Kala sits in the lobby, looks around idly at the people walking about. She texts her father that Wolfgang is finally checked in but putting his bags away first. She waits a full minute or two before her father replies with "ok". Kala suspects he's on another call with the event planner and frowns. She texts him to come back to the hotel and waits another minute before he responds with another "ok".

Kala sighs. She should have gone up to Wolfgang's room.

She smiles to herself, her earlier excitement bubbling back to the surface. She can hardly believe he's really here, in her city. Safe.

She permits herself to daydream a little, remember how it felt to be in his arms again at the airport. She has no words to describe it, cocooned in Wolfgang's embrace, feeling the sheer joy of their reunion vibrate between them through the psycellium. It was so intense, so overwhelming, she could feel tears. It was perfect.

Except.

She looks over her shoulder at the bank of elevators where Wolfgang had gone, wonders why he's suddenly so uneasy about meeting her family. He's never cared what they thought of him before. If he did, it was only because she was afraid of hurting them, of hurting Rajan. But now, Kala can feel a worry in him, faint but persistent.

She sits back in the chair and catches her bottom lip, wonders if he is in his room yet, if she should visit, just to make sure he's okay.

"Don't go up there right now."

Kala turns to face Riley, sleepy-eyed and wearing Will's old t-shirt.

"Why? What is going on?" Kala frowns. She tentatively tries to reach Wolfgang but is surprised to feel a faint resistance. They do not visit when they feel each other's need for privacy; they'd established that rule while Wolfgang was recovering.

"Wolfgang is a bit nervous. Will is talking to him, trying to put him at ease." Riley gives a yawn, draws her legs up in the leather seat beside Kala. "So is everyone else, I think. It feels...urgent, but Will says I don't need to go; it's not that kind of emergency."

"What?" Kala stares back in surprise. She had been feeling Wolfgang's worry this entire time; it had bled through to her as just a little anxiety. "Oh God. Everyone? But why?" Kala gets up, moves uncertainly toward the elevators. "I didn't think he'd feel this is a big deal. He's never said he cares what they think. Wolfgang doesn't care what anyone thinks of him."

Riley turns in the chair, chin resting on the back, watching Kala pace. She tilts her head, smiles gently. "And you mean everything to him," she says. "He knows how much your family means to you. He cares very much what they think."

Kala's breath catches. She knows this. Of course she does. How could she let herself believe otherwise?

"I need to see him," she says, guilty that she agreed to her mother's insistence. She already knew Wolfgang was concerned about meeting her father. She should have given Wolfgang more time to adjust before throwing in her mother and sister, too. She shouldn't have been so flippant or insensitive. What kind of girlfriend is she?

The chime from the elevator startles her enough that she breaks her connection to Riley. She walks toward it and watches as two people get out, hands held together. No Wolfgang.

Her phone buzzes a text from her father at the same time that a second elevator chimes.

On my way right now. 10 minutes. Traffic.

She blinks owlishly at her phone.

"Hey."

She looks up into Wolfgang's concerned face, the deep blue of his eyes, and in a heartbeat she reaches a hand around his neck and draws his head down for a kiss.

His surprise evaporates the moment their lips meet, become open and greedy, in vast contrast to their earlier kisses. Kala presses against him, heart hammers wildly in her chest as what she intended to be a quick but intimate kiss blazes out of control. Six weeks of physical separation, six weeks of making do with visiting: The shock of their connection in real life inevitably spikes their need.

They kiss frantically, sloppily, tongues twining,starved for each other, unmindful of anything else. They fail to hear an elevator open, the startled sounds from the people exiting, the embarrassed mumbling of people entering. They slow down only when Kala bumps her head against a wall, their bodies having somehow moved to block one of the four call buttons between the elevators.

"Ouch." Kala gives a little laugh, buries her face in Wolfgang's neck, his pulse throbs hard against her bottom lip. Her breath is ragged, her heart pounds in equal time with Wolfgang's.

"I told you you should have gone up with me," he murmurs, stroking her hair with one hand while his other has a firm grip on her ass.

"Oh, I should have," she sighs, nuzzling just beneath his jaw, breathing him in, her entire body pliant and humming with need. "I should have. Why didn't you talk me into doing it?"

