Who: Emily, Echo, and OPEN to party guests!
Where: by the Plancks' forest cottage
When: sundown
What: Surprise birthday party! I'll have Emily arrive after a few comments from other people.

Echo awoke earlier than usual Saturday morning, not surprisingly because she had much to do before the party in the evening. She dressed quickly and hoped that her mom hadn't started making breakfast yet. On her birthday, she wasn't allowed - ever since she was four, Echo insisted on making Emily breakfast in bed. Her meals improved over the years, thankfully. She reached the kitchen and found it empty, which was good. She set to work cooking pancakes, her mom's favorite breakfast in the entire world, and almost three-quarters of an hour later, she was finished.

Placing the plate of pancakes and a glass of juice on a tray, Echo carried it to Emily's room and opened the door. The movement stirred her mother, who sat up in bed. "Happy birthday to you," Echo started to sing as she neared the bed. "...happy birthday, dear Mom, happy birthday to you!" She grinned and gave Emily the tray, squeezing her shoulders in a hug.

( ''Oh Echo, thank you,'' said Emily... )

Making the excuse to leave was easier than Echo had expected, as was getting Emily to agree to come back to the cottage at sundown. She hurried back and went to her room to retrieve the party decorations. The baker soon arrived with the cake, so Echo set up a couple of tables for it to rest and brought out the rest of the refreshments. She draped streamers over various tree branches and positioned the tiki torches so that there was enough light. The sun neared the horizon now, and Echo changed just before the musicians arrived. She adored her yellow dress that Kazuki made her yesterday (and she immediately invited her to the party). Revealing, cute and definitely mature.

Excellent. Now all she had to do was hope that the guests came to the forest cottage before her mom returned. Time to get the party started!

Who: Mathias, Echo, joined by Emily and Sascha later
Where: the Plancks' forest cottage
When: early evening, a little while after this thread.
What: Mathias stops by to talk to his daughter.
A/N: To be continued in comments!

Watching Emily leave was painful, though he wouldn't admit to it; Mathias wanted to try and not burn the bridge any further than he had already. Of course, there was a bridge that was lit on fire that kept them apart for over ten years. Worse was - he added more fuel on the fire.

The night was crisp and like always, he dug his hands into his pockets, his feet rusting through the leaves that rest on the forest. Mathias knew that what he was doing perhaps was as dangerous as going into a pit full of snakes. He had no right to find out where Emily and Echo lived; he had no right to want to talk to Echo. Why now? Thirteen years ago he probably thought of her as... a thing?

Just as that thought came to mind, a chill filled the air and he even shivered. Emily was a strong woman alright. He bet she broke down when they parted down that road. Just like he bet she broke down all those years ago. But- he knew his old girlfriend. His good ol' Emily. She'd pick herself up.

There was a faint light, telling Mathias that he was in the dangerous waters. The "snake" pit. He swallowed hard as he was near. But there was someone outside... Someone that sure wasn't Emily.

Mathias approached slowly, pushing aside a small brush of branches as he saw...

"Echo..." he whispered softly, watching his daughter as she slept. Thirteen years he missed her sleeping and there she was, his first close glimpse of her was with her eyes closed.

( Echo couldn't help crying just a bit more... )

Who: Emily, Echo, Sanura and Mathias Andersen
Where: Helicharis
When: early afternoon
What: An unexpected reunion.

It was a brand new day. Emily smiled at Echo as the two headed down the main road of Helicharis with Sanura at their side. She decided that the best thing for the early afternoon was to have a snack from the bakery and find somewhere nice to sit and chat. Sundays were always the best time for relaxing and there wasn't anything nicer than to be with a friend. "What do you want to eat?" she asked the two other girls, turning towards the counter in the bakery to ask for some pastries.

They ate their snacks as they exited the bakery and walked on the road once more. Echo took a happy bite of her muffin, chewing and swallowing before glancing at Emily. "This is a really good day for fun!" she said. "I think we should sit by a fire and drink hot chocolate. What do you think?" Now that she was with her mother and her new friend, everything was going just fine.

"I like that idea!" Emily answered with a laugh. "It'll be good to relax. I'm quite in the mood for a lazy day inside." Her spirit was light and she reached for her daughter's hand to squeeze it gently. She felt so carefree and good that it was hard not to keep the smile from her face. This was so much fun, not doing much at all, being with her daughter, watching her smile.

( Helicharis was often a long road... )