Armin cracked his eyes open. 'I'm fine. Just relaxing.'

He regarded the beginnings of the building for a moment, then reached out and started to gather bricks, creating what looked like a small house off to the side.

{Dianne built a good sized cottage, then reached over and picked up the clay. She then created a pair of clay people. Breathing life into them, she sets them down. The pair proceeded to dance about, outside their cottage.}

Esme had built a miniature yellow castle barely taller than the cottages. When she spotted the moving clay people, her manner changed, becoming intent. She watched them for a moment, then swiped at one with her paw like a cat would. Armin chuckled.

{Esme knocked one of them down. The other teetered over and helped the first one up, then they both continued to dance about.}

Dianne: "I think she likes them."

'Or possibly sees them as prey,' Armin observed. 'One of the two.'

As Esme watched the figures like a hawk, there was a sound outside, and Rex entered the room.

'Practically had to track you down. This house is too dam.n big,' he grunted by way of greeting.

{Dianne chuckles, looking him over.}

Dianne: "I thought it would be easy, what with your "vampiric senses and all. Come in, Rex, make yourself comfortable."

'The fact that I had to use vampiric senses to locate you shows your house is too big.'

Rex slowly sat down. Not on the beanbag exactly, but beside it, on Armin's side. Armin glanced at him, then continued building another cottage in their miniature village.

{Dianne contin adding little villagers, even making a small clay dog. Soon enough, the Village was populated with with lots of little clay beings.}

Eventually, they ran out of building blocks. Esme watched the clay figures moving around, occasionally swatting at them, chasing them in and out of the cottages.

'That's nice,' said Armin. 'It's a good little village.'

Dianne: "Yes, it is. Complete with dragon to terrorize the peasants."

{She adds, chuckling happily.}

Armin smiled faintly as he looked over the village.

'Well, I guess we should go get dinner soon. But let's give her a few more minutes to play.'

Dianne: "I am in no hurry."

{Moving over to the bean bag, Dianne sits right next Armin, pulling him close.}

Armin settled his head against her, watching Esme playing, while the TV murmured quietly in the background. //Stroke my hair?// he asked tentatively. //I promise I won't fall asleep.//

{Smiling pleasantly, she begins to gently stroke his hair, kissing the side of his face.}

Armin made a noise of pure contentment and relaxed fully against her.

Rex glanced over at him, smirked, then resumed playing with Esme. She had knocked over one of the cottages and he was building a new one.

{Dianne sat silently with him, enjoying his presence. She decided that she will continue stroking his hair until he was ready to head to the lake.}

After twenty minutes or so, Armin brought himself to stir.

'Alright... we should head out before it gets any later.'

He shifted away from Dianne, yawning, and started to get up.

{Dianne gets up as well, picking up Esme and heading upstairs for her shoes and coat.}

Dianne: "I'll meet you at the truck."

Once ready, Armin went outside. He had brought a bag of plates and cutlery. Rex was wearing a long trench coat and had his guitar slung across his back. However, Armin didn't lead them all to the truck.
.
'I don't see any real need to use the truck. How about we fly?' he suggested.

{Dianne looked at Esme in one hand and the shovel in the other.}

Dianne: "...Might be hard to carry all the stuff, given that your little bird forms can't hold much...unless you want to ride me with everything."

Armin scratched his jaw, considering.
.
'Ditch the shovel. We don't need that to dig a hole... You can carry Esme and Rex and I will carry our stuff. It'll be fine.'

Dianne: "Fine."

{Dianne sticks the shovel into the ground, passes Esme to Rex, then shifts.}

Dianne: "Ok, let's go."

Rex held out Esme so that Dianne, now shifted, could take her. Armin had already shifted to hawk form and taken off into the night, carrying his bag in his beak.
.
//Catch me if you can!// he crowed playfully.

{Dianne scoops up Esme in her paw. Smiling good naturedly, she takes off after Armin.}

Armin made it to the lakeside first, with Rex trailing behind everyone else in his raven form. When they arrived, Armin shifted into a wolf and immediately began to dig a fire pit.

