Welcome to Gaia! ::

Oh, it was such a nice day! Bai-Shén plopped down on the bench just outside of her shop, resting her head back to lend her face to the sun. Ah, the weather hadn't been like this since spring! Probably global warming, Bai-Shén reflected. Oh well!

Keeta was wandering the streets, pushing Joel ahead of her in the stroller. The walk was doing her good, helping clear her mind of the various complications she was dealing with lately. Plus, she hadn't been window shopping in a long time and it felt good to imagine spending her money on some of these things, even though most of them, she knew she couldn't afford.

Rounding a corner, she spotted a shop with paintings hanging in the window, including several she recognized. Intrigued and always interested in good art, she headed for the entrance to the shop, nodding politely to the woman that sat outside.

Bai-Shén waved and kicked her feet happily before following after the woman, skipping slightly.

"Hi~!" she chirped, in an even better mood than usual. Maybe she'd sell one of the orphan spirits!

"Hello," Keeta said turning to look behind her as the woman followed her into the store.

"Oh, do you work here?" she asked, not having realized that was why the purple-haired woman was sitting outside.

"You have a lovely selection here, although I don't know that I could afford any of them...." she added a little sheepishly. Artwork could be so expensive. Joel was unusually quiet as he swept the room with his gaze, his three eyes glancing at the various pieces of artwork displayed.

Bai-Shén shook her head and giggled slightly.

"Oh, no, our prices are the lowest in Gaia! Granted, I'm not sure how many other shops produce reproductions..."

"How low is your average price?" she asked tentatively, still thinking it would be out of her reach. She could probably manage to spend 200g on a painting, but no more. With situations like they were, she was having to make sure she minded a tighter budget than previously.

"Well, 100 for the large ones," Bai-Shén said, pressing a finger to her lower lip, "One of the little ones, though, could go for as low as 10!" Whereas any other shop would charge a good few thousand. Hrm!

"Seriously?" Keeta asked, clearly surprised. At those prices she could almost afford two...better mind the budget and stick to one painting though.

"Well...thank you. I'm cetainly going to take my time and find a piece I can truly enjoy. " She glanced around looking for a nice piece that could work in the entry. It was a blank space that had been nagging at her for a while now.

For several minutes, Keeta browsed through the selection, stopping here and there to examine a painting, but nothing felt "right."

After a while, Joel started to become fussy too. As much as he enjoyed looking at things, he preferred watching things that moved. And he wanted to move too! Now that he was crawling, he wanted to experience this world!

"Yes Joel, I know this isn't your thing. Sorry honey, just give mommy a couple more minutes," Keeta said soothingly to the boy, trying to get him to quiet down a bit.

"How about...one of these?" Bai-Shén asked, approaching the back wall and gesturing to a row of smaller paintings. They were brightly-colored and beautiful, mostly nature-based. She had simply made an assumption from looking at the painting and sculptures the woman had passed over.

At the voice of the purple-haired woman, Keeta looked up from her hunched over position, of trying to soothe her son. She smiled apologetically for Joel's whimpering and glanced at the paintings the woman indicated. They were certainly more her taste. Even a few of what appeared to be Monet's...

"Hmmmm...." she said thoughtfully, rising from her crouch. Heading closer, she indicated one with a close-up view of waterlilly pads and a few flowers.

"Is that a Monet?" Keeta asked, daring to hope. She had always admired his artwork, but she had never dreamed of being the owner of anything more than a cheap print. No she knew she would never own any originals, but she had never thought even a reproduction would be within her range, let alone one of such a high quality, at such a low price.

Bai-Shén nodded and spoke softly, as if something nearby was begging her respect.

"Yes, indeed it is," she smiled, "I mean...it's a Monet by me, but nobody'll be able to tell. At least I can hope not." Oh, she even tried so hard to match the make of the paints used!

"You made this?" Keeta asked, glancing away at the painting, to the woman, for confirmation.

"It's wonderful," she said, gently touching the edge of the frame. "And I think the only way people would be able to tell it's not an original would be that they know I would never be able to afford one." She continued with a smirk, glancing back at the painting.

The colors were so calming and peaceful and do was the subject of the painting as well. It was simple...not like many of the others she had been looking at and was "by" one of her favorite artists. If the price really was only 100 gold...

"I'll take it," Keeta said matter-of-factly, glancing at her.

"Great!" Bai-Shén chirped, plucking the painting gingerly from the wall and bringing it to the front desk where she began to wrap it up.

"50 gold, please!"

"50?!" Keeta gaped. "Not that I'm complaining, but I thought you said 100. You did such wonderful work....I should pay you what it's worth...." In the back of her mind Keeta's sensible side was also screaming that this was too good to be true and wondering what the catch was. There had to be one...

Well...perhaps a catch, yes...but certainly Keeta had come by her son in an alike way!

"Well, you may pay whatever you'd like," the Kirin girl said with a soft smile. She certainly didn't want the woman to leave without buying!

"Hmmm...." Keeta thought about it, and after a moment dug 75g out of her purse and laid it on the counter, looking at the purple-haired woman to see whether this would be acceptable.

It never occurred to her that the catch would be a child. Joel hadn't come on purpose either, but he was Keeta's biologically, so there was less surprise where he was concerned. Despite having lived in Gaia for several years now, she had forgotten some of the peculiur things that could happen here. Evin wasn't nearly as complicated.

The kirin girl gladly took the 75 and handed over the painting.

"You have a nice day, now!"

Keeta nodded slowly and took the painting from her, before returning to Joel and starting to head out the door.

"You too..." she said in response, wondering if she had just unknowingly opened a can of worms.

Surprise Concert

Rhine rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn't believe how busy it had been. It wasn't a holiday or any other day to celebrate that he could think of. But, still it was wave after wave. And, the groups were never small. He was glad to lock the doors (an hour after closing), and pull the curtains shut.

Cassara was already upstairs no doubt with Kaida. And, Rhine was still to wound up to go up stairs and do... well nothing. He sighed and stretched the length of himself. He really wasn't up to going out and painting the time. If he wanted to do that he could do it with Keeta.

There was one way Rhine knew best to relax. He carefully climbed the stairs of the stage, there were not many. In the back he found his violin next to his sisters. He ran his fingers along the case. "It's been a while..." He whispered.

