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Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

The little girl was shivering as she walked through the dark woods.

Her parents had teleported the three of them to the woods that afternoon for a picnic and had then offered to play hide and seek with her. They would hide from her and she had to seek them, but it had been several hours since then. It had gotten dark and she really wanted to go home. Hugging herself against the chill of the evening she whimpered at hearing footsteps and from the shadows appeared a giant bear.

She whimpered in fear and backed up until a tree blocked her path. Realising she was stuck, she curled into a ball and covered her face. To her surprise, she saw a flash of golden light and felt a very gentle hand on top of her head. "It's alright, child. I'm not going to hurt you." A very soft voice whispered and she slowly looked up to see a very big elf kneeled down in front of her, trying to make himself seem less intimidating.

"What kind of parent loses their child in the woods?" The stranger breathed in confusion and the girl replied that she wasn't lost. Her mummy and daddy were just playing hide and seek with her. The elf took a deep breath and looked down. "Oakfather preserve you, child." He whispered, before holding out his hand. "Will you come with me? I will bring you somewhere safe and warm. I'm sure that you're hungry." He said and she nodded as she grabbed his hand. "What's your name, child?" He asked and she said that it was Lahri. He gently lifted her up in his arms and carried her away.

She slowly leaned against him in exhaustion and rested her head on his shoulder. After at least twenty minutes, they saw lights slowly in the distance, coming from a village. Halsin carried her further into the village and a woman and a red-haired girl walked over to them. "Halsin, there you are! We were getting worried. Who is this?" The woman asked as she looked at her and Lahri shrunk into herself at the attention.

"This is Lahri. Her parents were playing hide and seek with her and she couldn't find them." Halsin replied warmly, giving his beloved Tav a very pointed look hidden from the girl herself and she bit her lip as her eyes flashed in anger for a brief second as they both knew the truth: poor Lahri had been abandoned by her parents. Tav then hid her anger with a smile as she reached out to the girl and took her over from Halsin.

"It's okay, little one. We'll find your parents and reunite you with them as soon as possible, but let's get you something to eat first. You must be starving. This is our daughter, Yenna." She then introduced the older girl standing next to her and Yenna immediately smiled and waved at her, understanding that the girl was likely very scared right now. Lahri smiled back as Tav carried her to their home, Halsin and Yenna following. It was rather late in the evening and most people were already inside their homes. Halsin had gone on his last patrol for the evening when he came across Lahri.

Going inside the home of Tav, Halsin and Yenna and meeting Scratch and Grub, Lahri immediately got something to eat and drink. Halsin stayed next to her and at seeing her starting to fall asleep, let her lie down on the couch and tucked her in with a blanket. After sending Yenna to bed, the two adults sighed deeply and pulled back to Tav's study. "Are you sure that they abandoned her?" She asked quietly and he looked down.

"She was the only human I smelled or heard all my patrol and I'd been walking for at least an hour. I don't know how long she has been walking around the forest looking for them, bit I highly doubt any good parent would have let her get that far away from them." He replied with a sigh, immediately feeling Tav leaning against him as she pinched the bridge of her nose, something she always did when she was upset.

"What kind of absolutely terrible person and parent do you have to be to abandon your own child? They almost give Sarevok a run for his money. Almost." She muttered in suppressed anger and disgust and he chuckled briefly as he kissed her temple to try and comfort her. "What do we do now?" She asked quietly and he sighed as that was the big question. While it was pretty clear to them Lahri had been abandoned by her biological parents, the girl herself was obviously far too young to understand the concept even slightly and would be looking for them for a long time. 

"For now, we'll give her a home with us and spread the world through the village. I'm sure the younger children will love to play with her while we try to find out exactly what happened." He said after a bit of thinking and she agreed before they decided to go to bed themselves. Snuggling close to each other with Tav resting her head on Halsin's chest, the cleric let her partner's deep and even breathing lull her to sleep.

The next morning, a rather heavy storm passed over the former town of Reithwin and Tav prayed to her god Corellon to thank him for letting Halsin find Lahri before the storm hit as the image of the girl still wandering the woods, lost, cold, scared, wet and hungry broke her heart. It also made her even angrier at the people who hadn't even had the decency to drop their daughter off here in the village before leaving.

