A light in the darkness

Chapter 3

A/N: This is a long chapter. Please read till the end and don't skip Maria and Anna's part. They are very important characters. Hope you like this chapter.

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"But I don't want to, daddy." Sofia's childish voice reached the dining room before her and brought a smile to Xander and Hunter's faces who were already there, eating breakfast.

Just then, Mason walked in clad in a black suit and white dress shirt, holding a small girl in his arms who looked like a mix of Mason and Bella. She was so small compared to Mason's large frame. Her head was leaning on Mason's shoulder while she was playing with his black tie. She looked so cute in her pink dress. Her short curly hair had been styled with a white hairband.

"It's only for a second, sweetheart." said Mason as he walked toward the head of the table nodding for his smiling brothers. "I thought you were my strong little flower."

"But it still stings." pouted Sofia adorably. Her gray-blue eyes found Xander and she excitedly leaned toward him from her father's arms and made grabby hands.

Xander didn't hesitate to take the little girl and smother her little face with kisses. She and her brother were the only ones who would bring a smile to Xander's face without trying. She stood up on his lap and cupped his cheeks with her small hands. "Xandy, please," she said with the most convincing puppy eyes. "Please don't let them hurt us with a needle."

Xander felt his heart melt to a puddle. He hugged her tightly. "Please, candy." he said. "You are going to kill me with those innocent pretty eyes of yours. I'm afraid I can't do anything without your parents killing me. It's for your health."

Sofia pouted again and sat down on Xander's lap defeated and leaned her head on his chest. Mason watched the interaction with a smile. His little flower had all the men of the family wrapped around her little pinky finger. 

"Why do they have to get a flu vaccine?" protested Hunter and looked at Mason angrily. "It's not necessary. They don't like it."

Mason raised an eyebrow at Hunter, his emotionless face was back. "Who knows better? You or a doctor?" he asked. Hunter groaned under his breath, his sad eyes went back to his niece who still had her killing pout on, while Xander was trying to make her eat breakfast.

Just then Shawn ran into the dining room. "Daddy! Daddy!" he called as he ran toward Mason who bent down and picked him up with ease. The little boy was the carbon copy of his father minus the eyes that he had inherited from his mother. 

He proudly showed Mason a piece of paper. "I drew this for you so you can hang it in your office." he said excitedly. 

"Whoa!" said Mason with a smile and kissed his son's forehead. "This is a masterpiece, little guy. I will love to hang it in my office. But you should have drawn one for uncle Ben. He will become very jealous if he sees this and doesn't have one."

Xander and Hunter chuckled at his words, knowing that he was not too wrong about Ben. He just loved his godchildren so much. 

Shawn's eyes grew wide and he wiggled out of Mason's arms and climbed down his lap. "I will do it now." he yelled excitedly as he began to run out of the dining room only to be picked up by his mother who just walked in with Damien.

"Mommy, let me go." he whined and wiggled in Bella's arms. "I should draw one picture for uncle Ben too."

"Later, my dear." said Bella and kissed his adorable face. "First, you should eat breakfast."

"Damien." greeted Mason as Damien did a brotherly handshake with Hunter and his twin and sat down next to Xander.

"Mason." nodded Damien as he tickled Sofia causing her to fall into a fit of laughter.