The Crimson Feather (2/12)

[london9calling]

Part [1]

Kyungsoo had the kitchen rags neatly folded, stacked at the perfect height to be appropriately at arm’s length but not too burdensome to look upon. Perfect, absolutely perfect.

“Kyungsoo!”

It was a shout that sounded like it came from a deep seated despair, unlike anything he had heard come from his employer’s husband before. It turned his blood to ice. Kyungsoo quickly forgot about the kitchen towels, the plates that he was about to wash next, or the long list of special tasks he had written out for Jongin. Dashing up the stairs towards the entry way he prayed nothing terrible had happened.

And then he saw Minseok, Luhan holding him in his arms, the younger man looking a bit lost as he stood in the entryway holding his husband’s limp form.

“What is the matter, sir?!” Kyungsoo rushed towards his master, terrified that the man was injured in some way.

“He fainted. I can’t get him to come to!” Luhan explained in a rush “Quickly, help me get him upstairs.”

As Luhan maneuvered his way up the staircase, Kyungsoo rushing in front of him to prepare the bed, Jongin emerged from where he had been cleaning in the study. “What happened?” He asked, alarmed at the sight before him.

“Hurry, grab a basin of water and a towel. Minseok has fainted.” Luhan called back to his valet, never missing a step as he made his way towards the room he shared with Minseok.

Luhan tried to focus on his husband, and only his husband. From the moment Minseok had fainted at the Comte Labeaux’s house, Kris standing over him and rambling on about children and a maid and no sense of shame, Luhan had shut all such things down. All such thoughts of what Kris was referring to or why it had Minseok unconscious at the mention of it. No, Luhan trusted his husband. He needed to hear it from Minseok, not from Kris. He needed to know why. And he wouldn’t know the details, the why or the what until Minseok was awake. It had to come from Minseok, not Kris.

Kris had suggested that Minseok stay at the Labeaux townhouse until he awoke, Luhan vehemently shooting down the suggestion. Once Minseok didn’t awake after a few minutes, Luhan was certain something dreadful had jolted his husband’s reality, enough so that he wasn’t about to spend hours waiting in a foreign home for Minseok to awake. No, it was best if he brought Minseok back to their home.

Luhan carefully angled himself as he walked through the narrow doorway to the bedroom, taking extra care as to not hit Minseok’s legs on the doorframe. Kyungsoo had pulled the bed covers back, Luhan depositing Minseok onto the bed and pulling the soft quilt over him as Kyungsoo adjusted the pillows behind his head.

“Sir, what happened?” Kyungsoo asked, staring down at his employer in alarm.

“I-“Luhan wasn’t sure where to even begin “He had a fright.”

“A fright, sir?” Kyungsoo reached out, feeling Minseok’s forehead he was thankful his master did not feel feverish. “What sort of fright, sir?”

“I- well, I am not entirely sure.” Luhan sat on the bed, staring at his husband. What sort of fright was it? Children? Minseok’s children? How could he even begin to explain that to Kyungsoo?

Jongin arrived at that moment, carrying a porcelain basin full of water, towels slung over his shoulders, “Is the master well?”

“I think so.” Luhan answered rather curtly, not wanting to go into too much detail.

“Sir, please tell me what happened?” Kyungsoo placed his fingers on Minseok’s wrist, apparently feeling for his heartbeat.

Luhan should have known that Kyungsoo would not let the matter drop so lightly. “We were visiting someone and they said something rather alarming.”

Kyungsoo, feeling Minseok’s pulse under his fingers, began counting. As he did so he widened his eyes, staring at Luhan, not willing to leave the situation at vague descriptions of someone saying something that had Minseok fainting. His master did not just faint.

Luhan struggled with how best to explain the situation, considering he knew next to nothing about it himself. As Kris had muttered Luhan had ignored. “Well..he….someone said something about..well.”

“What is it?!” Kyungsoo shouted, quickly placing his free hand over his mouth in utter horror. He should never have shouted at Luhan like that, not at his employer’s husband, not without at least adding sir to the end of his angry exertions.

“Does Minseok have children?” Luhan blurted out.

Kyungsoo froze, Jongin staring from Kyungsoo to Luhan and back to Kyungsoo “Children?”

Before Kyungsoo could answer the question Minseok began to stir, moving his arm away from where it lay in Kyungsoo’s grasp. His eyes fluttered open.

“Minseok!” Luhan leaned over his husband “Are you well?”

Minseok struggled to sit up, blinking his eyes rapidly he realized he was at home. “I...” He looked around the room, three pairs of curious eyes staring at him.  “I think we need to talk.”

“I dare say we do, sir.” Kyungsoo exclaimed, glaring at his master as if he had been deeply betrayed.

***

Minseok hadn’t imagined having to explain such a situation to Luhan, because honestly he hadn’t any idea that such a situation existed. No, not really. There was something that happened many years before but something he had believed was left in the past with no lasting consequences.

As for explaining the matter to two valets, well that wasn’t part of the plan either. Though one look at Kyungsoo and he knew he wouldn’t be able to get his faithful servant to leave before offering up some sort of explanation.

Minseok took a sip of water from the glass that Jongin shyly handed to him. Minseok appreciated that Jongin was at least mum on the matter, not prying him for details. The other two however were very much waiting for some sort of explanation.

Swallowing the cold water, he cleared his throat and began.

“I think you are all aware of my time in Normandy.”

“Yes.” Luhan nodded. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, not sure how close he should get to his husband. Not sure how much he would like what Minseok was about to say.

“It was a very terrible time in my life-.”

Kyungsoo muttered something that sounded like “that brat Sehun” under his breath, quickly apologizing for the interruption and urging Minseok to continue.

