151
…
Morning sunlight streamed through the mansion's windows, casting a warm glow on the family room. Leucadius leaned against the doorframe, a smile on his face as he watched Thena cradling their baby, Aethon, in her arms.
Thena cooed at Aethon, who was wide-eyed and curious, trying to mimic her sounds. "Look at him! He's going to be a genius," she said, glancing at Leucadius.
"Of course, he is. He's my son," Leucadius replied, stepping into the room. He gently ruffled Aethon's hair, and the baby let out a delighted gurgle. "A future conqueror of worlds, perhaps?"
"Or a master of diplomacy, something you lack," Thena teased back. "Aethon, the great peacemaker!"
Just then, Aethon burped loudly, making both parents laugh. "Such elegance!" Leucadius said dramatically.
Their laughter was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. The maids, Mia and Lila, entered with platters of pastries and fruit.
"Good morning, Sir Hawthorne, Lady Thena!" Mia chirped, placing down a tray of croissants.
"Thank you! Everything looks amazing," Thena replied, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Is Aethon ready for his breakfast?" Lila asked, peering at the baby.
"Always!" Thena said, and Lila quickly brought over a small bowl of mashed banana.
As Thena held the bowl to Aethon's eager mouth, he opened wide and made a face as the food hit his tongue. Laughter erupted again as the baby grinned, smeared in banana.
"Look at that face! He looks like he just discovered a new dimension of flavor," Leucadius joked.
Aethon let out a series of delighted squeals. Thena wiped some mashed banana off his face, shaking her head. "Don't worry, little one; we'll help you get the hang of this."
The cheerful atmosphere continued as Mia and Lila exchanged smiles, enjoying the scene.
"Maybe we should teach him how to use a spoon next," Lila suggested.
"Let's not rush it!" Leucadius interjected. "We wouldn't want him to outshine us at the breakfast table."
Just then, Sersi, walked in. "Good morning! What's all this commotion about?"
"Aethon's first culinary adventure," Leucadius said, motioning toward the baby, who was clearly enjoying his breakfast.
"Can I hold him?" Sersi asked, leaning closer.
"Of course!" Thena said, handing Aethon over.
"Hello there, little prince," Sersi said softly, planting a kiss on his forehead. Aethon reached for her hair, delighting her.
"You're going to be quite the handful, aren't you?" Sersi laughed.
As they continued breakfast, the room was filled with laughter and playful banter. Thena leaned back, watching her family interact. The mansion felt alive with their joy.
With that, they finished their meal, ready for the day ahead.
As they cleared away the remnants of breakfast, Leucadius gathered the used dishes, handing them off to Mia and Lila with a nod of appreciation. "Thank you for taking care of us. You always make mornings brighter," he said, genuinely grateful for their hard work.
"Just doing our job, Sir," Mia replied with a bright smile. "And we love it! Aethon's such a joy to be around."
"Especially when he's making a mess," Lila added, chuckling as she collected the last of the empty bowls.
Thena watched Aethon play with his hands, still giddy from the breakfast chaos. "Should we take him outside today? He loves the garden," she suggested, her eyes sparkling at the thought.
"Good idea," Leucadius agreed. "He needs some fresh air, and I want to show him the flowers we planted last week. We'll have a little adventure."
Aethon squealed in delight, as if he understood. His arms waved excitedly, making Thena laugh.
Just then, Sersi returned from the other room, her hair tied back in a casual ponytail. "What's this about an adventure?" she asked, a curious smile on her face.
"We're taking Aethon to the garden!" Thena replied, lifting the baby slightly in her arms. "It's time for some outdoor fun."
"Count me in!" Sersi said, brightening up. "I want to see his reaction to the flowers."
"{C'mon. No magic in front of the kid.}" Leucadius sent a telepathic message to Sersi.
"{Ugh. Maybe he'll be as enchanted as I was.}"
"{No.}"
"Let's get him dressed then. I think he'll want something comfy for his first garden exploration," Thena said, glancing at Aethon's banana-smeared onesie.
She didn't care about the telepathic link she felt as she knew her husband was cautioning Sersi.
