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"I got distracted." The fistfighter replied sheepishly, watching his love take over the drizzling duties with his eyes twinkling with mischief. That brought another snort from Seifer, who was being less talkative than normal as he got food ready for Rune. When she stepped toward him with intention to give him a hand he shot her with a firm look that stopped her in her tracks and brought an even warmer smile to her elegant face. Pale green eyes shifted to regard Maryline with an almost sly hint to her smile, not answering the question. Not exactly. Answering the spirit, not the words.

"So you figured it out." Not a question. Rune continued her gentle smile.

"Figured what out?" Zell's brow crinkled; clueless.

Snorting Seifer rolled his eyes. "Well go on. You're the one wanted to tell him first."

Pale green eyes bright, Rune waited in the silence a moment more as Zell looked at her anxiously with a 'c'mon tell me WHAT' expression much like a little boy waiting to be told he could open a Christmas present.

"I'm pregnant."

Hazel-blue eyes went wide. "You're...?" With a whoop & a grin Zell leapt the space between them and had the White SeeD up in his arms, swinging the taller woman around in excitement. "Booya!!"

"DINCHT!!" Seifer's shout boomed over the slamming of plates onto the table as the gunblader rounded on him. "Mine." He reminded the shorter blonde with a steely glare, arms crossing threateningly over his chest. "Yours." One dragon wing extending slightly to indicate Maryline along with a curt jut of his head. Zell sheepishly set a breathless Rune back on her feet. "Heh. Sorry..." Hazel-blue eyes flicked with apology to Seifer, then to Maryline with joy, then back to between the happy expecting parents. "So you're gonna have kids!"

Blue eyes rolling, Seifer could not quite seem to help but show his happiness & pride as he indicated the chair for his girl. "That's usually what 'pregnant' means, Dincht." Even his tone was not as biting as usual though he chided Zell -and he seemed most pleased at the way the fistfighter was bouncing in place at the news with even more than his usual exhuberanct energy.

... was that a smile threatening to show on the gunblader's face?


Did nobody wear CLOTHES in this house? They would freeze at his home -where Trelweny kept the house so cold. Of course, Trel was also one of the ones who wore the least at home...

He would definitely have words with Ginny if he ever even heard of her wearing something like what Solstice wore. At least the dragoness had the sensibility to wear a cloak and boots and keep her BABY warm.

What? Identification? Dark eyes blinked in surprise at the -well it was more of a demand than a request. Very like Seifer... Setting his mug again to the side Percy stood and reached within his robes for his wallet. I've not checked if this is any good here..." He slipped out a piece of plastic. Something that he had rarely used in the wizarding world. Pretty much only when they went to King's Cross. How had Dji recreated that useless thing too? Percy glanced at it before passing it over to Solstice with a frown. It looked just like him... some years ago and without the owl 'additions' he now had. "The dates don't match up now." His frown deepened. "In getting here... with wings and all... there's 10 years missing." He had been born in 1976... he should be a year older than Trelweny. Voldemort defeated in 1998...

Seifer huffed softly and nodded at the polite little kiss, while Zell seemed surprised that Maryline had but not specifically disturbed by it -what little he caught in his peripherial vision.

What he did catch fully -and at least Rune did too (Seifer, if he noticed made no indication that he had)- was how Maryline touched her own stomach. He hadn't been thinking about it... but suddenly Zell ached with his head filling with thoughts of how she'd be a good mother and how she wanted kids and that -dammit!- he had to find a way to become a prince for her!!

"Thank you." Rune was beaming, though slightly starting to look concerned for the other woman. With her Guardian Force, M'din, she had been a psy... probably to be contested with Trelweny though she seldom used the mental powers outside of battle. Still sometimes there were traces left inside her from their long junction. Traces that sometimes gave her a taste of what she had before. Like now. Does she...? Princess Maryline wants a child. Zell's? "We've known since just before Zell disappeared..." Her clear voice faded watching & listening to Maryline. Her gaze went to Zell. He was still happy, bouncing... but now there was something like his battle-readiness about him. A resoluteness about the fistfighter. She could feel the strength of his resolve, but not hear the thoughts of how he must become a prince for Maryline.

