Author's note: Ok, it's been a while since I posted something here. Since my other stories have garners some attention I thought I would finish posting the other one's.

Between Alexis and Rachel they had managed to repair most of the damage done to Artie. He was going to be sore for a couple days but he would be fine. Irina on the other hand was still livid. It took Tirai Osdarin, Irina's sister Tirai, Rachel, and Alexis to convince her to at least head to her room. After the fiasco, it wouldn't help her case if Jenos found her with him again. Little Tirai made sure their room was securely locked. She wasn't going to let anyone in or out until morning.

Once everyone was settled, Alexis made sure Alexander was safely in bed, then headed to bed herself to wait for Jenos.

It wasn't long before Jenos returned, looking a little worse for wear himself. As her custom she helped Jenos, but she didn't say anything until he was in bed next to her. She might be mad at him but she didn't want to waste a single moment of the time they had together. "Jen, why do you have to be so stubborn?"

"That is why you love me?" he tried to get her to smile. She wasn't amused.

"He loves her." Alexis glared at him.

"He doesn't. All he wants is her… her…"

"He is willing to die for her."

"That is just a line." He rolled his eyes.

She tried a different tactic. "Would you die for me?" Alexis asked him dead pan.

"What kind of question is that, Alexis? I would die for you, or any of the kids. I've done it before – by my own blade. And I would do it again in a heart beat." He growled at her.

Her question had cut him deeply, but she knew better than to dwell on it. "Then why are you expecting any less from him. He is willing to lay down his life for her, just like you would."

"He is a teenage boy."

"If you keep doing this you will lose your daughter."

"She wouldn't go against me."

"She is your daughter, so yes! She would, and she did."

Jenos paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. Was this honestly what his daughter wanted? He was quite familiar with the typical complement of male suitors that both of his daughters received, and most of them weren't worth the blade it would take to end them. As foolish as it was for the young man, Jenos had to admire the stubbornness and alacrity of Artorus. Then, in an instant, it hit him – how he had been viewing the young man, how he had been treating his daughters, and how he had hurt his little girl to the point where she would pull a blade on her own father. "I'll be back later, love. Don't worry, I'm not going to sneak off and kill the kid in his sleep."

Alexis sat up in the bed slightly as her husband clambered out of it and moved towards his arsenal. "Half the city would hear you. You're not exactly…" she started, listening to the thick metallic sounds of Jenos' armor as he started donning his inner layers. "…quiet."

Several minutes later, a fully armed and armored Jenos Idanian walked carefully out of his bedroom and towards the stairs. The flicker of a fire danced off the walls ahead of him as he approached. Sitting by the hearth was a familiar face that had only gained more character with the past eighteen years. That face turned and greeted him with a warm smile.

Jenos adjusted his weight onto the other foot and looked towards his old friend. "It's good to see I'm not the only one who can't sleep."

Tirai looked her companion up and down. "I've got an idea as to why that's the case, tin man."

"Funny."

She stood up and, reaching towards the fire for a teapot hanging on a hook, began to pour two cups of warm tea. "I was stuck in your head for years. I know when something's going to eat away at you." She gestured to her friend and then looked towards the door. "Let me guess. You're going to kill him in his sleep."

Jenos walked over to the fireplace and reached for the cup of tea, cautiously. While he was quite capable of gripping a sturdy weapon in his gauntleted hands, he had never quite managed the finesse to handle fragile objects in his armor. He finally gave up and cupped it with both hands, taking slow sips. "As Lexie pointed out, I'm too noisy. I'd use the dagger, but I wouldn't wish to taint the memories it carries."

Tirai paused for a moment, regarding her friend's brief flash of remorse. Even now, almost two decades since she had been returned to the world of the living, her friend still held onto a sizable bit of guilt over his deeds. "I know you'll carry that burden for eternity, Jenos, but please remember that I forgive you." She placed her hand briefly on his cheek and smiled at him, then moved a few feet and planted herself in a rocking chair and attempted to change the subject. "My namesake made these, you know. She hates the forge – which I'm surprised by, considering her father's background – but she's proving to be quite a craftswoman." She considered gesturing for Jenos to join her, but knew the odds of him breaking anything softer than the ground if he sat upon it were rather high and thought otherwise. "So tell me. What bothers you, Jenos?"

