The sterile corridors of the hospital echoed faintly with footsteps and quiet murmurs. Nora paced up and down restlessly, her chest rising and falling with anger and fear.
"Nora?" Zayan's calm voice came from behind her. He stood cradling Lysander in his arms.
Nora turned quickly, her face sharp. "What happened to Larry?" she demanded, pulling Lysander into her lap.
The boy's lips trembled. "M…M…Mama… Lilly and I are connected. We feel the same pain. It hurts. It hurts too much." His little body shook as he cried.
Nora pressed him against her chest, her heart breaking at the sight.
At that moment, Arion stepped out from the operating room. His gloves were stained with blood, his expression firm. "We took the bullet out. She'll be awake in an hour," he announced. Then he noticed Lysander's trembling. "What happened to Larry?"
He leaned closer, checking the boy's vitals. "Nurse!" Arion barked.
The doors flung open, and in a rush, Lysander was wheeled into another room. Kyomi examined him quickly, setting up a transfusion.
Meanwhile, in the mansion, Liam's sobs filled the air. Elowen stirred in Aveline's arms as she rocked her gently.
"Shhhh… it's okay, baby. Grandma's here," Aveline whispered.
Mr. Andrew—Raphael's close friend and a man of calm wisdom—stood close. "It's fine, baby. Don't cry," he reassured, his hand on Aveline's shoulder.
Aveline loved her three daughters equally. Her affection was always whole, never divided. She balanced them, protected them, nurtured them.
Liam tugged desperately at Kaz's sleeve. "Pretty please, Aunt… I want to see my Lilly and Larry. I beg you," he pleaded through tears.
Andrew scooped him up gently. "Come, little one. Let's get you ready."
Soon Liam was dressed in a pure black jumpsuit pajama set and a snug head warmer. The cousins dressed as well, bags packed. By 2:31 a.m., they left for the hospital.
In the waiting room, Nora sat slumped, her head on Zayan's lap. Her exhaustion was clear.
But then, Lysander—stubborn and brave—slipped from his ward and entered Seraphina's room. She lay motionless, her breathing shallow.
"Hey baby, are you okay?" Nora whispered as she followed him in.
Lysander tapped his sister's arm, his eyes fierce despite his pale face. "Hey, Lilly! Get the fuck up. Mama and Dad are crying because of you. So up, up now!"
Seraphina's eyes shot open. She gasped sharply, sitting upright, sucking in breath.
"Well damn! That's how you bring someone back to life," she muttered with a laugh.
"Lilly?" Zayan's voice broke as he rushed to her side.
"Hey, Papa. What's up?" she smiled weakly.
Nora collapsed onto her, holding her tightly. "My sweet baby girl!"
The Black Scar Lords surrounded her instantly. Levi hugged her hard, Rose steadied Nora as she nearly stumbled, and Valencia stayed close.
"My Lilly!" Liam cried, racing to the bed.
Zayan lifted him, placing him beside Seraphina.
"Are you okay, baby?" Liam whispered, brushing his tiny fingers across her cheek.
"Yes, I'm fine… just very, very hungry," she said softly.
"What do you want to eat? Liam will cook for you and Larry!" Liam declared proudly.
"Li-li can cook now?" Zayan teased.
"Yes, I can!" Liam insisted.
Lysander smiled faintly. "Not now, Li-li. Maybe next time. Wanna cuddle?"
"Mhmhm." Liam snuggled against Seraphina's chest, sighing happily.
"Dad… did you hear the recording?" Seraphina asked.
"Yes. I played it for him," Zayan answered.
"Thank you, Aunt Val," she whispered.
Soon, the three of them—Seraphina, Lysander, and Liam—fell asleep together. Nora wrapped her arms around them, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"My sweet babies…" she whispered.
Zayan's arm wrapped around her shoulders. "They'll be fine, love. Please rest. Your health is weakening."
Nora hugged him tighter.
8:01 a.m.
Maali and Lucian entered. Nora and Zayan had bathed, dressed, and Nora had fed Elowen before returning.
The twins and Liam still slept, but Liam clutched his siblings tightly.
Andrew tried to loosen his grip. "Whoa! His grip's strong as hell, mate," he muttered.
Zayan chuckled as Nora gently cleaned Liam and rubbed baby oil into his skin.
Billie, Roxy, and Lola walked in nervously.
"Hi, Nora," Lola said.
"We're sorry," Billie added quickly.
"For?" Nora asked, still focused on oiling Liam's arms.
