A Journey That Changed The World

Archer watched Isis bounce up and down as her violet eyes gleamed with happiness. She rested her head against his stomach, letting out an adorable yawn, forcing him to run his hand through her soft pink hair, making the little girl even more tired as she began to fall asleep.

While doing that, Tarek plopped down in his lap and was starting to fall asleep. This scene put a smile on his face as the two were tired, staying up waiting for him to come, it seems, sending guilt shooting through his but soon he lay down, got comfortable as he cuddled up to the twins.

The trio cuddled up after he wrapped a thick blanket over them all; the cold air was starting to seep into the room. Archer wanted to make sure the babies were warm, so he used some magic to heat the air around him. He soon fell asleep, warm and cozy thanks to the magic seeping over them.

***

Nefertiti stirred hours later, feeling refreshed and ready to give her husband an earful for skipping out on their little darlings. She stretched with a yawn, her arms reaching for the sky like a sleepy cat, only to freeze at the uncanny quiet. No giggles, no gurgles. Her head whipped toward the cot, and her heart did a little flip.

There, in a tangle of tiny limbs and pure, squishy adorableness, was Archer, fast asleep like a guardian angel who’d forgotten to clock out. Sweet little Tarek was curled up beside him, snuggled in close, while Isis had claimed the whole landscape, one chubby foot smooshed right over Father’s nose.

Archer, ever the softie, cradled her tiny hand in his, holding it like the world’s most precious treasure, keeping his wild princess safe even in dreams. Nefertiti’s scowl melted into the biggest, goofiest grin, her argument forgotten in a puddle of warm fuzzies. ‘So he didn’t forget and chose to stay all cramped up just to be with them,’ she thought

Following that, she approached the cot and tried to reach for Isis, so she can bathe and feed her, but the little girl’s eyes snapped open, so she rushed into Archer’s embrace to escape, making her laugh as she spoke. ”Little princess doesn’t want to leave her Daddy’s side, does she?”

Nefertiti watched as a tuff of pink hair popped out of the sheets, a pair of big violet eyes just like the man she loves. There was a hopeful expression on the little girl’s face. This made her heart melt, and she caved in. ”Alright, you can stay with him, but his on baby duty today, I’ll let the others know to drop my other daughters off.”

Isis’s big, sparkly eyes twinkled like morning stars as she burrowed her fluffy little head into Archer’s neck, letting out the tiniest, happiest sigh before drifting off to dreamland once more. Just then, Teuila and Agrippin peeked in, holding their own bundle-of-joy bundles, sweet in their arms.

Nefertiti whirled around, her face blooming into the sunniest grin. ”Tuck our little Salina and Antonia in with those three sleepyheads,” she said. ”Then it’s rest day for us mamas, we’ve earned a snuggle-fest of our own!”

The words were magic. Teuila’s and Agrippin’s eyes went wide as saucers, lighting up like fireworks, and they nodded. They gently lowered the two blue-and-white-haired babies onto Archer’s broad chest. The moment those tiny toes touched down, the girls’ faces scrunched, and they wriggled like puppies, burrowing under the soft covers in a whirlwind of giggles and coos, piling on him in one big cuddle.

Teuila, Agrippin, and Nefertiti stood there, frozen in a chorus of awws, their hearts turning to absolute goo at the sight: their fierce warrior husband, now a human teddy bear fortress, surrounded by a fort of floppy limbs and contented snuffles. Pure, pint-sized perfection and their caring father.

”How did the most unstable dragon become one of the best fathers?” Teuila muttered, amazed.

”I’ve seen him do some villainous things, but now they’ve arrived, his become calmer,” the white-haired Elemental woman added. ”It’s good though, because he isn’t angry anymore.”

Following that, the three left the room knowing their children would be safe as they all slept in a big pile while their lover was crunched up due to being in a cot.

