"Mommy, where are we going?"

Jade cranned her neck to look at her six year old mini in the car seat of the backseat as the crimson Mustang coasted along a back road of RhyDin, Ravenlock compound-bound.

"Oh, we're going to see your Uncle Bri and Aunt Jen Jen. You haven't met them, I dun think. Hm, mayhaps once. They are the ones I talk 'bout all the time."

"Are they nice?" Claira's head tilted, the mass of curly back locks gave a bounce. Her big jade hues were alight. Her mommy had dressed her up in her pink lace dress with white ruffles. This had to be something good. Lil white dress shoes kicked the back of the passenger seat excitedly.

"Mmmhmm," She nodded as she tapped at the steering wheel rapidly. Jade as antsy to say the least. She had all this stuff come up lately... she just forgot to come and visit. She was a horrible Aunt. "They are the reason you are a Ravenlock, my dear."

"Really? How?"
"Well, a long time ago they took me into the family. They are like the family I never had."
"How long ago?"
"Hm, when I first came to RhyDin."
"Wowwww," her voice long and drawn out in that amazed child way.

Jade gave a little laugh, looking back again to give her daughter a soft smile from those crimson lips. Claira giggled and gave a bounce in her car seat. Jade looked to the road, musing with her white and black pinstripe sun dress. The musing hand went up and through her black hair as she let out a sigh.

"Mommy?"
"Hm?"
"Do they have babies?"
"Mmmhmm. Twins. Girls."
"Reallyyyy?"
"Mmmhmm."

There was a squeel from the backseat, produced by a overly excited six year old. Even a clap followed. Jade quirked a pierced brow as she looked in the rearview mirror at her child. She looked back to the road with a smirk and a little shrug. She tap-tap-tapped at the steering wheel again. Jade was musicless seeing as there was a young one in the care, and this made her more so nervous. Alas, the compound was in sight.

"We're herrrre," Jade called over her shoulder.
"Reallyyy?" The mini asked with wide eyed innocence only a child could master. Those big jade hues landed on the compound as Jade pulled into the driveway, "Wowwww. It's big, mommy."

"Mmmhmm. My room is still in there somewhere. I got lost everytime I walked out," though she herself was peering to see if any changes had been made.

"You lived in here?!" The little one gasped, astonished just by the thought. It blew her little mind.

"Mmmhmm, it was a long time ago. It was when some bad people where around, but they are taken care of now, sweetie."

"Oh," It was the only thing that fell from those tiny lips.

"Mmmkay," Jade creeped the Mustant to a stop and pulled it into park, shutting off the motor, "Time to see the family." She unbuckled and kicked out of the car, closing the door behind her. She went around the car and pulled Claira's door open, "Aren't you my pretty little girl? Are you ready, baby?"

"Yeaaa..." Claira nodded, the mass of curly black ringlets bobbing as Jade unbuckled and plucked her out of the car seat, shutting the door with her hip. She looped her tiny arms around her mother's neck, "But I'm scared."

Jade blinked at her daughter, "Why are you scared, sweetie?"

"Do they eat yummy kids? I promise I'm not yummy."
"Heaven's no! Where did you hear that?"
"The Bad Demon told me. He used to say he'd eat me up."
She grimaced, "He was only kidding. No one we know is going to eat you nor any other child up."

"Oh," Satisfied with that answer, she beamed. She wiggled around in Jade's arms, notifying her that she wanted to be put down. Jade set her down as they got close to the door; Claira wrapping a tiny hand around her mother's.

"Mommy?"
"Hm?"
"Why haven't we seen the babies? I like babies. They make me feel like a big girl... and they are soooo cute~!"
"You are a big girl, baby... But... I've just been busy with everything lately. Mommy can be so forgetful sometimes, sweetie."

"I know, mommy," There was that little giggle up at Jade.

Jade made a face at her daughter then smirked, "I'll get you later." The free hand went up to knock before hesitating. What if Kerri answered the door? She'd scare the living daylights out of her daughter. Jade could probably hear Kerri's herd-like thundering footsteps towards the door at the very moment before she even knocked. Jade looked down down to her daughter, snickered a bit, shook her head, and ensued on knocking. Well, this would be fun.

A screeching howler monkey darting thru the halls and between Jenai's knees meant one of three things... and as soon as she stopped spinning to see where it was going and who was coming, she peeked around the corner into the main entrance.