He kisses the top of her head, squeezes her bottom to grind a little against her. "I can still do that," he says, a hint of amusement in a voice otherwise raspy with desire. "How much time do we have?"

"I don't know," she says, lazing along his ear. "Dad is caught in traffic." Wolfgang gives a sharp exhale of interest, coasts his hand up along her hips.

Kala's phone, pressed against his chest by her hand, buzzes mercilessly in reply. They stare at each other, silent, before Wolfgang touches his forehead to hers with a heavy sigh.

Kala catches her lip, answers her father's call and gives a trembling "ok" to whatever he says before she pushes the "end" button: "Dad's outside right now." Her face is flush, heated; she looks mournfully at Wolfgang. "I'm so sorry."

He takes a deep breath but hugs her reassuringly. "Don't be." They stay like this for several quiet seconds before he kisses her head, hugs her again as they draw away from each other. Wolfgang smiles gently at Kala, and she smiles back, her eyes suddenly widening at something she hadn't noticed before.

"You're wearing blue!"

Wolfgang's mouth ticks up at the corner in a self-conscious smirk. "Yeah," he agrees, putting an arm around her waist as they walk away from the elevators.

"You look…" Kala notices how the shirt draws out a more vibrant color from his eyes, how his gaze softens as he looks at her, and her breath catches. "You look hot."

Wolfgang laughs outright, his grin flashing, making her weak-kneed.

They walk in slow unison through the lobby, bodies close, letting the pace slow their still- hammering pulses. Kala steals a glance at Wolfgang, notes the smile fade to a slight tension.

They approach the doors when Kala stops abruptly, glances up at him. "I'm so sorry I dragged you to lunch with my family," she says. She gives a huff, draws his arm from her waist to tangle fingers again. "I didn't think you would care much. I mean, I know you care, but-" She shrugs, shakes her head. "I should have asked you first. I should have suggested some other time. I wasn't being very considerate."

Wolfgang watches her with a slight frown. "What are you talking about?" he asks.

"I knew you weren't completely comfortable meeting my father today. I knew it," she says, sniffing, suddenly ashamed. "But I didn't think to ask you if it's ok. Or to push back because it's not fair to you. I just automatically did what they want. I just said yes to my parents without asking you. I'm so sorry."

"Kala." He tilts her face up, cups her cheek gently. "If it's important to you, it's important to me. I need to meet them sometime anyway, right?" He looks back at her with a serious expression; she nods gratefully. "But it's lunch with your family," he says with a shrug. "No big deal."

She nods again. "No big deal," she agrees. She gives a steadying breath, grateful for his cool demeanor. Whatever unease he'd felt seems gone. "They'll love you," she tells him, more sure of herself.

...

Sanyam leads them through the entry, past the parlor, to the dining room. The table already displays colorful bowls of chillies and chutneys and plates of roti. "Priya," he announces. "We're here."

Kala notices the plates laid carefully on the table. Her grip flexes involuntarily in Wolfgang's hand, and he throws her a curious look. She frowns back. The table is formally set for six: Aunty Ina is joining them for lunch.

"We're coming!" her mother calls out from the other side of the kitchen. "Sit down, sit down!'

Kala gives a tense exhale and catches her father's look. He notices the table, too. "Go ahead and sit," he tells her and Wolfgang. "I'll go help your mother."

Kala nods as Wolfgang pulls out the nearest chair for her to sit on. He takes the seat beside her.

"Is something wrong?" he asks, wariness creeping into his voice.

"Aunty Ina is here." Kala can think of no good way to state the unpleasant. "There is a good chance she may be extremely rude." Aunty blames Wolfgang for destroying Kala's marriage. "In fact, in all probability, she will be rude." Aunty thinks Kala throws away a dream life for nothing. "Please try not to let her upset you."

Wolfgang's eyes narrow, head tilts a little to overhear what goes on in the kitchen, but the words are too muffled and obscured by clinking plates and running water. "Why are you so worried?" he asks. "She's just your aunt."

Kala shakes her head. "I don't know," she admits. "It's just that Aunty can be blunt and unpredictable and I don't want you to be angry or offended."

He frowns, a muscle ticks his jaw. But he gives a light shrug, side-eyes her as Daya comes out of the kitchen: "I won't start anything," he smirks. Kala looks back at him uncertainly and he shakes his head. "Promise," he tells her.

