Family

"Haha!!" walking back into the house Emilia and Ling Xiao could hear the sounds of joyous laughter from the four inside. Emilia was surprised that even her father who didn't smile much could be spotted smiling.

"Ohh qinqin ahh you are just the cutest" madam Lu said while lightly rubbing little Qin cheeks. "Sorry qinqin but grandma didn't have time to prepare any gifts but don't worry I'll definitely get you something great the next time I come ."

"Don't worry grandma you don't have to trouble yourself with that. I'm okay without gifts." Qin Lu replied with a smile hanging on his lips.

Looking at that sensible face of her dear baby grandson madam Lu could feel her heart melt. Even though Qin Lu had said it was ok she couldn't help but feel guilty at not spoiling her grandson so she reached for the green bangle on her wrist, swiftly took it off and put her slipped it on to Qin Lu's small wrist.

"Qinqin you take this for now grandma will get you something else soon enough. This bangle here has been passed on through my family through generations and since your mom was gonna get it any way then there is no harm passing it to you since you are her next generation. These are grandma's feelings for you to take care of it for me ok."

"Ok" Qin Lu said firmly and little emotional.

Even though his family had been kind to him and smiling with him but he always felt that it was not enough so he was trying his best to be the best. He wanted recognition from his maternal family and to him this little bangle resemembled acceptence for him so he was going to protect it and keep it safe with his all . He couldn't let down his grandma feelings.

" Thank you Grandma!" Qin Lu said as he threw himself into his Grandma's arms.

"Ohh hehe" madam Lu smiled and embraced her grandson, this was their first hug so she found it extra special so she made sure to always remember this moment.

As for father Lu and Lu Tianyi they could only feel jealous at not being able to hug this little fellow but who could they blame for not having gifts.

After releasing himself from his grandma Qin Lu shyly moved to his grandpa for a hug then to his uncle. "Good! good xiao Qin" father Lu smiled and patted his grandsons back laughing a little.

This scene of laughter and happiness was what Emilia and Ling Xiao walked into see. Soft smiles couldn't help but appear on their faces. Looking at her son's happy face Emilia regretted again not doing this earlier. If she had done this earlier wouldn't Qin Lu have been happy earlier.

Sighing Emilia knew that getting sad about it now would do her no good as she couldn't change the past so instead of focusing on that she decided to focus on making the future as happy as it could be." Mom dad Ge aren't you guys hungry since we didn't get to eat ? How about I make some lunch then we can eat altogether."

" That's a brilliant idea" madam Lu said . "Ok then let me go then." Emilia said heading towards the kitchen.

"Let me help you" Ling Xiao offered beginning to head towards the kitchen after her.

"What no how can you do that you just sit here and get to know each other, while I help her . Qinqin do you want to help grandma and mom make lunch" madam Lu asked her grandson casually after snatching the cooking task. How could she waste this chance to bond with her grandson and daughter? Plus she knew that the men probably had some things they had to talk about so she sensibly decided to give them that space.

"Ok gramdma" Qin Lu said getting up from the sofa to follow his mom and grandma into the kitchen. He understood partly of what was going on so he decided to not make a fuss and just leave. He knew that as a kid there were some things he couldn't take part in and he understood that, plus if he made a fuss wouldn't his grandma's perception of him be ruined. He couldn't afford to take that risk, and making a fuss was something only children did and he wasn't one. He was an older child how could he do something so babyish.

After the three had left the atmosphere in the living room became a little tense and awkward

"Who are you?" Mr Lu's voice broke the awkward silence.

"My name is Ling Xiao and I'm twenty six this year. I'm a soldier stationed in S City as well as Qin Lu's father and Emilia fiance."

"He you really know how to repeat that." Lu Tianyi snorted after Ling Xiao finished .

"Well since that's my current status I can only report it happily." Ling Xiao replied to Lu Tianyi's snark comment with a smile.

"You... How long have you know my daughter"  Father Lu asked Ling Xiao

"Around Seven plus years "

"Seven years have so why have the two of you not married yet ha? Are you trying to leave a way out for you to escape when you are tired." Lu Tianyi cut in completely dissatisfied with Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao becoming more unpleasing to the eyes.

