Odea walks to the entrance with tea, "It is a bit nippy."

"Thank you so much," Ada it behind the secretary desk wearing a heavy sweater. "I am jealous of your body."

Odea smiles, "I do like the cold. If you ever want to move to Russia ..."

Ada whispers and teases with a bit of venom, "Bite your Silurian tongue!" She takes a teacup, "Thank you. I have some good news." She hands Odea an envelope.

Odea places the tea service down and reads the letter, "Are you sure?"

"I don't want to look back." Ada sips the warm tea, "Oh my, this warms me up perfectly. Thank you again."

"What are your plans for the income?"

"I was hoping to discuss this with your Mothers. I have some ideas, but I would like their opinion."

"That is a wonderful idea." Odea offers a genuine smile, "I am going to serve Kay and let you get back to work."

Odea comes closer to Kay's office and overhears the conversation between Kay and April.

"Since I am working less, my educational costs and daily expenses. I am limited."

"What can I do to help?"

"I have to think of our future; it is a choice between income now or financial security later."

"I believe it is financial security later. We only have a two more years at the King's College."

Odea knocks on the door, "I have tea."

Kay stands up, "Oh that is perfect. Thank you."

"April, you better not let Alaya catch you socializing during work hours."

"I am heading out now." April turns back to Kay, "Stay for dinner? We can talk later."

Kay nods and sips the warm tea.

After dinner everyone gathered around the fireplace as Vastra reads another chapter of her sister's literary book.


My love, dear to my heart,

Goodly is your beauty, honey sweet,

Silurian, dear to my heart,

Goodly is your beauty, honey sweet.

My love, let me caress you,

My precious caress is more savory than honey,

On the hot rocks, honey-filled,

Let me enjoy your goodly beauty,

Silurian, let me caress you,

My precious caress is more savory than honey.

My love, you have taken your pleasure of me,

Tell my sister, she will give you delicacies,

My sister, she will give you gifts.

You, because you love me,

Give me pray of your caresses,

My goddess, my lord protector,

My warmth, who gladdens my sister's heart,

Give my pray of your caresses


"Oi, who wrote that?" Jenny asks wide-eyed.

Vastra scales turn a darker green.

"I see." Jenny begins to blush in return.

"May I change the subject?" Odea asks as she has something on her mind.

"Yes! Please." Vastra is pleased for the distraction.

"Ada would like to discuss something with you." She grabs Ada's hand for encouragement.

Ada announces and hands a worn envelope to Jenny, "I sold my home. I want to invest in my education and my future. Do you have suggestions?"

"It is a good idea that you sold your home. A new beginning and a fresh start." Jenny replies as she reads over the sales document. She hands it to Vastra, "What do you think?"

"It was very wise to sell. You should be proud of your decision."

Ada sits up taller.

Vastra continues, "Fiona what is your opinion?"

"She is making great progress. Her future is no has physical boundaries or weights."

"May we ask of your plans?" Jenny's curiosity is bursting.

"I do not know. Right now, I want to finish my education and then see what happens. I would like to resign my position and focus full-time on my studies."

Kay leans on April and whispers, "I am jealous."

"That is noble. Education will open more doors for you." Alaya offers her congratulations.

"Well, I do have a couple of ideas, but I am not sure. I am positive about a few things."

"What are the few?" Jenny leans in excitedly.

"I do want a future that includes Odea. I don't quite understand the dynamics, contracts or what traditions you hold." She sits up and looks towards Odea's mothers with determination. "What documents do I need to sign or what must I do to begin my commitment?"

Odea has the biggest grin on her face.

"I do not believe our Odea has objections." Vastra rolls her eyes and does her best to not laugh at her overly excited daughter. "We just ask that you finish your education and your therapy with Fiona. After that, we can discuss contracts."

"Oh, I see." Ada becomes sober, "I was hoping for a more enthusiastic response."

