A/N: Against my better judgment, Cicero and Hecate insisted there was more story to tell. I tried to protest, but we all know how good Cicero is at manipulating things to how he wants. This chapter takes place 20 years before chapter 1 and two years after the end of For the Future of Skyrim. Enjoy!

Middas 10 Second Seed 207 1:00 PM

"It's good to be in Solitude again," I said as I exited the wagon Cicero and I had hired to bring us here. I carefully avoided making any eye contact with the driver who I was pretty certain was shooting daggers with his eyes. The Keeper and I had been unable to keep our hands off each other the whole trip and had made it rather uncomfortable for our unfortunate chauffer. I wasn't certain if the generous tip I had given him made up for the bother.

A late spring breeze picked up and I breathed deeply the sea air. The bright azure sky, the cry of the seagulls, the crash of the waves and the sight of the Blue Palace on the outcropping ledge always gave me a sense of euphoria. I spun in a circle with my arms extended giggling like a little girl with delight.

I could hear Cicero laughing behind me. I grinned and grabbed his hand before heading up the hill to the city proper. The wagons only brought travelers to the stables located outside of town and Solitudes and it closer to the docks than the city.

"You're in a good mood," Cicero commented, "a rarity to be sure."

"Hm," I nodded. We were a handsome couple in our matching blue and silver outfits – Windhelm colors. It wouldn't be positively received here in the Imperial capital, but it was the color of Aventus' hometown and I thought he would appreciate the gesture. "Our boy is all grown up."

The Bard's college would be holding this year's graduation ceremony for the exiting class this Loredas and Aventus would be graduating with full honors. Not only would he be awarded an official title as bard, but Aventus was now sixteen. He could go back to Windhelm and finally claim his family home for his own. I hoped he would return to Dawnstar with us, but it was good for the boy to have his own Sanctuary.

We stopped by Proudspire Manor to drop off our luggage before going to the Bard's college to let Aventus know we had arrived in town.

"By Julianos, you came!" Aventus exclaimed smiling. We had found him in his small dorm room hunkered over a desk working on something or other. The boy bound to his feet and engulfed Cicero and me in a spine crushing bear hug.

"We wouldn't have missed it for the world!" I said. I managed to wiggle free from Aventus' grasp. "Let me look at it you." College life had been good for Aventus. He was tanned, broad shouldered, and as healthy as a horse. His brown hair fell wildly about his face and he had started the beginning of a beard. He was about six foot three now and towered over Cicero and me.

I had visited a few times over the last two years, but it always felt like I was seeing Aventus for the first time. He changed a little more every visit and I felt like I was losing the boy I had saved from starvation and loneliness. To be fair, maybe it was a good thing, but I wasn't very good with letting go when I wasn't ready to do so.

"Aventus could easily pass as a Nord," Cicero teased, "maybe he has been practicing his arts of disguise more than his arts of song and dance."

"I promise I've neglected neither," Aventus said. His deep baritone was pleasant as was his laughter. He patted Cicero on the back almost knocking him over. "Let me give you a tour of the school."

Aventus lead us through a whirlwind tour of showing us the other dorm rooms, where he took classes, the courtyard, the kitchens, the study areas, the libraries, the alchemy room, and all his classmates and teachers. He proudly told everyone that I was his older sister and Cicero was his favorite uncle. It only made sense to claim us that way, I still looked like I was in my early twenties while Cicero looked somewhere between mid-forties and early fifties with his deep laugh lines and silver streaked red hair. Still it meant I couldn't hold hands with the Fool as we walked and I was a little irritated by that.

When it was time to go, I gave Aventus a hug. "I noticed you didn't introduce us to a girlfriend. Surely a handsome man like you has a lady friend? Maybe several?" I winked mischievously.

"Oh," Aventus blushed. He rubbed the back of his head. "There's someone I like, but she's never noticed me."

"Well, she's a fool then," I said sniffing. "Did we meet her today?"

"No, she's not a student," Aventus said looking down. He shuffled his feet nervously. "She's someone I've looked up to for a long time and she's with someone else."