It had only been a few weeks since Rhine and Keeta had become 'official' and could stop trying to hide their affection for one another, but it had been some of the happiest weeks Keeta could remember.

She and Rhine had had no particular plans that evening, as they both had had to work, but Tess told Keeta she could go home early, as it had been slow. Looking at her watch, she knew Annata wouldn't be expecting her to pick up Joel for another several hours, and she decided to surprise Rhine. Pulling out the mirror from her purse, she used it to transport herself to the restaurant.

It was pitch black inside, as the cafe was closed and she fumbled around for the light. Turning it on, she checked her appearance in the glass and put away her own little mirror, before exiting the room, turning off the light behind her. She was about to head upstairs, figuring Rhine had already gone up, when she thought she saw a lone figure on the stage.

Rhine sat a stool out in the middle of the stage, and sat himself down. He made himself as comfortable as possible. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. This never came naturally to him... It had not only taken his mothers teaching to get him taught but his sisters.

He positioned the violin and the bow and began to play. It was no particular song. It was simply just the notes that came to mind. His bow flowed like water as he played. The rest of his body even seemed just as in to.

Recognizing her lover, Keeta remained at the base of the stairs and leaned against the railing, unwilling to disturb him. He told her the night they first were together that he played the violin, but she had never heard him before tonight and she did not want to give him any reason to stop.

The music that came from the stage was beautiful and honest. Rhine was playing his heart out and Keeta knew it. She couldn't help picturing how her son would be enjoying this as much as she was if he were here.

Rhine slowly tapered the song out and with one final stroke of the bow let the song come to a end. He breathed heavily as he slowly opened his eyes. As tired as he was from the day, and tiring as it was to play he felt exhilarated. He really would have to play more often than he had recently. He grabbed the violin case, and busied himself with putting his things away. He finally felt relaxed enough to face the 'cramped' upstairs.

"That was beautiful Rhine," Keeta said, stepping from the shadows as Rhine started to put the violin away.

"Why have you never played for me before?" She stepped up on the stage, making her way towards him.

"It really wasn't anything special," Rhine said nervously. He shut the case and ruffled his hair. He looked like a rabbit caught by a fox- good and back into the corner. "I don't play much to begin with and even less since my divorce," he said as he smiled timidly.

"Well I certainly couldn't manage anything more than a few screeches on an instrument like that. You make music and it's music that comes from here," she said, placing a hand over his heart as she reached him.

"I can assure you it is my sisters who are enchanting and not I." Rhine chuckled as he took hold of her hand and brought it to his face. He kissed it gently. "I will play for you. I just get nervous around others that aren't my siblings..." He looked her in the eyes.

She smiled as he kissed her hand, returing his gaze.

"Well I won't ask you to do it, if it makes you uncomfortable. I was actually about to go look for you upstairs. I got off work early and thought I'd use my time while Annata is babysitting, to come surprise you. I guess it ended up being a different kind of surprise than I had planned."

Rhine chuckled and pulled her to sit in his lap. "It is a very pleasant surprise." He ran his fingers through her hair and admired how she glowed when she was happy. "I'm afraid to say that you won't want to go upstairs-," he chuckled, "-bit cramped up there..."

She sighed contentedly and leaned against him as he ran his fingers through her hair. It was so nice just to sit with him like this. At his last statement, however, she sat up and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Cramped? How's that?"

"Well, the space was fairly adequate to put it nicely. But, since we've packed up our things it is miserable." Rhine sighed. "Both upstairs and down."

"The cafe is getting more and more popular. A medium sized building just isn't going to cut it. And, upstairs well-," he sighed, "between myself, Cassara, Kaida, yourself, and Joel... Well, frankly, there just isn't enough room anymore. And, we prefer to live where we work. So I guess all around we just need more space."

"Packed up your things? Wait you're moving and you didn't tell me 'til now?!? And who in the name of Mother Earth is Kaida?"

Rhine gave a nervous look for a moment and then smile reassuringly. "First things first-," he said knowing the wrath of a woman was one thing he didn't want to face. "Kaida is Cassara's mate. She's come back to her after several years..." He took a breath hoping that helped clear the air between them that was getting thick with tension. "Secondly, I was already in the process of looking for a new property, and getting my self packed when Kaida showed up. I wanted to surprise you with the option of living with us. But, well it just isn't working out that way..."

"Oh...." Keeta looked down, feeling a little foolish at how quickly she had reacted to his words. She should have known better and waited for an explanation before she got herself worked up.

"I'm sorry Rhine, I shouldn't have reacted that way. It's sweet that you wanted to surprise me. But maybe flowers or something would have been more appropriate," she said kindly.

"After all, I would have been quite worried if I had shown up here one day to find no trace of you. Maybe I can help you look for some place? As for living with you...." she trailed off, trying to find the words to express what she was thinking and feeling.

"It's not that I don't love you. It's just that I don't think I'm emotionally ready for that yet. But I will be at some point, if you just give me time." Keeta looked up, smiling at him to reassure him of how she felt.

Rhine leaned back in the chair and held Keeta for a time. The smile didn't leave his face at any time... It had no reason to. "I never expected you to move in. It was just the fact of having the space so that when I made the offer and you were ready we weren't scrambling. Its not easy to move a business and a home." He finally said.

"I do not question your love. I never will." Rhine looked into Keeta's eyes as he once more ran his fingers through her hair. "About the flowers and things... Trust me, in time you'll be more spoiled than a floofy foo-foo dog." He chuckled.

"Floofy foo-foo dog?" Keeta said raising an eyebrow and giving him a playful shove and then a hug.

"I appreciate you trying to think ahead."

Rhine gave Keeta one of those looks that was playfully fun and nothing more, but it still said I'm going to get you. He hugged her tight and enjoyed her warmth. "My mothers little family is in such an uproar lately," he finally said after a moments chuckle.

"Did I cause that?" she asked, half joking, but honestly curious if it was true. She supposed their relationship must be considered a bit scandalous.

"We're part of it. But, you know that saying things come in threes..." Rhine said as he caressed her face. "Cassara's mate Kaida is back. Cassara immediately sprung a proposal. And, not that it is as exciting as bliss and sex but Aurora Dawn is helping run a night club." He thought for a moment. "Guess that's four things..."

"Well only if you count the two things involving Kaida and Cass separately," she said with a smirk, tapping him on the nose.

