Flying like they were back on Theldesia was glorious. Having Hahaue fly with them even better. Purrcy's ability gave out before the rest of them - not because of MP usage but because of level of experience with it.

Michael held her then, being her wings, just as happy to have her close to him. She was the same - just as content to have him be her wings and hold her close. They all were able to relax and let the stresses fall behind them.

It was gorgeous country to be flying over, too. The rolling mountains with the dark green pine trees were left mostly untouched by man, although wherever it was flat enough there were farms and farmland patchworking it. From high above, it was the beautiful quilt that makes up the United States of America, the land showing what the people were: a beautiful mix that made up the whole and helped it move forward.

At some point while she was in his arms, Michael asked Purrcy, "So it's Saturday. Would you like to go to church tomorrow while we can get to one since we're in Christian country?"

Her eyes danced at him. She knew where they were. She only answered with a sunny, "Sure!", though and let him plan it. He gave her a kiss for her reward, then had to barrel roll for the pure delight of it. Her purr of delight matched his. Really, on days like this one it felt like they were just made for each other.

When the wings of the men were finally giving out, they stopped on a rocky outcrop of a knee in the mountains for lunch. It was another pot luck meal. They laughed at some of the things Purrcy brought out, but like always, it was food and they ate it and were glad they had anything.

The sun warmed them as they rested, enjoying the view. There wasn't a hurry to get moving since they'd be realm walking the rest of the way. The three guards went hunting just to keep in shape and get some of their own energy out while the geezer two sat and enjoyed the quiet. (And enjoyed watching the entertainment from where they were. The side commentary got occasional irritated commentary back from the hunters.) It was nice to have fun for a day.

They did some sightseeing as they realm walked, pausing over Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, and then over the lava fields that had flattened a greater portion of southern Idaho so that for a little while they thought they'd left the mountains altogether.

Following the gleaming ribbon of the Snake River was simple. It curved in a wide arc, until they reached Twin Falls. Michael set them down where he'd arrived with Brenner and P/R by the river on Theldesia. They enjoyed the view while Stiletto let Brenner know they'd arrived and needed to be picked up there.

"So, what story do we give him?" Bowie asked.

Purrcy's ikiryō tail waved a casual swish. "That we hitch-hiked. He'll know we flew or walked and not let on, since that's enough for him to tell anyone. It's what we would have done if we were fleeing eyes anyway." They sighed at her but let it be. They were too many to be picked up as hitch-hikers.

A white church bus - a fifteen-seater van - pulled into the parking lot eventually. They headed for it and climbed in. Purrcy went first to the front bench seat so she could get a kiss planted on Brenner's cheek before buckling in. Bowie took his usual front seat guard position and Michael his usual one next to Purrcy. Stiletto and Gareth took seats farther back to stretch out in.

"Are you enjoying being a pastor?" Purrcy asked Brenner as he got them going again.

"I am," he answered. "I've found it very fulfilling, actually." He flashed them a smile, "And surprisingly I have a congregation here in Mormon country, although we knew that." They laughed with him.

"It's a good place to live. Everyone works hard and gets along rather well, and as Phillip is still fond of saying, everyone's normal with the good, the bad, and the ugly all mixed up just like anywhere. I preach God's gospel and the people try to live it, so it's a good life."

"And you're still helping people walk forward when they struggle," Purrcy pointed out with an educated guess.

"Yes, that too," he agreed softly, smiling in the rear view mirror at her. "How are you doing?"

She smiled gently back at him as she slipped her fingers through Michael's to hold his hand warmly. "Well enough. Michael and the boys help me through the days that are a struggle and we all keep the calm days as peaceful as possible so healing can occur. Walking daily with Christ works here, too." Brenner nodded complete agreement to that.

"And Michael? How are you doing?" Brenner kept the check going.

Michael smiled. "Some days are hard on the old ticker, but I've got everything I ever wanted in life, so it's good." He squeezed Purrcy's fingers in his gently. "Purrcy helps me get through the days I want to kill."

"Still hate press?" Brenner asked dryly.

Michael nodded at him, eyes meeting in the rear-view mirror again. "She's got a much better way of facing them, so I just follow her lead on those days."

"That's good, then," Brenner smiled at them both. "We'll keep you hidden here in town as much as we can." They thanked him.

Brenner's eyes went to Stiletto next. "Thanks for the head's up. Sparkly moths in dreams are pretty obvious."

Stiletto shook his head. "I didn't walk that one. I did intend it, though. Thought you'd pick it up of all of us, Mister Vision-Man." He grinned at his tease, his teeth showing whitely.

Brenner had to look away, using a check on traffic as his excuse. "Well, yeah. I've learned to listen to them here, too."

"Do you have room to put us all up?" Gareth asked. "As the de facto treasurer of this group, I'd like to save a bit of cash. We're starting to get to the end of what we brought with us. The rest of what these two have is tied up in yen." He pointed at Michael and Purrcy. "With two of us being in medical until they let us go for Hahaue to work on us, we're getting short on what's available."

Brenner nodded. "If you don't mind blankets on the floor. I've got a bed for Hahaue and Mike, though it's only a double." They all nodded it would be fine as he finished, "As a pastor I find I'm putting people up regularly."

"Did you marry, Brenner?" asked Purrcy.

He blushed slightly. "Not yet, but I have found someone I'd be willing to. She's a bedrock of faith and service comes naturally to her." His eyes looked at Purrcy's again. "I was somewhat pleased to find that there are more people in the world like you than one would think."

"Well, I don't know about going that far," she smiled at him, "but I'm glad you've found someone to stand as a strength with you. I hope she can see the good in you for your sake, and forgive the weaknesses. Does she know yet?"

Brenner shook his head, decidedly embarrassed. "I've been watching her and working with her, but it hasn't been the right time to ask yet." He hesitated, paying attention to the road to turn a busy corner. "I'm not sure how to bring up the past, honestly, and I don't want it to be a stumbling block."

