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“Will you babysit my children, brother?” Helaena held two of the children in her arms, and the third stood beside her, clinging to her coat. The mother was clearly desperate, looking at Aemond with a pleading gaze, as if he were her last hope.
It was a mistake for Aemond to open the door in front of her. He had planned to spend his day off in silence with a glass of wine and documentaries about serial killers, but not with little copies of his sister.
“Why me? We have plenty of relatives,” Aemond crossed his arms over his chest, preventing Helaena from going inside his apartment. He was not completely callous, of course, but he was stubborn.
“You know I can't trust Aegon. Mama's taking care of dad, grandfather lives too far away, and Rhaenyra has a lot of childish worries herself. Please. After all, you are the most responsible and intelligent of our side of the family,” Helaena gently rocked the sleeping twins in her arms. “Look, they'll hardly even wake up. And Maelor will draw quietly. Won't you, sweetie?”
She looked fondly at her oldest son, and he nodded timidly. Aemond squinted skeptically. Moderate flattery was something he liked. Helaena knew exactly how to butter him up.
“How long will your shift last?”
“I'm not sure. The hospital's short-staffed, and there are a lot of accidents on weekends. I can only assume I'll be off by nightfall. Please, Aemond, I'm already late.”
Aemond silently took pity on his sister, letting her into the apartment. Helaena walked to the living room, the only open space, placed the twins on the couch, kissing them and knelt down in front of Maelor. She asked him to behave calmly, to obey Aemond and help him if the occasion called for it. The boy nodded and smiled.
“What am I supposed to feed the twins?” Aemond looked at his worn manicure with casual indifference. He had been painting his nails black lacquer lately.
“Everything you need is in the bags, as are the instructions. I wrote them in advance for just such occasions,” Helaena went out into the hallway.
“What bags?” Aemond lazily followed her.
“Here,” Helaena handed him a couple of large bags and glanced at her wristwatch. “I really have to run. Love you all.”
So Aemond, confused and bewildered, was left with the three children. The first thing he did was get a sketchbook and pencils out of the bag and told Maelor to sit and draw at the desk. He moved the twins into the folding playpen, just like Helaina's instructions had said. Of course, he remembered to put a blanket on them and give them each a pacifier just in case. He looked down at them and thought that their daddy should have been strangled. If Helaena had not been divorced, she would not have had to work full time to feed her offspring. If his sister's ex-husband had not been a cowardly ass, Aemond would not have had to babysit those very offspring.
Maelor obediently sat down at the desk and began to draw, dangling his feet in the air. Aemond did not know if he was being silent or just afraid of him. He did not see much of Helaena's children and never asked about them himself. He had a career, many worthwhile hobbies, and most importantly, the love of his life. There was no time left for the opportunity to be a caring uncle.
“I'll be in the next room if you need me. I'll meet you at lunch,” he said to Meylor and left for the other room. Maelor looked at him wistfully, but for lack of other options, went back to his drawing.
Aemond enjoyed watching the documentary for an hour, sitting relaxed in his chair and drinking his morning coffee. He went out to smoke on the balcony a couple of times, and in the silence he even believed he was alone in the apartment. A baby's cry came out of the blue. Aemond shuddered, cursing the day off and his inability to assert his freedom. He reluctantly rose from his chair and walked into the living room. Maelor stood over the playpen, unsure of what to do.
“Did you wake them?” Aemond asked sternly.
“No. They cry a lot when mommy's not around,” Maelor said uncertainly, slowly looking up at Aemond. The boy was clearly concerned.
“Damn it. What am I supposed to do with them?” Aemond turned first to the ‘manual’. “Swing them?”
“Let's give it a try,” Maelor gently took Jaehaera in his arms. Aemond repeated after him, taking Jaehaerys. “Mommy rocked them, holding them to her chest.”
A seven-year-old boy and a twenty-five-year-old man rocked the two children together, but they did not think to settle down. Jaehaerys slipped his hands out of the diaper and clutched at Aemond's long, by the way, gorgeous hair. Maelor sat down beside the playpen, addressing his little sister with affectionate words.
“What do they want?” Aemond sat down next to him. “Why don't we switch?”
It did not work. Jaehaerys was not going to let go of Aemond's hair.
“Uncle Aemond, you're not very good with children. I'm tired already. Can I go play?” Maelor quickly gave up, handing Jaehaerys over to Aemond.
“Play? Leaving me alone on the battlefield?” Aemond clicked his tongue, cradling the two children in his arms. “Don't you dare come into my room.”
“Maybe you should ask someone for help.” Maelor pulled out from the bag his headphones with a player, and his lego.
“Running away from your responsibilities like your father?”
Of course, Maelor did not hear Aemond. Locked in his safe world, he built castles while listening to music.
