fandomhigh | Library, Saturday

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Library, Saturday

When the portal had opened up on the way to Zhahar's work, the sisters hadn't even paused to discuss it. Zhahar was diving through as Zeela and Sholeh cheered inside her head, Zeela effortlessly taking the body as they rolled out onto the warm expanse of Fandom lawn. As soon as she ascertained that there was no danger (always a possibility with Fandom), she'd given the body to Sholeh who was practically vibrating with excitement. There was really only one place for Sholeh to go. The library had been her favorite place in Fandom, even more 'hers' than their dorm room had been. It just felt right to head back there.

And when the books clustered around her and greeted her like an old friend, she knew she'd made the right choice.

Oh, it felt so lovely to be back!

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=Sholeh,= Zeela said softly. =You should look up.=

True, Sholeh's sisters could only see out of Sholeh's own eyes, but Zee had always been much more observant than either Sholeh or Zhahar. So she'd noticed the small head peering in through the doorway, and even on a tiny face, Yeul's expression was recognizable.

"Hmm?" Sholeh murmured, doing as Zeela said and glancing up.

Green eyes met green as Sholeh stood up with a gasp, book falling, unheeded, to the floor. And then she was dashing over to the doorway, skirts rucked up to her knees. "Yeul! Oh Yeul!" she cried.

"Sholeh!" Yeul said, reaching out for a hug as Sholeh got closer. "You're here!"

It was strange, it really was, how unreservedly happy Yeul was about that.

"I'm glad!"

And she really was.

"I am!" Sholeh said, scooping Yeul up and hugging her tightly. There were tears, but they were happy ones, so she didn't think Yeul would mind if Sholeh got her shirt a little damp. "And so are you! Oh, Yeul, I've missed you so much!"

Yeul didn't mind at all, and held on as tightly as her little arms could.

"I've missed you too, Sholeh," Yeul said gently. "And Zeela and Zhari too."

"Do you mind if they come out and say hello?" Sholeh asked. "It's getting very noisy in there, with both of them clamoring to see you."

She squeezed Yeul a little bit tighter as she asked. She was willing to share the greeting with her sisters, but Yeul was her best friend and they'd better understand that.

Yeul's smile turned even gentler.

She understood--better than she'd thought she would, in all honesty.

"I should like to see them both," she said agreeably. "But then I should also like to see more of you."

"They can come out and say hello," Sholeh decided. "But then I'm coming right back out and they can just sometimes use my voice if they really need it."

Sholeh didn't even put Yeul down to shift into Zeela. There was a moment when her arms sagged a little, but they firmed up again, stronger than ever just a second later.

"Hey munchkin," Zeela said, spinning with Yeul before pulling her in for a hug of her own. "You got short. Is Caius here with you?"

Yeul laughed softly, not even the slightest bit concerned about falling.

"Hello, Zeela," she said, smiling. "It's nice to see you. Caius couldn't make it, but if you called him, I am sure he'd answer his phone."

"I might have to do that," Zeela said. "Though look at him, letting tiny-you off by yourself. I'm impressed!"

Now Zeela was going to call him. Just to let him know that she was here and would be keeping an eye on Yeul in his stead. She figured he'd appreciate it.

"Ugh, Zhari's nagging for her turn, but you wanna get tossed up in the air a few times before I go? You're light as a feather, you are. I'd better be gentle or you'll probably end up sailing through the ceiling!"

Liara was here! It wasn't like Yeul was entirely alone, though Caius would never have, uh, lost Yeul.

But Caius would appreciate the call!

"I wouldn't mind," Yeul said, though it was hard to tell if she meant the tossing or the going through the ceiling bit. Well. Yeul.

Yeah, Zeela knew how very much Yeul 'didn't mind'. But that was fine, Zeela could mind plenty for her.

