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IT WAS STILL LIGHT OUTSIDE by the time they reached the estate. The servants greeted Leah, Marcus, and the twins, fetching Kaylah and Eric.
“Good visit?” Kaylah asked.
“Yeah?” Marcus answered, half-question.
“Yes,” Leah confirmed.
Kaylah smiled brightly. “Great. Let’s show you some improvements around the house! We gremlin-proofed a bit.”
“Are you seriously going to call them gremlins?” Marcus asked.
Kaylah clasped her hands in front of her, her posture, expression, and tone all exuding the authority of the queen she’d once been. “Yes, Marcus. As I’ve explained to your wife, all children are gremlins. I just happen to like some more than others. And I like these two.” She grinned, holding up a finger. “But if you tell anyone outside of my household that I use that term, I will absolutely deny it. And I’ll remind you there are no recording devices in this realm.”
Eric shrugged. “Sorry, I just put up with her.”
Kaylah’s jaw dropped. “Ouch.”
He chuckled. “C’mon, guys, let’s go see the playroom.”
While Leah and Marcus had been away in the human world, Kaylah and Eric had converted one of the smaller spaces downstairs into a kid-friendly room.
“No sharp corners or easily breakable things,” Eric said. Wooden toys filled the room, as well as sewn plushies, bright colors, blankets, and a basket system for diapers.
“Wow,” Leah whispered, dumbfounded. This was huge, given Kaylah and Eric had never wanted kids of their own. “Thank you. I’m sure they’ll love it.” She glanced at Marcus.
He raised his eyebrows. “Thank you. We’re not sure how long we’ll need to stay with you guys until we get a place of our own sorted.”
Kaylah and Eric exchanged a look. “Take as long as you need,” Eric said. “And it’s really no bother. Even after you move out, we wouldn’t hate it if you wanted to visit often, come for dinner now and then.”
Leah smiled, but still felt a little guilty. “We’ll try to keep them quiet. But ... they are kids. Kids are messy and loud. We’ll do our best.”
Kaylah sighed. “We are well aware of how children work, Leah. We’re happy to have you here. And you’re not a burden.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Okay.”
“How about you two go check out the changes upstairs? Up in the adjoining room. We’ll take care of these guys for a bit.”
Excited, Leah and Marcus handed Aspen and Ash over and headed upstairs to their room. It looked identical to how they’d left it. Opening the adjoining guest-room door, however, gave them a big shock. More armoires lined the walls, probably holding Leah’s gowns like they’d discussed before. But the big bed had been removed, replaced with two new cribs. Leah almost cried as Marcus held her from behind. It was going to be nice having more privacy with the kids in the other room, but also having the ability to open the door to hear if they cried during the night.
“What do you think, beautiful? Isn’t it nice to be home?”
A calm smile graced her lips. The energy of the realm, having made amends with his family... This still wasn’t her home, even if they had an extended invitation, but it was the closest to one she’d ever really had. “Yeah. It’s nice to be home.”
After a couple of hours catching up again downstairs, they ate dinner with Kaylah and Eric. A blanket had been laid in the dining room for Aspen and Ash to play and wiggle on.
“We’re hoping you two have tomorrow free?” Kaylah said, slicing into a stuffed portabella mushroom.
“I was planning on rifting up north to ask about my internship. I doubt they actually held it for this long, but it would be good to check.”
“Hmm... And after that?”
Marcus shrugged, glancing at Leah.
“That was the main priority. We should get clothes for the twins at the market.”
“Oh,” Kaylah said. “One of the dressers in the adjoining room upstairs is full of baby clothes. But if they’re not to your taste, we could go to the market. I’d love to join you, if you want.”
“We didn’t even look in the dressers. I’m sure they’re fine. Thanks again.”
“Great. So, when Marcus returns, you’re both free?”
“I suppose so,” Marcus said. “What’s up?”
Kaylah grinned. “A surprise. I think it’s too late in the evening to plan on taking care of it today.”
More surprises? “I’m sure we can make space in our schedule.”
After finally getting the kids to bed, they quietly closed the door between the rooms. Only hints of colored light still danced on the horizon. Marcus lit the lamps in the room.
“Definitely one thing I’ll miss,” Leah said. “Electricity.”
“Yeah... But it sounds like they’re still hopeful about the static nettle research program.”
“It’s so peaceful, though,” Leah said, perching on her side of the bed. “Listen.” Not a single car drove in the vicinity. The train station was too far away to be heard. No loud TVs. “It’s nice. I hope if they figure out how to get electricity working someday, that it doesn’t change things too much over here.”
