Arriving on Time [Riley]

[Mali]

Laughing loudly, she couldn’t help herself as Riley almost tackled her to the bed. She was finishing her laughter as he kissed her, her breathing chuckling into the kiss. As she calmed down, Ana kissed him back with more intent. She thought that it was funny, but maybe Riley didn’t. Oh well, he seemed happy enough now that she had said yes to his marriage proposal.

Closing her eyes, she felt his hand gently travel down her arm and she felt content right now. There was nothing that could take this feeling away from her. She knew that he would have to leave for the day and that she probably wouldn’t see him again until late tonight, but she was still content. They were going to be married in a proper human ceremony. Even if the elves would call them mated already, it was still nice to be able to share that moment with their families and friends, not that they had that many friends that is.

Seeing Taesi stretch from the corner of her eye, Ana watched the dragon curiously. There was so much she would have to learn about the dragon before she and Riley could have a complete life together. Taesi was now a part of their life together and she would have to share Riley equally with the dragon. Considering that he would have to do as the council says, that meant that he could be gone from her life for long periods of time. Hopefully when he would return, Taesi would understand Ana’s longing to be with Riley for an equal valued amount of time.

Kissing him back, she opened her eyes in time to see him pull his shirt over her head. Responding just in time to pull her hands through the sleeves, Ana watched as the dragon opened her eyes. Oh, now she got it.

“Good morning Taesi. I did sleep well,” she looked over at Riley and grinned. She had more than just slept well, but she wouldn’t tell the dragon that. As soon as Taesi left to go hunt, Riley apologised for the dragon. What had she done wrong? Ana wondered why there was a need to apologise for the dragon’s behaviour, she hadn’t done anything wrong.

Giving Riley a crooked smile, her hands on her hips, she shook her head. “I bet,” She moved closer to Riley, her hands trailing down his shoulders and down his arms. Looking up into his eyes, she sighed. “When do you have to leave for training?” she knew that he would have to leave at some point, but she wished that they could be together just a little longer.

[Riley]

Riley smiled as Ana ran her hands down his arms, taking a few deep breaths as she did and enjoying her soothing presence. He was barely listening when she asked when he had to go to training, barely but he was listening. He locked his eyes on hers, "I've got a little while still, my love." His hands turned slightly, taking her hands in his softly. Riley was of the same mind as her, he didn't want to go to training today, he'd rather stay with her. But he had made a commitment to the Riders, one that was signed the moment he touched Taesi, a contract that was burned into his palm. "Still a while for the two of us to spend together my Ana."

Riley slowly blinked a few times, keeping his eyes locked on Ana's caramel colored eyes, his smile widening. "So I need to get us a bigger tent, or at least a bigger cot." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head and looking around their home. "I promise you, we won't always live in a tent, we will have an actual home. A big one, with plenty of room for a forge for you, and a roost for Taesi, and... kids." Riley couldn't help but look down at her and smile, squeezing her tighter to him for a second. The thought of children running through his mind making him smile again.

Children... The thought hit Riley like a ton of bricks, he had completely forgotten about Miora. Where had she gone? Did she even come back last night? "Oh man, I completely forgot Ana.. A week ago or so, me and Taesi found a little girl in the ocean, we've been looking after her.." He returned to the cot and sat down, running a hand through his hair a few times and sighing. He had been thoroughly distracted last night and the young girl and slipped his mind. "She's nine, no parents, just washed up on shore." He looked up at Ana, a small smile playing across his lips. "She's feisty and sarcastic, and tells it exactly how it is. She can take care of herself, but I couldn't leave her to fend for herself here. It's too dangerous."

Riley shook his head a few times, "I should have mentioned her sooner, I'm sorry I forgot, I was just so happy getting to see you." His hand moved back to hers, taking it and squeezing lightly. "I guess I've always had a soft spot for girls in trouble." He said with a smile, referencing when they met, back in an inn long ago when she was getting approached by several men. Riley had helped fight them off for her, making sure they left her alone. With that, the couple had started on their first adventures, tracking the elf that had given Ana her wings, then with Riley meeting her mother. Now this, they were going to get married, and Riley had already all but adopted a little girl. Their life together was already proving to be interesting in a whole new way.

[Mali]

Giggling, Ana nodded her head. “A bigger cot would work fine, you don’t necessarily need a bigger tent.” Listening to Riley speak about what he promised her made her eyes focus on Riley. She wasn’t really paying attention to what he was saying, more so watching him. Transfixed by his eager and excited plans for their future, she couldn’t help but watch him. She stared at him for a moment longer when he said kids. “You’re already thinking about kids and we aren’t even married yet?” she giggled.

When Riley spoke of another person, Ana became worried. A little girl was found in the ocean. How did she get there and where were her parents? Why was Riley looking after her? Well, if Riley weren’t looking after her, who would? Who would be qualified to raise a child with no parents? Surely there was some place for her.

“But you can’t take care of her forever Riley. At some point she will have to leave here, right?” Ana hadn’t even considered adopting the child. Then again, why would she, she didn’t even know this child.

Shaking her head, she gave him a look. “Just don’t go falling in love with any other damsels in distress,” she was trying to be playful of course. She knew that Riley would never leave her so hopefully he would play along with her small joke.

[Riley]

Riley shrugged and laughed, "Well, one day I'd like them yeah. I'm not ready yet though, still got a few things to work out before that.." He looked over at her for a second, before gently bumping into her to tease her a bit, looking away innocently after he did. "Though, the small cot was quite cozy." A smile spread across his lips, he would make sure they got a bigger bed, that didn't mean he wouldn't tease her however. Riley enjoyed teasing her too much to avoid something like that, besides it was something he knew she could take and know he was kidding.

Riley shrugged again, "Yeah I know, I just don't know who when or what. In any case, I suppose I've got other things to worry about for now. And one thing that isn't a worry, but is gonna take a lot of planning." He smiled over at her, then started laughing softly when she mentioned damsels in distress. "There's only one damsel I could ever want, and I hope she's never in distress. Though if she is, she'll have her own personal Dragon Rider coming to her rescue." Riley leaned over to her and kissed her cheek softly, before laying back down on the cot and opening his arm, patting the spot next to him lightly.

Riley smiled, closing his eyes slowly and letting out a light yawn. "Still got some time before I have to leave." He muttered, moving his shoulders and back until he got more comfortable on the cot. One of his azure eyes opened and looked at Ana for a second, smiling softly after a few moments before closing his eye again. "Tickle." A small smile spread across his face as he cast the small spell, waiting for the moment when the tickle spell took effect on Ana.