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It was a Sunday afternoon, and Ilay and Taeui lingered on the terrace of their penthouse, watching the sun sink into the horizon. The sky was painted in strokes of purple and orange, with faint touches of pink scattered like whispers across the clouds. Summer’s warmth clung to the air, and every so often, the breeze drifted past, brushing their faces with gentle coolness.
They spent the hours in quiet ease. Taeui reclined against the plush embrace of the gogan sofa, while Ilay rested his head upon his lap. Taeui’s fingers moved in slow, tender circles through Ilay’s hair, and Ilay closed his eyes, surrendering to the comfort of the moment. It was the kind of peace that felt timeless, the kind that made every hardship they had endured seem small compared to the sweetness of now.
Ilay’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze suddenly sharp as it found Taeui. A pale hand rose to cup Taeui’s cheek, as if to reassure himself that he was truly there.
“What’s wrong?” Taeui asked softly.
“Tay…” Ilay murmured, but before he could gather his thoughts, a small voice interrupted them.
“Um… could you please help me proofread this?” Lucien asked, his tone respectful, almost solemn.
Lucien Riegrow, their lovechild. His skin was pale, his silver hair catching the light, his eyes steady and serious. An alpha, though still so young. Everything about him echoed Ilay, as though he were a perfect reflection, a living continuation.
He had been bent over his English assignment since Friday night, and with the deadline looming on Monday, he now sought their help.
“Hey, baby. Come here,” Taeui said gently, signaling for Ilay to lift his head from his lap. “What’s it about?”
Lucien stepped closer, holding out his assignment book with both hands. He settled beside Taeui, on his right, and spoke with quiet earnestness.
“I have to write about my family.”
Ilay arched a brow, curiosity flickering across his face as he leaned forward to see.
“Ah,” Taeui whispered, his voice soft with affection. “Let’s take a look…”
Lucien glanced up at Ilay, only to find his father’s gaze already fixed on him. Startled, he quickly looked away, scratching the back of his head in shy embarrassment. “I’m not really confident in this,” he admitted.
“That’s all right,” Taeui reassured him, smiling as he reached for the notebook. “We’ll check it together.” With that, he began to read the words his son had written.
My name is Lucien Riegrow. I am seven years old.
I want to talk about my family.
I think my family is big. Even though I live with Father and Papa, my uncles always welcome me into their homes.
First, there is Uncle Kyle. He lives here in Berlin too. His house is very large, and there are always many people visiting. I think they are Uncle Kyle’s friends.
Uncle Kyle is very kind to me. He always hugs me when I come to visit, and he always introduces me to new books. Because of him, I read more than most seven-year-olds. I like every book he has given me so far. It feels like I go on a new adventure each time he asks me to start reading. Some books are really hard to understand, but I keep trying.
There are also Rita, peter, and james in Uncle Kyle’s house.
Taeui paused, his finger resting lightly on the page. “I think you missed the capital letter here… and here,” he murmured, pointing to Peter and James’ names. Lucien nodded quickly, scribbling notes in the margin, his silver hair falling into his eyes as he concentrated.
Rita’s cooking is the best. She always makes my favorite meals whenever I visit.
Peter shows me his beautiful garden. I think his love for plants, trees, and flowers is adorable.
I don’t really talk much with James, but he always smiles at me. Even though he often looks annoyed at Uncle Kyle, he still smiles whenever he sees me.
Taeui paused after finishing the first page, his voice soft as the words lingered in the air. Ilay’s eyes stayed fixed on the notebook in Taeui’s hands, silent, unreadable. The quiet stretched between them, filled only by the faint rustle of paper as Taeui gently turned to the next page.
Uncle Richard lives in Dresden with Chris. I think he is my coolest uncle.
He always looks professional, always presenting himself in a very cool way. He wears dark clothes, like an elegant gothic aristocrat. He is the one who teached me how to use guns.
Taeui paused again. “You should use taught instead of teached here,” he corrected gently.
Lucien nodded, stealing a glance at Ilay. This was his second mistake already, and he knew his father always expected perfection. A knot of fear tightened in his chest, making him feel small.
But then Ilay’s large hand reached out, settling softly on his son’s head. He patted him with quiet reassurance. “That’s okay,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You’ll learn.”
Relief washed over Lucien at the warmth of that touch. The tension eased, and a shy smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Uncle Richard also has a teenage son named Oliver. He is tall like his father and really handsome. Sometimes I practice shooting and self-defense with him. When winter comes, he always takes me ice-skating. Both Uncle Richard and Oliver are super cool, and I am proud to be part of their family.
Ilay rolled his eyes at that, though Lucien didn’t notice. And if he did, he chose to dismiss it, his attention fixed instead on the words he had written, the pride shining quietly through them.