"Oh, a teacher then?" I teased. "Our boy likes older women, Cicero." I glanced to the jester, but his face was serious for a change. "Well, I'm sure if you persevere, she'll notice you some day."

"Maybe," Aventus said with a small smile. He gave me a hug. "Thanks for coming to visit. I'll see you on Loredas?" I nodded. "I love you, sis."

"I love you too, brother," I said giving him a quick peck on the lips. I broke from his grasp and danced to Cicero's side so I could take the Keeper's hand. "Sing well and often," I laughed as I waved goodbye.

Middas 10 Second Seed 207 6:00 PM

"That was a lot of fun!" I said as I swung my hand with Cicero's while we walked towards the Winking Skeever for dinner.

"I suppose," Cicero murmured. He had a faraway look on his face.

"Is something bothering you?" I asked concerned. My Fool was rarely serious or quiet.

Cicero only shrugged in response. I leaned against him and gave him a light kiss. Cicero didn't respond, but when I looked at his eyes while I kissed him, I noticed they had darkened to the point of being almost yellow.

"Maybe getting something to eat will cheer you up," I said uncertainly. "I know I get to be quite unreasonable when I'm hungry." I thought that would earn a scathing comment from Cicero among the lines I was always unreasonable and I would hit him on the shoulder, but Cicero remained oddly silent.

The bell above the door tingled as we entered the Winking Skeever. Corpulus Vinius, the owner, looked up from his usual spot behind the counter to greet his newest customers. When he saw it was us, his grin turned to a frown and he practically flew from behind the counter.

"Table for two please," I said before the Imperial was pushing us back outside. "What in the Oblivion?"

"Don't think I've forgotten about you two," Corpulus growled. "You're still banned from the Skeever."

"What?" I gasped.

"You…are…still…banned," Corpulus said slowly and loudly as if I was an idiot. "For your little display of affection on Heart's Day four years ago. I made sure to put up posters of you two so all the employees would know. You're not welcome here."

"Oh, come on!" I huffed. "We're not here for a room. We just wanted dinner." I turned to Cicero expecting some sort of support. The Fool of Hearts always had something sharp to say, but to my surprise Cicero was still deep in thought and did not seem to be paying attention to the conversation at all.

"I don't trust the pair of you," Corpulus said with his hands on his hips. "How can I know you won't just push your plates to the floor and start going at it right on one of my tables? I had a hard enough time dealing with unhappy patrons before and you were in a private room. Not that you could tell from all the damn noise. Now get out of here before I call the guards!"

"Elisif will hear of this!" I threatened as I left pulling Cicero with me.

"I hope she does!" Corpulus retorted before retreating into his tavern. "Divines know how she didn't last time with you almost shouting the roof off."

"You were no help at all," I said to Cicero. I was used to Cicero jumping in with some witty words to disarm verbally aggressive people. I was in shock he had said nothing the whole time.

"Diana," he said softly as he pulled me into an embrace. My arms were pinned to my sides as Cicero traced one finger along my jaw so I was looking at him. "Tell me that you love me."

"We were just barred from getting dinner with you doing nothing to help and you want me to tell you that?" I said shrilly. I felt myself locking up from even repeating the phrase back. "What is wrong with you?" I could feel the thu'um building up. I stamped my foot against the earth a few times to try to calm myself down enough to not shake the world with my words.

"Just say 'I love you' to me like you did with Aventus," Cicero murmured. The only time Cicero ever asked me to say those words was when he was in a fit of madness and needed the comfort that I couldn't provide. This time he was completely calm and collected, not like how I had ever seen him before.

"Let me go, Cicero," I growled struggling against his iron grasp

"Just say the words," Cicero begged, "for poor, dear Cicero."

"No!"

"Why not? You say them so easily for Aventus." Cicero's voice was deep and dark, not a good sign.

"Aventus is a child," I said. I glanced around and saw a crowd was forming. I was sure Corpulus was calling the guard right now.

