𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬¹ ✓

Nineteen

Marriage {noun} - the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship

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𝓐𝓹𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸 and Ares were none the wiser to how loving their parents were being with each other. Ares was too busy playing cops and robbers with some of the neighborhood kids while Apollo built sand castles with some other kids.

"How is it possible that we created two very different kids?" Marcus questioned as he watched Ares tackle some kid into the grass.

Olivia chuckled as the kid started scolding Ares for being too rough and him just shrugging it off.

"Well, we are two very different people. As long as they don't grow to hate each other, let them be." She told her husband. All she wanted was for them to stay close. She knew firsthand how important having a close relationship with your sibling is.

She couldn't live without Peter. That was a fact she'd never deny.

She leaned her head against Marcus' shoulder, playing with his wedding band as they kept an eye on the kids. She let out a sigh of contempt at how seemingly normal today felt.

"Are you sure about taking them to France?" Olivia never informed him about the decision. He found out about it at the same time Tony did.

"I don't have any other choice. I could leave them here with Tony but then they'd grow up without me. Plus, all the risks of them being so far away from me. I'd rather them in France where I can reach them." Marcus nodded, understanding that parental fear. He hadn't known the boys long, but he'd thought of them every second of every day for the past four years.

That fear never goes away, even when they're in your arms safe and sound.

"So, what? You're gonna bring Tony to France and hire him as a nanny for the boys?" He asked, looking over at his wife as she lifted her head. She shrugged, "I hadn't thought about it too much but probably. I mean, the boys love him and he wouldn't mind getting paid to care for them while I work." Marcus grabbed her hand, making her look up at him.

"What about me? I'm there and I can watch the boys and you don't have to pay me." Olivia sighed, "Tony has more experience with them plus, you'll still be there to help him out like a stay-at-home dad." She said, giving him a sweet smile in hopes that he won't bring it up again.

He looked at her for a second before giving up. He was weak when it came to her, a weakness he had no shame in having. He liked people knowing how much he loved his wife.

He kissed her temple, receiving an approving hum from her. "I hope you know all of this doesn't mean I have forgiven you." She announced, making him chuckle. "I would never dream of such a thing." He joked making her roll her eyes.

"Daddy!" They heard a small voice scream, making them look up to find a crying Apollo running towards them with Ares hot on his tail holding a stick with a bug on it.

Apollo ran into Marcus' arms, hiding his face in his father's chest as Ares continued to laugh, pointing the end of the stick closer to his brother's face.

"Ares! Stop teasing your brother!" Marcus scolded making Ares look him dead in the eyes as if challenging him. "No," Ares answered, placing the bug on Apollo's head before running off angry. Apollo screamed before Olivia quickly took the bug off his head as Marcus rubbed his back to try and help him calm down.

Marcus looked over at Olivia with a sigh, silently asking her to go talk to Ares.

"Sh sh, it's okay buddy. The bug's gone now." Marcus said, running his hands through his son's dark hair to show him the bug was gone before kissing the crown of his head. He rocked them side to side, hoping it'd help and, thankfully, it did.

Soon, he heard the sobs go quiet only to be followed by small sniffles as Apollo rubbed his eyes and nose with his father's dark blue shirt. Marcus could care less about having snot on his shirt as long as it helped his son stop crying.

"How are you feeling bud?" Apollo looked up at him sporting puffy red-rimmed eyes and a pink nose. "Mommy go to Ares?" He asked, sniffling, as Marcus nodded. "Yeah, mommy went to talk to him but they'll be right back and he'll say sorry for scaring you." Apollo simply nodded, putting his little head back on his father's chest so his ear would sit right on top of his heart.

***

"Ares? Buddy where are you?" Olivia shouted, walking around the park before hearing sniffles coming from behind a tree a few steps ahead.

She walked over to find Ares crouched down dragging a stick through the dirt as he cried, it broke her heart. She hated seeing her kids sad.

She crouched down next to him, neither saying a word as she watched him draw in the dirt. She'd wait until he wanted to speak, not wanting to push him into doing something he wasn't ready for yet.

"Apollo okay?" He asked his voice silently before sniffling. She nodded, a small smile forming on her face. "He's going to be okay, you just scared him a little." She reassured her son. "I no mean to scare him." More tears fell down his face as he kept running the moment through his head.

Olivia finally picked him up, leaning again the tree trunk as Ares laid his head on her chest.

"I know you didn't mean to sweetheart. You were only teasing him but you gotta learn that scaring someone and teasing someone are very different. For example: would you like it if Apollo stole your bunny plushie and threatened to throw it away." Ares shook his head rapidly. "No! Not bunbun!" Olivia chuckled, "See, that'd be scaring you, not teasing you." Ares nodded, understanding what his mother was getting at.

"How about we go back to daddy and Apollo and you say your sorry, okay?" Ares hesitated but eventually gave in and agreed.

Olivia walked back over to the bench to see Apollo laughing as Marcus kept cracking jokes about who-knows-what.

Marcus looked up, making eye contact with his wife before telling his son to look and see who was coming. Once Apollo noticed, he got nervous, not knowing what his brother would do next.

Olivia put Ares down in front of Apollo who was sitting on their father's lap. "I sorry Apollo. I no mean to scare you." Ares apologized sincerely, even if it wasn't sincerely, Apollo would've accepted it anyways because he was just too nice for his own good.

Apollo shook his head, getting off his father's lap so he could hug his brother. Olivia missed her brother as she watched her sons hug.

"It's okay. I no scared no more." Apollo reassured his brother, Ares let out a sigh of relief. He hated when they got into arguments, much like his mother and her brother.

Marcus sighed, getting up as he stretched deeming they'd had enough action for the day.

"Let's go get some ice cream!" He said clapping his hands together. Olivia looked at him but he just shrugged, knowing the boys needed something sweet to cool off from all the crying.

"Only one scoop though! We have a lot of packing to do tonight!" Olivia told them as she walked with Ares in her arms, Marcus holding Apollo in his.

***

Short filler chapter but the next two chapters are going to be so good!

-HS.*