She'd calmed down a bit. Being close to Eric, the smell of his after shave, it had a rather calming effect on her now. "...Anywhere is fine. As long as I get to stay close to you." She said softly into his back. "...Someplace warm though." She said as an after thought.

"Deal" Eric agreed, though they stayed there for awhile and cuddled a bit still. Eric never pressed her to tell him what was bothering her, though it was clear he was damned curious about it.

Ceres didn't say anything for awhile, just enjoying his presence compared to in the f-ed up situation that had been presented to her. They'd really grown close. They shared almost everything together.

"...The well offered me a wish but the price is so high..." She mumbled softly. "Magnet, I don't know what to do." She'd started calling him Magnet as a pet name. She didn't use it around others though. Just when they were alone.

Eric thought about it for a moment, "High risk means high reward, but you have to be willing to pay it. Is it worth it?"

"I...I don't know... It offered to unite my family again...Make us one big happy family again. My celestial family." She slipped into Eric's lap and rested her head against his chest. "...I was very young when we left that life. I don't remember a lot. The girls have filled me in on these I wasn't aware of at the time... I don't think we could every be a big happy family. True father was a work aholic. Mom seemed to vanish from existence a little while after I turned 3... True mother and Father never really got along... "

"And what's the price?" Eric inquired

"...A piece of Hope's soul gem. Apparently a piece of it broke off when True father ripped it from his body. The well said Hope-Horatio would never agree to this... Magnet, I miss my brother so much. I-I just want to be a family again." She curled into him and started to sniffle again. Even in this life time she had never really had a normal type family setting. "I just want to be a family...It's so lonely sometimes."

"I understand" Eric nodded, "But maybe you should talk to him about it?"

"If he ever shows up again. >> I don't know if I could go through with the wish part but... I want to at least get back that piece of his soul gem..."

"Well, I know how to get a hold of him" Eric commented.

Ceres looked up at him, "What?! HOW? WHY HAVEN"T YOU TOLD ME THIS!"

"well... I don't know if it always works..." he admitted, "but he does seem to listen when Ciara wants him there..."

"Hmmm..." She thought about it for a min, "Ok, but only after our adventure. I need some time to fully process this and love cuddles seem to help that <3"

"Deal" Eric grinned and pounced on her with kisses.

"Mmmmmm!" She flailed her legs back and forth, happy for the kisses. If she could just got Hope back... maybe that would be enough.

So they spent some time together and went on their trip before heading back to Genosha after several days of fun.

The trip was very relaxing, on a couple of tropical islands for some surfing, spa treatment and jungle exploring...and running away from a tribe of very angry people.

"Eric, do you always have to carry me inside your house. >///<" She asked as Eric did just that. She liked it but it was also embrassing.

Ciara looked up and walked to the doorway of the living room, having been playing with the children and building blocks. "Oh, you're back. How was your trip?" She asked, greeting them.

"It was wonderful" Eric sighed relaxingly, "It's good to see you Ciara. Actually, I was wondering if you could help us out. Horatio isn't the easiest person to get a hold of..."

"Horatio huh?" She said, picking up a few toys that had wandered into the hallway. "I can try but even he doesn't always show up for me... especially in the last couple of years or so. Still can't fully wrap my head around the thought that Horatio was a god and has such lovely sisters. " She said heading back into the living room, scooping up Lulu before he could crawl away to find Sabertooth.

Ceres chuckled, "Well, he was a good role model for us."
Lulu started to make protesting noises.
"Hey, do I have to put you in your play pen?" CIara gave him the mommy look.
Lulu settle down. They'd coated the play pen in a leathery type fabric so Lucas couldn't melt his way through it and escape.


Ceres hopped down out of Eric's arms. She loved spending time with Ciara's little ones. They were so cute.

"Oreo?" Max looked up at the mention of Horatio. He couldn't say Horatio so instead he called the blind man by the name of the similar sounding cookie. Max really liked it when Horatio came to visit and got kind of excited at the mention of the name. Max started clapping and pointing excitedly towards the entrance to the room, "Oreo! Oreo!" he called out.

"Hello Max" Horatio greeted with a bit of a smile as he leaned in the doorway.

"Huh. I didn't even have to sell future tech online." Ciara chuckled. She gave Horatio a hug.

Ceres who had just knelt down to start playing with Max looked up and smiled. "Do you wanna go see Mr. Oreo?" She asked scooping little Max up and walking over to Horatio. She put a hand on her hip, "I hope apparently you leave without warning but next time you could have left a note. We were all freaking out when they couldn't find you on the ship."

"Oh... uh... sorry?" Horatio blinked, reaching out to let Max play with his hand. After they had explained that Horatio had to use his hands to see, Max and the other two loved to 'show' him things.

"Smooth Horatio." Ciara said softly.

Max was in Ceres arms so he did have a lot to 'show' Horatio, other than arm, strand of hair...different strand of hair, hand and Max's own nose.

"Just leave a note ok. Even if it says like... peace out! At least we know you haven't been aducted or anything like that." She wasn't mad at him just worried. "You look well..."

"You needn't worry about me. If there is anything dire to pass, I always caution myself first" Horatio replied, though he did seem a bit worn out as his blank eyes stared off in the direction of the distant floor.

"... Ciara" Eric spoke up just then, "How about we take the little ones to the next room over, I've had a great new idea for a fun house there that I think they'll love. It's almost finished"

Ciara caught the cue from her papa and nodded and swooped up two of the three children, "Come on you rag rats, Papa has a surprise!"

Ceres passed Max off to Eric and once they were gone she turned back to Horatio, "...Needn't worry? Horatio, we're family. of course I'd worry. Come on, I'll make you a cup of tea." She took his hand and pulled him toward the kitchen.