So, her intent had been to surprise him with breakfast in bed. 

This was, as it turned out an ill conceived and not well thought out plan, as she knew her husband was the lightest sleeper and the second she had moved he was awake.  Of course, that didn’t mean she wasn’t still going to do it.  It just meant she had to kiss him and ask him to stay put. 

He obliged her desire (she imagined opening her eyes as wide as they could go and smiling probably helped).  Besides, at least part of the plan was working: Gabriel was still asleep!  She only peered into the room to see his little chest rising and falling: sleeping so soundly.  If she didn’t have a mission, she might have stood and watched until he woke, like she used to when she couldn’t sleep. 

It was hard to believe sleep was coming back so easily.  Leaving the door just slightly ajar, Akiva tiptoed down the stairs into the kitchen.  Thin beams streamed through the window, flecks of dust danced in the golden rays.  She didn’t even bother turning the lights on as she deftly moved around trying to make as little noise as possible.

This, at least, came naturally to her.  She could assemble a breakfast, maneuver about the kitchen without really having to think about it.  Ingredients on the counter, the stove heating the pan… Her hands moved quickly and she swiftly whisked before pouring the mix on the pan. 

Sizzling and steam… the shifting of the pan over the burner… all familiar sounds.  It was comfortable, being there and just moving.  She hummed quietly to herself (admittedly she was not a singer), but it was contentment.  With a flourish, she assembled the plate – you couldn’t even imagine how hard it was to find a ripe avocado in England in November – but she’d done it because it was his birhday and she was sure she could never make up for what he went through.  It didn’t mean she wasn’t going to try however. 

It was her way: try to fix things, to make people happy and whole, however impossible it was to do that for another person.  She was an eternal optimist and the idea of failure did not scare her (too much). 

Besides, she hadn’t failed breakfast at all.  It was beautiful!  Fit for a birthday, to be certain.  Ducking into the living room, she dug in her bag for the card she’d gotten him.  It was small and not at all the real present, but it was a good beginning.  Akiva intended to make this a good day. 

Winter was already settling in.  Dreogan could tell from the coolness of his cheeks, the crispness in the air, compared to the cozy warmth of his limbs beneath the duvet.  It was earlier than usual, as well--Akiva's waking: his own alarm clock.  As she roused, he rolled over, the covers crinkling softly as she slowly, slooooowly...

"S'alright," he murmured, voice extra throaty. They called it a 'frog in your throat,' but mostly he just felt groggy, not froggy. "I'm awake."  He opened his eyes, smiling at her as she, wide-eyed and very energetic for the morning, vaguely tip-toed around her plans for the morning.  He could guess: it was his birthday, and she was trying her best to make it special for him.

His birthday was on a Tuesday this year--easily the most unremarkable day of the week.  Sandwiched between Monday gloom and Hump Day.  He'd tossed around the idea of taking the day off with Akiva, but they'd decided against it--at least he'd go in to work until early afternoon.  He was just beginning to pick up the shattered pieces of his office, which had not held together well in his extended absence.  Nearly half of the people had quit, uncertain of the office's survival in the extended absence of its head, and nearly all members of the Ministry had questioned the need to even have any Muggle outreach beyond Obliviation.

Dreogan felt the covers shift slightly again and looked over.  Gordon had not wasted a moment; he must have been waiting upon eagerly-flexed, stumpy legs to flop on the moment Akiva had departed.  The pudgy cat circled the rumpled bedsheets once, twice, before--with an expression of total feline bliss--settling in the warm spot on Akiva's side of the bed.  He looked quite pleased with himself and his good idea.

Like a shadow, moments later, Tabitha joined, quickly and silently settling in the space between her owner and The Other Cat.  Dree propped himself up on an elbow to scratch both, in turn.  Tabitha butted her head against his hand, purring appreciatively and--effectively, boxing Gordon out completely which might have been her plan all along.

