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Elnara nodded sadly, lowering her eyes and taking his hand in her own. She had suspected as much ... the look in his eyes, on his face, had been a perfect reflection of the way she all too often felt, herself.

"I wish there was something I could do to help," she murmured.

Perhaps facing it would help, as she hoped facing her family would help her; or perhaps talking about it ... she just didn't know ... and it made her feel so helpless.

Elnara blushed softly and put her hands over his, then leaned forward slightly and leaned against his chest.

"Somehow, I believe it," she murmured back. "But it makes me wonder how you ever managed to get yourself out to the cafe in the first place ... and why."

She didn't dare to think about where she might be right now if he hadn't shown up when he had ...

Ahead, the twins were getting impatient. "Mama! Papa!" Storm hollered crossly, standing right beside the house with his short arms folded across his chest.

"Come on!" Starr shouted, hands behind her back, tapping her toes.

Skye didn't seem to mind, she was having a lovely time just looking at everything. She seemed particularly taken by a rock that was to one side of the house, a rock that was so big it was taller than Lore, flat on top, and big enough for four or five elf-sized people to lay down on.

"And do you still think they're so annoying?" Elnara quipped with a grin, just as reluctant to acknowledge the children.

Storm frowned, more impatient than he had ever been before. Why were Mama and Papa taking so long? Didn't they want to go inside, now that they were finally up here at the house?

He and Starr exchanged a glance; then, together, they turned and knocked on the door - or rather, pounded with their tiny fists, since just plain knocking really didn't make any noise with them.

Lore would have answerd that question if they hadn't be interrupted, which was just as well be ause he didn't realize how close he was getting to her. He blinked and blushed in nice shades of pink before letting go and giving Elnara some breathing room. He looked up to see that there was a lady at the door and indeed she had... well who knew how much she had seen.

"Not at all," he coughed sheepishly.

Amara looked down sharply at the voices that were coming from her feet, then looked back at Elnara with an expression of wonder on her face.

"More?" she laughed, kneeling down and picking up the two little angels. Holding them in her arms, she went out to stand with Elnara and the man she was with. "That's what, five then?"

She grinned at Elnara, then turned her attention to the man with her. "Hello," she said brightly, shifting the children to the same arm so that she could hold her hand out to him. "I'm Amara ... though I suppose you already know that." She laughed again. "And you must be ... the children's father."

She smiled and held her hand out to him, waiting for a shake and for him to give her his name.

Elnara laughed softly at Amara's comment.

"They are numbers four and five," she agreed, "but out of a total of six, now. Idhril was actually just born yesterday, she's sleeping at the moment, at Ulrich and Ulani's house. These ones are Storm and Starr ... and from what I've been told, you already know Skye." She nodded to where Skye was trying her hardest to climb up onto the huge rock.

Storm stood up in Amara's arms and tried to climb back over to Lore.

"Careful," Lore smiled as he held out his arm for Storm, "You'll fall."

Well he knew Storm probably wouldn't, but one never knew and Storm seemed so brash to him. He really hoped the boy wouldn't get into grave trouble one day.

Amara blinked in surprise, then looked between Lore and Elnara suspiciously.

"You're joking," she accused Elnara. Despite her funny feeling that Elnara was telling the truth, she couldn't quite bring herself to believe it - especially as Elnara was wearing such an amused grin.