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Ivy rose early, making sure Eve was still sleeping to allow time for her little ragdoll's birthday party. Eve was to be three. Her growing had slowed to what it seemed be like the growth of normal children though her little Eve was still not normal. The bodyguard walked down to the kitchen where she heard Damin busy on either breakfast or the cake. A glance in it told her that Damin had breakfast ready, but he was working on the red queen cake Eve seemed to desire for her birthday.

Her birthday party was to be smaller than her previous was, but Ivy knew Eve had invited at least one dear friend. She hoped Howl would not be too busy. Eve looked up to the wizard greatly and it could definitely disapprove the girl if he did not come. Of course, Ivy had other things to think about. Like the dark elf she had met on a blind date, which had ended badly. She had been an ice queen though the last guy she tried to date had attempted to kill her.

Ivy had not been surprised by Vate showing, suspecting Thali had told him about the small party the grey elf was planning for her ragdoll child. Though she had raised an eyebrow at the sight of Trinity, she mentally wondered if she still had some stuff for milk in case the young baby got hungry. However when Faust had appeared in the manor, the instincts that had been born into her soul made her take a near fighting stand at first. However she shook her head and relaxed her stance before looking at the male elf. "I'm in the kitchen!" She poured herself a cup of coffee while Damin put final touches on a special breakfast for her daughter. Berries and chocolate sauce over pancakes with white chocolate chips. She knew one look at the dish meant that Eve would definitely be hyper.

"And the name is Ivy!" She corrected him like she had been having to correct nearly every elf she knew lately because they seem to have adopted calling her Leirre instead of Ivy. She had her white hair pulled back in a ponytail, keeping it out of her face and out of the way like she preferred. Eve was up in her bedroom that functioned as a studio and playroom, sleeping off the late painting she had done the previous night. Though her mother had thought she went to bed at the time the woman wished her to.

When Faust hugged her, she frowned, really not used to males being cuddly where she was concerned. Besides, he had told her that she was not leirre. "Faust, the name is Ivy and you sure I'm your leirre?" She sometimes dreamt of someone like him, but she knew she could not be Leirre. If she had once been that girl, Louie and Anya had killed Leirre and raised her to become Ivy. The female elf left Faust's arms to get to the cream and sugar and to get some space from him. Ivy was not what others would call fond of being hugged or cuddled.

"It's all right. I've convinced Eve to dress up a little for her party though I would not expect to see a bow in her hair. It's good to hear other toddlers kind of act like toddlers," Ivy loved Eve and how she was. However she doubted many other single parents could say their child knew how to count beyond fifty or used oil paints to try to recreate flower meadows among other things. "When the party starts, Eve says her magic will create a handful of illusions for the guests. I think she wants Howl to see her skills with illusions."

Ivy could tell he was not quite sane just by listening to him. She had not known what to say about his question till Vate spoke up. His hurt expression hurt her heart, but she was only remembering bits and pieces from her past as of late. Did he really expect her to remember everything and like to be hugged? She did not even like being hugged in general. She shot a look at Vate, planning to chat with him later on what he thought he was doing.

Ivy's smile was forced, but she nodded, "I'm sure they will be. I'm going to see if the birthday girl is up yet." She did not know how to explain that she was not fond of hugging when her supposed soulmate was the type to hug and cuddle. Clearly they had to be opposites, right? Ivy headed upstairs to Eve's room that functioned as the girl's studio, playroom, and bedroom. The room had paint thrown on the walls per usual, but Eve's toys were in their toy chest with an easel and her art supplies in the middle of the room.

Said little girl was sleeping in her bed, but having sensed Ivy, she looked up at the woman with tired mismatched eyes. Eve was cute when she was not acting mature for her age. The female elf was concerned about how Faust would view her child. Eve might have looked like a toddler, but the girl definitely did not act or speak like one. "Happy birthday, baby." Eve narrowed her eyes at the cheery tone, but nodded, "I'll be done after I brush my teeth. Breakfast ready yet?"

Damin was putting final touches on Eve's breakfast after making pancakes for the others, "You two hungry? I made enough hot cakes for everyone." The vampire finished up on the girl's birthday and cleaned up the kitchen a bit. He still needed to get the frosting made for Eve's cake, but that could wait till she ate breakfast.

