She smiled up at him as he felt the baby kick. "We havent thought of any names."She lay her hand over his that laid on her swollen belly. She thought of the life growing within her. Radella had checked on her when eneded.Yet had not told her if it was a boy child or a girl. Lori wanted to be surpised.


"If its a boy we could name him after your father." She could see a little boy with Georgs fine looks, a mixture of their eye color. Perhaps his hair would be a ltitle fairer. Oh hed be a little devil once he was a teen. Ladies would swoon for him, hed be a good ahnd at sea and on land. Fine witha blade or bow. Hed be half vampire half elven, a fine mix.

She toyed with a strand of Georgs hair. "I can see a boy child, hed have your good looks, eyes a mixture of both of ours. Hair slightly faier than your own. Oh ladies would swoon over him. Hed be a fine swordsmen,and bowmen, good at sea and on land. Hed have your silver tongue." She leaned up and stole a kiss.

She lay in his arms and tried to thik of girls names. " What about a girls name?" Something pretty but not overly so.

She chuckled and nuzzled in to his chest. " Celaniel Aurdon" She liked that name it was lovely and strong. She could see their daughter as well just as he had said. Her looks with his eyes. "Any child I bare will love the sea, The Flacon and its crew. But I think Id rather give birth on land, with Radella close by." She ran her hand over the bump of her stomach.

"And we will teach him or her to be skilled in mgaic, bow and blade work. To tie rigging and climb the mast. "She snickered softly. "Yes, I was smitten with you fromt he moment we met. A child hood love. " She let him steal that kiss. "Oh I can think about any child wooing anyone, he or she isnt even born. " It would all go too fast she knew, one day the child growing within her would be a grown man or woman,and one day fall in love, break hearts and likely wage in wars.

She closed her eyes again as she rested her head against his chest. "I am still smitten with you."

Lori smiled hearing him say the name. It was a name that was beautiful and full of history. Oh how her parents would have loved to be grandparents and his as well.

"I miss them. They would have loved this,us together. This child." She leaned up and in to him more.

" You would look dashinly handsome with grey hair, but I think were a few years from that ever happening.." She ran her fingers through the ends of his hair. "And were a ways away from me teaming up with him or her against you. With our combined charms."

Then he slipped from her and she watched him. " And I love you,my captain. I always have."

For after Drake and Cadaria's Wedding
(story arch wise, not by posting date.)

It had been such a lovely wedding. Lori had loved watching Drake and Cadaria dance,while Cadaria's head rested on Drakes shoulder. They fit together, so well. How she glowed in her wedding dress, and how dashing he looked in his suit. But then all the men had gone all out. And their lovely ladies had not been out done.

How fine her pirate had looked in his suit. How dashing. But she found him dashing no matter what he was wearing.Or what he wasn't for that matter. She loved dancing with him under the glittering lights that lit up the sky and lake like little floating stars. How he had held her close and said sweet things to her. How his hands had rubbed her back and rounded over her very full baby bump. Any day now she'd be due. His eyes glowed with that expecting look.

How nice it was to watch the couples dance.It seemed love filled the air. Moving from couple to couple. And when the night was over,the toasts given, the garter caught by none other than Zhorn. The bouquet of flowers by Emily.It seemed fate. Oh Emily had blushed. Perhaps Drake and Cadaria had planned it.

The guests would all go home,some tot he castle,some to cottages and other castles about the alliance. The tables,chairs and decor would all be gone by dawn. But Lori wondered how long the newly weds swayed by the lake,in each others arms. She wished she could see Drakes face when Cadaria showed him their cottage there in Nosgoth. Oh when she showed him some of her other gifts. That got Lori to grin.

It was nice to be back inside the castle though. Georg had rubbed her feet.And she lay happily in his arms. Tomorrow they were going to GreenStone. Salice was going to show them some of Silver Waters finest ships. Though none in Loris mind could compare with the Flacon. She lay in his arms, his right hand moved through her hair, his left over the round of her baby bump. She felt their daughter kick and smiled back at him. His eyes were closed but he smiled.

