Evanora and Friend's Bitties

I would never have seen this coming. They’d been doing well to hide it all.

Yesterday had been hectic for me. I had clients all day but for some strange reason, I couldn’t find any of the lamias anywhere or Acacia. All the other bitties, too small to take proper care of the twins, was there but couldn’t tell us what the others were doing. Even the bond with Blaise didn’t tell much, only that he was happy and excited. Not really something that was uncommon.

So, I had to take the two little squirmy noodles along with me to the meetings with the clients. Something that went well because all the ones I was meeting up with yesterday were people who liked monsters so they absolutely LOVED the twins. I almost got late to a few meeting with clients because of it.

So, I was very tired when I got back home, got the little ones to sleep (for having a father who’d love to do nothing, they really had a lot of energy), and basically just fell onto the bed and slept.

I woke up like I usually did; curled up to a ribcage with a tail wrapped around most of my body to keep me in place for cuddles. I chuckle a bit before managing to get one arm free to gently poke just over his nose-hole, getting him to make a face before Blaise looks to me with a smile. 

“ ‘morning sunshine. ya feeling refreshed?”

I rolled my eyes at that. “You’ve been doing that thing overnight? Sharing extra magic to make sure I wasn’t tired today?” I asks.

It was something he learned he could do with how close we were these days, something he explained to me was only possible because I was a mage, having nothing to do with his kind of bitties. And seeing that he was blushing a bit even if he wasn’t looking away told me enough.

“Well yes, I do feel refreshed, thanks for asking sweetheart.” I really can’t stay mad at him as I kiss him on the cheek.

“good. ya hungry? can smell that ‘liphas been going ‘round the kitchen.”

He was right, he had. The beautiful scent of bacon, scrambled eggs and… Pancakes perhaps? Yeah that scent was pancakes all right, was getting to the bedroom at this point.

“Well if that’s the case, better not keep him waiting.”

I slowly got myself untangled from the tail that was wrapped around me. He might have asked if I was hungry as a hint to getting up, but he would never make it easy. He loved staying in bed and cuddling as long as we could these days with the twins around. Speaking of the twins… They weren’t in the cradle where I’d left them yesterday. Huh.

“Drake must have gone in here to take them.” I mumble, getting a pair of pants on under my nightgown and putting my slippers on, seeing that it was getting cold around. Getting heating installed in the floor might be a good idea, for the lamias’ sake…

Walking into the living room, I’m surprised instantly. All the bitties were there, sitting around the table that had been set up with the things that I’d gotten the scent of before along with what I guessed was tea water and hot cocoa and juice, the last clearly freshly pressed. To say that I was in awe was a understatement.

“What’s all this now?” I asks, looking to Blaise for a moment before looking back to everyone once more. Even the twins were here, all quiet for once!

“Well Evanora, have you forgotten what day it is today?” Eliphas asks me, making me blink.

“Uh… As far as I know it’s nothing really special today… Is it?”

“We’d say ‘frent there Eva, ‘s a pretty special day ‘f ya ask all ‘f us.” Rowan says, everyone else nodding.

“Have you really forgotten your own birthday?”

I look at Drake for a long time, then around at everyone else.

“Uh well… I didn’t really think about it? I haven’t done anything special in years…”

There was silence a bit after I said that… And then I found out why I love all my guys so much.

Rowan was in charge of calling all my clients for the day to tell them I was taking the day off to celebrate my birthday, telling me later that they all told him that was a good thing and that I really should take the day off once in a while! Eliphas made sure I had anything I needed at all meals, even going out of his way to make my favorite to make me happy and even found out that they’d all been using the day before to get me gifts and baking!

Blaise had been out finding some beautiful, natural gems and managed to actually create a necklace with them for me! There was a white, yellow, green, red and blue stone set after each other with the necklace itself being woven leather strands! I absolutely loved it and put it on right away!

Rowan, Acacia and Drake had gotten some lovely flowers and a fruit basket for me, a sweet thought that I really appreciated!

Eliphas, Archie, Baris and Sage had gotten together and gotten me a few new hoodies; one with cat ears, one with floppy dog ears and one with fox ears, all of them with matching tails! I squealed a bit at them, clearly making the bitties proud of their choice.