Dreogan shook his head with a breathy chuckle before rolling onto his back, looking up at the ceiling.  He could hear the vague noises of the kitchen beneath him: the moving of pans, rustling of paper bags, and then the smells started to come... He smiled, somewhat uncertain at what he'd done to deserve her in the first place, and still disbelieving that all of this was back in his life once more.

It was still an adjustment, even almost 3 months later.  Dreogan spoke more, moved more, did more, planned more than he'd done for an entire year, and while thrilling and comforting, it could also be exhausting.  Within moments, Akiva had nearly gotten her wish as Dreogan, closing his eyes,  began to drift lazily off to sleep once more.

Levitating the tray (well, she carried the drinks – she could only do so much), she was confident she could do so.  Her hands had steadied remarkably over the past couple of weeks and with assurance she followed it upward and appeared in the doorway shortly after. 

It hadn’t even struck her that Dreogan could fall back asleep, considering how he was usually so quick to wake… so before she even entered the room she had announced in about ¾ of her full voice, “Happy Birthday!”  Of course, when her skills of observation matched her exuberance for making this a fantastic day, her neck practically shrunk into her shoulders and she bit her lip. 

Gordon certainly stirred, his big orange head swinging around and even Tabitha bothered to look over.  She should have known once she’d gotten up that she forfeited her space – but she didn’t want to.  She had intended on reclaiming it once she was back.  After all, it was still early.  Gabriel might stay settled for a bit longer. 

It would be a blessing, and Akiva enjoyed spending quiet moments with her husband.  He had always been so busy: always worrying about the next thing, contemplating the bigger problems of the world, imaging a world very different from the one in which they lived… The quiet moments came all too infrequently, and then he’d been gone.  Now, Akiva wanted to use every second.

Fortunately, since it was his birthday they hadn’t really made plans – outside of seeing the rest of the Eleor clan later, so Akiva quieted and walked inside, setting the tray on the nightstand and following close behind with the cups in hand.  “Awake?” she asked quietly, the corners of her eyes crinkled with a cheerful smile. 

Even if she did wake him – it was for good reason: omlette! Avocado!  Birthday!  There were so many things.  She supposed she could force him to nap later – perhaps at the same time as Gabriel (though she’d suggest it more subtly than outright), and with that thought leaned down to press her lips against his cheek and smile against his skin, "Good morning!"

Dreogan propped himself up on his elbow, smiling at her sleepily.   He looked at her. He looked at her look at the cats.  The cats looked at her.  Good--they weren't looking at him, then.

With a boyish smile, Dreogan began to tug at the blankets, wadding them up against his chest as he pulled the cats closer and closer.  Tabitha turned her head in alarm, rolling onto her back to avoid being pulled into the mound of blanket Dree was gathering.  Gordon scooted back.  Then back again.  In a moment, there was no blanket left and the two felines were forced to abandon their spots, landing on padded feet and looking up wistfully at the meal before them.  The bed was all clear now, save for Dree, a blanket mound, and the rumpled bedsheets.

"Morning," he chuckled back.  "Your seat, m'lady," he said with a smirk to Akiva.  "What is it they say--if you want the best seat in the house, move the cat?"  He thought he had seen that on a mug once.  Wait, had Adon tried to give him that mug once? Perish the thought!  The moment one owned cat paraphernalia was the moment a social line had been crossed.

He looked eagerly at the omelette, not sure--should he reach for the fork? Was she going to sing? Was there a card? Was this rude?

There were two forks.  With deliberation, Dreogan handed one to his wife, taking the other himself. "It's delicious; I can tell already."  He had been on the brink about making a prophetic joke, but steered clear.  It was not safe waters yet.  "Would the chef like to test it first?"

At first, Akiva had no idea what her husband was doing.  It only took moments before it became obvious though and both cats looked completely betrayed as they landed on the floor.  Gordon was slower to move away, turning his head and staring at Akiva, as though she had personally hurt him for allowing this to happen.  Akiva giggled and shook her head.

