rebuke, for Lukas seems to have the strangest impression. But it's Lukas, enough said.

"Amar! Amar it's been really really bad and scary and I take back everything nice ever about that stinky baby. Rosa can have her back and I'll take you ok?!"

"Lukas you dweeb, you can't just take people? And just what did Lilyanne do to you?"

"Milkygoats!!!!!"

"Um, is that why Lukas is naked? Oh hi Abbey, you look wet. Want half this pomegranate? This one is okay to eat."

"Oh, u-um. That's-um, okay. Th-thank you."

"Amar! Did you know Rosa doesn't have all her parts?! She missing parts! And I think all girls are because the weird baby sister doesn't have any either when she jumped in the goatmilk vat and almost got turned to cheese and then she was upside down and-"

Suddenly the room is a mess.

I fling a wet towel at the tub, angling it to smack at the horrifying source of chatter, resulting in a satisfying slapping sound. Ah it's almost therapeutic, especially when paired with Lukas' yelp. It's fine, he won't drown in a tub that shallow.

"Oh hi Rosa. Why are your eyes all red? Were you crying again? No? Almost crying? Your whole face gets puffy when you do that." chatters a new source of headaches.

How wonderful, Alfonso hands me another towel to fling and smack at brat number two. Oh ooops, I think he meant it was for my tired eyes and not attacking. My mistake.

However, Amar simply catches the moist towel to somewhat help Abbey pull the now squeaky clean Lukas out from the tub. It's helpful in that Amar provides chatter and distraction enough for Lukas not to splash around so much, allowing my poor now drenched maid to get the boy out and dried off.

Ah he's really like a freshly boiled egg. From top to bottom, especially the bottom. So soft and shiny. Was it the soap? Or the goat milk? Yes, goat milk does have great effects on beauty.

"Abbery, write down a note to research 'milkygoats' for skincare. Perhaps a luxury 'milk bath' service?"

"Ye-yes! Right away young miss Rosalia!"

"Er, after you finish drying off of course. Maybe getting some clean clothes on Lukas. Please put that on the first priority." I close my eyes again, another warm towel served over my head and I smell a child-appropriate tea being prepared. Lots of lemon and honey yes.

"Milkygoats!!! Amar Amar Amar it was so bad and the stinky baby bites! How many times did she try to eat you?! Because I'm even more delicious than you because I'm full of yummier fats and why are you so far away now?!"

"I don't know?"

"We're going hunting together this year too right? Right?! I wanna beat you again and then we can roast the meats and not burn them this time and it's going to be yummy and you can keep the furs this time because I don't need them anymore because my bed is a lot better and it's so soft and oh no! Bed! I didn't know the bunk bed at the troops was bad till Gable showed me but we always-"

"It's okay. I'm fine. You should put on pants because adults don't like talking to people when they're naked."

"Oooooh okay! That's why everyone giving me funny looks huh?"

"Hmm I guess so? You smell a bit sour. Were you almost made into goat cheese and punished lots? Because Rosa's sister came to play at your place? Even though it wasn't your fault? Oh, I know, she chewed on some important stuff right? Homework? "

"Hic, yeeeeaaaah!!!!"

Still naked, Lukas jumps out of Abbey's attempt at towel drying to clutch at Amar, who catches him easily despite his smaller size. The mochi squishier boy sobbing in the untold pains that must be my little sister eating his homework. While Amar comforts the boy, somehow understanding Lukas speak, Abbey puts on some of the kiddy tester clothes I had pulled out earlier. Yeah, lets get that butt covered up.

Seriously?

I'm very worried about Lilyanne's current development. Extremely worried. This was not a concern in the last lifetime?

"Your refreshment young miss Rosalia."

Alfonso slides a prepared tray in front of me, kiddy durable tea cup and all. Okay, it's more like a mug but that's understandable. You just don't serve good cutlery and drinkware to small children with their clumsy butterfingers. I feel a sweat drop form as I spot the pale green grapes on my tray.

Why does everyone think I like these things, gosh darn it.

"Do you know why grampa took my sister over in the first place?" I ask, sipping at the tea. Ack sour... but then sweet. Yep, that wakes me right up.

"She's supposed to smell yummy! But it's just stinky!" shouts out the boy, arms held up high as Abbey urges him to help dress.

"...."

I turn to Amar, hoping he can do that magical Lukas translation thing again. But all Amar does is blink in confusion before accepting a mug of tea, dropped down my family's far too capable butler.

"Oh thank you."

"Tis good for children and digestion."

"Is it yummy?! Do I get one too, ack hot!"

