Emelaide laughed as she wheeled herself up to the table with a grin, "Well, I wouldn't be so sure, because the rest of your punishment is to make Jessi breakfast when he awakes and then to do laundry while I take a bath."

---

"Of course darling," Dimitrius said with a smile as he placed a tender kiss upon the back of her head. Getting the hot water ready, Dimitrius made a small pot for Ariala's tea and then another small pot for a human breakfast tea blend his Aunt had taught him.

When the tea was finished, Dimitrius poured it into two cups and carried them to the table before returning to the kitchen and helping Ariala by getting the plates and silverware.

"Feeling lazy today?" Marreck teased as he placed some pancakes in a pan to cook before scrambling up some eggs and mixing his juice. "Thought we were going to get Jessi a job today?" He wondered as he poured the eggs in the pan and began to mix them.

~~~

"Thanks, love." Ariala said as she scrambled eggs into the pan, cooking them quickly before splitting them onto two plates and finishing it with toast. Ariala took the two plates to the table, taking a sip of her tea and smiling happily as he stomach eased up a bit.

Emelaide nodded with a laugh, "Yes on both accounts! Dimitrius should be here this afternoon -- he said he would stop in after he checked on Dimeria. Might as well get some work done while we wait, neh?"

--

"You're welcome," Dimitrius said with a smile as he grabbed the jam and set it on the table. Spreading some onto his toast, Dimitrius took a bite before beginning a conversation with his wife. "Darling, I heard from Emelaide yesterday. It seems she has an Autumn elf staying with them who is in need of a job. Would you like to join me after we check on Dimeria to meet the fellow and bring him over to the housing site?"

"Yes but it seems as i I'll be the one doing all the work, love." Marreck teased as he plated their breakfasts, carefully balancing their drinks and silverware as he walked into the dining room and set them on the table. "But dig in for now." He said as he sat at his chair and took a bite of his pancakes.

~~~

"Yes, Marreck told me about that yesterday when he came looking for you." Ariala nodded as she began to eat. "I wonder the elf even ended up here. Marreck only said that he was at their door one day and they just took him in. Strange if you think about it." Ariala shrugged.

Emelaide laughed as she reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I was only teasing, my love. Instead of doing laundry, you could always join me in the bath," she teased with a wink.

The smell of breakfast reaching the living room, Jessi stretched as he awakened and sat up on the couch. Heading into the kitchen, Jessi mumbled a sleepy good morning to the couple with a half-awake smile.

"Good morning Jessi," Emelaide said with a smile as she looked over at Jessi and took a bite of her pancakes. "Sleep well?"

---

"Aye, it is rather strange... And if I know Emelaide she's going to keep him there until she's sure he can make it on his own. She always did that with animals growing up," Dimitrius recollected with a laugh. "At least he is in good hands. I know Marreck and Emelaide will surely get him assimilated into the Kingdom with no trouble at all. Besides, at least he is showing initiative and is getting work versus just staying in their home without any contributions."

"Good morning." Marreck smiled as he cut his pancakes into pieces. "I made enough breakfast for everyone. Just make yourself a plate in the kitchen." He said, nodding towards the doors.

~~~

"Yes, that's good. I'm curious to meet him." Ariala said happily. "I've never met an Autumn elf. Perhaps we'll meet a Summer elf soon." She grinned between bites o fher breakfast.

"Thanks Marreck," Jessi said with a smile as he filled his plate with pancakes and eggs before making himself a cup of tea. Tea and plate in hand, Jessi joined the couple at the table.

Taking a bite of her eggs, Emelaide said teasingly, "Be warned though, Jessi. Marreck's eggs aren't nearly as fluffy as mine."

Jessi laughed as he replied with a wink, "That's alright, I prefer the firmer smaller eggs."

----

Dimitrius laughed, "Well wouldn't that be interesting. I wonder what has happened on our planet to make elves venture to other Kingdoms like this... It is so strange that the past few months have brought foreign elves to our Kingdom.. Does it not strike you odd?"

"Hm, is someone trying to say I'm a bad cook after all the trouble I went through to make you breakfast." Marreck laughed as he shot a wink at Emelaide before continuing to eat his breakfast. "Jessi, Dimitrius will be coming over this afternoon to take you to the house. Not sure if Ari will be with him though." Marreck frowned before realizing what he'd said.

~~~

"Darling, I've married a Winter elf and am not pregnant and building a house along the borders of our kingdoms." Ariala reminded him with a laugh before drinking her tea. "Not much about foreign elves surprises me anymore." She smiled.