"Aurora Dawn is helping run a night club huh? How did she get involved in that?"

"My mother fronted the money. The stipulation was that Aurora Dawn be employed. Frankly, I'm glade because it will get her out of the strip joints." He sighed despite his mates playful actions. "We generally tell our mother everything but that is one thing we've sworn secrecy about..."

"I don't blame you. I think Ceres would have a heart attack if she knew that. She has enough on her plate right now as it is..."

Rhine nodded. "Natalia grows stronger and they grow weaker." He sighed softly. It still pained him. He knew there was a while to go... Still, it was the fact of knowing. "But, I do not wish any longer of a life on them." He smiled as a tear slid down his cheek.

Keeta kissed him on the forehead and then leaned her head against his, wrapping her arms around him tighter. Her eyes were also glistening at the thought.

"I know it can't be as painful for me as it is for you, but understand that I do know some of what you're going through. It's hard for me to know that as well." She offered him a sad smile and wiped away the tear from his cheek.

"You know we need to do something," Rhine said suddenly as he abandon the previous conversation that had led to his mother. He didn't know what it was he wanted to do... But, anything was better than sitting around and being sad. "Are you hungry?"

No, she wasn't really hungry, but she could see that this would be something to help Rhine feel better for the moment.

"Sure, I didn't have much before I went to work," she said, getting up from his lap.

"If you have a better suggestion just speak up," Rhine said with a smile as he walked back stage to put his violin away. It didn't take him but seconds before he had her hand in his and was leading the way upstairs. "At least this apartment I won't have to scrub before I sell..."

"Oh?" Keeta asked curiously. "You don't want to leave it clean for the new owners?"

"This place with be a piece of cake to clean," Rhine chuckled. "The last place was hell with blood all over the walls, floors, and furniture... It was a task I did alone," he sad solemnly.

"Oh...."Keeta said, falling silent at that revelation. She knew some bad things had happened to members of this family in the past, and she suspected that the blood in the apartment had something to do with one of them. It was not a matter she would pursue, however, as the memory clearly bothered him. Keeta would deal with it only if and when Rhine chose to tell her about it.

"Sometime I'll tell you about it... Just not now. Cassara is still sensitive to it," he said as he opened the door for Keeta. "Ladies first." He quickly kissed her on the cheek. "What will it be?"

At the clue that the incident had to do with Cass, Keeta wondered if it was related to what Ceres had mentioned to excuse her behavior the first time she had met the strong-willed young woman. She pressed her lips together as she thought, realizing after a moment that Rhine had continued to speak to her. Shaking her head to bring herself back to the present, Keeta gave him a smile and entered the room.

"Oh...I don't know. Surprise me," she said, not in the mood for anything in particular.

"I have some whip cream, hot fudge, and strawberries..." Rhine said as he closed the door behind Keeta and gave her a good look over. He grinned a little goofier than normal. Something told him that she wasn't really that hungry and was just going along with it since it was what he suggested.

Keeta raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you said it was cramped in here and there was more company than usual."

"The kitchen table isn't packed. And, trust me for that dessert we won't need plates..." He said with a small purr as he wrapped his arms around her. "And, besides the 'dessert' will help conserve space we don't have." He chuckled a caressed her shoulder. He was purposely being playful to get a rise out of her that wasn't automated.

Keeta wanted to respond to his touch, but she wasn't much interested in the possibility of having Cass or Kaida walk in on them.

"The kitchen table isn't exactly private though...." she pointed out, giving him a look.

"My beds not packed," he chuckled. "And, I can almost positively assure you that they are either in their room or in the bathroom... If not out. Kaida is still adjusting to anything but night." He slowly placed several kisses along her neck. He was having a time just enjoying her, and teasing her.

And she was starting to enjoy playing hard-to-get just as much.

"And if she's having difficulty adjusting, then they could come home, or leave the room at any time...."

"Adjusting to the day light love. Kaida's much like Cassara in me except she got bit by a vampire." He began to nibble between the junction of neck and shoulder. "If you prefer I can take you to the island. I know of places that I can assure you that we won't be disturbed by anything remotely human."

Her resolve was starting to wear down at his attentions, but she wasn't going to 'give up' that easily, despite how much she wanted to just turn around and give him her own variety of attentions.

"And we would lose all track of time and I would be late picking up Joel..." Keeta knew her excuses were holding less water as time went on.

"We go and get Joel and drop him off with my mother... Then we politely tell her we are going for a moonlit stroll," he said as he continued to nibble. He hands slowly began to wonder.

"And she would see right through that..."

Rhine cleared his throat and looked Keeta in the eyes. "If you would like we can go and get Joel and bring him here. I bought a crib and a play pin the other day knowing that you would be around more." He smiled and caressed her cheek.

Keeta look at him in surprise.

"You....you didn't need to do that Rhine....I mean I have things I could have brought over."

"Keeta they are things you need for your home. There is no sense every time you come over packing up a diaper bag, toys, food, plus bedding just for a visit even if it isn't an extended one." He smiled. "So, with the exclusion of diapers becuase I didn't know what size everything's here... Somewhere..." he chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. He hoped she would be happy.

"You're always thinking of things one step ahead," she said with a grateful smile. "Thank you Rhine."

"I love you," Rhine smiled and hugged Keeta tight. "And, anything you need I will provide becuase I want to. I am your mate." His kisses were a little less leading now.

"I love you too," she said, before returning the gentle kisses. "You sure you don't want to come over to my place so we don't disturb Cass and her mate? I could show you the painting I bought the other day. It's a Monet reproduction."

Rhine thought for a moment as he looked in the dirrection of Cassara's and Kaida's quarters. "Sure... But only for that painting." He teased. His grin told her that he was only picking. He really did like the idea of going to her place... It would be a lot less cramped.

Keeta stuck her tongue out at him, before digging in her purse for the mirror.

"Expect us to be squished a bit when we land in the bathroom," she said, grinning in apology for the size of the space.

"I bet I've landed in worse," Rhine chuckled. "... The armoire comes to mind." He took her hand. "You know once we get a good look at that panting we should go dancing- you know at my sisters club."

"Tonight?" she asked, glancing up at him from the mirror that she had successfully retrieved.

"I don't know if we have time to go dancing tonight since I have to pick up Joel in a couple hours. Maybe later this week?" she asked, hoping he wouldn't be too disappointed.