Especially with how she reacted next. Cold. Professional. Her words like from a textbook of courtly protocol. Really! Table arrangements for tonights dinner? Rune's smooth forehead crinkled and Seifer started to frown with thought. Zell opened his mouth and stepped after her, reaching only to stop & 'fall' -which was the only way the others could describe it. The joy seemed to slip right out of him, though he was clearly still happy for them. But he was crestfallen. Torn. He clearly wanted to go with her... but she had given him something to do! To finish their cookies! "aww man..." He kicked at an imaginary stone, staring at the floor.

Until his troubled eyes lifted at the comforting & casual touch of Rune's fingers just below his elbow. "I'll go after her." She said softly, smiling to see the light return to Zell's eyes filled with gratitude.

"Like Hell you are." Zell rounded on the gunblader, ready to let the old habit of fighting Seifer carry him with how he smashed that light not to mention spoke to Rune. What right did he have to tell her what to do? Because she was carrying his kids?

Seifer ignored the shorter blonde, shouldering his way past him to gently but firmly grab his girl by the shoulders and lead her to the chair he had ready for her. He snapped his wing at Zell as the fistfighter started to protest, still otherwise ingnoreing him as he talked to Rune. "You're pregnant and hungry and your food is ready. I won't have you starving yourself OR our kids out of kindness." He looked sternly but also somehow lovingly upon her upturned face and with a flicker of a smile kissed her forehead just below the hairline of strawberry. Looking over at Zell his blue gaze was pointed and determined with no room for argument. "I'll go."

Hazel-blue eyes stared, the fistfighter speechless. "Dincht... see she eats." Blink. Nod. "yeah. ...Dude... thanks."

Seifer huffed softly at the thanks and with a hug and quick kiss to his girl was out the door after Maryline. He made sure he caught up to her. "Princess... we need to talk."



"I don't mind." Percy said softly, not really looking at Anon though his words were clearly for her. No... Anon had and did invite a complete stranger in. However Percy knew it to be safe for the shields would have permitted him access had he intended to do any of the occupants harm. He was very careful to look only at Solstice's face as she removed her cloak & stretched.

His dark eyes grew fairly wide before blinking slowly. "I... don't believe I know." He looked surprised at this. "It's never been mentioned to me." Percy appeared flustered, a red glow of frustration tinting his fair & freckled face. If there was going to be a security check on things about Maryline he really should have been told about it!!

Seifer huffed sharply. "You can drop the act. I don't care and it doesn't impress me." His blue eyes were cold and calculating, studying her. "You intentionally trapped him there, Princess." He accused her. "Not that I care about that damn chicken-wuss." Quickly added with a grumble, almost out of habit but almost more to see if he could get a reaction out of her. He had seen her the night they thought they had lost Zell for good. She could not fool him with her feelings for the spiky haired hyper-spazz. "You left as cool as a cucumber, little miss ice princess. We're not a court. Even the chicken-wuss deserves better than that, and Rune definitely does."

The harsh edge to his voice faded just a little, his unwavering gaze wavering ever so slightly towards the kitchen as he spoke of the mother of his children. the corner of his lip quirked with happy pride... and then he was focused, eyes and concentration back on Maryline.

"If you're upset about how he picked up Rune, fine. So am I. That's my girl & my kids he chanced hurting." Flames leapt in his blue eyes. "But you have to tell him. Dincht's dense."


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Intelligence of a pea? No. Not with that insightful discussion of alternate realities. Far too trusting... quite likely. Though Percy was reluctant to be too quick to judge.

"M-my robe?" The flush of red from before flared and darkened until his skin matched the flaming crop of perfectly groomed Weasley hair he bore. Percy normally was not a stutterer. But then... he had never had anyone ask him to remove his robe before. Not that it was a big deal -as Anon knew he had other clothes beneath it- just that it was even more unexpected than the rest of it. The hesitation was not long, however. "eh.. all right."

