Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

Tasia gasped, springing to her feet and running towards the door. "I'LL GET IT!!!"

Tadaaki watched her go with a little laugh.

She pulled the door open, then looked up at Tomhas with a playful look. "Who's there? You went knock-knock so now you have to tell me a joke."

Tomhas crossed his arms with a grin. "Alright, then. Wah!"

Tasia shrieked in joy, jumping backward and throwing the door the rest of the way open as she giggled.

Tadaaki and Aashi both smiled and stood up, nodding to him. "Hello!"

Tomhas chuckled, looking up at them. "I was going to finish the joke but apparently that's peak comedy right there! How are you three this fine morning?"

"Doing well," Tadaaki said with a grin. "And you?"

Tadaaki scooped up Tasia as she came prancing over to him, still giggling nervously. She leaned into Tadaaki, finding courage in his arms, and accusingly said. "You have to finish the joke now!"

"Well, I knocked, you asked who's there, and I said 'wah!' Do you know what to say next?" He looked to Tadaaki. "And I'm quite well; Ky's biological uncle just arrived and I wanted to invite you to come meet him."

"Oh?" Tadaaki's eyebrows shot up. Ky had been certain he'd been lost to time and distance by now. He'd come here? Gosh, she must be falling all over herself. She adored him so much.

"Oh," Tasia giggled. "I thought you were being silly. 'Wah' who?"

"What are you so excited about?" Tomhas threw his hands up in the air, then rested them comically on his hips as he looked down at Tasia, then returned his gaze back to Tadaaki. "She's delighted. They've gone to another sitting room; there'll be snacks and tea, the works. You're all welcome to come down and meet him!"

Tasia giggled, delighted by the joke.

"We'd love to!" Tadaaki said quickly. "He seemed to mean an awful, awful lot to her when she talked about him."

"Wonderful!" Tomhas clapped his hands. "Whenever you're ready, then. I believe they're on the first floor still."

Tadaaki had Tasia in his left arm, and he put his right around Aashi's shoulders, gently guiding her to the hall.

"I thought you said she said he wouldn't come back around?" Aashi asked, looking between them.

"That's what we all thought, but it seems it isn't so. He showed up at the gates less than an hour ago!" Tomhas stepped out after them. "I can't believe it myself. He seems very nice, though."

"I'm sure of it," Tadaaki agreed with a nod, striding down the hall. "I can't imagine any of Ky's family has a single mean bone in any of their bodies."

"Not if they can produce a child like her," Tomhas agreed. "She's very gentle, with a big heart. That's impressive in this day and age."

“It really is,” Tadaaki murmured. Especially after what she’d been through. But he kept that thought to himself. They all knew it. “She’s a good egg, that’s for sure. I look forward to getting a glimpse of one of the people who raised her.”