(Thanks to everyone in the Chatroom tonight, Especially Jonathan & Serah)

Sometime later...

And in comes the Storm. She nudged her way into the inn. Another round of dealing with merchants and getting some supplies that she needed. She was dressed as she usually did when on duty. Serviceable leathers with a warm coat adorned that athletic frame.

Serah waved after Constance and waved to the entering Storm. She didn't bother removing her coat and just enjoyed the nice warm broth.

Storm waved to Serah and moved behind the bar. She was comfortable at the moment. "How are you?" She secured herself an ale and moved back around the bar. There was a polite nod to the gentleman that had just entered. She found herself moving to the hearth.

"Oh I am doing much better and yourself Miss Storm?" Her eyes followed Storm then turned to the man who had entered. A friendly smile was given as she greeted him.

"I'm doing alright. Keeping an eye on my nephew and keeping things going in Jen's absence." She took a pull on the Silvermark.

"That is good to hear. Is everything okay with Mrs. Jen?" She went to take a sip of her broth but it seemed Mog had a different idea. Springing to life the moogle snatched up the mug from her and quickly floated himself up to the rafters. Blinking she stared at her empty then up after the moogle. "I swear I am going to let Claire put you on a diet."

"She's doing good, we're just not taking a chance with the baby and all that's been going on." There was a tip of the bottle to the stranger at his comment in agreement. Storm pulled herself into a wing-back by the fire to warm herself. There was a chill going through her that had nothing to do with the weather. Those eyes look to the fire as she tried to center herself. She took a pull of the ale and closed her eyes for the moment. She looked like she was doze. The reality was far different. So much on her mind she didn't know where to sort it. She then glanced over to the bar and gave Claire a brief wave. There was a smile, but still Rafe's words weighed on her. She was curled in that wing-back.

Steps were taken, and then the porch. The door opened and in walked Jonathan, who promptly took off his cloak and set it on a rack he had passed as he made his way further within. She tossed off a salute to Jon from where she was sitting by the hearth.

Ah there we are, a familiar face! Jon took a turn and headed to the hearth, a faint smile taking hold of the man as he neared. "Hello there, Commander."

"Evening, Captain. How goes?"

"As good as can be, I hope the same can be said of you?" Jon plopped on down next to her, as he smiled again and then took a quick glance around. "So what's new?"

"The usual. Have you noticed anything strange lately?" She had lowered her voice a bit to speak with him.

An outburst? Here? Never! So that being said Jon looked over, "That looked interesting." He turned back to Storm, "Anything strange, Storm? That's a needle in the proverbial hay stack, no? I mean this is Rhydin we're talking about."

She glanced to the outburst then to Mav. She shook her head knowing nothing good will come of this and turned back to Jon, "Out of the ordinary even by what we know. Rafe told me he had a dream."

"A dream? Well, I can imagine that. That kid of yours has been working very hard. He's a good one, you make sure to keep him."

She chuckled, "Thanks. He's earnest and wants to fit in. The problem is his dream..." She gave Jon a serious look, "More like who..." She leaned forward and murmured the name quietly to Jon. This would not be pretty. One did not lightly mention Jacyn and Renna in a crowded room like the inn in the same sentence.

Well that caused a bit of indigestion, alright. Jon looked to Storm, just to make sure she was on the level and much to his own chagrin she sure was. The captain cleared his throat a bit, "That could be troublesome."

"Very since he doesn't know who *she* is aside from what he's heard." She shook her head, "A Storm is brewing and I'm not referring to myself either."

"What about Ravenlock?"

She rubbed her face with both her hands. "Worth talking with him to be sure." She replied and looked at Jon. She was still so very serious. Nothing new there.

"If you can actually find him, that is."

"There is that. A lot of s*** has been hitting the fan." She murmured, "I'm not going to disturb Jen, though." She was trying to think.

"I agree with you there, and the timing couldn't be worse on a lot of it. Personally I wouldn't approach Jenai with a 10 foot pole and a case of white chocolate right about now. I'm not suicidal. She's what about 6 months along?"

"Just about. Either Gria or I can tempt that fate and survive." She quipped to lighten the mood a bit. "The timing does suck. All we can do is play buffer."

"We handled it last time, I imagine we'll find a way this time. Should the need even arise, that is."

"This time we have the family." She murmured. "We do this on our terms."

Jon nodded, "Whatever it takes, Boss."

She took a pull on the beer. "I just don't like being caught with our guard down.

"Storm, as ready as we can be an all. If it's really gonna happen, odds are we won't see it coming, truthfully."

"Yeah, I know all too well, Jon." She murmured seriously.

"(s)Whatever it is you're not alone."

She placed a hand on his arm, "Family is what I have and I'll be damned if I left anything happen to that."

Leaning to her, Jon placed a kiss on her cheek. "You, Commander, are a rare soul that I and many others hope to never be without." He lifted to his feet, "I need to head out and back to the valley. I hope to see you there later, maybe we can talk more with Rafe present too."

She smiled at Jon, "I will be. Shouldn't be much longer."

"If you see Ravenlock, send him back there too. " Jon saluted and took his leave, grabbing his cloak along the way.

"Will do, even if I have to knock him out." She saluted back. "Be careful, Captain."

While her sister seemed content she was a bit disappointed that Merlin was gone. Looking over to her sister she smiled a bit. "No not really. Every time I think I am.." her eyes drifted away and she looked to Storm. She seemed to have company. Boyfriend? Kicking her feet she looked back to her sister and Noctis then over to Noah.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. As much as she could have hoped it could be true, the fact was the Storm was still very much single. She steepled her fingers before her face as she... well prayed.

"Keep going is so hard and it sucks. Men suck. Why do I keep falling for the wrong ones?" And the one good guy she did fall for was more interested in work. Serah's shoulders slumped. It wasn't all about men problems though but that surely didn't help anything. "I still am kind of jumpy around people and fire."

"(vq) Men do suck..." She tended to agree, though that much was kept mostly to herself. Yet, She was actively shielding her mind. Being a telepath or empath in this place was dangerous. Storm opened her eyes with a sigh, might as well head back to the HUB. So much to do and she had to corral a Brother, a Nephew and a Captain for a long talk. She pushed herself out of the chair and made her way for the door. She zipped up her coat to keep the chill off.