Vastra leans down, "My dear it brings me such pleasure knowing you are part of our lives, and we have plans for you after your education. You will be an asset to our family. We just want you to take this time to be Ada Mosin just a little while longer."

Ada looks with disappointed eyes at her Odea, "I will be patient."

Odea offers an idea, "Would you want a roommate?"

Jennifer, without looking up from her book, "That would not be acceptable."

"Not me silly," Odea shakes her head. "I was thinking about Kay."

"Me?" Kay smiles.

"We can move your things into the larger apartment." Odea suggests, "It will save on finances."

Ada ponders having a roommate, "We would have to share a room. Would that be acceptable?"

Kay perks up, "I have slept with twenty-one other girls for years. I would like to save on finances."

"It sounds perfect." April smiles and hugs Kay knowing this will be less of a burden.

"I don't want to impose." Kay calms herself down; life has taught her to expect disappointment.

"Oh," Ada is wondering if she should take it as a sign of rejection. She evaluates Kay's body movement, faster heartbeat, and facial expression; she understands Kay is being kind. "I would enjoy your company. I have only lived with Alexandra and Galina."

"I can assist with your budget, share chores and we can study together." Kay does her best to sell herself.

Ada smiles and accepts her enthusiasm without question, "It shall be good fun. Besides, we shall be related in a few years or is that an assumption I should not make?"

"Assume, please." April smiles, "Kay and I will hold off on certain aspects, of our relationship until specific merits have been met."

Alaya and Vastra bursts out laughing.

Fiona eyes open wide and she blushes.

Jenny slaps her wife teasingly.

"What did I say?" April and Kay become uncomfortable.

"You are our daughter." Alaya calms herself, "That is what we said when we began courting."

"Mothers, what was your merits?" Jennifer asks as she looked up from her book.

Mirum stopped reading.

The whole room became quiet.

"That is between your mother and me." Alaya responds.

"Grand Mamas, do you know what my mothers merits measurements were when then courted?" Jennifer attempts to find out the information another way.

"We never asked." Vastra responds.

"Oh, now I am curious." Jennifer closes her book, "Mothers just tell us, it will assist us in our courtships."

Fiona becomes anxious and attempts to divert the topic, "I believe it is time for bed." She gets up and pulls Alaya out of her seat.

"Please help us understand." Jennifer begs.

"It is too personal. I am truly sorry."

"Does it have to do with Fiona being familiar with cheated lives and mental manipulation?" Ada asks casually.

"Yes." Answers Alaya.

"Well, we should respect their privacy." Odea understands the necessity for privacy and Ada lays her head on her shoulder, "It is none of our business."

"Maybe so, but I am curious," Jennifer slumps in protest.

"Another time." Fiona affectionately smiles at her daughter and pulls her wife out of the chair. "I am tired. Do you mind?"

"Good night everyone." Alaya cheerfully follows her wife to their bedroom.

As soon as they are behind closed doors Alaya prepares for the emotional change. Fiona sits down on the vanity chair and looks up at her wife, "I don't want to go back to that time." She starts to cry.

Alaya scoops her up and holds in her arms, "I am so sorry you have painful memories. You have been strong long enough. Let it all out."

Fiona cries and screams into Alaya's chest.

In the drawing-room, Vastra and Jenny make their excuse to leave.

Mirum is crying and in a ball.

Jennifer is doing her best to ignor her mother's cries.

"May I walk you home?" April asks Kay.

"I was hoping to stay here tonight." Kay pulls into April's arms. "Please don't deny me."

"What is wrong? What do you hear?" Ada asks Odea.

"We hear Fiona weeping." Odea grabs Ada close.

Odea grabs Mirum's hand for comfort.

April smiles at Jennifer as she holds Kay.

"Our mothers have made serious sacrifices. We are not privy to every detail. I hope one day they will let us know." April explains to Kay and Ada.

Mirum quietly says, "We can find out without asking."

"How?" Jennifer sits up excited.

