Welcome to Gaia! ::

The buzz of new discoveries had kept Kieran quite busy in recent days. The Yaeli explorer had a pile of letters from across his country and another pile for those from overseas. The past fifteen years had given him plenty of chances to travel and he had taken them often. Throughout the years he would spend time in Yael with his family before venturing forth again to go and see what was to be found. Admittedly, in his later years and especially while his daughters were much younger Kieran had stayed locally in Yael. He hated leaving more than a few days at a time during those days and did his best to stay home. He adored his family and treasured all of his girls. Once adventures had been his only world, but now he had something far more precious. Despite his constant time pouring over books and maps, the man had made plenty of time to spend with his daughters and his beloved.

Still, he wasn’t one to ignore things when something this drastic appeared. A whole new continent? Kieran pursed his lips thoughtfully before leaning over the documents again. Alright that’s enough for now. He had spent the better part of the day in his study, one of the biggest rooms in their underground home with its walls full of journals and books passed down from his own mother and other explorers. It was hard to find Yaeli adventurers in a culture so superstitious but somehow he had managed along with a few others to make connections. If not for them then perhaps the map of the new world would have never been found!

Pushing his glasses back up against the bridge of his nose, Kieran surveyed his study one final time. Everything was slightly messy with loose parchment all over his desk and journals laying in stacks here and there. He was certain one or two of his keldari were napping somewhere in the piles and he had often warned Taijana to not come into the study simply because of how his familiars tended to hide and startle others. Though speaking of which, Kieran was curious as to why his house was so quiet. He had locked himself up in the early hours of the morning and had not heard one peep from his daughters or his wife for the past few hours. Hadn’t the girls gone out somewhere tonight? Maybe to their Aunt’s house? He vaguely recalled hearing something about that.

I suppose I’ll find out soon enough. He wondered if he should just take a quick bite for dinner or if Taijana would want to perhaps go on a stroll this evening while their house was quiet. Maybe I can tell her about my thoughts on this whole new discovery and see how she feels about…. Kieran’s thoughts halted as soon as he came into the dining room and saw the table full of his favorite foods. Yet it wasn’t exactly the foods and wine which had made him stumble. It was the appearance of his wife who was not dressed in her usual attire. A deep flush decorated Kieran’s cheeks as he slowly took a few steps forward and paused again hesitantly, “Tai?” Swallowing, Kieran found himself searching his mind for any hint of any date that he may have forgotten, “I uh….didn’t realize you had dinner prepared.” He managed before glancing her way once more, “You look lovely.”

Playfully he glanced down at his simple leathers and open vest, "Should I have dressed for the occasion? I'm sorry if I forgot something. I'm so absent minded at times."

"I see." Kieran bit his bottom lip as he watched his wife moving towards him in her newest choice of rather skin tight apparel. Despite having been married for years and having two teenage daughters, the Yaeli's heart couldn't help racing like a nervous teen. He had been with his wife for years and they had been rather intimate, on many occasions but this move was one that Kieran was not quite accustomed with. Taijana had always been shy and one that Kieran felt the need to protect. Seeing her just approaching like this was like someone tossed him a curve ball.Had she broken into the wines? His silver gaze shifted shyly, noticing that there was indeed a bottle of wine but that it was still unopened. Taijana was doing this all on her own. The thought caused his heart to skip another beat before a small smile of adoration crossed his features.

"No, no." When Taijana pulled herself closer, Kieran rested his arms around her hips with his fingers splayed across her lower back, "It's a nice surprise." He managed quietly, the warmth from her skin making the back of his own neck heat up, "Oh?" Kieran leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against his wife's forehead, "I suppose it's something major since you went through all of this....trouble?" His brow rose as he contemplated her statement, his response low and sultry in the way his soft voice filled the air, "Whatever would my darling wife want to ask me during this time?"

Kieran was admittedly a bit nervous. Had Taijana figured out his future travel plans already? I didn't even get a chance to bring it up. His brow furrowed with some worry before her next words halted his thoughts, "Our family size?" He repeated with a blink as the words slowly, ever so slowly sank into reality, "So you're saying that you would like...oh." A flush lit up the yaeli's cheeks, "I definitely don't think we're that old so it should be possible."

Raising a hand to tuck back a stray hair from his wife's face, Kieran smiled, "Is that really what you want? Why the sudden baby fever?" He couldn't resist teasing though a knot of worry was in his stomach. He loved his daughters dearly but after several talks, he thought they had just settled on having the two girls. It was curious that after all this time his wife would suddenly want to try for more. Not that Kieran was upset, rather he was just surprised to say the least.

Kieran's heart sunk when Taijana pulled away from him. Was it so bad? He knew he had to make a decision in that moment else it may be too late. So why hold back? Kieran reached forward and grabbed Taijana's wrist, "Taijana." He began as he stepped towards her and tugged her back against his body, "I never said it was a bad idea. I was just surprised." He pressed a few kisses against her neck and towards her collarbone, "I suppose we can eat the dinner first and then if we both feel so inclined I wouldn't mind trying to show you how much I don't believe we're that old."

