Swallowing emotions

Date | 16th of October 2021
Weather | It is getting colder, and its already dark outside
Time | 4 pm
Location | Nelson’s house
Outfit | Casual styles.


Eden had lived many years, done a lot of things that she wasn’t proud of. And done so much that she still remembered as good and held close to her heart. As some of her most precious memories. Giving birth to each of her children, those were on the top of her list. Which made it so much harder to do this, because she knew she was already losing them. After tonight she wasn’t even sure they would want her in her life anymore, which she understood with all that had happened. She clearly wasn’t as good as a mom as she had always hoped she would be. Kemuel came down and gave her an odd look knowing something was odd when she sat by the table grabbing his tablet and pen to start drawing while waiting for the rest of the guys joining them. She had stayed at the house ever since she had talked with Ash about her secret, not really knowing how to engage with the remaining children in the house. Just waiting for the doorbell to ring. Which it did, she walked over and opened it. Outside Ash stood, with Sebastian. “Hey” she said trying to keep her composer “come in” she said opening the door even wider “We are still waiting for Zadkiel and Letha, Kemuel is already in the dining room” she was rambling she knew that, and what was worse she knew that Sebastian might already know or had picked up on the tension there was. Poor boy and his ability, it couldn’t be easy always knowing, always seeing everything. “Talia is out on an assignment when I told her that I would stay a couple of days, she’ll be home tomorrow” she then explained and took the boys jackets and hung up. “Well, this way” she then walked towards the dining room, where Kemuel looked up and gave both Ash and Sebastian a welcoming smile, before he turned his gaze back towards the tablet in front of him. “Tea?” Eden asked, not even noticing how she was fiddling with her fingers while waiting for their answer.

Laila had found the last nights weird, more odd than usual, but mostly because their mother had been home and Laila being Laila, had tried to engage in some sort of conversation. Mainly because there was still the whole Seraphina thing, and despite Laila being able to talk with her youngest sister, Seraphina had found herself more secure engaging in talking to Kemuel or even just stay close him in silence. But Laila respected her process in recovery. Meanwhile Laila had been earning her trust back in her own words at least, by showing she wasn't just going to storm off to the next big thing, she had gotten her cards on the table about what had happened. Because honesty came first, especially with all the secrets and things that had happened this year. With Aleks, Sebastian and Ash coming over, she had baked an apple pie and made sure there was enough coffee for everyone who wanted a cup when the guests would arrive. Laila returned with a tray she placed on the table with plates and cups. She had no idea what had made her mother and Ash wanting to gather everyone just like old times, but she didn't complain. She smiled at Kemuel drawing, before lifting her head watching her mother going to get the door.

Seraphina made it down the stairs and took a deeper breath in. For someone who was usually the most up for social gatherings she hadn't really been up for much lately, but took everything one step at the time. She bounced over to one of the chairs placing her head on Kemuel's shoulder to see what he was drawing.

Ash looked towards Sebastian and then at Aleks before he knocked on the door. Sebastian had already figured something insane was going on, it didn't take a lot to notice when his father was out of it, and this time something had completely knocked him out - the warlock had never seen his father looking so pale before, making Bash slightly worried. But he thought to himself it could have something to do with his so called relationship to Eden, after all Bash had seen more than enough of that. As soon as Eden opened the door, he smiled warmly at her giving her a quick hug, Ash placed his arm around Eden placing a kiss towards her temple, wanting to assure her this was going to be fine - at least he hoped. After they took their jackets off and shoes, before entering to the living room.

Laila walked over to greet Ash in a hug, "it's been a while." Ash almost puzzled enough by the thought of him knowing Laila actually was his child, but he didn't waste a second before giving her a hug, before she escaped his grip and walked to greet Bash and Aleks as well. Seraphina smiled at them with a welcoming nod. "I made coffee as well if that has any interest, and apple pie - but I think Zad is going to hunt me down if we start on that without him," she pointed out with a soft chuckle, as she gestured them to sit down. "It looks lovely," Sebastian complimented the set up.

When Tien had gotten to know that ‘the whole gang’ was coming over, Tien had insisted on them making tea. She knew a handful of the participants liked tea over coffee, so wouldn’t it be the smartest? But even though, they had also made coffee. Tien had tried to push herself a little forward and insist on helping with preparing anything really. She wanted to get back on track – back to old times. Besides from that she had mostly stayed at home since she had been at Max’s place and been picked up Kemuel last week. She was still battling herself with whether or not she was sober for more than a week or not. Stupid rape drug.
She had tried not to be in the way, and stay clear of electronics which could cut or in other way damage her… So, she had been mixing and rolling dough for the apple pie with Laila, besides from when she had been cleaning the home. As their mother left for the door, Tien got up on the kitchen counter to sit. She watched how everyone was doing their own little thing and she could hear her mother rambling by the door as she opened the door.