Desmond had actually gotten me a gift on his own; a music player that I could take with me and listen to no matter if I had pockets or not, he’d even gone as far as to decorate it with some of the things he knew I liked. I really hadn’t seen him blush as much as he had when I thanked him over and over again - the gesture meant a lot to me.

Darko and Aaden had gotten me some candles! They were engraved with a few different things that each meant something and I loved them!

Ravana and Samael had together made a beautiful image of all of us, of course with the two of them in front! (Zagan had helped them with writing the names of everyone on it so he was part of the gift, something his brothers argued against but seeing that I loved it even more for that they let it slide.)

There even was a gift from the twins, though I had a sneaky suspicion that Blaise was the one who’d gotten this, a new dress that I absolutely loved. And putting it on it was clear that it looked perfect on me as well!

And at dinner, I was surprised when Dawn, Soul and Sergent came over, along with some of Dawn’s own bitties! It was a good surprise though, seeing that Eliphas had clearly expected it and gotten enough on his hunt for everyone to eat along. They also brought gifts of course! Some supplies for the house, some new fabrics for my projects and a few herb packages that I’d been looking for!

Once the day was over and I was laying in bed once more, Blaise happily holding me to his chest while the sound of his breathing, our souls and the twins calmly breathing as they slept, I just… Couldn’t stop smiling.

“This has been such a wonderful day…”

“ ‘s good ta hear love.”

“I never realized what I was missing out on.”

“ya welcome…”

“Not that silly… I was thinking of how I’d been missing out on having a family around me to celebrate things like this… I hope to have many of those days with you… All of you….”

We didn’t sleep for a while after that, just holding each other… And Blaise wasn’t crying of happiness at all if you ask him... but I saw a few little tears I’m sure.

____________________________________________________________

I was sleeping peacefully, having a strange dream when someone started to shake me awake. Trying to keep the weird, but good, dream going I waved at whoever of the bitties that was trying to wake me up. It could wait, couldn’t it? After a bit I realized whoever it was didn’t give up, so I managed to listen for a few seconds...

“-’s happening! come on hun, ya don’t wanna miss this!”

It was Blaise... Something happening? What could he-

I sat up in a instance, looking over to where the eggs were sitting, keeping warm. They were both moving slightly and I could see a small hole in one of them. They were hatching!

Getting up of the bed, I quickly got the towels we’d been keeping around for this time, the excitement in my SOUL not being the only excitement I was feeling: myself and Blaise was making each other’s excitement higher and higher with the bond!

It took a good bit before we got to see the first of the two little ones; a skull popping out of the darker egg as the little one took their first, deep breath. I couldn’t help but coo at them as I gently picked them up, using the towel to clean off the liquid magic that they’d been resting in until now. Their tail was darker than the egg had been and I got the feeling that their true color wasn’t showing yet, but I was too excited to keep that thought for long while I was cleaning them.

Blaise took the second towel as not too long after, the second egg hatched, the little lamia letting out a small squeaking sound as they took their first breath while Blaise took them to clean them off. They had the same marking and colors like Blaise, the little one was even a piebald as well!

“Oh my goodness, they’re perfect...” I calmly say, not needing to see Blaise nod to know he thought the same thing; I could feel in the bond the love he had for our little ones already. The one in my arms let out a tiny kitten sneeze, making me chuckle. “Oh god, I won’t be getting anymore sleep tonight... They’re so beautiful...”

“yea... they really are...” Blaise said in wonder, clearly not really aware of what he was saying.

------------------------------------------------

It was clear that a certain King was surprised to see both me and Blaise up and about this early, because he stopped as soon as he’d walked into the room and spotted us sitting on the couch - boguht not too long ago with a frame that could take the punishment of all the Lamias trying to get onto it at once.

“Well... This is new. How come you two are up already? I usually have to either drag you out or get the brothers to go in and-”

Eliphas stopped his own sentence when he slithered around the couch to see myself and Blaise sit with the little ones between us, both of them curled up in the box their eggs had been in - now cleaned after they’d been fed so they had a place to sleep.

