Train Gone

[Shava]

Done in the barn, Taranis swung the arm on the door for the Lamas, and walked outside through the normal door, latching it being him out of habit. Not much point since the lamas knew how to open the main doors to get in and out, even most of the young ones, but still; old habits die hard. Using his excellent night vision he walked around to the back of the barn and then appirated to the stone bridge down the cliff face. From there he picked up three sets of harnesses he needed to work on and stepped across the bridge to his front door and inside. Jogging up the steps to the top floor, he walked the last few stairs not wanting to awaken his sister's families.

In his own apartment, he put down the harness at the stool and sniffing, smiled shaking his head and walked to the bathroom, washing his hands and forearms good before he dried them with his wand and headed for the kitchen. Now he saw the telltale sign of the light under the door. Clearing his throat so he wouldn't startle her, Taranis walked into the kitchen and walked over to whee his wife was making something, Sliding his hand around her middle slowly, enjoying the feel of her in his arm as he clearly expressed in his body language, he kissed the side of her neck and said "Morning, love."

Standing there he slid his other hand around her from the other side and took a deep whiff of her hair before he turned his head sideways and rested on the back of her head. "You should have stayed in bed, Rosealie, it's the first morning with them gone, you deserved a rest break sleep in for once." Yesterday they had put the kids on the train with Their grandparents there and the house had been quite quiet last night, enough so they had been energetic enough she could have quite easily had an excuse for sleeping in! Taran couldn't, of course, because they had animals to take care of, but that wasn't something she should take on her own shoulders.

[Shava]

While she hadn't gotten up quite as early as Taranis, Rose's internal clock was still set to 'children'. While her husband had made it clear she wouldn't be expected to rise with the sun, the children had chores early during the school holidays, and it had become second nature over the years to be up and going in time to cook breakfast for everyone. Second nature, which over the period of the school year faded to be reawakened again come Christmas hols. She padded into the kitchen, careful not to disturb any of her sister-in-law's little ones in their apartments. The silence was eerie, no sounds of gruding feet finding their way to the floor, no young voices yawning their way into the morning. Though Keela was out of school, she'd left the day before in search of her future mother-in-law to touch base on wedding plans, and wouldn't be back for several days.

All in all, Rose was feeling a touch of empty next syndrome. Silly, she knew, since even with her children gone the house would bustle with activity in a few hours. Still, Keela's impending marriage had her contemplating the idea of adding another to their family, though she hadn't broached the subject with Taran yet. She found her way to the kitchen, guided by the light of her wand. She began automatically going through the motions of breakfast for several. Her sisters-in-law would appreciate not having to cook for a morning, she knew. She sensed him even before she felt him, and his touch, combined with the warm familiarity of his voice was comforting. "Morning" the word came out a soft yawn as she paused, leaning into him.

She smiled softly, turning to face him. "I know, but it'll be a few days before everything settles in my mind I think." She wraps her arms loosely around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder, she murmurs: "its too quiet, Taran." She pressed a kiss just above his collar, then raised her eyes to his and bit her lip, an old habit she'd carried most of her life. "I was thinking..." she trailed off, looking up at him a bit guiltily, "how would you feel about another baby?" She grinned up at him sheepishly, "make it an even five?"

[Shava]

Taranis had grown up without free time, becoming an adult long before Hogwarts in his attitude towards life really. He had sisters to take care of, a mother to help, and a farm to help struggle along by putting all his free time into it. And even with all that sacrifice they had still almost lost it all and ended up on the street. He had learned that hard work wasn't the answer to everything, but by then he wasn't good at taking time off when he needed it. And once they had saved the farm and his sisters' futures because of Rosalie, they got animals and a much more dependable income.

And animals didn't wait for you to take time off, they need to be cared for and watched over and loved.

So maybe that was why he tried to encourage his wife to be a laze about in bed sometimes when she could, because she knew how to use that time unlike himself. What he would do if he ever hurt a leg or got to the point he couldn't do this kind of work, he had no idea, but it would devastate him! So as he slid his arms around her he knew he was lucky to have her, for more reasons then she would ever probably understand. "Hmm... True I guess. Enjoy it while you can, love, they will be back before you know it and we have peace and quiet to ourselves for awhile at least."

The words 'it's too quiet' caused his heart to skip a beat and as she spoke he already knew what the words would be. A small not really a snort, but half between that and a chuckle came out of his mouth as he kissed her forehead softly. "Dearheart. Rose. You know 5 is not an even number. And while I know you are not OCD, I can almost hear a year from now the number six being mentioned..." A sigh, not a sad sound at all, but filled with amusement in his voice and eyes. "You know, love, I would never resist having more miracles in our lives."