"Does she know you were Navy?" Michael asked. Brenner nodded. "That's all the detail you need to go into for being an Adventurer, then. Just tell her you were one of those and see how she reacts. Details aren't necessary unless something pops to the surface. Then just those things need to be addressed and work-arounds found."

Purrcy nodded. "Yes. It's the same for either military or Adventurer. On Theldesia, it was important for us to explain details because we knew we might be coming home to those details. Here, they can be left behind you. If you want to tell your children a story, you leave out the worst details and they help you remember the fun and the good times.

"It's the PTSD items that have to be faced by you and your spouse with humility and love so that she can strengthen you through them and you can not worry. They often don't show up much and you'll not know until they do. You can talk early about the ones you do know about, but that comes after you know she's interested enough to get that far."

Brenner gave a nod as he turned them into a church parking lot and drove back towards a small ranch-style house on the far side of the parking lot. The church was called The Church of God, the sign in the front stating simply it was of Christian denomination.

They piled out of the van and gathered with Brenner. He didn't lead them inside right away. Instead he looked at them all. "No baggage and a vision means you're all running. I'd like to know that's not really what you're doing." He was sober.

They all shook heads. "They know where we are generally," Gareth waved a hand at Bowie, indicating he was the watchdog. "And they've got Hahaue doing what they want her to do. This is an approved vacation break in the middle of it all. We got to pick the place."

Brenner waited to get the nod from Bowie before smiling at them softly. "Then thanks for picking me to come see. I'll have to fess up to that Adventurer status, though, to have you walk in the door. I've asked Stephanie to make dinner for us. It will be a bit pot luck. I've invited the Bishop of the local ward to come, too, and a few others."

They blinked at him. "All on just a dream?" Stiletto asked, disbelieving.

"Yup," Brenner answered casually. "They come over to eat with us anyway. I've asked them to bring food with, this time, since I wasn't quite sure how many of you I'd get. It looks like I'm glad I did. Five's kind of a lot for how much food we've got in the house."

Michael folded his arms. "Billy just can't get out from under it, can he?"

Brenner grinned. "Nope. He was rather resigned. He says it's not too common to call men his young age to be bishops, but it happens. He's still trying his fumbling best, like all the rest of us. We share stories and prop each other up, ...when he's not trying to convert me." He laughed and turned to the door, waving them to come in.

-:-:-:-:-

There were already yummy smells in the house. The five guests were all quite ready for a real meal. They all headed for the kitchen, that being what they were practiced to, and where Brenner was taking them anyway.

The curly-haired brunette at the counter paused in her chopping and turned to look at them. Her brown eyes were bright and went to Brenner first. Purrcy smiled. It looked like Brenner wouldn't have any problems with proposing, in her eyes.

"Welcome back," she said to him, then looked at the guests to be introduced.

"Stephanie, these are my friends, come into town to visit for a spell," he said.

But her eyes were already quite wide as she stared at Michael, and when her eyes went to Purrcy, she had to blink and hold on to the countertop just a little. "Here?" she asked faintly, in complete disbelief to be seeing two screen personalities casually enter the small simple home of an Idaho preacher.

"Mike was my last commanding officer in the Navy," Brenner said quietly. "This is Purrcy, his wife. You remember I went to Japan? They asked me to officiate at their wedding. The other three are Stiletto, Bowie, and Gareth." They each raised a hand when their names were stated.

Brenner kept it going. "Everyone, this is Stephanie Smith, the secretary and person in charge of everything at the church."

She blushed at that. "I'm not really in charge," she prevaricated. "But I do help with what I can."

"That's the best anyone can do," Michael said kindly.

"What can we do to help get dinner ready, Stephanie?" Purrcy asked. "I like to keep my hands busy while we visit. Can I take over the cutting so you can get the next step started?" She headed for the sink to wash her hands.

"Brenner, show Gareth where the cups are while you find the drinks for us. We're parched from being out here in the dry desert." That got a giggle from someone. "Stiletto and Bowie, drag in a few more chairs. Michael, we'll let you cook breakfast so I can sleep in."

"No sleeping in for people who want to go to church," Michael scolded her lightly, as he slipped in to wash hands with her, saying with his actions he was dang well going to help tonight as well, although they all needed to wash up.

"Mmm, right. I forgot that happens at the crack of dawn here," she rolled her eyes at him. "Sleeping until eight is sleeping in."

"I thought you'd gotten used to the ten o'clock on the ship," he teased as he kissed her.

She gave a rueful snort. "We're so screwed up time-wise now that who knows what time it really is. You might not be able to drag me out of bed in the morning."

He patted her on the head. "Knowing you, you'll be up three hours before the rest of us, chomping at the bit to be moving again."

Purrcy just shook her head and made Stephanie pass her the job of cutting the vegetables, moving it to the corner kitchen table to be out of the real cooking pathways. When an iced glass of water was set down in front of her, she drank it down rather quickly and passed it back for a refill. That was set back on the table in front of her and she let it sit.

"Make sure you all start with at least one glass of water." She ordered quietly from her seat. Water ran into cups as they obeyed. She didn't bother to look up at the rolled eyes. She knew the beer would come out eventually, but it didn't need to be first for people who'd been anywhere but in the dry environment for the last year.

Purrcy stepped into the roles of Queen and mother and ran the conversation for a while, asking Stephanie about her family, her hobbies, and then about her hopes for the future, all while keeping everyone else engaged in the conversation as well. Eventually Stephanie relaxed. With the family atmosphere it wasn't all that hard, particularly since she'd come from a family of four children herself. As Purrcy had expected, it was easy to get her to fall into the patterns and comfort of family gathered in the kitchen helping (or just gabbing - although Purrcy and Michael kept the flow of activities going, too).

The guards had the tables set up and set by the time the first of the guests arrived. Michael headed for the door. "I may as well get the surprises over with at the door, so they don't interfere in the workspace," he commented over his shoulder at Brenner. Brenner shrugged and went back to his current task. Purrcy wrapped up her current one and followed after Michael.

