How Do You Say, Goodbye??

[Ava]

Ava sits by the fireplace in their living room and looks around the empty house. Tears stream down her face and her heart is shattered. It has been only a few days since her dear, sweet Paiten passed away, or rather...disappeared...but it feels like today...this moment in time is when it happened. Her eyes drift back to the flames and she is lost...

Nowhere to go...nowhere to turn...nowhere to hide...nowhere to run...no peace. She gets up and walks down the hall, only to trip over his dirty laundry on the floor. She sinks to her knees in a trembling ocean of tears as she picks up his shirt. She draws it to her face and inhales the scent of him...the soap he used to bathe, the ever present scent of his rum, his sweat as it all still lingers in the soft fabric. Tears never cease to flow as she weeps for her lost love.

How do you say goodbye to love? How....

Ava finally manages to get up from the floor, but she can't bring herself to do much. And then there's a knock at the door. It's a messenger with a note calling her to Widu. Anything is better than sitting here drowning in tears. She gives the messenger a few frenzics for his services and goes to pack a bag for the trip. In her bag she places Paiten's, still unlaundered shirt, and takes to the road.

In her frame of mind she walks...only to discover that she has gone the wrong direction when she finds herself in Fenia and not Widu. Realizing her mistake she turns around and heads back for Imperius. When she gets there she meets her friend Lordblackhawk and he agrees to escort her to Widu. For this she is grateful for now she doesn't have to pay attention to where her feet go. If Lbh is with her, she can't get lost.

Soon the gates of Widu are in sight, she thanks Lbh for his company and they part ways. The only thing Ava can think about is finding a pub...and she does. She orders a double shot of rum, neat and slams the entire drink in one go. It burns from throat to gutt, but she doesn't care as she orders another. The burning sensation is the first thing she's actually "felt" in days. After the second drink is gone she orders one more. This one she lingers over.

Ava sits in the pub not saying much to anyone...only sipping her third drink. The aching numbness of sorrow is soon replaced by a different form of 'numb' as the rum begins to take affect. She swirls the caramel colored liquid around in her glass watching the light dance through it.

In walks Ladybh with bright smiles and hugs & kisses for Lordbh and for a moment Ava smiled as he watched their outward show of passion. Her smile gets to last a little bit longer when Ladybh reminds Lbh of a request. For a moment Ava feels delight as they both ask her to be godmother to their beautiful baby girl Grace. An infant...Ava is torn between sorrow and joy. Ava is feeling a bit of emotion overload, but she does accept their request.

With business taken care of in Widu, they head back to Imperius. Once home Ava checks the land market and purchases a very nice vegetable field. Then she checks her butcher shop and sees she has some chicken ready for butchering and sets about doing that. As she carves on the chickens she almost can't see for tears. The last thing she needs is to chop off a finger because she can't see straight. An idea forms in her mind to tough it out with this bit of work and head to Fenia to do some fishing. There she can also meet her new goddaughter and begin to bond with her.

[Eira]

Eira prepared a nice fruit basket with strawberries from Bravia and the yummiest oranges from the orchard in Imperius. She had also baked some sweet corn muffins. She waited nervously outside Ava and Patien's residence. She wasn't sure how Ava was managing, she hadn't met Paiten's wife much and didn't know her character but grief could do a lot to people, Eira knew. Her hand raised, she knocked on the door. No response... she knocked twice more and shouted Anyone home? Images popped up in Eira's head of Ava lying lifeless on the floor, with a vial of poison beside her, Eira made a short prayer that wasn't the case.

[Ava]

Ava is broken hearted and each moment she sits here her heart breaks even more. She makes up her mind to take her new boat to Fenia and do some fishing. So she sets about finding a few things to wear. Once again she picks up Paiten's shirt and brings it to her face and inhales the scent of him, then carefully folds it and places it in her bag.

She runs a comb through her long red curls and tucks them up in a twist and puts on a fresh pair of jeans and a loose fitting white button down shirt. For comfort reasons she leaves it hanging outside instead of tucking it in. Just as she's about to walk out the door she hears a knock.

Anyone home?

"Who could that be?" Ava asks herself as she walks to the door and opens it.

Ava summons a smile as she opens the door and sees Eira standing there.

"Hello Eira. How very nice to finally meet you in person. Please do come in." Ava steps back and lets her step into the house. "Please make yourself comfortable. I was just finishing up packing my bag. I've decided to take a trip to Fenia and do some fishing. Can I get you something to drink? Tea, maybe?"

[Eira]

Hello Ava, nice to see you too. Eira smiled back and stepped inside. I hope I'm not disturbing.. if you need to pack. I thought I'd just drop by, to see how you're doing. I brought something too Eira held out the basket with yummies to Ava. If its not too much of a trouble, a cup of tea or orange juice would be nice. How.. how are you doing?

[Ava]

"Please, do come in." Ava offers her a sweet smile and ushers her to a soft chair.

I hope I'm not disturbing.. if you need to pack. I thought I'd just drop by, to see how you're doing. I brought something too.

Ava's face lights up with a soft smile and Eira's thoughtful gift. "Aww thank you, Eira. Actually I am finished packing...well accept for this yummy looking fruit.

If its not too much trouble, a cup of tea or orange juice would be nice. How.. how are you doing?