“Agreed.”
Leah sorted through the bag of things they’d brought from the human world. For now, she tucked most of it away in her bedside table drawer. Her gaze caught on a folded piece of paper in the drawer. “Huh...”
She pulled it out and unfolded it. “Oh.”
“What’s that?”
She swallowed. “It’s ... a distant memory.” Part of her wanted to toss it, hide it away. It was something she would have done before leaving for the human world. But she’d changed. She’d grown. “Here. It was written for you.”
Marcus came around the bed, standing in front of her. His face tensed into a frown as he read the letter she’d never sent him. It took him a while to read it; she’d been thorough.
Slowly, he folded it back up. “Wow,” he whispered. “You really were going to leave me.”
She frowned as well, taking the letter from his hands and setting it on the bedside table. “I would have come back, but I needed to get away to heal and sort things out.” The letter had said as much. She’d come to realize during her time here that the only thing that would help was time away from this realm, whether with him or alone.
Leah took his hands in hers. “We’re here now. That’s what matters. That’s very outdated.”
He slid to his knees, kissing the palms of her hands, still frowning, hurt. “We lost time and memories that could have been shared. I’m glad I came back when I did.”
“Well, you’re stuck with me now. We’ll have plenty more time and memories. And I’m glad you came back when you did, too, so I never had to send that letter.”
He nodded pensively. She had figured he’d take it as a sign they’d done the right thing by leaving, and doing it together. She hadn’t realized he’d take it this hard, hadn’t meant to dredge up old hurt.
“I love you,” she said.
A small smile quirked his lips. “I love you too.”
“And you know...” She raised his hands to the bottom of her shirt. “The kids are sleeping. And I don’t care what all those people out there say about you. I think you’re pretty amazing.”
He grinned, taking the bait. “Don’t care what all those people out there say about me, huh? What exactly are they saying?”
She shrugged. “Oh, ya know. I’ve ignored them for so long, I’ve forgotten what they even say.”
Sliding the first of several buttons on her shirt undone, he gazed into her eyes. “Do they say I’m handsome?”
“Nah. I’m sure that’s not it.” She couldn’t resist digging her fingers into his curly locks.
He traveled to the next button. “Do they say I have the best wife?”
Leah chuckled. “They definitely don’t say that.”
“How about...” He unbuttoned two more. “Do they say I have two amazing kids who look just like their mother?”
“Psh. They wouldn’t even know that yet.”
He unbuttoned one more, leaving the last, top button done. “Well, I’ve never cared much what they think about me. So, I guess it doesn’t matter.” He snuck a kiss, stood, and turned to walk away.
She shot out her vines, wrapping them around his waist. “Don’t you dare.”
He laughed as she reeled him back onto the bed.
“You think you’re so funny.” She faced him.
Raising a hand to his chest, he smiled wide. “I’m the funny one in this relationship.”
“Perhaps funny, but not smart. Because we both know something was a little less than ideal in the human world, when my energy and chemical powers were lower or off-balance. And if you were smart, you wouldn’t have left this last button done up.”
Without a word, he continued to smile, ever so slowly undoing it and gliding his hands down her bare sides. Her spine shivered.
In less than a minute, they were lips and hands, fast heartbeats and quick breaths. Only as he started sliding her pants off did she remember something crucial, and panicked.
“Wait!” That was the last thing her heart and body wanted to do, but she and Marcus hadn’t stopped by a market. “We don’t have birth control tonic. And I’m not ready to be pregnant again already.”
He panted out a couple of breaths. “That’s fine. We can do other things. Or...” He kissed the nape of her neck. “Or we can use the last of the protection we had in the human world. Which I just so happen to have tucked in my pocket.”
“You are the best man I know.” She crashed her lips back into his.
***
Only the crickets and the clouds knew how late it was as they faced each other under the sheets.
“There are perks to you being at full energy.” He planted a kiss on her forehead.
She giggled. “Drop by the market for that tonic, and you’ll remember how good it can really be.”
“Everything with you is good,” he replied sweetly.
She wore a contented smile. “Speaking of tasks tomorrow... What are you going to do if they don’t give you your internship back?”
Marcus drew a breath. “I’m actually rethinking going tomorrow. Maybe I should wait until the palace announcement about us. Keep under the radar.”
“Aren’t you afraid of pushing your luck by waiting longer?”
