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Learning things from Daddy was always exciting and it didn't take Zykariel long to finish his sandwich either. One quick shove and it was in and then it just took him a good ten minutes to chew it down small enough to swallow. He gave his father a grin at the eye roll he knew was coming and flounced out of his seat. Thus training ensued.

He was still worried about the getting caught unawares and not fighting like a man. The opposite of that was fighting like a girl. Of course Mommy was a girl and she'd made Arthur cry but he had a feeling that he would never do that to any other male. But he'd taken a swing at his father, got a little too zealous and gotten knocked on his bottom for his trouble. Blinking up at him for a moment, he shook his head his face wavering between tears and a smile. Finally he grinned his crooked smile, "You gotta teach me how to do that!"

They were always telling him that. Mind and weaponry or fighting technique. He nodded solemnly and then giggled, "Silly me I always forget." He clung to his father refusing to be put down and started playing with his braid. There was a minor moment of pouting thrown in since they weren't going to be learning anything else and then he chose to move onto other things. "So you and Mommy are still playing the game right? And she still doesn't know? She seemed happy. But Mr. Malik says all sparkly stuff makes women happy..." A blink at his father. "Is that true Daddy?"

Leaf nodded, pausing a moment to glare at the sand under her feet. Ahead of them, the sand stretched so far as to amke them believe there was no end, like they were trapped in an endless....you get the idea. It was a disquieting feeling.

Over the next little dune...and they almost stepped off the edge of a very deep looking crevace. Fin swung his arms around a few times before getting his balance, and the three of them stood at the edge peering down.

"Right....do we cross, or do we go down?" (The following question would be 'how?')

Zykariel swiveled his head and glanced around for a moment before dropping the braid and rubbing at his eyes. Fighting was hard work. "You're silly too, Daddy. I think I got it from you." A nod of his head and he listened, watching his father to make sure everything he was being told was in fact true. Mommy was happy about the game which meant she was happy loving Daddy! That was a very good thing. But he tilted his head and poked him in the shoulder. "You're happy too right, Daddy? 'Bout all of it?"

Though another pause and he rubbed his eyes again, hiding a yawn. "Can we go read a story or are you too busy?"

He was curled up in his father's lap, head lolling back against his shoulder as he listened to Daddy read. Of course he had to giggle a few times at the voices and subsequent tickling moments that always accompanied Daddy reading to him. His voice was lulling Zykariel though and he rubbed at his eyes again and let them drift closed before he snapped them back open and looked at the book only to let them fall again. He fought it valiantly but it was just too much for his little self. Reverie claimed him in the middle of the evil knight escaping with the princess.

Zahara finished in the stables, certain their baby was going to pop out any day now. That would be a sight to behold, now wouldn't it? She headed into the house and up to the room stopping for a moment when she walked in on a rather adorable picture. Zykariel was going too, she could see it. She stepped in quietly and kicked off her shoes then joined the boys on the bed, slipping in next to Sevilin and just listening.

Malik didn't go easy. he moved at the same pace his son did, and moved as he would in a real fight. he used his sword to parry, deflect, push his son's blade.

"remember, a sword is not just the blade."

said right after he used the hilt to push his son back some. though when he found an opening, he'd poke his son lightly, just enough to let him know he found a spot open. nothing to injure or even bruise. not to say malik didn't let his son see opening's and try to exploit them. he also moved to defend when his son tried, more to show his son by example how to defend if someone did try to get through an opening.

She listened to his voice and watched her son fight his body's impulses and lose. It was rather sweet to watch him fall asleep in his father's lap, his face soft and innocent, relaxed in repose. Nodding silently, she pushed off the bed and stood next to Sevilin before leaning down and lifting the child out of Sevilin's lap. His head rested on her shoulder and she arranged him gently on her hip before stepping back and making her way to the cot on the other side of the room. Bending down, she set him down carefully then untied his boots and set them quietly down beside the cot before tucking him under his blankets and smoothing his hair. She caught sight of Rawr dangling on the bed and scooped the dragon plush up settling him in his rightful spot under the child's arm. Reflexively he tightened his grip and shifted slightly then lay still. Her lips lifted in a small smile and then she turned and made her way rather purposefully back over to the bed, kicking off her own boots and crawling back to her spot by Sevilin's side. No words needed to be exchanged between them, the look in her eyes was enough. Silently she leaned in and cupped his face, kissing him slow and deep, the thread of desires already thrumming within her. Amethyst met ruby and time stood still as both gems glittered and glowed with the inner fire. She requested. He accepted. Together they rolled, the rhythm built, and they danced.