Daya sets a large bowl of rice on the table before she reaches to shake Wolfgang's hand. "Hello!" Her eyes are wide and a little surprised, but her voice is sincere as she introduces herself in English: "I'm Kala's sister, Daya. It is so good to finally meet you."

"Hello." Wolfgang smiles at her, amused that she is not in the least shy. "Wolfgang."

"You're sitting here?" Daya pulls the chair on the other side of Wolfgang to sit down beside him when Priya calls for her.

Daya gives a little militant sigh, but she whispers to her sister in Hindi as she walks by: "Kala, he is so good looking. His eyes!" Kala exchanges a mortified look with Wolfgang, whose smile merely deepens, easing the tension around his face.

Sanyam passes Daya as he carries bowls of aloo gobi and a chicken curry. Behind him is Priya with lamb and Aunty with freshly made eggplant and cauliflower pakora; the three arrange the dishes on the table as Kala makes stilted introductions and hands are shaken politely. Aunty stares at Wolfgang with cool reserve; Priya looks determined.

Daya returns with a pitcher of ice water and takes her seat beside Wolfgang as everyone else settles in.

The meal starts off uneventfully.

Priya asks Wolfgang many of the same questions Sanyam had: how his flight was, his impression of Mumbai; questions meant to put him at his ease. Wolfgang answers with something more than his usual brevity, but he is not by nature a talkative man, and Kala resists the urge to fill in the gaps that are not uncomfortable, but different from the continuous flow of conversation that was common with Rajan. In the back of her head, she can feel her Cluster, defensive, anxious: ready to step in for Wolfgang if he needs help, and Kala feels her heart swell with love and appreciation for all of them. She glances at Wolfgang and he smiles gently back at her.

They manage to get through most of lunch amiably when Aunty says in Hindi, to no one in particular: "This is ridiculous. Why are we being so polite?"

Priya stares cooly back. "Ina," she says warningly.

"What does he do for a living? How is he going to support her? Is he even going to marry your daughter?" Ina takes a sip of water and wipes her mouth with her napkin. "Honestly. These are all valid questions we want to know the answers to."

"Ina." Sanyam gives a deep sigh. "I asked you not to say anything. Not now."

Ina scoffs, takes another sip of her water.

"You can ask me." Wolfgang puts his fork down, leans back against his seat. "Ask me what you want to know."

Daya's eyes grow wide with mortification; Aunty sputters her water inelegantly back into her glass. Wolfgang's Hindi is perfect. Of course.

Kala finds herself gripping Wolfgang's hand under the table, on his leg. While she had explained her sensate connection to her parents and to Daya, Aunty had not known of it. Daya must have simply forgotten what that means.

"Sanyam!" Aunty Ina glares at Kala's father accusingly. "Why didn't you tell me he speaks Hindi?"

"I thought it was sufficient to ask you not to be rude," he says peevishly. "He is still our guest."

"You should have said something," Aunty complains.

There is a brief, awkward silence at the statement.

"Aunty-" says Kala.

But her mother cuts her off, spoon landing loudly on her plate: "Wolfgang," says Priya carefully. "My sister is blunt. But…"

"Mom." Kala looks at her mother, surprised.

"She asks what we want to know." Priya turns her worried gaze from Wolfgang to Kala and to Sanyam, whose mouth sets into a displeased line but doesn't interrupt. "You understand that this whole thing -" She pauses, glances at Aunty who knows nothing of sensates. "Well. Everything has been a shock. When Rajan came back, we were not expecting to hear he and Kala agreed to divorce. And then Kala came back. And we learned about you." Priya gives a helpless gesture. "She hasn't said much about you. Just... I am sure you've suffered so much. But, we want to make sure Kala truly knows her mind."

"Will you be staying in Mumbai permanently? Or are you going back to Berlin?" Aunty Ina frowns at Wolfgang, sets aside her plate as if she's done with pleasantries.

Wolfgang shrugs. "I'll stay in Mumbai as long as Kala needs me," he says, turning to her. "As long as she wants me here."

Kala lets out an exhale, meets Wolfgang's look with growing uncertainty. She had missed him so much, had felt bereft without his presence. But it is unfair of her to make him stay indefinitely, and Aunty's question reminds her it is selfish to ask him to do so when he has much to resolve in Berlin.

