Clarendon Comfrey, Wiltshire. 2013.

There was mud on his shoes from the woods, Ethan noticed, frowning slightly. It was proving to be a wet May so far, although the wild rhododendrons, which were just coming into bloom, seemed to be benefiting from all the rain.

The bluebells, on the other hand, seemed to be dying down early this year.

Ethan whistled, calling the dogs to him for the short walk home. Skunk came quickly enough, her thoughts filled with images of fine smelling rabbit holes. She pawed up his trousers to get her head rubbed, leaving paw prints all the way up his leg. "Bad dog," he scolded fondly, ruffling her pied fur. She was in canine middle age now, but she wasn't showing it.

He snorted softly. It wasn't as if she was the only one rather more sprightly than she had any right to be.

Their resident wolfhound was not so prompt in response today, like most days Ethan took the dogs out alone. "Giddy!" he shouted, after a second whistle failed to produce the dog from the trees. "Gwydion, you poor excuse for a donkey, get here this minute!"

There was a bark, and then the huge hound appeared at the edge of the wood and came bounding over, looking almost sheepish when he stopped in front of Ethan. Tutting, Ethan helped both dogs over the stile and into the lane. "And he's so convinced you're the good one," he told Giddy. "You're a natural con-artist, you are."

Mud aside, it had been a pleasant walk, but Ethan never enjoyed the gentle treks as much when he was on his own. Despite, or maybe because, he'd spent so much of his life alone, Ethan now found that he craved human company most of the time. Especially that of one particular human, his husband of nearly ten years now who hadn't been able to accompany him this morning as pub business had required attention.

He unlocked the gate that led from the lane to the back garden of the Fox and Badger. The dogs bounded over to the open back door and inside, where they would inevitably leave muddy paw prints on the scullery floor. But that was all right; there was paper laid down for that very reason.

The door to the kitchen opened as Ethan was removing his shoes, his nose wrinkled fastidiously although the mud didn't smell, thank God. Even before anyone entered the small washroom, Ethan was smiling. Arms slid around his waist from behind as he straightened up again. "Good walk?" Rupert murmured into his ear.

"Muddy," Ethan replied. "But pretty." He turned around in Rupert's arms to kiss him softly. "Missed you. Did you get the delivery sorted?"

"Yes. At least until they try to pull the same thing next month." Rupert stole another kiss before adding casually, "We got a call from London."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "One I'll feel miffed to have missed?"

"Quite probably. It was Kat."

"Bugger." Ethan snuggled closer to Rupert while directing a firm mental 'Sit!' to Skunk who was trying to get their attention for herself. "So how was she?"

"She's well," Rupert replied, obligingly shifting his grip to pull Ethan even closer. "Very well indeed." He paused. "She and Xander are expecting."

Ethan froze for a second or so. Then he asked urgently, "When? How many months on is she?" He separated himself from Rupert just enough for their eyes to meet.

"'When' is this October. She said she's about four months, give or take." Rupert smiled. "Xander apparently is 'wigging out, but in a positive sort of way'."

October. Christ, there was so much to do. "Our first... grandchild? Godchild? We're so old, dearheart." Ethan laughed. One of their girls was going to be a mother... "Do they have a gender for it yet?"

"Not that Kat mentioned. Actually, we may not have one until October; she kept talking about not cheating."

Neutral colours then, for clothes and décor – wasn't that how it went? Toys, Ethan had to assume, were largely ungendered for little babies. Just how much fuss would Rupert make if Ethan tried to drag him around Mothercare to see what was available today? There was so much Kat would need. A cot, oh, and a pram, or did mothers all just use those stroller things now? Now that he thought about it, Ethan didn't think he'd seen an old fashioned pram for decades. He wasn't even sure Mothercare still existed.

Hell, he didn't know the first thing about all this. Ethan brought a hand to his mouth and bit his knuckle. Rupert was watching him with a fond smile on his face. "Tell me what you're thinking," he bid, gently pulling Ethan's hand away and tracing Ethan's lips with his thumb.

Ethan shook himself out of it and curved his lips into a smirk. "Oh, tawdry, over-sentimental drivel. Of no interest to a manly man such as yourself."

Rupert laughed. "Manly man?"

"You're the one who can pass for straight, remember?" Ethan chuckled briefly. "If you must know, I was thinking about everything we'll need to get for them. You know, in our role as doting umph-parents."

"Making a list and checking it twice?" Rupert teased.

"Do you see a long white beard?" Ethan asked with a mock-frown. "I might be soon to be a Grand-something, but I have no intention of looking the part."

