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Stretching out beside him, Elle smiled at his kind words...watching his face relax in sleep. Nestling down under the sheltering wing, she sought his hand with her own...curling her fingers with Lonan's.

As dreams overtook her as well, Elle lived them with a calm heart. When Lonan was beside her, the dark memories seemed reluctant to emerge. The only thing that reached her, distantly, was a muffled and even sound.

-knock knock knock-

Opening one eye in slight annoyance, Elle lifted her head...untangling from Lonan gently. Who was up this late-

Early. Light brightened the windows, silhouetting ferns that shifted restlessly beyond the glass. In the morning sun, the dried roses were outlined in gold...the warmth bringing rising scents into the room.

-knock knock knock- "Elle?"

Right! The knocking! Trying to slip out of bed without waking the lad beside her, Elle padded across the cold stone floor and hurried up the stairs...brushing her pale underdress into some semblance of order before unlatching the door.

Aki stood just beyond, bouncing Kudzu on one hip. The babe had a fistfull of Aki's hair in his fist, and was drooling on it with obvious contentment. "Elle? Are you..." Craning to the side, trying to peek down the stairs and into the cellar. Smiling slowly as Elle moved to block her view with a sway of her hips, Aki pulled straight once more.

"I...just wanted to tell you we were back! Thanks for letting me spend some time with him. Kudzu is a sweet boy."

Nodding with a small smile, Elle opened her arms...gathering the heavy boy into her arms with a grunt. His crystalline feet swung absently, bruising her hip with every contact. She didn't mind.

"Thank you...for watching over him. I...have a friend I'd like to introduce you to as well. After I make breakfast, I can-"

"Nooo! I'll make breakfast! come up in about fifteen, okay? You deserve more than a few hours to yourself, Elle." Leaning forward before Elle could object, Aki pressed a kiss to her cheek and hurried back down the hall.

Elle could have sworn she was humming.

With a wide smile, Elle passed the kiss onto Kudzu...leaving a noisy kiss right beside his forehead gem. The babe burbled in curiosity, and raised flapping fingers to tangle in her hair as well.

Edging back down the stairs, Elle peeked into the main room of the cellar to see if Lonan was awake. "We have company!"

As Lonan shifted in his sleep, drifting closer to waking, Elle smiled down at his groggy form. From under the bed, she scooted out a willow stick basket...fluffing the blankets before settling Kudzu inside. The babe seemed more than happy to rest...tilting to one side and staring brightly at the weave.

Settling on the edge of the bed, gently so as not to disturb Lonan, Elle rubbed at the sore spot on her hip. The babe wasn't hard headed, but his feet were another matter.

"We'll eat soon, little one. Shh shh." Kudzu wasn't being noisy, but he slobbered most studiously upon the rim of the basket.

"Good morning, Lonan! Aki is making breakfast for us...I brought someone to meet you in the mean time!" Kneeling beside the basket, one hand running comfortingly over Kudzu's little back, Elle pointed at Lonan.

Kudzu didn't understand...instead, he leaned forward and stuck his little mouth to the side of Elle's finger. Laughing quietly, Elle moved her hand away with a gentle pop and tried again. This time, she tickled him right at the back of his neck, where his verdant hair curled.

That worked! Burbling with sudden joy, Kudzu curled forward...top half hanging over the basket as he tried to get away.

"There! Did you hear him? I'm sure he'd say hi, if he could!" Easing the babe back into the basket, Elle gave it a scoot...the noise clearly outlining where the wooden basket rested on stone. She'd scoop him up in just a moment....but for now, she wanted to say good morning as well.

Moving the blanket aside to clear room for everyone upon the bed, Elle leaned in to give Lonan a gentle hug. She enjoyed being pressed so close, but in part, she was hoping he was no longer stiff from his trial the night before.

Brushing her cheek against his before she drew back, Elle sighed in content greeting. "I'm glad you stayed. Would you like to meet the others? Kudzu is here, Nisha and Aki are upstairs."

Sinking against him for a moment, glad he seemed to be rested and hale, Elle let her breath stir his dark hair. Before she got too comfotable, she bent forward and slid her hands under the babe's arms...lifting him with a bit of strain. Elle wasn't a delicate woman, despite her appearance...but his mineral heritage was evident.

