Alaya and Fiona return from their morning run to see their April sitting in her nightgown on the top of the landing.
"Good morning April. Did you sleep well?" Alaya asks as she sits to April's right and Fiona to April's left.
Silence.
"There is no wrong answer." Fiona pulls her daughter close.
April licks the air for comfort, "I did not sleep well."
"Are you worried about moving? Going to school?"
April shakes her head no and takes a deep breath, "I would like to take Miss Elmes to Canary Wharf Park for a picnic lunch, will you please take us?
Alaya looks up, "Are you sure?"
April sits taller, "Yes."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"We will not deny you anything, but are you sure?"
April smiles and nods her head yes.
A light tap on the door frame interrupts the accountant. "Yes?" The accountant looks up and smiles, "Hello Miss Flint-Saint Clair."
April moves to be directly in front of the desk. "Miss Elmes."
"Yes?"
April takes a deep breath, "I leave for school this Sunday."
Miss Elmes becomes sad and looks down at her ledger, "Yes, you will be gone for a whole year." She puts down the pen, "I wish you didn't have to leave."
The small office has become stuffy and dark with emotions.
"Tomorrow, is my last Saturday here in London. Please join me for a picnic lunch?"
"What time? Where?"
"I will come by your place at eleven forty-five."
"May I bring anything?"
"N ..." April catches herself, "Yes, Miss Elmes, be brave." And exits the accountant's office.
At dinner, April pushes around her mash potatoes, making post and lintels with the carrots and hardly touching her mushrooms.
Fiona leans over, "My dear, you must eat. You don't want yourself sick."
April takes a few more bites and returns to a restless state.
Fiona leans over to Alaya interrupting a very passionate conversation between Jennifer, Vastra and Alaya concerning Walter Robins disappointing second inning during the Ashes. "She is not eating."
"What are you going to pack for your picnic?" Alaya asks kindly.
April smiles and prepares to answer her mother.
"What? Picnic?" Jennifer asks loud enough that the entire table is now focusing on April.
Fiona speaks to everyone at the table, "She has a picnic planned with a friend. To say goodbye before going off to school."
"Ooooh ..." Jennifer and Odea begin to tease but are cut off quickly as they see April shrinking in her seat and the authoritative stares coming from their mothers.
"Sorry April."
"Yeah, Sorry."
Mirum asks gently to salvage her friend from retreat, "What are you going to pack?"
April says softly, "I was planning my favorite sandwiches, lemonade and a custard tart to share."
"Sensible." Mirum quickly remarks.
"Sensible?" April replies with a whisper.
"You don't want to eat something that would get her sick; it is about the company." Mirum smiles
April looks up to see Jennifer and Odea both nodding agreement. April sits a little taller.
"Are you going to bring a book?"
"I was thinking Murder at the Vicarage. We both love a good mystery."
"What are you going to wear?"
"It doesn't matter what she wears. The perception device will be on." Jennifer quickly replies.
"It does matter." Mirum begins to protest.
April says softly, "I will be taking her to Canary Wharf Park."
The table goes silent.
Jennifer leans in closer, "What? Where?"
April looks to her mothers, takes a deep breath and says with as much confidence as possible, "Canary Wharf Park."
April looks to her sister with a smile.
Jennifer begins to open her mouth.
April does her best to control Jennifer's words, "I am scared. Please be kind."
Jennifer melts, sits back down and asks, "What do you plan on wearing?"
April rings the doorbell and seconds later Miss Elmes comes to the door.
April smiles, "Ready Miss Elmes?"
"Can we just be Kay and April? We are not at work."
"Of course." April goes to the car and opens the back door. "I hope you don't mind, but we are going to my special park. It will be too far to walk."
"Yes. That would be wonderful."
Alaya stops the car, comes around and opens the door for her wife.
April mimics her mother and opens the door for Kay.
Alaya pulls out two picnic baskets and hands one to April.
Alaya then offers her arm to Fiona.
April, with a picnic basket in hand, offers Kay her other arm.
Kay instantly takes it with pride and April smiles bright and leads to a sunny spot near the trees.
Alaya and Fiona set their picnic area far enough for privacy and close enough for Silurian hearing.