Michael had opened the door to two young men and one young woman, who was holding a pot in her hands. There was a moment of silence after Michael's hello, then his hand was being grabbed up and pumped very enthusiastically. "General Michael, sir! It's so good to see you! What a wonderful surprise! I'm glad I was able to free up the evening."

Michael chuckled. "Just Mike is fine."

Purrcy smiled from Michael's side. "Hi, Phillip, Billy. It's good to see you both again."

Phillip blinked at her and Billy paused. "You can recognize me?" Phillip asked.

Billy drew in a breath. "You're really real?" he breathed, having recognized the voice if not the face so well.

Purrcy laughed. "Yes, I'm real." Michael let her pass and she gave Billy a hug to prove it. He gave her a light one back, still too much in shock to do much more than that. She patted him on the head and moved to hug Phillip, making him a bit uncomfortable.

Michael had taken the pot from the young woman. "Let them in the door at least, crazy Hahaue," he complained at her.

Purrcy interlaced her arm into the arm of the young woman as the two young men followed Michael back in. That got the door closed behind them. The woman on Purrcy's arm got introduced as Darla, the wife of Billy. Purrcy continued to walk her on into the kitchen, making the rest of them go with to some degree. That put the two young women together and they were able to settle a little better. They obviously already knew each other so were sister-supports in the face of this crazy unexpected visit.

Purrcy got the background story of Darla in the kitchen while the men all fell to happy chatting in the dining room. That gave Stephanie the space to finally ask, "Is Pastor Brenner really an Adventurer?"

"Yes, he's the Brenner of the movie, and really was with us all. He was the glue that kept us all together when our faith wavered." Purrcy went sober. "In particular I owe him a great debt. He kept my husband of Theldesia alive when things got to their worst. I've always been grateful to be able to call him one of my adopted sons. I was so glad he was willing to come officiate at Michael and my wedding."

She smiled at Billy's wife. "And I'm glad Billy was able to find someone to stand by his side. He was so fun to play with on Theldesia. His work ethic has always been an inspiration, as has his kindness and concern for others. His faith also was a support for all of us. I'm glad the two of them have become good friends here."

Stephanie's hand went to her mouth. "It's... really real?"

Purrcy looked at her a little sadly. "Yes. And it was the hardest thing we had to go through. Coming home has been just as difficult as being stolen away there was. We're terribly sorry that returning has made life confusing for everyone else on the planet. The AIs of Theldesia were right in the end - we shouldn't have come home. But we couldn't see beyond our selfish needs. Please be patient with us. I'm sure you can understand the strong desire to return to be with family after being kidnapped."

Purrcy sighed. "It hasn't been easier on the families here, either. Parents, spouses, and children wanted us home just as badly and didn't comprehend the full world scale of it either." She blinked at the two women soberly. "I think God has us end at death here for a reason. We miss each other but it allows for us to live by faith, instead of have that faith in our world rocked by things we aren't ready to know yet." They had to agree, and finally relaxed and relented enough.

"Are we expecting anyone else?" Purrcy asked.

Darla shook her head. "Brad is on his mission to Sao Palo."

"And Hue?" Purrcy asked. Darla looked a bit confused. Purrcy rose to her feet and walked into the dining room. "Billy, where's Hue?"

Billy paused. "Ah...with his family, I suppose."

"And you didn't invite him, why?" She folded his arms at his look. "Just because you can see he's only in his teens now doesn't mean he wasn't a man there and isn't one now. All of the youngest Adventurers grew up while we were there and I like him just as much as the rest of you."

Bowie sighed and stood up. "That's Hahaue for you. She'll hold the meal until it's cold if we don't go fetch him now. I'll go with you." He looked pointedly at Billy. "I want to eat it while it's still warm at least."

Billy looked a little concerned. Purrcy said softly. "Call him on the way to warn him, but Bowie has the credentials and the right words to get him permission to come." She waved at the other two. "And we're all together because I have permission to heal those that still need healing."

Billy's face got more serious at that and he rose to his feet. "As long as that's what he gets."

Purrcy nodded. "That's what we're here for." As they headed out the door, Purrcy turned to Brenner. "Have you got a laptop? This is a good time, actually, since Japan is just waking up to their Sunday. I think it might help Hue to talk to Touya and Minori. Like-minded and like-aged would help. Once we've got them in contact with each other, they can keep up the electronic conversation and support."

"Ah...language barrier?"

"We'll translate today, but by text or email they can electronically translate. If he wants to talk to them face to face again you can translate. They've been working hard to learn English for my sake, particularly Minori since I want her as my secretary eventually, so it would be good practice for her, too."

Brenner pursed his lips at Purrcy, then waved at the table and everyone sat. He folded his hands together in front of him. "Purrcy, his family is one of those that doesn't want the past remembered or talked about."

Purrcy nodded. "And that's only making it worse for him, to not have his past acknowledged. You know that was the most important part of being there. We didn't have any strength to stand if it wasn't. It doesn't have to be waved in front of everyone's faces, and it would actually be better if his family did stay quiet about it, but it isn't helping him heal to be made to shove it all under the rug."

She pointed to Stiletto. "That's what they were making him do, but he's one of those special people that it most definitely doesn't work with. You at least had the excuse of being a man of God." Brenner went a bit pink at that.

Stiletto was nodding in agreement. "I'd reached the point where since no one would believe me and couldn't do anything about it anyway, I'd refused to leave the hospital at all. Having Hahaue here to help me learn what I needed to learn has made all the difference. She already understands from the beginning and knows how to help me see properly. If she just sets up the connection, it can be friends he got to know like pen pals so he has people to talk to who understand."

"I assume you're recommending Touya and Minori instead of anyone from the group here in town because of another reason than just needing someone to talk to?" Michael leaned on an arm to search Purrcy's face.