"Kerri?" Nathressa on her hip and enjoying a fist full of shimmering red hair. Jen gave up long ago trying to keep it all in a braid and refused to cut it. So, she'd gotten pretty used to it being explored. Now what she was not used to was a near drowned wet cat answering the door. Then again, anyone that knew Kerri was "used to" being seeing and hearing things they "were not" used to. It was a funny thing. Mithra Gorganite = Ridged Line of Flexibility.

"Kerri, are you alright?" bare feet, moved bare legs across the floor to get a better peek around the door. a soft kiss landed on the birthmark on Ressa's cheek as she listened to the door and for Brian. No alarms, no wards, no nothing, so she knew it had to be someone they gave free run of the compound... hopefully it was not bad news.

From their blanket underneath the Cherry Blossom tree, He felt it. The arrival, of one they had missed dearly, and another? Smiling to Aleyah, the father Ravenlock kissed the head of his daughter, and smiled brightly, as he moved to his knee and lifted the little one his arm. Jean Luc padded alongside his master, as Brian grinned to the large cat, while strapping on Aleyah's front facing harness. Carefully, the little lady Ravenlock was set inside the harness and secured, as she and her father with Moor Cat in tow, made for the compound. A series of sounds escaped the little one, as Brian chuckled and seemed to understand all too well.

"I know my love, but they are family, and we have not seen them in a long time, and the blossoms will still be there, granted the sake, would have been nice, but Daddy can wait, sweetheart. Huh? Aunt, Jade.. It's been a while, it sure has.."

Thinking back, the eldest Ravenlock thought back to the first time he had really gotten to know Jade, the first time they met in West End, all that time ago. What would eventually lead to a bond, neither of them would have seen back then, and one he was more than thankful for.

"Oh this is going to be fun."

"Isn't it going to fun though? I can't think of any better way to spend a quiet in the illustrious West End, that to mutter to one's self and look a tad worrisome, how bout you?"

Said, a smirking Brian Ravenlock, as he leaned against a nearby light post.

"So how shall we improve your state?"

Jade turned around hearing someone speak. She turned to see her favorite Ravenlock leaning against a LightPost.

"Brian!!" She shouted as she malled him with a hug,"What are you doing here? And how do you propose to improve my state?" The last sentance said with a wink.

Leaning there with a grin on his face, Brian watched Jade a moment and before he knew it was hugged. Eyes widening in surprise, a hug was indeed returned, not only because he was rather find of Jade, but to not do so would be rude.. Well he was fond of her, so scratch the latter point.

"What are you doing here? And how do you propose to improve my state?"

Blue eyes settled upon emeralds of Jade, as Brian smiled, winked in reply, and then pondered a moment. He wanted to make sure she had a good time in WestEnd and wanted to be sure she felt comfortable.. So he went for broke, and did what any clueless male would do. No, he didn't refuse to ask for directions.. Instead he asked.

"Well, lessee.. I know.. Why doncha tell me what you like music wise, or any other interests for that matter, and I will do my best to see we find it. There are quite a few haunts around here, and even a few that play earthen music as well.. Oooooor we could just run amok and do whatever we want."

A grin followed as he looked to Jade once more.

"So tell me, Miss Jade. What would you like to do tonight? Anything at all."

It was then, that a feeling took hold a moment, and blue eyes then narrowed and looked across the way from them a moment.. Brian was a hunter by nature and knew when something was amiss.. The trouble was, there was too much activity to see what exactly it was. And he didn't want to bother Jade with such details. So he smiled to her and once more.

"So where shall we go? Midget tossing? Dancing? Bar hopping? A quiet game of 'Kick the girlscout selling cookies', or something else?"

The rest was hist-- Well his and herstory, as they became friend, and soon family. It was an interesting turn of events, and Brian would have it no other way, none at all. No matter what happened, all were better for it, they were Ravenlocks, adaption and overcoming, was their bread and butter.

Rounding the corner, Brian smiled warmly, as he saw his 'sister' and heard his beloved. Aleyah let out a happy squeel, as Brian approached. A raised brow, as he heard one Kerrithra moan from inside the door, still his smile for his sister did not waver in any way, shape or form.

"You my dear, are a sight for sore eyes.. Welcome home, my dear, welcome home. Leaning to Jade, Brian offered a kiss to her head as Aleyah squeeled happily once more."