This has been an adorable 3k words, just following Henge around for a day as she tends to her life and sees to her family. There really is nothing more important. In this final segment, the rest of the family comes home – Aurie in her typical style – and then dinner. To make it easier for readers, I have them speaking aloud, even though I think they normally just “think at” one another. I did like how neither child is the remotest uncomfortable with their parents’ physical affection. Not really sure where that entered into American culture, but I think kids should see their parents hold hands, kiss, casual contact; it’s normal.

For the next story, I was shown something just before Mass yesterday and am trying very hard to not think about it. An unpleasant situation for another of Fussy’s kids I’ve never really mentioned. We shall see.

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Older about the things Ninon had been hearing and trying to understand, Henge’s physical ears heard the soft putter of the CNG motorbike out front.  Her daughter’s ride.  She excused herself from her first family and promised she would be back very soon.  Sensing her father’s regret, she did take a last timeslice to again tell him how much she loved him.

“I’M BACK!” came the girlish shout from the front door, slammed open.  There was a pause, which Henge took to stand and wipe at her cheeks, as she heard boots coming off.  Not wearing outside shoes into the house was a tradition from her husband’s mother.

Skipping, the little one’s way around to not cause damage to her spine, Aurelia came around the corner and into her mother’s arms.  To a casual observer, her hair was nearly black, from her father.  But in the light, you could see the purple from me.  And, unlike my gold eyes, hers were dark until she touched our nature, then they shined like the sun.

“Mama!” she cried, hugging as hard as she could.  But…

“Aurie!  You’re filthy!  Covered in dirt and mud!  And now I am!”

“We were doing under-wire live fire exercises, and the DI let me go, too!  It was sooo fun!” Henge found it hard to stay mad in the face of her excitement.  “There was a new guy who seized up, so I touched my voice to help him.  We made it!”

Most androids, Henge, and now, her daughter, could manipulate sonics to tweak human behavior.  Having abused that once she learned of it – and after a severe spanking – Aurie knew to be very careful and only use it to help, not hurt.

“Then I am proud of you, Best Girl,” she smiled.  There was a beeping from the kitchen.  “You get cleaned up… a proper shower, young lady!  Your father and brother will be here in just a bit.”

“Sure, Mama!” she said skipping out before hopping up the steps.

Hearing the shower start, I’ll have to get her other uniform out, she brushed some of the dirt off her dress and went into the kitchen.  Timer off, with a hot mitt, she took the casserole dish out and set it atop the stove.  Rakott Krumpli needed ten to fifteen minutes to rest before serving.  A quick look about, and hearing the shower off, I hope she puts on clothes, showed everything was ready.

Which was well, as she could see her husband’s car pull into their parking spot.  Our family, together.  Thank you, Lord.  Letting his son in first, Gary took his wife into is arms for a passionate kiss, just as Roland took his shoes off and Aurie came down the stairs, with a tee shirt and shorts.  Neither of the kids reacted as some of their friends did when their parents were romantic.  It made both of them feel safe to know their parents were so close.

Reaching around the table, they held hands to give thanks.  Roland, then Aurie, then Henge took some food before Gary did.  Aurie had peach juice, to make up for her usual overactive day, and the rest water.  Alcohol was loathed by demi-humans.

“Your day, Husband?” she asked.

Gary went on a bit about one patient who had a neurological problem he did not know, but said that Roland had found an old, obscure, pdf in the Void about it, which might give them a clue for treatment. 

“That sounds to me,” Henge smiled, leaning over to ruffle her son’s hair, “that someone gets a scoop of ice cream after dinner.  If you finish your plate.”

He blinked his silver eyes at her.

“Thank you, Mama.  I was just trying to help.”

“Everyone,” the change in her husband’s tone was obvious, and they all paused, “here, is just a little different from our friends and neighbors.  But we are all doing our best, to make a new world in the Change.”

Hours later, and very close in bed after what they had just done, Henge reached up to touch Gary’s face.

“We fell in love when you were three.  I was, well, it doesn’t map to this world,” she smiled, her skin bright enough to read by.  “Is there anyone I could love more than you?”

“It’s possible,” he admitted in his usual dispassionate tone.  That nearly made her sad, but she was surprised when he pulled her closer and began touching her.  “But, no.  You are my wife and our children’s mother.  Forever.”