Purrcy nodded. "Touya and Minori were leaders and adults like he was. He needs the same connection that Brenner and Billy have. He needs someone who had to go from fully independent back to dependent in this world, and who could do it without rebelling. They'll be able to help him return to the Hue he wants to be - strong, independent, but humble. That was the Hue he was best at being. He's not got anyone here to help in that specific a way."

Purrcy turned back to Brenner. "If it really is a problem at home, go visit him there and ask if you can offer him counseling from an outside source and let him have time here to visit with you and with the twins. Or have Billy suggest it, since he's over them. Here is at least a place he could relax and just be the himself he needs to be. It won't take too long for him to finish healing if his past is properly acknowledged when he needs it to be."

Darla nodded her head. "I'll talk to Billy about it. It would be best coming from him. Hue isn't doing too badly, but his grades are suffering, and he's been skipping classes a lot more. His mom says he's arguing more with his dad, too."

Purrcy sighed sadly. "It really would be better for his family to acknowledge that he grew up there and not tell him they don't like who he became - particularly because he became something really special there. If they'd let him tell them his stories, they'd be very proud of him. If there's any counseling to give them, it's that."

Darla blinked but at the nods of all the returned Adventurers around her, she gave her own nod saying she'd support Hue as best she could as well.

Purrcy and Michael met Hue at the door, like the others. Michael gave him an adult handshake and Purrcy gave him a hug like she'd given the others. Hue was a tall, lanky teen, with straw-blond hair, nearly eighteen and in his last year of high school. They ushered him in and got him sitting down with the rest of them, the three guards introducing themselves. It didn't take long for Hue to relax with them as they just welcomed him in as one of them.

"Hahaue, will you pray for us?" Brenner asked. There were a few surprised looks around the table, but Purrcy recovered and smiled.

Hands were folded and heads bowed. "Our Father in Heaven. We've gotten to come visit with our friends in Twin Falls, Idaho, along our crazy path around the world. We're glad to be here." She asked for blessings on each one and on the family not present, and thanked Him for them all, too.

She asked for blessings on the leaders of the world and on the Adventurers who were still hurting and needed healing. She expressed gratitude for the food that had been prepared and asked for His blessings on it and on the works they'd been tasked to do on Earth, then closed in Jesus' name.

Brenner sighed as the food began to be passed around. "There's nothing like a mother's blessing and prayer to God. Thank you, Hahaue."

"Always," she smiled back at him. "Thanks for asking."

It was a happy group around the table as they had fun remembering the fun they'd had together. Billy, Phillip, and Hue were surprised when Purrcy kept up with the stories, adding to them, since she hadn't been visibly present for a lot of them. Michael and the Eagles ribbed her on the parts that had been "harder than they needed to be" and she blew them off as usual, or blamed it on Izanami, since a lot had been the Game Bot's fault.

When they were done with the meal, Purrcy made Hue help her by drying the dishes as she washed them and talked to him, listening seriously to his concerns about present life. Michael stayed present to add a few comments here and there where they were needed.

When the dishes were done, Purrcy turned to Hue. "Can I put you in contact with the children of our guild, Hue?" she asked him seriously. "Like you, they were in roles of leadership far above their years. Being children of Japan, they also had to go back to being dependents, obedient to their parents and the society they live in. They've found a good way to deal with that and also remain true to the adults they became. Your heart's always been in the right place, but I think you might be feeling a bit lonely?"

The adults watched him until he finally gave in. "It's disheartening that they won't let me talk about it, and even have a hard time with how 'different' I've become. I've never thought it was a bad thing."

"It wasn't and isn't," Purrcy agreed. "They just didn't get to grow up with you, so the seemingly sudden change is hard. I agree that it would be nice if they would listen to your stories so they could grow up with you that way, but it isn't my place to make them do that, nor is it yours. We have to let people deal with change the best they can.

"While you're trying to keep your patience with them, I think it would help you to have someone who understands to talk to. It has helped Touya and Minori to be able to call Isuzu and Shiroe or any of the rest of us as well, to be reminded that they are okay."

Hue rubbed a hand on his pant-leg. "It's been good to be here tonight with everyone again," he agreed.

Purrcy looked at Michael. "Go get it set up, please," she asked him, knowing he had the twins' contact information. He headed out to find Brenner and the laptop.

"You can get their phone numbers from him," Purrcy told Hue. "Evenings and mornings are best since they're the reverse of here. It's Sunday morning for them right now. Minori's English is a bit better than Touya's, and we'll translate tonight for you. Brenner has enough Japanese to be a rough translator for the words that Minori doesn't know, and text is translatable if you find a good enough software package."

She found a piece of paper, wrote a note on it, and handed it over to him. "If your parents are willing to let you play games on the computer, here's their user names for the game Log Horizon Systems runs. That will auto-translate for you. I've included their 'office hours' as it were." She winked at him. "They help us still on the side in the game, around all their studies and other activities."

She paused and considered him. "Actually, I'd be willing to hire you like we've hired them. Talk to them about what we have them doing and see if you'd like to participate in that way. You've got the qualifications, and we don't have as many people here in the States your age working for us. They've become very popular and I think you would be the same."

She mock-glared at him, "Not that you need to become a popular boy with a swelled head, but that you would be like them - the wisdom of youth that many people need to hear, said in kind words that understand."

Hue smiled a shy smile at her. "I'm not interested in the social popularity, Mrs. Purrcy. I'm a gamer, after all."

She smiled back and pulled him in for a one-armed hug. "I know. And a wonderful young man. Hold to faith and patience and God will help you get where you want to go.

"Come visit us in Japan when you graduate. Maybe we can talk you into staying there to work with us long enough to be trained up enough to come work for us over here. You've got the qualities we're looking for. I'd love to have you stay with us while you're there. Shiroe's got enough rooms and we're all crazy over there."

