Written as a snap shot with Melissa, who provided all of the writing around Hestia Eleor.  Takes place within hours of Lost & Found.

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There was an unexpected sputter, a popping noise from the fireplace.  A quiet hiss then, quite suddenly, the fireplace was filled with a column bright green flames.

There was more sputtering, this time from a woman, whose head appeared in the fireplace, still engulfed with green flames.

“Akiva? I’m sorry, dear. I used too much floo but I wanted to be sure to get through to you…”

Green was all the dark-headed witch could see.  She called out again. “Kiva-dear?”

The kitchen was really the only logical place Akiva would be after the news she’d received.  Adon and Maiko had shown up on her doorstep.  Her husband was alive… after so long trying to come to terms with everything.  It was overwhelming. 

Now, there were six half dozen trays worth of bluebrry muffins cooling on racks all over the kitchen.  Akiva was diligently stirring another bowl – this time cinnamon brown sugar flavored while Maiko bounced Gabriel on her knee.  There wasn’t much to say, really.  The only sound in the room came from the whisk hitting the edges of the silver bowl.  At least, until Akiva heard her name. 

Lifting her head, she looked to Maiko – her eyebrows shooting up.  The other witch’s shoulders shrugged.  Furrowing her brows, Akiva wiped her hands on her apron and blinked.  Lady bounded toward the living room – a sure sign the sound came from that direction and Akiva dutifully followed.

Much to her surprise, she had heard correctly: her name.  But from a source wholly unexpected: Hestia Eleor.  “Hestia?” Akiva said with almost disbelief before crouching near the fireplace, Hestia’s face encircled by green flames.  “Did Adon send you?” she asked with equal parts dread and excitement.  She hoped it was good news. 
 
The witch gave a neutral smile as her daughter-in-law's head dropped into her frame of vision.  Through the flames, she thought she detected the scent of--well, stress-baking. Ah, already on to Adon.  That was reassuring, at the very least. "In a manner of speaking.  I hoped you might know a bit about that, dear." Her face--and more notably, her tone--became one of schooled self-restraint.  "He is here.  In Jerusalem." There was an audible sigh.  "He is being detained by the Aurors in a holding cell--at least overnight, but they are not being clear as to the reason."  The acerbic jab was thrown in, "Surprisingly."  Hestia's opinion on the Jerusalem's Auror office was transparent to anyone who had had the opportunity to speak to her regarding first the years-long battle over her husband's disappearance, and now her son's.  Akiva had had plenty already of her thoughts, so she pressed on, [i\"Do you know what this is about, love? I had thought he was making progress at Gringotts..." [/i]

Akiva’s face fell a little when Hestia did not immediately confirm that Dreogan and Adon were safe at her home.  Granted, that idea was farfetched.  She probably wouldn’t have reached the conclusion that Adon would be in a holding cell either, really. 

Clearing her throat, Akiva pursed her lips before rubbing her hand on her face. She could feel the dryness of her hands from flour and imagined the feeling after she removed her hand could only be a flour smear across the bridge of her nose and cheek.  “He left for Gringotts after he came here…”

“A seer – my friend,” Akiva shot a look back toward the kitchen- where Maiko and Gabriel were obstructed from view by the wall, “saw Dreogan while scrying.  They said he was there.”  Akiva let a breath out from her nose, a much needed pause.  “I’m guessing the holding cell has something to do with that.” 

Hestia's face puzzled into a look of extreme concentration--brows knit, jaw set, eyes intense--that instantly echoed the likenesses of her sons.  Most particularly Adon.

She took in a long sniff through her nose, preparing her thoughts.  Wet her lips, her hand began to gesture in the first movements of a response--and it paused.  Then dropped off altogether into a long silence.  That intense expression, however, did not--replaying, doubling back on itself, and growing more intent as the seconds stretched on.  Her words had one false start, two, then finally:

"I don't think I understand.." her words were slow and methodical.  "Your friend... and Adon saw Dree--saw my boy--at Gringotts?"

Immediately, Akiva recognized that perhaps Adon had not shared everything with his mother.  Her face contorted into an expression that could only mean she had no idea.  It made the muscles in her stomach constrict and she could feel the color drain out of her face. 

Akiva abandoned the crouch in favor of kneeling; bracing herself with her hands before he knees hit the stone in front of the fireplace.  “That’s what they told me,” Akiva managed to say; the same gripping hand around her stomach had apparently decided its twin was to be around her vocal cords.  “She was scrying,” Akiva supplied further information.  Divination was not one of her strong suits, but she knew enough to pass along the information. 

“I,” she cleared her throat and looked down, her hands still resting on the dark stone.  She moved them to her lap and wrung them together.  It somehow seemed inadequate to say anything else, since it really was all she had.  With sad eyes, she looked up, “That’s all I really know.”  Akiva licked her lips and took a deep breath, clenching her jaw.  “I’m coming there.”   

Hestia's lips were pressed into a tight, white line.  More nose-breathing.

"Probably for the best, sweet.  Bring Baby Gabriel.  I'm of a mind to storm the Ministry and speak to Adnan Musallam, and that's ammunition, blakmail, or a distraction, as I see it." Especially if he were crying.  If all of them were crying? No.  Probably not.

"Your Seer friend. Is he there?"

Akiva was, all of a sudden, very nervous. 

Bringing Gabriel sounded… terrifying. Her heart thrummed in her chest and Akiva listened very carefully, trying to hear over the sound of blood rushing through her head.  Hestia sounded deadly serious and Akiva wasn’t sure about bringing her son.  She let out a shaky breath and nodded her head.  They could talk through a plan when she got there. 

She’d have to go through the ministry… Reaching up, Akiva gripped her hand at the base of her hair, pulling a little.  Nervous tick.  “I just – let me…” she looked toward the kitchen again, “Yes, she’s here,” she returned to the actually asked question and let out another shaky breath.  “Maybe I should leave Gabriel here,” Akiva suggested with uncertainty, “Maiko will watch him.” 

"Akiva. Dear." Hestia's hand was extended through the fire,  a sort of offering or promise before there was a light sigh and the hand dropped.  "I can't promise anything--but it's the Ministry, dear.  It is going to be safer." Her voice caught a moment before adding, "As a mother, knowing what I know, I would never leave your boy alone.  Not until we resolve this."  She wet her lips.  "You do not want to regret it."

Hestia’s words weighed heavily on her.  She didn’t want to leave her son behind… but she was so afraid of bringing him along.  She was petrified of what might happen to him, who could get to him when he wasn’t in the confines of the home that Dreogan had tried to make as safe as possible for them. 

But, looking into the fire, Akiva had to have resolve.  She had to be brave.  She swallowed hard and nodded, at first meekly, but gaining confidence with each drop of her chin.  “Okay,” she let out a deep breath and braced her hands against her thighs.  “Alright,” she bit on her lip for a moment before she shifted back onto her toes into the crouch.  “I’ll meet you there,” she stood, “in forty five minutes.”  She wouldn’t even give herself time to clean up, but she did need to get some things for Gabriel.  Maiko could mind the house, she figured.  She’d at least ask.  “Okay?"