All ashore that's going ashore

[loudest_egan]

*anyone looking westward to the lake would have noticed the huge blue-and-white sails of the Lino en Kuldes carrying the ship to port earlier in the day, but so far no one has stepped off the ship except the grunts carrying the mooring ropes and embarking ramp. That is, until around sunset

Comments

[youngest_egan]

*hasn't really moved from the lake's shore*

... Father ...

[loudest_egan]

Well, hey, kiddo. Been waiting for me? Where's your hubby?

[youngest_egan]

*doesn't really respond except to pull a Lymsleia start tearing up as she runs to wrap her arms around him*

... Father ...!

[loudest_egan]

Oh hell. *though he catches her, and holds her as gently as he can* What happened?

[youngest_egan]

N-nothing. Nothing ... I just ... *isn't outright sobbing but the tears are flowing freely*

I miss Mother. I miss Ferid and the others and the children. I miss Obel ...

[loudest_egan]

Ohh it's time for the mood swings, is it? You're gonna be just like your mom, I can tell. Well, that's why your dad has big wide shoulders, to carry the weight of his family. *ruffling her hair*

I miss 'em too.

[youngest_egan]

*buries her face in his chest*

Why can't things be completely perfect?

[loudest_egan]

Because then they'd be completely boring. You wouldn't love me half so much if I was a prim and proper gentleman. Your mom might, though. *wink*

[youngest_egan]

*giggles* Oh gods, that would be the day. And that certainly wouldn't make things more perfect. It would make things more weird.

It's just that at first, things seemed perfect enough having Kyle and you around but I ... can't stop thinking about everyone back home and how much I miss them. If they were here, I would never complain about another thing again.

[loudest_egan]

Yeah, but would you really want to visit that on them? Force them to lose their own families and jobs just so they could all be here? I think you got pretty lucky, all things considered - getting the chance to build your family here, and all. I'd let myself get stuck here if it meant the powers that be sent you back with Kyle and your child all together.

[youngest_egan]

...

*just as quickly as the tears vanished she bursts into yet more and buries her face in his chest again*

No! Nothing will ever be perfect unless we were all together ...

[loudest_egan]

*sigh* Oh hell. I'm terrible at this.

Perfect is just a story someone tells you. It's supposed to give you hope, but sometimes it does the opposite. Best not to aim for that - aim for happy. That's all I've ever wanted for my kids.

[youngest_egan]

I am happy here but I can't be completely happy without Mother and everyone else too. Are we never going to see them again?

[loudest_egan]

I wish I could say, kiddo. I don't want to live out my life here without ever seeing my dearest Lydia again. Just think of how surprised they're all going to be when you come home married with a kid. Maybe more than one.

[youngest_egan]

Maybe ten? *smiles thinking about it* They really will be, won't they?

There is no way we won't see them again. Fate could not be so cruel.

[loudest_egan]

Sounds to me that while some people have been here quite a long time, so far it hasn't exactly been permanent. So, chin up, Bern. Plot how you're best going to spring that surprise.