where thou art, that is home

Juno led her through the quiet halls and courtyards, ducking through tidy hallways and lush gardens so quickly that Albanes could not spend the time she wished to truly take them in. Though this was his home, he used his cane to navigate- sweeping it side to side in great semi-circular patterns, taking note of how it made different sounds as it hit against tile or wooden or dirt floors, exterior walls or indoor furnishings. Albanes held onto his hand, letting him lead her through the maze-like house that, even though she could see and he could not, he knew infinitely better than she did.

She had never seen a house like it. The houses in the village she had grown up in were small- a handful of rooms, a loft, a central area for eating and coming together. The houses in the north were built to keep in warmth and keep out wolves, and to whether the snow and sleet that was always near in the winter. Even the other houses and buildings she had been ushered through during these past few months, the hospitals and foster care centers and hotels, were not comparable with Juno's home. The splendourous, Southern mansion was a series of nested courtyards and adjacent, small sections of rooms and interiors. The house was wood, with big open windows and the smell of the outside permeating throughout. There was far too little a disctinction from what was inside and what was outside- but the weather was warm, and Albanes figured they might not get snow this far south, anyways, and she was too mesmerized by it all to care.

"It's such a big house…" She said, out of breath, as Juno led her through another hall.

"Are we walking too fast?" He quickly slowed down to an easier pace. "I figured you might want to get inside as soon as possible."

"No. It's okay." Albanes dismissed the concern automatically. She still didn't feel all too comfortable with Juno's clear, outward care toward her. She had not even met this man until months ago- and now he was going to be taking care of her. Her entire family was dead, and he was her new family.

And she would live here now.

As they paused, Albanes took a moment to look around. The room they were in was small and quiet, with wood-paneled doors and natural light streaming through the open windows. "I'm going to live here now?"

Juno bent down to her. "I know it's going to be a big adjustment," He moved a hand to her shoulder. "But I'm going to be here to support you. And you don't have to be super excited about it- not now, or not ever. We're just here to take care of you. We don't expect anything from you."

Albanes sniffled, biting back tears, and nodded. Then, she remembered Juno could not see. "Okay."

"If you want to," Juno continued, "You can meet some of the other members of the family. All the kids are out right now, so it's just Sovran, Jymaiyri, and the baby here now. They're all very nice and very quiet- except for little Eliana, when she's fussy. If you don't want to do that, I can show you to your new room, or we could get something to eat, or maybe hang out in one of the courtyards. Jymaiyri likes to grow lots of pretty flowers, and they all smell nice. Whatever you want."

"Uhmmm…" Albanes glanced around, then back at Juno. She didn't quite know what she wanted. "I think…. I want to meet the baby." Babies were cute. She hadn't met any in a long time- since her little brothers had been babies. And now her little brothers were gone- but maybe, this baby wouldn't die.

"Alrighty." Juno patted her on the shoulder, and stood up. He offered Albanes his hand again, which she took, and led her into one of the rooms in the hall. It was a bright, well-lit nursery. A woman with dark hair and a heart-shaped face sat in a rocking chair, cradling a baby swaddeled in a lemon-yellow blanket. Beside her, sitting cross-legged on the floor, was a tall man with curly hair and warm-gold eyes.

"Hey, Sov, Mari-" Juno greeted in a soft tone as they entered. Albanes was dutifully quiet "Is Eliana asleep?"

"Not quite. A rare moment of waking peace." The man- Sovran?- commented, in the same quiet tone Juno used. His voice was gruff, but kind and gentle. His gaze landed on Albanes, and he smiled. "Is this the new girl?"

Juno made an affirmative sound, and put his hand back on Albanes's shoulder. "This is Albanes, my cousin who we'll be taking care of. Albanes, these are my partners, Jymaiyri and Sovran, and our newborn baby, Eliana."

Albanes looked between Jymaiyri and Sovran, meeting each of their gazes briefly. "Hello." A pause. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"You don't have to be so nervous, we don't bite." Jymaiyri greeted cheerfully, rocking back and forth in the chair. "Juno's told us all about you. You're from the north, right?"

"Mmm-hmm." Albanes nodded.

"Well, I hope you like it here. You'll have all of us to take care of you- not to mention the sisters, who will be home sooner or later." She continued.

"If you need anything, just let us know." Sovran smiled. "We'll make it happen before you know it."

Albanes returned the smile weakly, but quickly fell back to her neutral face. She looked back to Jymaiyri. "… can I see the baby?"

"Of course!" Jymaiyri smiled, and leaned forward. Slowly and carefully, as if a missed step would disturb the tiny girl, Albanes approched.

Little baby Eliana was just that- an incredibly little baby. She had soft brown skin and a round, pudgy face. Her dark hair was a mess of little ringlet curls, and the warm gold of her eyes mirrored Sovrans. She was dressed in a little onsie decorated with sunflower patterns, and looked up to Albanes with a curious, wide gaze.

"She's so small." Albanes said, keeping her voice extra quiet.

"She's about three months old now." Jymaiyri said. "And she's growing bigger every day. She looks a lot like her Papa, doesn't she?" She inclined her head towards Sovran.

Sovran let out a soft chuckle. "Nah, Maiyri, she's all you."

Little Baby Eliana reached out her little hand towards Albanes, letting out a cooing noise. "You can touch her, if you'd like," Jymaiyri allowed.

Carefully and gently, Albanes reached out her hand to the little baby. She couldn't help but smile as Eliana wrapped her little fingers around one of hers.

"Little baby Eliana." Albanes smiled, speaking in a soft whisper so hopefully only the baby could hear. It was the same words she had said to her brothers, when they were babies. "I'm gonna be your sister now, okay? My name is Albanes."