She'd give them three weeks to reveal themselves if them losing Lahri really was an accident, but she doubted it. She then gently explained to Lahri that the weather was too bad to look for her mummy and daddy and the girl thankfully understood as she went to play with Yenna and Scratch instead, the two of them providing excellent distraction. "Good boy." Tav breathed when Scratch distracted Lahri when she seemed about to cry out of homesickness as no matter how nice Tav and her family were, they were still strangers. The dog happily wagged his tail in response as he barked in what had to be agreement.

The rainstorm continued on the whole entire day and Tav had never been happier that they had finished building the homes last year so no one had to live in tents anymore. She remembered one time during their tadpole adventure when it had rained all night and their tents had flooded and since all the wood they had was wet too, they had to huddle around either Karlach or those who could conjure up a fire bolt.

As compressed as the rooms in the Elfsong sometimes made some of them feel once they had arrived in the city, especially those who had traveled the world a lot more, it was nice not to have to worry about waking up with wet clothes and bag again. She and Halsin made sure that everyone who lived here had a roof over their heads and food in their stomach. Even Zevlor had arrived last year and now lived on the outskirts.

He had even found love with a lovely older lady and was finally living the peaceful life Tav had heard him talk about back in the grove in the beginning of their adventure. She wished him all the best. As evening fell and the children plus dog calmed down from their playing, Yenna showed Lahri some of her favourite books, even reading out loud for the six year old as Halsin ignited the fireplace. Tav had once joked that their daughter's voice sometimes sounded just a tiny bit like Alfira during the very rare times that she was a bit more calm and he had never been able to unhear it.

Tav eventually went to prepare dinner for the now four of them while listening to the weather going on outside and her family and guest talking in the living room. As she was carefully cutting the vegetables, she suddenly got an idea to get clarity on what had happened once and for all, but she would have to wait until the weather cleared up as well."Dinner's ready." She announced as she and Halsin carried the food to the table .

Both girls quickly came over as Tav also put down food for Grub and Scratch. The animals happily began to devour their food it as the humans went to eat too. As they ate, both Halsin and Toph couldn't help but keep an eye on Lahri, their hearts already melting at the lost girl trying her best to eat without making a mess. Sharing a look, they both could already see they had made the same decision without even discussing it first.

If Lahri's biological parents couldn't be found in the next month or so or they were found and made it clear they did not want Lahri back, they would immediately take her into their home permanently instead and would quickly take care of her like her parents apparently didn't want to. Yenna had been asking for a little sibling for a while now, but they hadn't been able to conceive yet and she was clearly growing close to Lahri too. Once Yenna had eaten her meat and nine pieces of vegetables, the same number as her age, she was allowed to leave the table and took Lahri with her.

Cleaning up and going to the living room, both Halsin and Tav sat down on the couch where Halsin immediately had Yenna snuggling up to him and his warmth. Tav chuckled warmly at seeing this, before she noticed Lahri standing a bit to the side, unsure what she was supposed to do. "Come here, little one." She whispered as she reached out and Lahri slowly walked over, climbing onto the couch and coming closer.

She carefully wrapped her arm around the little girl and pulled her closer to her side, making sure that she was as comfortable as passible as rain beat against the window and the wind harshly blew around the house. "Are you warm enough, sweetie?" She asked quietly, having given her some of Yenna's old clothing that she had outgrown and they had never given to the orphans before today for some reason.

Lahri nodded in answer as she slowly sagged against her side, sleep already creeping in on had slowly. Rubbing her back, Tav looked at Halsin and saw him smiling at her. He loved seeing her interact with children as he sometimes still had trouble believing she had chosen him over all her other companions. She smiled back at him as they enjoyed this moment, the wind and rain going on outside, the fire crackling in the fireplace and the calm breaths of two pets and the girls. Looking down and stroking Yenna's hair, the druid smiled at seeing her slowly drooping off to sleep.