Lori found it wonderous. To lay her lovely daughter in a little crib and watch the angel sleep. The weddings and parties were over. And she had given brith to her lovely baby . To think only two days ago Cadaria and Drake ahd been wed and Raziel and Aldaya as well.

It had all come and gone so quickly. And now there was another memeber of this massive family. The Alliance Family.

Lori covered her sleeping angel with a light balnket and looked down upon her. Celaniel Aurdon. Oh she was small now with only small wisps of golden hair, that were pale as wheat that had never seen the sun. Her eyes were still that baby gray color. Lori hoped that Celaniel had Georg's eyes. One day she would be a fair young woman. But Lori wouldnt think that far ahead.

They were still inside the great walls of GreenStone Castle,a nd would stay there for a while till the baby and Lori could travel. The room was perfect fit for her, Georg and Celaniel. Lori had a view of the gardens and they had everythign they could need,with a ring of a bell or within the reach of a spell . Salice was all to happy to help them both. Salice ahd welcomed them to stay as longas they wished. The castle was quiet with most everyone at their own homes and cottages. Audrey,Joshua,Kahn and Vanya were there as well as Victor,Shea and Mina. But that was all outside of Salice and her brood.

Lori knew Georg was watching her as she leaned gently on the edge of the crib and watched her darling daughter sleep. Lori knew she was supposed to be resting,off her feet as much as possible. But she loved this part,she loved every part of this new adventure.

Lori rocked the little bassinet. Celaniel was lovely. Perfect. She slept with hardly a fuss. In her new baby clothes. Her head was covered in soft fine blond hairs. Her eyes were close yet still that baby grayish blue. It had been a wondrous few days, two weddings. Two parties and the birth of her beloved little daughter.

Lori was thankful to Salice for allowing them to stay as long as they needed. Radella had stressed that Lori wasn't to travel at least until the baby was able to. That was at least at the half past one year mark. Lori wasn't intending on staying here in the castle so long. But she felt safe there, and Salice had maids and sisters who knew all too well about how to rear a child. Besides the Queen herself was raising three children.

They were part of one massive family now. It felt nice. To be apart of that again. How how much her parents would have loved Celaniel. How Georg's would have doted upon her. Celaniel would never know her grandparents,not in the real sense. But Lori would tell her all about them. The little girl would one day learn things she needed to know, about the realms they lived in. Their massive family.. and the sea.

As she felt Georg come up from behind her she closed her eyes and leaned in to his arms. She was only allowed an hour on her feet,until Radella said other wise. Lori spent that hour at her daughters side. "She's so perfect." She mummered,not leaning away from him nor opening her eyes. "I feel I shall never get enough of her fine beauty."

She twinned her hand with his. She knew hed been watching her like a hawk. Since the birth. It had only been a little over a week. Lori was still on bed rest with an hour off. The birth had been hard on her. " You know, if you had to go back to work, even if you had to sail off for a while.. I wouldn't be mad. Its a long time to wait a full year. But I wouldn't risk her for the world. And Radella doesn't think traveling would be good for me either, not yet."

She still kept her tone low. She knew he had vows to keep to king and country. She opened her eyes and looked down at Celaniel, who slept so soundly.

It was almost three weeks later before Radella cleared mother and baby to travel to Nosgoth. But she was very firm on the fact that they were to go by land. So Salice graciously let them take one of the greenstone carriages, along with its driver and horses.

They left GreenStone on a sunny afternoon. Celaniel was tucked in to her travling bassennet between Lori and Gerog.Lori was seated at the window watching the land go by as they moved from the castle thru the woods to the nearest portal.

It took but a flash to get to Nosgoth. To the portal just outside the castle. They stoppe din for lunch with the queen and king, and had two very egger twins to ooh and aww at the baby.