{Dianne lands, lets Esme down, and shifts back.}

Dianne: "Barnabas, get us some firewood."

Armin made short work of the soft ground, digging a pit big enough for a cookfire.
.
//I'll be back soon,// he said, before sweeping off to look for fish in the frigid waters. Rex sat down a few feet away from the pit, simply watching Armin lunge and dive.

{Barnabas returned shortly after with firewood. Dianne shifts back, lights the fire, then settles down it dragon form, nuzzling Esme.}

It didn't take long for Armin to return. Clutching three fish, he shifted back beside the fire and began to assemble a spit. 'You two are adorable,' he said with a hint of amusement, mixed with fondness, as he eyed the dragons.

Dianne: "Heh, yeah? Glad you think so. Most would cower from us, even if we're just resting here."

'Well, you're not that scary. I just see a big stripey lizard and a little stripey newt,' said Armin, smirking. Once the fish were cooking, he moved to their side of the fire and sat down beside Dianne, leaning against her arm.

{Dianne chuckles, nuzzling Armin as well.}

Dianne: "You are adorable too. My little human."

'Thank you,' he said, with a soft chuckle. With a lazy tilt of his head, he looked towards Rex. 'Hey, why don't you play something? You brought your guitar.'
.
Rex shrugged uncertainly. 'I didn't want to disturb you all with noise.'

Dianne: "It wouldn't disturb us. C'mon, play something."

'If you insist...'

Rex pulled the guitar off his back and removed it from its case. Settling his fingers into the right positions, he began to play a steady, gentle melody. It was not recognisable as any specific song. He seemed to be improvising.

{Dianne gently moves her head to the melody.}

Dianne: "It's pleasant."

Armin leaned over to inspect the fish, while Rex continued to play quietly on the other side of the fire. Esme was staring transfixed at him as if she'd never seen a musical instrument before - which she might not have.

{As he kept playing, Dianne began to sing softly along.}

Dianne: "At my door, the leaves are falling
A cold, wild wind will come
Sweethearts walk by together
And I still miss someone

I go out on the parties
and look for a little fun.
But I find a darkened corner
'Cause I still miss someone."

Rex adjusted his melody to better fit her voice and lyrics, playing with more ease and surety than he showed with almost anything else.

Armin sat back, listening with a peaceful expression. //Called it... I knew they'd sound good together...//

(Lucci: "Riiiight. /You/ called it. XD)

{Dianne continued to sing, a little louder and enunciated.}

Dianne: "No, I never got over those blue eyes
I see them everywhere
I miss those arms that held me
When all the love was there

I wonder if she's sorry
For leaving what we'd begun
There's someone for me somewhere
And I still miss someone."

(Armin: I totally did.)

Armin gave Dianne a brief, curious glance, then turned his gaze onto the fire and just watched the flames leap and dance as they played.

Rex played to the end, slowing down and strumming out the last few chords before falling into silence.

{Dianne smiles as the song concluded.}

Dianne: "That was quite nice. You play very well."

'You're not so bad yourself,' said Rex gruffly. He was actually very impressed, but that was the highest praise she was likely to get from him.

'That was great,' said Armin warmly. 'Both of you are brilliant.'

Dianne: "Thanks, Rex. Coming from you, that means a lot."

'Coming from me? What do you mean by that?' said Rex.

Dianne: "As someone who initially didn't like me, any compliment means much to me. That's all."

'Oh. Well, that's true. I didn't like you. Still don't, very much, but you're not that bad. I'm getting used to you.'

Armin seemed unconcerned as he checked the fish, finding them done. He retrieved a plate and cutlery and pulled the smallest fish off the spit for himself.

{Shaking her head goodnaturedly, she shifts back, ready to eat.}

Dianne: "Dinner's ready, then?"

'Of course it is. Why would I be taking it off the heat if it's not?' said Armin reproachfully. He sat back and started using a fork to flake up the soft, white flesh of the fish.

Rex did not eat, but stayed on the other side of the fire, occasionally playing a short tune.

Dianne: "Just making sure. You don't need to get picky with me."