His eyes were so wide and his hood was slowly opening... Before he hurried towards the kitchen. “I’ll get a celebration breakfast going, you two need to plan a trip out to get some milk that’ll be more healthy for the little ones.” It’s clear there’s no room for discussion so while Blaise is chuckling I smile and pull out my phone, snapping a quick image of the little ones before I decide to check up and see if any of the places we know of would have what we were looking for

I really wasn’t sure what to make of it. Sure I love Blaise, more than anything else, but he was being… Unusually clingy lately.

And all because of one night where I told him that it was all right… That he could just go all out… I blush as I recall that night. The other bitties had been out for the day, taking a trip to the lake, so we’d been alone. Free to make as much noise as we wanted to.

I chuckle a bit as I feel a certain lamias tongue go over the mark on my neck he’d made, glancing back at him. It was slowly fading so he was making sure to enjoy every second of it being there clearly.

“Are you going to explain why you’re being this clingy hun? Or are you going to keep it for yourself?”

His tail wraps more around my legs and his skull goes to rest on my shoulder as he looks to me. “ya really haven’t been able ta feel it love?” He asks me, genuent. At my confused look he puts a hand on my stomach.

I wasn’t sure what he was meaning. I’d been feeling a bit bloated the last couple of days, but nothing else. As I kept giving him an odd look, he pressed slightly on my stomach. I would have stopped him but…

As he did so, I felt something move in there… Eggs? We’d been uh… Doing that thing before, but this was the first time I felt the eggs being there after we’d been done and slept. So why…?

“love… ya didn’t know ya are a mage?”

Okay, that surprised me.

“I’m… A mage?” I ask him, looking at him even if it was a bit awkward.

“yea. felt it back when i first met ya. everyone knows ya one, just… no one ever spoke ‘bout it seeing as we thought ya knew with the things ya do.”

To say that I was surprised… Was an understatement. Sure, when I’d been sewing the things, I got more tired than what I’d thought was normal. I didn’t think too much about it though, I just focused on… Making the garment or item something that would be loved and - if the client asked about it - focused on a certain thing while sewing. Like when I made the collar for Dawn’s little Sketch where I focused deeply on keeping her protected. It had made me more tired than I had expected with how much I’d been focusing, but thinking over it… I’d been focusing more on it than with a lot of my customers. It meant more to me to make this gift…

“So… So the eggs…”

“ya did say that uh… ya’d love ta have a family at some point… so when ya told me ta go all out?” He was speaking softly at this point, clearly making sure not to let anyone else hear.

“... So that was the feeling I was having. The feeling of… Of us making new life…”

“‘s cause ya carrying our eggs right now… ‘course not all of ‘em gonna be something, we’ll have ta see how many of them comes out all right.” He tells me while smiling.

I can’t help it. My eyes slowly fill with tears while my cheeks turn red and for a moment Blaise both looks and feels confused, before he realizes the feelings that’s coming to him trough the bond. I’m just so…

“Happy… I’m happy Blaise… We… We’re going to be…”

I smile and manage to turn around in his grasp, leaning up to give him a deep kiss. He chuckles against me as I do so, returning the gesture.

Once we break apart from the kiss he smiles at me.

“i’m so happy you were the one i bonded with… my own little soulmate…” He says.

I can’t help but smile and would have leaned in for another kiss if not for…

“Eva! Get out of those coils and come on!”

“Yeah! We wanna play in the garden, Rowan is busy and Eliphas and Desmond are already outside, too far to open the door!”

Blaise chuckles as I lean my head on his chest, a bit disappointed that the moment was gone once more, but well… I could never say no to Ravana and Samael. I wasn’t sure where Zagan was at the moment, but it didn’t matter, he was allowed to do other things than keep an eye on those two at all times.

“All right, I’m coming over.” I say, smiling and standing up, positively beaming at this point as I let them out to rage havoc on the garden.

We were going to have little ones…

They weren’t going to be just adopted little ones… They’d be mine and Blaise’s little ones…

One thing was pretty clear not too long after getting the Starlust home; he’d been going hungry for a good while. I was so glad that Blaze and Eliphas were such good hunters, otherwise we would have run out of food. That lamia could really put away some meat!

