North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Private Talk

Introducing the girls was priceless. Morgan did the honors.

"Sam. Ken. These are my daughters. Sam: You know Nakoma."

"Hello" Nakoma greeted, obviously only remembering Sam through household stories, not sitting in his lap as a child.

"Hello, Nakoma. I would say that you have grown since I last saw you, but that would be an understatement if there ever was one. Nice to see you again and looking so well." Sam said.

"Thank you. I am very well, as you can see." Here, Nakoma the Astral made an all-inclusive gesture. The house. Her sisters. Her parents. Nakoma making sure Sam understood that as weird as this situation is, it is a good one for her.

Morgan went to Diana. "Sam. Ken. This is Diana. "

"Good evening." Diana said, sounding like a little kid wanting to sound adult, which is exactly what she is.

I could see Sam flick a look over at Jessica before he greeted her. Ken was less into being a cop. "Hi, Diana. Nice to meet you." He said.

"This is Rachel. She is named after our very close family friend, also Rachel. That Rachel could not be there today as she has to go to New York quite often." Morgan explained.

"Hi." Rachel said, and Sam correctly looked at Helen. Always a cop.

"Hi, Rachel. Nice to meet you. Is it confusing being named after someone?" Sam asked.

"Yes!" Rachel split into a grin that Sam identified a pain point for her. We go to a lot of effort to make that as pain-free as possible and avoid terms like 'little Rachel' but it is still confusing when they are both here.

"This youngest one who will lose her title when Vera and Angel's babies arrive, is Laura."

"Hello." Laura said, and it was a proud moment that she said anything. I would not have been shocked if she only nodded. She speaks perfectly well, and uses verbal constructions above her age, but only when she has something to say.

Sam and Ken both studied Laura with above-average interest, knowing who her biological mother is.

"Hello Laura. Nice to meet you." Sam said.

"Amazing to meet you." Ken added.

"Diana: would you take your sisters to your room until dinner? You are in charge: Nakoma needs to help cook." Morgan asked.

Diana said "Sure! Come on Rachel! Laura! Let's go play a game!" and they bounded up the stairs. Diana loves being in charge.

Normally, when cooking and especially for guests, it is three of us in the kitchen. Morgan, Nakoma, and me. We have practiced, orchestrated moves, know each other's preferences for menus and prep routines, and we don't collide, except when, in Morgan and my case, we want to. Nakoma thinks it's funny that her parents are in love. While it is not the reason we do it, we do not hide affection from her because we want her to feel surrounded by the security of a loving family. As Nakoma is Astral, she would know if it was fake. It's not.

As we prepped dinner, Ken and Sam chatted with Vera, Angel, Jessica, and Helen in the living room. Vera left the bar early to meet the guests. When I paid attention, it mostly revolved around PG-13 versions of how Vera and Angel got together. What it is like to be pregnant at the same time. Sam even asked if they got any shit about being two women married to each other. The kinds of questions to human men would ask, being men and also ignorant of talking to a former Siren now Vampire and an Astral.

Once the food was started, I excused myself from the dance, and went into the living room. Denise slid into my place to help. Morgan tapped her in by patting her rear end. Affection shall continue in my absence.