So I started this yesterday, with the intention of throwing it into my current This Is Us rewrite as a quick, relevant flashback, maybe 500 words or so. That didn't really pan out. This is certified Dirty Chai Canon, but it also works as a stand-alone as long as you're willing to subscribe to an AU where Mika and Arrow are lifelong best friends. And it's confirmed in Palace Of The Damned that Arrow adopted several children with Sarah.

I ended up hitting myself close to home with this one. I don't usually project much of myself onto Mika. The man is my ride-or-die but we don't exactly have a lot in common. But there's one thing him and I are on the same page about - while we're both very much Team No Kids, we're also wholeheartedly overjoyed for our lifelong friends who do find joy in starting families of their own. Yes, I am in my twenties. How did you know?

Enjoy!

"It's no Vampire Mountain, but it's not bad for something you built with your bare hands." Mika remarked, whiskey in hand and feet on Arrow's coffee table. Because now Arrow was living a lifestyle that required a table specifically for coffee.But Mika's comment was not directed at the coffee table, even though Arrow built that too. He was referring to the four walls around them; the log cabin Arrow lived in with his human family.

"Some of us become Generals. Others become carpenters." Arrow replied. He rolled his eyes a little disparagingly, but he smiled warmly at his friend. He'd missed Mika more terribly than he could bring himself to admit.

"So you've got architecture figured out. Next thing on your list better be training those things." Mika growled as he covered his ears to shield his senses from the sudden cacophony of pounding feet and exuberant, high-pitched voices. It sounded like there was an entire army making its way downstairs. Arrow had told Mika he had five children, but it sounded more like five hundred.

"Ah, is it morning already?" Arrow rumbled, grinning from ear to ear as he stood up from the armchair he'd been sitting in. Then he winked at Mika. "Watch closely, brother. You'll never again struggle to fathom how I could possibly leave the clan behind."

"Try me." Mika snorted.

Sure enough, there were indeed five of them. Four on foot screaming, "Daddy! Daddy!" as they rounded the corner and galloped into Arrow's arms which were large and strong enough to pick them all up at once. There were boys and two girls ranging from what looked like three to ten years old. The fifth child - a girl too small to walk on her own - arrived on the scene carried by their adoptive mother, Sarah.

"Good morning, my loves!" Arrow greeted them. Then he spun them around so quickly Mika was certain he'd accidentally yeet one into the ceiling. But clearly Arrow did this all the time, and when he set them down they were all in one piece and laughing hysterically.

Sarah looked momentarily surprised when she saw Mika sitting in the armchair she usually occupied, but she didn't miss a beat. He'd been best man at their wedding, of course.

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in! Good to see you, Mika Ver Leth." Said Sarah, smiling serenely and giving Mika a little wink. Then she shot Arrow a wayward glance. "Darling, I wish you'd tell me when you're planning on having your friends over!"

"Good morning, angel. I would've told you but that would have required him giving me a warning before dropping in. And he's General Ver Leth now." Arrow replied in a voice of mock pompousness. He squeezed his wife's small hand, brushed some auburn locks from her face, and kissed her rosy cheek.

Mika rolled his eyes at Arrow, but smiled as he stood up. Sarah hugged Mika without hesitation; after all she knew exactly how highly Arrow thought of his near-lifelong best friend.

"Welcome to our home, General Ver Leth." Said Sarah. "When did you arrive?"

"About three hours ago. You look lovely as always, Sarah. I still can't believe you settled for Arrow."

"I see your promotion hasn't dulled your wit." She wryly. "I hope you're hungry. We've recently been teaching our oldest two how to make breakfast, and they'd be more than happy to fix you a plate."

That sounded great in theory. But reality never quite lives up to the anticipation. Mika hoped at the very least the breakfast would be worth the effort it took for him to hobble to the kitchen with a rugrat clinging to each of his ankles, but he was sadly disappointed. From start to finish, breakfast took at least four times as long as it should have. First, Arrow and Sarah patiently took the time to cut up food into bite-sized portions for the younger ones. Mika had literally been raised in a castle by a nanny, and he hadn't even been that spoiled. Then the oldest girl - Talisa - insisted on saying a very lengthy grace before eating. Mika shot Arrow a look of utter confusion.

"We don't even go to church or anything." Arrow muttered under his breath. "She learned this at one of their friends' houses."

