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Cat was staring off into space, the day had been long and the night even longer. Markus had sent her a job, going to a Naga refuge and making a deal between a prominent vampire businessmen and the Naga?s of the area. It hadn?t gone well for either party, though it had been worse for her. Being between two very pissed supernatural creatures and trying to translate everything but insults to one another was not a good time. The night had come to it?s displeasing end by a Naga haling off and hitting her for not conveying the fact he thought the businessmen?s mother was an egg eater.

After calling Star, who had been watching over Ptah, and telling her that she?d most likely be later then she had thought and going to the hospital for a hair line fracture in her jaw, Cat had finally stumbled home and was now looking out her big bay window in her study wondering how much longer her work life was going to be like this.

Just then a click from the door startled her and Ptah popped his head into the room. "Mom ... your home. Hi." Walking over he joined her at the window.

"I was wondering ... you know those fake n****e rings I got at the store ... do you think I could get real ones?"

Cat just stared at him. She was too tired for this, the night had been to stressful and all she wanted to do was sit here alone. Ptah finally looked up to see her face, and became disgruntled by her sour look.

"But Mom! I''m old enough, if it''s the money you''re worried about I''ll just go clean someone''s yard until I have enough cash." Ptah crossed his arms and leaned back against the window and glared at her.

This was the last straw and she felt her shields of self control crumbling. In truth she hadn''t cared about him getting n****e rings. Hell she had given Ceridwen a hundred dollars for her bogus camping trip when she had know she was just going to go exploring in the woods for a few days. What did she care if he got n****e rings?

No it was the fact he wasn''t asking ... he was demanding. What had she done to deserve this sort of treatment? Was she really that much of a tyrant? Taking them out to parties, treating them like friends instead of children? it had been their idea to call her mother. And this is what she gets for it ... preteen angst.

"No.." she mutter softly as she widened her eyes and stared at the floor to hold back her tears.

Ptah''s eyes widened "What! ... But mom!?" he babbled aghast at his guardians blanket statement.

"No ... your no adult ... an adult would have understood that I have had a bad night .... and adult could have seen the blue mark a crossed my cheek and the blue plastic bracelet I''m wearing with my name on it. Your no adult ... and only adults get adult things..." standing Cat stagered to the door more weary then she thought was ever possible.

"Goodnight." And she closed the door.

She was hungry for real home cooked food. The woods had been a nice little vacation but in her own way she missed her bed, hot food ... with pepper, and her family. But apparently that wasn't what Ptah had in mind.

"Ceridwen! Your home! Score! ... listen I've got to talk to you."

Sighing Ceridwen walked from the back door to a chair in the kitchen. She could hear the heavy beat and high pitched whine of Cat's trance music in the distance, apparently she was coming down from a bad day or she had had some fun activity planed.

"Look I was talking to mom yesterday and I found a few things out ... you got a couple minutes to ... Ah talk?" Ptah said bending his head down to look at her in the chair.

"I suppose so, I just got home and I wanted to eat but, that can wait." Ceridwen said looking pointedly at him.

"Oh no problem, thanks for giving me a minute." Walking over to the two wooden sliding doors that divided the kitchen from the living room, Ptah looked all around for Cat then closed the doors.

Sighing he made his way over to the refrigerator and found some leftovers from the night before, steak, potatoes and can pees, placing them in the microwave to heat he continued. "Ok I was talking to mom right? And I found something out ... Do you know what mom does for a living?"

She paused "No, and in truth I don't actually care. After all she provides well for us." Giving Ptah another pointed look Ceridwen walked over to her warmed food and started eating slowly.

"Well she came home the other day and she was hurt."

Ceridwen raised an eyebrow at Ptah. "And your only telling me this now ... why?"

"Because it wasn't bad but I was thinking ... Mom translates between species. Her job's only dangerous because she goes out and she doesn't have anyone to watch her back."

Ceridwen had finished her meal by now, having picked up to a vigorous pace, putting away her dishes she cut in "So your thinking we should hired someone to 'watch her back'?"

Ptah raised his eye brows looked down a little and blushed.

Ceridwen finally understood "You want us to protect her?" she finished at a slight high pitch.

"Well you know mom, she would never except help. I mean Markus probably already asked her if she wanted a body guard and she refused."