Letting Kudzu settle himself on her lap, she leaned once again towards Lonan. The babe simply watched, staring with milky eyes at the shadows over him. "Before...we go...I was hoping we could talk for a moment."

One arm wrapped around the babe, and held Kudzu safely against her stomach. Her other hand sought Lonan's...fingers entwining gently. "You...gave me a choice, last night. On the shore. I want you to know that what I saw...well. I would like to say it doesn't bother me, but to see you in pain, pain that is not rightfully yours....does hurt. It does not repell me, however, nor does it change the light you are surrounded by."

Squeezing his hand, Elle brought his scarred knuckles to her lips...leaving a hint of sweet warmth upon them. "If it is your nature, so be it. If it is a trial, I will help you overcome it. Lonan...unless you want me to leave, I will face all the darkness with world has to offer...if I may be beside you."

With a short noise, as though he'd been settled into cool water, Kudzu huffed...leaning forward to reach for Lonan's knee. Small fingers pet at the fabric gently, just out of reach. Elle simply held him, absently adjusting as his weight shifted. Kudzu was a good child, she trusted him to behave while she spoke of important matters.

Leaning farther from Elle's lap, Kudzu reached for the pale hand...his own tiny fingers settling on Lonan's thumb. Glad the child was content, Elle smiled at him as she considered Lonan's words.

"Some of the most beautiful things we know are borne from pain. I'm not closed to your trials, nor would I allow myself to be if I had the option. I just..."

Elle scooted closer, sighing at the gentle touch of his feathers across her skin. Kudzu burbled through high tones at the shift...Elle smiled to realize he was simply happy to be in the sun beam she'd scooted them into. His hair seemed to fluff at the touch of the light. "I just want you to know that I accept it, and that I will always be there to face it with you."

A distant voice echoed from upstairs...words indistinct, but the tone friendly. Leaning forward, Elle gave Lonan half a hug..the best she could manage with a babe upon their laps, and nestled her face into the hollow of his neck.

Lifting her head at the call, Elle nodded and stood. Kudzu was swung to settle upon one hip, her other hand helping Lonan to pull to his feet. "Always. And yes, you look wonderful." Brushing her hand down his chest with a smile as she turned, Elle's hand found Lonan's as she strolled to the stairs.

She was still in the simple white dress she'd pulled from the chest...not bothering to dress either. Once up the stairs, rich smells guided them to the kitchen. The sunlight was coming in at a perfect angle....Kudzu sighed and laid his head against Elle's shoulder in contentment.

"Good morning, Aki! Nisha!" Bending to kiss the top of Nisha's head as she passed the high chair, Elle ignored the girl's annoyed grump.

Aki turned from the stove, hurrying over to tug a chair out from the table after blinking at Lonan. "Morning! Oh, nice to meet you! I'm Aki!" Wiping her hand briefly on her apron, the slim elf offered a hand...brushing her fingers to Lonan's. "There is a chair, if you'd like to sit! I'm almost finished."

Elle settled Kudzu right down upon the table. Not exactly conventional, but the boy rarely moved once settled. Giving his crystalline toes a pinch, Elle skirted the table...letting her hand guide Lonan's to the back of the chair, she made her way across the kitchen on silent feet.

"Ooh, it smells so good! What did you make?" As she glanced over her shoulder towards Aki, Elle yanked a bag of granola out of the cupboard...pouring a huge bowl and settling it on the floor. "And where is Desperate?"

"In the garden, you don't have to do that! Go sit, I'll serve." Swatting Elle away from the cupboard, Aki laughed to herself. The girl didn't know how to let herself be spoiled! "Lonan, would you like some tea? Or juice or water?"

Nisha ignored Aki's ramblings, like she usually did, and stared fixedly at the pale young man across the table with wide and pale eyes. Her heels drummed against the bar of her high chair to try to get his attention...he didn't seem very interested in her, and that simply wasn't acceptable.

Kudzu, however, was far easier to please...burbling as he was swept off the table and back into Elle's arms. Settling in the seat next to Lonan, she leaned over to rest her shoulder against his.

"Wanna hold him while I put his bib on?" A bit unsure how Lonan actually felt about babies, Elle made it sound more like an offer than a request.