Asha escorts everyone into the kitchen. "I don't know why gathering for dinner has to be such a production."
"Because you have too many children," Priya jokes.
"Would you like some of them?"
"Oh no, dear sister," Priya says with a grin. "I wouldn't dare rob you of your parental joys. Besides, I'm quite content with being a spinster."
Though feeling somewhat subdued after hurting her sister's feelings, Rajni can't help the little snicker that escapes at her momma's and aunties banter. Rajni goes to the table and sits next to Dillon.
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"You're still young enough, Auntie," Elena says as she sits next to Kama. "You can have a family and children of your own if you wanted to."
Priya shrugs. "I have yet to find a man that would make me reconsider the way I live my life."
Asha nods understandingly as she serves everyone their food. "It would take a man beyond my imagination to consider remarrying."
Having heard the stories before, she merely nods as she takes a plate from her mama. "It smells and looks delicious as always mama."
Ylrhea nods in agreement. "You better get back home before they start to worry. And let's just keep this business about Thea to ourselves for now. I'll poke around the house and see if I can find the key."
Handing Ylrhea back the empty tankard she nods, "Yeah...I think that's a good idea. Especially since I don't really understand it myself. Thanks Rhea." She says, bending down to give her a hug before going to the door. As she leaves, she gives Rhea a wave, "I'll see you tomorrow then."
Arista then heads back to her house, still feeling a little shocked about everything she had found out. Opening the door, she stomps her boots off before going inside. "I'm home, sorry it took so long."
"I was about to send out a search party, then realized that Theon might get lost."
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"Thank you, Ms. Asha," Dillon says, doing his best to not get involved in the current line of conversation.
Going to her husband she gives him a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, "Oh...I'm alright. You know how it is when I get to talking to people. I stopped by and talked to Marie first, then I went to your parent's house and started talking about your sister's wedding and was going over some menu options with your parents, and finally I stopped by to see Rhea and see if she could come over a little earlier to help me get things ready for everyone. She was gonna come over and help anyways when I was having Konstantyna and Lucy over, so I figured she wouldn't mind coming a little earlier. She's wanting to learn how to cook anyways for when Sadhana comes home and....well, let's just say it took me a while." She says with a sweet smile, "As you can see my love, I'm just fine. So you need not fret any longer."
Rajni reaches over and gives his hand a little supportive squeeze.
"If you left off those last two sentences, it would have sounded less suspicious," Theon says.
She gives her brother her most innocent look, "What? I have no idea what you're talking about. Time just got away from me. That's all."
Theon gives his sister a knowing look before shrugging. "Since you're home now, I'm going to get cleaned up."
"Soon, there's gonna be more children in this town than anyone knows what to do with. I'm sure it'll all get figured out though in time. Right now, while we're all here together...I'd like to say a few words." Standing up she holds her water cup in her hand, "I didn't know what was going to happen to me when Sarenrae first dropped me in your ocean. At first I was afraid...maybe because it was different and I was nervous about my "father" coming to find me. I found something here more valuable to me, than anything money could buy though. I found a family." She pauses for a moment to get her feelings under control, "Without giving it a second thought, you brought me into your home and your lives and loved me like I was always a part of you. I somehow also managed to find love with a man who has given me the strength I need to be myself." Looking at Elena she gives her a trembling smile, "Even though I didn't mean to, I hurt you tonight and for that I am deeply sorry. I know how important this is to you and I want nothing but the very best for you and Kama both. I see how happy she makes you, and how much you love each other. I want you to know, I am here for you. Not just for tonight, or tomorrow...but always. Even if you just need a babysitter sometimes. I love you because you're my sister." She looks over at Kama, "And I love you because you make my sister happy and love her the way she deserves to be loved. You are both now my sisters, now and always." She raises her glass, "To Elena and Kama, may you forever find joy in each other's eyes, warmth in each others arms, and love in each other's hearts."
She just nods, "Okay, do you need me to show you where all the towels and stuff are?"
Theon shakes his head. "Alethiro showed me while Celine was having her snack. I think she's playing in her room, waiting for you."
She gives him a smile, "Okay, I'll go check on her before I start dinner. Thanks for watching her while Alethiro and I were out. I hope she wasn't too much trouble." She pauses for a moment, "I...I'm really glad you're home."
"You never know when the perfect persson will appear before you." Kama says in an offhand manner with a little smile.
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Priya scrunches her nose. "Don't you all start with me. None of you are too big for a paddling."
Theon closes his eyes and bows his head. "I am too."
"Oh, Rajni," Elena says. "You didn't have to make a big speech."
"You should say that at the wedding," Juhi chimes in.
She opens and closes her mouth a few times, unsure of who she should respond to first.