Damin smiled, "I made enough for an army. By the way, do you want freed from the girl's pocket?" He did not envy Howl at the moment, but knew how to help him be free from being tiny. He was impressed at the girl's magic though. Making the plates for everyone, he got out juice and checked on the coffee to make sure there was enough for everyone.

Eve though blinked when Faust lightly brushed her hair, which was quite messy from sleeping. Her hair was messy per usual, but her hair was defying gravity a little in the morning. It took a moment for her to nod and smile, "Thank you for coming. You make Momma happy." She did not mind him calling her his baby as she did not quite have a birth father. The ragdoll suspected that she had been spawned from an egg or something that did not required a father figure to stick around. She knew she was adopted, being mature enough to understand Ivy loved her dearly.

Ivy watched Faust and Eve, finding no sign that he found Eve odd. She had told him a bit about the girl before, but when Eve had invited him, she had been wondering what the toddler was up to.

Damin chuckled and muttered a spell he knew to help Howl not be pocket-sized, "Your sister has interesting magic." He sat a plate of pancakes down for Howl before putting strawberry slices on Eve's plate of pancake though it was which plate was for the birthday girl. "I think Eve has some illusions planned for the party." The male vampire tossed three pancakes in the air as he heard Herion flying into the kitchen. The little Shadow had been playing hide and seek in Eve's garden with some tree creatures, but he was always up for breakfast.

Eve's eyes lit up at the sight of the dragon, loving it even before Faust told her it was magic. She knew toys where her mother originally came from often were ones that were magical and could do more than normal toys. She took the dragon, looking it over while smiling. "Thank you, Faust." she cuddled the doll, making Ivy laugh softly. A glance around the room showed a charcoal drawing, something she knew Eve did before adding paint. However it was a drawing of a pair of elves.

"I bet Damin's got your breakfast ready. Why not go down and eat before your food gets cold." Eve nodded at the woman's words, getting out of bed with the dragon in hand. She went past Faust, heading downstairs.

Damin shrugged at Howl's words, putting Eve's breakfast on the table before sitting a cup of her favorite juice beside it. "She's been working hard on them for a while. I hope you like them." Herion flew to the side, catching the pancakes in the air with his mouth. He took a moment to chew, knowing to chew before he swallowed. "Heri heri?" The shadow said while flying around the little girl. He kept his distance a little, but he had been around few babies. He chirped, looking at the baby curiously while making Damin chuckle at him.

Eve ran into the kitchen while wearing her favorite nightgown and her hair defying gravity a little from bed head. Spotting the chair that held her booster seat, she climbed in next to Howl, "Morning, howl, uncle Vate, and Trinity, I believe." Ivy had told her about Thali and Vate had a baby girl. She did not know much more than the name of the baby. Damin nodded and offered a cup of coffee to Vate.

Ivy's eyes widened when Faust kissed her, but afterward, her head hurt enough to knock her out. Vate looked up as the vampire sensed Ivy fainting. Ivy was a strong woman and thanks to a healthy eating style, he knew she kept her body strong. So he did not know why she fainted.

Herion glanced at Howl at his words, but kept his distance from the strange child. He was curious, but it was still his duty to protect his little host. Did all babies react to shadows like that all the time? Anyway, he flew to Eve once she came into the kitchen, perching on her head before disappearing into her own shadow. Eve smiled at the baby's reaction and chuckled, "Not actually sure about that, little one." She pulled her chair near the baby anyway and reached for her breakfast, though she did take Trinny's hand. "She's cute, Vate." A moment later, Eve sensed the magic in the girl, "And quite powerful."

Ivy awoke a few minutes later, hoping she did not hit her head on the floor when she fainted. The grey elf rarely fainted and she knew she did not have a fever. However she looked towards Faust, the memories in her head showing the piece of her childhood that Louie had said was blocked by trauma. If it was blocked by that, why did she remember that part of her now? "Faust, can I get a hand please?" She was still not the cuddly type or even fond of being hugged, but she did remember Faust and the others. She also remembered her love for him.