"For everything. Sasha's always been a bitch. We're sorry," Billie admitted.
"It's fine. I just need to teach her a lesson," Nora replied calmly.
Moments later, Lucian and Maali stepped in. Sasha, however, stayed hidden at home.
"How is she?" Maali asked softly.
"Fine now," Zayan answered.
Nora's voice cut through the air. "Where is your daughter?"
Lucian stuttered. "S-s-she's at home."
"Good." Nora's voice dropped, deadly cold. "Then I'll break every bone in her body for hurting my daughter."
Zayan said nothing. He knew this side of her too well.
Kaz entered, crisp in a white shirt and green pants, hair tied back neatly.
"What's up? Where's Li-li?" she asked casually.
Billie's cheeks turned crimson at the sight. "Woah…" she whispered.
Roxy and Lola caught it, giggling. Nora smirked knowingly.
"Kaz, are you gay?" Nora asked bluntly.
"Yeah. Since childhood," Zayan answered smoothly.
"Are you single?" Billie blurted.
Kaz froze at Billie's beauty, her voice catching. "N…N…No," she lied.
Roxy's phone rang suddenly. Sasha.
"Put it on speaker," Nora ordered.
"Roxy!" Sasha's sharp voice spilled through. "That stupid child heard my plan, so I shot her. Honestly, she was going to die anyway."
"Girl, do you want to die yourself?" Roxy hissed.
Sasha laughed. "Anyways, his wife is nowhere to be seen. He said he's tired of her and needs someone now."
Zayan stiffened, eyes darting nervously at Nora. "I swear I didn't say anything like that," he whispered.
"Shhh." Nora silenced him with a kiss.
"Where are you?" Roxy asked Sasha.
"At home," she replied smugly.
"Alright. Go to him. He'll be waiting," Roxy lied smoothly.
"Eeee! I'll wear the sexiest clothes! Bye!" Sasha squealed before hanging up.
Maali broke into tears. "What kind of child did I raise?"
Lucian held her. "It's Dad's fault. He made her like this."
Later, Liam woke up, yawning. He rubbed his eyes.
"Papa… let's cook for Lilly. She's hungry," he said sleepily.
Kaz pointed to a bag. "Here's food, Li-li."
Liam's eyes lit up. "Can I tell Lilly I cooked it? Pretty please—with banana-milky ice cream and a cherry on top?"
Kaz chuckled.
"Like mother, like son!" Zayan and Asher chimed in together, bursting into laughter.
"Lilly! Larry! Upise upise! Food ready!" Liam called.
The twins stirred awake. Seraphina sat up slowly; Lysander rubbed his eyes. Liam fed them with childish pride.
"Open up! Here comes the choo-choo train—chooo chooo!" he said.
The twins giggled.
Just then, Zayan's phone rang.
"Boss, Sasha's here asking for you," Shaw reported.
Nora took the phone. "Tell her to wait in the workout room."
As the call ended, Lysander smirked. "Now the real workout begins."
At the mansion, Sasha sat arrogantly in the grand hall.
"Hey, bitch!" Nora's voice rang out as she stormed in.
Sasha turned—just in time to take Nora's heavy punch across the face. She crumpled.
"Woah!" Raphael exclaimed.
Nora didn't stop. She kicked Sasha hard in the gut.
"GO MAMA!!" Seraphina cheered.
"GO NORA!" Kian and Meira shouted.
Desmon, holding baby Elion, whistled. "Wow."
Cresie, pregnant and anxious, pleaded, "Nora, please calm down!"
But Nora's rage burned. Kaz quickly covered Liam's eyes and carried him out to the garden with Billie.
Nora's fists rained down. Blood splattered. Sasha coughed, nose broken, blood dripping from her lips.
Nora yanked her up by the hair. "DON'T EVER TOUCH MY BABIES!" she roared, hurling her at Lucian's feet.
"You'll go to Norway to your grandmother. You'll learn manners there," Maali ordered, voice trembling. She turned to Nora. "My deepest apologies, Mrs. Zayan Kai."
Lucian carried Sasha away.
Nora calmly washed her bloodied hands. "All clean," she said sweetly.
Shaw stepped back nervously. Everyone else followed suit.
"What?!" Nora snapped.
"Nothing, nothing," they chorused, dispersing.
The day stretched on—Lysander receiving another transfusion, Seraphina bathed by Nora, the mansion cleaned spotless.