***
“Answer me, please, answer me,” Aemond wailed, pacing the kitchen from side to side. He managed to calm the twins. They, once again hidden in their diaper cocoons, were sucking on their pacifiers, but they were awake.
“I'm listening,” the cherished voice sent many goosebumps down Aemond's body. Lucerys answered surprisingly quickly. “Are you calling to apologize?”
“Not exactly... I mean, yes, that too,” Aemond bit his lower lip awkwardly. He did not have time to apologize for his bad date with Lucerys. He was going to do it tonight to the tearful rock ballads of the last century. “I need your help.”
“You've got a lot of nerve,” Aemond imagined Lucerys rolling his eyes in frustration. “What's wrong? You're not at the police station, are you?”
“No.”
“Or wounded in a hospital?”
“No.”
“Then why the fuck should I help you?”
Aemond clenched his jaw angrily, but swallowed his resentment.
“You're my only hope. My sister left me with three kids, and I've got instructions, but I still can't handle them. They almost pull my hair out and rob me of my hearing. They cry and cry and I think I'm going crazy.”
“That's your punishment for your fucking temper, Aemond. Enjoy it.”
“Goddamn it. I'm sorry I acted like an asshole on our first official date, I didn't know that guy was your friend, I thought the ex…”
“So you'd hit an ex-boyfriend with no remorse at all? My friend just came over to say hi to me, see how I was doing, and you–”
“He was flirting with you.”
“No, he wasn't.”
“Why don't you come to my place, and we'll calm the kids down together and have a normal conversation. Ple... Please.”
Aemond almost bit his tongue.
“Why me? You got the money, call a professional.”
“You think I didn't think of that and check the Internet? It's the weekend, all the babysitters in the neighborhood are busy. And you-- You're an omega.”
“That's it?”
“You're kind, caring, sensitive, basically the opposite of me. You have experience with small children. How many are there in your family?”
“You're a master at compliments,” Lucerys said sarcastically. “Okay. I'll help, but not for your sake. I feel sorry for the children. I'll have to reschedule the shoot, so I'll be there in about thirty minutes. Don't you dare throw yourself off the balcony, okay?”
“Who do you think I am?” Lucerys never heard Aemond's outrage.
Aemond fearfully returned to the living room. Maelor was still building castles and arranging wooden figures of knights and horses, and the twins were crying again when they saw him. Aemond reluctantly took them in his arms and decided to walk around the apartment, which was spacious enough. As he rocked the children in his arms and looked at his watch, he tried to distract himself from their crying. He even began to talk to them. The children had stopped screaming, but were still whimpering, drooling and crying. Aemond realized with regret that his new T-shirt with his favorite band on it was wrinkled and stained, and his hair was tangled.
The cherished bell rang, and Aemond, carefully holding the children with one hand, opened the door. He smiled confusedly at Lucerys - as charming as ever, peerless, perfect...
“You're holding them wrong, aren't you! Gods,” Lucerys quickly interrupted Aemond's mental stream. He hurriedly closed the door behind him, took off his shoes and removed his coat, remaining in his blue blouse. Unlike Aemond, Lucerys was not squeamish about children's drool or tears. “Give me the girl, then the boy.”
Aemond obeyed, carefully handing the twins to Lucerys.
“Maelor said they should be held like this, pressed to your chest.”
“And you believed a seven-year-old? Besides, you don't have breasts.”
“Neither do you,” Aemond said with a chuckle.
“That's why I don't hug them, I just hold them,” Lucerys said, rocking the twins slowly. “You poor babies, the evil uncle with the eye patch scared you, didn't he?”
Smiling and lulling the children to sleep with his voice, Lucerys walked into Aemond's room.
“No, no, not in here,” Aemond hurried after him.
“The children need sunlight and comfort. Have you ever seen your living room from the outside? It's a scary room with all your collections of maniacs and bands in it.”
“Don't insult my hobby. My sister left them in there, by the way.”
“Of course, she hoped you'd have thought to take them somewhere more appropriate. Bring the children's things. See, they're calming down,” Lucerys sat down carefully with the children on the bed. “Such little suns. Do you hear? I will cope with the evil uncle and protect you.”
“Evil uncle,” Aemond grumbled to himself as he gathered up the children's things. Maelor watched him with interest, then took off his headphones.
“Uncle Aemond, can I go in the other room, too?”
Aemond looked around the living room thoughtfully and nodded approvingly.
“Hello, Maelor. It's been a long time,” Lucerys greeted the child who stood uncertainly on the threshold. “Come in.”
Recognizing Lucerys, Maelor smiled happily. He walked over to him and looked at the twins falling asleep with wonder.
“You're like my mom!” He exclaimed admiringly.
“Shh. We'll put them to bed now.”