Pulling the soft blanket Shadowheart had given them as a housewarming gift, having made it together with her parents before her mother's mind deteriorated too much, he threw it over his daughter and she immediately smiled up at him at feeling it, her eyes filled with love and trust and he smiled back at her. "Go to sleep, little kitten. I know you're tired." He whispered as Yenna hadn't felt well last week and had only just recovered.

Yenna want the only one drooping off as Lahri was falling asleep too, the warmth of the fire and Tav's body as well as the cleric's breathing and heartbeat working as the best lullaby and she was soon out like a light, almost at the same time as Yenna. The adults tried not to laugh at how adorable they were, sharing a happy smile before Halsin carried Yenna to bed and Tav carefully laid Lahri down and put the blanket over her. 

"Scratch, can you and Grub please look after her after we go to bed?" She asked the sweet dog in a whisper and Scratch let out a quiet whine as he nudged her hand with his nose and she took it as a yes. Looking down at the sleeping girl, she took a deep breath and gently brushed Lahri's hair back from her face. "Who could leave such an innocent girl behind seemingly without a care in the world?" She asked and Scratch whined again in answer as Halsin eventually returned after tucking Yenna in. Grabbing Tav's hand, he gently led her to a chair and sat down onto it, 

He pulled her into his lap and she immediately sagged against him as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as thru both watched over Lahri. The girl was so young and had already suffered such a big betrayal if her parents really had abandoned her. Tav was intent to find out tomorrow by asking a certain old friend of her partner's. If there was anyone who knew what happened in the woods, it would be Thaniel

Tav slowly felt her eye starting to droop as rain always made her feel sleepy and this evening was no exception. Halsin was no help either as he began to stroke her hair and hum a song to help her fall asleep. "Go to sleep, my heart. You will need your rest for tomorrow." He breathed and she hummed as she made herself comfortable on his lap and closed her eyes, listening to the rain, the fire and her partner's heartbeat and breathing.

Sleep claimed her very easily after that. 

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

It had been a couple of years since Lahri was found in the woods.

While in the beginning, Tav and Halsin had tried to find her parents as fast as possible, even recruiting the now grown owlbear to try and find their scents since its species had excellent senses of smell, it was all for naught. The poor girl was inconsolable for a long time, even as Halsin and Tav immediately took her into their home with Scratch and Yenna and gave her her own room rather than letting her sleep on the couch every night. 

Everyone in the new Reithwin community eventually heard of her story and were both saddened and angry on her behalf with some families even offering to adopt the girl, but Tav and Halsin made it clear they were actually planning on doing that once Lahri was ready for that change and everyone immediately conceded with some women giving them old clothes and toys their children had outgrown for the girl to wear and play with.

On another stormy night, with everyone safe and sound in their houses and beds, the couple was woken up by a very soft knock on the door and a now recently turned seven year old Lahri and Yenna slowly walked in with Scratch and Grub following right on their heels. "She couldn't sleep." The older girl muttered in explanation as she rubbed her eyes after being woken up first and they immediately let them both lie in-between the two of them with Yenna snuggling closer to her adoptive father and Lahri soon lying in Tav's arms as Scratch and Grub laid down on the floor

The cleric gently stroked her hair to try and make her fall asleep. "They're not coming back, are they?" Lahri asked as she looked down and everyone else in the bed stiffened up with Yenna turning around in her father's grip and even Scratch looking up. Sharing a look with her partner, Tav let out a deep sigh and gently confirmed they weren't and the poor girl immediately burst into tears as the woman pulled her closer to her chest.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I wish I could do anything to help you with this and that the situation was different, but all I can say is that I'm sorry." The woman whispered as she looked at her partner and oldest daughter who both looked at Lahri with pain in their eyes as behind her, she could hear Scratch letting out a whine at hearing the girl crying. Lahri simply continued to cry as she asked why her parents had left her. 

"I really don't know, little one. Sometimes, people can only think of themselves and don't think about what kind of hurt their actions can inflict on others." Tav whispered as she wished she knew why the girl's parents had abandoned her. If they had money troubles and had put Lahri in an orphanage, it would be more understandable, but no. They had lied to their innocent daughter and had then dumped her in the woods. In her eyes, they were practically no better than Gortash's parents who were so desperate for money, they sold their own son to Raphael.