"So why do I have to sit here and watch my bacon get cold? Make it make sense." Mika grunted.

Arrow rolled his eyes, but smiled as he switched to telepathic communication.

A: Sometimes you just have to let them make it up as they go. It doesn't always have to make sense.

MVL: Tell her to tell God, or whoever, that I haven't eaten in twelve hours.

Arrow kicked Mika's shin under the table, but couldn't entirely stifle a chuckle.

Mika didn't really like eggs at the best of times, and the runny things Arrow's eldest son - Peter - served him weren't exactly top tier. But Arrow looked so proud of the kid, Mika really had no choice but to slap on a smile and eat them. At least there was bacon on the side. Burnt to a crisp, but bacon was bacon all the same. He would've liked to eat all three of the pieces on his plate, but the third piece (the least burnt one - he'd been saving the best for last) was swiped from by the middle child, Arika. Who was apparently a fucking seagull trapped in the body of an eight-year-old girl.

"Hey!" Arrow chided her as Mika processed the sudden loss. "Arika, that was terribly rude. What do you have to say to Uncle Mika?"

She turned to Mika, without a shred of remorse in her hazel eyes.

"Do you want it back?" She asked, while chewing with her mouth wide open.

"I'll pass." Mika deadpanned. "To the victor go the spoils, I suppose. I'll have to be quicker next time."

When the meal concluded, they headed outside to continue catching up. It was an overcast summer day, plenty of cloud cover which meant the vampires could sit outside on the back deck and continue catching up. They were doubly protected by a shade structure Arrow had recently built under the cover of night so that he could safely watch his children play outdoors during the day. Mika practically had to shout in order to update Arrow on the latest mountain news. Because despite the fact they had an entire house and yard to exist in, the children felt they needed to occupy the same space their father did. At all times.

Mika, being Mika, was used to his peers being intimidated by him. And he liked it that way. So he was rather taken aback by how Arrow's gang of ragtag orphans had no qualms about invading his personal space.

"Uncle Mika? Why are you dressed all in black?" Talisa interrogated Mika with complete seriousness as she stood two inches away from him.

"Because I like it." Mika replied with equal seriousness, slowly leaning away from her. Which only caused her to get closer.

"Why?"

"Goes with everything. Saves time."

"I thought it was because you want to be famous and having a signature look is the easiest way to get noticed." Arrow chipped in.

"That part was an unexpected but convenient coincidence." Mika replied, smiling drily at Talisa before refocusing on Arrow and pretending she wasn't there. "So as I was saying, Vanez finally got promoted to Games Master. Not like anyone was surprised. We all thought Egan McCallan was going to kill him in his sleep, though. He wanted that promotion so fucking bad-"

Arrow cleared his throat, and glared sternly at Mika. It took Mika a second to catch onto the fact he was being given a language warning. He hadn't used a profanity filter since he was a teenager in school. And even then it'd been hit or miss.

"Sorry. Anyway, the first thing Vanez did was to revamp the entire bar system. It's so much better, you wouldn't even recognize-" that was as far as Mika got before a ball collided with his head, momentarily having him seeing stars.

"Peter! Arika! I told you we don't practice with live targets!" Arrow hollered, picking the ball up and throwing it back at the kids who were giggling unapologetically halfway across the yard.

"Sorry, Mika. Carry on." Arrow added.

"Uh, what was talking about? McCallan, right?"

"Nope, you covered McCallan. We'd moved on to Vanez's new bar setup."

"Right. So he had the originals demolished within a week of his promotion taking effect. Some of the older Generals gave him a hard time about it, they were all up in arms cause they felt like he was disrespecting history or whatever. But the bars were literally falling apart so the Princes agreed unanimously it was time for them to go-"

Mika was halted mid-sentence again, this time by a scream so shrill he was certain his eardrums were never quite the same after.

"Daddy! Help! My leg is broken! Arika pushed me down and broke my leg!" Howled the youngest of the boys - a freckle-faced, scrawny little thing whose name Mika had already forgotten because he was by far the least memorable of the gang. He was laying in the grass in the middle of the yard, sobbing hysterically. Admittedly Mika had sort of glazed over during the basic but mandatory medic training he'd received as part of his Generalship qualifications, but he was pretty sure the kid's only affliction was a severe case of attention-seeking.