Shooting him a sharp look for a second, Ling Xiao called himself down before he replied, he knew that if things didn't go well here then the chances of the two of them marrying would be more difficult. Even though they could still do it but he wanted it to be on good terms for everyone.

"No I do not want to leave a way out for myself nor do I plan on running away. The reason that Emilia and myself have not married yet is because we wanted this marriege to be when everyone was on good terms."

"What do you mean?" Father Lu asked.

"Emilia did not want to get married without having resolved the issue with you guys first. She would not have been happy getting married without her family by her side. Even though she did not mention it I know that's what she wanted. And I thought it was best too." Ling Xiao wasn't just weaving up lies here but that was what he had learned from her in their past life.

During the half year that they spent together before the apocalypse broke out they could have married then but Emilia wanted to resolve matters with her family first. Too bad she never got that chance and get never got to marry her and make their small family whole. He always regretted it that was why he was trying his hardset here so that things could go well for both Emilia, her family and their marriage.

"Ehh" both Father Lu and Lu Tianyi we're struck speechlessly, honestly not expecting that answer. They could both feel warm from knowing that their baby girl/ little sister still thought about them so much during the time she was away. She wouldn't even have a happy event proceed without their presence.

"Are you serious?" Lu Tianyi asked Ling Xiao in a calmer tone of voice, his voice returning to how he normally was.

"Mhm ", "now since you guys have made up I would like to ask you guys to bless our marriage and attend the wedding too." He continued

The two men just looked at Ling Xiao not saying anything

"I know that this situation is not ideal for the two of you but it is also not ideal for me as well. I don't want our relationship to be unstable and I don't want Qin Lu to grow up in a house where his parents are separated so I would like to make this family whole now that everything with you guys have been resolved. All I want us what is best for Emilia and our son , what best for my family. I'm sure you know how difficult it is out there for single mothers and children without father's . I don't want that situation to last any longer so what do you say." Ling Xiao asked the two looking then straight in the eyes unyieldingly.

After two minutes of just looking at each other father Lu spoke first.

"Are you really serious about my daughter?"

"Yes sir I am!" ling Xiao responded with confidence and strength.

"Ha then you take care of her for me from now on."father Lu sighed as he responded unresitgned to his fate. This feeling of raising cabbage only to be stolen by some pig was really unpleasant but he chose to bere with it for his daughters happiness.

"Don't worry father I will!"Ling Xiao responded slyly changing his form of address.

Ling Tianyi struggled for a while before he also spoke "You better take good care of my sister and treat her well. Emilia has been spoiled by me growing up and if I find out that she is not taken care of by you then I will take her back you hear!?" he spoke in a slightly threatening tone.

Ling Xiao just smiled to that , he didn't really take that threat as an offence seeing as how it meant that he had also agreed and the marriage could go forward as planned.

"Don't worry I will definitely spoil my wife on my palm"he said.

"You better" Lu Tianyi snarked.

After about thirty minutes all the food was ready and Qin Lu headed to the lounge to call the others. "Dad Grandpa Eldest uncle food is ready!" he called out running back after he was done

Oh the men responded as they got up to go take their seats by the table. One could feel that the atmosphere around them had become lighter, obviously things had gone well during this time and the relationship had been greatly improved.

Once every one had been seated father Lu lifted his glass to say something. "To happier days and family" he said. The others acoing him.

"To happier days and family "

Sounds of laughter and utensils hitting plates was all that followed this family that had been finally reunited in all ways

....

"Hey brat you finally decided to call me! What could you possibly want?" snarled Grandpa Ling, Ling Xiao grandfather and guardian, at his unfilial grandson who did not call home often or even visit.

Heck he sometimes had to pretend to be I'll to get that boy home do of course he was dissatisfied. Plus he had heard from one of Ling Xiao's buddies that he was off and not on s mission. Thinking about how that brat still didn't come made Grandpa Ling extremely annoyed. If it wasn't because this brat was his only descendant he would have probably disowned him by now from anger.

Ignoring his grandpa's snarky response Ling Xiao went straight to the point."Grandpa are you free next Saturday?"

"Hmmf so what if I am?!" old man Ling snorted getting ready to reject whatever request that brat brought up.

"Grandpa can u come to A city then. I'm getting married" Ling Xiao notchalently informed the old man

"What!!!"  Is all that came through after that.