Not the expected visitor|Aegestrom, Maelstrom

[Northen Light36]

Acqua paused in her humming to stiffle a yawn, prompting Lillian to start whining. "Shhh," Acqua murmured, fussing over the child. "Lilly love, come on, go to sleep."

Glancing down at her fussy youngest, Acqua had to restrain a flash of irritation. It wasn't Lillian's fault. Everyone was stressed and increasingly irritatable at the moment. In some regards she was glad her brothers had gone home. Acqua was certain it wouldn't have been long before she and Amaro had gone from snapping at each other to outright fighting.

Even Bas and Pas had blown up at each other today, over Pas' excitement that it was Spirit Night and Echo was likely to visit. Acqua hadn't even been aware Bas had known the names she was calling her brother and suspected the little girl had made up a few of them on the spot.

"Sometimes, Lilly, your sister makes me look like I was an angel as a child," Acqua sighed to her baby.

[Kender Bard]

"No, I recall you being very much the same," came a familiar voice from behind Acqua.

With her arms crossed and a look of mild amusement on her face stood the shade of Alethia. She looked perhaps a bit younger than she had when she died; or, if not that, more vitalized. As though she'd had a good, long sleep that she'd badly needed. And now she was more 'awake' than ever.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua froze for a moment, starting to shiver with repressed emotion at the sound of her sister's voice. She didn't want to turn around and forever lose the comforting illusion that Alethia was still safe in Talen'sul.

But her practical side of her nature, the side that had been whispering soft reminders that Alethia was gone, that her illusion was only a comforting fantasy, now pointed out that she shouldn't lose a minute of this time. Slowly, reluctantly, Acqua turned to look at her sister, her expression a twisted, pained look of love and grief. "Alethia," she managed to choke out, then bit her lip sharply to try and keep herself from crying. Despite her efforts, tears started to fall and she turned her face away from Alethia, trying to keep the older woman from seeing her weakness.

Lillian squirmed and fussed in her mother's arms, having the uncanny knack of babies to pick up on the distress of those around them. She also looked at this new, strange creature with a bright eyed curiousity that was startlingly similar to how Acqua had been as a very small child, before Flux had knocked a good deal of that out of her.

"I miss you, 'letha," Acqua whispered softly. Somehow it just seemed right to use her old pet name for her sister now.

[Kender Bard]

"I miss you too, Acqua," Alethia replied, now sounding a little mournful. "I miss all of my family." She walked over and peered down at Lillian thoughtfully but didn't touch the babe. She didn't want to give the little one a chill. "I'm sorry you have to go through so much hardship lately."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua managed a slight shrug. "I'm sorry the twins are hurting, but we'll get through it," she replied. "We'll run if we have to." She smiled, a hint of mischief in the expression. "You know how well the guild can make people disappear. After all, I vanished on you for years, didn't I?"

She tilted her head to look at her sister and gave Alethia a thoughtful smile. "You look good. Better then I've ever seen you, I think. Try not to worry too much, sis. I'll look after the family, even if I'm not as good at it as you are. And we have too little time to waste on regret and tears. Are you happy, sis? Have you seen our parents? And Faith?"

[Kender Bard]

"Yes," Alethia answered to the queries, smiling brightly. "I've seen them all as well as some of our ancestors. I've met Etafians only spoken of in legends. Some are really quite nice and others... Well they probably were a bit hard to get along with in life, let's leave it at that." She giggled. "It's so peaceful here. Everything you ever wanted, anything you wish to do... And of course I am close to our Lady when she descends from the starry above-heavens to visit with us." Her expression faded. "But it is a melancholy place too without my family to share it."

[Northen Light36]

A dim, very dim, memory stirred in Acqua at her sister's words and she gave Alethia a small, knowing smile. "I know," she whispered, setting Lillian in her crib despite the baby's protests and reaching out to rest a hand just above her sister's shoulder - the closest she could come to giving Alethia a reasuring pat. "But it won't be forever, sister. In time you'll have us with you again."

Acqua smiled softly and added, "In the meantime you can get to know our parents like you always wanted to. They must love you. After all, you're the good child." She grinned, well aware that her life was one few parents would want for their daughter. Out of pure curiousity, Acqua asked, "Do I really look as much like mother as you used to tell me?"

She didn't really know why she cared. She was a grown adult now and the only 'mother' she'd ever cared to have was standing before her, but a tiny part of her still wondered idly about the woman who'd brought her into the world.

[Kender Bard]

"Yes," Alethia agreed with a smile. "And she agrees with me. Have a happy life, sister. Get by the hard times as best as you can and savor the rest. Not that I think you need telling."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua smiled warmly at her big sister. "When has my not needing telling ever stopped you telling me?" she teased. Then, more seriously, she added quietly, "I'm glad you came, Alethia. It hurt at first, seeing you like this... But I feel better now. I still miss you, so much. But... You're happy and I'm happy and we'll still see each other occassionally so... It's not really like you're gone, is it? It's just a little longer between visits then it used to be..."

Acqua wiped away another tear and smiled shakily at Alethia. "I love you so much, Alethia. I never said that often enough. And... I wish I could have been there to help you when you..." Acqua paused, choking on the word. Time and tonight's visit had soothed some of the still raw wound in her heart, but acknowledging Alethia's death out loud would still make it just too real. Despite how unhealthy it was, Acqua still wanted, needed, to hold on to a little of the fantasy that she still had her sister to cling too.

[Kender Bard]

"Died," Alethia supplied. She reached out and ran ghostly fingers over her sister's cheek. "It was my time, Acqua. I would have liked to have had more of it, but... These things all happen. Our deaths are not preordained, but there is a pattern to it all. Someday you'll see and understand too. And I'm not really gone. I'll be watching over you and Amaro and Talon. Over your children and mine."

[Northen Light36]

"It's not fair," Acqua muttered bitterly, knowing the comment made her sound like a child again and not caring. Then she sighed and muttered, "But life isn't fair, is it? And my whining does nothing but waste what time you have with us tonight." She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them and smiled sadly.

"Mah?" Lillian piped up, trying to get her mother's attention. Acqua glanced over to the little girl and her expression brightened.

"I'll look after the family too, big sister," she told Alethia. "I promise." She reached out and 'hugged' Alethia as best she could. "I can't be as good to everyone as you were, but I'll do my best. You and Faith look after each other, okay?"

[Kender Bard]

"We will," Alethia agreed, returning the gesture. She moved away and bent to look Lillian in the eyes. "Make your mother proud," she told the infant softly. Straightening, she gave both of them a sad smile and began to fade away. "Farewell little sister. I love you."

[Northen Light36]

"I love you," Acqua whispered, smiling sadly as her sister dissappeared. When Alethia had disappeared completely, Acqua kissed Lillian then retreated into her bedroom. From the hint of tears in her husband's eyes, she guessed Echo had just visited. "Can you take over trying to get Lilly to sleep?" she asked softly. "I need to get out for awhile."

Mat nodded, rising from the bed. "Good 'hunting'," he murmured, despite knowing Acqua was unlikely to actually pick any pockets tonight. Acqua smiled back and grabbed her coat before heading out into the night.

If there was one thing in the world she could rely on, it was that the cold, dark streets would pay no attention to one more sobbing street brat. And somehow, cold indifference was soothing, when compared to the bitter agony that was loving someone.