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Eris woke to the sound of the bedroom door creaking. His gaze met Aurae’s as her own eyes opened into sleepy slits. They both stayed perfectly still even though they knew what was coming in the next few moments. An inevitable attack. Two-pronged, planned and executed with considerable skill. Perhaps with assistance.
When he heard bare feet running across the hardwood floor, he reached out and grabbed Aurae, drawing her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her so he could take the brunt of the initial strike.
“Mmm, it’s too early,” Aurae mumbled.
He kissed her once, quick. “You should tell that to our children.”
The bed shook as the first small but fearsome fighter jumped onto the foot of it to start the confrontation.
“Wake up!” yelled Zoreia, bouncing once before tackling them, landing fully on Eris. Her bony elbows found purchase against his ribs before she rolled off to the side. Sitting up, she fluffed her hands rapidly through his hair before shaking his shoulder. “Da, I know you’re awake, I saw your eyeballs, get up.”
Eris set his chin on the top of his wife’s head then nuzzled her cheek against her pale silvery-gold hair. “No, you did not.”
“I did! And you’re talking. Bee, do it!”
The calvary arrived as the door opened again, but it was in support of the twins. Boyd, a sweet and goofy two-year-old Irish Wolfhound, leapt onto the bed. Instantly he began trying to wriggle between Eris and Aurae, burrowing his nose under Eris’ arm, grunting as he attempted to nudge his way into his favorite spot between his favorite people. Eris held Aurae tighter. The troops were joined by Selma, another Irish Wolfhound who was almost five. She was more sedate but she pawed at Eris’ leg. The last dog to join was set on the bed by Phoebe. Rona was about ten weeks old and all puppy. She yipped and crawled over Eris’ hip and onto Aurae. She started licking Aurae’s ear before Eris switched his grip, protecting his wife’s head.
Phoebe climbed up onto the bed. She walked across the blankets while the dogs created chaos. She flopped down on Aurae’s side and then peeked over her mom’s shoulder. “Having your eyes open is also a bad way to pretend to be asleep.”
Eris smirked. “I sleep with my eyes open.”
“That’d be weird,” Phoebe said, “And you’re still talking.”
“He sleeptalks, too,” Aurae mumbled into his chest. It tickled. Rona bumbled over Eris’ arms and started chewing on his hair.
“Fine, no, he doesn’t, but okay, just waaake up,” Zoreia demanded. She shook Eris’ shoulders again and then climbed up to sit on his side, absolutely obstinate in her quest. “You said we could get everything ready for Uncle Lucien and Aunt Elain and Cersi early this morning.”
“Did we say that, Aurae?”
“I plead the fifth,” she said, “Also, if we did, it was you that must have agreed to wake up before dawn so you’re the one who has to get up. Go on."
He tilted back, his eyebrows coming together. “You’re chasing me out of bed.”
“I think there’s a small army chasing you out of bed. I’m so very innocent.”
Eris pressed his forehead to hers. “You are not.”
“You, too, Mom, you have to get up,” Phoebe said, “You said you’d help us make cookies.”
“Now I know you’re making things up,” Aurae said, tucking her head back under Eris’ chin. “You want to burn down Penny?” She used the nickname they had for the yacht, which was Penelope’s Test, a nod to the Odyssey and the love between Penelope and Odysseus, one of Eris and Aurae’s favorite stories.
“I think you said cookies,” Phoebe kept to her story, “Mrs. Birch would probably help.”
“Mrs. Birch would run me right out of the kitchen,” Aurae said, knowing the temperament of their onboard cook, who was also the captain’s wife. “How about when your aunt gets here, I’ll sit and supervise while you all bake. But I’ll help you make decorations today.”
“Now?” Eris mused. He was promptly poked in the cheek by Zo and then Rona rolled over his head. He was trying to ward off Boyd and Selma had laid down across his and Aurae’s legs.
Aurae poked him in the stomach. “Later.”
“When are they getting here again?”
“We’re meeting them in the harbor this afternoon,” Eris said. “Now, can we wait until the sun has full risen to finish this discussion?” The skylight overhead showed the early morning grey of pre-dawn.
There was a long pause. He knew the twins were looking at each other and having a silent discussion; he was half-sure that his and Aurae’s daughters were living proof of people with ESP.
“No,” Zo said.
“Not really,” Bee added.
Eris huffed. He kissed Aurae’s forehead and then abruptly let go of her, sitting up. He eyed Zo, with her curly red-gold hair and hazel-brown eyes and then Bee, whose dark red hair was tied back in a messy braid. She stared back, blue eyes widening, before Eris reached out and grabbed her. He hauled her over Aurae settled her between them, kissing the side of her head before releasing her. Boyd took advantage of his movement and hunkered down next to Bee, licking her face and then Aurae’s. Aurae laughed and hugged Bee to her. Eris caught Zo by the elbow as she tried to escape. She laughed and then growled as he pulled her over and dropped her next to Boyd, tickling her side to get a peal of giggles from her. He then guided Boyd out of the huddle and to his side before he threw the covers up over his family.
“I will not be ordered around like some kind of current era plebeian,” Eris said, affecting the aloof, snide tone he used during business agreements. The girls grinned, and Aurae snorted. “We’re going to wait for the sun to break the horizon before we do anything about our guests coming aboard.”
“That’ll be forever,” Zo complained, trying not to smile as Boyd stood up and loomed over Eris, staring down at his denied spot. Rona tripped over Zo and Phoebe and pounced on Selma.
“Not too long,” Aurae said, reaching over and touching Zo’s curls. “Then we can decorate and make an arrival playlist and twist the towels into swans or whatever else you want to do.” She dropped her head onto the pillow. “But let me sleep five more minutes.”
Phoebe snuggled up to Aurae. “Just five?”
“Maybe longer.”
"Mooom," Zo whined. "Two minutes."
Boyd woofed deep in his chest. All of Eris’ plans to convince the girls to lay there peacefully so he could enjoy his family and more sleep at the same time suddenly vanished as Boyd lumbered across him and began to root under the covers. Rona joined in and then Selma, roused from her comfort, also decided she wanted to be covered up. The ensuing mayhem ensured that no one was getting anymore sleep, regardless the position of the sun.
With the way the room filled with laughter and excited barking, he supposed he wasn’t too upset about this particular plan going awry.