Aliya's Shoes-Chapter 574: Another Child?

West Wing....

The day was a dull one, but tiny rays of the sun still penetrated the dense clouds, creeping in like a blessing through the gauzy curtains. Golden, gentle, and warm.

Brad stirred, a broad grin on his face, despite the early morning hours. The night, or rather the day before, had been magical. He never knew that he had that much stamina. Notwithstanding this, Brad would never exchange the previous day’s experience for anything. They had literally made love throughout the day and into the early hours of the morning. Obviously, they had paused to eat and just cuddle sometimes, exploring their bodies till he could boldly say that he knew every inch of his new wife.

The weight in his chest from the previous night before the wedding had thinned into something lighter. Alicia Fanny was a unique woman. She had stayed with him and fought for him, even before their marriage, from that maid wannabe, and now she was his wife. Thinking back, Brad knew that he had never considered the thought of calling someone else’s wife in his life, but here he was.

He stretched a little, one arm instinctively reaching for the space where she’d curled up beside him in the wee hours of the morning. It was empty now, but still warm. A faint hint of her scent.... vanilla and something he could never name, lingered on the pillow. He slipped his feet out of the bed, taking in the expected mess in the room, but it was all clean.

’When....?’

He wondered. The plates they had discarded were neatly stacked on the tray that Alberta had brought in the night before. The clothes that were scattered had been folded carefully and placed on the only couch in the room. He couldn’t help but grin even wider, then turned around the room, looking for his wife.

Then a knock.

He called out, and the door pushed open. Erik came in, followed by Alberta.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Sir,"

Brad nodded at the two of them as he slipped a robe over his nakedness.

"Would you like to have breakfast here?" Alberta asked, and Brad hesitated a bit before replying,

"We’ll do what Alicia wants. Check on her in there...."

Alicia came out of the bathroom right then,

"Let’s join the family for breakfast. Courtesy of someone, we left the celebrations too early so-"

She didn’t finish her statement, as Brad crossed over, stealing a long French kiss from her. Alicia blushed, and Alberta and Eric looked away.

The couple shared a sweet moment, and Alicia entered an adjoining room to get ready. Alberta followed her to help out despite Alicia’s protests. She was used to doing things on her own, but Alberta was having none of that. In the end, she gave up and allowed herself to be dressed. Alberta was very meticulous, helping her hide all the red love bites that Brad had littered all over her body, and even in places that the sun doesn’t shine!

Alberta sighed, creating a rapport with her new mistress with light teasing here and there. Though she missed her father, Alberta knew that this new job had welcomed her into the Thronston family for life, so she put her all into serving Alicia, and the two would grow into a nice master-servant-friend like relationship with time. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

In the room, Brad got ready, while Erik briefed him on what they had missed as well as his friends’ final end. It wasn’t long before the new couple set off for the breakfast room, followed by Erik and Alicia.

***

Ian was surprised at the fact that Isolde was behaving like a little girl, with a touch of maturity. Obviously, Geneva was the first one to take to the family’s little addition. After what they had all seen, the old couple had learnt to ask fewer questions and accept what there was.

"Did I hear you say that you have adopted another child, brother?"

All heads turned, welcoming the new couple who walked in hand-in-hand.

"Why are you here? I thought that after securing a wife, you had forgotten all about us!" Geneva teased, garnering warm smiles from all around. Alicia blushed yet again as they took their seats.

"Alicia dear, how are you?"

Alicia replied with all smiles, and Geneva nodded, as did her father, Carmichaels.

"Mama, can I play with Isolde?"

The witch mentally face-palmed herself at this question, but she had signed up for it.

"Of course! She is your big sister, so you can, if she is okay with it."

Gabriel beamed, but couldn’t help but look at Ingrid as well, as he was seeking permission too. Ingrid nodded slightly, and he was all smiles, but good old Ingrid was indifferent as always. Samantha had already met Isolde the night before, so she was also chill at the table.

"What happened to the large painting in the corridor?"

