"Of course." Ariala smiled, happy at the idea of having her hands busy and began collecting the eggs, flour, sugar, and chocolate necessary for the recipe. She felt a calmness take over as she followed through the steps of the recipe, blocking out the images of the past few hours and focusing solely on the task at hand.

~~~

"Ah, clever." Marreck laughed as he walked over to Emelaide and gave her forehead a light kiss as he took the glass. "Very well." He said before disappearing into the kitchen and filling her glass once again with his own mix of berries.

Wheeling her chair to the window, Emelaide called over to Moe with a smile. Moe, a small squirrel who seemed to pop up as a messenger everywhere, was like a guardian of Emelaide. He moved his nest to wherever Emelaide was living, even following her to the far too hot Elimlee when she moved there not too long ago. However, he was very happy that they had moved back, even if it was for not so good reasons.

With message in ear, Moe went off in search of Dimitrius to deliver the message.

Laughing as she watched Moe scurry off, Emelaide smiled as she wheeled her chair back to the table, "I guess Moe is happier than ever to be back in the snow."

"Well it is his home." Marreck said as he handed Emelaide her glass and hopped onto a nearby counter to sit. "What would you like to do today, love?" Marreck asked curiously, his feet swinging a bit.

Taking a sip of her juice, Emelaide pondered the thought, "Hmmm... Well, I would like to fill this house with furniture. Would you mind terribly if we looked at more furniture today and bought some games and books to fill our shelves? I know it is rather boring, but I do not like being in such an empty house," Emelaide admitted with a laugh. "It makes me feel so very small and helpless."

"Of course, I mean we might as well make it our home officially." Marreck smiled as he hopped from the counter and rummaged through the drawers in search of the magazines which had seemed to disappear.

"They're still piled beside the couch," Emelaide teasingly reminded with a smile before taking a sip of her juice. "I think I hear Jessi getting up, though, so it should be safe to get them."

--

Dimitrius sighed as he left the doctor's home and headed back towards Cindalina's. Looking up at the sun, it looked to be about mid-day. Walking inside the house, Dimitrius set the bag down and rummaged in it for a set of clothes. Changing in the bathroom, Dimitrius tossed his sweatpants and boxers into the hamper before heading into the kitchen, his long hair still a bit tangled from sleep despite it being out of the band that was holding it back.

Heading into the kitchen Dimitrius stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Ariala baking. "What are you doing here. How can you dare to show your face here after what you just did?"

"Ah, right." Marreck laughed as he walked into the living room to grab the mentioned furniture magazines. "Good morning." He said to a very sleepy looking elf.

~~~

"Dimitrius." Ariala gasped in surprised, the spoon in her hand falling into the bowl. "Dimitrius, I'm so sorry." She rambled, her mouth taking over as the rest of her body stayed planted in shock. "I know that sorry doesn't cover what I did. I was completely in the wrong today and I know I messed up horribly and I understand if you don't want to see me but I needed to tell you that I'm sorry." She said, blinking back tears as her voice gained more confidence.

"Morning," Jessi mumbled sleepily as he rubbed his eyes and sat up on the couch. Yawning, he stretched and stood with a groan. "Mind if I make myself some breakfast?"

---

"Sorry? For what, Ariala. For being a dolt and not watching a young girl who was next to a stove? Or for being a despicable person and choosing lessons over family," Dimitrius spat as he glared at her. "Sorry doesn't even begin to make up for the disgust I have towards you right now. How dare you say you'd rather clean up pancake mess and go to your lessons instead of taking a little girl who has been burned to the doctor to see if she is going to be alright? Not watching her and her getting hurt is something I can forgive far easier than you saying you would rather run off to your little Master and practice your lessons instead of take care of that little girl. How could you even utter such a thing, Ariala? Tell me how."

