As usual all speech in italics is in the Old Tongue.

Interlude VIII - The 'Modern' World is a Lonely Place IV

"For Light's sake Taija, calm down, you're past 150 not 15. Stop fretting!"

Taija shot her mother an exasperated look. "I'm not fretting! I'm just getting ready."

"You're fretting and you're over-excited." She gave Taija a look of her own as she stood there, hands on her hips, still fit despite the fact she was starting to show her age at over 200. "You've already rearranged the living room twice!" Taija hurriedly put the cushion back onto the sofa and pretended she hadn't been doing anything of the sort before her mother turned back to the kitchen, her white hair disappearing round the corner.

"Well I'm excited!" Nerina piped up. "I've seen him on TV and he looks so cool!"

Taija took the time to ruffle her long hair, she'd just dyed it blue, apparently that was what all the kids were doing these days. "And if you say that to him I will be very upset Nerina."

Her niece grinned up at her. "I know Auntie Taija, don't worry, I have to pretend I've never seen him before!"

"You know," her mother called from the kitchen, "if I like him I might get a poster of him for my bedroom to match Nerina's."

Taija made a strangled, choking sound. "Nerina, you have a poster of Tel in your bedroom?!"

However, before Taija could get an answer a loud chime sounded through the apartment. She started towards the door, but Nerina was faster, already moving, racing ahead of Taija and dodging her attempt at grabbing her. "I'll get it!"

"Shit." Taija muttered to herself, before pursuing her niece at an only slightly slower pace.

By the time she reached the door, Nerina already had it open, "hello are you Taija's boyfriend? I'm not allowed to recognise you."

With a muttered curse Taija grabbed Nerina and lifted her away, "go help mum." For a moment she looked she might protest and then she dashed back towards the kitchen leaving Taija to nervously smile up at Tel. "Hello. I'm so sorry, she's just over-excited!"

Tel looked as good as ever, smart trousers and white shirt that she was quite sure was more fashionable than anything she'd ever wear, accentuating his ruggedly good looks. He gave her an amused smile, before leaning in to kiss her and wrapping her in a tight hug. "Hello to you too."

A moment later Taija remembered herself and pulled away, "come in, come in, and close the door behind you. You'll let mosquitos in and I haven't fixed the anti-bug wards yet. Mum's just in the kitchen, try not to let Nerina bother you. I think she must have been eating sugar all morning or something." She shrugged slightly embarrassedly.

Tel just laughed, "she's adorable, don't worry. Here, hold this for a second," he passed Taija the bag he'd been carrying and started unlacing his boots.

Unable to resist, Taija poked her nose into the bag to find a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolate from a Paraan Disen shop she vaguely recognised as being far too expensive and a bottle of wine. "Ooo are the flowers for me? And the chocolate?"

Tel gave her a look as he pulled off his boots, "you know perfectly well they're not."

"Hmph. House slippers are there," she pointed at a rack. "Come on!"

With a good natured grumble Tel slid his feet into the slippers and took the bag back from Taija, letting her half-lead, half-drag him to the kitchen.

"Mum, this is Tel," Taija caught herself. "My boyfriend, Tel Janin Aellinsar of Paaran Disen."

Tel gave her mother a smile and a low, formal bow appropriate for an honoured elder. "It's a pleasure and an honour to finally meet Taija's mother."

Her mother giggled, actually giggled! She was over 200 for Light's sake! Then gave Tel a bow of her own, much more casual in style than Tel's. "Araevea Kosola, so you're the one who's finally managed to catch young Professor Kosola's eye. It's a delight to finally meet you. Nerina and I are very excited, you know it's been nearly fifty years since she brought someone back here."

"Mum!" Her mother ignored the warning note in her voice and gave Tel an appraising look.

"And you're just as handsome as she said you are. I don't know why she's been hiding you from us for the last two years!"

"Mum!" Taija interspersed herself between them, very deliberately not catching Tel's amused eyes. "You've already met Nerina of course."

Tel grinned at her niece, "of course." He gave her a low bow, even lower than he'd given her mother. "I've heard you're the one that's really in charge here."

Nerina just giggled and looked at the floor, suddenly shy until she remembered her manners and returned Tel's bow with one of her own. "I'm Nerina Kosola."

A moment later Taija's mother was bustling around them. "Come along, make yourselves comfortable. Dinner will be ready soon. Can I get you a drink Tel Janin? Wine? Beer? Some water?"

"Please, call me Tel. Oh!" For a second his smooth composure was broken as he remembered the bag in his hands. "I brought these for you. Thank you for having me here.." Tel pulled out the flowers, chocolate and bottle of wine, handing them to her mother with a small bow.

"Oh, thank you! How lovely. I'll go get a vase."

Taija's mother hustled off, so Taija led him to the living room. "Here we are, it's a little small, but…" It was even smaller than her own apartment in Jalanda in fact. She channeled a flow of air to flick a light switch and the room was bathed in warm light from the lamps Taija had bought her family last year. "It's still home for me."

"It's lovely Taija and I'm excited to be seeing where you grew up. Now stop fretting and sit down." Tel plonked himself onto the sofa and pulled her down next to him. Nerina found her own seat in one of the two armchairs and sat, staring intently at Tel for a few seconds.

Taija was about to tell her stop it when she blurted out, "I saw you on the TV, Tel!"

"Oh really?" Tel sounded amused, even as Taija hid her face in her hands.

"Yes, you were awesome, can you teach me to swordfight like that?"

"Nerina…" the warning tone in Taija's voice was ruined by Tel's chuckle.

"Of course I can, but where's your sword?"

"Just a sec!" Nerina was already off running as Taija looked at Tel.

"You do realise she's going to be trying to ambush you with a tube of rolled up cupboard for the rest of evening right?"

He shrugged, "well it'll be good training for me, right? Always on my toes!"

"Idiot," Taija leant into him and relaxed under his arm as her mother bustled back in with some nibbles on a tray.

That night, they were curled up in bed together, enjoying the warm afterglow. After all, thin walls really weren't a problem when you could spin wards against sound. Tel's warm body was wrapped around Taija's, spooning her as he whispered, "so do you think they liked me?"

Taija snorted, "of course they did. They loved you. You really know how to lay on the charm." She squirmed a little against him. "I hope they weren't too annoying for you and I know it's not the kind of place you're used to, but…"

He gave her a squeeze. "Stop it. Everything's lovely and I'm having a great time. Your mother's charming, she made me feel incredibly welcome, like I was part of the family, and Nerina's just adorable even if she can be vicious with that 'sword'. As for the rest, stop worrying that I'm suddenly going to turn into some kind of snob. I'm just disappointed you didn't bring me here sooner."

Taija made a vaguely happy sounding noise. "Thank you sweetheart."