But he held up a finger as if to say 'but.' "However, I want you to think of two things before we go any farther with this talk, Rosalie, First off, When we get to be grandparents how are we ever going to keep up with all the grandkids with both my sisters; families here as well? We'll be constantly turning around and never getting any rest to recover. Second, how is your health? Because I will never risk your health, no matter how many miracles might be delighting us! I need you more then kids, my heart and soul, and risking you I will not do." The way he held her said there was no lie in his words.

[Shava]

It was strange, but Rose had started realizing years ago that the older she got, the less she changed. She didn't feel thirty-five really. Four kids and nearly twenty years had only multiplied her love for her husband. They had healed their share of scrapes and bruises, both physical and emotional over the years, and the circumstances surrounding their relationship in its early years had all but faded entirely. She couldn't fahtom having spent her life with anyone else. Even with the children gone, the noise would still pick up in an hour or two. The crurent tenants, her sisters-in-law and their families, all served to help lessen the sense of emptiness Rose felt in the house every time the kids left for school. This time, it was compounded by the fact that for the first time, Keela hadn't gotten on the train. She'd left from seeing her siblings off for a meeting instead.

She smiled, "peace and quiet" she repeated. "You mean there is a such thing?" She knew the kids would be back for Christmas, and again for the summer. She also understood how quickly the time would go by, but it didn't change the feeling of the first few days, adjusting to the sudden peaceful, sleepy mornings. "Whatever will we do with ourselves, Taran?" She was washing the dishes she'd used in preparing breakfast the muggle way, knowing she'd have a bit before everyone else woke up. She levitated the food, already under stasis charm, to the table. When he chuckled at her, she crossed her arms and gave him a look. "I know but..." She let the sentence trail.

He mentioned six and she shook her head, "I don't think so. I'm not sure I could handle it again." She gave him a mischievous look, "so maybe in two or three more years..." She laughed softly, "its just something I've been thinking about." She waved the thought off absently, "I wanted to see what you thought about it." When he held up a finger she glanced up, meeting his eyes, knowing that whatever he was about to say was important. His mention of the word grandkids sent her through a whole other myriad of emotions. He was right, of course, with Keela marrying Vin soon, the grandkids would likely start coming in no time at all, though she suspected she'd have to share with Lindsey.

At his mention of her health, the expression softened further and she wrapped her arms around his neck, raising her face so she could meet his eyes. "I'm perfectly fine, Taran, but I think you may be right about the number." She glanced at the door to the kitchen, sighing wistfully. "Grandkids...guess that means I'm getting old." She smiled ruefully up at him. She didn't feel old, not nearly old enough in fact to be a grandmother, but the prospect of new little ones to play with thrilled her. She leaned up and brushed her lips against his. "No risking" she assured him. She laid her head on his chest. "It can't really have been that long can it? Since they were young and always under foot?" It didn't seem real to her that they were all on their way to being grown now, even the little ones were all at Hogwarts. Time had passed like a flash.

[Shava]

Taranis smiled. "Well at least till the nephews come up stairs, true. We could always lock the door and put a do not disturb sign on it." When she asked what they would do he slipped his hands tighter around her waist and kissed her neck softly, hinting as he whispered "Lock many doors?" That was one thing they had learned the hard way; once there were kids in the house you did everything possible not to hint to them about sex and preserve their innocents a bit longer, but it SO destroyed your personal time knowing that at any hour they could show up at your bedside.

She was playing with him and he chuckled, listening to her words. "Rosalie, anything which makes you happy makes me think it's a good idea! If you have not learned that by now..." Shaking his head he pulled the chair at the table, turning it so he could see her easily and got a mug of water. When she put her arms around his neck he set the water down on the table and slipped his hands back around her waist. "It's true as I can be, Rose, while little toes and fingers are a delight and all, I need you more then anyone else! They just make me appreciate you more..." And how much she had done for him and his family too!

His family was complete all because of her. She had already given him more then he could ever have expected, not just children but stability and love, saving his family from the streets. He shook his head at her words and sat in the chair pulling her to him and setting her in his lap. "With every pair of little feet running across our floor you have become younger and more beautiful to my eyes, Rosalie Summerby, enough so I feel it might be time for us to consider taking a vacation together without the little ones around..." Pulling a brochure out of his pocket he put it in her hands with a smile.

