A happy home, a good family. What do you see when you think of that? What images projects in your mind's eye when you try to picture it.
For her, it was this, this particular moment, this scene, the smell and the love that drifted with it.
"Don, get away from my rice and stop stirring. Jesus Christ! It's not porridge."
Religion was not down here in Kantama however ever since they'd entered this kitchen, Don had made her believe some people really did need a good bout of prayer to survive. Don's inability to cook was not a simple lacking of talent. He was too terrible to blame talent or even experience. He burned everything!
"Go on, go find somewhere to sit. You're only making a mess of everything."
"Yes brother go sit down. We're almost done here. I never thought you could be so terrible at something. ''
Probably Don had known how easy it would be to convince me when he had so readily accepted the dare. Or maybe he had planned this trip for a while now.
However when they'd awoken together entangled and tangled in their lovely way, Don had showed her a picture of the reserved Ville.'' It was a get away trip," he'd said, the place was built specially for them. It was like a honey mood trip. They hadn't had any after they'd gotten married. She knew now that they'd only signed the marriage papers and held a small celebration dinner for her wedding. They'd said that was how she'd preferred it back then. She had not thought much of it though, the possibility of that being the case was too clear, after all there was no family going to attend, why throw such big ass party.
What had surprised her, was the silly little celebration she had after hearing of the escape trip. She had almost broken a few limbs while jumping and doing a happy dance on the bed. That was when she realized how bad she'd needed the get away. She'd thought she would be starring at those familiar walls until her teeth fell out from old age. Dan and Don mostly walked out of those doors to take care of the empire. However she wasn't allowed to. She'd made it a hobby to know the names of the workers and even befriended a few. Especially the chef, Mr. Thomas. His cooking was phenomenal. And she'd fallen in love with it.
However she knew she was going to have a break down if she stayed in that place for so long. So, she had been the first to pack up for the vacation. It was only a weeks stay. But she was more than happy about it.
The only moment when she was not at all so happy was when she'd seen her men walking out of the house in their usual suits as though going on a business trip. For a second, she had thought they were really going there for business and not for fun. Her annoyance had guided her hard work in packing a good handful of casual clothings for the both of them. And maybe her excitement at seeing her marks on them with a every clothing choice she made had empowered her too. She had realized, while packing their clothes that one of her men might actually be colour blind and the other basically owned everything in the color black.
The only way to explain Dan's wild variation of colored clothes was that he couldn't see them at all. And Don unsurprisingly chose colors that was on par with his personality. Cold and distant. Thankfully their forms were almost similar, and she mixed the different shades of not right and too dull to create a perfect set of clothing for them.
She had forgotten her grievances though when they'd gotten to the villa. The structure was not as homogeneous as their home however it was perfect. The two story building flat, surrounded by several beds of flowers and the fabulous fountain with it's statue amused her so much. Somehow she'd thought the statue at the fountain resembled her. Maybe she was just overthinking that too, after all she'd never worn such clothes or asked for a sculpture, so maybe the lady in the soft silky layers that slid off her shoulders were not her.
She had been so excited to find the rooftop pool and yet so unamused to find out they were going to share a room. Although it was so unreasonably huge,it took the entirety of the first floor.
The grounds of the building was a square shaped welcoming paradise, the warm honey lights, the tall oval shaped shelves that held a variety of books in their embrace and the way the woods were curved in such aesthetic way it begged for a reader's attention, she guessed they also remembered they had once been kids who sat on a lap to listen to bed time stories. She didn't know why Don and Dan refused to mention their mother. However the woman who had rescued her and brought her within their family's walls usually creeped into her memories. Maybe she was too young then for those memories are only so vague and broken and before she could make new ones to be remembered, she had passed. She knew nothing of what had caused her death, however the twins explained that it was an illness of sorts and that their father had passed soon after. She had no recollection of that man though , maybe she'd rarely seen him. However the thought of the woman who saved her and took her in brought such warmth, for a moment she'd felt something break within her. She must've been a good mother. The grief of her absence must have been the reason for their silence. Maybe they didn't wish to mention their mother because of the grief that came with it or to avoid feeling like how she just felt. So sad and alone.
Looking at her men now, she knew their mother would be so proud of them. They had grown up nice and handsome, they were so good to her, and she felt so proud too, to belong to them.
Her thoughts about belonging brought her back to the night before, fleeting excitement and passion glazed her eyes, staring at the backs of the busy Dan and sulking Don who still refused to get out of her kitchen, she thought out loud, " I never knew you guys were into that, how could you hide it so well." She'd realized a shocking truth while she traced the burning point down the necks of her men last night. Don and Dan liked to play. She had never seen them that way. The desperate way their eyes glazed and searched for the teethers of their control as it escaped their hold. Dan, more surprisingly though had been the first to loose it. He was never so affected by her as Don was, usually she'd see a messed up Don after making out or simple voluntary touches. However Dan had always been the one to make a mess of her. However last night, she'd seen her fierce man so vulnerable, so putty in her arms as he begged for more than just touches and kisses. No he wanted to be messed up by her. To be more than just scribbled on. To be tortured, sweet and slow. She hadn't known what to make of it for a while there. However Don who had surprisingly reigned in his demons so well had patiently taught her how to deal with Dan's messy self, she'd never in her twenty years of living thought she'd be learning such ways.