Hue laughed at that and gave her a squeeze and Purrcy let him go. "But you have to have your diploma properly for us to be able to do that," she said seriously and watched him until he gave a nod of understanding.

It would help him to have a goal to be working for other than other's expectations. That was the main secret that had been helping Touya and Minori: they had their own goals that helped them push through the current requirements.

Michael called them into the living room and for the next half-hour they all had fun talking to friends in Japan.

-:-:-:-:-

Before the Idaho guests left the house, Billy turned to Michael. "Hey, I've got a strange favor to ask. If it's not possible, then that's okay." Michael raised an eyebrow.

Billy hesitated, then said, "In our church, we hold regular firesides, about once a month on a Sunday evening. They're meetings at the meeting house, usually about an hour long total, of someone presenting something gospel related, or related to living a good life. We were scheduled to have one tomorrow night, but the speaker came down with an illness last minute and had to cancel.

"Will you still be around? Could we ask you to step in and talk, and maybe Mrs. Purrcy for a bit? We were going to explain it was cancelled in the morning, but if you'd have the time to stay in town...? I'm sure the rest of the Adventurers from our group would love to hear from you, if you could. We can get word out to just them who the speaker is and keep it under wraps other than that."

Purrcy was looking at Hue when Michael looked at her. "It looks like Hahaue wants to have people hear what we have to say," Michael sighed just a bit. "I guess that would also be a fair repeat, but she has to do some of the talking." When she looked back at him, he emphasized, "Some. Not four hours."

She shooed his scold away as the Eagles chuckled. "You'll get Hue's parents there?" she asked Billy.

He hesitated, then nodded. "I'll do my best." He looked at Hue. "If you ask them, they'll likely come for you."

"If I don't tell them the topic," Hue rolled his eyes. The rest of the adults shrugged. He knew his parents and how to manipulate them better than the rest of them. With final hugs to see them out the door, including one for Darla this time, the house got a little quieter.

Purrcy turned to see Phillip was still in the house and she raised an eyebrow at him. He got a slow smile on his face. "There's beer next. That waits until they leave, since they don't drink."

"They don't?" she asked in surprise. Her eyes went to Michael. "I think I could really get along well with them, then."

He shook his head at her. "I still like a good drink now and then."

She smiled at him. "I know." She rubbed his head. "I think I'll let you guys just be the sub-guild from here, though. I've had a full enough day and it looks like tomorrow will be full, too, even if a vacation."

Stephanie showed Purrcy to the guest room and helped her get the bedding out for the guards as well, since it was in the closet there. "Is there anything else you need?" Stephanie asked.

"Where are the bathing supplies, and then I'll be all done," Purrcy answered.

Stephanie frowned. "Did you bring bags?"

Purrcy smiled benignly. "I'll just let the men handle that part on their own. Do you stay here?"

Stephanie blushed. "No. I live a few houses down with my aunt. I'll ask Brenner to walk me home next. I'm sure I don't need to intrude on the men either."

Purrcy paused and put her hand on Stephanie's arm. "Brenner's a good man of faith and quiet strength. It would be good if the woman who loves him could support the weaknesses he carries like all the rest of us do, and forgive him for being human, for all he tries harder than most."

Stephanie looked away and took a breath. "I hope whoever that is can love him like that, too."

Purrcy frowned at her. "Stephanie, God's hand moves in ways that aren't possible to understand."

Stephanie looked down. "It's not that simple. I help him all I can...but I'm also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was glad to get the job, and to be able to work in a place where people are trying hard, and he's very nice..."

She took another breath. "We're taught to only marry within the church, or someone who will join before we marry. Marriages are made for eternity in the temples, not just until death in chapels. I want that kind of marriage."

Purrcy sighed softly. "Well, you will have to decide then, for yourself, but I think God knows both of your hearts. He uses us wherever we are in the best capacity we can move forward in. Don't throw away a good thing that He wants to have happen even if it does seem contrary to convention.

"Brenner's a lot better than many in your own church. We all learned that on Theldesia. The masks people wore made the bad and the ugly come out. He never did change from what he is now. He only got better."

Purrcy shrugged slightly. "Take it to God. It isn't easy to blend families. Nyanta and I managed to do it with lots of talking and humility and learning from each other. Patience with each other was required, and with ourselves, some days. It's similar for Michael and I, who share the same birth country.

"Every marriage takes work and courage to say what you're feeling as soon as you feel it. What matters is if you want to put in that effort. Just because you come from the same sort of culture doesn't mean it's easy."

Stephanie looked her in the eyes, then said quietly, "Thank you, Mrs. Purrcy. I'm glad to have gotten to meet you and Mister Michael today."

"Same here. Thank you for making the dinner. It was delicious. Be safe on the walk home." Purrcy gave Stephanie a brief hug, then took a towel and washcloth from the hall closet and headed into the bathroom. It was nice to relax in the quiet and fall asleep to the voices of friends in the background.

Michael arrived to the guest bedroom to find a white headed foxtail in his bed. He sighed. They needed to make a different kind of stop in town while they were there.

His own prayer that night asked yet again for Inari to let Purrcy go. His answer as he lay down in bed with Purrcy was to have himself turn into his five-tail foxtail form. He was far enough gone towards sleep by the time it happened he couldn't get very upset. It surely had to be final residuals from their last stop.

-:-:-:-:-

Having Purrcy playing with tails that a human shouldn't have woke Michael up in the morning. "They're still there?" he growled at her, his ear turning down in unhappiness. He counted her tails by feel and sighed at her, and them, and Inari. "Does it not want us to go to church or what?"

Purrcy shrugged. "At the moment I'm too lazy to change back and I've wanted to have my turn to play with tails since the rest of you like to play with mine."

Michael grimaced. "Sorry." She raised an eyebrow ridge at him, then laughed at him. He decided it was her evil laugh. He was also tired enough to just let her play with them for now.