"Oh? Does she have lessons?" Emelaide asked as she continued to eat her breakfast. "And yes, I am saying you are a terrible cook. But I still love you anyways," Emelaide added with a wink before leaning over and placing a tender kiss upon Marreck's lips.

--

Dimitrius laughed, "Yes, but why now? Why all of a sudden are we venturing to other Kingdoms, marrying outside of our Kingdom. It is all so strange and curious, I cannot help but wonder if something else is at work here.."

"Ah, no." Marreck shook his head before taking a large drink of water. "Dimitrius and Ariala had a fight yesterday, I shouldn't be saying this but from what I understood yesterday they parted on some pretty awful terms. Ariala was a mess." He shook his head. "But we shouldn't gossip about that." Marreck chided himself.

~~~

"And what's at work, love?" Ariala asked, clearly amused, as she stood and placed her dishes in the sink before walking back to Dimitrius and sinking beside him. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to shoot you down there." She said as she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'm not sure what all this business is about elves wandering about the seasons. But I have to say that I don't mind it." She smiled.

"That would explain why Dimitrius was at Cindalina's and coming back from the hospital.... I hope nothing serious has happened..." Emelaide said softly as she finished her breakfast and sipped her juice.

--

"Well, it's not that I mind it either.. But with my Father leaving Dimeria here, and my Father just leaving out of the blue, I can't help but think there's something going on. But who knows, maybe I'm just over thinking things," Dimitrius added with a laugh before placing a tender kiss upon Ariala's lips. "What say you we take a quick shower and head over to Winterglade?"

Marreck shifted uncomfortably in his chair before quickly finishing his dishes and excusing himself to the kitchen to wash them. "So we have laundry to do, right love?" He called back once his dishes were clean and set himself about his task.

~~~

"Sounds good, love." Ariala smiled before disappearing into the shower and quickly readying herself for the day in a matter of ten minutes, still finishing brushing her hair.

Emelaide nodded as she finished her juice. "Jessi, feel free to answer the door if someone comes. It's probably either a delivery or Dimitrius," Emelaide said with a smile as she took her dishes to the sink before joining Marreck. "Ready for the laundry pile?" Emelaide asked with a laugh as she looked up at Marreck and started heading for the bathroom.

--

Finishing the dishes, Dimitrius smiled as he placed a light kiss on Ariala's lips before heading off to take a shower himself. When he was finished, Dimitrius slipped on a pair of jeans and a simple t-shirt before grabbing a jacket and slipping on his shoes. Sliding on his jacket Dimitrius asked, "Ready to go love?"

"Yes." Marreck smiled, glad he'd avoided the topic of Dimitrius and Ariala's fight the day before. He for one hoped they would work it out soon.

~~~

"Yes." Ariala smiled as she walked up to Dimitrius and took his hand, grabbing a coat with the other. "Dimitrius, do you think Dimeria will forgive me?" She asked nervously, shifting her feet on the floor.

Grabbing the hamper, Emelaide wheeled the hamper over to the tub and filled it with hot soapy water. "It's all I can reach," Emelaide admitted with a scarlet blush as she looked up at Marreck.

--

"I'm afraid I can't speak for her on this," Dimitrius said softly as he looked down at his wife with a sad smile. "It is up to her whether she can forgive you for choosing lessons over her when she was hurting most. The burns, she can forgive you for. But it could go either way for the other. Come on, let's get going," Dimitrius added with a nod before leading his wife out of the house and towards Winterglade.

"It's alright, love." Marreck said as he lifted the hamper and put the clothes into the soapy water, stirring them around with his hands before drying them on a towel.

~~~

Ariala could only nod as she followed Dimitrius to Winterglade, her heart sinking with each step though she kept her head high as they walked. She knew how much she'd messed up and she could only hope that Dimeria would allow Ariala to make it up to her.

Pulling out the washboard, Emelaide smiled up at Marreck, "I guess this means the clothes are going to take awhile to dry since I cannot use my magic, aren't they."

--

"Remember, Dimeria's asleep but you can still talk to her. I'm sure she can hear us, just like Emelaide could when she was asleep due to her pregnancy. Don't be nervous, my love, everything will be alright in the end. I'm sure of it," Dimitrius assured her with a warm smile as he placed a tender kiss upon her temple.