Aemond stood back as Lucerys tucked the children back into the playpen and opened the diapers. He left them in their pajamas and put a pillow between them. Now the children, even if they kicked, could not hurt each other. Wiggling their little arms and legs, they fell asleep. Maelor looked at them and at Lucerys with rapt attention.
“Can I stay here and watch TV quietly?” He shifted his gaze uncertainly to Aemond.
“Stay, it's okay. Uncle Aemond's just not used to you yet,” Lucerys put his arm around Maelor and got up from the bed. Aemond lifted his chin and looked away defiantly. It was always hard for him to admit when someone else was right.
Maelor turned on the cartoons and, as promised, watched them almost silently. Lucerys, having made sure that all the children were well, approached Aemond.
“Come on, let's go make lunch.”
“Stop making an anti-hero out of me,” Aemond had to go with Lucerys into the kitchen. At least one process he had to control.
“You don't like being the villain? Come on,” Lucerys smirked.
Aemond watched Lucerys prepare the milk for the twins. He felt quite comfortable at Aemond's place. Before they decided to go on their first real date, they often went to visit each other, watched movies together, drank wine, and sometimes kissed. They never got any further than kissing and hugging, deciding that they needed to start dating first. Or rather, Lucerys felt it was the right thing to do. Aemond was ready to make love to him the moment of the first kiss, which he initiated.
Their relationship had spiraled since they were children. At first they feuded, but as time passed they found common interests and became friends. Aemond was fond of photography, and Lucerys, dreaming of becoming a model, posed for him. Aemond photographed him everywhere: in the city, in nature, at home. They were fun together. Lucerys also visited Aemond in the hospital, where he was admitted because of a serious fight in high school. Lucerys cried for a long time and apologized for not being there for Aemond when one of the older teenagers pulled out a folding knife. He slashed Aemond's face, taking away his eye and leaving a deep scar. The proceedings were lengthy, as was the treatment, but Lucerys was invariably by his side. Aemond thought of nothing and no one but him. His nephew and his friend in one person had become a sunshine in the darkness. The relationship grew stronger. First love happened, but it was only recently that they decided to accept it.
“You're still angry, I understand,” Aemond sighed doomedly and sat down at the table. Lucerys did not need his help. “But I warned you that I don't feel comfortable around a lot of people.”
“That's not why you screwed up on our first date. Admit it, you're just a jealous psychopath.”
“But you like it.”
“It's frightening,” Lucerys shook his head. “On the other hand, I understand your desire to keep me safe from, as you put it, stupid alphas. All right, so be it. But you have to distinguish between friend and foe, don't you agree?”
“I agree. I was out of line, I apologize.”
“You clearly lack tenderness.”
“So give it to me.”
“Not that kind of tenderness. It's the tenderness in you. If you drew it from the depths of your heart, or whatever it is you have instead, the children would feel it and not cry so hard.”
Lucerys poured the milk into bottles, and Aemond watched him carefully. He propped his right cheek with his fist and hummed.
“I stopped feeling alive as soon as we fought.”
“Don't whine, please, we're not in your favorite gothic movies, and those tricks don't work on me.”
“But it's true. I was so scared of losing you. I even wanted to write you a letter of apology.”
“Damn sad romantic,” Lucerys closed the bottles and walked over to Aemond. He pulled him close, stroking his hair. “Happy? Why don't I give you a pacifier and put you to bed?”
“I'd prefer something else,” Aemond put his arm around Lucerys' waist and rubbed his cheek against his stomach. He was relieved to breathe in his scent and asked in a whisper. “So you forgive me?”
“We can have another date.”
“At the restaurant again?”
“We could do it at home, that's fine.”
“I even know what the dessert would be,” Aemond said with a sly smile.
“It's a good thing you've learned to speak in riddles in front of the kids. You know, if we ever get married…”
“We will.”
“All right. But I want children in the future, too, so try to be a good uncle first,” Lucerys stroked Aemond's cheek. “Let's make something for us and for Maelor.”
Aemond agreed. As he chopped vegetables for Ratatouille with Lucerys, he thought seriously about fatherhood. He had no doubt that Lucerys would make an ideal parent, nor did he doubt that he would love his children. The prospect of becoming a father did not scare him, but taking responsibility for little lives was not something Aemond was ready for yet. He looked mesmerized as he watched Lucerys carefully place the vegetables in the baking dish and sighed dreamily. His sun was shining unimaginably bright for him.
“It's a good thing I didn't die then,” Aemond was not going to say that at all. He clicked his tongue, angry with himself.
“What do you mean?” Lucerys turned his head toward him, tucking a strand of curls behind his ear. He was patient, even when he was worried.
“That I'm glad to be alive here with you.”
“And I'm glad to be with you,” Lucerys smiled softly.