"I think if you're going to be up on the stand tonight, we need to stop by a beauty parlor and get your hair dyed properly today," he said, changing the subject. "I'd like to experiment and see if it's even possible. The illusion isn't strong enough."

Purrcy snuggled into his chest, holding one of his tails to her as if it were a pillow or stuffed animal. "We want it to stay white." Her eyes opened and looked into his sharply and Michael could see the Machiavelli in them. "I'll take down even the U.S. government if it won't comply and continues magic research behind everyone else's back. All governments need to stop. I'm sorry that puts us at odds."

He gazed at those sharp eyes, then put his hand on the back of her head and kissed her. Quietly he said, "There's always two or more sides to every issue in the States. You know that."

She paused, then calmed down some. "True. Are you saying you've picked a side of your own?"

He smiled at her, keeping his face close to hers. "I think I've been plenty vocal about how I feel about it."

Purrcy blinked, then smiled. "Well, yes, I suppose that's true. We can pretend it's truth then, if you want."

He growled at her. "Difficult woman." She hugged his tail and a second one crept up on her to tickle her ear and cheek.

It was hard to move out of bed with that many warm, heavy tails on top of them. Somehow they managed, though, and even to revert back to human forms before leaving the room. Michael went for his shower and made her go with, even if she'd had one the night before. They were still coming down from being up on the mountain.

Michael fixed breakfast, as she'd requested the night before. Purrcy helped like he'd requested back before they were married. "You're all coming?" Purrcy looked at the three guards in surprise. "I would have thought you'd have wanted to sleep in for once."

They shook heads at her. "Warm breakfasts are good," Gareth said.

"Like we're allowed to let you two walk off to who knows where?" Bowie mock-scowled at her.

Purrcy rolled her eyes. "Like - across the parking lot and back?"

"I want to hear it - Brenner's sermon," Stiletto said quietly. Since he'd said it, what they'd all been feeling, they went quiet. Purrcy gave a satisfied nod at that. Even if they didn't all believe the same, or even to the same level, having the opportunity again to hear one of their own chaplain's sermons was a comforting nostalgic thought.

Brenner walked out of his office about then and looked at them all. He shook his head, but he knew better than to comment or ask questions. No luggage and they were all dressed for Sunday church meeting. He did sigh at Purrcy, though. "I do hope you'll put away the ears and tail. I've got a few in the congregation that can see."

"It's harder to hide the ikiryō form," Purrcy said calmly. "I'll do my best."

Brenner looked at her quizzically, tipping his head. "They're ...not cat?"

Purrcy glanced up at him sharply. "Pretend they are and stop there." Brenner took in a breath, firmed up, and nodded. She went back to eating. "Come eat something light at least," she mothered him.

He went and poured up a cup of coffee and returned to the table to select a small amount of food. "So...what did you say to Stephanie last night?" He put his chin in his hand and leaned on his elbow to look at Purrcy accusingly.

"Only that sometimes God asks us to do things outside the norm for his own purposes. Such things are always a personal decision. A life-time of effort and work is a lot to commit to. Most people don't think hard enough about it at the beginning. If you're going to help your congregation, it might be too much to have to add in the work of a wife and family - for instance," she watched him.

His brow furrowed slightly as he ate while thinking that over. "I don't really need a devil's advocate. It's already hard enough. But I also know that having that kind of pressure from her family and more than half the neighborhood would be difficult. It's why I haven't asked her." He sighed and looked at Purrcy. "I've left it in God's hands. He keeps telling me it will work out, whatever that means."

Purrcy nodded and ate, thinking it over as well. "Sometimes pressuring helps," Michael said drolly.

Purrcy kicked him under the table. "Only in our case, smarty-pants, and you had to find the right pressure, too. That's the wrong thing in their case."

Brenner frowned at them. "Settle down, kids," he scolded them. They both rolled eyes at him, but did as he said. "And why was it pressure to begin with?"

"Because I'm marriage-shy from the first time," Purrcy admitted. "I'd have been just as happy to keep him as the guard, but it was from closer quarters than any man would be happy to be standing unless he was the husband."

"As in?" Brenner pushed them.

"She needed me in the same room at night," Michael said, leaning back from his empty plate and folding his arms. "A particularly difficult task for someone like me who was already having troubles from before we even left Theldesia and didn't have the same restrictions when she got here." The others shuddered, particularly Gareth who best understood all the history.

Michael eyed Purrcy. "That seems to be getting better, though? You went to bed by yourself fine last night."

"It is, some," she agreed. "It helped that I could hear all of you out here." She wrinkled her nose, "Plus, I think the fact we've all had to be in each other's laps for the last part of this makes even me ready to go solo again - until I walk half-way down the block." She shuddered. Michael patted her head and Gareth patted her arm, understanding and calming her back down before it could get any further than that.

"Still, half-way down the block is better than not even down the hallway," Bowie commented. They all agreed with that.

"I think having to be out of the house and on the go internationally has helped with that," Purrcy said. "It's the reminder that the world is wide and mostly okay that helps the distances to expand."

"So, it was a disservice to keep you inside all the time at Log Horizon?" Michael frowned at her.

"No. That was to prevent the equivalent of the press and paparazzi hounds from swamping me every time I went out. I'm sure it wouldn't have been as bad as we all thought it could be - although the rudely interrupted date we did go on was a case in point. It was just safer and Shiroe could control all the variables better that way.

"There were far too many little variables that he didn't have the brain to hold on to, so he just contained the big ones and constrained the rest. Thus I was only let out when necessary and then only with enough guards to not let chaos enter the system. Looking at it rationally on Earth, it wasn't really rational, but it was for Theldesia."

She shook her head. "So many little things are like that. We did them on Theldesia for good reasons but to replicate them here is crazy and odd." She grinned at her guards. "Even having all of you here is that. They justified it with the healing for everyone, and that's what it is, but it isn't more than that.

