The little Queen had her head in Kiza's small lap. His little larva was running her hands through the black hair. Strand after strand, humming softly.

It was such a gentle gesture.

One he had never seen a human do to another, even amongst themselves. She was just was allowing the… Grooming, humming, and allowing the touch with the ease of equals. The song was soft, a pleasant beat he almost recognized. Kiza was even buzzing. Buzzing in relaxation and ease. It was a lazy afternoon. They had been invited, once again, to share time with the people of the Jones' household, a promise of a picnic and a generally lazy day of relaxation. Grey was startling, in their human disguise, and had he not already known their appearance beneath, he would not have noticed the slight oddness in the way they moved, in the way their eyes sometimes flicker when the concealment field flattered.

"So, Mr. Apini," said Sergi Jones, voice stern and accent crisp, "I am curious and wish to ask, how on earth did a Yorkshiremen like you end up here in the United States?"

Stinger smiles, and says, without missing a beat, spewing his generic cover story, "My older sister married an American, and they started the Apiary 'round the time I was born. When they passed a couple of years ago, she gave me the farm. Figured my degree in biology would do it some good, I supposed."

From her corner of the blanket, Aleska Jones smiles, her hands holding her place in her book. Some thick thing of mathematics, as much as Stinger had figured. Apparently, the young mother wished to go further in her field of study that she had abandoned some time ago, and was currently studying for her application for a doctorate program, whatever that was.

"Where did you study?" her accent is rough and drawls her letters in places.

"University of Leeds," he told her, grinning as charmingly as he could.

Sergi Jones gave a sniff.

"Fine enough school, I suppose," he said, "Venus and I studied at Oxford."

Vaguely, he thinks that schools matter on some sort of hierarchy, especially when Aleska sends a shark-like smile towards her father-in-law.

"Jupiter will not study there," she tells him, sternly, "She will study in a fine American college. Like her Mama."

"American schools are barely worth speaking of. She's a Jones- she should study at Oxford, like her father and her grandfather. And her nanny."

"May I remind everyone I am currently barely five-years-old," says Jupiter, sleepy, from her position on Kiza's lap.

Kiza giggled, blue eyes sparkling with warmth. Grey hummed in amusement, arm pressed into Kiza's shoulder in a show of increasing comfort with his little larva.

A wry smile from the part of Aleska Jones, toothy and teasing, "We have so little time, my little Leo, we must convince you of your choice now. And prepare you for it."

"Exactly," said Sergi, "Oxford is a tough nut to get in, and I think you would be reluctant to use my name to enter it, poppet!"

"I'll study at Cambridge just to spite you all."

They all laughed.