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Paladin smiles fondly at Kerobian and shakes his head. "I don't believe there will be a need for going that far. Now that he knows, do you truly believe he'd risk losing sight of her for even a day or face separation again. He looks at Tam and sighs. "Better dig out an annex, Talesian. If I'm a judge of people, he's going to ask to stay."

Tam frowns. "Only if he agrees to let her grow up freely, without the weight of what has gone before."

Tam shakes his head. "A guard dog I don't need, but it would be nice to have someone to talk to when Bez goes off foraging. I know for a fact you and Passura will be moving on as soon as you drill some common sense into the boy about some certain things. I just hope the two of you" he adds glaring at Paladin and Kerobian. "realize reincarnation doesn't guarantee that she'll fall in love with him all over. He may love her until the day he dies, but I can't say with conviction she'll love him in return. Oh, if he plays his cards right she'll always love him, as a friend or extended family member, but as a lover..." he shakes his head grimly. "I refuse to be a matchmaker and I pray you won't as well. Let nature take it's course here, please... Kerobian. Affection aside, she's be given a new start... so has he in many ways. Who knows what the all-father has in store for either of them."

"And I hope you realize as well, we still have no idea what or if she'll have any degree of magic... how long she'll live seeing as her parents are... ummm... ageless... or any of that... I do think she and her sister will have wings someday. There's an anomaly in their bone structure in the back... but whether they will be functional or not remains to be seen. Ye might say we're plunging into uncharted waters..."

Tam's eyes widen slightly and he takes a step back. "Kero, I'm sorry. It is just that ye never seemed ti mind dragging us kits in there, so I thought ye'd be setting him up as well. You have always been a stickler for duty and well, Rhea can't do everything by herself yet... " his eyes narrow and he looks at him accusingly. "Or can she and you've been holding off passing the crown. Retirement isn't a bad thing ye know... who says we all have to go out with a bang... going in our sleep while watching a fishing pole on the bank of a quiet stream isn't a bad way to end tings either. I know, if I had my way andfI am facing such an end, that would be my way of freeing my soul. But so far, none of us have gone without some form of violence."

Paladin grins. "You know, if I start fading I think I will do just that... go fishing... I know the perfect spot to build a tiny cabin up in the hills. It would take too much work to keep me bulk filled if I stay a dragon."

Tam looks back into the room and smiles. With a finger to his lips he urges the others to look as well. Emnast is sleeping, still curled as he had been placed by Tam, most likely scared half to death of moving for fear of squishing the tiny baby... and Ari is asleep as well in the curl of his arms. There is an air of peace to the two that Tam recognizes almost instantly. Ari may never grow to love the electrum dragon, but he suspects she just might do so after all... for before him are two souls who have met on some instinctive level and knew and identified with each other. Like a child with a mother she would always be more comfortable in Emnast's company than she would be in any one else's save perhaps her immediate family, her mother... her father... and her twin.

"Ma's not going to like that..." he whispers softly. "She's been replaced."

He turns to Kerobian and wrinkles his nose. "But he's not going to like what she's just done. I'm surprised he can sleep with that stench by his nose." He closes his eyes and summons Bez, asking him to bring Mara and a spare diaper. When he opens them he is laughing. "He wanted to know why there was a great big baby beastie in his living room, alone with one of his girls."

Paladin shakes his head. "Hard at work playing grown up iffin you ask me. Other than that they are doing well. He's turning out to be wuite the young researcher, too, which she supports him in by being there to run all his little errands. They are so serious about their relationship it's almost funny, and I pray it stays as deeply caring as it is now. But she is a doer, a hunter, a warrior... he is a thinker, one more prone to seeking than breaking if you know what I mean. It has been my experience that such relationship need far more work to stay alive than those between people of similar attitudes."

He smiles and looks down at Emnast. "I might not be able to take him in as things are right now, though. Still I know of a few loving families who might be willing to foster him if push comes to shove. Even so, I think your best bet would be to approach Talesian first. Just remember this, his life should be what he makes of it, not how you should think it should be... And even though he is older in mind than his body, I suspect he won't mind that too much. Think on this. He'll get to watch one he loves deeply grow and mature... you have never truly been a parent, but you have raised many younglings. Is this not the case with you as well?"

Paladin shrugs. "I'm not. They'll do just fine. I'm sure. Even if they do not end their days together, they will always be friends. So now I have a question for you. Where is your lady? Is she still off gallivanting about the world, seeking to enlarge her menagerie?"

Paladin grins and pulls back the curtain Kerobian and Passura had across the entrance to the living room of their cavern. "That is good to hear. Well, iffin ye don't mind, I think I better head on back. There is a certain copper dragon I need to keep a close eye on so he doesn't dig up the bones of his ancestors by mistake. Take care, son... and you too, Passura." he adds as the boy walks into the room.