Maybe it had been Korilla who had done the deal-making in his stead as Gortash's mother had said a warlock had offered them money for their son, but they had to have known there was a big chance that something nefarious was going on as warlocks were always bound to someone more powerful and not always good. Sure, there were also good warlocks like Wyll running around, but many loved using their powers for evil.

If she ever came across Lahri's original parents, she had two guiding bolts with their names on them. "I'm sorry that your parents couldn't see the treasure they had, little dove, but you have a home with us now and you always will." Halsin promised as he gently stroked Lahri's hair from behind with Yenna piping up they could play together every day if she wished and Lahri gave them a tiny smile in gratitude before she slowly calmed down again.

She eventually fell asleep after having exhausted herself by crying. "Her parents really were not nice." Yenna muttered with a scowl once she was certain Lahri was asleep and her parents chuckled as Tav gently tapped the very tip of her nose and agreed. Listening to the storm going on outside and lying safely in the warm arms of her adoptive father where she knew the weather could hurt her, it did not take long before Yenna was fast asleep as well. The couple shared a sad look over their heads as they both were hurting for Lahri's sake, before they closed their eyes too.

Not too long after that, Halsin and Tav sat Lahri down with Yenna and asked her if she officially wanted to become part of the family permanently and Lahri immediately nodded as she tackled them into a hug. Chuckling at her reaction as Halsin reached out to Yenna as well who quickly came over too, the couple smiled at each other over the heads of both their daughters now as they both knew they had made the right choice.

Almost everyone of their old travelling party came to visit over the next few months once they heard about the adoption as they wanted to meet the girl. Gale was the first one of them to visit and immediately endeared himself to Lahri by giving her a children's book with magically moving pictures inside, having given a similar gift to Yenna when she officially joined the family and Lahri loved it just as much as her older sister did.

Shadowheart was next to met her while her father looked after the animals, her mother unfortunately having passed on the year before, but the two members of the family left behind comforted themselves with the fact that she had been free and at peace when she died, happy that her daughter had found her way back to Selúne and them in the end. She immediately kneeled down in front of the shy girl and greeted her with a smile. "Your hair is really pretty." Lahri said as she looked at Shadowheart's silver hair and the half-elf chuckled as she thanked Lahri.

Poor Lahri was at first intimidated by the large physique of a completely cured Karlach when she came by for her visit, but the Tiefling's always cheerful personality quickly helped break the ice and it did not take long before both girls were taking piggyback rides on her back with Halsin and Tav watching it from a distance with a smile. "You better take good care of them both, Soldier, Halsin." Karlach then said and they promised.

Wyll had come along with Karlach and soon entertained the two girls with child-friendly stories about his many adventures while Karlach and their parents talked about how the Tiefling and former warlock would ask around on their travels to see if anyone knew Lahri's parents, Gale already having promised to do the same in case the family originally came from Waterdeep as Lahri had been too young to really know her city's name

Jaheira "happened" to be nearby with Minsc when she received the news about the adoption, both Tav and Halsin knowing she was on another adventure and Minsc was along for the ride. The famous druid shook her head at hearing how they had found Lahri while her friend was distracting the girls with Boo. "It is a good thing you managed to find her in time. You've already met my children so you know that I know better than almost anyone what it's like to take in children with bad pasts." She said as she was glad Lahri would now have a true home with Halsin and Tav

"I'll ask around through my contacts in the city to see if anyone has noticed a family suddenly missing a child. If it's up to me, they will not go unpunished." She huffed and they thanked her before they went to check up on Minsc and the girls, seeing that in a very rare moment, Boo was actually riding Lahri's shoulders and the ranger was okay with it. The duo eventually had to leave, but promised to bring presents next time

Even Astarion came by a few weeks after Jaheira, arriving under the cover of night and Tav was incredibly touched he had come despite the danger daylight now was for him. "Well, I just had to see what kind of sad urchin you had decided to take into your home this time." He replied in a casual tone and Lahri looked up at her new parents to see them smiling and rolling their eyes. Clearly, this was normal for this man whoever it was. 

