And Sunday I got to hold a baby- so that made everything right. :) I love babies. And I found out that it isn't just a girl thing either- Scott kept coming over to make faces at the baby to get him laughing. He was having more fun than the baby.
OOOOOOOOOOOOAny ways- onto the story.
Hitomi sighed and slid out of bed carefully. The Dragon's were waking and that ment, even though she had had very little sleep, she was up aswell.
Van grunted in his sleep but didn't move as Hitomi pulled on her robe and walked to the balcony where Tar was waiting for her.
"Good morning, friend." Hitomi whispered as she closed the door gently behind her.
Tar smiled at her and then pointed down at the walkway that led away from the gardens, "Four Dragons have gone that way within thirty seconds of each other. I hope they have aready tired of their fighting. There are so few of them as it is. Their fighting just lessens their chances for survival."
"It doesn't feel like anyone is fighting." Hitomi placed herself gently in cold outdoor chair.
"Maybe they have recovered from the shock of the Elder's death." Tar said and Hitomi nodded. She imagined it would much like loosing a grandmother who was also President. Everyone feels the blow that brought her down, even when it was only old age.
"And Allen?" Hitomi asked.
"Long gone." Tar sighed and flutter up into Hitomi's lap, "Even while we were searching I could feel his mind set. That man was running as though the gates of Hell had opened up beneath him. Fought like it too."
"Van wouldn't let me get too into the search. He was afraid of Allen doubling back for a shot at me. We must have been out on horses for four or five hours before Aidren told us to go back. He was injured but still wouldn't give up as head of the search. Millerna stopped the bleeding but he looked too plae for my nerves to rest easily."
"He came back to the palace just before the first signs of morning." Tar yawned and stretched his neck out across Hitomi's leg.
"Did you sleep at all?" Hitomi asked, running a cold hand down his naturaly warm back.
"No, my Queen, I did not." he said through another yawn.
"Then rest now. I'll keep watch while you sleep."
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Van glared around the room grumpily. He had asked for a delay because of the situation with Allen and the council had had the nerve to deny it.
They had denied the King.
He was trying to run a Kingdom not avoid their meetings! And yet they still had the gall to act as though he wasn't sitting right there at the head of the table fuming. Hitomi had been left out of the council because of her duties to try and keep the Dragon's from doing too much damage to land and homes. Winter was coming. The fields and the harvest to come were sorely needed if Fanelia had any chance of seeing the next spring.
"We know that the Queen should be here to hear this but as things stand we think the Royal wedding should be held as soon as the land seems to be clear of Dragons." Albert said and Van's head snapped around, "I ment the rampaging Dragons, of course, My King. I'd never speak so about the royal family." the old man paled considerably and placed a hand over his heart, trying to slow it down.
Van held himself in check, sure that he was just looking for a fight. He was in a foul mood due to his lack of sleep.
The council held it's breath as Van fought to cool his temper.
"I'm sure the Queen will be fine with that idea. The sooner the better is how we've been feeling lately anyways." Van finaly said, he kept his eyes closed and hands relaxed on the table before him.
He couldn't wait to leave the library and go find his wife. Just thinking about her helped to calm him greatly. Surely holding her and hearing her voice would help him forget his nightmare filled dreams and pounding head ache. Not to mention his dark mood would flee with her so near.
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The horse still felt tense and nervous beneath him. The animal wasn't stupid. He knew the man he carried was out for blood.
For all Allen knew he had managed to escape without killing anyone. He had harmed a few people but only those who stood between him and the door. His only regret was that Van hadn't been in his path as ran from the palace. All he wanted was two minutes with the demon king to show him how easy it was for him to step straight from friend to executioner.
Executioner was the role he was playing now. He hadn't had a chance to go after the Royal couple but at least he could try to get his hands on two other demons.
He was close.
So very close.
He could almost smell the perfume Selena had been fond of her entire life.
It was the only thing left of her that he could still remember from when they had lived in a happy home.
It was the same perfume their mother had always worn.
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Hitomi blinked a few times as warm hands glided across her shoulders and up her neck.
She must have fallen asleep. Her lap was still warm from where Tar had been so he must have left her only moments before.
"Nap with me." Van spoke quietly and Hitomi could feel memories of his earlier stress lingering in his fingers as they twitched through her hair.
