Michael Saunders is quite happy with his life. His wife, Sade, wasn’t expecting to be a mother of three but seems to be adjusting all right. Grace seems to mirror her father when it comes to personality. Will the twins prove to be a little more than everyone bargained for?
Saying that Grace Saunders was close to her father was like saying rain is wet. She greeted him everyday when he came home from work and would beg him to help with her homework. Of course, when the secondary option is Sade, it’s no wonder. Sade was smart, but a bit… flaky.
Grace mirrored her father in looks, too, and Sade would often say they had the same ‘brooding’ face.
The twins grew into toddlers a little faster than anyone anticipated. Charity had her mother’s fiery hair and the pointed ears denoting her alien heritage.
Alexander, too, had those same pointed ears, but definitely mirrored his father when it came to his appearance.
Taking care of the twins was tough, but with Michael’s now-relaxed work schedule, it all worked out. Sade kept her job and was able to keep going in her career. They took turns handling the twins and teaching them the necessary skills. It was a rather strange thing, to see the normally fickle and selfish Sade invest so much time and effort into her offspring.
She also made it a point to spend time with Grace, even though Grace preferred the company of her father. Still, Sade was more silly and Grace could express her humorous side with her. They made angry snowmen and threw snowballs at one another. Michael was not very amused when they laid in wait for him to come home and then sprang out and pelted him with cold balls of packed snow. He groused the rest of the night, causing both girls much laughter.
For the most part, they had fallen into a good, familial routine. Until, one night, they had an unexpected visitor…
Sade approached the archway to the kitchen, watching as Michael wrestled with the trash compactor. Like his father, Michael had a natural skill for tinkering and all things mechanical. Unfortunately, no one told the trash compactor this. She heard him muttering under his breath and cleared her throat, trying to get his attention.
“Michael?”
More grumbling, followed by the clink-clink of something metal. She sighed.
“Michael…”
Still nothing.
She took a deep breath and shouted, “MICHAEL!”
He jumped suddenly, his hand crashing against the top of the trash compactor, the wrench falling in a clattering mess. He looked up at Sade, quiet anger and pain evident on his face.
“Your father is here.”
His face drained of color. Gordon rarely visited, he didn’t want to endanger his family outside of the syndicate. The pain in his hand was quickly forgotten.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Grace was keeping her grandpa company.
“You didn’t just come to see the babies, did you?”
Gordon hadn’t seen Grace since she was just a baby. He was startled by how closely she resembled Michael. He smiled at her, “no, Gracie. You know I’m always happy to see you.”
“Dad won’t let me come over, he says it’s too far away.”
“And it is… but when you’re older, you can visit anytime, okay? But for now, you listen to your father.”
Grace wasn’t listening. She continued to ramble on, “I bet it’s because you’re a vampire and uncle Claude, too, and his wife. But I’ve got alien in me, right? So what’s it matter?”
Michael interrupted their conversation and Sade herded her upstairs and to bed, as it was well past bedtime. While they were away, Gordon greeted his son.
“You’re doing well. Are you happy?”
“Yes,” Michael replied stiffly. He loved his father and bore him no ill will, but his sudden appearance was cause for concern. “What’s wrong? Why didn’t you call first?”
Gordon sighed, “I didn’t want to put you in the middle of this, but it seems I don’t have a choice. It’s about your brother.”
Michael made a sound of exasperation, “what did Claude do this time?”
“It’s more what he didn’t do,” Gordon took a breath and faced his son again. “I need to speak with Sade.”
“What? Why? I don’t think–”
Sade appeared at the stairs, causing both men to pause. “What’s going on?”
Gordon ignored his son’s protests and addressed Sade, “it’s about Kit, Sade. Kit and her children… my grandchildren.”
——————————-
Note from Mao: The twins are actually children now, but you’ll have to wait and see them. 
I was surprised when they both got Sade’s ears, wow!
