Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil grinned at Lin. "I had been hoping to do just that," he agreed. "I think we had talked about it earlier."

Though to be honest, he had forgotten about that in the awkwardness of their previous visit.

Before they could head over there, though, Rhea, Aurin and Haldia approached them from the direction of the forest.

"Hey!" Rhea grinned at them. "Were you just visiting Mama and Papa?"

Earendil nodded. "Most of the afternoon, actually," he admitted.

Rhea laughed. "Ah. Aurin and I are just heading back there. But it's good we caught you, Haldia was getting bored at the ranch, Miyu's visiting Aragost and she didn't want to intrude. So we said we would take her here to visit with you guys."

"I hope you don't mind," Haldia spoke up, smiling at the group.

Earendil chuckled. "Of course not. We're on our way to visit Ulani and Ulrich, and they love company. Come on."

Earendil chuckled at the look on Donovan's face, and as they started walking he thought it might be a good idea to introduce all of them.

"Haldia, this is Donovan Lau and Kara Winters, Lin's parents," he smiled. "And her sisters, Hope and Faith, though I'm afraid I can't tell you which is which."

Haldia laughed softly.

"And Donovan, Kara, this is Haldia Hun'lyl, of the Night Elves from the island of Nauros," he added for their benefit.

Haldia smiled and bowed her head. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said warmly to them.

Haldia's smile grew wider. She liked that she was able to understand people, even if they couldn't understand her, and it made her want to try harder to learn the languages that seemed be so difficult for her.

Earendil nudged Lin gently. "Which house is theirs?" he asked, nodding at the two houses that they were heading towards.

"Do you think they'll be expecting us?" Earendil asked curiously.

Probably not, but if they were they were more likely to be home rather than elsewhere.

Haldia sniffed the air as they approached the house. "It smells good," she murmured. "But I don't know what it smells like ..."

Earendil also sniffed the air. "Pie," he grinned.

Earendil chuckled and grinned at Donovan. "Well, if they're baking, at least they're home," he quipped. "Or at least one of them will be."

He shifted Miyuki gently in his arms and headed up to the door to knock.

Earendil looked down at Miyuki, and his smile grew warm and wide. She was just adorable ...

"I think it's been a long day for her," he murmured softly, tugging her tail gently from her mouth so that he wouldn't wake her.

Just then the door opened, and Ulrich stood in the doorway. He grinned widely out at everyone.

"Welcome!" he greeted them quietly, seeing the sleeping baby. "Come on in, perfect timing!"

Earendil blinked at him, but he stepped inside obediently, moving immediately to sit down to make room for the others to come in after him.

"It has been a long time," Ulrich agreed, closing the door after Haldia, who sat on the other side of Lin. "A very long time. Lin, it's been what, eleven years already? And Donovan, even longer for you."

He grinned at Earendil. "Cute baby you have there," he grinned, winking. "Yours?"

Earendil flushed, even though he knew Ulrich knew better and had to be teasing him. "No," he replied. "Lin's."

"That seems a silly question," Haldia frowned. "He was there yesterday, wasn't he?"