[GF - Short] Bedtime Stories

"So... what happened next?" the small voice inquired within the darkened room. Moonlight slowly pouring in from the nearby window but only slightly as the heavy drapes had been pulled shut ever so tightly. The young eyes watched as gentle hands delicately light the candles on the dresser, then the small flame that moved across the room to light the ones near the chair. Messy bangs fell before their eyes as they huffed them out of place.

"Well...... What happened next?"

"Patients little one..." came the storytellers voice. Her hands reached down carefully lifting the child up and resettling them upon her lap. Reaching to the child's face she helped move the hair around then stopped to touch smaller faces cheek. Her eyes where weathered, tired looking as if she had seen more in her lifetime then others. The candles lit the room well as she now glanced towards the mirror seeing her own grey-haired reflection within it. Smiling softly at some unseen reflection her gaze turned back towards the honey haired child before her. "You see... Even thought the demons won a great victory. They sealed their fate, for at least one still stood tall. Ready to defy them still. Alone this single Magi stood against them all. A sword in one hand shining like the moonlight this very night."

The young child gasped hanging on every word and detail. After a moment they realized it stopped with no continuation. Shaking their head their expression turned from wonder to dismay, "What happened then I must know Grandma!" Squirming on the older woman's lap the child continued begging for the stories end. The older of the pair carefully stood up, hoisting the child carefully in her arms as she carried them to the door. On instinct the door opened slowly as a younger woman took the child, carefully brushing back her own tailed blonde hair to one side. "But Grandma!"

"Hush now little one.... dream of what I told you and rest. That's it for the story now."

"Aww."

"Rest well Milady..." The younger woman smiled taking hold of the child. The boy gently grabbed the next woman and pouted before letting out a mighty yawn. His head hit her shoulder as he swiftly passed out asleep in the woman's care. "Is there anything you wish me to ask of the Empress?"

"No... no tell Liliane if she asks that I will see her in the morning. And thank you Cecilia... good luck on your patrol's tonight."

"Thank you for your well wishes Lady Relena...." Glancing over her shoulder the Wind Mage smiled towards the Lightning Mage who disappeared from view. "Oh.... and I know he is there... he can stop being a protector already and come inside..."

Relena laughed a bit at the empathic woman knowing good and well what she referred to, "Oh we both know he wont' let himself in until he's ready."

"Still I worry about his health, he isn't a young man anymore."

The elder woman smiled then then sighed contently, "Are any of us truly young anymore? I'll see what I can do but just be ready to send someone if he doesn't."

Cecilia smirked turning to leave with the young crowned prince. Humming slightly she rubbed his back while making her way past the various doorways, closets and windows. Glancing out at one she observed a small gathering below surrounded by a sea of wolves. Her smile grew as one was tackled by the beasts, the others close by laughing a bit. Keeping her pace to her destination, the Wind mage gently knocked upon the door upon arrival before stepping inside.

Back at the Empress's bedroom the older woman made her way towards the heavy curtains and gently pulled one aside, "You can come inside you realize you are not a Knight or a Mage anymore. Remember? Your their mentor now."

"So when did my battles become bedtime stories?" he asked softly turning his prussian blue eyes towards the woman he loved.

"When your memory served as a beacon of hope and strength for all of them." she replied looking at Heero with a slight smirk before guiding him back into the room.