"I'm beginning to wonder if we're ever going to look that part," Rupert said thoughtfully. "I never expected to be quite this well-preserved at mumblety-four."

"We're not aging, dear." Ethan stroked Rupert's cheek. "I told you before that I suspected it, but I'm becoming more and more convinced. I watch other people's patterns as they get older, and the patterns change. Ours haven't changed since our fight against the Bear. It must have been a side-effect of... well, something."

"Love, magic, destiny, forever," Rupert murmured, almost to himself. Then aloud he said, "Do you remember? The time we had sex in my office when you did some kind of spontaneous magic, but we couldn't figure out what?"

Ethan snorted, laughed, and then frowned. "I may be powerful, dear, but I really don't think I'm powerful enough to conjure perpetual life for two people with just a little bit of admittedly wonderful desktop shagging for juice."

"What with everything else that was happening, ultimately binding us together until we were literally, if briefly, one, it wouldn't really surprise me if you had. Or," Rupert continued more thoughtfully, "at least prepared the way for something more powerful to do the job."

"Hmm." Ethan thought about that. "You may actually have a point. The radical way in which I twisted us to become one – well, I say I, but really I just started the ball rolling." He snorted, remembering how unstoppable the process had felt once it had begun. It didn't feel like ten years ago; he could remember it so acutely. "But, yes, it could have changed things, especially with an earlier spell to smooth the pitch."

Ethan let his attention move inward, exploring his own patterns and looking for proof of the theory, but other than the impression of wholeness that both their patterns had possessed ever since they had come together as the giant guardian bloke, there was nothing to validate the idea. Mind you, there was nothing to disprove it either.

Rupert chuckled, watching him fondly. "And you're going to work at the puzzle now until you get an answer. We really aren't that different at the core, are we, love?"

Ethan tightened his hold on Rupert as he returned his attention to the here and now. "If you look deep inside the nucleus of every cell of my body, you will find your name written there... and vice versa."

Rupert looked at him intently as if searching for just such a mark. "Wouldn't surprise me at all," he finally said softly, touching Ethan's cheek again.

"Well, our external world changes even if our internal one doesn't." Ethan kissed Rupert on the temple. "Do we have enough staff coming in today to allow us to skive off and head for Salisbury? I fancy doing some window-shopping."

"I think we can manage that." Rupert smiled. "What's the use of being the owners if we can't give ourselves the day off every now and then?"

"We can call it a staff training day to develop initiative." Grinning, Ethan pulled back, although he kept hold of Rupert's hand. "Well, I want clothes that are considerably less muddy if we're going to what passes for the big city around here. Come upstairs with me while I change?"

"Generally me accompanying you upstairs while you change slows down the actual changing process," Rupert pointed out, but obligingly followed Ethan up the narrow staircase to their flat anyway.

"Generally, we're not going shopping for our first grandchild." Might as well call the brat what he was already thinking of it as.

"And that is going to stop us when fire, flood and visiting friends don't?" Rupert sounded amused.

"We can shag when we get back... or maybe while we're out. You never did let me take you in Salisbury Cathedral." Ethan opened his wardrobe and started to rummage. He thought he was in a tailored but casual mood today.

"That's doubtful to change either." Rupert leant against their bedroom doorway as he watched Ethan.

"Spoilsport." Ethan quickly changed his trousers. His shirt, he thought, would do, providing he wore the Galliano jacket he'd got for Christmas over the top of it. "Kat is taking care, isn't she?"

"Of course. She's a doctor, remember? She knows what she can and can't do."

Ethan stared out of one of the french windows, looking at the fields and trees he'd been walking within a few minutes ago. "And they're going to remain here? In the UK?"

"With Xander now the provisional Council head since Wiggins retired, they really don't have much choice about staying within commuting distance of London," Rupert reminded him.

"Sometimes Watchers retire," Ethan reminded in turn, but he felt reassured. He turned and walked over to Rupert. "Shall I call Trish and tell her she's opening up today?"

Rupert grinned. "Already did, as soon as I got off the phone with Kat."

That made Ethan laugh. "So I'm getting that predictable in my old age? I'll have to do something about that."

"I knew you were going to say that," Rupert deadpanned.

Ethan wrapped his arms around Rupert and patted his arse. "Stop teasing," he said, pretending to sulk.

Rupert slid his arms around Ethan's waist in return. "I've long since become immune to the pouting as well."

"Now, I know that's not true." Ethan laughed. "And so do you."

