Exton

Ky taps lightly on the door of the nursery and is greeted by several demifae brandishing hat pins, the ends wrapped in brightly colored cloth acting as handles for the tiny hands.

“Hey! It's just me... dont stab me with those things...”

Mya flits over and smiles at Ky. “A sworn one, wont hurt babies. Let pass.”

Ky enters quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping children. She sees Star, sitting on the edge of the bed nursing Ruarc. She moves towards them and sits on her knees on the floor, looking up at Star, noticing her eyes swirling from color to color.

“Are you going to tease me?” Star asks softly.

“What? No. I came to talk to you. I just wanted to help you understand, Toris brothers werent really trying to be mean...” Ky tries her best to explain to Star what its like having brothers and how they wont talk in a group about certain things, unless its deadly serious. “They were just in their own way, feeling Tannr out. They knew it would piss her off, but they wanted to know what Tannr would do, how he would react. Granted, any of us women knew exactly what he was gonna do and that was take off right after her. But men, you know, they can be kinda dense sometimes.”

Soon Star is laughing at Ky's stories of growing up in a large family and being the only tomboy out of the girls.

Ruarc starts to doze off and Star lays him gently in his crib. She checks on Mera and Gracie, sleeping together in another crib. On the bed is Tomas, Tara and Chloe, all sprawled out every which way. Ky grabs the extra blankets folded at the foot of the bed and gives each child a cover.

“So sweet when they are sleeping...” Ky smiles at the small still forms under the blankets.

“You should have one of your own...” Star grins at the horrified look on Ky's face at her comment.

“Me! Are you nuts? Let Raina have one...”

“No, she said Dragon would eat a noisy baby.” Star laughs softly.

Star and Ky make their way down the stairs. Near the bottom Ky reaches out and stops Star and they both sit on a step. They watch the people at the family table, visiting and drinking. “This reminds me of when my brothers and I would hide in the trees at home and spy on our parents or our older siblings...” Ky grins at the memory.

Star sighs as she watches Laila dancing. “She is so pretty and graceful when she dances. I wish I could move like that.”

“I bet she could show you.”

“I dont know... maybe...”

They watch as Laila dances over to Ramji, flirting and smiling at him. Raina says something that makes Alise blush and Stoney laugh. Ob is feeling Pandoras tummy and coaxing her to eat some spicy salsa Monty has brought over to the table.

“You know, all of us here, we are like one big family. We celebrate each others happiness, support each other when things arent so good. We laugh and cry, play, fight, tease each other, just like any family. And there are times when we get pissed off at each other. I'm sure no one meant to hurt Tori's feelings, they were thinking about Tannrs reaction, not hers so much. And I'd be willing to bet they are gonna regret that...”

Star nods and grins. “I think so too. But I still think it was mean.” She sighs, “And they have an unfair advantage, talking with their minds...” Star wiggles her fingers at the sides of her head as she says this, causing Ky to laugh.

“They do. Ready to go back?” Ky asks.

Star nods and the pair stands and heads back to the large family table. As Star approaches and takes her seat next to Erik the group falls silent.

Alise reaches across the table and takes Stars hand. “I think these two have something to say to you.”