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"MOM!!!!!"

The shout echoing down the hallway was almost deafening, and Rune raised an eyebrow, one arm still outstretched as she tickled Yvette's stomach. She'd asked little Caz to go in and put away the extra diapers while she played with the infants, but she wasn't sure why on earth (or Illuzen, or Alterealm) he was yelling. "Cazzy, we're still in here, hon."

The blonde little Sin in front of Rune giggled gleefully, kicking small legs in the air, then turned to stare at the small figure that bolted through the doorway. Caz's long dark hair was mussed a bit, Julian and Cassi running along behind him as usual - even though the other two were dragonet toddlers, they hung out with big brother Caz more than the babies like Yvette. A piece of paper was held in one waing fist. "MOM!" He panted, shoving the paper at his mother with a wide grin. "Mama, it's Evie's - Evie gets to grow! Evie's gonna grow!"

"Grow!" Julian echoed. Cassi's tail whipped excitedly back and forth. Rune blinked and took the offered paper, eyes widening in surprised delight as she read through the words a second time. "This was on her bed?"

Caz nodded, beaming, then scooped up his little sister. Yvette frowned slightly, thoughtful. What was Cazzy yelling about? She was gonna grow? Suddenly the thought sank into her infant mind. She was going to be big! Big, like Jani! The babe gave a squeal of glee. "Big!! Big wike Caz an Jani!!! BIG!!"

Caz paused mid-twirl, looking at Jani over Yvette's curly head for a moment before he recognized her. "Hi, Jani-ma'm." He grinned amicably. Caz didn't like many people, but Yvette and Chloe both loved Jani to death, and that was good enough for him. Evie herself wriggled around in the young boy's grip, wide-eyed and beaming as she held out her arms. "JANI! JANI JANI JANI - I GROW!"

Rune grinned and shook her head, knowing the potato Sin would very likely snag Yvette before she managed to make her brother drop her. "She just got her growth quest." The Water Slider explained cheerfully. She'd wait 'til Jani was comfortable to give her a hug, but her open face said it all - she was happy to see the girl. "Chloe's - upstairs, I think. She's wanted to see you all week. How're you doing, hon?"

Rune's grin grew, pleased, and she hugged the pale-haired Sin gently 'round the shoulders. She loved all of Indu's kids, but Jani - Jan - was special. The vivacious little toddler Chloe had so adored had become quite a fine young woman, and Rune was more than happy both the redhead and Yvette had someone like her to confide in. Eyes twinkling, she sent a cheerful thought upstairs to her older daughter. Oy, Chloe - Jan.

"Jan?!" Came a yell from upstairs, followed shortly by a resounding thump and a muttered string of colorful phrases. Caz snickered, plopping himself down on the carpet to watch this new entertainment. Yvette giggled happily, snuggling herself into Jan's arms with a sigh of infant bliss. Her Jani was here, and Chloe was making funny noises, and soon she'd be big enough to run around with HER PEOPLE. Life didn't get much better.

"CODY, IF YOU LEAVE THAT STUPID DART GUN OUT IN THE HALL AGAIN I'M SHOVING IT UP YOUR ARSE!!" Chloe's voice shouted as she half-strode, half-leapt down the steps, head turned to bellow over her shoulder. The redhead paused for a few seconds in the doorway - mostly because Rune was staring at her with a wry raised eyebrow - and looked a tad sheepish. "What? One of the kids could get hurt on it."

"Like you." Caz smirked, and Chloe stuck her tongue out at her little brother before spotting Jan. "JAN!" In half a second, she was across the room, arms thrown around both Jani and Yvette in a fierce hug. "Gawd, I missed you! Where've you been? Wait, what's this about a growth quest? Don't tell me you're getting bigger - though that might mean I could take you out clubbing with me."

Chloe frowned slightly, eyes roving over the paper while she rested her head against the top of Jan's. Fun with Ash and Jem aside, she'd severely missed her best friend, and it showed. "Oh, Evie's growing. Neat. Wonder what the he - heck she needs a beachball for."