"Later this week it is then and I'll hold you to it." Rhine chuckled as he noticed she finally had her mirror. "You really should get a smaller purse or at least organize it..."

Keeta stuck her tongue out at him again and smacked him playfully, before grabbing his arm and taking them through the mirror.

Rhine found himself standing in the shower of her bathroom. "You know Keeta if you thought I needed one all you had to do was tell me," he chuckled as he pulled open the curtain. He was unshaken. It was as if he'd done it a thousand times.

Keeta chuckled, rolling her eyes, before taking his arm and pulling him into the hallway.

Hideaway

So things are looking up! It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Sorry, I feel like I've been neglecting you, especially since I've had things to write.

A couple weeks ago Rhine showed up unexpectedly and took me on this crazy secret trip to this little island right next to Cere's big island. Long story short, he proposed! Of course I said yes, and as would be expected, Ceres and family are all excited and ready to be involved. I'm overjoyed that he asked me! I'd be crazy not to be as Rhine has never done anything but treat me well, but I still feel a little guilty after what happened between me and Kael. But what's done is done. I can't change what happened and either way he's gone now, without a trace. I haven't heard from him ever since he disappeared after we broke up. And I suppose I shouldn't feel bad, as the man I got engaged to then was not that man I loved. The man that left the first time never returned at all.

I'm trying to put these feelings behind me and I hope I am rid of them before I'm at the altar, because I can't marry Rhine and give him all myself if I'm still fretting over that. Fortunately there's no date yet, so I'm free to work through my feelings at my own pace. Perhaps I should go see Luna. I know she's a maternity clinic counclier, but still.....she might be willing to help me out and I'm getting used to the way she talks more....

I digress. Joel is my other news. He's been growing by leaps and bounds! He started walking shortly after Rhine proposed. I knew it would be soon because he's been starting to stand up by himself using other things to support him as he scooted along, and he's been a strong crawler for a while now. He decided to surprise me with his newfound ability by walking up behind me when I was doing my hair in the bathroom. He tripped a little and grabbed onto me, nearly scaring me to death. But my fear disappeared immediately as soon as I saw the satisifed grin on his little face.

I've had a hard time keeping up with him ever since, making sure the house is "toddler proof" etc. Unfortunately I underestimated his manuverability and left the Monet reproduction in the hallway while I went to look for a hammer. He managed to color all over it and unless that lady at the shop is very good at getting wax off of oil paint (is that even possible?) it looked like I've got a ruined painting on my hands. It'll probably be a while before I can get over there again, but either way, the painting is back in the closet and Joel is safely asleep and quiet for the moment.

Hehe, he's been noisier lately as he's starting to talk too! He learned to say mama last week and I've been practicing words with him ever since. He's picked up a few more words, but we've got a long way to go before he'll be saying more than one word at a time. I just hope "no" holds off for a while, but I'm not sure I'll be so lucky.

Uhhhh....so Diary, you're never going to belive this. I'm still not quite sure I believe it myself. You know the painting? The Monet reproduction I bought quite a qhile back? Well I never got around to hanging it (not to mention Joel scribbled on it, but that's another story), and it's been sitting in the hall closet almost as long as I've had it.

Joel called to me across the house earlier (he's talking and walking a lot more lately!) and showed me a puddle of water that had mysteriously appreared on the floor. Of course I freaked out and opened the door, worried that the painting had been damaged (further), but I didn't find the painting. A LITTLE GIRL WAS SITTING IN MY CLOSET INSTEAD!! All my aching brain can deduce is that she somehow came from the painting...but how and why....are beyond me.

She's green all over as best I can tell. Even her hair is green, although it seems to have white flowers growing (?) in it... Hmm...I wonder what that will be like if I need to cut it? Anyways, for the moment at least, I'm calling her Camille. It was Monet's wife's name so I thought it would be fitting as she doesn't appear to have come with a name of her own. As soon as I can, I plan on dragging her and Joel back to the shop where I bought the painting and demanding an explanation from the shopkeeper. No wonder I got it so inexpensively! I'll bet she knew the whole time! Not that I don't like Camille, she's sweet (and very quiet...), it's just an inconvient and confusing time for me, what with Joel just starting to walk and talk, and me getting engaged (again) a few weeks ago.....which reminds me.

Rhine.

How am I going to tell Rhine?

I mean he said he would accept all of my children but I don't think he was accounting for the possibility of me spontainiously obtaining another. These things generally come with quite a few months of warning attached. It's going to be rather akward to see him and say "Oh by the way honey, the other night while I was making dinner a little green toddler appeared in my closet!"

I really don't think that will go over terifically. And...am I supposed to keep her? I mean like I said she seems to be quiet and sweet, but I don't know if I'm really ready to be a mother of one, let alone two. And Joel has never really gotten along well with other children. Of course he can learn but....ugh....my brain hurts. I'm going to go to bed and see if sleep can sort some of this out, but I'm not counting on it. Wish me luck...

Shopping Trip (WIP)

Keeta carefully stepped off the bus, before helping the two toddlers down and onto the sidewalk. Tightly gripping a smaller hand in each of hers, she started down the street a little ways towards the superstore just around the corner. Glancing down at the two smaller figures, she hoped it wouldn't be too far for them. This was far from the ideal trip.

Keeta had been putting it off for days. She had been making do with some of Joel's clothes for Camille, but it just didn't look right, plus she was running out of diapers and other necesseties. She kept hoping she could find a sitter, but no one from work was able to help out, Rhine had been really busy with the restaurant, Ceres had her own plate full, and she didn't really feel like she knew the rest of the island family well enough to ask them. Besides, she needed to learn how to make trips like this with small children. Right? Right...

Sighing, she helped the two quiet youngsters make their way. She hadn't bothered to bring the stroller as it couldn't fit both of them and she knew the store had a few carts that had seats for two children. Keeta just hoped that at least one of them was available. But a two seated stroller was definitely on her shopping list.

Lex longed for the days when the children he looked after were quiet. Actually, Sidney had never been quiet and Liam had never stopped being so, but Lex could recall calm afternoons after Sid had tired himself out for the day, when he and Liam had looked in shop windows and smiled at puppies and did all sorts of other idiotic things. Had it only been this past Christmas? So much had happened since then. Not that he didn't care for Sid, the flytrap child could just be... overwhelming at times, especially now that he wasn't so small anymore and no longer needed a mid-afternoon nap.

