Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me! Thank you!

I ran up and hugged the man before pulling back and smiling at the too tall Nord for a while. After he just stood there looking down at me with an expression that was somewhere between grumpy and uncomfortable, I shrugged and turned to look at the door that finally had been put into place after having been leaning against the wall for what felt like weeks.

For all I know it could have actually been weeks, having lost myself a bit just enjoying the chance to spend time with Cicero and a few of the other Family members who had started putting in the occasional effort to great me and include me in their daily chats with each other. Of course, it took a while before Babette grew tired of being pulled away from her experiments and finally told them to just have me write down what I wanted to say.

There had been laughter for several minutes after that as Ellery, Cicero and I all enjoying the looks on their faces after having the simple idea spelled out for them after so much time of everyone thinking one of the lip readers would always be needed to translate for them. It only got louder when they joined us after making a quick agreement not to tell any of the other Siblings and let them find out for themselves. Who knew the Grumpy Uncle and the Mysterious Sister could be so delightfully wicked?

Of course, that had only held for so long with the Too Tall Nord when I went to ask him yet again if he would help with the door, hoping for a yes after he had so kindly helped with the ceiling of me and Cicero's shared bedroom. When he'd frowned and shook his head after a few thoughtful moments, it was only the fact that he seemed regretful of the refusal that had me pausing instead of simply walking off to try again another time.

To find out that his wife, the False Leader, had forbidden him from assisting me again without gaining something significant in exchange was not as surprising as it could have been if she hadn't already proven herself to have a strong dislike of me and my Jester Assassin. It had barely taken a moment of thought before I had pulled out some chalk and a roll of slightly used parchment that was quickly rolled out and I began bargaining.

His eyes widening for only a moment, he soon shot me an appraising look before he began his own side of the bartering, refusing the coin I'd offered since it was as easy as taking a contract to get more if needed. He had little use for any of the books I had and I freely admitted I hadn't sought out any on blacksmithing, although I added the idea to my mental list of trinkets to keep an eye out for from now on.

It was only when Babette passed by and commented that I knew a few 'interesting' enchantments that his interest seemed to peak, asking which ones I knew. Watching the small Not Child cover her mouth as she laughed and walked off to go seek out her nightly meal, I soon began writing the same list I had shown Babette the other day, focusing mostly on ones that could be applied to weapons and armor.

It hadn't been much later when we had shaken hands and I found myself watching him install the door that now stood ready to finally grant me and my Cicero true privacy instead of simply having an illusion of it when we had either hung a curtain across the entry or, more recently, slanted the door across to at least mostly block off the corridor.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow after breakfast to get your payment, right tidbit?" He grinned at me, showing far more teeth than he needed to.

Of course, Brother!

I nodded as I spoke to him, making it clear I was agreeing. The hand on my head that rustled my hair for a moment caught me by surprise before he turned to walk off. Before he could take more than a few steps, I jumped forward and grabbed his arm, pulling him back around.

Wait. I... Wait.

Reaching one hand into my pouch, I pulled out a carefully wrapped package, pressing it into his hand before closing his fingers around it and turning him back toward the exit before giving him a gentle push to continue on. I pushed him a little harder when he turned his head to peer at me before he began chuckling at the heavy blush that I could feel heating my face.

"Okay, niblet, okay. I'll go and leave you to your... whatever you had planned now that you have a door. I'll see you tomorrow, don't forget," he said with a smirk, once again rustling my hair before moving down the corridor.

He only laughed harder when I shut the door loudly, leaning against the door as if it could somehow make my spur of the moment decision be undone. I'd never handed anyone other than Cicero a gift, always hiding them away, but something had made me feel that it was the right thing to do.

"If you are going to regret a choice, you shouldn't have made it in the first place," Ellery scowled at me as he crossed his arms over his chest.

I don't regret it, not really. I am just unsure why I made it. It just... felt right to do, I guess?

He stared at me intently for a few minutes before sighing. Moments later he was walking toward me and reaching out slowly to brush his fingers through my hair, something he hadn't done since before he... Since before.

"He messed up your hair," was all he said before turning and walking toward the table, sitting down and grabbing the book that had been laying there.

Oh... Okay.

Reaching up, I grabbed a lock of my hair and began tugging gently on it, trying to subtly get rid of the strange feeling he'd left behind with his simple action. It had felt so different from when Amicus or Cicero touched my hair. Not unpleasant, but so very different nonetheless.