2

The farmhouse bustled with a newfound energy. Julian, no longer a helpless infant, was now a sturdy toddler, taking his first wobbly steps around the living room. Eira, a year older and noticeably more mature, watched him with a complex mix of affection and exasperation. She was teaching him how to stack wooden blocks, patiently guiding his small hands, though a hint of annoyance flickered across her face whenever he inevitably toppled the tower.

Toppling all of his sister's hard work would cover for the hidden knowledge Julian had swirling around in his mind on the day to day. Acting like a baby came hard to him and he found himself thinking more and more of ways to gain his freedom and independence from the clutches of his -

"Juli!"

The boy gripped the edge of the wooden chair tightly, his legs wobbling just before he was snatched up against his will, being suffocated by his mother's massive breasts as he was smothered.

'I don't know how much more of this I can take... unhand me woman!'

He cursed himself mentally.

Eira sighed in annoyance, glancing from the mess of blocks to her mom. She let out a soft huff seeing her brother snatched for the umpteenth time today, much so similar to every other day.

"Momma, you're bugging him too much. He can't walk if you keep squishingvhim."

Eira complained. She still saw him as competition, regardless of how he was being smothered.

Lael grinned faintly and grabbed his wife's wide hips, pulling her voluptuous rear back against his pelvis and planting a kiss onto the nape of her exposed neck. Kuina, feeling the warmth of Lael's embrace, released Julian from the smothering hold of her bosoms. The boy gulped in air, relieved to be free. His green eyes, filled with a mixture of infantile confusion and adult-like irritation, darted between both his parents before travelling back down to his sister as if silently pleading for her help for escape.

Eira rolled her icy blue eyes at the sight of her brother's predicament, but there was a hint of concern in her gaze. She knelt down and began to rebuild the tower of blocks, her nimble fingers working with practiced ease.

'Oh... that's how it is huh sis?'

Julian thought to himself as his head was rubbed roughly by their father's giant calloused hand.

His thoughts were his own as he sat there, the sensation of his father's rough hand against his scalp a stark contrast to the softness of his mother's milky bosoms. His green eyes, a shade too wise for his age, flicked back over to Eira briefly. He would remember her betrayal at doing nothing for him in this dire moment of being smooshed between both adults.

Eira tried keeping her focus on the blocks in front of her. Her pink eyes narrowing as she listened to her parents cooing over Julian like he was some sort of prodigy. Jealousy couldn't describe how she was feeling when they showered him with the loving attention she so craved. That she so missed.

"Momma, poppa..."

She whispered in a low tone, trying not to sound too hopeful.

"Can I have a book in alchemy? The herbalist mentioned something about it in our last visit..."

Kuina, still in the embrace of Lael's arms, turned her attention back to Eira. Her eyes softened at the sight of her daughter's **** cheerfulness, and she gently disentangled herself from Lael to kneel beside Eira. She expertly had Julian on one hip as she did so, extending a hand to cradle her daughter's cheek gently.

"Books are very expensive love, but I'm sure your father and I can try to get it for your birthday?"

Kuina's words hung in the air, a soft promise wrapped in practicality. Eira's face brightened at the prospect, the spark of excitement pushing away the veil of jealousy that had momentarily clouded her features.

Eira smiled warmly at the thought, pushing against her mother's touch as if she was requesting more.

"How much are they? Will I be able to help with the cost?"

She asked cheerfully, even though she had little to no idea just how much they truly were. The meagre copper coins growing in her trunk would barely cover a common parchment, let alone a book.

Lael chuckled, stepping forward and ruffling Eira's hair.

"Now, now, little alchemist, don't you worry your pretty little head about costs. Your mother and I will handle it. Besides..."

He winked.

"...someone has to keep the family coffers full, right?"

~

The farmhouse was quiet, save for the gentle crackling of the hearth in the living room. Eira was already asleep, tucked away in her small bedroom. Kuina and Lael were cleaning up after dinner, their movements synchronized and efficient after years of partnership. And Julian, he'd finally nodded off in his wicker bassinet.

"A book of all things... it'll be quite pricey you know... plus with her tuition savings I might just have to start adventuring again to secure enough funds."

Lael murmured softly to his wife.

Kuina paused in her cleaning, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. She leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Lael as he meticulously wiped down the table.

