Giving her husband a tired smile she nods, "If you could just wash and cut up some fruit for us while I make the sandwiches, that would be great. I think I need a little something too."
Turning as she hears we brother's voice, Arista doesn't even bother trying to hide the tired expression on her face. Cocking her head to the side slightly Arista responds, "We took Celine and the puppy to the park to run off some energy before lunch. We were just about to start getting it ready, would you like anything?" Arista helps Celine out of her winter wear as they talk, then send her to play with Honey before looking back up at her husband and brother.
Alethiro smiles and goes to take care of the fruit.
Theon thinks for a minute. "I think a sandwich sounds good."
Celine comes in the kitchen a few minutes later with Honey right behind her. She has on a a fuzzy pink sleep top, and green pants. Carrying a book she goes to Theon and holds it up, "You read me?"
Arista smiles and goes to her husband, "Honey...I think I'm feeling a bit woozy again. You mind giving me a little boost so I can get through the rest of today love?" Giving his cheek a kiss she asks, "How do chicken sandwiches with lettuce and tomato sound? I have some roasted chicken left in the box, as well as some cheese that I can slice up in a just a bit." Looking over at their daughter she smiles, Celine was growing so fast and advancing by leaps and bounds. Arista was just so proud of her and having the puppy really seemed to be helping with her independence. She was glad that she let Alethiro talk her into it.
Alethiro puts a healing hand on Arista, suppressing her nausea. "Eventually, I run out of that spell for the rest of the day, love."
He smiles at his wife. "Chicken sandwiches sound really good."
"Sure," Theon says, taking the book from Celine and sitting in a chair. He pats his lap. "But only until lunch is ready."
She nods, "I know honey, but that should have to be the last time I need it today. It usually settles down by the afternoon. Now, I'll just get those sandwiches made up while you cut us up some nice fruit." Arista says, giving his cheek a kiss before starting to get the stuff together for sandwhiches.
Celine nods and crawls up into his lap.
Alethiro goes back to cutting up the fruit as Arista prepares the rest of their lunch.
Theon picks a story at random and starts reading to Celine.
Arista hums quietly as she works on the sandwiches. It was such a simple task, but it made her so happy. What was really wrong with being at home with her family? Why was it so difficult to stop worrying about everyone that wasn't with them? At some point she would check on Yhlreah and Konstantyna. Her life was so full, and in a way she never expected it to be.
As she finishes making the sandwiches she puts her hand subconsciously on her stomach and smiles softly. She could do this, she wasn't alone. She never had to be alone again.
Taking a breath and letting it out she smiles as she brings the sandwiches to the table. Arista cuts up Celine's into four manageable pieces before getting everyone something to drink and sitting down at the table with her family for lunch.
Alethiro gets drinks for everyone as Arista finishes serving lunch.
Theon takes a bite of his sandwich. "This is good, Ari. So...I had a question for you."
After swallowing a bite of her sandwich she looks up at her brother, "Okay...what is it?"
"Do you think we could go...home?" Theon asks. "I mean...back to Lansing. I just want to see it."
The question catches her off guard and she pauses for a moment, trying to think of how to explain to him that their "home" was no more.
Thinking for a moment she looks up at him, "Theo...our home is gone. I could take you to where it used to be, I was actually there before. It was....a shock, to say the least. No one had explained what happened to me, I didn't know I had been asleep for so long." She takes a moment to collect her thoughts, "There's only ruins left now, but we can go there if you like. It was called Ashford the last time I was there. The old Temple is really the only thing left standing. We have a wedding to go to today, but if you like...I can pack some food and we can head there tomorrow. Will that be okay?" Arista looks over at her husband, wondering what he would think about them taking a trip to those ruins so that Theon could get some closure.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I figured it was gone, but...something's just telling me to go there and see it," Theon says. "You know...one of those nagging feelings you get that won't stop until you do what it wants you to do."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Alethiro thinks back on the conviction he had that made him go and pursue Drago. "I completely understand. Who knows? The gods may be guiding you."
I know they guided me.
Reaching across the table she puts one of her hands on his, "I understand what you mean. I get those nagging feelings sometimes, or well...I did...it's complicated. The point is, if this is important to you, it's important to us." Looking over at Celine, she notices that their daughter has stopped eating and is watching them intently.
Looking back at her husband she asks a little more quietly, "Do you think we should bring her with us tomorrow, or find someone to sit with her? I'm pretty sure it's safe...it's just, I'm not sure I want her out in the cold." She wanted to go with her brother to see where they're old home had once been. She never really had the chance to fully come to terms with what was done to her. Nothing was ever really explained and it was all dumped on her at once. Maybe she could at least be there for her brother, to offer moral support and try to help him get through this difficult adjustment phase.
If something was telling him to go, it was probably for a good reason and she felt like they should listen to it.
Celine takes another drink of her milk as she listens to them talk. She didn't like that word, "Go". It usually meant that mommy was leaving and she was with someone....not always bad, but she didn't want to be with someone else now. She wanted mommy, she needed mommy to know that she wanted her.
Putting her hands on the table, Celine stands in her chair, "Go? Celine go too mommy. Don't want to stay, want to go. Go with mommy, with daddy...please, I'm good girl. Please mommy....don't leave me."
Arista's head swings over to look at Celine. Seeing the look on her face and hearing her little face as she asks not to be left alone, tears at something inside of her to the very core of her being. Taking a drink of her water she looks at her husband, before moving to sit next to Celine.
Wrapping her arms around her daughter she holds her for a few moments, "Celine...you are a good girl. There is nothing wrong with you. Mommy and daddy just need to talk about it. We'll see, I'm not making any promises."
