A Refreshing Refuge:

Lady Nessa accepted her Aunt Nasmira's invitation to her wildlife refuge only if she could bring along her lover, her family, close friends, and few others. Was granted to her since her Aunt was one of the few of the family, that couldn't say no to her. Which left a boat to be packed with all their basics from food for the travel and personal needs. Boarding wasn't an issue for everyone since they looked forward to this trip in one way or another. Julius and Kipling just wanted the alone time since they were one two two newly engaged couples. Juliana and Narseh for the fun while Consul Valerius wanted a chance to away from his duties as a courtier. Nadia with Portia, Uncle Asra with Muriel, Julian and Jewel were going to re- live last time they had visited. Aemilia was brought along to show her a world outside of the Vesuvia since she never traveled outside the city- state. To get here away from the heart ache of Praetor Vlastomil and the cold shoulder he was still giving her.

"We're engaged, neither one of us have a ring." Kipling looked at his bare finger.

"My parents rings are nothing more then sterile metal and their birthstones." Juliana pulled her father forward.

She then forcefully pulled his glove off to show that his wore a plain wedding band with a Aquamarine gemstone. Pointing out they came as form of payment from the son of a blacksmith that was expert in making jewelry.

"Who knew someone with a inflamed appendix in needed of removal got you a set of rings." Julian proudly stated.

"I never knew your father had such lovely hands." Kipling noticed Julian's nails and smooth skin.

"Really?" Julian asked rather touched.

Kipling nodded his head as Jewel took Julian's free arm with her own in stating Julian has been using her skin products. Put a blush in Julian's face when he tried to deny what his wife had to say about his smooth hands. He could only squeeze her hand in return the whole that Jewel spoke of process Juliana kept talking.

"Reminds you of us?" Jewel asked Julian in hushed tone.

"Hmmm..." Julian hummed just brushing the tip of his nose into her hair. "You remember when he made love on upper desk of a ship. Under the stars with only my black coat with a red lining under us as you mounted me."

"Romantic aren't we." Jewel reached up.

Wouldn't get any where when Nessa loudly spoke her disgust upon Julian mid- muzzle in the junction between Jewel's neck and shoulder. She went to say people their age shouldn't still be doing public act of display out in the open. Got Jewel to around toward Julian with her hand taking hold of his black jacket with snaps and pull away from her daughter.

"I even remember how we started that night." She smirked at him.

"Your moans were music to me." He grinned back at her.

When pressing of their lips loosely against other when Jewel pushed on her tip toes reach Julian's full height. Familiar mixture of chapped and tough lips with the indication of teeth pressed against smooth ones. Tilt of a head to better accommodate taller one that would have his wrist released by his daughter. He could wrap both his around the waist of a widen waist that been through childbirth twice and draw her close.

"This Is Not Happening!" Nessa screamed converting her eyes. "I Need..."

"Come." Valerius took hold of one of her hands.

Away she was taken by Valerius to be guided away from the sea of the ocean on upper deck of their ship to lower ones. Where she would be calmed by the below the desk set up he had arranged for the two of them after ship got underway. What caught her attention besides the bottle of wine that needed to be opened with a hand painted label. Wine flutes that were custom made through a visit with the glass blower and his assistants a few weeks away. Large cushions that that lay beside the small table that everything sat on with a single ring box with a tied ribbon bow. Had her going silent and his trying to sum up what having her in his life had become since hat fateful night. Become a private moment that stayed between them when sets of ears were listening in on them from other side of the door. One them was shushing that ones that they needed to be quiet or they were going to get caught.

Left them to stay crowd around the door and hear a loud yes followed by amusing comments about ring being only thing she could wear. Followed by a loud thump and rustling of them on soft surfaces with a giggle before everything went quiet. A few giggles of someone teasing the other for being an older men before told he was going to have world rocked. Had others trying to press their ears to the door even harder to hear her be called a bit of a tease like her father. That ended with screaming what before she also spoke she was nothing like her dad with scuffling off him. Stating she thought pursuing this relationship beyond a bed was worth the work with their common interests. Being compared to her biologically father was last piece of straw that was going to break the camel's back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kipling found a weeping Nessa near the budding cherry blossoms trees when he and julius split after a couples' message. Loosen muscles in must back was still felt when he started to take a stroll through the trees to clear his head. Just his choice in clothing wasn't the transparent robes that everyone was offered to wear during their time here. He ended up wearing a more airy form of his clothing while covering his eyes when around one that wore the robes. One of the people that decided to not be seen in after having her heart trampled on in such a private setting .