Aleks wasn’t as good at picking up social ques as Sebastian, but the way both Sebastian seemed to be on to something and how Ash didn’t seem to feel well, had made Aleks wonder what in the world was going on – one thing was for sure, he was really looking forward to seeing the Nelsons again, after all, things had been quite turbulent for almost everyone. Aleks himself hadn’t really been the best to take contact with the Nelsons after he had been in the car accident, but he was sure it was going to be completely cool. Eden opened the door and Aleks smile widened up, filled with warmth and love. “Heeey!” he greeted the mother of the Nelson kids giving her a heartfelt hug. He entered with his family and let Eden take the jacket with the carkeys in it. After all, Aleks had been the one to drive. He took off his shoes and followed the two other men into what seemed to be the gathering point for this day. Laila was quick to greet them, and Aleks didn’t waste any second before hugging her back. He gave Tien a wave, who seemed to respond with a simple smile and nod for every one of the participants. The twins seemed occupied with something Kemuel was drawing. God Kemuel had changed since he had last seen him. The wide smile never left him as he saw how Seraphina smiled at them. “Coffee sounds good,” Aleks replied to Laila before he moved over to sit on the other side of Kemuel, and just like Seraphina, he looked at what he was doing. If Kemuel was using his ability for the painting, Aleks would be picking up multiple things about the ability and its capabilities. If Kemuel wasn’t using his ability, he would simply look interested at the drawing.

It wasn’t like Zadkiel to be late, but he was today. He did everything he could to make sure they would get off  in time, but no matter what he did, something seemed to be in the way. The car keys had been gone. A couple of windows had been open and when they finally had been driving off there was no gas on the car… So, he had driven to the gas station, only to get gas over himself. It simply hadn’t been his day and he was so close to just tell Letha that they were going to be staying home and call in sick… But on the other hand, he really wanted to see his family and just have a nice evening with them. So, he had chosen to just take his time and a big deep breath – trying not to inhale the gas – and then drive home. He had told Letha to text Laila about them being late. He changed his clothes, decided that he could still smell the gas, took a bath and picked up a new set of clothing. His hair was wet at poorly groomed – but he still managed to look like a million dollars in a shirt and black pants. When things seemed to be fine Letha and Zadkiel could finally take off with Letha behind the wheel. On their way the got to talk some things through and when they finally arrived, they could get to the door – Zadkiel locking them in with his own key. “Hello! Sorry we’re late!” he called while he took of his shoes and waited for Letha so they could walk in together.

Eden tried; she really did. But holding the façade, even when Ash leaned in and only gave her a small peck. She could still feel how her heart was threatening to jump out of her body. Well, at least the kids had been helping with making things ready, it had almost felt like the honeymoon days after Eden had ended her relationship with Cael. When she had moved with the kids in here, and it had really seemed like things would be going for the better. How cruel fate had been. “Coffee and tea then” she nodded and helped Tien and Laila making things ready for Ash, Aleks and Sebastian while waiting for Zadkiel and Letha to come. At least they had texted telling them that they would be running a little late. “Oh damn” Eden mumbled, as she poured hot tea over her hand. “I’ll, go to the bathroom, I’ll be back in a minute” she mumbled rushing out of the kitchen. Feeling how her hands where shaking, how could something like this rattle her so much? She opened the cold faucet and put her hand that she had burned under it.

Kemuel looked towards Aleks giving him an awkward and slightly shy smile. Things about that hadn’t changed much, even though Kemuel looked so much more different. With his height and how he had gained weight. But that couldn’t change the way you feel, especially not with everything that had happened lately. At this point he was just drawing for the hell of it, not using his powers as that would make this over so quickly. As his mother curse and then left the room she followed her with concerned eyes. “Interesting” he mumbled, clearly getting the feeling that something wasn’t really what it should be. “Thanks sis” he gave Laila a big smile and then looked at how the pie was looking. “Looks really good though” he looked up towards Seraphina and moved his hand to find her and gave it a squeeze. Not long after that, Zadkiel came in, followed by the very... beautiful Letha. God damn it, he felt the flush in his cheeks, and he quickly looked down again. Giving them both a half assed waved. “Better late than never” he mumbled. Letha laughed a little looking around “Oh my, this really looks good!” she breathed out, still feeling out of it with all the things she needed to comprehend with her memories and who she was. But staying with Zadkiel, trying to keep a somewhat normal routine and life. It helped, for the most parts. “Is that coffee?” she exhaled walking towards Laila taking a cup to fill it with coffee.

Bash took a deeper breath in and walked closer towards the table, looking how Eden excused herself, something was completely off the charge and it had every single nerve out trying to analyze why, even if he tried to mind his own arena. But as he looked towards Tien, it fired up again, out of all people here, except his father and Aleks, Tien was the one he had spent the most time with this year in the group. He naturally picked up on everything, but it had become a second nature for him to notice all the small things rather quickly. Sebastian wanted nothing more than to go over and ask her if she was alright and what was bothering her, but for now he waited. Because it seemed like it was just a little part of what was going to be uncovered today. But he gave Tien a warm smile before he sat down on one of the chairs looking at everyone. Ash looked a little bit after Eden, taking a sharper breath in before sitting down next to Sebastian.

Seraphina smiled a little as Kemuel took her hand and gave it a little squeeze, before she sat down on the chair next to him. Pulling a bit more of a smile up, thankful for the energy that Laila carried everyone with. It was weird that Zadkiel was late, but she assumed he had the best story to follow through with the reason behind.

Finally, Zadkiel and Letha came through the door, and Laila greeted them with a warm smile. "It's not that late, but I assume you will tell us the story sooner or later," she waved them inside to the others. "Mum is just at the bathroom, but yeah,"  Laila looked back towards the table as Letha complimented the pie, "thank you - and you look stunning as always," the angel smiled looking over at the flushed Kemuel, unable to hold back her teasing smile. "Come in and sit," she walked over to greet Zadkiel in a quick hug, "and yes, there is coffee in that one, tea in the blue. Help yourselves." She sat down next to Aleks and gave him a warm smile. It had been a while since everyone had sat here together, but it felt natural and she liked it. Ash looked up at Zadkiel and Letha, giving them both a warm smile, and so did Sebastian. There was a lot of impressions for the young warlock.

