trips over something practically pulling me down with him.

I steady myself pulling him back up with me which just made him laugh more.  "Thank you" he smiles hugging me.  I looked down his eyes meeting mine.  I wish I could just kiss him. I swear that's all I ever think.... I want to just go for it, but he's already been harassed and forced into things his whole life...  I can't bring myself to do it.

"Love Birds" "enough with the goo goo eyes" Iris and Ivy completed each other sentences a practice they had picked up from their uncles.  "Eniugh goo goo whys" the younger twins shout coming over to tug at their sisters' legs.

"Notice how they turned towards us... they knew we were talking about them" Seren starts, not helping the situation as the girls all clap and fangirl..... "we need more boys" I groan Ash gripping tightly to my long sleeve shirt.

"Hey, I boy" EJ shouts running over away from where he just was.  "Yes you're a big boy, and you have to protect brother from all the mean girls" I sneer pointing to all of our sisters and then over to the twins.

"I do it!" He shouts charging towards them head down ready to 'tackle' he lets out his little battle cry before jumping onto Seren's leg. "Ahhh somebody help me from the scary monster" she shouts picking her leg up to try and shake him off.

He giggles but quickly stops so he can start yelling 'viciously' again.  I pull the boy next to me into my side more wrapping my arm around him.  "See he's on our side" I chuckle getting no response from him.

Staying silent he rests his head on my arm as we watch my little brother basically fight off all the girls. Isla and Imani were just watching waiting for the rest of us to get to them. 

"Ehhh I'm dead!" Lyra shouts frantically fainting to the ground.  Emerson raises his hands in victory before flopping to his butt.  "I hungy now" he mumbles making us all laugh.

The girls get back off the ground except for Seren who never went to the ground in the first place. She had somehow convinced Emerson that she was dead while standing up.  I shake my head as they pick everything back up, just so we can lay everything out for the picnic.

As soon as we were able to flatten the blanket of course Ivy and Iris went for the food. I sat down dragging Ash with me, he sits next to me our hands now intertwined once again. "Will you please tell me what dad and papa were talking about" Emerald pesters sitting next to Iris. 

"No Em they should tell us soon" she scoffs sitting across from them.  Lyra lays on her stomach kicking her feet as she excitedly stares at the food.  "You know you can eat Lyra?" I chuckle as her eyes widen and she jumps forward to the food.

"I mean have you see those two" Em snorts pointing to the twins already stuffing their face full.  They're both too busy eating to comment on it.  Making sure everybody is in my sight I see the younger twins running around in the background, Emerson lets his body flop into Seren's lap on the verge of falling asleep.

Swallowing her food Iris turns behind her to find her sisters.  "Isla! Imani! Do you want food!" She calls for them and they stop their little game of tag to run over and eat.

"EJ bud do you want food?" Seren whispers trying to shake him awake. He stirs a bit sitting up with a tired expression. "What?" he asks looking up at her.

"Do you want food?"

"Food now peas"