"Is that right?" Arrow inquired calmly as he stood up and made his way over to the boy.

"Is not!" Arika protested, hands on her hips as she glared sternly down at her fallen brother.

"Is too!"

"Is NOT! You're a dirty liar, Oliver!"

"Hmmm. Let's think about this. I don't believe Arika could leverage enough force to actually break a human leg. Maybe if she ate more of her vegetables…" Arrow mused seriously, glancing between the two children. "But the pushing part sounds plausible. Arika, what have we talked about?"

Arika's face darkened as she glared at them both.

"I only pushed him because he pulled my hair! Again!"

Arrow frowned.

"Is that true, Oliver?"

Mika didn't catch Oliver's follow-up argument, because Sarah appeared with fresh coffee in one hand and the baby - August - in the other.

"You didn't have to do that!" Said Mika as he accepted the mug she handed him. "I could've gotten it myself. Looks like you have your hands full."

"Nonsense. You're a guest!" Said Sarah, smiling as she sat down in the chair Arrow vacated. "We don't normally have visitors from the clan. Which is perfectly fine by me, but Arrow's always thought so highly of you. And you were so supportive at our wedding. Anything you need, just ask."

"I appreciate that." Said Mika earnestly. "With all the time I spend in the wilderness, I never take a hot cup of coffee for granted."

They enjoyed their coffee in silence for a few minutes, observing the scene unfolding in the yard. Arrow was now sitting in the grass with Oliver (still screaming bloody murder) in his lap, and Arika (still defiantly sullen) sitting a few feet away from them. Arrow appeared to be playing the role of judge and jury; there was a sparkle in his eye as he patiently listened to the children plead their cases. Cloudy as it was, Mika was certain Arrow would be feeling his skin start to prickle in discomfort by now. But it was clear nothing could distract him from his children at that moment. Mika had never seen Arrow focus so thoroughly on anything, ever.

"Trouble in paradise, I see." Said Mika.

"Always an uphill battle with those two." Said Sarah, gesturing at Oliver and Arika. "They're actually biological siblings - if only they'd acted like it! I never had siblings of my own, but I always wished I did."

"Not sure if this makes you feel better or worse, but as the youngest of six I can confirm that's exactly how biological siblings act. Looks like they're no match for the crisis negotiator though." Said Mika with a chuckle. It was true, Oliver's tears were starting to slow down, and Arika was giggling as Arrow gently talked them through the issue at hand.

"He's so wonderful with them." Said Sarah as she watched Arrow fondly. "Who could've imagined a blood-sipping nightwalker would be kinder and more patient than any human man I've ever met?"

"Arrow's one of the good ones. He's one of the greatest vampires I know. And with that said, it looks like he's an even better dad."

"That means a lot coming from you, Mika."

"It's the truth."

For a moment neither of them spoke. The only sound was August's incoherent baby babbles as Sarah tickled her bare feet, and the scattered laughter from out on the lawn.

"I'm sorry if this is bold, but I don't exactly meet many other vampires. Do you ever regret missing out on a life like this?" Sarah asked out of nowhere, gesturing around at the yard. Arrow was hugging both Oliver and Arika now, and it wasn't long before Peter and Talisa joined in. As Arrow was quite literally swarmed and toppled over, all Mika could think about was how he'd seen every single one of those kids pick their noses at least once in the several hours he'd been there.

"Valid question. No, I don't have a single regret." Said Mika without hesitating. "I get the appeal, just never felt it myself. When I found out vampires were sterile, I only felt more confident about joining the clan. Arrow, on the other hand, had to stop and think about it a little longer before making his decision. It worked out in the end though. He got the best of both worlds." Mika paused for a moment, then he cracked a smile. "As for me, I'm perfectly content with being the mysterious uncle who shows up unexpectedly every few years."

Sarah let out a breezy, musical laugh at that.

"Well, there's plenty of room in our family for all kinds - including mysterious uncles. Anytime you need a break from the harshness of clan life, our home is your home." She told him, sincerely returning his smile as she rocked August in her arms.

"Did I hear that correctly?" Arrow boomed as he rejoined them on the deck, a kid tucked under each arm and the other two holding his hands. "Are we finally adopting Mika?"