"I'll grab some clothes," Sersi said, heading toward the nursery while Leucadius and Thena prepared to head outside.
A few moments later, Sersi returned with a soft, light-colored outfit, perfect for a sunny day. "This should do nicely," she said, handing it to Thena.
"Thanks! You're a lifesaver," Thena replied, carefully changing Aethon into his new outfit.
"Look at you, all dressed up!" Sersi said, grinning at Aethon. The baby responded with a delighted gurgle, reaching for his aunt.
Once Aethon was dressed, Thena held him close, and they all made their way to the garden. As they stepped outside, the warmth of the sun wrapped around them, and the fragrant blooms filled the air.
"Look, Aethon, Flowers." Thena whispered, pointing to the colorful petals swaying in the gentle breeze.
Aethon's eyes widened as he gazed at the flowers, his little mouth forming an "O" of surprise.
"Should we let him touch them?" Leucadius asked, watching the baby with a mix of caution and delight.
"Definitely," Thena said. "Just keep an eye on him. He'll want to explore everything."
Carefully, Thena set Aethon down on the grass. He wobbled slightly before he steadied himself and crawled towards the flower garden, eyes sparkling as he reached for a nearby daisy. The moment he touched the soft petals, a grin broke out across his face.
"Look at him! He's already a little botanist," Sersi said, clapping her hands in excitement.
"He's going to love nature," Thena agreed, crouching down beside Aethon. "What do you think, little one? Isn't it beautiful?"
Aethon giggled, his fingers exploring the delicate petals, and Thena couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.
Leucadius knelt beside them, leaning closer to Aethon. "You know, buddy, flowers can be quite powerful," he said playfully. "They can attract bees, butterflies, and maybe even the occasional magical creature."
"Magical creatures?" Sersi intoned, feigning surprise. "What kind of creatures? Do you think Aethon will meet any today?"
"Maybe a friendly pixie will show up," Leucadius continued, a twinkle in his eye. "Or a wise old turtle that can tell stories."
Aethon's face lit up at the idea, and he looked around as if expecting a creature to appear at any moment.
"Alright, little explorer," Thena said, standing up and taking Aethon's hand. "Let's show you the rest of the garden!"
They weren't overly shocked at Aethon being able to mildly understand them. He was a Born God after all and at 6 months old, there was little he couldn't understand if he put his mind to it.
They walked through the vibrant patches of flowers, stopping occasionally to admire the different colors and shapes. Aethon giggled as Thena pointed out a butterfly fluttering nearby.
Sersi wandered a little ahead, picking a few wildflowers. "These will look great in a vase," she said, tucking them behind her ear playfully.
"Just be careful not to pick anything too rare," Leucadius warned. "We wouldn't want to upset the balance of our little paradise here." He had gone to great lengths to make this garden a paradise.
Since living with Gaea, he had developed the love of nature and it's paradisal look.
"Always the protector," Sersi teased, rolling her eyes. "I'm just grabbing a few blooms, not declaring war."
They continued exploring until they reached a small fountain, where the sound of trickling water added to the tranquil atmosphere.
"Time for a splash?" Leucadius suggested, lifting Aethon into his arms again.
"Just a tiny splash," Thena said with a laugh. "We don't want another banana disaster."
Leucadius carefully leaned Aethon over the fountain, letting the baby dip his fingers into the cool water. Aethon squealed with delight, splashing water around.
"Look at him! He's loving it," Sersi said, laughing as droplets flew everywhere.
"Just like his father," Thena joked, watching the playful scene of Leucadius showing exaggerated expressions as he and Aethon played in the water.
As they enjoyed the moment, Thena's heart swelled with happiness. The morning had been filled with laughter and love, a perfect start to their day.
"Let's make this a routine," Leucadius said suddenly, breaking her reverie. "Mornings in the garden, exploring with Aethon."
"Agreed," Thena replied, beaming. "It'll be our little family tradition." It seemed she wasn't the only one who loved these little moments.
…
The sun bathed the garden in a warm glow as Aethon played on a blanket spread out on the grass.