Tien noticed how her mother spilled hot tea over her hand and quickly narrowed her brows a little. What was going on? Her eyes followed her mother towards the toilet and ended up looking at Sebastian. She pulled on a slightly crooked smile, but only for a moment. She felt a little next to herself, but after their latest conversation, she truly hoped that he would try and take a break and not interfere with whatever seemed to bother neither her nor others, even though she knew it didn’t function like that. Tien jumped down the counter and walked past Sebastian giving his shoulder a short squeeze before she went to look for her mother. “Mom?” she asked carefully and approached her mother who had her hand under the could faucet. “What’s going on?” she mumbled and tilted her head a little to the side.
They were greeted by Laila who clearly didn’t think it was that late of them to arrive. Well, Zadkiel thought the opposite. He had wished to be there early and help around and make sure everyone was feeling comfortable… But now he was here! He shrugged a little about the story, but sure, he could tell a story about how he soaked himself in gasoline. Zadkiel couldn’t help but smile a little as Letha showed her excitement for both the pie and the coffee, and with her they could get closer to the gathering and get something nice to drink. He gave his sister a short hug. “Thanks Laila. It looks really good,” he said and gave a warm smile to everyone in the room. He got himself a cup of coffee while he watched how Laila and Aleks gave each other a hug.
As Aleks let go of Laila he turned towards Kemuel again and leaned a little closer to him, “I have a sense that you haven’t found a Letha clone yet?” he teased and nudged Kemuel carefully, so he hopefully wouldn’t ruin what Kemuel was working on.

Eden looked up as Tien approached her in the downstairs bathroom and gave her a small appreciative smile. “Just, a little on edge” she tried to explain, not knowing how to explain what was going on. “Ash and I will tell all of you in just a moment” she closed for the water and got a towel to dry of her hand. She then placed a soft hand on her shoulder and walked back into the kitchen and dining room. Walking over she gave a hug to Zadkiel and then gave Letha one as well. “Good to see the both of you again” Letha nodded swallowing the coffee that she had just taken a sip of. “Likewise,” she sat down and waited for everyone else to sit down as well, before she would attack the pie standing just out of reach looking so good. Eden walked over and stood beside Ash, hoping it could give her some strength to get through this.

Kemuel was about to get the water he was drinking down the wrong pipe. As Aleks asked him if he hadn’t found a Letha clone yet. If a gaze could kill, Aleks would have died a second time. He gave him his biggest fakes smile as he turned to his tablet and with his powers, he quickly drew up a very detailed hand that was showing the middle finger and turned it to Aleks. “Mind your own business” he said and then deleted the drawn to work on the face that he had started as he had sat down.

Eden waited till everyone had sat down, gotten some coffee and tea to drink and a piece of cake. She wanted nothing more than just to forget and not do what they had actually come here for. But she stood up and drew the attention towards her. “So, there is actually a very particular reason why I’ve asked you all here today” she started and closed her fingers around the small pendant that was hanging around her neck. “Many of you know that Ash and I, have been close for many years, but” she licked her lips and gave Sebastian a soft smile “we actually met long before your father moved you and Aleks to moonlight falls, you were two, if I remember correctly” she fiddled a little more feeling how it was hard to push the words over her tongue. “Ash and I, we, were both – I mean” it was clear that she was nervous as she looked at Ash, and took in a deep breath “The relationship that I had to your father, Cael, it wasn’t as easy as I always made it sound, and we had tried for many years to get kids, and when it didn’t happen he became so angry – and, I left him for New York, but like any romantic movie he came after me” Kemuel looked at Ash and then at his mother. They had split up? And? Wait, his eyes became big as he finally understood was going on. Ash and his mother were an item!? “Hold up, hold up” he said and put down his drawing. “Are you two, what, when how long?” Eden bit her lips and took in a deep breath “it’s more complicated than that” Eden tried feeling the pain in her heart. Kemuel just sank back into his seat with his mouth hanging open. “But Cael and I, we, we had our problems even after Zadkiel was born, and, and I moved away with him, where Ash and I met another time – and – and” she swallowed as she looked from Zadkiel to Laila. She almost felt like she was about to pass out at this point.

Seraphina folded her lips together as Aleks tried his attempt of teasing Kemuel with his not so little Letha crush - but unlike Aleks' teasing and Laila's knowing smile, Seraphina did not torment her twin, at least not in the crowd. And she got from the vibe in the room that now was not the time to play around, for some reason she knew there was going to be something more seriously discussed. But Seraphina had always been the quite kid who mostly just did things on her own, letting the crowd talk while she just observed and listened - talking when asked. Seraphina looked towards her mother as she returned and sat down, now everyone was sat down, everyone seemed to have gotten something to eat and drink, she had taken a piece for herself and Kemuel, and some coffee, giving him a small smile.

Laila lifted the coffee cup as her mother started speaking, took a sip in. She sensed the tension in Ash who sat next to her, why so tense? Her powers almost begged to settle the nerves in the room. What was going on? It was how nervous her mother was that gave her the first signs of something, her saying there was very particular reason for this set up. Now, you didn't gather two families for just any reason. It made Laila press her brows together, and she caught Sebastian's eyes shortly who seemed to be picking up clues around the same speed as Laila. Laila turned her eyes back to her mother, listening, observing. Laila had been picking up on the secret glares from Ash and Eden for years, she even remembered one time she had asked about it but it was also the last time little Laila had bluntly asked about such a thing again. But it made sense, that their had been something between them once. It far from surprised Laila. Sebastian nodded a bit as Eden spoke directly to him, that they had encountered in New York.

