Theodoren looked back and forth between the two new people, and the many small people that had flooded into the room. "When I said you should find someone else to play with you, this is not what I imagined."

Daisy laughed softly. She pulled the two adults forward. "These are Kailana and Bellin. They are not joining us in any romantic way. In fact, they are in a delightful partnership with each other." She waved towards them, then at the crowd of children. "They're going to help us raise these kids."

He stared at them, then at Daisy. "When do you get to the part about how you went out with your kid here, but come back with another dozen or so of them?"

Daisy colored. "I know, I know! There were some that just needed help, and well, I'm not going to turn them away." She patted the head of one that hugged her leg.

Michelle managed to roll over on the bed, just about big enough to want to crawl everywhere. "Hi," she piped with far greater confidence than a child her age should have. "You brought a lot of them."

"Hi baby." Daisy lifted the little mouse into her arms and held her close. "Things got complicated. I was busy fighting, but I ended up helping people." She looked towards Theodoren. "I hope you're not too mad." For all her size, she deflated at the imagined shouting coming at her. "I should have asked first."

Theo sighed, patting her shoulder gently. "It's okay. Honestly. You've always taken care of kids that need you, right? Not even a bit of a surprise." He let out a long sigh, then turned his gaze on Kailana and Bellin. "So, uh. Thanks for watching the kiddos, but where are they staying?"

Daisy perked at that. "Oh! Cedric and Selena are touring around, looking for big enough places that are on the market for me to look at. This suite just won't, um, fit us all." She laughed nervously. "Want to go with me, check what they find?"

He seemed about to refuse, but gave a nod. "Sure. It's not like we're going to just stay here."

Kailana smiled, waving as she went. "I don't think I have seen much of this campus."

Theo pricked up a vulpine ear. "Well, I know this campus like the back of my hand. Kailana, was it? You and your boyfriend come with me."

Bellin swatted Theo on the back. "I am her husband, but thank you." He laughed gently. "Come on then, show us what we're going to be living by. Have to make sure it's good enough for the family."

Daisy smiled at the group, watching them head off. She turned with Michelle in her arm. "Now that we are, oh." She noticed a child had stayed and settled on the bed. "And you are... I am terrible with names. Little one, tell me, and know you'll have to remind me until I get it, silly brain."

He puffed up a little, smiling. "I'm Adriel." He put his hands on either side of him and pushed himself up. "I wanted to come home with you, but I'm too tired to follow around all day."

Daisy drew the boy up into her lap to join Michelle. "And this is Michelle. You two are siblings, adopted. Play nicely, hm? I have enough love and attention to go around." She settled in, settling them to rest on her chest. "Let's all cuddle up and relax."

Michelle reached out and patted Adriel on the cheek. "Hey."

Adriel looked at her with surprise that turned into a smile. "Hi."

Daisy settled back and relaxed, bringing the two children in to rest with her. "We're a bit large of a family, but I plan to do right by you all."

Adriel shifted against her. "Miss Daisy?"

"Mm?" She glanced down at him.

"I like you." He leaned his head back to look up at her.

"I like you, too, baby." She kissed the top of Adriel's head. "Precious thing. Were you in school before? You look old enough to be thinking about that."

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He nodded quickly. "I'm eight. Momma said I would start next summer." He frowned softly. "She can't help me anymore, so I'm glad you want to."

"Of course I do." She squeezed the two kids a little tighter, though not uncomfortably. "Mm, we'll look into that, get you going right here." She ruffled the top of Michelle's head. "You have a few years ahead of you where you get to just learn how to be you."

Michelle smiled up at Daisy. "I am excited to be me."

Daisy found herself laughing in a sudden burst, rocking the three of them back and forth as she hugged. "I'm glad you are! But if you ever aren't, you talk to me. That goes for either of you." She squeezed them a little more firmly.

Adriel seemed about to say something else when the door opened, Cedric, Selena, and Theo filing into the room. Cedric looked around and blinked. Daisy returned the surprised look. "Where are our new nannies, and the rest of the kids?"