“Yes, well, shortly after I arrived in Normandy I made the acquaintance of Kyuhyun. Victoria was with him. They were polite, nice – cared little for my social downfall and the rumors swirling about me. I was…” Minseok looked away from Luhan’s gaze as he continued, uncertain of if he wanted to see his husband’s reaction to what he was about to say “Reckless. I went to a soiree one evening and had a bit too much to drink. There was a maid- no, Angelique, was there and I well…” Minseok found his face coloring as he even attempted to recall what hazy and fragmented memories he had. “If the Comte Labeaux is to be believed it appears that I am a father.”

“A father?!” Kyungsoo’s eyes widened in horror. His employer, a father? Children?

“I only saw her that once, never again. I can’t be certain, though if the Comte is to be believed I… they are mine, twins.” Minseok brought his hands up to his face, holding them over his eyes as if he could shut the reality out.

Luhan was quiet. Very quiet. Too quiet. When he finally spoke his words had an icy cut to them “If this is true, if she did have your children, then you are their only surviving parent.”

Minseok nodded, not removing his hands. He wasn’t ready to face it – if it were true. He had children, two of them if Kris were to be believed. Children he had never known of. Children who he had never met. Children that had likely never even known their father’s name, children who were now without a mother. The hurt, the pain of it all bore deep into him, rattling his very soul.

“Wait, the mother is dead?!” Jongin asked, chiming in with a rare word.

“Yes. She was found in the river yesterday.” Luhan said quietly.

“Sir…how could you?!” Kyungsoo shouted, his loud exclamation startling the other three men. “Sir!”

Minseok removed his hands from his face finally, looking at his valet, tears in his eyes. “Kyungsoo, I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know?! How could you not know?!” Kyungsoo threw his hands into the air, “Why?! Why couldn’t you have kept it in your trousers?! With a woman no less!”

Minseok blushed furiously at his valet’s words.

“I don’t even know how to care for a child, sir!” Kyungsoo continued “They make messes and don’t listen and – “Kyungsoo burst into tears, his small body shaking with sobs.

Jongin, alarmed at his fellow valet’s outburst, moved to his side, hoping to offer some comfort with his presence. It didn’t work.

“I suppose I need to go read up on what children EAT, SIR!” Kyungsoo turned heel, practically running from the room, Jongin in hot pursuit. He paused at the doorway, turning around quickly and almost hitting Jongin in the process “What about a proper education! What do we do about that, Sir?” He yelled before running down the hall.

The silence that hung in the air was deafening. Minseok stared at Luhan, but he received no recognition in return. Luhan was staring at the quilt, his fingers idly bunching the fabric and releasing it.

“Luhan, you must believe me. I had no idea.” Minseok finally broke the silence, hoping his husband would understand.

“I believe you.” Luhan’s answer did not exactly reassure Minseok, it was too…indifferent.

“Please, Luhan, say something else. How – are you okay?”

“Yes. Though I should be asking you that.” Luhan finally raised his head, looking his husband in the eyes, a small smile offered up.

“I shall be. I mean, I need to learn if this is true.”

“If you are their only living parent, then I think we should raise them.” Luhan offered.

Minseok hadn’t wanted to get that far ahead. Not like the rest of the household, apparently. Kyungsoo was already stressing over their education, while Jongin was likely planning on doing anything that would calm Kyungsoo down. And Luhan…was distant, but forward thinking.

“Let us speak about it once we get there, please.” Minseok implored. After a few seconds passed he whispered “I hope you know I love you Luhan.”

“I know.” Luhan answered, another small smile offered up, “I love you too.”

***

The Wayside Exhibition went late into the evening, allowing for the people who toiled at work during the day to spend an evening walking about the cavernous place, admiring the exhibits that the more genteel folk had taken in during the daylight hours. It made for a long day if an exhibit was manned by a single person, as Yixing’s was. Though in all honesty his workdays back on the estate were rarely less than a twelve hour affair.

He usually awoke at the crack of dawn, still aiding his parents with chores on their family farm. Then he went on a tour of the estate, met with the managers of various estate resources such as gardening or livestock and spent the afternoon troubleshooting the lengthy and never ending list of tasks that went hand in hand with such a large property. Then it was more helping around the farm, often followed up with balancing the estates ledgers and reading up on the latest in agricultural news. Operating a booth for fifteen hours a day was fairly easy in comparison.

The crowds seemed to come in waves, Yixing realized, his speeches and explanations occurring on almost exact timing as the people came and went. As the sun dipped below the horizon he was launching into probably his thirtieth explanation of the day, eager onlookers watching as he demonstrated the equipment.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a man he had seen earlier, the man that was with Junmyeon. He tried not to pay him too much mind, given that he was busy with his presentation. Though it was rather difficult, his attention being naturally drawn to the man as he was conversing with a woman wearing the most wonderful headdress Yixing had ever seen – which wasn’t very wonderful in all likelihood as Yixing rarely saw headdresses. Not working on a farm. A rich crimson color, it stood out, however, enough to catch is attention.

“What is that for?”  The question turned Yixing’s attention back where it should be, focused on his exhibit. He quickly returned to his explanation, showing off the farming equipment with a smile on his face.

***

The park was nearly deserted at such an early hour. Though thankfully it wasn’t too early. It was past the time foolish young men met for duels, challenging each other over imagined slights and bitter rivalries. It was early enough, however, that the high society matrons and their charges were still sleeping off the previous night’s parties, allowing for a nice cool and crisp morning without the din and busyness of a social outing.

Minseok had slept fitfully. Honestly, he had barely slept at all. His night was filled with tossing and turning – and memories. Lots of memories. His father, what it meant to be a father. If he was indeed a father.