"Here." She was handed a handkerchief.

Her sniffling didn't stop Kipling from taking a seat next to her with his legs taking a lotus sitting position for comfort. Going on about why she was sitting in the center of the orchard of tree without someone to comfort her.

"I am hiding from everyone." She could barely speak.

Blew her noise into the fabric's surface so hard she ended up clearing out of her nostrils in a few breaths. Refolding the piece of clothes to w ipe away her tears while inviting Kipling to join her under the tree. He did by putting distance between them by a a half a foot since he senced a pair of eyes watching them.

"Still upset over what Consul Valerius said about you being like your father?" He asked guessing.

"..." She could only nod her head.

"May I ask what was so bad about being compared to your father?" He dare ask.

She ended up fighting more of her tears to angle her head closer to his ear and start to speak about hushed tone. Not caring about who was watching as she recalled word for word what was talked about between them. Going over subject of seducing him in her bed for a moment to be asked to marrying him. How with this set skill of hers, she could have taken any men HER AGE to her bed for a night of passion. Angred her to the point she stated the only man she wanted to spend moment liked this were with HIM.

"Damn." Kipling pulled away from her. "He does know how you feel?"

"I Love Him And Want To Spend Every Waking Moment With His Drunken Ass." She screamed for all to hear.

Cherry blossoms would ended up being knocked from the branches over their heads when she scared birds. Sight of those feathered creatures jumping into the passing air current with their wings wide open. Was watched by the two of them when the feathered creature flew among the falling pink pedals in the air.

"You shouted loud enough, they could hear you from natural hot springs." Kipling brushed pedals off his person.

"Why is my life a mess?" She asked through cries.

"At least you didn't meet your lover-turned-fiancee's family through his sister." Kipling reclined backwards. "I am just glad we're getting married soon."

He would go on about how he planned to travel to Vesuvia even before he met julius with no plans for romance. Changed for him in away he rediscovered the placed of his mother's birth and love all at the same time. Making a connection to famed family was an added perk he never saw happening with what is happening.

"I call it an act of fate." Kipling shifts his legs. "Random and sorted. I came to accept. In time."

"That me being compared to my father is a good thing?" She asked not understanding.

Kipling would smile before drawing himself from his seat with hand reached out to her to get to come with him. Enjoy the rest of this get away from Vesuvia without feeling of being compared to a long deceased count. Ruining what fun she was already having after she had arrived with all of them at the beginning of this. Suggesting she further try out the many forms of relaxation this place had for the lot of them. Pointing out she could try one of the facials or seat with her mother in the steam and talk about what's bothering her.

"Just go and enjoy." He tried to get her walking on without him.

"..but...but..." She tried to answer him.

He wouldn't allow her to speak to him when all he could do was push her onward and tell were everyone was. She took with slow steps while promising she was going to return to him and return this favor one of these days. Got her waved off by him long enough for him to walk toward hi was spying on them. What he found was a rather grumpy Valerius all alone on a bench with his face turned away from the cherry blossoms.

"I am gay and prefer julius over Lady Nessa." Kipling was the first to speak. "I am currently engaged."

"Not like I wanted to know that." Valerius sourly spoke.

"How a girl like her likes a highbrow, inebriated, adulterated like you." Kipling looked at Valerius. "Still bothers me."

Kipling would have gone about how Lady Nessa could do better then get involved with someone older then her. Came to an end when julius came running toward them carrying the looked like raggy old black coat with a red lining. Saying how his found this piece of old clothing being pulled out of a fox hole by cubs. He ended up up taking when the cubs discarded this pieces of sewn fabric for playtime. Here he was with the item in hand trying to catch his breath after outrunning what he thought was following him.

"Doesn't that look like one of your father's coats?" Kipling and Valerius asked about it.

