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Azirina hummed to herself as she mixed the batter for her sweet rolls. Breezehome was filled with the delicious scents of baking and spice as she worked. One batch sat on the table, cooling before she added the glaze to them as she made another. Her ears flicked to the side as she heard someone enter.
"Wow mama, did you make all these?" Lucia asked, running forward with her brother to where their Khajiit mother worked. Farkas chuckled as he followed behind them, watching his wife tap their son's hand as he reached for a cake.
"Yes, this one did. It is a recipe that has been passed through her bloodline. And, soon, this one will pass it on to you. But, for now, she is simply preparing them." Azirina explained.
"For what?" Blaise asked, reaching for another one, only to have his hand tapped again.
"For your uncle Alessandre's birthday." Both children immediately looked at her.
"We're going to see Auntie Obsidian and Uncle Alessandre?" Lucia asked. Azirina smiled as she nodded.
"Yes. And there are presents for you both on your beds." She added, laughing as both children scrambled into their bedroom. Farkas watched them before looking at his wife, a look of brief concern passing over his face.
"Will you be ok?" He asks softly. "I know birthdays don't exactly hold good memories for you. If you need to step out, just take my hand and we'll leave." He told her. She smiled, placing the bowl down and taking his hands.
"Your concern for this one is appreciated, dearest moon. But she will be ok. This is not like what happened to her. This is a good thing, yes?" He felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth as he looked at her. Many people in Skyrim knew her as the Dovahkiin, who defeated the world eater and saved them all. But here, covered in flour and sugar, she wasn't that. She was his wife, the mother of his children, his very heart.
"Farkas, what is it?" Her voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Nothing. I should let you get on with your baking." He said, turning to head up the stairs to their bedroom.
"There is a gift on the bed for you, dearest moon." She added, turning to go back to her baking. He paused on the stairs, looking at her back before carrying on. As he approached their room, he smiled at what lay on the bed. Every day, he continued to surprise her.
The next day, sunlight shone down through the branches overhead. Blaise shifted in front of him as they rode to Obsidian and Alessandre's home just outside of Falkreath. The dragonbone armour he wore, the gift she had crafted for him, breathed so easily and yet embraced him like she did. She herself wore dragon scale armour she had crafted, whilst the children both wore a tunic and a dress she had woven.
"You've been looking forward to this?" He asked her as he nudged his horse, making it trot alongside hers.
"This one does not have many good memories of birthdays. To spend one with those she considers family would be incredible." She replied, a smile dancing on her lips as they approached the house. He chuckled, smiling as the horses stopped by a small stable. He climbed down, helping Blaise down before helping Lucia down from the large, black stallion that Azirina rode. The two of them ran towards the house as he held a hand out to her. She smiled, taking it as she slid from the horse's back and landed on the ground.
"Ready, my love?" He asked her. She took a breath, the memory of her past making her tremble briefly before she nodded. With a kiss to her hand, he accompanied her to the door that Blaise and Lucia were trying to knock down.
"Ok, ok! I'm coming!" A voice called from inside. As Azirina held the bag containing the sweet rolls, the door creaked open to reveal a giant of a Nord.
"Happy Birthday, Uncle Alessandre!" Lucia and Blaise cried in unison. Azirina and Farkas both smiled as the taller Nord crouched down.
"Well, thank you little warriors." He grinned, ruffling their hair. The two children ran inside, laughing and cheering as Azirina stepped forward. She held the bag up to Alessandre, grinning at him.
"Here you are. Specially made using the recipe that has been passed down to this one." She explained, watching him open the bag. He laughed softly, reaching over and scratching at Azirina's ears. They flattened for a moment, stretching out to the side. But not in fear. She was relaxed.
"Thanks Azirina." Alessandre smiled. She nodded before following Lucia and Blaise into the house to go and greet Obsidian. As Farkas stepped in, he held his hand out to Alessandre.
"She may not show it. But she's been really excited about this." He told the taller Nord.
"Good to know. Come on, Old Ulen sent me some mead I want you to try." Alessandre said, clapping a hand on Farkas' shoulder as he stepped inside.
He couldn't say how much time had passed when he stepped outside. Laughter and singing drifted from inside the manor, making him smile before he paused, noticing a figure sitting on a nearby rock.
"Azirina?" He asked, watching her jump. She turned to face him, her body relaxing as she sighed.
"Do accept apologies from this one. She merely needed a moments respite from everything." She explained, looking back up at the stars. He smiled as he walked over to her, sitting beside her on the rock.
"Can't say I blame you." He said. "It is a little overwhelming for those of us who aren't used to it." He turned his head to look up at the stars with her, a comfortable silence filling the space between them.
"This one....has not had a normal birthday for many a moon." She said suddenly, making him look at her. "And, she wishes to thank you for gifting her the opportunity to be, well, normal for a day." She turned her head to look at him. "Not the Dragonborn. Not a hero. Just a mother, a wife, a friend."
Alessandre smiled, raising his hand and scratching Azirina's head, just behind her ears. She smiled back at him, her ears flicking back to give him more space.
"We're family, Azirina. Probably one of the weirdest looking families in the realm but still..." He told her. "You're like a sister to me."
"A family? Yes, this one agrees. We are a family." She nods, smiling back at him. The two of them looked back as a cheer came from the house. "Well, this one supposes we should head back before the rest of our family eats your birthday gift, yes?"
Alessandre chuckled as he stood up, offering his hand to help her up. He ruffled her hair before walking back inside to the noise and the celebration with their family.