He had heard Luhan’s soft snoring almost immediately after they turned in, it bothered him a bit. Not because he wanted his husband to pass a sleepless night, no. Perhaps it was because he wanted someone to talk to, to pour his heart out to. Since he had been informed of his supposed children his conversations with Luhan were stilted, short.

Luhan had assured him time and time again all was well, they would face the challenge head on, raise the children as their own if it was in fact true Minseok was the father. Though Minseok could sense something there – Luhan was bothered by the news. Yet Luhan wouldn’t admit it. It was a tear, a small tear in the trust they had built up. A small tear that bothered Minseok to no end.

“He said to meet them near the lake.” Minseok remarked, knowing full well he had already said as much at least a dozen times. The evening prior he had sent a note to Kris asking to meet the children. He needed to see them, to be sure. It was Kris who suggested they meet at the park. A neutral place.

Luhan walked beside him, unusually quiet though seemingly supportive. He intertwined his hands with his husband’s, he smiled when Minseok caught his gaze, and he laughed softly as Minseok tried to use humor to diffuse the situation. Yet. Something wasn’t right.

They walked hand in hand down the dirt walking path, past the large trees, towards the lake.

“Do children usually wake so early?” Luhan pondered aloud.

“I am not sure.” Minseok answered, staring at path, little clouds of dirt being kicked up as they walked at a steady pace towards the lake.

Luhan had tried to reason what he would do, what he would say if the children were Minseok’s. He didn’t hate the idea – no. Because in all honesty that was something he wanted someday. Children. Though he had thought it would be years from when they were married, at a different point in their lives, when they adopted an heir. Not a sudden reality of children. Twins no less.

Children were not the problem, only a very big surprise. What ate at Luhan, made him retreat within, unusually so considering his usual extroverted nature, was the fact that these children were from a past that Minseok held close. They were… a mystery. Were there more mysteries?

Luhan hated doubting his husband, hated even thinking that way. Minseok didn’t know, he said he had no idea. Luhan believed him…but what if there was more. What if there was more from that dark place in Minseok’s life. What else could there be…what else…

“There.” Minseok pointed some ways in the distance. Luhan could make out a taller man, alongside two small forms- children. A woman was with them, bent down she seemed to be speaking to the children.

Luhan could swear it was slow motion as they approached. It was a lifetime or more as they crossed the greenspace, each step another second closer to the truth or the lack thereof. Each step something they couldn’t take back. Each step…

As they were within ten yards of them Luhan couldn’t deny it. No, no one could. As they neared the children, the tiny features coming into view, their chubby cheeks and wide eyes evident, Luhan could swear he was looking at a young Minseok.

Luhan felt his husband’s hand slip out from his own, Minseok quickening his pace ever so, as if drawn to them by some primeval urge – a parent towards their young.

“I was thinking you wouldn’t show.’ Kris drawled, gesturing towards the children.

Luhan watched as the woman, a maid judging by her attire, picked up one of the children. It was little girl that she held in her arms, a small boy standing at the maid’s side, clinging to her aprons as he watched Luhan and Minseok approach. He hid his head behind the maid’s skirt at the sight of them, clearly shy at the newcomers.

Minseok and Luhan stopped in front of them, giving a wide space of at least ten feet, Minseok not sure he could come any closer at the moment.

Kris smirked as he took in Minseok’s expression. He crouched down, urging the little boy to reveal himself, to let go of the maid’s skirt. “Theodore, I would like you to meet the Viscount D’Adderleigh.”

Luhan bristled at the way Kris said Minseok’s title, practically spitting it out. Yet he softened when the boy listened, peeking out, his wide brown eyes peering inquisitively at Minseok. Almost like he knew.

“Lillian, don’t be shy.” Kris urged, signaling to the maid to put the girl down. The maid shot Kris a rather concerned look but complied, the small girl struggling as the maid put her down on the ground, standing up so she was out of her grasp.

“And this is The Earl of Easton.” Kris pointed towards Luhan “Now say hello. Like you were taught.”

Minseok gulped, the air seemingly knocked out of him. Two small forms. Small, fragile, innocent. The boy shyly stepped forward, his sister doing the same, neither daring to look Minseok in the eyes. With a precision that was clearly drilled into them they greeted Luhan and Minseok. The boy bowing, the girl offering a clumsy curtsey.

“It is nis to mee you” The boy stuttered, not quite pronouncing the words correctly.

Minseok felt a tears stinging the corners of his eyes as he took in the sight. He had no doubt. There was no doubt. They were his. The dark brown hair, wide brown eyes, slanted ever so. Their lips even – their chubby cheeks. He could swear he was looking at himself, only decades younger.

Crouching down so he was eye level with the children he smiled “It is nice to meet you too. I wish I had met you sooner.” He extended his hand, apprehensively waiting, hoping one of them would take it.
***

Luhan watched as the small boy toddled forward, shyly taking Minseok’s hand in his own. A broad smile spread across Minseok’s face as the small hand found his much larger one, shaking it in greeting.

“My, what a polite young man you are.” Minseok couldn’t help but beam at the sight. The child, his child, inches away from him. Now that the child – Theodore that was what Kris had referred to him as - was up close Minseok could make out all of the details of his face, a few wayward freckles that played on his nose, chubby cheeks and long eyelashes.

The boy pulled his hand away, turning away and scurrying back towards the maid as his bashfulness got the better of him. Minseok wanted to laugh at the sight, though he didn’t dare startle the child or make the boy think he was making fun of him.

“I am certain you can no longer deny it, D’Adderleigh.” Kris sounded bored, indifferent, as he watched the children resume clinging to the maid.

