One More Night!

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 28th January 2008

Characters: Causton, Bryton, Ednes, Tildy
Description: Causton and the boys visit their new home before the rest of the family arrives
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 13 of Turn 4

"Now, you two settle down, I don't want you creating mayhem when Desree and her team have worked so hard to get this place looking so nice for your mother." he held up a cautionary finger to the two boys, and with a nod to Tildy, their temporary foster-mother, he turned to go into his new study.

"C'mon boys, we'll go up to your room and make sure everything is set for your mama's arrival."

"I'll race you!" Bryton held his arm across his older brothers waist to impede his start and took off up the staircase with a clatter of footsteps.

"Remind me I need to get some carpet for those stairs." Causton commented to Tildy before he closed his study door.

"One more night, one more night." he sang the words over and over again, to himself, as he walked around the old desk and took a seat in the well upholstered chair. It may be well padded, but there was still the shape of some old Masters behind well and truly stamped into it. He rocked his backside back and forth, trying to eradicate the uncomfortable hollows and ridges, to no avail. He'd have to see about that, he thought, standing again and making his was across to the small couch at the side of the room.

Just one more day and it wouldn't just be the sound of the boys playing rough and tumble overhead, he mused. There would be the tinkling laughter of his wife, the happy screams and squeal of his older two daughters and perhaps the occasional wail of his youngest child. He felt like his heart would burst with happiness at any moment.

It had been too long, necessary - but such a long time for them to be apart, with only the occasional visit and for the most part, they had been unplanned. If he hadn't been to visit them for Neva's birth and then to collect the boys, it may have been more than two months that he wouldn't have seen them for.

It was the longest time they had been apart since he and Geni had married. Definitely the longest time he had been apart from any of the children, since they had been born. It was only now, he realised he could never do it to them, or himself again. The ache to hug or kiss them, to just _be_ with them, had begun to grow - even before the boys had arrived, which had been the reason he had already decided to visit them aboard the Sungazer, before word had come about Neva's impending birth.

"Dar! Dar!" the boys cries had him crossing the room in two strides, pulling open the door, he could see them racing down the stairs, the thunder of their boots echoing around the wide entrance hall.

"Yes, definitely some carpet!" he nodded more to himself than Tildy who was walking sedately down the stairs behind the boys. The bump in her midsection only now becoming obvious, and the reason she too hadn't raced down the staircase with the boys.

"Dar!" "Dar!" theboys yelled in unison, dancing around him now, and jabbering on excitedly.

"Whoa! Slow down, one at a time." he said, loudly enough to be heard by both of them, despite their hurried talking, "What's wrong?"

"There's an old cart out-"

"- in the garden-"

"-and we wanna know if-"

"-we could maybe-"

"-get it running again to take it out-"

"- for rides around the Hall?"

The staccato speech from the pair of them, caused a smile to form on his face. "I'm not sure your mother would appreciate me saying yes to that request, but we'll see." he promised. "I might help you to repair it, but only if you both promise that you won't try to take it out without letting your mother and I know first."

The boys looked to each other before nodding energetically to their father, "Promise." "Promise." they both agreed.

"Okay then, I'm still not promising anything, but if your mother is in agreement, we might get it up and working again." Now he just had to figure out where the nearest smith was who could help him with the repairs.

"Oh thank you Dar!"

"Yes, thanks Dar! You're the best!"

It pleased him to be able to do this for the boys, and truth be told, if they could get the cart up and working, it would be ideal for Geni and the family to get around in, once they had settled in here. he needed to see about getting at least two runners for the family anyway, but if he could buy and heavier one for the cart, he could be assured of them all getting around without him if they needed to.

"Yes, I think I'll see if I can find someone who knows how to get it back in working order." he said, not quite to himself. "Now, do you think you'll like this place?" he asked the pair.

"Oh yes Dar! So much better than staying in the apprentice hall." Ednes nodded.

"It doesn't smell like that place does." Bryton said, wrinkling his nose.

"Smell?" Causton looked from one to the other. "I didn't think it smelled." he shook his head looking puzzled.

"I think its a boy thing." Tildy said quietly. "They've been complaining for days that the dorm they have been in smells of smelly feet."

"Ooh. I see." Causton laughed, "Well no boys, you won't have to put up with that smell any longer. How about we spend the night here, just to make it feel lived in before your mama gets here tomorrow?"

Excited yells filled the hallway again, and Causton laughed, "You can leave them with me for the night Tildy, and tomorrow, you'll finally have that day of rest you've been craving since the boys arrived." he grinned. She could return to her home and start preparing for the birth of her and journeyman Ulter's first child.

"Thank you for helping out this past few sevendays, I would have been lost without you." he smiled. "Ulter's a very lucky man, he'll not only have a lovely wife, but a capable mother for his children."

"Thank you, Sir." she said, flushing a little with the compliment.

"Okay boys, we'll head back to the Hall and get out things packed, may as well move it all over before dinner tonight."

They moved across to the front door, and with a last happy glance around the room, Causton pulled the door closed behind him.

**One more night!** the thought danced into his mind again.

Last updated on the January 31st 2008

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One More Night!