#rivervale_lodge

"But I couldn't... he wouldn't stop..."

Tove puts a hand on her daughter's back "Oh honey. I'm sorry"

"Dad got him..."

"It's not your fault... and there's no shame in not being able to stop a baby from crying."

"Well, you'd better spot your mom as she goes upstairs to see him."

"I.. oh, sure..." She goes to Tove's side.

"Thanks" Tove says to Dagmar taking her hand "I'm still a wobbly, like young bambi on ice" Embarrassed

"I mean, you shoved a whole human out of you..."

"You know... it's YOUR body, but if you ever get married I am going to HOPE for grand children... so when I lie to you and say how it was a 'magical wonderful moment' and your Gwydion boon bongs like crazy, you'll know why right?" A smile "Course, you could just adopt I guess. I knwo this one lady, she's a singer, she married into this family with an adopted daughter and wow, does she love it... "

that last part VERY True

Gerd looks at Kerri and says softly "Tove's not bad at this mother stuff is she?"

"Not bad at all," Kerri agrees. "Now, how are you doing?"

Dag helps Tove up the stairs. "Oh, I'm gonna take in so many foster kids... maybe... maybe not babies..."

"What ? And miss those glorious toddler years?" Tove teases

"Oh, just you wait..."

Gerd admits "Not great. Connor's still shaken by the 'not Adam' bit.. wants passwords and code names. And.. for all my fussing at Dagmar about how she didn't make the baby cry.. seeing him like this has me feeling like a crappy sister.. and I'm eying the food like an enemy on and off again. Therapist is trying to find an opening ealrier in the month"

Kerri offers a quick shoulder squeeze. "Yes, all the excitement of New Baby doesn't erase the other things that have happened in the last few days. I'm glad you're going to get some talking-time in. Now, not to nag, but when's the last time you ate?"

"See, there's a reason to try for college" Tove says "Toddler avoidance"

Snort.

Gerd blushes "Ah.. uhm.. ahm about 10 hours?"

Upstairs , Tove realizes something "You're not going to go on a Questing spree when he hits his toddler years are you?"

"Mm...how about some chicken broth, and maybe some crackers?" Kerri offers.

"No?"

"Yeah, I could do that" She says "Maybe we could mix in some the cabbage, cut down some of the cole slaw of the future? I 've been looking at the stores. "

In the kitchen, Kerri chuckles. "Yes, I think I'm going to have to figure out some kimchi recipes, too. Okay...chicken broth with cabbage, crackers on the side, coming right up." And she gets to work.

"Good. " Tove says says and they see Jaymes with CJ. Jaymes is holding one finger up before the boy's face and moving it back and forth

Dagmar smiles at the scene, even if she hangs back.

"his eyes, worry me..." Tove admits

Gerd asks Kerri "Do you really think I could be a good Hearth one day?"

"His eyes are fine" Jaymes says "And will be great. Good vision is in his blood. He's just little. This will train him" Finger back used as focus.

"I do, actually. It has to be something you really want, though. It's not easy work. Are you saying that's something you'd like to consider?"

Kerri soon has the food ready and placed before Gerd.

She gets and apple and some cheese for herself, and a sharp knife to cut them. She takes a seat at the kitchen island.

"I was considering it before, actually, like.. 8 months ago ..maybe a year? But it was.. for the wrong reason. to show the old man and others I wasn't a copy" Gerd says "Then, I realized how immature that was... so I cut it out but I still ... well, now that that's out of hte picture, it does seem to appeal. I've been working a lot with Sally Mae and she's really good.. so I've learned from you.. and her. I'm pretty good at math, nto HER good, but I can balance books I bet. I can cook... though not near as good as others. I don't know if I ... I'd like to think for my age I'm getting more empathic, but .. I don't know if I'll ever have anything close to your social smarts and sensitivity. "

"Well...it may shock you to learn," Kerri says, "but I was a pretty angsty teen myself, for a while, and there were plenty of times that my empathy took the day off. That's something that builds over time, and I've got a bit more time on you. Well, in this life, anyway."

"Huh" Gerd says, thoughful "Hearth... would you be willing to tutor me some more? I mean... I might be stepping on Sylvi's niche and definitely Sally mae's but maybe?"

"Oh, Gerd, certainly! It's not like we don't need extra hands around here. This barony just keeps getting bigger, and that means more helping to be managed. As for Sylvi..." a rueful grin. "I think it would be pretty hard to keep her to a Hearth role at this point, even if she thought she wanted it. She's too much the emissary and negotiator."

"Actually, I always saw her as a Social Mountain" Gerd says

"A social Mountain. Hmm." Kerri considers this, then grins and shakes her head. "When I think Mountain, I think of Vegard or Frank or Emmit. Hard to see my daughter in that role. But...maybe."

"Please," Gerd says, not meaning disrespect but clearly something is obvious to her "She studies arts, mind you mostly spring... she thinks the noble system is inferior to the Troll system... of Mountain, Storm and Hearth. So she knows the customs.. the traditions. She knows the stories and has used them to relate to other cultures in her diplomacy. IF she boned up a bit more on the book learning she'd be a great Mountain, well, okay, a Good one on her way to great. "

Kerri gives her a curious look. "Is that mostly you talking, or mostly the 'Old Man,' or both?"

"Actually, " She says "It was MY idea first." A bit primly "He just agreed with it after I brought it up"

"Only he added not the SHOULD mind you, that she would if she chose to. "

She chuckles and shakes her head. "Eat your broth, you two," she jokes. "And Sylvi will end up what she ends up."

Gerd does eat "Gotcha."

"Hey, not bad. This cabbage tastes like.. well, Cabbage, but it feels like... innocence? newness? Which.. makes sense"

A knock at the kitchen door

"Come in!" Kerri calls out.

Zane peeks in "Ah.. Hearth? Could we talk?"

Kerri glances over...then sighs with a bit of resignation. "Gerd, please enjoy that. We'll be back in a bit." She nods Zane toward the door leading out back, and heads out that way herself.