Truly runs her fingers through her hair as she leaves the bedroom and dips into the light wood floor bathroom to get ready. The tiny room only has enough room for a tiny shower, just big enough to turn around in, a toilet, and a pedestal sink with a medicine cabinet hanging over it. Truly opens the cabinet up and pulls out a hairband so that she can throw her hair up into a bun. Her mind drifts to thinking about the last three weeks without him and how the winter solstice was ruined. Truly suddenly stills. "Kade!" She turns and runs to the door of her bedroom. "Where is ye mum?!"

As he pulls on his boots, Kade stills. "In my house in Libertalia, ta my knowledge. I can't say for sure though, Aba took me phone first thing."

"Will she be alright t'ere?" A look of concern passes over Truly's face. "T'ey won't hurt her?"

"Not if they want ta live." A dark look crosses Kade's face. "Besides the fact Mama sees me Omma as a sister, she knows we'd rain hell down on her, even Draken. My father was livid enough he'd throw her on Calypso's Cruelty himself and cast her off if she so much as stepped foot into Brovern. He'd take touching his wife as a personal slight against him, even if he has no love for her. Same with Draken. It's all about honor for them. Nothing matters but that and the Brovern name." His eyes scan the table first out of habit before he remembers he threw his phone along with everything else onto the chair. "I can call her, so long ye have service." I'll have to explain that I can't do Christmas now. She was really looking forward to it this year too. A slight grimace crosses his face as a bit of regret fills him. Mama had told her the plans with Truly's family were canceled without his consent, so she'd hoped for a small thing with just the family but now. It's best just not to say anything. I don't want Treasure feeling somehow to blame. "She was expecting a call when things settled down."

Truly's shoulder slack in relief. "If ye want ta call her, ye'll have ta use me landline. We have little use for cellphone on ta island." She steps into the bedroom and goes to her dresser. As she pulls out a soft knit skirt and a tank top, she asks, "What are ye gonna tell her if she asks where ye are t'ough?"

"I'm not sure. Your dad said he sent you to the motherland. I'd rather not have to explain why I'm in Ireland and how I managed to leave the islands. I'm not foolish enough ta lie because she may very well be at our house waiting."

"Could ye tell her t'at yer on Emerald Isle?"

"I could, but she might want to come then. It's better if I talk to the Lieutenant Governor first."

"We need ta decide for ourselves what we want ta do next, too. And how we are goin' ta get ye back ta school while stayin' tagetha." Truly gnaws on her lip. "I guess I could jist go back with ye." It might be risky, but if it means being with him, then it will be worth it.

A look of unease crosses Kade's face. "I didn't even take me end of term tests. Hopefully, someone thought to tell the school what was actually going on."

"I'm sure t'ey did, Kade. I doubt yer career is ova."

"Worst case, I get to do the entire semester over." His lips thin at the idea. "Did you at least get to take yours?"

"Noh, and it looks like I left of me own free will ta go to Ireland, so... t'at's t'at." Truly frowns.

"Who had the sense to realize what was going on and saved ye, anyway? Yer dad just said friends of mine."

"Brandyn."

Kade nods. That makes sense. "I asked him ta get our drinks, and he saw Gideon come fetch me. I'm glad ye had the sense to go with him. He tends to act first and tell you his plan along the way.

Truly gives him an unamused look. "I didn't. He was actin' shady like he was tryin' ta drag me off, for who knows what, and I told him ta get his hands off me. Finn came up and dragged me off when we found out ye were in trouble."

"Aye, sounds like something he'd do. Well, besides, just throw ye over his shoulder." His stomach rumbles again, reminding him he so cruelly skipped lunch. "I suppose we should go rescue a certain monkey and get dinner."

"Aye. Ta dogs will be meetin' us t'ere in a bit. It's been t'ere routine as of late. They barrel me ove in ta mornin' when I leave, run a muck around ta island all day, and come home completely worn out around dinna."

"Where's the scaredy cat?" Kade's eyes scan the small place for the shitless bastard. "Did ye actually leave him behind?"

