Hope Falls

"We'll just have to have a few years of non-stop partying to make up for it, hm?" Magus grins. "We will have plenty to catch up on."

---

Ira nodded, pushing the teddy into his mouth to suck on it for comfort. Not noticing as Karina push the door of their quarters open and watched in silence for the doorway.

Karina closed the main door behind herself, being careful not to make any noise so that she could follow him.

Ira was fast asleep before Emmett had placed him o the bed, sleep having taken him quickly.

---

"I love a party, you know that." Magnus laughed.

"Picure perfect," Karina eventually stated, voice soft in an attempt to prevent him from jumping. A warm smile lighting up her face, "I have been desperate to watch this."

---

Magnus nodded, leaning in to kiss her softly.

Karina laughed softly, jumping up to wrap her legs around his torso, her arms circling around his back and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Taking in a deep breath for his scent.

---

Magnus gently tangled his fingers in her hair.

"I've missed you." Karina returned, voice muffled and trembling against him, one of her hands running up the back of her neck to tangle her fingers in his hair. "I - I was so scared there wouldn't be a you to come home to."

Karina silently listened to his breathing for a while, before leaning back in his embrace. Letting her feet find the floor as her palms found his cheeks, studying his face closely - looking for any new marks or scars.

Karina silently listened to his breathing for a while, before leaning back in his embrace. Letting her feet find the floor as her palms found his cheeks, studying his face closely - looking for any new marks or scars.

"No, no." Karina whispered, shaking her head. "Nothing like that, nothing to worry about." she promised, brushing her thumb against his cheekbone affectionately.

"O'm much, much happier now I am home with you." Karina whispered with a grin. "The - the scar. It was just me getting to close to a litter of puppies, nothing else."

"Oh where I have been living for the past year, that would be a squel and a 'oh my god, so cute!' expression." Karina laughed. "I think mine was caused by the scarier bea- Florence got one of those really rare fae mating bonds, Dagmar told me! That's crazy, I can count the amount I have seen that happen on one hand."

"Crazy..." Karina repeated quietly, leaning her head forward to touch his forehead. "I - The children are very grown up now, aren't they?"

"It doesn't look like you've had any issues stepping away from General and into father once again." Karina praised gently.

"Well, we'll see how true that is over the next few days. Devika is to be left alone, and you are off duty which means it is just you, I and thr children until further notice." Karina grinned, brushing her nose against his. "How on earth am I going to cope with that? Putting up with you again is going to be hard work, hm?"