"Yeah. Sarah said we can have bunk beds." Mika shot back, making both Sarah and Arrow double over with laughter. But Mika couldn't help but notice the way Arrow's skin was visibly sunburned after the few minutes he'd spent playing in the grass.

Once Arrow was seated in the shade again, Sarah handed August off to him so she could retreat into the house and help Talisa with some sort of arts and crafts endeavour she'd been working on.

"You're a little red, A." Mika noted offhandedly, arching an eyebrow as he scanned his gaze over Arrow's exposed face, neck, and arms.

"Yeah, I could feel myself starting to burn." Arrow admitted. "I could spend all day out there with them if it wasn't for that."

"Take them out in the evening, then."

"Can't do that around here. The place is crawling with bears, wildcats, and everything other nocturnal thing with sharp teeth." Arrow objected seriously. "And before you ask, of course I could still take on a wild animal and win. I just don't want my small children witnessing it, that's all. It's easier to just deal with a bit of sunburn here and there."

"Sounds like you've got all this figured out." Said Mika.

"I learn something new every day. I promise it's more fun than it looks." Said Arrow, taking his eyes off August just long enough to shoot a rueful grin at Mika.

"I believe you believe that." Said Mika.

Arrow rolled his eyes, but the grin didn't fade from his face.

"Want to hold August?" He asked out of nowhere.

Mika stiffened automatically.

"I'll just admire her from over here. Thanks anyway." Mika replied. When Arrow's face fell slightly, he added: "She's cute, though. Did you shave her head to match yours, or did she come like that?"

"Some babies take longer to grow hair than others." Arrow explained, with just a slightly defensive edge to his voice. "She's only a few months old, after all. One of Sarah's friends got pregnant out of wedlock, and her parents said she had to get rid of the baby if she wanted to keep her inheritance. So now we have August, and the birth mother is a wealthy heiress who can't even be bothered to visit. Personally I think we got the better end of the deal."

"Wow. She's lucky to have you." Said Mika. And he meant it with his whole heart. He didn't think he'd ever slept as soundly as the infant in Arrow's arms.

"You sure you don't want to hold her?"

"Completely. I'd hate to wake her up right now."

"Maybe tomorrow." Arrow suggested.

Mika nodded noncommittally, knowing his answer wouldn't change.

"You know, Council's only a year and a half away." Said Mika after a long but comfortable silence.

"Is that right?" Said Arrow disinterestedly.

"I'm helping Seba oversee a bunch of preparations this year, so I'd know."

"Being in charge always did agree with you. Congratulations."

"You should come. Flit in for a few days. I won't tell the Princes."

Arrow let out a short, sharp laugh but quickly contained himself so as not to wake August up.

"Why would I come to Council? I'm not exactly an active member of the clan at the moment." He snorted derisively, narrowing his eyes.

"You're still a vampire of excellent standing. Nothing can take that away from you." Mika replied, keeping his voice steady and unchallenging. This was a negotiation he really wanted to win. "Those who disapprove of inter-species relationships are a quiet minority, especially if the vampire in question has a solid reputation - which you do. No one would mind if you came."

"How can you be so sure? My lifestyle isn't exactly conventional."

"You left on good terms. And you might as well keep a foot in the door. It's not like you'll be here forever."

Mika had always been exceptionally good at choosing his words, especially in a high-stakes negotiation. But that particular skill let him down that day. Arrow's face darkened immediately, and Mika kicked himself internally for saying something so utterly asinine.

"This is my family, Mika. I know you see it as some kind of extended vacation that'll eventually be over. And I'm not delusional - I know how a human lifespan works compared to ours." Arrow growled. There was a hint of menace in his voice that Mika hadn't heard since they were cubs caught up in a brawl at the Festival. "But believe me when I tell you I'm not plotting a triumphant return to Vampire Mountain. Maybe I'll find my way back eventually, maybe I won't. It's simply not something I think about, because that would be a waste of the precious, limited time I have with them."

Mika closed his eyes and sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair while wishing wholeheartedly he could jump back in time, just for a minute and a half, and take back his moment of ignorance.

"I'm sorry, A. I shouldn't have said that." He groaned. "You know I'm happy for you."

"Are you, though?

"You think I'm not?"

"I can read you better than anyone. I know you still don't understand how I could leave the clan behind, but it's alright. I've resigned myself to the fact that you probably never will."