He leaned against a wall and slid downward slowly, coming to an eventual stop on the hard floor. "Artorus. He…"

"He loves your daughter and you're scared he's just another womanizer. Like you used to be," she said, completing his statement.

Jenos raised his eyebrows and attempted to take a drink of his tea. The motion, while ungainly, managed to at least get the cup to his lips. "You're good."

"I was in your head, Jenos. When you're here, sometimes I still swear I can hear glimpses of what's in your mind."

"Then stop me from being… well, me. Stop me from alienating my daughter from me."

Tirai sat forward and took another brief sip of her tea. "She's more like you than you'll ever realize, Jenos. But that's not the real problem. Artie is what you need to get past."

"I'm listening."

"This was easier when I was in your head," she mused. "Fancy fog and mists, and everything. Still. Think back to the way your life was, back home in Anthatal. Shortly after you came to apologize to me and every other woman you tried to have your way with." She stopped to give him a moment to visualize. "Remember the chamber pot? Remember the cold stares and the angry parents?"

Jenos looked towards his friend with a cold gaze. "All too well. I was hoping the chamber pot incident would stay in the past."

Undaunted, Tirai continued. "You were a good man. A changed man. But people refused to give you the opportunity to prove yourself. They assumed you were the same womanizing young warrior you always were. You honestly deserved a second chance, but few would afford you that decency."

Jenos looked down at his tea. "You're about to make me feel like an ass, aren't you."

"That's why I'm your friend, Jenos. If you were worthy of a second chance, isn't Artorus?"

"Sometimes I hate it when you're right," he told her as he slurped down the rest of his tea and moved to stand back up.

"Only because I do it all the time." She stood up with her friend. "So, what now?"

Jenos turned for the door. "Same target, different objective."

Tirai walked to the door. As Jenos arrived, she stood on her toes and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "You're going to scare the hell out of him regardless. As difficult as it may be for you… try to be tactful."

The Warblade, still reeling from his recent paradigm shift, headed next door and entered the Blade and Flute Pub. The pub proper was beginning to wind down, with only a handful of patrons in the building. Another Tirai looked towards the doorway at him and smiled, putting on a mock-serious business face. "Good evening Guardian Idanian, and welcome to the Blade and Flute Pub. How may we serve you?"

Jenos smiled and moved towards the bar. "You can start by getting your old man a tall, strong hug," he told his oldest daughter with a grin. "You're tending to the bar in your evening gown, my love. You've got as much dedication to this place as I had to my sword at your age."

"I sent the others home for the night after securing sis in our room." The two embraced – as well as one could hug in heavy but battle-scarred armor – and the young woman's face turned serious. "What's with the work uniform, dad? You're off for a month." She frowned. "Don't tell me you have to leave already?"

"No, sweetheart. I'm here to take care of something I should have done earlier today."

"You're not going to kill Artie in his sleep, are you?" She looked towards the stairs. "You're too noisy to pull it off without a scuffle."

Jenos laughed. "No, I'm just going to scare him a little. He's willing to wield a sword against me – foolish as that may be – but he's yet to actually wield his tongue. If he wants any chance with your little sister, he's going to need to convince me with words."

She squinted with one eye and looked at her father. "So you're actually going to perhaps briefly consider giving a man the slightest window of opportunity to possibly have the privilege of an invitation to attempt courting one of your daughters?"

Jenos paused, allowing all of the words to flutter into his skull. "Kind of."

Tirai frowned once more. "Don't tell me my daddy's gone soft. I was rather enjoying the whole 'my daddy will probably kill you if you try anything' gambit on dates."

Her father smiled down at her again. "Oh, that still applies. Someone just clued me in that if I was worth a second chance, perhaps Artorus is as well."

"Aunt Tirai?" she asked.

"How'd you guess?"

"I assumed mother wasn't speaking to you after your escapades today. I'm surprised you didn't come over here looking for a place to sleep."

Jenos patted his daughter's shoulder, very carefully. "Oh, believe you me. Your mother had plenty of words to speak at me. And I'll probably be here curled up by the fireplace yet."