After letting him eat, Rowan helped him clean up. Turned out he had a lot of dust and shed skin that hadn’t let go of his tail, that combined with the food meant his true colors showed once he was out once more, showing colors that could make a Mamba jealous.

His scales were mainly a beautiful shade of garnet with darker spots along his back and a soft blush stomach. Not to mention that his scales had the typical shine of a Starlust lamia - it looked like a rainbow was on his scales when he moved around!

I could tell that Rowan was interested in the newcomer, Acacia too which was a good thing, though neither of them seemed to do anything about it. Getting them one-on-one to talk to them, or well one-on-two, I got to know why.

“He’s just gotten ‘round here, still recovering, wouldn’t wanna ‘ave him take big decisions just yet.”

“Indeed, and also… We want to see who he is once he gets better before doing anything. But me and Rowan are agreeing that we both want to be with him, if he wants to be with the both of us as well.”

So I left the two of them to it, letting everyone get used to each other and see how his personality would unfold.

He turned out to be the most extroverted of the lamias, saying a lot when Eliphas wasn’t shy around attention.

“Doll, you forgot this~”

“Weren’t you supposed to use that other stitching method on this part?”

“So you and Blaise are a thing… Going to adopt in the future?”

“Oh, Desmond! Need a favor homie. You see I need a song for…”

He was a chatterbox.

But with his personality coming out, I also saw him chat a lot with Rowan and Acacia, hanging out and going with them when they were going out for trips to the woods nearby. None of the other bitties really said much about it, but both Rowan and Acacia seemed happy. A few weeks later I got to talk to them and ask how things are, seeing as I researched and found that the bitties would usually need mates to help them with heats. So seeing that I hadn’t seen anything that would indicate that he’d gone into heat… I had to ask.

“Oh, hey there Eva, how are you doing?” Of course it was the Starlust that noticed me first, Rowan and Acacia turning to me when I approach.

“I’m doing good, thank you. You seem to be as well.” I note and he chuckles.

“I’m doing splendid now that I’ve got a loving home and a family who cares for me. I really haven’t told you just how thankful I am for all you’ve done for me Evanora, so I will say it now; thank you. Really, I believe you might have saved my life.”

At that sentence, I could see that both Rowan and Acacia knew more about this than what I knew, so I decided that for now I’d just leave them to it and hope that everything was all right.

“Well you’re very much welcome. I’m happy to have you here, honest. But I can’t help but ask-”

“Yes, we’re together. The three of us.”

I was surprised that he just said that without me having to finish the sentence, even more so when Rowan spoke up.

“Didn’t really get ta tell ya ‘fore now Eva. ‘s why we’ve been going ‘s much to the forest as we ‘ave. Ta have ‘lone time.”

Acacia nods. “We’ve been out there just enjoying the peace and… Well, doing some other things. Don’t worry, we’ve made sure not to be at the area where everyone goes once in a while, we’ve been going further while staying safe.”

I stand there for a while before just… Smiling.

“Well then… This is great! I’m so happy for you!” I then look to the Starlust. “Well I guess all that’s needed now is a name for you…” I start to think about it but…

“Drake.” “His name’s Drake.”

I look to Rowan and Acacia, both of the bitties looking off to the side while blushing. I really couldn’t think of why they were blushing like that - and felt like I didn’t need to know - so I just shrugged and smiled at the three of them.

Rowan was laying in the kiddy pool, looking at the things going on around the place. Evanora and Blaise were laying in the sun on a blanket, Blaise’s tail around her leg, Desmond and Eliphas was on one of the sun chairs, Eliphas carefully reading to Desmond who looked like he could fall asleep any second. Aaden, Darko, Zagan, Ravana and Samael were sitting in the doorway, talking between each other carefully. It was clear Zagan wasn’t too happy about Darko but he was slowly warming up to him and Aaden seemed to be closer and closer to Ravana with each day.

He didn’t know he could feel so lonely around others.

He was happy for everyone. They had all found lovely mates who liked them a lot, something that he believed everyone deserved in the world. But being the only one around who didn’t have anyone to be interested in…

It wasn’t always easy.