"They have been keeping a journal. It goes into a safe deposit box." Mirum smiles, "I have accompanied mother many times to drop off items."

"We need the key."

"It is in the secretary." Mirum responds while turning the page of her book.

"Should you be doing this?" Kay asks, "I would be upset if someone invaded my privacy."

"It is not in their private room. It is in a bank. It will have the information we seek without anyone getting hurt."

April looks up to the ceiling, "I truly ache hearing my mother cry. Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

The four women enter the bank, get the safe deposit box and take it to a private room in the bank. They all sit around the large table, and Jennifer begins to looks through the box.

She finds a bound journal, "Here Mirum you begin to read this while we go through the other things."

"There is so much here." Jennifer hands everyone a stack and if you find anything you let me know.

The room is quiet, and the only sounds are pages turning and heartbeats.

A knock at the door.

Jennifer gets up and opens to find Grand Mama Vastra and Mother Alaya who push open the door and lock it once they are inside.

"The bank is given instructions to contact us if anyone other than Jenny, Fiona or ourselves open the safe deposit box."

Everyone stops, except Mirum.

Vastra runs over and grabs April's Journal, "That is not for your eyes."

Alaya looks around, "None of this is for you."

Vastra and Alaya attempt to put the documents back.

"You are wrong," Jennifer slams the safe deposit box shut and pulls it close. She taps the mental, "This is about our lives, our past ..."

"And our future." Mirum adds quietly.

"How much have you read?" Alaya asks the her sisters and daughters.

"More than enough," Odea stands up, "That you can't put it away. The information is in all of our minds. There is nothing you can do."

"This is not intended for you," Alaya pounds the table. "You didn't ask for permission. This is private."

"We didn't know we needed permission to read about our lives?" April sits back and pointing to the pages about their lives.

"I am not going to even play this game," Alaya attempts to reorganize the papers.

"What about that journal?" Mirum points to the bound journal.

"That was a Christmas present for my mother-in-law April." Alaya looks at the well maintained journal. It is a little more yellow but it has held up well for all this time.

"It is a guide." Mirum stands up to her Mother Vastra, "That will save our lives and many others."

"For the Goddess!" Vastra throws her hands up in the air. "Alaya lets us pack these up. You girls head home and do not talk about anything you have read here until we return."

"No." Jennifer stands firm, "We have a right to information."

"You do not!" Vastra doesn't stop placing things back into the original order.

"This talks of future wars, future issues ..." Mirum points to the journal in Vastra's hand.

The room goes silent.

Alaya catches her mother's angry eyes.

"Do as Mother Vastra instructed." Alaya continues to organize the papers.

"Mother was in the hospital, why?" April asks.

"For the Goddess!" Vastra hisses, "Not another word."

Jennifer gives the signal to all stay and stands firm.

The air shifts in the room.

It sounds like rain as scales fluctuate.

Vastra and Alaya finish packing and attempt to leave the room with security box in hand.

Jennifer, Mirum and April block the way.

"You can leave but the safe deposit stays here with us."

"Don't be a fool." Vastra hisses at the three.

"We already have read most of it," Jennifer stands taller. "If you want this to be the defining moment in our relationship, so be it. We deserve to know about our past."

"It is not your past." Alaya becomes angry.

"They also have the key to the future." Mirum points to the security box, "There are notes from Fiona's mother."

"How would she know the future?" Odea asks the room.

"I would know that," Odea stands behind a chair for protection. "She was born in the future and brought here against her will from Angels."

"Angels?" Jennifer asks.

"Apparently they are powerful statues that come alive and move people in and out of time."

"Home! Now!" Vastra hisses at the room. She pushes Silurian barricade aside, opens the door, and Alaya follows.

"We have much to learn and discuss." Jennifer grabs her coat and leads the motley crew out of the bank. They wait for Vastra and Alaya emerge and all head home in silence.

