Elann spoke her thanks, causing Noah to drop his light hold on her dress and rest his hand over her thigh instead. She was not alone in wishing they could be alone, but he was patient in that regard, knowing it would happen later in the night. For now, he braced himself to go through the initial meeting and introduction to those members of his family present in the home. He was prepared to be up for a while that night, figuring a nice supper would be made once they arrived if it hadn’t been started already. After all, him and his mother weren’t the only avians in their family, they could’ve been scouted out already.

“My mother will be,” he answered Elann. “I don’t know about my father, I’m not sure if he works late or not, or even if he does the same work he did before I left.” The answer was truthful. He didn’t think his mother would work so late, not if his father had his way.

While only a short amount of time passed Aimee was already returning from the office, papers in her hand. She strolled up behind the couple, rounding the trunk they sat on to appear in front of them. She waved the papers slightly to indicate she was done, at least for the moment.

“Our cart should be here in a little bit,” she informed, letting her hands play with the edges of the paper she now held at her center. “That was exhausting, I’m just glad they had more staff than usual, otherwise I may have been in there a while longer.” She turned around, facing the fountain then held her arms out as if embracing the city. A longing sigh came from her before she turned to face the couple again, a tired smile on her face but light in her pale eyes.

“I’m so glad we’re here,” she chimed. “Though, I want to get home as fast as possible. It’s going to take me a little bit to get used to all the sounds and smells again.”

True to Aimee’s word, the single oxen drawn cart tumbled into view, a single driver and two laborers hanging out of the back, of who jumped down when the cart came to a stop in front of the couple and Aimee. Noah stood up, moving a little more to the side so the laborers could haul the three trunks into the back of the wagon. After Noah was helped into the long seat with the driver, Aimee came in after Elann then directed the driver to where he had to go, navigating the city and spouting off an address and landmarks with relative ease.

Deeper into the city the wagon went, eventually breaking past a bank of buildings in order to reveal a boardwalk and then the beach. Further out was the view of the bay and the deep blue waters that lapped at the pale golden beach shore with each ebb and flow. On the boardwalk were a fair few people, many either going to their homes, places of business for the night, or just going to places of entertainment. They stayed on the road parallel to the boardwalk for a time before turning left and drifting some small ways into the city before Aimee asked the driver to halt.

Two large homes flanked either side of the road, but one had a lantern lit out from while the other didn’t. Aimee hopped on down from the driver’s seat and stepped onto the raised lawn. She waved for Elann and Noah to come down then looked to the laborers and beckoned them to bring their trunks into the house. She crossed over onto the pathway leading to the house then went up a few stairs onto the porch. This house was the one with the lit lantern hanging on the side of the door, a door Aimee rapped on with her knuckles rather loudly.