McConn House September 8th 2024 (fixed future)

Horatio was talking to Ciaran in the kitchen, doing his best to help by entertaining the cook, when he heard crying coming from the bedroom upstairs as a familiar twinge in his chest as Eglantine subtly called to him. The things his wife could do with Excessum usually both shocked and amused him.

Sighing he left Ciaran with a nod and headed up the stairs, taking a deep breath before plunging into the world of father to twins.

He gently took a sobbing Ava from Eglantine allowing her to comfort Ara.
"What happened here?" he asked.

Edan sniffed. "Back here mama." he murmured, patting the back of his head. He could feel a small bump forming.

Kiara kissed Edans forehead and gently put her hand at the back of his head, gently felt for bump, she sighed and said, "Don't worry baby we will either daddy or Tav bring you up some ice okay? It will help it feel better." she murmured.

Then looking at Horatio she said " Rough housing got a little out of hand Horatio, Edan fell and hurt his head, Ava is crying casue she got spanked for it and Ara.. just becasue everyone else is I guess" she said from her possition on the floor. The weight of Edan and the baby made it very difficult for her to stand up, so she was a bit stuck.

Horatio nodded, wondering what he was going to do with his daughter, who doubtless had caused Edan's bumped head. Conjuring a cloth along with an ice pack he handed it to Kiara for the boy and set Ava on the floor.
"Go sit on the couch, turnip." he muttered gently pushing her toward the door.
Ava skipped off, obviously happy at having gotten out of the whole situation...for now.

Horatio gently pulled Kiara up from the ground and set her on the bed. Following her husband, Eglantine helped her daughter lie back against the fluffed pillows and took Edan, pressing the ice against his head.
"I'll take him to Ciaran." she whispered, carrying him and taking Ara by the hand.

Edan wasn't very hurt but she would like some sort of measage Ava would let her son be. "You will be alright honey go with Grandmama" she said gently

Sighing in relief she nodded to Eglantine she helped her back into bed, "Thank you Eglantine, My.. no wander you feel tired with all that going in" she asked rubbing her own back. finding her effort to lift Edan had strained her back somewhat.

Edan sniffed and buried his face against Eglantine's robes, allowing her to carry him from the room to his Da.
Sighing softly, Horatio patted Kiara's hand.
"I will discipline, Ava." he murmured. "Call if you need anything." leaning forward to gently kiss her forehead he left the room to find his daughter.

Kiara sighed and leaned against the pillows, Edan would be fine she knew that so as much as she wanted to, she couldn't go with then.

So once again she summond a book and went on reading having nothing better to do, although her heart wasn't really in it any more. As her mind shift to a tired Eglantine, her snifling son and her ever kicking baby inside her.

She eventually gave up on reading altogether and and lay back in bed trying to find a more comforable position.

Ciaran abandoned the cooking meal to tend to his hyperactive son. Gently patting the boy's back, he listened to his sob story about the bed and being bitten and shoved.

Meanwhile, Horatio took Ava onto his lap and looked down into her deep brown eyes sternly. "Ava." he began. "You are not suppose to be mean like that." he stated. Brown eyes filled with defiant tears.
"He pulled my hair." she murmured.
"That doesn't matter, turnip. You shouldn't have hurt him like that. He's younger than you and you shouldn't hurt people. Even if they hurt you."
"Okay, papa." Ava muttered, hugging him. Horatio's heart melted and he smiled hugging her back.

Kiara sighed in frustration as she failed to find a comfortable, she felt restless, and bored. And her now stiff back didn't help her situation.

"hmm well now what?" she said rearranging her pillows to try and help her back.

The door creaked slightly as it opened again and Eglantine slipped back in. Ara had gone to play outside with a now fully recovered Edan and Ava. Horatio and Ciaran watched them from the window as they chatted, preparing the meal and glancing now and again at a sleeping Rossa.

"Would you like me to get you a book?" she asked, carefully fluffing the pillows and conjuring yet another to aid Kiara.

Kiara sighed and sent a smile to Eglantine, "No thank you Eglantine can't hardly concentrate on a book... tried that, my mind kept wondering" she said finally giving up on makeing herself comforable again and leaned back in the pillows dispite her hurting back.

"Your company Hovever I would enjoy better" she said conjuring the chair that her had for her last time, and guestured for her to take a seat.

Eglantine took the seat, careful to keep her eyes averted from Kiara. "I highly doubt that," she murmured.

