Before I even really knew it I was back looking around at the flourishing fields, sparkling river and cozy, deceptively 'small' house that had become the place I associated as home; beside me was an equally tired Renna who was just as happy to be here as I was.
We hadn't stuck together after that chat, since I had to go fulfill some more obligations over at Miss Hertanc's store before going to my own plot of land inside of the city to get some more progress done over there, which took me a long, long time.
All of the things I had done were simply done out of necessity and not an actual desire to do them; I wanted the end products but not the journey, especially not today, but there was no bypassing that journey without inviting some serious risk onto myself, which was something I obviously wanted to avoid.
On her end Renna had to complete even more paperwork that she had remaining from her few days off before then doing some more in advance for the business, like preparing the various tax forms or creating a little bit of a paper trail to throw people off the scent as she placed orders for various things just to give the place a lot more 'legitimacy'.
Ordering grapes, glass, wax and more from a few different places to keep up an appearance for those that would snoop deeper than they needed to was apparently necessary, and it just went to show how different we were since I couldn't give a damn about that while she just said it was common practice for anyone to do.
Besides that she also happened to visit both Fenkar and the Duchess on her way home, something that made me wonder if the chat she had with her sister was just for show or what... but at the same time I didn't really mind it since she looked happier again.
The sun wasn't down yet either so we had a lot of time to enjoy here at home, though as such Aethisia wasn't back just yet since she was doing whatever it was in the city; that only made me a little more certain that she needed a good talking to, though her Dama promised she was going to do that for me.
That brought us around towards the little journal that the Duchess had given us, something that was handed over to Rhefia to be reviewed while I took this moment of calm to finish some more work inside of the house.
Primarily because the three children were asleep while the two babies were quiet on the deck, taking in the fresh air alongside their Mother's as they enjoyed the peace while they could; when the children were awake I was pulled out of the forge and brought back upstairs to be with everyone as we got ready for dinner.
"So tomorrow, huh? Shouldn't be gone for long, I promise, but still... this is a first."
Taking the ball from Aka and weighing it carefully, Rhefia chucked it a fair ways away so that the kit would expend a lot of energy before dinner, giving us the time we needed alone to speak about the things to come.
"Tomorrow... You really think it shouldn't take you more than three days?"
"Technically four if you include the travel time, but yeah... three days for the operation itself, and that's being cautious. If things go our way it could be a day and a half, but definitely not longer than three. Not enough time for you to miss me too much~!"
I wanted to say something a little teasing to match her energy but there just wasn't any snark in me right now, so of course after she threw the ball again for the kit she turned towards me and pulled me close, one hand on my waist so that she was romantic while the other went lower... because of course.
"It's only going to be a couple of days, my love. Everything will be alright because we have armor and weapons made by you, these nifty potions that the Duchess wanted to 'gift' to us, and we're dealing with less after these recent developments. Aethisia and I have this done already, promise."
Her confidence was reassuring, and the kiss was enough to melt away some of my concerns, but after she let me go - and Aka had been sent running away again - I couldn't help but say "That's not the point... I'll feel... colder without you here..."
"That just means that when I get back I expect to have you all over me then, Astra~! C'mon, it's only a couple days~! Don't worry too much~! You'll blink and I'll be back home, hugging you from behind and asking you for the fifteenth time that hour if you can spare a few moments to give me a blowjob or if we can fuck~!"
She kept her confident - borderline arrogant - attitude the entire time, which was even more reassuring since it felt so... her; nothing was changing with her, so I didn't need to change either... at least, that was what I was able to think for a few moments before I had to take her hand in mine.
"Fine then... tonight I'll make sure you're able to feel me all~ day long tomorrow, got that~?"
I nodded, and the flirting continued for awhile before we were ready to head on inside, which was where she leaned closer to kiss me again as she murmured "Besides, Astra, you need to be the one to show a calm front for the children, alright? Reminding them that everything's alright... it's gotta come from their Mama..."
That made my heart ache a little, but at the same time she had that ability to make it flutter as she reminded me about the many children that I was going to have to comfort... and how she couldn't wait to make the number grow exponentially sometime soon.
Some could argue that it was shallow how she was using sex as a way to distract me from everything, but it really was the best way as I followed her inside and got everyone ready for dinner, acutely aware of her eyes lingering on me constantly as she observed from afar.
It was what worked for us both, and I was certain that tonight was going to be the best we had ever had before we were to separate for a few days... which was always going to make me worry, no matter what she did or said.