"He won't come out of his damn box. Apparently he's immune ta a siren's call." Truly frowns. Regardless of what others think of him, she misses her cat. "Mum and Aunt Liza tried ta coax him out, but he wouldn't have it. So he's stuck at our house, gettin' fed by me cousins."

He gives a small nod. "He'd have hated the boat ride over," a smirk crosses his face. "Or the swim."

"T'at's not funny." Truly glares at him.

Choosing to wisely keep his mouth shut, Kade's eyes run appreciatively over her. "Ye ready?"

"Aye." Truly leads him out of the cottage and back to the path that takes them there. She walks him up a steep hill that overlooks a quaint neighborhood of little cookie-cutter houses. "It's basically a retirement community and me Granddah and Nan, take care of ta residents. T'ere are several down t'ere are a few of me own family's generations on both sides live here too, but ye don't have ta meet t'em all tanight."

Seeing a dozen or so houses, Kade's eyes slightly widen. "How many of ye are here? There's already an army of Davelvons on the islands."

"Five, so t'at a lot of couples, if ye t'ink about it. Me daddy had two parents, then four grandparents, the eight great-grand, and so on."

Great grand... I think I'm getting a headache. He reaches up and rubs his forehead. "Yer really hitting me with it all, aren't ye?"

"Ye can jist say it's too much." Truly walks down the hill toward her grandparents' house. "But at te same time... ye asked."

"Aye. Sometimes I curse my inquisitive nature." His eyes flick to her. "Anything I need ta know? I'd rather not offend her."

"One of her sons is Angus. I t'ink her bar of expectations has lowered since his birth." Truly chuckles.

Kade raises a brow. "I happen ta like Angus, so long as he keeps his clothes on."

"Aye, he's me favorite uncle, but don't ye dare tell te othas t'at. I'm jist sayin', Nan has been knowin' ta say, well at least he ain't Angus."

"No, he could be Brody." Kade grumbles as his thumb runs across the top of her hand in his. "Angus is at least good natured."

"Brody's not so bad." Truly's nose wrinkles up, barely believing her own words. "I mean he must be charmin' he caught ta eye of his fiance, Camryn."

"That or she's just mad."

Truly slaps his shoulder with her free hand. "Ye haven't even met her. She's actually nice, I'll have ye know."

"Are ye sure the males aren't stronger?" He smirks as he leans away in anticipation of her next strike.

Truly's eyes narrow on him. "Ye want proof?"

"Do I want a man ta try to seduce me?" Kade raises a brow. "That'd be a no."

"I meant me, ye git." Truly rolls her eyes. "I could start singin' and ye'd wake up ta next morin' starvin' and barely rememberin' what happened to ye. Ye think ye hit ye head on ta mast ta day on ta Rossi, but ye didn't. I accidentally sang a bit too hard ta ye."

Kade stills. "What? I remember all the times you've sung ta me, Treasure. Grant it, it seemed off I suddenly lost my footing and hit me head." That would've formed a knot on the back of my skull, not a bruise on my jaw. "I've never lost me balance before, even in rough seas."

"Me song are stronga with me tail, and I was singin' a matin' song. I slipped inta a trance meself cause we locked eyes, and well, ye tried ta drive off ta boat ta get ta me. Alfie had ta deck ye ta knock ye out so ye didn't kill yerself."

A slight frown crosses Kade's lips as he tries to recall being on the Rossi while she sang, but he only gets flashes and a vague feeling of being restrained before he woke up below deck.

"I'm sorry, by ta way." Truly's embarrassed gaze turns up to him. "I lost me control and put ye in danga. I suppose t'at nasty woman is right ta a degree. It can be dangerous around me. It isn't as bad for a full-blooded siren male, but for a human, it messes with ye head."

Unsure of what to say, Kade runs a hand through his hair. "Aye ye did, but if I'd managed ta get to the Sapphire what would ye have done? I highly doubt it's drowning me, for me Kraken's tear like the Adébáyọ̀s would insist. They only see malicious intent when it comes to Sirens."

"Of course not. If I wanted ta tear, I would have took off ta day ye showed me ta ye trove, and put t'at necklace on me. Ta basic instinct of ta song is ta breed t'en send ye about ye way while I brew me pretty little offspring. It's not meant ta harm."