“We need to discuss this in more detail, Labeaux. Somewhere more private, perhaps.” Minseok countered. He was happy to meet the children, happy to see them for even a second – for a second was far more than he had ever had with them before. Yet he needed to sort things out. Angelique – their mother – was deceased, the children were without the only parent they had ever known. Now that Minseok was certain they were his he wanted to discuss how best to acclimate them into his household. The last thing he wanted to do was cause any psychological harm to children who had just lost their mother.

“What is there to discuss?” Kris quirked an eyebrow, staring at Minseok.

“The arrangements for their future, of course. How best to progress, that sort of thing.” Minseok sincerely hoped he would not have to explain everything in detail to Kris, not here, not now.

“As I see it, D’Adderleigh, they are yours now. There really is nothing to discuss.” Kris drawled, “You may do with them as you please.”

Minseok tensed. Was Kris so moronic, so thick headed as to think that the children did not need some sort of transition period before being thrust into a new life with people that were little more than strangers?

“I think it may be best if we take things slowly.” Luhan chimed in, agreeing with Minseok’s sentiment.

“Is that so?” Kris sighed “Seeing as how my family has been caring for these children for the last three years I would dare say we do not owe them anything else – in fact, you owe me several hundred pounds. And a magistrate would likely agree – they are your responsibility now.”

“This isn’t about money.” Minseok spat, growing angry. He had to check his temper. He had to remember that the children were present.

“Isn’t the world about money, D’Adderleigh?” Kris countered.

Perhaps taking the children away from a home where such a man lived was for the best, Minseok thought. Perhaps it was for the best if his children were with him, not with the Comte, who seemed to measure everything in monetary terms.

“We did not bring a carriage.” Minseok was not sure how they would get two little children home, not on foot.

“That is your problem, D’Adderleigh, now isn’t it?” Kris smiled, a smile that Minseok found most distasteful.

***

“Tao, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Jongdae smiled at the younger man, happy that he was finally able to make an appearance at the office.

“My day off.” Tao explained, taking a seat at the small table next to where Sehun had planted himself.

“Very good.” Jongdae was busy arranging his notes, carefully written bits of information that he needed to piece together. He had called Sehun, Tao, Minseok, Luhan, and Junmyeon to a meeting to discuss their current case, sharing the information that each had collected and discussing what their next steps may be based on what they had discovered thus far.

Jongdae hadn’t thought Tao would make an appearance but he was certain Minseok and Luhan would be present. When they were not in the office at the appointed time he became slightly concerned. Junmyeon was not there either, however he tended to be a bit late by habit. Besides, Junmyeon hadn’t been filled in on any of the details yet and was not exactly holding key evidence at the moment.

“Are D’Adderleigh and Easton not coming?” Sehun pulled his pocket watch out, checking the time.

“I was wondering that myself. It isn’t like them to be this late.” Jongdae considered sending a man over to the newlyweds house to fetch them.

“Hello!” Junmyeon greeted the three men cheerfully as he entered the room, shutting the door a bit too hard he quickly murmured an apology for making too much noise.

“Where are Minseok and Luhan?” Junmyeon was confused as well as he glanced about the room.

“That is what we were just discussing.” Jongdae had to make a decision, they couldn’t wait around all day.

“Should we give them a few more minutes? If they don’t show we could always take a ride over to their house, it is near enough.” Junmyeon suggested.

“Yes, good idea, old boy.” Jongdae pulled out his pocket watch, marking the time, deciding when – if the pair were still not present – they would take a jaunt over to their home.

***

Luhan had never held a child before. In fact he had never touched a child before. No, nannies took care of children not Earls. He was having a very difficult time keeping the young boy in his arms, the child squirming and crying and all childlike and such.

Luhan glanced over to his husband and realized he wasn’t faring any better. The little girl – Lillian – was not at all happy to be taken away from the maid she had been clinging to. She was crying, sobbing really, balling up her fists and hitting Minseok’s chest as he attempted to make some kind of ground carrying her.

“I hate Labeaux.” Minseok muttered under his breath, Luhan catching the words and agreeing completely. It would be a long, difficult walk home if they were unable to secure a hackney carriage.

***

Jongin stared at his fellow valet. Kyungsoo didn’t seem to notice Jongin’s attentions, he was busy polishing a silver vase, aggressively. Very aggressively. Kyungsoo hadn’t said more than a few words, yes or no or there or confound you, since the day before. Not since the time he had learned that his master had children, children that may very well make an appearance in their life very soon. Jongin wanted to comfort Kyungsoo, offer words of encouragement – or say something that would make him less on edge. Yet he had no idea where to start.

In the last few months they had started something, some sort of relationship, though it was hard to really describe it with one or two words. Jongin had kissed Kyungsoo once, at the D’Adderleigh estate, under a huge apple tree. Kyungsoo had blushed and smiled and then yelled and well…Jongin had smiled like a love sick fool. Perhaps that was the issue, Jongin considered, that he was a lovesick fool. He wanted very much to kiss Kyungsoo every day. Or more – yet Kyungsoo held back. He blushed, he got angry, and he ignored it.

Of course occasionally Kyungsoo would flirt – or speak words that could be very much taken for flirtations. Such words made Jongin want to blush, though he didn’t believe that he ever did so. Kyungsoo was an enigma, a puzzle that Jongin hadn’t solved yet. And there was never a time he wanted to solve the mystery more than now when he thought Kyungsoo was hurting inside.

A loud knock on the front door wrenched Jongin’s attention away from watching Kyungsoo's angry exertions. Jongin glanced up the stairs, towards the entry way. “I shall answer it.” He offered, not wanting Kyungsoo to encounter any more undue stress than he was already suffering from.

Jongin arrived at the front door quickly, taking the stairs two at a time as he liked to do when no one was watching – when no one was there to criticize how it was unseemly for a valet to practically run up stairs. Before opening the door he made sure that he assumed a straight posture, as was expected of him.

