Ewan had finished his rounds that day earlier than usual. The rain outside had given his cloak a good soaking, but he was dry underneath. Stepping inside, a warm call to the household as he hung up the cloak. "Who is home?"

Avery all but bursts from the living room to tackle Ewan's legs. *No one is home!* Which clearly wasn't true by his presence, and by Storm's laughter coming from the living room.

Ewan laughed and grabbed up Avery giving a fierce hug and swinging the boy's free dangling legs side to side. "Then who is it that I am hugging, hm?" He pulled back to look Avery dead in the eye. "Being a good lad, are you?"

The boy was all but quaking with silent laughter as he was swung about. As Ewan looked him in the eye though, he bobbed his head vigorously, *Mom and I are playing cards. Practicing so that we can beat you!* Storm was watching the conversation, and called out, "You are supposed to be helping me, Avery!"

"Sounds like serious matters." He set Avery on the ground and gave his backside a gentle swat. "Best you get back to helping your mother." Ewan followed inside and leaned over to give his wife a kiss. "Good day?"

Storm lifted a hand to brush his cheek at the kiss. "It has been, yes." Her face seemed to glow as she smiled up at him, "Would you like to play a round?" Avery moved to sit in his mother's lap.

"I think you two have been practicing too much. I would be surely beat. Best I leave you masters to the game." He added with a touch to Storm's shoulder. "I am going to get a drink of water. Need anything?"

"Water would be fine, thank you." She covered his hand on her shoulder for a moment, before smiling to Avery, "We will play another round, hmm? That means you have to go back to your spot, little one." He moved back to sitting across from her, though he was still in a playful mood as he reached out to try and untie one of Ewan's boots.

A hop of avoiding stepping on fingers as he goes, he gives Avery a look that says "careful" and also manages to avoid having his lace undone. On into the kitchen, he got the glasses of water, a deep drink from his and refilling it before he returned out to the family room and took a seat beside Storm. Her glass was set nearby her hand.

Storm also rose a warning brow to Avery. However, she began to pass out the cards and play the last round. She noticed Ewan placing the water near her, she was focused on rearranging her cards. "Well, let me see the damage." She showed Avery her hand, which had nothing, and saw two pairs in his. *I win, again!* Storm rolled her eyes over to her husband, and faked a pout before taking a drink of the water he brought.

"Well, you two certainly have changed up the game a bit, but I see Avery had the upper hand on that one." He gave a laugh. "I can be assured you two will not get bored while I am away."

Avery's victory face quickly vanished, *You're leaving?* Storm hid her expression and looked between the two over the rim of her glass.

"Aye, but not for another week or so. After Gaerwyn and Lenika's wedding." He would not hedge words with the boy.

*Where are you going? Can I come, too?* Avery moved to go an sit next to Ewan while Storm began to clean up the cards and put them away.

"No, Avery, you cannot go. It is a long way away, and would take you from school for much too long."

*Does that mean you will be gone for a long time?* By the way that he signed, it was clear that he was on the verge of pouting. "Avery." Storm scolded and gave him another warning look, "You know your father has his duty to attend to."

He looked from Avery to Storm, his smile communicating much of his affection for her support in that, and then nodded as he answered Avery's question. "At least three weeks, I should think. How you will have grown by then!" He smiled down with pride.

That seemed to bring about a change in his attitude, *Really? Grandma said that I will start to grow like a weed some day.* Storm put away the cards and moved to join the family on the couch, sending Ewan a curious look. She was sure that they would talk of it when Avery was sleeping.

"Right she is. I remember the summer I passed her in height." He gave a rising whistle. "It was as though one day I was looking up at her and the next looking down." He laughed again. "Avery, your mother may be near to bursting at wanting to know where I am going. We are going to start doing some grown up talk. You can stay or see if the neighbor is home, but be back in an hour for dinner, yes?"

Relieved to hear those words, she laughed lightly and all but tackled him into the cough with a burst of excited energy. She kissed him warmly then, pausing to say, "Thank you" before continuing the kiss.

To say it was unexpected was putting it mildly, and for Ewan to be caught unawares was something nearly unheard off. But unexpected and unawares it was, that he felt a burst of air out of his lungs at the near tackle only to be further deprived of air at the kiss. With her thanks though, he managed to gain a breath before taken under by another kiss, this time he could return with his own measure of excited affection.

She laughed lightly against his lips, before pulling back slightly so that she could look at him, "In two weeks, you said?" A hand came up to run through his hair.

Eyes closed instinctively at the feel of her fingers in his hair. "Mmhmm." If she kept it up, she might make him completely incoherent.

It was truly one time that she was not doing it on purpose, but to have that kind of alone time with him to a new place brought excitement. "What are we going to do when we get there?" She placed a series of kisses down his jaw.

"I have no idea," he blinked as the rush of feelings were starting to keep him from thinking straight. "And I won't have an idea if you keep that up. Avery is going to have a face if he walks in on this that will be interesting to see." He laughed.

She joined in his laughter, "I am sorry, beloved. Well, in truth I am not." More gentle laughter, before she stopped running her hand through his hair and deliberately put some space between them. Some of her smile erased, then. "Avery will not like both of us leaving."

"No," he said with sober nod, "no he will not. Maybe we should get him a dog." He was only partly teasing.

She narrowed her eyes on him, "You tell him that, and we will have a furry addition within a day."

"Is that so wrong?" He asked in earnest.

"No." She admitted, "I think he would be overjoyed to have a companion while he waits for his brother or sister to keep him company." She blinked, "Not that the dog could not stay later."

He chuckled and wrapped her up in his arms to snuggle close. "Yes, I would think the animal would have to stay. I wonder if Phen and Ebon allow for pets at the school. I trust he would be staying there again in our absence."

"Unless we found someone to watch over him here or at Yearling Brook. I will have to ask Phen." She sighed against him and welcomed his warmth. "Are we going to get a dog? Or perhaps a kitten?"

"Not a cat. Absolutely useless things. At least a dog will bark." He laughed low.

"Cats provide comfort and are very self-efficient. Puppies can be messy." She was teasing him, and was looking up at him through her lashes.

"Cats are picky and show no affection unless they want something from you. Dogs are devoted, trustworthy, and useful." Yes, the point of being useful was brought up again.

"They are still messy. I will not be in charge of any messes." Her own point being brought up again, and she was trying very hard to not laugh.

"Fine. No messes. It is not like I have not dealt with many a mess before of all kinds." Most assuredly spoken and confirm countenance.

She laughed lightly, "And what kind of puppy are we going to get him? Big, small?"

"Whatever he wants." He laughed and kissed her soft and swift.

She returned the kiss, her hands once again coming up to cup his cheeks. "Best we prepare to go looking tomorrow." She said quietly against his lips.

"Yes," he answered and kissed her again.

It was now her turn to become distracted by his kisses. "Beloved," said in between a breath, "Avery is going to be coming home soon." Yet she gave him another kiss.

"He can get his own dinner," he teased and kissed her again, one hand moving down her back in a slow caress.

"Ewan!" She breathed out, trying to scold as she returned his affections. Her back arched slightly at his touch, trying to find pauses to speak, "What are.. you going to...tell him? Hmm?"

"Tell who?" He moved from kissing her lips to along her jaw line beneath her ear, feeling her hair fall across his face.