CH36

It was late that night, like 1:00 am in the morning late at night. Kate and Rikki had each other wrapped up in each other's arms after making love to each other.

"Did you feel that? …. I felt something like it up on the roof while I was holding Alexis, who really is the sweetest thing. I can see why you love her so much." Kate points out while leaving whisper kisses across Rikki's shoulder.

"I felt it ever since you decided to make love to me. I felt it here." Rikki places a hand over Kate's heart. "At first it felt like my heart was pounding in my chest, which was nothing new, you've always done that to me, even before we became lovers.

This was different, the thrill or excitement of loving you didn't stop after my heart calmed down. Even now there is this something, ..." Rikki wasn't sure how to describe it.

"Like love washing over your heart like a soft rain." Kate offers feeling it even now.

"He said you now have half of my heart and I have half of yours." Rikki remembers his words.

"Mine stops when yours stops. Mine loves when yours loves." Kate remembers the other half.

"My grandfather gave me something before they left. It was an elixir or potion if you prefer. There are four of them. …. Each is designed to make a person who drinks it younger." Rikki tells Kate.

"Seriously!? … How much younger?" Rikki's life was deep into magic, Kate was learning but still had a long ways to go.

"He said it varied on the person, might be as little as 1 year to as much as 10 years." Rikki answers her question.

"Ten years." Kate whispers. "If I drank from one I could be 22 years old again. I could be younger than you?" Was this for real? "What's the catch?" Kate knew there had to be a down side to this somewhere.

"The first time you drink there is a 2% chance it will have the opposite affect, 22% for the second time, 42% for the third and so on." Rikki explains.

"I knew there had to be a catch. …. 42 instead of 32." Kate closes her eyes. "2% chance the first time." Kate opens her eyes. "Would it work on my dad?" Kate asks.

This got Rikki to smile wider and send a feeling of love to Kate. "I felt that!" Kate's eyes open wide. "What was that for?" Kate stroked Rikki's face.

"You were thinking about your age compared to mine, and you already know that I don't care about that, and you gave up trying to be younger. … Your next thought was about the difference in age between your parents. Your father might get back some of those 13 years he lost." Rikki leaned across to give Kate a quick kiss.

"But it might work, right? Dad could be younger and have more time with mom." Kate could feel her heart pounding in her chest, there just might be a way to fix this. "Our dinner with my dad is tomorrow."

"My father wants to cook tomorrow." Rikki tells Kate smiling.

"We're screwed." Kate could remember what Dara had written in her journal about his ability to cook. It did however get Rikki to start laughing.

"I'll watch him." Rikki promises.

"Mommy?" A soft voice calls out getting both Kate and Rikki to sit up while covering themselves.

"What's wrong baby? You have a bad dream?" Rikki recovered first.

"Uh huh." Alexis was still standing at the door looking at the two of them.

Rikki gathered up the comforter that they weren't really using that was barely hanging on at the end of the bed and wrapped it around herself as Rikki got out of bed. "Come on baby let me get you a glass of water." And escorts Alexis into the bathroom and closes the door.

Kate is in an oversized t-shirt and shorts when Rikki and Alexis come back out. "How about you sleep with us tonight sweetie." Kate offers wrapping her arms around the little girl and lifting her up into bed and starts tucking her in under the covers.

Come morning Kate woke up first and found Alexis in their bed still in between her and Rikki, still sleeping. Kate worked her way out of bed without waking either of them and went into the bathroom to take a shower. She still had to go into work this morning.

Kate came back out and found both of them missing, so Kate got dressed and went downstairs finding Alexis sitting at the dining room table eating breakfast. "Hi sweetie, feeling better this morning?" Kate kisses the top of her head.

"My mommies are cuddly." Alexis responds smiling.

"You're pretty cuddly too." Kate responds back kissing her head again.

Kate steps into the kitchen finding Rikki dressed like she normally is. "Alexis scared the crap out of me." Kate whispered while kissing Rikki's cheek.

"You and me both." Rikki whispers back. "We're going to need to come up with a plan. It's only going to get worse when my mom has my brother or sister." Rikki points out.

"What about your brother or sister." Dara steps into the kitchen looking for breakfast too.