He reaches up with his free hand and cups the side of her face. "If it matters, I never thought they were. Yer songs are too pretty for that." His eyes drop to her lips on instinct. "I am curious how ye tranced yerself."

Truly turns several shades of red. "It doesn't matta." She quickly turns and starts walking off.

"Oh, no ye don't." Using his long legs, Kade catches up to her and wraps his arms around her, pulling her firmly against his front. "Why'd ye trance yerself too, Treasure? If ye don't tell me, I'll just ask yer Nan why."

"Don't ye dare!" Truly's eyes go wide. She lets out a sigh. "I was ovulatin', alright?" Truly's blush deepens even further. "I was ovulation' in me siren state and all me body knew was me mate was t'ere and it was time ta make a babe. Neva mind ta fact t'at I'm on birth control and t'at can't happen, but I guess me body didn't know t'at."

Unable to hide it, the corner of Kade's lip smugly curls. "Seems like the two sides of ye aren't quite in tune. Yer gonna have to decide which it is ye want. A few more years or," his hand holding hers lets go and slides between them to touch her stomach. "My babe brewin' here."

"Please don't jest. It was in basic instincts, and one t'at I should have control ova. It's like a preteen boy gettin' a boner in front of a cute girl." Her gaze drops to the ground.

"I'm not jesting, omen. I'd happily have a child with ye if you wanted one now, but I'm also fine with waiting. Ye just have to decide what it is you want."

"I don't know. A lot of it will depend on what ye want as well, Kade." Her eyes flick up to him. "I don't want ta pressure ye one way or ta otha, but if ye want ta turn siren, or at least try, I don't want ta make a half-breed and explain it ta te poor kid later why he's different t'en his mum and dah. Or if ye want ta switch and we get pregnant afta ye do, t'en ye need ta know what it's like ta have a siren babe."

"They're not the same?" His fingers continue to caress the fabric of her shirt.

"Noh, there's a difference between all t'ree. Human, half-breed, and siren. Half-breeds aren't common among us, and we can only go off of historical records."

"Ye mean Dour and Merrik and the ones Orsion had. Unless it's a dominant gene thing, I assume they were half bloods."

"Aye, they were, until t'ey were given a pearl. They were born with legs, accordin' ta records... and Orison. T'ey couldn't change, but they had gills ta let t'em breath undawater. Since t'ey were boys, they didn't have ta call anyway, but t'ey lacked one otha t'ing, but t'at would've showed up afta maturity, anyway." Truly shrugs as she runs a hand gently over his.

"And if I decide not to? Then what?"

"T'en nothin', as far as kids go." Truly turns in his arms to face him. "We have half-breed children t'at can decide for t'emselves later on what t'ey want ta do."

His expression turns serious. "Will it matter to the others if they're half-breeds? They turned the only ones known young, aye?"

"Aye, but it wasn't cause t'ey were outcasts, if t'at's what ye are worried about. It was an accident with one of ta boys, then afta t'at it was selfish decisions on Pasha's part." Truly's chest tightens. "She didn't want ta out live her children, ta idea of losing Orison was hard enough and Merrik was an accident, according ta journals. He was ta first ta change. He got a hold of one of his mum's pearls and ate it."

"And siren babes?" He raises a brow. "How are they different?"

"T'ey can't always control t'eir changes. Ye can be given' ye wee one a bath t'en he or she's screamin' its precious head off cause t'eir growin' a tail. T'ey don't have a problem when t'ey got a nappy on, but ye get ta off and it's free game. And for both half-breeds and siren babes, ye gotta flush out t'ere gills for t'em, unless ye raise t'em in ta water until t'ey learn ta breath right."

"So we'd have ta worry about others like me omma watching them and finding out, or them switching in water around others." Mom would take offense and think I didn't trust her. Great.

"Aye, t'at was a lot of Orison's problem. T'ey'll be able ta hear t'e otha too if we go ta t'e beach. If we were back home, t'ey'll be able ta hear sirens talkin' here at the chain." Truly wraps her arms around his waist. "It wouldn't be a problem except ye don't want ye child tellin' othas t'at t'ere are voices in ta water."