Uncertainly he removed his robe and handed it over.

"The gunblader snorted. Her changes seemed to have absolutely no effect on him. If he'd never seen her otherwise, perhaps she'd fool him. And she had the wrong kind of impress from his words. Big fat deal. "Fine. Keep your stupid little act if it makes you able to stand when you're doing something you think you have to do. That you must. Whatever. Call it prying if you want, I don't care. I'm not asking you to tell me a damn thing. I'm looking out for Rune, got it? She looks at Dincht like a brother so therefore he hurts, she hurts. I won't have it. So I'm telling you: what you did there... hurt him. He reads like a goddamn book and he's hurt and doesn't understand why." Another huff and he sighed and backed away, gruffly accepting that she might as well go if she was going to be stubborn about it. "She didn't have to tell you two first you know." Seifer grumbled darkly. Yeah. So he was a bit hurt too. At least the goddamn chicken-wuss had taken the news more enthusiastically. Didn't make it feel like their joy was a f***in' ... well whatever it was that had turned Maryline into a damn ice princess.

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"I... apparated." Percy's dark eyes watched the dragonness with his robes. This was... kinda vulnerable feeling. "yelp!" The prudish Weasley stumbled forward, having none of the physical grace of his more sport-playing kin. "W-wha?!?" His eyes were wide and stunned behind horned glasses, his face feeling hotter than ever, his body going rigid with shock and humiliation. Blank.

The shield? Suddenly he jolted, trying to get away with some sense of dignity left. "Now that's too far!" Dark eyes flashed. "The bloody shield is fine! Are you though?"

His whole countenance shifted at her change. At first simply satisfied, then right before she opened the door -Seifer softened. "Yeah. I can do that. And yeah. I understand." His lips flicked up in something of a smile before falling again; perhaps his form of an apology for having to be so harsh with her. Really... Seifer hardly knew another way except for with Rune and even then he was often harsh in his loving. He gave Maryline a firm salute then turned on his heel to return to the kitchen.

Dincht had better seen to Rune well.

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He made a sound as he was pulled back, wishing for one moment he was of Charlie & Fred & George's build so that he would have the strength not to be manhandled in such a way. It was utterly demeaning. When she was finished the completely reddened male -down his neck & even the hands at the ends of his dress shirt were as red as his face- straightened his glasses and then his clothes after ungraciously flopping onto the sofa. "Or under the Imperius Curse?" Percy huffed; pride damaged, self esteem & confidence near plummeting. "While I appreciate your precaution... perhaps for the furture we could work out some other means of proving this to you?"

The wizard was quite shaken. He had never been 'frisked' before. The only technology he used were kitchen appliances, his communicator, and a few bathroom advances.

((will check the spelling of the curse later. quick post out of schedule. *winks*))

Sympathy? Seifer would have scoffed had he known the princess' thoughts. It was not from sympathy he had softened. He had not been trying to return her to the kitchen or 'get anything out of her' either. He did not want to know what was wrong. Let Zell or Rune attempt to discover that later. No... His intent was to keep Rune from going after her and to give the princess a piece of his mind in a way he hoped she had taken in. Her manners had been lacking, for all the proper way she spoke and moved. She left a job unfinished and a conversation just begun. The princess, as far as Seifer was concerned, had been rude. And he knew rude. On top of everything else, it was the hypocrisy he detested. Yes, he may have been fooled by her show of weakness, taking it as a break from the cold ice-princess facade that was like a red flag something was up with her and finding satisfaction that he had gotten through. But not sympathy. An understanding how someone could need time alone to think, but not sympathy.

He strode boldly back into the kitchen to have two pairs of eyes filled with concern turn to him inquiringly. Rune halfway through her food -gah did it look gross!- as usual said nothing. Zell with his anxious eyes close to brimming with tears could not. He'd been busy with the cookies while Seifer had been gone, enough caramel left for the batch now cooking in the oven. "Well? Seifer?"

