p style="text-align: center;"strongTania/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Tania's head hurt. Hangovers were the worst. Massaging her temples, she mentally went over the events of the day before: The wedding- awful, the forced socialisation and hosting-awful, the awkward time spent doing meet and greets with Valentina- awful, and then drinking with the girls-not awful. Thank the gods for the last part. Smiling at the memory of Vanora smuggling extra jugs of wine to them upstairs in one of the spare rooms in the tavern, Tania reminded herself to thank her profusely for rescuing a disastrous day. It had all been Marie's idea of course, she had been the one to get the key to the room from Vanora in the first place. Once inside their hideaway, Farica had shuffled the dresser in front of the doorway securing them from nosy onlookers and allowing them to unwind in private. From upstairs they could just about still hear the music and so they had danced barefoot on the threadbare carpet, kicking off their shoes and making their way through the wine that Vanora had given them. It had been a nice way to end the evening, or so Tania had thought before she woke up this morning feeling like her head had been sliced in two. Groaning she buried her head into her hands, silently cursing the fact it was a bright and sunny day./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Cheer up buttercup, just the sight of you is ruining my F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S mood this fine morning."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Squinting through her fingers, Tania couldn't quite believe her eyes. How was Marie not hungover? And was she twirling around? Like actually twirling…..in a night dress? Also what was up with her exaggerated emphasis on the word fabulous. Did she really have to enunciate each letter at such a loud volume?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Tania was flapping her hands motioning for Marie to quieten down when she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Now one of the best things about hers and Marie's quarters was that they shared a private courtyard; and due to this wonderful design, Tania was currently witnessing Galahad trying to sneak out of their side gate. Clearly he had thought that the corridors were to much of a risk, so it was mighty unfortunate for him that Tania always had her breakfast outside in the summer. Marie had noticed Tania freeze mid flap and knew immediately what was about to happen and so dived forward and clamped her hand over her friends mouth, just as Tania tried to let out a shriek of excitement./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""I will only remove my hand and tell you if you promise not to yell."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Tania nodded hurriedly in acceptance of Marie's demand, because boy oh boy did she want to know this story./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Alright…ok…I will tell you everything…..but first can we get some food because I am fricking starving?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Pushing her food around her plate, Tania listened to Marie recount the nights events for the next half an hour. Her initial excitement and happiness for Marie had temporarily got rid of the hangover, but it was now back full force and just the smell of the food was turning her stomach./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""….and so when I woke up this morning, for the first time in my life I felt like someone had finally seen me for who I am, the real me. Not just the side of myself that I show to protect myself…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Thinking Tania wasn't listening, Marie decided to poke her…./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Yo ho hello? Did you hear any of that? Tania for goodness sake I actually told him I loved him, do you have any thoughts on that? Anything? Anything at all?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""You told me not to talk…."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Marie snorted, "No, I told you not to yell."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Oh well in that case I guess I am allowed to do this…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Springing up from her chair, and ignoring the way her stomach heaved at the sudden movement, Tania rushed round the table, smothered Marie in a bear hug and started to shake her side to side while singing…./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Marie and Galahad sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes marriage and then comes a baby in a baby carriage….. Sing it with me people…."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Realising that her friend wasn't going to stop anytime soon, Marie decided the best form of defence was attack and so climbed her way out of the Tania's arms, before jumping onto her back piggy-back style. While barely holding on with one hand while trying to cover Tania's moving mouth with the other, neither her nor Tania noticed a very confused Dagonet had just entered the courtyard./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Uh I was wondering if Marie still wanted to work in the forge today, but I guess I can come back later."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Pausing for a second to look at Dagonet, both Tania and Marie couldn't help but laugh even harder. The poor guy looked so confused. Now that Marie was off her back due to the pause in shenanigans, Tania could give her a proper hug. Whispering how happy she was for her into her ear, Tania kissed her on the forehead before waving her off to go join Dagonet. Marie squeezed Tania's hand communicating that they would talk later before rushing off to go get changed out of her night dress. Grabbing the breakfast plates off of the table, Tania reassured Dagonet that he would know soon enough before making her way back inside. Setting everything down she glanced at the clock, swearing when she realised that she was supposed to be on her way to Farica's by now. Grabbing a light shawl off her desk, and after re-straightening her dress, Tania locked up her quarters and headed off down the corridor, wondering what else the day would bring./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Any guilt Tania had about being late to Farica's soon disappeared when it became apparent that she wasn't the only one to forget. Knocking on the door only half an hour later than planned, Tania was secretly looking forward to a quiet afternoon hidden inside her friend's house, after all a hungover princess in public wasn't the best look. Hearing yells of "Auntie T !" she couldn't help but smile despite knowing that young kids and headaches didn't work great together./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Yanking open the door Jovian appeared half dressed and flushed from having run down the stairs. Grabbing Tania's hand he pulled her inside talking at about a rate of 100 knots. Nodding along while massaging her temples, Tania navigated her way inside trying not to bump into any furniture or the somewhat over excited child that had her firmly in his grasp. It was only when Jovian said a certain name that her focus shifted entirely to the five year old./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"" Yeah Mama said that Tristan is leaving now and that its your turn to stay."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Pausing half way through to the kitchen, Tania looked down at a wide eyed Jovian who clearly had just remembered he maybe wasn't supposed to mention mamas new friend. Scanning the downstairs Tania realised that Jovian was right. There were male boots at the backdoor, plus a cloak (that could only be Tristan's due to the hawk feather fastener) laid out on a spare chair. Not sure what to say or do next, Tania was startled by Jovian trying to literally run through her to the stairs where Tristan happened to be descending. In a very comical way Jovian seemed to launch himself at the man before putting his fingers to his lips and shushing him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Shushhh shushhh, don't tell mama that Auntie T knows you're here!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Hmmm I think your mamma knows that your Auntie is here, you announced her arrival to the whole street," Tristan whispered back while trying not to laugh./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"Still processing the last thirty or so seconds, Tania watched as Tristan then proceeded to casually pick Jovian up and put him on his hip, and then seemingly start breakfast in the kitchen like nothing had just happened. First Marie and Galahad and now this. Tania couldn't help but laugh all over again. Holding her sides she just laughed and laughed and laughed. Tears rolling down her face she only started to regain composure when a concerned looking Moira appeared in her eye line./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""I think Auntie T has lost it mama."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"A smiling Farica gently pushed her daughter towards the kitchen while giving Tania a welcoming hug./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;""Don't worry Moira, your Aunt lost her marbles a long time ago."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"A quiet chuckle drifted through from the kitchen indicating to Moira that if all the adults were ok with it, then there was nothing wrong with her Aunt. Leaving to join her brothers at the kitchen table, Moira was unaware of the three-way silent conversation going on above her head. Picking up Ginger, her most favourite cat ever in the whole wide world, she shook her head wondering why it was so funny to her Aunt that her Mama had a new friend. Why were adults so odd?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"strongHello ! Yes I am back and this is still ongoing ! And trust me there is a lot to go ! No idea how long this whole thing will take, but as long as I am enjoying the process it will keep going. I hope reading this gives you a little escape from the real world and that you all enjoy the story and the characters as much as I do ! Love to you all xx/strong/p
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