***

Archer woke up hours later, only to see white hair in his face. He shook his head only to see Salina leaning up against his shoulder. Her little brown face was scrunched up like she was having a bad dream. Seconds later, she let out some noises, causing him to play with her soft hair.

”Just like your mother,” he whispered. A love-filled smile appeared on his face. ”A little Teuila with white hair.”

A pair of blue eyes opened, tired and groggy, but soon an excited spark appeared as she leaned forward, giving him a gummy kiss on the cheek. Archer chuckled before wrapping her in a tight hug. ”Hello, my little sea princess, I’ve missed you so much.”

The little girl let out a squeal of happiness, waking up Antonia. The little girl sat up and her violet eyes lit up as she started crawling in his direction, joining in on the cuddle when dragged in by him. He kissed both girls all over the face, making them laugh as the others finally woke up.

Isis and Tarek, with their wide-eyed enthusiasm, little fists waving in the air, couldn’t resist the pull of the playful chaos any longer. They launched themselves into the fray, tumbling over each other in a whirlwind of tiny limbs and laughter. Archer, ever the doting father with a mischievous glint in his eye.

”Let’s see how you four love this,” he warned.

He scooped them up one by one, planting soft, exaggerated kisses on their rosy cheeks, their button noses, and the crowns of their heads. The air filled with the sweet squeals of all four infants; their giggles bubbled up like a fountain, unrestrained and pure. Exhausted from the whirlwind of affection, they finally flopped down.

Their chests heaving in tiny, rhythmic pants, eyelids fluttering thanks to already being tired. The room, bathed in the warm glow of the late afternoon sun filtering through the curtains, seemed to hold its breath, savoring the peace. But Archer wasn’t done yet. His gaze landed on Antonia, her round belly peeking out from beneath her rumpled onesie.

Moments later, he poked and she erupted into peals of delighted giggles. She kicked her legs feebly in protest, her laughter a high, tinkling melody that danced through the air like wind chimes in a breeze. Salina, fiercely protective even at her age, sprang to her sister’s defense, or at least tried to.

With a scrunch of her brow and a wobbly lunge forward, she batted at his hand, her tiny fingers grasping at nothing but air. It was adorably futile, and Archer couldn’t help but chuckle at her spunk. In a flash, he swept her up and pinned her gently to the bed beside Antonia.

”Oh no, you don’t, little guardian,” he teased in a mock-serious whisper, his voice laced with warmth.

Salina’s protests melted into helpless shrieks of delight as his fingers danced lightly over her belly, tracing lazy circles and soft scratches that coaxed out wave after wave of laughter. Antonia joined in immediately, her own giggling joining her two sisters’ voices, filling every corner of the room with echoes of pure happiness.

Emboldened by the fun, the tins mounted their counterattack. Isis, the bold explorer of the bunch, crawled forward with surprising speed, her grunts punctuating each inch gained, while Tarek followed in her wake, pudgy arms pumping like a tiny engine. They aimed straight for his sides, their small hands flailing in an attempt to turn the tables.

Archer was ready; he gathered them both into the fold, pinning the entire four down in a sprawling pile of limbs and laughter. They squirmed and twisted beneath his gentle hold, their faces flushed pink, but escape was impossible. All they could do was surrender to the onslaught, his fingers now a flurry, skittering across their exposed bellies.

The room erupted into high-pitched squeals from them all, underscored by Archer’s own laughter that vibrated through them like a soothing rumble of thunder. Tiny feet kicked wildly, hands clutched at his sleeves, and tears of mirth glistened in the corners of their eyes.

In that suspended moment, the world outside faded into oblivion, leaving only this sacred bubble of family, where the simplest touch could summon a storm of happiness that echoed long after the tickles had ceased. As their laughter finally turned into happy sighs, the four little ones lay there in a tangled heap.

Archer watched them all catch their breath before gathering the babies into a cuddle and lying back down. They fell asleep as thunder boomed outside, but none of the children woke up thanks to being utterly comfortable.