Inside

Kai

I wake up to Paedyn snuggled up against my chest. I smile. Her silver hair shimmers in the early morning sun. I've been trying to keep Paedyn inside the castle grounds with me at all times after what happened a few months ago at our baby shower. Of course, Paedyn's stubborn ass refused to stay inside, now that it has been getting warmer. Today I have work, so Gail offered to keep her inside while I'm gone.

–

"You're getting Gail to babysit me." Paedyn says, unimpressed. I sigh and drag a hand down my face.

"Sure," I respond dryly. Paedyn groans.

"I can take care of myself," she whines. I stare at her.

"Whilst you're seven months pregnant?" Paedyn rolls her eyes.

"Whatever," she says. "I happen to love Gail anyways." I raise an eyebrow at her. 

"Oh? You happen to love Gail?"

She smirks. "Yeah. She doesn't treat me like I'm fragile glass that's about to shatter."

I huff out a laugh, shaking my head. "Pae, you're literally carrying my child. Forgive me for wanting to keep both of you safe."

She sighs dramatically, flopping onto the bed. "I get it, I do. But I can still do normal things! Just because I'm seven months pregnant doesn't mean I'm suddenly useless."

I sit down beside her, brushing silver strands away from her face. "I know that. But I also know you. You'll push yourself until you're exhausted, and I'm not taking that risk."

Paedyn groans but doesn't argue. Progress.

Paedyn

Gail is waiting in the kitchen when Kai and I step inside. She leans against the counter, dusting her hands from the flour she was using to bake something.

"Babysitting duty, huh?" she says, eyes flicking between me and Kai.

Kai nods. "Make sure she doesn't do anything reckless."

I scoff. "I never do anything reckless."

Both of them turn to stare at me.

I narrow my eyes. "Okay, name one time—"

Gail smirks. "Jumping off the balcony to prove a point?"

"That was months ago! Before I was pregnant, too."

Kai folds his arms. "How about sneaking out during a storm to train?"

I purse my lips. "Irrelevant. Also before I was pregnant with your child."

Gail snorts, and Kai sighs, rubbing his temples. "Just—please. Take it easy, alright?" His hand finds my waist. 

I roll my eyes but lean into him anyway. "Fine, fine. Go do your important prince things."

He presses a quick kiss to my forehead before turning to leave. "I'll see you later, trouble." 

Paedyn

I watch as Gail kneads dough on the counter. I try to copy her movements, but my fingers get stuck in the dough. 

"You know, Kai used to be the same way when he was little," she says fondly, dusting some flour onto the counter.

I look up. "Really?"

Gail hums. "Oh, yes. He was a menace in the kitchen. Always wanted to help, always ended up making a mess. I swear, I spent half my time cleaning up after him."

I grin. "That sounds about right."

She smirks. "Once, when he was about five, he insisted on making cookies for Kitt, because Kitt had been having a hard time in training and education. I let him stir the batter, and he—" she snorts, "—he got so excited that he knocked the entire bowl over. Flour, sugar, eggs—everything, all over the floor. He burst into tears because he thought he ruined everything." I laugh softly. Even from the youngest age, he really did care about his family.  

"I sat him on the counter, wiped his tears, and told him that messes can always be cleaned up. That's the whole point of baking—sometimes things go wrong, but you try again. And he did. We made another batch, and he was so proud when they came out right." 

I glance down at my own dough-covered hands, then back at Gail. "You really raised him, didn't you?"

She pauses, then exhales, pressing her fingers into the dough. "I suppose I did."

Then, with a teasing glance at my half-formed dough, she says, "Now, if only I could get you to bake properly. Kai at least improved with time."

I gasp in mock offense. "Excuse me—I'm doing great."

Kai

When I get back, I see Paedyn and Gail cleaning up the counter, which is covered in flour, and a tray of sticky buns in the oven. 

"You two had fun," I observe. 

"She did almost send a tray flying across the room, but you two are definitely soulmates. You both are menaces in the kitchen." Gail responds.

I sigh. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Not a chance," she replies, patting my shoulder as she moves to check the oven.

Paedyn smirks up at me. "See? I'm not the only troublemaker here." I roll my eyes. Gail hands me a plate with warm sticky buns on it. 

"Get out of my kitchen before you both start wrecking things," she chuckles. I take the plate and gently guide Paedyn out of the kitchen by her waist, as she collapses in a fit of giggles. 

word count - 825 words

hope you like this! it's kinda a filler chapter and prolly the only one i'm posting tonight, but we'll see. 

much love!