{She gathers a plate and fork, taking a fish off the spit. She then starts to split it, for her and Esme.}

Armin ate quietly, seeming content to enjoy his food and the warmth of the fire. Esme devoured her share ravenously, as usual.

{Dianne began to eat, very much enjoying the flavor.}

Dianne: "It's good."

'Much better than anything we can buy,' said Armin.

After they'd been eating for a little while, Rex spoke up.

'Your singing. You always been able to do that, naturally? Or was it learned?'

Dianne: "I've always sang like that...Naturally..."

'You're lucky, then. To be that good without any effort.'

Armin glanced at Dianne, then resumed eating, tossing unwanted pieces like bone into the fire.

Dianne: "A gift, they say. But I don't sing well when I grieve, so not many know I have a pretty voice..."

'Well, I consider it an honour to have heard it,' said Armin. 'Knowing you don't do it very often, and it's not something many have been able to hear.'

Dianne: "Heh, yeah. Well, I intend to sing a lot more now. Maybe people will be less afraid of me then."

'If you ever decide to start a band, don't ask me to join,' said Rex dryly.

'Come on, you know you'd join if she asked,' said Armin, grinning. 'Forgotten Cold Case already?'

'Well, I suppose I might join. If I had time.'

Dianne: "Oh, don't be like that, Rex. You're the best guitarist I know."

{She says, smiling at him innocently.}

'I'm most likely the /only/ guitarist you know,' pointed out Rex. 'So that's not much of a compliment.'

Dianne: "Not true. Magnus played guitar too, and he was no slouch."

'Yeah, he was good,' Armin remembered. 'But he had over a thousand years to practice. Longer than any normal people would.'

Dianne: "Yes, he did. I wonder if he still plays, wherever he is..."

'I'm sure he does. He probably plays for his friends and family. I bet they have great parties, wherever they are now,' said Armin.

//I wonder what my family are doing,// he thought. //Janet... well, she could be doing literally anything. I hope she doesn't find death too boring.// He almost chuckled at the thought.

Dianne: "He's happy, I'm sure..."

{Dianne throws her fishbones into the fire, then settles back.}

Armin kissed her cheek, then lay down on his back, watching the thin clouds ride across the stars above. Rex slowly strummed out another melody as he gazed across the lake. All was quiet and peaceful.

{Dianne leans back with him, taking his hand in hers and squeezing slightly. She was content to enjoy the moment with him.}

Armin wrapped his fingers around hers. The night grew deeper and darker. Eventually, with Esme yawning, clearly ready to sleep, Armin sat up.

'...Hm. Might be a good idea to head back now...'

Dianne: "Yeah...bedtime..."

{Sitting up, she stands, and shifts.}

Rex shifted to raven form and was gone into the night. Armin, however, didn't follow. He picked up Esme and clambered onto Dianne's back instead.

'Let's go,' he said, patting her shoulder affectionately.

{Dianne takes to the skies, heading straight home. Upon getting there, she lets everyone off before shifting back.}

Dianne: "I'm going to shower."

Armin carried Esme inside. Once he set her down, the fledgling immediately went up the stairs to the bedroom. Rex followed, heading for his own room without a word.

Armin yawned. 'Alright. I should, too, but... I don't feel like it right now. I'll just wait for you.'

Dianne: "Alright, I'll make it quick."

{With that, she heads to the bath.}

Armin made his way to the bedroom, finding Esme already close to sleep. He changed, then sunk into the bed, staring up at the ceiling while he waited for Dianne.

{Dianne appeared shortly after, walking in, smelling of floral soap, wearing her sleepwear.}

{She lies down next to him, snuggling close.}

Dianne: "Hey..."

Armin hummed in response, pulling her to snuggle closer and nuzzling the top of her head.

'Hello,' he said quietly. 'Hm. You smell nice.'

Dianne: "It's my lavender soap...I think it smells nice..."

{Snuggling into him, she sighs in contentment.}

Dianne: "...How do I make Rex like me?..."

'Just wait it out, and keep being nice. He hadn't known you long. It took him nearly a decade to start really trusting me. He's just afraid that something will happen to me from being close to you...'

