S'nashi's words drove home just how much of an impact Ahnasha's departure had on the family. Ahnasha had clearly misjudged her parents more than she even could have known walking into the shop. Indeed, Fendros couldn't have known either by only briefly talking to Gwindir beforehand.

Though Fendros was shocked, he didn't respond as outwardly as Gwindir and Vasiq; he just didn't know S'nashi as well as everyone else did. He just kept quiet and tried not start shedding tears himself. He hoped, more strongly this time, that the family could find it in themselves to forgive Ahnasha.

Once Ahnasha had composed herself enough, she tried to find some way to respond. Although, she did not know if there was anything she could say that could even come close to excusing her actions. "I...mother, I'm...so sorry. I had no idea; I knew it would be painful, but I thought..."

"You were a fool, Ahnasha." S'nashi interrupted rather harshly. But, after a moment, both her expression and voice softened. "But, you were young, and I think we were all fools at that age. You have grown so much since you left; it is almost hard to believe that it is still you. You're bigger and stronger, and it looks like more mature." S'nashi chuckled, even as she continued to cry. "I mean, just look at you. The Ahnasha I knew never would have considered settling down with a family of her own, but here you are with a polite, handsome husband, and a beautiful son. I think all that matters is that you have finally come home. No matter what you did, or how long it has been, you and your family have a place here."

Ahnasha could not express how grateful she was to hear those words from her mother, but even so, it also seemed that another worry had come to pass. It seemed that her mother thought she had returned permanently, but that obviously was not an option. "I...can't stay, mother. I'm sorry. We are passing through Leyawiin on the way to Elsweyr, and...we have to leave with the ship."

S'nashi did nothing more than lower her head in silent disappointment, but Gwindir was more vocal in his objections. "Surely, you cannot be serious, daughter? You have only just returned to us minutes ago, after nine years of a feigned death, and now you are saying we will have to go through losing you all over again?"

Ahnasha hung her head in shame, turning slightly to look at Fendros beside her. She did not want to tell them about her lycantrhopy, but she had to say something to put their minds at ease.

The discussion turned from one situation resolved to another outstanding. Fendros couldn't come up with an answer immediately when Ahnasha looked to him, as much as he would have liked to. He didn't want to lie to this family, that would simply make another problem to replace the one they came here for. Not only that, but they would eventually ask about Ahnasha's lost finger, and Rhazii's marks, and whatever other inconsistencies that would come up. They couldn't keep lying. At the same time, he still didn't want to speak Ahnasha's truths for her. They were not his to give.

Fendros opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. Just saying that they would visit on the way back would not be good enough. He tried again, but spoke to Ahnasha. "Ahna, I think you should tell them."

"Tell us what?" Gwindir asked with some suspicion almost immediately after Fendros spoke. Ahnasha nervously paused indecisively. She did not want to lie to them, and it was evident that Fendros felt the same way, but she was terribly afraid of admitting the truth. She knew them; they were devout followers of the Eight, even her brother. There was no way they would be able to see her as anything but a monster, and there was no telling what they might do in response. Although it would probably cause problems later, and Fendros was likely going to be angry with her over it, she had to lie.

"That...we have already settled down somewhere else. I knew you would want me to return home, but I have a life of my own now, in...Bruma. We have friends up there, and it is where Rhazii has grown up. We are, um, starting a shop. We have the building and everything, we just need to finalize a few things. That's why we're going to Elsweyr, to secure a supply of exotic goods. Something to...set us apart from the others." Ahnasha explained, hoping her nervousness would be seen as natural for the situation.

Ahnasha's mother and brother seemed to accept the explanation well enough, though her father had something of a skeptical look on his face. If he did have doubts, however, he did not mention them. Vasiq, however, did manage to speak up. "So, this is it? Again? We aren't going to be able to see you again after just having learned that you are even alive?"

"I can visit, occasionally." Ahnasha answered defensively. "And we can exchange letters, once we get back." She added. That much, at least, was true. Even if they did not actually have a shop in the city, Ahnasha could still head into Bruma periodically to send and receive letters, as long as they actually ended up returning to the clan after this mission. She just hoped that Fendros was not too angry with her for refusing to tell the truth.

As might have been predicted, Fendros was internally disappointed and quite cross. Ahnasha was forging another lie, a problem that would haunt them in the future. He kept his temper in check, given the situation. He restrained himself to sighing through his nose and blinking as he glanced around the floor.

"Dada?" Rhazii mumbled, looking up to Fendros, "What are we going to-?"

