Ewan tucked the quilt about Maeve's body where she sat upon the bench in the garden. "There, that should keep out most of the chill." A tilt of his head upward to the sunny sky as he stood, he said, "Though, the sun should keep you warm enough, mother, there is a bit of a cold breeze still."


Maeve nodded, "Oh, that is fine; just fine. It is a good day to be out." She turned that smile up to Storm, and patted the bench beside her. "Come, tell me how you're feeling today."


With Avery captivated by a collection of marbles, he seemed rather content to sit around the adults and let his imagination roam free. Storm smiled to Ewan, her hand brushing his arm before she moved to sit with Maeve, "I am feeling rather well, thank you. I have had some of my better morning here, in particular."


"Oh, I am glad." Maeve patted Storm's hand light beneath the curl of her fingers. Green eyes, brighter in recent days, held a spark as she leaned over to whisper. "I have had some better mornings here recently myself." The trickle of laughter floated on the air.


Ewan moved to sit on the other side, his legs stretched out. He watched the women talk and the boy play as well as looked over the garden. Maeve caught his investigation and questioned. "Not much has changed except the addition of the room, Ewan. I cannot see a need to do so."


"No," he acknowledged with a nod,"I do not see a reason either."


Maeve gave a nod and in turning back to Storm, patted the woman's hand again. "You will need clothes to fit you in the coming months. And a crib and little things. It seems long off, but oh I remember still when Ewan came along. Every month was something new happening and all the while kept planning for his arrival. Took up a quilt at the nights to help me relax and not fret so."


Storm's smile was brilliant as Maeve mentioned her having better mornings. She had no other desire than to bring comfort and joy to Ewan's mother. She looked over to Ewan for a moment as Maeve caught him investigating. "It does seem like it is very far off," a nod of agreement. "I have been told that I will need company towards the end of the summer months." Her lips curled at the corners.


"Company is it?" Maeve chuckled. "Do tell."


"Oh, I have a few friends that reminded me that the summer is rather uncomfortable when you are expecting, particularly towards the end. They promised to keep me company and give me.. " she frowned trying to remember, "ice chips."


Ewan chuckled and shook his head. Maeve laughed, "Well then, good friends you have. Oh yes," Maeve nodded, "I remember a friend of mine whose child was born just at the end of summer. She spent a good amount of her time in her cellar where it was cool. I did not have that trouble with Ewan. He was a midwinter baby."


"Was he?" She looked over to him then, raising a slight brow. "Was he an easy babe?" Of course she was talking to Maeve, though her eyes were looking to Ewan's with an impish glitter.


"Am I one now?" He offered with a wry grin.

Maeve swiped at his arm slow, but the intent was there. "Shush now." She turned a smile to Storm. "My mother thought him a very odd child, and being a superstitious woman, did think he might have been a fairy child. Well, impossible, because he had that hair of my father's from the day he was born. Shock of burnt blond hair as thick as a can be. But he was a mighty quiet babe except when he wanted something, oh he made no end of noises. Seemed to get sick every other week, but just as soon as that," she snapped her fingers,"he had done with it." She shook her head and smiled. "I was envy of many of my friends, I tell you."


She laughed lightly at the easy bantering, and even Avery's shoulders shook with hints of silent laughter. She was still looking to Ewan as Maeve gave the description of the first times of Ewan's life. "Let us hope the child has your temperment, then." She looked to Maeve then, "My father says that I liked to communicate when I was a baby, and the only way to do that was to cry." She grinned.


"Do not believe her, beloved. When my father spoke of my infancy, he did bemoan how much trouble I was to them, and that he wondered they did not have their ears bleeding or go jump in a lake, and I was to be grateful that they held out."


Maeve scowled and tisked. "Ewan, you do not tell an expectant mother that the baby she's carrying might turn out to be a little monster." Maeve frowned severely at Ewan, but smiled and gave a wink to Storm. "He was a baby, as any other baby, but I have a good memory, my girl, and I remember clear that I had less trouble with him than my friends did."


Ewan muttered, "Or they complained more and you were too sweet to say what a pain I was." Maeve laughed and leaned over to kiss her son on his cheek.