"Or talking ta it, aye. It could make them wonder what's in there." Kade's hand drifts to her hip. "Is that why yer all so reclusive on your island?

"Aye, it makes it easier ta raise ye young." Truly bite her lower lip. "Are ye still up for it, knowin' what it's like?"

For a moment, Kade considers his answer. "Aye. My only concern is switching around others and hurting me omma's feelings because she thinks we don't trust her watching a babe. Is there a way to ensure it doesn't happen?"

"I don't t'inks so. I'd have ta ask me mum or nan. I don't have much experience with babes." Truly chews on her lip for a bit.

"You said they won't change in their diapers, aye?"

"Aye." She nods. "Ye can't change with somet'in' in ta way."

"So a baby's swim bottoms would work most places," Kade says more to himself. We might come up with a reason they need one on if bathing, perhaps.

"As long as t'ey keep t'em on, aye. We'll also have young swimmers, younger t'an what most would consida normal."

"What about on land? Hailee went through a phase of streaking on her mum. Raven thought it was hilarious when she'd run out stark naked ta greet us."

"T'ey can change on land, hurts like hell. Ta water helps soothe the process. But it's not likely t'ey will. Ta water seems ta trigger it. It might be questions ye want ta ask me mum, Nan, or one of me sista-in-laws. But I've neva heard Scarlette or Hadley complain about any of ta boys changin' on land when t'ey were little. I also can't go ta a regular docta when I'm pregnant. T'ey'll see they gills on ta ultrasound, and if t'ey are full siren ye may catch t'em with t'ere tails, and not t'ey legs." Truly pulls out of his arms. "Now come on, yer starvin'. We don't need ta be talkin' about babes when we aren't even sure if I'm going' back ta school or not."

"Do ye want to? I heard Bray say the Adébáyọ̀s can never come to any other island save Traitor's Noose." Which means I'd have to move the Black Raven to be safe for her to sail, too. I assume the other Lieutenant Governors have a way to ensure that."

"Aye, I'd like ta go back ta school. I didn't start jist ta occupy me time." Truly turns up a stone walkway that leads to an olive green beach home. "I like helpin' ta animals."

When they walk up on the front porch, Truly glances up at him. "I feel as if I should apologize for me nan before ye meet her. She means well, but is a bit... pushy."

Kade grins. "Ye mean like Killian? I'll be fine, I'm used ta it."

"Uh, huh. Jist remember, I warned ye." Truly's lip curls up slightly before she pulls the screen door open. "Nan, we're here!"

"It is about time!" Truly's nan's voice carries through the house.

Truly lets out a sigh and pulls Kade into a nice sunroom decorated in natural colors, with shell wind chimes hanging along the window frames. "Ye done it now," she hisses back at him.

Guiding him through a small sitting room, she turns to the right, into a small bright white kitchen. A woman who looks to be in her early forties picks up a large tray of fruit to take to the table. When her gaze catches sight of Truly and Kade, she stills, and her eyes narrow on the marks upon her neck. "Now I see why ye took yer sweet time."

Truly's eyes widen as she turns three shades of red. "Nan!"

"Don't Nan me. Ye betta of made ta best of it and be given' me somet'in' betta t'an a damn monkey."

An amused grin crosses Kade's face. "Aye, I'll work on that." He goes to extend his free hand but thinks better of it since her hands are full. "It's nice ta finally meet ye, ma'am. Would you like help with that?" He nods to the trays.

"It's nice ta finally meet ye as well, luv. And glad ta see ye safe and sound." Rossi nods her head in greeting, causing some of her chocolate-colored hair to fall in her face as she hands the tray over to him. "Mind settin' t'at on ta table for me, Awen."

Nodding, Kade walks away with it and sets it on the wood dining table.

"He prefers, Kade, Nan."

"Oh, right, right, me apologies, luv." Rossi wraps an arm around Truly. "So when should I be expectin' me great grand babe t'en?"