"Shh, shh," Fendros tried to hush his son, "Another time, Rhazii."

Fendros wouldn't let Rhazii risk exposing the lies this time, but Ahnasha would definitely be having a talking to after this.

For a duration just long enough to be awkward, there was silence between everyone at the table as they all came to terms with the situation, as it had been presented. No one actually seemed satisfied with the way everything had gone, but at the very least, they all knew it could have gone far worse. Ahnasha's family were going to lose her once again soon enough, but they at least had the peace-of-mind to know that she was safe. Ahnasha regretted that she now had to keep up a lie, but her family was at least not outwardly angry with her.

S'nashi was the one to break the silence. "Well...at least I can know you are safe, and have a good life. That is really all a mother can ask for in life. I wish we could keep you here with us, but if you are happy in Bruma, then I will be happy that you are there. Just...can you at least stay the night here with us? And your husband and son? If I am going to lose you again so soon, I at least want to be able to spend that much time with you." She asked.

Ahnasha looked to Fendros questioningly. Off the top of her head, she could not think of a reason they could not stay. She had told Meesei of her intentions earlier that day, so it was not as if they would be missed if they did not return to the ship that night. Their sleeping arrangements might be crowded, but that was nothing new for them. "I think we can." She said, but she decided to wait for Fendros' answer before giving a definitive yes.

Fendros was far less bothered with staying overnight than with Ahnasha's lie in the first place. The rest of the pack knew where they were, and the ship was not scheduled to leave during the night. He gave a pursed smile and nodded. "I imagine you have much to catch up on. I think it's a good idea." Fendros lifted his brow and looked to everyone in the family, "I would like to get to know you all better as well."

If Ahnasha really wanted to flesh out this cover of opening a store, Fendros knew that he would like to be around to hear it and keep it consistent. In the meantime, he contemplated on how thick the walls were in the house so that he might talk with Ahnasha in private later.

With that matter settled, Vasiq exhaled deeply, then stood up from the table. "Well, I guess I'll head down and tell Shevari she can come back up. It is...good to see you again, sister."

Ahnasha stood up as well, though it was mostly just to stretch her legs and attempt to clear her head. Sitting at the table, she felt like she was being interrogated. Gwindir remained seated, but turned his attention to something he had noticed before, during his first meeting with Fendros. He looked at Rhazii, staring particularly intently at his face. Rhazii's burns were not quite as obvious as they used to be, but they were still plainly visible.

"I suppose it is settled, then. At the very least, we will have today." Gwindir said with a sigh, obviously disappointed. "Anyway, about my...grandson. Rhazii, I noticed those marks on his face. He looks like he is scarred; what happened to him?" He asked, looking at Fendros. Obviously, the truth was not an option, but Ahnasha did not know if it would be suspicious to suddenly interject.

"He was..." Fendros had to breathe to gather himself. The trauma of the event that resulted in Rhazii's scars was difficult at first to find a lie about. No matter what, Fendros knew that he would feel just as much shame about the scars. "When he was a baby, both Ahnasha and myself had to leave him in the care of a maid while we secured a business deal in...Cheydinhal." Fendros was improvising as best as he could, but at least his delivery seemed convincing. "It was only meant to be for one night, but...that one night was when some oil was spilled too close to a fireplace. The entire building went up in flames and we were not able to get Rhazii out until he was badly burned. No one died, thankfully," Fendros shifted uneasily as that last sentence was probably the biggest lie. "We were just thankful that Rhazii lived, after the healers saved him. It was a difficult time for us all." Fendros sighed, "It was a mistake that we shouldn't have made, but it is in the past now. After that, we never left Rhazii alone with someone we didn't know well."

Rhazii glanced up at Fendros numerous times during the explanation. What Fendros was saying did not sound exactly like Rhazii had heard it when he asked his parents before why he had marks on his face. Everything had been confusing ever since he walked up the stairs.

Now that it appeared as though things were calming, Fendros tried to steer the tone of the conversation to lighter matters. "I apologise if we interrupted if you were about to have dinner. I hope we aren't being a...an inconvenience, I suppose." Fendros let out an uneasy laugh. He was simply speaking out of politeness, but the ridiculousness of saying such a thing after presenting a nine-years-presumed-dead member of the family was not lost on him.