"Well, more immune than I used to be." Rupert smiled, and still chuckling, Ethan slid his hand to the back of Rupert's neck and drew him in for a kiss. He complied easily and only when he pulled back did he point out, "And this is why me coming upstairs with you generally delays us."

Now Ethan felt torn; he wriggled against Rupert, but it was at least half a fidget. "I seem to want two things at once," he admitted.

"That's not unusual for you," Rupert said. He seemed to be waiting for Ethan to choose which he wanted more. Ethan wrestled with the problem for a moment... and then dropped to his knees. Rupert's mouth curved upwards. "Praying for enlightenment?"

"Oh, not anymore," Ethan said, pressing his lips to the front of Rupert's trousers. "I believe I'm having an epiphany."

"Leaving for Salisbury right now seems to be losing ground, I see."

Ethan nuzzled into the growing bulge. "Do you want me to stop?"

"I didn't say that," was the gratifyingly quick reply.

This was all as easy as breathing these days, if considerably more enjoyable. Ethan quickly undid Rupert's trousers and freed him, stroking the side of his face against the warm cock as he breathed in the clean, musky scent that was all Rupert.

He heard Rupert inhale deeply and let the breath out in a sigh as he seemed to relax into Ethan's touch. One hand came up and lightly stroked Ethan's hair. With a happy little noise, Ethan turned his head enough to take Rupert inside his mouth, one hand coming up to hold the base of Rupert's cock, the other to fondle his arse.

He could feel Rupert's muscles tensing under his attentions and knew that he was resisting the urge to take control and thrust as he wanted to. Ethan chuckled around his mouthful. 'Stop fighting it, Ripper,' he sent, letting go of Rupert's cock with his hand. 'Why do I always have to tell you that? Take what you need from me. Always.'

Rupert's fingers gripping his head tightly was all the warning Ethan had before Rupert took him at his word and began fucking his mouth in earnest.

Ethan never stopped enjoying the feel of his mouth full of Rupert, no matter how frequent an occurrence this was. The taste and texture of Rupert's cock, the slight strain of Ethan's jaw muscles, and the thrill of being used so thoroughly – it was all simultaneously comforting in its utter familiarity and arousing in a thoroughly ingrained way. Ethan relaxed, regulated his breathing, and just allowed himself to relish the ride.

As always, no matter how long it lasted, it was over far too soon. Rupert's thrusts became rougher and more erratic and his grip on Ethan's hair tightened to the point of pain and then he was coming down Ethan's throat, Ethan's name on his lips like a prayer.

Afterwards, Ethan gently freed himself and pulled back, sitting back on his heels. He grinned up at a rather wobbly looking Rupert. "There now. Don't you feel better for that?"

"I wasn't feeling bad before you had your epiphany," Rupert pointed out. Then he caressed Ethan's face and continued in a softer tone, "but I always feel better when you're touching me."

Ethan nuzzled Rupert's hand and then moved forward to tidy Rupert's clothes. "I suppose we should liaise with Kat's folks. We don't want to duplicate any purchases."

Rupert chuckled. "We will, but I think we'll be safe enough shopping today. Especially if we perhaps stick to larger items; it would be easier for us to buy such things than for Kat's family to ship them over from America." He tugged gently on Ethan's hand, pulling him to his feet. "And you're ready to go shopping just like that?"

"I'm saving up my reciprocation points for a nice long shag tonight." Ethan winked. "Come along now, dear. We want to get there with plenty of time to shop before we stop for lunch."

Rupert muttered something about delays and epiphanies under his breath, but followed Ethan down the stairs willingly enough.

"Trish know that she has to look in at our hounds once in a while?" Ethan asked as they grabbed their jackets.

"The difficult thing would be to get her to not check on them," Rupert said, smiling. "Trish adores the dogs. I wouldn't be surprised if they're down in the common room keeping her company when we get back."

"Yes, they know a pushover when they meet one." Ethan sent a firm mental message to behave to Skunk, who promptly scampered out from the kitchen to see them off.

Giddy followed, going directly to Rupert for farewell pats. "They certainly did when they met us," Rupert said ruefully even as he gave his pet the asked for attention.

"Who's driving?" Ethan asked, knowing perfectly well what the answer would be. Rupert was still in the overly precious stage of new car ownership since they'd part-exchanged for the latest BMW model. And indeed Rupert just gave him a level 'you know the answer' look and a raised eyebrow.