After their meal and hugs from all they set out for Amfel.



~~~~~

The city had not changed. Not in all the time she had felt she had been away.

It was still as it always had been home.


Though in all truth it had changed over the years. More had been added. The docks were grander, the h0omes more well kept.

It felt like a second home coming, or rather a third.

Home was always the place she had been welcome no mater how long she had been away. The ride to the center of town left her feeling nostalgic. Thinking of the times as a girl she would run and play in those streets, then as she got older, walk to do errands for her parents.

The places she and Georg had been as children. The Inn where they had met again.


The people. They had not changed only grown. Elves, humans, vampires, half breeds, lycans, dragons and mages.


The waterfront, the port to Nosgoth. It seemed more well fortified a than she recalled, with armed patrols seen here and there, there was a new a wall to the south, and east. But times of peace were measured with times of battle and war. She knew that was always the case.

The carriage driver opened the door for the three of them and she smiled to Georg as he got out took Celaniel in her traveling bassinette from her then helped her down on tot he cobble stone. The driver told them both he would await them at the Castle when they were ready to go home.


Georg was already planning to stay the night at least one in his old home. But that was a secret he had yet to share.


"Shall we start with the hardest part?"

There were still old ghosts here for them both. Lost family's. Lori ad not seen any of her siblings since the day she left this place so many ears ago. And she had not heard from any of them still. Aesar was dead, his peace had been found long ago. Thyra had left the day she turned eighteen and had not been seen since. Ivan and Zyvia had gone off together the day they turned eighteen. Kuni had stayed there in the realms she knew and Amfel for many years Lori had seen him many times since coming home again, but not since she had left again with Georg.

Ranewen, had been the last sibling she had seen. And that was still over three years back. That had been at another port town, Anduil in the far east, she had settled down and married, not one of the sea..

She knew where her paths would take them, to the plot behind her parents house where tombs stood for her mother father and older brother, though he had died miles from this shore. She place a white lily's on the grave stones and said no words as she held Celi in her arms. Though later she would tell her of them, how they would have adored her.

The walk here had taken her down memory lane, to may good places.

They went to see Georg's parents then, laid to rest in their family crypt. For them she left red roses. Holding Georg's hand she listened to him tell the stones about their lovely daughter.


~~~

It was later after they had taken their time walking the streets of home, peeking in shops and buying a few dozen things, that they were back at home. Georg's house. A place Lori had long loved.

It was so large and all of it held such good memories.

Celi was tired now, and she slept well there in her own spot in the siting room while Lori leaned her head to Georg's shoulder as they sat on the couch.


" The city has grown. " She saw him nod as he drew his fingers thru her hair. " I have missed it here, in this big house with all its fine memories."

Again he didn't say anything just nodded starring off in to space out the window at the city. "Georg? " She reached her hand up and ran her fingers down his cheek to his jaw line.

She had missed it here. Missed the smell of the sea. The feeling of home.

She loved this house, and allt he memories it brought back to her. They had been home in Amfel for two weeks now, and Lori felt vribrant and alive. Celaniel seemed to like it here as well. She had her own little nursey room.

They had painted it soft blue, rather than girly pink. For pink was never Lori's color either. The baby girl had everything she coudl want. Plus two doting parents.

Lori leaned in the doorway of the nursey. It was late. Past midnight. Celi sometimes woke at this hour, crying for mom or dad. But she had not woken up at this hour for the last few nights. Still Lori would wake slip from bed and watch her daughter sleep from afar.

" You need to come back to bed with me." Georg's arms slipped around her from behind. She knew he would find her there again. "Were just a door away, and not even that. " He eyed the door that ajoined the two rooms, then her there in the hall leaning on the door frame. "Come to bed." He tugged on her night gown, brushed through her hair and nuzzled her neck.

Lori closed her eyes and grinned. "Did you ever dream it would come to this?"

He still nuzzled her neck and tried to guide her slowly back to their room. Lori went with him waiting for an answer. " Dream that we would be here?" He didnt close their door as they walked in, but he did stand infront of the open door way and eye her. She looked virbant. Her hair was long now,long waves of dark gold, her eyes seemed brighter too, she looke dlovely to him in that soft lavender nightgown. She had lost nearly all the baby weight, by following Radellas strict dite and exerise plan. But she still had some new nice curves to her form.

