Terra had chosen not to return to the Companions right at that moment. She couldn't face Farkas at that instant. The thing was he had never clarified that they were done but with all of his actions told her that he was finished with her. No letters, no questioning her and simply that kiss… the kiss felt like a good bye. She stood before the Dawnstar struggling to try and figure out what she needed at that moment.

Cicero was now standing before Terra with a look of utter madness and barking nonsense, "Oh yes, it is Cicero! You were a fool to spare me. What, did you think I would be grateful? Cicero should be Listener! Not you! Now you will die!"

Terra crossed her arms and stared are the jester.

"Ahhh…gotcha! Oh, Listener, you should see the look on your face! Hahahahahaha! Oh, Cicero has returned! Not to Kill the kind Listener, but to serve, until one of us dies horribly, in service to Our Mother! Best Friends forever! In the meantime, I'll make myself at home in the Sanctuary. I'm sure Mother needs… tending," Cicero cackled madly as he slapped Terra on the shoulder as he entered Dawnstar.

Terra was surprised by the sheer insanity that Cicero extruded could possibly contagious because on some level Terra was chuckling on the inside. She decided she was going to head to Delvin and get the Sanctuary fully furnished so that they could function at the highest level. The Companions would survive without her. This guild needed her now.

On the return back from getting the contract for construction Terra was really annoyed. The man had almost taken her for everything that she had earned on her hits. She was trying not to turn around and stomp back to the man and kill him. The amount that she spent on the Sanctuary was ridicules and no one would say anything. She sighed a little appreciation would be nice but it didn't matter she was going to do this with or without the affection.

Terra was feeling empty when she entered the Sanctuary. She avoided everyone and tried to slip away to bed.

"Listener?" the voice wasn't high, almost a whisper.

"Hmm?" Terra didn't turn to the voice.

"Best friend took care of Mother while I was away!" arms slipped around Terra, "Cicero is so excited that the Listener cares so much!" He hugged her tight, the affection made her heart beat fast but he soon disappeared leaving only the feeling of his arms around her.

Terra stood there in shock. Had Cicero just touched her? "Don't think on it," she whispered while she shrugged it off and hurried to her room. The cot was actually inviting and she striped everything off and fell onto the small, rough material but at that point it didn't matter if it was comfortable it was just safe.

The sleep had been deep but not deep enough for her to ignore the cold. She would be happy when the renovations were done in the Sanctuary. With a sore body and weak determination Terra dressed herself. She needed something like food in her system, if she could manage that she would be pleased on some level. Like the undead she shuffled her way to the kitchen area.

Nazir stared at her for a time, and then decided to make his comment, "Why am I not surprised to learn Cicero is alive?" he waited for Terra to say something but was answered with silence so he continued, "I still can't stomach the little clown, but if you've welcomed him here, I won't question it."

"Good," Terra grumbled at him as she struggled to combined ingredients in a pot over the fire. "I have no desire to have to find another keeper and he does the job well enough to keep the Night Mother happy. I have nothing against him… he is just…"

Suddenly Cicero appeared dancing and humming to himself. He went through some jars and grabbed a brush. When he noticed Terra and Nazir staring he grinned at them, "Mother needs oiling…"

Terra shivered as she thought about the act that she had performed in his absence and nodded.

Nazir looked like he was going to gag when he realized what the jester was saying.

Cicero laughed and walked out with the jars and brush balancing on his head and hands.

"It won't be boring with him here," Terra said with a cough. "We needed other members and we don't have to train him."

Nazir sighed, "You are correct."

"Now that I have paid for all the renovations, they should be starting here soon," Terra said as she served herself the meal from the pot. She had made enough for anyone to take some.

Nazir grabbed a bowl and took some out, "Smells good."

"Thanks," Terra shrugged.

"No poison in this right?" he inquired to her with a twinkle of humor in his eyes.

"Nooo! " Terra laughed softly as she spooned some food in her mouth. "At least I hope not cause if so I will be dead soon."

Babette walked in stretching, Terra noted that she didn't know vampires could stretch from sleep, they were dead after all. She had a confused look on her face," So…wait. Cicero is alive? And we're all friends again? "She scratched her head and fixed her hair, "I swear, I can hardly keep up…" She sat near the fire and leaned back watching everyone.

"The Listener said that we needed members," Nazir answered with a glum expression.

"I get that but she had said he was dead," Babette said with a finger to her lip tracing her fangs that slightly protruded out of her mouth.

"I didn't kill him," Terra said feeling comfortable enough to talk about it, "He had done no real wrong. In the end he had revealed the traitor and really he takes care of the Night Mother, I have no desire to try and find a new keeper and I am pretty sure nether of you want that job…"

Both of the members feverously shook their heads with wide eyes.

"Yeah didn't think so," Terra finished up the meal and washed the bowl real quick, "Excuse me, I have to go do my conversation with Mother so that we can get some work in here."

Terra entered the designated spot for the Night Mother. Now that Cicero had returned the place was completely decorated in respects to the wife of Sithis. She was surprised by how much the jester had done in such a short time. He had even provided comfortable seating for Terra so that when she listened she could listen without standing. She sat quietly and waited. Soon the Night Mother had a soft glow and she would speak.

The sound of footsteps distracted Terra for a moment and she saw that Cicero had entered with some items in hand; he ignored her completely and went to the Mother. Soon he was decorating the coffin with skulls and flowers.

"Child," the Mother's voice came out calm and gentle.

Terra answered and the conversation began. She would listen as Mother listed off the contracts that would need to be filled but she suddenly went silent. It was as if the Mother had received a notice or was speaking to someone else.

"My dear child, there is a special contract that will need two of my children to take care of," the Night Mother sounded pleased; it was as if she was purring out the words. "I wish for you and the keeper to take this one together. He has been a good servant but needs to be taken to practice his skills or they will become forgotten."

Terra's mouth dropped open and she stole a glance to the Keeper as he was dusting shelves and sweeping the floor. "Yes, Mother," Terra answered then waited for her to finish the list. She got up when she was finished and went to Nazir who was her designated Speaker and handed him the list.

"What?" Nazir about shouted loud enough to make her go deaf, "You are done, as the Listener, you shouldn't be doing anything else…ugh and what is this making…." He took several deep breathes and then looked up toward the ceiling, he made a sign as if he had finished a prayer, "I apologize, Listener, I did not mean any disrespect to Mother, it just caught me off guard. I understand, you will need to start this right away and Babette will take on some of these but I will go and get some recruits so that we can get these other contracts taken care of."

Terra agreed and went back to the Mother's room. Cicero was arranging the skulls around the coffin, he was humming happily.

"Cicero, we need to go," Terra barked at the jester.