"Even I find this work a bit challenging," Garen added. "With all the grandiose structures in Rogart, it's hard to build something that blends in well, yet makes itself distinctive. But I do have pictures; I'll show them to you later."
Mericlou leaned back in the sofa, careful not to hurt her now-sleeping pet. "That's all well and good, yes, but I think that there's more to your coming than just my birthday. The last two years, you just sent me the presents."
"Hmm …" Alaema's voice had returned to its usual silky timbre. "Come to think of it, sister, you're right. Why have you come back?"
"We could never fool you, could we, Meri?" Noroa said, shaking her head in pleasured defeat. "Well, you're right; there's another reason why we've come here."
Mericlou noticed that the two were now holding hands: a sure sign of things to come. She looked over at Alaema, and saw a knowing grin on her face.
"We're going to have a baby," they said. Noroa was positively beaming.
The front door swung open.
"Who's having a baby?" Skori said as he came inside.
He then stopped in his tracks.
"Sister?"
"Which sister?" Sedriil said, before running into Skori from behind. After a quick apology, he looked around from behind his brother. His face broke into another one of his rare smiles, one that beamed almost as brightly as Noroa's.
"Noroa!" He shouted boyishly as he broke around Skori, and ran into her arms. He lifted Noroa up into a tight embrace, and spiraled around in the room, laughing. And then, just as quickly, he put her down, sputtering in embarrassment. "I … I'm sorry sister; I probably shouldn't have done that … in your … ah … condition …"
"It's okay, Sedriil," Noroa said with a laugh and a wave of her hand. "I'm only three months along."
"My little sister about to have a baby …" Skori mused, scratching the back of his head as he sat down in his couch. "Who would've thought?"
There came a knock at the door, which made Sedriil jump nervously. "By the maker!" He said, scurrying over to open it.
"What's the matter?" Alaema said.
Mericlou's face turned three shades of red when she saw who it was.
"I thought you forgot about me," Aldrec said as he came in, Sedriil all the while, uttering a string of apologies. He held a bouquet of roses in his hand, and an elongated, flat package tucked under his arm.