5th floor Common room, Sunday night

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River was not having a child sleeping in her room, even if it was her own offspring from some other future. Luckily Blair had picked up Tributary, and River had even managed to say goodnight. Now there was the other girl, Ananda.

Appearantly Ananda expected her to find her a place to sleep. She was also hurting, asking her all sorts of questions in her mind, and it made River's head spin. So River had gestured towards the couch in the common room, and brought a blanket from her own room. Spreading the blanket over Ananda, River flinched as the girl stared up at her. "I'll get you Bertie," she mumbled. Appearantly the girl knew him.

Berthold had somewhat reluctantly let himself be dragged out into the common room, but he had cheered up when offered ice cream.

Night!, River thought, then hurried back to her room.

[For Ananda and her Dad]

Comments

[harknesshorde.livejournal.com]

Looking up at him, Ananda smiled and nodded. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close. "Couldn't find you. Mom's hurting and you weren't there. Couldn't find Uncle Simon either."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Well, I've got you now," he said, doing what he did with River and thinking warm, gentle thoughts, like a mental hug as he snuggled her against him. "You're safe. And I think we should go to bed, okay? Somewhere other than a common room." And he'd just hope that she and Aiden would get along okay.

[harknesshorde.livejournal.com]

Ananda clung to him. Her Dad always managed to make her feel safe and happy. There was no chance she was letting him go now. "Your room?" she asked. "Aiden?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Aiden is sort of your brother, I guess. Half-brother, from a different universe. He's a wizard." Jack wasn't sure if she'd know what that was, so he pictured Cedric, flying and doing magic. "And yeah, my room," he said, standing up very carefully so he wouldn't drop her. "Berthold will have to stay here."

[harknesshorde.livejournal.com]

"Bye, Berthold," Ananda said, resting her head on Daddy's shoulder. "He can fly too? Without a spaceship?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I don't know if he can fly yet, but I think he can turn people into toads." Jack stroked her hair as he left the common room, heading back down to the second floor. "He's not allowed to, though."

[harknesshorde.livejournal.com]

"Good," Ananda said, sighing happily. "If he tries I'll kick him."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"No kicking," he said firmly. Be nice to your half-brother. "He won't turn you into a toad. I think that's just for Jake. He's a good kid."

[harknesshorde.livejournal.com]

"'m good too," Ananda said. "And tired."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I know," he said soothingly. "Close your eyes and go to sleep, if you want. We'll be there soon. "