Like right now where almost everyone, save for Samael who seemed like he wasn’t interested in that kind of thing just yet, were hanging out with the one who either was their mate… Or may end up being mates at one point.

“What’s the matter Rowan?”

Oh, Evanora had noticed him looking around at the others with a bit of a frown. He turned his head to her, putting on his best smile. “Nothing ‘T all. Just thinking too much, should stop doing so when ‘M supposed ta be relaxing.”

He tried to play it off, but it was clear that Eva was seeing through it. Standing up, Evanora came over to him - Blaise didn’t move from his spot but he was looking over - and kneeled down.

“Come on Rowan, I know you better than that… Please tell me what’s up? I want to help you if I can.” She tells him, making him let out a sigh.

“All right… Just… Can’t help feeling ‘bit lonely. Ya got Blaze, Eliphas ‘n Desmond got each other… The other bitties seems like they get ‘long pretty well. Ya know, more than just friends,” Eva and him looked over to the bitties who were talking quietly, watching them for a moment before she turned back to him, “but ya know… ‘v got no one. Didn’t really think ‘bout it before now but… ‘s getting ‘bit lonely.”

Rowan flinch when Evanora goes ahead and facepalms, letting out a hiss of a mixture of pain… And annoyance! He wasn’t feeling too happy about this as she got the attention of all the bitties around them!

“I hadn’t thought about that! This is just… Don’t move, this’ll change!” She told him before hurrying off, all the bitties looking after her… Before looking to Rowan confused.

He wished he wasn’t so big right now…

_______________________________________

Evanora was trying hard not to giggle as she walked into the bitty center with Darko resting on her shoulder and Rowan... Trying to hide behind her. The lamia was so nervous for this meeting even thought he'd been told so many times everything was going to be fine. "Ya all right kid, we'll find one who'll love ya, don't worry about it." Darko tried once more, but it was clear he wasn't having any of it, still hiding out behind the redhead. Evanora shook her head again while looking around to see if she could spot the owner of the place... Or just in general someone who could help them on their little mission.

In the middle of the room, a dragon with a sushi tail, Randy, was sitting in a circle with several mini bitties and full sized bitties, attempting to play a game of cards.

When the newcomers walked in, Randy set down her cards and waved “Hello there! Sorry about the mess, Drago here-“ She pointed at the Cappo bitty “Talked us all into a game of Bluff, hehe. Is there anything I can help you with?”

Evanora and Darko - in his service bitty vest - simply smiles at the display. "Don't worry about it, having a few bitties myself I know how they can be." Evanora replies before continuing. "I'm Evanora and we're here because my boy Rowan here, who's hiding behind me right now because he's embarrassed, has been feeling lonely because he doesn't have a mate. So we're here to try and find one for him!"

Rowan slowly and carefully looked over Evanora's shoulder, blushing like mad and making his freckles show very clearly. He seemed like he wanted to say something before then just 'hiding' his face in Evanora's ponytail.

“Awww, don’t worry! I’m sure we can find this handsome bitty a mate in no time!” Randy said cheerfully, carefully moving around the card game, She motioned for the others to follow her “Come on, we can go to the meet and greet room, is there a certain bitty you have in mind, Rowan?”

Randy hopes addressing him directly wouldn’t be too bold since the poor bean looked nervous enough already.

Evanora gently nudges Rowan forward so he's the one walking in front, clearly not something the large lamia was too happy about but he did so nonetheless even if his face was still completely yellow. "W-well... Don't really have one in mind... I'd just... Like someone who's not too much smaller than me... 'M 'fraid I'd hurt them by accident. 'n I want someone who isn't taller than me... Someone sweet... Caring perhaps..."

Randy smiles softly and awws quietly “Aww, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding your mate in no time! I think I have someone in mind, would you mind waiting here in the meet room?”

Rowan is clearly surprised when told that Randy has someone in mind, but shakes his head at the question. "'M fine waiting here." He tells, glancing over to Evanora who's just there to support the lamia, smiling gently at him.

