“Alright, Jaden. It's time for you to wake up buddy.” Wren said feeling a bit stiff from nearly eight hours of not moving, four hours of trying not to fall asleep himself and two hours of fending off slightly more aggressive subconscious groping without waking Jaden up.

He discovered the suit he wore could handle trivial things, like the need to pee without resorting to using void power, during this time, but the last twenty minutes of neck nuzzling finally did in his patience and nerves, for more than one uncomfortable reason.

“If it needs be time. So be it,” Jaden said, sounding far more awake than he had any right to. “Pity, you were just starting to build up to the smell I like so much.

Wha?... You sneaky little jackass.

Shaking Jaden off as rudely as possible, primarily by using Jaden's ribs as a springboard for his elbow, he climbed to his feet as he filled Jaden in on how far overland they had traveled and their current position before setting up the flying version of spectral transport again.

Wren said stiffly, “It should take only one more fill up before we're good to go on making it to our destination. Keep a hold of Silent Mind. It will still take me a bit of time to digest it's enchantments but it's a weapon far more suitable to your hands and if you do encounter any flying nastiness a little graze will likely buy the transport all the time you need to get away. Here's a chain I made that you can attach to get more reach if you need to throw it without having to worry about it being lost. I tried to make it as lightweight as possible to keep from throwing off it's balance too much. It's detachable so-”

Wren could feel that he had lost his audience as Jaden looked at the transport like it was his enemy.

Wren said sympathetically, “Hey, Jaden. I know this hasn't been that fun for you but if we make good time today we''ll be at your dad's house by nightfall.”

Jaden looked at Wren for a moment before looking back at the transport as he said, “Do you think when the time comes, you'll be able to accept me?”

Wren sighed then said, “We still got time right? Let's get this j-”

Jaden looked agitated at Wren before locking him down with his ever intense stare then said, “It's a simple thing Wren and I'm fairly certain you would know by now if you can or not. Is it that you would like to wait till I'm kneeling in front of you, begging you to save me from loneliness and pinning. If the only thing that will allow you to finally accept me is my desperation then that is nearly as hurtful as refusal. It would taint all that came after as pity. It may not be fair to you to ask in such a way but I'd like to know while I still look at you with the mind and heart of a friend, a brother... Well mostly. It is still mostly a truth.

“I know it to be selfish and unfair but maybe it's better that it is. If you can say and mean it now then I will not be filled with self loathing later, thinking myself another that is simply receiving your generosity and charity. Your heart is big. I know this. It is the reason I love you as a true brother. But for what I will need from you in the future... Wren, to help fill the loneliness in me that you might, the loneliness in you that I might help fill, it is better for us both. I can say, and mean it, that there is no other outside of Lilly herself who I would rather have at my side for the rest of my life. That is not my instinct nor is it the bond as far as I am able to tell. It is just me as I feel, outside of all other influences, that I love you. It is not the love of a lover but it is no less in its own way. Without Lilly and without you explaining things to me I may have never known such a thing could exist as a different but equal kind of love as this but I feel it to be true. So there it is, simple. I love you, heart-brother. Is it possible for you to love me back? I own the selfishness of not just wanting some space in your large heart, I want a part that just belongs to me.”

Wren stared at Jaden like he was an idiot. It was a bit mean but he couldn't help it. He couldn't even start to formulate words to say to all that heated confession until he noticed that his uncontrolled expression and feelings had genuinely hurt Jaden and not just a little bit. He started getting his own thoughts out as quickly as he could before this turned into a meltdown scenario.

Wren said, “I think you've gotten something all wrong. In the last few days I've never, not even a little bit, not even for a moment had any problem admitting to myself that as a brother I love the hell out of you. You think I'd share my precious small supply of green beer with just any fucking body!? You think I'd step away and neglect my precious lovey fucking dovey time with Little Gray for any random shit that pulled on my sympathy strings a little? The only thing that's been having me sweating lead is thinking about the inevitable moment when we're spirit sharing and you get all hyped up and plug me with that battering ram you got tucked away in your man diaper. Admittedly, getting all touchy feely with you feels weird as fuck but I'll get over it eventually. You want a bromance kinda confession? Fine, here it is...

“Jaden, I love you man. There's no one I'd rather have at my back in a desperate fight than you. It scares the fuck out of me that one day Grimalkin's going to suicide to save my dumb ass from getting hurt. You'll do what needs to be done. Lilly's got the little one's to keep her from doing the same for either of us.