And Dan, Dan was a messed up man when she had made it through. Slicked with sweat and traces she'd surprisingly left on him herself, she'd never want to hurt her men, never thought of doing that,however when she saw what her actions did with them, she was quite proud of herself for holding on long enough. Long enough because if Dan was the drunk who'd gotten so high he'd grinned and chuckled himself silly after she'd given him what he wants, then Don was a monster, a bulldozing monster.
Maybe she should've just made him hold on to the reins of his control that he'd also almost lost. It was her own fault for naively thinking it was unfair to him. He wouldn't stop, and she knew form her attempts to stop him that he just couldn't, it was amusing how they both worked so well together too, just when she'd manage to calm an unstoppable Don, she'd turn to find a needy Dan, it was infuriating how he reacted to just watching her reactions and expressions and far gone self. She realized then that they didn't just want to be messed with they liked her messed up too. And maybe that was why they'd had the longest and most deranged night of their lives. Maybe it was only crazy for her who had no idea there were such ways of satisfying one's men. Because she had seen the glow on their faces this morning. Their entanglement felt much more tighter,more closer and more familiar this morning as though they'd let go of something they'd been holding back for so long. And she'd never felt so happy. She realized she didn't like them hiding their nature either. She didn't like them hiding anything at all. And after seeing how much closer they got and how clingy they got in the morning, she made a self note to indulge their ways of having fun another time when her legs are not shivering and her body isn't trembling in ache from such waning.
"You two are really something..."
A cling from behind made her turn. Looking at the guilty hunched form of Dan, she knew he was once again blaming himself for what had happened the night before. How many times has he done this already.
Taking quick steps to his side she softly grabbed his arm turning him to face her.
"How many times am I to repeat that I'm okay and that I was fine with what 'we' did last night.Really, I'm fine aching but fine. And I'm really going to pass out from anger if you keep this up. I'm so hungry and right now all I can think about is food so come on, stop your whinnying and let's make lunch. And Brandon Darcen get out of my kitchen will you! Just wait at the sitting room hmm."
The kitchen was on the other side of the library in the ground floor. It was spacey and grand just like the house itself. The structure allows direct view of the living and dining room. Which is why it was so annoying that Don still refused to leave and wait. He'd literally be facing them even if he just sat at the far end of the hall.
Seeing his dejected expression as he walked out the kitchen, she was tempted to call him back but she knew that was only going to be a bad decision, he didn't even know the names of the ingredients. Where was he, and what was he doing all the while Dan learnt to cook. Whatever, she couldn't think of it now. She was just too hungry and tired.
Watching Dan's precise cutting and neat chopping, she couldn't help being amazed and maybe a bit jealous too. He even did it better than she did.
"Done." His simple exclamation made her stomach growl in anticipation. The dish was something she'd watched on a tv show a few days ago. It was simple fast and not at all complicated. Also the streamer had said most families ate the dish together. That was what she wanted. A family. A normal family like the ones that dwelled in the paradise outside of the hellish Kantama.
She had a family now too.
On the plus side,the dish looked so delicious.
Taking the big bowl she had found in one of the drawers, she called out to Dan..
"Dan, can you get the rice..''
" Yeah coming right up..."
She smiled knowing he's gotten back to his cheeky self.
*Ok, rice goes in, green and red sauces too, carrots and celery, mayonnaise, coleslaw, vege salad, spam, lettuce and spinach, hot sauce, some chilly oil, stir fried beef, scrambled eggs and sausages and finally some ketchup and a sprinkle of green onions.
Dan, should we add more rice? I feel I could eat more than I intend to. The bowl of assorted colors looked so good. It was better than she had expected and it smelled so good too."
She couldn't help the big silly grin that plastered her face.
" Glutton, our little wife is a glutton. You're a foodie little purple."
" Hey! That's no way to.... I'm not... What do you...ah get your hands of my face!"
Somehow her words had failed her when she needed them the most. And what was he doing with her face!
" There... Oh and you've got more drool here too mhm all done. Damn Purple you're going to get your drool all over the place."
" You...you... What.. what are you doing?!
Before she could stop him his thumb had reached his mouth..."
"Mm.. avocados, ketchup... and you, interesting combination."
" Dan...you... that was disgusting!!"
" Is it? Didn't hear that last night though and we did a lot ..."
"You!..you!..."
" Yes Purple what do you need ~"
" I'm never talking to you again!"
With an exasperated hurrumph, she left the kitchen cradling her big bowl of bliss with her. She was really never going to talk to that guy. Never!
"Little purple... Wait you forgot something"
"What! "
"This"
Another bowl of rice was dumped into the big bowl containing the mixture in her arms.
"And this. "
In a swift movement her pouted lips were on his,his soft bites and caressing , damn she couldn't think...