So she cheerfully tossed Yeul up about a foot or so, catching her easily each time she came back down. "Definitely gonna have to feed you lots of ice cream and sweets over the weekend. You weigh about as much as dandelion fluff." She cuddled Yeul close and gave the body over to Zhahar.

Who continued that hug. "Hello, Yeul," she said softly. "It has been a very long time."

The tossing and being caught was pleasant enough--moreso, because Zeela looked happy than because of any other reason--but Yeul liked the hug at the end the best, and was happy when Zhari continued it.

"It has been," she said, smiling up at her. "I have missed you. Have you been well?"

"Well enough," Zhari said, nuzzling Yeul's cheek with her own. "We've been sent off again, this time to a city called Vision. Sholeh's enrolled in the university there, which I'm sure she'll be happy to tell you all about. And I work in a Sanctuary, called Asylum. I just clean, mostly. How are you? You look well."

Much better than she had often looked at this age, if Zhari remembered correctly.

"And I missed you, too. So very much."

"Are you happy with your work?" Yeul asked curiously. She snuggled into Zhari happily. "Caius and Liara found me and now we're mostly at a dig site so that Liara can work. Caius is happy."

So was Yeul.

"It's interesting and it pays well," Zhari said, which wasn't entirely an answer. "I'm learning a lot and it's close to nursing, which interests me. But, most importantly, it's good work and it doesn't ask a lot of questions. For a Tryad, that's most important. And I'm with my sisters, so I'm not lonely. It isn't Fandom, but we make due."

It wasn't Tryadnea, either. And that was important.

"I'm sorry, Zhari," Yeul said gently. "I wish you were happy."

All of the things she'd listed sounded okay to Yeul, but it clearly wasn't enough for Zhari.

"At least you are here for the weekend?"

"And glad to be here. Among friends."

That was what Vision was missing, more than anything else. Friends, people they could trust and talk to, people who knew them for who and what they were, and wouldn't judge. Fandom had spoiled them terribly in that regard.

"But I should give you back to Sholeh now," Zhari said with another squeeze. "She's getting terribly impatient. She missed you most of all of us. You were such a good friend to her, Yeul. To all of us, but to her especially."

"Alright," Yeul said simply. "Though I do enjoy talking to you and Zeela as well."

Sholeh was her best friend, but she loved Sholeh's sisters too and wanted them to know that.

"We know," Zhari said. "And we like talking to you, too. But we were sad when we missed you. Sholeh hurt. And that difference is why we're okay with fading back and letting Sho get you for a little while."

And with that, Zhari let Sholeh come to the fore, blonde waves turning to copper ringlets. "Hi," Sholeh said, giving Yeul another hug just because she could. "Oh, Yeul, I'm so glad you're here. I wasn't sure who else would be showing up and I was scared you wouldn't."

"But I did," Yeul said calmly, resting her small head against Sholeh's shoulder. "And your fears are unfounded."

She wasn't really sure what to make of Zhari's words, so she tucked them away to think about later.

"I did not expect to miss you as much as I did when you left," Yeul said quietly. "I haven't missed anyone in a very long time, so I was surprised at the way it made me feel. Now that you are here, it is better."

"It is much better," Sholeh agreed, bringing Yeul over so they could sit together. "I've never been as happy anywhere as I was on Fandom and you were a big part of that. You're a great best friend, Yeul. Thank you so much for being mine."

"I still am yours," Yeul said gently. "You sound as if you are saying farewell already."

"I'm sorry," Sholeh said immediately. "I'm not trying to? But I just left without saying so many things. Without realizing all the things I should have said. And I don't want to lose that chance again."

"It's alright," Yeul replied. "Nothing to be sorry for. It is just that it sounded so melancholy, when I am simply glad to see you."

That was a bit of a turnaround, wasn't it? Enough to startle a laugh out of Sholeh, anyway. "Well, I won't be melancholy anymore. Not until tomorrow at least. Tell me all about where you live and what your life is like now. You said you're living with Caius and Liara?"

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