Gem: I'm updating!
Eiko (not enthused): Good for you.
Gem: And is there a problem with that?
Eiko: Nope.
Gem: Good. Here's the update.
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The party lasted well into the night. At some point, Zidane and Dagger had disappeared out into the courtyard. They didn't need to talk because just being next to each other was enough. Currently they were sitting on a bench with Dagger's head on Zidane's shoulder.
"Dagger, don't fall asleep on me, please."
"But you're comfortable," replied Dagger in a tired voice.
"Let's go back inside. We've been out here for almost an hour, and people may wonder what happened to us."
Slowly they got up and walked back inside. They passed Freya and Frately, who had just come outside, on the way in.
"We should tell Hope about when we were sixteen."
"Why? Don't you think that she's still too young?"
"She asked last night, and it seems like the right time to tell her if she's started to ask questions."
"You started to tell her, didn't you?"
"Yes."
The couple had walked back inside to find that most of the people were gone.
"Eiko and Vivi are staying here tonight and then they are heading to the Outer Continent."
"I was hoping that I would have more of a chance to talk to everyone."
"They'll be back in a few days. You're worrying too much."
Hope came over to her parents when they came back in. The trio headed upstairs to Hope's bedroom.
"Daddy, why were you gone for so long?" Hope asked in a way that made Zidane grin.
"I was trying to come back her to you and your mother but the road was long and hard."
"Oh. What's your side of the story, daddy?"
"I met your mother on her sixteenth birthday. I was part of the troupe of actors sent to kidnap her. I didn't know that she wanted to be kidnapped or how beautiful she was."
Dagger blushed at this comment.
"We performed I want to be Your Canary for Princess Garnet's sixteenth birthday and then a friend of mine and I were to put her to sleep and kidnap her. She came out of her rooms and knocked the two of us over."
"The look on your face was priceless," Dagger commented.
"You had to kidnap mother, daddy?"
"I was supposed to. She ran up a castle tower, and I followed her."
"And then I jumped off and landed on the ship."
"You jumped off of a tower, Mother?"
"Yes, I jumped off and scared your father and Steiner in the process."
"That's it for now, Hope. Time for bed for you."
"But I don't want to go to bed, yet. I want to hear more of the story."
"Tomorrow night, Hope. I promise. Is that all right with you?"
"Okay then," said Hope hopping into bed.
"Your father has never broken his promises to me so we'll tell you more before bed tomorrow. Good night, Hope."
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Gem: Can't think anymore.
Zidane: I told you that you shouldn't have done that physics homework at the same time as writing this.
Gem: I WAS TAKING A BREAK!
Zidane: Geez. Calm down.
Gem (panting): I'm fine now. Please read and review!