Randy smiles widely “Wonderful! I’ll go get her!” The dragon disappeared behind a set of doors and then emerged a few short minutes later with a 5 foot Echo Bitty, glowing light blue with a Morning glory flower at the end of her tail.

The Echo smiled shyly and waved at Rowan “Hello there!”

Rowan looked around the meeting room while waiting for Randy to return, mostly trying to distract himself from his nervous mind. Once he saw the Echo Bitty though... He was speechless. He just stood there, staring for the longest time before Eva gently nudged him with her elbow, causing him to clear his throat. "H-hi..." He stammered out, feeling very nervous once more.

Randy grinned at the two bitties and took a step back, allowing the Echo and Rowan to speak freely.

When Rowan just stared, she blushed and shifted her weight slightly “Hello, uh...what’s your name?” She asked shyly while fidgeting with her glowing tail

Rowan cast one more glance to Evanora before taking a deep breath and slithering a bit closer to the Echo, his hands in his pockets. "... 'M Rowan. I-it's... N-nice to meet'cha." He says, trying to gain more confidence but he just doesn't seem to be able to. Looking to the flower he can't help but smile a bit more calmly. "Ya know... 's my favorite flower..." He mumbles as he points to it, his other hand staying in his pocket as he fidgets with the inside of it.

The Echo flower lit up when he mentioned her tail and her glow slightly brightened with her emotion “Really?!” She immediately started blushing and suddenly didn’t know how to respond “Th-thank you! You’re very sweet!”

Rowan seemed to gain some confidence once the other blushed, smiling gently to her. "Well... Not 's sweet as ya seem." He then was silent for a little before pulling an apple out of his pocket, making sure to clean it before holding it out to her. "I uh... M-might've brought this... Uh, as a gift... Didn't know if it'd be accepted but... Well, thought perhaps 's the thought that counts, eh?"

The Echo gasped quietly and took the apple happily “I love apples!” She quickly broke the apple in half from the top, following instructions she recalled from a YouTube video and handed him half “Uhm...would you like to share this with me?” She asked shyly “Food always tastes better with friends!”

Rowan was clearly impressed by how easily she split the apple, smiling wider when she offered him one of the two halfs. "Sure, is as ya say, always better with friends... Even better when they're as sweet as ya is." His blush had been dying down until he said that, taking a bite of the apple.

The Echo stared widely as her blush overtook her entire face, her glow brightened with her fluster and hid her face in her hands. She started giggling when she managed to regain some composure and smiled widely at him “I like you!” She scooched slightly closer and quickly kissed his cheek “You’re cute!”

That did it. Rowan's entire skull was now yellow as he pulled his hood up to hide in it, the tip of his tail wagging softly as he mumbled out a "Thank you..." From his hiding spot. Evanora who'd been slowly walking around the two bitties to not get their attention were smiling brightly at the display, looking to Randy once she got over besides her. "Think it's safe to say those two will be good together." She quietly says as to still not get their attention. "Think we can get the paperwork done while my boy gets the courage to come out of hiding?"

The Echo giggled again at Rowan’s reaction and began circling him, trying to find another way to fluster him before settling on trying to boop him through the hood.

Randy chuckled quietly and nodded before motioning for a nearby Boopster to grab the papers. Once they were in her hands, she passed them off to Evanora. “Here ya go!”

Rowan had been peeking out when the Echo started to circle around him, trying to guess what she was going to do. Once she booped him he blinked for a few seconds... Then chuckled before deciding to come out of hiding, booping her back with a smile.

"That is so sugar sweet..." Evanora whispered to Darko while looking at the display in front of her, getting a nod from the Lich before getting handed the papers. She took them with a "Thanks," before starting to fill in everything. "Hmmm, she needs a name."

"Acacia." It's Rowan who'd been listening in, surprising Evanora as he blushes and looks to the ground. "It uh... 's a shrub with yellow or white blossom. It symbolizes immortality and resurrection." He’d actually found the name while looking up flowers, finding it and finding out the meaning behind it, loving it instantly, so it was a perfect fit for his new mate. He’d been mumbling slightly but Eva hears it and smiles. "Acacia it is." She says, noting it down.

