#scarsdale

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Zara returns home late on Sunday, walking in darkness from the Hollow.

The house is.... well, not dark. But not lit, either.

Zara frowns, and slips closer to investigate - aiming for stealth.

Quiet.

A deeper frown, and she moves around to enter through the kitchen.

Aaron is there, staring with a studied frown at the tupperware in his hand. Well, at the paper on the top.

"...Papa?"

He looks over. "Oh! Zara...." A pleased expression. "Hi, Hannah left this for me, I was just figuring out .... three minutes?" He shows her the reheating instructions.

She sweeps over, giving him a brief but intense hug. "At half power, yes. I'll get it. Is Mama at the Uncles?"

He seems surprised, in his way, at her hug, but says. "Well. No. She's with Hiriam at the hospital."

Zara steps back, stricken. "Hospital?"

He nods, putting food in the microwave. "Yes. The flu is very bad this year. I'm sure...." He drifts a moment, just a moment. "... He'll be better, though, with the help there."

"But the hospital itself could kill him. The real him, nu?"

It takes Aaron a moment but then..... "Right! Well. No, I mean... Hannah's there. Rachmeil is there...."

"They're watching over him."

"I know. They're very good caretakers.... but oh, I should be there. I... I had to go... I thought, I thought if I went without making excuses, if I didn't.. if I didn't come back, people would notice, but... oh, Uncle Hehe..."

"He will be ok." Aaron watches the microwave timer, then Zara. "Go where?"

"After Earl." She sucks her lips in, raking a hand through her hair - Aaron sees the white locks, not the brunette.

"He was lost and hurt. Papa, if a stranger asks you to go somewhere - you would say no, right? Hehe and Rachamin, they warned you, yes?"

"The house, it is protected. I know they did that..."

Aaron nods. "Yes, of course."

Another impulsive hug, eyes suspiciously bright before she squeezes them shut.

OOC I am SO sorry. Things.

OOC DEEEEP breath.

((Hugs!))

He hugs her back, with some absent confusion. "Zara? Are you ok?"

She nods, though her face is hidden against his flannel-shirted shoulder.

"Ssshhh... Princess...." He offers a bland, but well meant, affection. "You are loved."

"I know. I know, I know. And I'm so lucky to have you. I don't want him. I want him to go away. I don't want any of it to touch you... "

"Him who? What touch?" Baffled as the microwave beeps.

"A bad person." She detaches, going to retrieve the tupperware for him.

"What person?" With a studious frown.

"I don't know what his mortal name is. Just... the name for us. He's a bad person."

"I need to... no.. he's sick..."

"Zara." Firmly. "I don't understand... all this, I know. But. Tell me who bothers you."

She falters, frowning. "It... the man Miriam..." A shake of her head.

"The Man Miriam?" Clearly, some confusion.

"Papa..."

Food in hand, he is puzzled.

"Princess?"

"He... biologically..." She squirms, eyes dodging away.

"He and Miriam."

"Oh."

He sets the food aside.

"You know you're mine, right? And I am yours? No matter what?" Carefully.

She swallows hard and nods.

"I don't want to be his."

He nods slowly back. "You're mine. No matter what."

Another shaky nod.