Ash caught Eden's eyes giving her a small nod, that it was alright. Funny how both of them were so used to standing in front of people, so many people day in and day out, telling them good and bad news as doctors. But sitting here they could feel like train wrecks afraid of saying something wrong, or the outcome of their words. Laila narrowed her eyes a little, and was almost distracted in her own little theory as Kemuel spoke and got the confirmation she had needed - Ash and her mother had been a thing before. Sebastian was used to sitting still and listen as he came up with theorizes and meaning of things. Once again Laila and Bash looked at each other, and it was like they just starred at each other for a second. Like something, everything just made sense. Now Laila already knew a bit more of her mother's affairs than than her siblings, but that was mostly out of respect for Sariel that she hadn't mentioned anything. Giving her half sister the time she needed before dropping a bomb like that. Laila looked over at her mother, noticing how she also looked over at Zadkiel, but only looked towards the two of them. "Cael isn't our father is he?" She asked and licked her lips a little bit. It was a rather blunt question, but what else made sense? Why speak of having trouble having children, talking about having met with Ash before and after that - why now?

Tien was dismissed and told she would get to know the reason soon enough. She gave her mother a kind smile, even though she was worried for the clumsiness she felt like she had never seen before. “Okay,” she almost whispered, but waited for her mother to finish up running cold water over her hand so she could follow her back. She wished to keep an eye out, just like everyone had done for her. But nothing happened, so they simply walked back together, and she too greeted her brother and his girlfriend. Zadkiel only getting a halfhearted wave and Letha getting a greater smile and a little hug.

Aleks couldn’t help but laugh a little when Kemuel got surprised about what he had said, and even more when Aleks received a hateful glare. As Kemuel then drew something else, he waited the very short amount if time before it was done. A big, detailed middle finger. It only made Aleks Laugh even greater. He had even picked up on his ability, “That’s so cool, little man. The thing you do,” he complimented the ability and pointed a little towards what he was drawing on. Aleks was very sure of when too much was too much, and the way Kemuel reacted also told Aleks that he shouldn’t be poking the bear too much longer.

Tien had moved her chair, so she sat closer to one of the walls. This way she could have her back against the wall and one of her legs rest against the backrest. She had a cup of tea placed on a lower cup between her legs, while she had the piece of pie on a plate in her hand and a fork in the other. She was in the middle of chewing on a piece when Eden stood up and her eyes followed. As soon as Eden opened her mouth, Tien had a little feeling, that this wasn’t going to be good. Nobody in the whole world used ‘a very particular reason’ unless it was something very good that everyone had seen coming, or some risky ass business which this probably was. What was her mother on to and how much was Ash a part of it? She narrowed her eyes as she continued speaking about how close Ash and she had been. She continued to chew slowly on her chunk of pie, listening very closely. Tien might not be professional, but the way her mother was fiddling made her stomach turn. Her head was spinning with a whole lot of thoughts as Eden struggled to find the right words. She changed how she wanted to explain the situation and started talking about her father. Her heart sunk immediately. What. Tien looked down at the tea between her legs before she got up. No, no. She did not feel ready for this conversation. Without her tea she walked out the dining room, not caring about what the others thought. If anyone was getting up from their stool, she would lift a palm up to face them, as if she was telling them to stop following her. She walked out to the study and put the plate of pie onto the windowsill. Her heart had picked up pace and she shook her hands as if she was trying to get something of them for a moment. Multiple thoughts were streaming through her head. She was thinking about what her mother had said, what the others were thinking, cursing herself for leaving, even though she knew she needed the moment alone. And while all the thoughts were running through her head she also tried to get a hold on Max. As soon as he would appear she would stop pacing and look at him. “I wanna get out of here, right now,” she whispered quite stern, “We can go bowling,” she suggested.

Zadkiel was drying his mouth with a napkin as his mother stood up. His eyes looked towards her, and he sent her a nice and warm smile as she told them there was a particular reason for the meeting. What kind of surprise was she hiding and did Ash have a hand in it? He noticed how she let her fingers wrap around the pendant and he frowned for just a second. Why was she nervous? His eyes looked towards Ash, as she mentioned him, and then towards Sebastian and Aleks. Zadkiel was listening interested to the story, constantly with his brows a little furrowed, trying to figure out what the mystery here was. As Eden started to talk about the relationship with his father, his gaze went from curious to apologetic. He knew it hasn’t been the easiest, but he had just been a little boy and not really been able to act on it or think too much of how it was deeper between his parents. Of course, he hadn’t realized that that they had trouble with getting kids, because he only knew that his family had grown, and that it was greater than most. He was sorry that her mother and father had split once because things had been so difficult. The only thing that left him wondering was why she explained it, and why was it important for them to know that they hadn’t been like glue forever? But before he got to ask anything so he could get it, Kemuel interrupted. Zadkiel looked at him as he was asking, and then at Eden and Ash. As Eden folded her lips Zadkiel blinked a couple of times and then looked back at Kemuel and then Ash and Eden. What? It was more complicated than that. Zadkiels eyes widened slowly and his brows got knitted tighter. What? His mouth slowly opened and as she explained that there was trouble even after Zadkiel had been born. Zadkiel wasn’t related to Cael. Zadkiel wasn’t related to Cael. He wasn’t related to Talia. He wasn’t related to Marc. Was he even related fully to anyone at this table? He felt both relief and a shattering feeling. This was so odd. He looked towards Laila as Eden looked at her too, explaining. Laila and Zadkiel were at least together in this. Even though Laila asked the question, which actually roamed in Zadkiel’s mind, he already knew the answer. Their father was Ash.

