Archer was unconscious for a few days until he woke up, feeling even worse as he sat up in bed, head spinning. Just then, he came to when he felt better and smiled, remembering that he had saved Aslan from the poison. Moments later, the door flung open thanks to Nala barging through it while holding the white-haired little boy.

''Husband!'' she exclaimed. ''I knew you were awake, little Aslan here wants to see you!''

His eyes softened as they settled on his son, whose wide blue gaze met his own. Archer raised his hands, gesturing to hold the child. The young woman stepped forward, gently passing the baby to him with a warm, reassuring smile as he cradled the boy close, who started making adorable noises.

Archer watched him kick his legs, making Nala smile as she revealed. ''Ever since healing him, he's been lively and always looking for you.''

He didn't reply at first and leaned forward, kissing Aslan on the forehead, making the baby even more excited. After doing that, he spoke. ''That's good, did we find out who poisoned him?''

''No one did,'' the lioness revealed. ''Brooke, Ari, and Tiamat questioned everyone with a Mana Truth spell, only for it to come up as nothing. Looks like the Terravians sent it on the breeze and little Aslan got caught in the crossfire.''

Archer's eyebrow rose, but he shrugged. ''At least he's better. My heart dropped when you sent that message.''

Nala nervously laughed at his words. ''Same, it was horrible after he started coughing up blood. I'm glad he's happy and healthy now.''

Following that, the couple relaxed and pampered Aslan with attention, causing the happy little boy to let out a fit of giggles, making both of them smile. Just then, Mary stepped into the room with Artemis held in her arms, and the older woman looked happy as she approached the chair he was in.

Once there, she leaned forward and gave him a passionate kiss as the little girl squirmed in her arms. Archer quickly scooped the grey-haired baby into his arms as she backed off with a bright smile. ''I knew she wanted to see you, Arch. I sensed that you were awake, so I came to visit,'' she explained.

''Thank you, Mary,'' he responded, holding his two newest children.

Afterward, the two women filled him in on everything that had happened since he was recovering, and he was shocked to find out that Aisha had become a hero for beating back the plague that struck southern Draconia. Archer was shocked at the news and wanted to go see the Dragonkin woman, but found out she was sleeping.

''Poor Aisha, only finished healing the soldiers this morning,'' Nala revealed. ''Brooke told me she was using your mana to do it.''

''She was,'' he replied, stretching his arms after the duo took the tired babies. ''I can feel that she used a lot and it's exhausted me even more.''

''Do you need more sleep?'' Mary questioned, a concerned expression appearing on her face.

''Maybe,'' Archer yawned. ''Is that okay with you ladies?''

Nala beamed at his words before passionately pressing her lips against his, making the older woman giggle at her enthusiasm for showing affection to their husband. After a few seconds, the lioness backed off, allowing Mary to kiss him. He was shocked by the sudden attention but loved it either way.

Once they said their farewells, Archer fell asleep after wrapping the cover around him like a burrito. The cold air had invaded the palace, forcing the temperature to drop to freezing, forcing the maids to keep the fireplaces going all day. Without thinking, he sent a stream of mana into the one in his room.

The purple energy sent the flames wild, spreading hot air throughout the room and corridor outside. He slept like a baby, waking up half awake. The night, Sia appeared holding Freya, Kela, and Neoma, causing his eyes to open only to see three smiling little girls. He grabbed each one, pulling them into a love-filled embrace.

Sia giggled at this. ''I thought you'd like to see your three eldest daughters, they've missed you loads,'' she revealed.

Archer kissed their foreheads and answered all dramatically, making the baby laugh. ''I've missed them so much that my heart started to hurt.''

''So silly,'' the older woman said. ''I'm going to check up on my legion and drag Hecate along with me; it's been forever since that Moon Elf stepped outside.''

''Have fun,'' he said, cuddling up to the girls.

Freya was the first to snuggle into his right arm, Kela on his left, leaving Neom, who was sitting on his chest. Her big eyes didn't know what to do, prompting him to pull her into the crook of his neck, pleasing the little princess. Once everyone was comfortable, he sent his mana around each of them to keep warm.

The cold air was invading the room, and not even the fire with its power in it could beat it back. Archer lifted his head, muttering in frustration. ''Damn Long Winter, this is going to get annoying fast.''

Just then, Leira swept in like a whirlwind, cradling sweet Evelyn and Elise in her arms, while Mary followed close behind, nestling Artemis and Aslan against her chest with a soft smile as he guessed what they wanted but didn't care. Archer's heart skipped, despite the surprise that wasn't over yet.

In bounded Ella, her blue eyes sparkling as she juggled Isis, tiny Tarek, and Amelia like the world's fluffiest trio. Olivia trailed her, beaming with Antonia, Ravena, and Selina tucked securely in her embrace. His eyes went wide as saucers, drinking in the sight of all his precious thirteen, their tiny faces lighting up the room like stars.

With a playful flick of his wrist, Archer scooped up his giggling brood like feathers on a breeze using his mana. He settled them into a cozy nest around him, their soft coos and wiggles melting him into puddles. Five minutes later, he was a living teddy bear, buried under a pile of babies and echoes of his beloved women.

Chubby cheeks nuzzling close, tiny fists clutching at his shirt. But what melted his heart was Little Tarek wrapping his arms around baby Aslan in a fierce, sleepy hug, one pudgy hand still tangled in Archer's collar. While he got comfortable, Ella commented as the group of women stood there watching.

''I love that you're such a hands-on father,'' she admitted. ''We thought you would've been more absent.''

Archer chuckled at her words before kissing Selina on her cheek, making her blue hair fly everywhere as she got excited. His smile grew wider while responding to the Half-Elf. ''Never, El, you know I love these little gremlins so much and you girls. I just love being their father because they show unconditional love.''

''They do love you and everyone can see it,'' Olivia added. ''They're always looking for you, and when you saved our little Aslan, each one was panicking over you, especially Freya.''

When he heard the older woman's words, he glanced down at the little white-haired girl with big blue eyes, glancing back up. He smiled before grabbing her and peppering her little face with kisses. This made her burst out into a fit of delighted giggles, only making the others want the same treatment.

Archer picked them up one by one and slobbered their faces. This created a chorus of happy giggles that made Ella, Olivia, Sia, and Leira fall in love all over again. The way he treated each of their children proved they didn't choose the wrong man.

***

Ella was staring as Archer picked up their daughter, Elise. The little girl was looking at him with so much love that she could even feel it. Her white hair was tied into a messy bun, and her pointy ears twitched excitedly. She couldn't believe how much he was involved in their lives; he made sure to spend time with all thirteen every day.

She even noticed the way he treated Frey; it was like she was his guardian angel. She had heard the stories about the little girl having Time Magic and coming back in the timeline to pull her father back from the edge. Ella believed it thanks to the way the girl looked at him, like he was her everything.

'At least he's a better father then the Duke,' she thought, smiling.

Following that, Ella stepped forward and revealed. ''Arch, we're going out to the city. We need some new clothes for this horrible weather.''

Just then, several pouches stuffed with gold coins dropped in front of him as her husband spoke. ''Take whatever you need and enjoy yourselves. Oh yeah, get the girls something and the boys. I want them to have some warm stuff.''

The women tidied everything away, each kissing him before leaving him with the baby. Once they were gone, Archer waved his hand, turning off the lights so they could go to sleep.

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