It got both Kate and Rikki to jump out of their skins. Kate holds her hand over her heart. "Don't do that!"

"You almost gave us another heart attack mom." Rikki was doing the same.

"Sorry, what about your brother or sister?" Dara asks again.

"Alexis came up to our room late last night after having a bad dream. Kate and I, …. We were, I mean we had just, …. We didn't have any clothes on." Rikki finally leaves it at that.

It got Dara to start grinning. "Now you know how your father and I felt when you did it to us."

"Too much information mom, way too much." Rikki answers back.

"How do you think you're going to have a little brother or sister?" Dara questions opening the refrigerator looking for some fruit.

"I'm well aware of how babies are made mom, I just don't need to hear it from my parents." Rikki counters.

"You'll adapt daughter of mine. Your father and I aren't old enough to not have another child after this one you know." Dara points out pulling some strawberries out of the refrigerator. "How do you make toast here?"

"I'll do it." Kate offers, placing two slices into the toaster, followed by two more for herself.

Dara met Kate at the front door while Rikki was upstairs giving Alexis her bath, while Luke was sitting at the dining room table eating his breakfast. "Relax Kate, I know you love my daughter and what happens when two people love each other."

Kate started blushing, her future mother-in law who was likely younger than her was talking about hers and Rikki's sex life.

Dara took both of Kate's hands. "If you two want to have children together, I know of a way if you are willing."

Kate's mouth falls open as she stares at her future mother-in law. "That's possible? … I mean the two of us, …. seriously?"

"Think about it honey, it will require some willingness on both of your parts, it's not quite that simple." Dara knew of a method and it required both of them to seriously think about this.

"We'll talk later honey, have a nice day at work." Dara shooed Kate out the door.

Johanna came downstairs dressed and looking for breakfast and helped herself since Rikki wasn't back downstairs yet.

"Nervous?" Dara stepped into the kitchen watching Johanna put her breakfast together.

"Petrified! …. I only just saw Jim yesterday and yet it's been 13 long hard years for him. …. Just what do we tell him" Johanna leaned up against the counter to help keep herself standing.

"The truth of course. My daughter has managed to convince Kate that magic exists and is even casting her own magic spells, or so my daughter tells me." Dara didn't see any other way.

"We may need to bar the front door to prevent him from running out of here, and make sure he doesn't have access to a phone. … Where is the phone around here anyway?" Johanna didn't see one in the kitchen and didn't remember seeing one anywhere yet.

"You'll have to ask my daughter, I'm not used to having this much technology." Dara was forced to admit.

"Bones and stone skins?" Johanna didn't understand.

Dara and Luke spent the next hour explaining the war on their Earth, until Rikki and Alexis came downstairs. "I'm going to take Alexis shopping for toys and books to read, the house is yours." Rikki informs them.

"Where's the phone, I haven't seen one?" Johanna wasn't sure who she was going to phone, at least not until after tonight's dinner with Jim.

"I only have my cell phone." Rikki was forced to apologize.

"Cell phone?" Johanna asks, not understanding, and getting the same reaction from Dara and Luke.

Rikki pulls out her cell phone and shakes it in her hand. "I'll buy you one while I'm out and show you how to use it. We can program a few numbers in it while I do." Rikki offers.

"Anybody want anything in particular? I can take you for that tour of the city when we get back too." Rikki looks at each of them. "We'll be back in a couple of hours."

"How big is this city?" Dara asks Johanna after Rikki leaves.

"Last I knew it was 869 acres in physical size. Not counting Central Park, and home to over 8 million people. A lot of people live in high rises a hundred or more floors tall. This city never really does go to sleep, there are countless places that are open 24 hours a day, and you can have almost anything delivered." Johanna tells them.

"We've never lived in anything like this city, we've actually been actively fighting to prevent a city just like this one." Luke points out.

"Your daughter seems to have adapted pretty well." Johanna points out.

"Looks like we need to learn babe." Dara takes her husband's hand.

"Is cities all there are?" Luke asks.

"Oh heavens no. There are a lot of National Forests were any kind of development is forbidden. There are even marsh lands or other areas where development is not permitted. I think I saw a computer upstairs, maybe we can use it so you can see." Johanna offers.