Gwindir gave a brief nod to Fendros. "Yes, Shevari was about to cook dinner for us all. We should have enough for all of you to join us as well." He answered, though Fendros' story regarding the fire did seem to have him concerned. Finally standing up, he walked over, knelt down next to Rhazii, and rubbed the top of his head. "By the Eight, that fire sounds like it was terrible. But you look like you're a tough little cub, aren't you? I'm sure you'll grow up to be just as strong and healthy as any other Cathay, maybe even moreso."

Ahnasha was glad that Fendros was able to come up with something quickly, and as he spoke, an idea came to Ahnasha, something that would let her explain away a detail that her family had not yet noticed. While her father spoke to Rhazii, she made her own comment. "Yeah, it was easily the most terrifying night of my life. I ran back as soon as I could, and the guard couldn't keep me out of the building. I was the one who found him, and I had to put my hand through the flames to get him. Most of it didn't get too badly burned; the fur has even grown back, but one of my fingers..." She began, holding up the hand with the missing finger. "The healers couldn't do anything for it. They had to remove it."

"Divines, what a tragedy." S'nashi exclaimed. "I'm just glad you are all okay. I...well, I would say to be careful, but I know you would do anything for your son."

Ahnasha looked down, rubbing her own hand. "Yeah, that night was what started my thoughts on coming back here to all of you. It gave me...perspective on what you must have went through."

Shortly afterwards, Vasiq returned with the pink-scaled Argonian woman in tow. She looked at Fendros and Ahnasha nervously as she introduced herself. "Um, hello. My name is Shevari. I'm Vasiq's fiance."

Rhazii seemed to enjoy the encouragement from his new grandfather. It was enough that he lowered his hand from his face and seemed more open.

Despite his disposition towards the lies, Fendros had to give Ahnasha credit for thinking on her feet. Her addition tied a few extra loose ends in the explanation of the past nine years. Now he could relax a little. Mention of food brought a grumble to what was either his or Rhazii's stomach, he couldn't quite tell.

The next arrival was the bewildered Argonian woman that they had seen ushered out while the family got to grips with Ahnasha's return. Fendros decided to be friendly. There was no need to keep things so highly strung any more. "Greetings," Fendros gave a light-hearted smile, "My name is Fendros. Sorry for arriving so suddenly."

"Hello," Rhazii said, sounding somewhat cautious given Fendros' insistence on him being quiet. In reality, Fendros was grateful that Rhazii was being so well behaved.

"If I may say, congratulations on your betrothal and your new shop," Fendros nodded to both Vasiq and Shevari. "What are you planning to trade?"

While Shevari's nervousness did not diminish entirely, the fact that the mood was not so entirely severe as it was before did help her to become somewhat more at ease. She clasped her hands together and spoke with some measure of excitement when Fendros asked about their business. "Oh, it is more of a...restaurant, actually. I'm a chef. I've been cooking all my life, ever since I was old enough to use a fire. It's always been my dream to make a living of it."

Vasiq added on to Shevari's answer as he went to grab some necessary ingredients for his fiance. "I'm going to be dealing with the customers and handling more of the business side of things. Shevari will be doing the cooking. We're calling it the Sugar and Sap."

Shevari rubbed the back of her neck. "It's kind of misleading, honestly. We're not going to have either moon sugar or Hist sap, but...I like the name. Anyway, what would you like? I can cook recipes from all over Tamriel. I don't have all of the ingredients here, but it wouldn't be much trouble to run home and get what I need."

"Nonsense, I can go get them." Vasiq interrupted.

Shevari smiled. "Thank you, love. I could make a Khajiit meal, like maybe a sweetfish fillet with caramel pudding and Elsweyr fondue, without moon sugar, of course. Argonian dishes I know very well, of course. I make a really nice hackwing roast, maybe with a side of fishy sticks and venomroot tea. Oh, Dunmer cuisine I also really like, though I don't have too many ingredients from Morrowind. I do know a trick with potatoes and dragon's tongue nectar to emulate the taste of ash yams, though. If you want something from far away, I have been working on my Nordic cooking too. I think I have everything I need for some horker stew, just not enough for everyone. Or, if you want to try something with more of a Redguard flavor..."

As Vasiq passed by Fendros, he chuckled and leaned in to whisper to him. "She can go on like this for quite a while."

Listening attentively to Shevari, Fendros couldn't help but be reminded of a certain alchemist from Thorn that tended to speak on like this. It was as if she didn't need to breathe. Once it dawned on him that she was not likely to stop until she had named every cuisine in Tamriel and beyond, Fendros started to relent. Vasiq's little message caused him to breathe an exasperated laugh and raise his hand to try and halt Shevari's tirade. "Please, you're spoiling me for choice," Fendros said, "It's generous of you to offer so much, but I am not a fussy eater. It has been a while since I tasted any food from Morrowind, however. Far be it from me to pass up the opportunity." Fendros was glad that Shevari seemed so friendly.