He lifted his gaze to hers, his green eyes boring into her own silvery blue orbs.

"Don't give me that look, you know it's true..."

Kuina sighed, a hint of weariness in her voice.

"I know, I know. It's just... we finally had a taste of peace. I was hoping we could hold onto it for a little longer."

She walked over to him, her hand reaching up to cup his stubbled cheek.

"But our children deserve the best, and if that means a few more quests for us, then so be it."

"Us?"

Lael wrapped both arms around her and lifted her with ease, sitting her onto the table and beginning to kiss the exposed flesh of her neck and collarbone.

"...we always lose track of quests... somehow due to my hungering vixen here..."

He chuckled lightly. It was no secret that his wife wore the pants in this marriage, his balls belonged solely to her for her pleasure and not his.

Kuina let out a soft gasp, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink as Lael’s lips trailed along her neck. She playfully slapped his hands away, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Oh, hush you. Someone has to keep you in line, or you’d be off chasing dragons and glory without a second thought.”

She leaned into his embrace, her own hands finding their way to his strong back.

"I always did like dragons... but playing house with you... I love..."

He mused, leaning back to unbutton his wife's blouse before descending on her creamy flesh again, suckling hungrily at her milk heavy tits.

The sounds of their intimate moment filled the quiet farmhouse, a passionate counterpoint to the peaceful slumber of their children. The scent of hearthfire mingled with the sweet aroma of Kuina's skin, creating an atmosphere of warmth and desire.

"I want another baby."

Kuina murmured, threading her slender fingers through her husband's scarlet locks of hair as he feasted on her breast.

Lael paused, his grip loosening slightly. He looked down at Kuina, a mixture of surprise and amusement on his face.

“Another one? Are you sure, my love? Two little terrors are quite enough to keep us busy.”

He chuckled, but there was a warmth in his voice that hinted at his own desire.

"Though, I won't deny a third little Wolflace running around wouldn't be so bad..."

Kuina leaned in, brushing the tips of their noses together affectionately before kissing him gently on the lips.

"...after these quests and we put away some coin, let's start trying again..."

She agreed.

Lael grinned, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He resumed his ministrations, his touch becoming more tender and deliberate. The farmhouse settled back into a comfortable rhythm of intimacy, the promise of a future filled with love, adventure, and perhaps another little Wolflace hanging in the air. As the night deepened, the sounds of their passion faded into a gentle murmur, leaving only the crackling hearth and the quiet breaths of sleeping children to fill the silence.

'Oh joy. The parents are at it again.'

Julian thought to himself as he woke groggily in his bassinet to the sounds of his new parents going at it like rabbits in their bed, a couple feet away from his bassinet. His infant eyes struggled to focus in the dim light, but the rhythmic creaking of the bedframe and the muffled sounds were unmistakable. A wave of annoyance washed over him, a distinctly adult reaction trapped within a baby's body. He let out a frustrated little grunt, flailing his tiny limbs in protest.

'Lucky Eira, she gets to have her own bedroom, must be nice being the chosen wanted child. Doesn't have to put up with this going on right next to her bed as she sleeps.'

Julian huffed softly with his thoughts bouncing around his head.

A small, muffled giggle escaped Kuina's lips, though she quickly stifled it. Lael, ever perceptive, paused for a moment, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. He leaned down and whispered something in Kuina’s ear, causing her to blush and playfully swat his arm. The sounds continued, slightly subdued, but still audible to the little occupant of the bassinet.

~

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the thatched roof, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The farmhouse was stirring with life. Lael was already up, tending to the animals in the barn, while Kuina was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, humming a gentle tune. Eira was nowhere to be seen, likely still lost in her dreams. And Julian? He was awake, staring intently at the wooden beams above his bassinet, his mind already racing with thoughts far beyond his infantile capabilities.

Tiny footsteps creaked against the wooden floorboards, slowly drifting into the parents bedroom unguarded. Eira's eyes showed visible sleep rings as the haunting horrors of the nightly 'howls' had kept her from any semblence of a peaceful rest.

"I could have swore... hmm."

Eira grumbled, grinding her teeth against the insides of her cheek. Her sleepy blue eyes tinted with flecks of pink as her gaze met over her brother, bound inside the bassinet like a rat swaddled in a trap. Her small hands coiled around the outer wicker layer, feeling a mix of curious fear that lingered from last night's 'monster groans' still fresh in her mind.