“Is your master home?”

Jongdae, Sehun, Tao, and Junmyeon were standing on the steps – not a wholly unexpected sight given their business and friendship with Luhan and Minseok.

“No, sir. They went out for a bit. If you would like to wait inside I am sure they will be returning soon.” Jongin offered, standing a bit away from the door to let the men pass if they were so inclined.

“Do you know where they went?” Jongdae questioned, afraid that they were on their way to his office.

“I believe they -“Jongin started, though he didn’t have a chance to finish. He was interrupted by a hackney carriage stopping in front of the house, the sound of crying coming from within. The noise distracted the four visitors as well, all turning around to see who it was.

Jongin watched as Minseok alighted from the carriage, slipping the fee to the driver before he reached inside and pulled out a tiny bundle. Except it wasn’t a bundle. It was a child.

***

The parlor was bristling with a mutual feeling of awkwardness. Everyone felt it even if Minseok had tried to explain the situation and ease the surprise, at least a little.

“I – they – I have children it seems.” He had told his friends as gently as he could, given the magnitude of his announcement.

“Children?!” It was a unison of confusion before Minseok clumsily attempted to explain what had occurred when they had visited the Labeaux household the day before.

The children, both in tears, were handed off to the valets – who very much looked like they wanted to cry themselves.

“Are you certain you shouldn’t be with them now?” Sehun seemed the most alarmed by the situation. Children scared him.

“I will be, in a moment. We need to discuss the case.” Minseok hadn’t felt great about bringing the children to his home and handing them over to Kyungsoo and Jongin as soon as they arrived, but he didn’t know what else to do. He had committed to the investigation and he wasn’t about to drop out of it. No, he would meet with Jongdae and the others briefly and then have the rest of the day to devote to acclimating the twins to their new environment, if that was even a possibility.

Jongdae wanted to talk some sense into his friend, urge him to forget the investigation and focus on what was important at the moment – which most certainly were two screaming and crying children. Yet Jongdae knew it would do no good, D’Adderleigh would do what he wanted. Therefore Jongdae started.

“The facts as we know them; Kyuhyun is carrying a letter that may have cause immense damage to the throne, specifically the Prince Regent. He disappeared and it would seem that Victoria, the sister of the Comte Labeaux is with him. Victoria’s maid was found in the river yesterday, deceased. She was carrying a crimson feather.”

“The Comte claims that Victoria did not associate with radicals to the best of his knowledge.” Minseok relayed the information they had obtained from Kris, though he desperately wanted to snicker at the mention of Kris’s knowledge. Because, judging by how Kris had so rudely handed the children over to Minseok only an hour or so before, Kris seemed seriously lacking in discernable knowledge.

“How did the Comte react to the news of the maid’s death?” Jongdae inquired, feeling a bit awkward at referring to the woman as ‘the maid’ now that he knew about her children...Minseok’s children.

“He was shocked, though I dare say that had more to do with the children than anything.” Minseok kept his answer short, trying to separate the two very different situations at hand. “He claimed she went missing alongside her mistress, which may indicate that Victoria herself has met with foul play.”

“I may know something.” Junmyeon added “Though I dare say I didn’t think it was important at the time. I spoke with Shim Changmin yesterday, we attended the Wayside Exhibit together.”

“Changmin?” Jongdae had to think for a moment before he could place the man.

“Yes, he told me outright that Victoria had run off with Kyuhyun, though he wanted me to keep it a secret. I found it a bit curious considering we are not that close to each other. He described the situation as his best friend running off with his intended.”

“Interesting.” Tao had never met Changmin, though he could sense something peculiar about any man who would so freely tell others about such a thing without being questioned first.

“Interesting indeed, considering we only learned that Victoria may be with Kyuhyun recently. I believe Sehun, you have something to share.” Jongdae couldn’t help but be a bit proud of the work Sehun had done over the last day, he didn’t want it to go to waste.

Sehun cleared his throat, turning a bit red as all eyes turned to him, “I was curious about the feather, if it held some significance. I inquired about the color with a dressmaker and was told that the specific dye is rarely used. In fact there are only two known dressmakers, milliners, or tailors that work with such a bold color.”

“Good work.” Jongdae beamed. “I propose that Sehun and Tao investigate the feather. Junmyeon, please focus on Changmin – if possible I need you to find out more about his relationship with Victoria and Kyuhyun. I have my men fanning out across the city and into the country investigating any possible sightings of the missing pair.”

“What about us?” Minseok asked, realizing his friend had yet to suggest that they pursue a lead.

“Old boy, I dare say you have enough to worry about at the moment.” Jongdae answered.

Minseok wanted to argue, was about to, when he felt Luhan’s hand on his arm, a physical gesture telling him to remain silent. He acquiesced though it killed him.

As the men stood to leave, Jongdae held back. Luhan walked the others to the door, leaving Minseok alone with his best friend.

“How are you? Honestly?” Jongdae asked, worried, truly worried.

“I – I am fine.” Minseok looked at the floor, not wanting Jongdae to understand how emotionally affected he was by the day’s events. His life had been changed, forever changed within only a day’s time. He had barely digested the fact he was a father, now he had two children in his house.

“Don’t lie to yourself.” Jongdae reached out, putting his hand on Minseok’s shoulder “I know you want to be able to do everything, be everything, but you are human Minseok. Remember that.”

“I am not leaving the investigation if that is what you are implying.” Minseok finally raised his head, looking Jongdae square in the eyes. “Even if I barely knew her, the fact stands that the mother of my children was likely murdered. If I want to be able to face my children with an honest face I need to find out why.”

