"Mama! Mama! Ma!!!"
Noah’s cries echoed through the room as both Gabriel and Casaio tried in vain to quiet him.
"You said he never threw tantrums! What’s this? He’s only screaming for your wife. Gosh, my ears hurt," Casaio complained, leaning back on the couch and squeezing his eyes shut.
"That’s because of you! I gave you a simple task, feeding him milk while I was checking a few work things, but look what you did. You broke his favorite milk bottle," Gabriel snapped at his brother.
Gabriel glared at Casaio, who was currently covering his face with a decorative cushion to muffled the sound of Noah’s high-pitched wails.
"Mama! Maaa!!!" Noah shrieked again, his face turning a bright shade of pink as Gabriel kept patting his back.
"I didn’t an to break it!" Casaio defended himself, his voice muffled by the pillow. "It was slippery! How was I supposed to know he had such an emotional attachnt to a piece of plastic? It’s just a bottle!"
"It was the bottle he picked himself," Gabriel snapped, his frustration boiling over. "You can’t handle a single thing. Is this how you’re going to handle your pups?"
Casaio lowered the cushion and sat up straight, looking offended. "They will be girls. They are much quieter than boys. I am sure of it. They won’t trouble like this. Noah, Uncle Cas is saying sorry. So, just calm down, huh? Your mother can’t co tonight. She and Zi are on a night out," he muttered, though the toddler only wailed louder at the ntion of his mother.
"I’m taking him to the garden. Ashna, give the bottle you brought," Gabriel stated, standing up and taking the new bottle from her.
He stepped out onto the mansion’s veranda, hoping the cool air would distract the boy. Noah’s cries finally dwindled into jagged hiccups as he stared at the moon, though he still gripped Gabriel’s shirt tightly.
"See? It’s just us tonight, buddy," Gabriel whispered before walking ahead. "And we can’t trouble your mother. She hardly takes a day off for herself. Don’t you want your mama to enjoy the night?"
Noah had turned calr when Gabriel pushed the yellow bottle with cartoon figures on it to his mouth. "Here, drink your milk. Mama will be upset if you don’t have your superfood. How will you grow to a strong boy then?"
As if Noah understood his father’s words, he allowed himself to drink from the bottle, bringing relief to Gabriel.
Back inside, Casaio let out a long breath and slumped into the sofa.
"Your Highness, turns out you’re exhausted," Albus remarked as he walked into the living room, a knowing glint in his eyes.
"Anyone would be. His cries were like an ambulance siren. My ears still hurt. Gosh... I need quiet pups. I can’t handle noises," Casaio remarked, rubbing his temples.
Albus laughed softly at his words. "Even Prince Casaio was just like our little Prince once. You would cry at night for hours," he asserted, recalling the old days.
"I used to do that!?" Casaio furrowed his brows, looking genuinely horrified by the revelation.
"All kids are like that," Albus stated. "But I must say Prince Gabriel was the quietest among all of you, of course, back when he was a tiny pup. He would just stare at the ceiling until soone noticed he was awake."
Casaio groaned and leaned his head back against the sofa. "Then there’s no hope for . If I was a screar, these triplets are going to be a riot. I should probably start soundproofing the room dedicated for them in the palace now."
"You’ll manage, Your Highness," Albus reassured him, moving to tidy the stray toys scattered across the floor. "Nature has a way of making you patient when it’s your own blood. Though, I suggest you don’t break any more bottles."
Casaio laughed at his words. "Yeah, I have to be careful. I didn’t know pups are attracted to so specific items. I go and check on them. Maybe Gabriel needs my help."
Albus smiled and nodded his head.
~~~~
The next morning, the aroma of fresh coffee and toasted bread filled the apartnt as Zilia and Alie prepared breakfast for Juniper, who was still fast asleep.
"Cas ntioned he ended up breaking Noah’s favorite bottle last night," Zilia said, stifling a giggle as she set the table. "Apparently, Noah threw quite a fit about it. Now, he refuses to go into Casaio’s arms at all." She laughed and shook her head. "Cas said he had no idea pups could be this scary."
"What? Gabriel didn’t tell a thing," Alie murmured, pausing as she poured the orange juice.
"Maybe he didn’t want to bother you with any of it while you were finally relaxing," Zilia pronounced warmly. "I must say, Gabriel loves you so much that he truly wants you to enjoy your life to the fullest, even if it ans dealing with a screaming toddler on his own."
Alie smiled softly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Gabriel has honestly changed my life. His love has nourished in such a way that all I feel is joy and comfort. And accepting Noah... that was the biggest thing anyone could do in this world," Alie said, her voice choking with emotion. "I an, these days even blood relatives don’t care for you. But Gabriel..."
Zilia reached out and patted her back gently. "I agree that Gabriel is a wonderful man. But your love also shaped him like this. He grew into the man he is because he wanted to be worthy of you and Noah."
Juniper stood in the doorway, listening to them with a soft expression. "Noah is lucky to have a father as wonderful as Gabriel."
Hearing her voice, both Zilia and Alie turned their gazes toward her.
"Good morning!" she greeted them warmly. "Wow! You two already prepared breakfast. Thank you. Let’s dig in then," Juniper pronounced with a bright smile, pulling out a chair and joining them at the small table.
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