Despite everything good that the two had done for her, Mari found herself constantly on the verge of either tears or just completely breaking down. She didn't know exactly where she was, despite the couple telling her, or how long until she'd be fit enough to go home. She didn't know if she'd be back in time for Christmas or not... there was only a few weeks left, but they had gone past so quickly. She wondered if Sage was aware of what had happened. Was he looking for her? Had he thought worse? And what about the rest of her family? She didn't know how Silas and Liz were doing. Finally, though, when she'd been walking around and helping out enough, the older woman offered to help her home... they could get half way and get on a cart for the rest of the journey. They weren't exactly keeping her captive, but they'd advised her against going along while her wound was still opened, but it had scabbed over quick enough. And, she was so anxious to go home, and just to fall into the arms of whoever would hold her the longest.

Sage had only slept for a few hours before he woke again with a groan. He sort of just sighed and wrapped himself around her pillow, attempting to hold back tears. He was sort of just staring at the wall, mind circling as it always did. He ended up sobbing into her pillow the same as always too, and as always he again forced himself up in the morning to splash some water on his face and go make dinner for the kids before they woke. They seemed happy enough....but Silas would ask where Mari was eventually, and what was he supposed to tell him? The boy didn't understand death. He didn't know what it meant. And honestly, sage didn't want him to. But what other reason wouldn't Mari come back to them? He didn't know. He thought that a lot....I don't know. It was aggravating, as was how much of a mess he was with handling all of this. He'd delt with grief alone before. Why couldn't he now? He didn't understand. He would've given up a long time ago....but the kids. He had to take care of the kids. Mari would want that. That was the only thought that kept him going.

Mari sat happily at breakfast with the two, despite being more than ready to go home... she wanted to see her husband, her kids and get back to normal... though, she wasn't exactly sure how everything would go. She wasn't sure what Sage was told. If he'd been told anything. She'd been gone longer than her job at the castle by now, and she wasn't sure how everything had gone now. It had been a small attack, just to keep the castle on its toes. To scare them a bit, she thought. She was lucky to be alright... thanks to these people. She wasn't sure what would have happened otherwise. She was thankful that these people had forgotten to tie her hands, that they didn't notice her wriggling at first. She didn't know where she might have ended up. She invited the two to dinner after Christmas... it was the least she could to. Soon enough, though, the older woman said it was time to get going if they wanted to be back by dark, and despite it being difficult, Mari having a slight limp, they got to a cross roads where they managed to get a cart to the village. They'd be back soon, and Mari couldn't be more relieved.

Sage had dully set the kids up with breakfast, sort of lingering there for a bit until he noticed Anthony down at the barns. He kissed the kids goodbye, instructing Silas to get Anthony if they needed anything, before heading off to the tavern again. The day seemed super long and super short, as always. It was always the same thing...fake a smile, act like nothing was wrong, try and keep the house going by himself. Well...Edith and Anthony helped with the kids and the horses, of course, while he worked....but even so they were grieving too, and he hated to ask anything of them. Soon enough though, it was time to head home. He came in quietly, since the kids were normally in bed, and collapsed onto the couch with a weary sigh, falling asleep almost instantly. Sleep wasn't exactly peaceful...but he didn't get much of it at all, and he needed what he could get if he wanted to keep going. Especially when he could feel himself sick. He couldn't really take an off day though...a fever and cough couldn't stop him from taking care of the kids when he was all they had. It wouldn't be right.

Mari sat peacefully on the back of the coach, albeit it was getting darker by the time they got to her cottage. It seemed so quiet... none of the lights were on, and there wasn't a sound in the yard, other than the occasional whinny and snort from the yard. It was a bit strange... Sage was always down there. She thanked the woman, and invited her over a few weeks later. After Christmas. It wasn't long away. She watched her leave, though, that kind smile across her face, and sort of gave her little wave. She looked back to the house, her head cocked. Was anyone even in? She wasn't sure. She sort of knocked on the door, just encase they were asleep, before sort of wondering in, her heart in her throat. She was shaking slightly... she wasn't sure, but she was so glad just to walk in there.

Sage had sort of stirred slightly when he heard the noise at the door, though he didn't quite wake up from where he was sprawled on the couch. He just couldn't. Something in the back of his mind dimly told him he should be getting, seeing what that was....but his body refused to move. Refused to get up. It was slightly annoying, but he was just so tired that he pretty much forgot about it soon enough. He'd have to be up in a few hours again, so he quite honestly took all he could get. Especially sick....he needed every last minute he could take in order to try and get better.

The girl sort of stood in dark for a moment, though when she heard a slight noise from the couch, she looked over, only to see Sages figure there. Why wasn't he in bed? Was he okay? And what about the kids, were they alright? In the house, even? She didn't want to scare him. It had been damn near two months by now, so she wasn't sure what he would have thought. She sort of wandered over, just sort of looking at him. She didn't want to wake him. So, despite her sort of shaking, she went to sit at the table, trying to console herself as she felt her eyes welling with tears. She wasn't sure why... she was just so glad to be back, maybe. She hoped.

Sage woke up soon enough, with the sun, as always, dragging himself up off the couch and up to their bathroom to get ready. He heard silas's little feet pattering about soon enough though, so he wandered downstairs to get him his breakfast. "Hey buddy," he sort of murmured when the boy met him partway to the kitchen, grabbing his hand and babbling happily as they wandered to the kitchen. He saw Mari, though he'd been seeing her everywhere for a while now, so he sort of just frowned slightly and blinked hard, trying to ignore it. He reached for the plates, though when he turned around, Silas was....crawling onto her lap? That caused his to squint over at them. How was he touching her? She wasn't...was she here? He didn't want to get his hopes up that Mari was back home, but....if she wasn't real, how was he touching her. "Mari," he sort of breathed out, sort of asking if it was really her. If she was really here and alright. He was trembling by then, hoping but so, so afraid.

Mari eventually drifted off to sleep, her head on her arms as she rested her head on the table. Her face was red, and tears stained her cheeks... she didn't know why she hadn't woken Sage up... she should have. She wanted nothing more than to just fall into his arms and sit with him. To breathe in his scent and hear his voice. But she couldn't wake him, not when he looked so... frail. It wasn't until she felt the slight weight on her lap she started to wake up again... she instinctively shielded her side, not wanting to harm herself any more. But when she woke to see Silas, she wrapped her arms around him, probably tighter that she should have, still trembling and trying to withhold her tears. It didn't work too well, though. When she heard the voice behind her, she flinched a little, and Silas jumped from her lap as she turned to her husband, standing there and trembling almost as much as she was. A small sound escaped her as she stood up, almost knocking the chair behind her down and rushed over to wrap her arms around him waist, just holding onto him and burying her face into his chest. "I..." she trailed off as her voice broke, not really knowing what to say... or do.

Sage felt the plate slip from his hands when she turned to face him, and he wrapped his arms around her tightly when she came to him, a sob choking him as he buried his face in her shoulder. "My God," he choked out. "What happened," he gasped out. "We....we all thought you were dead," he added, voice breaking, tightening his grip on her. Though after a moment he pulled back slightly, checking her over and then ending to cup her face, still panting and trembling. "Are you alright?"