Jongdae wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. Not if he considered his best friends reasoning. Minseok absolutely had a right to continue with the investigation, now that it was so personal. Now that it involved his family.

“Take care of yourself. That is all I am asking. Take a day or two before you dive back in.” Jongdae smiled, patting Minseok’s shoulder.

“I will.” Minseok breathed a sigh of relief that Jongdae was not going to argue with him, urge him to quit, urge him to settle his family matters first. The trust that Jongdae had in him was something he truly appreciated. “Thank you Jongdae. I mean it.”

Jongdae nodded, giving Minseok one last pat on the back before he left. He prayed his friend would be able to adjust to the recent changes with his sanity intact.

***

Kyungsoo wanted to cry. Oh how he wanted to cry. Though he couldn’t, because if he did the children would probably cry more – sniffling little things that they were. The small boy and girl, Theodore and Lillian, were perched on chairs in the kitchen, Jongin scurrying around the room trying to find something, anything that would gain their attention and cause them to forget their tears. Kyungsoo, arms folded, watched as every object Jongin held in front of the pair only elicited more tears. Finally Kyungsoo decided to try his hand at the game, lest he go insane from the noise of it all.

“Look! Look! Do you know what this is?” Kyungsoo held up a small block of tallow “Look at the pretty tallow! Look!” He moved the cream colored block in front of the children and it was though a magic spell fell over them. They stared as Kyungsoo began waving the object back and forth through the air.

Theodore sniffled, hiccupping slightly though his attention never swayed from Kyungsoo. Lillian, nose running, ran a hand across her face but seemed entranced by the show. Kyungsoo couldn’t believe it worked.

“Beautiful, isn’t it. If you stop crying I shall let you touch it. Pretty, pretty tallow.” Kyungsoo was hesitant to make any sudden moves lest the crying start again so he continued gently moving the block back and forth, the children’s heads moving in time.

The boy reached a hand forward, grabbing at the object. Lillian was not about to let her brother claim the fascinating new toy before she did; she lurched forward suddenly in an attempt to snatch the block from Kyungsoo. As she did so she slipped from the chair, falling. Thankfully Jongin, always quick with his reflexes, caught her before she hit the floor. However the scare threw the child back into a fit of hysterics which only ignited her brother’s tears.

Kyungsoo shut his eyes tightly, dropping the tallow on the counter as he counted to ten in his head. How was he going to bear it, how?

***

As Jongdae left, shutting the front door behind him, Luhan could hear a break in the crying - the echoes of children’s wails no longer sounding from downstairs. He took the opportunity to have a word with his husband.

Minseok was walking out of the sitting room, his expression grim. Luhan felt pained at the sight. So many things had happened in such a short period of time. Luhan wanted nothing more than to scoop Minseok into his arms, hold him tight, and tell him all would be well.

“They stopped crying.” Was all he offered up, all he could vocalize at the moment.

Minseok nodded, not speaking, glancing towards the stairs that led down to the kitchen.

“We will need to have a room prepared for them. I was thinking, Minseok, that I should contact my parents and see if Lisbeth can move in.” Luhan referred to his nanny, the woman who had raised him, the woman that was more a mother to him than his actual mother.

“A nanny?” Minseok sounded surprised. He had met Lisbeth before, liked the woman, but hadn’t considered calling for her to take care of the twins.

“Yes. Kyungsoo and Jongin can’t take care of the entire household and the children.” Luhan was very well aware of Minseok’s propensity to keep a very, very lean staff yet raising children without a nanny would border on the ridiculous.

“She raised me, she isn’t a stranger.” Luhan hoped Minseok would listen to reason.

“Luhan, can we talk about this another time. I..we should see them first.” Minseok dismissed the idea for now, turning towards the stairs, eager to see the children. As he did so cries were heard once again, echoing from the kitchen.

Luhan sighed, watching as Minseok quickened his pace down the stairs. He had a feeling everything had changed. Everything. And he wasn’t sure how to feel at the moment, because it was to be seen if everything had changed for the better or for the worse.

***

“Oh, thank heavens.” Kyungsoo breathed a sigh of relief as he caught sight of Minseok walking down the stairs, “Sir, I don’t believe these small humans know how to do anything but cry.”

Minseok truly felt bad for leaving Kyungsoo and Jongin with the twins while he met with Jongdae and the others but the situation couldn’t be helped. At least now he had the time to assume the task of watching the children, though the thought of doing so terrified him.

Lillian and Theodore, perched on two wooden chairs, took little note of their father’s arrival, their tears still flowing freely. Minseok approached the twins, and then it occurred to him that he didn’t have the faintest idea of what to do next. He didn’t want to pick them up, no – Lillian had practically taken his head off when he had carried her before.

“Perhaps they are hungry. Did you feed them?” Luhan asked, taking his time walking down the stairs, the sight of the hysterical children inhibiting him from assuming a quicker pace.

Minseok hadn’t thought of that. He looked towards Kyungsoo, who promptly muttered something under his breath before he started to open a cupboard. “What do they eat, sir?”

“They…” Minseok wasn’t exactly sure. What did three year olds eat? “Do we have bread?” Bread sounded like a safe food, soft and tasty.

“Yes, sir.” Kyungsoo went digging for the bread that he had so carefully baked the day prior.

“Lillian, Theodore.” Minseok attempted to get the children’s attentions by calling their names. It didn’t work, the crying continued.

“Are you tired?” Luhan approached the twins, assuming a small smile that he hoped appeared harmless, he squatted down so he was at eye level with them. “Are Lily and Theo tired?”

Minseok would have commented on the nicknames, but he was too busy hoping Luhan had found a surprising ability to deal with children and their tantrums.

