"I'm doing alright." Ariala shrugged through her teacher had praised her on many occasions for her rapid development, the last thing she thought she deserved was even more praise from Dimitrius. "I'm having a bit of trouble with temperature but its gotten better." She said before taking a sip of her drink.

Dimitrius smiled as he leaned over and kissed her forehead, "Perhaps we shall just have to practice it when you are feeling up to it. We can always go to the meadow and work our magic a bit before coming home," Dimitrius said with a warm smile as he finished his pie, "We shall simply have to make sure Dimeria is on a play-date with Liah," Dimitrius added with a wink and we went to the sink and began washing the dishes.

"I'm sure Liah would enjoy that." Ariala smiled through a yawn, covering her mouth delicately with her hand. Ariala finished her drink and stood from the table to put the cup in the sink before putting her arms around Dimitrius's waist. "I love you." She said softly as she rested her forehead against his shoulder.

Quickly finishing the dishes, Dimitrius dried his hands as he turned and held Ariala close, caressing her cheek and lower back as he murmured softly into her hair, "I love you too, my dearest Ariala. Why don't you take a nap while I get dinner started. I'll be in in a bit to join you once I have it going," Diimitrius said with a warm smile and a light kiss upon her lips, "How does vegetable stew sound?"

"Sounds perfect." Ariala smiled against Dimitrius's lips. "But that may be because you're making it and I'm getting to rest." She laughed before stepping out of their embrace and moving towards the bedroom. "I love you." She said over her shoulder before disappearing into the bedroom, changing into one of Dimitrius's shirts before hiding beneath the covers.

Dimitrius chuckled as he set a pot of water on to simmer before washing his hands and getting out all of the vegetables to chop up.

*

After placing them all into the stew, Dimitrius placed the top upon the pot and began to wash the dishes and the counter space he used. Once all that was finished, he quickly washed his hands before heading into the bedroom and changing into a pair of sweatpants and a light T-shirt.

Slipping beneath the sheets, Dimitrius wrapped his arms around Ariala and held her close as his hands tenderly caressed her abdomen, his face buried in her hair as he whispered softly before placing a tender kiss upon her scalp, "I love you Ariala, you and our glorious children."

Ariala whispered an 'I love you' as she curled her arms around Dimitrius, even aware of her husband in her half-asleep state. "Very much." She murmured before slipping back to sleeping as she sunk into Dimitrius's form.

"I love you too," Dimitrius said with a warm smile as he placed a kiss upon her forehead before slipping off to sleep as well.

Knock. Knock.

Dimeria rubbed her eyes as she knocked on the door to Dimitrius and Ariala's room, "Trius? Ari? Can I come in and sleep with you?"

Dimitrius chuckled as he called softly, "Of course Ria, come in."

Dimeria immediately opened the door and hopped up onto the bed wiggling her way beneath the sheets between Dimitrius and Ariala, falling asleep almost immediately after snuggling into Dimitrius's form.

Dimitrius sighed, remembering how tired Emelaide had been at this age, the age in which her magic was strengthening more than what her body could handle. With his arm around his sister and his wife, Dimitrius fell asleep in the evening light.

Ariala woke to see the stars sparkling in the sky outside her window and wondered when Dimeria had come in. Carefully edging out of Dimitrius's embrace, Ariala made her way to the kitchen and made some of her mother's tea as her daughter squirmed uncomfortably in her stomach.

With a cup of tea in hand Ariala went to the living room and quickly lit a fire before making herself comfortable on the couch to sip her tea.

Feeling Ariala move from the bed, and then smelling the stew, Dimitrius rubbed his eyes as he slipped from the bed, careful not to wake Dimeria.

Still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Dimitrius shuffled to the kitchen, shutting the bedroom door behind him, and checked on the stew. Giving it a few quick turns, adding a bit of seasoning, and replacing the lid, Dimitrius made his way to the living room and sat beside his wife.

Placing a tender kiss upon her temple, Dimitrius inquired with a sleepy smile, "Sleep well?"

Ariala murmured an 'yes' as she snuggled into her husband's side with her tea warming her hands. "Your daughter is making me sick." She pouted up at Dimitrius. "But I think its worth it." She smiled before giving his lips a quick peck.

Dimitrius chuckled as he placed a long, tender kiss upon her lips, "Mm, well then. I believe I must have a word with her."

Caressing Ariala's abdomen, Adrian shifted to sit before her as he placed a tender kiss upon her belly, lifting his shirt just above her abdomen. "Lily, my love, you are making your mummy very ill. Will you not make her feel better soon? She does adore you, after all," Dimitrius said with another kiss before leaving a trail of kisses upon her torso and to her neck, letting his shirt fall back into place as he sat back upon the couch beside her.

"I adore both of my girls," Dimitrius added lovingly as he continued to kiss Ariala's neck, his tongue caressing her skin with each kiss.

Ariala and Lily squirmed together at Dimitrius's kisses though only Ariala was able to move closer to him after setting down her tea. "And we love you." She murmured as she wrapped her arms around Dimitrius's neck and gave him a soft kiss.

"I should hope so," Dimitrius teased in a whisper as he pulled her close and returned her kisses, "Tell me, my love, how is our little girl fairing? Are you feeling any better?"

"Its not as bad as it used to be." Ariala smiled as she hooked her arms around Dimitrius's waist and rested her head on his shoulder. "But it'll be over soon. And then I'll bloat up and start waddling." She added with a grimace.

"Good," Dimitrius said with a warm smile as he placed a tender kiss upon her forehead, "and as for the waddling, I very much look forward to it. You'll be absolutely adorable when your pregnancy starts to show," Dimitrius added as he tilted her chin up briefly to place a tender kiss upon her lips.