The sound of the door opening behind them stopped their conversation. "Another customer. I'll catch up with you in the morning, dad. Try not to make a mess." As she turned to greet her new guest, she said over her shoulder, "Emergency healing kit is behind the counter."

Honestly enjoying the sense of normalcy that being home brought him in spite of things, Jenos smiled lightly and headed for the stairs. The first few steps he attempted to take quietly, but the creaking of old wood coupled with the steady clanking and swaying of plate and chain proved the endeavor to be fruitless. Sighing, he trudged up the stairs and headed for the room he knew Artorus to be occupying. "If you're alone, you have a chance. If she's in there with you…" he said to himself quietly as his hands reached for the door and the hilt of his greatsword simultaneously. Fixing a stern look to his face, Jenos opened the door.

Artorus was alone, to the elder man's relief. The young man sat up, groggily, and reached for a slowly burning candle at his bedside. "Wha…" he began, but then realized what was standing at his doorway. He clumsily attempted to bolt out of his bed, towards his dresser, but his feet caught in his blankets and he only managed to fall to the floor with an oomph! As Jenos held back laughter.

"Get dressed, Artorus. Be quick about it."

The young man looked up, wearily. "If you're here to kill me in my sleep…"

"No," Jenos responded, relaying the one-liner of the evening. "Too noisy, if you haven't noticed."

"Then what?" the younger of the two asked, slowly growing more confused than scared.

"If you want any chance of receiving my blessing to court my daughter, you'll shut your mouth and follow orders." The words struck both men as incredibly awkward and unexpected, but Artorus complied and reached for his clothing as the elder man turned his back to give him some semblance of privacy.

A moment later, Artorus was ready. "Where to?"

Jenos turned and drew upon his experience commanding the troops of the Luminar garrison, pushing the bark of command into his voice. "First. You may be the son of one of my best friends. You may almost be family. You may even flatter me by following in my footsteps as a Warblade. But when you are seeking to court and wed my daughter, you will address me as either sir or Guardian Idanian." He briefly considered ordering the young man to refer to him as Mighty Supreme Overlord of Luminar and All The Cosmos, but thought against using humor. "This will not change until I tell you otherwise. Do you understand me?"

A lump formed in the young man's throat. "Yes sir."

"Good. Move out. Down the stairs, out the door. Not too fast, either. We wouldn't want to wake up the guests. And keep your head forward."

The odd pair walked downstairs into the pub proper, looking very much like a corrupt warden leading a nervous prisoner towards the noose. Artorus strode forward slowly, the fear within him almost palpable in the room. Behind him, grinning a grin comprised of equal parts malevolence and humor, Jenos nodded to his daughter and the few patrons remaining in the pub. The two stepped outside.

"Start walking."

"Where… sir?"

"I don't care. It's not about the destination, son, it's about the journey. You walk. I speak. You respond when appropriate. Simple enough?"

Artorus turned to his left and started walking towards nothing in particular. "Yes sir."

Jenos forced himself to keep his hands away from his weapon, and instead focused on his words. "As much fun as it was pummeling you into a fine mist today, I feel that I should apologize. Partially. I allowed myself to lose my temper. That being said, uttering phrases like 'you can't stop me' and taunting me by kissing my daughter in front of me were your own foolish mistakes, and for those, I don't regret a single injury they earned you." Artorus continued walking, silent. Smart lad.

"An old friend reminded me of the foolish days of my youth. I don't let many people know this story, so it better stay that way. I grew bored with the training ring – there was not a man in the village who could best me – so I devoted my desire to compete and win to the dating scene. I started off by stringing girls along until they were head over heels for me, then dropping them. But when you train constantly… well, when that grew too easy, I began seducing and luring the ones who weren't openly looking to be courted. I'd conquer them and move on. It was never about the sex or the physical pleasure, Artorus… not unless I was drinking, at any rate. It was a simple game, and I was very good at it." He cleared his throat, and then continued. "In a village of two hundred, though, reputations spread quickly. If I had grown up here in Luminar, I can only imagine how far I'd have gotten. The point is, everyone had an opinion of me. Parents hated me. The girls either loved me or despised me. Most of the younger men simply watched in awe, though they usually changed their tune when my next target became their sister. Like Tirai Osdarin."

