The Summer Home

[arianna]

"Yeah," Arianna nodded enthusiastically. "We're still working out a few things. The carpets aren't as maneuverable and it's a little easier to fall off..."

"Yes...Anna came home with a darkened eye just the other day..." as he cut into his fish, Imaran smiled and shook his head slightly. Arianna was much more like him when it came to exploring and playing. Getting hurt and dirty didn't matter as long as you had a good time.

"It wasn't as good as Che's bloody lip," Arianna claimed with a smirk.

"Where....is Che?" Solada asked at the mention of the boy's name. She looked around as though expecting him. He didn't eat breakfast with them very often, but he had been invited to join them after retrieving Drew from Hawaii.

"Don't know," Arianna shrugged. A slight frown crossed once more over her lips and she seemed to suddenly find her food more interesting than anything else in the room.

"Anna?" Imaran leaned forward and whispered something in Arianna's ear to which she shook her head.

"I wish not to speak of it," she replied quietly in Qui. Imaran, of course, did not like this answer, but didn't press it for now. Had it been a private family meal he would have. For now he would have to settle and speak with her later.

"And so you will play this Quidditch and see the dragons?" he asked, turning back to the previous conversation. "Surely those will not take a full month. What else will you do?"

[Drew Thornton]

As Ari's parents started eating, Drew followed suit, reminding himself not to scarf his food down. His grandmother especially, would often complain that he had picked up bad manners at school. Now was the time to remember the agonizing teas and social events he had been forced to sit through.

He bit his lip and focused on his meal when Che's name was mentioned. He wondered if it was possible to go the whole month without seeing the other boy. He doubted it, but he could still wish.

At the question, he swallowed hard and looked over at Ari, not sure what other plans she had.

[arianna]

"Whatever Drew wants to do," Arianna replied, still showing complete interest in her rice. "Sailing, fishing, swimming, hiking...."

She listed a few other things they might like to do, but made it clear that she hadn't set too many things in stone. She didn't want Drew to feel like he was being dragging along on an itinerary and wanted to leave plenty of time for them to talk or whatever else might come to mind.

[Drew Thornton]

"They all sound good to me," Drew answered back with a shrug, looking sideways at Ari. He wonderred again if they would be having a Che-free day or if the boy would be tagging along.

[arianna]

Solada watched Arianna carefully. Had they not had a guest, she knew exactly what she would do. She would talk to her daughter and find out what was bothering her; see if she could help. She knew her husband wished to do the same also. It was a bit difficult with Drew here, though. Solada couldn't speak very good English and didn't think it was courteous to keep the boy out of the conversation. Being Arianna's friend, he'd probably want his own say, too.

"You see twins?" she asked, turning to Drew. Arianna had been so excited about her younger siblings, babbling about showing them off, Solada was surprised she hadn't mentioned anything of them today. "They sleep still. With nurse. You see them after meal?"

[Drew Thornton]

"Yeah!" Drew said enthusiastically before remembering his manners again. He tried his answer again, this time a little calmer and a lot more respectful. "Yes... I'd like that. Ari's told me a lot about them."

[arianna]

"What she tell?" Solada questioned, turning her smiling face upon Arianna. "Eat, sleep, make noise."

"LOTS of noise," Arianna agreed, though she was now smiling, too. It looked as though the thought of her brother and sister had pushed away any bad thoughts she might've had. "But they're soooo cute. I can't wait until they're older, though. They'll be lots of fun then."

[Drew Thornton]

"That's pretty much what she told me about them," Drew answered Ari's mom with a wide grin. He had always wanted a younger sibling, but his parents weren't too willing to oblidge.

[arianna]

Arianna was more than happy to move the talk onto her younger siblings. They were nearly three months old now and still didn't do much, but they did seem to smile and coo a lot. Arianna didn't even notice when breakfast was over until her dad mentioned that he had business to attend to.

"So we may be excused to see Naoko and Jia Li?" Arianna asked, nearly bouncing in her chair.

"Yes, you may," Imaran replied as he got up from the table. He leaned over and kissed Solada on the cheek, than did the same to Arianna before bowing to Drew, adding, "I hope you enjoy your stay."

[Drew Thornton]

Drew managed to stand up quickly without knocking his chair over and he bowed back to Arianna's father. "Thank you, Sir. I'm sure I will," he answered, unable to contain his excited grin.

[arianna]

"Tell Tiana I will be up soon," Solada requested of Arianna once Imaran had left to see to his duties. She, too, had things to care for before she could return to her duty as a mother.

"I will, mum," Arianna replied, giving her mum a kiss. Still excited about the prospect at hand, she motioned to Drew to follow her as she exited the room. Though she was sure Drew would be able to keep up, it was hard not to break into a run as she led him back into the corridor and up the stairs. When they reached the second floor, she hung a left, past Drew's room and a few closed doors. At the end of the corridor, not too far from their rooms, but not so close that the babes' crying might wake them in the night, was the nursery.

"This used to be my room when I was little," Arianna claimed as she pushed the door open. A small woman in her mid-forties greeted them with a smile, nodding after Arianna gave her message, then motioning to the bassinets behind her.

"She says they're awake and we can hold them if we want," Arianna continued, stepping closer to babies. She thought it silly that Tiana always added the 'if you want' part. Of course she wanted to hold the babies! Why else would she be in here?

[Drew Thornton]

Drew bowed and thanked Ari's mother for the breakfast before running after the girl. He was soon clueless as to where they were, or would have been if she hadn't pointed out his bedroom.

In the nursery, he smiled and gave a small bow to the woman inside before peering into the basinets. "So which one is this?" he asked softly, putting a hand down to the baby so it could grab it.

[arianna]

"Jia Li," Arianna leaned over the bassinet lined with grey silk and grinned at the little girl. She had grasped Drew's finger and pulled it toward her mouth. "I think she likes you." That wasn't much to say, though. Jia Li seemed to like everyone. Naoko, though, was a different story.

Arianna poked her head into the red-lined bassinet and pulled the little boy out. He let out a whimper, but settled down when Arianna started to rock him. It had taken the boy a little while to get used to his big sister, so long, in fact, that Arianna was in tears for a full week and swearing the boy hated her. Now, however, he was content to let her hold him.

"Hey, cutie," Arianna cooed at the baby, her grin expanding when he smiled back at her. "You want to meet Drew? See this tall kid right here?"

[Drew Thornton]

"Can I pick her up?" Drew asked in hushed tones, directing his question at Arianna, but also glancing over at the nanny to get her approval as well. His next question was directed at the baby girl. "You really sure you want to put that in your mouth? Even I'm not sure what's on it..."

[arianna]

"Yeah," Arianna replied, giggling at Drew's comment about his finger. It wasn't like the babies would have any objections as to what might be on ones hands. As long as it didn't taste funny.

"Aren't they adorable, though?" Arianna asked as she carried Naoko to one of the rocking chairs by the window. Tiana brought her a small bottle to feed and asked if Drew might like to feed Jai Li, too. Arianna repeated the question for Drew in English and motioned for him to bring Jai Li over to the chair next to her.