Healing Hands of Time

Door poked her head through the opening. "Care to come eat, you two? It's ready..."

The two turned to look at her, blinking, and nodding.

Their disagreement had started out petty but was now about something much more important.

Aislin glanced at her twin; she hated to fight, but...

Stepping ahead, she walked past Door and into the kitchen to help.

Thatch glanced sideways at Aislin. "You okay, short stuff?"

Aislin recalled the image of her sister signing, You're going about this the wrong way, entirely!

"...Yeh. I'm fine."

He rasied an eyebrow, shaking his head. "Riiight... I know you better than that. Something's up."

She shook her head. Not now, she seemed to say.

He blinked at her, nodding as he went back to the table. "Okay," he replied softly.

When he sat, Aislin leaned closer. "I'll tell you after lunch."

Ariel sat between Door and Tremor.

Namely, not beside Aislin.

{{Reminds me of 'Are We There Yet'.}}

Door glanced around the table, then nudged her brother. "Grace, maybe?"

"Huh? Oh... alright..."

The twins fell quiet, bowing their heads.

"...Thank the Golden Goddesses," he began quietly, clasping his hands together, "for everything we have here, today. Our lives, our love, our friends and family that we hold so dear." As he spoke, his voice grew stronger, more confident.

"We give thanks for the ties we have to the people around us, and their safety; the good fortune that's kept us sound through these trying times." He glanced around at everyone, and smiled faintly. "And that we've all made it through, despite the trials."

Aislin looked up at Thatch, smiled briefly, and cast a sidelong glance at Ariel. Her gaze roved about the table, and she closed her eyes in reverence once again.

Thatch smiled back, closing his eyes once more. "I personally give thanks for my siblings, my sister's safety, and... a new friend, with whom I hope to know quite well in the coming times..." He glanced around, shrugging sheepishly. "That's all I've got, guys."

"Amen." Aislin finished, gently nudging Thatch with her foot under the table and grinning at him. "It was a fine prayer."

Door nodded, glancing at Alex across the table. "I liked it."

Ariel nodded. "And now we eat. Sorry for not really helping that much this time...family matters."

"It's all good," Thatch smiled as Tremor passed the food around. "We all have our moments."

Ariel nodded. "This is true...and they pass." she said pointedly, not taking eyes from the food she was spooning onto her plate.

Aislin shrugged. "They pass as long as someone lets them go."

Thatch glanced between the twins, questioning before he took the passed food from his sister. "Come on, you two..."

Aislin looked at Thatch apologetically. "Sorry..." she mouted silently. She took a bite and smild. "You guys did a good job."

Trem smiled, nodding as Thatch spoke. "Yeah, well, we all know that Door can't cook."

"I can, too," she laughed, punching him lightly.

The twins laughed, oddly in tune.

"She's good at keeping you two in line." Ariel offered, grinning before taking another bite.

"This... is true," Thatch admitted finally. "She does. It's kinda annoying at times."

Aislin's lips curled. "Younger siblings. What're you gonna do?"

"Nod and smile," Door supplied, taking a bite. "That's all you can do."

Thatch nodded. "Before we ran into you guys on the mountain, she was brutal."