This time, Artorus chimed in. "You're telling me that you and Aunt Tirai…"

Jenos cut him off. "We never got that far; her brother caught us. And if you speak of this to anyone… I don't care if you're married to my daughter with half a dozen children, I'll run you through. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes, sir." He held his tongue for a moment. "Why do you tell me this, sir?"

"I'm getting to that, Artorus. The point is, I alienated a man that I now think of as just as much my brother as Bartras is. And I had nobody to blame but myself. Fast forward a week, out into the Madness that prevailed over the world back them. I won't go into details, but I saw things that would turn any man's stomach. I witnessed atrocities that made me realize what a monster I had become to those girls. When I returned home, a different man, I attempted to apologize and atone for my mistakes. Most people didn't believe me, some violently so. One girl even dumped a chamber pot over my head," he said with a cringe, "and if you tell anyone about that I'll run you through." He rolled his shoulders underneath his full plate and nodded at a pair of young ladies as they walked by, smiling. "Good to know I've still got it. Anyway, continuing on. A few people were willing to give me a second chance – the benefit of the doubt. Aunt Tirai and her brother Alec were two such people. I didn't deserve their forgiveness, nor did I expect it. They gave it to me regardless. They were willing to accept that their preconceptions of me might not ring true anymore. Tirai, after all I had attempted to put her through, was even willing to be my friend… at a time when I didn't have many." The duo rounded a corner and continued walking through the night. "I was given the benefit of the doubt, in spite of the impressions I had already made on others. That gift has made me the man I am today… allowed me to continue living, to fight for the lives of those I love. And I love my daughter. Very much." Jenos stopped and put a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Let's get something straight, Artorus. I'm never going to like the thought of some man being romantic with my little girls. But I know love when I see it… if I open my eyes and actually look. If I was worth a second chance, then perhaps you are as well. On a few conditions."

Artorus, reeling, barely managed to keep his footing as the change of attitude from the elder Guardian hit him. Is this a clever trick? Is he about to kill me now? It took the young man a moment to speak. "…yes sir?"

"One. If you even hope to be my son-in-law someday, you'll knock off the tough man attitude. That's my job, and I'm not vacating the position. I've seen – and lived through – experiences you can't begin to fathom. You're a young man in a world without Madness, living in a powerful city as an heir to a very powerful legacy. You've not yet faced anything that would constitute being 'tough'. Except for me. So you shall treat me with not only the respect that I deserve as a Guardian, but the respect I deserve as a man and the father of the woman you claim to love." Jenos raised a second gauntleted finger into the air. "Two. Unless you two are married, your hands, lips, and any other body parts stay away from my daughter if I'm in eyesight. I don't want to know what happens in private. And it better stay private. If I find a part of you touching my daughter romantically, I'll remove it. Even if she does see fit to wed you, I better not see more than a loving embrace or a tender kiss. Taunt me like you did today and you'll find out what happens when I attack to kill." A third gauntleted finger popped up. "Three. You will treat my daughter with nothing but respect and honest affection. If you betray her trust… if you break her heart..." the Guardian allowed the sum of his experience in the Madness to fill his eyes and voice, conveying to the young man a hateful gaze that caused Artorus to involuntarily stumble back several paces as Jenos moved after him. "I will spend every moment of my time in the Mortal realm causing you misery and anguish beyond anything you can imagine. I will break your will, I will break your bones… and I will break your soul. I'll make the wrath of the God of Madness look like a tepid breeze. When I am through with you, you will beg for death. Do I make myself clear, Artorus Odgree?"

The young man, terrified at the malice in Guardian Idanian's eyes, took several moments before he was able to nervously respond. "Yes sir."

"Good. Now go home and go to sleep. My daughter has no use for a bruised, battered suitor."

Artorus started to head back to the inn, but stopped for a moment, collecting his courage to speak. He turned to look back at the man behind him, silhouetted by a full moon at his back. "Guardian Idanian, sir?"

Jenos turned to regard the young man. "Yes?"

