She sighed softly, "We haven't even picked a wedding date yet, Pony, but we would like ta be married before the summer is out. We're not goin' ta fight o'er it either, ye and I, so if ye don't want ta make an effort, it is yer own problem. I'm done fightin' with ye o'er the matters o' me own heart." She waved her hand. "I'm not a little girl. I'm a woman grown, and I do not need yer permission to love. That's me final word on it, and I won't apologize." Still, she did not yell or scream or rally at him. Her words were calm and she was standing up for herself in a way she had never done so before.

She took herself to the kitchen, leaving the twins to crawl around at his feet. Niahm thought it would be cute to pull herself up by his pant leg and give a gap toothed grin up at her uncle, mouth covered in drool as she stood on her chunky little feet. She looked just like Karen, even down to the big, lovely brown eyes. "Baaahbabababa, thhptptptpt." said the little girl before flopping to her chubby rear. Her brother was a bit shy, sitting where he was at with a couple of wooden toys, clacking them together, not looking up at his uncle.

Karen returned soon enough with tea and sandwiches, moving to set the tray down on the empty side table.