Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Ready," Earendil nodded as well; and then he looked down at Miyuki and pried her tails from her mouth. He could see that being a problem in the future ...

Again it was three days before they arrived back at the ranch, and once more it was night when they arrived. Aerin and Caranthir headed straight for the barracks, Aurin and Rhea returned to Shael and Adonai's, and Elros, since he no longer had a room of his own, went with Lin, Earendil, Leyenda, Kelirahc and Amalirahc to the ranch house. The house was dark when they went in, but Ahren suddenly appeared on the stairs, his way lit with a fistful of flame.

"Welcome back," he whispered, holding a finger to his lips. "Everyone else is asleep, please try not to wake them. Come, your rooms are waiting for you."

He smiled broadly when he saw Elros. "Welcome back, Elros," he whispered, and though his voice was quiet his affection for the man was clear. "It has been a long time."

Elros smiled back. "Thank you. I'm afraid I will also be needing a room ..."

Ahren nodded and motioned for the knight to follow him up the stairs again.

Morning came all too early for Earendil, who for once was too tired to get up with the sun, even though it was streaming into his window and onto his face. He groaned softly and yawned, then stretched and rolled over onto his side.

And blinked.

There was something in his bed with him ...

Earendil stared. And stared. And stared some more. When had she joined him? He must have been truly exhausted, or else he would have heard her ... wouldn't he?

"Morning," he said finally, reaching out with one finger to poke Miyuki's nose.

Earendil chuckled and gave her a hug, then set her on the bed again. "I know, I know," he murmured. "But I need to get dressed first before I go anywhere."

He looked over at his door (which he could have sworn he had closed the night before) and sighed, then wrapped a blanket around his waist and went to close it. There was nothing he could really do until he had some clothes on, so he quickly pulled on some pants (which was the least he could do really) and picked up Miyuki.

"Back to Mama," he murmured, balancing her on his hip. "Come on."

Lin was probably worried about her, if she was up already.

It was only a moment after Lin had spoken that Earendil knocked on her door, half dressed and with Miyuki in his arms.

"Lin?" he called out, not daring to look inside in case she had also not meant to leave her door open.

Earendil rubbed the back of his neck, feeling rather awkward. "Um ... she was in my bed when I woke up," he mumbled, his face growing rather warm. "I think she was waiting for me ..."

He coughed slightly. "Anyways ... I'll go get dressed. See you downstairs."

And he turned and quickly headed back to his room.

As Earendil dressed, his mind was preoccupied. What was with Miyuki? As flattered as he had been at first when she had started to get clingy, he was starting to get confused. If he wasn't careful, she was really going to think he was her father ... and as much as he would love that to be the case, it wasn't, and it would just lead to awkwardness. But he couldn't help it ... he couldn't resist her.

He sighed. What was he to do?

When Lin got downstairs, most of the others had already eaten and headed out, but Leyenda was there with Amalirahc and Haradhel. Amalirahc was playing with his great-grandmother, and Leyenda was chatting with her.

"Good morning!" Leyenda beamed at Lin when she and Miyuki entered the room. "We were wondering if you were going to be sleeping in."