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"Oh I don't know, I think it's charming." totally avoiding the question ha!

She smiled, moving around the kitchen and picking up what the kidlets hadn't help clean and setting it aside for the moment. She placed the platter of double chocolate fudge cookies on the table and walked around and behind Billy.

Her hands soon found his shoulders, massaging them gently yet firmly, looking to alleviate the product of work and a long day. She leaned down, one of her long ponytails tickling Alex as she giggled, swatting at it. Ronnae kissed Billy's ear, a devious tone in her voice, much more akin to her personality now than before. "I do hope you didn't tire yourself too much love~"

Billy frowned up at her, pausing a moment before sticking his tongue out. "It is! It definitely is." Alex responded in the affirmative, thumping his hand on Daddy's chest and letting out a little cry.

"Yep, that seals it. You're already a tough little guy. We're gonna practice walking again later, right?" Of course, of course. Alex looked delighted at the hair falling on him, playing and tugging while Ronnie worked on her husband's sore muscles.

"Come on now, Alex. We can't relax and play if you keep that up." He turned crimson at Ronnie's suggestion, the thought of the children stampeding upstairs in his mind. It had been so long...well, comparatively long anyway. A few weeks. But the kids!

"That trek through the woods might've done it, love, but...the kids. What are they going to do?"

As if to answer that question, Marina and Shari stormed back into the room, immediately jockeying for position on Billy's lap. "Papa! Papa, you're gonna play with us, right?"

"You brought us something, right?"

Billy laughed, shifting Alex in order to make them comfortable. "Of course I did, I couldn't forget you! Go open my bag, you'll find something there."

They would find brand new hula hoops, ones that could automatically adjust for optimum usage and light up in their favorite colors.

Ronnae laughed and shook her head a bit before her expression turned a bit sad. They had people to watch over them yeah... but Nokosi had decided to get off the ship last shore leave, for his and Fontaine's sake... She'd never be able to see him again she thought... And the kids wouldn't have Uncle Kosi or Fontaine to play with any more.

A strong pang of pain tenses up in her chest as she tried keeping her face from view as she stood a bit more straight behind Billy, her bangs covering her features.

The twins had already bolted off to get to the bag first, cheers and hoots and cheery babble was heard from the room as the girls quickly moved to play with their new gift.

"Oh, Ronnie..." Billy looked between Alex and the twins, then back to her, then...he stood, resting his head on his wife's shoulder and nuzzling her neck while Alex grabbed at her.

"I'm sorry, honey. I know it's still hard." He silently hoped the girls would wait a minute or two before pestering them to watch the hula-off.

Ronnie shook her head and smiled bittersweetly, wiping her tears. "It's fine... it was the right decision, for his and Fontaine's sake..." She choked out her last words before she sucked it up as the girls turned into the room.

She gave the the brightest mommy smile she could muster, happy that her hair obscured her face slightly. "Oh neat, those are always fun. Did you girls already know what to do with them?" she asked in a soft voice.

Both girls nodded, noticing there was something off with their mama, but deciding that maybe the show would cheer her up. With that, they both began their little hula-off.

Billy leaned forth to softly kiss her eyelids, a sad little smile on his face. "I know, he's safe. I didn't think I'd miss him back then, but...he grows on you." If she looked closely, she'd see the sadness settling into his face too.

But it was time to smile for the children. He adjusted himself, one arm supporting Alex and the other wrapped around Ronnie's waist as they watched. Those girls always seemed to catch on fast. Billy forced himself into the present, cheering for Marina and Shari as they went. Who was going to win?

Not that winning mattered to them. Instead, they went at it again and again, laughing and clinging to their parents' legs when they were done. "You're the best! Come on, come play!"

Billy gave Ronnie a curious look. Could she do it? It was best to get their energy out now, and then...well, maybe he could treat her later. She deserved it.

Ronnie smiled and nodded, kneeling down and hugging the girls to her. "Of course I can sweeties. Want to go outside, play in the garden?" Even tho it had been Kosi's, it was always a place that held such strong good memories, and she usually went there to play with the girls or to just meditate.

She gave Billy and appreciative look and a sweet kiss on the cheeks before holding onto the girls hands and walking slowly with them.

