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When Marianne finally comes, it's in late January, two months before Adora's first birthday. I, by chance, had been passing the small window in the kitchen, when I catch a glance of movement away from our cottage. Focusing, I see Mari first, her face looking fuller, and her hair considerably shorter. The absence of nearly two years has made her a very sweet sight to see.

What is even sweeter is the surprise that I had been secretly hoping for; the small boy toddling next to her. Even from this distance, his bright blonde hair and grey eyes make him an unmistakable image of Karl.

I cannot bear to leave Adora alone for even three seconds, so I scoop her up in my arms while I dart out there. I don't know who is more delighted: Marianne or myself.

I didn't even know where to start, but Marianne already launches into everything within the first second. "It was so cold there, and lonely! And the silly woman claimed she was too sick to even light a fire, so the house was always bitterly cold until Karl came home each night." She claps her hands joyfully, and Adora grips onto my thin collar, her wide eyes examining this new, red-headed phenomenon. "Oh, I toldKarl that it would be wonderful if you had your own baby, and he said you probably wouldn't! Gabriel!" she suddenly scolds, as the little blonde boy, who cannot be but a few months older than Adora, stands on his tiptoes and grasps her foot. Adora lets out a sound in shock, and her hands curl around me even tighter. The toddler totters and falls back, grinning toothily at his mother.

Karl comes the next day, wrapped up in a scarf, carrying the boy through the morning frost. Marianne brings a quilt, and we all sit outside, Adora snoozing in the several blankets I have wrapped her up in, Gabriel eating the grass beside her.

"She is sweet." Karl says politely, gesturing towards Adora. "We are sorry we are not here to see her born."

"Her hair and eyes are darker than yours," Marianne notes. "But I think she looks like you. Are you sure she's almost a year? She hardly looks that big yet!"

"She was born March 27." I say, looking at my little bundle fondly. Her nose wrinkles in her sleep.

"Gabe is a big boy." Marianne proudly says, and he looks up at her, frosted grass sticking out from his mouth. I giggle; for someone who looks so much like Karl, Gabriel acts so very much like his mother. "Born nearly two weeks late, weren't you, you naughty boy!"

Perhaps it's because his parent's have hair straight as paper, but Gabriel is obsessed with my hair. He continuously pulls himself into a standing position, and grips the curls down my back with his tiny fists, and pats them. Karl scolded him at first, but I could only laugh.

Adora finally wakes up in the late afternoon, her dark blue eyes blinking lazily. Gabriel is quite a bit away, over by the tree by himself. Marianne is keeping a close eye on him, although it makes me nervous; I would never let Adora wander that far away! How can she bear to have him alone and unprotected?

Gabriel trips on the tree he is circling, and cries out. I tense, but Mari simply calls, "Up you get, Gabe. Are you hurt?"

"No!" he yells back, and then resumes his exploring.

I suppose I will have to eventually let my daughter wander off as well… but not quite yet.

As for Erik; he still has this odd little thing where he does not like touching her, but she also does not leave his sight. If she goes into another room, he drops all of his music and follows her. She likes the attention from him more so than me… when she does this, she'll turn and smile at him, and he'll smile back.

Our daughter is going to be a very spoiled girl, I'm afraid.

Erik and I are both equally shy, quiet people, and it seems that Adora has gotten that trait as well. She can speak small words, certainly, but mostly she is silent, just staring. But she smiles—she has a beautiful smile already!—and listens when we speak to her.

Adora is watching Gabriel with wide eyes; she has never seen a child that small before, having only occasionally seeing the Mountain Children in town, who are all a few years older. Gabriel seems rather uninterested in her when she's awake, but when she sleeps again, he comes and peers at her face.

Marianne and I talk about everything, and it's not uncomfortable in the slightest having Karl there, like I would suspect she would be with Erik present. She holds Adora very gently, rocking and crooning to her. I remember her two lost babies, the two she was so certain were girls… and I remember my firstborn, my son, who is no longer here… But looking at little Gabe and my precious Adora… Well, I think things turned out just right in the end. For both of us.

When evening falls and the weather is very, very chilly, Marianne and Karl pack up to leave. To my despair, they have not regained control of their own little cottage yet; the elderly couple living in it now requested a few more months, and they graciously agreed. Instead, they live on the other side of town, nearly an hour away. They must get home before dark falls.

"But we will come again," Marianne reminds me, looking at my crestfallen face.

"I know." I say wistfully. Adora sits on our own blanket, and I ponder how I am going to carry her, the blanket, and the basket the few minutes back home. I am, at least, grateful I do not have to go through town.

My dilemma is answered when I see a familiar shape emerging lithely from the shadows. He stops in the trees, his dark mask blending in with the darkness around him. I look at him in shock, my head tilted, wondering what he is planning.

His eyes ask permission. I purse my lips and nod very slowly, pushing my blonde locks out of my face so he can see my eyes as well.

It is like déjà vu from two years ago, when he approached Marianne at nearly this exact same spot. Only this time, I do not hesitate, but go and proudly stand next to my husband, while keeping a sharp eye on my sitting daughter. Adora smile lightly when she catches sight of him.

Marianne smiles too, after her eyes dart quickly to Gabriel. "Erik! How lovely to see you again!"

He inclines his head awkwardly. Karl moves closer to his wife, and Erik ignores him.

"I do not remember ever being introduced properly." Erik says quietly. "You are Marianne, Christine's friend, and your family." His gaze lingers on Gabriel for a moment, who is standing still, looking in awe up at Erik. "Welcome home."

Mari deliberately nudges Karl, who says shortly, "Pleasure to meet you." His eyes fasten on the edge of Erik's mask, and then he looks him up and down. He attempted to smile like the rest of his family, but only grasped Marianne's hand.

Adora makes a jealous noise; no one is looking at her.

Gabriel says, "You are tall."

Marianne grasps him and pulls him back, not unkindly. "Gabe, do be nice!" She shoots a nervous look at Erik, as if expecting him to be angry.

"Not nice." he whispers, and hides behind her skirts.

Adora laughs. It's another new talent, one that I find simply endearing. She doesn't do it often; but when Gabe pokes his head out, she laughs again.

"We were just coming home, "I explain to Erik, who nods again. "They're living on the other side of town, now. Perhaps we'll see them next weekend." He touches my hand, seeking some comfort, and I take it firmly, leaning away only to pick up Adora.

"Baby!" Gabriel says, and he rushes forward.

"You'll see her again." Marianne promises. She gestures to him. "Come, it's time to go home. Erik, Christine… it was nice to see you both again."

Karl is looking at my own and Erik's hands', entwined by our sides. He quickly looks up to me, and then to him, and then gives a smile. He looks at his son, who is still over Adora, a thoughtful frown on his chubby face.

Gabriel waves very closely to her face—I tense, hoping he will not hurt her—and then places a very wet kiss on her forehead. Adora lets out a shrill giggle and grasps his blonde locks in her tiny fists.

Karl says, "Gabriel…" while Marianne pulls him into her arms, saying, "Now, you can't be her beau quite yet…"

Her beau! I take Adora, and wipe the circle of saliva off her head, while Gabriel calls, "Bye, baby!"

I laugh.

Erik growls.

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