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"Damn..." Zell whistled softly in appreciation then gave a huge grin at his determined princess. Laughing warmly he tilted his head to lightly kiss her head. "You know it, 'Line. Damn! We've got our work cut out for us! C'mon!"

He took a step for the door, half leading her before he paused with an odd look flickering across his face. An impish grin followed it, with a twinkle in his hazel-blue eyes. Half a moment and he had her in his arms, swinging his girl around as he had Rune earlier but with a 'love holding you' feel about it and himself that hadn't been there before -moving her towards the door. Laughing he set her to her feet. The mischievous look her only warning before Zell kissed her. Deeply.

He almost laughed out loud at her answer, and definitely managed a smile.

"Yes. Truth." There. One side off. Percy glanced at her, half out of his robe & tugging the other side off. He gave a derisive snort. "Because you really can't feel it or because you're numb already?" He shrugged out of his robes angrily. "That's it, you're numb aren't you?" He thrust the garment to her and immediately had to readjust his flight from overbalancing himself. "Do you really not care what happens to you, Anon?" Concern filled the dark eyes behind the horn-rimmed glasses.

Yeah... Zell expected as much after hearing her plans. That's why he had to do it. But... damn... A low sound of pleasure rumbled through him as Maryline did that with her tongue. It sent funny little sensations tingling through his body. Almost turned his well exercised machine to jell-o. it took him a little longer to open his eyes, smiling and quite glazed. His voice was husky and filled with emotion. "And I love you, 'Line."

A quick hug and he let his hands slip down her body before taking one of her hands in his and with an almost shy smile led her from the room and back to the kitchen.

In the kitchen the rest of the cookies had been taken care of, the rest of the caramel drizzled on them. Seifer was returning to Rune's side after rinsing of the dishes and putting them away in the dishwasher. He was squatting beside her one arm lightly encircling her waist, the other hand by his cheek where both rested on her belly. It was visibly rounded from the usual flatness.

Rune chuckled softly. "I don't think you can feel them yet, Seifer." The gunblader snorted, somehow the sound gentle. Loving. "Who knows how long it takes like this. 'Sides... they're ours." The tone indicating with pride that their kids would make their own rules.



Percy fixed her with a stubborn stare and shook his head, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Yes it is." Not looking at her he turned from her and continued to head home after checking his direction. "I have more clothes on without it than you do with it. Now put it on. We're not in the tropics."

His fingers laced with hers gave a supportive squeeze and Zell ducking his head sheepishly lifted his eyes to look back & forth between Seifer and Rune. He was... well kind of stunned to see the gunblader as this much the doting father-to-be. The expecting parents looked up but Seifer didn't otherwise move. "eh... me too..."

Seifer moved his thumb over the light rounding of his girl's belly wherein their kids were growing as he stared with less than his usual glare at the two. He knew Rune was already giving her consent with a nod of her head and that smile he'd come to love & smirked. "Yeah. Spit it out."


"Yes, it is." His voice took on that of when he was HeadBoy at Hogwarts. Dark eyes flashed as he turned to set her with a look that said he was not going to back down on this. "Don't make me force you to put it on." Firm as it was, there was a note of pleading in his voice. Percy really did not want to be forced to force her to wear it. He frowned and sighed. "My sister would hex me if I brought a girl home half froze."

That was right... he was bringing a girl home. The bit of heat that had managed to cool returned with that realization. It did not matter that there was nothing there.... Percy would never hear the end of it. At least from the twins. Likely Ginny too. He couldn't decide which would be worse for that -bringing Anon home half froze or bundled in his robes.

"nevermind... just put it on already..." It did not matter how his family saw him. Anon should not freeze.

It wasn't so much that Seifer could 'see through her' just that he had seen her more relaxed with Zell a few times and the shift tipped him off. After that... he just dealt with her like she was acting. The smirk slowly hinting it's way to becoming a smile. "hmph." The gunblader nodded. eyes still piercingly watching the blonde pair. Rune's left hand shifted through his short blonde hair and lightly stroked his horns -was she trying to calm him? Hyne, she was too good- while her right came to lay over his over her belly.

Zell looked chagrined. "hehe. Ah, me too. Shouldn't've left like I did, leavin' ya in the lurch & all like that."

"Of course. On both Princess Maryline." Her smile lit her pale green eyes with warmth and understanding. Seifer huffed again. "Yeah." Rune chuckled softly. "If you can get them from Seifer." "Hey now..." The gunblader grumbles darkly, with a hint of a growl for the tease but... he's grinning. Zell seeing that, guffawed wide eyed and laughed.

He stared at her incredulously. were they really going through this again? Percy sighed. "Wizard, remember?." He tapped his own chest to indicate himself. "Wouldn't matter flying. But I don't want to do that. It's not cool... I just wish you'd stop fighting and put it on!" Another sigh, his fight pattern wobbling again. "It's not 'fine' Miss Anon. Pushing aside people trying to help... when all we're doing, it wanting to keep you well."

