"I still say it's not because of me, but I'll take the compliment, "Dimitrius chuckled as he scooted away from Ariala so he could place the place of cobbler upon the couch, using the fork with his free hand to take a bite.

Cindalina laughed as she took another bite of her pie. "Well I guess we know she'll have her Papa wrapped right around her little finger straight from birth! But moving already? Well isn't that something. Definitely worth all of that morning sickness, eh? Terrible stuff, that morning sickness. Saw Em's mother go through it for two weeks at the end of the pregnancy. Makes me glad I never had it."

-

"I'll stay up as long as you keep talking to me," Emelaide said sleepily as she arched her neck and placed a tender, yet sleepy, kiss upon the front of his throat. "I love you, Marreck, and I'm sorry I worried you," Emelaide added softly with a yawn, "I just had a strange dream and wanted you near me is all."

Finding cups, and deciding on spicy pumpkin tea to drink, Hathom quickly heated some water and poured it into the cups with the tea leaves. Setting them on the tray, Hathom cut some slices of bread, placed a dish of butter onto the tray, and picked it up to bring to the bedroom to the couple.

"You're lucky." Ariala sighed. "Its horrible and it wakes me up far too early." She said before taking a few more bites of her cobbler. "This is delicious, Cindalina." She smiled happily before taking another bite. "Its a good thing our daughter will have you as an Aunt. My cooking will never be this good." She laughed. "And I don't want the poor thing to starve."

~~~

"Next time just say my name, love. It will save me the heart attack from you hurting yourself." Marreck sighed as he ran his fingers adoringly along the length of her jaw. "I love you too." He smiled at her before giving her forehead a small kiss.

Cindalina laughed as she reached over and patted Ariala's knee, "If you like it all that much, you can have the rest of it. Whatever you want baked, love, I'll be happy to bake it for you."

Dimitrius rolled his eyes playfully as he took a bite of his cobbler. "Thank you ladies, for showing me just how worthless my cooking is," he teased with a smile as he took another bite.

-

Emelaide giggled softly as she placed a kiss upon his palm and murmured softly, "But I didn't hurt myself, my love, so no need for a heart attack."

Opening the door with one hand, Hathom balanced the tray upon the other as he walked into the bedroom and teased, "Hope you're all decent, dinner is served," he added with a wink as he waited for Emelaide to either shift of be shifted so that she could eat.

Starting to shift to sit up, Emelaide rolled her eyes playfully as she laughed softly, "What are you doing here?"

"Come to keep you from killing everyone with your magic, love. Can't be too careful with your temper and lack of talent," he teased with a wink.

"Oh shush.. You're worse than me.." she laughed as she rested her head upon Marreck's shoulder after sitting up.

Placing the tray upon the couple's laps, Hathom bowed playfully before heading for the door. "I'll send you a bill, tips are appreciate it," he called before shutting the door and heading back to the kitchen to prepare his own meal.

"Anytime, love." Ariala teased as she took a bite of cobbler. "But I think I'll keep you around anyways." She laughed with a small wink.

~~~

Marreck laughed as he scooped some of the soup onto a spoon and held it to Emelaide's lips. "Open." He said softly.

Finishing his cobbler, Dimitrius set his plate upon the table with a teasing grin. "Why thank you, Ariala. I'll be forever grateful to you for allowing me to stay," he teased as he placed a tender kiss upon her cheek.

Cindalina chuckled as she finished her pie and collected Dimitrius's dish. "Come now, don't be angry at your wife for telling you the truth," teased Cindalina with a wink at Ariala.

-

Emelaide frowned as she looked up at Marreck and said sleepily, "I can feed myself.. You make me seem like I am incapable like a child," Emelaide added softly but did as she was told and ate the soup from the spoon he held out. Swallowing the soup, Emelaide held her hand out for the spoon.

