*At school*
"I will miss you, Emily" Zada said hugging Emily tightly.
It was their last day at school. They might never meet the kindergarten friends again.
"I will miss you too. And I will miss Zian also" Emily said and Zahir made a face at that
Aaron stood there with a fallen face. His first crush is going far away.
"Momma and Papa is here" Zian said as he saw his parents walking towards them with baby Zaif secure in their arms.
Emily grinned seeing the wrapped up baby.
"Aunty? You took the baby out of your tummy? Wow!!" Emily asked excitedly. The last time she saw them, the baby was inside the aunt's tummy and she was dying to see the baby after it comes out.
Maybe I should tell Maa and Paa that I also want a baby, she thought to herself.
Aveline smiled seeing the little girl's excitement.
"Haa. The baby got bigger, so we took him out" Aveline said with a soft smile
"Can I see? Can I see?" Emily asked jumping on her feet and trying to take a peek at the little one.
"No. That's our baby" Zahir protested loudly
"Zahir" Zayed called in a warning tone, and Zahir grumbled something under his breath.
Emily stuck her tongue out at Zahir as Aveline bent low and showed Emily the baby.
"Awww. The baby is so cute. What is his name?" Emily asked, still staring at the baby in awe
"Zaif Ahmed al Zidra" Aveline said proudly
"Nice name. Not like the bad name Zahir" Emily pointed out, just because she couldn’t help it.
"Emily is a bad name" Zahir was not one to give up.
"Oh please. Don't start again" Aveline said pleadingly, making Zahir huff in annoyance. He didn't like his momma taking Emily's side
"Did you say goodbye to everyone kiddos?" Zayed asked sadly. They are uprooting the kids. Though they have prepared the kids for it over the past few months, he knows they will find it difficult to cope.
"Yes papa" the triplets said in unison
"Zahir gave roses to all the girls" Zada whispered to her father in a dramatic tone.
"He stole it from momma's garden" Zian said with disapproval
"My momma's garden is my garden" Zahir said possessively as he heard his siblings ratting him out to their father.
Zayed and Aveline shook their heads at their elder son's arrogance.
He is this arrogant when he is merely six. What will he be like twenty years later? They couldn't even imagine.
Soon they bid goodbye to the other kids and teachers of the school, and left towards their home in London.
Emily threw her arms around a sulking Aaron's shoulder
"Best friends forever?" She asked like she saw in a movie her grandma was watching a few days ago.
****
"Zian?? What's that in your hand?" Aveline asked as she saw Zian holding something securely in both his hands and walking towards their room without making any noise.
Zian looked up guiltily at her and Aveline knew it was trouble.
Aveline placed her hands on her hips and looked down to see what it was. She gasped when she saw a little squirrel in his arms.
"Zian?? Where did you take this from?" Aveline cried in exasperation. He will soon turn their home into an animal shelter.
"Momma. It was caught in the bushes in our garden. Poor baby. I saved it momma" Zian said caressing the squirrel softly.
Zayed had come out hearing Aveline's screaming and groaned seeing the new animal Zian had brought home.
If he is allowed, he will soon turn their home into an animal shelter.
"It didn't need saving Zian" Aveline said sternly
"How do you know momma?" He asked back with a frown. In his eyes, the little squirrel needed saving from the heavy bushes.
"I just know. Leave it outside. Now" Aveline ordered sternly
"But momma-" Zian began to plead his case
Aveline sliced her hand in the air refusing to hear any more explanation.
"Now Zian" Aveline said sternly
Zian sulkily walked back outside the house and left the squirrel after caressing it for a moment.
Aveline heaved a sigh and leaned against Zayed.
They both walked towards the kids room and stifled another groan when they saw Zada taking all her dolls out of the packed boxes and changing their dresses.
It had taken Aveline a day to pack all the kids' stuff and Zada had so easily taken them all out, trying to find the box in which her dolls are placed.
"I didn't feed them today momma" Zada said smiling innocently
***
The triplets were sent to bed by eight in the evening with a bedtime story each.
Zaif was also asleep.
"Finally" Aveline sighed finishing off all the works and getting on the bed for a much needed sleep
"Tired?" Zayed asked, pulling her into his arms and cuddling her closer.
"Feeling dead" Aveline murmered into the crook of his neck
"Maybe we should hire a couple of nannies" Zayed said making Aveline frown
"There is no need for that. I love taking care of them" Aveline said
"I know, habibti. I know you do. But you are getting more and more tired these days. It is not easy taking care of an energetic set of triplets and a breastfed baby. At this rate, you are going to get sick" Zayed said worriedly.
"I have you" Aveline said with a smile.
"Now I do. But when we return to Zidra, things are going to change. I will have to be more involved in political matters than before. Even you will have new duties as the Queen of Zidra" Zayed said
"But I am scared after what happened with Nilofer. I will never be able to go through that trauma again" Aveline mumbled.
"I know, love. This time, we will properly vet the candidates. Last time, we blindly trusted Aunt Suhara. That's why I appointed Nilofer to take care of the children. That mistake will not happen again" Zayed vowed
"Okay. We will think about it after out Scotland trip" Aveline mumbled sleepily.
"Sleep" he whispered as he placed a kiss on her temple.
"Good night Zayed"
"Goodnight Aveline"
Aveline had fallen asleep instantly. Zayed laid on the bed watching her sleep, with a small smile on his lips
"Thank you, Aveline. Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for giving the greatest happiness in my life" Zayed murmured and closed his eyes
As soon as he closed his eyes, he heard the knock on the door.
"Momma??" Came the call from outside making Zayed groan