Chapter 9: 8

10th October, 2022 - Los Angeles, California

"Little love, let's not play with our 'nanas." Vincent mumbles, noticing Lux is more so playing with her lunch instead of eating it.

She huffs, reluctantly picking up a banana slice between her thumb and pointer finger before putting it in her mouth.

She wasn't in a great mood today and that had been very clear from when they first woke her up in the morning. Now it was lunchtime and she was still a little distant and sulky.

Sebastian glanced at Vincent, his concern growing as he noticed the mood their little girl was in. "Is everything alright Luxie?" He asks gently.

Lux huffs again. That question alone made her want to throw her plate on the floor like a child and kick, scream and hit until she got her way. But obviously, she doesn't do that. No everything's not alright, you've taken me away from my home, the place I know best.

"I'm okay." She says quietly.

"Okay sweetheart" Sebastian says, not pressing any further.

Vincent and Sebastian exchanged a quick glance. They knew it would be common for Lux to have days like this —it was only natural for someone going through such an overwhelming adjustment. But today felt a little heavier. The air in the room was taut with her unspoken feelings.

She glances over at August who had lunch all around his mouth yet is happy as can be.

Sebastian reached over, placing a warm hand on her back. His touch was steady, grounding. "Maybe we can do something fun after your nap today," he suggested softly. "What do you think? You could pick, Luxie. Painting? A movie? Or we could build something with those blocks you like."

"Blocks Dada!" August says happily. "Like playing blocks."

Lux wrinkled her nose, trying to maintain her sulky facade. She did like those blocks—they were oddly satisfying to stack, to see something come together out of chaos. But she didn't want to let them think they were winning her over, not when her feelings were such a tangled mess.

"I don't care," she muttered, pushing her plate away slightly. "Do whatever you want."

Vincent sighed, but not out of frustration. He reached over and pulled her plate back toward her, removing the uneaten crust from her sandwich and slicing it into neat little squares. "How about we finish lunch first," he said, his tone soft but firm. "Even if you're upset, your body still needs fuel, sweetheart."

Lux's jaw clenched, her fingers curling into the hem of her oversized shirt—the one Sebastian had picked out for her because "it looked so cozy." She didn't know why she didn't fight them harder, why she didn't scream or push her plate off the table like the tantrum she was aching to have. Instead, she let Vincent feed her the first square of sandwich, biting into it more out of spite than cooperation.

"There we go," Vincent said, smiling faintly as if she'd just solved a big puzzle. "Good girl."

Her gaze flickered back to August, who was happily smashing banana slices together and babbling nonsense to himself. How could he just accept all of this? Didn't he miss his life before? Didn't he care about anything they'd left behind?

She sighs, opening her mouth as Vincent feeds her another little square of sandwich.

"Do you miss your old life?" She blurted out, turning towards August before she could stop herself.

August paused mid-smash, the banana slice slipping from his fingers. For a moment, the room felt eerily still, as if her question had sucked all the air out.

Vincent and Sebastian both froze, their smiles faltering as they exchanged a quick, concerned glance. Neither interrupted, watching closely to see how August would respond. They weren't too fond of this question at all, simply because of how easily the boy could get upset from the answer and slip right out of his headspace.

August tilted his head, his messy curls bouncing as he considered the question with the seriousness only a child could muster. His hands, still sticky with banana mush, fell to his lap as his gaze wavered.

"Old life?" he repeated, the words awkward in his mouth, like they didn't quite belong there. He looked at Lux with wide, innocent eyes, searching for meaning in her question. "I don't think so. I like it here. I don't gotta do hard stuff anymore."

Lux nods slowly, taking in his answer. This was the most mature thing she'd heard him say yet and it almost sounded strange. She had grown used to his choppy and slurred sentences. August liked it here. He didn't have to deal with the things he did before. Did that mean his old life was bad? Or was it just... different?

"What was your old life like?" Lux asks, unable to stop herself.

Vincent leaned forward, his expression gentle but firm, as he placed a hand on Lux's arm. "Sweetheart, that's a big question," he said softly. "And it's something we can talk about, but maybe not right now."

