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"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.

Kaya grinned. Those two were amazing, as usual. She was going to have to make sure she complimented them accordingly, as well as their mother. Of course, she figured they might go for opposing attacks. She was ready though: she shifted sideways with the blink of an eye and caught Shari, tossing her at her sister.

Ronnae taught them well: she was definitely impressed.

Billy laughed heartily, taking notes of what he might be able to tell the girls. There were tricks---a few, just a few---that might trip up Kaya, but he used them very sparingly. He did want to come close to winning once in a great while.

"Ready, again!" Shari ordered, both girls already up and at it. This time they circled a few times, tagging off in a speedy little pattern before moving in. They zigged and zagged, not trying the straight line approach.

Billy was content to hold Alex close, dreaming of the day he might join his sisters on the lawn. And even if he didn't, that was okay. Nothing wrong with lacking in that department at first.

Ronnie looked down intently, she eyed the girls with approval. They had learned fast and she was proud beyond anything. They reminded her of her sisters whenever they trained with her papa. She was always the one lacking behind, being too shy to go at it in public even if it was just her family. But those secret sessions with her papa and mama where special to her. Time set aside just for her, to train her and no one else.

She crossed her arms and smiled fondly, looking down at the girls as she leaned lightly against Billy, tickling Alexandros on his belly.

Kaya could see the proud parents just out of the corner of her eye, smiling in the direction. They may not have realized it, but just them being around, babysitting them and watching over them, had softened the pain of anything that could happen to her. She smiled a moment, then concentrated back to the girls. They were quick so she matched them, losing herself in her BG training, glad that she still maintained it after all these years.

Though both girls were outmatched, Kaya was grinning. "You guys are amazing! I wouldn't even use the BG tactics unless you guys had really progressed! Your parents are doing a great job!"

Shari and Marina were quick to accept the praise. They tripped over each other in their efforts to bow and take credit, pleased little smiles on their faces. Ah, accomplishment.

"And they'll do even better," Billy promised loudly, leaning over to give his wife a warm, thankful kiss despite the kids' noises of protest. Of course, that didn't stop them from wanting silly Daddy kisses later on. But romance? Eww.

"Oh you can count on that for sure. I'm confident the little ones will surpass their parents." Ronnie said with a wink and a smile at the girls, both of which grinned happily and gave her a double thumbs up!

She stuck her tongue out at the girls protest and grinned wide herself. "Hey now, I'm sure you both will find the time for cuddles someday." She certainly did!

It was a happy scene, and Kaya was glad to see it. Being older, she could appreciate true love and tenderness when she saw it, and walked over to Ronna, kissing her forehead, and doing likewise to Billy.

"These guys have been through a lot! They were totally hopeless when they first started, trust me!"

Yes,s he would still poke fun at you guys for that.