Astarion then gave both Lahri and Yenna necklaces that according to him, he had honestly bought from the money he had gotten as an adventurer. Knowing the vampire spawn well enough to doubt his words, they kept quiet about it. They did appreciate the fact that Astarion did his best to hide his fangs from Lahri as Yenna already knew what he was after having spent several nights in the same camp as him. Seeing the couple being all cute with each other as he told the girls some of the crazy things he had seen in the past year, Astarion let out a chuckle.

He remembered wanting to try and seduce Tav at the Tiefling party so that she would want to protect him better against Cazador, but at seeing that she only had eyes for the druid the whole evening, he had backed off as even he knew when he was outplayed. "You send me a sending stone the moment anyone hurts you and I'll gladly take care of them." He then told Lahri, ignoring Tav trying to scold him as Lahri tilted her head in confusion.

Astarion decided to stay for a while as Lahri properly met Thaniel and Oliver and at seeing them, Halsin suddenly remembered how something had urged him to go to the clearing and seeing the relieved smile on the his oldest friend's face at seeing Lahri safe and sound, it was clear he had been responsible for that feeling. "Thank you for guiding me to her." He whispered while Oliver was distracting the girls and Thaniel nodded in reply.

Tav looked up in surprise, before realising what he meant and thanking the spirit as well. "You are very welcome. Anyone who thinks a child is a burden they are glad to be rid of is someone not welcome in my lands." Thaniel said in a serious tone and Tav asked if he knew where they had originally come from. "They talked about how they were from the Lower City of Baldur's Gate, but were planning to move somewhere else in a few years." He told them. Since he was the spirit of the land they were in, he and Oliver were aware of everything going on in the woods.

"That was one reason why they left Lahri behind like this. They wanted a fresh start wherever they were going to live and didn't want an extra mouth to feed when they moved. They hoped nature would do its job. It's a good thing that i made sure Halsin was the first one to find her as there were genuine bears around." He continued and both the druid himself and Tav had to keep their anger in as they thanked him once again.

A few years passed and Lahri grew up in a lovely girl who loved her family and crazy uncle (Astarion) with all her heart. Tav and Halsin were stern, but loving parents who did their best to give their daughters everything they needed and loved them more than anything. Astarion found that he really liked the community his friends had set up as once they had carefully explained what he was to the people, no one bothered him about it. 

They had all come to live there for a fresh start, so they'd be hypocrites if they attacked someone trying to do the same and if Tav and Halsin both vouched for him, they'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Soon enough,, it turned out that having a good vampire spawn in the community was a big help as rather ironically crime was at an all-time low thanks to Astarion quietly stalking the streets and keeping an eye on things from the shadows. Especially his ability to climb up walls really came in handy as he often surprised would-be thieves by jumping down on them.

About five years after Lahri was found, Tav and Halsin were standing at the edge of town as they were about to welcome two possible new inhabitants to the place: a couple named Roni and Aram. The couple arrived and immediately, both Tav and Halsin had to keep their smiles on their faces as the woman especially looked a lot like an older version of Lahri, but they didn't say anything yet as they welcomed them.

It wouldn't be fair if they immediately accused them of harshly abandoning their child without any proof. Well, proof quickly showed itself in way of a tree suddenly extending its roots and tripping the couple up as they walked past. Whirling around at hearing them fall, both Tav and Halsin looked sideways to see Thaniel glaring at the couple, before looking up at them and nodding. They nodded back and he disappeared.

Helping the couple back up on their feet despite the confirmation they were the ones who had carelessly abandoned Lahri and already knowing they'd refuse Roni and Aram from living in the same community as their daughter, Halsin and Tav swallowed their anger as Scratch briefly came to greet them and even he immediately growled at the couple. "They smell like Lahri used to smell when she came here. They're the ones who left her. I'm sure of it." He told Halsin and the druid rubbed his head to try and calm him down before they got bitten.

"It's alright, Scratch. Go and keep Yenna and Lahri company during their lessons while we finish this up. I'm sure they miss you." Halsin said with a warm smile and with a final bark and growl at the new couple, Scratch quickly trotted away and Tav immediately saw Roni and Aram share a shocked look at hearing Lahri's name and asked if they wanted to say something and Roni quietly asked who Lahri was.