Then there’s Chris. He doesn’t want me to call him Uncle, so I just call him by his name.
He is rather cold and doesn’t talk to me often. Sometimes I think he doesn’t like me. But once I asked Papa if that was true, and Papa said that’s just how Chris is. Papa told me Chris loves me dearly, but he doesn’t really show it.
Papa also said that Chris was the one who gave me my middle name. So it’s impossible that he hates me.
I guess that must be true, because he’s also the one who showed me how to ride a horse. He owns several horses, and he lets me ride the white one, the one that looks as beautiful as Chris himself.
I don’t see Chris often in Dresden, but whenever he visits the country, he always brings me souvenirs.
Taeui smiled again at that, his expression soft and unchanging, as though Lucien’s words had been carrying him along from the very beginning. It seemed he hadn’t stopped smiling since the first line of his son’s essay. With quiet care, he turned the page, ready to see what came next.
I also have two dads.
The first one is Papa Taeui. He is really handsome and gentle with me, though not always that gentle with Father.
He is always there for me, always helping me and reassuring me in everything. I think as long as he is around, I feel like everything will be okay.
His cooking is not as good as Rita’s, but I still love every dish he makes. Because I can taste his love in every bite.
Papa Taeui has a twin, Uncle Jaeui. He lives far away, but he often calls me once or twice a month. He took me to Saudi Arabia, and I have never seen a place as beautiful as his home. I spent a whole month of my holiday there.
Papa said that he and Uncle Jaeui share a special bond that he doesn’t have with anyone else. But Papa also said that now he has an even stronger bond with Father and me.
I need to write this here because it is one of the moments that made me feel special, that always reminds me I am loved.
I am so glad to have Papa Taeui as my dad. He is the sweetest, most caring person I have ever had in my life. I just want to make him proud of me, and I don’t want anything bad to ever happen to him.
Taeui lowered his gaze to Lucien, his eyes shimmering, almost teary. He reached out to ruffle his son’s silver hair, his voice thick with emotion. “That’s very sweet of you,” he whispered.
And the last is Father.
Everyone says that I resemble him, and I can see why.
He is the person I respect the most.
I know I said Uncle Richard and Oliver are cool, but Father is the coolest of them all. I want to be like him when I grow up, even though the path seems tough. I think he is perfect in every way, and that is why it must be hard to reach his level.
Father has a panzerfaust collection, which I think is also very cool.
Taeui paused, his eyes flicking toward Ilay with a trace of hesitation. “Is this okay to tell the teacher?” he asked softly.
Ilay only shrugged, his expression calm, almost indifferent. “It’s fine. It’s not like it’s a secret.”
Taeui nodded, lips curving faintly, and turned to the final page of Lucien’s essay.
Father once told me not to disappoint Papa Taeui. He said I need to grow up well and strong so I can protect him. I am an alpha, after all.
That is what Father has been doing all this time, protecting the family.
He told me that Papa Taeui is his life, the sole reason he is still here.
I can see the way Father looks at Papa Taeui, and I understand.
I want to always be there for Papa too, just like Father is now.
That was the moment when Taeui’s tears finally slipped free, trailing down his cheek before he quickly brushed them away. His voice trembled with warmth as he leaned closer to his son.
“This is beautifully written, baby,” he said with a smile. “Just a few spelling errors, and you’ll be ready to hand it in.”
Lucien nodded, silver hair falling into his eyes, determination flickering across his young face. He promised himself he would not make the same mistakes again.
Ilay, who had been silent until then, finally spoke, as though a realization had just struck him. “You’re already doing your best, so don’t push yourself too hard. I want you to enjoy your life, just as everyone else your age does.”
Lucien stared at his father, wide-eyed, not daring to answer. Then, slowly, he lowered his gaze, and a quiet smile curved his lips.
“And Lucien?” Ilay’s voice called his name, and the young alpha immediately looked up again, attentive. “You’re going to be a big brother soon.”
Lucien tilted his head, confusion flickering across his face. Taeui’s eyes widened, turning toward Ilay in disbelief.
Ilay met his gaze with a knowing look. “You don’t feel it yet, do you? But I can sense the shift. You smell different, Tay.”
He leaned closer, nuzzling his nose against the curve of Taeui’s neck, exhaling softly as though confirming what only he could perceive. One hand drifted to rest gently against Taeui’s stomach.
And in that moment, Lucien finally understood.
Taeui’s smile lingered as he closed the notebook, his heart full. Ilay’s gaze softened, resting on both of them as though the words had stitched something invisible yet unbreakable between them. And Lucien, small but proud, sat quietly, knowing he had captured the truth of what mattered most.
And that is my family. I think my family is perfect just the way it is, and I would never trade it for anything else.