#rivervale_lodge

Tove rolls her eyes at her husband, and says to Dagmar "Well, I LIKE Symon, and I'm sorry he was caught in this mess and am glad he's out and back where he belongs: With you"

"Same." Demolishing waffles.

The waffles are delicious, and the syrup her fav she tears through them with gusto and possibly butter

Her mother asks "What plans do you two have now?"

"Besides the Dreaming quest?" Her father adds

"That's the big one. And.. well, school in the fall."

"Guess you'll get a new third room mate" Jaymes munches

"WIth Sylvi gone" Tove nods

She wrinkles her nose.

"Yeah. Or maybe we could see about a two bedroom. Though I like that apartment."

"mm" Her ffather considers "maybe."

"I was honestly thinking about dropping out and getting a job..."

"Had been, at least. But Sy's back."

"I'm glad he's back then" Her mother looks retroactively alarmed, then she says "As for this summer. You know, ANne Marie moved Cleo to the Basement at her house, and Dirk has the attic, and so on... your father and I were thinking..."

Jaymes ahems "We DO have a basement/storm cellar. It's mostly empty."

"And with stone and cement so CJ's enthusiasm shouldn't be too loud" Tove nods

Her eyes widen and she blinks. "Um. Maybe?"

"I can ask him. It really sucks if you don't have your own space..." Heavy tone of experience there.

"I know that" Tove says. She did share a disheveled shanty with her then helpless dad "If he gets too proud, tell him he can pay.. oh, 50 buck a month or something"

"Yes, silly of him WE KINGS never let pride get in our way" Jaymes says deadpan again

"He might be able to find a place at the Apartments, or there are rooms at the Lodge. So there's options."

"Well, please extend the offer anyway" TOve says

"Just sayin', don't be upset if he says no."

"Don't worry dear, no shovel talk from me" Tove says then flashes a smile at her husband

Jaymes sighs

"I mean, it's not like we haven't been best friends since practically the first time we met."

"That's true, he named Flyswatter after all" Tove says "And in lore and legends, the one who names your blade often proves to be a steadfast companion"

A grin.

"or he could be Joxxoer to her Xena" Jaymes observes

"Gabrielle." Firmly.

"Don't mess with her on this, Jaymes, her mind is made up on this point" Tove advises but her eyes dance

"Awww" Jaymes states, but nods "Okay. He's Gabrielle."

"Xena and Gabrielle found each other again." Pleased at that notion.

Jaymes ponders this, and nods with a grunt ("As it should be.")

"As it should be," Tove agrees out loud, "Where ever he choses to stay for the summer, our door is always open to your oathmate."

A flush of purple and a little smile.

And as if that smile, however little, could not be topped, the three of them slip into a kind of happy if quiet shared family breakfast

(End Scene)