"I brought Agatha Christie's The Murder at the Vicarage. This a novel dedicated to our favorite detective Miss Marple from and The Royal Magazine and The Story-Teller Magazine." She hands the book to Kay, "This is supposed to be the first of many."
"How wonderful." Kay opens it, "Shall I begin?"
"Um not quite, would you like a sandwich?"
"I am not hungry."
"I see."
"It is not what it seems," Kay whispers, "I am nervous."
"Why?"
"You aren't?"
"Oh my, goddess I am scared." April looks into her friend's eyes, "Why are you nervous?"
"I was prepared to be brave, as you asked. But ..."
"What? We have been friends for over eleven years. You shall never lose my loyalty."
"Your sister visited me early this morning."
"I am sorry." April hands begin to shake as she asks anxiously, "What did she say?"
"She said that I should be brave and not to hurt you." Kay leans over and touches her friend's hand, "I am trying."
"I am going away."
"I know."
"I will miss you."
"I will miss you."
April looks to her friend, "Will there be anything that will happen to lose our friendship?"
"I will always remember our friendship. I suppose if you don't return it will be difficult to have a relationship."
April sits up, "I will return."
"Good."
"But I don't want simply a friendship when I return."
"What?" Kay sits back.
"I want to court you when I return."
"How? You are fourteen. I do not think your mother will allow it. Besides we are two females." Kay says the words with an uncomfortable laugh.
"Do you not have the same feelings?" April is second guessing herself.
"What?"
"Have I misread your glances. Have I misinterpret your interest?"
"Since when?"
"Please be brave," April whispers, "Please Kay."
Kay begins to cry, "How could you possibly?"
"Oh God," April begins to pack up the picnic, "I am sorry. I am so sorry."
"Please April," Kay has tenderly touches April's elbow. "I am not brave. You just surprise me with your forwardness. This is a side of you I have seen very little."
April sits back down on the blanket, "It would gut me to lose your friendship."
"You have not lost our friendship."
"Have I misread you? Is it my imagination?"
Kay looks around at the almost empty park and whispers, "No April. You have not imagined my feelings. You are only fourteen, and I am sixteen, I suspect we need to wait at least three more years. But we are females, and you need to find a husband to take care of you."
"I do not want a husband." April look into her friend's eyes, "Do you?"
"I do not," Kay looks down at her food.
"Then I want to court you when I return."
"To what end?"
"What every courtship leads, marriage."
"Preposterous! You will be fifteen and I seventeen next year … still too young." Kay becomes quiet and whispers, "No two women could marry. The Queen would not allow it!"
"If it were possible, could you see yourself spending your life with me?"
Kay looks around again, "This park is quite private?"
"It is, that is why I like it." April smiles, "It is where I can truly be myself."
"I have never seen this side of you."
"Are you disappointed?"
"No, but I am trying to understand." Kay smiles, "May I ask a personal question?"
"Of course." April smiles, "Are you brave enough for the response?"
Kay blushes, "Do you love me?"
"I do."
Kay smiles, "How long?"
"Since the first day I met you, my heart skipped a beat." April laughs, "My mother told me about meeting her love and how she almost hit a lamp-post because of the instant connection. I felt that way when we sat on your cot for the first time. Do you love me?"
"Yes I do." Kay looks to Fiona and Alaya nearby, "Did you know your father?"
"I have no father."
"Oh. I guess we have that in common."
"My dear Kay, If I may be so bold as to call you that?"
Kay nods.
"My dear Kay, I need you to be brave. Please."
Kay nods.
"I have no father as I was born from the love of two mothers."
"Impossible."
April touches the switch on her wrist and turns into her hybrid Silurian human hybrid. "This is my true form." April holds her breath.
Kay's eyes grow wide, places a hand over her mouth and begins to cry.
April leans over begging, "Please don't cry. Oh goddess. Look into my eyes Kay. Look into my eyes! Be brave. Please."
Kay does as her friend asks and looks into April's eyes. "I see your eyes. They have not changed." She laughs, "Neither has that hair of yours … Who are you?"
"I am still me. I am April Flint-Saint Clair. I am my mothers' daughter."
"Mothers?"
Kay looks around at Doctor Flint-Saint Clair and Mrs. Flint-Saint Clair. "They are not your sisters or aunts?"
April turns back on the perception device, "Kay! Please look at me."
Kay swings her head back to April, "What did you do?"
"I have a device that turns my true self into my human genetic form. I have to wear it when I am in public."
"We are in public."
"No, we are in a protected area. Within these park walls, I am free to turn off this device." April switches it off and on.
"Keep it off, I want to see you."
April smiles, "Of course."
"Why are you telling me this now? You are leaving tomorrow."
"I will be gone one year. You will have all the time to think about my proposal. If you have any questions, my mothers are open to answering any of your questions."
"I see." Kay swings back to look at April's mothers. "You have mothers. I don't understand."
"No matter your decision, I want you to know you have my utmost respect."
Kay looks April up and down, "I have many questions now. Do you mind?"
"I would like mine my mothers come over? I am quite nervous. I believe they could answer your questions more efficiently."
Kay nods.
April looks up and sees her mothers packing up their picnic, "They are coming over." April looks at a scared friend, "Kay would you like lemonade?"
Kay nods yes.
April hands her a glass of lemonade.
She drinks it and smiles. "Sweet. You made it sweet. The way I like it."
Alaya and Fiona lay their blanket down next to April and Kay.
Fiona asks in her Doctor mode, "How are you doing Miss Elmes?"
"I am overwhelmed."
"Our April cares for you dearly."
Kay smiles at blushing April, "I have never seen you blush before."
"The perception device masks my emotions and only offers generic facial expressions."
"Oh. So you hid behind a mask?"
April shakes her head and calmly replied, "Not a mask. If it were up to me, I would not wear this contraption. I detest it with every fiber of my heart."
"Why do you wear it?"
"Safety, as you can imagine."
"Are you from another planet?"
April voice begins to tremble, "No, I was born here in London."
Alaya turns off her perception device. "Are you ready for the greatest romance story of all time?"
Kay's eyes get wide as she nods yes.
Alaya and Fiona tell the story of the lone Silurian, Jenny Flint, Alaya, Fiona the birth of both twins and the wonderful life they have lived. They left out April, weeping angels and other personal tidbits.
"So you gave birth to April?"
Fiona smiles, "She is a twin with Jennifer."
"You are nothing like Jennifer," Kay laughs while she looks towards April.
Alaya laughs, "Thank the goddesses!"
April looks to Kay, "There is one more thing you need to know."
"I don't think my brain will hold any more information."
"When I return next year from school …."
"Yes?"
"I will be four years older."
"Do Sul...urians age quickly?" Kay looks to Alaya and Fiona.
"Silurians dear. No, she will attend a school more suited for those who are human hybrids."
"Where?"
"Would you believe 38 billion years in the future?"
Kay stops herself from putting a grape into her mouth.
April leans over, cups her face and looks into Kay's eyes, "Are you OK?"
Kay looks into April's eyes, "Your hands are cool."
April pulls back her hands, "I am sorry."
"No," Kay takes April's hands and places them back under her chin. "It feels wonderful, like mint ice cream."
Alaya and Fiona share a quick look.
April blushes, "You are warm, like a blanket."
"You will be 18 when you return?"
April nods and brings her hands back to her lap, "Yes."
"You will change much in four years."
"Physically, a bit." April's hearts starts to pound hard and looks to her mothers for assistance. "I am getting a good education and returning home to attend university. I want so much for you to be in my life."
Kay becomes shy.
Fiona pulls up Kay's chin, "She will grow older, a bit more educated but she will remain your April."
"How do you know she will still want me in four years?"
"I have not altered in all these years." April looks into Kay's eyes, "Have I misinterpreted your feelings?"
Kay blushes, "No you have not. I just didn't know if it was possible or if you felt the same way."
"Will you allow me to court you when I return."
Kay smiles, "If … after four years … when you return home … and you still want me … I will not say no."
April smiles and pops a grape in her mouth.
"My mind is full of information I was not expecting today." Kay grabs the book waving it in the air, "Do either of you have a pleasant reading voice?"
"I like hearing my wife's Scottish accent."
April nods.
Kay hands it to Fiona, "Would you mind?"
April, Alaya and Kay get into comfortable positions as Fiona reads until dusk.