"Ready." Slipping his arm around her waist as he led her outside, Dimitrius smiled. "What did you make for us, love?" he asked as he took the basket so she could climb down the ladder.

"Just sandwiches." Ariala shrugged as she climbed down the ladder. "And berries and some cookies for afterwards." She said as she looked up at Dimitrius, waiting for him to come down as well.

Climbing down, basket in hand, Dimitrius smiled as wrapped his arm back around her waist, "Sounds good. Ria will be excited over the chance to eat more sweets," he added with a chuckle as they made their way towards the meadow.

Ariala laughed and rested her head against Dimitrius's shoulder as they reached the waterfall where Erreminette had her arms out for Dimeria in case she began to sink though she seemed to be floating fine on her own. "Good job, Dimeria." Ariala smiled as she made her way to the edge of the water to slip her feet in the cool stream. "Looks like Erre taught you well." She smiled encouragingly.

Dimeria grinned as she swam slowly over to Ariala. Once she could touch comfortably, she ran to Ariala and through her arms around her neck, "Erre taught me to swim!"

Dimitrius smiled as he placed a kiss upon her forehead, "You did wonderful, love, you're catching on well! Would you like to have a picnic?"

Dimeria nodded eagerly as she at on Ariala's lap. Dimitrius chuckled as he called for Erreminette, "Erre, we're having a picnic! I'll run back to the house and grab a few towels, would you like a change of clothes?"

"She did teach you to swim." Ariala smiled as she held the young elf. "And you're doing great. Do you want something to eat?" She offered.

"No thanks, Dimitrius." Erreminette smiled as she wrung out her hair over her shoulder and waded over to Ariala, wearing only her underclothes and a slightly long tank top. "But a towel would be nice." She laughed.

Ria nodded, "Hungry!"

"Of course," Dimitrius nodded with a chuckle, "What about you love, would you like a new dress to change into since Ria got this one soaked?"

"I'm fine." Ariala smiled up at Dimitrius. "Thank you." She said, tugging on Dimitrius's hand to pull him down for a small kiss before turning back to Dimeria. "I have some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for you." She said excitedly. "I made sure to bring lots of cookies." She smiled, tickling Dimeria's belly lightly.

Dimitrius chuckled as Dimeria squirmed in Ariala's grasp while giggling and laughing. Placing one last kiss on Ariala's forehead Dimitrius darted off to grab towels and a dress for Dimeria.

Dimeria grinned as she climbed over Ariala and searched through the basket, "Cookies!"

"One before we eat then you can have more afterwards." Ariala warned, taking the bag from Dimeria and handing her a chocolate chip cookie. "There you go." Ariala smiled before taking one for herself and one for Erreminette who climbed out of the stream and sat on the grass beside them.

Ria grinned as she eagerly bit into the cookie and snuggled closer to Ariala, "Thank you!"

By the time Ria had finished her cookie, Dimitrius was back with a change of clothes for Ria and towels for Ria and Erre. Sitting beside Ariala, Dimitrius placed a tender kiss upon her neck as he handed her Ria's new dress and a towel, "I'll get our food ready while you go clean Ria up." Handing another towel to Erreminette, he asked, "Would you like me to fix you a plate as well?"

"Yes please." Erreminette said as she stood to wrap the towel around herself before settling back beside Ariala and Dimeria.

Ariala wrapped Dimeria in the towel so that she was cocooned in the warm fabric before drying her hair quickly. "Better?" She asked the younger elf before dressing her into the new dress that Dimitrius had grabbed, the white dress from earlier.

Dimeria nodded and hugged Ariala around the neck, "Much! Thank you Ari!"

Dimitrius chuckled as he handed a plate to Erre and fixed another for Ari and placing it in front of her. Fixing a small plate for Ria, Dimitrius smiled and placed a light kiss on her nose, "You look very pretty, love."

"Yay! Is Ria as pretty as Ari?"

"Of course you are darling! You're pretty like your Mama as well," he added as he patted the ground between him and Ariala for Ria to sit in while she ate her meal. Fixing a plate for himself, Dimirius smiled over at Erreminette, "Thank, Erre, for watching her today. We really appreciate it."

"Its no problem." Erreminette smiled as she tucked in the corner of the towel so it stayed secure as she ate. "She's to adorable, she has me under her spell." Erreminette laughed as she popped a berry in her mouth.

"She's right." Ariala smiled at Dimitrius. "You're going to have to fight to keep the boys away from her." She teased before biting into her sandwich.

