Nervous was understating it just a hair.

Regan couldn’t help but feel she was walking into the lion’s mouth. Keelan Morrigan ’s optimistic, playful attitude both soothed and unsettled her. Soothing, because she knew that he was pleased with her - and that such a thing was likely to be rewarded. Unsettling, because Regan feared Keelan had no idea just what lay in store for them in the garden. She was a commoner. An orphan. And he, a Morrigan.

Regan’s presence would be a shock at best, an insult at worst.

Though a commoner, today she didn’t look it. Keelan had dressed her, buying her a frock to match his suit. Her short hair was pulled out of her face with a shining silver pin - another gift from Keelan. There was certainly no shortage of them.

When he looked at her, Regan blushed and flashed him a smile. This was it. The first time they’d emerge into the light of day as…well, she wasn’t sure exactly. A couple, she supposed. Regan couldn’t quite wrap her head around that one, so she stopped trying.

Regan whimpered as Keelan caressed her, causing her to blush even more deeply. Yes, the ‘pregame’ had been quite instructive. Assurances that she would be on her best behavior were coupled with Keelan’s own method of…reinforcement.

“I can be good…” Regan whispered, grinning and bright-eyed like a kid in a candy store. Looking around and seeing no one, Regan kissed him quickly. “Let’s go.” Regan tucked closely against his side before following him into garden, as if he could shield her from rogue Morrigans coming to toss her from the premises.

Though other things were currently on his mind, there was little he could do about it at the moment. He'd told Ellison everything of course, he had no reason to hide anything from her. They entered the garden party hosted by the lovely Rosamere. They'd been friends for years though she and Fred had been closer. Ben had almost considered inviting his twin but decided it wouldn't make sense in a Morrigan family affair. He'd be sure to tell Frederick all about it.

The family arrived with their three children. Their adopted kids, Hollie who was eight and Otto who was six, were each holding onto one of baby Sarilla's hands as the three year old proudly walked with her older siblings. Ben looked at the three of them affectionately as he took @ellison's hand, bringing her hand up to tenderly kiss her knuckles.

It was as they entered that he noticed Regan Lassiter with Keelan Morrigan. The man had always...unnerved Ben. To see him with Regan, who he'd now seen countless times at varies family events with his cousin Grant, took him by surprise. He'd be sure that Grant and Regan would end up together eventually. So what was she doing here with Keelan?

Carter, now married with two kids, had of course come as well. She wasn't going to miss such a big family event. Things had been hard for her for a while but she seemed to be settling into her life as a wife and mother with just as much grace as she had always had.

Thorian, on the other hand, wasn't doing well at all. Carter had managed to convince him to come but it had been years since anyone had seem him in a clean state of mind. Ever since the death of Theo he'd officially gone off the deep end. He walked with a bit of a sway and looked a lot thinner than he had five years ago. His skin was pale and he had dark circles on his eyes. He fingers twitched and trembled with a constant need to seek out more of the drug. But hell, he was here right? That had to count of something.

[NPC permission given by Finn]

Ellison walked up hand in hand with Benedict Delaney. Her fingers curling with his as the kids wondered in ahead of them. It had been... an adjustment to have the two adopted children accepted into the family. Adder still was not very receptive, but he was no longer flat out ignoring them. Not since Sarilla had come along. Or Rilly, as many referred to her. Rilly proved that Ellison and Ben were trying to have children, though the pressure was starting to be put back on her.

She knew it as they entered and Adder's eyes moved from the children, his face softening at the sight of Rilly, then moved to Ben and Ellison. Her hand tightened in Ben's, watching as his gaze moved from them, to lower to her stomach. As if he could tell her womb was still empty as the last visit. Her shoulder's tensing as she knew what was to come as he approached. Kissing her cheek slowly as he greeted her. "No grandson yet I see." He muttered, just loud enough for Ben to overhear before he offered a hand to the royal guard to shake.

"Fair to assume it is not for lack of trying." Elli was quick to answer. "You know what Rilly had done to me," which was only answered with a scoff and a turn of his head. Making her step back and straighten her back. "It's good to see you too, father." She said coolly before she directed her and Ben further into the party. Only to pause as she saw Keelan with a woman... no, she knew this one. A paired soldier... Her eyes flashed between the two in surprise, then down to their hands, before she glanced over her shoulder at Adder. It seemed Adder was going to have a very interesting gathering indeed.

Regan, who had now linked her arm in Keelan’s, had practically plastered herself to his side. Tongue-tied, Regan just nodded in response and squeezed Keelan’s arm tight. The impulse to run was powerful, but the need to stay next to Keelan was even more so. Regan was a seasoned soldier, able to handle almost any foe that crossed her path, yet somehow this was more terrifying than any adversary she’d ever faced.

When Regan’s eyes fell on Conall Morrigan , she quickly looked away, eyes going instead to Rosamere Osxiano , who she also flitted her gaze away from. All of them had almost been party to a plot for treason. Whether they stayed in the business was none of Regan’s concern. Not since she’d distanced herself from the whole affair at Grant’s request.

Unsure of where else to look, Regan found the familiar face of Benedict Delaney . Since their initial meeting during her first Midnight House breakdown (a less than ideal introduction), from Delaney gatherings, she’d come to know Ben as a gentle, friendly sort. She smiled at him, stiff as a board and clinging to Keelan for dear life.

Adder had of course agreed to a family get together. Why wouldn’t he? It was his family. The children he had raised when his siblings had died. The ones he could’ve let go to an orphanage but he brought them in. The strongest unit was the family. While they all moaned and complained and made him to be the bad guy, each one of the children had him to thank for how they turned out. For better or worse.

Highly amused by Conall Morrigan coming to the aide of his little sister, he stared at his son. “Ever since she saved your ass, you seem to be rather soft with her.” He glanced around the party, looking for his wife but not finding her. “Shame I haven’t seen a grandchild period from you. At least Ellison tried. Where is your shining, barren wife?”

His attention didn’t linger on his son long. Because he was far more locked onto the stray that had wondered into his home, trailing beside his nephew, Keelan Morrigan. His lip twitched upwards in disgust but he quickly controlled it as his eyes moved over her. He could smell commoner even from this distance. His eyes moving to catch Keelan’s if he could. Clear disappointment and disapproval on his face before he turned towards little Rilly as she ran towards him exclaiming ‘Papaw!’ While he wanted a grandson, a clear softening happened as the child approached him. So much like Ellison, so much a Morrigan.