"The kitchen's all yours." Marreck smiled as he flipped through the magazine pages and returned to Emelaide. "What room do you want to furnish first?" He asked as he laid out the magaine for her.

~~~

"I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that I wasn't being careful enough in watching Dimeria and I don't know how I said that I needed to go to my lesson. Dimeria was so hurt and I should've been there and I wasn't and I know how awful of a person I was for doing that and I don't want to be that awful person. I want to be here for you and for her because this all my fault and I'm sorry!" Ariala said, fighting back a sob that betrayed her and escaped anyways. "I know how much you hate me right now and you deserve to after how I acted today because it was completely unacceptable and I'm promising you that this is never going to happen again because I need to be better then this." She rambled on.

"Kitchen," Emelaide said with a nod good morning at Jessi as he passed through into the kitchen. "There's so many things we need... Pots, pans, a tea set that's ours," Emelaide added with a laugh, "I still have no idea where that set came from, even though it is adorable and sweet looking. Still, we need to get groceries as well. We really should get that all taken care of, and then start on the living room," Emelaide finished as she looked at Marreck, "What do you think?"

----

"You're right. The way you handled this situation was abominable. I wasn't even awake and I handled it better than you did, Ariala. What if Dimeria was our little girl? What would have done then Ariala? Same thing? Ran away like a child and covered it up? Honestly Ariala, I have never been so disappointed in you, nor so hurt by you," Dimitrius lashed out as he continued to glare at her.

Rubbing his temples, Dimitrius sighed, "Look, I don't think you being here is a good idea right now. All we're going to do is fight. I think.. we need a few days apart."

"Agreed." Marreck nodded as he rested his chin in his hands. "Did you want to go to the market this afternoon then?" He asked.

~~~

"Okay." Ariala said softly before turning to Cindalina. "Thank you for having me over." She said thoughtfully before she nodded her goodbyes and pulled on her coat.

Ariala walked at a medium pace back to Elimlee in the snow, her hands wrapped tight around her chest. She wasn't sure if Dimitrius could forgive her for his. How could she have been so thoughtless? She didn't even know she could be this cruel and when Ariala finally made her way up the rope ladder she turned on some water for tea for several moments before shutting it off and deciding on a hot bath instead.

"Sure! And then we can drop off the large order of furniture with Marliatto and get pans and things as well. We may want to bring a sled with us to carry everything. It's going to be far too much to carry. I believe Cindalina has one we could borrow if you wanted to stop by there before we went to the market?" Emelaide said happily as she sipped her juice, very much excited to be decorating and furnishing an entire home, and one she could fill with the ice she loved so much.

---

"Dimitrius, that was very harsh on the poor girl. I know she deserves it, but you are her husband. You should be more understanding of her."

"Aunt Lina, I cannot even begin to understand her judgement call in Elimlee. Right now I just cannot forgive her for it. I need time apart to clear my head and cool off, as does she," Dimitrius said with a sigh as he walked over to the cookie mix and tasted it to see if anything was missing before plopping cookie balls down on the pan.