"No, not any more. He is a man grown with eyes of lust and still you say the words to him," Cicero retorted. "Say them to Cicero."

"I can't!"

"Why not? Am I not your brother also?" Cicero's touch was too hot and I was too confined. I felt myself panicking. "Why do you say them to Aventus only?"

"Because I'm not in love with him, you idiot!" I screamed. I gasped in shock at the words leaving my mouth.

Cicero finally released me and allowed me to take a step back. He smiled his secret smile and placed one hand under his chin. "Is that so?" he asked.

I was shaking uncontrollably. The Fool had forced me to say those words by agitating me in front of this crowd in the middle of Solitude. "You, you, you, you!" I closed the gap between us and swung as hard as I could. I slapped Cicero so hard he actually flew off his feet and fell to the ground with a grunt. "I hate you!"

I turned to stalk away. I needed time to cool down and I couldn't do it with Cicero nearby. "Is Hecate running away again?" Cicero asked bitterly. He had gotten to his hands and knees, but his look was one of defiance and not submission. Blood dribbled down his lips from where I had hit him. I could see the fear in his eyes betraying his worry that I would take off again like I had done with High Hrothgar.

"No," I muttered, "I just want to take a ride. I'll be back by sunset." I fled to the outskirts of town so I could summon Shadowmere and ride away.

Middas 10 Second Seed 207 8:00 PM

I was hot, dusty, and tired by the time I came back to Proudspire Manor. I had spent most of the last two hours riding up and down the coastline trying to not think. I had taken a small break to sit with my knees curled up and watch the waves crashing back and forth relentlessly. A wave would come in and I would think "I hate him." Then it would go back out and I would think "I love him." A mindless litany that could go on forever just like the tide.

I thought about why I couldn't say the Words to Cicero. It was ironic I could shout FUS RO DAH so easily, but "I love you" felt impossible to say. Three little words for both phrases; so similar and so different at the same time.

I had been raised that to tell someone that you loved them meant you would feel that way forever. I had never wanted or needed that commitment. I was as fickle as the moons always running across the sky and never with the same face day to day. Even after I silently admitted my feelings about Cicero to myself, I still couldn't bring myself to say them to my Fool of Hearts.

I didn't want to say them in the throes of passion or after he had done some generous task because it would feel like I had just let my hormones say the words. I didn't want to say them when I was angry or sad because it felt like a lie or manipulative. I couldn't just randomly say them while we were eating or riding because it would feel too sudden and strange. I didn't want to say them after Cicero demanded that I do so for that would feel fake, hollow, and forced. Leaving me with the conundrum of when could I possibly say them?

Cicero, wearing his motley, was waiting for me when I returned. He had been sitting in one of the chairs in the lobby of the house. As soon as I walked through the door, the Fool sprung to his feet like a jack in the box. His jester's cap flounced violently from the motion.

"Cicero made you dinner," he said as he wrung his hands. The jester bounced back and forth in a circle around me as I took off my boots. His voice was high pitched with worry. "Also, there is water for a bath. All hot and steamy like Hecate likes."

I nodded my thanks and pressed myself against him. My hands threaded into Cicero's motley and pulled him close to me while I silently rested my head on his chest. We had danced this dance before many times. I would become too locked up to speak and Cicero would fall back into the safety and comfort as his role of jester and Keeper.

Cicero's hands fluttered over me not sure if I wanted to be held. Finally, he risked it and placed them gently around my shoulders. When I didn't flinch, he slid down until he encircled my waist. I nuzzled his chest when he rested his chin on my head. I could feel his smile as he kissed my hair. "Welcome home. Do you want dinner first?"

I nodded against his chest. Cicero gently took my hand and led me to the dinner table. He served me a bowl of hot stew. The jester wasn't as good of a cook as Nazir, but he was more than adequate with making food good and filling. I didn't sit at the small table, but instead went to a reclining divan. I flopped on it and patted the area next to me indication Cicero should sit next to me. Once he was settled, I curled against him as I ate.