"They're getting settled, exploring around." Theodoren waved his hand. "I think we might have to watch for them though. We don't know much about them yet." He smiled at the small pile of family.

Cedric clambered up, taking Michelle away for his own hugs. "You're being paranoid. They seem really nice. Oh! Daisy, we found some nice places for you to look at."

Daisy nodded along. "Let's go." She put a hand on Adriel. "Are you up for coming with me?"

Adriel shook his head. "I'm still tired, but I'll be good."

Daisy tucked him in on the plush bed. "Then relax. You have adults here that will gladly take care of you." She glanced at the others. "Right?"

Selena nodded, and moved to start helping get Adriel settled in.

Theodoren rolled his eyes. "Sure, let's babysit while she goes off to do what she wants." He gave her a smile.

She leaned in, tapping her nose to his. "I'll make this up to you. I know I'm being a bit of a jerk." She kissed the tip of his nose. "Come on, we'll get going."

Cedric and Theo joined them as they headed off towards a small collection of houses. It was just off campus and for sale. Daisy eyed them appraisingly. "Most of these are too small for what I had in mind."

"You're looking the wrong way." Cedric spun her around and waved at a building she had assumed belonged to the campus.

"Oh! This isn't part of the university itself? Looks big enough to host a class or two." She looked it over with obvious wonder in her tone and expression.

Theodoren shrugged. "This was the house for the university head when it was planned, but he never moved in and decided to sell it off." He turned her back the way she was facing with a smile. "So it's for sale." He clicked his tongue. "Told you I know this campus."

Cedric clapped gently. "I didn't know all that, but it is for sale. Rumor has it it's been on the market a while, so the price has come down from where it started."

Selena squeezed Daisy's hand. "If you don't have enough, we can help you out."

Daisy hugged Selena gently. "Thank you. Let's go look at it before I buy it." She drew her money back from her hip. "I so rarely have a need for you." The thing only held money, but held it securely, and without jingling. A bag of holding, just for cash. Examining it, a number appeared before her. "How much is it going for?"

"About eight thousand." Cedric waved her inside. "It was ten when it went up for sale. Like Theodoren said, nobody wants it."

Theo nodded. "They say the place is haunted."

Daisy huffed at that. "Probably not, and if it is, a paladin's just the sort to buy and clean it out, hm?" She did a circle around the building with Michelle, rocking the babe. "Two stories, good. Looks big enough to do what we want. This could become an orphanage. But, really, we should talk to the university and make sure they're okay with this idea."

Theodoren laughed. "I think they're going to be fine with a well-meaning person taking care of lost children, but if you want some kind of agreement made with them, go right ahead.

"Better to ask and get a yes, instead of charging ahead and making them mad at us." She moved Michelle towards tastefully exposed teat to drink from. "I'm on good terms with them, let's not ruin that."

***

Daisy met with the dean of the university, which turned out to be an older, rather plump man. "Well, I can't say I expected this to be your return." He waved a hand at the papers in front of him. "An orphanage? The first dean would pass out if he heard." He laughed at the idea. "What would have been his home, instead to a bunch of lost waifs. A fine fate for it."

She smiled at that, but she still looked nervous. "You're fine with us running this, right? I don't want to step on any toes, or cause trouble for the school."

He waved the issue away. "If you are mindful of the property and pay your taxes on time, I have no objections. I would rather ask if you want to run an orphanage where wizards and training are close at hand?"

She laughed softly. "I can't see why I wouldn't. Honestly, I don't see most of the students here causing a problem. I was one of them not long ago.." She leaned back slowly. "It seems we're all in agreement then." She offered a hand. "I'd like to buy that building."

He took her hand and gave it a pump up and down. "Excellent! I'll let you know that I do believe the place to be haunted. Some say by a wizard's ghost, while others say a spirit that just wants to be left alone. Either way, there's been strange happenings there for some time." The dean cleared his throat. "But, for a paladin like yourself, I imagine you'll be fine."