July 9, Summer, year 36

Skye actually felt his legs sway slightly, and very hastily locked his knees so that he wouldn't fall in an undignified heap, bringing his wife to him.

Claire's shock was of an entirely different flavor, banishing her fright of the previous moments and replacing it was a different one. It was too soon for this to be happening… right?

"Prince Sora?"

Had it been any other time, the blonde would have teased her husband for his name. But shell-shock took precedence over even a joke, and who could make jokes at a time like this?

"I… hear," Skye said heavily. "I request a day to prepare."

"At your convenience Honored Eldest Son," the messenger bowed her head again.

Light flared once more, and when it dimmed the room was empty once more.

Well… mostly. Drawn by the sudden light there were two pairs of twins in the room once again.

"Dad?"

Skye set Claire carefully on her feet, and took several deep breaths. This was not how things were supposed to be going, he was supposed to have years, centuries even, before he was summoned.

Not like this, in the middle of the life he wanted. It was his turn to retreat slightly from the world. It lasted until he heard Claire telling the children to start packing. Startled his head came up, to meet a pair of burning blue eyes.

"If you protest I'll deck you," she warned. "You're not going alone."

"But… you can't…"

One blonde eyebrow raised.

"Oh, I think you'll find that I can," and she even smiled in genuine—if sour—amusement. "I am your wife after all."

There was something under the words that he was missing, something that she was not saying because she trusted him to understand the reason behind the front.

"It's a good thing you asked for a day, I'm going to have to arrange for quite a few things from the Sprites and Uncle Tak, " she moved over to the closet, pulling out the bag she usually carried overnight items in. "Though if the Sprites manage the heavy work, I'm sure Uncle T will be fine. How long will we be gone?"

It still wasn't clicking, he was too stunned from the abruptness of the announcement. Claire let out a long sigh, and pulled him over to sit with her on the bed, closing the door in the process. If the kids needed either one of them, they would knock.

"Honey," her voice caught his attention, it was that soft voice she used when she was scared and didn't want to admit it. "I trust you to want to come back… but I don't trust them to let you."

"So," he raised an eyebrow. "You're going to follow me to make sure I come home?"

"Idiot," she snapped, reaching out and lightly thumping him in the jaw. "I'm following you because I love you, and I don't want to lose you to them. Now, how long will we be gone?"

He closed his eyes, leaned forward to rest his head against her shoulder.

"I don't know," he answered quietly. "Less than a year if I can make them rush the acceptance."

Skye didn't want to rule, not while he had Claire, his children… This had bad timing written all over it. If he were to be totally honest, his time on the earth had changed him in ways that sometimes not even he understood. But he knew with an abruptness that was almost stunning that he didn't want to rule.

Not now. Not ever.

"I'll leave a message with Uncle Tak," she mused softly, "for Pony, Muffy and everyone. They'll worry if we all just vanish into thin air."

"…all?"

Claire gave him a look that was familiar, a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"While nominally speaking I could leave Jamie and Lauren in charge of the farm, it would be bad form to leave two grandchildren down here and take everyone else up, don't you agree?"

Her tone was so sweet that he actually winced.

"Besides which, I don't want to leave two of my kids down here alone for goodness knows how many months. Any objections?"

"Anything I can protest to?" Skye chuckled a touch weakly.

"Not really," and the frankness of the reply comforted him. "Not unless you want to sleep on the couch." And the amused smile became teasing, "What a sight that would be, a first-born Prince being tossed onto the couch by his wife!"

Skye had to chuckle, and the smile brightened. She still looked pale and wan, with the dark circles under her eyes, but in that moment Claire had never been more… beautiful.

"Perhaps the packing can… wait?" he suggested delicately, sea-green eyes glittering with something that wasn't idle warmth.

Claire's chuckle was soft.

"Pervert," she teased, lightly cupping one cheek.

He leaned up slightly, bridging the distance between them and the need for words passed.

"The moon?!" four voices yelped.

Claire winced, and rubbed one ringing ear. Skye, leaning against the table, nodded.

"They won't naysay me," he smirked a little. "I'm supposed to be their king. At least temporarily."

"We're coming back though, right Dad?" Jamie's silver brows drew together in worried frown.

"If we're lucky, we'll be back in six months," Skye nodded slightly. "Nominally speaking, we won't be allowed to pass many messages between the realms, so you have today to say your goodbyes, and to pack whatever you think is necessary for the extended stay."

"But… what about clothing?" Lauren blinked her sea-green eyes, trying to keep up. "And all the stuff we have to do here?!"

"After we're done here, I'm going to talk with the Harvest Sprites," Claire said calmly. "I'll leave everything with Uncle Tak so he can pay them in flour and all that, and I know he can handle the cats and dogs. However, Jamie, Laurie, if you wish to stay, I won't tell you no. You're more than old and competent enough to start looking after the farm on your own."

The older twins exchanged thoughtful looks. That was a high compliment that Claire had just given them, but…

"We're coming," Lauren stated. "I want to meet Grandma too, darn it!"

Jamie just nodded, and Claire chuckled warmly.

"It's settled then. Go say your farewells and then get back here and pack," Skye nodded. "And if someone up there offers you a white robe with a silver belt, do not put it on."

Looks were exchanged all around and four heads nodded dutifully. Meredith blinked her mismatched eyes in confusion, tilting her head.

"Why not Daddy?"

"Because those robes will take away your ability to be you kitten," Claire replied gently. "And we're not going to have clone children, not if I have my say in it."

Which she probably would… Bringing Claire to court ought to prove interesting at least, Skye mused, one arm sliding around his wife's shoulders. She would definitely shake things up, just b being herself.

After another few minutes, the children filtered out the door, all save Meri who reached up to her mother for a hug.

