AN: Finally, I have returned. This update is quite short, almost absurdly so. However, it does finish out the chapter.

Chapter3.3: Revisiting the Past

Shadows and light, that which brings contrast and clarity to the world. It is shadows and light that allow the human eye to see. Should a human eye bear witness to the soft shimmer of reflection bouncing from the surface of the small forest-enshrouded pond, that eye would also see a sight most glorious.

"Shall I wash your back, Ero?" asked Karsi in a sweet, motherly tone.

"Yes, please." said human form Ero as she stood naked in the water.

The equally nude elf maiden began her delicate work while Ero closed her eyes and smiled gently. The last two days had been absolute bliss. Surrounded by the natural world, but with no enemies to fight, she had enjoyed the gentle pampering of fairy sisters and her new friend Karsi.

Karsi's fingers danced lightly along the soft curvature of Ero's back. She took special care to lather the muscles of her fairy patient's wings.

"I can feel the light within you, sister." said Karsi as her clever fingers slipped along Ero's lower back. "You must think well of the father?"

Ero nodded her head twice then smiled. "I love him. He's my best friend."

"That is good. Does he feel the same?" asked Karsi curiously.

"I believe that he does." said Ero.

"That is even better. Far too often I have seen the end result of a passionate love between human and fairy become nothing but misery."

Ero bit her lower lip. "It happens a lot, huh?"

"It's the most common outcome." said Karsi softly while lathering Ero's hips gently.

"Scott's not like that." said Ero.

Karsi did not answer immediately. Instead, she spent a moment lathering her patient's body in a gentle but overly sensual manner. Ero moaned softly as she felt many of her cares and worries begin to slip away. There was a magic in Karsi's hands that had nothing to do with mana.

"The other, she is jealous." said Karsi.

"The other? Do you mean Rhea?" asked Ero.

"Yes. She is unhappy with the situation." said Karsi.

"It's complicated." said Ero.

Karsi laughed softly. "No. It is quite simple. I do not know your story, sister. However, I could see the truth in the eyes of all involved."

"I suppose." said Ero with a sigh. "I can't help the way things turned out. I love him, too."

"Of course you cannot. Things are never that simple." said Karsi. "You have a difficult path ahead of you little one."

Ero closed her eyes then nodded. "I know. But is not like Rhea is cruel to me. She loves me, too."

"Ah, even worse." said Karsi as she finished her task. "People need a method of venting their frustrations in order to overcome them. If she cannot think of you as an evil man-stealing fairy whore, what else can she do?"

Ero laughed in surprise then turned to look at Karsi. "What?"

Karsi merely smiled at her in that motherly way of hers then asked, "Shall I wash your front as well?"

"No, no. I can do that." said Ero.

"Yes, but do you want to do everything by yourself just because you can?" asked the elf maiden.

Ero blushed cutely then opened her arms. "Well, you're the doctor ..." She had understood the true meaning behind Karsi's words. Take advantage of help when it is offered.

Bath time had ended, and a little time had passed. Ero had returned to her normal size. Karsi had begun her diagnostic scans once more. Ero was stretched out gently on an oversized toadstool while the fairy doctor ran her fingers along her delicate frame. A wave of warmth and a sense of peace washed over the tiny girl.

"Your little light is strong, sister. I can feel her growing."

"How long do you think it will be?"

"At the current rate, I'd say five months before first manifestation. Coherency may take a few months longer."

"That soon?" asked Ero with a smile. Her nostrils flared slightly. "She is healthy?"

"Impressively so. She does not lack love." said Karsi with a smile of her own. "I do not foresee complications at this time, but we do still need to see how the tidal forces and celestial alignments will alter the situation."

"I'm so glad." Ero closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.

"This is your first child." Karsi lightly stroked Ero's hair. "It is normal to be concerned."

Ero reached down and lightly stroked her abdomen. "I'm still glad."

Karsi tilted her head to the side for a moment then stood up. "You're doing well little mother. So far bathing in the sacred waters, and the occasional hot oil massage have done wonders for you."

"Thank you. I am glad that I came to you. I don't know much about how to deal with this sort of thing."

"You have not asked your mother?"

Ero shook her head. "I... My mother was lost to me long ago."

"I see. Well, I am here for you. Ask me anything that you like. I will teach you as much as I can in the time that we spend together, little one."

The fairy girl shared a small smile with Karsi. "Thank you."

Several giggles exploded throughout the air as a small cavalcade of fairies fluttered into the area. Now that Karsi was done, it was time for them to reclaim their big sister, Ero.

"Go, play with the others." said Karsi. Ero beamed a bright smile then fluttered up to join her new friends. The fairy cluster flew away to play among the trees and to buzz above the water like sexy little butterflies and the naughtiest of mosquitoes.

The elf maiden smiled at them as they played. Their musical laughter filled the forest and warmed the heart. While the fairies played, Karsi committed certain things to memory. Fairy births were hard, especially the first. Ero's little light shined brightly, but it was still quite fragile.

"Stay strong little one." said Karsi as she watched Ero flutter among the branches of the ancient forest. Her jubilant laughter was quite endearing. As far as Karsi was concerned, Ero was a sweet and innocent girl who needed a mother's love. It was one reason why she had taken up the task of becoming a fairy doctor. They were sweet girls, but often discarded by those who claimed to love them.

Flighty and mischievous by nature, they were also universally naive and tended to believe someone when they said that they loved them. Many broken hearted fairies had lost their little lights because of their sorrow. It would be a tragedy if a child as sweet as Ero lost her light due to the vagaries of mere human emotion.