Not much time's passed between the last chapter and this one, an afternoon or so :) Just so you know.
Gothichika: Kratos is back because he's needed for something, or someone, you'll see :) Please do continue to review if you want to, feedback is always much appreciated. And as for spare time I'm currently about to go back university where I'll be doing the final year of my course, so I'm making the most of the time I have now to write down as many of the ideas I have that I can. And yes, I have a lot of ideas :)
VampireHunterSephiroth200: the focus of the story'll be leaving Hope and her parents after this chapter to concentrate on a different couple, guess which one :) However I've a couple of one-shots planned which will feature Hope in them, including one set between chapters three and four of this story, which should show her personality, and which traits she inherited from which parent :)
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Tales of Symphonia. Although I do absolutely love it, which is probably obvious by now :)
Yes, Kratos thought, this was an awful lot better than rotting away on Derris Kharlan.
Dressed in some more casual clothes he'd bought that afternoon he was sitting by the fire drawing with his granddaughter. Not that she knew that was what she was yet, it didn't seem right to tell her straight away.
Hope had, however, become quite taken with him, and had insisted he sat and drew pictures with her after dinner. The young girl was drawing Noishe. It was recognisable and actually pretty good, especially considering the girl was only about four or so years old. She must get that from her mother Kratos thought, knowing Colette liked to draw.
"So," Lloyd said sleepily from his chair by the hearth. "What made you decide to come back?""This'll sound stupid coming from me, but I was lonely. Besides, looks like you guys have done a pretty good job settling things down around here," he smiled proudly.
"Mmmm," Lloyd smiled, his eyes closed blissfully and his arms wrapped around his dozing wife.
"I'm surprised you're not bored," Kratos laughed. "From what I've heard you've become like a boring old married couple.""Ah, I've had enough excitement to last a lifetime," Lloyd nodded. "Besides, having kids is a whole exciting adventure."
"Kids, as in plural?" Kratos asked as he picked up a colouring pencil.
"Mmm hmm," Lloyd grinned and rubbed Colette's tummy. She purred in her sleep.
"Congratulations!" the brown haired angel smiled.
"Auntie Sheena says I'm going to get a baby brother, and she was right about me being a girl, weren't you auntie Sheena? You're magic aren't you auntie Sheena?" Hope grinned.
Sheena looked up from where she, Zelos, Kero and Presea were sat, the three adults talking and the child napping.
"No honey, I'm not magic. I guess I know a tiny bit of a kind of magic, but I'm not magic, no," Sheena smiled.
"Yeah you are, show Kratos a card trick!" Hope beamed.
"I'm sure he doesn't want to see a card trick," Sheena said gently.
"Ah, go on, I've been stuck on a lifeless, boring rock for years, card tricks are positively exciting compared to that," Kratos smiled a friendly smile."Alright then," Sheena moved closer to the fire, as did Zelos, holding Kero in his arms, and Presea. Lloyd gently woke Colette up as Hope smiled proudly and hopped out of her chair. She knew some simple magic tricks her auntie had taught her, and liked performing them with the summoner, as the others seemed to enjoy little magic shows.
Genis and Raine, who'd been sitting in a corner chatting quietly, joined the group by the fire when a small round of clapping caught their attention. They sat down and joined in, impressed by Hope's enthusiasm.
Once they'd performed all the magic tricks Hope knew the young girl settled back into her chair beside her granddad.
"You're cute, you know that?" he smiled at her. Spontaneously he rummaged around in a bag he'd placed by the side of his chair earlier.
"Here, have a hat," he dropped the accessory on Hope's head. It was a little too big for her, but she managed to adjust it so that it both allowed her to see and looked adorable at the same time.
"Thank you!" she beamed a big grin then hopped off her chair and went to her mother who lifted her up so she could see how the hat looked in the mirror over the fireplace.
Kratos smiled, he was impressed. A sincere thank you with no prompting from a parent, that was rare. He smiled at Hope as she sat back down in her chair and grinned at him. Then he returned to his drawing.
He hadn't planned to give Hope that hat tonight, he didn't want anyone accusing him of trying to buy people's affections so he could become part of the group he'd been away from for so long again. But he suspected no one would now anyways, he felt as though he'd been accepted again already.
The hat had caught his eye when he'd been shopping that afternoon He'd thought it would suit Hope. It also struck him as something Colette might have liked when she was younger and as, from what he'd seen, Hope was such a strong blend of her parent's personalities, he'd decided to take a gamble and buy it. He was pleased he had, Hope seemed delighted with it.
"Who are you drawing?" she asked, looking at the piece of paper Kratos was working on.
"Someone who was very special to me, but who's not around any more, only here," he patted his heart.
"I understand I think," Hope said. Kratos wondered how she could, only being four.
"There was a bunny who lived in our garden out the back, but then one day it wasn't very well, and it didn't really move that much. Then the next day it was gone, but I still remember it, it lives in here," she pointed to her head, indicating her memory. "And here," she pointed to her heart. She'd obviously been attached to the rabbit.
OK, so perhaps the emotions were different, and not as strong, but it did seem as though she really did understand on a basic level. Kratos glanced over to Lloyd and Colette who smiled, proud of their daughter. He grabbed Hope in a hug, she looked a little sad, as though she was thinking of the rabbit.
He noticed Raine watching him, a look of slight surprise on her face. He playfully pulled a "neeer!" face back at her. Yes, even he was capable of emotion.
"Come on then," Colette stretched and yawned. "Time for you to go to bed Hope."
"Alright, I've finished my drawing so," the girl nodded. "Can I have some cookies and a story?"
"Oh, I think that'd be alright. What do you think Lloyd?" Colette smiled.
"Ohhhhh, I don't know about that. I don't think we can go letting her have cookies all by herself, I think we should have some as well," he grinned.
"You know any stories Kratos? Can you tell stories well? Will you tell me one for bedtime?" Hope looked up at him with an expression that matched her name.
"Kratos knows lots of stories, don't you?" Lloyd smiled.
"Yes, I do. And I'd be happy to tell one to you tonight if you'd like," he smiled at the small girl, unable to say no to the cute expression she was pulling. He took her small hand in his large one and led her up the stairs, Colette and Lloyd following behind with a plate of cookies to share.