Without forgetting his son, Fendros looked down to him. "What would you like for dinner, Rhazii?"

Rhazii stepped forward and looked up at Shevari with excitement. "Can I please have pudding for dinner?"

Fendros should have expected as much. Rhazii's ears must have perked at the second dish Shevari named. Fendros wouldn't quite allow him to get away with it. "You can have pudding for dessert, Rhazii, but you must have something more to make a meal."

Ears drooping slightly, Rhazii seemed crestfallen at not having nothing but sweets for dinner. He was silent in thought for a few moments before Fendros leaned over to look at him better. "You can still have something sweet if you like, in a Khajiit meal."

Rhazii looked up and Smiled widely again. He gave two exaggerated nods at Shevari.

Fendros gave a confirming nod to Shevari, "I think we had better find ourselves a seat."

For both Gwindir and S'nashi, the sour mood they had been in had not entirely passed, and likely would not for a while. But, since this was perhaps the only chance they would get to be with their daughter, they could make an effort to have a normal dinner.

"Hmm, has Ahnasha not been teaching you about the Khajiit?" S'nashi commented. "Sweets area part of our culture; I would be surprised if he didn't have a sweettooth. Why don't you make him the sweetfish fillet, Shevari?"

"Of course." Shevari answered, nodding affirmatively.

"I think I'll have the same thing, if that's alright." Ahnasha added. Shevari already had the ingredients for what she had intended to make for the others, so she wrote down a few additional ingredients on a sheet of parchment, then handed it off to Vasiq to go collect.

Since there was going to be a wait before dinner, Gwindir decided to ask one of the many questions he had formed. "So, how, and when, did you two meet?"

Once Fendros and Rhazii were seated, the task of filling in the nine missing years was resumed. Gwindir's question was one that Fendros felt as if he should have thought about earlier, but he did not. He glanced at Ahnasha and found himself in the position of answering. He fumbled with his words until he found a workaround. "Ah, ahem, well," Fendros rubbed the side of his neck, "It was roughly five years ago now. It was actually...hunting, yes." A narrative spiced with the truth assembled itself in Fendros' mind and he looked directly at Gwindir with more confidence. "We both had a penchant for hunting, still do. I was a new member in a hunting group that Ahnasha is a member of, all close friends. The group has a sort of celebration for a first kill and I managed to get a rather large deer that day. There was a lot of wine and..." Fendros paused and looked sideways at Ahnasha. He decided to keep the details limited, "...I got to know Ahna. The friendship grew further in the following months."

Fendros found it much easier to come up with the details when they were close to the truth, but he wasn't sure how long he could keep making up explanations. If any disparate lies started to overlap, there was no knowing whether it would get picked up.

Ahnasha was quick to add on to Fendros' answer. She knew that it was true that Rhazii was the result of a drunken night, but she didn't want her parents, of all people, knowing that. She would much rather make it seem more innocent. "Yeah, it did take a bit of alcohol to actually get him talking to me." She said with a lighthearted chuckle. "His parents...aren't the most accepting of people. They're from Morrowind, and are pretty traditional. The bad kind of traditional. I don't like hiding it, but they don't know about us. They would never accept me being Khajiit. Fendros, though, he just needed a bit of encouragement to get to know me. Obviously, he's nothing like his parents in that regard."

Despite the fact that she was admitting to lying, Ahnasha's parents gave no protest to it. They had both experienced bigotry as a result of their relationship, so they could sympathize personally with the desire to keep their "marriage" hidden from Fendros' family, for the reasons she had described. "Well, that's unfortunate." S'nashi commented. "But at least you have a good life without needing them. What kind of shop are you going to be opening?"

"Err...hunting...supplies?" Fendros' heart began to beat noticeably harder in his chest as the web they weaved became thicker. "There are smiths that cater to some equipment, but there's nothing specialised, and there is quite the hunting community in Bruma. We have a skilled bowyer that has agreed to manufacture bows while we handle the business, contacts, and other supplies." A second later, Fendros managed to come up with the contrivance to complete the shop in his eyes, "To find an edge, we were going to try and procure moonstone from Senchal or around the area. Our bowyer says that some of the best bows can be made in the elven style."

