Chapter Text
“Don’t touch.”
Lance rubbed at his hand with a pout, staring up at his husband. Keith pushed him aside gently, reaching for another utensil behind the witch.
“Just one lick?”
Keith raised an eyebrow, turning the bowl he was using to create a batch of cupcakes away from his husband. Lance’s pout returned. The werewolf had been slowly (very slowly) learning how to bake. He’d discovered an idiot proof cupcake recipe that actually worked – and Lance wasn’t allowed to lick the batter.
“And you wonder where they get it from.”
Lance shrugged, looking down the hallway and into the living room. It never failed to make him smile, seeing their family gathered around playing board games. Two small feline like beings sat on the arms of the couches, beady eyes watching the young children’s game and operating as moderators.
Keith moved to put the batter in the cupcake pans and Lance swooped in, dipping his finger into the batter gleefully. The werewolf grumbled, turning the bowl away. Lance merely hummed as he licked the sweet, vanilla batter from his finger.
“You did good.”
The werewolf continued to grumble, pouring the batter evenly across the patty pans. The witch grinned, jumping from the kitchen easily to avoid a rogue wooden spoon.
“They’ll be better cooked, Lance. Why don’t you start on the dinner?”
He waved a lazy hand, watching from his seat at the island bench as the ingredients began to float calmly onto the bench from the cupboards. The werewolf jumped slightly when the draw beside him opened and a series of utensils burst free.
“One of these days, you’ll have to cook on your own.”
“Today is not that day, my love.”
Keith rolled his eyes, putting the tray straight into the oven. He moved around the island as Lance began the clean up with a blink of his eyes. He would never admit it aloud, but the physical movements he made were unnecessary. He just liked the display.
With the cupcakes baking and dinner on its way, Keith settled beside his husband on the couch. They were immediately swamped with their five children, all trying to find a place beside their parents. Lance grinned, placing two neatly on his lap and watching as Keith easily gathered the other three.
“Who’s for a movie?” Keith asked, hearing the cheers around at the idea.
Lance looked down at their youngest, whose name was Harley, “would you do the honours?”
Their eldest two groaned, both covering their ears dramatically. “Come on, Papa, you know what will happen!” Milo said, grimacing slightly.
The eldest witch shook his head, ruffling Harley’s blonde hair slightly, “he’s going to learn somehow. You should’ve seen me at his age.”
“You say that all the time,” Brielle mumbled, though she was removing her hands from her ears slowly, watching as her twin, Milo, did the same.
“And every time it’s true. Harl’s will get the hang of his magic, we just need to be patient.”
Keith nodded along, “you’ve all seen your dad turn my hair pink.”
Harley took a deep breath when Lance looked down at him. The young witch raised a shaky hand, eyes focussed on the tv. A moment later, the entire television changed. Lance laughed softly.
The family had yet to realise what had happened, but Lance knew exactly. He cracked up, pulling the youngest to his chest proudly.
“You didn’t break it!”
Harley stared at the new and improved tv in surprise, then blinked up at his father, “what did I do?”
“I’d say you just pulled in another tv from another plane. Totally cool.”
Harley grinned after he relaxed. There was really no harm done and the new tv was infinitely fancier then their previous.
“Can we watch the movie now?” Alexandra asked, looking pointedly at the screen.
Lance laughed and flicked a movie on he trusted they’d all enjoy. It was an entertaining one, one that Lance himself had enjoyed numerous times in the past. Keith also enjoyed it, however he managed to find some way to tear it down.
Who wouldn’t love to watch a movie about a lonely boy who befriends a dragon, rather then killing it? Lance simply loved the film, almost as much as he loved his movies with dinosaurs (even if Keith maintained that the only one worth watching is the first – the other two are also entertaining!).
Kaltenecker moved at Lance’s neck as they watched the film, settling himself on his shoulders. Harley’s lap was also soon filled with the calico familiar that was Elijah. Fortunately, both familiars did appear to get along, regardless of the personality clashes. Kaltenecker was far more stoic than Elijah would ever be.
During the movie, Keith needed to get up to take the cupcakes from the oven. Lance eagerly assisted with bringing over a cupcake each for those on the couch (‘you’ll spoil their dinner, Lance’). The cupcakes were enjoyable, Keith was certainly improving. It had only taken several long years.
It was difficult for Lance not to appreciate what he had now. He had five wonderful children, one of whom was a bright young witch himself. He had two brilliant familiars under his roof. He had the most wonderful husband ever.
Harley was their youngest at eight, he’d been with the family for three years now. His previous home hadn’t been as accepting of Harley’s familiar, who’d quickly mastered the art of being invisible. He’d changed so much since being with the witch and werewolf, becoming more comfortable in his own skin. He wasn’t ashamed of his uncontrollable magic, not anymore.
Alexandra was their second youngest at eight and a half. She’d been with the family for five years now, a beautiful young lady whose creative side always managed to impress her parents. She was soft spoken, yet she was also very protective of her younger brother. They all were.
