Silence. The silence of the night permeated as Orpheus looked towards the snowy peak. Despite being summer, the peak was still covered in snow, and for some reason, that made Orpheus smile. Dressed in a simple white tunic and brown trousers, Orpheus almost felt weightless. Not wearing armor always felt different.

The silence seemed to close in and Orpheus took a seat on the front step of his home and pulled out his flute. He played softly as to not wake anyone, but the melody was one of joy and happiness. He had lived a good life.

Orpheus felt a smile brush his lips as he felt the presence of his wife Mara behind him. "You should be in bed." He said calmly, his tone also relaying the fact that he was glad she was here.

"The same could be said of you old man." She said, embracing him from behind, the feat more difficult from the fact that she was six months pregnant.

Orpheus stood and gave her a quick kiss before helping her sit next to him. "You know, you're not that much younger than I am." He said with a smile. He knew she was teasing him.

Mara smiled and hugged him around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh. Orpheus pulled her closer to him. "It's the gray hair you are starting to show." She looked up at him and smiled. "I like it on you...makes you look sophisticated."

Orpheus laughed. There were only a few streaks of gray in his hair, but she said she liked it. Part of him knew she meant it too. She grew more beautiful everyday and he looked into her blue eyes and kissed her once more before she returned her head to his shoulder and looked at the mountain.

"It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the mountain is." She said with a sense of awe in her voice.

"It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful you are." He said, holding her tight.

Orpheus could feel her chuckle. "All that romantic stuff...you're going to make me throw up."

He smiled. "Don't lie. You like it." Her silence spoke more than words would have.

They both sat there in silence for awhile, looking at the mountain and holding each other. "I saw you earlier today...in the armory." He said to her, breaking the silence. "You miss it, don't you?" The sight of his pregnant wife with her gunlance made him smile.

Mara sighed in reply. "I do." Her hand moved reflexively to her stomach. "I can't just think of me though, and it will be worth the wait."

Orpheus kissed her on the forehead. "You'll be an excellent mother."

Her head was still on his shoulder, but he knew she was smiling. He meant every word of what he said, but knew she missed the hunt. She had already sacrificed much for their family in giving up something she loved.

"Can't sleep, old man?" She said, breaking up their silence again.

"No," he replied. "Just been thinking about old times...you know with Phoenix, Dragoon, and Maccabeus. It's been ten years."

Orpheus felt her head move and he turned to look into her eyes. "You miss them, don't you? You haven't seen them since you were assigned to Pokke Village."

Orpheus didn't answer, but nodded. She just smiled. "We should go visit them. Now's the best time. There is another hunter from the guild around and monster activity has been down. The baby isn't due for a few months, and we won't be able to after the baby arrives."

Orpheus frowned. He wanted to do this, but wasn't sure if it was right or not. "Come on." Mara said after a few seconds. "The vacation would be good for us, and quite frankly, I'm tired of being cooped up."

"Okay," Orpheus said, conceding after a few seconds. "I'll talk to the Elder tomorrow and see if I can get some leave time."

Mara leaned up and kissed him, lingering for a bit. "Trust me. It will be good." She tapped his knee. "Come on. Let's go back to bed."

Orpheus smiled and stood, helping his wife stand. They walked back into their home, arms still wrapped around each other. "I love you," Orpheus said.

"And I you" she responded.

The next morning Orpheus awoke with Mara's arms wrapped around him. She was still fast asleep and he gently unwrapped himself as not to wake her. Getting dressed, he headed out into the morning to see the Elder.

The Elder had taken her normal residence near the path to the snowy mountain and Orpheus greeted her with a smile as he approached.

"Hunter Orpheus, it is good to see you this morning. Would you like some tea?"

Orpheus nodded and took a seat near her own. "Good morning, Elder. I'd love some."

They sipped tea together in silence for awhile. The morning was still young and with the monsters quiet for now, the village had gone into a state of relaxation. That made Orpheus a little nervous, but he would make sure to speak with the other hunter and guild representatives to keep their eyes open.

"Things are still quiet Hunter. What brings you to this old woman in the early hours of the morning?"

Orpheus looked at the Elder, her blue eyes wise. She nodded at him. "You're leaving us." In all the time he had been here, he had never figured out how she seemed to know what people were thinking.

Orpheus nodded. "Not forever Elder. Mara and I just want to go see some friends before the baby comes. I'd like to ask if that is okay."

The Elder looked towards the clouds as she always did when she was deep in thought. "Why do you ask for my permission? It is the Guild that requires you to be here." The tone of her question displayed curiosity rather than anger.

"I was assigned to this village. As the high ranking official, it's only proper..." Orpheus voice trailed off from the speech he had memorized the night before. "Let me be honest with you Elder. I've come to think of this village as home, and you as one of my leaders and guides. I cannot in good conscience leave without your consent regardless of what the Guild says."

The Elder smiled. "You have my approval, but please come back to us." Those words hit Orpheus hard. He was glad to have been accepted as one of their own.

He nodded in thanks. "I must speak to the Guild first, but since there is another hunter around, I think it will be fine. Thank you Elder."

The pair said their farewells and Orpheus went to talk to the Guild about his little vacation. He was smiling as he did. Mara was right. This would be good for them.