"You can do that?" Aunty Ina asks in surprise. "You can stay in Mumbai for so long as you want? What is it you do for a living, Wolfgang?"

Kala's eyes widen. Wolfgang bobs his head a little, meets Aunty's gaze. "I run a small business with my best friend," he says.

"Oh you do?" asks Priya hopefully. "What kind of business?"

"A locksmith shop," he says.

Daya makes a little choking sound. There is an awkward silence that follows this revelation.

"Like with keys?" asks Aunty Ina slowly. She looks at her sister with wide eyes, then at Kala. "Well. I guess you can make a good enough living at that," she says, implying by her tone that she doesn't believe any such thing.

"Yes," agrees Wolfgang. His grip on Kala's hand grows slack. She can hear Sun through their connection, ordering Wolfgang to breathe, to relax.

"I think that is enough questioning for now." Sanyam looks sternly at Aunty Ina. "Wolfgang didn't come for lunch expecting to be rudely interrogated. He's just arrived. I'm sure he's tired."

"That's ok." Wolfgang smiles faintly. "I knew there would be questions."

"But maybe not just now," says Kala. There is a martial look in her eyes as she directs the comment to Aunty Ina; it is a defiant glare that does not escape her aunt, who stares back in amazement.

Sanyam pauses as if he reconsiders what he is about to say. Instead, he shakes his head. "Not right now," he agrees. "There is time enough if Wolfgang is staying for a few days, correct?"

"Yes." Wolfgang nods.

"Good." Sanyam looks at everyone at the table before resting his gaze on Wolfgang. "Kala's mother made some special kheer. No one makes better kheer than her." Sanyam smiles softly at Priya. "Would you like to try some, Mr. Bogdanow?"

Wolfgang nods. "I would, thank you."

"I'll bring it out, then," Sanyam announces. "Ina, would you care to help me?"

Aunty frowns slightly but gets up to help Sanyam in the kitchen.

When they return with the bowls of kheer garnished with slivers of almonds, conversation resumes a polite but superficial tone. Aunty's brows raise when Wolfgang mentions the hotel where he is staying, but she says nothing more for the rest of the meal, only watches him thoughtfully and looks at Kala with a slightly hurt expression.

Kala tries not to let it make her feel guilty. She is upset with her aunt, although she knows that Aunty Ina could have been much worse.

After dessert is finished and a lull falls on the conversation, Sanyam offers to drive Wolfgang back to the hotel.

"I'll do it," says Kala, ignoring the looks from her mother and aunt. She smiles a little in amusement. "Don't think I haven't noticed that your phone has gone off three times while you ate, Dad."

Sanyam gives a dramatic sigh and shakes his head. "That is true," he agrees. Kala had driven to her parents' place to get her father, but he had insisted on driving them both in his new car. Sanyam gives a slight shrug. "I'll be seeing you soon, then, Beti," he says, getting up from the table as Kala and Wolfgang do so as well.

"Maybe Daya should go with you," suggests Aunty Ina.

"No need." Kala smiles sweetly at her aunt. "I can manage on my own."

Wolfgang thanks everyone for lunch, Kala says goodbye to her parents, and 10 minutes later, they are in her car, driving back to the hotel.

Wolfgang is quiet. His head is turned; he watches the scenery while Kala concentrates on driving. She can't feel his emotions clearly; he remains guarded.

"That was a little difficult, but not bad at all," she says encouragingly. She glances at Wolfgang, but he makes no move. "Mom and Dad seem to like you," she continues. "And Daya thinks you are so good looking." Kala steals another glance at him as she imitates her sister's tone. Wolfgang doesn't respond.

Kala lets the silence drag on for just a few more minutes before she lets her worry overtake her. "Wolfgang?" she asks quietly. "Wolfgang? Are you alright?"

He turns to her then, his expression thoughtful, his eyes accented by the blue of his shirt. "I was just thinking," he says, "how you would make this up to me."

Kala's breath hitches in her throat. Her cheeks flame. "You are a wicked man, Wolfgang Bogdanow," she murmurs, heart suddenly pounding in her chest.

He chuckles and smiles the rest of the ride.

A/N: With the Special dropping before the next update, I've decided to keep this going despite the inevitable inconsistencies. Thank you for your patience!