“Relax Gorgeous, everything will be fine.”

Still not sure I’m going to get used to that nickname.

Magnus wraps his arms around my chest and presses a kiss to my temple.

He’s been more than I could have expected the past few days. From helping me set up Zhen’s room, to dragging me to his gym so I can start working out again, ‘to help with my stress levels’ he says. He has been there for me without becoming overbearing or controlling. I felt increasingly more comfortable with him, more relaxed and less concerned about maintaining the perfect composed mask.

“How could you tell I was nervous?”

“Because you’ve checked the itinerary and gate number five times already. Don’t worry, he’ll be here soon.”

Leaning into his chest, I close my eyes and try to calm my frayed nerves. This will work out. I had cancelled everything for a week to give Zhen and myself time together.

People start flowing out of the arrival gate we are waiting at and I immediately start watching for a flight attendant. They were escorting Zhen, my parents refused to come, while Adrianna and Zoe’s families were grieving. So, he was travelling as an unaccompanied minor, he must be terrified.

“I see them, look to the left Gorgeous.”

Looking to my left I see two flight attendants; one is carrying a black and white bundle of fluff.

My feet are moving before my mind has fully processed the sight. The instincts from my Panda guiding me to my son. I already know his smell, a mix of Orange and eucalyptus, like his mother.

I barely remember to hand over my ID and paperwork before reaching for the sleeping cub. I don’t notice anything around me anymore as I hold my son for the first time. He whimpers slightly at the change but quickly scents me and snuggles closer to my chest.

“Has he been in this form the entire time?” I ask the attendants as they triple check the forms and hand Magnus a bag.

“He shifted not long after the flight took off. He fell asleep about two hours ago. He was a joy to look after Mr. Owens.”

“Thank you.” I nod at them and Magnus shoulders the bag they had given us.

He gently rests his hand on my lower back as we walk out of the airport and to Magnus’s truck.

“Should we wake him up? We need to put him in the booster seat.”

Magnus looks at the cub in my arms and smiles.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that. Your voice must have woken him.”

I look down and see a pair of chocolate brown eyes identical to my own staring up at me.

(italics are Cantonese)

“Hello Zhen. I’m sure this has all been quite shocking for you. My name is Jing. I don’t know if your Mothers told you about me. I’m you father.”

Suddenly the fluffy panda cub in my arms shifted into a lean 5-year-old. I’m shocked, I wasn’t aware that he had learned to shift already. He was on the tall side for his age and very skinny, barely any baby fat on him. His hair was jet black and his features spoke to his Asian heritage from his mother.

Magnus held out a pair of small sweatpants and a shirt he had grabbed from the bag and I quickly dressed Zhen. As I pulled clothes onto him, he spoke up.

“I know you. My Mama told me about you. Grandpa said Mama and Mommy went to visit the goddess, so I came here to live with you till I’m old enough to work with him.”

Magnus stifled a laugh. Zhen and I both turn our heads to look at him.

“Sorry,” he sputters out, “Just seems like giant brains run in the family. None of my siblings’ kids could say that much all at once at his age. Not that I understood any of it. Does this mean I need to learn a new language?”

Zhen’s eyes narrowed slightly, not in an angry way but like Magnus is a puzzle he can’t solve.

“Who…. you?” His English is clearly not as practiced as his Cantonese but that’s not surprising.

“Zhen, this is Mister Bruin. He’s my Mate, do you understand?”

“Like Mommy and Mama. He Daddy, you Papa.”

Well.

That settles that.

Magnus tries to hide the face breaking smile with a neutral expression. He’s not good at it. I might need to give him some tips.

“Alright you two, let’s get you home and settled in.”