From the Vast

Chapter 33: Home

Each croak of the steps under Anne's feet sent another jolt through her. Excitement, anticipation, concern about the structural stability of this dwelling, all mixed in wildly varying rates. Just a few steps later, though, all gave into relief at what this burrow turned out to actually be.

Planks lined the room's walls and floors alike, except for stone and gravel around the hearth at its far side. Not all the same kind, the mismatch in shades of wood looking a bit awkward—and yet, just right at the same time. Figures they couldn't afford to be picky with building materials. The simple doors along the central room's sides were curious, but Anne's attention was snagged by something else before she could investigate them further.

Or rather, someone else.

Garret and Aria stood beside the cauldron, bathed in the bright orange light of the homely flames. As the Dark-type split his focus between working on the meal and holding his wife close, the Gardevoir took her time waking up with a few slow blinks, followed by a yawn. And then, once she'd sensed what it was that had stirred her up, a wide, tired smile aimed towards the incoming group, Anne especially.

"Good evening, Anne," Aria spoke with her physical voice, putting her utmost effort into not breaking out into yet another yawn.

The mention of the girl finally snapped Garret out of his cooking duties, his toothy expression widening as he watched everyone pile in. He couldn't spare an arm to wave at them right now, but doing so with individual loose strands of fur all around his body ought to have sufficed. "Hello everyone! Thank goodness I've made enough for the next couple days if we're gonna be having guests!"

A faint blush went through Anne's expression at the remark—and then another one at the realization that she probably wasn't thought of as a guest.

The two ghosts tailing the others were unexpected, but someone ought to know them, and that was enough for Garret. His wife was more confused, though, raising an eyebrow first at the Banette, and then at the Indeedee once she'd realized her involvement in this.

"^I'll explain over dinner, doncha worry,^" Autumn explained telepathically, leaving her daughter-in-law with no choice but to sigh and nod along. An elaboration was in order, but Aria wasn't rushing for it.

"~A-are you okay, Mrs. Aria?~" Anne worried as she took a couple steps closer; the Gardevoir's antics earlier in the day were still fresh in her mind. Even ignoring that, though, she wasn't looking particularly encouraging—not while this exhausted.

The Gardevoir couldn't deny not quite being back to her usual self. And so; she didn't. "I'm a bit disheveled, but... I'm better now. A lot better, which I suppose only speaks to how rough this morning was," Aria admitted with a chuckle, shuddering at the tattered memories of her standoff with Cinder at the clinic as her husband held her closer. "I'm—I'm not sure when I'll be back to how I was before, unfortunately. Slept almost all day long and I'm still exhausted..."

"The answer's 'as long as it takes', then! And we'll be here for as long as you need us, honey," Garret chimed in, his individual hairs caressing Aria from all around. Didn't make it any easier for her to keep her eyes open with how pleasant it felt, but something told her nobody minded.

There was one more thing she needed to bring up before she could let herself recede into full-on relaxation, though.

"Anne, I..." Aria paused, shuddering as she took a deep breath. It hurt to realize earlier, just like it hurt to even think about now, but Anne deserved it more than ever. "I'm sorry for what happened at the clinic. I freaked out when I shouldn't have and scared you all, and I'm sorry—"

"~No no, it's all good Mrs. Aria!~" The girl's enthusiastic response made the Gardevoir shudder, worries about it being said just to soothe her conscience filling her body for a moment. It took only a brief scan of her innermost sense to make it clear that the girl meant it—with every fiber of her being at that.