Right now, Sid had Liam by one of his four hands, the older boy dragging the younger around the display of Easter candy that took up most of the front of the store.

"See, these ones are eggs with real egg inside. I dunno anyone who'd want that," Sid said with a disgusted curl of his lip. Lex didn't bother to correct him.

"What're those?" Liam asked, pointing at a box of fluffy Peeps. The pointing hand quickly slipped back into one of the pockets in the painting child's hoodie.

"Chickens," Sid replied. "Baby ones."

As they reached the front of the store Keeta was sucessful in locating one of the two-seated carts. Gratefully strapping in Joel and Camille, she headed into the store and was similarly sidlined by the Easter candy display. But not because they were just looking, but because Joel saw something that he couldn't live without.

Straining out of the side of the cart, Joel reached towards a stuffed rabbit that was almost as big as he was.

"Mama! Bunny!" he squealed excitedly, and none too quietly. It looked like the silent period of the day was over.

"No, Joel, not today," Keeta sighed and shook her head, having already bought Joel an Easter present several weeks ealier, that was sitting at home. She made a mental note to pick up something for Camille while they were here, however.

Joel frowned. But he wanted it!

"Bunny," he said, much of the excitement gone, the word bordering on whining, his chubby finger pointing at the stuffed creature.

Again Keeta shook her head and her eyes traveled to Camille, who was reacting to the tension in the air by sitting quitely and staring at Joel with her eyes wide, and a look of wanting to run and hide. Why couldn't Joel just look at it like the other two small children nearby?

Sid turned from his Peep examination at the sound of Joel's voice. Hey, a kid with blue hair! And a third eye! The Hiccup was transfixed. "Hi!" he said to anyone in the vicinity. "D'you want this?" he asked, reaching for the toy Joel had tried to grab.

"Sid," Lex warned. The man scrubbed a hand across his eyes and over his stubbled chin, but remained where he was, examining bunny-shaped boxes of sugary candy hearts several feet away.

Liam, however, was more interested in the unhappy-looking green girl on the other side of the cart. The hand that he had used to point at candy earlier made another appearance as he offered Camille a silent wave.

Joel normally wasn't very pleased to interact with other children if he could help it, but right now his grownup wasn't cooperating and the other boy seemed to want to give him the toy. Grinning at Sid, he reached out and again repeated the word, the tone no longer as whiney.

"Bunny."

Keeta clenched her jaw momentarilly in frustration. Was this other child going to give Joel what he wanted, after she had already said no? She was trying to teach him that he couldn't always have what he wanted. True the boy who had spoken was probably just trying to help, but it certainly wouldn't be helping her.

"No, Joel. No bunny," she repeated to her son.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line as she glanced at the nearby adult who seemed to be attached to the child. He had seemed to verbally warn him, but that was it. If he chose not to intervene should Sid continue, Keeta knew she would stand by helplessly and watch it happen. She would never interfere with someone else's children and she hadn't the confidence to stand up for herself against this other man. Welll... she would wait and see what happened. Keeta's attention was so focused on what was happening with Joel that she missed the younger child waving at Camille.

When Camille noticed Liam, she offered him a shy smile and waved back, his greeting a distraction from her brother's almost-tantrum. Normally she probably would have reacted to this friendly gesture by withdrawing further, but in her child-like intuition, something told her that she and the boy with the many arms had something in common. If asked, however, she would not be able to articulate the feeling.

"Sorry," Sid said, not realizing that he'd probably made an enemy for life in denying Joel what he desired. "Uncle Lex says no." As if speaking his uncle's name had sparked a wildly important memory, Sid shoved the bunny back where it had come from and hurried to Lex's side. "Underwear," he said with extreme gravitas.

Lex nodded and looked out over the store, spotting the sign on the ceiling that denoted the children's clothing section. As good a place to start as any. He held out his hand for Liam to take, even though the child wasn't looking at him. "C'mon Liam."

The little eyeless boy frowned for a moment, turning from Camille's wave to look at his father. "I wanna say hi," he said softly, despite the fact that he had technically already done so.

Well, at least the older child had listened to the warning in the man's voice. Keeta felt a wave of relief as the boy put the toy away. She would not have to confront the man.

As Sid returned the rabbit to the shelf, Joel reached for the toy in vain, kicking his legs and making frustrated noises at having been foiled a second time. His center eye remained locked on the toy as he turned to Keeta giving her a sad face.

Keeta rolled her eyes. Barely a toddler and her son was already trying to manipulate her. Well she wasn't going to give in. She glanced straight at him and firmly repeated the word.

"No." Shaking her head, she was about to move the cart forward, when she noticed Camille was looking at the other child, even interacting with him.

Camille looked from Liam to Lex and then lowered her eyes and made herself smaller. For some reason she didn't mind saying hi to the boy, but his father was another matter and her shyness took over.

If it had been Sidney who had wanted to stay behind and talk to some shy little girl, Lex might have let him. Anyone stupid enough to kidnap the boy would be quickly forced to give him up once they found out just how much he chattered. But this was Liam, and Lex wasn't inclined to leave his son by himself. He lowered his hand. "A few minutes then," he said. Several months ago, Lex might have been more sociable, introducing himself to Keeta or something similar, but Lex found he had little patience for much of anything these days. Watching helplessly as your flesh turned to water and back again was one thing, but having the subject changed by the one person who knew why every time you tried to find out how it had happened was quite another. Try as he might, Lex couldn't get past it, at least for the moment. He cast a brief glance at Liam as the child approached Camille, but kept his distance.

"Dun hide, Daddy an' Sid are nice," Liam said softly, finally shuffling over to stand nearer to the girl.

Keeta stood to the side of the cart to allow the children to interact more freely. She also wanted to avoid placing herself physically between the child and his parent. Even though she wasn't dealing with bears here, it didn't make sense to put oneself between an adult and it's "cub" in any situation. She nodded to Lex in greeting. There was no point in ignoring him now.

Camille looked past Liam uncertainly at the boy's reassurance as to the nature of his family. She frowned slightly as if she was thinking, If you say so... After a moment her gaze returned to the boy standing in front of her, and she appeared to relax slightly.

"Me Camille," she said in her small toddler voice. "Who you?"

