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"Then you won't need any of mine," Earendil grinned, cutting his pancake and taking a bite. "More for me."

Leilani sat down at the table, Aric beside her, and this time it was Aric who was carrying Remiel in his arms.

"If he's got his sense of humour," she smiled, "then it means that things are going well for him. I'm glad."

Leilani smiled back at Lin. "I'm glad to hear that," she murmured. "We're going to be heading out directly after we eat ... and did I hear you saying that you were also planning on accompanying us to the valley?"

Earendil nodded. "Lin and Miyuki and Kaito and Shiro just arrived yesterday," he explained, "so they would like to get their visiting done as well."

Leilani blinked at Miyuki. "There are a lot of people in the valley now?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Elrohir chuckled. "If you're used to only a few people there, then yes, there are a lot of people in the valley now. Your brother and his wife have their own house, but there are ..."

He trailed off to think about it, slowly ticking off his fingers, one by one.

"... six houses there now."

Though he didn't bother saying who they were; like Ulrich, he liked surprises.

"Couple that with what's here," Aric quipped, "and you've just about made a town."

"We do conduct trade with towns, though we don't have a real economy of our own," Elrohir explained. "We're interdependent, but we don't put prices on anything that we trade. The ranch is predominantly self-dependent, but when it comes to things like butter or eggs, we get that from Ulrich, since he has those animals. On the other hand, when they want to travel, they use our horses."

"Among other things," Elrohir nodded. "You should ask Adonijah to show you the barn, Miyuki. I bet you would love it, you would see all sorts of animals."

Leilani was shaking her head in amazement. She would never have imagined that there would be all of this here - or that her brother would be a part of it. He had never used to be that sort of person at all.

"Well, we're heading out once everyone's finished eating," Earendil chuckled softly, "so you should make sure that you've had your fill."

Leilani turned to take Remiel from Aric. "You should eat, too. I know you said you're not hungry, but you know how things go once everyone gets talking. Meals get forgotten."

Her husband nodded. "I'll have one, then."

And he reached for a plate and a pancake.

Earendil chuckled at the grin on Miyuki's face, then leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead lightly. "So you did," he murmured. "I just wanted to make sure it was enough."

It was only a few short minutes later that the others had finished eating as well, and Earendil set Miyuki on the floor once more and stood up beside her. "Go on, find your cloak," he grinned. "It's quite cool outside again today."