February 14, Winter, Year 36

Claire is insisting that I write more about the time before I met her, and if I must, I can even use up the remaining pages of the journal. I think I will not, but it will do no harm to humor her.

She is doing well at least, improving every day. She chafes at the restrictions Miharu has her under, wishing to be up and about the way she was after the first time. Never mind that the only reason she was allowed up so soon was because she refused to listen to Elli about precautions and ended up making herself ill. It makes me very glad that Miharu has managed to enforce her restrictions.

Though I did get Miharu to say that she would allow Claire and the new little ones out on her birthday Only for that day, and if any of them get over-tried or appear unhappy, we are supposed to return immediately.

My Claire complains, but I think she is a little glad that Miharu is tougher and more stubborn than herself. She may claim to feel better, but I have seen how she winces when she moves very much.

She sleeps a great deal more as well, but that is only to be expected. Dealing with three is a bit more difficult than dealing with two. I believe, in fact, that she sleeps when they do, which is what she is doing now.

It is so… wonderful to see her face, even her resting face. There is that beautiful glow of love around her, for all of us and the new little ones. And soon enough I shall be able to help her, instead of Miharu, in the care and feeding of Lucien, Selene and Luna.

Miharu informed me that I have about the same living time as my wife now, another ninety or so years. Her lifespan has been lengthened by… as Miharu puts it, receiving my DNA through the umbilical cord of our children, but it still falls well within human parameters. And I do not regret it; as I said in the throne room I would rather a short life with the ones that I love than a long life without them. The children will be long-lived, but I think they will enjoy it as all young ones do. At least one hundred fifty years for each of them, and I wish them love and happiness for all of it.

Hmm… another story?

Let me see. I suppose the one where I turned thief to survive would take up some time and pages.

About two years after Annette was KIA, I returned to wandering, simply because I didn't have the means to pay the rent. In staying those extra years I had been forced to take the remaining jewelry to an appraiser and sell it piece by piece. I had swiftly learned the concept of bills and the fact of not paying them meant that what I needed would get shut of in short order.

After I left that apartment I began to look around for a restaurant that would allow me to remain and study cooking. I tried many a place, working as a busboy for several different restaurants until I became fed up with trying to get either a raise in pay or position.

Do keep in mind that I was still slightly spoiled and foolish, so I kept expecting them to see how wonderful I was within days of being hired and quit in frustration before anyone truly got the chance to know me.

So inevitably it was indeed my own foolish fault.

But I digress. I left that town and went to another, and another after that, all out of range of Goddess Ponds. The new towns I visited were less friendly to strangers and many shunned me. I could find no place to employ myself, and was in danger of starving indeed, when I happened to pass by a thrift store with a television in the window. It was playing a movie about a handsome thief, who could steal even the stars from the sky.

I was hungry, and desperate, so I did the only thing I could think of. I emulated the thief. I crept into an unguarded supermarket and stole food from the shelves, to save myself from dying.

I was caught, as you may surmise, and that was the first time I used my paralyzing spell on a group of people to keep from being caught. I quickly left that town, it was small and I was the only Person there.

It started small, food here and there. Then small treasures liberated from someone's pocket. I'm not quite sure when it evolved into my sending notices, or my reputation becoming quite so wide-spread, but it happened. I soon began looking into disguises so that I could steal and yet remain in the same town a while longer.

I romanced many a young woman into letting me go as well. All of them were susceptible to the empty words of flattery, so it wasn't difficult.

…if she sees that she really will smack me. And I do not think that the Valentine's chocolate I have for her will make up for the arrogance in that remark.

But it was quite easy… I regret some of it now, and I do find myself wondering if perhaps some of those girls suffered because of my arrogance and pride. I wish I could say I remember some of them… but only my Claire was ever strong enough to put an impression on me, to make me keep returning to see her.

And that may get me a kiss, so perhaps this all evens out?

Ah I hear a fussing child. Which means the other two won't be sleeping much longer, and by proxy neither will Claire.

I do hope she enjoys these chocolates and the news that she will be leaving this place for her birthday. I know she is tired of the confinement.