Sebastian chimed in, his voice steady as he reached for a napkin to clean August's sticky hands. "August is having such a good time today. Let's keep it that way, hmm? We can have those kinds of talks when we're all ready for them."

August, sensing the slight shift in the room's energy but not fully understanding, picked up his napkin and rubbed it awkwardly against his face. "Blocks now?" he asked, his tone hopeful, his previous seriousness forgotten.

"You gotta finish your lunch first sweetheart." Sebastian chuckles. "Then I think a nap is in place for both of you. Blocks when you wake up, yeah?"

Lux huffs as her question gets dismissed and lunch continues as if nothing had happened. he hated how easily they could brush things off like this, but deep down, she knew they were probably right. August didn't seem to understand her question fully anyway, and the way his brow furrowed made her stomach twist with guilt.

Vincent slid the last piece of sandwich toward Lux. "One more bite, love," he said gently. "Then you'll be all set."

She rolled her eyes but complied, chewing begrudgingly. The sandwich wasn't bad—it never was. They always made sure her meals were exactly how she liked them, which only made her frustration harder to hold onto. She didn't want them to be so... nice. It felt like they were trying to smother her resistance with sweetness, like they could mould her into the compliant little girl they wanted with enough cuddles and carefully sliced sandwiches.

"Good girl," Vincent said again, his voice warm.

"Alright, nap time for the both of you," Sebastian said, standing up and lifting August out of his highchair.

"I don't need a nap," she muttered, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "I'm not a baby."

"Oh, sweet girl, naps aren't just for babies," Sebastian said with a wink. "Even I like a good nap sometimes. They help reset a bad day."

August, on the other hand, was already bounding toward the stairs with Sebastian following after him.

Vincent sighed softly, crouching down so he was at Lux's eye level. "Luxie," he said, his voice tender but firm. "I know today's been hard, but you're allowed to feel upset. You don't have to hold it all in."

"I'm fine," she said again, quieter this time. "I just... don't want to nap."

He studied her for a moment before nodding. "Okay. But let's at least try lying down for a bit. Even if you don't fall asleep, you can rest and relax. No pressure."

"Fine." she mumbled, letting the man lift her out her highchair and carry her up the stairs and into her bedroom.

She knew what was going to happen now. She had become familiar with the routine during the few days she's been here.

Vincent walked over to the chair with Lux still in his arms, her body stiff as a board as he took a seat on the cushioned object.

"You don't have to be so tense, baby," he murmured, adjusting her so her head rested against his chest. "This isn't a punishment, remember? It's just time to rest."

Lux didn't respond. She focused on the rhythmic creak of the chair as he began to rock back and forth, his hand rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back. She hated how easily her body responded to this, her muscles gradually loosening against her will.

"Sometimes," Vincent began after a moment, his voice soft, "when I was your age, I used to feel like the whole world was against me. Like I had to fight every second just to be heard, just to exist the way I wanted."

She blinked, her curiosity piqued despite herself. It was weird to image Vincent as a 15 year old boy. Especially since she had only ever known him as her kidnapper who she was forced to call 'papa'.

"I didn't want anyone to tell me what to do," Vincent continued, his voice low and even. "I used to get in all kinds of trouble"

Lux shifts uncomfortably on his lap. Part of her wanted to stay cold, to hold onto the little defiance she had left. But the way his voice softened, like he was sharing something vulnerable, made her hesitate.

"You?" she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "You got in trouble? You don't seem like the type."

Vincent chuckled softly, the sound warm and comforting in the otherwise still room. "Well, people change. But when I was your age, I thought I knew everything. I didn't want anyone telling me how to live my life. I hated the idea of being told what I could or couldn't do."

Lux felt a pang of understanding, a flicker of connection.

"Did it get better?" Lux asked, more out of curiosity than anything else.

Vincent smiled down at her, his hand still gently rubbing circles on her back. "Eventually." He pauses before speaking again. "But I sometimes wonder, if I had someone looking out for me in the same way me and daddy do for you and Auggy, it may of been easier for me to adjust into adult life. You understand sweet girl?"