I took a few bites, but the food was tasteless to me. My throat still felt like it had a lump the size of the Throat of the World in it and swallowing was difficult. I quietly placed the bowl on a side table and leaned against my jester. Cicero sensed my mood and tightened his embraced.

"Cicero will take care of you, always and forever," he crooned in my ear.

"No," I whispered finally finding words again, "you won't."

"Oh, but Cicero will! He will! Loyal, faithful Cicero never breaks a promise," the Keeper swore fervently. "As long as Cicero draws breath, then no harm will befall dear, sweet Hecate."

I rolled over so I was facing Cicero. His eyes were golden with intensity as he stared into mine trying to figure out what he could say or do to make everything okay again. I stroked his fine red hair mentally flinching at the silver stands that speckled it now. "How long do you think you'll live? Without accident or mishap? Assuming I don't take you on contract and our target gets a lucky strike or you don't mouth off to the wrong Nord some day?"

"Every dawn Cicero sees is a day he didn't have before," Cicero shrugged. "The peace of the night sky reflecting the Void brings an end so Cicero can wait until another sunrise."

"Be serious," I scolded.

"Cicero cannot be serious for he is Laughter Incarnate and the Fool of Hearts," he said gently. "There can be only today for tomorrow is an illusion given to us by the Dread Father to make us think there is more than what we have. Cicero has everything he could ever want right now – family, Sanctuary, a Listener, and the Night Mother. To desire more would be to incur the wrath of Sithis."

"Then why do you insist that I say," I hesitated, "the Words?"

"Because Cicero is a fool and especially Hecate's fool and it is the job of every fool to speak of what no one else will say. Especially when his mistress insists on being blind to the truth," Cicero grinned evilly. He tilted his head and continued, "Or when she doesn't want to talk about why she's still as pretty as the day Cicero met her and not getting old like the rest of us."

"So, you've noticed?" I asked sarcastically, glad Cicero had mentioned it first.

"Hard to miss," Cicero teased. "If perceptive Cicero had managed to miss that Hecate has neither gray in her hair nor lines on her face after five years, then jealous Cicero saw how Aventus stared so longingly to a woman twice his age who looks only a few years older."

"Aventus doesn't…" I started but Cicero shushed me.

"Cicero is not wrong! Hecate is just blind as she always has been to how others see her," Cicero said. His eyes became distant with memory. "Cicero can remember the first time he saw the lovely Diana. Poor, abandoned Cicero was crouching over the damnable wagon wheel that Loreius would not fix. A shadow fell over dear Cicero and when I looked up I saw a girl I thought must be half my age, a maid on the edge of womanhood. So lovely and innocent! Not only did she help Cicero gladly, but she took no coin and even offered a bed in her home despite her not-special-friend Lydia's protests.

"Darkness came with promise of a repaired wagon the next day and the kindly stranger gave poor, sweet Cicero shelter, food, and company recalling happier days in Cyrodiil. Even after the kindly stranger and her housecarl retired to sleep together, still she came back walking quietly down the stairs with her big blue eyes full of sleep. Cicero knew he had to taste her even if it was just a stolen kiss and she pushed Cicero away. Imagine Cicero's joy and surprise when he kissed the girl and she didn't shun him, but returned his kiss just as eagerly!"

"Then Mother needed sweet Cicero and Mother must always be tended to first," Cicero chuckled. "It was probably for the best. Loreius and his wife's blood still pounded in Cicero's ear after years of not wielding his blade. If we have not been interrupted, there was a good chance I may have killed you afterwards." I felt a shiver run down my spine at his casual tone.

"I could have taken you," I said faking confidence.

"Could you?" Cicero laughed as I gasped when the tip of his ebony dagger dimpled my neck. In the middle of reminiscing, he had managed to draw the blade without me noticing. With a twirl, Cicero sheathed his blade. "Hecate is so oblivious."

Cicero slid off the divan and picked me up. He stood and started to walk to the stairwell. "Where are we going?" I asked. I had my arms around Cicero's neck and could feel the flaps of his cap hit my face gently.

