Rumor's Confirmed

          "I never thought I'd be saying this, but so am I," Thorin was scowling as he got to his feet.

          "As are we all.  You have broken his heart, Adama.  Shame on you."  Roark rose to his feet as well, stretching his arms over his head, a deep frown curving his brow as he looked at him with sapphire eyes.  "My youngest cousin did not deserve what you just did to him."

          Adama looked at each of them in turn.  "You are all telling me that your brothers," a look at Roark and Thorin, "your father's," his eyes swept over Roark, Aiden, and the rest of the cousins, Raiden and Kendric would have approved of this?" he asked, shaking of Harry's scathing words, hoping to still get them to see that this relationship between his grandson and Rodolphus was wrong.  "Roark, Thorin, surely you can see that this affair can't...no, it must not continue."

          "I see nothing of the sort," Thorin snapped out harshly.

           "Nor do I," Roark Sr. growled.

          "So if...say...Kili were to come to you and tell you he was in love with one of his cousin's you would be alright with that?"

          "Of course," came back instantly.  "He can no more help with whom he falls in love with than any of us can, and in case you have forgotten, Rodolphus is Selina's cousin once removed from her.  Roark is mine and Selina's son, making him Rodolphus' THIRD cousin.  IF Kili were to happen to come to me and tell me he was in love with one of his cousins, then so be it.  He is my son, and above all else I love him.  I would want nothing but for him to be happy.

          "THAT, after all, is what really matters.  What I see, Jacob--"  The sound of several throats being cleared at once had Thorin breaking off, looking around, "fine, fine.  What we ALL see are two men, and YES, granted, one of them is young, but all the same, they are very deeply in love with each other, and are, quite obviously, heart and soul mated."

          "Heart and soul matings are much too rare to deny when they DO appear.  It is not for me, for you, or for anyone else to deny them.  I will stand beside them, as will the rest of this family.  As would Raiden and Kendric were they still alive."

          "Well said, Uncle Thorin, Uncle Roark," Aiden was on his feet, stretching his long, lean body.  "Yes, Adama, we DO approve.  Absolutely.  THAT, Commander, is what a family's unconditional love is all about.  We love each other.  We SUPPORT each other.  We guard and protect each other over all else.  We all know none of us can help who we fall in love with...Hell, I myself would die for my husband, just as Roark was obviously quite ready to die for Rodolphus.  Therefore we will accept it for what it is, not what you and others say it should be.  That is the Durin way.  Family first.  ALWAYS."

          "I QUITE agree with all of you," Ila said before she rounded on her husband with a scowl on his face, "and they are not the only ones who are very disappointed in you, my husband.  Instead of being a gods damned prude, seeing only what is on the surface, letting others thoughts, feelings and teachings dictate to you, you would have seen what the rest of see."

          "Which is what?"

          "THAT, Commander is not for us to tell you," Roan spoke as he too rose to his feet.  "You need to start looking past all your preconceived notions of what you have been taught and raised to believe love SHOULD be, to what it actually IS."

          "Siress Ila," Raphael stood, his expression very cool.  "Commander.  With your permission, Schyler, the triplets and I will be over in a few centars to collect the few things Rory has at your place."

          "That would be fine, Raph.  I'll get the boys and Athena to help me pack up his room."  She smiled suddenly.  "Though I think his books, all his embroidery supplies, all his coloring books, his pens, pencils and markers, will take a bit of packing."

          Chuckles sounded.  "We'll bring some storage containers with us," Dylan said.  "Rory has the same obsession with books that Dad does, and as for his embroidery and coloring...Have you SEEN some of his finished works?"  He shook his head.  "He's even gotten some of us into that coloring craze of late.  He's right, it IS very relaxing and mind calming.  You relax as you loose yourself in what you are coloring.  You let things go, stop thinking of the things that are bothering you and NEED to let go of.  When you so go back to examine what was bothering you in the first place, it's with a clear head."

          Ila nodded, a smile curving her lips.  "Yes...exactly, and sometimes that is exactly what he needed.  It's a part of what got him through the Academy.  As for some of his finished works...I have a few framed and hanging on the walls of the main living area.  There is a cross stitch he did of the house and the lake behind us...I'll show it to you when you come over.  Stunning." 

          She turned then.  "We'll get going, Roark.  Boys, we'll see you in a couple of centars.  Come along, Jacob."

         Commander Jacob Adama paled a bit at not only the coolness of her tone, but the look in her eyes.  He would be receiving a tongue lashing on their way home that he was sure was going to be very painful.  

          "Coming, dear."