"Hey, wait for us!" Billy called, walking over to grab Alex's sun hat. Not that there was a real sun outside, but it helped to keep the little guy cool.

Soon enough, father and son were seated by the edge of the garden, watching the girls. Billy bounced Alex on his knee, waiting for the baby to give some cue about his plans. Did he really want to explore?

It seemed he did. The father eased the fidgeting boy down his leg, keeping a careful eye on their son as he crawled about the grass. He'd walk soon, wouldn't he?

"Just give it some more time and he'll be playing with you too," Billy called to the girls.

Ronnae played cheerfully with the girls, playing tag, or watching them play creatively with those hula hoops. Like parents like children right? She gave them a hard time of course, no point in making it easy, at least that's what her mama would have said. So soon enough the girls where laughing on the floor, tired from chasing their more than agile mother.

Ronnie hung upside by her legs from one of the lower branches of the tree. Her abs showing as her hoodie clung to her loosely, her long ponytails swinging as she smiled down at her family happily.

Once their mother had done an adequate job of wearing them down, it was Billy's turn to play. He took Alex's hand and guided the boy over, the two of them sitting near the girls and welcoming them over.

"Now why don't you tell me about your day, girls?" Billy would soon come to regret that, of course, as Marina and Shari promptly settled on his legs and started talking his ear off. Shari fell against his chest, laughing about something they'd convinced Boomy to do that morning.

"And your mother believed that?" he quirked an eyebrow. Now he saw how he'd gotten lost on the way home today.

Ronnae smiled at the scene and easily flipped off the branch landing perfectly, received by the girl's applause and Alex following his sister's actions, except he was clapping against Billy's chest trying to make the same sound.

A low bow and a pleased smile, she went to sit with them happily, ruffling their hair, but so their protests and giggles. "I only let them get away with things. They know I was just their age once upon a time. I know those tricks and I bet ya you girls aren't even close to as how mischievous my siblings were." She laughed.

Billy laughed, hugging close as many children as he could fit his arms around. What wonderful kids.

"That's where all the mischief in this family comes from. I...may have done one or two ill-advised experiments, but I never stuck my toe out of line to this extent!" Billy huffed playfully. Oh, family.

...well, Ronnie might have a different idea of how mischievous he was.

He SO is mischievous!!! But she'd keep that to herself!

Ronnae smiled pleasantly as she relaxed against Billy. She took Alex into her hands and cradled him, rocking the little tyke back and forth as she began singing one of her now many songs for the kidlets.

She kept her voice low and sweet. A soothingly sweet melody to compliment the sweet moment they were having.

And it was just around this time their friend, sometime babysitter, arrived. Kaya had grown into a fit and lovely young woman, strong willed but tempered with a kindness she was lucky enough to not have lost on the ship. Upon seeing the happy family, Kaya beamed from ear to ear. She had not gotten married herself, and had an on/off relationship with Nokosi before he left. It had made her sad, but she understood by now that he was as free as the wind: it had been one of the things she loved about him.

"Hey guys!" She said, picking up Boomy and Flare. "Still causing your parents trouble?"

"Uh...no, of course not!" Marina insisted just a little too loudly, blowing Kaya a raspberry from her position next to her parents. Billy looked over at her skeptically, a fond little smile on his face.

He waved Kaya over to sit with them, happy to start filling her in. Shari was ahead of him, as always, planting herself in Kaya's lap and looking up at the older woman admiringly.

"Aunt Kaya," Billy greeted playfully, lighting their still-strong bond with some of the happiness he felt. Some things never changed.

Ronnae paused her melody for the moment to smile up at Kaya. "Hey Kaya, how have you been sweetheart?" she voice in her casual sweet voice.

Alex soon stirred and Ronnie continued her melody, lulling the little tyke peacefully.

"Auntie Kaaaayyyyaaaaaa~" Shari voiced playfully. "Did you bring your water thingy? Can you show us some tricks?!"

"Oh yeah c'mon say you brought it pleaaaaseeeeee" Marina chimed in from Billy's lap.

Kaya looked blissfully ignorant. "Water thingy? I don't know what you guys are talking about. But sorry, no water today."

