Without a word, the handsome man at the kitchen table rose, knocking his chair to the ground as he came running headlong toward the person in the doorway.
The package in Noble's hands toppled to the ground as Fort's arms wrapped around his wife's torso.
He pressed his lips against hers, the heat in them full of remembered promises that had only begun to be fulfilled. Noble's heart raced as she placed her hands against his cheeks.
This was not a dream or hope. It was real. Noble reveled in the glorious moment, wishing it would never end.
Releasing his wife from the kiss, Fort pressed his forehead against his wife's.
"You're home," he rasped.
"I'm home." Noble felt the man's fervor, and she blushed.
'It's good to be home.'
But before either of them could act any more on their shared elation, footsteps rang out on the stairs.
"Mom?" Blaze called.
Fort reluctantly withdrew to a more kid-approved distance. "A very special delivery, don't you think?"
"Mom!" Brock barreled down the stairs past his brother, nearly tackling his mother with his bear hug.
"It's good to see you, son." Noble felt herself being lifted higher in the air as the second twin joined the hug. "Both of you," she added with a laugh. "I had missed you!"
Noble was overjoyed to see that the young men—for that is what they were now—were not too old for hugs. She hoped they never would be, even though they had continued to grow larger than her by almost a whole head.
"Mom, you're finally back! What took so long?" Blaze let go of his mother to interrogate her. "Was it that important a mission for you to be gone so many weeks?"
"You sound just like Bee Two!" Noble laughed.
"Never mind all that," Brock shook his head. "Did you bring me anything?"
The elder twin indicated the box on the floor. He picked it up and shook it.
Inside, clanking continued until Noble reclaimed the package.
She frowned. "No, that's not for you. I'm actually not sure what this is. Teddy asked me to bring that back for her through the Dream Gate. I'll have to drop it by after I get some time with all of you."
Brock grinned widely, not caring that there had been no present waiting for him.
"Does that mean we don't have to go to school today?"
"You know what? That's fine with me. I would have too much trouble parting with you anyway. How about I make us some special breakfast, and we just relax?"
"How about I make food, and you get some rest. You must be exhausted after your journey." Fort stepped in and ushered his wife to the stairs.
Noble was tired, exhausted even, but seeing her family had invigorated her in ways that were beyond magical.
"I am fine," she assured him. "Some family time is all the rest I need. But if you want to make breakfast, I will not object."
Noble winked.
Fort took the hint and found the apron she had gotten him for his last birthday. He would make a meal fit for a queen.
Noble took a place on the couch between her boys. The reunion was just as she imagined.
Well, almost…
"Where is Rainy?" Noble glanced at the stairs, knowing full well that her daughter was not in the house.
"At her place," Fort answered as he pulled a pan down from the cupboard. "I know she would have been here if she had known you'd be back today."
"She's been hunting more and more," Blaze informed his mother. "So she only stays here about half the time."
Noble had noticed that trend before leaving. Rain was technically a grown lady, and she was trying to find her place in the world while living in the shadow of a powerful government official for a father and a powerful Awakened for a mother. She had two rowdy younger brothers with endless questions and that wasn't even mentioning the elder brother living in the girl's shadow and their quest to do what no human in their Realm had ever done.
If anyone outside their family found out what those two were attempting…
Noble coughed.
'I don't blame her one bit for wanting some privacy.'
"I'll have to go find her later." Noble settled in with her twins. "While I didn't bring anything for you, I do have something to show you."
The mother smiled gently.
In her hand, a rain of sparks precipitated two small objects forming.
"A new Memory?!" The boys got excited, especially Blaze.
The younger twin shared his mother's fascination with the creations of the Spell, and he knew that anything she showed him would be particularly interesting.
"Needles?" he queried, squinting at the two long spikes.
"The Memory is called Spinnerets." Noble twisted the needles around rhythmically in her hands.
"Like the back of an arachnid?" Blaze's eyes sparkled.
"Precisely! What do you think?" Noble smiled proudly.
The twins exchanged glances.
"What do they do?" Brock rubbed the back of his neck.
He knew better than to touch a Memory without permission. Noble had taught them that very early.
Most Memories were meant to be weapons against Nightmare Creatures or other Awakened, so a mundane human could be killed by simply handling some of the more deadly items.
"What do they do? That's a very good question. I'm not sure, but I do have an idea. I got them from the little brother of a very large spider that nearly did me in." Noble recalled the Entwined.
"I am glad it didn't," Blaze nodded seriously.
"You are far too valuable to become food for a greedy spider." Brock agreed.
"You both are very sweet." Noble resisted the urge to tousle their heads like when they were young. "Now, back to this Memory. Tell me what you see."
"The needles are long, but not quite arrow-shaped," Brock began.
Blaze nodded. "They are too thin to be swords or any kind of offensive weapon, so my money is on a utility weapon."
Noble raised an eyebrow at him. "While I am not a proponent of gambling, I will say you are on the right track."
"What can you use needles for? Knitting?" Brock tapped his chin.
"Don't think the Spell is trying to turn me into my grandmother?" Noble laughed. "But sewing is a good guess."
Child of Promise wrapped her hair in a tight bun and stuck the needles inside to pin it.
"Here, I'll give you a hint. The runes say 'Oh what a tangled web we weave…' Does that help?"
"Not really, Brock frowned. Spiders weave webs, but you said it isn't knitting. What? Is it some kind of saying?"
Noble's ever-present smile refused him any more clues.
But Blaze picked up on his brother's trail. "It is! But there is a second half. Ugh, what is it?"
The younger twin tapped his forehead. Knowledge usually came easily, but this ancient proverb eluded him.
He looked at his mother for anything she might accidentally give away. But her expression was as still and unreadable as it had ever been. She wouldn't even look at him.
Was she practicing being a statue?
Practicing…
"That's it. What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" Blaze announced proudly.
At that moment, Noble's body disappeared.