Chapter 112: Safe at Home

The sun streamed through the gaps in the heavy curtains of the Master Bedroom.

It was a King-sized bed, designed for two people. Currently, it held five.

Jackson lay on the very edge, one arm dangling off the side, the other trapped under Serenity’s head.

Serenity was curled up against his chest.

Between them lay Aurora, snoring softly with her thumb in her mouth.

At the foot of the bed, Alex was sprawled sideways, his foot resting on Jackson’s knee.

And Mia was hogging all the pillows, sleeping like a starfish.

Jackson opened his eyes. He groaned, feeling the stiffness in his back from sleeping in one position for ten hours to avoid waking anyone.

He looked at the chaotic pile of humans he called family. A smile touched his lips.

He carefully extracted his arm from under Serenity. She stirred.

"Don't go," she mumbled, reaching for him blindly.

"I'm just getting coffee," Jackson whispered, kissing her forehead. "I'll be back before you miss me."

He stepped over Alex carefully and padded out of the room.

Downstairs, the kitchen was already busy.

Margaret was humming, flipping pancakes. But sitting at the kitchen island was someone Serenity hadn't expected to see holding a spatula.

Liam Sterling.

The mysterious, super-powered grandfather was... squeezing fresh orange juice. Manually. He crushed the oranges with one hand like they were grapes.

"Morning, son," Liam nodded at Jackson. "Did you sleep?"

"Like a log," Jackson sat down, accepting a glass of aggressive orange juice. "Where did the staff go?"

"I sent them away for the morning," Margaret said. "We needed a family breakfast. No maids. No bodyguards. Just us."

Jackson watched his parents. For twenty years, he thought they were dead. Now, they were making him breakfast in his kitchen. It felt surreal.

"Dad," Jackson took a sip of juice. "What happens now? The Architects... they are still out there."

"They won't attack for a while," Liam’s eyes darkened briefly. "We broke their nose yesterday. They need to regroup."

"But they know about Aurora," Jackson’s grip tightened on the glass. "And they know about the twins' aptitude."

"That is why I am staying," Liam wiped his hands on a towel. "I'm not leaving again, Jack."

Footsteps thundered down the stairs. The "monsters" had awakened.

"Pancakes!" Mia shouted, running into the kitchen. She stopped when she saw Liam. She suddenly went shy. "Hi... Grandpa."

"Hello, little warrior," Liam smiled gently. "I heard you bit a guard yesterday. Good form."

Alex walked in, rubbing his eyes, carrying his laptop (as usual). Aurora trailed behind him, holding her teddy bear.

They climbed onto the stools.

"So," Jackson leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "Mom and I made a decision. You are not going back to the Royal Academy."

"Yes!" Alex pumped his fist. "That place was inefficient anyway."

"Does that mean no school?" Mia asked hopefully.

"No. It means Homeschool," Serenity walked in, looking refreshed in a silk robe. She hugged the kids from behind. "But a special kind of homeschool."

"Grandma will teach you Science and Biology," Jackson pointed to Margaret.

"And History," Serenity added. "And I will teach you Art and Diplomacy."

"What about Math?" Alex asked.

"I'll handle Math. And Business. And how to bankrupt your enemies," Jackson smirked.

"And Grandpa?" Aurora pointed at Liam. "What does Grandpa teach?"

Liam walked around the counter. He looked at the three children.

"I teach you how to survive," Liam said, his voice grave but kind.

He looked at Aurora.

"I will teach you how to control the wind so you don't break windows when you are angry."

He looked at Mia.

"I will teach you combat. So next time, you don't need to bite. You can throw him over your shoulder."

He looked at Alex.

"And you, grandson... I will teach you strategy. War isn't just code. It's mind games."

"Cool," Alex’s eyes widened. "It's like X-Men school."

"Better," Jackson ruffled his son's hair. "Because we have better funding."

"Classes start tomorrow," Serenity announced, placing a mountain of pancakes on the table. "But today... we eat."

For the first time, the Sterling mansion wasn't just a house or a fortress.

It was an Academy. The training ground for the next generation of legends.

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