Theodore nodded, sniffling. Minseok felt like screaming from the rooftops, praising Luhan like he had won a decisive battle or cured an illness. Luhan reached a hand out, carefully patting Theodore’s head. Lillian watched, her tears beginning to dry.

“You must be scared. Poor things.” Luhan reached his other hand out, assuming the same careful petting motion on Lillian’s head. Minseok felt helpless, perhaps even a bit delinquent in the fact he hadn’t calmed his own children. He decided to try his hand at speaking to the twins. He crouched down next to Luhan, smiling.

“Kyungsoo is going to get you bread. Do you like bread?” Minseok asked, finding it hard to hold back from offering his own measure of comfort by stroking the child’s cheek. He didn’t want to frighten them. Lilian nodded.

“Ah, yes, you don’t know who Kyungsoo is.” Minseok realized he hadn’t really introduced the twins to his valet, nor to Jongin. “Kyungsoo is Dadd-”. Minseok stopped himself suddenly, hesitant to call himself their father. No, he couldn’t, not yet. Luhan sensed his worry and continued, “Kyungsoo is the man with big eyes. He helps us by taking care of the house. Doesn’t he look like an owl?”

Jongin tensed, looking from Kyungsoo to Luhan and back to Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo was holding a knife, slicing pieces of bread for the children. Jongin was suddenly afraid for Luhan’s safety so he butted in, “I am Jongin! I help Kyungsoo. It is nice to meet you.”

The children looked at Jongin for a moment before turning to Kyungsoo.

“Owl!” Lillian laughed, pointing at the valet.

“Young miss, if you want bread I suggest you reconsider who you call an owl.” Kyungsoo glared.

“He is a bit of a sourpuss, isn’t he?” Luhan whispered to Lillian, the girl giggling and nodding at Luhan’s words.

Kyungsoo finished cutting the bread, pushing it towards the children he announced “I need to dust, sir.” It was clear the valet was not happy about being likened to a bird. He walked to the stairs. When Jongin didn’t follow he burst out, “Jongin needs to dust too. Jongin!”

“Coming.” Jongin offered up another smile for the children before scurrying off after his fellow valet.

Minseok picked up one of the small pieces of bread, offering it to Theodore then doing the same with the other piece, giving it to Lillian. The children seemed happy with the offering, each taking a big bite.

“Just like I was as a child.” Minseok mused, recalling how his Father teased him for his voracious appetite.

“We need to get a room ready.” Luhan commented, “Though I dare say Kyungsoo is going to push me down the stairs if I ask him to do so.”

“Yes, he probably will.” Minseok grinned as the children continued stuffing their mouths with the bread. “Should we put them to sleep in our room?”

“Our room?” Luhan considered it. He felt a bit odd about having the children sleep on their bed, where, well…

“I don’t see another option, Luhan.” Minseok sounded slightly annoyed at Luhan’s reluctance, and the use of Luhan’s first name – which at times made Luhan turn into a lovesick fool – now sounded more like an insult.

“As you see fit, Minseok.” Luhan answered blandly, not bothering to argue.

***

Minseok didn’t want to leave the children alone, even when they slept. Getting them to sleep had not been easy, they had fussed and started crying again when Minseok and Luhan carried them up the stairs to put them to bed.

“Minseok, we really need to consider a nan-“Luhan didn’t get to finish his sentence, Minseok springing up to get closer to the sleeping children, his actions startling Luhan.

“Oh!” Minseok breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought Theo had stopped breathing.”

Luhan realized his husband was experiencing a rush of emotions at once, a rush of emotions that parents often had a long time to prepare for. Or, more likely than not for those in their social class, worries that a nanny assumed, not the parents.

It wasn’t that Luhan wanted them to assume the “normal” parenting routine of the upper class. No, that was not something that he wanted at all. Seeing the children for an hour, or even less, during the day – always at a prearranged time – assured only that the parents and their children would never be truly close. However Luhan did want someone with actual child rearing experience caring for the children, and that was why he desperately wanted to summon Lisbeth to their house.

Luhan watched as Minseok carefully climbed into bed, lying down a few feet away from the sleeping children, his eyes never leaving them. It was quite the sight. Luhan could see the resemblance, so very evident in the children’s eye shape, their small mouths and chubby cheeks. It was like looking at the childhood version of his husband, and to be honest that made Luhan’s heart beat rather erratically. It was a feeling of something...loving, sentimental, and thankful.

Luhan kept watch, not daring to approach the bed and intrude on the three of them. He watched as Minseok’s eyes grew heavy, his eyelids drooping. Within a few minutes Minseok was snoring softly, asleep next to his children. Luhan wished he could capture the moment, the peace and beauty of it. Taking one last look at the sleeping trio he carefully crept from the room. He needed to ask Jongin to help him prepare a space for the twins, he didn’t dare talk to Kyungsoo yet, not after is owl comment.

***

Minseok was dreaming the most wonderful dream. He was on his favorite horse, galloping around the countryside of the D’Adderleigh estate, the wind in his hair, a feeling of freedom. And then something smacked him in the face. His dream world slowed down – another smack. Opening his eyes he was greeted with a pair of tiny hands, tugging at his nose. It took him a moment to realize where he was and what was going on.

“You can’t pull my nose off, you naughty girl.” Minseok laughed as Lillian, realizing he was awake, scurried away from him. Minseok sat up, smiling. Theodore awoke a moment later.

“Mama.” He called out.

Minseok froze. Did they know? How exactly long had it been since they had seen their mother?

“Mama.” Lillian mimed her brother’s call, and without fail the fact that their mother was nowhere in sight had the pair breaking out into sobs, their calls for their mother intensifying in volume.

Minseok felt like crying too. What could he possibly do? He had no idea, how to tell them, how to calm them. “Mama is…she is…” He couldn’t finish his words because he couldn’t fathom how to.