He hesitated. “Would you be disappointed if I didn’t go back to my internship?”
She frowned. “I’d feel guilty I lost it for you because we were gone so long.”
“No,” he replied softly. “I mean if I chose not to.”
“But I thought you loved it.”
“I did. I do. I think I do... I just... I didn’t hate working with my hands on construction, though I can only imagine the disappointment my parents would have in that. I’d prefer to do something that makes a difference, but politics can suck at times. And then you and the kids... I don’t want to be gone on long trips away from you. I want to support you in your writing and help with the kids. I guess I’m saying I don’t know what I want to do anymore...”
Leah bit her lip, considering. For now, they had a roof over their heads, and he would start taking his family stipend payments again. “Your parents would be proud of you no matter what, and I would be too. But if you need time to explore your options, we can work around that. If you want to stay home more and watch the kids while I work on my books, I can get them published faster...”
“You’re sure?”
She slid a hand to his heart. “Take your time. It’s your turn to explore what you want to do.”
***
After breakfast, Marcus traveled to the nearest market to purchase a few necessities, including two sets of wraps for baby-wearing. Kaylah and Eric said their surprise would take a bit of hiking, and that they’d set out on foot from their home.
For nearly an hour, the group chatted as they climbed around boulders and over downed logs, deep into the woods. Their grounds were expansive, and Leah had explored them, but not this far out, not in this direction.
It was heavenly to be able to use her vines freely again to help steady her over some of the more precarious spots. The trees suddenly thinned, opening to a wide clearing—and in the center lay a stone foundation.
“What’s this?” Leah asked.
Kaylah kept quiet, giddy with anticipation as Eric retrieved a rolled-up paper from a storage box.
“Here.” He handed it to Leah and Marcus.
They gave each other a glance and unrolled it together. “Blueprints for a building?”
“A home,” Kaylah said. “Your home.”
Leah was stunned speechless.
“We can’t accept this,” Marcus said.
“Yes, you can,” Eric replied. “We’ve already partitioned the property. We’ll have a main path cleared to meet our driveway so rides and walks will be much faster.”
“No.” Leah shook her head in disbelief. “This is too much.”
“Like hell it is,” Kaylah replied. “Eric and I worked our asses off for years getting this kingdom to a place of tolerance and peace. And you guys deserve it as much as anyone else.”
“Yeah, but—” Leah started.
“No buts.” Kaylah put her hands on her hips. “I never got to spoil my niece growing up. I never gave her Christmas presents or birthday presents, or baby shower gifts or a wedding gift. You can’t tell us how to spend our money.” She gestured to Marcus. “Rachel and Guillen got Tobias and Camry a cottage they barely ever visit for their wedding. If you don’t like the location out here and you’d prefer to move somewhere in town, then consider this a vacation home away from the chaos and noise.” She crossed her arms, not backing down. “Plus, you don’t want to offend Rachel and Guillen, because they’re planning on furnishing it for your wedding and baby gifts.”
Marcus and Leah shared another glance.
“Can we, uh, talk about this a second, in private?” Marcus asked.
“We’ll be right here.”
He and Leah stepped a few yards away.
Leah struggled with guilt, but also yearned so badly for this. Not just a home. Her home. One of her own, like she’d never had. No moving. And quiet, peaceful, but still with decent access to a town, train, and rifting cave. “I want to say yes.”
Marcus smiled. “Then let’s say yes.”
Leah wrinkled her nose. “Are you sure?”
“It’s going to take a while for this place to be ready, but I could help build it. I’d love that.” He changed hands supporting Ash against his chest. “And it might be fun for something my dad and I can do together when he has time off.”
She considered, rubbing Aspen’s back. “Even with bikes or rickshaws, it’s not a five-minute trip to the market. There better be a big cellar, and a big garden.” Her chemical powers were back to normal, so she wouldn’t botch the garden anytime soon. “I bet your mom would love helping me get it started.”
He smiled wider. “So...?”
Leah rocked her head side to side. “You know, we never did have sex out in the woods, and with the privacy out here—”
Marcus covered Ash’s ears. “We’ll take it!” he yelled to Kaylah and Eric in the distance.
Kaylah let out a celebratory whoop, and Leah laughed.
“I love you.” She kissed Marcus.
“I love you too.”
They returned to Kaylah and Eric, exchanging hugs, careful not to squish the kids strapped to Leah and Marcus. Leah stayed in Kaylah’s arms just a touch longer. “Love you, Aunt Kaylah.”