Water Balloons 101 (WIP)

Keeta glanced to either side of the entrance to the clinc hoping no one was watching her. She was currently struggling to get her newly purchased double stroller through the doorway and was determined not to loose the battle, although Joel was starting to frown at her from the stroller seat closer to her. Camille's expression was hidden from view by the shade, but she didn't imagine the little green-skinned girl was any more comfortable.

She was about to give up and leave the stroller outside, only bringing the children in when she finally managed to hold the door at the right angle and push with the right amount of force to get the stroller through. She quickly glanced around the waiting room, in the hopes that it was empty aside from the receptionist who was eyeing her with a raised eyebrow. That was really something she had hoped she had a small audience for....

Amena had exchanged a questioning look with the receptionist as the other woman had struggled with the door. The smaller girl had leaned forward, about to hope up to help out, but each time she did, it looked as though the other had just about gotten it, and then it wouldn't go.

Just as she decided to actually hop off the high seat, the stroller seemed to miraculously make it through.

Amena blushed a little, worried that when she was spotted, the woman would think her quite rude for not trying to assist sooner, as she sat back down, feeling a little silly.

She raised her head a little, trying to see into the stroller. Oh! She rememebered them! They had been in here the first day she came by with Imbri.

She sent a greetings sort of feeling towards keeta, when she noticed another with her. Amena didn't remember the other girl, though...

When she though small audience she hadn't pictured someone of small stature. Amena! Keeta remembered the porcelin from one of her earlier visits to the clinic. Had it been her last one? She blushed, realizing her difficulties had been witnessed, but she smiled anyways noting Amena's rounding belly.

"Hello there! I remember meeting you before. Looks like you're getting closer to having a little one." She noticed the porcelin was alone, rememebring the slightly grouchy woman that had been with her before. Keeta pictured Imbri in her head, trying to 'send' it to Amena, not sure if she was even remotely doing it right. Maybe she could get Luna to help her understand this communication better when she was talking with her.

"Your friend isn't with you today?"

Amena shook her head, feeling her ponytail bounce on her shoulders as she did. No, there was no Imbri this time. She pictured little Rosa in her head, sending the feelings of busy and infant as she smiled. Imbri had lots of new responsibilities these days.

The littler woman touched her belly lightly and practically glowed with maternal pride. "Yes, I'm almost due," she managed to croak out hoarsely. Looking at the other new little girl, she raised her head with a questioning look. Who was the cute little one that keeta had brought with her?

Ah...so the woman had a infant of her own now. With the woman's personality, Keeta secretly wondered how Imbri was handling the new little one. Her train of thought was inturrupted when Amena spoke. Until now she hadn't been aware that the porcelin used any form of verbal communication and belatedly realized the surprise that must be showing on her face. She hoped the smallish woman wouldn't be bothered by that.

"Congratulations," she responded after a moment, the smile back on her face.

"I hope you enjoy being a mother very much. As for me...." she reached down into the stroller and picked up Joel first, knowing he would get fussy long before Camille. Setting him on his feet, she fished in the bottom of the stroller and handed him a toy.

"I think you met Joel before...but this is Camille," she finished, pulling the slightly older girl out of the stroller and setting her down on a chair.

The girl glanced at Amena before hiding her face behind Keeta.

"She's....very shy as you can see."

Amena bent sideways, trying to see behind Keeta to catch the little girls eyes, then covered her face with her tiny hands. Amena was shy sometimes too. If she could, she would sometimes like to hide under a table or behind the bed with new people came over.

But she was all grown up now and expected to act as such. The porcelain made a face. Being grown up was overrated.

Turning to Joel, she made a gleeful, excited face, and instead of sending an emotion, just used what (she hoped) was a widely recognized hand gesture. She held out her hand very low to the ground, then raised it up a bit.

Joel had gotten bigger, yes?

Keet nodded, bigger indeed, and into bigger trouble.

"Yes he's been growing a lot lately! Walking and starting to talk and all sorts of things. He's becoming quite the independant little boy. In fact I'm not sure Camille would be here except that he started to walk and consequently started to get into trouble."

As if to puntuate her point, Joel started toddling over to the other side of the room, dropping his toy as he went to investigate the clinic's waiting room entertainment.

Keeta almost followed him, but decided she would just keep a close eye on him. He wasn't causing any trouble...yet.

At the sound of Keeta saying her name, Camille peeked a blue eye out from behind Keeta to look at Amena again, her hands now clinging to the back of Keeta's clothing.

Amena laughed, remembering a time with water-balloons and Silver and a few other porcelains when she was a little girl and wondering now if Imbri had thought she was a handful back then.

"Crayons on wall?" she asked, with a sort of giggle. She watched him for a moment, until Camille looked around Keeta.

The redhaired woman tried to give her softest smile and waved friendly, happy emotions at the litte girl. Maybe she'd be curious about the strange Amena?

Sometimes curiousity outweight shyness. Sometimes.

"Well...funny you should say that. Not exactly. More like crayons on other pieces of artwork. I bought a reproduction of a Claude Monet painting from an artist downtown and when I went to hang it, I left it in the hallway while I hunted down the hammer. When I returned Joel had left his signature on it."

Soon Joel grew bored with looking at the things on the other side of the room and toddled back over to Keeta and Camille.

"Jooth!" he said in his still babyish speech, reaching his hands up as if expecting Keeta to give him something.

Ah, now Joel wanted his juice...and getting it would require disentangling herself from Camille. She gently reached back and pulled the little girl's hands from her shirt.

"Camille I'm going to get Joel's juice out. Say hello to Amena, she's nice, I promise...." Keeta watched her as she stepped away, trying to gauge the reaction. Camille wasn't much of one to cry or throw a fit if she was upset, she would merely withdraw further, and that certainly wasn't Keeta's goal.

The green girl lifted her eyes to meet Amena's as Keeta stepped away. She had been feeling the emotions, but didn't quite know what to make of them. The lady didn't look scary though. And she was even smaller than Keeta. Otherwise keeping very still, she moved a few fingers on her small hand in an attempt at a wave.

"Monet..." Amena said out loud. It sounded familiar, but she couldn't place the name. She passed it off as something she must have read at some point in time.

"Did you get..." she grasped at the emotion, as she tried to find the word. "Upset?"