Compared to other, Aleks was quite calm about the whole situation, he simply raised his brows and looked from his father to Eden and then the Nelson kids. It was weird, thinking that he shared the same amount of blood with Sebastian as he did with Zadkiel and Laila. Gosh. It was quite easy for Aleks to maintain all of it. He didn’t blame any of them honestly. Life could be tough and sometimes, one just did what they felt was the right thing, and sometimes, it was the rightest thing to do.

As Tien got up and left, it took all Eden had not to let tears spill down her cheeks. She had done this, and there was a slight thought in her head that was asking her over and over, if she shouldn’t just have kept this quiet. But then, looking at Laila and Zadkiel, there was something about the fact that they deserved having a father in their life. Which just broke her heart even more, looking at Seraphina and Kemuel that both was sitting there. She could feel how Kemuel just broke by the thought of him still being related to the man that had kidnapped him. Now, none of this was fair. But the truth would have come out, one way and another. Laila asked the obvious and Eden slowly shook her head. “No, Ash is your biological father” she whispered a small laugh left Kemuel as he looked towards his mother. “But I’m guessing we drew the short straw and are still related to the bastard?” he hissed, he got up from his chair. The legs of it scraping over the floor trying to flee the scene much like his older sister. Eden looked at her youngest son, knowing that it wasn’t like Tien. This was something far deeper, and she quickly caught his arm and pulled him back, closed her arms around him. It didn’t take more than two seconds before Kemuel had buried his face in his mother’s hair and started crying. Eden softly kissed his temple “He can’t hurt you anymore, you are safe” she whispered, which only made Kemuel hug her even tighter and just kept sobbing.

Letha didn’t know what to say or do, as she watched how it all went down. Seeing how Kemuel broke down and just kept sobbing in his mother’s arms. It was heart breaking. Her hand found Zadkiel’s and gave it a soft squeeze. But she was also quick to look towards Seraphina to see how she was taking all of this.

It didn’t take long before Max was standing behind Tien in the house. A soft smile formed on his lips as she told him that she needed to get out of there. Maybe bowling. “Now, we both know that’s not going to happen” he said softly and then looked towards were the rest of the people were. “wasn’t there something about you wanting to be there for your family” he nodded towards the room “They need you now, and you won’t forgive yourself if you run away now” he then reached out his hand “I’ll go with you if you want”

No, Ash is your biological father. Laila took a deeper breath in. Tien had left the scene, and it didn't take long before Kemuel needed to at least distance himself a little bit from what was going on. Laila folded her lips together, looking at Zadkiel almost like if they were the only two people left in the room - which was very far from the truth. But she took it in and for a moment just allowed herself to breath and think about all that was going on. The last thing they needed to do was to set the house on fire, despite it seeing so effortlessly to do. It only took a little spark. But then she looked towards Ash, he couldn't possibly have known, because she could see how distressed he was for not being able to do anything. But Laila also looked towards Kemuel and it broke her to see him so pained. However, Laila was also lost for words like everyone else around the table, it was hard to know what to do or say - what did you say when you found out stuff like this?

Seraphina just sat still, like the world around her had frozen ever since she had heard Kemuel's walls had started crumbling, making her tears starting to run down silently one by one, but she took a deeper breath in. Maybe it was Kemuel's words, that they had been the unlucky ones being cursed with Cael. The man who had been nothing but cruel, most cruel this year when everything had fallen apart. The man who hadn't accepted she had fallen, the man who didn't care, the man who had taken Kemuel away from all of them, the man whom she shared blood with and always would. She licked her lips a little bit and breathed slowly out. It didn't take much to tip the iceberg called her mental state these days, but this wasn't about her - she wasn't going to make it about her. Even though it didn't stop Sebastian from getting up from his chair and sit down on the chair Kemuel had been seating in seconds ago, offering her his hand to take, which she did and gave it a smaller squeeze. Seraphina pressed her brows a little bit together, feeling the other sense of an angelic aura in the house, but she didn't mention it. He didn't give himself the permission to process this information emotionally just yet, he had plenty of time for that, it could wait. It had also taken ever bit of power in him not to go after Tien to make sure she was alright, despite her clearly having given signals to not wanting to be disrupted.

Ash did not know what to do or say, he was not the warmest guy to strangers and some would possibly think of him to be the last person to raise children - but he loved every one of his children - even if they weren't his by blood Sebastian and Lexie was valued just as much as Aleks was. So was the love he always had shared for Eden's children. They had always all of them had a special place in his heart, would always have, no matter if they had then appeared to be his children by blood or if they weren't. Because he knew that family didn't end with blood. He took a deeper breath in and looked from Eden and Kemuel, towards Seraphina before his eyes finally landed on both Laila and Zadkiel again.

Aleks gave a short exclaim as Kemuel suddenly got up from his stool. He wanted to try and calm him down, but he didn’t even get that far before he was in the arms of Eden. He then turned to look at Laila and put a hand on her shoulder to be sure that she was alright. He wouldn’t mind comforting all of them if that was needed.
Zadkiel could she how things were going downhill, and it also affected his own mood. Though he had explained while they were eating why he had been late and all, it still didn’t help that his day had been awful enough already, and yet it was still so nice to know that he wasn’t related to that man, but somehow, he also just wished that his mother had stayed with Ash so all of them would have felt better. But then again, who would they have been if they had been raised by Ash? As Letha’s hand found his he took a deeper breath in and squeezed it a little tighter. It was like he woke up from a little trance. He had been looking at Laila for a moment, just like she had. Eden had a hold of Kemuel for now, and Seraphina… Seraphina got comfort from Sebastian.