Dianne: "Ok. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing..."

{With that, she settles in to sleep.}

As they settled down, they would faintly hear Rex playing guitar in his room. The unusual part was that he was singing as well, and had a surprisingly pleasant voice.

'Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue,
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio,
Still I can't escape the ghost of you...'

{Dianne picks her head up, looking in that direction.}

Dianne: "Oh my god, he can sing too?"

'Yeah. He doesn't do it often though. It's a shame; he's not bad at all,' said Armin drowsily.

'What has happened to it all?
Crazy, some would say
Where is the life that I recognise?
Gone away...'

Dianne: "Yeah...We should do a duet at some point."

{Setting her head back down, she listens to Rex sing.}

'But I won't cry for yesterday,
There's an ordinary world somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world, I will learn to survive...'

Rex got quieter after that, but his playing and voice could still be heard. Armin nuzzled Dianne, then closed his eyes and started to doze off.

{Dianne began to drift off as well, to Rex's soft melody.}

(Skip?)

(Yes, do you want to start or I?)

(You go.)

----

Rex often got up early after giving up on sleeping. When 6AM came, bleary and with shadowed eyes, he made his way to the kitchen to brew some coffee, wishing he had alcohol. He'd been disturbed by a series of unsettling dreams. One had involved Armin being killed by someone who came for Dianne. The other had involved his grandfather chasing him through the halls of Dianne's dark house.

//Ridiculous, yet somehow still horrifying...//

(You can either have someone, maybe Barnabas, interact with him, or just skip to when Dianne would start to wake up.)

{As Rex stood in the kitchen, Barnabas appeared, looking him over.}

Barnabas: "H-h-hey. Rough N-n-night?"

{For some reason, Barnabas seemed twitchy and kept stuttering.}

Rex flinched sharply when Barnabas appeared, but tried to pretend he hadn't. He sipped some black coffee to steady his nerves.

'I'm sure you're pleased to know. What's the matter with you, anyway?'

Barnabas: "Dianne t-t-told me never to s-s-speak to you. But, while she's a-a-asleep, her grip on me lessens. S-s-so, I can do as I please."

{Sitting, Barnabas rests his head on his boney hand.}

Barnabas: "O-o-odd dream, to be running from grand-pappy in this s-s-setting. You know h-h-he's never set foot in this h-h-house."

'That's dream logic for you,' Rex grunted. 'They don't need to make sense. Some people dream of being chased by clowns at the grocery store.'

Barnabas: "Yes, b-b-but this may show that the size of Dianne's house is....unsettling f-f-for you. You already expressed d-d-distaste for it's sheer size."

'I wouldn't be surprised if that had something to do with it. It's a ridiculously large house, and it's... unnerving in the dark. Easy to imagine things jumping out at you from past any corner...'

Barnabas: "And this fact...f-f-further sours your view of Dianne? You t-t-think of her as a monger of dark th-th-things?"

Rex looked at him blankly. 'No. I'm not the most fond of her, I admit, but that's only because she's hurt Armin, put him in deadly danger, and will probably continue to do so until he eventually dies protecting her.' His voice shook just slightly.

{Barnabas chuckles.}

Barnabas: "And therin l-l-lies the problem. He loves her, and she's a magnet f-f-for trouble. B-b-but, have y-y-you considered what happens if s-s-she dies protecting him?"

Rex looked away, drinking his coffee. 'Considered that too. It might still result in his death. Losing her would change him, and I don't know if I'd be able to save him.'

Barnabas: "You wouldn't."

{Barnabas says, leaning towards him.}

Barnabas: "I have looked into h-h-his mind, delved into h-h-his fears. Losing her would crush his will to live. s-s-so maybe you s-s-should stop pouting and h-h-have a little faith, hmm? I feed on fear, b-b-but I seldom find people as c-c-controlled by it as you are."

'Have faith?' said Rex incredulously. 'How can I, when no matter what happens, he's going to die? Do you have any idea? With the amount of trouble they get into, I'd be surprised if either of them lives through the next year.'

