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Vesemir sighed as he sat down on the edge of Geralt’s bed, a gentle smile on his face as he watched the two boys wriggle around and get comfortable in their beds. He ran his thumb down the spine of the book he had picked out for tonight- it was about knights and destiny and dragons, so they were sure to love it. Geralt had found it a few weeks ago in the second-hand book shop around the corner and he had looked up at Vesemir with such wide pleading eyes, a pout already forming on his tiny little face, that Vesemir found he couldn’t say no.
So now here they were - with his littlest boy hopefully already asleep, and in front of him his two older boys tucked up snugly in bed, staring at him and wiggling impatiently waiting for him to start reading.
He had adopted Eskel about a year ago, and Geralt four months after that, and it had taken a while, but by now they had settled into a more comfortable routine. Vesemir would tuck them both into bed in their shared room, make sure the nightlight was turned on in case of nightmares, and then read them a bedtime story. The routine had only been slightly altered two months ago with the adoption of Lambert, but he made sure that all his boys were tucked in nice and cosy and got a story before they went to sleep. Lambert had already been put to bed, and should have been sleeping by now, but as Vesemir opened the book ready to begin, there was a noise that made him doubt that.
The pitter-patter of tiny feet running down the corridor. Vesemir grinned and turned to face the door, waiting. Geralt and Eskel started chuckling- Lambert’s antics being both familiar and intensely amusing to them at this point. Vesemir leant over and ruffled Eskel’s hair, making the boy squeak, as the door opened.
Outside stood Lambert, looking cranky already, no doubt tired. He looked very cute stood outside the room in his hooded lamb onesie, despite the grumpy expression on his face. He pouted up at Vesemir.
“I want a story, too!” he demanded petulantly, and began to scramble up onto Vesemir’s lap, short legs kicking behind him as he pulled himself up. Geralt giggled, pulling his blanket up to cover his face. Eskel was smiling, though his eyes were already beginning to droop. Lambert whined as he struggled to get all the way up, and looked up at Vesemir with big eyes, tears already forming at the corners.
“Poor mite, you must be exhausted,” Vesemir murmured, and pulled him up to sit on his lap, wrapping his arms around the small boy. “But you’ve already had a story, remember?” he said, and Lambert sniffled.
“But they’re getting a story now , and I want one too,” Vesemir was amazed to discover that apparently, his pout could get bigger and he bit his lip, trying not to coo at him in case Lambert took offense. He sighed dramatically, getting another chuckle out of Geralt and Eskel.
“Well alright then, I suppose you can,” he said, tickling under Lambert’s chin. Lambert giggled, high pitched and delighted, squirming around in Vesemir’s lap. Vesemir cleared his throat and began to read from the book.
“Once upon a time, there was a prince, tall and fair, and well-loved by his Kingdom’s people…” he watched Eskel’s chestnut eyes as they glazed over, and his eyelids drooped. He always fell asleep so quickly when he was read to. His thumb had migrated up to his mouth, and he was sucking on it as he blinked heavily, trying his absolute best to stay awake just a while longer. Vesemir’s heart felt fit to burst at the sight of him- he blinked hastily and continued to read.
“The knight strode up to the castle, sword swung over her shoulder, and tipped back her visor. Her green eyes shone out as she called out for the guards to open the gates…” Geralt was staring at him, his own green eyes shimmering with wonder.
“Papa?” he whispered, “I didn’t know ladies could be knights too.”
Vesemir couldn’t respond for a moment, heart in his mouth. None of the boys had called him anything other than his name before. It was overwhelming, and he had to take a deep shuddery breath to try and remove the tears from his eyes. He coughed harshly, voice still shaky when he finally managed to speak.
“Of course they can, sweetie.” He held Lambert closer to him as he struggled to control his voice, pressing a kiss into the boy’s soft hair. “They can be whatever they want. That’s why this princess is a knight, the same as the prince.” Geralt nodded, his eyes serious. He let out a tiny yawn, hand coming up to cover his mouth. He looked quickly back up at Vesemir.
“I’m not sleepy! I can stay awake for the rest of the story!” There were those pleading eyes again, and Vesemir felt helpless to deny him- he was really going to have to work on that as the boys got older. “Papa, pleeease?” Geralt whined, and Lambert joined in.
“Yeah, Papa, please? Wanna know what happens to the princess,” Vesemir’s chest felt tight. He looked over at Eskel, whose eyes were now barely open.
“Wanna know what happens, Papa,” he mumbled, eyes sliding shut again. Vesemir blinked furiously, mouth gaping open. How could he possibly say no? He cleared his throat again, and continued, his voice trembling.
“The prince fell into her arms, clutching her close. ‘You came back for me,’ he whispered, his face pale…”
Geralt was listening with an intense look on his small freckled face, mostly hidden behind his blanket, peeking out from behind it. Eskel was fast asleep, thumb back in his mouth. Lambert was resting heavily against Vesemir’s chest, nibbling on his fingers as he tried to follow the words as Vesemir read them aloud. He wiggled occasionally- the little guy was always fidgety, even when he was exhausted. Vesemir ran a hand through Lambert’s hair and saw Geralt frown slightly out of the corner of his eye.
He placed the book carefully on Lambert’s lap. “Hold this for me will you, sweetheart?” Lambert nodded hastily and grabbed at the book with the hand not in his mouth. Vesemir’s heart swelled with pride at the sight.
He leant over and tousled Geralt’s ginger curls. There was a muffled giggle from under the blanket and he could tell from Geralt’s eyes that the boy was smiling again. He wrapped the blankets tightly back around him and turned his attention back to the tale.
“The prince and the princess walked up the hill, hand in hand, into the fading sunlight…”
Geralt had fallen asleep too by the time he finished reading the story, one arm falling over the edge of the bed and the other squashed under a chubby cheek. Lambert’s breathing had gone heavy and his fingers were still stuck in his mouth. Vesemir pulled them free gently, taking care not to disturb him. A quick glance over at Eskel showed him that his eldest boy was still sound asleep. Vesemir smiled to himself, utterly overwhelmed at the sight of them. Sure, they looked adorable and innocent now, but he knew come morning they’d be back to being the usual mischievous little hellions he knew and loved.
He stood, Lambert cradled to his chest. With one hand he tucked Geralt’s arm back under the blankets and then pulled Eskel’s a little further down away from his nose. Very slowly, and extremely carefully, he leant down to press a soft kiss to each of their heads, then headed out of the room, closing the door behind him. He padded down the corridor to Lambert’s room.
As he tucked Lambert into his bed for the second time that night, Vesemir could feel his heart swelling with love for his three baby boys. Sitting in the dark next to Lambert’s bed, he had to take a moment to breathe so as not to burst into tears. He took a deep breath and stood up, making sure that his littlest cub was tucked in cosily too before he slipped out of the room. As he got into bed himself, he felt a tear slide down his face despite his best efforts. They were all so small and vulnerable, and yet they had chosen to trust him? It was almost more than his heart could take. He drifted off to sleep himself, dreaming of the adventures that were surely yet to come with his three boys.