I think these belong to you

[Northen Light36]

Zap's grinning as he and Gemma near Sensita, Libre riding piggy back style on Zap. Despite the whole running away from home part, Zap's enjoyed having his niece and nephew with him.

As they'd travelled over the country side, Zap had taken the opportunity to teach Gemma and Libre some wilderness survival skills and been pleased at how quickly they'd caught on. Still, enjoyment or not, the trip is at an end.

"Ready to see your parents again?" Zap asks Libre as he walks up to the gate and rings the bell. Gemma instantly clamps her hands over her ears.

"I hate that bell," she mutters.

[Kender Bard]

Libre didn't seem to mind the bell - he'd been expecting it. "Yeah..."

The guards, teleporting down, instantly recognize the Heir and Gemma. Eyes wide, he teleports away again.

"That was odd," Libre murmured, then grinned as Thelon teleported to them instead, Tres in tow. His grin abruptly fell at the strange look on his father's face - a mixture of relief, rage, and fright.

[Northen Light36]

Tres' expression is much like her husband's, but she acts faster by first hugging her daughter and son, then Zap. "Zap, where did you find them? Libre, Gemma, are you all right? How could you do something like this?"

"Tressie, breathe," Zap says. "They're fine. They came straight to me."

[Kender Bard]

"Sorry Mom," Libre replies meekly. "We were just gonna go on an adventure."

"Oh Libre," Thelon sighs, hugging Gemma and then taking his son in his arms and hugging him tightly as well. "Don't ever do that again."

[Northen Light36]

"I didn't plan to take Libre," Gemma says, uncomfortably. "I knew you'd worry about him, but he really wanted to come and I couldn't say no..."

"We were worried about you too, Gemma," Tres replies. Gemma crosses her arms over her chest.

"I'm not a child, mother," she complains. "If I want to leave, there's no reason I shouldn't." Zap winces, seeing the arguement building up.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon's eyes narrow as the Mind switches gears between relief and back into anger. "You are our child," he scolds. "And there are many reasons for you to not go escaping into the night!"

[Northen Light36]

Gemma glares back. "I'm not a child and I was an adult before you ever showed up on our doorstep," she snaps.

"That's enough, Gemma," Tres snaps. "I don't care how old you are. You are our daughter and you will follow our rules." Gemma scowls.

"You can't force me to stay," she snaps, then bites down on her temper a little. "I shouldn't have taken Libre, I know, and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry you were worried too. But, I want to go with Zap and become a mercenary too. Uncle Zap, you'd let me stay with you, right?"

"Don't get me involved, Gems," Zap replies, but the tone of his thoughts is clear. 'I'd take you in a heartbeat.'

[Kender Bard]

Thelon cuts Zap a look that clearly says he's not helping, then frowns deeply at Gemma. "And what if someone took a shot at you or something to get to us? Our personal concerns and wishes aside, you do have status in two lands and are an important figure in that regard as well."

[Northen Light36]

Gemma frowns. "One, that's not likely to happen," she replies. "I'm not of any value to Sensita, that's Libre. And the only value I have to Naurorod is being the least liked of the two Fira heirs."

"Gemma," Tres says. "That's not true. You mean the world to us, and that means more then any title."

"all right, fine," Gemma sighes. "Even surposing someone decides to go after me, despite the fact I'm a fully trained Fira warrior AND an adult, how are you going to stop them? Chain me to your sides? Lock me away like a prisoner?"

[Kender Bard]

"You won't come to harm in Sensatia without someone knowing right away," Thelon pointed out, his voice going to a more calm and logical one - a pleasant change from his heated angry tone. "And if you go out into the world and we know where you are, I can keep tabs on you daily if I so please."

[Northen Light36]

Gemma frowns at Thelon. "And what if I don't want someone keeping tabs on me?" she asks. She sighes, a frustrated, angry sound. "Force, no one makes this sort of fuss over Aideen!" she growls, her tone laced with jealousy. "Or Uncle Zap. Or Aunt Artica. Or Aunt Tavia."

"Tres, Thelon," Zap says gently. "Gems has a point. And I'm based in Ilyamen these days. If she came with me, you'd-"

"Zappary," Tres growls. "No. I can't stop YOU trying to get yourself killed on a daily basis, but I will be damned if I let you drag my daughter into that lifestyle." Zap smiles. "Something amusing?" Tres hisses.

"Oh, I'm just thinking of a certain red haired sister of mine," Zap remarks casually. "You might know her. She packed a bag and headed out into the desert because, and I quote, 'I have to choose my own path. I'm not a child anymore'." Tres flushes slightly, but crosses her arms.

"And I nearly got killed too," she snaps. Zap keeps calm.

"Would you say life had been worth the risk, Tres?" he asks gently. Tres doesn't answer, looking away from her brother's knowing stare.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon sighs as well, shifting his weight as he grows uneasy. "Look, I've never had children before I adopted Libre. You can imagine how difficult it is for me to puzzle out what to do with someone older than him. All I know is that it's a father's duty to care for, protect, and provide for his children so I'm trying to do that as best as I can. I can't do it if you run away, Gemma."

[Northen Light36]

Seeing everyone is simply getting frustrated, Zap steps forward. "This isn't solving anything," he says flattly. "I've got work to do at the moment and Timble's going to need me. Thelon, Tres, Gems, why don't you all take some time to talk things over and I'll come back in a month or so and we can decide on things then, when everyone's got cooler heads?"

"I'm willing," Gemma argees after a moment's hesitation. Tres doesn't look happy, but she also nods in agreement.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon gives a nod as well.

Libre, who had been very quiet throughout all the arguing, leans forward from his father's arms towards Zap, trying to give him a hug. "Bye Uncle Zap," he says quietly.

[Northen Light36]

Zap smiles and hugs Libre. "You be good now, Libre," he tells the boy, ruffling his hair. "Next time you want to visit me, ask your dad to bring you." Grinning, Zap hugs Gemma and whispers something to her, bringing a hint of a smile to her lips.