"Thank you." Marreck smiled though he still felt a bit of panic at leaving Emelaide's side. "I really appreciate everything." He said, his fingers running through his hair nervously for a second time.

~~~

"But all the trees are sick." Liah said with a pout as she stuck out her hand to a nearby tree that was barren of its leaves. "Why are they all so sick?" She asked sadly.

"Of course. Anything for family," Hathom said with a warm smile, "And even though you're not married yet, you're still part of the family. Come on, let's get something quick to eat so you can head back in with Emelaide."

-

Dimeria looked at Liah with an odd expression, "They're not sick, they're asleep! Trees sleep in the winter. How come you think they're sick?"

Marreck nodded at the prospect of food, his stomach grumbling in response as he followed Hathom into the kitchen obediently.

~~~

"There's no leaves." Liah said as she took a step towards the tree. "And its cold. Trees need sun." She said with a frown.

Cindalina offered a small smile at Marreck as she set down three hot bowls of soup and three cups of lemon tea, "Come loves, sit down and eat. How long has Em been like this? She was fine when you were here last.."

Hathom sighed as he sat down began eating his soup, allowing Marreck to answer the questions since it was his bride in the predicament.

-

"Liah, they do get sun. The snow does not always cover the trees. The now being there now just shows that a Winter Elf has been practicing magic here," Dimitrius said with a warm smile, "Don't worry about the trees, love, they've been this way for hundreds of thousands of years. They're perfectly used to such weather."

"Last night it started getting out of control but then this morning she was scorching hot." Marreck said, cringing lightly at the memory. "So we brought her here. I hope that's alright..." Marreck said as he took a sip of his soup, his stomach grumbling lightly for more food.

~~~

Liah smiled sadly as she sent a tiny bit of her magic into the tree, the trunk becoming stronger as a result. Not noticing that her magic was still in use, Liah left a few winter flowers in her place as they continued to walk.

Cindalina nodded, "Yes, yes of course. You two are always welcome here, you know that. Hopefully her next pregnancy will be less of a trial upon her. But we now know she must come directly to Winterglade and remain here for the next eleven months, or at least until her magic settles down again," Cindalina said with a sigh as she ate her soup.

"Are the children alright?" Cindalina inquired softly, almost afraid of the answer.

-

Dimeria's eyes widened as she noticed the flowers behind Liah, "Pretty flowers! How is she doing that?"

Dimitrius chuckled as he picked a flower and placed it in Dimeria's hair, "It's her magic, love. Ariala does the same thing when her magic runs wild with her feelings. It is a Spring Elf magic," Dimitrius added with a warm smile as he tapped Dimeria's nose, knowing the next question she was preparing to ask was if she could do it too.

"Yes." Marreck assured her after another scoop of soup. "The twins are alright." He said, letting out a sigh of relief as he did so.

~~~

Liah laughed as she stopped Dimeria and waved her small hand over the ground, growing a small rose bush in front of Dimeria's feet. "Ari makes them prettier. But she's going to help me." She said proudly.

Relief flowed from Cindalina's features as she placed a hand upon her chest to try and calm her beating heart, "Thank the heavens above.. And you, Marreck? How are you holding up?"

-

Dimeria grinned as she bent down let her fingers trace across the flowers' petals. "These are pretty! Ari just makes them bigger is all, yours are just as good!" Dimeria insisted with a giggled as she picked a rose and put it in Liah's hair before taking her hand and running towards the opening into the town and towards Cindalina's house.