“Why thank you,” she responded primly and walked around the bed, back to the space she had occupied before going downstairs to make breakfast and plopped back into the messy sheets.  She wasn’t holding anything anymore, so she was able to put her hands down before climbing up and readjusting against the pillows.

She took the fork from him but held it up, “Hold on!” the space under the plate… the card!  She’d been so proud when she found it – true and funny – it’d gone right in her cart.  “It’s not your whole present, but…” she held out the plain envelope, his name written in her looping script on the front accompanied by a tentative and scrawled line in green crayon (Akiva’s first attempts at having Gabriel do anything of the sort). On the inside, in addition to the cheesy message and profession of love that was typical of these sorts of things, there was a picture from Gabriel’s birthday party of the three of them and later he’d get the frame that went with it – and other things too, of course…

But she loved the picture.  Gabriel’s face covered in cake… it would absolutely go on his desk… when they really returned to work.    “But,” she dug her fork into the corner of the omelette and ripped off a piece, “While you’re busy, I’ll just do a taste test.”

Aaah! There was a card!  Dragon's eyes widened, mentally berating himself before reminding himself that he ought to look elated.

And he was.  His smile was genuine as he flicked over the card to break the little seal and read the message with an audible chuckle.  He gave several shy, sidelong glances as he read the note, feeling his blush beginning to grow.  He leaned over to give her a kiss.  "Thank you," he murmured against her temple.  She was just about to take a bite of omelette; he gave a soft snicker before examining the picture.

It had turned out better than he'd thought.  "Ought to tell Adon he can quit his day job and moonlight as a photographer. This'll go well on my desk," he mused offhandedly.  He was trying to cross that mental shift into worklife.  He was trying to transition to real life generally; work seemed like it should hardly be the priority, but his counselor had told him it would be good to give him a sense of purpose and direction.

Dreogan rather felt that keeping a photo--several photos--of his family would remind him of his real purpose and direction while he was away.  Tucking the photo back in the envelope with the card so it would not get lost or rumpled, Dreogan set it gently on the night stand.  "Is Gabriel still sleeping?"

“It’s good!” Akiva announced after she chewed the piece she had stolen. Dreogan was still turning the card over to open it and she leaned over expectantly, waiting to see his reaction: that was the best part, after all. 

There was a certain level of pride in giving a good present.  Sure, it was only a card, but Akiva sat up a little taller in the midst of pillows, growing a little more smug (in a good way) every time he glanced her way, turning pink and smiling.  There wasn’t like an official competition or anything, but Akiva would have to say for the time being she definitely won in the card department.

Accepting (and enthusiastically returning) his kiss, Akiva grinned and leaned her forehead against his shoulder, looking at the picture with him.  It was perfect.  She was so happy to have her family back together again.  They still had a long way to go before things would be totally normal again, but the chaos had ebbed, routines were coming back, and to hear Dree even mention work… that was a good step forward, a tiny nudge toward normalcy.  “I know just the spot for it,” Akiva informed him.

She’d kept his office clean and orderly while he had been gone, hell, she’d made sure it wasn’t empty for most of the time either.  A department did not stay afloat with no one trying to keep things going, after all.  While she didn’t always know what she was doing or if it was right, she had been determined and that had seemed to be enough.  “But now you should eat,” she informed him as she shifted a little to lazily rest her arm over his stomach, cheek still pressed on his shoulder.

“Don’t jinx it,” she yawned and reached forward, dropping her fork on the tray before resuming her curled up position at his side, “or you’ll go get him and I’ll stay here with your very delicious breakfast….” She let the end of the sentence dangle a little in the air: a completely empty threat if there ever had been one, but it did make for a more interesting morning! 

"Don't jinx it." 