Though the particular painting was mentioned, those who were aware suddenly thought of Aliya,

"Oh, that? We changed our mind and burnt it!"

Though Alex, Geneva and Brad were surprised, they were secretly happy at what it signified.

Just as soon, plates were placed in front of Brad and Alicia as soon as they sat. There was a slight buzz of conversation at the table in silos, given how large the crowd was. Matt and Nicholas, though used to such circles, were marvelled at the elaborate ceremony of the breakfast. Ava dug heartily into her meal as Rocky ensured that her plate never emptied.

Brad did the same, buttering up a toast for Alicia before tending his plate. However, his fork paused mid-air as he took in Ian’s loose jacket, chest half-bared, muscular stomach on shameless display. It was not the first time Ian had done that, but for some reason, and for a fleeting, irrational moment, he felt a prickle of jealousy.

Then he comforted himself with a little mantra, ’I don’t have a muscular stomach. Not overlapping my belt or anything, but still ... not abs of steel. Not even abs of bronze. Maybe abs of... plastic, he mused, then shook his head at himself.’

Ian chuckled while he brought a little grape to Shelby’s mouth. Brad was perfect in the eyes of many humans. What he lacked was the Fae finishing touches, but it didn’t make him any less than Ian. One may wonder if his new wife was making him more self-conscious.

Around the table, the chaos of breakfast buzzed along. The four couples shared the spread, and somehow, the men all seemed to be competing over who could be the most attentive. It wasn’t conscious, but the single people around the table were really put on the spot, even from Alex and Geneva. Alex buttered Geneva’s toast, half with homemade jam and the other half with a chocolate spread, without asking. Brad kept Alicia’s coffee cup full, Rocky heaped cut fruit for Ava, ensuring that she met her nutritional needs and Ian fed and cleaned crumbs off Shelby’s cheek.

Carmichaels watched the display, gave a single, approving nod, and went back to his eggs. His daughter was clearly in good hands, but he didn’t want to be looking at all those PDAs.

Not everyone shared that contentment. Matt and Nicholas, at the far end of the table, exchanged glances, their envy poorly concealed. One sulked into his juice, but the other had his gaze fixed where it absolutely shouldn’t be ... lingering on someone he had no business admiring. Catching himself, he sighed and dropped his face so low it nearly landed in his plate, the tips of his ears burning red. Two people took notice of this action but said nothing.

Laughter burst around the table again, and even Isolde found himself smiling. Brad mused, ’petty abs-jealousy or not, this messy, cheerful breakfast was precisely the sort of music he could get used to.’

"Uncle Brad?"

"Yes, first Brat,"

Samantha shook her head, knowing that she was stuck with that nickname,

"I like this aunt!"

"Glad that my wife made your cut!" Brad smiled as they both thought back to Natasha. Alicia was the perfect match for Brad, nonetheless.

"So," Carmichaels asked Brad mildly, buttering his toast, "Now that your Chairman Ian is back, will you be going back to work?"

Brad’s fork froze again. "No," he said firmly.

"Yes," Ian answered at the exact same time, just as firmly.

Brad turned, eyes narrowing. "But my honeymoon!"

"I know you know time management," Ian drawled, smirking. "Work during the day, honeymoon at night."

The table burst out laughing, wives chuckling behind their hands, children giggling because they didn’t understand but knew it was funny, and the two bachelors and even the Fae nearly choking on their tea.

Brad groaned. "You’re impossible. You never do anything unless it benefits you."

"And you," Ian shot back, grinning, "never do anything unless it pleases you. At least I helped you find a wife.... You should be thanking me...."

Ian added,

They glared at each other for a heartbeat, two seemingly selfish men at opposite ends of the table, then, as if on cue, both broke into a laugh.

That laugh carried the room, turning into another round of chatter and clinking of cups. It was strange, Carmichaels thought, how two men so different could be so harmonious at the same time, like twin storms whose clash created not chaos, but balance.

Despite this, Brad slumped his shoulders, thinking, ’What did I expect?!’

*********

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