Max appeared. Thank God. But her idea was shut down, and the sad smile that had been on her lips crumbled. Why not. Why couldn’t leave the oven burning? But he gave her the reason. She had explained to him that she wished she could be there more for her family, and it was like a punch in the gut. She felt how all air left her, making her hold her breath for a moment. She looked away as he spoke about how she wouldn’t forgive herself if she ran away and looked hesitantly back at her as she offered his hand. Her eyes travel from his hand and up to his eyes for a moment. “Fine,” she breathed out in a stern whisper. But instead of taking his hand she took the plate with the pie and gave it to him. “Something to lighten the mood,” she mumbled before she swung her arm into his and led the way. What she came back to was like an explosion of emotions. Even though she had no special gifts to sense the room, she was quite sure that this was going to be too much for all of them.
Tien could almost look like someone who only had left to get back up – which was the case by now, but she had truly just wanted to flee. She noticed how Kemuel looked so devasted and it crushed her fragile heart to see that she hadn’t been there. Laila and Zadkiel seemed to be shocked and stoic, Aleks and Sebastian was there to comfort the others and the same was for Ash and Eden. She felt frozen and not needed as she looked around at the crowd of family. She glanced over her shoulder to Max, almost telling him she wasn’t needed and that everything was just awkward now. But she had this nagging feeling that it wasn’t good enough. She hadn’t even tried. “I guess you hoped-” she bit her own words. No, that would be so mean to say to her own mother. She closed her eyes for a moment. “I’m glad you’re telling us,” she exhaled and almost felt like the whole world was shaking. With a couple of short steps, she got to the nearest window and opened it for some fresh air. “I guess Ash hadn’t known for that long either?” she wondered went to grab her cup of tea she looked towards Ash, and then Eden and back to Ash. Yes, Tien seemed collected – but that was only because she had chosen to suck it up and deal with tears and snot later.

Eden just stood with her youngest son and let him get it out. She understood it wasn’t only the news that he had gotten today, but everything that had happened this year, and now he couldn’t push it down with the rest. Toe be fair, Eden was happy that her son finally let it go and just showed how upset he was with everything. Her eyes turned towards Tien as she came back, but what also pulled her eyes where the guardian angel standing behind her. A smile formed on Eden’s lips, Maximillian Aphelion. But it quickly disappeared as she saw how angry Tien was, even if it didn’t was expressed in so many words. She still knew her kids better than they might wish she did, and even though the words never left her daughter’s lips. Even if she corrected herself and tried to be the civil and strong one. Tien couldn’t have said anything that Eden didn’t already blame herself.

Max couldn’t help but pull a smile and shake his head at Tien a little that just jumped into it. But kind of forgot the giant elephant in the room. “Hello, my name is Max, cake bearer, also known as Tien’s guardian angel, now just pretend I’m not here, as I’m kind of not allowed to leave” he then placed the cake on the table and took a step back. More or less just showing his moral support towards Tien that tried, he knew she did. Eden nodded slowly to say hello to Max, without so many words. Then letting out a sigh as Kemuel pushed himself out of her arms and sat down where Sebastian had been seated. “No, I told him two days ago” Eden explained. Now she could come up with so many reasons why she hadn’t told. Why she had kept it a secret, and why she decided to tell him now. To be fair, she had debated with herself the moment she had filed for divorce, when she finally saw the truth and what kind of man Cael was. How he had turned it around, and made it sound like he had left her. As if he had been the bigger man and let her go. He hadn’t fought for her in the end, and that just showed how little she had actually meant to him. That you could talk about getting a new child together, to then throw you and the life you had built together away. But she didn’t because she also knew she was at fault here. That she hadn’t been strong enough. So, no bad excuses, and she wasn’t going to try to make it sound like this wasn’t her fault. As it was, she could just have been stronger.

Seraphina turned her eyes towards Tien and the other angel as they walked down. Tien was angry, and Seraphina folded her lips a little bit because she could have snapped at Tien for it not being the right moment to just go come back and explode - but at least Tien corrected herself.
Sebastian turned his head towards Tien and the guy who presented himself as Tien's guardian angel. Guardian angel, Bash found himself look away for a second taking a deeper breath in. Not that he wasn't happy that Tien had found someone who could help her, he was more than thrilled by the fact that she had gotten a support system. But it was always weird realizing someone didn't need you anymore, even if you were the one who had taken the step back. It was weird thing, seeing someone move on with their life. Seraphina took an even deeper breath in, "nice to meet you," she licked her lips a little uneasy. "Will you have me excused for a moment," Seraphina got up from the chair and walked to her closest exit which was the laundry room. She just needed to catch her breath, but the irony that the so called God wanted her older sister to have a helping hand, but just let her be. She just sat down on the floor, allowing herself to just be for the moment.