Vastra opens the door of the drawing-room, leads the four inside, closes and locks the door from the outside.

Everyone turns to Jennifer. She pulls her sisters and aunts to the most further corner of the room. "I will go first ..."

After a few hours, the drawing-room door is unlocked and enter all the mothers. Fiona is sweating and has bloodshot eyes.

"You violated our privacy." Vastra stands tall.

"No, you kept something from us." Jennifer stands firm with her companions nodding their heads.

Fiona goes to speak, but she stops and walks to the other side of the room and sits down.

"It was not information on a shelf here in our drawing-room. Why would you assume you had the right to something locked away?"

"We know there are secrets." Jennifer looks to her mother, "Yet, anytime we inquire we are shut out. We took matters into our hands."

"It was dangerous and stupid." Alaya snaps back.

"Information is not dangerous, secrets are."

Alaya waves her hands in the air and looks at her wife coiled, "Look at your mother. You did that to her." She leaps over furniture and scoops up her wife, just as she done in the past, to offer a safe place to hurt.

"Oi!" Jenny stands in front of the group, "You had no right. None."

Odea comes closer and tenderly replies, "We had no choice. If you feel we violated privacy, then you must be aware how much you protected information. You have not volunteered explanations, share certain things of the past and even future events that will affect us all."

Jenny begins to protest.

Odea continues and looks into her mother's eyes, "We have been patient long enough."

"I am lost for words." Vastra begins to pace.

Jenny sits at the table and hides her head in her hands, "I don't know what to do."

Vastra paces faster.

Alaya asks, "Can we erase their short term memories?"

Vastra shakes her head no, "Not efficiently, it could cause permanent damage."

The four girls stand firm, "You will not do such a thing. We shall leave home before you touch one of our minds."

"What do you think we should do? You have put our family and our future in danger."

"How?" Mirum asks, "We simply have knowledge, and you have taught knowledge is essential."

Vastra raises her hands up in frustration, "How is a person who gains money because they count the card and not play the game as intended?"

"Intelligent." Jennifer offers quickly, "They have a gift to their advantage."

"They are a cheat." Vastra snarls at Jennifer, "Everyone else is playing a game of change. The card counter is not. What happens if they keep winning every game he plays?"

"No one will play with them." Jennifer quietly responds.

"If you have an advantage in life such as a card player counting cards, it is not living. It is cheating life, and you are not doing what everyone else is doing.?"

"Have you made decisions based on your knowledge hidden in the safe deposit box?"

Vastra paces, "I will not answer the question."

"Then you have." Jennifer snarled back at her Grand Mama.

Vastra leaps and stands in front of her granddaughter, "You challenge me?"

"Not physically," Jennifer stands a little taller. "I am in a quest for understanding and all I have are doors being shut. Figuratively and literally. You have my respect Grand Mama Vastra, but we stand firm in seeking answers."

"Stubborn fools."

"It is genetic."

The phone rings. Jenny answers, "Yes? One moment." She turns to April and Odea, "Kay and Ada are wondering if you are going to help as you promised?"

April grabs the phone, "I am sorry we are having a family meeting. We will be there within a few minutes. Yes, of course." She hangs up the phone. "I am sorry we must continue this another time. Mirum and Odea we need to go."

Vastra spins around and looks to her Alaya.

Alaya nods, "I am coming along."

"Mirum is our chaperone." April reminds her mother.

Alaya ignores her daughter, kisses her wife on her forehead and follows the three out. "I would like to return to see her in one piece."

Vastra and Jennifer have not moved a muscle.

Vastra narrows her eyes and asks Jennifer, "Would you care to spar?"

"I would."

The two tall Silurians walk the way into the gymnasium.

Alaya and Jenny head to the kitchen to have tea.

Jenny sticks her head out of the kitchen, "Vastra!"

"Yes love?"

"Two words: Anger and mistake."

"Technically that is three words."

"Oi, don't get cheeky with me!"