It was a lovely car, Ethan admitted to himself as he settled into the passenger's seat. On-screen heads-up graphics, GPS routing, and a wonderful multimedia system all came fitted, much to Ethan's pleasure, not to mention the deep luxury of the upholstery and UHD hydraulic suspension, which made it feel as if they were floating no matter how rough the road surface. Plus, it was as sleek and stylish as a Galliano suit from the outside.

None of this explained why he wasn't allowed to drive it.

Asking Rupert why hadn't proven any more enlightening as the answer had consisted of mostly disbelieving laughter and the words "chitty chitty bang bang" and "never again." Just because of the old Rover's final fate. Rupert was never going to let that lie.

Or, apparently, ever let Ethan behind the wheel of their new car. Ethan sighed and adjusted his seat with the digital control pad. "We'll have to get child-seats too, for when she or he comes to stay."

"Perhaps we should concentrate on getting things for Kat and Xander first," Rupert suggested as he pulled the car out onto the road, as usual obviously relishing the way it handled. "We can work on what we might need for visits later."

And just what should they get for the soon-to-be parents? Large items, Rupert had said. The more Ethan thought about this, the more he realised that he didn't have the first clue about childcare. After they'd driven a few miles and had joined the main road, he asked, "And what about the Coven? Has Lucy heard the news yet?"

"We were Kat's first phone call, with Megan apparently next on the agenda. Knowing the Coven, I wouldn't be surprised if they already knew though."

"You could call Keri if you like," Ethan said as casually as he knew how. "See if she might drop any hints about our whatever-it-is to-be."

Rupert glanced over at him. "I doubt she would tell us anything we could decipher, or anything that Kat doesn't want to know yet." Which was probably true. Ah well, time to resort to the trusty tarot cards, Ethan supposed. "And you don't need to be doing any divination either," Rupert continued. "If Kat wants to wait, we can wait."

Ethan glared at the side of Rupert's head. "While I normally rather like you inside me in any way, there are times where you can just keep out of my mind, thank you."

Rupert smiled faintly. "That generally is when I most need to be in there."

"Hmm." Ethan decided a good sulk was probably called for and folded his arms. After a few moments, he got bored of that and turned on some music. Rupert chuckled.

It didn't take all that long before they were in the outskirts of Salisbury, looking for a space at the park-and-ride. A little longer on from that and they were walking down Castle Street heading initially for the market.

Ethan held Rupert's hand as they walked. Things had become a lot easier in the world during the last decade. Well, in the UK anyway. Not that gay bashing was completely a thing of the past, and not that the pair didn't still get the evil-eye looks cast their way occasionally, but people generally knew better than to give them any significant level of grief these days.

"Anywhere in particular you want to start?" Rupert asked.

The market always appealed, but it wasn't really the right place for what Ethan wanted to investigate today. "Mothercare, or whatever it is they're calling it these days. I thought we could have a quick look around all the appropriate shops and pick up brochures as we go... then have a bite to eat and a pint and check through them. Oh, and then head for the warehouse parks and industrial estates to check out the superstores."

"All right." Rupert looked amused as they changed direction to head for the shops Ethan had mentioned.

Ethan glanced at him. "You think I'm being what? Odd? Over the top?"

"Enthusiastic," Rupert replied. "Nothing wrong with that. Although I am thinking it's perhaps a good thing that we as a couple are incapable of having children. Your... enthusiasm over such an event quite probably would have overwhelmed us both."

Ethan felt his brows draw together. "I'm probably clever enough to twist you in such a way that would allow you to carry a child, you know," he said pointedly.

Rupert laughed then stopped abruptly and looked at Ethan with a frown. "You can't be serious."

Ethan hid his smirk through the pretence of looking in a travel shop window. "Perfectly, I assure you." He could feel Rupert staring at him. "I'd think you'd enjoy having breasts," he continued, looking at pictures of Barbados. "I remember a time when you were very keen to cast a spell that would give the nasty things to me."

"You were asking for it," Rupert replied, seeming to start to rally from the stunned state in which Ethan had managed to put him.

"Maybe we better look into maternity wear while we're here." Ethan began walking again, heading for the new shopping arcade wherein most of the in-town stores he wanted currently abided.

Rupert quickly caught up. "You do know," he said casually, "if you turn me into a woman then you would actually have to sleep with a woman."

"Hmm, I never said I was going to turn you into a woman." It felt important to point that out. "Just twist you so that you could carry a growing child and then feed it once it was born. You're a natural nurturer, Rupert. You'll be fine." Ethan was having great trouble keeping the amusement from his voice.

