CHAPTER 137: MOMMY’S BACK

Sunshine slipped into the children’s bedroom quietly, her steps as soft as feathers. Her first plan was to loudly shout "BOO" and catch then off guard but when saw them snuggled in and lost to sleep, she changed her mind. The surprise could wait until morning.

But she did not just turn back and leave. She had missed them so much and she wanted to at least look at their faces.

First, she leaned over Ariel first, he slept with a calm but tight face like he had unspoken worries. He had a sleeping mask over his eyes, which made her roll her eyes. She had given it to him as a joke, not realizing that he would use it.

She kissed him on the forehead and whispered goodnight. Then, she walked to the other side of the bed and looked at Earl, who mumbled in his dreams, fists curled as if ready to fight.

"So cute." She whispered. She kissed his temple and bent forward as much as she could.

It was finally Castiel’s turn. She reached for him and snatched him up as carefully as he could. He whimpered like a kitten but didn’t open his eyes. His lips parted, breathing slow.

"Hey baby." She whispered.

"Mommy." Castiel mumbled, suddenly wrapping his arms around Sunshine’s neck.

She thought he was awake, but he was till sleeping, just snuggling her now. "I am home, champ." She whispered, "Mommy’s home."

She tried to put him down again, but he clung onto her and refused to let go. The more she tried to free herself, the firmer his hands held on. Sunshine gave up and left with him.

She found Hades in the living room, holding a plate of food.

"Come, eat first, you must be starving." He looked at Castiel. "You seem to have grown an extra piece of flesh that needs to be surgically removed."

Sunshine laughed.

He put the plate down and walked to her. Where she failed, he succeeded and Castiel made displeased mumbles. Hades carried him back to bed.

Sunshine sat down for her meal, and she turned on the television, lowering the volume completely. She caught up with the animation which the children had been watching in the evening.

Hades returned, smiled at her and rushed off to warm water for her to bathe. He brought her warm tea as well and then rushed off to select the pajamas she would be wearing to bed.

She wanted him to sit down for a moment, but he just ran around like a busy bee, making sure that she was comfortable.

After she took her bath and both of them got in bed, Sunshine stretched her arms and hugged him.

"Thank you." she whispered.

"Anything for you." He replied. "Now, go to sleep. Lord knows that I am also in need of sleep."

They lay down without words, the silence heavier than any speech. In the darkness they held each other, limbs tangled. For the first time in a while, they were both able to have a good night’s rest. Their bond had grown not by distance but by return.

***

The first light of the morning spilled gently into the house, cutting across the wooden floorboards and drifting over the sleeping children. The air was still, carrying the scent of warm donuts.

A soft creak of the door woke Castiel first. His eyes fluttered open, and what he saw made him bolt upright. His mother stood at the foot of the bed, smiling softly, a scarf loose around her shoulder. This was a dream that he had countless times.

"Mommy?" His little voice cracked

"Go to bed Castiel, it’s too early for that." Ariel pulled the covers over his head, however Castiel was too stunned to hear his big brother’s words.

"Mommy" Castiel shouted, scrambling from his blanket and launching himself into her arms like a small bullet. His cry woke Earl, who blinked in disbelief before breaking into a wide grin and rushing forward as well. They clung to her, both boys, their laughter loud and teary.

Ariel removed the sleeping mask from his eyes and saw Sunshine. He sat stiffly, his eyes narrowing, his mouth tight. "You are really back." He said, his tone nearly accusing.

He didn’t run to Sunshine like the others. Instead, he started speaking quickly, as if his words were more urgent than hugs. "Now that you are here you need to address the Jill issue, I saw her stealing from grandma Rori’s pantry again. We cannot have thieves in the main building or on the base.

Also, what are you going to do about the sugar, there only two sacks left in the main kitchen and the supply room. I also have a list of people that are not listening to the rules. And..."

Before he could continue, Sunshine crossed the room and pulled him into a fierce embrace. She hugged all three boys together.

Ariel stiffened at first, his voice catching. Then his shoulders began to shake. For the first time, his mask of discipline cracked, and he clutched Sunshine back as tears slipped down his cheeks.

His reaction shocked them all including Hades who was lazily standing by the door.

"I thought you had left us for good," Ariel whispered into his stepmother’s shoulder.

Sunshine pressed a kiss into his hair. "Never baby. I will always come back, always."

Earl sniffed loudly and rubbed his runny nose across the scarf.

Castiel started to wriggle, trying to push his brothers away so that he could have her all to himself. "Mommy I am not ready! I was making a gift for you, a drawing. It’s not finished yet."

One of his feet caught Ariel’s chin and he let go of Sunshine. Sunshine winced on Ariel’s behalf while he rolled his eyes.

Hades snatched Earl and put his down.

Castiel nuzzled Sunshine. "Mommy, don’t leave again, ever."

"Mommy will be around for a while. We can finish your gift together and the octopus too." Sunshine told him.

His frown lifted into a smile, and he started telling her about all the things he had been up to but Hades intervened and pulled him out of Sunshine’s arms.

"After you take a shower and finish breakfast Cass. Your mom is not going anywhere." Hades said to him.

When breakfast came, it was like as dream. The table was filled with strange and delightful foods: Black hole donuts dusted with a glimmer of sugar, noodles floating in the air like playful ribbons, green heart tomatoes and Astro burgers stacked high with bright layers.

The children gasped in awe, laughing at how the noodles twirled on their own and gravitated into the mouth once one opened it and made an "ah" sound.

Hades could see why he was competing for second best parent in the house and why the meals were boring without Sunshine. Who else could come up with noodles that could float!!

Earl was showing off his teeth which had turned black as a result of eating too many doughnuts with a black filling that tasted like chocolate but more milky and somewhat nutty.

"I like the donuts best." He declared.

"Where did you get these?" Ariel asked, curiosity taking over.