The bedroom door creaked open, Kyungsoo appearing. Minseok was surprised to see him, given how little he seemed to like the children. Little did he realized Kyungsoo had, a few hours prior, received a rather stern lecture from Jongin (“At least try to like them, they aren’t going anywhere. Wouldn’t it be best if they like you in turn?”).

“Do the young master and mistress want to play with the owl?” Kyungsoo smiled, opening his eyes wider at the children. The valet’s actions seemed to do the trick, the children staring at him. Kyungsoo approached hesitantly, flapping his wings a bit, internally screaming at how far he had fallen from the proper behavior of a valet.

Minseok mouthed the words “Thank you” to his valet, truly grateful that the tense situation seemed to be diffused, at least for the moment. Of course he would have to tell them what happened to their mother…eventually - he just hoped he found out how.

***

“They certainly go to the bathroom a lot.” Luhan sighed, not understanding how such small humans could produce so much waste, their fifth time with a chamber pot having ended only a few minutes before.

“Hm.” Minseok grunted. He was walking behind the twins as they explored the large sitting room, grabbing at every object they really should not be allowed to touch.

“Jongin should have the room ready soon, I asked him to make sure everything breakable was out of arms reach.” Luhan explained. He managed to get between Lily and a vase, just in time, as she almost fell into the wood column the vase was resting on.

“Up!” Theodore yelled, pointing at the drapes. Minseok reached down, picking the boy up. This small request by his son did wonders for him, the first time one of the children had asked to be held by him.

“Aren’t these pretty? Your grandm – Um, The Earl of Easton’s mot – The Duchess of Hayden picked out this pattern.” Minseok explained, stopping himself before he said the words mother or grandmother. The child reached out, feeling the fabric. Theo ran his hand over the drape and then, without warning, took a fistful of the fabric and pulled. The drapes came loose, falling to the ground as Minseok stepped away so he could avoid being covered by them.

“Perhaps showing them the house was not a good idea.” Luhan muttered, attempting to herd Lily away from the bookshelf.

“They need to know where they live.” Minseok snapped, walking towards the middle of the room, Theo still in his arms.

“Sirs, the room is ready.” Jongin poked his head into the sitting room, offering a wide smile for the children.

“Thank you, Jongin. Thank you a million times over.” Luhan struggled to pick up Lilly, ecstatic that there was now a child safe room in the home.

***

A child safe room only went so far. The twins were fussy, not wanting to lie down to sleep, throwing their food, and causing a mess. Kyungsoo, playing the friendly owl, made another appearance though meeting with only moderate success. Luhan launched into a story, which also worked for only a short period of time. Finally, as the sun set, they drifted off to sleep- or more like cried themselves to sleep.

Luhan and Minseok, both uncharacteristically exhausted, found themselves eating the dinner Kyungsoo prepared without conversation. After dinner, Luhan was going to suggest they discuss the nanny subject in more detail though one look at Minseok and his drooping eyelids had Luhan dismissing the idea.

“Go to bed.” Luhan urged.

“Will you listen for the children? In case they wake?” Minseok asked, not about to forget his children.

“Yes, I will. Kyungsoo and Jongin are here too.” Luhan shooed Minseok out of the dining room and towards the stairs.

“When will you be up to bed?” Minseok asked. If he wasn’t so tired he would realize that this was the first night since their wedding that he was going to bed alone.

“In a little while. And don’t worry, I shall make sure one of the men are ready to listen out for the children before I retire.” Luhan assured his husband, watching as he slogged up the stairs towards a few precious hours of sleep. Once Minseok was out of sight Luhan went to find Jongin. He located the valet in the kitchen, helping Kyungsoo organize the week’s menu.

“Can I help you, sir?” Jongin asked as his employer walked into the room.

“Yes. You can. Listen, I need you to visit my parent’s house and ask for Lisbeth to come over first thing tomorrow morning. Though please do so without letting my parents know. They aren’t aware of the children yet and I would like to tell them in person.”

“Does Minseok know of this request, sir?” Kyungsoo asked, suspicious.

“No, and I would very much appreciate if you didn’t tell him. He is too tired and emotional to think clearly at the moment.” Luhan explained, hoping the valet would accommodate his request. He wasn’t always on the best of terms with Kyungsoo therefore it was a gamble asking him for a favor.

“Emotional and not thinking clearly?”

Luhan spun around, missing the fact that Jongin and Kyungsoo both jumped a bit in shock as Minseok stood at the bottom of the stairs, glaring.

“Minseok.” Luhan was caught.

“Luhan, perhaps in the morning we can discuss at what exact moment you decided you could make the decisions for MY children.” Minseok spat, a pained expression on his face.

Luhan watched Minseok stomp up the stairs, his chest tight. The way Minseok had emphasized MY children – it was an ugly, vicious feeling, Luhan thought. It was meant to exclude Luhan from the picture, assert a sense of ownership, a sense of ownership and responsibility that was not to include Luhan.

“Is Lisbeth a nanny, sir?” Kyungsoo asked quietly.

Luhan choked back his tears and turned to Kyungsoo. “Yes, she is.”

“Jongin, you better send for her and quickly. I agree with Luhan, Minseok is not well.” Kyungsoo stared at the stairs, as if he could conjured the image of an angry Minseok stomping up them. “Children make people go insane, apparently.”

The three men stood there, all agreeing with the statement without needing to utter a word.

Later that night Luhan took a chance, opening the door to the bedroom he shared with Minseok. He glanced inside. Minseok wasn’t there. Luhan guessed he had went to sleep by the children. Closing the door softly Luhan went back downstairs to sleep on the couch in the sitting room.

Chapter 3 >>>>