Dimitrius groaned at the thought as he bit into his sandwich, "Don't remind me. I'll have to recruit Marreck into helping me, surely he'll help keep them away seeing as how Em loves Ria so much."

"Boys yucky," said Ria through a mouth full of berries.

Laughing, Dimitrius ruffled her wet hair a bit, "That's my girl. You keep thinking that until I'm dead."

Ariala and Erreminette laughed together as they ate. "Not too long from now you'll find out boys aren't so gross." Ariala laughed as she ate a few of her berries.

"No need to corrupt the poor girl just because you've found your Prince Charming." Erreminette teased, causing Ariala to stick her tongue out at Erreminette.

Dimitrius chuckled, as he finished his sandwich, "Ari, love, let's hope both Elimlee folk and Winterglade folk stay away from our dear Ria. If they start noticing her, we're in for a house full of suitors all trying to catch her attention. Between her and our girls, I don't think we'll have a moments peace."

"Well I don't think we'll have to worry about it for years." Ariala smiled as she finished her berries and ate her sandwich.

"Ari, I have to leave soon. I, uhm, I'm meeting someone." Erreminette blushed as she finished her feel and slipped out of the towel and pulled her dress over her head. "Thank you for the meal." Erreminette said as she bent beside Ariala and gave her a hug. "And great job swimming, Dimeria." She said warmly, patting the girl's hair gently.

"Have fun with your Prince Charming." Ariala called as Erreminette started to walk away, causing her to turn and stick her tongue out playfully before running off for Elimlee.

Dimitrius chuckled as he watched Erre run off, "I hope it works for her, she deserves someone to devote complete attention to her alone. With our wedding, your pregnancy, and Marreck and Em being together, I think she's felt rather left out of the loop," he added softly as he finished his sandwich.

"She does." Ariala sighed, feeling a pang of guilt as she continued to eat. "I feel awful about it. We used to be inseperable and now its hard just to get time with her." She shrugged as she finished her lunch and shook her head lightly. "But anyways, how was the sandwich Dimeria?" She asked, looking at the younger elf.

Dimeria grinned happily, peanut butter and jelly, along with berry juice, covered her face, "Yummeh!" she muffled through a mouth full. "Cookeh peas?"

Dimitrius smiled as he reached out and wiped her mouth, "After you eat what's in your mouth, love." Her face clean, Dimtrius set the napkin down as he rested his chin lightly on Ariala's shoulder, "Ari, love, why don't you plan a night just for you, Marreck, and Erre to play cards and just chat for awhile. I can always take Ria down to Aunties for awhile, and bring Em with me so she isn't cooped up in the house, she lives right down the road after all. That'll give you all a chance to just hang out by yourselves for awhile, catch up and just hang out without us outsiders around."

"You're not an outsider." Ariala said, rolling her eyes playfully. "But you really wouldn't mind?" Ariala asked, her voice timid as she turned her head to face Dimitrius. It'd been too long since she'd had alone time with her friends.

Handing Ria a cookie, Dimitrius placed a tender kiss upon Ariala's neck, "Of course not love, you needn't ever ask. I'll take Ria tomorrow if you'd like and I'll snag Em away too so she's not home alone again. We can go tonight and ask if you'd like, do you think they're at Marreck's house or Em's?"

-

Emelaide smiled as she snuggled close to Marreck under the sheets, "I love you." Reaching across him, Emelaide picked up his shirt and slipped it on before placing a long, tender kiss upon his lips, "Come shower with me?"

"I'm guessing they'd be at Marreck's house." Ariala offered as she too0k her own cookie. "If not, his mom will tell us where to go." She offered.

~~~

"Now how can I say no to that?" Marreck smiled as he placed a small kiss on her lips before getting out of the bed and pulling on a pair of his sweatpants before taking Emelaide's hands in his own and leading her towards the bathroom.

"We'll head there before we head home, then you can leave word at Erre's window while I take Ria inside," said Dimitrius with a smile as he placed a tender kiss upon her cheek, "I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't just go off and hang out with your friends.. I didn't mean to cause you to think that," he said softly, a blush upon his cheeks.

-

Emelaide grinned as she turned on the hot water and slipped out of the t-shirt. Wrapping her arms around Marreck's neck, Emelaide placed a long, tender kiss upon his lips, "I love you, Marreck O'Sullivan. And in exactly two weeks, I'll happily become Emelaide O'Sullivan. As long as you don't object, that is," she added with another kiss before breaking their embrace and slipping into the shower.