A Time for Rest

After seeing that the chipmunks were asleep, Irene dragged her husband to the garden where they can rest. She was happy to fight alongside her husband, albeit for a short while. She could tell that her husband was making compromise by lowering his strength and started working together with her so that the both of them could enjoy the fight. Before they fought, she had reinforced her womb with magic so she's not worried about hurting the life that was forming on her womb.

She also thought of a way to 'enjoy' the night with her husband once again.

Noctis of course let him be dragged by Irene. She could see that Irene was bubbling with energy since they came back. She was blooming like a rose, her skin flushed lightly with pink color like she was drunk. They both sat down side by side on a long chair in the patio. She put Noctis' head on her thighs and it acted like a pillow for Noctis to rest.

'Ah~ The softness is just right. What a reward from my wife.' Noctis thought to himself.

"You look happy, dear?" Noctis asked the smiling Irene.

"Its just... I'm happy to fight alongside you." Irene replied with a smile causing Noctis to be entranced by her face. Seeing the stunned man's expression, Irene giggled and her giggles sounded like the giggles of a mischievous fairy playing with him.

Noctis didn't say anything and just enjoyed the lap pillow. Irene then started combing his hair gently as she watched him slowly fall asleep alongside the gentle breeze. It took her a while to finally confirm that he is fully asleep. She bent down and kissed the man's forehead before whispering something. Although Noctis didn't hear it exactly...

"Thank you for your hard work."

...his mouth curled up into a pleasant smile.

When Noctis opened his eyes, he saw that it was already dark. Although he traveled to other world, he still needs to rest. He scanned his surroundings to find out that he was still lying at Irene's lap pillow. Irene's gentle smile touched his heart and quickly stood up.

"Are your legs fine?" Noctis asked with worry.

"I'm fine. Now I know where our daughter got her sleeping habits." Irene said while chuckling.

Noctis scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He just felt like Irene's lap pillow was perfect and he fell asleep unconsciously.

"Sorry. Did you have dinner already? What about the kids?" Noctis asked as Irene placed her head on his shoulder.

"They are fine. When they woke up, they were taken care of by mother. They came down and saw you sleeping so they went to play on their own." Irene said to Noctis.

Noctis suddenly moved causing Irene to move her head. She saw that Noctis stood up then suddenly kneeled in front of her before taking her hand.

"Let's go and have some meal, milady."

Noctis then kissed her hand and when he saw her nodding lovingly, he swept her feet and carried her into a princess carry. Surprised by what just happened, Irene started beating her husband's chest like she's mad, but Noctis knows that she was just embarrassed about being carried like a princess.

"What are you doi- Noctis?! Put me down! Where do you think you're going?!" Irene continued her fruitless struggles as Noctis' grip just tightened, not letting her go in the slightest.

"Its going to be fine, milady. Besides, teasing you just brings your charm out even more." Noctis said and the struggles slowed down and Irene just snuggled into his chest to hide her face and hugged him muttering out complaints in a low voice.

"I hate you." Is what she said but her bashful face says otherwise.

"I love you too~." Noctis said like it was a matter of fact.

When they reached the dining are, Irene struggled once more but Noctis let her go and placed her down carefully. He then puahed the doors open and he saw his family eating together. His mother, Hera was feeding Pitou and Kagura sitting on both of her side while Helen is feeding Erza.

"Looks like you still remember to wake up and have dinner with your family, brat." Regis said with a stern voice.

"I apologize, I kind of dozed off after returning." Noctis apologized and Regis' mood seemed to turn better.

"Come and sit my son, my daughter in law. Come and eat." Hera said while gesturing the two who complied and sat down to eat.

"Pitou~ I told you carrots is great for your eyes. Finish them~" Hera coaxed Pitou who seemed reluctant to eat the vegetable.

"B-but my eyes are great..." Pitou complained. Her eyes are even better than a normal human that's why she complained.

"Now, now. I know Pitou is a good girl so finish everything up. You should not waste food, you know that~" Hera said making Pitou gulp really hard as she stared at her nemesis. She stared at her parents who looked like they were busy eating their dinner and acted as if they haven't heard a thing. Her eyes were silently asking for help.

Her parents, noticed her stares, but they both know that Pitou started being picky after being pampered by the two and her grandma is finally fixing her bad eating habits so they just focused on eating.

'It was for the greater good.' Noctis and Irene both thought before digging in.

Eventually, after a long stare down, Pitou started eating the carrots reluctantly. Hera smiled after seeing Pitou eating the carrots but Pitou's mind was a mess.

'Noooooo! I don't wannaaaaaaa!' Pitou cried in her mind as she bit down on the carrots.

Knowing of her weakness, Noctis and Irene chuckled. Other than fish and meat, she hates eating the others, especially veggies.

"Because Pitou is a good girl, I'll give you your favorite later, okay?" Hera knows how to coax and console a kid. She knows when to offer the rewards and the conditions to obtain her rewards. Pitou grudgingly swallowed the carrots, she looked like she lost a part of her soul as she stared at the ceiling as she resented the evil vegetables once more.