"Lahri is our youngest adoptive daughter. We found her abandoned in the woods a few years ago and took her in. She has basically been our daughter since then." She carefully explained and pretending to look away for a second, she saw them sharing another look. Finishing their tour, they led them to the Inn. Walking away, Tav looked at Halsin. "We need Astarion." She muttered as they went home, aware of someone following them.

That night, Aram carefully broke into the home of Tav, Halsin and their daughters by climbing through the window of what happened to be Lahri's room, his wife having told him to finish the job even though everyone would likely know if was them since they were the newest people in the community. "I can't believe the brat is still alive. She had one job and that was to die." He muttered underneath his breath and saw his former daughter sleeping in her bed. About to stalk over, a hand suddenly grabbed him by the throat and pushed him back out of the window.

He loudly screamed as he fell down, immediately waking up the entire street and Lahri as well as everyone looked out of the window and the door to Halsin's and Tav's home. "May I ask what you were doing into our daughter's room?" Tav asked coldly as she crosses her arms and Aram groaned in pain as he slowly looked up to see an elf with white curly hair glaring down at him as he held onto a scared Lahri clinging onto him. 

Aram tried to give an excuse despite the pain he was in, but no one believed him as Halsin quickly ordered guards to arrest him and his wife and throw them in the old prisons of Moonrise Towers. Apologising to their neighbours for their disturbance and telling them to go back to bed, Halsin and Tav went back inside and immediately had to comfort their two scared daughters. "Was that my old father?" Lahri asked.

"I'm afraid so, my little one. I really have no idea what he was thinking while trying to break into your room for some reason, but we will always protect you, no matter what. They are never going to get close to you ever again" Halsin whispered to her as he held her close to him to try and comfort her while Tav quietly thanked Astarion for protecting her as well and the vampire spawn nodded as he pulled back to give the family some time alone as the parents led/carried their daughters to the master bedroom and put them into their bed in-between them. 

Lying down next to them once they were ready, the couple quickly held both daughters close to their chests as they simply tried to calm them down again and especially Lahri clung onto her adoptive father and he hummed an old song his mother used to sing when he was a child and Lahri's shaky breathing slowly calmed down as she fell asleep again, knowing that she was safe with her adoptive parents being with her.

"What were they thinking breaking into our home and hurt Lahri?" Yenna asked her parents quietly once she was sure that her little sister was finally asleep and Tav sighed deeply and admitted that she didn't know what they were thinking, but they would find out tomorrow. Telling Yenna to go to sleep and waiting until she was asleep too, the cleric looked at her partner who was taking deep breaths to keep himself calm.

Reaching out, she gently put her hand on his arm and he looked up at her as she gave him a gentle smile. "They're fine, my love. Astarion managed to make sure nothing bad happened to her and tomorrow, we'll make sure they pay for what they have done and tried to do." She whispered and he took a deep breath as he nodded to show he knew she was right, but he was still angry for the threat to his daughter's life. They had heard him climbing inside their daughter's room and had been about to rush upstairs when Astarion already had it handled.

They had never been so glad to be friends with a vampire spawn as Astarion had prowled the halls of their home for most of the evening until he had sensed the window being opened further and had immediately acted on it. Tav would honestly not be surprised if he was still on his guard even with them now lying next to their daughters. Despite the danger and excitement, it did not take long before they were asleep as well

The next day, almost the entire town came to see Aram's and Roni's trial as the story of that Aram had been caught by Astarion while trying to break into Lahri's room with a knife had quickly made the rounds and everyone wanted to see what they had to say for themselves. Despite Halsin and Tav wanting to keep their youngest daughter away from her former parents, she had wanted to be there for closure.

She was now standing in-between her adoptive parents with her sister, one hand holding onto Halsin's while Yenna clung onto their mother and with a growling Scratch standing in front of them as extra protection. Halsin asked the couple if they had any explanation for both abandoning Lahri years ago and trying to break into their home last night. They tried to make excuses but failed as after praying for forgiveness from her god, Tav had let a soldier serve the other couple wine laced with the same herb Jaheira had used on her all those years ago.

