"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...?394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmjpjrYzK7
She groggily opened her eyes, only to see Ares sitting on her chest.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAYFAVYaX6
"Bad Ares! You will wake her up!" She heard the hushed voice of Azriel and smiled a little.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjunhDzTSQ
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." 394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSIuBZnIo1
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."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1db6nCTUEb
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCPZS8JdF6
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkmxRKBpSZ
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3au3cO1sX2
"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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CZkF031IM
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jWiAMAlHh
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2abNYJafj
"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!"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuREohIegv
"Is he worried about the baby?" One of the other caretakers questioned Lucinda.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9rklfSsek
Lucinda just nodded towards her with a concerned expression and held his hands. She dragged him towards the group of children gathered around Ares.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvPTO5WEys
"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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5yQ8czhIC
"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."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdzbdUfG9D
"Me as well?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS32irAM4Rq
"Yup. Family takes care of each other."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqOHSNr4k1
"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?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TAidJ1GK3
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."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhWHXrwhXL
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDwuHrWvud
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeMVRxjut6
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIfUs91ekL
"I'm your family...?" His voice cracked and hiccuped formed as he cried for a long time.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONbQAxY7JH
"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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPC2R6kuZG
"Do you want someone like me to be part of your family?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4XuUFmdbe
"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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