Prompt: Open

Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, tapping something into the pipe he claimed he didn't smoke and closed his eyes. For someone who was so closed off as his teammate claimed to be, he knew that wasn't the case. True, Orochimaru wasn't as expressive as someone like Tsunade, choosing to keep his emotions closed off, but if you knew him as well as he did, well, he could read him like an open book. For instance, he noted as he opened one eye to examine his teammate - that lower lip of his was being worried between his teeth again, which meant Orochimaru was worrying. Again. Still. "Oh, would you come off it?" Jiraiya asked, exasperatedly. "You know as well as I do that Tsunade will accept your invitation to the Kabuki play." Honestly, for a man who was a genius like Orochimaru - he sure could miss the signs.

Prompt: Heavy

AN: more of "in Peter's head"
Peter was struggling to keep his eyes open - he knew he had to stay awake, had to help his friends to complete the quest that they had begun, but his eyes were just so heavy and that song Sir Giles was playing on the flute was just so soothing. His eyes slowly closed, a small yawn escaping him. Maybe a small rest wouldn't be so bad - he hadn't had a proper rest since.. He tried to forget what had happened. It was his fault, all his fault. If only he had listened to him, maybe, maybe Smrgal would have still been with them. No, he had to remind himself, now was not the time of self-recrimination. Not when they were nearly at the end - that could come later, after the quest was done. And so Peter slept.

a gifted plunnie

AN: lovelykitta gifted me a plunnie of Z'neth coming to terms that he's a father

Z'neth sat at the side of the hospital bed, studying the sleeping features of his wife. God, she was beautiful, his little angel. He reached over and gently brushed her bangs off her forehead, smiling softly at her as she stirred. /Hey/ he murmured quietly through their bond. /How you feeling?/

Ilona merely smiled at him and reached over, taking his hand. "Aside from the contractions, I'm just fine," she said softly, wincing just a little.

Z'neth nodded, squeezing her hand gently. He still had trouble believing he was going to be a father. After everything that had happened, he and Ilona were bringing a new little dragonator into the world. He could only hope he'd be a worthy father. He winced suddenly and glanced over to see that his wife had moved her hand to his hair and had yanked it.

"Would you stop with the self doubt already?" she asked quietly. "You've proven yourself capable of being a father by helping your own raise your brothers and sister." She winced again and looked up at him. "We are *not* doing this three more times, I refuse," she hissed out, clearly not at all happy with him right now.

~

Z'neth held the tiny bundle in his arms, studying the baby. Well, it seemed his white hair was genetic since their little girl had a fine head of white fluff. He glanced over at his wife, who was cuddling their son. Twins weren't common in either family so it had come as a clear surprise to the both of them when their son came out in a fine temper after having waited for his several minutes older sister to find her party dress as the nurse on duty joked.

/How's Lia?/ Ilona asked quietly, not wanting to wake their son.

/Sleeping/ came the soft answer. /What about Julien?/

/Same/ she answered. /Although, we won't be for a while/

Z'neth chuckled soft and low. Well, he knew it wasn't a real laughing matter [oh, his temper was going to be shorter then ever now especially dealing with the newer dragonators who thought they knew better] but the laugh escaped him anyway. Now, if only they knew..

/Z'neth, I thought we promised each other that we wouldn't jog down that road/ Ilona quietly whined.

/Sorry, it's just.../

/I know/ she quietly answered, sighing softly. Her blue-violet eyes quietly watched their son open his - and stare at her with the same golden eyes Attor had.