“You're the only person I can think of that I want to have deep conversations with cause you get it. It's not something that's just about smarts, we're on the same wavelength. You get me and I'm trying as best I can to understand you because I wanna get you too. I never feel confident declaring things about the future but right now you're the only one I want at my side because I want Little Gray and Lilly safely behind us. It scares the shit out of me that they won't be when it matters because no matter what we want we've accepted their place at our sides and they'll fight for the right to stand there.”

Wren wound down and took in the sight of Jaden standing there speechless and thought it was a little funny that the overly intense alpha male in the making didn't know what to do or say. Not wanting things to drag on Wren opened his arms and said, “So let's get our awkward manly hug out of the way before we start getting all mushy and wanting to grab each other's asses while we're at it.”

Jaden started out laughing a little nervously then it turned into a normal belly laugh as he closed in on Wren and yanked him up in a crushing bear hug before he said, “You know, just because you said that, I'm suddenly feeling an errant desire to to do just that.”

And as action naturally follows thought, Jaden did. He reached down and grabbed a handful in each large, meaty palm and vigorously shook Wren's buttocks a few times before he let go. As he turned to start walking up to the transport with a lighter step than Wren had seen since Lilly's incident, Wren wound up a little and landed a slap on Jaden's butt hard enough to rock him up on his heels as Wren's hand started to throb.

Jaden spun around and locked eyes with Wren that were a lot more intense than he'd ever seen them before as Jaden said in a thick and shaky voice, “You-I-... I just want you to know this brother of yours will still be in here when I come to you for 'comfort'. I hope that will be enough for you to accept that part of me too.”

It was Wren's turn to be stunned for a moment at how quickly the aura of the situation changed before he said with a tinge of fear, “Just promise me you'll have a good talk with Glaucous about how to treat a guy gently, okay. He's not the greatest authority on the matter but he's probably the best we've got you'd be alright asking and that's not a discussion I think I want to have with you right now... Now, before either of us is put into a position we're not ready for could you please send me back. I'll see you in six, brother.”

Jaden looked torn for a moment before he said, “You have it then, my promise.”

As he faded into Jaden and Lilly's realm he heard Jaden mumble to himself, “After all, it's only a day away.” and knew he wasn't saying it just to steel himself against loneliness or because of his love for 'Little Orphan Annie.'

Realm-side it was still dark sky. Little Gray was already asleep, or at least he was. As soon as he felt Wren's eyes on him, he sat up and smiled.

“Welcome back, Birdy,” Grimalkin said, looking like he wasn't quite ready to let Wren go to sleep. Suddenly Wren didn't feel quite as tired anymore.

***

Waking up, arms and legs tangled with the overgrown kitten, Wren didn't know how long it would take to get over how awesome it felt. The answer, he suspected was probably never.

“That pesky wind got your branch tangled in the canopy curtain again, Lilly? Don't worry about it. I can have a pair of pruning sheers help you with your little problem.” Wren said with a wry grin.

A mysteriously unfelt wind rustled the trees till Lilly's branch miraculously untangled itself as the feeling of warm weight disappeared from his arms. Grimalkin had been practicing his newly heightened abilities while he was gone, it seemed. After topping off Lilly's essence reserves he was ready to start the day. Wren shared a sigh with no one in particular as he summoned a loose open robe outfit styled after the first pair of clothes he received after coming world-side and got to it.

Wren started off by swinging by the tent that Sable had made by the pond. By unspoken agreement, this seemed to be his area and other than the height of the day, when some of the under aged refugees would come to swim, Jhessa was the only one seen frequenting the area. It would appear that Rhaul had used up all the 'comfort' that Sable had for him.

“Alive in there, Elder Black?” Wren said as he bent to the tent flap.

A sudden chill went up his spine as cold metal tapped the back of his neck.

“Your senses are as dull as ever. Your spirit is strong enough to learn environmental attunement. Why don't you save some of your enthusiasm for life to sharpen the skills necessary for keeping it,” Sable said.

Wren turned and said, “ As I've tried to express before, it doesn't come that easy for me. My nature is to hoard spirit not emit it, so unconscious emission and re-uptake will take a lot more time than your past pupils to pick up. Being that's the case, I should get to it instead of wasting time to see if you and Jhessa have accomplished your goal and offer a little aid to help move things along if the both of you are sure this is what you want.”

Sable's expressionless face showed a hint of contrition before he said, “Well the day is still young and spending too much time on a single task isn't good for growth.”

