"Do you want someone like me to be part of your family?"
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Her morning never changed, it was the same as always. Wake up, tell the cooks to make breakfast, and wake the kids up. But this morning was particular, she wasn't woken up by her alarm, but by someone slapping her face...?332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRR0kIPVPA
She groggily opened her eyes, only to see Ares sitting on her chest.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GszAdi0ff
"Bad Ares! You will wake her up!" She heard the hushed voice of Azriel and smiled a little.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy2gJ0MhbH
Holding the baby, she got up in a sitting position. "He already has... but, that doesn't matter. It would be wonderful to wake up every morning to Ares." 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4lQJBdn8I
Lucy placed him on the bed and went towards the bathroom. "I will get fresh and then take you to breakfast, alright? You can sit on my bed with Ares."332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAV1mb2lWW
He nodded and continued entertaining Ares, who clapped his hands while giggling.
The children of the orphanage came running down after freshening up, for breakfast. It wasn't a fancy breakfast, they all knew, yet they were grateful as they took their seats. Nights without food, these kids had already experienced.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MENeEbVEM
The caretakers brought the plates to the young kids and sat with them. About 20 or so children only, but each one of them smiled and laughed with the caretakers, showing that they were treating them as well as they could.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kp9SQzyxd
At that exact time, Azriel and Lucinda, with Ares in their arms, entered. Azriel trembled a bit and held onto her hand, nervous. Ares stared at everyone, curious. As curious eyes peeked over at them, everyone's attention was drawn to them.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XnqbZV2XP
"Everyone." Lucinda started. "These two will now be joining us as well. Come one, introduce yourself." They stared at him, making him uncomfortable more than he already was. Eyes clutched in nervousness and breathing unstable. Lucinda, noticing, squeezed him on the shoulder and pushed him forward.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCO3ORCfXK
Hesitant but determined, taking a deep breath, Azriel started. "M-My name is Azriel and this is A-Ares, my little brother." He stuttered a bit but held a confident gaze. The children instantly gather around him and started welcoming him, happy that someone new would be joining them. The caretakers, confused, but still, smiled and happily welcomed the two.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn5U9N71m9
Ares was immediately overjoyed at the newfound attention from the older children who took him from Lucinda. Azriel clutched her dress tightly as he pointed toward the baby being carried away.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YC5XxM1oL
"Don't worry, they're not going to do anything to Ares, but if you want, I can tell them to give him back?" Lucinda asked. "But I can promise you they won't do anything to him!"332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wy1P3hR5x
"Is he worried about the baby?" One of the other caretakers questioned Lucinda.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJYsBTs3g0
Lucinda just nodded towards her with a concerned expression and held his hands. She dragged him towards the group of children gathered around Ares.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQbiXqb3G4
"Yeonjun!" She called out for the boy who was holding Ares, Azreil hid behind Lucinda with nervousness. "Take care of this guy as well." She pulled him forward and made him sit down with them.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCb7h361Nu
"Got it, Lucy." A silvery yet singsong voice, having an Asian accent, answered. Azreil looked up to see a young man, about 16 maybe, his messy, black hair reaching his shoulder and a distinct glow on his face that made him comfortable with this 'Yeonjun' person. He ruffled the small boy's hair, "Hey little fella, My name is Yeonjun, you can just call me Yeon like every child does." Azreil just nodded at the over-excited boy and continued looking at his brother. "Worried about him, are you? Don't worry, we will take care good care of him and you."332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KfEmtXnl9
"Me as well?"332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp2i1CCcXc
"Yup. Family takes care of each other."332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PguKFN51L
"Eh? Family?" Azriel was very confused, now. How can he be family, they don't have the same blood. "How can we be family? I mean, we don't have same blood or even one parent the same?"332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVhBNQHlFE
Yeonjun looked at him with pity, he handed over the young Ares to the girl beside him and set Azreil on his lap. Holding him tightly he whispered, "Family isn't about having the same blood or DNA, but about the bond, the love they have. Who you previously lived with didn't love you, they weren't your family, but we will love you, we will become your family."332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvimBeCLITg
Azriel teared up, his body wrecked as his sobs escaped, and his throat closed up. He wiped his face with his hands to stop the ocean that was bleeding through his eyes, but all that built-up emotions were too much.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq9d1VM6iG
This was the first time anyone had said such kind words to him. Lucinda was an angel and Yeonjun was a hero. God had sent help after all those nights where he prayed for him to. No one listened to him, no one would bother yet these two, without even listening to his story, already opened their arms to him. They, without even hesitating, took someone like him in. They welcomed him, they comforted him.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ6wz6bK2X
His painful cries echoed through the room, catching everyone's attention. Lucinda, who was having her lunch peacefully, rushed to comfort Azriel. She carried Azriel back to his room, which Yeonjun decided to follow with Azriel's breakfast plate.
"Why did my baby just suddenly start crying?" She asked as she wiped his tears with her thumb.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86rguBt0H3
"I'm your family...?" His voice cracked and hiccuped formed as he cried for a long time.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPKRomdp9u
"Of course you are, what else did you expect?" She cupped his face with such care and affection that it almost made him cry again.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43O6cm8jgp
"Do you want someone like me to be part of your family?"332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwii4LrJo1X
"What do you mean by someone like you? I like you as you are, you don't have to change to become part of the family. Well, you are part o the family no matter how you are." She kissed his forehead, filling him with fluffy, warm feelings. "Now that, all that is done. Yeonjun, his breakfast. He needs to eat."
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