"Yea, I think it's the one he lost when he came here with my mom, aunt Nadia, and Uncle Asra." julius spoke in breaths.

Kipling would end up guiding him to other side of the bench that he was force to seat on to rest with coat in hand. Allowing julius to state he was just looking for Nessaea, Kipling, and Valerius by walking around. Not knowing he would be finding his dad's fabled coat and now repossess the item. Become a tiring day for him with fear the older fox will come looking, or wanting to take the coat back. Which left him scared since he was in the mood to return this item.

"What are you to do now?" Valerius was amused. "Don't want a wild animal coming after you."

"Not helping." Kipling warned him.

"Give this back to my dad." Julius huffed out.

Twp would stare at Valerius unable to take his form of joking about Julian even accepting the remains of his coat. Had one asking the other what Nessaea saw in this guy next him before he got to his feet. Asking where the last time either one of them saw his parents when they all went their own ways that morning. Half the places they thought about had to do with privacy for a couple to romantically connect. Walking in on a goofy grinning Julian before topped Jewel without a stitch on. Sometimes he would have a gag of some kind in his mouth or hand/ arms tied up. Gave both a cringing sensation that Valerius wasn't any help in shaking off when they stepped away.

"What does Nessaea see you in?" Both asked Valerius.

The got their answer in a very detailed matter when he sat back with his arms crossing over his chest when memory come fourth. One that took place within the many halls of the Palace where the light was dimmest and shadows danced. Two people would end up meeting with one looking up to other with joy in her eyes as other reached to her with gloves fingers. Whispering to her what she saw in him to love since he conspired against her mother. To be silenced when she spoke of how he keep his cool and mind calm with the eyes of Vesuvia public. Stating how she admired working hard during his youth to become the youngest courtier within the Countess's court.

"Stop!" Julius couldn't take another describe.

"We understand now." Kipling hauled Valerius.

"Off you go to find daddy and give back his coat." Valerius waved at them. "I have some planning of my own to do."

Julius got to his feet and was one that guided him and Kipling away from the bench and the orchard of cherry blossoms. Trying to figure out where they would find his dad while carrying tattered remands of his coat. Kipling shrug at half the question asked to him about seeing Jewel and Julian around the area. Going to leave them to search places his father was known for visiting from the story he was told. Not that they were going to take in the sights of the birds and animals in passing when they walked together.

"Nervous about when we get back?" Kipling asked Julius.

"About marrying someone I want to spend the rest of my life with?" Julius summed up what Kipling was getting at.

"Your answering with a question." Kipling couldn't believe Julius.

"You have already known by answer." Julius nipped Kipling's nose.

Close contact of their bodies gave the two the chance to stand close to each other for a few minutes and take in the moment. Between being pulled into this trip with their friends and family with Lady Nessa hosting. Had them running around packing a bag while still planning the final details of their wedding taking place. Sticking with the traditional clothing of white and gold while the wedding was taking place in a spring season. Had them double checking the proper paperwork for the marriage to happen. Along with the place their marriage was taking place was still available. While finer details were handled by Countess Nadia and Portia, allow some pressure to be taken off the couple.

"Come on, Let's try near the natural hot springs." Julius thought his dad and mom would be there.

Kipling wasn't to fight Julius' choice in trying to find his father since he would end up following him on to wooden walk away. Thumping from their feet on the surface on the wood was already giving them away to who ever was was relaxing. Green facial mask on their face while then were resting with cucumber slices on their closed eyes with them in reclined position. Came to reveal them selves to be a curious Aemilia in the company of Arsa and Muriel near hot springs. She was sitting on the edge of the spring with just her feet inside warming water as Arsa and Muriel were in water. Left her to be the one that would say Julian and Jewel weren't seen around this area at during the day. They should try the building they were all staying while checking in where most of the animals could possibly be visited. To only get a chance to lay her eyes on the fabled coat stolen from a tale told to her by Jewel months ago.

