Claire couldn't believe her eyes. Lily's melodic giggles and Lucas's deep chuckles were heard while she felt as if she walked into what could only be describes as the most personalized playroom she could ever imagine.
Two out of the four walls were covered in floor to ceiling high bookshelves that were full to the brim. The wall facing the entrance was all windows with a long bench that stretched from one end to the other and a delicate styled coffee table was placed in front of it. Thanks to said windows, the sunlight poured inside making every color in sight pop.
The room was decorated with light pinks and chocolate brows. All the playful cushions on the bench, the wild life stuffed animals, the princess themed bean bags, the decorations on the walls and even the few plants that made the space look even more inviting played a role in the detailed color scheme of the room.
There were dozens of freshly unwrapped presents throughout the floor. And in the middle of what seemed to be the biggest display of torn wrapping paper Claire had ever seen, was her little flower and Lucas laying on the floor as they played with bubbles. Their wide smiles were evidence enough of how well they were getting along. In fact, Lily seemed so into her little play date with him that she was yet to notice Aiden and Claire walking in.
"Care to explain yourself Lucas?" Aiden's voice interrupted Lucas who was about to blow through the plastic wand. Making him choke in surprise.
He looked up at his brother with an innocent expression on his face as he scooted closer to Lily for what seemed to be like protection. The gesture made Claire cover her mouth to avoid laughing out loud.
"Hey bro!" Lucas nervously said as Lily smiled up to them. "I thought you guys would take some more time."
"You thought? Or you hoped?"Aiden's voice was stern as he looked at Lucas with a piercing gaze. He was about to say something else when he felt a tug at his fingertips. Looking down he saw Lily's worried expression.
'You are not happy.' She signed before she lifted her arms up to him.
Lucas watched in confusion while Aiden smiled fondly. She had remembered their deal of holding on to each other when she felt scared and when Aiden felt sad.
Or in this case, unhappy.
Aiden picked her up and Lily immediately hugged him while patting his back. The fact that she was trying to sooth him made his heart feel like bursting. She was too cute. Enough so that it made him consider not beating his brother to a pulp right then and there for ignoring his instructions.
Claire on the other hand smiled up at her little flower. Setting aside the fact that she voluntarily asked to be in his arms, a matter she had already grown used to, she was proud of the little person her Lily was becoming. One that would leave having fun and her new toys aside to comfort somebody in distress.
"Thank you Princess. I feel all better now." Aiden said as he kissed her head.
"This room..." Claire said as she scanned her surroundings. Just like the rest of the house, the more she examined it, the more details she found.
"Do you like it? I designed it myself." Lucas said proudly as he stood by her side. Using her as a shield against his brother who was now engrossed with the girl in his arms. He knew he wasn't off the hook.
"It's beautifully detailed." In all honesty, she found it extremely weird that a grown man who she just met had personally designed a room for her daughter. But she decided to keep her thoughts to herself until she knew more about him. He didn't give her a bad vibe, and she always relied on her instincts rather than anything else.
"Well I'm glad it's to your liking." Lucas said with a triumphant smile as he looked at Lily who was currently giggling. Aiden had moved to sit on the bench near the window to play with the her. Lucas's eyes turned softer at the sight. "I know it might be weird or even creepy, so I'm sorry if you feel uncomfortable." He lowered his voice so only she could hear him.
Claire looked up at him with a glint of surprise in her eyes due to how he had unexpectedly addressed her inner thoughts. Lucas noticed this and chuckled.
"I'm not the brightest tool in the shed, but I'm not stupid either." He looked back at the duo who were completely ignoring them as they played with one another. "As you might know, having Villan attached to our names makes it especially hard for us to make our own family's. Or at least one that doesn't make you want to jump off a bridge that is." They both chuckled at his comment.
Claire painfully understood what he meant. People with all sorts of bad intentions would often take their chances at gaining the favor of people with high standing positions such as hers. So she could safely assume that those types of situations happened even more frequently for those who carried an even bigger title. Making anybody called Villan the ideal target for a number of potentially venomous snakes and rats disguised as "good intentioned" people.
"The little girl you saw in the pictures earlier is our little sister. And just like in the pictures, it's mostly been us and a couple of other selected few against the world." The expression on Lucas's face was a clear indicator that he loved his siblings dearly. Something that Claire took quick note of.
"But be it then or now, the rest of us have it much easier than he does." Claire didn't need him to explain who he was referring to. She could understand it was Aiden he was talking about. "So forgive us if we get a little too intense or move at too quick of a pace for you. We weren't sure if the day he would actively want to try creating his own family would come. It's safe to say that we can hardly contain our excitement."
Lucas explained his thoughts in a simple manner, but the emotions behind the gaze he held while watching Lily and Aiden told Claire it held immense meaning.
"What's up with all the staring?" Aiden's voice made Claire snap back to the present. She was briefly lost in her head and didn't notice that she had joined Lucas in silently watching them.
'Mommy come blow bubbles with us.' Lily signed as she smiled at her. She had been smiling so much lately that Claire couldn't help but fall into whatever she was asked to do.
"Did you remember to say thank you to Lucas for all of the gifts he got you Sweetie?" Claire said as she gestured everything around them.
'Yes! I thanked him before I opened my presents.' Lily replied while being proud of herself.
"Very good. Then how about we play with the bubbles outside? It should be much more fun watching them be blown around by the wind don't you think?"
Lily liked the idea and nodded in agreement. She swiftly got down from the bench and went to hold Claire's hand as they made their way out. But just as she was about to step out of the room she stopped. She looked back at the room with a complicated expression on her face.
"What's wrong Princess?" Aiden asked her but she shook her head. As expected. At that, Claire bent down to her eye level.
"Sweetie you know you can tell me." Her tone was understanding as she spoke to her.
'Can we play with the bubbles in the room?' Lily asked as she solely looked at Claire, despite the two men paying close attention to their conversation.
"You don't want to play outside anymore?" Claire asked while already sensing why she was hesitant to leave. It was surely born from an uncertainty that made her feel guilty to the core.
Little did she know that she wasn't the only one who understood her little flowers shift in mood.
'I do but...' Lily was having trouble expressing herself when Aiden gave Lucas the bubble making toys he was carrying and bent down next to Claire.
"This room is yours Princess." He said as he caressed her head. "You can come and go from it as you please."
'I can come back to your house?' She asked shyly.
It wasn't until she asked that question that Lucas finally caught up to what the situation was about. Since the rooms that she used throughout her short life would change or disappear due to her family's constant moving, she was afraid the perfect room she was stepping out of was one she would never be able to visit again.
"My house will always have it's doors open for you Princess. This room will not move or change unless you want it to." Aiden said reassuringly and with a smile. He gave her forehead a kiss before lifting her in his arms and offering his hand to Claire for her to do the same. "Now let's all go play with bubbles."