Heartwarming

"Ahem... Mama..."

Aveline was flustered, held down by Nilly. They had entered the mansion after removing of their outside issues. They had sat around a large, dark room. As soon as they entered, Thorin dashed around. Lights and heat began to fill the room as they settled in. Nilly had Aveline stuck against her on a soft couch.

"Can I breathe a little?!"

Aveline struggled a little, but sighed as she curled up into her mother's arms. Her head laid against Nilly's shoulder. Across from them, Nora and Kyra watched the duo with warm smiles. Lyla was curled up near the fireplace, while Thorin finally plopped down into a chair near his wife and daughter.

'They look so weak...'

Aveline buried her face into her mother's shoulder as tears began to form.

"Dear, I think we should let her get changed. I doubt that tattered dress is comfortable."

Thorin laid a hand on Nilly's shoulder, but she turned away and pouted.

"I'm not letting her go! She'll be gone again the moment I look away!"

Aveline pulled her face away, looking into her mother's eyes. She narrowed her's into blue slits as she spoke.

"You're squeezing me. If you don't want me to pop, at least let me breathe. Besides, it isn't like you can't come with me."

Nilly's face brightened as she released her daughter. Shooting to her feet, Aveline yelled.

"Freedom!"

Before following her mother, she leaned over to Thorin and hugged him tight.

"I'm back, Papa."

As she released him, Thorin smiled at her with tears in his eyes.

"Welcome home, my beloved daughter."

-

The days began to flow by at a decent rate. Aveline readjusted quickly, while Lyla began having fun in a maid uniform. She had been taken under Kyra's tutelage to act as Aveline's maid and bodyguard.

Nora left the mercenary group by Thorin's request. Her father, Gaius, had left him a letter requesting Thorin to hire her on as a guard or whatever he saw fit. He placed her as Aveline's third guard.

Aveline now stood in an empty training field. She was panting softly, sweating through her training gear and glaring at the ground.

"I can't take it! Not one, not two, but three extremely beautiful girls are around me non stop! Ugh... and two of them are definitely going to bloom into gorgeous beauties! Lyla... oh boy. She's not confirmed, but damn."

Dropping to her knees, Aveline cursed herself for lusting after her closest friends.

"Thinking of friends... I wonder how Victri and Rey are doing. I miss them."

Starting to pout, Aveline got to her feet and grabbed her towel. She dried her sweat as she began to return to the courtyard. Thorin stood there, waiting for her.

"Aveline! You've been back for three months now, so I wanted to discuss school with you. Sure you have three years, but your current situation is exceptional. I believe you have some sort of idea?"

Aveline was stunned for a brief moment before she smiled brightly.

"Of course Papa. Let's gather everyone so I can explain."

Before long, everyone had been gathered in the Family Room. The room they had chosen when Aveline had returned. The seating stayed the same, however, Lyla was laying against Aveline's leg. She was half asleep until Aveline began to speak.

"So, Papa wanted me to tell everyone about my future plans with school and the like."

Aveline broke free from her mother as she got to her feet.

"So by now, we all know who attacked us and why. The target being me, first and foremost. As they will be attending school alongside me, I made a plan to prevent them from trying to target me so heavily again."

Aveline sighed as she moved to a clear space in the room.

"As of now, Aveline Synclair is dead. She will be back, but you should meet someone new."

Everyone in the room watched as Aveline shook off her anxiety. She turned away, her hair slowly vanishing until it curled just above her lengthening shoulders. She grew a bit taller, while her muscles became more defined. What they couldn't see, was her bust shrinking and flattening out. She turned back to them, her jaw more chiseled yet still retaining the softness of youth. Her eyes shrank a little, becoming more narrow and hidden within her shadowy hair.

"What the..."

Everyone spoke at once, confused and unable to process what had happened. She scratched her head while fiddling with her throat. When she spoke, his voice came out.

"I guess, you can call me Niall for a little while. Aveline twin brother, or something like that."

---

Thank you,

Anna Haig!