"It does now that I'm back in it!" Arven could not help but respond with a roguish twinkle, oft reverted to his youth when in the presence of family.

But as they sat down to eat, his tone became more earnest; "thank you for the invitation to dinner, uncle. It warms my ragged heart to see you all again, it truly does." Even though to Brannon he often seemed the mirror of his wayward father, Arven's respect for the patriarch ran deep. And it always would; no matter where the road might take him, and no matter where time flew.

-fade out-