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“Shizun, we’ll be fine!” Ning Yingying insisted. Her wife, Liu Mingyan, nodded, smiling down at six-month-old baby Feiyu in her arms.
“Bye Mama! Bye Baba!” 5-year-old Yingyue exclaimed, hugging her parents tightly.
“Bye Mom, by Dad.” 8-year-old Muyang agreed, hugging first Shen Yuan, and then Luo Binghe.
“Make sure to send word if you need us.” Shen Yuan reminded them, a frown on his face. Binghe wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling against his side. Yingying watched with a fond smile as the Emperor murmured something that turned the Empress’ cheeks pink. He turned to his husband, and his frown became a pout. Binghe shot her a wink before opening a portal and leading his husband through.
As soon as they were gone, Yingying turned to the children and her wife.
“Alrighty! Let’s go play in the lake!” She declared. Her wife rolled her eyes as the two older children let out delighted shrieks. Mingyan looked down at baby Feiyu, letting out an exasperated sigh.
“Your Auntie Yingying is looking forward to making a mess of our home.” She murmured to the baby. Feiyu giggled, reaching up to tug at the veil that covered the lower half of her face. She sent her a fond smile before gently tugging her hand away.
Yingying raided Qing Jing Peak’s laundry room for used clothing that would fit the children. Mingyan packed them a lunch as her wife helped Yingyue change.
“I can carry Feiyu down to the lake.” Muyang offered as he came in from changing out of his robes. She nodded, passing the boy his sister. Feiyu giggled, grinning up at her brother. He returned it, and the sight had Mingyan smiling behind her veil.
Binghe’s mini-mes got his grin, it seemed.
“Alrighty, let’s go!” Yingying shouted as she walked back into the room. Yingyue nodded, carrying several towels in her arms.
Together the five went down to the lake. It was a frequent time off spot for the disciples of their peak, but as today was an exam day, it was empty.
“Let’s go!” Yingying shouted again, running towards the water. Mingyan sat the basket of food on a nearby rock before accepting the towels from Yingyue and then the baby from Muyang. She shook her head with a fond smile as the oldest two children ran after her wife.
“It’s cold!” Yingyue shrieked as Muyang jumped in without a care in the world. After making sure that her wife had her eyes on the children, Mingyan moved towards a rock that was surrounded by water. She sat down on the rock before putting Feiyu between her legs. The baby let out a shriek of delight as her feet were dipped into the water.
They spent the majority of the afternoon on the beach. Yingyue ended up napping on a makeshift pallet of towels with Feiyu following lunch. As the girls split, Mingyan and Yingying entertained Muyang by building sandcastles and collecting seashells.
Eventually they made their way back home. Muyang and Yingyue were old enough to wash themselves, so Mingyan and Yingying shared their bath with baby Feiyu.
“She’s so cute.” Yingying cooed as Mingyan gently dried off the baby. Feiyu sent her a grin and reached out a hand. It caused Yingying to really see her beloved A’Luo in that grin, and she let out a happy squeal before leaning in and pressing kisses to Feiyu’s cheek.
“She and Muyang look a lot like their father.” Mingyan commented, smiling as Feiyu’s black curls began to make an appearance as her hair dried.
“I want a baby, MingMing.” Yingying whined, draping herself over her wife. Mingyan nodded, using her free hand to pat on her wife’s back.
“I know, love, I know. But that’s why we decided to watch the children this weekend. So we can do a trial run.” She soothed. Yingying nodded, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her lips.
“Yup~ And now it’s time for bedtime stories!” She shouted the last two words as she raced out of the bathroom. Mingyan sent a fond smile after her wife before looking down at Feiyu.
“Maybe one of you wouldn’t be so bad.” She murmured, knowing the baby would keep her secret. Feiyu’s answering drooly grin had heart melting just a little.
When she walked into the spare room the older children would be sleeping in tonight, she found Yingying and Muyang piling pillows and sheets together in a structure that didn’t look the least bit stable.
“What is this?” She asked.
“We’re building a pillow fort. We need two more on the right side, Auntie!” Yingyue called. Yingying shot her a mock salute before grabbing two of the pillows on her side and shoving them in there.
Fifteen minutes and two structural collapses later saw Mingyan crawling into the fort. Feiyu was in her big sister’s arms, rubbing sleepily at her eyes.
“Alrighty, now what do we want to hear about tonight?” Yingying asked. Mingyan took the baby, laying her down in a very plush pillow that served as a makeshift cot. Feiyu yawned, eyes already drooping closed.
“How about a story from Daddy’s disciple days?” Yingyue asked, plopping down onto her stomach now that she was free from holding her sister. Muyang nodded, settling into his own bunch of pillows.
“Hmmm. Well, there was this one time that A’Luo and I were…”
Muyang fell asleep shortly into the story, as did Feiyu. Yingyue stayed up until the end, despite her yawns every five seconds.
“Night Aunties.” She said around a yawn as she cuddled up next to Muyang.
“Good night, A’Yue.” Yingying whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Mingyan draped a blanket over her before picking up Feiyu and crawling out of the fort.
“Phew. What a crazy day.” Yingying said with a yawn of her own. Mingyan nodded, tucking Feiyu into the bassinette that Shen Qingqiu had brought along with the rest of their things. It must have been warded with some of Luo Binghe’s qi because the moment that Feiyu touched the bassinette, something almost shimmered and her demon mark began to glow. “Aww, even when he’s not here he’s protecting his babies.” Yingying gushed. Mingyan nodded, idly wondering if the Emperor could sense that his youngest was now in bed.
A comfortable silence settled between them as they climbed into bed. Yingying happily pressed her face between Mingyan’s breasts as she got settled, a content hum leaving her. Mingyan sent her a fond smile, wrapping her arms around her wife.
“Yes.” She murmured. Yingying’s head shot up, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Really?” She asked, wincing when Feiyu made a noise in her bassinette. “Really?” She whispered this time. Mingyan nodded, reaching up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Yes. Let’s start a family.” She said. Yingying practically smacked their mouths together, and Mingyan did her best not to wince, even as the harsh affection caused her eyes to water.
“I’m so excited.” Yingying whispered as between kisses. Mingyan let out a fond sigh, rolling them over so she was pressing her wife against the bed.
“Be excited tomorrow. We have three small children to entertain until the Imperial couple returns.” She reminded her. Yingying nodded, her excited grin softening into a tender smile.
“Yeah. I love you, MingMing. I can’t wait to be the Mama to your baby.” She said. Mingyan nodded, leaning down to press a warm kiss to her lips.
“Me too.” She whispered. She settled on top of Yingying, releasing a yawn as the soothing sound of her wife’s heartbeat began to lull her to sleep.