Letting out a sigh, Heechul lowered his head when three kids– his grandchildren and their Horas came running down the corridor. His hands tightened around the mopping stick as the kids dashed past him without sparing him a glance. His heart ached, biting the urge to call out to them. What did he expect? He didn't have that right, and never would.  He should be thankful he was allowed to keep his life and redeem himself for all the atrocities he had committed. His redemption/penance came in a form of fifty years of servitude. Something he glady accepted. That was cutting it short. He should be executed for what he'd done. But the elfin king had tamper justice with mercy.  After returning to their original timeline, guards had been upon them, waiting. People he had once thought loyal to him were the ones that cuffed him. He didn't miss the irony that he was being taken by dragons that now swore to serve Eunhyuk. He didn't resist, neither did Siwon. It was something they had been prepared for. Something Siwon had seen would happen and that hadn't stopped them from returning. There was no point in hiding in the past. If he could bring himself to hurt his family, he should be able to live with the consequences and accept it like a man. Besides he couldn't miss Kai's wedding even though he wasn't particularly invited and wouldn't be allowed to attend. He and Siwon had celebrated with a stolen bottle of wine, in the prison cell they had been kept awaiting their trials. Everything that led him to this point had been his doing. He had brought it upon himself. He was only glad Eunhyuk had been kind to let Siwon off without any punishment, not even fines. The mage had been allowed to stay in Lyfe only if he was willing to share his knowledge of magical history and magic itself, teach the elves and dragons with strong magic affinity. Which he had accepted. And Heechul knew it was because of him. Siwon had made it clear he wouldn't abandon Heechul. Something he didn't deserve but was grateful for. Sighing Heechul resume his chores, hissing when he realized someone had ruined the job he had done thus far. It was deliberate, just to coax a reaction out of him and Heechul wouldn't give them the satisfaction. He didn't miss the way dragons– allowed into the castle– look at him with wariness, while the elves mostly didn't spare him a second glance.  Someone was waiting, goading him to do something that would lead to a harsher punishment. They had no idea, watching his family, and unable to communicate with them was the harshest of all. The humiliation of scrubbing floors, cleaning bathrooms, tending to gardens wouldn't even come close . Don't even get him started with the insults and things thrown at him, mostly by the dragons on rare occasion the elves. One time a dragon emptied a bucket of piss on his head. It didn't happen again after that, and Heechul suspected Kai had something to do with it. Point was, if he could endure all that, there was nothing he couldn't endure, if he get to glimpse his family. Fifty years of servitude was nothing compared to the ache in his chest. Heechul never understood how much his family meant to him until he had lost them. And nothing he did or would ever do could make them gaze him with affection or respect. But that was alright. He could live with it. Especially with Siwon by his side. Heechul had chosen the wrong ship and it had sank. He would live with the consequences. Two years had passed, forty eight more. You can do this Heechul . With another deep breath, he continued to wipe the mud clean, until he rounded a corner. He cursed soundly, when a boot met his chest, sending him dropping on his , his steel hand falling off in the process, which he quickly picked it up to attach back. Gazing up he was met with a young dragon, from copper clan and Heechul frowned. What the hell was a copper dragon doing in the palace? They weren't allowed in Nex except for an official matter with the elfin king or Kai. "Scrubbing the floor now, are we? Not so might anymore." The young male taunted. Heechul didn't even know him, probably never had an interaction with him. He didn't respond, merely picked himself up and resume his chores. That didn't sit well with the young dragon, because the next moment, he yanked and slammed Heechul to a wall. Hard. "Speak when you're spoken to." The boy gritted, showing his sharp teeth, clearly intending to intimidate. Resisting the urge to roll his, Heechul gazed the dragon in the eye."I–" he began, but shut his mouth. There was no point in reasoning with someone that was hell-bent on humiliating him. "Let him go." A child's voice said. Heechul looked sideways to see Aurora,  a hand on her hip, while the other held a magical whip, elfin magic she had inherited from Eunhyuk. "I won't ask again ." Her face hardening, with an expression that reminded him of Kai when he was little, even though she looked mostly like Sehun. The cooper dragon hastily let him go, Heechul almost sliding down, but he right himself in time as the copper dragon retreated, putting some space between him and Heechul. Facing Aurora, the young dragon bowed at her. "Highness." She waved her whip, her lips pressed in a thin line. "don't let me ever see you in the palace, I will make sure to tell dad about what you did." Heechul wanted to say it didn't matter, Kai wouldn't be pissed on his behalf, but bit back the words. He wasn't allowed to interact with the triplets, not even speak a word to them. A reminder of the horrendous punishment he was facing. He so badly wanted to interact with his grandkids, but didn't have that right.  