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A Secret even Archons don't know

   There is a secret that lies hidden in the nation of Liyue, a secret that even Rex Lapis is unaware of. A secret that will hasn't been revealed to anyone, not even the all-knowing Celestia knows it. An Adeptus, one that only a few know, one who vanished off the face of Teyvat, one whom everyone had thought dead long ago, sat in her hidden home, a more sophisticated home than most would think seeing as it was hidden within the mountain. Aether had found her, he knew her secrets, but he had proved that he could be trustworthy, he visited her frequently, with Paimon, of course. The soft padding of feet hit the floor and two pairs of small hands grabbed at the adepti's dress as she opened the door to the house, striking pink gaze being met with Aether's golden-yellow gaze orbs, a beaming smile on his face, some lovely Glaze Lilies in his hands, the two were like siblings, he took care of her and them, being their uncle and godfather if something were to happen to her. A smile adorned her lips as she let him in, plucking the bouquet gently from the blonde's hand, to put them in a vase, Paimon followed him in, waving gently at the woman. 

   The twins were now five years old, that was why she vanished, having faked her death once she had found out, knowing how it would have gone, she knew who the father was, of course, she did, he was the love of her life, and it ached to have to hide from him. Aether knew as well, however, he knew that she didn't dare to come out of hiding to tell him, not until she could guarantee the safety of her children. "Thank you for the lilies, Aether," Rei spoke, pressing a kiss to the blonde's cheek "Something beautiful for a beautiful family," Aether quipped with a wink, drawing a laugh from the adeptus, her long purple hair fell beautifully on her shoulders, almost being long enough to drag on the polished wooden floors. "Uncle Aether! Mommy promised you'd our hair with us!" Alina spoke up, a beaming smile on her beautiful face. Alina looked just like her mother but had her father's hair and eyes, while Kai looked exactly like her father with his mother's eyes and hair. 

   Aether chuckled with a nod, the twins leading him to the living room, followed by their mother and Paimon, whom she had been chatting with. "Figured you and Paimon could use a sort of spa day, Alina wants her hair braided and she wants to learn to do mommy's and Kai's hair." Rei spoke," Kai won't let me cut my hair but it's getting too long, it'll drag on my floors soon." Aether laughs, wrapping his arm around her waist, "it's beautiful, you shouldn't cut it anyway, Lumine always did my hair, she never let me cut it. She'd love you, she always wanted a sister." Aether always spoke fondly of his twin there, there still hadn't been any update on her, however Aether kept trying. Whenever he wasn't with Rei and the twins, he had been scouring every inch of Teyvat for any signs of his sister. An hour later, the twins were helping Paimon braid her hair while Aether sat behind Rei, braiding the soft, long purple locks. "You should teach me, Aether, so I can do Alina's on my own, or Kai's if he so chooses." "I'd love to, my sister taught me everything I know." Rei closed her eyes with a heavy sigh, a question falling from her silver tongue, "Should I tell him?" Aether looked confused, "Tell who?" The blonde had a horrible feeing about her answer, "Morax." As soon as his name fell from Rei's lips, the blonde traveler froze. "Why would you want to?" "It isn't fair, to hide his heirs from him, to hide from my husband." Rei spoke quietly, fiddling with her wedding band, all of Liyue knew a lie, that Morax had been killed. Aether, however, had told her that he had faked his death and had taken a new form, a man known as Zhongli. "Do you think he'd like to meet them? Would he deny them? Would Morax wish to see me again? Do you think he misses me?" Aether shushed her before she could ask anymore questions, wrapping his arms securely around her waist, Rei never minded the physical contact Aether showered her with, she enjoyed his company. The adeptus knew that it was his way to show his feelings to others, she gently placed her hands on his own. "He'll love them, he's always children, we discussed it earlier and he told me all about you, he misses you very dearly." "You knew I wanted to tell him?" "Overheard you yesterday while I was painting with the twins, talked to him earlier but I don't think he was suspicious, just in case you had changed your mind about telling him," Aether spoke slowly and gently, taking his time so Rei could process It all so suddenly. "I could go get him, maybe meet you and the kids outside the city, the south gate closest to the Golden House, then he won't know where the house is in case he were to deny you and the children."A nod followed Aether's words, and the blonde unloooped his arms from around her waist . "I'll help you get the kids ready and Paimon can go stall him before I get there." Paimon heads out while Rei and Aether get the twins ready. Rei discussed with them that they were set to meet with their father, Alina's and Kai's excitement only fueled Rei's insecurity of Morax rejecting them and herself. Aether reassured Rei before leaving, letting her get herself ready while the kids cleaned up the living room from their earlier activities. 

   Rei nervously fixed her hair and spun her wedding band around her finger as she sat on the bench that sat on the bridge, changing between the two actions to try and calm her building anxiety. Her gaze continued to flicker around the area she knew Aether and Morax would be arriving from.  A golden gaze caught her pink orbs and she jumped up from the bench, almost immediately fleeing,  she the kid's hands in her own and hid them behind her back, eyes holding Zhongli's gaze, unwavering. His gaze softened when he recognized his wife,standing in the flesh in front of him in all of her radiant beauty, though of course he was surprised. Rei was shocked that he still wore his wedding band. "Rei, my love," It was gentle and filled with emotion. "M-morax, I want to-" "You have no to apologize, my love, I've now faked my death as well, I fully understand why you did it." Tears began to well up in Rei's eyes, her lips trembing as she spoke.  "Oh, Morax, it was only half the reason." Zhongli looks lost as he puts one hand on Rei's cheek. "Tell me, darling, why you also hid from me," Rei takes a gentle step back, softly tugging Alina and Kai out from behind her and in front of her, the tears in her eyes glazing them over slightly as they threatened to spill. "Morax, meet our children, Alina and Kai." Shock befell the archon's face, tears welling up in his eyes almost instantaneously, he genty got down on his knees in front of the twins and smiled gently. "Greetings Alina, Kai, it's lovely to finally meet you, I'm your father."

   By the end of the meetings, the family of four was reunited, a hug sealing their fate together as a family, the kids bubbled in pure joy, tears streamed down Rei's cheeks, her gaze cast away from her husband. Her head slightly drooped as her smile trembled and wavered. One of Zhongli's hands pressed against her cheek to get her attention. Aether stood off to the side, a smile gracing his lips, the kids rushed to him and Paimon, rambling happily. "Thank you, my love, for keeping them safe," Zhongli spoke gently to his wife, a sniffle sounding from the adeptus. A gentle sigh came from the former Geo Archon, he moved to place his hands on Rei's waist, picking her up and placing her in his lips, one held moved to hold her hand, the other was placed on the back of her head, pulling her close as he pressed his forehead against her. Their eyes locked while Zhongli leaned closer to his beloved, pressing his lips lovingly against hers. When he broke the kiss and slightly pulled away from her, a smile on both of their faces, "I missed you so much, Morazx, I'm sorry that I left, I'm sorry I hid them  from you," "Do not fret my love, you did the best thing, the Fatui would have got to them, I gave them my gnosis, love, they will no longer bother me nor us and our family."

   A small frown laced her lips but she knew her husband well and he would have never given an enemy something so important without good reason. "With it, I would have always been in danger, I wanted a life, but not a true life without my true love." Zhongli spoke, getting a giggle from his loving wife. "Let's go home love, I'd love to see the home you've raised our beautiful kids in."