"Daddy, wake up!"
Arsen felt someone shaking his body vigorously. He gasped in surprise and got up quickly. Fortunately, he was still holding Arion who was on his chest tightly, so that he didn't fall down.
Arsen turned his head to see who the person was who disturbed his sleep and found the twins next to him with Hana's cheerful smile and Eric's calm smile.
"Looks like Daddy and Arion had a nice sleep together." Hana teased with a small giggle. Eric just shook his head, resigned to his twin sister's behavior.
Arsen rubbed his face to get rid of the remaining sleepiness, "Hana, Eric. You guys are back."
After the short nap he got, Arsen could feel his body more energetic than before. He looked up at the sun, which was already high in the sky, making the temperature even hotter. Fortunately, the tree behind him protected them from the heat stroke of the sun.
Hana nodded vigorously, "We just got here and went straight to find Daddy and Arion. Uncle Reiga told us that you were here."
"It's past noon, too. It's getting hot outside, so we begged Mom to come home soon." Eric said calmly. His eyes looked curiously at the white bundle sleeping peacefully on his father's chest.
Arsen gently stroked their hair, "I see. Did you behave well?"
"Of course!" Hana answered confidently.
She didn't separate from her mother's side, obeyed her mother's orders, even obeying when some people started to adjust some clothes on her. She behaved herself to get them to come back soon and she succeeded brilliantly!
Arion blinked his sleepy eyes when he heard some familiar voices. He rubbed his eyes and saw the twins clearly.
Eric looked at his baby brother who was rubbing his eyes sleepily. He smiled happily, "Arion is awake too."
Arion yawned widely before he sighed in relief, 'They're back.'
Even though he had fallen asleep twice within a few minutes, the rest of his drowsiness hadn't disappeared yet.
"How cute!" Hana squealed in delight. Arion's cheeks pressed against Arsen's chest making it look even bigger. Hana wanted to bite his cheeks!
'Just got back and she's already so loud.' Arion thought lazily.
He remained leaning helplessly against his father's chest, too lazy to move and get on with the day. Still, he was glad that they were finally back.
Hana poked her baby brother's cheek to get his attention, "We brought you lots of toys, Arion."
Arion raised his eyebrows in confusion, 'They did? But I won't be interested. After all my soul is already 17 years old.'
Arsen looked at the twins probingly, suspecting that they had bought all the toys they saw for Arion. Why does he know that? Because the same almost happened once. He arrived just in time to stop the twins from buying everything in the store.
Eric who noticed his father's probing gaze, immediately replied, "Not too much, we promise. Mom forbade it."
Arsen breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. Fortunately, they were very well-behaved this time and didn't seem to make any mess, which to be honest almost made Arsen suspicious.
Shaking off his thoughts, Arsen curiously asked the twins, "Where's your Mom?"
"I'm here!"
The cheerful greeting made them turn their heads to find Natalie walking over happily. She was carrying what looked like a picnic basket.
"Natalie," Arsen called softly with a sigh of relief. It wasn't that he didn't like serving the twins, but he needed time to wake up completely. Hana's loud voice wasn't exactly helping.
Natalie chuckled amusedly at the sight of Arsen, "I see you and Arion had a nice nap."
Arion almost blushed with embarrassment. Lowering his guard and then having someone else see it?
'Ugh, embarrassing.'
"This is the second time Arion has taken a nap while with me," Arsen said proudly, immediately regained his full consciousness. He was proud that his babysitting experience hadn't completely faded away.
"That's good! Babies sleep a lot. That means he's comfortable with you." Natalie said happily. Not only was she happy that they were getting along, but she was also happy that Arsen was finally getting some well-deserved rest.
'I'm not...' He thought doubtfully.
It wasn't that Arion was still afraid of his father, but it could be said that he could already be alone with him without fear. But Arion couldn't say that he felt comfortable with him.
Arsen stroked his baby's hair softly, "I hope so."
Natalie hummed happily and held Arion's cheek gently. It was only for a little while, but she already missed her baby.