They are all soon sitting outside on the rooftop deck with Rikki's laptop that Johanna has no problem turning on. With a little work Johanna has found most of the National Parks.

Yellowstone

Yosemite

Crater Lake

Zion

Shenandoah

Rocky Mountain

Great Smokey Mountains

"Thank God!" Luke finally said after they had gone through some of the ones Johanna had stopped on.

"These are just the ones in the United States." Johanna points out and soon finds a map of the planet. "This is the United States, Russia, China, South America, Africa, Europe. Each country is typically broken up into smaller areas.

Like we are in New York State, one of fifty that make up the United States. Europe is broken down into France, Germany, England and several more.

Typically each State is broken down into counties, some are smaller or larger than others.

Cities are interconnected by Freeways that cars drive on or trains in some cases. Plus there are airplanes that allow you to fly from one city to another in a few hours." Johanna pulls up a photo of a Boeing 737.

"There are big planes like this and small ones that only hold two people and others in-between." Johanna brings up a Beech Turbo Prop photo.

"There you are." Rikki and Alexis show up on the roof, getting the three of them to not notice how long they had been up here. "Ready for that tour?" Rikki offers.

"I was thinking Air Elementals since the sky is filled with clouds and it looks like it will rain soon." Rikki offers.

"Please don't be scared Johanna, Kate has done this several times, she's even almost ready to summon her own small elemental I think." Rikki tells her.

"Air Elemental?" Johanna questions.

"They look like big clouds that you travel with, it's very safe. The older they are the stronger they are." Dara answers Johanna's question.

"You do one for dad and I'll do one for both Alexis and Johanna." Rikki offers getting Dara to nod her head.

Soon they are all either in an Air Elemental or are an Air Elemental as they head off for an aerial tour of New York City, with a quick stop in a secluded area of Central Park.

"It really is big and really tall." Luke points out.

"There are actually bigger cities on the planet however none of them went up like New York did. Most of them just spread out far and wide." Rikki points out. "Bangladesh is the largest I know of in terms of land it occupies. 88,800 square miles compared to 869 acres for New York City."

Their tour was cut short when it started to rain, forcing Dara and Rikki to summon more Air Elementals to get back home, soaking wet.

They were all back downstairs after getting dry and changing clothes; Rikki was just walking up from the basement after starting a load of laundry. "Looks like I'm cooking unless it stops raining." Rikki mentions off hand.

It did however get Luke to deflate. "I was hoping to be able to contribute at least something. I'm a Ranger who is good with swords in a war, now what do I do?" Luke moaned.

"You adapt dad like I did when I came here. I started work with the local Zoos and now I get calls from Zoos all over the planet. Maybe there is an opening with one of the local Zoos? I can put in a good word for you." Rikki offers. "I can take you with me when the next Zoo calls." Rikki brightens up.

"I can do that." Even if Luke did know his wife was better at it, however he also knew she was pregnant so couldn't stay at any kind of work for long.

Rikki was smiling when she went up to her way too young father and kissed his cheek. "I better get started cooking, Kate will be home soon." Rikki headed for the kitchen.

Maine Lobster Salad
Hawaïan Hearts of Palm, Romaine Lettuce
Timut Pepper-Red Wine Gelée

Roasted Chop of Venison
Red Cabbage Marmalade, Confit Lady Apple, Lingonberry
Hazelnut, Confit Shallot, "Grand Veneur"

Tamarind Parfait, Papaya, Pomegranate Pearls
Passion Fruit-Mint Sorbet

Rikki was still in the kitchen cooking when Elka suddenly went nuts at the front door followed by a wet Kate rushing inside. "Hi Elka!" Kate starts petting Elka.

Kate makes it past Elka. "Hi mom." Kate wanted to hug her so badly since it had been a long time since she had been able to do that when she came home, however she was wet. "Hi guys." Kate waved to Dara and Luke.

"I need to get dry and changed, be right back." Kate ran upstairs to shower and change clothes.

On her way down she stopped to pick up Henry and found Alexis playing in her old bedroom. "Looks like Rikki took you shopping."