"If Hecate will not eat, then she should take her bath before the water gets cold," Cicero said as if it was as plain as day. "She smells of sweat and dust. Not that Cicero minds the first." He grinned lustfully making me giggle.

"Hm, another memory," Cicero said, "Hecate giving Cicero a bath after he fixed the ceiling of our room. Hecate had asked 'why' at the time and Cicero had evaded the question. Cicero had looked so very long for the Listener. Even in his joker's retreat of Dawnstar, Cicero knew there was no Listener in him and he must venture out to Falkreath to Astrid's Sanctuary as a final resort. Hecate fell out of Mother's coffin and Cicero almost killed her for her disrespect."

Oh, how Mother would have punished foolish Cicero if he had succeeded! But Hecate said the Binding Words and became Cicero's salvation. Sweet, sweet salvation against the loneliness and the terror of not having Mother's guidance. Cicero feared that Astrid would take measures to rid herself of the new rival and Cicero had to protect the Listener for Mother! Cicero arranged so the Listener was away from the others so Astrid could not easily kill her and Cicero could watch over her as he did with Mother. Cicero couldn't just say that, could he? Cicero played the Fool again and the Pretender gladly gave Cicero exactly what he wanted!" The jester laughed at the memory as he placed me on the floor of the master bedroom. In the middle of the room was a large empty tub. A fire was burning in the fireplace with several large pots full of water waiting to be poured into the tub.

As Cicero talked, he expertly undressed me with deft fingers. I wondered at all the words that were spilling out of my Fool of Hearts for he had never so bluntly told me what was on his mind. Our first year at Falkreath, Cicero had held his motivations as close as a nervous poker player did with his card hand. This would be a one-time confession and I absorbed the words like the dry earth drank the rain after a drought. Once I was naked, Cicero gestured to the large pots next to the fire place. The huge container lifted from his telekinesis spell and with delicate care, Cicero managed to pour the whole thing into the tub without spilling a drop. An impressive feat since the telekinesis spell is normally a spell for obtuse maneuvers and not fine manipulation. Years of using it to move the Night Mother's coffin had given Cicero a finesse no other alteration spellcaster could master.

Once the tub was full, Cicero removed his gloves and rolled up his sleeves. He picked me up and gently placed me in the bath. The tub was deep enough that the water level covered my chest. He poured bathing oils over me and swirled the water so it frothed with bubbles. "Hecate insisted that Cicero bathe since he was covered in dust from the crawl space. While Cicero cleaned, Hecate washed his clothes and scolded." He picked up a bucket and dumped the hot water over me as I had done to him. I squawked as much as he had.

Industrious hands grabbed a terry cloth and started to clean the dust and sweat off efficiently as a parent does for a child. "Cicero realized that Hecate was starting to think of Cicero as simple because of the good natured face he had to put on for the others to convince them to follow the Old Ways. That wouldn't do at all! Hecate must see Cicero as her confidant, as her right hand man. If Cicero made the offer seriously, the Listener wouldn't believe him, so Cicero played the Fool and teased Hecate by flashing her. When Hecate slapped the tub, Cicero made sure to fall on Hecate. Imagine Cicero's surprise when Hecate not only denied Cicero's services, but her reason for it!

"Clever Cicero would have to revise his plan. A friend and not a lover he would be! So Cicero went to our room and painted and plaited and oh so sloppily spilled blue on the sheepdog's favorite shirt. After he pleasured himself as promised, thinking of his mouth on Hecate's pretty, pink, pert nipple." Cicero chuckled as he tweaked said body part with one hand. I squeaked from the suddenly erotic motion and blushed all over. "How pleased Hecate was when she saw the room transformed from dreary and dank to comfy and colorful! Her reward to loyal, dedicated Cicero was to allow him to kiss her even if it was only oh so gently. Cicero was pleased for his lips would touch the lips of the one who spoke the Night Mother's sweet words." Cicero fluttered a butterfly kiss on my lips.

