#rivervale_lodge

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Late...late... late at night, the Lodge door opens and Sylvi slips inside. She took her shoes off outside, so as not to wake too many people, but pauses just inside the closed door to send a text.

TXT: I'm home, Dad. Don't want to wake you or Mom, but I promised I'd let you know. Love you.

TXT: It's okay. Still awake.

TXT: Oh. Okay. Going to bed. See you in the morning.

TXT: _Night. _

Sylvi climbs the stairs to her room very quietly indeed. It's about 3am, but she's going to have trouble getting to sleep for a bit. She does send Colton a text as well: I'm home. Thinking of you. Wish I didn't have to leave so soon. Looking forward to the weekend.

In their room, Kerri looks at Olgar's face lit by the phone screen. "She's home?"

"She is.." Olgar says "she kept her word and all that." A sigh.

Colton Texts back Me too, about all of it. Get some sleep. I know I will...with very nice dreams

TXT: _Me too. Good night. 💕 _

Kerri's silent for a few moments. "You okay?"

TXT: ❤️ Zzzzzzzzzz

Olgar sighs then says "I don't know she's...my head tells me she is a young woman and I know you prepared her better than a lot of young gir..women are...but there's a part of me that thinks year dating or not..." mmph "Well, whatever happened or didn't happen, we have to trust her. Make sure she can trust us. I kind of feel sorry for the first nightmare chimera that crosses my path tomorrow though" mmph

Kerri sighs and rests her head on his shoulder. "I know this is difficult. Your little girl. You're being very good about it, but I suspect it hurts."

"It doesn't hurt you?" He says surprised

"It's...different. She's entering the world of the adult woman. In a way, she's moving closer to me, but that means she's moving further away from how you've known her."

"I worry about her...but it doesn't feel so much like a loss as I think it does for you."

"Huh, you may have a point. I know I'll be proud of whoever she becomes, but I'm going to miss who she was" He pats his wife leg "How'd I marry so smart?"

"Because I got very, very lucky that you said yes," she murmurs with a smile.

"I think a lot of good luck went around" He kisses her softly, then parts, "You're right. I do feel like she's moving away a bit... but that's life. it's not on her, and me being selfish won't help her. Just..ah help point out the potholes my mouth will try to have me step into before I do if you can. She's going to be amazing. I know that. I've always known that. I just don't want her to be an amazing stranger and.." A sudden grunt groan "Kerisht... I'm turning into Frank."

"Well, no. You know that the pitfalls are pitfalls, partially because you've seen Frank go through it. I think you'll do okay...but sure, I'll give you a good swift kick under the table when you need it," she allows graciously.

"My Shero" He says with a chuckle. "Okay. I should let you sleep or you won't be up for the morning travails"

"Okay. Try and follow me to sleep, too. Don't brood, if you can help it. She came back, and kept her word. She's still here with us." The last is a sleepy murmur. After all, it is late.

"I can brood and sleep at the same time..." and he snuggles.

"You can. I've seen it. Makes you snore."

"Then you better go to sleep first." Fair warning "Because no promises on being able to stop it"

"Point taken...." Her voice is muzzier as she is, indeed, fading.

And he doees manage to find sleep, only after she does.

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