"Did you ever seriously consider it?" Rupert asked, sounding both serious and curious.

"Making you pregnant?" Ethan laughed, finally looking at Rupert. "No dear. We have enough surrogate children between us, don't you think?"

"Not the making me...." Rupert trailed off and waved a hand as if dispersing that idea. "But... children. That weren't just surrogate."

"Little ones, you mean, rather than those who arrive pre-grown? It's not really us, is it? We're too old, too male, too set in our ways. Too immoral in my case too. Who in their right mind would ever allow me to be an adoptive parent? Ah, here we go." Ethan took Rupert's hand again and pulled him into Parentcare World.

"That wasn't really an answer," Rupert pointed out. "Just a list of roadblocks."

The store was large, covering multiple floors, and entering felt immediately like walking into a world in which Ethan himself could only ever be a visiting alien on a limited visa. Parents with children were everywhere, as were mothers-to-be, their backs arched as they tried to support the weight of their swollen wombs. Ethan stopped dead and tried hard not to actually take steps backwards.

Rupert chuckled and squeezed his hand. "Although I suppose that is an answer of sorts. Children terrify you."

"Let's just get the brochures and run," Ethan said in a tight voice, gripping Rupert's hand hard. "Oh good God, is that... What is that?" He was staring at what seemed to be a huge plastic oak tree growing out of the floor in the centre of the shop; a menacing grin was sculpted into its bark. "Rupert, it's singing."

Rupert looked very much as if he was trying not to burst out in full laughter. "Yes, I do believe you're right."

A very small child chose this moment to slam into Ethan's leg and fall over, bursting into tears and putting chocolaty fingers all over Ethan's trouser bottoms. Her harassed mother didn't even have a chance to finish her stammered apology before Ethan had turned around and gone back out of the door into the arcade.

Rupert followed him, doing his best to look sympathetic. His best in this case wasn't very good.

"Shut up," Ethan said, staring face front.

"I didn't say anything."

"You're thinking it loud enough for the whole shopping centre to hear."

Rupert moved close enough to slide an arm around Ethan's waist. "It's just a store, love. Granted, full of children, but that's why we're here, isn't it?"

"We'll use mail order. Internet shopping. Never have to visit one of these places again." About to stride off, Ethan caught himself and paused. "I don't suppose you'd be prepared to go back in without me and fetch a catalogue?"

"No. But I would be prepared to back in there with you," Rupert said, holding out a hand to Ethan. "You faced down Vaurtain; are you really going to let a store full of children beat you?"

"There was a... tree," Ethan said weakly.

"A plastic tree. It's just a display. It isn't going to attack you."

"How do you know that? It's exactly the sort of thing that I–" He stopped. That probably wasn't the wisest thing to say under the circumstances.

"Well, you didn't, and it would be a foolhardy Chaos mage indeed to set up shop in our territory." The possessiveness in Rupert's voice resonated well with how Ethan felt for their adopted region. At least when he didn't think of the tree waiting for him.

"There is chocolate on my trouser legs." Ethan tried his last ditch defence.

"Well then, the worst has already happened, and you have survived."

Ethan sighed. "Right. Have it your way. But we're just going to locate a free catalogue and leave, ok?"

Rupert nodded. "Best to take these things in small steps."

"Baby steps?" Ethan shot Rupert an acid look before heading back into the store.

"Appropriate, don't you think?" Rupert replied, wearing the faintest of smiles.

"Catalogues and the latest stylings in maternity bras for men," Ethan said sharply, staring around the battlefield once more. "I think... hmm, this way." He headed through an area full of children's clothes.

Rupert followed, idly looking through the clothes as they walked. "People actually put their children in some of these outfits?" He stopped abruptly and laughed. "Although some I can see us buying." When Ethan looked, Rupert pointed out a small leather jacket in a similar style to the one he owned himself.

It was... cute. Oh God. Ethan hurried on, only to find himself confronted with the tiniest pairs of boots he'd ever seen. He paused to feel the leather. "Surely infants this small can't walk."

"Their feet would still get cold," Rupert pointed out. "Besides, I think it would be more about having the complete look." He smiled at Ethan. "As you are so fond of pointing out to me when I let you go on a shopping spree."

There was a baby in a pushchair thing beside him. Ethan looked at it and saw it was sporting pretty black leather shoes with pink flowers. They did indeed match the rest of the little child's ensemble, even up to the tiny beret with pink roses... even the little smile that the brat was unaccountably giving him seemed part of the 'look'. He smiled back at it, at her he guessed, rather tentatively, and won a gurgling giggle as a reward.

