Exton

"Laughter and conversation, dinner with Gars. My family would disown me all over again." Although Keon muttered it to Erik, sharp ears picked the comment up as well. Stoney's sister looks up, giving the Dark Lord a wry grin.

"Who would have thought we would be eating dinner with a High Court Sidhe? After all, our People, they do not get along well. But we can always find a way to improve... relations."

She winks at Keon, playing the coquette. Suddenly her eyes open wide. "*Mon dieu, je suis désolé! I did not know. Your heart... she has been broken." His eyes lose a bit of their shine. She quickly changes the subject. "The pretty little water baby... she is yours, not Erik and Star's?"

Stoney rises from the table and walks away. His mother stares after him, then gives her oldest daughter a chastening look. What thoughts pass between them is blocked from everyone else. The younger woman lowers her eyes, inclining her head. "I must apologize Lord Blackthorn. I was... out of line."

Stoney reaches toward the door, pulling it open as his thoughts reach his family.

Tori is here, finally. She has Grace and Torrent with her. Someone pull over another table?

Ob glances at Ike and moves to a table. "Hey Ke? Give me a hand with this?"

The Sidhe lord rises, bows silently to Stoney's sister, and helps Ob lift the table to move it. His words are quiet, barely uttered. "Ye could have done this yerself, mate."

Ob grins, his easy friendly smile. "True, did you want to deal with that moment?"

They set the table at the end, forming an L. "Ke, would you get three more settings from the kitchen?" As Keon heads for the kitchen, Ob pulls two chairs over. He leaves the end of the table open. When keon returns, he motions to the empty spot.

"Grace will be able to look up either table without effort this way."

"Grace?" Abuele raises a brow, "This Grace, she is... Tori's partner?"

"In business only, Abuele. She is a friend to us all. The little ones have adopted her." Ike ruffles her nephew's hair as she passes behind him with a platter of food.

Tori sweeps into the room carrying a very frail looking woman. Torrent follows, snapping open a wheelchair as soon as they are inside. The Brownie adjusts a wildly colored quilt over a cushion on the chair's seat. Tori lowers Grace carefully, helping her settle in the chair. The woman pats Tori's arm muttering, "Don't fuss Tori. I can still enjoy being around people. I will not tire myself out."

Torrent wheels the chair to the end of the tables, sitting next to her. Tori fills her plate with light foods and Grace sighs. She smiles at the group. Keon pauses by her and leans close. He talks softly and she raises a hand. His lips brush the tops of her fingers and he resumes his seat. He smiles at Stoney's family, a charming, courtly smile.

"Allow me to introduce Grace. She is one of the few humans who know the truth of us, and accepts us as we are." He smiles at grace and she laughs. "There is my Dark Lord. I have missed those smiles Keon. Torrent tells me they are mostly for Mera these days."

Keon inclines his head in her direction. "My brother and his wife, who care for my little moon, and for you, my sweet Grace."

She grins, harsh lines betraying the now ever present discomfort. "You honor me, Lord Blackthorn. Are you trying to sweet talk an old lady?"

He schools his features. "Trying, I gather that means I am not succeeding?" When she shakes a finger at Keon, tsking, laughter erupts around the table.

Tomas is staring at Stoney, frowning. The little boy slaps his bare arm, getting his attention. When his father looks down, Tomas frowns again. Stoney unbuckles the highchair's strap with a smile.

"Oui Tomas. You may give Grandmere a kiss."

Tomas is reaching for Grace before they are even close. As soon as he is on her lap, he wraps his arms around her neck and smears a very sloppy kiss on her cheek. She hugs him close and then sets his bottom on the table to stare at him.

"Tommy boy, what did you do to me?"

He gurgles happily, holding his arms out for Stoney. The gargoyle stares at Grace for a moment, then smiles. "He gave you some love."

A sudden thought hits all the receptive minds. Heads turn, focusing on Tara as she squeals.

Tommie kiss... Me Kiss!. Koe Kiss! Mera touch. Gracie touch. No kiss, just babies.

An image of Tara and Chloe hugging Grace erupts in their minds, followed closely by the babies being held by Grace. Chloe's touch is emphatic.

Grace looks around at the stunned faces. "What is going on?"

The redhead wipes tears from her eyes. "Tara just spoke to us, and Chloe backed her up with images. They want to hug and kiss you too. All of them."

Grace smiles. "Of course they can. I love the little ones."

She shakes her head, laughing. "No Grace, not just hug and kiss. Give you love. Just like Tomas." She leans close, sliding an arm around her shoulders. tears shimmer in her eyes, threatening to overflow. "Their... love. It is lessening the pain, isn't it?" Grace nods silently. "They don't like to see their Grandmere hurting. You are supposed to be happy, like the woman who sat on the grass and played with them." She smiles. "They want Grandmere to love them back. Will you let them kiss you?"

Tears begin to slip down Grace's face. She nods and Ob and Stoney bring their daughters. The little girls hug her tight, kissing her cheeks much less sloppily than Tomas. When they are back in their chairs, they begin picturing the littlest ones being held by Grace.

The adults tell them to let it go for now. Grandmere Grace hasn't even had a chance to eat.  Everyone settles back into the normal routine. Marie leans close to her son and murmurs. "Her aura. She is not long for this world Re'mi." The French gargoyle sighs. "But what they did... her color, it is lighter."

She looks at the children, assessing their energies. "They are stronger than anything I have ever seen, except perhaps your nest brother, Josephito. Does he know what he can do?"

Stoney smiles, watching his brother cater to his wife and child. "You have no idea maman. He has come to terms with many things these last few years. And Pandora accepts every part of him, even when he didn't."

"This place," Marie gestures with an elegant hand. "It has been a good place for you all. You have found Home."


*My god, I am sorry.