It was eight years ago; the twins had been with him for six months, it had not been easy. Neither child was inclined to believe that they were finally safe, despite their eagerness to leave with him the day he found them. Cassiopeia Black was the perfect choice for their Mother, she had fallen in love with the toddlers the second she saw them. She was kind and caring, giving off warmth and love with every word and look, she was finally breaking through with them, but so far they remained wary of Tom. But he was nothing if not determined to prove himself worthy of being their Father; when he first found them at his old Orphanage, experimenting with their magic, he had been incensed that any magical child could be placed there. Upon discovering that the boy was in fact the very child that caused him to become injured and forced him into hiding three years ago, he had decided to use it for his own advantage. By taking him in, he could ensure the boy’s loyalty was to him, and the Light would never have their true saviour, that plan changed rather rapidly. Both children had weaved their way into his heart, their frightened eyes, terrified cries at night, and the way they needed him and Cassi to survive, how they wanted love but too fearful to trust it. He had stalked through the halls of the manor, a war raging on the inside of him. Two different sides of him fighting for dominance. Voldemort wanted to use the boy, turn him against his family and destroy them, but Tom, the boy who had been unloved and hated, he wanted to protect and cherish them forever. To be the Father that Morfin Gaunt had robbed him of. He was so deep inside of his own thoughts that he hadn’t noticed where his heart and feet were taking him. Before he knew it, he was in front of the room his new children shared, it had seem to calm them down, and keep the worst nightmares at bay being together. Cassiopeia had informed him that most morning’s she would find them sharing a bed, sleeping intertwined together with peaceful smiles upon their faces. Taking a steeling breath, Tom pushed his hand against the door, softly opening it, leaving the two souls inside, unaware of his presence. Peering his head into the room, his eyes quickly sought out the twins, a soft smile graced his mouth. They were on the floor together, almost identical as they giggled and babbled back and forth, he frowned as he strained to hear them, their talking didn’t sound like normal toddler babble. He leant forward and focused, only to surge back in shock, they were babbling in Parseltongue. It didn’t make much sense, being that they were still chopping up words and sentences like four-year olds, but it was still very clearly Parseltongue. #Neonate, why did you stop?# a voice hissed. Tom looked up, to see his familiar wrapped around Harry and Hermione’s feet, giggling the twins resumed rubbing their hands down her scales. Nagini had been his familiar since before he knew what a familiar was. She was as old as he was, due to being a magical snake bound by familiar magic, she would not die of natural causes until Tom himself did. She had been his first ever friend, finding him at Wool's Orphanage after his first beating from Mrs Cole, he was only just three years old and he had been punished for his first burst of accidental magic. He had been starving and summoned food from the kitchen to his bedroom. She had sworn to stand by his side through everything and protect him as much as she could, apparently that extended to his children as well. He chuckled when Nagini started to hiss in pleasure, swaying her head softly side to side as she began to doze. Unfortunately his chuckled alerted the children to his presence. Hermione squeaked, her green eyes wide, arms wrapping around Nagini, as if to stop Tom from taking her away. #Too tight Neonate# Nagini hissed her displeasure, but the giant snake still wrapped her body around the child to give comfort. Harry hadn’t made a sound but instead scurried away to hide, but his short, sharp, gasping breaths made it easy to find him, under the bed. Tom sighed and got down on his stomach to be at Harry’s level. He smiled softly. "Come on son, it is okay, I am not going to hurt you." He promised, Harry’s green eyes full of tears looked at him desperately, obviously wanting to believe it. "I.. I so.. sorry." The boy sobbed out. "What are you sorry for?" Tom asked confused. "Freaks don’ "ave fun. Freaks don’ "serve toys. Freaks don’ got love. Bad Freak." Harry whispered the mantra, as if he had it memorized, his tears leaking over and staining his cheeks. Tom felt a flash of anger and hatred toward those that had made his son believe this, but he hid it behind his Occlumency Walls, keeping his expression placid for the scared child. "Child, you are not a freak, you deserve everything, I will give you the world." Tom promised. "I wish I could’ve saved you sooner my child, but you are mine now. I will never allow anything to happen to you." He held his hand out for the child, he waited patiently, it was worth it, when he grabbed his hand, he felt a warmth spread through his body, his lips growing into a smile. "I have you now." He swore as he pulled the tiny child into his chest and held him tight, opening his other arm for Hermione, the girl gave a tentative smile before snuggling into him like his son. His son and daughter. His to love. His to protect. It was in that moment that he knew his children would only ever know Tom, the loving Father. They would know Voldemort, but Voldemort would not ever be directed towards them.