" I'm sorry purple, you just look so cute when you pout like that..."
With his forehead against hers and their chest heaving in a mimicked pace he whispered..
"You are an enchantment, Purple."
Meanwhile all after she caught her breath, all she could think of is how she can't push away the mean rascal because she had to protect the bowl in her hands.
He had a way with his words and his lips, and he knew that, but he wasn't going to get away with this!
With a solid nudge, she tried to get out his grip. However solid arms rounded her waist gently tugging her back.
His knuckles brushing away stray strands of hair. "I'm sorry wife."
She looked away, her eyes watching all but him. A gentle grip on her chin brought her eyes back to his. The darkest of greys dipped in a ring of honey, a replica of his brother's the only difference being a shade lighter.
"Should I beg purple, cause I will. "
"Let go Dan."
Before she could contemplate what was going on, his knees hit the floor.
"I can't honey, not when you're not going to talk to me again. ''
She never said that...oh wait she did.
Well it was his fault.
Dan just had a way with words and how much that affected her was troubling.
And damn was he handsome! He was a beautiful creature. The guy with the smile. The addiction you just couldn't have enough of. They both had their signature curls, Dan had made a buzz of his. A few strands falling down his face short enough to not cover the spell that was his eyes. He was sinful when he grinned that way. The way he grinned now, knowing fully well that she was checking him out. But why can't she? A glance down his tanned caramel skin right beneath that sharp jaw on the side of his neck were the words that marked him as hers. "Belongs to purple." She hadn't known what to write then, however she knew what she would want anyone who set their eyes on her men to see. That they were hers and only hers. The last scribbling on the base of his collar bone spoke as much - 'Her's.'
They had asked for that though. However she couldn't complain, she loved it. The inscriptions she put on them made her assured they'd be hers no matter where they ran off to. She was aware of the hands that softly caressed her back lowering sneakily onto her hips. What she did not expect was the sudden tag, that and his face burying into her tummy through the light dress she wore. Broad muscled shoulders threatening to rip his shirt, a tussle of curly hair and a bowl of fragrantly delicious assorted mix. Well it was no wonder her stomach growled in protest of hunger.
"Ok, ok fine, Just let go"
"You've forgiven me then?"
"That's what I said right?!"
"Nope it was not ..."
"Stop being so childish... Fine I'm not going to stop talking to you. And yes I have forgiven you."
"I love you purple."
And there goes that silly spell of a grin. She knew what he was awaiting when he kept kneeling and staring up into her eyes like that.
"I love you too."
Getting to the dinning table, she saw the dejected expression on Don's face, yeah she had to do something about that, but that could come later, now she was just too hungry to even think.
The chairs at the table were too far apart though. That was going to make it impossible to eat together.
Looking around the large and lavish room she saw a series of books spread on a nearby coffee table.
She made a small stand of the books and staged the bowl atop of it. All while ignoring the questioning and curious gazes of her men. Finally when she was done with her act, she sat down on the plush carpet folding her legs before her.
"Dan,where are the spoons?"
"Here"
Grabbing the spoons from Dan's outstretched hands, she casually dipped the three spoons in alignment of their seats on the ground. Seeing that the men had not made a move to sit, she raised her brows at them. "Are you going to stand there and eat?"
With that, the men made their way to the ground awkwardly sitting crossed legged just like Purple had. After a while they found the seat not at all that bad however Purple didn't wait for them to find comfort in their seats as her spoon had found it's way into her mouth with one big spoonful of relish, a groaned moan of bliss at it's heels. This was definitely her favourite dish. Seeing the funny way in which their little wife was nodding and enjoying the meal, the men reached for their spoons and fetched a mouthful too.
Dan stopped in his pace at calling his wife a glutton again, the burst of flavours, sweet variation, a magic preformed by their weird little wife who liked to mix everything. It was no wonder she looked like she fell into paradise.
Don was also very glad this hadn't turned out like the coffee shakes.
Well Purple was the happiest of them as she wolfed down the food like her life depended on it. At some point they were even scared she'd choke on the mountain load of spoonfuls.
However they couldn't help the smiles on their faces. Their Purple had really changed. She was much more comfortable around them now. They really didn't want the scared and jittery Purple back.
They were also glad she had stopped wolfing down so much food at some point. They were scared she was going to have a stomach ache later.
It was surprising how they paid so much attention now, she has changed them,made completely different men of the twin devils, with her cheeky smiles and cute pouts. They hadn't realized when they'd fallen so deeply. They knew now that it was surely going to be impossible to let her go. Well they never planned on doing that anyway.
After lunch, they'd played a little game of chess with Don winning all the matches and Purple cheering for him, not daring to play this time. After all even Dan had lost so many times. The number of times she shouted amazing, wonderful and wows were the number of times Dan had lost, and her cheering had never stopped. At some point Dan had just given up watching in distaste as she hugged a smiling Don and jumped all over the place.
At night, they all tangled together in a comforting embrace of limbs and arms as they slept,whispering soft goodnights and sweet dreams.