A/N: Anyone seen the new Mockingjay Part 2 poster where Katniss is wearing all red? It made me think of the Ant Man movie. I'm not sure I like this...

Saberin: Haha...we'll see :P

Aubrey: Cats are going to help robots take over the world. Just watch.

Alice: Hope you're able to get the password sorted soon!

Sappira: Thanks! I do my best.

Rebel: Oh, we've got a LOT more awkward moments to get through before Scout chooses!

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.

A proper bed was made up for Talia in one of the spare rooms. Kineta joined her sort-of friend once everyone else had left. Elizabet, who had opted to stay behind when everyone else crowded the docks, ran forward. Kineta hugged her tightly with a nod to Talia. Kineta hadn't realized how big Talia had gotten during captivity.

"How did you like keeping Talia company?" Kineta asked Elizabet. The little girl smiled widely. Kineta turned back to Talia. "How are you feeling?"

"Really tired," Talia admitted. She wrapped her arms around her stomach. Elizabet pulled on the robe she wore. Kineta looked down to see her daughter making the sign with her fingers they'd come up with for Sean.

"We'll see him again soon," Kineta promised. "Remember? He and Scout went to make sure Hibernia was ready for us to come home."

Elizabet stuck out her lip. Kineta kissed her forehead and joined Talia sitting on the bed. Talia attempted to shift over to make room but was too far along to do much moving on her own.

"Did the midwife come?"

Talia nodded. "She thinks I have about two or three more weeks to go."

"Did Elizabet…"

"She read in the corner while they were here."

Kineta nodded. She let her fingers brush Talia's stomach. "You're so lucky."

Talia laughed. "You're the lucky one. You and Lina. You two have men who love you more than anything."

Elizabet crawled across the bed to sit in her mother's lap. Kineta smiled and kissed her cheek. "Miss me?" Elizabet nodded.

The door opened behind them. Kane joined the females in the small room. Elizabet tensed and shrank away. She was still skeptical of the Araluen Royal Scout. Kineta had to give her daughter some leeway on that one, though. Kane wasn't built like a knight but he was still an intimidating presence. Kineta was sure Elizabet would warm up to him in time but for now she was petrified around him.

"It's alright, Elizabet," Kane tried once he noticed her shyness. "Remember Gabby? She likes me."

Elizabet turned her face into Kineta's side. Kineta just stroked her daughter's hair. She suddenly thought of one specific thing the girl had in common with Kane. It was no secret and she hoped desperately Talia wouldn't be offended as she pointed it out. "Kane's adopted just like you are," she said. Elizabet peeked up from her hiding place. "He's really nice, I promise."

Kane knelt down by the bed so Elizabet was actually taller than him. "My birthmother wasn't able to take care of me so I got to grow up with different parents too."

Something clicked inside Elizabet. She scrambled towards Kane but didn't touch him. She seemed distressed as her eyes darted around. Kineta knew what she was looking for. She reached over Talia to retrieve the leather-bound journal and soft pencil Koru had given her when they explained her usual method of communication. Elizabet gladly took it and began writing. She held it for Kane to see once she finished.

Do you miss your first mother?

Kane glanced to Talia. Kineta had to lean up to see the words but Talia's form wouldn't allow her to lean to where she could see them. However Elizabet stared at him with desperate eyes. Kane swallowed hard. He and Kineta shared a glance before he answered. "I'm lucky," he told the child carefully. "I still get to see her sometimes."

Whatever answer Elizabet was looking for, that wasn't it. She slumped down. Kineta looked up to the cracked door and saw Shigeru shuffling down the hallway. "I'll be right back. Can you stay with Talia and Kane for a moment, Elizabet?"

Her daughter nodded. Kineta kissed her cheek and rushed after the old emperor. He turned upon realizing he was being pursued. Kineta bowed respectfully once she reached him. "Your Excellency," she said carefully in her broken Nihon-Ja. Shigeru bowed back.

"Your Grace, what I do for you?"

Kineta bit her tongue before answering. "My husband's cousin, Lina…when she was small she was brought here and you took her in. You broke her of her fear."

Shigeru nodded. "Very good person. Here we call her Amarante."

"Amarante," Kineta repeated. "Emperor, I have a daughter. I adopted her like you adopted Amarante and…Horace of Araluen I believe. Only I can't break her of her fear. It keeps her from speaking."

"I meet her. She nice child."

Kineta nodded. "She is…but I wanted to know what you did with Lina."

"Why?"

"I want to hear my little girl's voice. We know it's in there but nothing we do will bring it out."

Shigeru nodded. "All I did with Amarante was love her. In time love make fear go away."

Scout watched as her father gently helped her mother down the gangway. No matter what uniform she wore or deeds she did the general public always viewed Lina as a cripple and nothing more. Scout was used to the judgmental stares by now. She wondered how her parents felt about them. In all her years she hadn't thought to ask. She went down behind Sean. As the crown princess of Hibernia it was only fitting. Warden led them as the Hibernian guard but close behind followed Daniel and Will. The only reason Scout's parents weren't with those two was because of Lina's twisted foot. William had gone first but that was just so he could help Lina once they reached the end.

