"Mommy, mommy, I'm awake!" Sadie's eager voice was heard well before she ran into the kitchen and hugged me.
I hugged her back and said, "Yeah, I see. My love, wanna make breakfast?"
She nodded. It was wonderful as ever to see them running in their pajamas, eager, willing, and smiling, ready to face the world with a child's view, where every day was full of wonder and awe. To help them reach the counters, we had these little stools for them.
Sadie eagerly climbed onto hers to stand next to me and declared, "I'm gonna help you, Mommy!"
I smiled.
Meanwhile, Amber and Tiffany also ran to Number Eight, kissing him and wanting to start cooking for the babies. Charles was with them as well. He picked the girls up, and they had seats where they could sit.
Charles's gentle voice asked, "So, Amber, Bumber, wanna whip some eggs for the babies? I think they might want an omelet."
Amber nodded, her blonde hair all over the place, as the girls had their hair loose and were clad in pajamas.
Dash came to me on the other side and said, "Mommy, mommy, I wanna chop. I'm a big boy, big brother."
I smiled at him and lifted him to sit, as there was a chair for him too. "Well," I said, "why don't you start with the berries and fruits? Ask Wulfe, he'll help you."
Dash looked at Wulfe adoringly and said, "Yeah, Daddy helps me."
They had many daddies. Wulfe gave Dash a child-proof knife and some strawberries and helped him cut them into pieces.
Mariella's girls were with Charles as well, along with Number Five, who had also come in to make omelets and waffles for the babies. So, the kids got to mix and measure ingredients.
We didn't force anyone to do anything, and if they weren't in the mood to help on a particular day, that was fine. However, when they *did* want to help, we allowed them to and ensured their safety. For example, Charles was showing Amber how to measure salt for an omelet, while Number Eight helped Candy, who wanted to fetch plates for the babies and pour their milk.
Naturally, the toddlers were eager for their sippy cups, filled with broth, and they sipped it happily while we cooked. This was beneficial for their appetites, and according to Number Four, my five toddlers might experience low blood sugar. Therefore, they were encouraged to snack as much as they desired.
Sadie stood beside me as I took fresh rolls from the oven, cutting them open to cool slightly. I had prepared various fillings, allowing her to choose how she wanted to prepare her own rolls or toasts. Mariella quietly said something to Number One, who then approached me.
"Morning, my girls," Number One said. "Let Dad help you out. Now, Sadie, what do you want? Rolls, toast, or croissants? Dad has some croissants in the freezer if you'd like them."
Sadie pursed her lips, unsure of her choice, as there was so much to select from. She was also eager to butter her rolls or toasts.
Damon's sharp eyes scanned everything I had laid out. He approved of all the choices, deeming them suitable for children while still allowing them to make their own decisions.
Sadie finally declared, "I want rolls and salty fish," as she adored salted salmon.
I reached for a few cooler rolls, and Damon joined me, taking them.
He then asked Sadie, "Now, butter or cream cheese?"
Sadie replied, "Both."
Meanwhile, Darien approached me as well, asking, "Mommy, I want croissants with cream and raspberries."
Of course, his pronunciation was soft, with his "r" and "s" sounds not always perfectly formed.
However, his request prompted Damon to turn to his son and say, "Sure, my lad. What's your salty choice? You know, you need salt as well."
Darien stood there, and I lifted him so he could see better.
He surveyed everything and announced, "Eggs and toast. Ham, bits of cheese, mild ones, not bitter ones."
Damon nodded and, smiling at him, said, "Well, come here, help Dad out. Dad is a bit like an octopus, needing so many hands."
This made Darien giggle.
Darien, ever the cuddlebug, focused intently as Damon helped him select cheeses and other additions for his plate. Excitement lit up Darien's face, and his now darker hair, cut by number two, matched Dash's.
The girls, however, had long, loose hair. The twins, Seraphina and Sabrina, sported midnight curls, while Sadie, like me, had red hair. This wasn't my natural color, though; the Salvatores had insisted I dye it red with their dental substances, making me wonder if it had altered my DNA.
Damon stroked Sadie's long, red tresses and announced, "We need to put your hair up after breakfast. Dad's going to work his magic with silk drops and create a nice hairdo for you."
Sadie looked at me, my own long red hair loose, and declared, "Nope, I'm like Mommy, hair loose."
Damon glanced my way.
I felt a faint surge of his magic ruffle my hair as he told Sadie, "Look, Mommy is eating her hair. Daddy's going to put Mommy's hair up, too."
As I pulled a stray strand from my mouth, causing Sadie to grimace, she pleaded, "Mommy, stop eating hair, that's yucky. Daddy, put Mommy's hair up."
Damon chuckled. "In a moment, my girl. Now, what else do you want on your rolls?"
He had already helped Sadie spread cream cheese and butter on hers. I could hear Mariella's girls chattering eagerly as they prepared the babies' meals. Adam was now assisting them, cutting omelets into strips and offering praise. Mariella, too, was present, directing Candice on how to chop grapes for everyone, including the babies.
The kitchen was a busy, full space, and it took time to let the children work. There was no need for us to rush; this process required patience, allowing for toddlers to do, and us to direct them verbally rather than immediate action, no matter how much we might have wanted to speed things up.
Sadie was now instructing Damon on how she wanted her rolls plated – side by side, not stacked, and with plenty of salty fish. Damon, of course, offered her samples of everything I had set aside on the table, attempting to introduce her to new tastes. He had already managed to add something appealing to her plate.