The newly named Acacia grinned up at Rowan and threw her arms around him excitedly. “I love it!!” She squealed, pulling back from her surprise hug “I love my name, thank you!” Her glow pulsed happily and she looped her arm and rested her head on Rowan’s shoulder, immediately snuggling up to him.

Randy grinned at Acacia and Rowan before looking at Evanora “That’s a perfect name for her, I can see she’ll have no trouble adjusting to her new home!”

Rowan looked like he might faint from how yellow he was in the face... That was until he picked up Acacia bridal-style and started slithering out of there with her, looking ever so happy. "You're welcome.. 'n ya coming home w' me right now." He declares.

Evanora chuckles and hands over the paperwork, everything signed and good to go. "I better catch up with them before he carries her all the way home. Thank you for everything, I'll make sure to make them visit at some point so you can get to hear how everything is going!" She waves as she heads after her lamia, a big smile on her face.

Acacia squealed happily when she was picked up and quickly waved goodbye to everyone she passed on her way out.

Randy giggles and followed them out “That would be wonderful! Thanks for coming by!”

_______________________________________

Rowan didn’t carry her all the way, by Evanora’s orders, but he did carry her a good distance before he had to put her down. Acacia was sweet enough thought and didn’t mind walking as she could then hold onto his arm as he slithered on the sidewalk. Evanora could tell he was happy about this.

They stopped on the way back for some ice cream, sitting and enjoying them in the park when the bushes nearby started rustling. All three of them looked over to where the sound was coming from, Rowan being on edge and clearly ready to defend them if needed… When another lamia came out!

He was a Papyrus type with a dull-looking red tail and some pattern on his scales. Rowan looked those over, liking how they looked if it wasn’t for how dull they were. But he was being on edge, not sure what the lamia wanted from him. Acacia was hiding halfway behind her mate, looking to the newcomer as well.

The Lamia slowly slither over to them, keeping his distance and his body low to the ground. He’s wearing a shirt that’s filled with holes, his scales are covered in slight dust and he looks pretty worn and thin. He’s making sure not to pose a threat as he slithers over, looking at the ice cream in their hands.

Rowan notice this after a bit and looks to it before slowly holding out his own ice cream, smiling to the lamia. “Ya want some? I’ve got ‘nough magic, ya can ‘ave it if ya want.” He tells him. It takes a bit before the bitty reacts but he carefully takes it before straightening up to eat it, clearly enjoying every bite while trying to eat it slow when hunger is telling him to scarf it down. It was as tall as Rowan!

Evanora, meanwhile, has been up on the internet, looking around to see if she could find the bitty type this one was… And she thought she’d found it. Standing up she walks over to the bitty, watching as it’s licking the remaining ice cream off his hands.

“You doing better? Want some more?” She asks, holding out her own. The bitty looks between her and the ice cream a few times before carefully taking the second offered ice cream, eating it way slower this time.

“There you go… Are you a Starlust Lamia?” She asks carefully, getting a nod from the lamia. “Ah, okay… Do you have a family? An owner?” She asks, even if she doubt it. While he’s relatively clean, she can tell he’s not been living with anyone or at least not anyone good. He shakes his head after a bit, confirming her thoughts.

“So you’re all alone?” A nod.

“You don’t have anywhere to go?” Shake of the head.

Evanora stands there, thinking about it for a long while. Surprisingly, it’s Rowan who speaks up. “Ya could come with us. If Eva allows it. We’re already four lamias back at ‘er place, so ya would fit in… ‘n ya seem like ya need somewhere to live.”

Rowan really just didn’t want to leave the lamia here so thin, he wasn’t healthy! The lamia looked between Evanora and Rowan for a while as Acacia slowly went to stand next to her mate, not sure where this was going. He looked nice enough, this new lamia, but wasn’t he wild? Would he fit in back at their place? Sure, she was new as well and didn’t know how things would be, but surely someone who’d been wild for however long this one had wouldn’t do well with others?

After a while the Starlust nodded his head, indicating he wanted to come along with them. So he slithered along with the others as they went on home, being very quiet and looking at Rowan and Acacia all the while.

