Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ahkshi and Kyrie's house was only a few blocks away, and it was not long before they arrived. They were walking quite quickly to be fair, to avoid the rain that the thick clouds above them were threatening.

Ahkshi led the way inside. The house was not large, and had but two rooms. The room which they entered seemed to be just about everything: a bed tucked away in a corner and a dresser beside it for clothes made their sleeping area; a couch and low table were near a long bookshelf along the wall near the door, which made for both a study and sitting area; and the far side of the room was the kitchen, with a fireplace, counter and cupboards, and a dining table and chairs. Paintings lined the walls, and they were of various subjects and styles; but the one hanging above the bed was a portrait of Ahkshi and Kyrie together, both of them smiling brightly, and it was in the same style as the paintings the group had seen in Caras Galadhon, that had been done by Lara, Kyrie's sister.

There was a door to a smaller room in the far corner, and the door was open to show Kyrie leaning over a tub of water and washing clothes. Uruloki was tiny and sitting on the edge of the tub next to her, and the two of them were talking together quietly.

Earendil thought it was quite cozy looking, if a bit sad because it reflected the couple's lack of hope for a family.

"K-Kyrie," Ahkshi called out as they entered. "I have Earendil and L-Lin with me."

Kyrie let the shirt she was washing fall back into the water and she dried her hands and came out to meet the three of them, smiling warmly.

"Welcome," she greeted them cheerfully. "Sorry I haven't been to see you since we came back, but I've been getting resettled here."

She walked up to Ahkshi, slid her arms around him and greeted him with a warm kiss. "Welcome home, darling," she murmured.

Ahkshi chuckled softly. "Th-tha-thank you, dear."

Kyrie grinned. "I'm sure that was fun. I bet Kaito really enjoys him, they both like teasing. Of course, Cael knows when to stop ..."

She laughed, and Ahkhsi chuckled softly. "I'm l-l-looking forward to m-meeting him," he murmured. Then he cleared his throat. "But before that, Kyrie ... we have to t-t-talk."

Kyrie's eyes narrowed slightly, and she took a half-step back. "That sounds ominous," she said, looking between the three of them.

Kyrie stiffened at the mention of Mailon's name, but she swallowed hard and forced herself to relax again.

"Ah," she said quietly. She held one hand out towards the other room, and without needing to be told, Uruloki ran out and hopped up on her shoulder. She took him in her arms and hugged him close. "You want me to see him. Talk to him."

Earendil nodded grimly. "You've been thinking about it on your own, then."

Kyrie shrugged. "It's hard not to when I can't visit my husband at work without seeing him. Not that it makes the thought any easier."

Kyrie looked silently, anxiously, from Lin to Earendil and back again, and then her eyes flickered towards her husband.

Ahkshi just smiled. "Of c-course I'll b-b-be there. D-don't be silly."

Kyrie sighed softly. "Then I really have no reason not to face him, do I?" she murmured.

Earendil couldn't hear her, and he glanced at Lin.

"That d-does bring up the n-next p-p-point, though, Kyrie," Ahkshi added seriously. "When?"

Earendil nodded. "Yes. Hiding from him like this is torturous to both you and him. It would be better for both of you - maybe even you more than him - to face him sooner rather than later. The unknown is always worse than something going bad, and in this case you have control over how long that has to last."

Uruloki looked up at Kyrie from his place in her arms. "They're right, you know," he told her. "You should just go now and do it."

Kyrie looked at Uruloki, her brow furrowed anxiously, and for a long time she was silent. It was clear by her expression that she didn't want to go, but she was also aware that she would never really want to.

Finally, she sighed resignedly. "Let's go," she muttered.

Uruloki melted into Kyrie's skin, and for a moment there were two dragons on her abdomen: then the real Uruloki slid into the mark of the fake Uruloki, and there was only one image again.

So that she wouldn't be tempted to change her mind, she brushed past the others and led the way outside. Ahkshi stepped aside and let Lin and Earendil follow next, and then he came after them and closed the door again behind them all.

It wasn't until they reached the clinic that Kyrie finally slowed down, and she waited in the waiting room for the rest of them to catch up to her. She had her head in her hands and she was breathing heavily, though she had not run.

Ahkshi put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

"You're n-not alone," he reminded her quietly.

Kyrie looked at him, then over her shoulder at Lin and Earendil.

Kyrie nodded and took a deep breath. Then, in an instant, all emotion vanished from her face. She threw back her shoulders and stood tall and confident, and with Ahkshi at her side, she headed down the hall.

Earendil reached for Lin's hand and followed after them. For how obvious her fear had been on their trip here, it was impossible to see now.