Elunara marched in. Seeing him busy, she quietly stepped to the side. Anduin's eye roll did not go unnoticed.
After they left, Elunara slid over to him.
With a grin, he ran his hand on her hip. "What brings us the honor?"
"I'd actually like to speak to the both of you... over a personal matter."
Varian's eyebrow shot up. "This office should be fine." He gestured.
After her explanation, Anduin frowned. "That's just cruel."
"I'd like to wring their scrawny little necks." Elunara snarled.
"You care a lot about this girl." Anduin's eyebrow shot up, and Elunara privately giggled over the similarities to his father.
"Doesn't matter how she was born, she's mine. That's all that matters. All I'm really asking from the both of you is kindness. Hell, Prince Anduin saying hello to one little girl, and not another, is goddamned politics to children."
He shrugged. "I can't actually argue with that."
"So how do you plan on arranging all of this?" Varian cocked his head to the side.
"I'm holding a concert." She grinned.
Lydia knocked on the door.
Elunara yanked open the door and frowned down at her. "Well, get in."
Lydia scrambled to get inside.
Elunara slapped the door closed. "Remember my little tomboy, this is humiliating and terrible. You must always leave grumpy."
Lydia grinned. "Of course."
The boys knew their roles well. They sat at lunch with the other boys.
"Poor Lydia." Bradly sighed.
"I know! Stuck all week with Momma Tuly!"
They both made a face.
"What happened?" One of the other boys scooted closer.
"Lydia lost her temper at some girls..."
"And punched one in the face!"
"Now she has to help sew dresses with Momma Tuly."
"For a WHOLE week!"
"And who knows what chores Momma's making her do."
"Probably sweeping. I hate sweeping."
"Pfft, I hate changing the beds!"
"Just cause she punched someone?"
"So not fair."
Both boys shook their heads.
Zelinnia giggled as she sat the babies in the crib Elunara had set up. "Oh, Elunara, you're completely fiendish."
"How do you think I get by with so much shit?" She grinned.
"So, where are your drawings?"
"Right here."
Zelinnia gasped. "Oh, it's beautiful."
"Think you can pull it off?"
"Oh, hell yeah."
Ina snorted. "Of course, she pulled me into this mess."
"Oh hush, Ina. You love it as much as anybody." Elunara rolled her eyes.
Lydia stood in the center of Tulani's studio, arms up. "You think it will work?" She called.
"Honey, if this doesn't work, I'll stop telling people I was a top SI:7 agent."
"A?" Ina snorted. "Try THE."
"Aw, Ina. I didn't know you cared."
"Just speaking truth, girlie."
"Momma cried." Lydia sighed. "After we got home."
"Sweetheart, your Momma's going to need a BOAT after I'm done."
The next day, Elunara stuck her head in Tulani's studio. "Sweetie, I've got another parent appointment. Try not to, but if you come out, look grumpy and stuck here."
"Got it." Lydia nodded.
Elunara opened the door. "Come in, Rachel. How we're going to do this; is I want you to sit in this chair. I will work on your portrait while we talk. I need you to be completely honest with me. I will ask you embarrassing questions, like what your sexual preferences are. You HAVE to be honest, because else wise I can't help you. Chrissy and Gerald are together, because Chrissy came to me and said "I have a sexual preference, how do I get what I want?" and I helped her. Now look at the two of them, they're practically silly."
"Oh, wow..."
Elunara walked into Tulani's studio and sighed. "Apparently, I'm a dating service now."
"Now?" Tulani snorted.
"Don't make me spank you." Elunara pointed.
Tulani cocked her head to the side. "Maybe I'll try it..." Elunara stared and Tulani laughed. "If only to see that look on your face."
"Smartass."
"I guess it would be."
Elunara blinked. "Shit. If you're getting shots off on me, I think I'm just going to throw in the towel..."
"Oh, hush, it's just a sign of how good of a teacher you are." Tulani grinned.
Elunara walked over and kissed her softly. "How's it coming?"
"I'm working as fast as I can. Only gave me a week." She snorted.
"I can buy you time. Lydia, go punch her again."
Tulani pointed at Lydia. "Don't you dare."
"Little bitch deserves it." Elunara snorted.
"I agree she deserves it, but it doesn't give you the right to be childish." She went back to her work. "Besides, this plan is brilliant enough."
Lydia giggled.
"What's so funny?" Elunara eyed her.
"It's kind of fun, watching YOU get fussed at."
"My family keeps me honest." Elunara kissed the top of Tulani's head.
"I want to be in your family." Lydia sighed.
Elunara and Tulani shared a look.
Elunara leaned against the desk. "Well, when you and the boys get old enough..."
Lydia flushed. "I didn't mean... Well, I thought, uhh I..."
Elunara snorted. "You got ten years to figure that one out, kid." She put a hand on Lydia's head. "Meanwhile, you're practically family by our standards anyway."
Lydia blushed. "Really?" She whispered.
"Really."
"So does that make Lydia our sister?" That night, Darguni cocked his head as he climbed into bed.
Bradly climbed into bed. "Does it?"
"I wouldn't go there just yet. When you're teenagers, you don't want to be dating your sister." Elunara snorted.
"Date?" Bradly flushed.
Darguni cocked his head to the other side. "Makes sense to me. Night, momma!"
"Ni-night, momma." Bradly squeaked.