Amena eyed Camille with a smile. She wasn't too much taller than the little girl, and even though she knew the girl was much younger, it was nice to be around the same height as someone else. She mirrored the waving motion and took a step forward, seeing if the girl would react. Amena wondered what you said to a shy girl.

"Umm...you like water ballons?" it was the most recent thing on her mind, so it ended up just popping out. She hoped the little girl didn't get ideas. Amena wouldn't like to be the cause of these "Monet's" getting wet too.

"Well...yes," Keeta admitted reluctantly. She didn't like remembering how she had responded and Joel's reaction. It was not one of her better parenting moments.

"Probably shouldn't have though....it was my fault for leaving the painting where he could get at it. He couldn't have known better, I mean he's a toddler for goodness sake...." She gently stoked the boy's blue hair as she spoke. Joel didn't seem to notice as he was preoccuied with gulping down the juice from his sippy cub.

"And Camille wouldn't even be here if he hadn't done that, or so says the shopkeeper I bought the painting from," Keeta continued, glancing at her recently adopted...daughter. It was still taking a little getting used to thinking of her in that context.

"Of course she failed to tell me that I might get a child out of the deal when I bought the painting." Keeta pressed her lips together slightly. It wasn't that she didn't like Camille, it was just that she was.... overwhelmed. And that was half the reason she was here today. Hopefully Luna would be able to help her out.

Camille didn't seem to be paying attention to what Keeta was saying, which is just as well. She was more intently focused on Amena and what the petite woman was doing. Surprised by the question, she looked up at Keeta suddenly for reassurance. Lost in thought it took the half-elf a moment, before she nodded to the child, indicating she should answer Amena.

"I like water...." she said very quietly. She wasn't quite sure she knew what a water ballon was, but she definietly liked playing in water and spending time in the water.

Luna had been sleeping at her desk. Not that she MEANT to, really, but there was just something about spring days that relaxed her so much that she was just unable to help herself. What she wouldn't have given to be outside, underneath a large tree, napping!

The voices outside her door weren't what woke her; actually, she had to admit, it was the familiar projection of Porcelain that caught her attention.

Amena. A cousin.

And then, fading into her perception, two others, and a familiar woman who needed her.

Quickly rubbing her eyes (careful not to smudge her makeup), she opened her door just a crack-- just enough to signal that she was in her office and available.

Well...Amena probably would have gotten upset too. She sent an empathy wave, trying to indicate she didn't think Keeta was a bad mommy for slipping up once. She sighed. Amena imagined it was bound to happen to her. It would be so hard not to be the only princess in the house and in Silver's life when her little baby was born.

Her ponytail touched lower on her back as she tilted her head sideways. The man hadn't told her the painting was going to turn into a child? (She had been in Imbri's house long enough to not question the schemantics of a painting turning into a child, and just let it be) But...wasn't that critical information? Sounded like a shady sort of shop to her. Miss Keeta shouldn't go back. She shook her head, oh no. They might slip her some more kids! (For there always seemed to be more children in the world than there were parents to handle them, which seemed sad)

Well! If little Camille liked water, she should like water ballons! They were like portable (not to be confused with potable) water! Amena dug into her robe pockets. She was sure she had an empty ballon left.

Pulling out a small green ballon, she held it out. "You fill, and then you carry water around!"

What she did with the carried around water was entirely up to her discrestion. She wondered if the young girl would understand it was chiefly meant for mischief.

Out of the corner of her eye, Keeta saw the door to Luna's office open slightly. Ah, so she was there....Keeta wondered if Luna could sense the reason she had come. Well she would head over as soon as it wouldn't be rude to step away from the conversation with Amena. And the Porcelin had gotten Camille to talk a little bit. She was interested to see if Amena could coax more out of the girl. In the meantime, she kept up the conversation.

"No, you're right....I probably won't go back to the shop unless I need more information. I imagine the owner knows a bit more about how children from paintings grow and develop. And she indicated that Camille might develop some sort of special abilities as she grows. I just hope it's something I can mange to help her control until she can do it indpendently. One thing I learned from living in Evin is that undeveloped or uncontroled magical abilities can often lead to trouble."

Camille hesitated a moment, again looking to Keeta for reassurance, before taking the offered ballon. The idea of being able to carry water around anywhere was too appealing to resist! The little girl gave another small smile to Amena. The small lady wasn't so scary after all.

"Thank you," she said in the same quiet voice.

Keeta watched her, pleased that she was interacting so well with Amena. Although she did hope that if Camille was going to discover the joys of waterballoons, that it would happen outside. A thought occured to her and she turned to Amena.

"You keep spare water ballons on you often?" she asked, curious.

Amena looked around sheepishly, trying not to look at Keeta straight on. That was...a funny story...ahhh.

"Well...you know..." she blushed a little. "I like...throwing them at...moving targets?" It was always handy to have a spare in her pocket for particularly enticing targets. But it sounded so naughty and childish saying it outloud, though. She looked at her pale hands and held them up, laughing.

Under her fingernails was dirt from digging around in her pockets. She had lots of stuff there. Some of her gardening had made it into her pockets too.

Keeta raised an eyebrow at Amena's admission and then glanced at her hands as she held them up. Smirking, Keeta held up similar fingernails from working in her own backyard garden. A green thumb was one of the few things she had inherited from her elven bloodline.

"Looks like we have more in common than we thought. Although before we talk plants I have to know what sort of moving targets you mean." Keeta chuckled as she finished her sentence.

Joel was finished with his juice for the moment and wandered over towards Amena, showing real interest in her for the first time since they came in the room.

"Hi!" he said waving enthusiastically. He repeated himself as he got closer.

"Hi!" Hi was a word he knew very well and he liked to say it a lot now that he was talking.

Camille was silent again studying the balloon. How could something so small hold water?

"Mostly friends," she said, smiling. Mostly Silver, really. She really liked climbing trees and letting them drop onto his head. "Momma Imbri hates it, though..." which, in all honesty, made it more fun...

She looked at Joel as he spoke to her. He was smaller than her, so she bent down to come to eye level (although she knew this probably wouldn't last too much longer, so she relished it while it lasted).

"Hi!" she repeated, waving back at him. "Amena!" she continued, pointing at herself.

"Ah, well do me a favor and don't hit me with any, if we start seeing each other more often," she said with a laugh, "because I'm pretty sure Camille will be pegging me with my fair share as she gets older."

