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It had been a full day. An early morning among the stars, a midday entertainment at the theatre, an afternoon finding an old friend, and then sleep. She had been sure to set the timer on Moxie to wake her with enough time to dress and prep.

Surprised to get the invitation, but oh so delighted, Lirssa arrived ready to celebrate both Annabeth's new house/homes and birthday. When she sighted the hostess, she offered over both the potted flower and the gift box. "Happy Birthday! Your home is lovely, Annabeth. It suits you perfectly, I say. Thank you for inviting me."

?So now, would you like a whirlwind tour, or just sit and chat while we wait for the other guests to arrive??


"Would it be completely spoiled of me to want a whirlwind tour? Curiosity is one of my fatal flaws." Or, has proven to be nearly fatal a few times, and very recently, too. "But I can be patient...when asked." A starshine smile given to Annabeth, as she really did want the decision to be whatever was easiest for the hostess to manage. "No doubt more will be along soon, so I can wait. Chatting is good. I went to see the performance of Phantom this afternoon. Have you gone yet?"

She drew off her coat to hang on the coat rack. Coat racks were a particularly fond item in a household for Lirssa. It was exceedingly welcoming to her mind, and having only had the experience of having one for a brief part of her life, she was definitely hanging her coat there.

Just about the time that Lirssa began answering her question. A barely perceptible signal alerted her to the fact that two guests had passed the gate, and were heading to the door. So as Lirssa posed her own questions and hung her coat, she held up a hand, and then opened the door as Eregor knocked.

?Eregor, five minutes after six is hardly too late. Welcome, both of you.? She took the box, and grinned seeing the masks. ?Perfect. I think I?ll hang it in my study. But for now,? she put the box down next to Lirssa?s gift.

?As for how marvelous it is, thank you. I just was offering Lirssa a quick little tour, and you just proved that the sensor I had installed in the gate --to let me know when guests arrive -- works. So if the three of you would like a look around I?d be glad to show you. Or if you want to wait for a few more guests that would be fine too."

Not long after, there was another knock on the door, this time announcing the arrival of Carina and her husband, Arandir, clutching a pair of pots in which flourished thriving rosemary and lavender plants. Explaining a birthday party hadn't been the difficult bit with Aran; it was the housewarming side that had proven a challenge, but they'd made it!

"Hi! Happy birthday!" Carina grinned to the woman she'd shared a stage with for four months. "Sorry if we're late, my father insisted we bring you a present."

She gestured to the two plants. "Lavender for luck, and rosemary for protection. You look amazing ... and this house! It's lovely!"

The sensor hadn't gone off for a few minutes so Annabeth gave a quick tour of the house. Taking some extra time to point out the bathroom tucked behind the dining room, and the one at the top of the stairs that at one time had been a bed room.

She also showed off her study above the kitchen, and then the turret room. It was dark but she pointed out toward the back yard. "I doubt you can see it in the dark, but on the other side of the house is another lot, and that Lirssa is where my other house is. When I have a cookouts this summer I'll be glad to show it off. But I really doubt you guys want to traipse over there in the cold dark." She seemed both proud and embarrassed that she was the owner of two houses. It hadn't been her plan, but providence had worked it out so she wasn't going to object. Well at least not until the property taxes came due.

As they left the turret and moved back to the parlor she began to wonder if it were too soon to start eating. It probably was, well that was why she had snacks available.

Kruger slowed as he got nearer. There were already so many people inside she wouldn't notice his coming, or it wouldn't matter quite so much. The box he carried was heavy with his gift for Annabeth and her house. He ascended the stairway and stood poised before the doorway. Torn between knocking and simply leaving his gift as it seemed Yasmin had, he was frozen with indecision. Unlike him, not really, not in this case at least. He was worried, not about the gift, not even about being well received. He knew that Annabeth would make him feel at home. He wasn't sure that was the right thing to do or not. There was more knowledge between them than he'd ever expected.

Lowering his hand, Kruger was ready to turn away. Already his feet were moving to spin him the one hundred eighty degrees so he could head off the porch and out of sight. He shook his head, angry with himself now. That wasn't so uncommon for Kruger. "Afraid? You? Shake it off Krug's." His hand went back up and didn't stop this time as he wrapped the door several times.

Once he was inside, Kruger took the box and deposited it where he saw other gifts waiting. When Annabeth finally would open his gift, the hinged lid on the stout box would reveal a wrought iron lantern for the front of her house. It was a gothic piece, the iron holder formed into the shape of a dragon. From its mouth dangled a lantern that could have been a deliciously dark crown of conical fangs. He'd done the work himself, except for the glass work. For that he'd needed it to be custom fit. A rush job so it meant calling in a favor. He had plenty of those to go around too.

Once all had been removed, if Annabeth were paying attention she'd spot the little note he'd left inside with the lantern. All it said was... Even the best of us need a light in the darkness sometimes. He hadn't signed it, had barely acknowledged the thing was sitting there as he pulled his cheerful mask on. It only faltered once, and that was when she was looking at him. He tossed her a meaningful wink and turned back into the person he knew was expected to be there.

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Annabeth watched from an upstairs window as Kruger arrived so she saw a lot more than he thought she might. When he decided to stay she came down the stairs, and welcomed him as she had everyone else, with a genuine beam. When the time came to open any unopened presents, she oohed and ahhed, and slipped the note into her pocket. Just before he left, when she gave him the same hug she gave the rest of her guests, a note of her own found it's way into his pocket.

There is a light here always, and the light can come to the darkness as well.

It wasn't as poetic as she would have liked but it said what she wanted it to.

Yas's present brought a smile to her face. As much as she might play the ditz, she was intelligent, and as the gift showed, sometimes very practical. Annabeth was sure she'd use everything in the bucket at least once. She would make sure to have a box of gingerbread with her tomorrow when she went to see Phantom.

Jon and Viki's gift was perfect as well. Her friends seemed to know just what to bring. The frame would go near the parlor mantle where some of her other family pictures were already hanging.