"Oh, aren't the children just adorable!" Exclaimed Lilian, looking through the window that over looked the gardens that the children were playing in.
"Yes, I've never seen the twins play like this before..." Liam smiled, holding a crystal ball that recorded them.
"You always have a crystal ball on you, Liam," Victor said, with a glance.
"Yes. As you know, Trie is residing at Slade for the moment. Until the workload is low enough for Kendrick to handle, and for that reason she requested that I record the twins constantly so she can be updated," Liam explained with a flicker of sadness in his eyes.
Victor flinched at the mention of Bellatrix.
"... It has been awhile since she's been here," Lilian sighed.
Victor looked at Liam sadly.
"I heard the twins were geniuses. Just like us growing up. Our noses stuck in books, always tired in training and... We were anti-social... Not wanting to talk to anyone who couldn't catch up with our complex conversations," Victor said, staring at the kids being kids.
"Until Bellatrix taught us how to play around like normal kids," Liam laughed lightly.
"But we're happy that she wants to act like a normal child these days. And yet she still doesn't abandon her responsibilities as the next queen," Lilian said, smiling proudly.
"Now, isn't that a true genius? Finding the balance and joy in life," Liam said with a smile.
"We're lucky to have her," Liam said, happily watching his twins.
"I won't argue with that," Victor laughed.
"I can't help but wonder if Bellatrix was your wife, would your child still be a girl or boy? Maybe twins?" Asked Liam, offhandedly.
It became running joke to tease Victor because Lady Bellatrix was his ex-fiancé. She had dumped him when Victor began having feelings for Lilian.
"Liam. No. Stop." Victor warned.
"Why? Is it because she's your ex-fiancé?" Lilian asked, stifling a laugh.
"Or maybe it's because she dumped him for me," Liam shrugged.
"Every time Bellatrix enters the conversation, it always ends up like this," Sighed Victor, irritatedly massaging his head.
"Oh no, she had every right to dump Victor, after all, he did cheat on her," Lilian said, triggering a chain of teasing.
"I did not cheat on Bellatrix!" Shouted Victor, flustered.
"How could you deny it when your wife who's not Bellatrix is right there," Liam gestured.
"I did no such thing! She dumped me!" Victor said again.
"Liam has a point, Bellatrix is such a nice girl, how could you have cheated on her?" Lilian asked, shaking her as if she were disappointed.
"If I cheated on Bellatrix that would make you the other woman!" Victor retorted.
"Well, how I have known you had a fiancé? You never told me, you kissed me first, might I remind you," Lilian said, barely holding in her laughter.
"It was an accident! An accident! I didn't do it on purpose!" He explained exaggeratedly.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, someone should spread the word about the king being a two timer," Liam sighed.
"Every time! This happens EVERY TIME!" Victor complained.
"Who knows? Maybe Victor had a third woman," Liam commented, sassily sipping his tea.
Lilian faked a gasp, "How dare you!" Lilian exclaimed, lightly pushing Victor.
"Come on, Liam-- you wouldn't want people to call you the social climber," Victor said, dying on the inside.
"Oh no, I'm so offended," Liam said in a flat tone and straight face.
Lilian finally burst out laughing.
"We missed you, Liam, we really should gather together again. Like old times," Lilian smiled.
"Despite the torturous teasing I get from you and Lennon, we are still the golden trio," Victor laughed heartily.
"As long as the twins do nothing to my darling of course," Victor added with a sharp look.
"I'll have to agree with Victor on that one," Lilian said with a threatening smile.
"Of course," Liam said, half scared for his own life.
"But we really should get going. But do you think we could schedule another play date?" Liam said, standing up.
Victor seemed to think for awhile then sighed.
"Fine, next month on Dean's monthly visits, the twins can come as well," Victor said putting out a hand.
For a split second Liam smirked his devishly mischievous smirk.
"Alright, twice a month," he repeated, shaking Victor's hand.
They all went to the gardens and saw that they were all playing with Snow's storm stallion, Nightmare.
"Knock them off Nightmare!" Snow shouted.
"We're not going down that easy!" Reinel shouted in determination.
"I think I'm getting motion sickness..." Complained Renèe groggily.
"Same...." Replied Dean who was already green in the face.
"Reinel, Renèe, time to go home," Liam laughed when he saw the scene.
Dean and Renèe were barely hanging on to the storm stallion's tail while Snow and Reinel were at the front fighting for dominance.
"Aw, alright, father," Reinel agreed sadly as he got off of Nightmare.
"Thank god..." Renèe sighed in relief.
"We'll see you next month, Princess," bowed Liam.
"Bye, Snow," Reinel smiled.
"Bye, Rei," she replied with a giggle.
"See you..." Renèe said, holding back his barf.
"Sorry, Ren, I'll make it up to you and Dean next time," Snow laughed.
"And good bye to you too, Dean," The twins waved in unison.
Dean who landed face down in the grass and decided not to get up, raised a hand and groaned in response.
"Oh, and, Liam?" Called Victor.
"Hm?"
"Could I have a copy of the crystal ball?" Victor asked sheepishly as Liam nodded.
-------------------
"How did it go, father?" Reinel asked excitedly.
"You get to see her twice a month," he responded his father.
"What? All that torture for twice a month?" Groaned Renèe, who had to endure 3 rounds of air ball and 2 rounds of horse toss.
"It's better than nothing," Reinel said with a sigh.
-------------------
After that the twins saw Snow and Dean twice a month for 3 more months when king Lennon came for a visit.
"Greetings to the king and queen of Sterling," Bowed Lennon.
"You may rise, Lennon," Victor said.
"I'll have to excuse myself. It's time for Snow's archery practice," Lilian said plainly, standing up and walking away.
"You know where my office is, Lennon, let's go," Victor sighed.
"Why is it that every time I come by you seem to hide my darling princess somewhere out of sight?" Whined king Lennon.
Victor glared at the pouting Lennon.
"You're here for work, Lennon, not to see my daughter," Victor spat.
"I could be here for both," he suggested happily.
"No," Victor responded immediately.
With a sigh Lennon went into Victor's office and started reading the paperwork.
Victor had spotted a crystal ball in the corner. He forgot to put it away again.
Victor didn't want to let Lennon know about the play dates or else Lennon would force his son into it.
"I'll be right back..." Victor stated, taking the crystal ball and walking to his room where he had a room specially made for storing each crystal ball.
When Victor turned on the light, he saw the most important crystal missing from it's pedestal.
Victor's eyes widened as he rushed back to the office.
Inside he saw Lennon watching the first crystal ball that recorded the beginning of Snow's play dates.
"Victor," Lennon smiled. His smile wasn't his usual joking smile, it was one that Victor would always get in trouble after seeing.
"How dare you snoop through my things, Lennon," Victor growled, trying to take thecrystal as Lennon moved it just a little out of reach.
"Ah, ah, Victor. I can't believe you wouldn't include Leonard in these little play dates," Lennon smiled, a dark smile.
"Leonard is a prince of another kingdom, unless you and Claudia intend on slacking off, it's not like you can casually just send him over to another kingdom," Victor reasoned, subtly hinting that he wasn't welcome.
"Hm..." Lennon thought
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