"If we're good when we get back, they'll reassign you back to where you're needed for this reality, and I'll get to practice living this reality like I should." She got sad looks, but she wasn't wrong. Bowie's firm nod agreed with it. But then, he was ready to get back to Earth's reality.

"That would be good," Brenner agreed softly. "I hope you continue to walk that path of healing, Hahaue."

"Thank you, Brenner. With everyone's help and God's grace, I'm sure it will come in its proper time. I'm grateful to be here already, even."

-:-:-:-:-

Clean-up went quickly with that many hands to help and then they were off to the chapel where the four Eagles sang a few songs to Purrcy while they waited for Brenner to get the church opened up and ready. They were merciful and kept it to a few quiet religious ones so she wasn't a weeping mess before church even started.

She made them sit in the front row so she could look at Brenner and listen attentively. That way the rest of the congregation only saw the backs of their heads, too. And looking like a white-haired grandmother, it looked like a visiting family. Phillip slipped into their pew to sit with them when he arrived, and they quietly welcomed him.

As Purrcy and Michael walked hand in hand back to the house after the service was over, she said, "If we ever decide to escape back here to the States, can we come live here? I think I could listen to Brenner more than every Sunday."

Michael rubbed her head and smiled. "It is a nice quiet place, isn't it?"

"Very peaceful," she agreed. "Plus there's the mountains to run away to when I need to be wild, which I suppose will be less and less as time passes."

Michael clucked his tongue at her. "Don't go making the future come faster than it needs to. I intend to savor every moment," he tucked her hand into his elbow to hold her close to him.

He chose to change the topic. "What in the world am I supposed to talk about tonight, anyway? It's not like I've got a rousing speech to give, or anyone to fire up into action. Last time it was simple to put together words."

"Hmm, I wonder," Purrcy mused. "I would like to encourage people to not hide from their pasts. Life is hard, but if we cut ourselves off from our pasts, we don't really get to enjoy our presents, and we can't love ourselves fully either.

"Rejecting other's pasts is a rejection of them. It may not be a pretty past, but it's what made them who they are today. It would be better to be grateful for those pasts, and that they've reached the place they are now - wherever that is."

She looked out over the lawn behind the house, not ready to enter the small house yet, so the guards let her feet lead them there. "We may have to forgive the hardest parts of our past to be able to really move forward, but that's also a way to find joy again, and a way to find gratitude." She paused there on the grass and her shoes and socks were gone again. Her toes curled in the grass.

She sighed and looked up into Michael's eyes. "Or am I being too prideful again?"

Michael's face softened and he ran a hand down one side of her head. "It isn't pride to want to help others see what you've learned in your own life. Not when it could be important for someone to hear to be able to find that path of happiness again in their own life.

"If they choose to take it in a negative way, then there are issues they need to work out for themselves. It's what's in our own heart, your own intention, that matters most. Most people can understand when it's a gift."

They felt a bit of magic go off and looked at Bowie. It had his signature on it. "Invisibility and silence," he said, his nose wrinkling. "A neighbor caught sight of us and went hunting her cell phone."

Michael sighed. "Maybe we should find a place for me to get my face disguised instead of your hair colored."

Purrcy snorted a laugh. "Here it's just rumor as long as we've got Bowie with us - at least until tonight, and then we'll be gone."

"Hmm..., maybe... if you go first with that gentle message," he glared at her from one eye, "and give me enough time to talk at all," she wrinkled her nose back at him, "I might give a more firm one about moving forward despite all odds.

"When we know what we want is right and just, it isn't wrong to fight for it, even if we fight without fists and harsh words." He looked up at the sky. "I'd like to put a little more backbone into the good people of this nation."

"Maybe you two should get gigs being motivational speakers," Gareth said blandly.

Purrcy shook a finger at him. "It's a thing, it's a thing. We might just do it when we want to come back and explore this side of the planet."

"Or not," Michael rejected it.

"Why not? It's a thing for faces that are already well known to keep talking, and neither of those are bad things to talk about," she protested back.

"My lime-light-loving wife," Michael sighed at her, pulling her in to hold her in his arms, "who always wants to do her best to help others move forward. It's hard to keep up with you sometimes, you know?" She was quiet.

"I'm sure it must be why Nyanta-san was content to let you go sit in the Court of Gods meetings and sit quietly at his desk just keeping an ear on you. It took less energy on his part, but let you get yours out." He sighed at himself. "And here I've signed up as close-in guard again, to be dragged behind you for the rest of my life. I suppose I should be honored to be the center of attention here. Most of the time it will be you."

"I know you don't like it, Michael," she said soberly. "But you are very good at it, and people need to hear what you have to say, too." She looked up at him from within his embrace. "People need to hear both the words of their mother and father. Each side said is a balance.

"I love to listen to you as much as I do Brenner, and wish you would talk more. Your speeches you made there during that time were wonderful. I listened to them many times after you were gone." She hid her head as his eyes went wide.

Michael rubbed her head. "Hey, that sounds like you were pretty lonely," he said softly.

Purrcy shivered in his arms a little until she had the courage to nod. "I missed you all horribly." It came out brokenly. "There was a lot to do, and I visited a lot of people, but it wasn't the same to not have the family there." Gareth and Stiletto both moved closer to touch her, knowing that would help comfort her most.

There was movement in the area and they were joined by Brenner. He was his Archangel form, although he moved back into a more normal form rather quickly. Still, he looked at them a bit sadly. "Theldesia's not going to let you go, is it?" he asked quietly. "Although I already expected that."

Purrcy nodded. "We're on a repeat for Earth, too," she confessed. "There were things we repaired for Theldesia that Earth wanted repaired here. Since we were the repair crew to begin with, we're being used that way again. We're about done, though."

"Thank goodness," Michael sighed.

Brenner nodded. "Well, I'll pray for you then, that it keeps going well and ends with all of you getting to rest from your labors." He looked with pity at Purrcy. "It would be nice to see you get your proper rest, Hahaue."