Fendros looked down. He didn't feel as though his on-the-spot idea was particularly robust, but it was the best he could do. He dreaded the prospect of having to act it out if any of Ahnasha's family decided to come and visit.

"Hmm, I think could have guessed that." S'nashi commented. "Ahnasha has always been obsessed with hunting, ever since she was allowed to use a bow. Once she finally decided to settle down, it only makes sense that she would find some way to make a living with it."

Gwindir stroked his beard, thinking about their plan. Being a merchant, any and all details of business were familiar to him. "You're going to Senchal? I suppose you could obtain moonstone there, though it might be easier to get a supplier in the Summerset Isles, or Valenwood. It is more heavily mined there."

Ahnasha nodded, having to think quickly to provide an explanation. Luckily, she had learned something from all of her parents' teachings. "True, but like I said before, we have a contact there. One of our friends in the hunting club put us into contact with her, so we can get a good price."

Gwindir returned her nod. "Sensible. At least you have a plan. I...hope it all goes well for you. Just remember that you still have your family if it doesn't. Now Fendros, why don't you tell us more about yourself, just in general? We didn't get to meet our daughter's husband before the marriage, but we can at least get to know you there. From what Ahnasha said, I doubt you ever imagined yourself with a Khajiit."

Vasiq, who had left to gather the ingredients from Shevari's home, did not take long to return, allowing his fiance to start on the meal. There was quite an interesting mix of aromas in the air from the variety of styles in which she was cooking.

Fendros' eyes and brow raised to Gwindir. What he asked was something less complicated to explain. Fendros had been expecting such a question and had an idea on how to proceed.

"Your doubt is correct," Fendros said after shaking his head and straightening up, "Before I went hunting with Ahnasha and the group, I was raised to mistrust and look down on beast races. Though, growing up in Cheydinhal rather than Morrowind didn't quite instil the attitude as permanently as my parents." Fendros took a deep breath through his nose, recalling a starting point, "I grew up on a vine yard outside of Cheydinhal. My parents were refugees from southern Morrowind. I am their only birth child, but I grew up alongside my adopted brother and sister. My parents trained me in vintage, failed to train me in magic, and were generous enough to allow me to train with the Fighters Guild. At that point, hunting was just something I did to get away from my family when they were too stifling. Life went on by a plan that I didn't exactly write myself, so I was drifting along until I was expected to help on the grapes." Fendros looked down at the table. "Unfortunately, my family and I had a falling out and I was forced to leave home. A personal affair, I would rather not get into it." After dismissing that detail with a wave of his hand, Fendros looked up again brightly, "No shelter and little money saved up meant that I was forced to make a survive however I knew. What I knew best then was hunting, so I joined Ahnasha's group." Fendros raised both his palms, "We travelled for a while, hunted, fell in love, married, and then sought a means to raise a child. I even had the opportunity to meeting my brother and sister again, though there's no going back to my parents now."

Clasping his hands together on the table in front of himself, Fendros leaned forward and addressed Ahnasha's parents. "What of yourselves? Are you both locals of Leyawiin?"

Gwindir shook his head. "My wife is, but I am not. I am from Valenwood, originally. My parents were not the most traditional of Bosmer, and their efforts to raise me into the Green Pact were half-hearted at best. They did raise me under Y'ffre and the rest of the Bosmeri pantheon, but it only took coming to Leyawiin for me to see the light of the Divines. We've both been traders most of our lives. It was business that brought us together, and love that has kept us together."

S'nashi chimed in afterwards, her eyes glancing around at the building itself. "This shop was originally my parents'. They passed it on to me about ten years before they passed, and I ran it alone for a short time before we married. I had intended to pass it on to my children originally, but, well, my husband will still be able to run it even when our grandchildren have grown old. I have decided to leave it in his hands."

The conversation continued back and forth for a short while before the last of the dishes Shevari was cooking finally finished. One by one, she brought out plates with a wide variety of foods. For Ahnasha and Rhazii, there were two sweetfish fillets, along with a bowl of Elsweyr fondue and caramel pudding that Ahnahsa could portion out appropriately for him. Both Shevari and Vasiq had a dish that Ahnasha could not quite identify just by looking at it, but she knew she recognized it from Morrowind. Gwindir's meal was simply a steak with sides of carrots and corn, and for both S'nashi and Fendros, there was a Dunmer-styled meal. As Shevari had said, she did not have any ash yams, but the potatoes she brought to them smelled almost identical to one. She did, however, have scrib jelly as a topping, with a side of scrib jerky. For drinks, there were the options of water, red or white wine, or canis root tea.