When You Are Away II

Jana stood looking out onto the north through his window. he hoped everything was fine back home. Magnus might be back home now. Probably. He wishes he knew how the man felt about his absence. He turned to look at Arth now asleep after crying up a storm to see his Dada. They rarely spoke, really. The both of them will sit side by side and Arth will paint while Magnus worked. The man would nod at him in encouragement when he shows him a finished work.

Jana knew it felt safe when they were in Magnus' arms. It felt like heaven for Jana. He missed his mate, but those words, they stung. Jana is heartbroken.

He knew the man was stubborn and may never come for them.

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"I understand why you are angry, Alpha, but he is our son's mate. Essentially our son too. We can't just ask Jana to stay here," said Iker.

Avadh looked at him.

"I had always thought I will have to convince you to let them go to their mates' place," said Avadh.

Iker smiled as he ran a hand through Jeet's hair who was asleep in Avadh's lap on a pillow. He placed his head on his King's shoulder and looked at him.

"You are testing him?" said Iker, not necessarily a question.

Avadh was silent. "You remember the distress Jana was in. I want to know if Magnus cares about it at all. And I believe if your other dad was alive, he would have taken you home from palace until I got my head out of my arse," said Avadh.

Iker looked at him.

"You know, I don't know how you can do this, make me fall in love deeper and deeper as days go by," said Iker.

Avadh kissed on Iker's forehead.

"You astound me every moment, Iker, I love you and I fall for you more deeply every day," said Avadh looking at Iker fondly.

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Avadh and Iker looked at their hall, it had all of their kids sitting and talking. Jana was silent, but the now awake Arth was being rocked by Jeev.

Carles sat next to Jana as a comforting shoulder.

When they were all very young, Iker started a tradition where one day all of them slept in the hall. They had beds on the floor. All sat down. Avadh smiled as all three of his daughters hugged and kissed on his cheek.

Oh, how he missed his kids. He knew Iker missed them too. But they cannot deny it that the time away from all the hubbub was a much-needed one. At this age, they did need a bit of peace.

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Jana looked at his baba.

"Are you angry at me?" asked Avadh. Jana scoffed and shook his head and hugged his baba.

"Will he come baba?" asked Jana, his voice so small. Avadh looked at Iker who stood next to him and was looking at him too.

"Yes, If he is worth you, he will come," said Avadh.

"Would you have gone to Ilse if dad had left?" asked Jana now hugging Iker tighter.

Iker smiled and looked at Avadh who scoffed.

"Yes and I would have begged," said Avadh.

Iker blushes a bit at that and Jana laughs seeing it. His parents' love always makes him confident.

"Will I have this?" asked Jana much to himself.

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Kanwar looked at Jana.

"You okay?" asked Kanwar.

Jana smiled a sad smile.

"I am good," said Jana.

He watched as Kanwar and Carles left for night patrol.

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It was early morning when the Mantini brothers reached the palace.

Avadh was in the yard, Iker with him. Cris was also there when the car stopped in the yard.

Magnus stepped out and so did Samuel.

Samuel led the way.

"Samuel Mantini," said Samuel and introduced himself to Cris after nodding to the Kings.

Both Kings were looking at their oldest son in law. Magnus was not looking away. He looked at them both and looked down as he reached there.

"I am Magnus Mantini, your majesty, baba, Dad said Magnus.

"How did things with the Greenpear go?" asked Iker as he patted Magnus on the shoulder and then Samuel.

"Both of you go inside, Jana would be happy," said Cris.

Magnus nodded and all two went in led by Iker who threw Avadh an exasperated look.

Cris looked at Avadh.

"Seriously, I saw you lose all the anger when he called you Baba. Why don't you talk then?" asked Cris.

Avadh scoffed.

They all walked in.

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'Dada' a squeal and pattering legs crashed onto Magnus who lifted Arth who hugged Magnus and kissed on his cheek.

"Miss you so much," said Arth.

"I missed you too," said Magnus slowly and held Arth, without putting him down. Arth squealed seeing Samuel.

"Sammy--" said Arth and blew kissed to a very stoic Samuel who rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, can't say I missed you," said Samuel.

"Meanie," said Arth with a pout.

"Are we replaced in the favourite charts now?" asked Ivory.

"No Ivy," pouted Arth, refusing to leave Magnus' side.

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Once Magnus climbed up the stairs with his pup in arms, said pup was smiling like a loon.

"Papa missed you too," said Arth.

"Did he now?" asked Magnus.

They reached outside Jana's room, well, their room.

Magnus entered the room.

Jana was asleep. Magnus sighed as he closed the door. Arth saw it fit to go and curl around Jana who instinctively curled around him.

If Jana is sleeping at daytime means, he did not close his eyes the last night. Magnus freshened up and got to his little family now one bundle in the bed. He was also tired of all the travelling and Magnus was asleep the moment he laid down next to Jana.

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Jana woke up feeling warm and comfortable and better. Arth was asleep in his arms. Then he felt his Alpha, finally when the facts registered. The man's hand was firm around both him and Arth above the comforter.

Jana felt his eyes well up. He buried himself deeper into the man's arms.

"Awake?" asked Magnus. Jana nodded and then an 'hmm' came out broken.

"Are you crying?" asked Magnus.

"I missed you so much," said Jana, way too broken to stop himself from accepting his weakness. He looked at Magnus who wiped his eyes.

"You left," said Magnus.

Jana was silent.

"Those women, they are constantly on about the outhouse and all the good times. Some of them remind me of the stories that happened in my house to my family when the witches had bewitched some of them. They make me feel so- so 'insecure'-" the last word came out so hushed that if it was not for the wolf hearing Magnus would have not heard it.

"I expected you to keep your word- but you-" Jana looked away.

"I was angry at you and I know its not a responsible explanation but I promise It won't happen again and you are an idiot if you think I would look anywhere else when I have you. Those women- to be very honest- I don't remember half of what happened when I slept around," said Magnus.

"I hope no one shows up with a kid. A kid alone, I will welcome with open arms and bring him/her up as mine. But sharing you as a co-parent with someone else, Never," said Jana.

Magnus' body shook.

"I know its hypocrisy, but-"

"It's not. I can see myself going mad if I had to share you as a co-parent to Arth and no, I am sure there is no kid. For one, I always had protected sex and for the other, My security staff keep track of them for some time to ensure that they are not cheats, spies or rogues or witches or whatever. So I would know," said Magnus.

"I felt like you were ashamed of me when you did not tell your parents anything about us," said Magnus.

"I never meant for you to feel bad. Why did you never ask? I know how my parents would have reacted. They will drop everything and come running. I wanted them to have this time for themselves. All these years, they had always put us first. I was just trying to put them first," said Jana.

Magnus sighed.

"Maybe I should just have asked," muttered Magnus.

"Then you would have known that I am so proud of being Alpha Magnus' mate that I- I decided to, Jana blushed, I- I "

"You what?"

"I might have sent an announcement of our union to all lands via the King right after our mating," said Jana.

Magnus looked at him and just held him close. Both heard a sniff from Arth.

"Is he not well?" asked Magnus worried.

"It's just an ice cream he had late last night," said Jana.

They looked at their pup and soon fell back asleep clutching Arth closer.