"I'll be better when Em is." Marreck said before eating more soup, the hunger in his stomach a dull rumble. "That woman is going to be the death of me." He joked, managing a small laugh as he did so.

~~~

Liah caught up into Dimeria's excitement quickly as she followed the young Winter Elf to Cindalina's door and stood patiently, waiting for Dimitrius to knock on it.

Cindalina and Hathom both chuckled as they ate their soup.

"That stubborn mule will be the death of everyone if she keeps pulling stunts like this morning," Hathom said with a small laugh.

Cindalina shook her head as she gave Marreck's hand a tender squeeze, "Everything will be fine, dear, I'm sure of it."

Knock. Knock.

"Oh! Who could that be.." Cindalina muttered to herself as she tried to calm her frazzled nerves. Going to the door, Cindalina was bombarded with a leaping hug from Dimeria and was greeted by a young Spring Elf along with Dimitrius.

"Auntie Auntie! Can you find my tea set for me?" Dimeria inquired with a big grin on her face as she looked up at Cindalina, her arms wrapped around her waist.

Forcing a smile, which didn't go unnoticed by Dimitrius, Cindalina nodded as she led the group inside and began chatting with Dimeria and Liah as to what they wished to do with the tea set and what their plans were for the day, making their way towards the back of the house as they talked.

Making his way to the kitchen, Dimitrius saw their distressed faces and felt the temperatures fluctuating throughout the house, "Mar... What's happened.."

"She's going to be alright." Marreck said as Liah climbed into his lap and put her arms around his neck. "But Em got burning hot this morning and didn't bother to tell us until it was almost too late." He said, his heart starting to sink again as he processed the new information. "She's sleeping again for now." He sighed.

Dimitrius sighed as he massaged the bridge of his nose, "That sounds like the dolt.. Always not wishing to worry others yet always managing to worry them more.. How long will she be asleep?"

"Who knows.. It's one of her deep ones that comes on when she over exerts herself," Hathom explained softly, "Could be a day, could be two months. It's hard to say at this point."

"Two months." Marreck said, his voice rising. "My wife is not going to be sleeping for two months, Hathom." He warned as he began to reach his breaking point. All of his anger and worry boiling over.

"Mar?" Liah asked as Marreck set her onto the floor and disappeared into the living room where he paced back and forth over the paneled wood, running his fingers through his hair as he tried to calm himself down.

Hathom sighed as he began to explain, though Dimitrius interrupted him to explain himself, feeling it might be less hard on Marreck coming from himself.

"Marreck, you know Emelaide. She pushes herself to the last drop of energy is used up because she doesn't like feeling weak and she doesn't like leaving you. She loves you with all of her heart; sleeping like this is killing her inside.

"Though it may seem like she is asleep, she is still quite conscious of the world around her. She knows you are with her, Marreck, and knowing that small fact will make her fight to get back to you as soon as she can. Just give it some time, stay with her when you can, but don't risk your health. She many not be able to see you, but she can feel you and it won't help her to cause her to worry about your health while trying to salvage her own.

"Marreck, I know what I say is probably horrid, but you must think positively for Emelaide to get well again. I am sure she will not be asleep for two months, two weeks at the most.

"Would you like me to get her a doctor to come in once a day to check vitals and give her an IV with nutrients flowing through it? It would be the best way to keep her strength up," Dimitrius suggested with a warm smile as he placed a reassuring hand upon Marreck's shoulder.

"Yes." Marreck sighed as he cringed backwards from Dimitrius's touch. "I'm not hungry anymore." He said though his stomach was entirely disagreeing with him. Ignoring any hunger pains, Marreck returned to Emelaide's bed side and took her hands in his, giving them each tender kisses.

Sighing, Dimitrius called to Cindalina, "Auntie, watch Ria and Liah for a minute. I'm getting the doctor."

"Doctor? How come Auntie?" Ria inquired softly as she carried a tea cup while Cindalina carried the rest of the set.

"Emmie's sick, Ria love, she needs a doctor to get better," Cindalina explained softly.

"Emmie's sick? Like, a cold?"

"Yes, something like that. Don't you worry your pretty head, my dear, everything is going to be just fine," Cindalina said with a warm smile before leading her to the kitchen.

-