"By ta seven seas, ye are relentless, Nan." Truly cuts the woman a glare. "Mum doesn't even nag me t'is much."

"What do ye expect?" Rossi raises a brow at her. "I'm grownin' old and te only comfort me old withered bones have is hold wee babes in arms."

"Ye are really layin' it on t'ick taday, ain't ye?"

"Course, I want a babe. He wants a babe." She nods to Kade, taking his; I'll work on that as wanting one. "Ye have lots of parents, aunts, and sister-in-laws ta help ye raise t'em. So school and bein' a mum and dah will be easy for ye." She looks at Kade. "Aye?"

"If I say aye," he gives a small nod towards Truly as he places the tray down. "She'll have me head for it later."

Truly shakes her head. "So much for bein' a united team. Don't encourage her."

An amused look crosses his face. "Don't remember saying anything one way or the other, but aye, I'd like one, eventually. She just prefers we wait a few years, so that's what we're doin'."

"Years?" Rossi's head snaps to Truly. "Yer goin't ta make me wait years?! I'm eighty-two!"

"Oh, me stars." Truly rolls her eyes. "If ye want more wee ones, make ye own, woman, cause ye can. Yer not t'at old. And ye got several great-grandsons as is"."

"Aye, exactly, ye brotha's and cousins keep givin' me boys. I'm still pushin' ye all for more in hopes I get anotha girl."

"Ye could always have a competition to see which one of ye has one first," Kade smirks as he comes beside Truly. "Fifth time could be the charm." His eyes drop to his wife. "Or yer first."

"Oh no, I put me time in. Raised me sons, and now want ta sit back and enjoy otha's babes."

"Where's Daddy, and Granddah?" The change of subject is Truly's last-ditch effort to turn the conversation.

"Outside drinkin' and keep t'at monkey of yers out of ta fruit."

"I'll get Coco. I need ta talk to the Lieutenant Governor anyway and get appraised on what's been going on while I was in Wintershall. He might know more about me Omma too." He gives Truly's hip a light squeeze before he pulls away to go out to the back porch. As he goes to step out, a twinkle of mischief crosses his eyes. "Before I forget, I'm supposed ta ask ye about siren babes and the potential issues on raising one on Atlantis. She doesn't know much and me own omma, I assume, needs ta stay in the dark without feeling we don't trust her."

"Ye scoundrel." Truly hisses as Rossi's face lightens with the flood of information she can pass on to her granddaughter.

"You're the one who said to ask." Kade pops a grape in his mouth as he snags a piece of banana off the table for Coco. Once outside, he takes a seat in the chair across from the two men, softly making a noise with his tongue to get Coco's attention as he holds up the fruit.

"Hello, Kade." A broad smile crosses Orison's face as Coco leaves Shane's knee before hopping over to the boy.

The little squirrel monkey happily chirps away to her daddy, telling him she's so glad he's back and about her grand sea adventure. A tale that no doubt Kade would enjoy if only he understood her rapid chirps.

"Hello, sir." He lightly pets her fur and moves the banana piece in front of her.

"Ye survived Rossi, I see." Orison's gaze drops to the monkey that takes the banana from Kade's hand and chops away at it.

Across from him, Shane grabs a beer out of the cooler next to him and leans over the square rustic table to hand the bottle to his son-in-law. "Did ye sacrifice me daughta to me mum?"

"I merely asked her for advice on siren babes like she asked me to." Kade lightly shrugs, a hint of mischief in his eyes. It doesn't last long, though, before his expression sobers. "She wants me to consider taking a pearl after learning the consequences of doing so or not. But I'd like to know first what's been going on and how me Omma's doing. That and if she's still in Libertalia or made her way to Bristham on me."

Shane leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. "She's good, as far as I know. When ye were takin', ye dah ordered her back to Ravenwood ta be with him, and she's been t'ere since."

He what? Kade's body semi-tenses as feelings of his own unease and happiness for her intermingle. Going back to her boys to be a family again is all she ever wanted, but he can't see his father and Draken being the welcoming family she deserves and craves past Christmas. God, is that what she meant by Christmas as a family? "That's... good." The edge in his voice, though, hints it might not actually be. He might have even preferred she stay in Libertalia than return to Ravenwood since it gives his father power over him. "And me cousin Raven, do ye know how he sided in the matter?"

