of weddings and second thoughts.

[Erestor Junkie]

"of course, tigrina," the doctor gave an abreviated bow and hrried out of the room. this was too much for him to deal with.

From the bed, Ashmael called out. "Caeru? Where did you go?"

[Azzy]

"I'm right here" Rue called, silently promising himself to make sure that this damn doctor wouldent speak, even if this meant taht hed have to pull out his tongue.

Rue came back and sat at the bed. "I thought you slept" he said softly, smiling quickly.

[Erestor Junkie]

"I wanted you to feel this," he smiled dremily at the pearl in his arms. "It's moving."

[Azzy]

Rue laid his hand on the muddy surface, he felt a tiny flicker under his hand, "amazing" he whispered, looking at Ash he bit his lip and finally asked "have you thought of a name?"

[Erestor Junkie]

"I really hadn't thought about it much," Ashmael admitted sheepishly. "I didn't think much about any of it. Do you have any ideas?" He placed his hand on top of Caeru's where it lay on the pearl.

[Azzy]

"no.. I" Rue said softly, he couldent admit that he had forced himself not to think about it because he knew he could never claim this pearl as his. "i think you should name him"

[Erestor Junkie]

"How about Bain?" Ashmael suggested.

[Azzy]

Caeru smiled, if Ash wanted to call the harling Bain, that was fine with him, 'lotus' he thought to himself, he rememebed asking ash for that, but that was when he had thought that he would never see them again, for a moment his file faltered, this could still be very true, he could not claim this harling as his, his future was uncertain as it was, with pellaz going ahead and getting himself another consort, what did that make him? first consort? prime consort? by name yes, but not by choise, and he knew that between Vaysh that little shit, and PEllaz, they would come up with something terrible, neither he or Bree, or this little harling in the pearl was safe, "whatever you like" he said quickly plastering his smile back on as he looked at Ash again.

[Erestor Junkie]

"Bain then," Ashmael beamed at the pearl. "Welcome Bain," he cooed at it. "Rue, this is so wonderful," he gushed. "We will have a harling soon." All thoughts of Pellaz, Vaysh and consequences had fled from his mind when he first saw the pearl.

[Azzy]

Rue looked atAsh as he laid there with his hand against the membrane, trying to feel the harling. he wanted to explain to Ash that they couldent keep this harling, it had to go somewhere else and remain hidden, he was just not safe otherwise.

but he just laid down on the bed with a sigh and tried to relax in the short moment he would feel like a family again.

[Erestor Junkie]

"Don't be so sad rue," Ashmael cooed as he stroked the soft light hair. "He will grow up to be a fine har."