Barnabas: "Y-y-you're forgetting something, Rex. She's lived for thousands of years, and even the Divines are I-I-invested in her well being. And Armin, as r-r-reckless as he is, has a k-k-knack for survival. Their d-d-deaths are anything but guaranteed. Y-y-you are needlessly worrying yourself."

Rex frowned. 'I'll damn well worry about whatever I like. One day they could get into something they can't get out of. Besides, why are /you/ trying to reassure me?'

Barnabas: "I-I-I'm told that that's what f-f-friends do. I'm more that j-j-just a dog, you know. Also, y-y-y-your fretting is beggining to weigh on Armin's mind. I don't think he knows you take this much issue w-w-with his union."

'... I'm happy that he's happy with her. It's obvious to anyone watching that they're in love. I just can't help but worry.' Rex chugged the last third of his coffee. 'I'm trying not to.'

Barnabas: "Y-you need help. You're not sleeping because of y-y-your anxiety. W-w-what would it take to ease yourself?"

Rex snorted. 'I suppose I'm too used to depending on what Armin calls 'unhealthy coping methods'. It's hard adjusting to being sober all the time. My job helps, but it's still hard.'

Barnabas: "Yes. B-b-but also consider, you're not just staying sober for Armin, or your own well b-b-being. You're staying sober for Esme too. She's quite f-f-fond of you, and if you turn to substance abuse, Dianne will never let you get near her. I-I-if you value your time together, do it for her.

'I know. And I would like to have a part in the life of my best friend's daughter. I also don't doubt that Dianne would slaughter me if I got drunk and harmed Esme... And I'd more than deserve it...' He went silent, gazing darkly out the window.

Barnabas: "N-n-not to mention that you would be acting exactly like your grandfather. G-g-getting drunk and harming an innocent child. B-b-but, I digress..."

Rex sucked in a long, shaky breath, his expression grim.

'...Go away,' he said hoarsely. 'We're done talking.'

{Barnabas fades away, as requested.}

Barnabas: "Was it something I said?"

Rex didn't reply. He just gazed off into space, seemingly absorbed in his own unpleasant thoughts.

{Hours later, Dianne stirs, nuzzling into Armin's neck.}

Dianne: "Mmmmm....Janet, you've killed my flowers...I hope you're proud of yourself..."

Armin jolted awake, both from the nuzzle and hearing his ex-wife's name spoken. He eyed Dianne, then yawned.
.
'Mm... Strange dreams again...'

{Dianne squeezes him tightly, muttering again.}

Dianne: "But I don't want tea...And I don't like you..."

Armin grimaced slightly at the squeeze. He ran a hand underneath her nightshirt and lightly scratched her back.
.
'C'mon.... Morning...'

{Dianne awakens with a gasp, releasing her grip,}

Dianne: "Hmwha? Wa's going on?....."

'Morning,' Armin repeated. 'Welcome to the world of the living.' He chuckled and continued absently scratching her back; not hard, more in a soothing motion.

{Smiling sleepily, she settles back down with him.}

Dianne: "Morning...Did my rambling wake you again?"

'Well, yeah. But I probably would have woken up soon anyway. Was Janet in it this time?' he said, slightly bemused.

Dianne: "Yeah...I had some flowers...Janet tried to replant them...ended up killing them...then Luxia tried to invite me to tea..."

'Sounds like something Janet would do... Heh, if Luxia ever does invite us to tea... we'd better be careful... there might be weird stuff in the tea... or she might spell us if we refuse...'

Dianne: "Yeah...crazy old bat almost died to the Aspect for that one...She should know better next time..."

'Hopefully...'
.
Armin was quiet for a few moments, pondering something.
.
'Y'know, I had a question... The very first time you met Rex... When you returned from your trip after the war... Why were you so aggressive to him?'

Dianne: "Honestly, I thought he might be a Sargon loyalist lying so we didn't kill him...Then, when you explained who he was, I thought he was just a weasely coward...Now, I understand who he really is...Another victim, like you were."

'Yeah... I know he would have come to help in the war if he knew about it in time... I'm glad he didn't. I was able to find him again once everything was over. I'm glad to have been given that.'