"The noises, you hear them too, don't you?"

She asked in a hushed whisper.

It's not like she was expecting a response from him. Periodically however, she did notice subtle moments of Julian 'understanding' what she was insinuating from time to time. But, it could be all in her head, with that vivid imagination of hers. She reached over to grab the corner of his swaddle, pulling on it so that his arms could pop free.

Julian stretched his arms above his head the moment they were free, a long yawn escaping his mouth and his soft white hair sticking up in all different directions.

'Oh-ho, way ahead of you sis. Try sleeping in the same room as the freaks making those ghastly sounds all night.'

Julian chortled to himself mentally.

Watching Julian's face distort in dissatisfaction, Eira let her wild mind assume he had somehow agreed. How horrifying, she thought to herself. She lowered the wicker layer so she had better leverage to pick up the tiny infant.

"Every time I ask them about it, they chuckle to themselves and avoid the question entirely. Once you're older they'd say."

She grumbled to herself, freeing her brother from the bassinet only to trap him in her arms. One step, then the next, traveling downstairs at a snails pace.

"I can't wait for you to start walking on your own, you're getting pretty heavy for this.."

Eira complained, with each step down came a hefty huff from her pursed lips.

'You and me both.'

Julian thought as he wiggled free from Eira's arms until she put him down. He immediately began to crawl toward the kitchen, smelling breakfast being made. What he would give to sink his four baby teeth into a piece of chewy bacon.

Eira watched Julian’s surprisingly determined crawl towards the kitchen, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on her face.

“Honestly, you move faster than you should for a baby.”

She muttered, trailing behind him at a more leisurely pace. The aroma of frying bacon grew stronger with each passing moment, drawing them both towards the heart of the farmhouse. Kuina, humming softly, was busy flipping bacon and scrambling eggs, oblivious to the two little ones approaching.

Kuina's sharp reflexes as a retired S-Class Adventurer were still on point as ever, sensing the tiny breaths and footsteps between both of her children as they joined her in the kitchen.

"Eira, make sure to wash up before you sit at the table for breakfast. Wash your face and hands, don't forget to brush your teeth either."

Eira groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes.

“But momma! I just woke up!”

She protested, though she began to shuffle towards the washbasin in the corner of the kitchen, a pout on her lips. Kuina simply raised an eyebrow, her expression unwavering. Eira sighed and reluctantly began splashing water on her face, muttering under her breath about unfairness and early mornings. Julian, meanwhile, had reached Kuina's feet, gazing up at her with wide, pleading green eyes, clearly hoping for a stray piece of bacon.

Kuina bent down and plucked Julian up, readily opting to breastfeed the crawling infant rather than give him any bacon. The front of her blouse came undone and she exposed one succulent nipple to the boy, wincing as he latched on without any other food choice.

Eira, mid-toothbrushing, paused and stared with a mixture of disgust and fascination.

“Really-”

She mumbled around the bristles.

“You’d think he’d be wanting real food by now.”

She resumed scrubbing her teeth with renewed vigor, pointedly avoiding looking at her mother and brother. Lael entered the kitchen, stretching after his morning chores. He glanced at the scene – Kuina nursing Julian, Eira brushing her teeth with a scowl – and chuckled, shaking his head affectionately.

“A typical morning, I see.”

"I'll have you know, your granny nursed all of her children until they were the age of five. Julian is just barely even one year old."

Kuina mused, rubbing the boys white hair gently.

Eira sputtered, nearly **** on her toothpaste.

“Five! That’s… that's weird!”

She exclaimed, finally spitting into the basin. She glared at her mother, then at Julian, who seemed perfectly content with the arrangement. Lael, suppressing a laugh, ruffled Eira’s bouncy golden hair.

“Well, your grandmother was a… unique woman.”

Lael said with a wry smile. He turned his attention to preparing his own breakfast, grabbing a piece of toast and slathering it with honey. The kitchen settled into a comfortable chaos – Kuina continuing to nurse Julian, Eira grumbling as she finished her breakfast, and Lael enjoying his toast with a quiet amusement. Outside, the wheat fields shimmered in the morning sun, promising a bountiful harvest. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the nearby trees, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and damp earth...