Just a few steps away, in the main parlor, Leucadius and Thena enjoyed some rare social time with Howard, Martha and Peggy, their circle of friends, their laughter and conversation filled in the air.
Meanwhile, ten-year-old Tony Stark burst through the door, lab coat trailing behind him like a superhero's cape, his face lit up with excitement. "Aethon! You're going to love this!"
He hurried over to where Aethon was sitting, the baby's curious gaze already locked on Tony's animated movements. "I brought something super cool to show you!"
Aethon giggled, reaching out with chubby hands as Tony rummaged through his backpack, finally pulling out a small device that buzzed and blinked with colorful lights. "This is my latest invention, a mini-rocket! It can launch all the way up to the sky! Well, not quite. But it'll go high enough!"
Mia and Lila, the maids, stood a short distance away, watching the interaction with fond smiles. "Be careful, Tony," Mia called out. "He's still little!"
"Don't worry! I've got it all under control!" Tony replied, puffing out his chest confidently. He knelt down beside Aethon, who was now babbling excitedly. "Ready to see it fly?"
Aethon looked up at Tony, wide-eyed with anticipation.
Tony pressed a button on the mini-rocket, and with a whirring sound, it took off a few feet into the air before gently landing in the grass. Aethon squealed in delight, clapping his hands.
"See? It's amazing, right?" Tony grinned, feeding off Aethon's excitement even though the rocket didn't reach the sky as he had claimed "This is the future of transportation, little buddy! You'll be zooming around in style one day!"
Aethon reached out for the rocket, fingers wiggling as he babbled happily. The little one didn't understand the concept of sky yet, so whatever went up and came down was probably cool.
Tony handed the toy over, letting Aethon examine it closely. "You can press the button, too! Just be careful not to blow anything up, okay?" He winked, watching as Aethon clumsily poked at the device, his face a mix of concentration and wonder.
After a few moments, Aethon accidentally hit the button, causing the rocket to emit a tiny puff of air. The baby's eyes went wide, and he burst into laughter, the sound infectious.
"Exactly! That's how it works!" Tony cheered, clearly enjoying the moment. "You're a natural, Aethon! I think we should get you your own lab, just imagine the things we could create together!"
Aethon babbled in response, still focused on the rocket, his little brow furrowing in concentration as he tried to figure out the gadget.
"Here, let me show you," Tony said, leaning in closer. "This part makes it fly, and this one… well, this one is just for show, but it looks cool, right?"
Aethon grinned, with a few more clicks and presses, Tony was in full science mode, explaining concepts with exaggerated hand gestures. "So, when you get older, I'll be able to make things that go whoosh and boom. And you'll be right there with me, my trusty sidekick!"
The maids exchanged amused glances as they continued to supervise the boys' antics. Mia leaned closer, whispering to Lila, "Tony's going to be a handful when he grows up."
"Definitely," Lila chuckled. "But it's good for Aethon to have someone like him around."
Meanwhile, Tony was fully engrossed in his demonstration, moving from one gadget to another. "Next, I'll show you my new remote control car! It goes super fast! Just wait until you can actually run it!"
Aethon bounced with excitement, his laughter filling the garden. The two were a perfect match: one a child full of invention and spirit, the other a baby discovering the world.
"Okay, okay! Let's see how fast it goes!" Tony said, pulling out a small, brightly colored remote control car from his backpack. He set it on the ground and handed Aethon the remote. "You can press this button to make it go!"
With a gentle push from Aethon, the car zoomed off, and Tony jumped back, feigning shock. "Whoa! Look at that! You're going to be a racing champion!"
Aethon squealed again, giggling as the car sped across the grass, delighted by the movement.
"Just wait until you can drive your own!" Tony continued, bouncing on his knees. "We'll race around the whole mansion."
Under the watchful eyes of the maids, Tony and Aethon were in their own little worle. For a moment, nothing else mattered; it was just two friends…or brothers even, sharing an adventure, the bond between them already beginning to form, promising a lifetime of playful discoveries and memorable moments.