"You should see them while you are here," she told him. "No matter how bold it is of me to say so, I am right, and you know it. At the end of the day they are still your family. You have been gifted with long life and your family's good health. But, that will not last forever. It is best to live our lives with no regrets for today is certain, but tomorrow not so. I am sure your family misses you. Them getting on your nerves is their way of telling you they love you. That is what family is for," she chuckled.

"Tea?" Primrose bustled about stoking the fire and putting a kettle of water on it. She refused to look at Harkness after her small chiding. "Friends? I only ever had one and we don't really talk to each other anymore," she told him as she climbed up to stand on the table. Standing on her tip-toes she allowed herself to fall forward until she was bracing her hands against the very cupboard Janus had dumped flour from on top of. "Ryuu and I grew distant when I moved back here. In the end our letters just seemed to taper off. There really wasn't much left to say anymore, we had grown up differently and no longer seemed to know each other."

Primrose strained forward trying to reach the box of tea leaves on top of the cupboard. No matter how much she tried though she could not seem to reach it. She moved to the very edge of the table, precariously balancing as she one more lunged for the tea box.

Granted but it's even more unhealthy for you and you can't stop eating it.

I wish I was not confined to bed

Duck! ^.^

Primrose saw the shadow move across his face as well as the way he switched tenses when talking of his sister. 'Poor choice of subject, Prim. Something is not right between him and his sister. Let it go.'

"Serendipity? I have not returned there since I was fourteen. When my father died my mother and I went to live her brother. When she died I returned here. I did not like being under my uncle's influence. That dislike was only strengthened upon my last return. As long as he still lives, I will not be returning to Serendipity. I like my life away from him where I can do as I please. He'd rather see me married and being the perfect little nobleman's wife than be a teacher and a fighter." As she spoke, she had been tearing into the loaf of bread a lot more anger than was completely necessary. Crumbs covered the table-top surface and she scowled when she saw the mess she had made.

"Now I believe it is your turn. Where are you from and do you ever go back?" she asked him beginning to clean up her mess.

She saw his uncertainty and a small smile began to curl the corners of her lips. Tiraris took the few steps forward closing the gap between them and took Caden's head once more in her hands. Gently, almost shyly she kissed him. It was unhurried and sweet.

She pulled away only far enough to see his eyes fully. "It means Caden, that there will be an us. Provided you will still have me, of course." Tiraris' eyes danced with love and hope.

'One way or another we will fix this Caden. We will be an us. We will be our own family.'

Each step was slow and measured. Her heart felt heavy as she thought of what she was about to do, what she was about to tell him. 'Caden will love you no matter what. Trust in him as he trusts in you Tiraris.'

Tiraris paused as she stood in front of the door dividing her and Caden. 'No going back now, Tiraris. The decision is made, all that awaits is telling him. Be strong girl!' Her grip tightened painfully on her rucksack as she reached for the door handle.

Slowly, she opened the door, wincing as it creaked. She did not say a word as she turned and shut it and then moved over to her things. She paused looking at her sword before dropping her sack and cloak.

Tiraris took small dainty steps over to where Caden was and stood silently before him. Her face was expressionless, her hands were clasped loosely in front of her. She looked every bit the noblewoman that she was raised to be. "Caden," she addressed him, meeting his eyes. Calmly she watched him, trying to gauge his reaction "We need to find me a teacher."

Duck

Slowly, Primrose trudge her way up the path to her front door. A few feet away she froze seeing the tall figure standing on her doorstep. 'Who is that? Could it be? That smile, I know that smile. Saezer?'

"Saezer!" she screamed joyfully, dropping her books and running up to him. She launched herself into him, embracing him tightly around the middle quickly before quickly releasing. "Oh Saezer it is you! I have missed you so much. Have you been waiting long? When did you get back? Are you hungry? Would you like to eat now? Did you have a safe journey?" Primrose spoke in a rapid-fire way hardly allowing Saezer to get a word in edgewise. When at last she was out of breath from talking she just hugged him again smiling, albeit a bit more gently than the first. "I missed you," she told him softly.

Are you saying that I have eaten it illegally?

Duck

Are you going to take offense with my answer?

"Yes he was, a very respected one too, from what I can remember. Although, Ustskel had so much of a personality of your own you would think she did all the work. Ustskel was my father's dragon. He let me ride with him once, always promised that when I grew up she would be mine. He died defending her from poachers. I think I still have some of her scales around the house. People believe they make good luck charms," she told him shrugging.

"They are rare and so beautiful. They are fierce and proud creatures. Knowing one is truly a gift, being allowed to ride one is an even greater one. I consider myself very fortunate for being given such an honor."

Primrose smiled tearing some more bread for herself. "Your sister sounds like a fun person. What else did you two do when you were younger?"

Are you saying that I am too subtle for you?

Why are you twisting my words?

Together

What does language have to do with anything?

Yaffingale

Are we speaking relatively, theoretically, or analytically?

Kennel

Was it really that long ago?