Under its influence, the couple talked about how they hadn't wanted Lahri dragging them down and how they had thought she had long-since died in the woods "like she should have." Even the usually calm and level-headed Halsin let a loud growl be heard that sounded a lot like his bear form. Only the feeling of Lahri clinging onto him made him keep his cool for now as he held her close to his side and kissed the top of her head.

As for why they broke in that night, they had panicked at realising Lahri was still alive and had desperately hoped to kill her before she recognised them, never mind that they already had realised who they were. "Why? Why wouldn't you just put me at the orphanage if I was such a burden?" Lahri quietly asked as she held onto Halsin and felt him rub her back and her former mother scoffed as she had always been a whiny brat

Tav was immediately reminded of Gortash's parents and how his mother had talked about how the man had been a brat as a child too. "That does not give you the right to play God over your child's life. You are supposed to look after your child, not abandon them in the woods" She hissed and Aram huffed as he called Lahri ungrateful. "She is a kid! Kids are hit supposed to be grateful! They're supposed to eat your food and break your heart, you selfish prick!" She shouted and hissed at him, many people around them quickly nodding in agreement.

Halsin then officially banished them from the town and said that if they ever dared to show their faces again, they would be "taken care of," all the adults around knowing what he meant with that. The only reason they were not killed right that instant was because of the girls being there. Soldiers began to lead them away and after hugging Lahri tightly and promising to be back soon, Halsin followed in bear form to make sure they were gone. 

When he returned and changed back, he was laughing like crazy. "Oh, you should have seen it, my loves. Birds pooped all over them but constantly missed the soldiers, apples and pears fell on their heads and they constantly slipped and fell in the dirtiest patches of mud." He explained and they all laughed as well as they knew Thaniel and Oliver were responsible for that. The couple should not have messed with their playmate.

Once they had finally calmed down from laughing, Halsin quickly changed into a wolf at Yenna's request and let both girls cuddle up to him as Tav gently stroked her youngest daughter's hair and Astarion was currently reading a book in a dark corner, far out of reach from the sun even with the curtains closed. Tav and Astarion briefly shared a knowing look and smile as he raised an eyebrow and she shook her head, making a "slow down" movement with her hand as she looked at Lahri and he silently conceded as he went back to reading.

A few days later, Tav sat her family down and asked her daughters what they'd say about becoming big sisters too in Lahri's case and once more in Yenna's case. "Really?" Lahri asked in excitement and her mother nodded, before she was tackled into a hug by her daughters while a laughing Astarion slowly moved his hand up-and-down in front of an utterly shocked Halsin's face as the druid could only stare at Tav.

Halsin then stood up and walked over as well, Tav letting their daughters go at seeing him approaching and they stepped back at knowing their father wanted to have a moment with her too. The druid then cupped her face and kissed her deeply with her happily kissing him back. "My heart, this is the best gift you have given me apart from our girls. Thank you." He whispered as they broke apart and she smiled before kissing him again.

Astarion smiled at seeing this happening as he had been the one to figure out she was pregnant as her scent had changed and he suddenly heard two heartbeats coming from her body. He was actually glad that his friends had found their happiness as well as having basically an unofficial home with them. Over the next seven to eight months,  Tav was never alone as Halsin or one of their girls was always at her side and when neither of them were, then either Astarion or Thaniel, Oliver, Scratch and the owlbear would become her shadow instead.

When her water broke one night, Halsin and Astarion brought the girls to Zevlor where they and the latter stayed, Astarion immediately refusing to come anywhere near in case the smell of blood drove him insane. It took at least half a day before Halsin picked them up again, quickly promising Astarion the blood had been cleaned up and even though he'd deny it, the spawn was just as curious as the girls.

Leading his daughters up the stairs while Astarion stayed back, Halsin let them into the bedroom where Tav was holding a bundle in her arms and smiled at them. "Come meet your brother, sweethearts." She whispered and they hurried over, trying to peer into the blankets as their mother lowered the baby to show him as even Astarion eventually poked his head in, asking what his name was when it was his turn to hold the baby.

"Darain." Halsin and Tav said at the same time and their daughters cheered