"Love, have you seen the girls?" Col. Tavington asked Mary, entering his quarters after a bath.
"No, I have not." she replied walking over to him with Braden on her hip.
"Odd.." the colonel replied, his mouth forming a thoughtful frown as he took his son in his arms. "Usually, at least one of them can be found."
Mary shrugged.
"Would you like me to queue your hair?"
Col. Tavington nodded and walked over to the chair at his desk, sitting down with Braden as Mary grabbed a brush and carefully ran it through his thick, wet, dark-chocolate colored hair before braiding it and wrapping it in the severe military queue that was part of the Dragoon uniform.
"How has Braden been?" the colonel asked, looking down at his son. "He looks a bit pale."
Mary nodded.
"I believe he has a bit of a cold."
As if on cue, Braden sneezed all over his father's arm and then started to cry.
Col. Tavington sighed, brushing himself off and rocked his son gently back and forth to calm him.
"Poor boy.."
Mary gave them a small smile.
"He should be all right though."
"I hope so, because the last thing we need is a sick baby who won't get better."
Mary laughed softly.
"He'll be fine. In the meantime, why don't you go find Jae and Jula."
Col. Tavington gave his wife a quick nod, placing Braden in her arms, got up, and left his quarters.
Stepping out into the hall, the colonel was just about to go downstairs when he spotted Jula coming out of her sister's room, a broad smile on her face.
"Well now, this is the happiest I've seen you in a while.."
Jula shrugged and replied, "Is it?"
"Yes. I take it you two are getting along again?"
"How did you know we weren't in the first place?"
"It was only obvious."
Jula shook her head, rolling her eyes and grinned.
"At least it isn't so tense anymore."
"Yes, and this time, I didn't even hear any yelling. Well done."
"Thanks." Jula replied, but seeing the colonel's eyes narrow slightly, amended, "I mean, thank you sir."
Col. Tavington grinned.
"That's better."
"Thank you sir."
"You're welcome. Now run along and I shall see you later."
Jula nodded, curtsying slightly, and headed off down the hall while Col. Tavington walked up to Jae's door and was about to knock on it when he heard the soft melodic sound of humming coming from within. Carefully, he opened the door the just enough to see Jae standing by her bed, her eyes closed, her face serene as she hummed softly to herself. Smiling to himself, Col. Tavington watched in complete attentive silence as Jae began to dance to the tune she hummed, her steps graceful and precise as she was lost in her own world.
Beautiful girl, she is. And god forbid any man lay a hand on her, lest they want me to break it, along with the rest of them... the colonel thought to himself as he continued to watch Jae, not having the heart to pull her from her world. See, you do care about her. You're even growing protective of her. Such fatherly emotion...
Col. Tavington shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
She's not my daughter. I'm just caring for her and her sister until they can find their way back home. Nothing more, nothing less...