Despite spending a lot of time in tactical training, enduring harsh weather and the hardest of trainings during his time, General |Hades seemed to compensate for everything when he got older.
After the death of his wife which was also Anna's mum, General Hades had mounted the task of being both the father and the mother; acting as the strong fortress and confidante thereby forging an unbreakable bond between him and his daughters.
Anna ran to him, her hands while the two of the triplets watched on, Kelvin suddenly finding interest in the fork he was holding. Riya peeped out of the kitchen to know the cause of the commotion and when she found out it was her father, she dropped the cooking utensils and hurried down towards her father who hugged them and lifted them both in the air.
"Father, what took you so long?"
"The nation needs saving. Someone has to make sure national security and world peace isn't threatened."
"I know you are not allowed to divulge mission information, but how was it?"
"Our boys came back with the bag," a smile suddenly lighting up his face when he saw Georgia. "And who do we have here?"
Georgia got down from the dining and walked over to the general, trying her best to perform a military salute before hugging the man. Even though this man was not her father, Georgia had always felt at home in his arms.
His hug encompassed her in an ever flowing current of love, giving her another place to call home and showing her how much she was welcome here, just like the rest of the family. The man looked up at the triplets and amusement lit his eyes, "those angels, they are whose?"
"They are mine," Georgia answered regretfully, though she didn't know where the regret had come from. She looked at the man's face for an expression but his face remained blank as he stared on at the kids.
Then, in the lowest tone possible, he asked, "why didn't you tell me my grandchildren are coming?"
That word almost seemed to choke Georgia into tears. This family had accepted her wholeheartedly and just when she thought the father would like her less for having illegitimate children; he didn't care about it and just showered love on them.
General Hades turned to Anna, "you know I've always wanted to have twins or triplets, right?"
"Yes dad," Anna shrugged, "you've told me that over three thousand times. And yet, every time we bring up the topic that you find yourself a damsel and try your luck, it doesn't end well."
"It's too soon to replace your mother," he replied, walking towards the dining table. Getting to the children, he extended his hand and shook each one of them. "hey children, I am your grandfather. You call me grandpa, is that clear?" he told them, his usual stern voice replaced with a loving and emotion – filled tone.
He sat at the table, sniffing, "I've perceived the aroma of this food from the city gates. Are those Riya's magic pancakes?"
"You can bet on them," Anna told him.
Riya blushed, the blood flowing to her cheeks then suddenly realizing that she had left food in the kitchen. She screamed in horror and ran frantically towards the kitchen.
"Momma, is this grandpa?" Keira asked again, for further clarification.
"Yes he's my dad," Anna answered, then pointed to Anna, "and big aunt Anna's dad," changing the direction of her finger to the kitchen, "and bigger aunt Riya's dad."
Keira butted in, "and my dad, and Kelvin's dad, and Kelsey's dad."
"He was my dad first before you," Kelsey shouted from his position.
"No! he was mine first," Kelvin shouted in return, not ready to back down.
"Oh, you small boys like to bicker a lot, especially about things you don't know. We are triplets so we were born at the same time and obviously we have the same dad at the same time," Keira lectured, gaining nods from General Hades before continuing, "but before I came first before you both, he probably carried me first. Isn't it mum?"
Georgia definitely wasn't expecting the stray bullet that had just been shot in her direction and she looked sideways, trying to avoid the debate and possibly, further arguments which might lead to screams and a lot of begging.
Before she could talk, General Hades saved the day, "I carried all three of you at once because I am a strong man." Then he took off his uniform and flexed his muscles in front of the children, daring them to match up to him.
Imitating their supposed grandfather, Kelvin and Kelsey rolled up the sleeves of their clothes, flexing muscles that had not developed yet while Keira went around, touching it and giving them false reviews about how mighty they were.
Riya was now done and she came out of the kitchen, serving every willing person another round of pancakes, and of course, everybody was willing to have another bite.
"I need to go grab some things upstairs for this list I am making," she said tiredly, "the cooks are preparing breakfast already, so make sure you don't stuff yourself with the pancakes."
"Wait, you told me I was your knight in shining armor yesterday. What if there's danger on the way? Let me go with you," Kelvin pleaded, amusing everyone at the table.
"And who do you need to pass you the arrows if the dragon comes attacking. We'll go together," Kelsey announced.
"Of course, she knows she can't go anywhere without a shining princess," Keira butted in, forming a pout on her face that sent Anna sprawling in laughter.
Even without their sweet points, Riya knew she had no choice but to go with them, other wise no one was going to least bit of rest in the mansion.
When they were gone with Riya, Hades spoke up to Georgia, "what about their father?"
She bowed her head and didn't know the proper way to explain to this man whom she had so much reverence for that she didn't know the father of her kids. Thinking that her silence meant that their father had passed, Hades quickly laid his hand on hers.
"I'm sorry. They will be more than enough not to make you miss him. in fact, they are already more than enough. I feel like I should trade my daughters for them," he said jokingly, lighting the tension in the room.
Before he could wolf down another forkful of pancake, his sat-phone rang in the breast pocket of his hung uniform and he picked it with urgency.
Anna had learnt, in her study of military studies at school that the sat – phone were connected to one line and held by only five people in the entire Blue City. They were held by the alpha, the military general, and three other people that she had not paid attention to during the class.
Easing himself down, he pressed the button and performed a salute even though whoever he was saluting wasn't visibly there.
"Good morning sir," he greeted.
Anna knew for sure that her father could only address one person with that salutation. It was the alpha and she looked out for Georgia's reaction, who was still clueless.
"Morning there," he responded, his voice streaming out of the device's speakers. "Congratulations on your completion of the recent mission. Another star to your chest."
"Thank you, you have my salute."
"I was just hinted by our intelligence officers now that your daughter was wounded in battle."
"Yes, it was at the battle of Olfsgard, just after the Rowan Mountains."
"The Rowan Mountains?" he asked in shock, "that means she must have been exposed to a lot of toxic materials."
"Yes my Lord, she was even shot with a wolfsbane tipped silver bullet."
"what? Whoever did that must have known us quite well, and they need to be investigated and brought to the panel."
"I dispatched men immediately to do the follow up and the bullet was transferred to the Royal Ballistics department sir."
"Good, they will handle it much quicker. The queen sends her greetings."
"The queen has my salute. Tell her I will come see her to properly pay my respects before going for the next mission briefing."
"You've been hard at work for over three weeks now, why don't you take a small break?"
"Actually, my daughter is around, and that will give me more time to make sure everything is wrapped up sir." He looked at Anna who was already frowning.
"Your daughter is around? And you still want to overwork yourself?"
"It's actually not much work sir. The demanding ones have been taken care of."
"Stay at home and rest for the next three weeks. That's an order!" the caller growled, clearly indicating that there was no room for argument.
"Okay sir, I will stay at home and rest as ordered."
"Yes, how about I come pay you a visit tomorrow?"