CHAPTER 96 : A TASTE OF HOME

Orion, seated, leaned back in his chair, observing the triad, while chuckling under his breath, as he turned his attention from them, glancing at his wife, Elara with a knowing smile.

"You three are still new to all this," Orion stated, teasing Bryan, Aiden, and Kira. 

He then shook his head and reached for a piece of chicken, putting it on his plate. "I will show you all how it's done," he told them as the others laughed, clearly enjoying the moment, as they watched him turn to his wife.

He leaned in, smiling widely as he picked up a piece of chicken and held it up to Elara's lips. "Here, my darling, tastes delicious. Specially from your darling, loving husband," he said, and still mimicked the tone Bryan and Aiden had used earlier.

"Ughh, Father please," Bryan and Aiden both scoffed, shaking their heads at the unbelievable thing that was happening right in front of them.

"Ignore them, my darling," Orion said to Elara and held his fork which had the piece of chicken on it closer to her lips, "Ahh, open up."

Elara let out a surprised laugh, her hand reaching for her chest. "Orion, you are too much. I see where the boys get these behaviors from," she said, playfully swatting him with her napkin.

"Are you going to eat or not?" Orion asked her, making a sad face.

"I can't watch this," Aiden muttered, trying not to laugh as he teased his parents.

"Of course I will, my darling husband," Elara said to Orion and took a bite from his fork, pecked his lips unexpectedly and rolled her eyes, though she was smiling as she turned back to her meal.

Orion now had a huge smile on his face as he stared at his wife, love filled in his eyes. "One more?" He asked her, wanting another kiss.

"Oh, Goddess… Father!" Bryan exclaimed, feeling somehow and also chuckling, "You are so whipped, Dad."

"So are you, my son," Orion responded.

"Orion, eat your food," Elara told him, leaving no room for argument, but she was blushing at her husband being romantic. Maybe later she will give him more when they are alone.

Meanwhile, Ryker, who had been silently watching them, laughed softly. He had no family, but this family never made him feel that way. 

"Why am I still here?" Ryker thought to himself, his eyes flicking to Bryan, Kira, Aiden, Orion, and Elara. "Everyone seems to have someone, except… Oh, well."

Without fully thinking it through, Ryker then raised his fork to his mouth, pretending to be fed by someone, like how Bryan and Aiden had done. He leaned forward slightly, holding the fork out, and mimicked a soft, sweet, tone. "Here, baby, have some," he mimicked softly.

His hand was dramatically outstretched as if someone was feeding him. The others stopped for a moment, forks suspended, as they all watched him. Their eyes were all wide with surprise, no one could believe their eyes.

After a brief pause, Aiden could not hold it anymore. He burst into laughter, feeling so embarrassed on Ryker's behalf. He could literally feel the shame, he had no words. "You have got to be kidding me, bro!" Aiden laughed.

While Bryan just stared, dumbfounded. He knew Ryker could be something else, but this… this was just hilarious. 

"What the hell?" Bryan exclaimed, while rubbing his face. "Hold on, I need to be certain I am seeing properly."

By now, Ryker had stopped what he was doing and cleared his throat. "Well… It is not my fault," he explained, trying to keep a serious face.

"It really isn't," Kira uttered, laughing as well. "I do not even know what to say to that, but I don't think I will ever forget it. And are you not supposed to be the tough one? I didn't take you to be a romantic," she smirked and teased him, clearly entertained by his antics.

Ryker, still trying to keep his serious face, although there was already a crack of playfulness, prepared to respond to Kira's teasing. "Well, Luna—" he began, but before he could finish, Kira interjected softly.

"Kira," she corrected him. "Refer to me the way you do to Bryan and Aiden. Plus, we have known each other long before this, I think, except we never spoke to each other. So, I think we can drop the formalities," she added with a smile that showed she truly meant it. 

"Of course," Ryker accepted, a genuine smile on his face, "I was not sure at first, but that makes sense. Now where was I?" He straightened up and continued, "Well, Kira, I can be anything. Name it," he said, responding to her earlier comment with a smirk.

The table erupted into light chuckles, no one expecting that to be Ryker's response, as Ryker joined in, laughing at himself and the situation he had put himself in.

"I give up, you all win," He surrendered and took another bite of his meal, the laughter still bubbling in his chest.

The conversation ended with a comfortable silence as everyone resumed eating. Soon, the plates were cleared, glasses empty, and the table filled with satisfied sighs. 

Maids rushed out when Elara called out to them and began collecting the dishes, clearing the table.

"That was wonderful," Kira said, looking at Elara with a loving smile and gratitude, "Thank you, Mom. I truly enjoyed this meal."

Elara smiled back, waving her hand. "I am just glad you all enjoyed it and ate so well," she said, gazing around at everyone.

"We needed this," Bryan uttered, placing a hand on Kira's shoulder as he and Aiden stood, stretching slightly. "A little normalcy after everything. This was healing."

"I agree," Ryker said and stood up too, "Thank you Aunty," he thanked, giving a slight nod to Kira and the others. "I will head back home for now," he informed them. "Get some rest everyone. We all need it."

"Thank you, Ryker," Kira nodded back with a grateful smile, also standing up. "For everything."

"It is my pleasure, Luna Kira," Ryker said, teasing her a bit before turning and making his way to the front door.

"And also, don't miss me too much boys," he called out over his shoulder to Bryan and Aiden as he walked out.

"You wish!" Both Bryan and Aiden retorted in unison, then looked at each other and chuckled.