His mind had often wandered to dangerous places, thinking of what it would have been like if he had taken a different path. How he would play hide and seek with his grandchildren, teaching them combat, flying with them. Piggyback, while they giggle in excitement, what it would be like to tuck them in after a long day spent with their grandpa. He prayed in another lifetime he would be a good father, husband and grandfather. Heechul had to bite his cheeks to curb his heart from feeling so much. He wasn't like this in the past, he had taught himself to be cold-hearted and self centered, thinking it was the best way to survive the universe. However Siwon had changed that. He had been responsible for thawing the ice in his heart, making him feel again. "Forgive me highness. I was–" Aurora narrowed her eyes, her brows twitching,"I didn't ask for explanation, I know men like you. Picking on the vulnerable, to make yourself feel superior, when you're anything but." She flipped her blue hair, her elfin ear coming to view just like her Hayrik's. "Now get lost."  The copper dragon bowed deeply before walking away. She glanced at Heechul, huffed, and turned to leave, her magical whip retreating under her skin. "Thank you." Heechul said before she made it far, she didn't have to defend him, but she had, and it meant a lot to him. This once he broke the rule. She paused, without turning to give a nod of acknowledgment, before continued on. Heechul watched her until she was out of sight, blinking back the wetness in his eyes. he had really become soft. Sighing once again, he leaned against the wall to get himself under control and that was when he noticed Kai that was stood in the garden across him, watching him with an unreadable expression. He probably had watched the whole occurrence. Heart racing, Heechul opened his mouth to speak– god-damned it, he had no idea what he wanted to say– but his son turned and walked away before he could think of what to say. Kai's familiar lingered for a moment, gazing Heechul with wide eyes. Shaking his head as though to get it together, Zach wagged his multiple tails, as he followed after Kai. Heechul didn't get to calm himself, before another pile was added to his misery. On the other end of the corridor, Hyoyeon was chasing after Kai's daughters, Ariana and Alice. Alice had a spoon in her hand, giggling as she ran, her diaper barely hanging around her waist. While Ariana was covered in soapsuds, . She was running away from taking a bath. Again. And Alice was too eager to join the fun. They had been born as elves, and only taken dragon forms a few months ago, a day after their second birthday. Alice was a white dragon, even in her elfin form she had pale skin and equally white hair, like an albino. Ariana was a red dragon, her elfin skin pale as her sister's, only the mass of red hair differentiate them.  Behind Hyoyeon was another toddler, trotting on wobbling leg. Taehyung's daughter, Lia. She was not even a year old, but was already running around. For an oriental dragon, she seem to be growing fast, considering they spend a lot of time in their childhood. Another child– wolf pup was behind the girl yipping, happy to be included in the fun. Sehun's grandchild from his adopted son. It seem today was children's day. Hyoyeon had her hands full. A task she seem happy about. When Hyoyeon noticed him, she stopped dead in tracks, a frown forming on her face, calling out to the twins to stop. But of course they were out for mischief and didn't listen. Ariana came to a stop in front of Heechul, and her sister slamming into her. On instinct Heechul reached out to steady them only to pause and took a step back to stop himself, in fear of being reprimanded by Hyoyeon. He wasn't allowed to speak to them, let alone touch them. After getting their bearings, they gazed at him with a child inquisitiveness, just as their grandmother reached them. Hissing, Hyoyeon bent over and scooped them into her arm, glaring at Heechul. "Don't even think about touching them." She growled the words, her wings fanning out behind her, threateningly. He winced but gave a jerky nod, willing his hands to stop trembling. Hyunjin's pup wagged his tail, circling around Heechul as though in some sort of ritual and Heechul held his breath, not wanting to interrupt the pup. With one last glower his way, Hyoyeon her heels, pausing to pick Lia that had opted to chase a butterfly. The wolf pup paused, coming to stand next to Heechul, he looked between them, tilting his head as though trying to understand something. Eventually he gave up and followed after Hyoyeon, leaving Heechul to his chores and heart aches. It took couple of hours to finish his chores for the day, and thankfully without crossing path with any his family member. By the time he was wolfing down his lunch, Siwon had been done with his classes and had come to sought him out, like he did everyday. Heechul smiled fondly at the sight of the sorcerer, looking exhausted but in good spirit. "Hurry and let's go home." Siwon said, waving a hand impatiently. "I really need my bed right now." Heechul laughed, shaking his head. If he could, he would shift and let Siwon ride him. However that was also something he was forbidden to do. Shoving the last few bites, he stood and dusted his hand. "Ready to go." He announced. Siwon stretched out a hand, when Heechul took it, he linked his arms with Heechul's, steering them to the back of the palace, not inside the castle, but close enough, where a chalet had been generously given to Siwon that he chose to share with Heechul. It was small, but nice. With two rooms, a living room, bathroom, kitchen and a small courtyard. It reminded Heechul of the cabin they had lived in the past. They walked along the familiar path, Siwon filling him in on how he spent his day, while Heechul listened and nodding occasionally. Reaching the beach, they pause to soak their feet for a moment, to enjoying the crash of waves. The wind blew Siwon's hair, and Heechul's heart  skipped a beat while biting back the urge to push the locks back. He had grown really fond of the Siwon, not in a way a friend should. What he now felt for Siwon was more than friendship. There was no way he wouldn't fall for Siwon, after the abundant of kindness he'd shown him and never expecting anything in return, that Heechul didn't deserve. He feared it wouldn't be long before he give in to the temptation to be with Siwon the way the sorcerer had always hoped. Heechul had never been into men, Siwon was the first man he found attractive and surely the last.  But he wouldn't let himself have him. Siwon deserved so much better than him, a damaged good. A dragon only in name, without a hoard–that had been seized and distributed to the elfin people as compensation – nothing to his name. Siwon deserved to live a comfortable and luxurious life, and currently Heechul couldn't provide that. Not until forty eight years to come and it would take many more years after to aquire another hoard without turning to the dark side. "What?" The mage asked, linking his fingers with Heechul's, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Nothing," Heechul shook his head. "just admiring your handsomeness." Siwon laughed beautifully. "Stop doing that."  "Doing what?" "You know." He made a gesture when Heechul raised an eyebrow. "You know my brain will take it the wrong way, would think you're flirting with me." I am, was at the tip of his tongue. No other man had ever been into him, and certainly no one nearly as smart and powerful as Choi Siwon. Instead he let a smile curve his lips, jerking his head toward their home. Siwon grabbed Heechul and lead him the rest of the way to their home, while asking him how he spent his day. Heechul shrugged. "As usual. I met Hyoyeon again, and the kids." "Oh," Siwon let out. His scent changing. "Did she speak–" "No she didn't." Heechul said, with a sigh. "Do you want me to talk to her? She'll listen if I do." Even if he wanted to that– not because he was in love with Hyoyeon but because he wanted to apologize for realizing all the pains he had put her through– he wouldn't ask Siwon to do that, for him. The sorcerer had done enough."No need. "
 
"Tell me when you change your mind." Siwon told him. Heechul nodded, smiling at the sorcerer. He was okay with the way things were. He had plenty of time to seek forgiveness from family and sort things out with Siwon. For now he would enjoy the company he was blessed with.  
***
Rolling on the bed, Sehun let out a yawn, glancing to his side. Kai wasn't in the bedroom. Checking the time, he realized it was almost noon, that time of that day when Kai took their kids for a flight and after, they would sneak to check on Heechul and make sure he wasn't being harassed, without the older dragon noticing. It was clear Kai was happy with the way Heechul had changed, but was reluctant to reconnect, only watching out for his father from afar. It would take a while to convince Kai it was okay to want his father back Into his life. Good thing they had time. Now Sehun would focus on the importance of the day. Today was their wedding anniversary. The forth. He should do something special for his husband. Something he never did. Sehun sat up quickly, an impulsive idea forming in his head. He threw the covers off and hurried to the bathroom. Freshened and dressed, he exited the bedroom making a hard beeline for the kitchen.  The chef started at the sight of him. "Afternoon highness." He bowed. "Is there something you need?" Sehun waved a hand. "Nothing, you can leave early." "I am about to make lunch." His hands hovering over the ingredients he was gathering. "No need, I can take care of it. I intend to cook for my family today." "Oh," the elf let out, his gaze skeptical. Of course he would be, Sehun had never tried cooking. "Do you need a hand?" Sehun dismissed him with a shake of his head. The chef took off his apron, bowing one more time before exiting the kitchen and out of the house. Hell, if Hyunjin can master cooking in twenty-four hours, then I can probably do it in two. I’ll make my mate and kids a brunch.  He couldn’t wait for Kai to look at him so appreciatively when he was the one to place a huge plate of food in front of him instead of the chef. Sehun gave himself a pep talk while he scrolled through his device for a chicken recipe, since it was usually Kai's favorite. The kids too. He found what he thought was a simple enough one – a grilled chicken sandwich. He read through the instructions once right before his device died. Instead of going upstairs