A Royal Legend ~ Phan

Part 15

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"Clarisse! I swear if you don't hurry up!" Dan yelled down the corridor to our one daughter. "And get Jocelyn's pullover while you're in there!"

I chuckled lightly, wrapping my arms around him, and leaning down to peck his cheek.

"Don't make me smile; I'm trying to be mad!" Dan spoke then leaned in for a proper kiss.

"Really dads? Your children are right in front of you!"

"Shush now, Christopher. You're almost of age to where you will have to find someone also." I spoke slyly.

"Needn't no one know that, father." We chuckled at him.

"Can you take Jessie with you out to the carriage? He's been rather rambunctious lately."

"Sure!" Our 16-year-old son picked up our 6-year-old son and continued to carry him outside as our 10-year-old girl came running down a hall towards us.

"Katty's missing!" She practically screeched; her beloved kitten was wondering once again.

"Oh my! Phil, dear, I'll go with Jocelyn to look for Katty. You go and hurry up Clarisse." He kissed me in a rush and ran off behind our younger daughter.

I jogged down the hall, if we didn't hurry, we'd be late for our own ball! I got to her door, knocked, and heard a faint 'come in' in which I opened the door and entered her rather messy room.

"Clarisse, we need to go before we run late. We are hosting this ball after all."

She came out of her walk-in closet, wearing an elegant black, lace dress which complemented her features and caused her icy blue eyes to pop. Her curly brown hair was draped over a single shoulder with a few small braids put in here and there. "I know, but... I need to look perfect! Want if I meet my future partner tonight? I'd love a fairytale story like you and dad's!"

"You're 18, my dear. You still have time! But you look gorgeous nonetheless."

"Thanks dad..."

"What is it?"

"What if I'm not going to become a great ruler? What if I can't do it? You guys are awesome! You know exactly what to do for each and every situation and it's intimidating!"

"It hasn't always been like this, though. We had no clue in the beginning! But you know how we survived? Family. Our parents and your father's siblings-"

"Not the step-ones, right?"

"No, not the step-ones. But they did help us learn a few things. Anyway, our family helped us with the kingdom every now and then, and they helped us with you guys. We were rather a wreck after you were born, truthfully..."

"What?" She looked at me like I just said one of the most offending things ever.

"We were two males who were given the ability to have children. We married and wanted a child, but how were we to know how much work a child was? We went through so many firsts with you and you were a sort of teacher to us throughout the years- you still are, really. You're teaching us what to loosely expect from your siblings, though they are a bit more ornery than you were..." I was kind of rambling until I trailed off and saw her softened eyes.

She walked over to me and hugged me tightly. "Thank you." She whispered. "For everything." I pulled back and kissed her forehead lightly before she turned to grab herself a pullover along with her sister's. "Come on! Let's go!"

"I'll be right there." She left the room and shortly after, Dan popped in, panting.

"I can't find that cat anywhere! What are you doing?"

"Thinking."

"About what?"

"Our family. How far we've come."

"It's been pretty far, hasn't it?"

"And it'll only continue with them coming of age of marriage." We both sighed slightly, Dan leaning against me and looking up at me with puppy eyes until I kissed him.

The kiss deepened, became passionate. That is, until we heard a slight 'mew' off to the side.

Dan broke away and ran to the fluffy little creature, capturing it before it could run off again. "Here's the little monster! Come on, we have to go now!" He ran out the door, making sure not to jostle Katty, though I could hear his yells as he went. "Come on people! We need to go! We need to open up and let everyone in; we don't want them all freezing! What are you doing in here Christopher? Where's your brother? Go get him! Put your pullover on Jocelyn; I have Katty, don't worry! Clarisse? Young lady, what are you doing this time?"

I chuckled at my small husband as he hustled our kids out the door. We've made it so far, and I'm so proud of him.

"Philip Michael Lester, get your butt out here this minute!" I laughed as I ran.

Life is an adventure, and it's so worth it!