Shall Be Lifted, Nevermore (June 2055)

It was several days after Owain had moved into Horatio's old quarters. He'd become quite comfortable and his heart felt a million times lighter as he meet the friendly and welcoming family of this other universe. Well, nearly a million times... occasionally he still felt that twinge... especially when he looked at his mother and remembered that his father was dead in this time and world. He'd learnt a great deal about that Ciaran. And that only made his sadness deeper, knowing his mother was bereft of a man unlike the one he had been raised around.

"Owain?" There was a knock on he door and he scrambled from the bed, making it quickly as he tidied around.
"One sec." he shouted, knowing it was his grandmother. He opened the door, to find both his grandmother and Ara there. "Hi." he smiled. It was always odd to see the fully grown younger of the twin. Especially since she was just a bit older than him in his world.
"These are for you." Ara's fair cheeks reddened slightly as she handed him a box. "Some of Zeki's old robes. Zafy, Emma and I got them all ready for you."
"Oh, uh thanks." he gratefully took the box, choosing not to mention that he already had more clothes than he knew what to do with. Everyone loves to spoil him rotten...
Eglantine gently took the box, wandlessly banishing it to the closet. This show of magical power always impressed him... he wasn't used to his grandparents doing much magic, only needful simple spells.
"Come, we're going to supper."
He followed along, enjoying the simple light chatter that Ara soon began. Eglantine was quiet, but Ara spoke enough for all three of them.

They arrived in the Great Hall, which was very sparsely occupied due to the summer holidays. All of the students, about twenty were at one table, with the head table sparse as well.
"Want to eat at the head?" Ara chuckled, looping an arm around him.
"Sure." he beamed.

Kiara walked down the hall leading to the Great hall for Dinner, though she was still carring a large book in her arms.. She'd been reading alot on what she had for Alternet universe travel... she had hit a part that could be useful. However she been reading all day and like her bad habbit lost track of time and missed meals... So she had better eat with everyone tonight else risk having the drag her by the hair to the dinner table or even worse spoon feed her in her office...

She wandlessly had a parchent and quill taking down notes for her, but as she neared the great hall she relented and banished it, determined not to bring work to the dinner table.. especailly with Owain here..

She entered the Great hall, and smiled as she saw Owian sitting at the head table with Ara and Eglantine.

"He seems to be fitting in quiet well' said a voice behind her.

She turned slightly startled until she realized it was David.. "Yes and for that I am glad.. not sure I could take it if her were miserable here" she said softely. Though everyone had been so welcomeing to him.. that had been a great help.

David nodded, "yes he is a good kid, not one you want to see un happy" he said.

Kiara nodded walking towards the head table David following behind her.

"Enjoying the veiw of the head table Owain?' she asked lightly ruffleing his hair, it seemed to be becoming an odd habit of hers.. first she would ruffle it the a while later smooth it out..

David quietly took his seat beside Ara, flashing her a smile before placing food on his plate.

Ara beamed as she watched her husband enter, not long after her sister had joined them at the table. It was twice the wonder, in her opinion, to have her often forgetful sister sitting down for a meal and her husband present.

"Oh yeah." Owain beamed up at his mother, glad she was there eating something. He'd overheard his grandparents discussing how she hadn't been eating properly... although he really didn't think they were the ones to make those observations, since Horatio often skipped meals and ate snacks... "You having a nice day?" he asked, hoping she had.

Ara gently patted David's hand, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
"Where you been, hmm?" she teased.

Kiara smiled finding Owain's beaming smile contagous, she doubted anyone else would have found her day nice.. working all day only to note the time by chance.. but she had gotten alot done and she was letting herself take a break eat and spead time with Owain.

'Yes.. now I am Sweetheart thank you, sorry I wasn't down sooner.. time ran away with me again' she said pouring hot water into her tea cup. She sent Eglantine a look of guilt.. the one she alway gave her mother when she worked to much and ate that much less.

"How about you? How have you been today?" she asked Owian.

_

David chuckled and kissed his wife back, "Marking final exams Mostly done now promise... Will be home tomorrow" he assured. he had been staying at Hogwarts as he had been put on the exam marking team this year and it had been taking alot of time..

