Fion had cried for three straight hours after she'd found out. Great big gulping sobs of relief and joy that had shaken her entire body. The wicks were allowed back into Vienda if they had citizenship. Part of her was guilty for feeling relief, after all it was only a partial victory. Still, it was enough to allow her son to walk outside again and that was all she could care for. She was going to move back home. She was going to have control of her life again.

She'd waited until the official announcement had gone out before dressing Piran up, grabbing the bander and getting a ride into town. It seemed to take hours, though in reality it was far shorter. She couldn't find it in her heart to worry about anything, even though the day before she could have sworn she'd felt the walls closing in.

Demkaih's Spice House looked like the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Stride was through the gate and sitting by the stairs before she had time to blink. She squeezed Piran's hand.

"I'm glad we can go home soon." She said to him, walking up to the door and opening it, looking through and seeing Demkaih immediately. He was breath-taking.

"Hello, Dem, we're back." She said, smile fighting it's way onto her face and for the first time in two weeks it was real.

Demkaih looked up from the wooden bowl he was carefully sanding out. Shock registered on his face for a moment, as though the vision in his door wasn't real. Standing from the table, he found his voice.

"Fion? My beautiful, wonderful poppy?" He grinned, eyes glimmering slightly. Looking and Piran and Stride, he laughed and within five steps, embraced the two people in a one armed hug, reaching down with the other to pat the banders head.

"Hulali be praised! What did I say?! A test! A test!" Looking up, he raised a hand at the ceiling, laughing.

"Domea Hulali! Domea!" Grinning, he took the hug further, lifting them off the ground and swinging them around. Putting them down, he kissed Fion happily on the lips and ruffled the boys hair. What a blessing!

"How? Why? Bah! I do not care, as long as you are safe. You are safe? I will come and stay with you and no stranger will gain entrance." He was rambling.

Fion laughed as they were swung about, delighted and relieved. Her eyes felt wet again. She felt right again. It had been torture being away from this.



Fion shook her head, with a splitting grin and dampeness on her cheeks.

"No, there's no trouble at all, we're safe, we're fine, everything is fine..." She kissed him again, softly, keeping it quick so Piran wouldn't be embarassed. "I want to have people come to see me again, it was so lonely... I just need to check with the potter so that Piran can go back again. I'm sure you were missed, P."

Fion leant into Dem again, arm still around her son.

"You're rambling, I love it when you're rambling." She said, brushing at her cheeks.

He laughed again, a deep rich sound that could only be described as genuine.

"I am sorry, I can not express how joyous I feel. We should celebrate, the three of us." He patted Stride again.

"Four of us, we shall buy this fine creature the best haunch for him to devour. As for us, we should find somewhere to have a fantastic meal! Somewhere friendly. And I shall make the finest, richest chocolate cake you will have ever had. Either of you!" Taking a moment to breathe, ridiculous grin plastered on his face, the man finally tried to be a little more together.

"But all celebration aside. Will you and Piran be safe in your own home? I am willing to stay at nights, sleep on your couch. I will not let any harm come to you two."

For Fion today was starting to blurr into one singular thought and feeling. She was stupid-happy. Nothing could put a dent in it, even if the cake caught fire and someone called her a whore.



"We'll be fine, Dem, I promise you. Piran has his writ of residence, no one can say a word." Fion could not imagine a thing going wrong at this current point in time, even with the thought of Lochlan looming over her head. "But I'm glad to have you taking care of us."

It was nice, to be protected, even if she didn't always need it or want it.

"I'm starving, let's go eat." She grinned.

Demkaih nodded enthusiastically. He quickly grabbed a satchel for the haunch and some coin from his strong box. Taking Fion by the shoulders, he walked her and Piran out, ensuring Stride was in tow. Closing the shop door and locking it, he turned the sign on the gate to CLOSED and grinned.

"Let us go feast!"

Fion felt, for a moment, like she was in one of those perfect families with the husband and the wife, the one to two children and the dog. Then it occured to her that if she and Dem ever got married, that would actually be a distinct possibility. It was a good thought, one she was going to hold onto.

"Can we walk past our house first?" She said, enthusiasm still vibrant. "I just want to look at it."

She snagged Dem's hand in one of her own, the other was holding onto Piran. Normally he might have said he was too big to hold hands but today he was letting her, probably because it was making her so happy.

Demkaih nodded, still grinning.

"Of course! We can stop in for as long as you want!" He would do anything Fion wanted today, and Piran. Right now, he couldn't think of anything else to do.