Her eyes narrowed on Ewan, though her gaze eased at the wink that he gave her. "I have no doubt that you were a pain when you got older." She smiled at Ewan, and gave a look that said, "we can bring up furniture." Back to the original point, Storm looked back to Maeve,"I am thinking that we will purchase such necessities throughout the time that we have."


"Aye, but I would like to make sure you get the quilt I made for Ewan. It should be in one of the chests."


Ewan smiled as he asked, "Think it has not been eaten away?"


"Oh, no, I kept good care of some few things, and that was one of them." She took a deep breath of the outdoor air. Her eyes closed a moment and she just listened to nature and felt the comfort of her son and his family close by.


It was Storm's turn to gently pat Maeve's hand, "It would be an honor to receive his quilt. Thank you." Avery flicked several marbles in their direction, most stopping their trail because of Ewan's boots. Avery relocated by Ewan's feet, and continued to play the game with himself.


Ewan reached out to touch Avery's shoulder with affection. "Keep care of your mother, Avery." He stood from the bench and leaned to kiss his mother's cheek. "You follow Sianna's requirements, mother. Do not push yourself too long."


Maeve smiled and nodded. "Oh, I will heed the words. I am not rebellious like you." But something in that smile said he got some of his nature from her.


Ewan nodded and moved to give Storm a kiss. "I should not be too long, beloved. I will come back here before we return to the manor. I suspect no more than three or four hours."


Avery nodded and gave a salute as if he was taking an order from the captain. Storm returned the kiss lightly and smiled. "Of course. Safe travels, dear one." It was with exquisite control that her curiosity and questions about his leave did not surface to her features.

Avery sighed silently as Maeve's fingers moved gently over his head, and only Storm saw the trembling within them. It was at a time like this that Storm wanted her gift to be with her, so that she could only further Maeve's comfort. Avery picked up one of the marbles on the floor, and carefully put it in Maeve's hand, somehow thinking that the gesture would prove that he understood what she meant. He smiled, before becoming involved in the other marbles once again. "Yes, we do not want to keep Avery out of his schooling for too long."


Her hand in increments made in some measure easier from the ministrations of Sianna, closed about the marble as well as they could, keeping it safe within the hollow of her palm. A nod to Storm's words. "Yes, of course. Best he keep to lessons and be all the wiser than those who came before. And you, Storm? Your work," for she had no other concept of it than a job to be performed, "does it go well?"


Storm idly watched Maeve's hand move around the marble to the best of her ability, before smiling at the description of her job. "It.. goes well, yes. Traveling through the portal has not been easy on my stomach since I have been pregnant. But I am fortunate enough to work alongside my father," it was assumed that Maeve would remember him from the joining ceremony, "as he comes to the house often to update me on things."


"And he is well?" She prompted for she did indeed remember him.


"Yes, he is doing well. He is excited for the baby that is to come." Her features turn just a touch softer at the thought her of father, "He dotes on children."


Maeve understood well that. "Is there concern that you are..." she was trying to be delicate about the question, "...not human and Ewan is? Will that be difficult on you or the baby?" The unease she felt revealed in a fidgety type of shift in her sitting, but it was of importance as well by the lowered voice of worry.


Storm thought of her words before speaking carefully, "There is no concern that the baby will have no more difficulties than a baby from two humans." She did not seem offended by the question, and felt that Maeve had a right to ask it. "There is an uncertainty if the baby will be able to use the same gift if I do, but that is not a worry or a concern of mine. All that matters to me is that the baby is healthy and happy."


There was apparent relief, for an uncertain tension released from Maeve's shoulders and her smile returned in quiet ease. "My wish as well. I," she stopped and looked to Avery, and obviously changed what she had to say. "I will keep it uppermost in my thoughts." She did not add her question to the length of time she may have, since hope had arrived in the kindness of foreign strangers. Her breath out was slow, and her eyes closed again. It was good to be in the garden and to have family, family she never thought to have, near.