Ariala laughed as she sat the plate on the table and moved closer to Dimitrius's side. "Well I need someone to calm down Lily when she starts to kick." She smiled before giving his cheek a soft kiss. "But as soon as you make a peach cobbler as good as your Aunt's then I'll take it back."

~~~

"Em, you don't need to be ashamed if you're not feeling up to it." Marreck said. "I only want you to rest and to be well. If you won't try it for your own sake then at least think of the twins." He said as he reluctantly handed the spoon to Emelaide.

Dimitrius laughed as he placed a kiss upon her lips while Cindalina took the dishes and brought them to the kitchen to wash, "Perhaps I will, my love. Just for you, I'll practice until I get it right," he teased with a wink and another kiss. "Shall we head home, love? Ria's getting pretty heavy," Dimitrius admitted with a small laugh.

-

Emelaide frowned as she took the spoon, dropped it, tried to pick it up again, yet dropped it once more. Sighing, Emelaide rested her head against his shoulder and buried her face in his neck as she tenderly caressed the opposite side of his neck with her hand, "It's not fair.. I shouldn't be this tired and unable to function properly.. I can't even grip a spoon," whispered Emelaide softly, sadness apparent in her voice.

"Of course." Ariala said, standing from the small couch. "Do you want me to carry her back?" She asked before going over to Cindalina and wrapping her arms around the elder elf's shoulders. "Thank you for the cobbler, Cindalina." She smiled.

~~~

"Its alright, Emelaide." Marreck soothed as he cradled her to him. "Your mother said things would be different because you can control temperatures. You don't have to be upset. It won't last forever. And I'll take care of you." He promised as he kissed her forehead gently.

Wiping her hands, Cindalina warmly returned the hug, "You're very welcome, my dear. Go ahead and take the rest of it. Would you like any of the pies dear?"

"I'll carry Ria," Dimitrius called softly as he shifted Dimeria and stood. Walking to the kitchen, Dimitrius smiled as he spoke, "I'll take a couple pieces of the blackberry and apple, if you don't mind Auntie."

"Of course," Cindalina said with a smile as she went about cutting them and placing them in a dish for Ariala to carry, "What about your Ari my dear? Anything besides the cobbler for you?"

-

You shouldn't have to take care of me all of the time though.. It's not fair to you.. and it makes me feel so helpless," Emelaide whispered as a tear trickled down her cheek.

"Just the cobbler, thank you." Ariala smiled as she adjusted her jacket and leg warmers for the walk back to Elimlee.

~~~

"Emelaide." Marreck soothed as he wiped away the stray tear that fell down her cheek. "Don't be ashamed, love. Its not going to last forever. I just want you to be well again." He said as he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "And besides, I thought you wanted me to be around?" He offered with a small smile. "At least now I'm making myself useful." He laughed softly.

"There ya go loves," Cindalina said with a smile as she placed the cobler on top of the pies and handed the dishes to Ariala, "Be sure to stop in soon, alright? And if you need anything, just let Mo over."

"We will Auntie, thank you," Dimitrius said with a smile as he placed a kiss upon her cheek, "Try not to overwork yourself, alright?" he added teasingly.

-

Emelaide laughed softly as she sat up and looked up at him, "You are useful and I very much want you around. Very well, I shall let you feed me without fuss. But only until I can hold a spoon myself again," Emelaide added decidedly with a smile as she placed a tender kiss upon Marreck's lips. "So what is Hathom doing here?" Emelaide asked curiously as she pushed the spoon back towards Marreck, unable to lift it.

"Thank you again, Cindalina." Ariala smiled as she took the dishes and led Dimitrius out the door and back towards Elimlee. "Where would we be without her?" Ariala sighed as they walked.

~~~

"Because you're magic keeps dropping or rising and he's negating it." Marreck explained as he lifted the spoon again, filled it with soup, and held it to Emelaide's lips.

"Starve, apparently," Dimitrius teased as he placed a tender kiss upon her temple, "It's a good thing we have her near, since our parents are quite unreliable in the warmth and kindness department."

-

Swallowing the soup he offered to her, Emelaide blushed as she licked her lips. "Oh.. I didn't realize," Emelaide said softly as she looked up at him, "Are you okay? Are the twins alright?"

"My father just needs time." Ariala sighed as they crossed the border. "My mother is plenty warm, its just my dad." She said softly.

~~~

"Everyone's alright." Marreck assured her as he placed a small kiss on her forehead and offered her more soup. "Don't worry, I just want you to be better." He said with a warm smile.

Dimitrius smiled as he held her close and placed another kiss upon her temple. "I know, my love," Dimitrius assured her with a warm smile, "Perhaps once Lily is born, he may warm up to me a bit more."

-

Taking the bite of soup, Emelaide smiled, "I'm glad I didn't unconsciously hurt anyone.. I couldn't bare it if I did.. especially if it were you or the twins," Emelaide added softly, "Is he staying all while I'm like this?"

"Maybe." Ariala shrugged as they neared the rope ladder. "How do you want to get Dimeria up to the bridges?" Ariala asked as she hooked the dishes under one arm and climbed up the nearby tree, setting the dishes on the bridges. "Do you want me to carry her up?" She offered as she sat on the top branch and swung her feet.

