Chapter 45: Bedtime
"Why don't we call it a night! This whole drama made me tired and ready for bed and besides our little prince needs his sleep." Lila pinched Ichigo's chubby cheeks. 'Her grandson is really adorable!'
"Then excuse us kids, will hit the bed first." Leo and Lila then walked inside the castle to rest.
"Look at those two troublemakers! I sometimes can't keep up with mom and her weird antics." Lance pouted. His arms are crossed at his chest.
"Don't stay out too late brother, I heard from our maids that there are wild animals that roam this island and they so much prefer to eat pretty boys."
Lance looked around the garden and when he heard a rustling sound from the near trees he quickly followed his brother and Hestia inside the castle.
Hestia was drying her hair when she heard a knock on the door and when Ichigo entered with his new stuffed toy, she gestured him to come close to her.
"Mom can I sleep here with you?" Hestia cooed at how cute her son is.
"Of course sweetheart! You can always sleep beside mommy."
Hestia fixed the bed and patted the mattress on her side. Ichigo gladly crawled towards his mom and snuggled in her mom's embrace. "Do you want me to read you a bedtime story?"
"It's okay mom, dad said that he'll read me one."
"Will your dad come here?" Hestia asked nervously. She was still shy around Damon and sometimes she doesn't now how to act in his presence.
Ichigo chuckled. "Of course mom, I'm here remember."
"Hehe of course, how silly of me." Her body unconsciously jerked when she heard the doorknob turning.
"What happened here?" Damon asked when he saw Hestia on the carpeted floor.
Too embarassed to face him, Hestia quickly stood up and quickly went inside the bathroom. Damon looked at Hestia's retreating form, he was baffled at what just happened. He moved towards the bed to asked his son.
"Mom's too nervous." Ichigo moved to give his dad a space in the bed.
Damon smirked. "I see."
"What book did you brought dad?" Ichigo was really curious to know what exciting book his dad brought.
"I've read this book many times when I was a kid. You can say this is one of my favorite books." Damon took the book out of its case.
Ichigo's eyes lit with excitement. "I wanted to read the story of Tom Sawyer for a long time but I had no chance to do so."
"Then shall we read the book?."
Damon laughed when Ichigo eagerly nods his head.
Meanwhile, Hestia was trying to calm herself. She blushed when she remembered the scene Damon saw a while ago. Because she was too nervous, she end up falling out of the bed. She splashed water on her face to cool her burning cheeks. 'You can do this Hestia, just pretend that Damon is air. Damon is air!' Finally relaxed, Hestia turned the doorknob and came out of the bathroom.
She stopped on her tracks when she saw how comfortable Ichigo and Damon was on the bed. She smiled at how engrossed Ichigo was at listening to Damon's storytelling. Her heart swelled in an inexplicable feeling. The sight of a father and son reading bedtime stories is still foreign for her. It was always her that tells bedtime stories for Ichigo but now Damon entered their lives and he change it for the better.
When Ichigo looked up he saw his mom with a warm smile. "Mom! here," Ichigo pats the mattress beside him.
Hestia happily moved and sat beside her son. She was at his left side while Damon was comfortably sitting at Ichigo's right.
Damon smiled at Hestia and that alone made her blushed. Who would have thought that this iceman can be smoking hot when he smiles.
"Mom, dad is reading me about the story of Tom Sawyer!"
"That is the book you wanted to read for the longest time right?"
Ichigo nods. "Yup!"
"Thank your dad later for reading you a good book okay?" Hestia wants her son to always be thankful for all the blessing he receives.
"Okie dokie mom!" Ichigo gave his mom a thumbs up.
"Then why don't you continue reading Damon." Hestia shyly looked over Damon's side.
Hestia quickly averted her eyes when Damon winked at her. "With pleasure sweetheart."
Damon's deep voice was perfect for telling stories. It was soothing and captivating at the same time.
"Wow! Tom and Huckleberry went through so much adventure!"
"The story is really a fun read." Damon looked at the clock on the dresser and he was surprised to see that it's almost midnight. "Sleep now Ichigo its already past your bedtime." Damon covered Ichigo with the blanket.
"But I'm still not sleepy dad." True to his words Ichigo's eyes are still alert and lively.
"Do you want to drink some milk to help you sleep?"
Ichigo nods his head. Damon then carefully picked Ichigo up to not wake Hestia and then he carried his son and they both went to the kitchen.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone