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Chapter 24

Theo stood under the wedding arch beside Yuri, feeling stiff and nervous as his family and his lover's family sat in white folding chairs before him. The wedding arch was strung with flowers, the white petals of which had a spell cast on them so that they kept magically cascading in his mane. He brushed a petal off his nose and could see Sade and Amrosa sitting on the front row. Sade still looked a little hung over, and thinking of the incident back at Zaldon's house, Theo hoped with silent dread that his father would behave. Sade - depressed that his son was marrying a male - had gone out early that morning and gotten drunk. Amrosa had spent the day looking for him, only to have him return to Zaldon's house unbeknownst to her and barge in on Theo with Enya.

Thinking of Enya, Theo felt a rush of guilt. He glanced furtively at Yuri and kept telling himself it had just been one kiss. Just one kiss. He kept asking himself why he had kissed her to begin with.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Yuri whispered to Theo.

Theo thought she_was beautiful. She was wearing a long one-piece gown, pearly white and practically glowing in the pink hues of the setting sun. Theo thought _she was glowing. He reached over and squeezed her paw. Her sable eyes crinkled up happily.

"Everyone did all of this for us!" Yuri waved at the decorations. "I can't believe it!"

The family had transformed the great balcony into a magnificent garden promenade. The arches along the walk were draped in flowers - magical flowers - and long tables laden with silver platters of food stood resplendent along the railing. Little round tables waited for the family to enjoy the feast, covered in white tablecloths with chairs covered in white furs, and on the dais, a great long table stood - the table of honor, at which the newlyweds and their parents would sit, along with the best male and the maids of honor - Yuri and Enya had naturally chosen Mora and Nyssa, while Zane was still (miraculously) Roan and Theo's best male.

On yet another dais, a band of wolves played softly on lutes, flutes, and drums. Theo stared up the long white carpet, waiting with bated breath for Roan to appear. Then Roan did appear . . . and his breath stopped. Beside him, he heard Yuri gasp.

Roan and Enya walked along the carpet together, moving at a slow march as the band picked up louder. Enya was on Keeno's arm, and glancing once at her, Theo felt a sudden surge of déjà vu. Only this time, Enya was happy and glowing. Theo dragged his eyes from Enya and looked at Roan again . . . and he couldn't look away.

Roan walked up the carpet on Kilyan arm, brushed and trimmed and happy. The breeze came in off the sea and lifted his mane, sending it rippling to the side, slapping over pretty green eyes that looked at him steadily, lovingly.

Theo sighed with longing. As Roan drew closer, he noticed Kilyan looked choked up. He held to Roan's arm hard, and when it came time to let go, he didn't.

"Dad," Roan whispered, laughing.

Kilyan laughed sadly. "I'm sorry . . ." He kissed Roan's cheek and clapped Theo on the arm, whispering, "This is it - he's yours to care for now!"

Theo smiled. "Yes, sir."

Kilyan stepped back, standing just behind Roan's shoulder as he and Theo faced each other. Beside them, Keeno had let Enya go - with as much difficulty as Kilyan apparently, for Enya was laughing, and down in the crowd, so were Hye, Hris, and Zalia. Keeno kissed Yuri on the cheek and stepped back to stand just behind Enya's shoulder.

Enya and Yuri faced each other. Enya touched the back of her paw to Yuri's cheek and her lashes fluttered out tears. "I thought this day would never come."

"Baby . . . why are you crying?" Yuri whispered back. She frowned.

Enya laughed. "Because I'm happy."

Theo smiled into Roan's eyes. He took his paw and kissed it. "You look amazing, babe."

Roan's lashes fluttered happily. He stared up at Theo as if no one else existed in that moment. "You look so handsome!"

The music was still going strong, and Theo realized why: Wynn and LiAnh were coming up the aisle with the rings. They held the rings on little pillows, and LiAnh walked with difficulty, stumbling on chubby legs every once in a while. Wynn stopped often to steady him with an irritable glower, and general laughter would rise from the family.

When the children finally reached the wedding arch, Theo knew they were supposed to branch off. Wynn went confidently to Roan and Theo. LiAnh followed her out of habit. She clicked her tongue in irritation and pointed at Enya and Yuri. Everyone laughed again as LiAnh toddled toward Enya instead.

Enya leaned down and patted LiAnh's head. "Thank you, little one. You did very well - now go back to Lea." She took the rings from LiAnh and pointed.

LiAnh looked around and saw that his mother was squatting in the aisle, arms open. He giggled and ran to her. More laughter and cries of "Awww!" from Julyan and Mora as Lea caught her son in her arms and tickled him.

The music quieted to a low hum, and Theo knew that was their cue to exchange rings. He decided to go first.

"Roan," Theo said, looking into his lover's eyes, "from the moment I saw you . . . I dreamt of this day."

Theo heard his mother crying. He glanced out at the crowd and realized Julyan was crying too - a little loudly. He rested his head on Zaldon's shoulder and the tears poured down his face. Zaldon squeezed him in his arm. Beside them, Kel had his arm around Aliona and was nodding happily. Aliona's blue eyes shone with tears.

"Now we've come to this day," Theo went on, looking at Roan again. "And . . . I'm too stricken to speak. That's what you do to me, Roan. Please, do it to me . . ." Theo slipped the ring on his finger. "For the rest of our lives!"

Roan's answer was to slip Theo's ring on his finger - then hung him tight around the neck. Theo caught him with a laugh. The crowd laughed as well.

"I love you, Theo!" Roan vowed. "I couldn't dream of better."

They kissed, and Theo heard several females: "Awwww!"

"Yuri," Enya said, and everyone fell silent again. Theo glanced over to see Enya was holding Yuri's paw, peering happily into Yuri's smiling eyes. "I spent my whole life trying to protect you, thinking you needed me to keep danger away, to keep away hurt. Now I realize you don't need me for that. You just need someone to love you. I volunteer."

The family laughed and Yuri did too as Enya slipped the ring on her finger.

"It's not volunteer work," Yuri said. "You'll be paid in kisses." She touched Enya's face. "Hugs, warmth, loyalty and total devotion from me - that's what you'll receive in return. And I cook," Yuri joked, slipping the ring on Enya's finger.

More laughter. Behind Enya, Keeno chuckled the loudest and nodded.

Enya and Yuri kissed and everyone cheered. And that was it . . . they were married.

They were married. Theo grinned, letting it sink in as everyone leapt to their feet and tossed white flower petals. The couples took paws and ran happily down the aisle, passing with laughing faces under the sudden rain of petals. The petals spiraled across the dusky sky as the lovers went paw in paw to the dance floor. The band picked up louder, and the dance of the newlyweds began.

It wasn't long before everyone was dancing.

Then everyone was eating.

Then everyone was getting drunk.

Roan loved to dance, so Theo obliged him the first half-hour. Kilyan cut in, expressing his desire to dance with his son. Theo laughingly bowed and passed Roan's paw to his father. He then went to the table of honor and sat beside Zane - who was looking beyond tipsy.

"You promised me you'd behave," Theo scolded, pulling a plate to himself. A plate of shrimp and lobster had been placed for everyone seated at the table of honor. There was also a large platter of oysters, and in the center of the table, a portion of the giant wedding cake. The rest of the cake towered in the center of the banquet table, where Kira was eagerly filling her plate alongside Hye.

Theo grabbed a slice of cake for himself and also filled his wine glass. Down the table, his father was staring at his plate miserably. Amrosa was scolding him.

"This is your son's wedding - be happy for him!" Amrosa hissed.

Sade didn't respond.

Theo flattened his ears, drowning out his mother's voice. As angry as he was with Sade, he also felt sorry for his father. Theo's dreams had begun that day, but his father's dreams had ended. He knew Sade was being selfish, that he should just be happy to for his son, but still . . . He glanced down the table and saw Sade's eyes water. He sighed and tore his gaze away, looking instead at Zane, whose eyes were a little bleary.

"You promised," Theo repeated.

"Yeah, well . . . I lied," Zane muttered. He picked up his glass and took a sip, eying Yaholo and Kuza over the rim. "I give it three months."

Theo followed Zane's gaze. Yaholo and Kuza were dancing happily. Neither of them knew how to dance but seemed to be having fun regardless. Yaholo took Kuza's paw and spun him around before catching him in a playful dip. Kuza was flustered as Yaholo leaned over him. They kissed hungrily - then straightened up and continued kissing. But as if he'd only just caught himself, Kuza stopped Yaholo and shyly shook his head. Yaholo and smiled, and they went to sit at a table with Yzlo and Hris.

"If I didn't know any better," Theo said, spearing a shrimp on his fork, "I'd say you were _jealous_of Yaholo and Kuza." He sounded very amused.

Zane snorted. "Me? Jealous of him? Get a grip on reality, Theo. Clearly, your fairy tale wedding has gone to your pointy head."

Theo laughed. "And it seems you're jealous of Roan too. I know you didn't get a wedding, Zane, but don't take it out on him."

Zane bit his lip and glowered at his glass. "I didn't want a wedding. Mora did . . . and I didn't want to do it."

Theo looked at him curiously. "Why?"

"Cuz it would be a lie," Zane said, grimacing. "Mora, Nyssa, and I aren't madly in love. I care about them. I love them. But it isn't the same . . ."

"Yuri is the only girl you'd have a wedding for," Theo finished for him. He shook his head. "Zane, you've got to let her go! Or else you'll suffer the rest of your life. You've got two beautiful wives and two beautiful sons. Be happy with that. Or you'll lose them too."

Zane's eyes went to Enya and Yuri, who were laughing as they danced together. Keeno politely cut in, and Theo was surprised when he danced not with Enya but with Yuri. He spun Yuri around the dance floor, and her mane tumbled loose of its bun, tossing beautifully around her eyes. Her ruffled skirts flared with each spin, her tail flashed, her girlish laughter rose above the steady rhythm of the music, and Theo thought she looked prettier than ever, glowing and happy on a day when nothing could go wrong.

Enya watched her father and wife dancing a moment, then Zaldon came to her, and after playfully bowing, he offered her his big arm. Enya smiled and the two of them began to dance, talking and laughing as they turned about the floor. Zaldon was so tall beside Enya, she had to stand on his feet.

Idella sat at a table with Mio and Zee on her knees. Lynny sat beside her, spoon feeding the pups from his plate and laughing with his wife. Idella was grinning: she was always grinning when she had Mio and Zee.

Mora and Nyssa should have been at the table of honor with Zane, but they were sitting with Lynny and Idella. They ate primly from their plates and laughed at whatever Idella was saying. Every now and then, they glared in Zane's direction, and Theo realized they were still arguing with him.

Zane clapped a big paw to his face and slumped over. "I know I fucked up, alright? You don't have to tell me. I jussss . . . I don't know how to make it right." He looked at Mora and Nyssa sadly. "Iffff they put me out . . . I'd come crawling back," he slurred. "Even if it meant on my belly through hot coals. I luff them." He placed an empathic paw on his heart.

Theo glanced at Zane sympathetically. No, he didn't want to get tossed out. He didn't want to wind up like Loryn. . . . Theo's eyes found Loryn, who was sitting at a table between Kira and Hye. The three of them were talking happily, but Theo thought Loryn still looked high - if not more than before. His black eyes were glassy and he seemed unsteady. His paw trembled when he lifted his fork. Kira and Hye watched him with concern.

"Tch," Theo said, shaking his head and going back to his plate. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were related to Loryn, not Kel. . . . one second thought," his eyes fell on Kel, "never mind."

Kel and Aliona were dancing near the band. Kel kissed Aliona tenderly and slowly on the lips, and their dancing soon turned to sloppy making out: they'd been drinking. Zalia was passing with a plate, and seeing her parents, she made a face and went faster. She joined Ceara at a table, where the older female was sitting with an entire bottle of wine to herself.

Kilyan didn't notice his parents at all: he was still dancing with Roan and completely absorbed in talking to him. Near them, Ohana leaned over and danced with little LiAnh, who giggled as he rocked on her feet.

Lea danced with Julyan. The two were engaged in a warm conversation. Lea looked up at Julyan with the glowing fondness of an old friend, and Julyan looked down at her just as fondly.

Wynn and Inden were also dancing. Theo smiled: Wynn was standing on Inden's feet as they turned in slow circles. Eventually, she grew bored, and tugging the older boy along by the paw, she took him to get cake from the banquet table.

"I think you should make your toast," Theo said to Zane. "Before it gets too dark - and before you get too drunk."

Darkness had already fallen. Each little round table was lit with candles, and candles stood winking on the banquet tables, sending a warm glow over the platters of food. Tiny glowing lights bobbed on the air, conjured earlier by Zaldon and Yuri, who stood together under the wedding arch and waved their paws to summon the light. Wynn and Inden ran through the bubbles of light with cake on their faces, giggling as they tried to catch it in their paws.

Zane set down his glass and sighed. "Alright," he said and rose from the table.

---

Yaholo lovingly fed Kuza a bit of cake from his plate, ignoring it when his father watched him in amusement. They were sitting at a table with Yzlo and Hris. Hris was slowly getting drunk, Yaholo knew. Stern Yzlo didn't touch a drop, however, and kept glancing across the maze of tables at his wife: Hye was sitting with Kira and Loryn and was drinking glass after glass, and Yaholo knew Yzlo was worried he would have to carry her home later.

"So your tribe is going to allow you to bring in an outsider?" Yzlo said to Hris. "Just like that?" He loudly cracked the lobster tail on his plate and pulled out the meat.

Kuza looked nervously at Hris. Yaholo took his paw and squeezed it, silently letting him know that he would never leave him alone again! Kuza smiled at him gratefully.

"Maybe if I bat my lashes at Fedesda," Hris joked, filling his glass from the pitcher. "And say pretty please."

"Or maybe if you lick her pussy," Yzlo advised.

Hris made a face. "I'd rather appeal to her sense of compassion - but I guess desperate times call for pussy licking."

Yaholo squeezed his eyes shut. "Dad! Please!"

Yzlo and Hris laughed. As they were laughing, Kel and Aliona joined them. Kel sat and Aliona sat on his thigh. He fed her a bit of lobster meat off Yzlo's plate, and she seductively nibbled it from his fingers.

"Hey!" Yzlo cried.

Kel grinned goofily at Yzlo, and Yaholo laughed: he was drunk.

"Now, now," said Hris. "Don't scold Kel because he knows how to party, Yzlo. If you had any sense, my little sister would be in your lap making out with you. Thankfully, you don't have a lick of sense."

Yzlo rolled his eyes and went back to his plate. "I can't drink. Because I'll be the one cleaning up Kel's mess . . . again."

Kel frowned and cleared his throat. Looking at him, Yaholo could sense that Yzlo's words had significant meaning.

"But then," went on Yzlo, "I'm always cleaning up your messes, Kel."

"I'm sorry I drag you into my messes . . ." Kel muttered, staring at the table.

"Look what you've done," Aliona scolded Yzlo. "You know how emotional he gets when he's drunk --"

"It's true," Yzlo said, grimacing. "I'll carry him home later, won't I? Lynny's got Zaldon - and Loryn, whenever he kills over. He and I decided to designate ourselves."

"Ha," said Hris. "Lynny is supposed to carry two males? I know he's strong but . . ."

"Julyan will help us," Yzlo said to his plate.

"I'm sorry," Kel blurted suddenly. He had been staring miserably at Yzlo for the last few minutes. He looked on the verge of crying. "About Sion!"

Yaholo stiffened and his ears went forward. He caught his father's eye, and they looked at each other, astonished.

"No . . ." Yzlo said, suddenly just as miserable. "Sion wasn't your fault. . . Kel, you didn't know . . . I would have --"

"No, it was," Kel insisted, reaching across the table. "It was my fault!

Yzlo took his paw and frowned. "Stop c-crying - I would have killed him too. You were just faster . . . Kel . . . stop . . ." Yzlo sighed as Kel dropped his face in his paw and wept.

". . . who was Sion?" Yaholo asked carefully.

Aliona stroked her husband's mane, watching sadly as Kel began to sob. Her blue eyes turned to Yaholo. "He was a young male who helped our children once, long ago. Kilyan and Zalia got lost in the forest, and Sion took care of them."

"Keeno too," Yzlo said heavily. "Kel and I formed a search party to look for the kids. We heard Zalia screaming and crying. Then we saw him crouching over her, doing something to her . . ."

"I assumed," Kel said, lifting his face from his paw. His cheeks were streaked with tears. "I assumed he was hurting her --"

"What else could you have thought?" Yzlo hissed, suddenly angry and impatient. "Are you going to beat yourself up over Sion the rest of your natural life?"

Hris cleared his throat. He'd been listening sadly and silently up until that moment. "What became of the boy after you killed him? You buried him proper?"

Kel nodded heavily. "At first by the river . . ."

Yaholo and his father caught eyes again.

"At first?" repeated Kuza curiously.

"The boy was a lone wolf, cast out under false charges," Aliona explained when Kel's response was incomprehensible blubbering. "Kel and Yzlo cleared his name, so he was moved to the village graveyard. His brother had . . . betrayed him."

"His own brother?" Yaholo said, naively amazed.

Kuza wasn't amazed: his own family had treated him like crap. He squeezed Yaholo's paw. "Sometimes the ones who are supposed to love you," he whispered, "are the very ones who hurt you."

Yaholo looked at Kuza sympathetically. Before he could speak, Aliona went on.

"Now we have the Sion Law," she said, "which is supposed to prevent such injustices from happening again."

"Sup_posed_ to," Yzlo snarled. "But the council elders sure are picky about enforcing it, aren't they?" He jerked up from his seat.

"Where are you going?" Aliona asked him anxiously.

"To go. Get. Drunk," Yzlo hissed and marched away.

Yaholo met eyes with his father again, and Hris gave him a meaningful nod.

---

"Did you convince Theo to have kids yet?" Kilyan asked Roan as they danced.

Roan laughed at his father's eagerness.

Kilyan was leading them, as Roan's arm was still tender, even after Zaldon's repeated check ups. All around them, everyone was dancing and laughing and eating. He thought it was the perfect day.

"Well," said Roan mischievously, "Theo and I tossed a coin to see which one of us would carry it. I was glad when I lost. Hate to lose my figure --"

Kilyan laughed. "Alright, alright. Now answer seriously. I tried to talk to Theo about it. Looks like he's still in no hurry."

"He isn't," Roan admitted. "He wants a couple years of freedom."

Kilyan grinned. "And why not? Here in the sun village, you have that choice. You should take advantage of it . . . Roan . . ." He frowned. "I know the summer village wouldn't give you a choice . . ."

"Dad, don't apologize about the summer village's customs! I actually like the customs."

Kilyan cocked an unconvinced brow.

"Excluding the ones about tail chasers, of course," Roan added. "I like the idea of marrying, raising a family, honoring nature and the cycle of life. Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like if Theo could have claimed me. Here in the sun village, he could have. We could have waited til the mating season and gone in the tunnels . . ."

"Except the two of you wanted a wedding. And Theo seems very . . ." Kilyan trailed off.

"Jealous? Possessive?" Roan supplied for his father. "Insane?"

Kilyan laughed. "Yeah. I doubt he would have wanted a mating season. If other guys tried to claim you . . ." Kilyan shook his head. "He'd probably kill them."

Roan laughed weakly.

Kilyan looked at his son with worried green eyes. "Roan . . . what did you do? You didn't do anything with that captain, did you? Anything you'll regret?"

"What did you do?" Roan deflected. "With Tyne!"

Kilyan sighed miserably. "I . . . didn't have a choice, Roan. Seducing him," he winced to say the word, "seemed to be the only ticket to my freedom. I would have done anything to get back to you, son. So, no. I don't regret it."

Roan nodded guiltily, reminding himself that his father had walked through hellfire to get back to him. "I'm glad you came home to us, Dad. I couldn't imagine growing up without you."

Kilyan smiled. He was about to answer when Zane's voice rose above the music. Roan looked beyond his father and saw big Zane standing on his chair, lifting his glass for attention. When the music stopped and everyone turned his way, Zane nodded and climbed down from his chair. Theo was sitting at the table, looking a little wary as Zane walked around it to the other side.

"Tuhday," slurred Zane, and Roan scowled: the fool was drunk!

"Tuhday . . ." Zane repeated, lifting his glass high. "We honor of zuh marriage of my big brother Roan and my cousin Enya - even while our grandparents fuck each other like it's the goddamned mating season."

There was a collective gasp from the crowd. Lynny and Idella looked at each other, horrified. Behind Zane, Theo rose from his seat and called his name.

"Zane," Theo hissed. "Stop! This was a bad idea --"

Zane ignored Theo and went on, "That's right! You heard me! Our grand_parents are fucking like they're still at their mating season! My grandma with my grandma . . . and Roan's granddad with my grandma - fucking _disgusting --"

"I'm gonna _kill_him," Roan muttered.

Kilyan's paw tightened on Roan's arm. "Roan . . . let me handle --"

"I'm gonna kill him!" Roan insisted.

"Meanwhile," Zane went on, stumbling on the spot, "I make one little mistake and kiss a female who isn't my wife, and now I'm a fucking piranha to my own family --"

Roan shook his head: the fool meant pariah.

"Seems like any time a male kisses a female, he's punished to hell and back in this damn family," Zane slurred. "I kissed Yuri once too. I kissed her twice, three times. Fucked her good and deep til she screamed. And she still chose Enya." He looked at Yuri, tears shimmering in his eyes.