They were swarmed with family. Halt and Pauline went straight to Scout, her parents, Sean, Will, and Daniel. Once it was made clear each was unharmed they asked about Kane.

"He, Kineta, and Elizabet stayed behind with Talia," Sean explained. "She can't travel safely until she has the baby."

Caitlyn picked her way to them and embraced her parents and Scout tightly. Scout realized it was probably the longest she'd been without at least one of the three.

"Did you manage well without us, Caitlyn?" Lina asked her youngest daughter. Caitlyn bit her lip.

"I tried. I went with Aunt Alyss and Quinlan to Redmont for a few weeks but for the most part we were all here just waiting."

Gilan nudged Liam as Caitlyn told her mother and sister about her time sort-of on her own. "She's a lot stronger than any of us gave her credit for. Caitlyn helped with a Ranger mission while you were all away."

"What do you mean?"

"I think she may have a future in that Battalion of Lina's."

Liam smiled and nodded. "I've got some strong girls."

"That you do."

Kane leaned against a wall with Talia as they watched Shigeru slowly rake stones into a pattern. Elizabet followed close behind with a rake of her own. She'd taken to the old emperor fairly quickly…at least compared to her usual time. He spoke to her in a gentle voice and made her feel safe. Kineta was standing on the opposite side where Elizabet could see her. The Hibernian queen just smiled as she watched her little daughter with the rake.

"That girl doesn't even talk and still she's charming," Talia whispered so Elizabet wouldn't hear. "She's special."

"I wonder what happened to make her that way," Kane thought aloud. He looked over sharply as Talia rested more weight against the wall and wrapped her arms around her stomach. She glanced back at him.

"I'm fine," she said without pause. "It's just moving."

"They said it could come any day now."

"Not today." Talia had gotten even bigger once she was eating properly. Upon rescue all the captives appeared too thin and gaunt. They hadn't been deathly starving but clearly lacked nutrition. Elizabet bounced back most rapidly from what Kane saw. Kineta still seemed like she had a ways to go while Talia had a baby draining her energy no matter how much she ate. "But I think lying down wouldn't be a bad idea."

Kane agreed. Usually it was Kineta helped his birthmother around but she was preoccupied. If she left Elizabet would have an anxiety attack and panic. As uncomfortable as he felt helping Talia he desperately wanted the little girl to continue raking the stones. It was a simple task that made her calm. He matched Talia's slow pace to the stairs and let her lean on him as they climbed up.

"You didn't have to stay," Talia told him once they were at the top. "You know well that you owe me nothing."

"That's not the point," he replied.

Kineta took a deep breath as she watched Shigeru and Elizabet. She'd been smiling more since he reached out to her. She still needed her mother in view but all in all she trusted Shigeru. She'd even started making her slight verbal noises again. The progress excited Kineta. She wanted to hear her daughter's voice more than anything.

During captivity Kineta had eaten the least amount of food. It'd been some time since that but still she struggled physically with the side-effects of starvation. She couldn't stomach large amounts of food and all things rich made her nauseous. Of course, the fact Nihon-Ja survived on fish didn't help. She hated fish. Sean and Scout had probably fully recovered from their weeks of hunger by now. Elizabet still became sick after eating something with too much cream but had her energy back. Kineta, who had allowed herself just small portions every other meal, still felt weak. It was part of the reason she volunteered to stay behind with Talia. Traveling felt like it'd do her in.

Suddenly Kineta felt herself collapse to the ground. When she opened her eyes she found herself flat on her back with Elizabet kneeling next to her. Shigeru stood off a ways while a Nihon-Ja woman Kineta didn't know ran her hands over her body. She spoke rapidly to Shigeru.

"You very weak. You still need rest," Shigeru translated. "You not eat well, yes?"

Kineta pushed herself up. "I passed out?" Shigeru nodded. Kineta ran her fingers through her hair before turning to Elizabet. "I'm fine, sweetheart. I just need a nap. Would you like to take one with me?"

Elizabet nodded. Kineta stood up and took her daughter's hand. Together they walked up to the room they shared near Talia's. The only proper bed in the entire summer palace went to Talia, but Shigeru was able to provide a large sleeping mat they both fit on comfortably. Elizabet slept curled up at Kineta's side each night.

Kineta lay down and snuggled next to her daughter. Elizabet put her head on Kineta's shoulder and closed every inch of empty space between their bodies. Elizabet stared past everything into space. Kineta sensed she missed her Flynn Masque book. She hoped someone in Araluen was keeping it until they returned. She still wasn't entirely sure of the storybook's connection to Elizabet's first family but respected her daughter's love for it. She couldn't handle losing such a precious item forever.