Sebastian looked towards Seraphina for a moment as she left, but couldn't really just go after her, even if a part of him wanted to comfort everyone who was unsettled here it was beyond his ability to be there for everyone. He caught his father's eyes for a second and gave him a nod, things were alright. Because Ash knew Sebastian's heart was torn, always wanted to split himself up to make sure everyone was okay. "I will find you a chair," Laila stood up and walked over to find a chair, not liking how Seraphina had left the room - but perhaps it was just too much, and it wasn't just this moment that tipped everything in her siblings, it was this entire year that had been cursed. Laila got back with a chair for Max to sit down on, before sitting herself down again. She looked towards Aleks giving him a warm smile to show him she was okay, slowly processing everything - but to be fair, this wasn't her mother's only secret and she wished that she would just tell them already. "Anything else?" Laila therefor asked before she could tell herself to shut up. Laila licked her lips a little bit, but her smile was still calm and warm. But it was also just the chance to come clean about other things.

For a start, Tien didn’t think much of Max presenting himself, until he mentioned that he was her guardian angel. She hadn’t even wanted to tell Kemuel that, and he had already seen Max once and picked her up from Max’s home. It felt like her stomach rolled around. She hadn’t wished for him to present himself fully, but it was too late now.
Tien redirected her gaze from Max to her mother as she replied. Two days ago. It really wasn’t that long time ago. Why now when Seraphina had lost her wings? Why not a couple of months ago or in a month or something alike? “It must’ve been heavy on your shoulders to carry so many secrets,” she mumbled slightly apologetic and licked her lips a little. “It takes a lot of courage to tell us after so many years,” she exhaled and started picking at her fingers. Tien was managing her emotions quite well if she had to say so herself. She wasn’t exploding. She had gotten her short break and Max was nearby. Her eyes shortly traveled over the ‘audience’. As her eyes stumbled upon Sebastian, she realized that they now actually shared family and she started to feel a tightness in her chess. God. How awful it would’ve been if Sebastian hadn’t pulled away. If they had been together as a couple and their parents suddenly having a relationship. Her eyes then fell upon Seraphina as she greeted Max. This was the reason she deep down had wished Max hadn’t presented himself as her guardian angel, but she didn’t blame Max. She hadn’t even tried to tell him to just be ‘Max the friend’ or anything. Seraphina left the room for solitude and Tien felt a pull in her gut. She wanted to comfort Tien, but at the same time, she knew that Seraphina probably wouldn’t appreciate Tien’s presence nor words right now. She looked towards Ash. “You’re awfully quiet,” She raised her hand up to her mouth to bite her nail a little. Her eyes shortly glanced towards Max, before her eyes found Ash again. “How are you feeling about this? What do you think about Laila and Zadkiel now being yours by blood?” she tilted her head a little and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Was she going to far? She looked towards Laila who asked if there was anything else. “Mom, you’ve been the one to take the trash, so this one would be for Ash,” she looked towards Laila, “Right?”

Just because you were, a guardian angel didn’t mean that you could read minds. Emotions yes, and he was also able to feel around her and deduce a lot of things. But he hadn’t even thought about the fact what it would feel like for Seraphina to get the news that her sister had a guardian angel. Now, all in this family had one. It was just the thing that not all guardian angels worked the same. Most of them wanted to be anonymous. But he had always believed that it was a must stronger bond when you knew the subject of who you were going to protect. Especially since this was a contract for the rest of your lives.  He looked after the young fallen angel and narrowed his eyes, before looking at Laila as she told him that she would find a chair. But as it was presented for him, it was like all the attention turned towards Eden once more. He was very close to go out and tell the one of the two youngest that none of this were her fault. That she had been failed that day she had fallen. And there was a lot in heavens that didn’t understand the judgement that had been given to her. But he wasn’t sure that his would sound anything but hollow. So, he sat down looking towards the now silently crying Kemuel. It was clear that he was trying to figure out if he should follow his sister or just stay put. There was something about how Laila asked their mother if there was anything else, that made him pause. Was there something else?

Then Tien stepped in and redirected the question to Ash, something about this didn’t seem right. Not how Eden first looked very confused and then slowly widened her eyes when it was clear she understood what it was that Laila was referring to. “Of course, mom is taking the trash, Ash clearly didn’t know at all, so why should this be on him?” Kemuel retorted back and then looked towards his mother again still feeling how raw his cheeks were. “So, is there something else?” Eden looked towards Laila. “You met her?” she asked with a voice that barely had any strengths. To be overwhelmed at this point didn’t cover it anymore. Eden could feel how her head was starting to explode trying to maintain some kind of understanding why her children were upset. While battling all of her demons. She still didn’t sleep all that well, constantly waking up sweat pouring down her back when she could feel how her wing had been ripped of her back and the sword killing her. Then there were the constant prayers that at first hadn’t been as many as they were now. Constantly, not leaving her alone at all. “I don’t know what you have talked with her about, but there is a reason –“ Eden tried and Kemuel stepped up “What? Who?” Eden could feel how her entire heart was exploding feeling like a pray thrown to hungry wolves. “Your half-sister” Eden breathed, since they had gathered here to hear the truth, she didn’t feel like she could push this down for another time. Kemuel widened his eyes, this was the mother that he had put on a pedestal? And then they had another sister out there somewhere. “And you knew!?” He then turned towards Laila, being just as angry at her as their mother. “Kemuel, you have to understand Sariel is over five hundred years” it didn’t help, none of this helped. “Screw all of you” he hissed and then walked out of the room not wanting to be a part of this anymore. Eden blinked a few tears away and then looked towards all of the people sitting in the room.