"Thank you. For what it's worth, sir, I do owe you an apology as well. I should have swallowed my pride and spoke to you about my intentions, rather than letting it get the best of me and goading you into combat. You're a better man than I gave you credit for. As to hurting Irina, I would never do that. She means the world to me"

Jenos positioned his hands on his waist. "It happens to all of us, son. It's called growing up."

The young man headed off into the night. "Oh, and Artorus?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Don't tell anyone I'm a nice guy. I still have one daughter with suitors to scare off."

Artorus chuckled, "Actually, it is suitor, and you should have done that three years ago." Seeing the change in Jenos' mood, he beat a hasty retreat back home.

Earlier than he normally would, Jenos made his way downstairs. The previous night still bothered him. Oh, he had put the fear of the Goddess in Artorus but his last comment nagged at him.

"Morning," he yawned at the ladies in the kitchen. Alexis and Tirai Osdarin looked up from their cooking.

"Is he still in one piece?" Alexis asked first.

"Yes," Jenos rolled his eyes.

"Good, then good morning." She wiped her hands and kissed his cheek.

"Morning Jenos," Tirai chuckled as she stirred the pot she had on the fire.

"So what will it be this morning? Kipper and eggs, or porridge?" Alexis asked a little too chipper.

"Eggs would be great. What is with you this morning? I would think you would be biting my head off."

"Am I pleased of what harm you did to Artie, No. You had no right to beat him that badly. I'm not saying sometimes kids don't need a good wake up call but that was a bit extreme." She did not look very pleased, but her mood changed slightly, "At least you are giving the guy a chance. If he screws up I have a feeling any piece that is left after his mother and I are done with him you will happily grind into a fine powder."

"Fair enough." He started to eat the breakfast put in front of him. He couldn't help smiling. The food in the other realm was good, but there was nothing like home cooking. "That does remind me of something, that I need to talk to both of you about." He pointed at both Alexis and Tirai Osdarin.

"Oh?"

"Artorus mentioned something about me being three years too late for Tirai. Care to explain that?"

Both women looked at each other, and tried to stifle a giggle. Alexis managed to pull off a half passable, "What ever do you mean Jenos?"

"What is this about Tirai having a suitor?" He put his spoon down.

"Her namesake has had a… I don't know if you would call it a suitor, but more of a consort for the past three years."

"Meaning?"

"Frankly the guy isn't a coward, but he knows better than to flaunt their relationship in front of others."

"Which is why this is the first time I have heard of it? Great." Jenos grumbled. "And where did she meet this guy?"

"Known him most of her life, and before you ask I'm not telling you who it is. It was bad enough what you did to Artie. This guy doesn't need convincing to behave himself. It is because of you he has most likely stalled asking for your permission."

Jenos started to ask something but Alexis cut him off, "As to 'personal details' I didn't ask and I don't want to know frankly. And for your information I've been spiking her tea since she was fourteen. I did not want Alex to be an uncle before he was out of diapers."

"Excuse me?"

"Jen, two years ago Tirai tried to come to you to tell you about him, but after you caught Theodore Holtz checking out her backside… his nose is still not straight despite what the healers have done by the way."

Jenos couldn't help a slight grin at that comment, but Alexis continued, "You never realized just how much your 'princess', and 'baby doll' had grown up. I had hoped after that incident you would get over it. Turns out I was wrong." Alexis sighed, "To be honest sweetheart, they are happy the way they are for the moment. Provided they behave themselves I'm fine with them. He knows I will cut something off, and knows I nearly have cut it off a man before. When they are ready they will come to you for your blessing."

Jenos' mind reeled, reminding him yet again that being a parent for one month out of the year meant he always had something to learn. Still, he refused to let his wife get the final blow in on him. "That's fine," he retorted. "I'll just talk to Artorus and see if he'll tell me. The kid's at a point where he knows he needs to make a good second impression." Jenos went for a cauldron and poured himself some coffee. "I might even ask him nicely."

Alexis snorted as she continued to work on breakfast. "Like he'd say more than one or two words to you."

