What does Home mean?

A bomb and toys.

{Okay. The detonator is offline.

I've got everything I need.

Here goes nothing.}

I heard the air jets from the advanced movement system kick on and draw closer.

The compressor in the suit cools and condenses the air it takes in until its liquid.

The jets stop and I hear footsteps, the secondary jump boost kicks in and he cleared the rim.

"Man! Do you know how many people wished that they could do what I just did back before I died?

This suit is a gamer's dream!" He says excitedly.

"You took the explosive warhead from the missile." I accused.

"Problem?" He asks, still grinning.

"*sigh...* No, I should know, by now, that you'll put it to good use or dispose of it.

We may be childish but, at least you're not mentally unstable." I say.

"You're not either.

Remember?

Splinter healed your mind."

"Splinter?" I ask.

"Old cartoon reference.

She's a lot prettier than that Splinter, though." He says.

"Wait! You told me this one!

Splinter.... the person who healed my mind was Uuuuuuh......

A rat.

A rat named Splinter!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Hah! I finally got one!" I cheer triumphantly.

"Totally, dude! Pizza time!"

We went to the city and bought a bunch of things for Holly, that she liked, for her part of the room.

I'm pretty sure that Brent is already planning for it, but, the rooms are big enough to partition off, generously, and still have enough space for adult furniture.

"{She could have her own space.}" We think to each other.

I smile.

After the furniture shopping was finished, Brent carries Holly on his shoulders as he walks down isle after isle of toys.

{She's not showing any interest at.... nevermind.

I think we might need to buy a few of these or she and I won't have enough to work with.}

{What do you mean "She and I?"}

{They have sets here that are metal construction pieces with nuts, washers and bolts.

In my time, they were called erector sets but, these here are huge and come with two thousand pieces each.

Looks like they're made by the steel mill.

There are a bunch of sets on this isle, wood and metal, from my time.

Someone had to have found a catalog, or something...}

{Babe. You do what you want, alright?

Ya just built our whole house and you're always coming up with ways to improve our lives.

I'm not going to say a single thing about anything you want to do.

Hell, buy'em all, for all I care.

If you can enjoy anything, I'm happy.

We're not hurting for money, not in the slightest.}

Twenty sets...

The furniture and all the toys, together, cost three gold and four silver.

I couldn't believe that it was all so inexpensive.

Brent also bought metallic rose red roof paint.

Holly's favorite color, Brent said.

"Why did you buy the bed, though?

The other furniture, I understand but, the bed seems simple enough to build."

"Right. Holly really loves it and I don't have plans for that style.

I'm going to use this to draft a set of plans and then return the bed.

I'll build hers out of pecan wood.

It's why I bought the paint, too.

It's for metal rooves, but, you know how I sand wood until it's as glossy and glass.

I won't sand it that much, only to a satin finish before painting."

"Careful, or you might spoil her." I say.

"Hah! I've always wanted a daughter that I could be so proud of.

She deserves to be spoiled a little.

I'll reel her in if she starts getting entitled.

There's no way that I'm letting a Karen represent our family." He says.

"I remember what you said about them, too." I cringe.

We stop for pizza at a restaurant and eat there, then leave.

After paying, of course...

When we arrive home, we unload everything, including the warhead.

Brent runs off to his workbench and starts tearing into it and, after a few moments, he takes a wrapped "cake" of something outside.

He puts it inside of a piece of 10 inch PVC pipe, caps off both ends with one end being removable and wraps it in cellophane.

He had me use my magic to vibrated the ground to a ten foot depth to loosen it up for him.

Using post hole diggers, he removes some of the loose dirt and buries the pipe eight feet down before flooding the hole with water.

As the ground absorbed it, the hole filled in and the surface sank down.

When it was a waterlogged mud pit, he put gravel back on top, until it quit sinking, and patted it with the shovel.

When all of the surface gravel dampened, he put the loose dirt on top and walked on it until it was thoroughly packed.

Even I know that the explosive compound is useless without the detonator and the components of that are going to be used for my suit.

A few hours later, I heard air solenoid valves clicking, then the valves were tested while hooked to our air compressor.

I walk over to the workbench and put my hand on his shoulder.

"Babe. You're supposed to be resting." I say.

"Bah! Fine. I'll go play the piano, then."

"Technically not resting but, alright, I guess." I say, eager to hear what he's going to play.

He puts his tools away and washes his hands.

Taking his armor off, he stretches and takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

Sitting down on the piano bench, he starts playing before his feet are even at the pedals.

What I can't get past is that I haven't heard this song, played or practiced.

When did he get this good?

Sorry for the noisy house but, I'm glad that it was recorded at all.

I gave it to dad for his birthday.

He loves piano music...