Meggie bounded down the stairs, coming short, letting her other foot come beside the other as she almost ran into Dustfinger. He smiled kindly at her, while she stared at him in wonder, and not for the first time.
"What?" he asked gruffly, feeling slightly self conscious. His bright blue eyes intensely focused on her, and she blushed under the hold.
"It's just going to take some time to get used to you. Um, the new you." She cast her eyes down, her face going slightly red, while he chuckled. If possible, he was even more good looking, his young face still had those three scars, but they were fainter. His hair was still the same, slightly blonder. His eyes seemed to dance, when before they only held angst and longing. Other than that he was still the same old Dustfinger she loved. They had leaned on each other-each heart broken, and they had helped the other heal. The result of that had been their bond growing stronger, much stronger than the other had ever thought possible.
"How are you?" Dustfinger asked her softly, his eyes swimming across her face. She had grown into quite the beautiful young woman.
Farid was a fool.
"I'm good, thank-you. You?" Dustfinger wanted to inquire more, but he had learnt with Meggie that she would talk when she was ready to.
"I'm fine. Actually, I was going to go to the woods to play with fire."
"Can I come?" she asked, excitement shining through her eyes and raising her voice. He laughed-she hadn't changed. She still seemed like the twelve year old he had met a couple of years ago. But even more beautiful, now.
"I was going to ask you that.' He said knowingly, raising one eyebrow like only he could. She just gave him a sweet smile, one that melted and warmed his heart. Only a very small percentage of people could do that, being his two daughters and Roxanne. Well, they had used to. Resa used to, as well.
"Is it just us today?" Dustfinger badly wanted to say yes, so badly in fact, he could taste it. However, Mo would get suspicious, and he didn't want to answer questions he himself didn't know.
"We'll invite Mo and Resa." Meggie tried to hide her disappointment, but he saw it anyway.
"Don't be disappointed, darling. We have a long time to do these things." He reminded her in a soft yet rough voice.
She nodded, smiling once again.
"Yes, we do. Come on, I want to play with fire!"
**
"They're falling in love." Resa said, interrupting Mo's peacefulness. He sat up, the smile on his face fading into a frown, while he thought about his only daughter with Dustfinger.
"What? She's only fifteen. Still a baby."
Resa laughed. "She's more mature for her age, and what she's been through-she's definitely not a child."
"Love is one of the only things that I can't protect her from." Mo said sourly.
"You can help her," Resa suggested softly.
"Dustfinger is actually thirty five years old, stuck in a twenty five year old body! Far too old, anyway!" Mo ranted, ignoring Resa's previous comment.
"Love does not care for age." Resa told him wisely. Mo looked at her, having no comeback.
"If Dustfinger hurts her or tries anything…" his voice trailed off roughly.
"You and me both. But give him some credit. If anyone should be with our Meggie, it should be Dustfinger."
"I have to agree to that." Mo obliged.
"Good man. I love you, Mo."
"I love you, too." He placed a hand on Resa's growing stomach.
"And our boy." Resa kissed his fingers, before he wrapped an arm around her, holding her close and relishing in the moment.
"Dustfinger? Will you teach me?" Meggie asked as the fire went out. He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Why, pretty girl?" she blushed at the compliment, but continued as if he had never said anything.
"If I ever need to protect myself…I don't care for weapons, or knives." She looked up at him expectantly.
Dustfinger looked at her for a long moment.
"Darling what makes you think I or your parents won't be there? And besides, we're back in your world where nothing odd ever happens. Except for the occasional things. Other than that, it's quite boring here." She made a face at him, rolling her eyes.
"You can never be prepared enough." Meggie pointed out.
"Too true. Aren't you quite the wise one."
"I have to be." Meggie whispered. Dustfinger brushed a loose strand of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail back, his hands tickling her cheek. He heard her breath hitch in her throat, and he smirked at her. She did not blush, but simply looked back.
"Well, well, well, who would have thought you two would end up together?" Meggie's eyes widened, and a gasp escaped her lips when she saw who it was. Dustfinger snarled, and pushed Meggie behind him, so she could only see his dark cloak. Orpheus stood surrounded by armed men-familiar armed men, and her terror gripped her heart in their cold hands.