"And what makes you think she won't refuse our help as well, my charming brother."

Ptah raised an eye brow (which he felt he was doing to much lately), at the charming brother line, and replied "Who says we're going to tell her?"

Ceridwen thought about this for a while. There were many pros and cons to weigh.

"I'll make my decision later ... for now I have news." Ceridwen started to pull out the egg when a loud cry erupted from Ptah's lips.

"YOU'RE GOING TO CHOOSE LATER?!" Then he clapped his hands over his mouth and made the most comical glace Ceridwen and ever seen toward the direction of Cat's room. Luckily her music was to load to hear his little out cry.

"Yes later" Whipping out what she knew would shut him up, she placed the egg softly on the table. "Look I got it from the butler at GD's house."

The egg wobbled slightly on the even surface of the counter top, it's blue hues swirling in a almost hypnotizing way.

"Wooooow." Ptah just stared at it.

Ceridwen smiled. Ptah was really a bright kid, but he was easily distracted.

"What is it?" He asked in a sort of wonder.

"That's a very good question." Entering from the closed doors Cat walked into the room and gave Ceridwen a big hug. Ceridwen couldn't decide if she had wanted it, but until then, she realized, she hadn't felt like she was home.

The house had been quiet once Ceridewn and Ptah had returned from their adventures. Cat had decided neither needed a mother at the time and that pushing about what had happened would end negatively.

Lucky for her one late night ice-cream session and cured her curiosity and both had mentioned what they had done while away from the house. Ceridwen her roaring battle tale, and Ptah his odd meetings and plans for a party at GD's.

But nothing of noted had happened for weeks since and the house it self seemed to have an air of stifling doldrums, and deafening silence. No one could stand it, even Ethan with his seemingly unbreakable demeanor appeared on edge.

Finally Cat could no longer take it. She found each resident within the house and crooked a finger at them leading all to the front room.

Pulling little Abidemi from his perch in the potted plant container he seemed to love to sleep in she addressed the entier group.
"Ok listen, I'm bored, you?re bored, we're all bloody bored. WE have the summer funk of not wanting to leave the house, but being bored within it." As if to emphasize the idea she was right she nodded and placed Abidemi on her head.
"So we have a why to fix this... FAMILY VACATION!" grinning she unfurled a large map from behind her.

Confused Ptah, Cerdiwen and Ethan looked at one another all confused and bound in the fact none of them could think of one thing to say.

"We're going somewhere! Now I think we should go for some site seeing I don't know about you guys but I seem to miss the out doors, so I'm thinking a natural wonder 1st might be the best idea. So Rainbow falls is my vote? Poking her finger at a star on the map making the sheet wobble back and forth a bit she continued. ?Anyone else have any ideas?"

Looking back and forth at the stunned faces Cat decided this had been the right idea to break the funk around the house after all.

Clapping her hands together she continued "Ok everyone go get changed so we can do a little hiking and be sure to pack sunscreen and swim cloths."

Turning Cat went to go find a suitable place to keep Abidemi in the car for the long drive, seeing as he loves to break things when no one's looking ... or pinch people?s asses ... the little bugger.

Once Cat had left the room Ptah looked over to his two adopted siblings. "I think she's nuts."

"I do concur; her random events are starting to become bothersome." Added Ceriedwen.

"You two are just disappointed she thought of something to make you feel better, when you couldn't yourselves." said Ethan quietly walking off to pack his things.

The two looked at one another and frowned at his point making abilities.

"I hate it when that kid knows things." commented Path sulking up the stairs to pack.

"Agreed" added Ceridwen.


((coming soon rainbow falls and little swimsuits! YEAY for young boy packages and teen boobies! sweatdrop
Link to Ceridwen's Battel: http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=868418&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75
Ptah's meetings: http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8062320&page=10 ))

She sunk into the water, green with its haze. Ripples tickled her ears and she felt the warmth crawling into hers skin, like drugs into veins. The darkness behind her eyes faded and lights moved with her clouded perception. Some where deep inside her, she felt alone, sick, like a something that was forgotten and left out in hot rain.

Splash! And the mood was shattered; she looked up to see Ptah poking his head out of the water. He had just canon balled into the water. the ********>, thought Ceridwen looking over at him.

He was catching a lot of attention from the people who were swimming at the bottom of the falls with them.

