Rumor's Confirmed

          They reached the house to find Alexei, Desmond, Colten and Fili waiting on the terrace, talking quietly.  They turned together hearing the approaching footsteps, each giving them a smile, their expressions holding worry as they looked at Roark.

          "Ah, there you are," Alexei said, reaching out to pull Roark against him for a hug.  Not one to EVER refuse a hug, Roark burrowed closer, returning his hug.  "Are you okay, kiddo?"

          "I will be, Lex," he answered, "especially now that Rodolphus is back and I can finally be back in his arms.  The rest, I think...hope, will work itself out eventually."

          "Hope does spring eternal," Fili said as he gently pried Roark away from Alexei to hug him himself.  "And just so you are aware, the docs and healers of the family are looking to give you a more thorough exam."  A grin as he looked down at him.  "They got all worried when you ran out of here."

          "Why do I get the feeling," he began as he was gently pulled away from Fili by Colten, "that I'm going to be the  cause of a war within the family?"

          "What do you mean?" Colten asked as he hugged him.

          A grin as he lifted his head from Colten's chest.  "All of you wanting to hug me at once," he answered, "and of course they do.  A bunch of old women worry warts is what they are."

          "We heard that!"  Schyler shouted from inside the house, getting more than a few chuckles, even as Roark shook his head.

          "And just for that, you get an extra poke with the needle!" Robin appeared in the patio doorway, a warm smile curving his lips, though he, like the others, looked worried.

          Drawing free of Colten, Roark put hands on his hips...silver eyes amused.  "Just you try it, Robert Stranton-Durin, and see what happens."

          Laughter sounded as Sebastien came out of the house, closely followed by Severus.  "You really ought to know by now that your threats of retaliation don't scare him all that much.  He'll only find something else to threaten you with."

          "Don't I know it," he said as fingers sifted gently through his hair.  "Yes, Severus?" he asked with an arched brow.

          A frown as he studied him.  "You.  Us.  Exam room.  NOW!"

          "Nope," Colten grinned when Severus turned to scowl at him.  "Dinner is in fifteen.  Dad wants him to eat, which means your exam will have to wait.  Ki, show them upstairs.  Dad put them on the second floor in the suite across from Ethan and Dylan's rooms.  Rabastan, Harry, you'll be in the suite across the hall from me."

          "Will do, cous," he said with a mock salute.  "Come on, you four, let's get you settled," he said, leading them into the house and up the Grand Staircase to the second floor.