Shane nods, "He seems ta be leanin' with te Adébáyọ̀s."

I figured as much. Kade's lips thin as he plays with Coco on his lap. Raven's always been the most superstitious of them. "He didn't make any moves, though? He's just stayed in Rimmeny to yer knowledge."

"He's still in Rimmeny. I wouldn't say he sided with t'em, jist leanin'. He didn't seem outraged when t'ey took ye, but he also didn't help ta get ye back. He didn't make any moves ta help t'em either. So more neutral I suppose, but I'm pretty sure he told ye dah t'at t'e Adébáyọ̀s probably had a good reason for takin' ye." Shane takes a sip of his beer.

"I figured as much." Kade lightly sighs, knowing things might be different between them now. "He shouldn't be a problem though, Raven's superstitious and runs his mouth, but he's not one to take action against family, and besides Hailee, I'm the closest he's got." Kade shifts in the chair, raising his arm for Coco to jump to like her own personal human jungle gym. "If he won't be an issue and yer all ensuring they stay up in Wintershall, can we go home? We've got end of term tests ta see if we can take and a life there."

"Perhaps." Shane's gaze flicks between Kade and his dad. "It wasn't Raven t'at turned ye in, but someone did. Someone went ta t'e Adébáyọ̀s."

"Aye." Kade's expression hardens. "That was likely Gideon Rous, my bloody right hand and roommate at Psi Omega. He apparently saw me walk inta the water twice when she was singing. Once on me island when I heard her singing before them and went to check it out and a second time at a pool party at our frat house. The last apparently confirmed it ta him, since a few others seemed out of it too. Brandyn saw him come ta fetch me, though. He'd have put two and two together and ensured he was dealt with."

"Even if t'is Gideon Rous's taken care of as ye say, do ye t'ink t'ere are any others in Bristham, t'at will be a t'reat ta ye family?" Shane raises a brow.

"Maven was there. He's from Libertalia, so it's no surprise he answered their summons. There are a few more in me house and the others that are from Winterfall, but ye can't just assume they'd help. Sanka's from Whitewater and likes her as a friend. He's not the type to betray his mates." Course neither was Gideon in his eyes, and he was proved wrong.

"Let me reword t'is ta make meself clear. Do ye feel comfortable about lettin' Truly go home?" Shane sits back in his chair. "T'is is me daughta, me baby girl that I'm trustin' ye with, Kade, and I'm relyin' on ye t'at ta make t'e right call."

"I need ta talk ta Brandyn and any others with him and," he frowns, "me father, possibly Draken ta know what they learned and saw. If Finn has Tau-Nu brother's he trusts, he might want ta ask if they saw anything odd about the night of formal... besides Brandyn tryin' ta take her. Speaking of me family, my omma will expect me ta call her. Do ye want me to continue the story Tru's in Ireland and that I can't see her?"

Shane nods. "Ta choice is ye and Truly's ta make on whether she stays here or goes home with ye, and until t'en I'd like ye take keep ta story goin' t'at Truly is in Ireland, aye."

"Alright. Truly said I can't use me cell here but there are landlines. Are those fine ta use, or do I need to head back ta to Atlantis to make calls."

"Aye, ye can use ta phone here. T'ey ping off Brovern for location."

"Then I'll call later and find out what I can." His eyes flick to the door that leads to the kitchen. "I suppose I should save me wife. Nana was putting dinner out when we arrived, so it's likely getting cold, anyway."

Orison rises from his chair. "Can't believe she didn't come tell us. Can't imagine what would have her so distracted that she let ta greatest sin of lettin' food get cold slide."

Kade rises as Shane does and puts Coco on his shoulder. "She wants a babe, preferably a girl. I told them they could have a competition ta see who had a girl first, but yer wife wasn't game for it."

Orison snorts. "Ye raise an Angus and see if yer game for anotha afta t'at."

Shane chortles as he rises from his own chair. "If t'at ain't ta feckin' truth."

🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