[Shava]

She laughed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed herself to him. "How about a 'Do Not Disturb' spell instead?" She loved all of her nieces and nephews, but the younger ones tended to have tunnel vision when they were excited. She knew Aimidd and Boann would appreciate being able to avoid that talk for at least another couple of years. When he answered her question, she got a mischievous glint in her eye and nodded. "I like the way you think, Mr. Summerby." When he kissed her neck, she made a soft, pleased sound. "We should have at least another hour until everyone's up and going" she pointed out. "I can think of a few ways to pass the time." The realization they would actually have time to just be together for the next several months did loads to boost her spirits. She enjoyed having her children close, but she also enjoyed having her husband close, and keeping on top of the one sometimes left little time for keeping on top of the other.

He spoke, and she found herself thinking it still felt a bit odd to hear him call her Rosalie. She'd been Rose for so long while they'd been friends as kids, and then Ree-love later on. Maybe it was because even after eighteen years and four children, he'd aged so little in her eyes. It might have seemed odd to some that she sometimes still felt like the same young woman who had first had her eyes opened by this same man several years before, but she did. Sometimes, he could look at her the right way and every nervous anticipating adrenaline soaked moment came flooding back in a rush. Yes, they had been together a long time, been through things some couples could only discover in their nightmares, but they had survived to build something beautiful and long-lasting together. She knew just as she'd known on their wedding day eighteen years ago that there would never be another for her. She was and always would be Rosalie Summerby, deeply in love with the man who's arms were currently wrapped around her.

Her expression softened. "I know" she murmured. "Believe me I know." She sighed, "I guess I just got started thinking about Keela going off, now Cern's almost graduated and it won't be long before Brier's off and exploring." She couldn't even bring herself to talk about Luch being grown yet. "I'm not sure I remember life before them, Taran. I'm not sure I remember how not to be up at dawn cooking breakfast and waking sleepy heads." Now that she said it, she realized it was true. Maybe her sudden desire had less to do with a need for another baby and more to do with not remembering how to be without one. She was worried. She took his hand, turned it over in her own and brushed the fingertips of her other hand over his palm. Rough, just as it had been for as long as she'd known him. There was strength in these hands, but tenderness too. These hands had held her, loved her in ways she hadn't known until he'd come into her life.

They had held his sisters, and then their own children. They had born the brunt of the labor that had kept his family alive. They still, on Taranis' insistence, worked tirelessly each day for the same purpose. She raised her eyes to his. "Have I told you lately how much I love being your wife?" It was an odd mood she found herself in, but she let the emotions come, tried to process them. At his words, she smiled, looking in that moment very much like the young girl who had hidden away in the framework of this house with him years before. She accepted the brochure looking surprised. "A vacation..." she looks down at the brochure and her eyes widen. "France..." She's bewildered now. "How long have you been...I mean...wow love...." She's not exactly sure what to say at that exact moment.

[Shava]

He laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I think locked doors will work for kids not allowed wands yet, so there's no reason for delay while we develop something new." He winked at her and thought that next line was a sure fire "Please pick me up" one, but they had other things to say so he held off a minute. She played with his palm as she spoke and he responded quickly. "It's amazing the power kids have over us, Rose, I agree! From the very first moment Keela had our lives turned upside down and now she is almost gone..." his eyes got a hint of moisture in them as he spoke.

"So um..." he cleared his throat unnecessarily. "I have to tell you something actually. When I took the boys to the bookstore, they found a book about household pests and how to get rid of them and told me it was for when Brier starts dating. I think her brothers are very touchy about who she is hanging out with..." Which was not a bad thing, but it told him that his sons who knew more about whoever the boys were didn't like them around their sister either. And while everyone had been worried about this Silver-Moon, they all seemed to like him now.

She seemed to be thinking of something as she held his hands and he wondered what till she spoke, then it hardly mattered. "Ah love, I shall never get tired of hearing I've pleased you," he smiled kissing her forehead softly, "and I can't imagine there has ever been anyone I could have loved as much, Rose. You've completed my life in so many ways I can't begin to tell you them all..." Her reaction to the brochure had him smiling with success. "I've been thinking about it for awhile."

Taranis slipped his arm down and swooped her off her feet gently. "Besides, love, if I am going to seduce my wife into being mine again, I'd better go to one of the most romantic cities in the world, wouldn't you think?" Turning with her in his arms he grinned and walked back towards the bedroom stopping only to say "If you will just lock those doors behind us before I get too carried away...?"