Closing her eyes for a moment and feeling rather brave she opens her eyes and looks at Priya, "We only say these things because they're true and we only want you to be happy. Only you can decide what will make you happy though....we just...we don't want you to give up on something that could be really wonderful because of bad experiences." Looking around she says, "I know it would be easier to shut things off. To say that it doesn't matter and we're better off....but....then we wouldn't be true to ourselves. My experiences are not your experiences though auntie....so I would never tell you what I think you should do. Not really anyways....love isn't something you find though....it finds you." She finishes with a loving smile at Dillon.
Turning her head to look at her sister she just smiles and shakes her head, "I didn't mean to make a speech. I just....I feel like I don't always tell you...or any of you really, how I feel...or how you make me feel...and I thought...well, I just thought I should because you matter to me and I feel like I don't say it enough." She then gets really quiet for a few minutes and looks down into her food while taking a few more bites.
After hearing Juhi's remark she looks up, her cheeks darkening slightly. " Who me? Really?"
Theon closes his eyes and bows his head. "I am too."
Taking his hand for a moment she gives it a squeeze, "Whatever happened before...it doesn't matter okay? Whatever happens from here on, we'll deal with and everything will be okay. No matter what happens, we'll all get through it. You should go relax now and take care of your face." She smirks slightly, "I wouldn't want you going around feeling all....scruffy."
Arista had no idea what things might have been like for him since after she disappeared and she didn't know how much he remembered....so, she hoped that maybe lightening the mood a little would help. She hoped that their usual light-hearted teasing would remind him of how things used to be. She knew things could never really be the same again, but he was still her older brother, she loved him, and she knew that if he needed to talk about it...or if he wanted to talk about it...he would.
Juhi nods. "Yes, you. It sounded very nice."
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"Lest your neighbors think you're taking in vagrants," Theon says. He grins at Arista. "You're not doing that, are you?"
"It really was an insspiring speech." Kāma chimes in.
She shakes her head, her silver curls swaying from side to side. "Nope, just children and big brothers here."
Toni finishes her dinner. "Excuse me. I think someone's coming to visit me."
She gets up, takes her plate to the sink and goes outside.
Rajni's blush deepens as she tries to hide her face behind the tankard of lemonade, "I just...said stuff, about my feelings. I've never been really good with words or feelings....but I'm trying. It just takes me a while....you know, to get to the point. Sometimes I'm not sure if I even make sense. I've had a lot of stuff going around in my head lately and I just....I don't know...see, I'm doing it again."
Theon chuckles. "I suppose that's fine then. I'll be back in a little bit."
He picks up the pack Alethiro bought for him and goes to the bathroom.
Arista smiles and goes to check on Celine.
Satisfied that her daughter is contentedly playing with Honey and her toys, she sets off to the kitchen to start on the biscuits.
She gets the dough ready and sets it aside before getting the leftover chicken and vegetables out of the box to throw in a pot so they can have soup.
She strips the meat from the bones, and puts it in the pot with the broth and adds some sage, rosemary, and basil to it. Putting the lid on it she starts softly kneeding her dough for the biscuits before forming them and putting them in the pan. She leaves the pan sitting out to let the biscuits rise as the meat simmers in the broth. She would wait a little bit before adding the vegetables so they didn't get too soggy.
Once everything is starting to come along, she goes to find Alethiro.
Alethiro sits on the couch, studying his holy book. He looks up as Arista approaches. "Everything okay?"
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Elena smiles. "It's alright, Rajni. We're not forcing you to give a speech at the wedding, but you do have a knack for expressing how you feel better than a lot of people."
She looks up a little, "I've been trying....it wasn't exactly....encouraged where I came from." She moves some food around on her plate before taking a couple more bites and sipping on her lemonade, "Okay...so I don't have to make a speech....but maybe I'll just say that bit at the end...or something entirely different, but it ain't gonna be a speech."
Looking from Toni to Elena she says, "Toni and I talked and we're gonna put off the trip until the day after your wedding. So...I'm all yours, once I walk Dillon home of course. If...if you still want my help?"
Sitting on the couch next to him she puts her head on his shoulder, "Celine is playing in her room with her toys and Honey, Theon is getting cleaned up in bathroom, and I'm making chicken soup and biscuits for dinner." She sighs a little softly, "I think it's as okay as it gets for now. I just...it's a lot to take in ya know?"
"Of course I do."
She nods, "Okay."
"We lead interesting lives, love," Alethiro says. "In a few months, it'll get even more interesting."
She nods while a little smile forms on her lips. Running her hand along her belly she nods, "Yes it will, and I know with you and all of our wonderful friends and family out here that we'll have plenty of help to figure out how to deal with just how interesting it gets." Leaning against him she sighs a happy little sigh, "I love you."
Seeing the joy of knowing Rajni would be there light up Elena's eyes,
Kāma simply smiles.
"I love you too," Alethiro says, putting his arm around his wife.
Gerard gives Amélie a tender peck on the cheek. "How are you doing today?"