"I don't intend to," he said, smiling as he shifted to lay on his side, his face just inches from hers.  He wasn't so sure he was going to spend this hard-earned time on breakfast food, as delicious as it was.  "C'mere," he said, smirking as he wriggled his way closer to

For a moment, he enjoyed the feeling of her snuggled against him.  It was a shame he was a sleep most of the time they were like this: close, still, not worrying.  He took a moment to consider everything.  Her toes against his feet under the covers (were they never warm?)...The sound of their breathing, like a sort of sleepy duet... The softness of her hair against his chin... 

Cheek to cheek, he nuzzled the soft strands, pausing to place a kiss along the line of her jaw.  He worked his way downward to her chin.  With a little, proud-of-himself smirk, he concluded with a quick, teasing peck on the lips.  "It's cliché," he said, throatily and not altogether apologetic, "but I don't know what--" he cut himself off and pursed his lips as he re-thought the words.  "I don't deserve you," he concluded.  "Buuuut," he said, inching even closer, hand moving up to move her hair behind her ear.  He cupped her chin in her hand, "I plan to take full advantage of the fact that I have you here..."  His arm moved underneath her, so she was fully in his embrace, "entwined..." he smiled against her lips as they kissed, "ensnared..."  They were forehead to forehead now.  "With no escape."

Akiva laughed, tucking her chin down as he scooted closer.  Blessedly, the absence of screams – or even burbles – from the other bedroom, left them free to just enjoy the morning.  It was refreshing.  She hoped that it was his idea of a birthday present: Akiva would certainly forgive him for 18+ years of whatever he threw at them for this moment. 

Well, several moments (she hoped – if total honesty were the objective).  She had missed this so much.  It had been ages since her feet were warm!  Letting out a deep breath, Akiva snuggled into the pillow drowsy eyed and content.  She could have fallen right back asleep right now. 

She might have to, if not for the fact Dree began to nuzzle her jaw and plant kisses in his wake.  She turned her head to meet his lips before she pulled her head back a little.  Her eyebrows rose in question when he noted clichés, “What?” she piped in before he got to say what he really meant and her cheeks became pink all over.  “Maybe,” she laughed and tilted her chin to the side, “you can,” a squeak as he snaked his arm around her, effectively doing just as he said: no escape!  “Make it up to me,” she managed to say in between bouts of kissing (a much missed and well made up for activity). 

“Someday,” she wrinkled her nose and nuzzled her nose against his.  “I don’t expect anytime soon.”  She finally declared with a self-satisfied smile.  She had no intention of making him feel guilty about closing a distressing chapter in his family’s history that predated their marriage by over a decade.  “So I’m sure I’ll enjoy your efforts to that end.”  And as if on cue, those oh-so typical morning noises permeated the hallway.,“starting with that.”   

"Maybe... make it up to me..." Dree smiled against her lips, liking the sound of this.

"...Someday."

Well, that hadn't gone as planned.  Dree recovered quickly, calling out a challenge as he gave her another squeeze.  "Ooooooh, so that's how it's gonna be..."  He kissed her forehead as Gabe began to gurgle his good morning calls.  Dreogan Rolled off the bed, his feet touching the cold wood floor.  Pausing with his hand on the doorframe, he called back teasingly, "I guess Gabe gets my cuddles, now..." He took two hands down the hall before returning, hand back on the doorframe.  "I expect the omelette to still be here," he amended with a smirk.

Gabe was just crossing that threshold from awake to angry when Dreogan scooped him out of the crib.  Like Dreogan had first seen Gabe do to his brother, the babe's hands instantly went up to his cheek, patting the scruff there, pudgy fingers rubbing over the soft surface as he began to suck his thumb soothingly.  By the time the two returned to Akiva, Gabe was fully alert He wrapped his arms around Gabriel, clutching him to his chest as he bent over so that Gabriel hung upside down in the embrace, his dark curls suspended in air.  The boy giggled raucously.  Well, this was a good birthday present.  It was several more minutes before Gabriel tired of the game and began reaching for mama. 