((*stabs post* so wasn't helping))

((*faceplants* fewmets! Toldja on aim I was jumping around typing that post. *pouts* it got skipped... *sweatdrops*))

Seifer snorted, grinning. Yes... grinning. "heh. Sure that will be a problem for you, Princess, to 'borrow' the chicken-wuss' help." "Don't call me that!!" Zell growled at the gunblader, jumping forward. The space between him and Maryline now less than half a foot. But he was fiery, darn near ready to fight Seifer as the two always had in the past. It wasn't all the gunblader's fault though, and Seifer pierced the fistfighter with a knowing glance. They had both heard the dragon knight's name; seen how speaking of that memory of him had softened Maryline. He'd thought he'd done a pretty good job not even flinching as Maryline spoke of him, but it still struck things inside of him. It wasn't so much that Zell felt threatened by Maryline's former knight's name or memory or anything like that... but he did recall that night they had fought and regretted some things about it. How he couldn't make a friend of the dragon & how he'd lost it at what probably was going to only be a light kiss. That was also the first night Maryline & he had...

Damn but he wanted to pull her into his arms.

"Shhhh..." Rune murmured softly to her man, fingers back in his short hair and gently. Seifer made a low happy growl, eyes starting to roll back in his head. When his voice came it was still mostly a growl, but not as biting. Definitely pacified. "Save it, Dincht. We can have a fight in the training area in the morning if you want. While the girls relax in their baths." He gave a chuckle and Rune lightly blushed. She could not meet his hot gaze -not at the moment- so met Maryline's with a gentle smile. Zell relaxed the smallest bit, though still a little on edge even as he managed a hint of his boyish smile. "I believe so. Unless you were planning on making more dough?"

The wizard did not look at all proud of his reminder to her that he had magic. No... just because he had it was no reason he had to use it. Just like Charlie had a choice not to turn into a bully because he had muscle. He did nod as she donned the robes, the corners of his mouth quirking at her decision to wear it backwards as he commended her internally for the logical decision. "Really? From what you said earlier I was under the impression that after today we'd likely never see each other again. So with that in mind, 'one of these days' is a moot point. Therefore if it works..." The owl gave a shrug of his wings and turned back to Bass'ken. Hopefully before Anon saw his smile. "Either way... it is worth it."

Zell calmed almost instantly the rest of the way at his girl's light touch. A flick of his eyes and a grin her direction, thrilled and grateful for the contact. More because he knew she was doing what she could within her rules and maybe even walking the line a bit.

Plus... the simple stroke on his bare arm felt just awesome.

He fell easily back into his own easy stance, trying to ignore Seifer's snort and nod as the gunblader saw it happen. "Enough tables for everyone? Outside? Princess you must..." Placing a finger lightly to his lips Rune stilled his mouth and took over, a soft & sly smile curling the corners of her mouth. "... let us help you. Seifer? Zell? Speak with Aiden & Remus won't you? After sending Trelweny & Myranda in here, please? Oh & the Ginnys too please." Gazing softly down at Seifer's head upon her belly Rune smiled tenderly. She watched as he relaxed beneath the soothing ministrations of her fingers. Looking up she smiled at Maryline. "I'll help you clean up from the cookies, Princess Maryline. But first... won't you be trying a cookie while they are still warm and fresh?" Zell's grin turned impish as he glanced sideways at Maryline and lifted a brow. Daring, hoping she would.

"I never said anything about trying to get off easy." Spoken evenly. Simple.

He could blame the chill wind for the way the short hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he ducked his head, pretending to study the topography below them as they flew. Percy would be loathe to admit it.... but this way of flying was not half bad. He had never been fond of broomstick flight either, unlike his siblings. There were a lot of things where he was unlike his siblings... "What makes you conclude that?"

Actually Seifer was going to go with 'have a hole in your head' but that worked too. Rune blinked in surprise at the question. Again seeing Zell pouting, snapping his fingers with a soft "Aw man..."

"Chopsticks?" the expectant mother repeated, looking for once completely baffled. "They're beside the silverware tray. Top most drawer just to the right of the sink." Seifer, making a face like he dared anyone to tell him he had to move arched a brow at the idea of chopsticks for a cookie and snorted.

Percy sputtered, face turning red once more. Damn his family's fair skin! "ahhh.. right then." He coughed then behind his hand, averting his eyes. "Yes, well, um... are a natural genius..." Goodness he was beet red, correcting grammar like that. It wasn't as if they continued to teach something as basic as English grammar once going to Hogwarts. "...not 'be'..." And then he flinched, waiting for the verbal or physical blow whichever it would be.

Blink Griiiiiiiiin. Zell jogged over to the princess with the full extent of his usual bounce and a happy twinkle in his eyes. "Ya know it!" He exclaimed, cheerfully opening his mouth for the bite. To which Seifer made a soft derisive snort accompanied by the rolling of his eyes before closing them and lightly nuzzling his unborn offspring. Hell if he was going to be leaving Rune in a moment Seifer was taking his time now dammit! "heh. Dincht should've been a dog way he's acting." He gave a snort. "Though with the way those damn moomba went on about 'Laguna' all the time guess it's fitting after all." "Seifer..." Rune requested softly. Lifting his blue eyes to her greens the gunblader smirked though it was almost closer to a smile. "heh. Not starting a fight, girl."

Zell ignored them. For the moment... it was almost as if he and Maryline were alone. Almost. The fistfighter kept himself in check.

Whatever he had been expecting, laughter was not it. Uncertainly Percy opened one eye and dared to glance at Anon. No... she really was laughing. "D. D. R. pad?" The wizard asked slowly. "Oh! That thing Ms Trelweny moves on with her son sometimes." Pause. Bewildered stare. "Why would you want to get me on one of those?" Percy winced. "... entertainment value?"