Arista then looks up at her husband and brother, unsure of what to do about Celine. She didn't want to really leave her either, but a lot depended on the weather, and she wasn't entirely sure if the area was really safe or not.
"If the weather is fair tomorrow, we all can make the trip," Alethiro says, leaning towards Arista. "Including Celine. Is that alright, Theon?"
Theon nods. "Sounds good to me."
Celine perks up, "I going, I going! Honey go too Daddy?"
"Yes, we'll have to take Honey with us," Alethiro says.
Celine claps excitedly, before continuing to eat her lunch.
Theon smiles at his niece before finishing his lunch.
Arista starts picking up the plates and glasses as everyone finishes their lunches, "Celine, I need for you to go wash your face and hands. Then go to your room with honey and lay down for a little while on your bed. You need a nap before we go out this evening."
Arista sighs as she sees Celine start to pout about taking a nap, "Celine, mommy told you to go get cleaned up and ready for a nap."
Hearing her mommy's "I mean business" tone of voice, she sucks in her lower lip and runs off to the bathroom to get ready for her nap.
Arista just shakes her head and sighs as she starts getting things cleaned up in the kitchen.
Once the kitchen is cleaned up, Rajni heads upstairs to her and Juhi's room to start getting ready for the wedding.
She starts by pack an overnight bag to take with her to Dillon's after the ceremony and reception, before starting to get changed into the dress that was put out for her to wear.
Someday it would be her turn to have the beautiful wedding, and marry the man that made her feel happier and loved more than she could ever remember.
"I better bring in some more firewood," Alethiro says, getting up with a groan. "A little exercise will help."
Theon smirks as Alethiro leaves. "Anything I can do to help, Ari?"
Giving her brother a grateful smile she says, "Sure, if you wouldn't mind bringing the rest of the dishes into the kitchen so I can start washing them. Then you can wipe down the table while I get started on the dishes and help dry them if you want to." Sighing a little as she hears Celine kind of singing in the bathroom, "Unless you'd like to go check on your niece for me so I can get things taken care of in here? Either way would be a help."
Theon shakes his head. "Six of one, half dozen of another. I'll go check on the little urchin."
He gets up and heads to the bathroom. "Celine? What are you doing?"
Arista laughs, "It'll be good practice for when you have an urchin of your own someday."
Shaking her head she grabs up more dishes to take to the kitchen before coming back to wipe down the table.
Celine seems startled as she looks up from where she stands next to the tub on her step stool so she can reach down into the tub. Honey is in the tub with soap and water covering her, while Celine's clothes are also covered in water and soap. There are towels on the floor by the tub, that are also wet from water splashing everywhere as Celine tried to wash the puppy by herself.
Honey lets out an excited yip and shakes water out of her coat as Celine smiles sweetly up at her uncle, "Mommy said get cleaned up, we are. See? Honey has soap."
Theon shakes his head. "No, Mommy told you to get cleaned up. Not Honey. Go to your room and get changed, then bring me back your wet clothes."
Celine's smile quickly turns to a frown. Hopping down from her stool by the tub, she puts her arms out to show him that she used soap on herself too.
Sticking out her lower lip she looks up at him, "But....but I am clean. Seeee?" The last word comes out as a whine. She wasn't tired, and she didn't want a nap.
Honey whines from inside the tub, and puts her tail between her legs.
Theon sighs. "No arguments, Celine. I'm going to dry Honey off and then wash those clothes since you got them soapy and wet."
Juhi comes into the room. "You look happy. Are you excited for Elena and Kama?"
Starting to get angry, Celine strips off her pants and top and throws them on the floor, with her cheeks and tips of her ears turning a dark pink, she puts her hands on her hips, "There! You mean!" Celine turns and runs out of the bathroom as hot angry tears start forming in her eyes.
Celine runs to her room and slams the door shut.
Rajni looks up with a smile on her face, "Huh? Oh yeah, I'm very excited and happy for them."
Finishing up the dishes as she hears the door slam. Drying her hands she looks at her husband, "What was that?"
Arista puts down her towel and heads to the bathroom. Seeing the wet puppy that Theon was trying to dry, and the mess on the floor, she looks up at her brother. "What happened?"
"Your daughter thought she should wash the dog as well," Theon says, rubbing Honey down with dry towels. "She didn't take to kindly to me reminding her that she was supposed to wash herself."
"Are you suuuuuure? Because you had that dreamy look in your eyes."
Arista shakes her head, "Both she and Honey got a bath this morning after playing outside in the mud. She knew what I meant, she just doesn't want to take a nap. It's okay, I'll deal with it. Thanks for getting the puppy dried off, I'll be back after I have a little talk with Celine." Giving her brother's arm a grateful squeeze she heads to her daughters room.
Going into Celine's room, Arista shuts the door behind her.
Hushed voices can be heard from behind the door, one of them quickly turning into a wailing high pitched tone. The noise continues for a few more minutes before a different kind of noise can be heard, followed by quieter talking and a bit louder sterner tone coming from Arista.
While the voices are slightly muffled, it's easy to tell that things did not go in Celine's favor as she comes out of her room with her Pajama's on. Her face red and wet with recent tears.
Arista leads Celine over to Theon by the hand, "Well, go ahead Celine. What do you have to say?"
With her lower lip trembling, Celine looks up at her Uncle. Wiping her eyes she says, "Sorry....sorry I yell."
The coloring darkens enough on her cheeks to be noticeable, "Ummmmm....well, I am happy and excited for them....but, I might have been thinking of something else as well."