Exton

Monty stands in the doorway, a bemused expression on his face. He, Patti, and Pandora have been expressly forbidden from helping. Chloe's dragon companion lies along the edge of a cabinet, basking in the warmth rising from the stove top. Ob holds his infant son in a sling similar to the one he had fashioned for Chloe, except the color of course. This one is black with vibrant splashes of what the Gargoyle had termed "Dragon Green, Gypsy Red, and Familia Gold". Teri watches everything closely. The child may still be an infant in form, but it is easy to see his mind is not. He laughs at the sound of sizzling as Chloe throws pepper and onion strips into the pan of cooking meat. Ike finishes slicing and fills Chloe's bowl again. The little girl sneaks a pepper strip and Ob gives her a scowl. She bats her large eyes at her father.

He shakes his head as he tells his young son, r's rolling slightly, "That is our biggest weakness, little warrior. Women. Beautiful, exciting, frustrating, glorious  creatures. No matter what the age, they will twist our hearts around their every whim." He snags a pepper out of the bowl before Chloe tosses them in. "Don't get your papa' wrong. There are women that are NOT like the women in our familia." He holds the pepper out for Teri, who grasps it in his small hand, watching his father intently. "There are evil creatures as well, who dwell within the Worlds." He grins, winking at Chloe. "Your *hermana mayor, mamacita, and tias... they have fiery tempers, and there are times they will drive you crazy," Ike throws a wet sponge at his head. Teri laughs as Ob dodges it, making the sling bounce. "See, your Tante Ike... she is a pain at times, but she is not evil."

Ob stirs the meat and vegetables as Ike and Chloe get out tortillas and fixings. "They are fragile, precious things,"  He closes his eyes and grimaces as something wet hits the back of his head. "but they are stronger than you would think." He glances down, watching Teri suck on the pepper strip in delight. "And, ^mi hijo," His words drop to a conspiratorial whisper, "we are not complete without them in our lives, as much as we tell ourselves otherwise... One day you will find one that makes you forget all others, and you will know."

He grins, tapping the tip of his finger on his son's nose, The boy stops gnawing on his treat and watches intently. His mind reaches out and touches Ob's. Images of the women he has picked up from the other people's minds flicker like a slideshow... Laila smiling up at Ramji... Alise laughing with Stoney and his cousins... Raina and K'thyri teasing Gareth and Nick... Patti swatting playfully at Jack... Star hiding a smile as she makes Erik sigh at something she has done or said while Ru sleeps peacefully in her arms. Ob's eyes widen and a thoughtful expression comes over his son's face. Teri looks around at the people in the room and frowns in concentration.

Moments later, there are more images. Rowan and Poppy Traeger folding bandages, Ob dancing with Pandora in Romani robes, Tori on a white bed with tubes still in her arms and Tannr holding her hand as he talks quietly to her, Keon and Cassie walking in the moonlight, Tante Silk and Mortuis sprawled on a couch together... Pike and Wish curled up together, asleep in a mound of hay... not images that would have been foremost in anyone's mind. He shares the images with Ike and Pandora, hiding the concern over what this could mean for the future. One thing for sure. They will have to guard themselves more closely, and monitor the thoughts around him as well. Tracing the path of the thoughts, they find some of the images came from Patti and Monty.

Chloe looks up at her parents and aunt, and shrugs. "Tara feels alla times. Teri gots piktchers in his head and horns and spikes. Tomi and I gots wings. Mera breathes unner water." She frowns. "Gracie don't know what she gots yet. It makes her sad sometimes. She thinks she not special. Tara tells her it's commin though." Tears shimmer on Chloe's dark lashes. "Gracie hides it, but we know she don't think she is good enough."

Ob sends a quick thought to his brother and sister-in-law. He gathers his daughter in his free arm, letting Monty take over serving the fajitas. Helping her settle her on the countertop, he strokes her wild mane. "~Gitanilla, you are all special, each in your own way. What you can do is not what makes you that way, it is who you are, the person inside. Gracie is special because she is Grace, just as you are Chloe, Mera is Mera, and Tara is Tara. The same with the boys. None of you is exactly like the other. And each of you is a jewel in the treasure chest of our Clan. Besides, Gracie has time to find herself. Your **Tios and Tias, they did not know their callings when they were your age. I did not know mine."

Monty edges out of the kitchen, tray heavily laden with food. Ike and Patti follow, carrying trays of drinks and utensils. Pandora reaches for her daughter as Ob takes the now dessicated pepper from Teri and wipes both their hands clean before following everyone.

When the kitchen is clear of bodies, Ob kisses his son's forehead. "Women... they are like rollercoasters, all the ups and downs... but trust me Kaltero... I wouldn't trade any of them away, not even for my own life." The infant boy watches him with wide eyes. Ob smiles at his son as both their stomachs rumble. "Let's go eat, mi hijo, before the girls eat it all... and trust me, they CAN eat."


*big sister, little momma, and aunties

^my boy

~Little Gypsy

**Uncles and Aunts