Mutual Comfort

[Northen Light36]

Ticklish as ever, Acqua starts to giggle at the feather's touch. And as Zack had prediected, Acqua's eyes brighten slightly as she laughs. "Do you tease all the girls you entertain sir?" she giggles, trying to duck away.

[Darastrix]

"Only if they wish it," Zack says with a chuckle, nipping playfully at her ear. "Now see how pretty you look?" he says, pointing towards the mirror with the feather. "And we've only just begun. There's beauty yet to be uncovered, and we've all the time in the world."

~Fade~

[Northen Light36]

~and fade back in~

Half asleep with contentment, Acqua snuggles into Zack's side, tilting her head slightly to look up at her companion. "Thank you," she murmurs. She knew she still had some healing left, but Zack's gentleness, kindness and flattery had helped her on that path. "That was wonderful," she adds quietly.

[Darastrix]

Zack smiles at Acqua and drapes one dark wing gently over her body. "I'm glad, Lovely," he says, stroking her cheek. And he is; if he can't have what would make him happy, he's more than willing to help someone else feel better.

The Wind closes his eyes and puts an arm around her as well. "If you ever find yourself in need of a friend, don't hesitate to look me up," he says softly. "Even if it's just to talk."

[Northen Light36]

"I will," Acqua replies with a drowsy smile. "And feel free to do the same if you need a friend," she adds.

*time warp - two months later*

Knowing that Talon's at work with Amaro, a pale and worried looking Acqua slips into the Veatherfall house in search of her sister. "Alethia?" she calls. "Are you home?"

[Kender Bard]

"I'm here," Alethia called out. She was cleaning up Crentha, who'd thought it would be a great idea to go romping through the mud after the family pup. Spice sat close by, watching with amusement at his little sister's discomfort.

"Auntie Acqua!" Spice called out. "We're in the kitchen!"

[Northen Light36]

Swallowing, Acqua walks into the kitchen, biting her lip nervously. "Sis?" she says softly, not looking up from the floor. "Can you spare a moment?" Acqua's voice carries a mixed note of shame and fear in it as she speaks.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia looks sharply at Acqua, frowning, puzzled at this display. "Uh huh." She cleaned her hands off and sat Crentha down in front of Spice, who took over watching the little tyke as Alethia beckoned Acqua into another room. "What is it?"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua squirms under her sister's gaze and murmurs, "I think I made a big mistake, Alethia." Slowly, stumbling over the words, Acqua quietly tells Alethia about her encounter with Zack, finishing with, "It was only once but... I've missed my period twice now, Alethia." On the verge of tears, Acqua looks up, hoping for some reassurance from Alethia.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia struggles to keep the frown off her face. She wasn't mad at Acqua, not really. The girl was entitled to her own decisions...

..stupid as they may be...

"Have you been getting sick often?" she asks carefully, knowing the answer already.

[Northen Light36]

Trembling slightly and with a miserable expression, Acqua nods. "Yes," she whispers. Despite Alethia's efforts, Acqua knows her sister well enough to know how disapproving the older girl must be. "Alethia, I'm sorry. I didn't think..." Acqua trails off mid-excuse. She didn't think is probably the closest thing to the truth she could say.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia sighed, slowly, and drew Acqua into an embrace. "No, but in affairs of the heart, we rarely do. Don't worry, sister, we'll get through this together. It's not as bad as it might seem right now."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua clings to her sister, soaking up the reassurance. "Amaro's going to kill me," she whispers. The thought shatters the last drop of control she has over her emotions and Acqua begins to sob softly. "I don't know what to do, Alethia."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia strokes her hair, and hums softly. "It will be okay," she assures Acqua, again and again, crooning a soft tune. She figures the advice and talks could wait until Acqua had cleansed herself of her pain. "Nobody is going to hurt you. Nobody will be mad. I'll make sure you're safe."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua continues to cry for awhile, but eventually her sobs die down to sniffling. "He will be," she whispers to Alethia. "You know he will. Sis, I can't tell him I've been this stupid." Acqua shudders lightly at the thought of how disappointed and angry her brother will be.