CAELUM

CHAPTER 46: PART 1

----------TIME SKIP: 6 YEARS-----------

SEASON: AUTUMN

(A really long chapter ahead)

RALPH POV:

Nova has come back after going through a really hard time. There wasn't a day I didn't think about her. Luckily Dave and Emily have been really good kids. Emily is a really responsible, caring and understanding elder sister. It was hard for Dave to accept that his mom is going through hard times and cried at night as he wanted his mom back. During those times, she kept him company. Emily is really mature for a 9-year-old kid. Preparing warm milk for my princess and lifting the naughty one in my arms, I go check on Nova. Opening the door, I find Nova sitting on the bed and looking at the fluttering orange, teal and brown leaves from the tree that's out of the window. Sitting beside her, I kiss her cheek. 

"Morning, love". "Morning baby". Keeping an arm around her, I place her head on my shoulder. She smiles. "How are Dave and Emily". Running my fingers through her hair, I say "Good. They are sleeping. Emily is sleeping like she hasn't slept for ages. As for Dave, he woke up but is still a bit slouchy as he wants a good morning kiss from his mom". A giggle leaves her mouth. "Exactly like you". "Maybe". Dave stirs in my arms so I hand him to Nova. Gently lifting him up in her arms, she places kisses all over his face, which makes him giggle. Emily enters the room and comes to me. "Good morning my princess". "Morning dad". She replies with a sleepy voice. "Aww is my queen sleepy?". Nova asks. She nods sleepily. Nova smiles and opens her arms so that Emily goes in. She goes in and snuggles in between us. It's early so it's understandable that they are sleepy. 

Slowly caressing and soothing them, I think of asking about her decision to meet her family. "What's wrong baby? Want to ask something". "Yeah". She looks and motions me to ask. "When are you planning to meet your family". "I don't think I can answer that, Ralph. I mean... what if they are still mad at me. The amount I've hurt them is way beyond measure. They waited for me for so long... and I know I'm the only one who can put an end to their wait. But how will I face them, after 15 years of separation, just how". I completely empathize with how she feels. "Ralph". "Yeah, Nova". "I'm ready to meet them". My eyes meet her and search for confirmation. "Are you sure, love". "Yeah babe, I am". Caressing her cheek, a small smile spreads on my face. "Love, can I say something". "Go ahead". "I know your family and have been in contact for the past 6 months". "Are your serious Ralph?". "Yeah, I am". She sighs. 

"How have they been doing". "Pretty good. Though they have moved on, there isn't a day when you haven't crossed their minds". She smiles softly. "Even after these many years?". "Hmm... sometimes when you love someone, its hard to forget them as when they do the things the other one liked, the memory strikes in". She nods. "They are married and are parents as well". Her eyes widen with excitement. "Really?". "Yeah". "Who were the first couple who announced their parenthood?". "Yixing and his wife Siofra". A squeal leaves her mouth but she covers it as the kids are sleeping. I giggle. "A daughter or a son?". "A boy". "Awwwwww. Whos' next?". "Sehun and Zyanya are blessed with a boy as well". She smiles and tells me to continue. "Jongin and Aryana are blessed with a girl. Minseok and Sereia with a boy. Kyungsoo and Seren with a girl, Baekhyun and Naomi with a girl, Chanyeol and Rhian with a boy". "Aaah, there are a lot of boys than girls hmm". I nod. "Yeah". "Only if I wish there had been more princesses than princes but thinking another way around, it's good that they have brothers as they'll protect them". I look at her and smile. "You're right". "What are their names by the way". 

"Baekhyun and Naomi named their daughter as Eri, Kyungsoo and Seren's daughter is Adah, Eden is Jongin and Aryana's". "Oh, they chose beautiful names for their daughters". "Well yeah". "What about our princes". "Ryan, Ivan, Adlin, Kian". "Oh nice, but who's son is whom". "Ryan is the son of Sehun and Zyanya, Adlin is of Minseok and Sereia, Chanyeol and Rhian are Ivan parents and lastly, Kian is the son of Yixing and Siofra". "When did they get so good at selecting names, back when we were in school and we had to write letters right?" I nod. "They wrote names like George, Charles, etc.". We laugh. "When do you want to meet them?". "Today, would that be, okay?". "I'll call and ask them". She nods and kisses the foreheads of our kids as they are almost awake.