This was maybe the longest Gabriel had gone before asking for Akiva, the undisputed favorite parent.  Dreogan was making it up to them in little ways. If he had known that all it would have taken was swinging his son upside down, he of course would have made this Plan A. 

"So," he said, handing the boy over and flopping back onto the bed.  He pulled himself forward, taking fistfulls of sheets until he reached the omelette. "I see you left me the lion's share," he said, smiling as he took his first bite.  "Delicious--thank you," he said, propping himself up on his elbow to offer another peck on the lips. 

Akiva did not move from the position she had sort of plopped into when Dree agreed to go get Gabriel.  Laughing, she turned her cheek into the pillow, before turning back with a wide, sunny smile.  “Yes, he does!” she called after him and scooted to her side to watch him go.  She had already nestled herself quite comfortably in the mess of pillows and blanket, like a little nest – Dreogan need not worry about her moving at all to get to his birthday breakfast. 

Closing her eyes again, there was always that small fear that when she felt like she dozed off she’d hear the shriek of their son and it’d be that jarring realization that the past few months were all an elaborate dream.

Thankfully, the sound of padding footsteps coming back to the room and the giggles of her son affirmed that she had nothing to be afraid of.  She opened her eyes, grinning as she saw Gabriel hanging upside down.  Her first impulse was to worry about the blood rushing to his head… but she bit her tongue, let the small clench in her chest pass, and enjoyed the happiest moment she had experienced up until this moment (it was funny how it seemed like that feeling struck her just about every single day). 

Sitting up more properly, Akiva beamed as Gabriel reached for her after squealing with laughter and accepted Gabriel into her arms.  Her grunted as she readjusted him in her lap and finally they both settled into a familiar position with his head resting on her shoulder while she rubbed circles on his back.  She’d have to get up soon.

Akiva pressed a kiss to his temple and laughed as he looked up at her, big brown eyes meeting hers as he indicated that she was, indeed, mama and smiled as she scrunched her nose to make a silly face at him.  It was really hard to imagine there was time this wasn’t her favorite thing in the world.  Of course, realistically, there were also times where it was hard to believe that it was her favorite thing in the world – if she were being honest. 

When Dree spoke again, Akiva relaxed the muscles in her face and looked over – Gabriel’s hand catching her by surprise – splaying on her cheek.  “Of course I did,” she scoffed playfully and removed Gabe’s hand while watching him take the first bite (pride thing – she had to) and smiled smugly as he complimented.  “You’re welcome,” she leaned down and gave him a quick kiss before Gabriel whined, bouncing a little in her hold.  She had this feeling that he did not enjoy not being the center of attention. 

“I think he takes after his Uncle Adon,” she teased, returning her eyes to Gabriel – which automatically cut off the whining.  She pushed his curls around his head.  "But he looks just like you."  She said it fondly, of course, and twirled one of his curls around her index finger.  "Hopefully he won't have my Hogwarts stage, though," she shuddered - all hair, all awkward - she wouldn't wish that on anyone. 

“I think he takes after his Uncle Adon."

"Don't say that!" the words came out a startled laugh. He was not entirely sure how she meant that.  For that matter, he wasn't even entirely sure how he meant that.  He loved Adon dearly, but knowing him as a child, Dreogan was not sure he had the fortitude to revisiting those tantrums--this time as a parent. 

At the same time, Adon had become so much more than that--a young man raging against his destiny, obvious abandonment issues... To compare him to the slightly sulky Gabe seemed unjust, considering how far he'd come.  Somehow, this time around, when Adon'd found himself without his support network--no Dree, no friends, no fiancé--he'd come out of it more self-assured.  There was a quiet sort of confidence there--not the comedic bravado he assumed most of the time.  And it had helped, when, eventually, Adon had been there for Akiva when Dreogan could not.  He wouldn't mind if Gabe grew into that sort of man; even if it took a few tantrums to get there.