He reached out and touched her white hair, then purposely cupped her fox ear in his hand. "Earth's claimed you, though. That doesn't bode well."

His eyes went to Michael and the rest of them, then shook his head. "Well, I don't look any different, since I went and pridefully took on a lesser demon. I managed to get the miracle before it could take me over, but I took a long hard look at myself and this world after that. I've humbly asked God to take care of them since then, the few I come across."

Purrcy nodded. "We'd teach you, but that's the better way to go about it. We're hoping to lose it once the repairs are done, but you'll likely keep it since it's a different thing. If you ever need to know, call me and I'll walk you through it. That way you won't get harmed or injured."

Brenner nodded, then asked to hold Purrcy. Michael a little reluctantly let her pass into Brenner's arms. "Hahaue," Brenner said, a bit halting once she was in his arms, "I... Thank you. You have always been an example for me. I know that life will be long and odd on Theldesia. I hope the life you have here on Earth is one full of happiness, love, and memories you are able to hold on to forever.

"Thank you for coming back home, and thank you for serving and being the example of a servant for me, as imperfect as you are. It gives me hope on the hard days that I can stand back up, too, and keep moving forward and be what I want to be regardless.

"I have to stop and forgive myself regularly, but I remember that God and you both would forgive me without me even asking. So I ask myself for that gift and it's easier to give it to myself." He stopped and shuddered, his face hidden in her shoulder.

Purrcy purred for him. "Always, Brenner. Always I love you." Her lips curled up, "And now that I am here, I have a cell phone. Consider yourself scolded to 'call your mother' regularly." He chuckled through his tears and promised it. She took the opportunity to glare at the other three and they abashedly agreed, even Bowie.

-:-:-:-:-

When Brenner recovered, Michael took Purrcy's hand, but she gave the other to Gareth, needing to hold onto at least one son still. They walked as a group back to the house where they sat quietly talking about the past, the future, and some about the present. Stiletto and Gareth made lunch this time, scrounging through Brenner's fridge and cupboards, letting Purrcy rest, and letting Michael be the Commander.

Brenner got a phone call shortly after lunch. When it was done, he looked at Michael. "That was Billy. He wanted to let us know that some of the Pocatello group is going to come, too. It's only a two hour drive or less, so some want to come."

"That will be nice, to see them, too," Michael said agreeably. "Hopefully that doesn't add press, though."

Brenner shrugged a little uncomfortably. "It shouldn't, since the church lines are quieter. He said they've been saying that the general is speaking. They're hoping that's code enough." He looked away a bit. "But don't be surprised if it gets recorded by hand-held or phone. There are likely to be some who want to let St. George know what you said, too."

Purrcy smiled. "Don't worry about it Brenner. You missed what we were saying just before you could join us. We'd like to talk about things that would help anyone in America. Maybe some year we'll do it for pay, but this one could be considered a gift of gratitude for their help, and hopefully it will help them in return and maybe their families if they'll come as well."

She looked at Michael. "I wouldn't mind if it became the repeat of the seeds of hope we sent out from Yamato."

He kissed her head, already having his arm around her. "That is so like you," he said.

Brenner shook his head. "For all she looks even more like a grandmother with the white hair, to watch you, one would think she was twenty-something."

"She is," Michael smiled back, "and you know it."

Brenner laughed with Bowie joining in. "Yes, scrub the avatar and what's left behind is the youth of indeterminate age."

"Hmm..." Purrcy's mind went wandering, and then she did, off towards the bathroom. Michael watched her go.

"As in love as we thought way back then," Bowie commented, shaking his head.

"Worse, I'm sure," Michael commented back. "If she's stuck perpetually at twenty-seven, I'm stuck at about nineteen."

They narrowed their eyes at him. "That's a rather wide gap."

"Like it isn't now?" he raised an eyebrow at them. They waved hands at him, giving up. He sighed, almost sort of wishing he could go back to Theldesia to be with her again in the younger avatars again. They'd get more years together that way.

When she came back out, it took a bit of getting used to. She'd put two french braids into her white hair. It was well done, but it changed her look.

"So...," she said. "I know it's never good to go too far away from the age one really is, but I thought a younger hair-do would perhaps bring me back to where I'm supposed to be, averaging out somewhere roughly around there. I thought pig tails would be far too young."

Michael blinked again, then shook his head. "I don't think it works, sorry."

Purrcy sighed. "Oh, well." She thought about it a little more, then said, "It's the make-up. I've never been good with it, but the whole point of make-up from the beginning of it was to make older women look youthful again." She started taking out her hair as she thought about the make-up possibilities.

"Just be yourself," Michael suggested. "It comes out in your face and eyes, regardless."

Purrcy turned to Brenner. "Will you call Stephanie and ask her if I can come over and get some help getting ready for tonight? Gareth and Stiletto will be enough if you point out which house it is."

Such a request was an understood order and they obeyed. It was a reasonable test for just how far apart and how long Michael could be separated from Purrcy while on this slightly more dangerous than he liked mission. He let her go without comment. He got his kiss in, though, and let her know he expected her to stay safe, without saying it.

"Really, you're worse than Nyanta-san, Mike," Brenner complained at him as they settled again after the door closed behind Purrcy and the two guards.

"We've been under a lot of pressure for this repair. Until we're let loose and the promised freedom comes, I'm going to stayed paranoid. She got the white hair when she almost died for the mission at the beginning of it. I barely made it to her in time. I've not been able to relax since, except little moments here and there." Michael sat back in the couch, trying to relax some on purpose now.

"She's as patient with me as she was with Nyanta-san, though, so it helps. She does this every now and again, too: makes me back off enough to learn it's okay. She only does it when she's strong enough, though. We lean on each other and push each other at the same time - like always."

Bowie and Brenner kept him distracted until he was ready to work on his message for that evening, and then they just kept him company, Brenner working on his own things. Michael knew Bowie was keeping track of the other three, so worked on letting him do that.