In Which Riona Is Told of the Lonely Fate

August 14, 1178

"Oh, no. Don't you look at me like that. I just finished lacing up again."

The baby made a quick swipe at Riona's thumb--as if that particular part was of any use to an infant--but she pulled her hand away just in time, instead delivering a quick tap on the nose. "Nice try, but you know it's nap time."

Alina kicked in protest. Shahira had been such an easy baby, never demanding and content to be left alone from the minute she was placed in her crib, but Lord have mercy on them all if Alina ever had to suffer a minute of not being the center of attention. For all she loved her daughter, it drove Riona up the wall; her father's continued gleeful inquiries as to who that reminded her of didn't help. "No buts--no more feeding until after your nap. It takes time to replenish that stuff, you know."

In place of the desired understanding, all Riona got was an annoyed cooing sound. Hopeless. Maybe Alya would whip her into shape once she got a little older, the way only big sisters could.

"Giving Mama some grief, I see?"

Riona stepped away from Alina's crib and watched as her husband stepped into the nursery. Odd. She would have expected him to be at least a couple hours more. "Done already?"

Isidro smirked. "Good to see you too, dear."

"Oh, you know what I mean." He shut the door and she met him halfway with a quick kiss to his lips. "Fish for breakfast? Really?"

"I just got in the door and you expect that I've cleaned my teeth already? You know, sometimes I miss the days when you were pretending to be a boy."

"Oh, but if I went back to doing that, you wouldn't get to do much with these," she teased as she pulled herself into him, pressing her breasts against his torso. They weren't much, but he liked to play with them all the same.

"Point taken. You win."

Well, that was a given. "I always win and you know it. Anyway, did you find it?"

"The suit of armor?"

Riona sniffed. "What else?"

"I don't know, some way to be able to touch your breasts without getting nagged about my breath?" She swatted him across the arm. Chuckling to himself, he kissed her cheek and crossed the room to their daughter's bedside. "But yes, 'Nardo and Abrich saw him. Apparently he gave Abrich a hug and wouldn't let go for ten minutes."

At least it was definite proof the thing wasn't dangerous? "Abrich always was a huggy sort."

"No one's that huggy--at least, not with other adults." And with that, Isidro reached down and lifted Alina out of the crib. "Hello, angel. I hope you missed me more than Mama did."

Riona rolled her eyes. "Izzy, I just put her down."

"Relax, I'll put her back. I just haven't seen her all morning. She's probably forgotten what I look like."

"Like anyone could forget a mug like yours, Scarface."

Shaking his head, Isidro shared a quick eye-roll with Alina. God, he could be annoying. But at least he looked cute doing it. "May you be blessed with the knack for original insults that passed your mother over." Alina gurgled. Izzy wiped her mouth with his thumb. "Oh no. Don't tell me you're hungry. You just ate, didn't you?"

"That she did." Riona shot the baby a stern look, relayed by Isidro as he returned to her feet. "Tell me more."

In her father's arms, Alina squirmed. Shrugging, he propped her into an upright position, prompting Riona to land a quick tickle on her tummy. "Not much more to tell, really. Just that he just kind of stood there all forlorn when they decided it was time to head back. Poor thing thought he was being abandoned."

"Aww. Sounds just like a lost little kid."

"Garrett said the same thing. Searle thought Abrich should have taken him home. If I'd seen him myself, I think I might have." He kissed the baby on the top of her head and sighed. "There's not much worse than being a kid with no one to love you, except maybe losing everyone who might."

"No doubt."

Riona dangled her fingers in front of Alina's and a tiny hand wrapped itself around the middle one. Even if she and Isidro died in their sleep that night, there was always her father and stepmother, her grandparents, all of her siblings, all of her nieces and nephews. Her own children were very lucky. They would never know that lonely fate.

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