Family Time

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 21st November 2019

Characters: Karhal, Loella
Description: Karhal and Loella spend some time with their children.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 25 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris

Karhal

Loella

"Wivvie!" Karella toddled towards the canine, her little steps still a
little stumbling and gripped the fur catching herself. The canine gave
a brief wag of her tail, but looked up at Karhal plaintively as a
small hand grabbed for her ear.

Karhal chuckled and swooped the little girl up in his arms. "Don't
pull, Karella. It hurts her. Go lay down, Livie." He watched as Livie
escaped into his office, darting directly towards her bed. He looked
over at his wife, watching as his son fed. "How do you do this all
day?"

"With great joy," she smiled up at him gently. "They're only tiny for
such a short time. You have to grab all the joy you can while they
are."

"I suppose you're right." He bounced Karella in his arms and grinned
as she giggled. He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Up! Up!" She lifted her hands.

"You are up." But he knew what she wanted. Chuckling, he gripped her
lightly then tossed her in the air, catching her easily and loving the
sound of her excited giggles. He tossed her again, caught her, then
set her down. "That's enough for now."

"Papa, up!" She lifted her hands again.

"You know she'll never get tired of that right?"

He sighed and nodded with a soft laugh. "Aye, I know. My arms will get
tired before she does." He ruffled the scant hair on his daughter's
crown. "Not now, sweetling." At her pout, he took one hand, helping
her walk towards the couch. Sitting beside his wife, he hauled Karella
up into his lap. "Is he about done?"

Karella looked down at her little brother reaching to poke at him, but
stopped by her father. "He stinky." Her nose wrinkled before hugging
her father around his neck.

"Don't poke him Karella," Loella said with a smile. "You'll just make
him cry and you know how you don't like that."

Rikka sat at her feet, tail slowly thumping and chin on her knee.
"This one wont leave his side," she smiled up at her husband.

Pouting, Karella looked down at her little brother who had taken so
much of her mother's attention from her. Jealous, she clung to her
father. "Up!"

"Not right now, Karella. " Karhal glanced at Rikka and gave an
approving smile. "Good. It means he'll always have a companion.
Canines like Rikka are good with children. I'm afraid Livie's just
trying to avoid having her fur grabbed." He reached to caress his
son's cheek, his finger finishing by caressing his wife's soft skin.
"He's eating well."

"Yes," she smiled down at her nursing son. "He likes to eat almost as
much as you do," her amused eyes tilted up at him through her lashes.
How could she have imagined this moment all those turns ago when
Karhal didn't really even seem to know she was alive.

"If you didn't cook so well, then I would have to jog so much." The
big man's eye were gentle. His family, one he'd never thought he'd
have, was precious to him. "I do have to take the evening duty shift
this sevenday. Veyter's wife is due any time and you know the
pregnancy has been hard on her. She's lost three and he doesn't want
to leave her alone. "

"I haven't seen her lately," Loella acknowledged. "How is she feeling?"

"He hasn't said. They're private people. I'm sure she's nervous and
frightened. I don't mind covering for him in this situation, they
need the time together." He couldn't fault his second for his request.
"I do know she's on bedrest." He carefully broached another subject.
"And I may have to leave for a sevenday or so after. I've a request
to investigate a Holder's death. It appears to be a tragic accident,
but the family believes it's suspicious. "

"Yes," she nodded. "Oh? She looked up concerned. Are you sure it's
safe? You'll be careful right?"

"As safe as it ever is, sweet." Karhal, reached out to caress her
cheek with one callused finger. "But it should be nothing. I think
this family is just reaching for anything right now and looking for
someone to blame. It shouldn't take too long. So don't worry over
much. If Zathris was truly concerned, he'd have had me leave before
now and it's been a couple months since the man died. I think he's
just trying to make them happy right now so they'll stop sending
requests."

"Aye," she agreed. "Desperate people can be dangerous so just watch
your back," her eyes darkened with concern. "But be careful please?
We need you here." She said.

"I know." With all of the injuries he'd sustained after the last few
turns, he didn't fault her for being worried. "I will be, I give you
my word." Karhal patted his daughter on her back, then grunted as she
began hopping up and down on his lap. Her feet landed on a sensitive
area and he groaned, curling up slightly. "Faranth, she _is_ your
child."

"As much as you can," she still sounded concerned. A smile tilted her
lips, "I'd never intentionally hurt something that gives so much
pleasure,"

"She bounces on me like that again, you may not be getting much
pleasure from it for a while." He grimaced and moved Karella off of
his lap, setting her down. Giving her a gentle pat on the bottom, he
then gestured to her toys. "Go play, sweetling."

Karella sat down with her toys and began to do as her da had suggested.

Loella shook her head. "She never obeys me like that," she said then
looked down. The baby had fallen asleep so she gently detached him and
tucked herself back in with one hand. "Here," she said and handed him
to his father. "You burp him."

Taking his son carefully, Karhal propped him up on his shoulder and
began patting his back with a broad hand. "Daddy's girl. " He winked
at his wife and at a sudden loud belch, he blinked. "Woah. That's my
boy!"

Loella tucked herself back together and smiled back up at him with an
impish dimple. "Would you change him?"

Karhal went still, looked down at his son, felt his bottom, then
looked back at Loella. "You tricked me." The accusation was rueful and
he sighed. "Yes. One day I'll learn not to trust that grin of yours.
One day."

She simply batted her lashes at him.

Last updated on the December 7th 2019

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