"A'na" Joel said, giggling and trying to repeat the strange word the lady had said. "Hi!" he said once more. Keeta chuckled.

"He's been really fond of that word ever since he learned it. I just hope he doesn't attach to 'no' in that manner."

Well, if Miss Keeta reeaallly didn't want her to, she supposed she had plenty of other targets.

Amena pulled her hand out of her robe pocket, where she had been fiddling anxiously with another spare balloon. Ah well.

She smiled and nodded, knowing what Keeta meant. When her baby brother learned the word 'no' it had been a very annoying few months. At least 'hi' was amiabley meant.

Still facing Joel, but now addressing Camille, she called to her. "Would you like to see how it works?" Amena grined an almost myschevious smile. "It's quite fun."

Camille shrugged, looking at Amena, not quite sure how she wanted to answer. The idea of learning how the ballon worked interested her, without a doubt, but it was hard for her to continue to be social.

Keeta watched Camille, waiting for the girl to decide. As an adult parental figure of a small child, the part of her desiring control and orderliness wanted to intervene and ask Amena not to introduce the girl to this kind of mischief. However, Keeta couldn't deny that Amena was getting Camille to respond in ways that others had failed and it would be wrong to interfere with helping Camille come out of her shell. Fighting herself, she chose to stay back and see what happened. Her attention began to waiver anyways, as Joel decided to move on to the next thing of interest. That thing just happened to be the door to the back area and Keeta went scurrying up behind him, trying to redirect him to someplace else in the room that would get him in less trouble.

Amena sensed Keeta's apprehension. She supposed that she wouldn't like it if someone was teaching her child something myschevious (or maybe she would...one never could tell with Amena...).

The little Porcelain woman projected some caution to Camille. Of course, Camille was only to use the awesome fun of water ballons in the outdoors, and on things like trees and big rocks, not people, naturally.

...Her thoughts strayed briefly strayed to chucking the balloons at Silver and her friend Ichigo, and she guarded the thought, hoping Camille didn't realize what kind of nefarious things you could do with portable water.

"Trees. Only trees," she repeated outloud. "Not mommies."

Amena tried not to step too close to Camille, sensing that she still felt uneasy, and instead focused some attention on Joel. Instinctivly, she touched her belly. She wondered if her baby would be as curious and active as Keetas. Joel looked like a handful, but Amena thought it was quite endearing.

Camille's eyes opened wide as she received the projections, indicating what it was that one did with water balloons. She blinked and sat silently for a moment as she processed this. You used them to throw water at things. The lady was just pretending, right?

"Really?" Camille asked, her voice slightly higher pitched with excitement, allowing herself to hope a little. She watched as the lady put a hand on her belly. She wasn't very old, but she understood the concept of babies in tummies, although she still didn't know how they got there....

"You have baby?" she asked, pointing.

Keeta had managed to corral Joel and was now trying to redirect him to the toys on the opposite end of the room. She picked up several different things, trying to interest him in at least one of them. He finally decided the bead slider was entertaining for the moment, and Keeta sighed with relief. She stood next to him, watching Camille and Amena.

Amena nodded emphatically. "Really!" After all, what else would such wonderfulness like transportable water be for?? Well...she supposed you could use them to water things or maybe clean up messes by tossing them on it, but that seemed a little odd, and certainly a waste of a good balloon.

She looked up, not realizing she had put her hand on her tummy.

"Oh! yes," she said, answering Camille. "Very soon!" she hoped, anyway. Her back hurt all the time, now. "How old are you?" she asked. Camille didn't look very old, but at 4 feet, Amena imagined she didn't look that old either. "Do you like living with Miss Keeta and Joel?"

Camille smiled at hearing about the baby, but then her expression turned rather blank at the question about her age. It wasn't really something that she knew. She hadn't been "born" in the same way her brother had, but she'd been with Keeta for a little while now. Helplessly she shrugged at Amena's first question, but she answered the other one in her quiet voice.

"Mommy is nice, but so was the other lady who helped me come here. She made it so mommy would find me. Joel is loud," she said wrinkling her nose slightly.

Keeta came up behind them, having overheard part of the conversation.

"I had actually hoped to find out today how old she was...at least maturity-wise. I figure she's somewhere around three and a half or four..." Keeta said, trying to answer Amena's question as best she could.

Amena nodded. Babies could be very loud, but that was ok, right? They might be loud, but everyone liked babies, cuz they were so cute!

Ooh, so Camille was still a little one too, then. Miss Keeta had her hands quite full!

Amena thought a moment. She had been brought to Gaia from her world by 'uncle' Tsukiba, who she imagined was like the 'other lady' who had brought Camille to Miss Keeta. "My Tsukiba brought me here, from another world. He's gone now, but Setsushi has taken over the shop." She rocked back on her heels a little. "Gaia is a nice place. Mommah Imbri took good care of me, and now look! I've got my own home and a baby on the way." Amena certainly wouldn't have had that sort of chance in her old world.

"I certainly hope I can provide an upbringing that will allow those things for my children....." Keeta said thoughtfully. "And yes Gaia is nice, but sometimes I wonder if I ever should have left my homeland." She glanced at Imbri, curious.

"So...was it your choice to come here, or how did that happen?" Keeta knew very little about the Porcelin and wanted to know more, so she could better understand them.

"I'm sure you can!" Amena said, smiling brightly.

It dimmed a little at Keeta's question. "Well...I was very little when it happened, so I guess I didn't really have much of a choice." She fell silent. She would have come here anyway, though.

A quick succession of feelings and images passed from Amena's head to Keeta's. When Amena was little, the place she came from wasn't a good place for her kind. The humans of her world were enslaving the porcelains and so Tsukiba has squirreled them away to a better life.

She had been back once, after she had grown up and helped some Porcelains who were fighting back.

So no, to answer Miss Keeta, Amena hadn't had a choice, but she had benifited from being taken away from her home world.

Keeta frowed as the images came to her. What kind of place would do that? She was grateful that nothing like slavery had existed in Evin, and that it didn't exist here. Amena was right to be grateful to have come here.

"Is it still that way where you come from? The Porcelain are still enslaved there? That was brave of you to go to fight and try to help others. At least your child won't have to worry about that here."

Amena shook her head. No, lots of things had happened since they had last been there, and it wasn't like that anymore. It was almost like a new world, actually.

What was Miss Keeta's world like?