-

Emelaide stretched as she awoke from her nap, feeling much better now that she could move more freely. Snuggling close to Marreck, Emelaide smiled and placed a light kiss upon his cheek.

"I love you, Mar, and I know you're worried, but I wish to go home.. I don't wish to stay at Aunt Lina's forever.. Cannot we rent a cottage of our own if we much stay in Winterglade?" Emelaide murmured softly against his chest as she snuggled close to him, doubting he heard her and assuming he was fast asleep.

"Whatever you say." Ariala murmured as she returned Dimitrius's kiss before snuggling back against his chest. "I love you." She smiled happily.

~~~

Marreck frowned as he heard Emelaide's request to go home. "Em..." He sighed, blinking away the sleep in his eyes. "We can't go back to Elimlee until you're better." He said as he ran his fingers over her jaw. "We can find a place here but I refuse to take you back until you're feeling better." He said firmly as he wrapped his arms around her to give his fiancee's lips a soft kiss.

"I love you too, Ariala," Dimitrius said with a warm smile as he held her close, "with all of my heart."

Dimitrius smiled happily as he tenderly caressed Ariala's abdomen and ran his fingers through her hair gently, his mind wandering to the day he would finally meet the daughter he already so much adored.

-

Emelaide sighed as her lips formed a small pout, "But Mar.. I hate being forced to be pawned off upon people and having to have them watch over me as if I were about ready to die at any moment! I wish to be home, in my own bed, not in Cindalina's. I wish to be home, where I am free to kiss you and be with you without fearing that Hathom or Lina are going to walk in with food or to check in on us. It isn't fair.." Emelaide added with a sigh, "I know you wish for what is best for me, but what is best for me is being able to sleep next to my fiance without wondering if it is improper due to being in someone else's home.. Call it selfish, but it is what I want.."

Ariala smiled as she leaned into Dimitrius, breathing in hi cool scent. "When is the stew going to be ready?" She asked as she smelled the vegetables from the kitchen, her stomach grumbling in response.

~~~

"Emelaide." Marreck sighed. "You're sick and the temperature here is better for you. Do you think I don' wish we could be home so I can hold you and love you without Cindalina's watching eye?" He asked. "But its more important for you to be well again because we are going to have centuries to be with each other but only eleven months to have our twins." He explained. "We need to stay here, Em." He said softly, cupping her cheek with his hand before giving her lips a soft kiss. "But if it makes you more comfortable I'll find us a house to rent here. On the condition that you tell me immediately if you're going to need help from a Winter Elf. I don't know how many more scares for your life I can manage." He said, his voice trailing off as he tried to push the memories of fear away.

"In about twenty minutes," Dimitrius chuckled as he caressed her stomach and placed a tender kiss upon her hair, "What would you like to eat with it?"

-

Caressing his cheek, Emelaide nodded as she placed a long, soft, tender kiss upon Marreck's lips, "I promise, I will tell you everything from now on and won't try and hide it.. I love you Mar," Emelaide added with another kiss, "and I very much wish to have a place of our own if I must stay here for another ten months."

"Bread." Ariala smiled dreamily at the thought of hot buttered garlic bread, quickly reciting what type of bread to Dimitrius. "Do we have any blackberries in the kitchen?" Ariala asked as she stood up, not waiting for an answer before disappearing into the kitchen in hunger from due to both her's and Lily's cravings. Finding none in the icebox, Ariala went to the patch of dirt in her flower box at the kitchen window and quickly grew a blackberry bush, picking the berries off the bush almost as soon as they appeared and squirming in delight as soon as the juices hit her tongue.

~~~

"Then we'll find a Winterglade house." Marreck assured her as he returned her kisses, his hand pressing against the lower part of her back.

Dimitrius laughed as he stood from the couch and headed into the kitchen, "Well we can't bake any bread in twenty minutes, but I think we still have half a loaf in the bread box - I can make it from that if you'd like?"

-

Shifting to sit on his lap, Emelaide smiled as she eagerly returned his kisses, "I love you, Marick O'Sullivan, and I promise, no attempts on my life nor the life of our twins," Emelaide teased as she leaned into his frame and continued to kiss him, "Elf's Honor."

Ariala nodded as she continued to eat her freshly grown berries, popping them into her mouth one at a time. "I think I have some garlic in the container of there." She offered, gesturing to the garlic bowl at the end of the counter.

~~~

"Good." Marreck murmured between kisses as he pulled his fiancee closer to him. "I can't have anything happening to my family. My sanity is weak as it is." He smiled against Emelaide's lips.

"Of course," Dimitrius said with a warm smile as he put some butter into a bowl and brought it over to the fireplace to melt. Once it was melted, Dimitrius went to the garlic bowl, took out some cloves, and ground them into powder before adding it to the butter mix.

Slicing the bread into slices, Dimitrius coated both sides with the mixture and placed them onto a baking sheet before placing them in the oven to bake. "Anything else my love?"

-

Emelaide chuckled as she whispered softly against his lips, "We're a perfect pair then, for apparently mine is as well. I love you Mar, and I promise I will do everything I can to keep our children safe," Emelaide added between kisses.

Ariala shook her head as she continued to eat her berries. "That should be fine. But if I get anymore cravings you'll be the first to know." She smiled happily as she swung her legs a bit as she sat on the counter.

~~~

"And yourself." Marreck added for Emelaide as he pulled her closer, burying his face in her neck as he gave her skin small kisses. "I love you too, Emelaide." He said softly.