"It's been a month. An entire month. She's been back for a month, Nis, and she hasn't spoken a word to me."

His Captain passes him the wooden bowl he'd been scrubbing for him to dry and put away, their turn to do the cleaning seeing as the others had done the cooking, he dried the bowl silently as he waited for his older brothers response.

"Abe, just give her some time, she's been on her own for nearly three eons." He rinses out the rag he'd been using for the washing. "She'll come to you when she's ready."

He drapes his drying cloth over the hook on the wall next to the washing basin. "She's mad at me, isn't she?"

Nisroc turns to look at him quickly, his head jerking around, at the sudden self-accusation. "What?"

"I should've held on tighter. I should have fought harder. I shouldn't have let her go so easy."

"Abe," his Captain shakes his head slightly. "She's not mad at you. You had to be restrained. It took six guards to hold you back. They had to pry her from your arms. There is no possible way you could have made it any more difficult."

"I should have gone with her. I shouldn't have let her go on her own. I should have gone too."

"You know she wouldn't have wanted you to."

Abraxos leans back against the counter, looking down at his hands for a moment, and then he turns to gaze up at his older brother with a saddened expression. "She may be back. But she still just as far away."

"I know you miss your little duckling, baby brother." He reaches out and pats him on the cheek lightly. "She'll come to you when she's ready. Just make sure she knows you're there."

"I miss holding her in my arms."

"And you will again, just give it some time."

"Aba." She looks up at him at the sound of his voice, Puriel having taken over watching his training class for the time being, Abraxos has crossed the training field to meet at her side again. The young lady looks up at him quietly, and he smiles softly, his heart breaking softly when the gesture isn't returned, and Nisroc wonders why he thinks she's mad at him. "I know you need some time, and I am more then happy to wait, but I want you to know that I'm sorry for failing you."

"What?" It's the first word she's spoken to him since she got back. "You didn't fail me."

"But I let you go."

"Not willingly. Tus told me what you did. You didn't have to forfeit your position just because of me. You love being a Power."

"I did, though." He nods seriously. "Without you I had no reason to stay. I love my brothers with all my heart. But you're my world. I couldn't live in a home that had nothing left of you but memories." Abe averts his eyes for a moment. "I can just hope one day you will forgive me."

"Forgive you for what?" She lowers her arms slowly. "I'm not mad at you."

"Then why won't you talk to me?"

Abraxas tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, looking down to the field under her feet, humming softly as she thought over her words. "Because, I thought you moved on from me. I didn't want to be burdensome to you. I mean, you're still a Power, and I'm….I'm still a fallen. Technically" She looks back up at him carefully. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"You thought I'd moved on… From you?"

"Well, yea." She nods lightly. "I mean, I'm not technically your sister anymore, not since I refuse to come back to the fold."

Abraxos tilts his head in confusion. "You think I only thought of you as my sister because you were a Power?"

"Duh."

"Duh?" He shakes his head. "Aba, we practically raised you, you're my baby sister and you'll always be my baby sister, baby girl, you'll always be my little duckling."

The young lady ducks, smiling softly, and tucks her hair back behind her ear again. "I'm not a duckling."

"You're my duckling, and nothing will ever change that, nothing."

She blinks back the moisture gathering in her eyes as she looks back up at him, her lower lip quivering softly, and this time she returns the smile when he gives her one. "I missed you, Abe."

"I missed you too, baby girl." He opens his arms slightly. "Can I get a hug?"

She takes a small step forward, and then another, closing the distance between them quickly as she collapses back in his arms. Familiar arms, warm arms, strong arms. Arms that can circle around her completely, that pull her close and refuse to let her go, that hold her up when she can't hold herself up.

His arms curls around her tightly, pulling her close, hiding her from the world around them and they just hang onto each other as though should they let go they'll be separated from each other's sides again.

"I'm never letting go." Her voice is muffled by his chest, and he chuckles, a rumbling sound against her ear. "Then, we'll stand here forever." She smiles into his tunic. "You'll hold me up, right?" He nods above her head, his chin tapping the top of her head lightly, and she feels him press his lips to her temple. "Always."

"She's not mad." They're walking together, side by side, surveying the training warriors as they make their rounds, the center of their conversation just at the other end of the line their watching. The elder turns to smile over at him. "I told you she wasn't."

"Please don't say 'I told you so'."

"Then I'll just stick to thinking it then."

They slowly continue their trek down the line, their eyes meeting at the figure that holds a place so near to both of their hearts, following through the motions as fluidly as a Power would move through them, once you're one of their elite brethren, you were always one of them, especially if they played a hand in raising you your entire life.

Nisroc elbows him in the side lightly, grinning mischievously, and he shares a wink with him as he parts from his side. Abraxos watches him go the long way around, back around the other side, making his way to come to stand at her back. Smiling to himself, he shakes his head as he walks forward, coming to stand before her in no time flat. The Captain reaches around from behind her, causing startling her enough into jumping slightly in surprise, his fingers curling around her slim wrists as he lifts her arms up higher.

