Welcome to Gaia! ::

Haldia smiled and knelt down to put one hand on Miyuki's head gently.

"I live far," she told the child softly. "Perhaps when big you grow, your mother take you to me visit, yes?"

She smiled at Lin. "You will visit, will you not?" she asked, reverting to her own tongue. "I do wish to see all of you again ..."

Haldia smiled. "I think I be leave in the morning," she told everyone. "Stay one night last."

Earendil smiled and put one hand on her shoulder. "We're glad to have you stay," he told her sincerely. "We will be sad to see you go."

But he understood it had to be done.

Haldia smiled. "As I will miss all of you," she murmured. Her smile grew wider. "But let us enjoy today then, so that we leave each other with happy memories, yes?"

"That sounds like a plan," Earendil grinned. He turned to Lin, and his smile grew less certain. "What about you?" he asked softly. "I know you were talking about leaving after winter ..."

Earendil nodded, but he felt a twinge of sadness. It really shouldn't have surprised him that she still called Gaia home, but for the past month he had been considering the words she had spoken on the mountaintop: that she would someday settle here, that this world would become her home.

He set his jaw determinedly. He would have to talk to her before she left. He just had to!

"Be sure to say hello to Shiro and Kaito and Ura and Storm and Starr for us!" Leyenda beamed at Lin while Earendil was busy with his thoughts. "Tell them we wish they'd come with you! They missed out on a lot of fun!"

That evening, after dinner, when everyone was heading off to bed, Earendil tapped Lin lightly on the shoulder to catch her attention before she could also disappear on him. He had been strangely quiet all day, contemplative, but now he had resolved that he would speak with her if it killed him.

"Lin," he murmured softly, "once Miyuki is in bed and settled down, would you care to join me for a walk?"

Earendil smiled. "Well ... I'm not sure I would say spring, but you're right, it is beginning to get nicer outside."

He hesitated, contemplating offering to help her prepare Miyuki for bed, but he decided against it and simply said, "I'll wait for you in the playroom. Don't rush yourself."

Earendil had been looking out the window while he had waited for Lin, lost in his thoughts, but when she entered the room, he looked over at her and smiled.

"You may want your cloak," he murmured, nodding towards the window. "It looks a bit cool out there."

He was already wearing his, and really he didn't mind if Lin needed to go get hers.

Earendil smiled softly.

"Good," he murmured, rising from his seat. He motioned towards the door. "When you're ready," he smiled.

He was in no rush. His heart was pounding, despite his calm exterior. He had no idea how this would go, or what he would even say. But he knew that if he didn't take this opportunity he would regret it forever.