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“I’d know you anywhere. You still have those beautiful blue eyes. And all the curls.”

“And you look just like you did the last time I saw you.”

“I missed you so much, Samuel,” she whispered, as he moved closer to her and held his aged arms out to her.

“I missed you so much, Aunt Vivian. I never, ever forgot you. None of us did,” he said, repeating what he’d said to her on vidcom on more than one occasion.

“And now you’re here!” she said, her voice quivering.

“I can’t believe it. I’m here. And here’s not Earth. And you’re the queen!”

“Princess. Sirena actually, but close enough,” Vivian said.

“God had bigger plans for you than could be carried out on Earth. This is your time. This is what you were meant for. These people, and this little one in here,” he said, lightly touching her belly, “and this man standing at your side.”

Vivian smiled up at Quin who’d stepped forward to place a supportive hand at her waist for no other reason than just to let her know he was beside her. She knew he hated being called a man instead of male, but he gave absolutely no indication. “You’re right. I really believe you’re right. But there could have been easier ways to get it done, I think.”

Samuel smiled and nodded his agreement. “That is definitely true, on so many levels.”

Vivian laughed as she wiped away tears.

“I’m so happy for you. And I’m beyond excited that I’m able to be here for you and the baby,” Samuel said.

“Me, too,” Vivian said, hugging him while she subconsciously lifted first one foot then another as she rolled her ankles first left then right to try to relieve some of the pressure she felt in them.

“We’re going to take this to our home so Vivi can put her feet up,” Quin said.

“Oh, but they might be hungry…” Vivian said, turning to gesture at the dining room. It was then that she realized Jof Ta stood patiently waiting with two of his staff and trays of food to follow her to her quarters.

“The food awaits us,” Quin said. He leaned over and carefully lifted her and cradled her in his arms. “Come, please accept our invitation to stay with us in our home while you’re here.”

“We couldn’t impose like that, Quin,” Bart said.

“It would be a favor to me. If not, Vivi will be constantly leaving our quarters to visit with you, and she needs to rest.”

“He’s not lying,” Vivian said with a nod.

“I would appreciate the chance to spend as much time with you as possible, without disrupting your life, of course,” Samuel said.

“Then it’s settled,” Quin said.

“Are you sure there’s enough room?” Bart asked.

“We have a whole apartment downstairs, and private quarters upstairs, too. There is enough room for an entire family.”

“If you are sure,” Bart reluctantly agreed, following Quin as he walked out of the dining room. “Come Kitty!” he ordered.

At once the huge shraler fell into step, nipping lightly at Asl as he carried the bone for Kitty.

“Kitty, stop. He’s carrying it for you,” Vivian said.

“Asl, just give it to him,” Quin said.

Asl gave Kitty his bone, and without hesitation Kitty darted toward the opposite end of the hallway, which would lead him toward the main great room of the palace and ultimately outside. He suddenly paused and looked back at Vivian, rowring around his bone.

“You can go,” she said.

Kitty darted away.

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