"Better to throw around than your head, and almost the same size." Cody's voice interjected from the hallway. Chloe muttered a short phrase under her breath, grinning a moment later as her unseen brother yelped. "MOOOM!"

Rune bit her lip to stop from laughing, gaze twinkling. "Chloe." She warned, then shook her head. "Yeah, you guys can take her." With a grin, she ruffled Yvette's hair affectionately. "Be careful, you two. Chloe, do you have your wallet?"

"Yes, Mum." The redhead rolled her eyes, bending briefly to press gentle kisses to the rest of the infant bunch. Including a new, slightly chubby redhead who had been watching the entire event with an intent gaze. Caz, she hugged, fluffing his bangs with one hand and laughing as he swatted her away. "And my cell. Come on, Jan, let's get outta here before she goes all parental."

"I AM a parent." Rune pointed out, hugging both Jan and Chloe. "It's my job."

"Bye bye Mummy!" Yvette giggled, waving. "Grow now!"

(Poor oblivious Rune. She's so screwed. xD)

"Grow at stower?" Yvette questioned, looking slightly puzzled. She'd never had a sibling grow at the store before. All over Illuzen and Alterealm, in their adoption centers, playing games or fighting or talking with friends, but she really didn't think any of them had grown up in a store. One in a carwash . . .

Chloe laughed, both at her little sister and Jan's comment. "I can think of a few things, but we'll try them later." She teased, peeking down at the list. "Beachball, fancy pen, fancy paper - wonder what she's gonna do with those?"

"Snobs bad." Yvette answered seriously. She knew Jan was joking - she was smiling - but snobs were still icky. "Mama not like snobs. Chloe - "

"Nevermind what I do to snobs." Chloe interrupted hastily, ears tinted pink. She knew from Evie's expression and tone exactly what the child was referring to, and that was NOT something someone else needed to hear - waitaminute. "How did YOU know about that?"

"Pepowl think babies stupid." The blond little Sin snuggled contently into Jani's arms. "All 'cept my Jan. Talk lots." She grinned. "Beach? Build sand castles? An Jani pway dat?" She pointed to the guitar.

"Lots." Yvette's eyes gleamed happily, and Chloe sighed, putting a hand to her face. "But - " The infant paused. She hated not knowing what words meant. "What 'com-prim-ise-ing' mean, Jan?"

"Oh, gawd, I'm killing whoever told you about that." The redhead grumbled, pushing open the door to the shop and holding it for her friend. "They are dead meat."

"Not me. Big man whining to Uncle Payan, Uncle Derrin." Yvette giggled. "Uncle Derrin laugh lots and lots. Auntie Kistal laugh til cry."

(*glee* Indu, you are an angel. A goddess, whichever applies. *glee, again* EVIE!)

Yvette nodded so vigorously it looked like her head might bobble off. "Better den bwooms." She giggled. "Blue an flappy - dat one like Anny!" She burst into peals of laughter. Having not seen Ancelin since that day she was sick, the zuccini Sin still knew Jan would get the funny. "Dat why Jan pick?"

Chloe glanced down at the list and rolled her eyes. "Pen and paper, hell, we could have gotten that back at the house." She smirked. "Mom's got tons, and she sucks at filling her journals, so there's a lot of empty ones."

"No! Want MINE." Yvette said intently, sitting up in her position in Jan's arms. "Paper wif gee-tar on it. Like Jani's."

After several minutes searching, however, it was apparent there was no 'guitar paper' to be found. The little Sin glowered like a small thundercloud, placated only slightly when Chloe sighed and held up a pad wrapped in multicolored ribbon. "This is the best one they've got, Evie. And this scrolled pen is pretty, and green blue, your favorite colors." The redhead glanced at Jan for help. "Come on, sweetie, we'll find you some guitar paper later, okay? Or Mom can help you make some."