But: "The thought of parenting Adon is too, too exhausting for morning-talk," he settled for, mostly teasing.  He looked at his son fondly.  The resemblance, though Dreogan protested it from time to time, was pretty striking.  "Good that Gabe doesn't look like Adon, though. Permanent 5 o'clock shadow on a baby is unnerving..." he kissed the top of Gabe's head before leaning in to kiss Akiva again.  He looked at her, his smile lopsided.  "We've compared tween photos, and I'm still hoping he gets most of his genes from you. In every department."

Laughing brightly, Akiva conceded with a nod.  Obviously, she didn’t know Adon as a child, but Dreogan would know: and if it was exhausting to think about… Well, she never had siblings.   She hadn’t grown up being exposed to young children.  Her parents were both only children, she did have a great aunt on her mum’s side, but she was childless and a bit of an odd duck, so the most Akiva had ever experienced were pets. 

She did have stories of herself as a baby, and her parents had been very insistent that she was a very good baby.  Very easy going, not a huge crier – and she had to say, Gabriel was usually like that too.  She just wondered what he would be like as he turned into his own little person.  He laughed and smiled now, he asked (at least she thought it was asking) for things… what would he be like when he got older?  It was an exciting possibility, really.  No matter what they were going to deal with as he got older. 

“I don’t know, I think he’d be the broodiest baby at play group if that were the case,” she returned his kiss and grinned at him.  “The other mums and babies would just have to wonder at his mysterious past.”  She bounced Gabriel a little and he laughed, tipping back so he laid down against her knees before she raised her legs and pulled on his arms, dragging him back up with more laughs from him. 

What a charming little man, she thought.  “Maybe he’ll surprise us both and defeat our combined awkward years,” she let Gabriel hold onto her hands and swung them back and forth, “Wouldn’t that be a wonder?” she laughed and lifted Gabriel’s hands to her mouth to kiss them both – only a small fail as he gripped her lip for a moment.  Lowering his hands, she looked back over to Dreogan again: “Should we revisit some of those pictures, you know, being your birthday?  Or did you have any other plans in mind for the day?” 

“The other mums and babies would just have to wonder at his mysterious past.”

Dreogan gave a throaty laugh, shaking his head.  "That is one thing I will never understand.  How can anyone think that someone who talks as much as Adon is at all mysterious?" Adon was about as easy to read as a headline--blunt and bold.  And if he was not easy to read, well, it took little to no provocation to extricate a fairly sized treatise or rant on his feelings on just about anything.

He flopped onto his back, frowning and looking up at the ceiling as he considered.  Women seemed to like mystery; his family had enough skeletons and mysteries and secrets to satisfy all the women of Great Britain. (Even if it didn't have enough men to do so.  Though from the way Adon had talked sometimes, it seemed his brother was earnestly trying.  Dree took it for what it was: talk.)   Somehow, he did not think that actually living with these secrets and mystery was something that most women would tolerate, once they did get what they wished for.

Akiva had never wanted the mystery, the secrets, and the uncertainty--and yet she'd endured it with more grace than any woman he could imagine.  He wanted less of that for them in their future.  More security. Dependability.  Puffing air from his cheeks, he inched closer, scooting himself through the bedsheets and propping himself back up on an elbow until he was nearly chest to chest with his little son and wife.  "But enough about Adon," he said, his smirk playful. "This is my day." His face flushed with shyness the moment he'd said it. Such bravado did not come as naturally to him as it did his brother--

Enough about Adon!  Talk of their son was a welcome enough distraction and a fairer trade.  He gave a low hum of approval at the thought that Gabriel might surprise--and outshine--them both.  The words went unspoken, but the sentiment was clear.  Gabriel himself was their little wonder. 

"Should we revisit some of those pictures, you know, being your birthday?"

