Hey Stephen / Larys Strong (3)

19. Dad

" I think your sister is going to have the baby first." Willa remarked over family supper.

" she certainly did this time around." Larys agreed.

" I already told you I have the perfect names picked out-"

" Luke and I decided we wanted to pick a name together this time. I hope that's all right." Tully corrected. Rhaenyra smiled back at them from the head of the table. Her husband was nowhere to be seen.

" but if you pick the name that I want and you you have the baby first it is all going to be messed up" mallory corrected.

" we love our little Vivian." Luke assured. " but part of raising a baby's name is baby and I would really like to do it this time so if you could please save your judgment and your name suggestions until after the baby is born and named."

Mallory stabbing a fork into her salad. It got stuck on a crouton as she lifted it, pointing her fork at him.

" I thought we all knew that im in charge I don't like your husband gaining a backbone." Mallory decided.

" you are in charge are you?" Rhaneyra asked.

" yes." Mallory agreed simply. " music!" she declared with a clap. Rhaenyra wasn't surprised when the band started to play.

" this is really fancy." Stephen remarked. " and this bread is really good. I wonder what's gonna be for dessert."

" so stephen how are the lessons going?" Jace questioned. "Im a skilled rider myself I could help you if you ever need."

" how very generous of you Jace." Rhaenyra answered hesitantly he smiled sweetly back at her.

" they're going really good, dad has been helping me a lot." Stephen answered. Tully, larys and willa stared back at the little boy. Stephen smiled to larys taking another bite of his meat.

" he's getting very... good he's excellent and natural." Larys agreed when his brain caught up with his racing heart. That was the first time Stephen had called him dad.

Willa smiled grabbing larys hand under the table. She gave him a proud smile. Larys knew in that moment that she saw the future he had been picturing in his mind too. She saw Them getting married. Larys being a real father to Stephen. 

" well my brother is simply the best." Tully added.

" he is." Willa agreed kissing his cheek.

Larys couldn't focus the rest of the supper. While he was focused on one thing and one thing only. Stephen. The boy that made his whole night 1 million times better.

Dad.

When tully was little she had mistakenly called him dad from time to time because he had helped raise her, but this was different. Stephen we're starting to think of him as a father figure but even more than that like a father.

Larys saw the pride in willas eyes. She had never been all that good with men. Her track record was poor. So meeting larys strong was a dream come true. The fact that Stephen loved him too that was an extra cherry on top. And everyone knows you need a cherry or else the dessert just isn't complete.

Walking home that night was sweet. Larys hold on stephens hand as they walked. He was the most talkative little boy, and he was so excited about his plans for tomorrow. Jace and luke invited him back together. They could teach him how to hunt.

Larys smiled over at willa she ran a hand for her hair, combing out the knots. She shivered slightly at the cool breeze. Larys was quick to remove his jacket around her shoulders before returning to a spot besides Stephen.

He noticed things most people didn't he noticed things most people didn't want him to notice. Willa loved how attentive he was. How Observant he was.

" can we have family dinner more often at the castle?" Stephen questioned.

Willa liked that he thought of them his family already. it had been just him and her for the longest time and now he had a whole bunch of people that loved him and were looking out for him.

" I will talk to..." she was going to say larys but she really wanted to say your father. "Tully I'm sure she would love that. She adores you too."

" OK." he agreed snuggling to the covers as she blew out the candle. "Mama?"

"Yeah baby?"

" can you send dad in?"

" I most certainly can."