It sounded wonderful to have his mother say her day was good 'now', because he was there... or at least he liked to think that. He picked up a roll from the nearby basket, taking the butter as it was nonchalantly passed over.
"Oh, I'm good." he nodded. "Everything's great." he didn't want to go into details, cause truthfully, his time always seemed a bit muddled here.
Eglantine smiled softly, glad to see Owain and Kiara enjoying a meal together. Even in the short time that had passed, the child had quickly endeared himself to those around him and it was difficult to imagine a time when he hadn't been there. That and it seemed that Kiara was happier with him, giving her a chance to think of something else beside work, grown up children and Ciaran.

---

"Oh how boring..." she teased. "Have to have a few words to Kiara about her taking my husband away for such long periods. Silly students." She tossed her hair back, ignoring the nearly pointed glance her mother sent her way when she declined the vegetables and took a piece of pie.

Kiara smiled glad he was settling in, she would have thought it harder for the child to adapt to a new world and people he didn't know, well more or less.. she almost sighed when she thought of the work now that she thought about it.. even though she thought it was best for Owain to return to his world.. she didn't want him to go.. she liked his presence there. After her initial shock over gaining Owain overnight she felt better then she had in years... Even when Ciaran was still alive, after his stroke it was agony to watch him Suffer so much... now this was the lightest her heart felt in a long time.

"Be sure to eat veggies to Owain.. theres apple pie tonight" She said with a almost smirk having found out the young boys love the desert. And so she didn't make a hypocrite of herself she put a fair amount to food on her plate.

Then an owl dropped a letter into her lap, Curious she looked at who sent it, and she smiled slightly. Beagan and Abby sent many pictures and updates on how they were doing with the twins Ariel and Devin who weren't even a month old yet..and that reminded her.. she had wanted to make toys for the little babies... they were magical based but easy to do.. and that gave her a thought.

"Owain? would you like to come with me to my quarters after diner? I have a favor to ask you if you want" she asked not wanting him to feel like he had to come.. but she thought him helping her enchant the toys might be fun for him.

"And perhaps a game a chess after if you wish before bed?" she offered having learn the boy love of the game of logic.

__

David chucked at his wifes comment, and didn't say that it hadn't been Kiara's idea, he had volunteered to help out so he had don't volunteerily.

"It's not so bad dear.. But I have missed you.. My one motovation to finish quickly" he said kissing her hand. And he chuckled at the glance Eglantine sent his wife as she ate her pie.

"Going straight to desert Dear?" he said with a chuckle, really Kiara forgot to eat altogether and Ara forgot to eat "real" food... The mother of them had there hands full.

"Apple pie?" It was out, with its wondering excitement before Owain could contain it. He blushed, pink fringing his cheeks as most at the table glanced his way. He'd said it too loudly, he decided. Especially as mild chuckles passed Ara's lips. He liked watching her; since she and her husband, David, always seemed happy together. All that going through his mind, he scooped some collards from the nearest bowl and passed on the corn... it was a starch, that much his grandmother had pounded into his brain, with help (way to much help) from Tav. They'd had a lunch mantra of sorts... 'Owain, carrots with the corn... Owain, peas with the potatoes...' A snicker would come from Tav and he'd say something like, 'Yeah, kiddo, not like you wanna get any scrawnier...'

"Hmm?" he glanced up from his plate, mouth full as he realized he'd been so lost in thought he hadn't heard his mother. "Oh, quarters... uh, sure." he swallowed, coughed and drank from his goblet. "Yeah, I love chess." he beamed.
"Is there anything you do not love?" Eglantina teased, poking his yet untouched collards.
"Early bedtime..." he returned, earning a wonderfully full laugh from his grandmother. So this was perfection, he thought. Eating with his mother, laughing with her and his grandmother. Everything was... almost too good.

---

"Flattery will get you only so far, casanova..." she winked at him, half done with the pie and eyeing the other portion. "Yes, and never you mind." With exaggerated flounce of ceremony she scooped up another piece. "You just want some too." A second after swallowing she leant in a pecked his cheek.
"Love you by the way."
This distraction was followed by her sudden outcry as she looked back to her plate. Her pie, or what remained of it, had altered into a neat little stack of green beans.