Sable spent some time giving Wren a few pointers on ways to use his spirit and how to train mundane senses until Jhessa came back with a tray laden with enough food for four people. How the woman knew when he or Grimalkin would be dropping by around meal time was a mystery to Wren as he'd never seen any inkling that she possessed any kind of supernatural gift. If Sable played his cards right, he might not only have a baby mama but a competent wife as well, though Wren had no desire to interfere in that sort of personal business. As it stood, the only thing Jhessa seemed truly interested in was the contents of Sable's balls and all other considerations would have to be earned the hard way.

After having a light lunch in which Grimalkin stopped by to express that he was aiding some youngsters in his part of the beginner's training Bress organized, Wren did a scan of Jhessa and Sable.

Wren tried to do his best impression of a TV doctor as he said, “Jhessa, you are two days from ovulation... Oh, that's when the egg drops into the womb and is ready to be fertilized...Yes you have eggs... Please let me continue guys. I'll charge up Sable's virility a bit and make sure your egg and womb will be in prime condition. I'd advise waiting until tomorrow at dark sky to, well, do the deed but that's the extent of my meddling. I'd like nature to take its course from there.

Jhessa said, “Couldn't you just be there. You could just make it work couldn't you?”

Wren said, “First off, if I did that then essence laced with my spiritual fingerprint would be a part of the new child... I don't know how to answer questions related to what that actually means, I just know it will. Secondly, I was warned by my pops that getting too involved with the 'dharma', the life road of other's destinies, is a dangerous thing. I have to let nature have it's say to some degree to keep from being too personally wrapped up in the results. Even if this time ends up being a bust, the both of you will have more chances. I have something I'd like to say on that matter. You guys are really intent on making a child but the both of you probably haven't spent a lot of thought on what that means for the both of you.

“We are just a little over two days away from our destination. What will the both of you do when that time comes? From an inheritance stand-point, Sable is a desirable candidate but I think he wants to be a bit more than a sperm donor, Jhessa. You expressed a desire to be part of my retinue. I won't hold you to it but if you become pregnant I'm pretty sure Sable will want to either come along for the ride or convince you to stay with him.

“Elder Black, I held you back from your new home once and I know Glaucous could really use your help but the doors of my theoretical home are open to you as well... Both of you have a lot more to think about in the next couple of days besides how many times you can bump uglies before your junk falls off or out.” Wren charged up their sacral chakras before sending a bit of healing into their abused naughty bits and was on his way.

Liita and Bress were waiting for Wren as he sauntered into the center pavilion area and they looked primed for important conversation.

Wren said, “What's up? Why so serious?”

The ladies exchanged looks before Bress stepped forward to say, “When is Lilly going to be joining us? Will we at least get to see her before we arrive at our new destination or was her survival a comforting lie you told us? The last time we saw Jaden he seemed to be in the process of grieving. It's alright to let us know the truth. We would wish to grieve our friend as well if she has moved on to the Shadowlands.”

Wren mulled it over in his head while Bress seemed to be growing ever more upset. It appeared, that to her mind at least, Wren's silence was all the answer she needed. Liita moved in to hold her lover as Wren reached out to Jaden for permission. It came quickly but Wren realized the response wasn't instant which meant that Jaden must have mulled it over a bit too. Sending messages back and forth through a time dilation did tricky things to it.

Wren said, “Your water works are a bit premature, Bress. I was clearing your permission to go see Lilly with Jaden first. Follow me.”

No one spoke a word until the three reached the grove. Wren walked to the tree in the center and inspected Lilly. He noticed, with panic at first then with understanding, that the blossom was starting to wither and in it's place a small green nodule was starting to form.

“This is Lilly, as she is right now. This little bud right here, is her first kiddo on the way. She wussed out on regular child birth and decided to do things this way. I don't know how long-” Wren was interrupted by the stem of a leaf jabbing him on the tender part of the inside bottom of his nose before he continued with his eyes watering a little, “We don't know how long she'll be like this but she can understand what we're saying and she finds ways to make herself understood as well.”

Liita looked at Wren like he'd lost his mind but Bress seemed to be buying it.

Bress stepped forward with one of her hands out flat before she said, “Heart-sister, if it is truly you could you give us some token that we might believe truly?”

Two leaves drifted down to form a vague heart shaped pattern in Bress's hand which she showed to Liita excitedly.

“Keep that up and you're going to go bald,” Wren said before a lady bug landed on his face and bit him before flying off. “Damn it, Lilly. Alright, you win!”

Liita and Bress conversed for a bit while Wren lounged in the bed.

