Fifty Three

I stepped closer to him, reaching up to kiss his cheek, then wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, "Thank you," I said softly, trying not to sound too overly excited, "When can I start?" I heard Cole laughing quietly behind me then, and turned to find him, Finn, and Luca, all grinning in amusement. Dorian's face looked much more sober, however.

"There is also still the matter of what to do about Elsie," he said quietly, and the amusement faded quickly. "Should I presume we mean only to keep her comfortable?" he asked, "For how long? If we don't start to see any improvements.." he trailed off, knowing the rest didn't need to be said. It would usually be a decision left to someone's family, but Valerie was dead, and Derrick quite clearly an enemy.

Thane sighed, shrugging gently, "I guess we're her next of kin now, aside from Derrick," he said, and Dorian nodded patiently. "Let's.. wait and see for now. We don't know yet what Elyanna might dig up, or how much of Elsie is truly left