~~~

"I'm not sure how long he's staying." Marreck admitted as he put more soup on the spoon for Emelaide. "But he's staying the night tonight." He explained.

"I can climb most of the ladder, will you take her from there until I can get up?" Dimitrius called as he moved towards the ladder mentioned.

-

Eating the soup, Emelaide nodded sadly, "Tell him I'm sorry, will you? I'm sorry he has to spend his vacation making sure his cousin-in-law doesn't get frostbit or burned by his pregnant cousin.."

"Of course." Ariala said as she made her way down the branches to wait on one of the higher branches to wait for Dimitrius and Dimeria.
~~~

"Alright." Marreck agreed as he continued to feed her the soup before dropping the soup and holding the glass to her mouth. "Drink." He said softly. "And Em, we just want you to feel better. He's not here because he feels like he has too, he wants to feel better again." He assured her.

Carrying Dimeria 80% of the way up the ladder, Dimitrius handed her to Ariala gently, careful not to wake her up, so he could climb the rest of the way and safely get onto the bridge.

Taking Dimeria back in his arms once he was safe upon the bridge, Dimitrius placed a long, tender kiss upon her lips, "Thank you, love. I appreciate the help. One of these days, I promise I'll be able to manage it alone," Dimitrius said with a laugh.

-

Emelaide nodded before drinking her tea. Finishing it, Emelaide smiled up at Marreck before placing a long, tender kiss upon his lips, "Thank you, both of you. It means a lot to know you two care so much about me to risk everything like this," Emelaide whispered against his lips between kisses, "Will you lay with me until I fall asleep?"

"If you say so." Ariala teased as she led them back to their small home and walked into the bedroom, taking off her shoes to place in the closet along with her leg warmers and jacket.

~~~

"Of course, love." Marreck assured her as he set the tray on the floor beside their bed before leaning back against the pillows, his arms cradling Emelaide gently.

After putting Dimeria to bed, Dimitrius headed back to the bedroom to change into pajamas. "You have no faith in me, my love. Surely with a little one on the way, along with Dimeria living here for awhile, you would think I'd master the art of carrying a child safely up to the rope ladders," he teased with a wink at Ariala.

-

Resting her head upon his chest, Emelaide yawned as she murmured softly, "I love you, Marreck. Thank you," she whispered as she snuggled deeper into the sheets and closer to him, falling asleep with her head upon his abdomen and her arms wrapped loosely around his waist.

"Yes, but I think I should tell you now that the reason I agreed to the border was because its on flat ground." Ariala teased as she changed out of her dress and slipped into a silk night gown. "Mostly because I don't want to chance you dropping our children when on the ladder." She said teasingly as she wrapped her arms around Dimitrius's waist and gave his nose a soft kiss.

~~~

Marreck smiled in relief as Emelaide fell asleep, hoping she'd feel better onse she was awake. Marreck ran his fingers gently through her hair as he tilted his own head back in the pillows and fell asleep as well.

Dimitrius rolled his eyes playfully as he pulled Ariala in for a long, tender kiss. "Ari, my love, if I didn't love you so much I may threaten to never kiss you again for making me feel completely and utterly useless here in Elimlee," he teased, "I fear your father may have been right to worry about my parenting skills," he added with a laugh.

-

After Hathom finished his dinner, he felt Emelaide's magic begin to wane and become normal once more. Knocking softly on the bedroom door but hearing no answer, only even breathing, Hathom figured the couple were asleep. Slipping in quietly, Hathom retrieved the dirty dishes and slipped back out just as silently. After reaching the kitchen, Hathom went about picking up the kitchen and washing the dishes from dinner.

"You wouldn't want to kiss me?" Ariala said through a mock pout. "But I love you." She said softly as she batted her lashes playfully at Dimitrius. "Very, very much." She promised as she stood on her toes to give him another tender kiss, one of her hands tangling in his hair.

Dimitrius chuckled as he eagerly returned her kisses, "How could I say no to you? I could never go long without kissing you, my love," Dimitrius promised as he pulled her close, one hand caressing the small of her back while the other tenderly caressed her cheek. "I love you Ari, so so much," he murmured softly between kisses.