#bergen_county

"Um. It's hot. You need something to drink? We got lemonade."

She frowns. "Um."

"Oh to heck with it," Nadeen moves forward and HUGS Dagmar, "We missed you. You towering goof. you've beenn through hell and we both wish we could have helped sooner"

Sylvi grins, and she makes it a group-hug (carefully not crushing Nadeen).

She blushes and mumbles.

"What was that? Couldn't hear you."

"It's fine. I mean, I'm fine."

"I.. uh.. I'll get that lemonade. It's real good, like, real, not from the powder or nuthin'."

She extricates herself and retreats to the kitchen. They may follow or not.

Sylvi lets go. "Lemonade sounds great."

they follow darn it

Then a worried look as Dagmar moves away from them with haste. And hell yes, she follows.

Nadeen looks at Sylvi, an exchannge , a worried aggreement but it smootths and they go on

The kitchen has Tove not burning something, and CJ in a high chair. The latter is picking up cheerios and smashing them into his mouth.

"Hey girls, all three of you sit down, the peppered scrambled eggs and bacon strips are done" Tove bullies

"Um. Do I need to go get Dad?"

She continues, deciding. "I'll get him."

"Hi, Tove! Oh, wow, CJ...Hey." Sylvi suddenly realizes how big the kid brother has gotten.

"Your fathter is yeetingg wood" Tove says with a causual 'men are odd' gesture

And she's out the kitchen door before Tove can stop her!

"Oh, we talked to Jaymes outside...." Sylvi says as Dagmar goes.

And she's left blinking at the closed door.

Nadeen frowns "Okay. I am beginingg to think she's angry at us"

Sylvi doesn't comment on that, but says, "How are you doing, Tove?" Her tone is a bit subdued.

Tove says "There's been a lot of change, Dagmar doesn't like change; the threats and so on had me on edge too"

"Hey Dad? Breakfast. I'll get the last of the wood, yeah?"

"No" Her father annswers "You have guests"

"You gotta eat. You need... you need to."

CJ 's smile indicates that cherrios are fun

A nod. And a game grin at CJ. "Good stuff, huh?" she asks him.

"I will, but you need to see to your friends. It's rude otherwise" Jaymes puts a hand on her shoulder "They care about you."

Grunt. ("You coming or what?")

Grunt ("Right after you")

CJ agrees, offering Sylvi a Cheerio!

nadeen admits "he's growing so fast"

"Thank you!" Sylvi says, taking the (slobber-covered) Cheerio and palming it as she pretends to eat it and enjoy it.

"Num-num-num-num-num!"

"Tell me about it" Tove says proudlly "I'm having to dust off some sewing skills. You know Bergen has a lot of great cooks, but I'm wishig we had a seamstress" Then she chuckles at Sylvi "You're good with kids, Sylvi"

CJ is delighted, and decides perhaps to have a few more himself!

A shrug to Tove. "Laws of hospitality, right? Being a good guest includes accepting offered food...once," she adds.

"Ha, once" A nod from Tove. She looks out the window and frowns

Sylvi notes Tove's expression. "Did she leave?" she asks quietly.

"She's..delaying, or her father is. I love them both but they take troll stubborness to levels that make me want to whack them with a spoon" Tove lets some stress show, for the last few days she has been an absolute rock for her husband, tried to exude surenness for her daughter, and cared for CJ and Lane and other childlings near constanntly. So effectively its possible even Kerri didn't notice

Dagmar loads up a hefty double armful of wood to cart back.

And So does her father, so the wood is... well, it's done between them

A nod, then Sylvi says, "Can I help?" Indicating the cooking.

"No no, I was finishing up... actually if you want to get the plates out?"

Grunt as they carry the wood. ("Stubborn")

Snort (Takes one to know one)

"Sure," Sylvi says with an air of relief.