Kade trusted Keirian enough to leave Jasper alone with him. It filled Keirian with joy knowing that his boyfriend was so sure that there would be no issues while he was gone. If Keirian was being honest with himself, however, he was terrified. Kade said he would only be gone for an hour or so, but that didn’t make this responsibility any less nerve-racking. 

Jasper was only 6 months old. Wide, blue eyes stared at Keirian while the two of them sat on the floor. Jasper was a little wobbly, and Keirian was nervous he would tip over if he took his eyes off of the baby. Keirian pulled his long hair down over one shoulder and began to twist it as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do with an infant on his own. 

“You can tell I’m not your dad, huh?” Keirian asked. Jasper flailed his hands around and smacked his tiny legs a few times as he made a high-pitched noise. Keirian took a deep breath and reached for one of the toys Kade had mentioned being Jasper’s favorite. It was a small rattle in the shape of a dragon with plenty of different textures to keep him happy. Jasper giggled and leaned forward for the toy in Keirian’s hand. 

“Shake it, like this,” Keirian moved the dragon up and down and watched Jasper’s bright eyes light up. Jasper smiled again as Keirian handed Jasper the dragon rattle. Jasper’s little hands held onto Keirian’s for a split second before he took the toy and shook it vigorously. 

“Yeah, there you go.” 

Jasper responded with small babbling noises, and it made Keirian feel like Jasper was trying to have a conversation. He had heard Kade talk to Jasper and respond when Jasper would say something nonsensical. Neither of them knew much about the development of children, but apparently that’s what parents were supposed to do.

Keirian started asking simple questions to Jasper to see if he could get a response. 

“Is that a fun toy?” 

Jasper blinked a few times before shaking the rattle again and cooing as he shoved it into his mouth. Keirian exhaled a light laugh. He was amazed at how something that looked so simple could keep a baby entertained for such a long period of time. Keirian remained in his spot on the floor as Jasper ended up in multiple positions playing with the rattle.

Jasper settled up on his back with the rattle up in the air. That didn’t last very long as the rattle slipped from his tiny hands and landed directly onto his face. It wasn’t a very far fall, but it must have been enough to startle Jasper as Keirian watched the happy smile twist into despair. Jasper closed his eyes, rubbed his face where the rattle had fallen, and began to cry. Keirian moved faster than he had ever moved in his 16 years of life. 

“Oh no! What happened, Jasper?” Keirian scooped the crying child up into his arms and stood up. Jasper cried against Keirian’s shoulder as Keirian attempted to shush and bounce the upset child. 

“You’re okay. Sh shhh. You’re okay.” 

Keirian looked around for the blanket Kade left out and balanced Jasper with one arm to reach down and pick it up. Once the blanket was in his hand, Keirian draped it over Jasper’s back. Jasper was breathing shallow breaths as he was calming down from his tiny fit. Keirian sat down on the couch and leaned back so Jasper’s head was on the center of his chest. 

“Dada,” Jasper lifted his head slightly. His tiny hand found loose blonde strands that had fallen over Keirian’s shoulder and gripped hard. Keirian inhaled sharply but was careful not to make any sudden movements in the off chance he would upset Jasper. 

“Dada will be home soon,” Keirian whispered to the precious little boy who was still staring up at him. 

“Dada,” Jasper babbled again. Jasper relaxed his head with a plop back onto Keirian’s chest. Keirian tucked the blanket more tightly around Jasper and quickly felt the grip in his hair get relaxed. Keirian rested his hands on Jasper’s back and felt the gentle rise and fall.

Warmth bloomed in Keirian’s chest. A feeling like he had never experienced before relaxed him deeper into the couch as he closed his eyes. 

Keirian knew what love was. He had fallen in love with Kade pretty quick. He was witness to the love his parents shared.

But this was something else entirely. 

Keirian wrapped his arms around Jasper a little more but not too tight for fear of hurting him. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he realized how much he loved Jasper. 

Keirian wanted to help Kade give Jasper the world, the life he deserved to have in Lumen with adoptive parents who would support him in anything he did as he got older. 

Becoming the Governor of Lumen started to sound much more appealing if that meant creating a fulfilling and meaningful life with the man he loved and this precious child who had stolen his heart.

——

Keirian pulled back with tears in his eyes and rested his hands gently on Jasper’s shoulders. 

“I found what I needed in my life when I first held you. Now, it’s your turn to go find what gives you that feeling.” 

Jasper nodded as tears fell down his cheeks. Instead of wiping his own face, Jasper reached out and placed one hand on his father’s cheek. With a gentle swipe of his thumb, Jasper tried to wipe away the tears that were now streaming a bit more than they were before. 

“I have one last thing to give you,” Keirian wiped under both eyes with his fingers before reaching behind him. Jasper wiped at his eyes with his tunic sleeve and laughed. 

“You’ve already given me so much, Dad. What else is left?”

Keirian turned back to face Jasper and held a glowing item in the palm of his hand. It was small and shaped like a daisy. Jasper recognized the pink glow as his father’s magic and gasped a little as Keirian held it delicately. 

“Watching you grow into the man before me has been the best thing in my life, Jasper,” Keirian smiled. “May I?” 

He held up the daisy and gestured toward the side of Jasper’s head. Jasper nodded and tracked his father’s hands as they gently placed what Jasper now realized was a clip into his hair.

“I carved the shape from a moonstone before enchanting it,” Keirian began. Kade cleared his throat dramatically, which made Jasper chuckle in response. “Okay, your father carved the moonstone for me,” Keirian shot Kade a side-eye glance but couldn’t help the gentle smile that formed on his lips. 

“What do you know about moonstones, Jasper?” Keirian asked, his hand clasping Jasper’s shoulder with a father’s tenderness. 

“Not much,” Jasper admitted. When it came to the deep meanings behind various forms of nature, Keirian was the expert. As a mage, he had studied for years to learn to harness the inherent energies of the world around him. Whatever Jasper had picked up from his father was the extent of his knowledge. Still, Jasper found himself fascinated each and every time Keirian explained something new and applied it to his particular brand of magic.