Forever With You

One

"Oh! Be careful, Yuki!" Hitoka cried worriedly, reaching out to steady the wobbly little boy. But, he caught himself and was already running after his giggling twin brother Haru, as they played in the garden outside the nursery.

Lowering her arms, she shook her head at the two rambunctious little boys, so full of energy. She'd been working in the royal nursery for a year now, and she couldn't be happier. There was no pressure to keep things in pristine condition each and every day, no expectations to do her best to please dignitaries and other royal visitors. No chance to run into... anyone.

She stayed with the children, both at Nekoma, and on the Crow Islands, which suited her perfectly. Besides, the prince consort, Tsukishima, had recently granted her request and made her a nanny for his sons. She had royal permission to stay in the nursery, and she fully intended to fulfill her duties to the best of her abilities.

From beside her, the sparkling sound of baby-ish laughter filled the air, and she smiled, turning to pick up her little girl. At ten months, Aiko was only just learning to walk, but still preferred to crawl. And she made a valiant effort to crawl toward Yuki and Haru, but made it only so far as the edge of the blanket. Aiko was an angel, laughing at the boys instead of screeching for them to pay attention to her. With bright golden curls and sky blue eyes, she was also the darling of the nursery. Second only to the boys.

Nevermind that there were only the three of them in the nursery.

"Soon you'll be walking and running just like them, darling," she said softly to her daughter, gently rocking her and humming a little tune. "They'll be happy to play with you, won't they?" Aiko cooed, waving her chubby little arms and reaching up to pat her face.

As if they'd been summoned, Yuki and Haru made their way back to her, reaching up with little hands to pat Aiko and smile at her. For a little while longer, these three would be almost like siblings to each other, and the center of her life. At least until the time came for the boys to start their education. Honestly, she wasn't sure what would happen then, because once they begin their schooling, she wouldn't be needed too much anymore. Her duties would be split with their tutors.

And because neither she, nor Aiko had an ounce of royal blood in their veins, the three of them would see less of each other too. Hitoka blinked away her tears. This wasn't the time to be emotional, not in front of them.

"I see they're doting on your daughter again," a familiar, kind voice said from behind her, and Hitoka looked back.
"DADA!!" the boys cried, running to the prince consort, and startling Aiko enough to make her blue eyes well up with tears.
"Shhh, sweetie, it's okay," Hitoka swayed with her baby, calming her before she could really start crying. She would have stood up to greet Tsukishima properly, but she felt his hand on her shoulder, keeping her down.
"No, you stay there. I just came to see if you needed anything?"
He reached out with a long, slender finger and stroked Aiko's chubby, damp cheek. Her little angel squealed with laughter, and latched onto the digit with her own.
"Oh, no! I'm fine! Thank you, your highness."
"Yacchan, you can call me Tsuki, you know."
She sighed. "I know." With care, she pried her daughter's hand from the prince's finger.
He smiled and then tousled the hair on his sons' heads.
"I'll be back for dinnertime, okay, babies?"
"Okay!" Haru scampered off again, his dark head bobbing with each step.
"Want Papa," Yuki said quietly, reaching both arms for his dada to pick him up. Which he did, as always the doting father.
"Come on, then. Papa will be happy to see you!"

Yuki snuggled his little blond head into his father's neck. He was the miniature version of Prince Tsukishima... no, Prince Tsuki... and it made Hitoka smile. Of course, once Haru figured out Yuki wasn't chasing him, he came racing back to wrap his little arms around Tsuki's leg.