Epilogue

"Stay away,"Kerrie yelled, brandishing a twig.

"Yeah! Stay away, you trash-eating monster!" Katie shouted, waving a twig next to her sister.

Terry ran up to them, hauling a branch that was too heavy for him to lift off the ground. "Stay away from them!"

"I'm the biggest! I'm gonna protect you all!" Star swung her two flimsy twigs, skidding to a halt next to Terry.

"You're the smallest," Kerrie said.

But they all stood together, shoulder to shoulder, waving their sticks at the trash-collecting robot moving slowly across the field.

"Aww," Joey sighed, leaning into Blade as they watched their children fondly. "I love them so much."

Katie was the oldest, at eight years old, and Star was the youngest, at five. Joey and Blade had decided to have them all at almost the same time so they'd grow up as close siblings, so they'd hopefully have the same interests as each other.

Right now, the plan wasn't quite working—Katie loved trucks and Terry loved dolls. Kerrie only wanted to build blanket forts with several pillows, and Star couldn't go for too long without her favorite cartoon.

But when something threatened the kids... they dropped what they were doing and ran to help. Even if it was just a robot trundling along in the distance.

It helped that Blade's parents and siblings loved babysitting, that they had enough attention to go around. Blade had been worried about being stretched too thin, but so far, everyone seemed to be holding up.

Blade rubbed Joey's back and snuggled with him, both of them watching as the kids crept along behind the trash robot to investigate it.

"Don't hurt the robot, it's just doing its job!" Joey called after them.

"It's not dangerous unless you attack it first," Blade added dryly.

"Yes, Cop Master!" Katie chirped.

Blade pinched the bridge of his nose. "What the h—Don't learn from Hong. He's teaching you the wrong things."

"Yes, Cop Master," the other kids chorused.

"Oh, gods," Joey whispered in horror.

Blade growled and scowled over his shoulder at their butler, who was whistling innocently.

"I'm surprised they took this long to pick it up," Hong whispered loudly.

"Maybe I'll finally fire you," Blade grumbled.

"You can't. The kids love me." Hong cackled. "You'll have a rebellion on your hands."

Blade rolled his eyes. Joey rubbed Blade's forearm to calm him down, smiling helplessly when their children decided that the trash robot was harmless after all, and ran back over.

"I am the strongest," Star announced. "I will be the biggest dragon and protect everybody!"

"I'm the oldest," Katie said. "I will be the biggest protector!"

"No, me," Terry declared.

"Me!" Kerrie growled.

Kerrie and Star looked more like Joey, and Terry looked more like Blade. Katie looked different from her siblings, and one day, she might ask why. When she was older, Joey and Blade would tell her the truth.

Right now was for playing, though. Bonding and family time, and fun afternoons in the sun.

"Go home, Hong," Blade grumbled.

"No! Hong can be a big horsie! So we can all ride on horsie!" Kerrie said.

Blade gave a long-suffering sigh. "Fine."

Joey nudged him. "You can give them dragon rides later, when we get home."

"I will." Blade scowled at Hong, cheering up when Star scrambled onto his lap.

"I want Papa ride," Star said.

Blade beamed and hefted her onto his shoulder, getting up to walk around. Star squealed excitedly; Joey had to snap a picture on his phone because they were so adorable.

Between Hong prancing around as a horse with three kids on his back, and Blade chasing after them with Star on his shoulders, Joey couldn't stop giggling.

Blade made his way back to Joey and leaned forward, swaying side to side in his T-rex impression.

"Dino Papa," Star squealed.

"Roar!" Blade said, meeting Joey's eyes.

Joey burst out laughing, reaching out to cup Blade's face. Blade leaned in for a kiss. He tasted like the afternoon sun, like joy and contentment.

"Hello, Dino Papa," Joey whispered. And broke into giggles.

Blade rolled his eyes. Dinos are still not cool, he mouthed.

Joey laughed and kissed him again. "You're just jealous because between Hong and Telos and the other butlers, we have regular dino invasions."

Blade snorted. "Definitely not jealous."

It was a great excuse to have his friends over, though, all of them with their children, sharing joy and laughter.

Joey leaned back on the bench, watching as Blade chased down the other kids, roaring louder this time.

The children were happy. Blade was happy. Joey was, too. This wasn't what he'd expected his future to look like, a long time ago. But this was what he had now, with the most amazing mate and children, and nothing could top this.

"We're having dino food when we get home," Joey called to the kids.

The kids squealed with excitement. Blade laughed, meeting Joey's eyes.

"I'll do one better and feed you something you actually want," Blade said to Joey, his mouth curving in a smile that made Joey's stomach flip. "Later."

Joey wriggled in his seat and grinned. "I can't wait."