"Auh!" he gave a startled groan, grinning all the same.  "I should be more careful in what I say! Enough about me and my day, then! We," he said, scooting in closer still to give Gabriel a kiss atop his curls, and another kiss to Akiva, "should enjoy this morning as much and as slowly as we want."  This was hardly unusual.  They had become something of a homebody family of late, what with Dree taking so much time off of work.  Still, so much of that had been mentally laden with simple exercises of reacclimatizing.  Learning to sleep on a bed again instead of the floor.  Learning to tolerate Gabriel's crying for what it was: normal infant behavior.  Learning not to check the locks quite so often.  Learning that it was okay to need time alone.  So little of that time had been spent just enjoying. 

"And then, what do you say to a little hike?"  Who cared if it was chilled and November.  He'd gone walking in the lake country in January last year and it had been striking.  He was sure they could think of something.  "Something to get us out of doors."  He considered.  "Or, if it's too cold, we could bring the outdoors inside with a little charms work."  His wife was cery gifted in charms and wandwork; he would tell anyone as much.  "We talked about setting up that canopy of stars in the living room ..." Once. A year ago.  But the idea had stuck.  "...Could manage some falling snow... we could watch a movie... if we manage to get that television working--" Dreogan's current greatest foe.  The wards and protections about his house that his hearty paranoia demanded conflicted with Dreogan's desire for and fascination of Muggle electronic devices.  It was hard enough just to get Akiva's cell phone to work.  Dreogan would need to work on his new one as well; Adon had resorted to calling and texting Akiva whenever he wanted to get a message--however inane or important--to him.

And really, with his job, he ought to work on that cell phone for his Muggle contacts, today...

"If that doesn't work, we could always... work on a few projects around the house?"  He said tentatively, cringing slightly as he said it.  Least romantic idea ever.

Akiva laughed aloud when Dreogan noted that it was his day and time to move on from talk of his brother: “Fair enough!” she agreed and leaned in to plant a firm kiss on his lips.  “What the birthday boy says, goes,” she nodded and then looked at Gabriel, “right?” she wrinkled her nose at him and he squealed in response – this was her version of a perfect morning. 

Maybe baby pictures might have made a little more perfect, but she’d concede for the moment… and find time later.  Probably at dinner with Adon and Hestia… But there was so much time between then and now to fill with whatever else they wanted to do.  Obligations could wait, it was time to enjoy!  So, a hike sounded fantastic – even taking some nature indoors could be enjoyable… but it wasn’t the same. 

No, it was daylight out – and as winter closed in on them, she was sure they’d kick themselves for throwing away the opportunity to venture out before it was dark at 16:00.  A plan was forming in her head: as long as they could be back by 13-14:00 for Gabriel’s nap… yes, this could definitely work.

“I have it,” she sat up suddenly, hugging Gabriel to her chest as she did – a peal of laughter bubbled up from the baby.  “Hiking first – I think he can withstand a little bit of chilly weather,” Akiva rubbed her nose against Gabriel’s – feeling his hands tugging at her hair, “as long as I’ve got him all bundled.” 

Her eyes strayed back toward her husband.  “Then,” a wide smile, “we’ll come back – you’ll put Gabriel down for his nap and I will set up that canopy.”  She had a few spells in her back pocket, she knew she could do it – she had set up some lovely night lights for Gabriel before, it would be virtually the same thing.  “I doubt we’ll even need the tele,” she added.

Then paused.  Then blushed.  “The wireless is much easier to use,” she pointed out quickly, “it’s silly to tinker with things on your birthday.”  Very easily smoothed over.  And then there was the matter of getting ready… she had to feed Gabriel and get him dressed and somehow find time in all of that to get herself ready, particularly if they wanted to be back in time for a non-screaming baby. 

“Time to go! Chop chop, Dree,” she laughed and swung her legs over the side of the bed.  “Gabriel and I are going to beat you getting ready.”