'Not so horrible after all, is it?' Rupert sent; Ethan looked up to see Rupert smiling fondly at him.

"Do you think they'll visit a lot once it's born?" Ethan moved a little closer to Rupert. "I, er... I don't want to miss out on..."

"I'd insist on it, if I were you, dear," said a shorthaired, older women standing nearby – the baby's grandmother? "They grow up so quickly. Every day they seem to be breaking another milestone, learning new ways to capture this old heart of mine. Before I know it, they'll be as grown up as their mothers." She chuckled at the men. "Three daughters, I had, and it seems they're all destined to have daughters too. Still, saves money with the hand-me-downs. How far along is your" –she paused to look between them– "daughter?"

"About four months," Rupert answered, letting her assumption stand; it wasn't that far off the truth, emotionally at least. "We just found out actually."

"Your first?" the woman asked.

Ethan nodded and then ventured to say, "We're looking for things to buy, to help them out."

The woman smiled. "Well, I wouldn't worry about clothes just yet, if I were you. Big things like cots and changing centres, help fitting out the little one's nursery – that's what they'll most appreciate currently."

"Yes, we were leaning in that direction. We were just distracted by the..." Rupert hesitated, seeming to be searching for the proper word, "styles in tiny sizes."

The woman chuckled. "Buying clothes and toys is the fun part; they'll have no shortage of people helping there, I'm sure."

Ethan felt a pang of something unidentifiable. "Does that mean we can't buy them too?"

"The prerogative of grandparents is that they can buy whatever they want, whenever they want to," the woman assured them with an amused smile.

The baby kicked and made a small noise, perhaps agreeing but perhaps just wanting attention, and the woman bent to give her just that. Ethan stared down at them, feeling no less out of his depth, but wondering if the deep end would be as bad as all that anyhow.

Rupert had moved off, having apparently caught sight of a customer service counter with a pile of catalogues on it. Ethan smiled goodbye at the nice woman and her grandchild and hurried after him. "All right, so that one was sweet," he said grudgingly when he caught up.

"Most children are," Rupert said. "You were, if our dreams were anywhere close to reality."

That made him snort. "And look what happened to me." Ethan's mood seemed to darken suddenly where he stood, and he waved a hand around taking in the store with his gesture. "Any one of these children could be something terrible, something worse even than a slighted Chaos mage. They look so innocent..." He faltered, suddenly seeing the faces of the children in the shop, all of them. They weren't looking at him, but his pattern sense was extending instinctively, and it was as if they were.

There was no evil here. These children were just that, children. Little Adams and Eves still walking in their Edens, not understanding what was to come. Even he had been that way once; Rupert was right. And whatever he had been through since, no one could deny that Ethan had refound paradise now, and maybe these kids would be that lucky too.

"Any one of these children could be a Slayer or a Watcher, or a soldier, sailor or beggarman," Rupert said. "Well, hopefully not that last. But that's what children are, their magic and their allure. Children are potential. All paths are open to them." Rupert smiled. "It's which ones they choose to follow that will shape the adults they will become."

Ethan heard what Rupert said but didn't answer, his attention abruptly caught by something else in a way that shocked him. Had his pattern sight not been extended, the small boy near them would have simply passed by unnoticed amongst the many others. Ethan whimpered slightly, muttering, "It can't be."

He heard Rupert say his name questioningly, but Ethan's attention was firmly caught by the towheaded boy who was maybe three or four at the most. He was slight of stature and was seriously talking to the cuddly lion he carried as he trailed along after his mother.

"It can't be," Ethan repeated. "You can't be..." He reached out a shaking hand towards the boy, but let it drop again. He had to remember where he was and how this would appear. The last thing he wanted was to scare the lad. Not now.

The boy didn't seem to be afraid or even startled by Ethan, however; in fact, he was looking at Ethan with a slight puzzled frown as if he were trying to remember something.

Behind him, Ethan could sense Rupert moving closer and felt him rest a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Ethan, what–?"

Ethan strained his pattern senses to the limit, looking at the boy deeper than he'd ever looked at anyone not either Rupert or Dawn, but his conclusions remained the same. "Oh God," he whispered, and then he smiled at the boy, for how could he not? "Hello," he said softly.

Far too familiar wide blue eyes met Ethan's, and he saw the moment they lit up with recognition. A wide smile split the young face, and the boy spoke.

"Hello, old fox."

~THE END~