Legend

Open house

Friday, I got up early and did some shopping before going over to Aslyn's parents to help her move. She too had held off on replacing a lot of stuff until she'd gotten settled, so there wasn't more than ten boxes, some garment bags, a beautiful rosewood bureau, a walnut sideboard, an Eames chair, and a camel-back trunk one of her ancestors had used when emigrating to this county. It held a couple of afghans that her grandma had crocheted. She showed me around her new home with pride. It was lovely, with lots of natural light. We brought in her boxes, positioned her furniture, and I presented my housewarming gifts: a cookbook (we'd eaten a lot of takeout when we were roommates, but in her neighborhood, there weren't nearly as many restaurants), a bouquet of calla lilies, which were her favorite flowers, and a bottle of champagne. We sat on the porch while waiting for her deliveries to start and drank it so it wouldn't get warm.  

"I forgot I needed glasses and stuff," she said, a little frazzled. We passed the bottle back and forth as we talked, and we finished it as the Home Depot truck pulled up. I admired the gleaming appliances that could do everything but actually prep the food and fold the clothes, and we had pizza delivered while waiting for the furniture. Aslyn had good taste and an eclectic personal style, so the furniture was a little offbeat but well made and comfortable. After the last delivery, we went to Target and a couple other stores to get the basics. I left her a little overwhelmed with the responsibility of home ownership but thrilled and content.

Damian and I slept in the next morning and we picked up the suite in preparation for my parents. They arrived around two, and there was time to talk, for them to get to know Damian better. They also had a surprise, diamond solitaire earrings to replace the high school graduation gift that had been lost in the fire. I put them right in, and we went to the tower for the open house.

Mom and dad were a little cautious to see Tony again, but he flexed his formidable charm and soon they were reasonably convinced that he wasn't going to turn back into a capricious weirdo. Avengers who I'd worked with ambled in and out to show support and meet my parents and Damian. Bucky, Emma, Sigurd, and Torburn were also there so we had a mini family reunion. Bruce and Alfred came in and Damian took over the introductions as Tony wanted me to meet some people he hoped to be working with in the future; we would be conducting separate research but collaborating to further develop ideas and make workable systems. I had no idea how it would all work out in reality, but our patents would be respected. There were snacks and champagne, and my personal support group hung out by my desk (I'd staked out my side with family photographs, including one of Damian looking extra-hot in one of his suits.) After the open house, we went down to the training facility. Bucky and I gave a demonstration. I think my parents weren't prepared for my level of expertise, and I certainly caught the attention of the bat family. Bruce also invited my aunt and uncle to dinner, and off we trooped.

The pups loved the yard, and we had cocktails in the library before dinner. I was pleased to see that my parents seemed to like Bruce and vice versa; Bruce could sometimes be dour, but he was exerting himself to be likable and friendly as much as my parents were. Bucky had known him before, but it was nice to see him interact with Bruce when Damian and I weren't having a medical crisis, and he and Emma chatted like the old acquaintances they were. The dinner was outstanding, and we went back to the city with Bucky and Emma. Alfred and Bruce would bring my parents to the hotel for breakfast and to pick up their car the next morning.

We got up early and read the paper together. The news dominating the headline was that the S'mores killer had struck again. Another apartment building, but in this case, the emergency exits had been barred from the outside. Sixteen people had died. Victims described a horrible scene; the electricity had been left on this time and this helped to increase the panic. I called Aslyn to see if she'd seen the news. It was disturbing and upsetting, and I was glad that neither of us was in an apartment anymore.