Though Storm knew that Maeve was going to say something else, she just held her smile and acted like she had caught nothing. "Thank you." It was a simple statement that held so much more meaning that Storm could not feel that words could express. So instead, she gently rested her hand against Maeve's arm, and enjoyed the time and opportunity that she had.

Gaerwyn made sure to clean his boots before going inside. The quay had been particularly rife with refuse that afternoon. He stood outside the front door in the garden, and called in to his daughter. ?Lina??

He waited with an ear cocked to noises of an approach and after some moments, the door flung open. ?Papa! You should smell the chowder!?

A rumble of good natured laughter, Gaerwyn grinned, ?And a good day to you, too. Lina, would you be a good lass and go fetch a cloth for me to clean off my boots.?

The awareness of his boots drew the young girl?s eyes downward. ?Eww, you don?t want to bring that in here! Lenika will kill you! She cleaned the floor today.?

?Yes, thank you, sweetling, I did have it a?mind to clean them.? He gave her a look that he hoped prompted her memory to his request.

?Oh!? Lina?s hand clapped to her mouth as she did finally remember. ?Yes, Papa, right away.? The door was slammed shut behind her, and Gaerwyn rolled his eyes at the noise. But his daughter returned promptly with a cloth, one side wetted and the other dry.

?Thank you,? he said, taking the cloth and starting to clean the boots under the strict supervision of his daughter.

?Right there,? she pointed. He would see to it. ?There other side, too. You missed a spot.?

Gaerwyn sighed and stood on both feet again. ?Lina, I think I can see to this bit of cleaning. If what I smell coming from the open doorway is indication of dinner, I expect you and Gaer to get cleaned up and help with whatever Lenika and Sianna need of you.?

?Yes, Papa,? she giggled and went back inside, mercifully not slamming the door.

Finishing up his cleaning, aspect, he went in seeking to greet his betrothed with a kiss and get the news of the day. On his search, he went into the kitchen with a smile to Sianna. ?Smells fine indeed, Sianna. I hope you and Lenika have been finding and getting whatever it is you need.? He kept an ear out for her reply as he went past and into the washroom, where he dropped the cloth into an awaiting hamper of dirty clothes. Examining the pile, he grumbled to himself, ?I suspect I may have wash duty tomorrow.?

"Aye, all has been right as rain as far as I can tell, and I gave Lenika th' day off tae rest. She can afford tae while I'm here...? A cheeky grin spread wide, ?And ye just might, cause I told th' lass she should be planning a wedding instead of plunging the laundry earlier."

?Papa!? Lina came running into the kitchen with Gaer at her heels, both holding up drawings in moving hands.

?Be careful in the kitchen,? he warned them as he tried to gather up the pictures to see them better, ?you nearly knocked Mistress Sianna down.?

The children's exuberance had endangered nothing, as they were far from the hearth and oven. The extra water that had soaked her apron would dry soon enough. A forgiving smile was sent their direction before she returned to washing up the things that had accumulated in the sink.

Lina knew the thing to do immediately, and turned to say, ?I?m sorry, Mistress Sianna.?

Gaer needed a more prompting look, and added in some fashion of haste, ?Sorry!? Then immediately turned back to his picture, ?Look!?

Gaerwyn did look, and saw that the hands with which Gaer was pointing was dirty. ?I see dirty hands. Fine drawings of you both, but get upstairs and wash up, or I will be washing you up myself.?

That did the trick, and the children were off again, slow through the kitchen, and then like whirlwinds through the hallway and up the stairs. Gaerwyn heared Lenika call to the children, ?Slow down, please.?

A light-hearted smile to Sianna, ?They start up schooling outside of the house again next week. There will be quiet again soon. For at least part of the day.?

"Gaerwyn, lad... have ye forgotten that I'm used tae houses filled tae th' brim with rowdy boys? They dinna bother me a mite, and bring quite a fair dose of joy tae yer auntie." Drying her hands on a towel, she patted him on the shoulder before dropping it into the hamper. "Dinna wish away th' loud days just yet, aye? They'll be grown soon enough."

To that he could not deny and gave a sigh and nod. It was a moment as he imagined them grown and away. Breaking from the thoughts, he smiled again and went in search of Lenika to catch up on her day.