Epilogue
The garden was loud with laughter. From their seats on the terrace, Dorian and Crispin could see the children darting across the lawn.
Angelica leading the charge, her golden curls catching the sunlight as she barked orders with a general's precision.
Colin and Alric trailed after her, pretending to grumble but obeying every command anyway.
"She's terrifying," Crispin said, sipping his coffee.
"She's only three," Dorian replied, without looking up from his tablet.
"Exactly my point."
Dorian chuckled, secretly proud. "It's the Albury blood. She's ruthless."
"Ruthless? She's a tiny dictator in pigtails," Crispin said, shaking his head. "My poor son doesn't stand a chance."
"He's four. Give it time. Adoration fades when they start school and discover football."
Dorian smirked, “That I can believe. You had a long list of flings from reception right up to the time you first laid eyes on Aria."
"While you specialised in terrorising the female population just by looking at them. That is until you learned some social etiquette and charm. Do you remember, you were voted 'most likely to become a serial killer'", Crispin remarked.
"Well, we did almost set fire to Ophelia's house." grinned Dorian at the memory, "I am surprised Aria let you get away with naming your second Paul."
Crispin snorted. "Better than Crispin. At least he won't spend his life being called crispy chicken wings by his sister-in-law."
They both laughed remembering Lule's antics. They both blamed her for being a bad influence on the children. Aria appeared briefly at the French doors with little Paul balanced expertly on her hip. She gave them a small wave before disappearing inside again.
"She's still nursing?" Dorian asked.
Crispin nodded. "Second one's hungrier than the first. We were up all night. The second one was supposed to be easier."
"Do you remember blood oath we promised? When we were fresh out of school," Dorian said quietly. "We were never getting married. Never going to be like our parents. We were going to become independently wealthy and keep a harem of women."
Crispin's smile softened. "Well, that bombed, didn’t it?"
"True," Dorian said. "But I can’t imagine a life without Rune. She runs the house. The kids. My schedule. My sanity."
"Ah, Aria and the kids keep me sane. I think my father is getting ideas again," commented Crispin with a sour expression on his face. Dorian gave him a sideways glance, amused. "You need help?"
"It’s all well in hand," Crispin corrected. "We've come a long way from late-night promises in boarding school."
"That we have," Dorian agreed, leaning back in his chair.
The door opened again, and Rune stepped out, one hand resting on her small but unmistakable bump. She was glowing, the centre around which his whole life now revolved.
"She's going to murder you if you keep letting the kids chase the dog through her flower beds," Crispin said under his breath.
"I've already warned them," Dorian admitted. "But Angelica never listens and Colin follows her lead."
Rune waved at them. “Get your kids to behave or we are going to be doing a tax return before bed.” she shouted smiling. "Why do I always have to be the bad cop?"
They both raised their hands in mock surrender. She smiled, shaking her head before heading back inside.
“What did she mean? Tax return?” asked Crispin, confused.
“Oh nothing” Dorian said, looking away but his ears were a little pink.
Crispin kept nudging him, sensing a story.
“It’s kind of a safe word.” Dorian mumbled looking away.
“You dirty dog.” Crispin laughed, with a cheeky grin. "So, another one on the way. No wonder."
Dorian nodded. "Only one this time. Can’t imagine double demons again."
Crispin laughed. "You'll manage. You are surviving Angelica."
"Yeah, well, after the twins came, I just... Well, I guess I changed my mind about the not-having-kids plan"
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the children's shouts drifting through the open air.
Rune had started working with Dorian a few months back.
What began as a small project had grown into a department of its own.
She'd discovered an unexpected talent for design, and her plans for the company's green spaces had made even Dorian see the appeal of gardening.
He'd set up an office for her in the same wing as his own, close enough to have lunch together every day.
Close enough for him to keep a watchful eye on Tom and Finn, whose visits to her office were, as he liked to put it, supervised and strictly time-limited.
Rune found his jealous streak hilarious; he found it normal and her burden to bear since she married him.
He also fucked her senseless in case he sensed a man getting too friendly.
Her office door was closed more often than not with her spread out on the table.
Crispin broke the silence with a grin. "You know, we've become quite boring."
Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Speak for yourself."
"We're talking about family planning and schools."
"And yet," Dorian said, watching Angelica order the boys to form a queue for her pretend tea party, "I've never been more content."
Crispin followed his gaze, a quiet smile tugging at his mouth. "Same."
They sat together as the light dimmed, two men who'd spent a lifetime fighting, failing, and finally finding their way home. Behind them, the house hummed with the sounds of family, a kind of peace neither of them had thought they'd ever wanted or deserved.
Angelica shrieked with laughter as Colin tripped over Alric's shoe, both boys collapsing into the grass. The dog proceeded to mark them both with muddy pawprints.
Dorian shook his head, smiling. "Undisputed queen," he murmured.
"Just like her mother," Crispin said.
Dorian raised his cup in salute. "To the women who put up with us."
Crispin clinked his cup against his. "And to the children who'll probably turn out just like us."
They both laughed, the sound carrying across the garden, blending with the laughter of the little rulers who would, inevitably, run the world next.