She would come to share with Arsa and Muriel when Kipling and Julius moved on from them to Portia having tea with Countess. Two were sitting on a blanket already set out for them with a tea set and snacks one would eat. Would be asked the same question that Aemilia had been asked about them seeing Julian and Jewel some where. Again they were told the same thing and showed off the famed coat from a story that Countess Nadia shared with Portia. Got her to laugh to loud that Kipling and Julius could hear long after the walked away from the pair and their private tea party. The coat not being carried by Kipling since Julius was not losing hope they would never find his parents. Not that he would say anything out loud after he handed the coat over and pocketed his hands with sigh. Stopping only once to turn in place and look around before starting by up in another direction with Kipling behind him.

Place they found was Juliana and Narseh helping out with bottle feeding baby animals and creatures with help from the handlers. Either they were refilling empty bottles that were sucked dry by hungry little moth whining for nutrition. They were dividing up the ones that had been fed and ones that needed to be fed with some help from others. Sitting down within the area the feedings were taking place and taking their time to encourage the baby to fed. Becoming quite a moment for the two of them working together with these handlers that worked for Aunt Nasmira. Since the two of them were watching a trio of black and albino lion cubs be bottle fed individually by more experienced handlers. One little cub end up stumbling toward Julian's fed with a meow before getting on his hind legs get her attention.

"Here." A handler would help her lift and hold the cub.

She was the shown how feed the cub without getting scratched or swapped at with those little claws when he was picked up. He was then wrapped into a blanket before set upon her lap with a tip of the bottle lay before his mouth to get him drinking. Which he would start rather eagerly start to suck away the delicious white liquid that was inside. Left Narseh to kneeling near by and be busy handler the cubs siblings when ever the handlers had to that turns between feeding. Which was how Kipling and Julius found the two doing when they found them with coat clenched in Julius' arms. Comments came about what couple would be like in their future as rulers of Vesuvia in silly matter. That their future son would totally be a mommy's boy since the cub had fallen under Juliana's charm during his feeding. Any girls that had would be trouble makers with the way Narseh was having a struggle to get a few of them calm down. Left the two faces to be barked by Narseh when he couldn't agree with what they had to say about their children. Juliana was the one that asked why the two were here while she tried to keep her attention on the sub in her arms.

Up went a coat that had been worn over time and used by the family of the fox within Julius's hands for two to see. Julliana was the one that amazed her brother was the one that now held the coat their father told them about. Somewhat jealous she wasn't the one that found the item when she was exploring the ground on the first day their arrived. Narseh blinked a few times a the sight of raggy thing on display for the two of them to see as he struggled with the cubs. He was trying to avoid getting bite or scratched by those needle- like sharpness sharpness in way another. While he was failing to keep the small group separate as his pride toward any future children was going down the drain.

"Please leave." Narseh suggested. "We are busy and not have time for this."

"Give them a chance to ask and then move on." Juliana cooed at Narseh.

What they were asked got Kipling and Julius, if one of them saw Julian and Jewel some some where on the grounds. Had the two of them moving on fro the couple searching with coat being handed back to Kipling when the two got further away. Subject about where to go next and who to ask was ignored when the stopped once more to figure things out.

"Maybe they decided to stay in and be sensual with each other?" Kipling asked Julius.

"Eww!" Julius didn't wan to imagine his parents in that way.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jewel ended up being found by her son and his fiance still in the room she was sharing with Julian around evening time. She revealed that Julian got overheated in the hot spring when he try to full around with her in the water when alone. Just instead of hands exploring bare flesh once the robe was discarded by the two of them and lips repeatedly connected. Turned into Julian almost on verge of drowning when his overly aroused body become to heated by warm water. He was dragged out and taken back to their room by Jewel using a magical boost to her strength. That is where they been the whole time while Kipling and Julius had been searching for Julian to give back the found coat.

"Oh my." Jewel was shocked at the sight. "You father is going to be shocked at the sight of this."

She went to shush them out of the room wanting to go enjoy the rest of this reposeful time thanks to Lady Nessa. Kipling took that chance as a opening to get Julius back to the cherry blossoms orchard and watch the pedals. Julius wouldn't try object since he spent the better parts of his days trying to unwind with little to no success on his part. Since he was given the chance to finally start to let go when being towed away from his mother for anything.

"Now How am I going to break this to Julian?" Jewel looked the coat over.