She didn't want to admit it, but a part of her did understand. "Looking out for me...?" she murmured, her voice quiet and uncertain.

Vincent nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Exactly. We want you to feel safe, to feel loved. I know it's hard right now, Lux, but we're not trying to take anything away from you. We're trying to give you the things you never had when you were a little girl sweetheart."

Lux stays silent, processing his words.

"You don't have to do everything on your own anymore. You can let us take care of you. Just a little. That's all we ask." Vincent mumbles, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Despite wanting to argue against him, she doesn't. Her eyes are getting heavy and her head feels a little distant and light, as if her ears were stuffed with cotton.

She had spent so long trying to be independent, trying to stand on her own, trying to make her own choices in a world that was no longer hers. To need someone—she wasn't sure she was ready for that, even if Vincent made it sound so simple. Yet part of her was leaning into it and enjoying it more than she would like to admit.

"You're safe here," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, like a promise. "We'll make sure of it."

Lux shifted slightly, her body sinking further into the comfort of his embrace. She wasn't sure when it happened, but at some point, her eyes had closed fully, and the tension in her body had melted away. Her breathing slowed, her mind turning hazy, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep, wrapped in the warmth of his arms.

Vincent stays like this for a little while longer, enjoying the feeling of having his little girl in his arms. She was different to hold in comparison to August. Her body was a bit smaller and more dainty. Plus she stayed a lot more still in her sleep too. August was like a little jumping bean when he slept, always moving and wriggling around. But that didn't mean he didn't enjoy holding August. He loved his little boy, no matter how wriggly he got.

Eventually, he tucks Lux into her bed, making sure she's all warm and cozy before leaving the room.

And with the comfort of knowing that Lux is safely napping, he goes to find his husband who's in the mids of the same process with August. Vincent enters quietly, not wanting to disturb the serene atmosphere in the room. He watches Sebastian for a moment, his husband's steady hand gently brushing through August's hair, coaxing him into a deep, peaceful sleep. The room is soft with the dim light of the late afternoon, a few shadows dancing on the walls from the glimmering sun. The gentle rhythm of the rocking chair is the only sound that fills the air besides the occasional soft murmur from Sebastian.

Vincent leans against the doorframe, watching with a tender gaze. "How's he doing?"

Sebastian looks up and smiles faintly, his eyes softening as he sees Vincent. "He's almost out. A few more minutes and he'll be out for the count." He says, his hand still brushing through August's curls.

"Nuh uh" August mumbles although he's very obviously about to knock out.

Sebastian chuckled softly, leaning down to place a kiss on August's forehead. "Really? Because I think I've got a very sleepy little boy in my arms right now." He teases gently.

Vincent smiles softly at the sight, his gaze lingering on Sebastian and August. The scene was so peaceful, so intimate, that it made his chest ache in a beautiful way. This was what he wanted, what he had dreamed of—a family, a quiet life where love and security reigned.

"Not sleepy." He yawns, snuggling into the mans arms.

Sebastian chuckles deeply, once again placing a kiss onto the boys temple. "I think you are baby"

"Nope" August says, still denying his tiredness.

"Okay well, maybe I should let you go then. Little boys who aren't sleepy don't need to be held like this, hm?" Sebastian says teasingly.

August's eyes fluttered, and his little face scrunched up as if he was struggling to stay awake just to prove a point. He clung to Sebastian, his small hands gripping the fabric of his shirt as he let out another big yawn. "Maybe a small bit sleepy" He admits quietly.

Vincent chuckles softly at the exchange. He could see how much love and care his husband gave to August, how Sebastian was always there to provide comfort without asking for anything in return. It was one of the many things that made Vincent fall in love with him in the first place—his gentleness, his unwavering patience.

After a few more minuets of gentle coaxing, August falls asleep too.

"There we go" Sebastian murmurs as the boys eyes flutter shut for the last time and his body fully relaxes.

He lifts August down into his bed, tucking him up underneath the covers before leaving the room with his husband.

Vincent and Sebastian walked quietly down the hallway, their footsteps muffled by the soft carpet. They reached their own bedroom, the door creaking open as they stepped inside. Time for some peace and quiet.