Lukas does the very wise thing of stinking his nose in Amar's full mug, and thus maybe burning the tip of it. He whines and fans at it, gesturing to a giggling Amar to blow on it for him.

"Hold still?"

By god he actually does it, grasping on Lukas clean pink cheeks to blow down his face. Children have no sense of shame. Ah to be young, cute and innocent again. Oh hohoho, I sip at my tea like the aged old lady I must be inside my soul.

"Still hot!" complains Lukas, eyes scrunched up.

"You can use ice now you know? Make a block and cold smoosh?"

"Oh yeeeeeah! You're right!"

The greatness that is children, everyone. Further evidence that they should not be without supervision, especially Lukas. The boy wills a cold press into existence to cool down his minor burn, then turns straight to the food.

Hey, no, bad Lukas. Down. My food.

"You have lots. Pay up for my eaten homework." Lukas pouts, crawling up the table to eat at my snacks.

He takes particularly well to the artichoke dip, though that could be due to the great amount of fats and cheese mixed up in there. I've been working my kitchens hard to get mayonnaise down right. It's slow tedious labor but oh so delicious. Get to mixing everyone!

"This one is yummy!" he talks with his mouth full.

"Of course it is, it's my recipe. Now stop eating just that. "

"Boooo! Amar! Amar come here and try the green thingy dip!"

But the named other child merely shakes his head, hands still holding on to the tea mug. He foot inching towards the door.

"I have some errands I have to do." he answers softly.

"Errands?" I ask, already giving up on the fate of sharing my food.

"Awwww, you can do them later. Try the dippy!" exclaims Lukas.

"It's okay. I ate too much already."

Lukas drops whatever he was just chewing.

"You're not hungry?" the boy's tone gone flat and almost silent for Lukas standard. That throws me off, as does the sensitive topic of fattening up Amar.

"Mmmm don't worry. I just ate some bad pomegranates. I got too excited about them?"

"....."

Lukas stares straight down, eyes like clear ice and oddly still. For a moment I could call tense, Amar tilts and smiles innocently, a questioning look to his smile. All before Lukas finally goes back to normal.

"Oh fruit! Ok! Geez, you keep liking weird ones that go bad easy so you get sick and stuff because they're all gross. You should eat more meat because that's usually fresh or jerky and that doesn't get gross. Right Rosa? Meat is good! Okay, we'll hunt something good and picky fruits and stuff for you later." Lukas decides, back on eating my food.

"Hmmm, okay? If we can." agrees Amar, still looking cute for someone who ate too many pomegranates.

"Where did you get those? The kitchens are out already and there's no more in the markets?" I ask, already awake and alert.

It was a passing curiosity, that I inquired about the current fruit market the other day. While it's true that pomegranates tend to keep well in their shells, it's just past the end of the season for them. Without some special price and seller, even my own kitchens can't order more.

"That's what the errand is about? I gotta go if I want fix it?"

"Did someone trade you some bad fruit?" I make to stop him. I see those little feet already hopping, ready to get out of here.

"Hmm something like that? But it's not bad or anything, I ate too much and now my tummy hurts."

It's at this point Alfonso interrupts. Both by speaking up and pulling Lukas off the table and onto an actual high chair. He

"Drink more of the tea then. This blend is safe for all children and will be good for your pains." smiles my butler, pulling up another too tall chair and setting the snack table with even more substantial goods. Something that makes Lukas sparkle with meat shows up on the table.

"Oh. Okay?" Amar looks down to his cup, downing the cooled contents.

Like a dumb child, he allows Alfonso to lift and carry him over, plopping him on the chair to destroy more of my good snack table.

"Something easy on the stomach, for the tired children. Abigail, the stews."

"Ye-yes! Right away sir!"

At the table, Lukas keeps trying to stuff an artichoke scoop of dip at Amar, who holds his nose and inches away at the stinkier dish. The smaller boy honestly now looking a little pale and sick.

"Your stomache really hurts?" I ask again, "Do you feel like throwing up?"

"A little?" nods the boy, " but it's fine. This much is fine"

Beaten, Lukas can on munch on it himself as a soft and light stew is served. Probably made of lentils again and.....Hey wait, that's not one of my recipes? Is that butter or...I don't know? Huh, why does it get lemon? Oh, oh it's good? Who is responsible for this? Hey hey, Amar don't look away so fast, now I know it was you. Hey, do you really get 'stolen' by my staff that much?

Snack time has turned into a full meal. Homework had been tidied away. There's is too much to be done still but let's not think about it right now. It's time for tea.