She watched him as he eyed her. She knew her hair needed a trim, and that her hair was a mess of golden waves. She supposed she could be in something sexier for bed, but she liked the comfort of this night gown.

"When we were children, raised here in this city, so close to one another. I never really dreamed I'd be here one day. Oh I hoped for it, more so as I got older. A family of my own. I watched men I admired gain wonderful women and children, and I wanted that . You know what happened. When I came back here, I was seeking something, maybe the bottom of a bottle, maybe the comfort of home. But there you were. Lorelei Violet Wistari, the girl I had grown up beside for so many years. How many times had I teased you along with your siblings, or walked with you home? How many times had I tugged on your long golden braids of hair?" His fingers swept through her hair now.

" I admitted to you long ago, that when I saved you that night I started to feel something..That's why I gave you this bracelet. "He touched the soft silver around her arm, "But I used to watch you, more than you know. You grew up before me, and I loved you, I just didn't know how much. Then we lost our parents, your own and mine and I left, then you left..."

Lori nodded and gazed in to his eyes. "We needed up here again."

"Yes we did, in my house," He kissed her softly. " That night of your strip tease. " He glanced over her now, "I can see it sill so fresh in my mind." He sniffed at her hair. "You smelt as you do now, of the sea and lavender. Yet now you have this subtle under scent, its so soft..." He kissed her neck and she sighed softly.

"I lost it when you did your own strip tease.." She giggled as his hands ran under her night gown to pull her closer.

" I am glad we ended up here, just like this." He ran the tip of his fangs up the side of her neck. " Now come to bed with me.."

"Hmmm, you may have to persuade me."

She heard him growl in her ear. "You know I am not scared of you." He tooka step back and eyed her. "How to persuade you?"

She shugged and eyed him in his pajamas, which where a pair of soft pj pants. He smirked at her when he saw that look. "Oh but my dear your far more dressed than I."

She looked down to her night gown. "That is true." She eased one strap off her shoudler, than the other, and shimmed out of the night gown. She wore white lace underneath.

"Hmm.." He stepped forward and ran his hands over her fuller hips. then up over the cups of her bra. She closed her eyes to his touch. "Still tender? " She nodded softly. He edged in closer and edged her bra strapps off her shoudlers with his fingers then followed the motion with his lips. He easily unhooked her bra and let it fall away. "Now were much more even."

She shook her head at him. he brushed her long golden hair forward till her barebreasts were covered. " You look like a siren, about to lure me in to her web." She chuckled, "Sirens sing... I don't plan on singing.."

"No?" He stepped back and eased out of his pajama pants, he wore nothing underneath. She eyed him witha grin. "Were uneven again." She stepped back and slipped out of the last of her under garments.

He looked her over witha grin. "Just like a siren..." he stepped closer and brushed her long golden waves away, to cup her breasts in his hands. "See lured me in already." He bent down and kissed down the front of her neck across her chets over the swell of her left breast.

Lori stood there, with her eyes clsoed, her arms wrapped about him in an instant, her hands trailed his bare back. As he started to lightly tease her she felt weak in the knees. She felt him lean her back to the bed, where she lay while his lips,teeth and fingers teased every inch of her body.


When he was done witht hat his lips found their way up her neck. "Your the most lovely, sexiest woman I have ever known. I love every inch of you.."

She sighed under him and oepned ehr eyes to find his lips to kiss. "As I love you.."

He stared down in to her eyes after that kiss. " I have missed this, I was so worried about you, after Celi was born.. and I admit I was worried that if I touched you I might devour you...But I didn't want to hurt you."

Her hand graced his cheek. "I have never felt better than I have these last few days, being here at home again, being here with you alone, the three of us.. I had forgotten how I love to watch you, how you work, how you play with Celi.. at night while you sleep."

His hands caressed her form slowly as she spoke. "I have missed this as well..being with you..feeling this...passion. Let us ride it out... let it take us where it may..." Her fingers rose over his arms to his shoulders and down his chest.

" I will be gentle with you.."

" I vow I will not break if you are not... kiss me..."