<span style="color: #008040">"It is, isn't it?"</span>Jillian replied, nearly instantaneous.<span style="color: #008040">"Now, if only we could bring it to life every now and then."</span>She rolled her eyes and playfully jested at her husband. Herschel turned his head to Dimitri in that moment.<span style="color: #0080BF">"We tried to paint the walls a different color while you were gone. A recommendation of your mother's."</span>He said, jesting back at his wife.<span style="color: #0080BF">"As you can see, the walls are back to the way they used to be."</span>His eyebrow raised.<span style="color: #008040">"Okay, fine, once. You were right one time."</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080BF">"Son, what brings you back to our little farm? I don't suppose it was for harvest?"</span>Herschel said, his wife interjecting before Dimitri could reply.<span style="color: #008040">"I certainly wouldn't mind him doing my share of work."</span>Jillian said, as happily as ever, which earned her a look from her husband.<span style="color: #008040">"Oo-kay. Your turn, darlin'."</span>She said to her son, and in that moment, Dimitri had never been happier that his mother was taking the spotlight. She was around, and that was vital to him.<br/><br/>"I can't even begin to express how much it warms my heart to be back here. I haven't been this happy since...." Dimitri cut that thought. "Well, this whole last month has been full of surprises. Mostly good ones." He looked at Alannah, considering what she meant to him. "Still, recently I found myself bein' threatened by a man I'd never met before. A man in a suit. His hair was blonde. I don't know much else about him. He told me to move on to other oceans, that it was my father's bidding. And then, I thought I saw you, mom. In Boston." Dimitri explained, his solid confidence withering slowly as he told the story.<br/><br/>There was a moment of silence between Dimitri and his dad as they looked at one another, if anyone knew Dimitri's father, it was Herschel. The moment of silence was broken shortly after.<span style="color: #008040">"Boston sounds lovely! I could just run around and be myself all day. And maybe even get some gentlemen to get me drinks."</span>She teased, being her usual self.<span style="color: #008040">"Sadly I wasn't there. Maybe <span style="font-style: italic">someone</span> should take me in the winter."</span>She said to her husband. Dimitri knew better than to think she was ignoring the problem, it just wasn't her expertise. It was her way of saying that she wasn't there and that he didn't need to worry.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080BF">"Dimitri. Your father tasked me with nearly everything he wanted done. He wanted so little, it wasn't difficult most of the time."</span>He said, thinking carefully.<span style="color: #0080BF">"Anyone that I associated with around those times did the work of others. It has been a long time since I've spoken to your father. But Dimitri, you're a man now. If he needed something, he would ask you. He asked me to send you to these oceans when you got to be older, I don't see why he would send a stranger too. I don't know who this man is, but think very carefully about why he might be around you. Be wary if he's playing in the field of illusions though."</span>His dad told him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #008040">"You two needn'ta worry 'bout him showing up around here. On account of that fancy magical protection."</span>She hugged her husband playfully after. Dimitri stood there, he looked to Alannah for what she wanted. There would be no further answers as to their mystery here, not that he could see. He didn't want to leave, but he wasn't sure how Alannah felt about staying.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080BF">"Of course, son, this is your home. You're welcome here any time. And any friend of Dimitri's is a friend of mine, Alannah. You're welcome to stay here too."</span>Herschel said, with a broad smile on his face. Dimitri felt a smile coming back to his lips.<span style="color: #008040">"Friend of Dimitri's?"</span>Jillian said, smirking after.<span style="color: #008040">"More like girlfriend of Dimitri's."</span>She said giggling him, which earned her a look of 'you're embarrassing him' moments after.<span style="color: #008040">"I'm sorry Alannah, I'm jus' teasing."</span>She said, rustling Dimitri's hair. He didn't put up much defense.