"Little one?" she looked down from her perch at the Prince's left shoulder into his inquisitive eyes "Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

He pulled her down into his arms quickly, and she giggled at the sudden change in position, smiling up at him instead.

"I know I did, you sneaky little thing."

She giggled again and nodded to his previous inquiry, and he continued on walking through the hiring ranking warriors training in hand to hand, rocking her in his arms as he did.

"Why do you not come to us when you are in need of help?"

"Oh." She pulled herself up to sit right in his arms, curling her arms around his neck, "That's easy. Because when you all go away again and I need to fight for my self I gotta be sure that I can."

"But we aren't going anywhere."

"You don't know that."

He understood though, sometimes more than others did, after having to take care of oneself for so long it was hard to change anything that had kept them alive, even when aid was offered.

Michael leaned down to kiss her nose, "Will you promise me, though?"

"Promise what?"

"If its too big, or too bad, please come tell me."

She stared at him and for a moment he was sure she would fight him on it, and then she leaned in closer to kiss his cheek and lay her head on his shoulder.

"Okay. I promise."

"Thank you, my little warrior." He stroked the back of her head "Take you nap, now."

"How did you manage such a thing so easily?"

The Captain had fallen instep with them, and he smiled kindly to the fledgling that smiled up at him in greeting, giving his commander a look of amusement. He didn't care who she promised, or how long it took to gain it, so long as she followed through on it.

"I just have that affect on them, Nisroc."

"Or they're too afraid to say 'no'."

Michael stopped to look over at his amused Captain, "If you think I won't bring you to your knees, you are thinking wrong, my dear baby brother."

"Can you manage it?"

He turned, reaching for the Power, "Where was it again? Just above the highest left rib?" to which his Power laughed freely and jumped away from his side, jogging in the other direction for safety, the archangel did not make threats he did not intend to follow through on.

"You guys are silly!"

"Oh really?", he made as though he was reaching for her belly and she giggled away from him, "Imma take a nap now."

"That's what I thought you said."