Kiara sighed and looked at Eglantine "Eglantine.. whats wrong? I haven't seen you this put out in a while. I have always enjoyed your company" she said willing to listen intently to what was on her mind.

Eglantine did not respond immediately... in fact she even contemplated not responding.
"The twins' birthday is not too long after Edan's. Horatio and I are still trying to decide what sort of party to have for them. Our family is living at Hogwarts after all..." excellent, she mused, evade the questions.

Kiara raised her brow... " And the twins birthday makes you like this? I highly doubt that Eglantine...Something is bothering you, I can tell..." she said with a sigh as she absently rubbed her had over her stomach. As the Baby gave a rather hard Kick.

"Accursed Faustus, wretch, what hast thou done? I do repent, and yet I do despair. Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast. What shall I do to shun the snares of death?"
Eglantine murmured, as if in reply, her eyes still averted from Kiara.
"Oh, it strikes, it strikes! Now body turn to air, Or Lucifer will bear thee quick to hell. Oh soul, be changed into little water drops, And fall into the ocean, ne'er be found. My God, my God, look not so fierce on me. Adders and serpents, let me breathe awhile. Ugly hell, gape not, come not, Lucifer!"

Kiara eyes widened in concern as Eglantine recited lines form a play by Christopher Marlowe, Dr. Faustus... if she remembered correctly soled his soul to the devil for power and knowledge.

Concered enough for her mother she was, that she conjured another chair beside Eglantine. She got out of bed and sat in the chair, putting her hand on Eglantines she said.

"Eglantine... look at me... it is alright, this is to do with Excessum is it?" she asked quietly.

Eglantine refused to look at Kiara, still keeping her eyes on the wall.
"Oh gentle Faustus, leave this damned art, This magic, that will charm they soul to hell, And quite bereave thee of salvation. Though thou hast now offended like a man, Do not persever in it like a devil."

She trailed off and turned her eyes slowly to Kiara. "What is death save the end, Kiara? Shall we not overlook it and accept its cold embrace?" her own words... so akin to Faustus

Kiara sighed, she was no expert in death, granted she was a expert at evading it, or teasing it.. she had been close to death so many times...but each time she whisked out of it clutches.

"Death... Eglantine Death is Death, what happens after that is anyones guess... but.. if you are talking about what I think you are talking about.... ummm has something changed, with Excessum? What are you trying to do?" she said

She roughly understood what Eglantine had muttered, but not fully.

Eglantine smiled. "You are my daughter." she stated, as if the fact needed to be repeated. "I pray you never become your father's..."

Kiara looked wided eyed for a moment, before looking down, "I could never be like him...mother...never..well not personality wise anyway" She said. It was ture she looked like the Riddle's more then the Rosier's, with her blues eyes and black hair, Unlike her mothers golden blond hair.

"But doesn't explain what is troubling you" she said looking up again.

Eglantine leaned back further in her chair, sighing. "You look so like him..." she mused aloud. "Except your eyes... his held such passion." she blinked and waved the thought away. Now that her memories had been restored of Kiara's conception...she often stumbled across them, like a child with a new or found toy.

"Excessum is growing...always growing. And it may pull me to itself." and so began her confession.

Kiara sighed, and looked down... even now she had a hard time accepting who her birthfather was... it was bad enought for him to be her cousin.

She snapped her eyes at Eglantine agian and she squeezed her hands a little bit more, the worry burning brightly in her eyes.

"Eglantine...." she whispered and trialed off. Like Horatio, she didn't approve of Excessum, yet unlike him. she saw the truth behind Excessum and didn't try to fight she knew it was very dangerous to even think about it

Subconsciously Kiara gave Elgantine threads of her magical engergy hoping to give the women a lift, and help her feel better.

"I know there isn't much I can do... to help, but if you can think of anyway for me to help you let me know...... I don't want to loose you" she whispered.meekly.

Eglantine cocked her head to the side, a faint amused expression on her face.
"Kiara... do not do that." she murmured, returning Kiara's magical energy. "And you...will not lose me."

Kiara looked in surprise as Eglantine returned he energy, " I didn't even realize I was doing that..." she muttered.

She sighed, "Eglantine... you worry me, This hold Excessum has on you, I don't it want it strengthen its hold is all... I am worry about what will happen to you if it does." she said. This time concentrating on holding back her magic.

Eglantine sighed, scooting forward to sit on the edge of the chair. "Have I ever broken a promise I made to you?"