Kiara laughed heartedly in amusement and ruffled Owains hair a habbit she couldn't resist. He remined her so much of Tav when he was that age,

" I don't like early bedtimes either" she muttered with was true.. infact she was quite the night owl.

__

David couldn't help but laugh at his wifes outcry over her pie turned Veggie, "You were saying Dear?" he said with a chuckle.

He was happy to hear he had that in common with his mother. It was fun to just sit there and soak in all the warm attention and conversation. Even Ara's veggie pie was fun to laugh at.

"Mother!" Ara exclaimed, glaring at the owner of the title. Eglantine raised a innocent eyebrow. "What did you do that for?"
"I didn't do anything..."
Ara scoffed under her breath, pointing her wand at the food and attempting several times to change it back. It was apparently irreversible.
She glared at her beloved husband who had the apparent gall to laugh at her.
"It's not funny." she pouted.

The doors to the Great Hall swung open and Horatio entered, his white hair a frizzy mess atop his head. He had obviously forgone usual robes and instead had donned a pair of lime green trousers and a pink and forest green jumper that blinked the magical words 'My Wife Hates This Shirt' at any who had the courage to glance at him.
"Morning!"
He was not there was breakfast, as he kissed both Kiara and Ara on the tops of their heads and ruffled Owain's hair. "Seen my golf clubs, Lenty?" he asked, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he could just conjure some or accio the lost ones.
"I thought you gave that shirt away?" Eglantine muttered, avoiding the glare from the bright attire by setting her hand over her eyes.
"No, correction, love." he smirked. "You gave it away... I got it back last week."
She groaned softly.
"The clubs are under the couch-"
"Ah!, didn't think to look there." he exclaimed happily, turning her face up to kiss her. "Love you."
"Then get rid of that shirt." she returned.

Owain looked away, feeling somehow intrusive as his grandfather continued what had started as a short and sweet kiss into a PG-13 one.
"I didn't know he golfed..." he muttered to his mother.

Ara's outcry of it not being funny unfortunately made David laugh even more. "Affraid I must disagree on that My Dear" he said still chuckling.. "No need to fret though.. We'll have pie at home, that I will guard against tampering" he said smoothly hoping that will stop any death glare being sent his way by his lovely wife.

Kiara shook her head in amusement at the benter between Ara, Eglantine and Horatio, oh how she loved them so..

She chuckled at Owian's confession and whispered back "Concidering the clubs are under the couch appearently.. I don't he does it often.. and knowing Horatio perhaps he uses them for more things then Golf" she said with a small smile at the thought.

"Saved by David Darling." Ara returned good-naturally, mellowing immediately due to her pie returning to its nature form. "All's well that ends well." she smirked, kissing his cheek. Her parents' kissing turned her from the pie rather quickly. "Give you any ideas, sugar?" she teased.

"Well, I'm off to locate my clubs and tee off!" Horatio feigned a poorly constructed stance and then skipped off toward the doors with his wife making slight shooing motions.
"That man will be the death of me." she sighed, taking the fan Ara had conjured for her. Ara shrugged, making eye contact with Kiara over Owain's head.
"Ah, but what a way to go."
That earned her a slap with the fan.

Owain giggled, trying to imagine what his grandfather would use the clubs for and yet also trying to pay attention to everything around him. Why wasn't everything so funny in his world? People died here didn't they? And yet... it didn't seem to be the same. That thought in mind, he lost his appetite.
"May I be excused?" he asked.

David chuckled and kissed his wife softly on the lips, despite the shoots and hoots from some of the student body. "Oh I certainly hope not dear" he muttered to her, though amusement was clear in his voice.

Kiara once again laughed at her parents banter, it was times like these she valued above all else.. With so much saddness lately it was good to just laugh at sillyness.

Kiara blinked at Owain abrupt request to be excused, but nodded " Of course, If you want Owain... everything alright?" she asked since he had been laughing and having fun a minute ago. Though perhaps it was the crowd of the hall, she had gathered he wasn't a big fan of crowds.