A group of girls sat at the other end of the falls giggling at him. His hair stuck to his face and glistened in the light making a almost pink mask over his face. She could see his neon green speed-o under the water barely covering him. No wonder the girls were giggling.

Looking over to her right she could see Ethan swinging his feet idly in the water looking up at the falling water, missing out on the water sports. Beautiful as it was she couldn't blame him.

The water fall was not a big one, giving only the slight out pouring of a stream, but that was its striking glory. The mist floating down from the out pouring made a stunning rainbow effect in the sky. Like metallic glitter raining from the cliff face.

It was a sight to see and she was glad for the 1st time today that her adopted mother had dragged her along on this trip.

It had been a pleasant day indeed and the five were walking back to the car as the day faded into beautiful color and dusk. The path meandered in front of them and as it was getting dark it was starting to become harder and harder to see the end of it.

"I'm really really really glad you brought us to the falls mom! Those girls were so hot. I got one of their numbers." Ptah said and as if in need to prove that he had accomplished something he waved a limp piece of neon pink paper between his fingers.

"Yes it was quiet a relaxing time; this place is very beautiful, thank you." Said Ceridwen in her soft eloquent way, smiling.

Ethan, as if to say that all was said, wrapped his hand into hers, small fingers lacing between larger ones. He held Abidemi in a picnic basket next to him, the little blue creature cooing in joy and bouncing up and down like a spring.

Cat smiled and tightened her grip slightly on Ethan. She had been worried that this trip was going to be a fiasco and would be yet another reason she and her children would hold separate lives, only to met once a day at most, at the dinner table.

All of them piled into the car, tired but happy and drove down the roads and streets making their way back home in the shady evening light until. . .

"Oy mom I need to race like a piss horse." said Ptah sighing and looking to the back of Cat's head.

"Ahh sweetie can you hold it? I mean the only gas station near by is that one." She nodded her head in the direction of the one that was before them at the stop light they were at. "Do you really want to piss in that hole?"

Cat was being kind by saying such a thing. The station, if you could call it that, used to by owned company that had been out of business for over two years now, and it seemed they had sold this particular station to a bunch of screw ups. It was dirty and rusty all over with hole in its drive away that almost prevented anyone from buying gas there.

"Mom it's not really a choice here." Said Ptah looking just as perturbed as the others at the stations sad state

Sighing Cat swung the car in the direction of the station; its tires giving a groan as she had to turn it around very close to the rather large hole in the pavement. The van grumbled to a stop and Ptah flung himself over the others in the back set, flying through door and toward the station.

"I'll be back in a second!" He screamed over his shoulder nearly falling on the ground because of his speed and the fact his shoes weren't tied tight.

Cat laughed and got out of the car, the others following their lead.

"I believe I'll stay in the car with Abidemi." Said Ceridwen stretching herself out on the back set as the others got out.

"Mk well we're going to go in and get some snacks, you want anything?" Cat asked watching Ethan pass her slightly making his way into the station it's self.

"No thank you." She said smiling and pulled Abidemi over to her playing with his wings softly.

Cat smiled turned around and made her way into the station noting the prices of the snacks and how long Ptah had been in the bathroom. Walking quietly through the small aisles she looked at the chocolates and frowned, much more then she was willing to pay. Just then she felt a pair of eyes rest on her. She turned around slowly and was met by the eyes of the cashier hungry and slightly disturbed. She nodded to him and turned her back again only to notice he was not the only one staring at her. A man in the back loading beers into the display refrigerator was staring at her with the same look. She frowned and hoped that all they would do was look.

Ptah burst through grimy glass doors looking satisfied if not a little disgusted. "Here's your key back man. Thanks I really needed to go." Ptah smiled and set the key with its dirty large wood block key chain on the counter.

"That's alright kid, I know what it's like to get a urge." The man slurred and looked at Cat once again.

Cat sighed inwardly, and Ptah frowned glaring at the man slightly, that was his mother after all. Ethan walked to Cat's side and held out a can of soda to her with a questioningly look.

"Sure kido." She smiled at Ethan and nodded turning to Ptah "What anything?"

Ptah looked at her then at the two men and shook his head. "Mk" Cat said lightly and walk over to the counter placing the can and the amount it cost down. As she did that the man behind the counter reached his hand over the counter and grabbed her wrist.