"That sounds like quite the plan, love." Marreck smiled widely, happy that Emelaide seemed more excited then she had in the past few days.

~~~

Ariala sighed as she slipped into the water and let her face sink beneath the water for a few moments before reappearing to the surface, her wet hair clinging to her head and neck. The events of the day had Ariala shaken and it seemed the warm water was doing nothing to calm her nerves, her toes tapping anxiously on the wall of the tub.

Eventually Ariala abandoned hope of calming such nerves and drained the tub, drying herself, and changed into a small nightgown before curling up in her bed to rest some more.

"So, let's start with figuring out what we need for the kitchen and make a list, then we can make a list for the living room," Emelaide suggested as they began their morning task of picking our furnishings and creating lists of groceries, pans, and little things they would need in general to finish those two rooms for now.

---

With the cookies in the oven and breakfast on the table, Dimitrius sighed as he and his Aunt sat in silence over breakfast, neither wanting to discuss the situation any further for the mean time. When finished, Dimitrius put away the left overs, took care of the cookies, and washed the dishes before heading back over to the doctor's house with Dimeria's favorite book. Dimitrius knew Dimeria was asleep, but he still felt she could hear everything, much like Emelaide when her body shut down and put her into a deep sleep.

Erreminette wandered around the village a bit after her lesson, her arms felt sore and her brow was still a bit sweaty though she felt a swell of pride when she thought about how quickly she'd grown her pear tree. The village was quiet at this time in the morning and Erremientte figured that she had just missed the morning rush as she climbed up the rope ladder.

"Ari?" Erreminette called softly as she knocked on the door, receiving no answer. Unsatisfied, Erreminette walked around to the bedroom window and like so many times before hopped inside. "Good morning, sleepy head." She smiled playfully.

"Erre. Please. Can I just be alone right now?" Ariala asked quietly, rolling over to face away from her best friend and bury her face in her pillow.

"Not until I tell you that you're my best friend in the entire world and I love you dearly." Erreminette said sadly as she gave Ariala a small smile. "I'll see you later." She promised before disappearing again.

The afternoon was spent reading to Dimeria, though it wasn't long before Dimitrius fell asleep with his head resting on the book at the edge of the bed that he had been kneeling beside to read.

Waking, Dimitrius rubbed his eyes and yawned before shaking his head lightly and continuing to read from where he had left off.

---

"Okay, we have our lists and we have our order list, are we missing anything?" Emelaide asked as she looked up at the two men at the table. "I fear my eyes are going cross from staring and print and cross referencing so much," Emelaide said with a laugh.

"I think you have a good list to start out with. If anything is missing when you start organizing, then you're sure to figure it out and you can add it to another list," Jessi said with a nod, "Were you planning on changing any of the colorings for the walls?"

"We never discussed it." Marreck admitted as he leaned across the table to look at the lists. "Did you want to change the colors anywhere love?" He asked.

"Mm, I rather like the icy blues with wooden accents, but that is because I grew up with them and am a 'gladian at heart. But this is your home too so you should have a part of Elimlee here with you if you would like it," Emelaide added with a nod, "That was one thing I wanted to bring to the nursery at the very least -- a bit of both of our pasts. But should we change the wall colors? Or leave them as they are and just decorate the mixture?"

"We could draw a mural." Marreck suggested. "Along one wall, I mean. I know an elf that's fantastic at murals if you're willing to give it a shot." Marreck said cautiously, eyeing Emelaide.

"A... mural?" Emelaide asked, "We don't have anything like that here in Winterglade.."

"It's something adapted from the human world, Emelaide. It's like a large painting, but the room is it's frame and it covers the length of the wall. They're done on sides of buildings where the world is it's frame, on walls -- anywhere really," Jessi explained with a nod.

"Oh that would be wonderful! What kind of style painting does he do?" Emelaide asked excitedly.

"She." Marreck corrected quietly. "She can do alot of things, landscapes, photos. Whatever you'd like. I was thinking of a landscape of the meadow. I think it'd be most appropiate in bridging together Winterglade and Elimlee like you said." He suggested.

Emelaide eyed Marreck and caught his expressions. "Who is she..." Emelaide asked as she frowned, "Though I do like the landscape of the meadow, I am unsure if I shall like this elf you have thought of to do it."

"Em, just cut Erreminette some slack. She's really good at what she does and don't you think its about time you two resolved your issues?" Marreck asked with a sigh. "She's one of my best friends so I think you should at least give her a chance."

"I knew it," Emelaide said with a scowl. "And I tried to be kind to her. It is not my fault she is a stubborn mule who likes to be cruel all of the time and have an attitude. She may be your friend, but she shall never be mine. Isn't it enough I am kind to Ariala? Why must I have to forgive that wretch as well? If you wish her to do it, then fine. But I will not be in this house while she is here."

"Emelaide please don't be difficult." Marreck sighed with a small eye roll. "Erreminette and you are far too similar sometimes and I wish you'd both just give it a rest. Besides, I became friends with Dimitrius who-might I add-is you're ex so I don't understand why you can't just be cordial to Erreminette."