Family growth

[Northen Light36]

Very, very early in the morning, shortly before dawn in fact, Amaro walks up the Veatherfall house and knocks on the door. Unusually for Amaro, the man is actually grinning broadly.

A very pleased looking Faith is following Amaro, purring so hard she's almost shaking.

[Kender Bard]

Talon answers the door. In the background is the sound of Alethia working in the kitchen. He gives Amaro and Faith quizzical looks. "What is it?" he asks, curious. Alethia pauses in her work and looks over her shoulder curiously.

[Northen Light36]

"Acqua went into labor last night," Amaro says, still smiling. "I just thought you two might like to come see her and the babies." Faith sits back and braces herself for what she expects to be a loud and undiginfied human reaction.

~Kit had her litter?~ Summer questions his mother as he slips out of Crentha's room.

~Yes, dear,~ Faith replies.

[Kender Bard]

"Haha!" Talon whoops, jumping up in the air.

"Babies?" Alethia repeats, perplexed. "You mean she had more than one?"

[Northen Light36]

Amaro chuckles softly and nods. "I didn't know she knew all the words she was calling Mat," he replies with a laugh. "But yes, Acqua had twins. Bas and Pas are thrilled."

[Kender Bard]

"We'll be right over!" Alethia exclaims in delight. "Just give me a moment to put a little something together and wake Spice."

"I'll wake Spice," Talon assures Alethia. "And Skip." He hurries off to inform his son of the news and ask that he and Skip stay home and watch over Crentha.

"I wanna see my cousins," Spice protests.

"Acqua and the babies are going to be quite tired," Talon explained. "You can see them later, we don't want to overwhelm them and I need you to watch your sister. I know you and Skip can do so. You're getting older, son, it's time to take a little responsibility."

Spice grimaced but nodded. "All right," he agreed reluctantly.

By then, Alethia had finished putting together a small basket of some of Acqua's favorite foods to nibble on when she felt more up to it. "Ready!" she declared.

[Northen Light36]

As soon as everyone's ready, Amaro leads the family back to the Melissan-Ronoh home, where Bas dashes out of the house to greet them, barefoot and in her nightdress, but too excited to care about the cold. "I got a sister now!" she annouces proudly, then pulls a face. "And another brother."

"Shush Bas," Amaro scolds a little as he carries her back inside. "You'll wake up the whole city. Is Acqua awake still?" Bas nods.

"Sorta. Mama sleepy," she tells the adults importantly. "Daddy with Muma and the babies. Pas and Aria with Auntie Cass."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia smiles as she and Talon walk off towards where they can guess Acqua is, moving quietly but quickly in their excitement.

Alethia knocks softly. "Acqua, may I come in?" she asks softly, not wanting to disturb a moment between her sister and Mat.

[Northen Light36]

Lying on the bed, at least three quarters asleep, Acqua stirs enough to nod to Mat. Mat smiles, kisses her, then goes to open the bedroom door, holding his tiny daughter carefully. "Come in," he greets them with a warm smile.

"Hi sis, hi Talon," Acqua says, smiling tiredly at her brother and sister as they enter the bedroom. "Meet Letha Echo Sanderson and Robin Talon Sanderson."

[Kender Bard]

Talon lights up as he hears the honor bestowed upon him. "Oh, Acqua, I'm touched," he breathes, looking as though he might tear up a bit. Alethia smiles and sets the basket of goodies down near the bed. Alethia smiles widely as well.

"I brought you some treats for when you're feeling up to a bite to eat," she explained as she pulled up a seat and admired the babies. "They're gorgeous, Acqua. I'm so proud of you."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua smiles. "Thank you, sis," she says then smiles at Talon before looking down at her son who's resting in a cloth lined baby basket. "Letha's already got her father wrapped around her finger, but would you like to hold Robin for a bit, either of you?"

~No getting teary Talon. You're my big brother and I love you, even if I don't always show it. Kitten's words, I'm just the messenger,~ Pixie says to Talon alone from her bed in the corner.

[Kender Bard]

Talon swipes at his eyes and smiles widely, nodding. "Yes, please, I'd love that," he says and goes to pick Robin up to hold.

Alethia strokes Acqua's hair gently and fusses over her. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," she reminds her.

[Northen Light36]

"Anything?" Acqua murmurs, closing her eyes and enjoying Alethia's fussing. "That's a dangerous promise to make," she jokes sleepily. "If you could watch the twins... Bas and Pas I mean... tomorrow... I'd be greatful..." Acqua gives up struggling to stay awake and relaxes, dropping off to sleep quickly.

As Talon lifts him out of the basket, Robin makes a brief whimper of a protest, but settles down again quickly enough. Mat smiles proudly and remarks, "He has his mother's eyes. They both do."

~Considering the only one in this room without blue eyes is Talon, I'd be concerned if they DIDN'T,~ Faith quips dryly as she slips into the bedroom and leaps lightly onto the foot of the bed.

[Kender Bard]

Talon chuckled at that and grinned as he rocked Robin lightly. "We'd be happy to take Pas and Bas today as well if you think you'll need it. Acqua and the babies will need plenty of sleep."

"And of course we'll watch them tomorrow," Alethia added.

[Northen Light36]

Mat looks gratefully at Alethia and Talon. "Would you?" he asks. "Cass offered to take them and Aria to work with her, but they're so much more of a handful then Aria is she'll never get any work done. And if I take them to the guild, they'll just end up getting into trouble with the other guild children."