Ava sits the basket of fruit on the side table. "It's no trouble at all, I'll be right back." Ava walks into the kitchen and gets a couple cups from the cupboard, lites a fire under the teapot, and soon emerges from the kitchen with a tray with tea and everything needed that goes with it. She puts the tray on the table and sets her own tea with honey and lemon.

"How do you like your tea?" While she fixes Eira's tea she answers her question. "I am pretty much an emotional wreck right now. I miss my Paiten ever so very much." She wipes a tear that escapes then takes Eira's tea to her and sits down across from her.

"It has been the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. I think with some time away from here, things will get easier, so I'm going to Fenia to do some fishing." Ava reaches for her kerchief and wipes away the tears that refuse to be unshed.

"Paiten would want me to be strong and move on, and I will do my very best to honour him by living as best as I can." She pauses and takes a deep breath then sips her tea. The hot liquid slips down her throat and warms her from the inside out.

"Lord and Ladyblackhawk have asked me to be godmother to their daughter, Grace. I think being caregiver to new life will be just what I need to help me get beyond this horrible pain I feel right now." Ava pauses and takes another sip of her tea.

"Thank you so much again, for the fruit. I'll take it with me to Fenia to snack on.

[Eira]

Eira smiles when Ava asks how she likes her tea Just plain, please She sips the tea while waiting for Ava to collect herself. I worked with him in the military as you know. He was always ready to defend and to protect the town. Aye, he was a good man. Don't look back in sorrow but in happiness of the good shared moments. Eira tried to offer some comforting words. Nothing is so peaceful and soothing for the mind as sitting on a boat on a big lake and waiting day in and day out for a fish to catch the bait.

Eira picks up a cookie from the tray and nibbles on it. She nodded quietly when Ava said she would be strong and move on. Godmother to Lord and Ladyblackhawk's daughter Grace you say? That's wonderful. I think they're happy too, taking care of twins can't be the easiest. Taking another cookie and finishing her tea Eira felt it was time to leave. You're welcome, hope you'll enjoy the strawberries. I doubt you'd see them often on Fenia's market. You take care Ava, and catch a big fish to take home as a trophy! Eira winked and laughed and said goodbye. It made her happy that Ava was handling her grief as best as one could. Eira felt a little grief inside her as well, she had work to do and now Paiten wasn't there to help. She would manage, as everyone had to manage a loss.

[Ava]

Ava and Eira chat for a little while. The well intended, sweetly offered advice does little to aleviate the pain Ava feels. She listened to the fondness in Eira's voice as she speaks of Paiten and working with him and smiles. He did so enjoy his work and was always willing to help whenever and wherever he could.

Godmother to Lord and Ladyblackhawk's daughter Grace you say? That's wonderful.

"Yes and ironicly the timing is perfect. What better way to get beyond a loss than to tend to a new life?" Ava smiles softly and wipes away a stray tear.

"Thank you again for the strawberries, Eira. They look very good and I'll enjoy them on the road, for sure." Soon Eira takes her leave and Ava picks up her bag and heads for Fenia with her new boat in tow.

[Ava]

After several days in Fenia, Ava has quite a few fish to bring back. She has also managed to pick up a several hides for Imperius, as well.

Meeting Lord and Ladybh's children has been a joy. They are getting so big so quickly. Ava is looking forward to being Grace's godmother. To watch her grow and learn and discover the world around her along with her brother. The bond they share has to be amazing, too. To have a mirror image without the use of a mirror has to be fascinating to them.

It won't be long now, when Ava makes the trek back home. A few more days of fishing and bonding with her god daughter and her brother. Though, Ava knows it won't be long before she'll be back to visit again.

[Ava]

It isn't long before Ava settles back into some semblance of a normal routine. Life is still so very difficult without her Paiten. She was alone all her life. Random 'dates' with hopeful suitors, all very nice in their own ways, but none of them managed to capture her heart and soul....until Paiten. From day one there was something about him that was so very different from any other. The others, she could tell they weren't really comfortable in their own skin.

Their so called charm was the typical roses, candies, expected gentlemanly manners, but with Paiten it was different. He didn't put on airs of any sort. Ava could tell he was comfortable just being himself. There was no wondering what he was thinking because he was always telling her. Paiten had a boy-ish charm that appealed to Ava's mind first .... tho' it wasn't long before her heart and soul was captured as well. They fit together like hand to glove.

Every single day was a whole new adventure with Paiten. Even the mundane activities were enjoyable with him. Her mind comes up with happy memories of him, every single day. She would give anything to have him back .... simply Anything. But for now... today... today she's taking the day off and has decided to start a flower garden in the back yard. Yes, that thought is very appealing...a big, bright, beautiful flower garden.

Excited about having come to this decision, Ava puts on a bright yellow shirt & a pair of black trousers and heads into town to buy the supplies she'd need for her garden.


Soon she returns and her little garden shed...

....is stuffed full of everything needed to begin a beautiful garden. Rakes, hoes, clippers, spades, pots to start plants in, seeds for many different types of flowers and a couple pairs of gardening gloves.



As she puts everything away in her garden shed she looks around, satisfied that she has a good start to a beautiful flower garden and takes up a hoe to go break ground.

[Ladyblackhawk]

Arriving in Imperius, Ladhblackhawk wonders around the town.
Then she remembers this is where Ava lives, so she decides to pay her a visit.

Ladyblackhawk asks around and finds out where her house is.
She takes a steady walk, reaching the house stands and wonders if Ava will be at home.
Then she decides to walk up to the front door.
Ladyblackhawk knocks on the door and waits.