"Hi mommy." Alexis jumped up to hug Kate. "Hi Henry." Alexis had always been good with animals however she also knew Henry was Kate's, so she reached out slowly to stroke his body.

"Come on downstairs sweetie, my father should be here soon and your mother is busy cooking by the smell of it." Kate knew just how good a cook Rikki was.

"Hi sweetie." Johanna opened up her arms to Alexis.

"How we doing?" Kate asks Rikki as she steps into the kitchen, stepping up to kiss Rikki quickly.

"I could use some help with the salad, the lettuce, lobster, hearts, peppers and wine is in the refrigerator." Rikki tells her while Rikki stirs what she has on the stovetop.

"Any idea how to handle this?" Kate was beyond nervous.

"Since it's raining still, I was thinking everyone waits upstairs somewhere till we call them down one at a time, with your mother being first." Rikki offers. "Hi Henry." Rikki gives him an air kiss after he pokes his head out from inside Kate's bra.

"Damn, we forgot to bring in the table from out back, we don't have any place to seat this many people." Rikki curses.

"I'll get your parents to move it and dry it off." Kate abandons her salad.

A little later the table and four chairs are sitting next to the dining room table, while Kate retrieves a table cloth to cover it with. "You want to help me set the table sweetie." Kate looks at Alexis.

"Ok mommy." Alexis follows Kate back into the kitchen. "Here you can set the silverware." Kate hands her some pieces, which are not nearly enough.

"I heard that mommy." Rikki teases and kisses Kate.

"It feels weird, but I kinda like it." Kate grins and grabs every plate they have with one to spare.

Alexis has her next set of silverware while Kate is getting the glasses. They only had 4 wine glasses so Kate was making do with other glasses along with glasses for water or milk in Alexis's case.

Alexis was placing the napkins on the plates with the front door bell rang. "Everyone upstairs quick. You're going to be the first one down mom." Kate came rushing out of the kitchen and helped Alexis hustle up the stairs.

"Be nice and quite sweetie, we want to surprise my dad." Kate tells her and watches Dara take Alexis by her hand and lead her up the stairs.

Yeah, a really big surprise!

Kate went over to the front door and took a deep breath. "Suck it up Kate, its showtime." Kate opened the door to find her father standing there holding an umbrella to keep dry.

"Hi dad, come on in." Kate stepped out of the way. "I'll take that" Kate takes the umbrella from him and finds someplace for it.

"Thanks for coming dad, this means a lot." A whole damn lot!

"Hello Mr. Beckett, I'm thankful that you agreed to come, it means a lot to both of us." Rikki stepped out of the kitchen, with all of the food simply keeping warm or back in the refrigerator.

"You two have left me with a lot to think about, I'm glad you are still willing to include me, I've behaved badly recently." Jim knew he was screwing up yet again with his daughter. He abandoned her when he started drinking and now he was doing it again.

His daughter was getting her life back together; he didn't know why he couldn't do the same.

Dara had grabbed Johanna and placed a hand over her mouth, so that Johanna's words came out muffled. "You're damn right you have." Johanna had heard every word her husband had said so far.

"We expecting more company?" Jim raised his eyebrows as he looked at the two tables set up for 7 people.

"Yeah, we are dad. … They're actually waiting upstairs, we didn't want to overwhelm you all at once." Kate tries to smile, but it came out fake with a please don't shoot me dad kind of look.

"I'm sure I'll enjoy meeting them if they mean that much to you. Are they from either of yours work?" Jim questions.

"No they're all family dad. …. Rikki's family mostly, plus one of ours." Kate adds softly.

"Katie?" Jim looked at Kate questioningly.

"Johanna, you want to come down?" Rikki called out since Rikki was sure Kate was never going to get the words to come out. Rikki could feel Kate's heart fluttering in fear.

It took a little push from Dara to get Johanna moving down the stairs. "Go Jo, he's still your husband even if it has been 13 years." Johanna could already see Jim's mouth hanging open as it hit the floor before she even made it all the way down the stairs.

Dara turned to look at her husband with tears in her eyes. Dara was praying that this went well.

"Hi Jim." Johanna greets her husband that she saw only just a few days ago, except he looks older now just like Katie does.