Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I don't see why not," Ruque replied, tilting his head curiously at Miyuki. "I'm not originally from here, so my age is pretty messed up as it is. Besides, I'm an adult" - even though he still looked like a teen - "so it's not like I have to worry about being taken care of."

Ruque grinned. "Mama would be the only one to miss me, and she's got Papa here to keep her company. They'll be fine."

Earendil smiled softly. He knew Miyuki's comment was mostly about him, and about how he had promised his own mother that he would never go to Gaia. Still, things changed - and now that he was married and had a family, he wouldn't let them go anywhere without him.

Miyuki was going to have a field day when she found out.

They talked a while longer, and after Niyana had served them lunch it was time for them to move on again.

"Where next?" Earendil asked Lin as they headed into the cool day once more. "We should probably only make one more visit if we're going to be back at the ranch before dark. It's getting towards Stirring here, but the sun still sets early."

Earendil smiled and nodded. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed. He lifted the hood of his cloak to ward off the cold. "We should walk a bit more quickly, warm up," he murmured. "It's getting colder."

He reached for Lin's hand and smiled warmly at her.

It was a while before they reached Alyse and Timaeus's house, and though it was growing quite dark there was light in all of the windows. Through one of the windows, they could see Timaeus playing on the floor with the very young Brooke, and through another window they could see both River and Jasmine helping Alyse in the kitchen.

"It looks warm in there," Earendil murmured softly. His hands were red from the cold, but he refused to let go of Miyuki's or Lin's hands just to warm himself.

Earendil nodded and stepped forward to knock on the door. Since Miyuki was rubbing her ears, he didn't even have to let go of Lin's hand to do so.

"Looking forward to warming up," he murmured with a smile as they waited for someone to open the door for them.

It was only a moment before Timaeus opened the door, holding Brooke in one arm.

"Well," he beamed, "look what the cold brought in! Come in, all of you, warm yourselves! You look like you're freezing!"

"Just about," Earendil laughed, waiting for Lin and Miyuki to enter first.

"To be fair," Timaeus chuckled, "it's been a very long time since you've been here at all, let alone in the winter. Not since Miyuki was a babe."

He grinned at the little kitsune. "Welcome back."

Earendil followed the other two into the house and made sure the door was closed behind him so that the heat wouldn't escape. It was much warmer indoors, and he could feel his hands warming up right away.

"I'm Timaeus," he replied cheerfully, not at all put off by the fact that she didn't remember him. "My parents are Arthael and Halmir. And I understand you've already met Brooke."

He grinned and held his youngest daughter up for Miyuki to see.

The girl giggled at Miyuki.