"Love you Mommy, love you Daddy!" she proclaimed as Claire picked her up and hugged her gently.

"We love you too," Skye replied fondly, encircling them both with his arms. "Very, very much."

A sunny smile was their reward, and Claire passed her over to Skye.

"I need to head to the Sprites, and then I'm going to call Jill… you?"

"Pack," Skye sighed. "Though I find myself wishing that this was all some bad joke or horrible nightmare."

Claire leaned up and kissed him gently on the cheek.

"I promise now, unto the world, to never leave your side," she whispered.

"To share your joy, your pain, and tears, until the day I die," he finished.

His eyes were suspiciously bright, but the smile he gave was soft and warm. She smiled fondly back, tucked herself close to him briefly.

"I meant it. I'm not going to let weird dreams and strange happenings separate us, and I'm not going to give them a choice when to come to bringing you home."

"I hear you," Skye's voice was only slightly choked, making Meri wrap her arms around him as best she could, "I hear you."

"Good," and Claire gave him a cheeky smile. "After all, the couch isn't very comfortable, is it?"

He snickered, and she left, winking one bright blue eye at him. Meredith blinked, looking from her departing mother to her smiling father, and decided that it was a mommy and daddy thing.

Everyone had scattered to different areas of the Valley to say their awkward and slightly unnerving farewells.

Melissa surprised Lauren by being demonstrative and flinging her arms around the golden haired girl. Then she pushed a set of panpipes into Lauren's hands and hurried away before her friend could see her cry.

Sharron insisted on giving Jamie her favorite necklace, a filigree flower in gold and pearl. He couldn't say no, not when she gave him the look of the pitiful—otherwise known as the kicked puppy look—and stuck it in his pocket.

Alan ran to Jasper, his best exploring buddy. The explanation was a little confusing to the near-eight-year-old son of Flora and Carter, but after a minute he understood that his friend was not going to be back for a few months. What Jasper handed over was nothing less than a—slightly used—state of the art camera, and he made Alan swear to take lots of pictures for his dad.

Mirei went to Elizabeth, and actually cried with her a little best friend. Of all of them, she was the most reluctant to leave, even knowing that she would be coming back. Elizabeth took a long time to pick just the right 'temporarily gone' present, and in the end gave Mirei a locket that had a picture of the younger girls of the Valley in it, all of whom were Mirei's friends.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of time for farewells, but new traveled quickly in the Valley, and people started stopping by the farm to inquire as to the reason. Skye had to admit that he disliked telling these people a half-truth—his father had passed away abruptly and his family needed him—but they wouldn't understand the full truth. Only Muffy and Griffin got the real story, straight from Claire who passed them on her way back from negotiating with the Sprites.

Well, and Jill, who nearly shrieked Claire's ear off when she was informed.

"Thanks baby sis, I'm deaf now," Claire complained lightly, switching ears.

"You're going to the Moon?" Jill demanded. "For at least six months?! Who's going to look after the farm?"

"I hired the Harvest Sprite teams," Claire shrugged one shoulder knowing her tone would get across. "And I'm leaving all the money with Uncle Tak so that he can continue to pay for their help."

"You're sure you're coming back?"

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence squirt," Claire bit back the bitterness, leaving only the barest hint of dryness to her voice. "Really appreciate it."

"Claire, I.."

"Relax," and this time there was a gentle humor. "I'm coming back, and I'm going to bring everyone with me. Including my husband, mkay? But I can't contact you while I'm up…wherever this is, so I figured instead of going cold turkey on you I'd let you know so that you don't inadvertently draw the wrong conclusion."

There was a short pause, and the sound of faint, muffled laughter. Gray was apparently listening in, or Jill's face had turned sulky.

"Get some rest sis, I'll call you when we come home."

"You be careful!" Jill demanded. "And call Jack too, otherwise I might end up in the doghouse!"

Laughing, Claire bid her sister a good afternoon, then obediently called her older brother. He was about as thrilled as Jill was—less, actually—and after a minute of chatting, asked to talk to Skye.

The lecture could be heard from the couch, and Claire was having a very hard time keeping a straight face as her overprotective brother chewed her husband out, not letting the silver-haired man get a word in edgewise.

Eventually Eve took over and Claire got the phone back, laughing as Skye rubbed his ear. Eve took it better than Jack, who had stalked out of the house to vent his anger on some trees, and promised to pass on the sisterly love, and laughter.

Claire hung up with a click that seemed almost final. It scared her on one level, and yet on another… it thrilled her. The pushing feeling was gone… this was what she had been waiting for. She turned to her husband in the quiet house, and reached out to him, offering everything that she was in that one moment.

He took it, holding her tightly. He was afraid as well, afraid for her and his children, but selfish desire made him weak, accepting of the idea of their company.

"How fancy should we be?" she asked softly, once he'd pulled back just slightly.

"Not at all," was the prompt response. "You owe no alliance to the Queen of the Serenity and Tranquility Palaces. Just be you my love…"

The words I'll need it went unspoken between them, and Claire nodded her head slightly.

"Come on, you distracted me earlier, but now we really should pack if we're going to leave tonight."

Skye made a playful growl and she laughed, lightly thumping him in the shoulder.

"Noooo. Packing first, playing later. Then I need to talk to Uncle Tak."

It was a sobering comment, making Skye wince a little. The old man wasn't exactly fond of the thief-turned-farmer, but this would blow all sorts of trouble their way.

"I owe him the truth," she said softly. "We may not be blood, but we're family."

He sighed slightly, then nodded. Not five minutes later, two sets of twins returned, each mulling over their own thoughts, and then the packing began in earnest.

I've managed to grab me a few minutes of peace. The talk with Uncle T didn't go very well, but he understands why I'm doing this, which is something of a relief. As long as he stays healthy and hale, the farm will be fine.

I hope.