Careon smiled as she rested a hand upon Marreck's upper back, "Do not fret so, Spring Elf, Emelaide will be perfectly fine." Standing from her chair, Careon walked out of the room to give the couple some privacy and remained just outside the door to keep the temperatures from going anymore haywire than they already were.

At this point, Emelaide was too deep in her state to consciously know what was going on around her. It would not be until some time later that she truly could comprehend and realize what was happening and what was being said.

"Come on, love." Marreck whispered as he put his forehead to Emelaide's. "I need you." He whispered before letting out a sigh and sitting on the bed beside her, always keeping thier hands interlocked, fingers entwined.

Finding the doctor and explaining the situation, Dimitrius waited patiently for the doctor to get a team together and small team to help him set up the IV and pouches of nutrient fluids for Emelaide.

-

Cindalina sighed as she called to Careon, trying to put on a happy persona in front of Liah and Dimeria, "Careon, would you like some soup?"

"Yes, please, I'd love some," called Careon with a smile, "Thank you."

Ladling out some into a bowl, Cindalina handed the bowl and spoon to Dimeria and inquired with a smile, "Take this to Carrie, will you dear?"

Nodding, Dimeria carefully took the soup to Careon before hurrying back to Cindalina and clinging to her side, nervous to be around so many people that she was not accustomed to, despite knowing all of them.

Liah climbed into a nearby chair, tucking her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. She looked around the room nervously, not wanting to speak as she wished Marreck would come back instead of leaving her with Winter Elves that she did not know.

"Lina? May Liah and I play tea party by the fire?"

"Of course, love, I'll bring you your tea things in just a bit. Just be careful of my sewing, alright?" Cindalina said with a warm smile as she caressed her cheek lightly.

Hathom chuckled as he scooped up Dimeria, who giggled as he did so, "Hathie that's not fair! Put me down!"

Tickling the wriggling child in his arms, Hathom teased with a grin, "I think it serves you right, my dear! Not saying hello to me and all. After all, I should be one of the first people you say hello to!"

"I didn't notice you!" Dimeria giggled as she pulled at the hand that was tickling her.

"Didn't notice me! Didn't notice me! Why Princess Dimeria, if I didn't sort of like you I may just take that as an insult," Hathom teased as he set the giggling girl down and ruffled her hair.

"How long are you staying?" Dimeria inquired, still laughing.

"Until Emmie has her wedding," Hathom promised with a warm smile.

"You play later, 'kay?"

"Of course Ria, we shall play whatever game you wish, so long as Dimitrius says it's alright," Hathom teased with a wink as Dimeria ran to Liah and took her hand.

"Come come! Auntie says we can play tea party here!" Dimeria beamed as she lightly tugged on Liah's hand.

All the while this was taking place, Cindalina was washing the tea set as the teapot boiled the water.

Liah nodded as he hand tightened around Dimeria's and followed the Winter Elf into the living room where she settled in front of the fire, rubbing her hands together to stay warm. "Why is Marreck so mad?" Liah asked Dimeria quietly, her red hair seeming brighter then usualin the firelight.

"Emmie, his fiancereer-thingie, is sick so he's all worried 'cause of their babies inside her. She controls temperatures, like me, so I think Marreck's just mad 'cause he can't be with her without getting too cold, not being a Winter Elf and all," Dimeria answered with a 'knowing'-nod.

"Oh." Liah shrugged. "Grown ups are so complicated." She sighed as she twirled her hair around her fingers.

"Yeah," Dimeria nodded in agreement just as Cindalina came in with her tea set. Setting it upon the table between them, Dimeria's eyes lit up as she saw the real tea.

"I chose Raspberry tea," Cindalina said with a warm smile before heading towards the bedroom to check upon Marreck.

Dimeria grinned as she carefully poured the tea in each cup, "Mmm! It smells yummy! Do you like Raspberry tea Miss Liah?" Dimeria giggled politely as she offered her the sugar, "Do you take sugar with it?"

"Yes." Liah said with a large grin, sitting up straighter. "Lots and lots of sugar." She giggled as she took the small sugar bowl and added three spoonfuls to her cup. "And you?" She asked as she extended the sugar bowl out to Dimeria.

~~~

Marreck sat staring emotionlessly at his fiance, his hands occasionally giving her's gentle squeezes. He felt a bit of self hate stirring in his stomach for doing this to her but chose to ignore it for now, focusing only on the sleeping girl before him.