This meal was relatively easy with so many adults present, but I anticipated future meals might become a bit chaotic if the children wanted to help, especially when the girls or Salvatores were preoccupied. Nevertheless, I was ready for some chaos; this complete experience was new and wonderfully fulfilling for me.
Mariella said to me through our hivemind from our motherhive, her voice filled with wonder. "Mimi, I must admit, this is crazy but wonderful. They can do so much already; I just looked at them. I'm confused. When did they grow up this much?"
I replied, "Every day is new to them, and every day they learn something new. Well, I'm not sure if you or Number One are aware, but our older girls—Emmylee, Rose, Britney, and Lily—are working for a company specializing in social media influencing. They have semi-permanent positions there and take on projects, just like Charles. Most of the Salvatores have approved our pack's social media presence. This means we have our own account, and there's content from our pack. The girls create video blogs and other content. One aspect that's quite popular is showcasing the children; again, this isn't just my observation but the entire pack's. The girls can show you those posts; we have quite a fanbase because people are interested in following pack life. For instance, one of the things they create is posts about how our toddlers choose their outfits for the day, and it's fun to see."
Mariella was silent for a moment.
Then, Damon exclaimed, "Oh, really, baby? Do we have representation? Well, that's good, so we can contribute too. You can be sure I'll watch what we have."
He was genuinely enthusiastic. I suppose a few of the Salvatores might have given him some ideas, as they were rather arrogant and were eager to gain a reputation as fathers. It was almost a competition to see who would be featured on our vlog on any given day.
I wasn't as eager, but then again, I had little choice as the alpha female of our pack. I wasn't sure what our reputation would yield after this time, but I did believe it wasn't my job to worry about it since we had years left.
This life was so wonderfully chaotic. Furthermore, Charles had informed me that he had already submitted an appeal to the educational board regarding my idea for special needs programs, and we would hear from them soon enough.
If our case were deemed fit for evaluation, my children and I would have to appear before the Board of Education for assessment. I wasn't sure if Damon would be involved, but that was a concern for later. I also needed to determine if I would need to spend time at my flower shop occasionally, as my arrangements had been requested, and it offered a pleasant change of pace and a chance to interact with people.
However, let's just say that Number Four, ever vigilant, was not keen on any of us spending extended periods exposed to germs from the outside world. He had been working on several vaccinations for children, babies, and possibly adults as well. Knowing how many childhood illnesses circulate in the outside world made him exceptionally protective.
I spoke with Damon, Number One, whose white tuft on the right side of his forehead was a bit longer and almost flopped over his eye, through our bond.
"After breakfast," I said, "it's time for the toddlers to choose their outfits for the day. I usually videotape this for Mimosa and the others, but the girls have taken some of them to share. Here's how it works: I choose about five to seven different options—tops, pants, dresses—and stack them on the floor, offering several colors of the same type. Then, one by one, the girls and boys go to their rooms to pick and choose. An adult then helps them dress and style their hair. Some take a while to decide; Amber, for example, is too wild to calm down and choose. She usually runs around, sits, jumps, and can't make up her mind. Sabrina and Serafina, on the other hand, always choose dresses, though not always the same ones. The boys are eager to do anything other than choose. Then, once they've picked socks and other items, it takes time, but that's family life. Would you like to witness it?"
Damon replied aloud, "Of course, Daddy will be there dressing his princesses, and it's possible Dad will present today's options."
Actually, Sabrina, while chopping fruit with Adam, stated firmly, "No, Mommy chooses. It's Mommy's job."
Damon rolled his eyes, beginning to realize what this family life might entail. I was more or less a hero in the eyes of my children.
I ponder whether I should telepathically warn Damon, as most of the Salvatores were already aware of our appeal and various other matters. However, I wanted to be the one to inform him directly. While I had many volunteers to accompany us to meet the educational board, Damon, being their biological father, should ideally be present. Still, I wasn't sure if he was mentally prepared to be a real father to our five children.
"Damon, I need to talk to you about a few things," I began. "You can ask Charles about the details, but I was wondering if our appeal to the educational board for special needs grants for our children is successful, would you want to be part of the meeting? The children and I need to appear before the board for evaluation. If they deem our children to be in need, the grant will cover approximately 30 percent of their education until they turn 18, which would amount to a substantial sum of money."
Damon sounded surprised, but he replied, "Hell yeah! And I want Charles to include the same request for these three as well. They also have magic; they are energy creatures, so there might be reasons for that. But yes, count me in. I'll discuss this with Charles, too."
He then glanced at Charles, communicating with him telepathically.
This was just the beginning; there was so much more to parenthood.
Yet, Damon surprised me again when he said, "Well, after breakfast, I think a few of the Salvatores and I will take the children to see the rest of the house. We'll go downstairs and have a treasure hunt or something similar. We might even eat down there, so you can focus on making food. No need to worry about them."
I nodded. It was a good idea, actually. It might help calm the toddlers a bit. However, we still had the babies to manage, but the older girls would assist, and the babies usually napped quite well.
Since it was Friday, it was also tasting day. We had a rule for the toddlers on tasting day: they would receive a tasting plate and were expected to eat and taste everything. This was usually well-received.
I just hoped Damon and Mariella would be occupied by focusing on toddlers enough not to disrupt our routines too much, as I preferred to do things my way, believing it to be the best way.
This was my kitchen, my household, and this little snowball had too much fun on its own to need an overly eager husband telling me what to do or how to cook. I had taught quite a few Salvatores well enough that they knew how to behave, even if they weren't always aware of my plans. Wulfe, however, smirked as he caught a whiff of my slightly smug mindscape and my own ideals about what was best for my pack. After all, it was I who was actually leading, not Damon.