"That's hard." Ariala smiled. "What's Cindalina's middle name? I think it'd be nice if we named Lily after Cindalina. She has been overly kind to us. She feels like my aunt as well. As silly as that sounds." Ariala smiled as she washed the dishes.

"It doesn't sound silly, love. I like the idea," he added as he placed a tender kiss upon her temple. "Hmmm," Dimitrius pondered, "Cindalina's middle name.. I haven't thought about that in years.. Jaserione.. Yes, Jaserione is her middle name. Rather outlandish, but my grandparents were always ones to be outlandish," he added with a chuckle.

"I like it." Ariala smiled as she finished the dishes and set them on a towel to dry. "Lily Jaserione Cordei." She smiled as she felt her flat stomach. "What if its a boy?" She asked Dimitrius.

Dimitrius pondered a bit, "Hmm.. I don't want our child connected to my father any more than he has to be.. so why don't we have his middle name be in honor of another favorite man in your life?"

"Do you count?" Ariala asked with a grin as she took Dimitrius's hand and pressed it against her flat stomach. "If its a boy then I want him to look just like you." She smiled brightly at the idea of a smaller Dimitrius. "What's your middle name?" She asked.

Dimitrius smiled as this thumb gently stroked her stomach, "Tamlin. Rilien Tamlin Cordei, do you like that, love?"

"I love that." Ariala smiled as she stood on her toes to give Dimitrius a kiss. "I love you, Dimitrius Tamlin." She grinned.

Dimitrius chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a tender kiss upon her lips, "And what is your middle name, love?"

"Siladhiel." Ariala admitted with a brilliant blush as she rested her head against Dimitrius's chest. "Its suppose to mean 'the shining one'." She said quietly. "Its kind of embarressing." She added quietly.

Caressing her head with a smile, Dimitrius placed a tender kiss upon her scalp, "Nonsense, my love. Siladhiel is beautiful, I honestly like it," he assured her. "Why are you so ashamed of it?"

"Because it sounds horrible." Ariala murmured into Dimitrius's chest. "Ariala Siladhiel?" She asked, not looking up at him. "It doesn't roll off the tongue like good names should." SHe mumbled.

Dimitrius chuckled as he softly rand his fingers through his hair, "Ari, love, your middle name is beautiful. And it may not 'rolls off the tongue' like you would like, but it reminds me of Earth and not every beautiful name there rolls off the tongue. I really do love it."

"If you say so." Ariala murmured as she stretched to give Dimitrius a tender kiss. "Did I mention that I'm sorry for scaring you last night?" She asked quietly. "I'm always like that after a lesson. I'm truly sorry that it scared you. Maybe I should've warned you." She smiled shyly.

Dimitrius sighed as he returned her kiss, "Don't fret, love. I knew you'd get tired.. but this tired? My darling Ariala, you mustn't do that to yourself! Surely your Master is pushing you too hard.."

Ariala's brow furrowed at Dimitrius's suggestion. "If I go any easier then I won't train my magic. I need to work hard. Especially since I've been gone. Usually I can get to bed by myself except for once, Adan helped me." Ariala laughed as she gave Dimitrius a small kiss. "Don't worry, love. I'm perfectly fine." She assured him.

Dimitrius smiled as he placed a tender kiss upon her forehead, "Ari, why don't we consider getting you an apartment of sorts, or at least a place to stay, while you have your lessons. I don't want you collapsing on the way home.."

"Don't be silly." Ariala sighed as she curled against Dimitrius's chest. "I'm fine. I just need to shower. Do you mind terribly if we just hang around the house today? We don't have any plans today do we?" She asked.

Dimitrius smiled and he gently tapped her nose, "You, my dear Ariala, are going to go see Adan. Then we shall lounge about the house and relax."

Ariala sighed as she made her way to the bedroom to find clothes. "Why are you suddenly on Adan's side. Only a few days ago he was, and I quote, 'a cad' so what's all this me having to go see him business. Can't he just take off and I foget all about him?" She called back to Dimitrius as she found a pink dress and held up against her as she looked in the mirror.

"We had a small talk last night after you went to bed.. If you heard him, you'd know why I want you to talk to him. I think you need to realize a few things about him," Dimitrius called to her as he waited for her in the living room.

Ariala sighed as she made her way to the bathroom where she showered quickly and pulled on her pink dress. Finding Dimitrius in the living room, Ariala put her arms around his waist and stood on her toes to give him a small kiss. "But afterwards, you'll let me lay around the house all day?" She asked.

Placing a tender kiss upon her lips, Dimitrius smiled, "Of course, love. We'll stay home and lay on the couch in front of the fireplace if that is what you wish."

"That's exactly what I wish." Ariala grinned as she gave Dimitrius a last kiss. "I love you." She said before hurrying out the door and down the rope ladder until she reached the Palace.

"Adan?" Ariala asked as she knocked on his door at the Palace.

"Ariala." Adan said happily as he opened the door and ushered her inside. "I guess Dimitrius asked you to come over here." He grinned shyly as Ariala sat on his couch and he took a seat across from her.

"I still don't see what this is all about." Ariala said testily as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I want to apologize, Ariala." Adan said quietly. "No games. Just an apology. What I did was horrible and I've regretted it every since. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I truly love you, Ariala, but we both know that we wouldn't have been good together. You're obviously meant for this Dimitrius. And I know that its better if I leave but I wanted to leave you knowing that you didn't hate me for what I've done." Adan said quickly, his face in his hands.

Dimitrius sighed as he went about cleaning the house before Ariala got back, wondering how everything was going and if he made the right choice in sending her.

-

Emelaide awoke with the late morning sun spread across her face. Snuggling closer to Marreck, Emelaide smiled, her eyes remaining closed as her thumb gently caressed the ring on her finger. Over twelve hours later, Emelaide was still in complete bliss over the engagement.

Marreck smiled as Emelaide moved closer to him though he was still part asleep. Wrapping his arms tighter around her, Marreck placed a small kiss on her head. "Good morning." He murmured into her hair.

~~~

"Adan?" Ariala asked quietly as she moved to kneel beside him.

"Will you ever be able to forgive me?" Adan asked quietly as he brought his face from his hands.

"Of course." Ariala said, wrapping her arms around Adan's neck and burying her face in the base of his neck. "It was years ago, Adan. I can't hold a grudge forever." She said as Adan warpped his arms around her, returning her hug.

"I really am sorry, Ariala." Adan said quietly, his face buried into her hair.

"When are you leaving?" Ariala asked as she pulled away from the hug and looked Adan in the eyes.

"Tonight." Adan said simply, watching her reaction carefully.

"Will I ever see you again?" Ariala asked shyly as Adan shook his head in response.

"Its best if I'm not here. We both have to move forward and it'll just be harder if I'm here." Adan said. "But I wanted to leave while you didn't hate me." He said, managing a small smile.

"I promise, no hate." Ariala grinned as she stood up, Adan mirroring her movements. "Goodbye." Ariala said, wrapping her arms around him to give her another hug.

"Goodbye." Adan said as he returned her hug. "Now run home before your husband thinks I offed you." Adan laughed, ushering Ariala out the door.