"Of course." Hitomi stood and let Van lead her back to their bed. The Dragons had spent the morning moving around and finding their dead. Now most of the bodies had been dragged away to the woods. They had no intentions of fighting today.
And Van's distracted affection bothered her. He remnded her of a child who had just seen something scary and clung to the nearest, safest thing while reliving the scene again and again inside his head.
"Are the Dragon's gone?" Van asked, his eyes on the task at hand which happened to be untieing Hitomi's robe.
"For the most part. How was the council meeting?" she asked, not moving as he gently slid the robe from her shoulders.
"If the Dragon's truly are gone then we are to be wed, again, in five days." he sighed and finaly brought his eyes up to her's, "I'm so tired, Hitomi."
"I know, love. I know." Hitomi followed Van under the covers and opened her arms for him to snuggle up to her, "Have you been thinking about Allen?" she asked, just dodging his head as he moved closer to her.
"Constantly. It's making my head hurt." he sighed, finally finding the perfect spot in her arms.
"I worry for Dilandau and even Selena. Something inside Allen has snapped. I fear and have since we first learned of his connection to that attack, that he has lost his mind. Not entirely of course, but the rational side has been affected by everything that's happened." Hitomi yawned, "That's my theory, at least."
"It's a good theory." Van mumbled from Hitomi's chest.
"I'm glad you think so." she smiled and closed her eyes. It realy wouldn't be hard for her to fall asleep quickly. Last night's sleep had been restless and full of unpleasent images.
"Nothing but sweet dreams." Van said as though reading her mind.
"I'll do my best." Hitomi felt Van's breathing slow and deepen and she pulled the blanket up over them a bit more to try to hide from the sunlight coming from the open balcony curtains.
With a frown Hitomi wondered why she hadn't closed them before Van fell asleep.
Concentrating on moving the curtain silently Hitomi moved her hand slowly through the air and watched as the cutains closed.
Happy, Hitomi relaxed further into Van's embrace and let sleep take her.
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The house was quiet when Hitomi and Van appeared in her mother's living room.
They had decided to both be there when Uchida Kanzaki was told about the new date for the Royal wedding. Not to mention Van didn't want Hitomi there alone in case her father came home and tried to throw her into something Hitomi called the 'loony bin'.
"Mom?" Hitomi called out.
There was a small crash in the kitchen and then her mother appeared around the corner.
Mrs. Kanzki ran straight to her daughter and hugged her tightly, "Oh, I've been worried. You haven't been to visit in so long."
"We're fine." Hitomi smiled at her mom, pleased to be fussed over in such a way. Only a mom can fuss like that and get away with it.
"Good to hear." Uchida smiled and hugged Van before making them both sit and tell her all about everything that had happened since she had last spoken to them.
When Van reached the part about the wedding Hitomi took over and explained about the Dragons and Allen's escape.
"That's horrible." Hitomi's mum placed a hand over her daughter's, "But the wedding is still on?"
"Actualy it's been moved up. In five days Fanelia will play host to royals who have come for the wedding." Van smiled tiredly at Hitomi.
The last thing either one of them wanted was more self important royals and lords snooping around their home.
"Wonderfull." Hitomi's mum beamed as all mother's do at the mention of their daughter's wedding.
The fact that this was Hitomi's second wedding to the same man seemed to be forgotten in the dress details and questions about the ceremony.
"And your honeymoon?" Uchida asked.
"We're not sure yet." Hitomi blushed, "Dryden said he was taking care of it as a pressent to us."
"I feel better having so many nice people looking after you and my son-in-law."
"We're are being very well taken care of." Van laughed, "Tar alone keeps watch over us like no other."
"Tar?" Hitomi's mum looked at her in confusion, "I don't know this person."
"Should you explain or should I?" Hitomi laughed already knowing that they wouldn't return to Fanelia in time for tea if Tar was the topic of conversation..
"I guess, I'll start and you can fill in what I forget." Van said in a very serious manner that made Hitomi giggle and her mother lean forward in anticipation.
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A/N: You all have QueenTatooine to thank for this chapter. Without her help this would have gone nowhere and sat in my files for another week or two before I forced myself to finish it.
I'm tired beyond tired. That's why the story was so low key. And now that I'm done I'm off to bed. I love my beautifull, big bed. Did I mention it's soft too?- Pure bliss. :)