"Your sword should be level, right here."

"My position was fine."

"Not if I say it wasn't."

She tries to step back slightly, to step on his foot, despite the minimal damage that may be caused because of his thick boots, the intention is still clear to them. "Vision is the first to go with age."

His beard brushes over her ear lightly and she shivers at the feeling. "Did you just sass me?"

The other Power smiles at their banter, shaking his head as he joins them, reaching out to poke her in the unprotected belly. "It sounded like it to me."

She jolts lightly against their Captain, her eyes darting up to his, wide and alarmed. "No one asked you!"

He pokes her in the belly again. "Did you just sass me, too?" He pokes her again and she jumps slightly. "It was a trick question, of course, I know you did."

"Then, if you knew, why'd you ask?"

"I think you need a refresher on the lesson on what happens when you sass us, when you sass me."

She glares at him stubbornly. "I'm not anymore."

"You're not?" Her older brother is so close to her neck, she can feel his breath against her skin, his beard lightly ghosting over her neck as gentle as a feather would. "Care to prove that?"

"You aren't?" Abe smiles at her, reaching out with his hand again, and she inhales deeply when he wiggles his fingers just before her belly. "Then this shouldn't be a problem." Their baby sister chokes back a shriek when his fingers touch down on her belly, wiggling in deeply, and she jolts back, away from him and his fingers.

She shrieks lightly, despite herself, when her brother leans in against her neck to press a kiss to the tender skin. "You little liar." The Captain easily disarms her, the fingers of his left hand travelling up from her left wrist to curl around the hilt of her sword, sliding it from her grasp, he reaches around to stick it in the field behind them. "You know what we do to liars?"

"Nohoho!"

"You don't?" He kisses her neck again and she giggles brightly. "Let us show you."

He pulls away just as her big brother's fingers curl around her right wrist, pulling her forward, and she stumbles at the sudden tug. He bends at the right moment, at the knee, and tugs her up and over his shoulder.

She yelps as she's suddenly turned over, dangling precariously over his shoulder, his arm curled around her waist protectively. Giggles are continuously streaming from her like water down a creek, as she curls her fingers into the back of her big Abe's tunic, looking up to see Nisroc's boots following them.

The anticipation is killing her, knowing what's about to come, and that's what keeps her giggles constant.

It's been so long since she's been with them, since they've had the chance to be so playful, it's a game that one plays with a fledgling and she's far from being a fledgling at this point, after everything she's lived through, but it's a game she would always be elated to play with her big brothers. They still wanted to play, as they take the steps one at a time to the Pavilion above, they haven't moved passed her being there. They haven't moved forward, moved on, left her in the past.

She watches them kick off their boots, as to not track dirt into their pillow and rug filled lounge, and Abe gently undoes the ties on her boots and pulls them free one after the other. She pushes herself up as much as she can, bracing her fists against Abe's back, and Nisroc smiles down at her from behind when their eyes meet.

"Welcome home, baby girl."

She giggles softly. "I missed you grizzly bear."

"I missed you too, baby bear." He kneels slightly. "Give me a kiss, like old times?"

Abraxas nods, leaning forward to peck his lips, his beard rubbing over her chin and nose. Giggling when he rubs his nose against hers. "Ready for your lesson?"

"No!"

"Good."

"What lesson are we teaching?" Puriel's the only one who has an off day today, and he joins them from the hall that holds their private bedrooms, bare feet tapping softly against the warm stone under them until he hits the soft rugs. He strokes her cheek fondly as he turns to inquire with their Captain. "What lesson are we giving?"

Nisroc smiles slightly. "The one for sassy little liars."

"Oh, I'm glad I came to investigate the source of the adorable little giggles then, I love this lesson."

Abe looks at him from over his shoulder, the one she's not dangling over, and smiles in amusement. "Would you like to partake then, brother?"

"I'm not busy at the moment." He wiggles his fingers at their giggly baby girl. "I think I can make the time for such an important lesson." The medic elbows his Captain lightly. "I have an idea to make this even better for us."

"Please, do share."

He touches a hand to Abraxos' arm lightly. "Flip her over."

"What?"

"Nis'll take her off your hands."

The older Power nods, reaching out for her waist, curling his fingers around lightly. Abraxos nods, lifting her legs up, kneeling as he flips her over his shoulder, and she shrieks as she's passed between them dangling precariously upside down, but knows they'd never let her fall.

Nisroc straightens, her knees bent over his shoulder, hanging down his front, still upside down. She giggles like a fledgling, holding her tunic up with her hands, one of his arms curled around her waist and the other over her knees.

Smiling down at her, Puriel spiders the fingers of his right hand over her belly, and Aba shrieks with bright laughter at the sensation. "Now she can't try and escape." He peers over his shoulder at his chuckling, amused brother. "Would you like the honor of starting this lesson, Abe?"