Firm pressure on my back indicated I should stand. Cicero grabbed a towel that had been warming by the fire and used it to dry my hair and face before lifting me out of the tub. He then toweled the rest of me dry. I yawned hard enough to make my jaw crack. I was warm, dry, and clean; making me very sleepy.

"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked.

Cicero paused with his hand under his chin. "I don't know," he laughed. When he saw my irritated look, Cicero said, "Maybe because when Cicero was all Mother had, he would talk and talk and talk to push away the silence. The terrible, maddening silence was all there was in Cheydinhal and it followed Cicero to Dawnstar even with his friend the jester back from the Void to give lonely Cicero company.

"All of those memories are happy memories for Cicero and those have been far and few in-between! The Listener, no, Hecate being in Cicero's life took away the loneliness and the silence. For too long, it was only Keeper and Mother. What good is a Keeper keeping if there is no Listener listening? More importantly Hecate is a jester just as much as Cicero. Another joker in the deck running wild amongst the others bringing the truth when others won't listen.

The Keeper pulled back the furs on the bed and nudged me so I sat on the bed. I lied down and pulled the covers over me while Cicero disrobed his motley top, cap, and boots so he was wearing only his pants. He climbed into the bed and wrapped his arms around me.

"Cicero would rather take Hecate when she is angry and all spit and fire instead of when Hecate is upset and cold and stiff. Mother cannot talk to sweet Cicero, but Hecate can! It is maddening for Cicero when Hecate won't talk to him. If Cicero cannot say the truth to Hecate because she doesn't wish to hear it, then he makes a poor fool indeed."

"Because I'm the Dragonborn, when I absorb dragon souls I also steal their life energy. I am probably going to live two or three hundred years," I said in a rush.

"Oh," Cicero said wordless for a change. His amber eyes were wide in surprise. "OH!"

There was an awkward silence while Cicero contemplated what I told him. When he spoke again, I thought it would be to say something about it. Instead, I got, "Cicero should have brushed Hecate's hair before getting into bed. Tsk, tsk, tsk, Foolish Cicero."

"That's your reaction!" I scowled. "I just told you I'm going to live two or three times longer than most humans and you're worrying about my hair?"

"Hecate might live as long as an Altmer mage, Cicero might die tomorrow," the Keeper said waggling his finger, "but Hecate's hair is definitely going to be full of snarls and tangles tomorrow which will make the Listener whine and moan while patient Cicero must gently brush all of it out."

Cicero made me sit up and turn my back so he could go ahead and brush my hair. "Maybe Hecate is right and someday Cicero will be old and feeble like the wizard Festus Krex was. Cicero will die and finally go to the Void and be with Mother. He will ask the Dread Lord if he can sing and dance and maybe make Mother laugh. When that happens, Cicero wants Hecate to not cry because it's over, but smile because it happened. Listener and Keeper together on the hunt as we were meant to be." When Cicero finished brushing my hair, he quickly braided it so it hung down my back like how I used to wear it when I was an adventurer.

"The real question is whether Hecate wants to sleep as brother and sister tonight," Cicero said pushing me back onto the bed, "or if she wishes for her Keeper to finish his duties." He grinned like a slaughterfish tasting blood in the water as he grabbed my arms and pinned them above me.

After hours of Cicero's tender administrations, I was more than willing for the second option. I wrapped my legs around his waist to pull him close enough for me to kiss him. "What about the Binding Words issue? We didn't resolve that at all?"

"If Hecate cannot say the words that Cicero longs to hear, then she should give him a token of proof." I could feel his fingers twisting the silver and amethyst ring he had given me two years ago. "Poor Cicero is still ring-less."

"I never promised that I would give you one," I scowled. "I only said maybe." I twisted so I could hook my toes under Cicero's pants line and pull the offending piece of clothes off.

"Still ring-less," Cicero insisted as his mouth trailed down my neck. "Besides, a 'maybe' from Hecate is like a 'yes' from anyone else." He stopped his kissing to look at me mischievously. "Do you love me?"

"Maybe."

A/N: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
― Dr. Seuss