“We'd like to stay on as Lilly's guard,” Liita said firmly.

“I prefer the term hand maidens but it's all the same in the end I suppose,” Bress said demurely.

After a bit of esoteric communication with Lilly and a few messages with Jaden, it was settled. Wren was commissioned to set up a tidy one room cottage with a few basic enchantments before he was informed that he would be moving back to the guest rest area at the pavilion.

And here I was thinking that Lilly was enjoying the peep show. Guess familiarity really does breed contempt... Oddly enough, those offending leaves has given me an idea.

Wren said a fond farewell to his lover after informing Grimalkin of the new sleeping arrangements and requested Jaden to pull him out.

“You're not due out for another hour or so. Truly, I'm fine. After our talk this morning I'm feeling much better about, well, everything,” Jaden said reassuringly.

“I hope just because you're good doesn't mean I can't hang out with you for a bit,” Wren said blandly.

“Of course not. Glad to have the company but pardon me for calling upon your bull feces,” Jaden said.

“It's 'calling your bullshit' or 'calling your bluff' but you're right. Its getting a bit boring playing fertility clinic doctor and tree whisperer for the sisterhood. Besides, I got an idea I want to try out.”

Wren took the original model of spectral transport and made an official version of flying transport. The teardrop design axed a lot of room but increased efficiency by quite a bit, weight by a noticeable margin and max speed by 2x at the cost of that additional efficiency, if needed, by flipping it sharp side first. It did require the passengers to be firmly sitting or marginally supine to move around and reduced capacity to about two fairly hearty sized adults.

“What do you say? Take it for a spin?” Wren said with mild excitement.

“I'd rather not. Flying straight forward at high altitudes is nausea inducing enough... I jest, Wren,” Jaden said.

I've been a bad influence on him.

After three hours and one close call where a 'drake' tried to snatch them out of the air before getting poked by Silent Mind, hopefully sending it to a bone breaking death but Wren doubted it, they were near their destination.

As they landed and changed out for void mode Wren asked, “Observations on the new transport?”

“It's more structurally sound. The limited mobility on long distance trips for the rider is quite stifling and being completely surrounded by it means that quite a bit of activities become more difficult to deal with,” Jaden said and illustrated his point by rushing over to water a tree.

It's probably not a good idea to share how close we were to free falling after it was damaged by that huge ass claw and the hole punched by him from the inside. I have a feeling that cabin pressurization would be a problem if we flew higher too. Magic doesn't make basic engineering problems just go away. Looks like I need to brush up on some mechanical know-how if I really want to get the most out of my powers without having to rely on prefabricated models.

“It's probably best if you two stay out here for the moment and not come closer to Seaside,” A familiar deep voice intoned.

“Glaucous, you almost literally scared the shit out of me!” Wren said, clutching his chest.

“Father, Is all not well?” Jaden said.

“It is not. The two participants that were awaiting your return decided to visit Seaside while they waited. They informed me three days ago that they had received a mission that included information about creatures with the ability to possess. Neither of them had the ability to sense for such an entity but I assured them I could. After discovering the presence of one such creature, I attempted to secure them but it was crafty and several of my charges have suffered for the chaos it has caused. I have lost three and both of the participants. After one of my charges killed the female, thinking her aggressiveness hostility towards me, my land has been labeled as inhospitable. I wouldn't mind so much but there may be more such entities and for the time being I have all residents locked in their domiciles till I can discover a solution.” Glaucous admitted woefully.

“Jaden, I'm going to go with him to sort this out. This is the second time I wish Troy had stuck around. He can do mass versions of what I have to do one at a time... Sorry... I need you to wait with everyone realm side, Jaden. I'll come back once the problem's been dealt with,” Wren said, exasperated but not entirely surprised.

Jaden protested, “ Would I be a hindrance to come along? I have strong spirit. Perhaps I am resistant to such possession.”

“We have absolutely no knowledge on how these things even take people and you are a conduit to your realm, your wife and child that's on the way. It's too many variables. The only thing we know for sure is that if one tries to jump my ship I can eat it... Glaucous has my back. I'm sure I'll be fine,” Wren offered.

“If you are certain. You should probably take your dagger back for now then,” Jaden said as he handed the chained tool to back to Wren before fading away.

“Are you certain on this course of action, Wren?” Glaucous asked.

Wren looked oddly at at Glaucous before replying cautiously, “I'm pretty sure.”

“Damn shame, that,” an overly cheery African man's voice behind Wren said before an explosion of light followed him into darkness.