Things had changed quite a lot since being adopted by Evanora. For the better really, but it had still been a bit of an adjustment period from being among all the other bitties that Vex had while they were all looking for owners - most noticeably the Pygmies zooming about and the Mambas always wanting attention and praise - to this very calm way of life.

Mornings were the most quiet. While Evanora did get up early as well, most of the time Eliphas was alone when he woke for the day. It was nice really. Meant he had some time before he’d have to live with Blaise, Rowan and Desmond and their puns…

Well, he supposed there was more than one reason he needed to be awake before interacting with Desmond.

He’d known the other lamia before they were adopted, they’d interacted a few times and they got along rather well. Heck, the joking nature of the other was honestly one of the things Eliphas liked about Desmond! He knew what he wanted, but he was scared.

They were friends. They got along well and could tease and ‘fight’ with each other from time to time without going over the lines they’d set up - Evanora got a bit of a heart attack the first time she’d walked in and saw them wrestling around on the floor until she realised Desmond was laughing his tail off.

And gosh darn it if he didn’t love him.

He wanted to be more than friends with Desmond at this point. He wanted to be mates. Wanted to be allowed to cuddle with the other lamia without getting those looks from Blaise, wanted to have the meals he got to him to be more than a friendly gesture, wanted the other to not just see him as a friend.

But it wasn’t easy, not for one fucking moment.

A few times he’d decided to see if he couldn’t do something, mostly when everyone else decides to go for a swim in the lake - there was no fucking way he was getting near that damned place! - but he’d forgotten that the Lucirazz’s and the damned Vampyrus doesn’t really bother with swimming either. So of course they kept ruining all his attempts at being alone with the Honey Bo to talk with him.

It was getting ridiculous at this point.

At the moment he was laying in the garden, frowning as he watched Evanora and Blaise as they were removing weeds, Rowan splashing in the kiddy pool and Darko sitting nearby asleep. The two little menances and the vampire were all inside due to the sun - the twins more so because they didn’t want to leave their brother alone - and Desmond? Well…

He wasn’t sure where Desmond was really.

He’d looked around - trying to appear bored - when he went to pick up one of the many books Eva had in the bookshelves. But there was no orange lamia to be seen. It was.. Odd, not knowing where the other was, so now he was sitting and glancing over his book at the others, frowning and not really able to focus on the adventure written on the pages.

“Hope ya haven’t kept that frown on ya face this whole time. Doessssn’t ssssssuit you.”

He was surprised when he looked up to see Desmond leaning over him with a grin. How that lazy noodle were able to sneak around that well he’d never know. “What doessss it matter to you?” He says, trying to sound like he didn’t care but he had to admit… This was the first time in a while since they were adopted they’d managed to speak alone for a bit.

“Well, it doessssn’t I sssuposssse… But if ya did, perhapssss thisss would make you ssssmile.”

Desmond pulled out something from his pocket… And Eliphas was stunned. It was a necklace. The ‘chain’ bit of it was leather, tied around a stunning ruby. He had no idea where Desmond could have gotten something like this and had a suspicion that he’d asked Blaise for help on it.

“What issss thisss?” Eliphas asks as he takes the gift into his hand, sitting up and looking at it for a long while before looking over to Desmond once more.

“Gift for you.” He just states.

“... Why?”

“Sssshould be obvioussss.”

Eliphas thinks about it for a good long while before he realizes. He’d been bringing Desmond food he likes for the bonding stage besides giving him gentle touches when he thought it was all right for the other… And Desmond had started some of those touches for a good while, had bought him a blanket or a bookmark when he’d forgotten it while giving him a smile.

And now he was bringing him a impractical gift.

Desmond had outdone him this time.

He couldn’t help it. He started laughing, getting the attention of the others while Desmond was now looking a bit worried. “What’ssss sssso funny?” Desmond asks.

Eliphas doesn’t answer, going inside the house to his nest to recieve something, coming out afterwards with a necklace of his own and holding it out to Desmond while wearing the ruby around his neck.

He’d found a small necklace shaped like those papers used when playing music with three music nodes on it in orange gemstone.

Neither of them heard the cheering going on as they kissed, deciding that the last step wasn’t necessary at this point.