"You're a pretty one 'aint ya?" He said leering at her.

Cat gave an inward shudder and sighed "Yeah some people have said that, why?"

The man raised an eyebrow and Cat noticed that the other man had made his greasy way behind Ptah. "You got a mouth on ya don't ya b***h?"

Ptah opened his mouth to yell at the fat man behind the counter was startled into silence by a pair of arms wrapping themselves around him and a whisper in his ear. "I like you pretty boys better then normal woman, and you're even young." The dirt covered man laughed slightly "Just rip for pick'n"

Cat growled at the man holding her adopted son. She twisted her arm and in one swift move released herself from the sick wretch holding her. Stomping over to Ptah she reached behind her and in one flash of flesh cold-cocked the man holding Ptah just as hard as her body would allow for. The mans face suddenly sprang blood from numerous orifices and he gave an inhuman screech, letting go of Ptah grabing his bleeding face.

"No one touches my son unless he wants them to." She growled at the man watching the blood leak from between his fingers.

"ROY!" the man behind the counter yelped. "What the ******** did you do to my brother you b***h!" Reaching over the counter behind the rack of cigarettes he pulled out a shot gun and fired, without aiming, in the direction of Cat.

Cats eyes become large as the bullet flew past her and a look of disbelief swept over her. "No way in hell are you that dumb." But even as she was saying this she had already made it half way a crossed the room, knowing what she had to do.

Leaping over the counter as the man was trying to aim at her again Cat knocked his head as hard as she could into the wall behind him. Blood smeared where his head had been. Taking the gun from his hands she disassembled it before him and broke the loading spring.

Turning on her heel she leaped over the counter and took a rather stunned Ptah by the hand and lead her two adopted sons out of the ********" She mumbled

"Mom how did you do that!?" Yelled Ptah

Cat gave him a look of 'you were there stupid' than smiled and hugged him "Balls to the walls" she said shortly and got into the drivers side of the car as Ptah and Ethan climbed in the back.

"What happened I heard shots?" Asked Ceridwen

"Nothing, just two idiots learning their lesson the hard way." Remarked Cat pulling out of the station and toward home.

((Note: So anyway this is how things are going to work for now on. I will not break up my posts so that each family member gets their own time with me. I'm doing nothing (well for the most part) but group post any more. So I'm going to color the parts with Ptah and Ethan in it so it's easier to read *nods*))

They were all sick . . . coughing, miserable and tired. When they did speak it was in snapping tones, displeased and annoyed. Cat's eyes scanned her dark warm room. Light music flowed to her ears from a crossed bleak expanse and she felt as if she was dipped in black ink that consumed all it touched.

"I hate being sick" she muttered to herself and looked toward the door "And I hate being sick and lonely at the same time even more."

She stood her blanket wrapped around her like a dark cloak, and stumbled in the half light to the door. Turning the handle she made her way into the hall and remarked with awe how well her house could take on the moods of it's occupants.

Her cold feet stepped out farther into the dreary hallway that linked the upper rooms together. The railing that made up one semi wall of the hallway and the stairs seemed chipped and old, though she knew it had only been painted a few months ago. The floor beneath her looked and felt like chipped ice in the moon light from the window and everything she laid her eyes on had a second worldly feel to it.

She promptly sneezed shattering the silence that filled the house, a weak "Bless you" echoed from the floor below her and she made her way down the stairs.

Stepping onto the 1st floor she looked toward the living room and saw that all of the houses occupants were gathered there all cast in a warm and soft light. Ceridwen held a cup of warm tea while leaning her back against the bottom of the couch. Ethan and Ptah both had laid their heads on her lap and she was petting Ethan's hair absent mindedly.

Cat felt as if she had interrupted something intimate. She was just about to turn away when Ceridwen's voice piped up "It's alright, we want you to stay."

Looking back and Cat studied their faces and noted that she seemed to be truly speaking for all of them. Cat stumbled over to the couch and laid down on it curling up slightly she draped her arms over all of them and held them close as they sat in the quiet and still. Just then she heard a sigh and noted that the same devil from before was even lounging among them just as Abidemi was at Ptah's feet. Snuggling in she sighed once more dozing in her relaxed and ill feeling haze.

(( Ethan Paul's GCB journal has also been up dated here))