Mora and Nyssa's mouths fell open. Nyssa looked on the verge of tears, but Mora's face was twisted with fury. Nyssa suddenly ran away, her face in her paws. Mora ran after her. So did Ohana.

A mortified Yuri nervously pushed her mane behind her ear and avoided everyone's eye. Beside her, Enya looked furious enough to lunge. She made an attempt to do just that. Zalia had been on the verge of chasing after Mora and Nyssa, but she grabbed Enya instead.

"He's ruining my wedding!" Enya protested.

"I guess it doesn't matter," Zane went on, shrugging his powerful shoulders. "I was punished ta hell for it. But if a male kisses a male? Why, then he's special. A special little fairy." Zane wriggled his fingers contemptuously and lifted his glass. "So here's to you, Roan - you fucking fairy."

"That's it!" Roan roared. Before Kilyan could stop him, he lunged. He and Zane went rolling, crashing into tables and chairs and bringing them down - candles and all. The balcony was in instant chaos as fire licked over the wooden tables. Zaldon and Yuri leapt forward and waved their paws, extinguishing the flames with a quick spell. It was too late, however: half the wedding cake melted away, mushing into other choice platters of now-burnt food.

Julyan cried over the cake as his masterpiece slumped to one side. Zaldon comforted him as his sobs rose with the sudden wails of the children. Sensing something was going on, Mio and Zee began to scream on Idella's knees. Lynny lumbered up with a scowl to stop the fight - but Loryn chose that moment to pass out in his plate. Kira screamed softly as her husband collapsed, and she and Hye leapt frantically to their feet.

Loryn was limp. He didn't appear to be breathing or moving. Lea ran to her father, her face panic-stricken. Lynny went to Loryn and gathered him in his arms. Kira assured Lea that she and Lynny would handle it, then followed as Lynny carried her husband away. Lea tried to follow anyway, but Hye put a comforting arm around her. No one else seemed to notice Loryn's collapse: everyone was too busy scrambling to clear Roan and Zane's path.

"Roan!" Kilyan bellowed. "Zane! Stop this now!" He made a move to grab Roan but missed when the boys rolled away.

"Why are they fighting!" Wynn wailed, clinging to Ceara's waist.

Ceara touched the girl's head, unable to take her incredulous eyes off what was happening. Behind her, Inden winced and folded up his wings tight.

"You're ruining my wedding!" Enya screamed as Zalia stroked her mane. "Daddy - stop them! They'll bring the whole place down!"

Keeno dutifully threw himself into the scuffle. Kilyan joined him. They called to Kel for help - but Kel was passed out drunk at a table. Aliona stood over her husband, watching the proceedings in horror.

Yaholo shook his head in amazement and put his arm around Kuza, who was stiff with fear.

"And this is why I didn't want to come," Hris said dryly and took a swig from his glass, hardly blinking as a chair leg flew past his head.

"Sade - help them!" Amrosa shouted.

Standing stiff with shock at the table of honor, Theo watched as his father slumped up from the table and went over to help.

It took Sade and Zaldon combined to get Zane up. Kilyan and Keeno, meanwhile, pulled up Roan. Zane stood sniffling with tears, but Roan was still trying to get at his brother. His chest was heaving and his green eyes were furious.

"The bachelor party, then the toast!" Roan roared, pulling against the restraining arms of his father and uncle. "Why are you doing this to me!"

Zane's wet eyes filled with hurt. "Because you left me alone!" he bellowed.

Roan paused. "I . . ." His ears flattened.

"Left me alone," Zane repeated sullenly. He scowled at Roan. "You idiot! We were supposed to always be together! We were going to raise our children side by side!"

"We can see each other any time!"

"That's not enough!" Zane shouted, his voice a sob.

"Why isn't it enough!" Roan shouted, his voice a sob too.

"I dunno!"

They both began to cry. Sobbing and moaning, they were released, and they went to each other and hugged.

"You know how hard it was," Zane blubbered, "losing everything at once? I lost Yuri and I lost you and Theo - Theo is my best friend! God help me, I even missed Enya!"

Enya looked indignant.

"I kn-know," Roan sniffled and patted his brother's back. "I'm s-sorry!"

"I'm s-sorry too!"

Standing in the midst of the mess they'd made, Roan and Zane rocked back and forth as they sobbed and held each other. All around, their family looked on.

Yuri came to Enya, her eyes still fixed on the blubbering boys. "It could have been worse," she said with a shrug.

Enya shook her head and folded her arms. "Boys."