"Yes but it shouldn't be too long, love." Marreck said as he helped wash the clothes with his fiancee.

~~~

"Alright." Ariala said softly as she tried to ease the guilt and nerves that kept creeping up on her. "You're right, it'll be okay." She said, more to herself then Dimitrius. Ariala shrugged on her coat as they crossed the border and walked into Winterglade.

"Mmm, I know.. But this also means we'll have to find a place to hang them," Emelaide reminded gently, trying to get Marreck to let her use her magic.

--

Bringing Ariala to the doctor's home, Dimitrius introduced them with a smile. When the introductions were over, the doctor led the couple to Dimeria's room and excused himself.

Leading Ariala over to the bed, Dimitrius sat in the chair as he looked over Dimeria. "Dimeria, I've brought Ariala with me today. She has a few things she would like to explain and say to you."

"Em," Marreck sighed as he looked over at her with a tired smile. "We'll find a place to hang them. No magic." He said firmyl before continuing to wash.

~~~

"Dimeria?" Ariala said softly as she walked over to the small elf. "Dimeria, I'm sorry, love. I should've watched you more carefully. And I should've been here in an instant afterwards. I'm sorry that I acted like a child because I was in shock of what had happened. I hope you'll forgive me someday." Ariala said quietly, a few tears threatening to fall though she blinked them away quickly. "I hope that all of this heals quickly and I promise, Dimeria, I'm not going to put my lessons ahead of you ever again."

"You can't blame me for trying," Emelaide said with a smile as she looked over at her fiancee and continued to wash the clothes. "Well, the nursery is still bare -- we could hang a line up in there for now?" Emelaide suggested as she wrung out a shirt and folded it, placing it in the basket to hang up later.

---

Dimitrius smiled as he gave his wife's hand a reassuring squeeze. Looking back at Dimeria, Dimitrius changed the subject with a warm smile, "I'm going to see Emelaide today. An Autumn elf is staying with her and looking for work. I know how excited you will be when you wake up, so I'm going to ask him to meet you once you are well. Then you will be able to see what his magic is like. We'll be back later with another story for you once we've set him up with the construction company. I'll bring another one of your favorites to read once we change your bandages," Dimitrius added with a warm smile before placing a tender kiss upon her forehead.

"We'll see you soon," Dimitrius said with a warm smile before standing and leading his wife out of the home towards Emelaide's house.

"Yes, I think that'll work for now." Marreck said as he began wringing out the clothes that had been washed and placing them aside to be hung up.

~~~

Ariala let out a long breath as she tucked close to Dimitrius's side in the cold. "That wasn't as bad as I thought. I just...I hope she'll forgive me eventually." She sighed as she linked her fingers with Dimitrius's.

"I think we still have some thin rope from the move.. It might actually already be in the nursery with the empty boxes," Emelaide pondered as she folded one of her nightgowns.

---

"I'm sure one day she will, if not right away," Dimitrius said with a warm smile as he wrapped his arm around her. "I know she'll understand, in time." When they reached Emelaide's house, Dimitrius knocked on the door as he called, "Emelaide? Marreck? It's Dimitrius and Ariala."

Jessi, who had just got done making jasmine tea, set the tea things upon the table before going to the door. "Hi there! You must be Dimitrius and Ariala. I'm Jessi, Jessi Gholdridge. It's a pleasure to meet you," Jessi said with a warm smile as he held out his hand to the couple.

"Alright, love. I'll go set it up." Marreck said as he stood, taking time to dry his hands on a nearby towel before walking to the nursery.

~~~

"Its nice to meet you as well." Ariala smiled as she shook the elf's hand. She had to admit he looked different then any other elf she'd seen. "We hear you're looking for a job." Ariala said as she stepped inside and shrugged out of her coat.

Emelaide nodded as she wheeled the hamper back into the corner before wheeling back to the tub. Finishing the laundry, Emelaide emptied the tub and set the basket of clothing on her lap.

Hearing familiar voices when she reached the hallway, Emelaide called, "Trius, is that you?"

"Yeah Em! We were just talking over the job with Jessi," Dimitrius called teasingly, "You plan on joining us anytime soon?"

"Perhaps, I have to think about it some more," Emelaide called in return.

"Well hurry up and decide!" Dimitrius called with a laugh as they sat down to tea.

Emelaide simply laughed as she headed for the nursery and joined Marreck. "It seems Dimitrius is here, and it sounds like Ariala as well. I guess everything is fine and they resolved it," Emelaide said with a smile up at Marreck.