Their middle child was Benson at nine and he didn’t seem to suffer any middle child syndrome. He was the active one of the family, playing a minimum of three different sports in any season. He loved to be active, and Keith was constantly the one engaging with him on the field or in their backyard.
Brielle was the slightly younger of the eldest twins and she was spirited. She was highly intelligent for her age and had a bright future ahead as a scientist if she kept up her current motivation. She wasn’t as sporty as her twin, but she did enjoy a good game of soccer.
Their eldest was Milo, older than Brielle by a couple of minutes. He wasn’t as sporty as Benson; however, he would be found on the field if given the opportunity. The majority of the time, Lance would find him in his room reading a book happily, often with Alexandra at his side drawing.
To complete their family were the two familiars, Kaltenecker and Elijah.
It was entirely perfect, and Lance couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than what he had.
Lance took Harley’s hand gently, walking through the forest behind their house. The other’s had stayed back at the house with their dad doing who knew what. Trailing behind the two witches were their familiars, both padding along calmly and enjoying the walk.
Harley was watching the forest with fondness, fingers trailing along purple bark. Lance created several butterflies, flittering about their heads. The young boy tried to catch one, though it returned to the dust it was created from.
Soon enough, they reached a small clearing. The soft grass was inviting, both witch’s taking a seat together. Lance crossed his legs, closing his eyes and allowing the magic of the forest to flood through him.
Harley was learning how to allow the earth’s magic through him, to accept it. He’d initially been alarmed when Lance had shown him how. However, he’d come to love seeing the new colours, the life and magic within the forest.
Lance opened his eyes after a while, breathing in the soft scent of the forest. He manifested a piece of fruit from their kitchen and nudged his son softly.
Harley’s eyes focussed on the orange curiously. Lance rolled it a safe distance away.
“I want you to make it appear in your hands.”
The boy’s shoulders drooped slightly. He’d never managed to succeed with the spell intentionally. Lance could only smile at him encouragingly.
Harley raised a hand, focussing on the orange. After a moment, all it did was tumble to the side. Lance smiled, placing a hand over Harley’s shoulder.
“You’ll get it.”
Harley gave a saddened sigh, “what if I never get it?”
Lance frowned, “you will. When I was your age, my magic was all over the shop. Kal can attest to that. Your aunty Ronnie certainly can.”
“Your magic is so much stronger than mine though.”
“It’s different, that’s all. I can manipulate time the most easily, but you… you displace things, nothing wrong with that.”
Harley’s features brightened slightly, a loopy grin spreading across his face, “I’m better then you?”
Lance laughed, nudging his son slightly with a joyful smile, “someday, I expect you will be. All witch’s have a niche. Mine is time. I told you I sent someone back to meet the dinosaurs?”
Harley grinned, laughing, “only a couple thousand times.”
The man shrugged, “it’s a delightful story.”
They sat there for a while longer whilst Harley attempted, with renewed vigour, to move the orange. Slowly, ever so slowly, his magic started to listen to his determination.
Lance laughed when an apple fell into Harley’s lap, the orange having been displaced. Harley pouted at the piece of fruit in his lap, though he did take a satisfied bite of it.
“Should we call it a day?”
Harley nodded, munching away at the fruit happily. They stood slowly, walking back to their home together. With the fruit finished, Lance launched the boy onto his shoulders and carried him along, singing merry tunes.
Keith was on the porch when they returned, their other children watching their return at the puzzle table. Lance placed his son back on solid ground then moved to his husband. Keith raised an eyebrow, smiling softly.
“You seem happy.”
“I made the orange turn into an apple!”
Keith laughed, “is that a good thing?”
Lance shrugged, ruffling Harley’s hair, “it’s just his magic. We’ll work out what it’s really trying to tell us soon.”
Kaltenecker snickered from behind, “goodness knows how long it took us to work out you weren’t vanishing objects but sending them back in time.”
Lance grinned and Harley laughed, relaxing slightly. It always helped when people went through similar experiences. Lance had always wanted to have someone to help with his magic when he’d been growing up. He was glad he could at least make sure Harley wasn’t on his own.
“Does this mean we can have some cake now?” Brielle asked, moving away from the puzzle.
“Cake? You made cake?” Lance asked, jaw dropping slightly as he looked to Keith.
The werewolf shrugged, “it was Ali’s idea. And they did most of the work.”
“Dad can’t be trusted in the kitchen,” Benson announced.
Lance grinned, “let them eat cake.”
“Goodnight, Harl’s,” Lance pressed a kiss to his son’s forehead, hugging him gently. Keith held Lance’s hand gently, also offering a hug to their youngest.
Harley smiled, “night.”
As they were turning out the light, Harley jolted upright. His chest seemed to glow for a moment and Lance rushed forwards, Keith at his side in an instant. Wide, frightened eyes met Lance’s.
“Papa? What’s happening?”
Lance watched the magic swirling around their son’s chest with narrowed eyes, “I don’t know.”
The answer frightened the boy more, panicking as the light only grew. Lance frowned, watching as it tried to escape.
In the next second, the room was engulfed in a bright flash.