And looking as serious as possible, she moved her hands behind her back and water springs from the back of them, tickling them a moment before materializing in front of them and then becoming one big block of ice. She grinned a moment, then moved her hands with concentration, sweating a little, until the ice snow resembled a smaller version of baby Alex.

"Phew! That took longer than I thought!" She said. "I hope I'm not getting old!"

She bounced Shari on her knee playfully. "Getting better. The last mission was a success though: infiltrated some zealot stronghold, saved quite a few people!"

I'm missing you guys more and more every time!

We're taking turns heading out there, Billy thought quietly, laughing at the girls' delight. I definitely didn't think I'd be raising a family this early, but I love them dearly.

Billy cuddled close to his wife and baby boy, full of affection for them. "You're not getting old, Kaya," he reassured her. "If I know you, you'll be right back in practice in no time. Isn't that right, girls?"

There were a few shouts of 'yes'! and claps of delight at Kaya's skills. While the girls were sufficiently entertained, he leaned over to steal a warm kiss from Ronnae. "It's still a miracle, darling," he whispered against her lips.

Ronnae smiled into the kiss appreciatively, "I'm glad you guys did good, then again I have no doubts that you will be successful in anything you do."

They had all become closer, which was more merited to how close knit they were to begin with. Kaya's involvement with Nokosi had strengthened the bond they all shared.

She relaxed, leaning her head against Billy's shoulder and closing her eyes, enjoying the flee of the sleeping babe on her chest. She hoped he appreciated the feel of that all too soothing sound and beat of someone who wishes only the best for you like she has for many years.

Kaya gazed at them a moment, just for a moment. Over the years, those pangs of quiet jealousy when she saw what they had began to disappear: she'd seen the best and the worst from the pair, and at their best, these three wonderful children came out. With her Bonded, she held few secrets, so he knew a little of the pains she was in now, missing Nokosi as she did.

But he had taught her something important: to appreciate very good thing you had, to cherish and hold it close to you. So she would remember those good things about Nokosi, and hold it to her, as she did with them.

I'm proud of you two, and them she said, ruffling the girl's hair. "Hey, let's go down to that knoll over there: I want to see how well you guys are doing with martial arts."

Billy felt it, all right. He sent back his love and a wish for her happiness as he stood, carefully helping Ronnie and Alex along the way.

"Don't worry, she's not especially hard on you---yet," Billy laughed, fond of his own training sessions with Kaya. Oh, the embarrassment that had freely flowed at his inexperience then. He could perform now, and he did keep in shape, but those early days were what he remembered best.

The girls, eager to impress, were already racing down to meet her there.

Ronnie laughed, "Don't go beating on your dear old aunt!" she called down after them in a teasing manner, winking at Kaya.

She turned and kissed Billy sweetly, a chaste emotional kiss with a pleased smile before turning back to Kaya. "Now don't you go letting them run you around in circles, they're a lot more devious and clever than they look."

Kaya looked at her two friend s a moment, smiling at their intimacy. This was the kind of family she knew they woyld turn out to be: kind, gentle and strong, with intelligence and possibilities at their door.

Who expected anything less from these two?

"Shari, come at me from the left, Marina the back. I want to see how quickly you guys move. No fighting with stucks this time, or you'll get worse than that time you painted Alex's hair a rainbow, ok?"

Billy cheered encouragingly at the girls, positioning Alex so that he was resting right between mama and papa. "We're more than happy to let you paint rainbows, but next time we'll give you a canvas," he promised.

Shari could only roll her eyes at her father before she steadied herself, looking at Marina. Were they ready? Yes, they were ready. She silently started her charge, all smiles.

Ronnae watched intently, it was quite entertaining to say the least. There was no way the tykes could take on a seasoned warrior like Auntie Kaya had become. But Ronnae hadn't been lax on their training either, something she had picked up from her own parents. Better to start early, fate doesn't wait for anyone and anything can happen at any moment. That was how life was in Azeroth, one moment you could be with your parents and the next you'd be alone in the blink of an eye.

They were both very agile, taking in all their heritages well and furthering their gifts with their training. Shari charged first, going for the legs with a dash and a sweep, while Marina took the hint, jumping high for a playful tackle. Playfighting was one of their favorite passtimes after all! Training to be heroes like their parents.