Outside of the library, Tohr let Melody get he bearings before they went inside.

She took a deep breath and let it out, "Okay, I'm ready. You can open it."

Squeezing her hand, Tohr opened the door and led her inside.

Melody's eyes went immediately to the large male in the center of the room. At first, she saw no similarities between herself and this male who was supposed to be her father.

But then he stood and turned towards them and she got a full on view of the eyes that were identical to her own.

Tohr pushed her forward, "Strhiker, this is your daughter, Melody. Mel, this is your father."

She watched as her sire's eyes went to the bloodslave mark on her neck and noticed the fury in his eyes. But when he lifted his head to meet hers, the fury was replaced with awe.

He drew closer until they were but a few feet away. Strhiker studied Melody's face and tears welled up in his eyes. "You look exactly like your mother," he whispered. His hand reached out with hesitation and when she didn't draw back, he curled his hand around her cheek. "But those eyes," he started. "Those eyes are mine." To Melody's surprise, the tears spilled over as the male smiled, "I used to bounce you on my knee as you giggled." He laughed with joy, "My little girl, we finally found you."

"D-do I really look like my mother?" Melody asked, never letting go of Tohr's hand.

Wiping away the tears, Strhiker nodded, "The spitting image; even the voice is an exact match. My Attina had the most lovely voice, her singing could break your heart or bring you unending joy."

"I'm sorry I never got to meet her," Melody said with disappointment and sadness.

Strhiker went to the window and stared out, but he seemed to be a million miles away. "She just seemed to give up once you were taken. We never really stopped grieving for you, but I was the strong one though I was dying inside. Attina started to sink deeply into depression. She would stay in bed all day and she started losing her appetite." He sighed and linked his fingers behind his back, "I tried to convince her that we could have another child, though I knew in my heart we could never replace you."

"When did she die?" Melody asked in a whisper after a moment of silence.

"Almost three years after you were taken." He came to stand before them again, "I thought about following her many, many times, but somehow I never really stopped believing that I would find you; that I would see you again. I am so glad I stuck around to see you again."

Melody smiled, tears brimming in her eyes, "Me too." She fidgeted a little bit, "Um, do you think I could hug you, perhaps?"

Shock broke across Strhiker's face, "Of course! You don't have to ask."

Melody let go of Tohr's hand and wrapped her arms around her father and his arms came around him. A memory surfaced in her mind, a little girl with blond hair sitting in this man's lap as he read her a bedtime story.

The image was so clear it brought fresh tears to her eyes.

They pulled away, and Melody smiled, "Would you like to meet your grandchildren?"

Strhiker sent a brief look at Tohr, but he refocused his attention on Melody, "I have grandchildren? I have been blessed with a reunion with my long-lost daughter and now you're telling me I've been given another blessing? Of course I want to see them! Go and fetch my grandchildren."

Melody grinned and left, calling out: "Be right back!" before she left.

As soon as the door closed, Strhiker turned and confronted Tohr. "You've mated with her while you were unmated?!" the older male's face was filled with anger.

Tohr didn't blame him, "I'm taking her as my shellan."

"Good. I am glad you would not dishonor her that way."

Tohr took a deep breath, "Listen, I'd like for you to give us your blessing. I have been alone for awhile; my first shellan was killed by a lesser along with my unborn child. Melody brought the light back into my life and I don't intend to let her go."

"Do you love her?"

Tohr hesitated, "I think I can come to love her. I care about her a great deal and I don't want to see her with another male, ever. I'll make her happy, I give you my word on that."

Strhiker studied Tohr's face, then nodded, "I believe you, Warrior. I believe you." Changing the subject, he asked, "She said grandchildren. That implies that there's more than one, right?"

Tohr couldn't help but laugh.

Melody returned a few minutes later with her arms full with the twins.

Strhiker's eyes lit up at the sight of his grandchildren. He relieved Melody of Tia and cradled her in his arms. "Twins," he said with a shake of his head. "There haven't been twins in the family for a few centuries." He looked up from studying Tia's tiny face, "What are their names?"

Melody bounced her son in her arms as he started to fuss, "The male is called Darius, who was a dear friend, mentor, and Warrior to Tohr." She paused and nodded to the infant in her father's arms, "And her name is Attina; Tia for short."

Her father's eyes filled with emotion as he looked down at the little girl in his arms. "Tia, what a beautiful name."

Melody exchanged a smile with Tohr.

Strhiker went to sit down in one of the chairs, "Hand me the boy, Melody. A grandfather has the right to hold both of his grandchildren at once."

With a chuckle, Melody set Darius in the crook of his free arm.

With a quick study of his grandson, Strhiker nodded with satisfaction, "Darius is a strong name. He will grow up to be a strong male, maybe he will one day become a Brother."

He looked up at Tohr and Melody with emotion practically glowing from his eyes, "I'm proud, Melody mine. I am also blessed to have this family brought to me when I had none."

Melody smiled and tears thickened her voice, "You're not alone anymore, Father. You have us." She went to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "Forever and always."