Billie whispered shyly to Kaz, "Uhmm… can I have your number?"
Kaz smirked, took her phone, and typed it in. Billie blushed, clutching it back.
Later, downstairs, Nora sat with Lola and Billie while Zayan worked in his study. Kaz carried a sleeping Liam upstairs.
They laughed and reminisced. Soon Desmon and Rhea entered.
"Hey, bitches," Rhea announced.
"Ugh, I hate you," Lola snapped.
"I hate you too," Rhea shot back.
Nora burst out laughing. "Oh come on, you two!"
Desmon, cradling Elion, introduced him. "My son."
Lola smiled. "Aww. I thought you and Nora were married, but after hearing what you did…"
Rhea rolled her eyes.
They chatted for hours, remembering school days.
Billie chuckled. "Remember when Mrs. Ella screamed 'cause we put a frog on her chair?"
"Yeah. I got detention for that," Desmon groaned.
"I remember!" Nora laughed.
Meira came in. "Des, have you seen Elion?"
"Yeah, he's with me, love." Desmon handed her their son proudly.
Later, Zayan came downstairs with Elowen. "Darling, she kept kicking me."
Nora kissed the baby. "Hi, love." Elowen giggled at her mother, jumping happily.
The day brightened with surprise arrivals. Asher and Aaila walked in.
"Hello everyone," Asher grinned.
"ASh!?" Billie and Lola gasped.
"Yes, it's me!" Asher said proudly.
Memories flooded—their ages, their antics. Everyone laughed, even Zayan teasing about Asher clinging to him as a child.
That night, Zayan wrapped himself around Nora in bed.
"Hmmm. Peace," he murmured, kissing her chest.
Nora kissed his forehead. They drifted to sleep together, Elowen resting between them.
Morning.
Finwick, Roya, and Milo arrived. Zayan greeted them, Elowen in his arms. Nora had already left for work.
Raphael and Catalina, dressed for travel, waved goodbye. "We're off to Europe!"
"Bye, Grandma!" the kids chorused.
Later, Liam stayed with Kaz, while Morana, Cahir, and Seth left with the twins for family time.
"Bye-bye, Kim!" Liam kissed her before she left.
The men discussed their college reunion.
"Can we host it in your garden? It's big enough," Milo asked.
"How much will you pay me?" Zayan joked.
"Come on, man!" Finwick groaned.
Eventually, Roya called Nora on speaker.
"Hello?" her voice came warm through the phone.
"Hiii Nora," Roya said.
Zayan's eyes widened.
"We're having a reunion tomorrow at your house. But your husband doesn't want to come."
"Is he there?" Nora asked.
"Yes," Roya smirked.
"Zayan Benjamin Raphael Frederick Kai!!" Nora's voice thundered.
"Woah!" Finwick exclaimed.
Zayan sighed. "Yeah…"
"You'll go for the reunion or no cuddles, no kisses, and no food made by me," Nora warned.
"Come on, love…" he protested.
"Z!" she snapped.
"Alright, alright! Fine, I'll go," he gave in.
"Good. I'll shop for you. You need new clothes."
"I'll send the money," he tried.
Nora laughed. "Don't even try it." She hung up.
The men roared with laughter.
"Very funny. Shut it, all of you," Zayan muttered.
Later, rain clouds gathered. They set up inside the mansion instead.
The cousins returned home. Liam and the twins rejoined them.
Nora swept in, arms full of 50 shopping bags.
"I love shopping!" she declared.
Everyone froze.
"Baby, how much did you spend?" Zayan asked carefully.
"About £20 million," Nora answered casually, pulling out the world's largest chocolate box. She stuffed a piece into his mouth.
He chewed obediently.
"Alright. All done. Bye, Zayan!" Finwick called as they left.
Outside, rain poured. Liam giggled, playing in the mud.
"LIAM!" Seraphina scolded, rushing to grab him.
He laughed until Nora swooped in, picking him up and washing him off outside. But Seraphina's sharp tone made him frown. He grew sad and slipped away to his room.
"Lilly," Lysander said firmly, tugging her sleeve.
Zayan pushed open Liam's door gently. The boy sat in the corner, crying quietly.
"Li-li, baby, don't cry," Zayan whispered, carrying him and patting his back until he fell asleep in his arms.
Lysander tugged Seraphina again. "Apologize."
She sighed, walking off silently. But by then, Liam was already fast asleep.
That night, Nora and Zayan lay down, Elowen nestled between them. Peace settled over the house.