Treating my girl right (Open) - Darius and Crew

She smiled and nodded.

"Both safe is best. Especially if it's new."

He smiled.

"Couldn't have said it better myself, Elizabeth."

She looked so very happy at his agreeing with her.

He grinned.

"Well, it seems that you've been busy, Thalion. I'm proud of you."

Thalion's back straightened with the praise.

"I knew what I wanted and I went and got it. That's all."

He smiled.

"So you did. Still, it takes courage."

Thalion actually blushed. He nodded.

"Ya, thank you. You showed me that I control myhappiness, not others. I had to reach out and take things for myself."

"So... thank you."

He smiled and held out a hand toward Thalion.

"You are most welcome. I think it was needed."

Thalion placed his hand in Darius's.

"Yes."

She smiled at her fellow ghoul.

"Thalion is going to be strong. I know it."

"My name means strength in my family's tongue, maybe now I'll live up to it."

He drew Thalion into his lap -- one leg, actually. With his free hand, he brought Elizabeth up to sit on his other leg. He had a decent lap. He nuzzled first one ghoul, then the other.

"You are both so very special to me."

She nuzzled back, tucking her head onto his shoulder.

"No one's ever told me I'm special." He said quietly. Nuzzling against his cold dead domitor and also feeling the heat of Bethy.

She reached out to rest a hand on Thalion's cheek.

"You are very special."

He frowned at that, looking over at Thalion.

"Are you starting to believe me when I say that you're special now?"

"Yes... if both of you value me, then I'm worth something."

"But do you value yourself? Or do you base your own self-worth on what other people think of you?"

"I'm starting to value myself now." Thalion said witha smile, then looked over at the two of them.

He smiled, then reached over to put a hand on the dead woman's cold one. He brought her hand over to slip into Thalion's, his own, and Bethy's. No, we're a perfectly normal household.

"We're family now, yes?"

She leaned forward and kissed Dolly's hand, then gave Thalion a gentle kiss on the lips, and then looked up at Darius.

"Yes."

Thalion leaned into Elizabeth's kiss maybe a touch too much and then grinned to them, "Ya, we are. Better because we're a family by choice."

He grinned.

"That, and because we try to support one another, always."

She smiled.

"Bethy will remember to feed Thalion."

He laughed, "I need to be reminded to eat! I'm afraid I'm the stereotypical starving model."