"Hold on, hold on!" the Goddess said happily. "I think our kitten has some new people to meet!" She stepped forward with two tiny bundles in her arms, held protectively, and Shiika moved aside enough to let him see those two precious infants in her arms. Tarrin's heart melted when he saw two exceptionally tiny little faces, pink and soft, tiny little Were-cat infants with dazzling, deep blue eyes. Just like their mother. His paws trembled when he reached out and took one of them, touching the tiny baby's forehead with the tip of his huge finger. His paw was bigger than this exquisitely tiny little child, branding her scent into his memory just as he had for Jasana and Eron.
"S-She's so small!" he said in wonder.
"They were born a bit early, kitten, and there were two of them sharing space in Kimmie's belly. That didn't give them much room to grow. But don't worry, they'll both be strapping tall. In no time, they'll be normal sized babies. They just need a little nourishment and some loving attention, that's all."
Kimmie took the other infant and held it up so he could see her. "This is Tara," she told him with a rich voice. "And the one in your arms is Rina. They're your daughters, Tarrin."
"They're beautiful," he whispered in joy, looking down at them.
"And they're going to be just as spoiled rotten as Jasana and Eron!" Keritanima announced in glee, sweeping Jasana up into her arms and twirling her in the air. "You have a queen as an aunt, cub! I can shower you with all sorts of wonderful gifts, and I mean to do just that! I'm going to spoil you so bad your father is going to be furious with me!"
"Spoil my son and answer to me, Kerri," Mist warned, but she was smiling.
"Fine then. Just as soon as I finish spoiling him, you can send me the bill. I'm a rich woman, Mist. I can pay it."
That actually made Mist laugh.
"It's so good to see you, my mate," Jesmind said with her heart in her eyes, looking up at him. "When I thought I'd lost you, I-"she broke off, looking away from him.
"Well, you didn't," he told her gently. "I knew this might happen, so I took some precautions. Now I'm glad I did."
"You didn't think it was going to happen, you knew it was going to happen!" she suddenly shouted at him. "How could you do that and not tell us, Tarrin? You worried me to death!" she shouted, accenting her outrage by punching him in the shoulder.
So much for teary demureness.
"He couldn't tell anyone because Val would have seen it in your minds," the Goddess told her. "He didn't even tell me. Does that tell you how secret he had to keep it?"
"But it's not fair!" she shouted indignantly.
"Sometimes fair and necessary don't mix, daughter," the Goddess told her. "Tarrin has come back to you. Are you going to stain that with accusations and anger, or are you going to accept it and enjoy it?"
Jesmind bit her lip, then she burst into tears again and wrapped her arms around him. He took care not to disturb his infant daughter, but put an arm around his mate. "It's alright, Jesmind," he told her. "I know it upset you, and I'm sorry it had to happen. But that was the way things had to be."
"Well, no matter what happened, we're just glad you're back, Tarrin," Dar said simply.
"Amen," Camara Tal agreed.
It was much later. Tarrin sat on the couch in his mate's apartment, with Jasana and Eron sharing space, sleeping in his lap and Tara sleeping in his arms. Jesmind sat beside him, with half of her daughter's body splayed over her lap, stroking her hair gently. Mist and Kimmie were on the other side, Kimmie holding their other daughter. Triana stood behind them, and Jenna, Keritanima, and Allia sat on the chair on the far side, with Sarraya hovering in the air over them. This was the core of his family, his sisters and the women in his life, and it seemed appropriate to him that they would share this special time together after the wonderful reunion.
They had spent hours cramped into this small room, trading stories and catching up with one another. Tarrin heard all about the mobilization from five different viewpoints, and the initial attack that had turned into a terrified rout when they reached the battlefield. They heard about his and Jesmind's trek across Ungardt, and their trip through the mountains. Jesmind still had the belt he'd made her, and she showed it off to them, demonstrating the camoflaging Illusion that Tarrin had set into them. But when the story reached their confrontation with Val, things got fuzzy and indisctinct. Tarrin still had trouble remembering that, and both Jesmind and Jasana as well were very unsure of exactly what happened. The only thing they did remember was that Tarrin had goaded and annoyed Val into losing his temper, and that had been the one thing that had let Tarrin get the best of him.
Tarrin had enjoyed that time, time spent in wonderful conversation and companionship with his dearest friends, but the march of time had caught up to them. After several hours in that room together, appetites grew, children got restless, and there were some official affairs to attend. Keritanima had to return to Wikuna for a while, taking Rallix, Miranda, and the Vendari home, but coming back alone some time later. Camara Tal and Koran Tal bid their goodbyes so they could make arrangements with Ianelle, who had business to complete, about her Teleporting them to Abrodar, which but a ride and a half's journey to the isles of Amazar. Tiella had urged Dar away, and Dolanna told him with a smile that Dar had decided to throw caution to the wind and propose marriage to her. They had had crushes on one another for a while, and they'd been kissing in corners ever since Tarrin left with Jesmind. Tarrin liked Tiella, and she was one of the few women strong enough to handle the young Arkisian. They were a good match, and he knew that their union would be a happy one.
It seemed that everyone was getting married or having children around him. He held his baby in his arms, smiling down at her, and feeling his older children sleeping against him. He had never been so happy, both for him and for all his friends. Very few things could bring more joy into one's life than a new love, or a new child. He was happy that his friends and sisters were discovering that for themselves. Jenna had no beau, and he doubted that Dolanna would ever settle down, but there was always hope, and it would be the end of the world when Miranda got married. But thanks to the Goddess, there was time to wait for it to happen. He was patient. It would happen, and he would be there to celebrate with them.
But it may not be easy to relax around here much longer. Everyone was told Tarrin was dead, and now he was alive. Sevren was just one of a large group of katzh-dashi that had tried to get in to see him, and Phandebrass had already started making a nuisance of himself asking Tarrin a million questions about what had happened to him and what he remembered and such. Tarrin was fond of the addled Wizard, but he was quickly getting on Tarrin's nerves, and he didn't want to be upset right now. Besides, he thought it best if he simply withdrew quickly and quietly from the Tower, to avoid making a scene and causing Jenna problems.
He'd take care of that tomorrow. Jenna was going to Teleport them to Aldreth. He was going to see his parents, and then he was going to do what he'd been dreaming of doing for nearly two years now.
Make a home for himself.
Tara looked up at him with serious little eyes, her expression intent, and then she reached out for him with those tiny little paws, needle-like claws extending out from the tips of her fingers.
"I think she likes you, cub," Triana said in a thick tone, her paw on his shoulder.
"I think she'll like anyone who can feed her," Tarrin chuckled with a smile, looking down at her. "You feel up to a trip tomorrow, mother?"