"Hi, my dear. Did you have fun with Daddy?" She asked softly, kissing the cheek of Arion who was still on Arsen's lap. Arion patted her cheek to stop her.
'Please stop. That's ticklish.'
"What are you doing today, Dad?" Eric asked curiously. He knew that his father had been very busy at work the last few days. So he was rather surprised that his father had time to spend with Arion.
"Not much. Arion just accompanied me to work and we enjoyed the fresh air here." Arsen answered ignorantly, which was met with silence.
Eric was silent with a blank face. He withdrew his words. Indeed, it was impossible for his father to have free time to relax.
Hana pouted in disappointment, "Accompany Daddy to work? That's boring."
In his mind, Arion nodded in agreement, 'It seems that I'm not the only one who has experienced it.'
"Have you finished your work?" Natalie asked out of pure curiosity, wanting to confirm something.
Arsen didn't look offended as he calmly replied, "Not yet. I just told Reiga to take care of it. I'll finish it when you get back."
"Well then, you wouldn't mind joining our little picnic, would you?" Natalie asked as she showed him the picnic basket she had brought from the beginning.
Eric looked at his mother with surprise, but also with excitement.
"Picnic!" Hana cheered excitedly. It had been a long time since they had a picnic because of their busy schedule. And the most exciting thing was that this time, her baby brother was also there!
'Picnic?' Arion thought with interest. He'd only ever heard of it, but never seen it or done it. It looks interesting.
"It's lunchtime. I thought it wouldn't hurt if we had a little picnic here after you and Arion wake up." Natalie said enthusiastically. It's a good thing she thought of it in the first place.
Arsen shrugged indifferently, but there was a small smile on his lips, "Sure. That document isn't going anywhere."
"Then let's play for a while!" Hana pulled her twin brother to play together, which was rewarded with a reluctant groan.
The weather was too hot for Eric to move. But Hana's energy never seemed to run out and he had to put up with it.
Arion looked at his older brother with pity, 'He looks very reluctant.'
"Did anything happen while we were away?" Natalie asked as she started to take some food out of the basket she had brought. Most of it was sandwiches and the twin's favorite desserts.
"Just pest coming to pester," Arsen replied flatly. He was not interested in this topic and wanted to end it immediately.
Natalie looked at her husband suspiciously, "You didn't say anything dirty and rude in front of Arion, did you?"
It's not that she doesn't believe it, but if there is someone that Arsen mentioned as this pest coming, he usually won't be patient with them.
Arsen shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm holding back pretty well."
Natalie narrowed her eyes probingly, trying to find signs of a lie when Arsen didn't even look at her.
Arsen cleared his throat, "Have you finished everything?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
Natalie's face immediately lit up, "Yes! I'm sure they'll be perfect for Arion's party!" She replied happily, eager to see the results of her hard work.
Arsen smiled slightly, "I'm glad you enjoyed your trip."
Arion looked at his mother, 'Me too.'
He stared at the twins who were running around with each other, even though Eric's face looked like he was about to have a heat stroke. He was panting and sweat was pouring down his forehead.
Hana ran away from her twin brother, who was panting with exhaustion. Eric stopped running and walked languidly over to his mother who looked at him with concern.
"Next time Dad and Arion should come too!" Hana said after running over to Arsen. She sounded enthusiastic, forgetting about Eric who was lying listlessly next to Natalie.
"We can go out longer together!" She continued enthusiastically and slightly pleadingly. Her big golden eyes looked up at her father with a pleading twinkle.
Arion thought deeply, 'Trip, huh...'
Arsen let out a resigned breath, "I will find time for that." He said resigned but not disagreeing.
He thought it wasn't too bad to go on a family trip once in a while, even if he had to stay up all night to get free time. He didn't mind because it was worth it.
Hana smiled happily, as did Eric, who also smiled, but not as wide as his little sister. They couldn't wait for the next family trip. This time in the full version with Arsen and Arion.