This time Jenos couldn't help but smile. "What exactly do you think happened last night, love?" The only response from his wife was a blank stare. The slight smile from Tirai only sweetened the moment for the veteran Warblade. He usually would never enjoy an argument with his wife, but that particular morning he felt as if she didn't appreciate how difficult it had been for him to open up to Artorus.

Tirai, noticing the palpable tension between the couple, finally spoke up. "Perhaps you're not considering who the best person to talk to about this - not threaten or scare, but talk to - might be, Jenos." Her mind spoken, she reached for a basket and started loading it with bread. "Since you're up so early, perhaps you can take this next door to your 'little girl' after breakfast."

Jenos finished his breakfast quickly, stuffing two full eggs into his mouth at once and pummeling them into submission with his molars. After cleaning his plate and bringing it back into the kitchen area, he sprinted upstairs and finished dressing himself for the morning. This time he avoided his full plate, settling for an open, airy white overshirt with a drawstring front which he left partially open and a comfortable pair of black leggings. He pulled his boots on and secured his trusty greatsword to his back. Reaching behind him to reassure himself his dagger had not left its usual resting place at his belt, he went for the door and headed downstairs to retrieve the basket of bread.

Ignoring the cautionaryDon't you dare look from his wife, Jenos grabbed the bread and headed out the door. He had a sneaking suspicion that his wife would follow, but paid it little thought. "Time to start being a good father again," he muttered to himself as he once more entered the Blade and Flute Pub. A good dozen patrons had already formed in the pub, most there for breakfast. Tirai was moving about the tables, serving drinks and meals while her sister Irina and Artorus both worked behind the counter to prepare plates. The young man looked up towards Jenos and nodded with a slight smile.

The older of the two sisters regarded her father with a puzzled look as she approached. "Artie's still alive. And… and he's being nice to you? Did you get Uncle Thacomus to do something to him?"

Jenos simply smiled and headed towards the counter with his bread. "Not at all, sweetheart. I just realized that I had never given the young man a chance. Speaking of which… when am I going to get to meet this young man you're so smitten with?"

Tirai stopped and looked at her father, conveying a mixture of terror and surprise. "I… what?"

Jenos set the bread down and smiled at his younger daughter. "You have had a suitor for a while now, and I'd like to meet the young man. You have my word I won't kill him."

"Are you feeling okay, dad? Should I get a healer?"

He turned to regard his daughter. "I'm fine, Tirai. I just realized that maybe I wasn't being very fair to you girls, or the men interested in you. You haven't seen me running about and chasing off every girl that was interested in Daniel, have you?" He sighed. "No, of course you haven't. I was basing my concerns about your dating lives on my own stupidity as a young man. Perhaps in doing so, I actually pushed you two away from me. Which is probably why you haven't had me meet this young man who's so enamored with you?" He shrugged. "Your mother seems to approve of him, and I guess I'm willing to trust her judgment." His peace spoken, he reached for the plate that his older daughter was about to pick up. "I've got the tables, darling. Go get this suitor of yours."

Tirai tucked her rag in her waist band and walked over to stand in front of her father. "You have already met him once. And as for introducing him as a suitor, the guy has to get his act together and actually want to be a considered a suitor. I like him, he likes me, and if he doesn't get his act together soon I may start looking elsewhere. Poppa, until he is ready I don't want to. Can I ask that you trust me enough for that?"

Jenos nodded, reluctantly. "Very well, Tirai."

Off to the side, Artorus made a comment to Irina, "From the way Daniel tells it, he was giving the young man pointers on picking up girls."

"And did you use any on me?"

"Other girls yes; you… your father may only be here a month of a year, but Daniel is here year-round and my superior officer. I don't have a death wish, despite what some people think." He ducked the swat Irina threw at him.

Jenos smiled at the two, but did not bother to interrupt them. "Those two are going to be just as much trouble as Lexie and I were," he said quietly to no one in particular, cringing at the thought.

"Look at it this way poppa, you are over the first hurtle. Now you just have to get through our weddings." Tiari commented before she scurries away leaving her father slack jawed, Art grew pale, and Irina's cheeks turning pink.

Author's Note: I'll trying to get up the compaion stories to this one as soon as I can. Hope you like it. As always, read and review. :)