Mika was momentarily gripped by an uncomfortable flare of frustration, and it burned hot enough to sear a hole in his facade of cool detachment.

"You caught me! Your current lifestyle is my exact version of purgatory. And you're right, I don't understand how this is better than what you had in the clan!" Mika fired back. He meant it, but it was only half the truth. He paused for breath before continuing."But I don't have to understand it to be happy for you. And believe it or not, I'd never imply you should be planning a triumphant return to the clan. I just miss you. Everyone misses you. That's literally the only reason I suggested you come to Council."

Arrow gazed back at Mika studiously, as though scanning his face for… something. Mika didn't know exactly what.

"They miss me… hah! Is that what they're saying back at the mountain? Or do they say I'm wasting my potential here?" Arrow scoffed. "Remember, I'm just as familiar with the clan as you are."

"Of course they don't say that."

"Come on, Mika. I know you're a good enough politician to lie with conviction. You're not fooling anyone."

"Fine. I think I've heard the woe is Arrow and his wasted potential line from every vampire in the clan at least once." Mika admitted bluntly. It wasn't like Arrow wasn't already perfectly aware of what everyone thought of him.

"Figures." He grumbled.

"They mean it as a compliment-" Mika began, but Arrow cut him off.

"I don't care how they mean it. Is that what you think?"

Mika thought of that for a moment or two, keeping face neutral until he decided how to respond.

"Since you can see through my lies so well, I won't bother trying to tell you it's never crossed my mind. There was definitely a time when I felt you were wasting your potential by stepping back. But I don't think that anymore." Said Mika. His voice cracked, and he despised the way it sounded. So he inhaled slowly before adding, "How could I, after seeing you this happy?"

Arrow exhaled, a deep, pained sigh. He suddenly seemed unable to look at Mika, and instead kept his eyes on August who was squeezing his pinky finger like a lifeline.

"I'm not like you, Mika. You've always known exactly what you wanted - your ambition guides your life for you. Then there's me - I only started training to be a General because everyone said I'd be good at it." Arrow murmured at last. "I hoped I'd eventually feel the sense of purpose that always came so naturally to you. But I never did… until I met Sarah. Now I finally understand why you're so dedicated to your dreams. Mine just look different than yours, that's all. I can't impress the whole clan, nor do I care to. But you're my best friend. So if you find it within yourself to be half as proud of me as I am of you… I'll take it."

Mika felt his heart drop into his stomach, because surely Arrow wasn't this delusional. He was speechless for a moment, mouth agape at Arrow as he struggled to find the words.

"If you think for one minute I'm not beyond fucking proud of you, I've failed as your best friend." Mika choked out. "I wish you could see the look on your face when Sarah walks into the room, or when you're playing with those loud-mouthed ankle-biters… that look tells me everything I need to know. I've never seen anyone love anything that much. I have no doubt in my mind you're exactly where you need to be. No matter how much I wish it was the same place I am."

Arrow let out a weak ghost of a laugh and roughly rubbed his eye with the hand that wasn't connected to August's. Then he let out an awkward cough that sounded like it was supposed to be a dry sob.

"Thanks, Mika. That means a lot. And if you ever get burned out from chasing that big promotion, there's more than enough room here for you to build a cottage right next to mine. And you could easily find a pretty single woman in the village down the road. Or a cat. I wouldn't judge."

Mika forced a smile, and tried not to think about how quickly this day was going by. Soon it would be over, and he'd be on route back to Vampire Mountain. He blinked once or twice, finding it necessary to wipe his own eyes just as Arrow had done.

"What?" Arrow pried.

"I thought we were getting bunk beds."

Thanks for reading! This was a pleasure to write, from start to finish.

Notes on Arrow's kids:

1) Credit to Kam for naming August and Peter for me when I ran out of brain cells last night.

2) I didn't realize until I was 3/4 finished writing that the name Arika is a perfect combination of Arrow and Mika. I'm not saying I have a favourite, but it's definitely Arika.

I haven't given myself a shameless plug in a while, so feel free to come say hi on Tumblr! My personal/CDF blog is mikaverleth, and my more generic CDF blog is festivaloftheundead. I also casually post CDF memes on Twitter and Instagram, both under the handle m1kaverleth.

Cheers! :)

- Roxy