Chapter Three: Home, Love, Family

It was only beginning to get dark when they finally came to Kalay. What had once been a big town was now a bustling city, but Matthew and Karis knew the nooks and crannies of Kalay by heart. It was home to them, a home they hadn't been to in a while.

"You know," Rief said, looking at Matthew, "I've been wondering something for a while now."

"What is it?" Karis asked.

"Well..." Rief paused for a moment before continuing, "Why is it that Jenna lives in Kalay and not with Isaac?"

Matthew, Karis, and Tyrell exchanged a look with Kraden. "Is that all?" Kraden asked, smiling at the boy. "Why don't you tell him, Matthew?"

Matthew smiled, "Actually, Rief, it's the other way around. The cabin isn't exactly the best place for Mom, but Dad can't leave it. His work is really, really important to him." He went quiet for a minute after saying that, before continuing, "He visits Kalay, though, when he can. Usually a few times a year."

"Oh," said Rief, "That makes sense. He must be a very dedicated man..."

Tyrell humphed, "Yeah... dedicated. More like obsessed."

"Dad just wants to go back... there," Matthew said, frowning. "Garet's the same way."

Karis nodded, adding, "My Dad, too. That's why he built the Soarwing in the first place."

"Your parents do sound very interesting," Amiti said, a far-off look in his eyes. "I can't wait to meet them after hearing so much about them."

Karis grinned at him, "Yeah. All their quirks aside, they are pretty cool people as far as parents go."

Amiti smiled back at her, but the way he did... Karis saw there was unease in him, and realized perhaps it wasn't only Ivan and Jenna he was thinking of.

Kraden, however, didn't seem to notice anything. "They still have such youthful spirit. It's something to envy," He said, smiling.

"Not true," Rief laughed. "You've got a lot of spirit yourself, Kraden!"

"Oh ho ho!" Kraden laughed, turning slightly pink at the compliment, "You're too kind, Rief."

Rief smiled, and the others followed suit.

Then voices came from around a corner, "I told you I thought I heard familiar voices, Ivan!"

"Yes, Jenna, and it would seem you were right."

Karis, Matthew, and Tyrell looked surprised for a moment, but that quickly turned to joy when Ivan and Jenna came around the corner.

"Mom!" Matthew grinned, running over to hug her quickly.

"Dad!" Karis said, following his lead.

"Ivan, Jenna," Kraden nodded.

"Hey, guys," Tyrell said, attempting (unsuccessfully) to look cool and collected.

Ivan momentarily frowned at Tyrell, "So, I hear you broke my Soarwing..."

Tyrell looked down. Ivan sighed and smiled in a rather exasperated, if understanding way. "It's all right. Typical situation, anyway. If it can go wrong with us, it will. I'm not angry with you."

Karis frowned, "You're too nice, Dad."

Ivan smiled at her, "I know."

Jenna rolled her eyes, "You're worse than Isaac."

Matthew and Karis had to laugh at that, and Matthew quoted Garet on the matter, "He's BEEN right about just about everything for the last thirty years. It's infuriating!"

Ivan, Kraden, and Tyrell had to laugh. Jenna smiled, messing up Matthew's hair, "I missed you, Son."

"Me too, Mom," Matthew said, grinning boyishly, the smile sparkling even in his eyes. Then, abruptly, he was serious again. "We're here on business, though. There's trouble..."

"We've heard," Ivan said, a worried expression crossing his face. "But you kids don't have to rush off just yet. Come on and rest a while." He turned his gaze to the rest of the party. Amiti shivered. Was it just him, or had Ivan's eyes lingered on him a moment longer than the others? "...I can tell we have a lot to discuss."

Kraden and the rest nodded in turn, and proceeded to follow Jenna to her house, where they filled Ivan and Jenna in on their recent affairs. The only details they left out were, to Amiti's relief, the ones concerning what Paithos had told them regarding his birth. It was rather embarrassing to him, and he was glad they avoided the topic. Though, truly, seeing how happy Matthew and Karis were to see Ivan and Jenna and to speak with them... To know all his friends had at least once known their parents... It made him feel a bit strange. As though he'd been left behind, staring out over a vast and empty sea.

When the tale was finally done, Ivan and Jenna both had strange expressions on their faces, somewhere between joy and sorrow, awe and dread. Jenna shook her head, looking at Matthew. "I knew this day would come," She said, "Your story reminds me so much of our own journey..."

"Those were the days..." Ivan sighed. "To think we though life would be easy after our quest was done."

Jenna laughed. Then her eyes fell on Eoleo, and her smile faded. "I'm sorry to hear about Briggs. I may have fought him beside Felix, Sheba, and Piers, but he wasn't a bad man. I regret his loss."

"Aye." Eoleo said, bowing his head. "I remember. I may have only been a tyke then, but I remember."

Jenna smiled, "I'm surprised. You couldn't have been more than two... Now look at you! You're a real leader. I'm sure you'll do as well as your father."

Eoleo turned his head up, grinning, "Thanks. No wonder the old man had such respect for you and your brother."

Himi nodded in agreement, "I see now, too, why my parents held you in such high honor."

Jenna smiled at her, "Yes, Susa and Kushinada did say that they'd raise their children to know our story. I'm sorry to hear that you haven't heard from Takeru..." Here Jenna's eyes took on a distant look, and she glanced out the window, falling silent.

Ivan looked at her with understanding, and turned to Himi, "We haven't seen Felix in some time, either. She knows how you must feel."

"It's getting late," Jenna said, obviously changing the subject. "The children should be off to bed... You should all head over to the Hammet's place."

"Yes," Ivan agreed. "There's plenty of room there for everyone. Come along."

Ivan nodded farewell to Jenna, and left followed by everyone except for Matthew and Karis. Karis shared a glance with Matthew, but when he nodded she smiled and went on.

"Matthew..." Jenna sighed, her smile trembling. Matthew hugged her one last time, in a manner not unlike Isaac had hugged Dora upon his homecoming.

"I'll come back, Mom," He said, "I promise."

"I know you will," Jenna said, pulling away, still holding her son's face in her hands. "I knew I couldn't shelter you forever... Gods, I knew you'd probably take after your parents. That doesn't make it any easier." Here her mouth pouted in anger as she said, "I can't believe Isaac didn't even see you off, though."

"I understand," Matthew said, shrugging as he pulled away with an easy smile. Just like his father, Jenna thought, hiding his unease under a mask of calm. Truly, that wasn't unlike Felix, either.

Matthew turned to go, but before the left, he turned back one last time. The look in his eyes was sincere. "I love you, Mom."

Jenna bit her lip and waved him off. "I love you too, Son. Be careful."

Matthew nodded curtly, and then he was gone.

...

Author: I'm going to be publishing new chapters as much as possible until Wednesday, because I will be on a short hiatus over the holidays. I hope to at least get certain events out by then:)

Vitacrusis: Glad you're enjoying it:) And yes, rest assured that several such loose ends will come in to play. Suffice to say... I was disappointed that Felix did not appear in Dark Dawn, so he is bound to appear in this eventually. Hope you like this chapter when you read it, as it mentions him:)

Oh, and for the record, if no one's checked my profile: I am a Lighthouseshipper. This is going to come into play as well (seeing how Sheba is missing, too). Hope no one minds:)