They reached for each other for a kiss, but Maelor walked into the kitchen.
“Uncle Aemond, I'm starving.”
“You can give us a hand to speed up the cooking process.”
Maelor nodded, smiling and stepping between Lucerys and Aemond. He figured out quickly enough how to alternate the vegetables and was instantly engrossed in the task.
While Aemond made tea for the child and coffee for himself and Lucerys, a long-awaited peace prevailed.
“Are you... Are you dating?” Maelor asked timidly.
“Yes, my boy,” Lucerys replied.
“And you will marry?”
“Yes,” said Aemond firmly.
“I’m glad. Your children will have two parents. You know, my mother is often sad and tired, and I wish she were happy,” Maelor sighed heavily. “But she does her best for us.”
Aemond suddenly realized how wrong he was, not being interested in his sister's problems or in the condition of his little nephews. He could have helped at least financially, so that his sister could finally get a vacation or find a decent nanny. And he was not the only one. After all, it would not hurt for the family to pull together, if only for the benefit of the innocent children. Aemond did not know how to cheer up, so he just patted Maelor on the shoulder.
“Your mother will be happy, you'll see,” Lucerys assured him. “But don't be sad yourself.”
“Yes, I'll do my best for my mom. I have to finish the drawing for her.”
While lunch was being prepared and Maelor, inspired and smiling, was painting, Lucerys took turns feeding the twins. The hungry children looked up at him with big blue eyes and swallowed the milk greedily. Aemond had the harder job. He had to change the twins' diapers and clothes under the strict supervision of Lucerys. Well, that was his punishment.
“Are you sure you can forgive me now?” He turned to Lucerys.
“Well... Now it all depends on your dessert,” he smiled playfully.
Aemond put the twins in the playpen by himself.
“I've been dreaming of cream pie for a while now, you know…” Aemond licked his lips slowly.
“Oh, I'll think about it,” Lucerys' cheeks flushed visibly.
“Come here. While Maelor is in the other room, I have a chance to kiss you,” Aemond pulled Lucerys toward him by the hand.
“Will you tell me later what else you dream of?” Lucerys whispered against his lips.
Aemond smirked approvingly and kissed him, hugging him around the waist. The kiss lingered with captivating tenderness. Lucerys melted in his strong embrace, responding unhurriedly. He wrapped his arms around his neck, standing on his toes. They kissed, knowing they would meet tomorrow morning together in bed.
After lunch, Maelor fell asleep as well. He lay down on the couch in the living room, and Aemond gently placed a pillow under his head. He smiled at the child with an unexpected warmth and sincerity, noticing the completed drawing in his hands. Aemond placed it on the desk next to the pencils. Lucerys was waiting for him on the balcony, enjoying the warm coffee and the fall sunshine.
“Your freckles seem to glow in the rays,” Aemond stood beside him and lit a cigarette. “I'll never get tired of admiring your beauty.”
“You can be sweet and romantic after all,” Lucerys touched his palm.
“But you know that deep inside me there is a beast.”
“Yes, passionate and ferocious,” Lucerys laughed.
“Seriously. That beast will come out tonight.”
“And eat me?”
“Not you, but your…”
“Aemond, stop it. You'll wake my beast,” Lucerys turned his back to him. Aemond put one arm around his waist and pulled him close. “I'm happy we've made up…”
“Yes, the day brought unexpected surprises. If it hadn't been for the children, I don't know when I would have dared to call you,” Aemond put his chin on Lucerys' shoulder and rubbed his nose against his neck. “And now I'm filled with love and desire. I am happy, too. Very happy, Lucerys.”
“Let's not fight anymore,” Lucerys closed his eyes blissfully. “And let's help the children and your sister.”
“I agree,” Aemond kissed Lucerys' neck.
Helaena returned for the children in the late afternoon after supper. Clean and well-fed, the twins slept next to Lucerys on the bed. He, reading them stories, had also dozed off. Maelor was constructing the railroad and trains with Aemond.
“You have an idyll,” she said in surprise, sitting down on the couch.
“Mom, will you wait until we finish it? I have a surprise for you,” Maelor smiled at Helaena.
“You can have dinner, sister,” Aemond did not even look away from his work, not wanting to lose to the child's speed of construction.
“Yes! Lucerys is a very good cook. He and uncle Aemond are dating,” Maelor giggled. “So, mom, take a rest for now.”
“That's very nice,” Helaena was touched, barely holding back her tears. “I'm very happy for you, Aemond. And... Thank you.”
Aemond looked up at Helaena. He nodded, telling her without words that she was not alone. The pure and luminous gratitude made Aemond realize that happiness was never sudden and unconditional. Whether given or received, happiness is like a construction set, made up of small parts and built from good deeds.