"It would be my pleasure."

The medic snorts, stepping around behind his Captain, wrapping his fingers around her ankles to keep her from kicking too much.

Abraxas giggles still, looking up at him with wide shining eyes as he approaches to stand directly before her, and he smiles down at her as he kneels slightly. "I've waited three long eons to do this again."

She giggles cutely. "Can you wait a little bit longer?"

Her big brother shakes his head. "I don't think I can, little duckling, I've grown impatient." He leans in to kiss the tip of her nose. "This is my favorite lesson to teach."

She giggles some more in anticipation as he raises his hands, wiggling his fingers slowly, tilting his head. "Can you guess where I'm gonna do?"

"Not my belly, please."

"Why not your little belly, I thought you said you weren't ticklish anymore."

Puriel leans out from behind the Captain's shoulder. "She said what?"

"Apparently, she's not our ticklish little baby girl anymore."

"Her steady stream of giggles says otherwise." He chuckles as he disappears behind the shoulder again. "She's a little liar."

Her smile slowly grows, her and Abe staring into each other's eyes, giggles growing steadier second by second, until she tries to yank her left leg free. "What's got you all giggly?"

"Purihihihi!" She shrieks softly and tugs at her left leg again. "Stohohop!"

Nisroc huffs and adjusts his grip to something a bit more secure.

Abraxos looks up above her. "Puri, it's my turn first, she's my sassy little duckling!"

"Right, right, sorry!"

She's still giggling heartily when he looks back down at her. "I want your belly."

"No!"

She goes ignored though, as he dugs all ten fingers into her belly, the tunic she wears offering little protection from his assault. She squeals brightly, squirming and twisting, his fingers following her every move no matter which direction it may be, digging and pinching and wiggling, all over her tummy.

"Ahahahahabe! Stohhohohohop! Stoohohoohop!"

"Why?" He stills his fingers, looking back down at her, chuckling softly under his breath. "I thought you weren't anymore?"

"I am! I am, Abe! I lied!"

"You lied?" He digs right back in and she screams in laughter at the suddenness of the attack. "This is what little liars like you get." The Power finds a particularly sensitive spot above her waist and she shrieks, letting got of her tunic in favor for reaching for his hands, the shirt falls only slightly, but the damage is done. "There's that little belly I love so much." And digs his fingers into the skin on either side of her belly button.

Abraxas shrieks in between fits of laughter, arching slightly at the feeling, his fingers curled around his wrists tightly.

His fingers disappear after a long couple of minutes, her three eternities alone didn't seem so long to her, and her chest heaves for a breath. The Power leans in and kisses her nose again. "You're adorable." She giggles lightly and leans up as best as she can to kiss his chin.

"Pur, you want your turn?"

"I'd appreciate it."

Abraxos smiles down at her mischievously and stands, replacing the medic's position behind their Captain, holding her ankles steady as Puriel steps out from behind him. The medic kneels slightly too, stroking her cheek again adoringly. "This is going to be fun."

"Puri! No!"

"Puri," he races his fingers up her sides and she squirms, shrieking in laughter once more, struggling to pull her tunic back up to cover her belly and sides again. "Yes." She jolts from one side to the other as he pokes her harshly in the side, left, and then right, left again, right, shrieking lightly with every well aimed poke. "That's it, baby girl, laugh. Laughter is the best medicine. And you need some medicine right now." He spiders all ten fingers up her left side, she screams in laughter at the action, and then jumps over to the right. "You've been so quiet and sad for such a long time. Well, enough is enough." He pinches at her hips and his eyes turn down to meet hers. "We'll make sure you get all giggly and happy again. That's what big brothers are for, baby girl."

He pulls away after a long moment, and she grows tense, she knows who's turn is next.

Breathlessly, she squirms harder, tugging at her feet despite Abraxos' grip on her ankles.

"Oh, ho, she knows what's coming."

Nisroc chuckles as the medic comes to stand next to him, shoulder to shoulder, he kneels slightly and slides her off his shoulder to rest on Puriel's. "My turn."

"No! No, Nis! No! Grizzly no! Don't!"

He kneels before her, curling his fingers around the lower hem of her tunic, pulling it down slowly. "Let's get this out of our way."

"Nis! Nis, no! Grizzly, please! Please not that!"

The Captain chuckles as she sucks in her belly as much as she can, looking down into her bright eyes, and leans forward to kiss her nose lightly. "I've waited three billion years to do this again." He straightens up again, her laughter strong and boisterous already, and leans forward to press his lips to her shaking belly. He just rests there, because he's slightly evil, and she squeals brightly at the touch. "I wait no longer."

He takes a deep breath, shakes his head and rubs his beard into her belly, and blows.

Their baby girl's squeals echo around them for a good bit of time after that.