The fistfighter hadn't shaken it off. That was Seifer's first reaction. Then he glared softly. "Said she's sorry for causing a fuss and she needs a few moments alone." Squatting behaind Rune's chair he wrapped his arms around her chair & all and set his head on her shoulder. He was still upset. Rune leaned her cheek against his, bringing her right hand up to stroke his right cheek soothingly. Zell couldn't take it. Tugging his apron over his head he started for the door. "Said she wanted to be alone, Dincht." There was no bark at all in the bahamet's reminder. The moomba sniffed and drew the balled up apron across his face. Wet floor now decorated his tattoo and cheeks. "Yeah. I know." He continued to the door. "What about your cookies?" Her voice was so soft and sad but carried as clearly as always, stopping the SeeD in his tracks. The tip of his tail twitched as he turned to catch her eyes. His were nearly in tears, confused. But in them written clear as if he said it himself: the cookies were his & 'Lines. Without her... they meant nothing to him. "You take care of 'em. And 'grats again guys, it's really awesome."

He trotted from the kitchen to the magic door and knocked on Maryline's room. "Line? I'll be in my room." His voice cracked but he didn't notice, opening the door without waiting for an answer and stepping into his room. Zell didn't even think as he went to a drawer and pulled out a spare pair of fighting gloves and putting them on crossed over to his punching bag. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten...

He leaned back, uncomfortable with her closeness. His family could be in one's personal space, but never like this. "No." Percy managed to choke. He was a bloody far cry from anything resembling 'fine'. He only unstiffened slightly when Solstice straightened and he could breathe again. "Yes ma'am. Fair enough."

Dark eyes flashed as a hint of the red-head's seldom seen temper smoldered, ready to strike. He stood, holding out his hand. "My robe please, Ma'am. I don't stay were I'm unwelcome so I'll spare your roof the trouble of my presence. I'll relay the guest procedures so that you won't have to deal with any more of us. Now if you'll excuse me..." Percy dipped his head at Anon. "Thank you for the cocoa. Anon." A dip at Solstice. "Ma'am, your hospitality has no peer."

[pretty much nothing's changing here...]

Percy accepted his robes from Anon with a whisper of thanks, stepping into his boots even as he pulled the robes back on. He had only requested it of Solstice because she was between him and the garment. "Thanks but that won't be necessary. I was planning to apparate. I'll pass on your salutation." He bent down to tie his boots. Quickly. The last time he wanted to leave a place so quickly had been his own home. Percy did not particularly want to remember that.

Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. One hundred.... One. Two. Zell lost count of how many reps he had finished since stepping into his room. Lost track of all time. It could have been minutes or hours or days... anytime he paused in his punches it felt to him like it had been ages since he held Maryline. What the hell had gone wrong? Why had she put up the wall to protect herself like that? Why the hell couldn't he shrug this off?

twenty-three. twenty-four. twenty-five... A soft knock made his pause, the next punch of beat. Maryline. "C'mon in 'Line. Ignore the mess." Combat King magazines stacked on top of each other haphazardly beside the bed and computer. The bed made but rumpled, far from militarily made. A little messy, with a couple drawers looking half shoved back with hints of clothing sticking out the tops. Some weights by the bed, a white towel flung over the back of the rolling computer chair.

Zell was at his punching bag, back to repeatedly punching the hanging, small red teardrop. twenty-six. twenty-seven. twenty-eight. His eyes were moist, staring at the swaying red drop, his cheeks and face caked with flour-glue. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't loose. He was tense.

twenty-nine. thirty. thirty-one.

Percy sighed in resignation his shoulders slumping slightly, not able to think up an argument to that. Well, he would argue her the 'interesting' part but truthfully was not in the mood to do so. "As you wish." The wizards straightened, heading out the front door. A last glance at the Cottage owner. "You have a lovely home."

He could hardly say it had been a pleasure meeting her without lying through his teeth. Outside Percy furled his wings and launched, angling to Bass'ken woods and home even as he made sure Anon was with him. She wanted to come? He could not leave her behind.