Sebastian was possibly the one who narrowed his eyes the most as Tien spoke, he didn't know why but there was something odd about it, and he did not appreciate that she took it out on him being quite. It was a lot to process for everyone, now had the roles been reversed, he would have accepted him to speak more up - but he also knew his had swallowed his father to a state he had never seen him in before, or perhaps he had, but the curse of Bash' abilities made sure he knew just about every crumbling little detail and that was the most painful of all. But before Ash even got to speak, Kemuel broke in defending his silence, not that he really had realized that he had been so silent. But what was he to say, hey kids, I'm your biological father, but I never got allowed to play that part, but I hope we can all be friends? It just didn't seem like anything he could imagine would sound right. However, the attention was once again darted towards Eden.

Laila licked her lips a little as her mother was quick to find out what she meant. There was a reason why Laila hadn't spoken about this, like everything Laila always did she did it for a reason, and she looked towards Kemuel as she exhaled while he yelled angrily at her. But she didn't say a thing nor ran after him, not yet. She just looked towards her mother. "I will talk to him later, everything is just heated up right now," she reached out to take her mother's hand shortly. Laila have had a few weeks to process and understand, no she wasn't fan of how her mother had handled things, or how any of it was done, but she believed that Sariel deserved a chance - which was why she took this so calm. But she understood why Kemuel was angry and he was allowed to be, and then she could tell him what she knew about Sariel later - and she knew by then he would understand why she hadn't mentioned her till now.

Ash however, did not know about Sariel, so he pressed his brows a little bit together. But he also could see just by looking at Eden how overwhelming this was, which made him take a deeper breath in and got up from his chair. "How about we all just take a few minutes to collect ourselves? And we can come back here when we are ready?" He suggested looking towards Eden and gave her a nod to come with him towards the kitchen, just giving her a little air, but also providing the remaining people around the table to actually process all of this, and not just having everyone sitting and starring at each other.

It was clear the guardian angel that had been called upon, and more or less had understood that he was under no circumstances allowed to leave. Sat in a chair looking confused from person to person. Now, he knew some of the people around here. He knew Eden because of their work together. He had known about Ash, given who he was, and a lot of beings had showed a great deal of curiosity when he had been born. Knowing that it wasn’t a lot of children that Hades had gotten. But, other than that? Then he only knew Tien and was pretty much a stranger in all of this. Which had also been the reason why he had told quite honestly who he was. Because then it would have been an intrusion, now it was just, weird. So, he sat back, sipping his tea and kept otherwise quiet about the whole thing. Looking towards Tien as she sighed as Eden and Ash retreated back to the kitchen. The oldest brother seemed to get up and wanted to check on the twins.

Letha took Zadkiel’s hand and tried to keep him back. “Maybe let them breathe a little, yeah? Seraphina has been through a lot, and Kemuel looked like someone that really just needed to be alone for a while” she knew that look, either you exploded and said things you didn’t want to say. Or you walked away and went back when you felt like you could deal with the information that you had been given. Wasn’t the first time she had seen that look. You saw it plenty of times in the army. Then she let go of the hand, after giving it a small squeeze, also not stopping him any further if he felt like to go after them would be the best.

Eden nodded slowly as Laila told her that she would talk to him. She was shattered by the thought that it seemed like she couldn’t do anything right. That at one point she had always known what to say when it came to Kemuel. He had always been, hers. One of the children that wanted to know everything about her job. She had been sitting and making small games to show him what it was like to be. Surgeon. Helped all of her kids with homework, made sure there was always home cooked dinner. That she was there when they needed her. Bending herself backwards breaking her back trying to be both their father and mother all in one. Especially since Cael had left her with it all so many times. She turned around placing her hands on the counter as they stepped into the kitchen. Her eyes shut close, trying her damnedest not to break down right there and then. But as the first tears started gliding down her cheeks, she knew she had lost that battle. A sob left her, and her entire body crumbled by bending itself towards the counter. She had no idea what to say or do, one thing was for sure, she couldn’t keep the façade up and look strong when she felt like she was slowly disappearing and torn apart.

Sebastian agreed with Letha, on letting Kemuel and Seraphina breath for a moment, but didn't really say it. Because it seemed so Letha had it under control despite the chaos that was unfolding within her, making it somewhat hard to look at her for too long. Sebastian didn't even know the words to describe what she was going through, but he found himself just starring at her for a while before blinking when Aleks asked him if there was someone he wanted to talk to. "I think what we can do best is just sit and wait for things to settle a little bit giving people a time to process what is going on," Sebastian informed his brother and exhaled slowly looking towards him. Laila looked towards Zadkiel as well. "I think we should just give them space for now. Kemuel will come down when he is ready, and Sera just needs a minute," Laila licked her lips a little bit looking towards her older brother.

Ash looked towards Eden, now he wasn't going to judge her for these things. When it came to your children you always did what you thought was the best for them, you chose how to shape their lives till they could make the choices themselves. Like he knew he should despite his own ego have sought Cassian out earlier when Sebastian started to struggle with his magic, but yet he hadn't. Because who would be able to teach Sebastian better magic than the one where he had gotten the magical energy source from. And even if he had had a witch to help both Sebastian and Lexie, he had also known the moment Bash had found his father that Sebastian would make the choice that was right for him. And the same with Lexie when she had found out her father was alive. So, who ever this Sariel was, Ash was confident that everything Eden had done was in the girl's best interest, because that was just the person that Eden was. Ash walked over closer to her, placing a gentle hand on her lower back, "come here," he whispered before slowly pulling her into his embrace. "They just need to process, look at me. If I can process - so can they. I'm like the most judgmental person on the planet - or that is what the coffee mug Nia gave me said." Ash took a deeper breath in. It was hard news. Life chancing news, but they could chose to be mad about it or make something good about everything that happened.