Would it be so bad? Kieran's gaze softened as he remembered when they first had the girls. Both had been so adorable in their youngling years and now were already teens. Maybe some years had passed but they had been young parents. There was still time to try again, "Everything looks delicious tonight." He stated quietly as he let go of his wife, his own cheeks still flushed as he approached the table.

Kieran chuckled, "It's okay really. We have plenty of room here and the girls are older now." He glanced over his wife, a faint line of worry crossing his features, "If anything it's more on you since you're the one doing most of the work." Would she really be okay carrying a baby again? What if they got twins this time instead? Could there be complications? It was rare for Kieran to actually be afraid of something, but when it came to the idea of losing Taijana he was terrified. Still, they knew a good healer who had talked them through the last two pregnancies and Kieran was hopeful to find him again. If not other doctors would be at the clinic to help them out.

Look at me being the worrywart for once. Everything would be okay. Who knew if they would even be so lucky to conceive again? But if Taijana wanted to try then Kieran would never deny her. He adored his family and would always do his best for them, especially for his beloved wife. Despite his adventures taking him away he always thought of his family while he was overseas and if he could not come home quickly, letters and gifts would come in his stead.

"Oh?" Kieran grinned in amusement, "A special wine, hmm? I suppose we'll have to definitely try that." Of course then she uncorked the bottle and he couldn't help crinkling his nose. I swear. For Taijana. Just remember. Thankfully it smelled a bit more bearable whenever he swished it around in his glass, "Not a combination I would ever have thought of myself, but why not?" He had been out in the wilderness, gone through muck that smelled much worse and drank water in desperate places without regard for the flavors then. So how could a sip of this kill him? If not he would become one of those spirits the rest of his race believed so much in and haunt Taijana's aunt. The thought made him almost chuckle before he lifted his glass, "Cheers and here's to the future.

It always warmed Kieran's heart to see Taijana's confidence. When they had first met the girl would faint at the sight of well...almost everything and now here she was proudly announcing she was ready to handle pregnancy. When had the tides turned? Kieran chuckled softly, "Alright, alright. I trust you and as long as you feel up to the task then who am I to say no? Plus the hallways are a bit quiet considering the girls are older now." Perhaps a bit too quiet. How much sneaking around had they gotten away with, especially with him gone on trips on and off during their later years? He could only hope that they didn't get into too much trouble with their little adventures.

"Fair enough. I was an only child, you know." Kieran shook his head, "So having even more than one was a miracle for me." It looked like this wine would also be a miracle today. Kieran tried his best to keep his face neutral as Taijana explained the crazy ritual which came along with the drink. If anything the years with his wife had indeed taught him that patience was a virtue. If it made her feel calmer then he would do his best to let her do her thing while he kept his logical arguments mostly to himself.

"Well I guess the spirits can decide the gender for us so no need to force fate ourselves." He commented with a firm nod before trying his best to sip the wine, "You know....I think one glass seems strong enough." Kieran quickly did his best to swallow the near vomit-inducing liquid before moving to the table, "I think bread...anything would be good now." He pulled out a chair and held it for his wife, "Let's eat." Then he could just slip some of that wine further and further away from their meal until it perhaps slipped from the table or just out of sight. Out of sight, out of mind....

He also had something else weighing on his heart, but Kieran didn't even know how to bring it up now. Perhaps after a moment or two before they got too distracted with their...attempts at expanding the family.

"Well then why are we worried?" Kieran replied lightly, a small smile lighting up his face, "So maybe we can rely on fate to help us with growing our family more." And not that vile drink....if only he could convince her of that. Kieran felt his heart sinking in his chest as Taijana began to express exactly how much of the wine they had to drink. He made note that next time he saw Taijana's Aunt he would send a very spiritual gift basket full of lucky items for her to spread about her house. What the items entailed would be a bit up in the air, but he was determined to spread the love as she had with this wine.

"I'm sure the spirits are very appeased with us already." Kieran reached over to steal a piece of the loaf and tried his best to use it as a palate cleanser, "Since I'm fated to have a big family then we should be more confident. We may anger the spirits by trying to use so many tricks instead of just relying on their good will alone." It was worth trying at least, so he just prayed that Taijana may be swayed by his words.

Another piece of the bread went into his mouth and Kieran quickly swallowed to try to drown out the taste with the freshness of the warm bread, "A girl? Then I hope we have one as well. I'm happy with whatever gender we receive because a child is still a blessing to me." Honestly since he had only daughters the man wouldn't even know how to handle a boy. At least that's how it felt with their current family situation and his past of being an only child who was raised mostly by his mother alone.