Steel Swan

by Rocinante

Sequel to Anything Is Possible and Life With Kim. Part III of the Celler Series. Kim's daughter is faced with her worst nightmare. Fourth part in the Series is Gleam Surge.

2. Vgypt By Night

2. V-gypt By Night

The week after Kimi's discovery about Kim's past and learning the rest of the story about her origins proved to be one of the most emotionally enriching of their relationship. The two became as inseparable as possible, with Kim leaving work early on several days to pick her daughter up from school, and the two would go to the dojo for an exhaustive and satisfying workout. After showering, they went home to meet with William and cook dinner, sometimes with all three coordinating their efforts to produce the evening meal. Their evenings consisted of choosing a movie from cable, or joining in a board or card game. Kim even took her daughter to the backgammon club on Monday evening where she was well received, and Tina began to give Kimi strategic tips to help sharpen her game.

Kim and William also noticed an unexpected, but pleasant effect from their daughter's discovery of the existence of Kim's "other" environment - a growing and intense interest in the show. Kimi would spend at least an hour each night watching episodes, always with a few questions for Kim about how a certain scene was created or how one of the many fight scenes with Shego was correographed. Watching so much of the episodes was also showing in Kimi's everyday vocabulary; the inclusion of some of Kim's catch-phrases, like "So not" and "No big."

The big event of the week was Tuesday, the 12th - Kimi's 15th birthday. Kim and William had arranged a "block party" of sorts, with people and friends from around the neighborhood and friends from school attending a large cookout in the back yard, hosted by William and Lupe Delgado. This was culminated by Kim and Marcy bringing out an absolutely huge devil's food cake topped with strawberry frosting - and a striking likeness of Kimi, outfitted in a black karate uniform with gold trim.

After blowing out the candles to thunderous applause and cheers, and a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday," Kimi commented that while the rendition of her on the cake was just "shiznekkin'" (her generation's vernacular for "Awesome") in its likeness, she had never worn a black outfit. With this, TIna came from the house with a large flat package wrapped in silver paper and presented it to Kimi. Her eyes grew as big as saucers and she took in a slow gasp as she revealed the black silk gi. Her friends immediately cheered her on to go and change into the outfit, and Kimi posed next to the cake for pictures before carving into it to serve to the guests.

After the cake, Kim whispered something into her daughter's ear, which produced a smile and nod as a response - then both went into the house, returning in standard white karate sparring uniforms. A large space was cleared on the patio, and Kim and Kimi proceeded to put on a short sparring session for their guests. Kim, being advanced over Kimi, held back a bit, so their moves would be more equal. They went back and forth, cheered on by the crowd, each gaining the advantage for a move or two, only to be countered and bested by her opponent. When they concluded they hugged warmly, then turned to bow deeply to their audience, which applauded wildly in approval. The festivities ended as evening turned into night, with Kimi and her mother forming a sort of "receiving line," thanking each of their guests personally.

As the week progressed, the entire family came to realize that Kimi's discovery of the tapes was turning out to be one of the best bonding events that could have happened to them. Kim and her daughter had formed an even tighter relationship than before, sharing more experiences together; and William felt it as well, as their closeness spread throughout the entire house.

Friday, March 15th
5:38 PM.
Kim exited the car with a large cup in each hand and waited for William, who got out with his own cup and a large bag with the Knick Knack Chick Shack logo on it - a chicken standing next to a likeness of the KFC mascot, Colonel Sanders, and smacking him across the shin with a fried drumstick. "I, for one, am glad this work week is -over-," Kim sighed as they started along the walk between the driveway and the front porch. "Especially with Tina still on vacation, and Dena having to leave to take her son to the doctor for a bee sting he got at school. I had to step in and take over the training class for the end of their first week, and give out a test that I haven't seen in years - and act like I have!"

"Ugh," said William, shaking his head slowly in condolence. "And all the stuff that happened earlier in the week...no wonder you didn't feel like cooking tonight."

"Yeah," Kim replied, "two people quitting without putting in a notice...and having to terminate three others for violating confidentiality policies...not only is it a headache for HR, it shoves the work those people were doing off onto others."

"People like you," William offered with a bit of a playful smirk.

"Yeah - Hey!" Kim caught herself in mid-sentence. William fell into a chuckle as Kim half-growled, half-laughed, "Ooooh, if I wasn't carrying these drinks... Come closer so I can kick you."

"Heh," William snickered, "it's...it's all about no way."

Kim's expression spread into a softer smile. "I see you've been practicing Ki-speak."

"It's about the only place in which I can keep up with you two," he smiled as he transfered the bag to his left hand and inserted the key to open the front door.

Kim held the outside door open as he moved inside. "Ki? We're home, and so is dinner. Knick Knack Chick Shack Chick'n Bitz."

"On my way," Kimi called from the basement. "You...did remember the chipotle dipping sauce...?"

"Doi," Kim giggled in response.

Kimi hurried up the stairs and stopped at the doorway. "Hey Dad," she smiled at William. She then turned to her mother and her lips pursed as if to hold back laughter. "Hey Mom," she said - then let a small snicker slip. "I'll help someone with stuff," she offered.

"I've got this," replied William.

Kim held her hand toward Kimi, offering one of the large sodas. "Have a drink," she grinned, "and what's so funny?"

"Nothing," Kimi replied quickly while bringing her hand over her mouth, trying to hide another snicker behind it, her breath escaping between her fingers.

Kim set her drink on the dining room table and eyed her daughter with a suspicious smile as William reached into the cupboard for paper plates and holders and began to divide the chicken for them. Kimi sat at the table, trying her best to present an angelic persona. "Baked beans or potato wedges?" she asked her father.

"Wedges today," said William, bringing over a prepared plate for her - several Chick'n Bitz, most about an inch-and-a-half across; a couple of plastic containers of tabasco sauce to dip them into; and a small pile of potato wedges, lightly battered and seasoned.

"Shiizzz-nekkin'!" Kimi said, thrusting her arm into the air and bringing her fist down quickly, close to her body.

William returned to the counter to fix plates for he and Kim. "You two," he said laughingly, shaking his head, "Starch nuts."

"The starch gives us the energy for our workouts," Kim beamed, "And we work off the fat, thereby keeping our girlish figures." Kimi nodded in agreement while dipping a piece of the chicken into her sauce, then bringing it to her mouth.

5:58 PM.
William brought two more plates to the table, handing one to Kim, and sat to her left. Kimi finished her bite of chicken and asked, "How come you never learned martial arts, Dad? It would be diamond if we all went to the dojo together."

Kim was just about to bring a Chick'n Bit to her mouth and stopped. "I think that's my fault," she grinned sheepishly. "It could have been the way he was introduced to it." William canted his head to his wife in response, smirking. Kimi looked at her mother quizzically.

"I came home from work while she was practicing for the first time in quite a while," William explained. "She had the stereo up so loud she didn't hear me come in. I yelled her name...and she was so hyped from the workout, she instantly spun around and let me have it." Kimi's mouth slowly dropped open as he recounted the story.

"ALMOST let you have it," Kim interjected, smiling. "You mostly blocked it."

"Yeah...and I wore the bruise from that 'mostly block' for nearly two weeks."

This produced a smirk and a snicker from Kim, who turned to her daughter while pointing back at William. "Himself knows a few rudimentary moves and blocks...but Himself has never studied formally."

"You SHOULD, Dad!" perked Kimi. "It's all about keeping in great shape, both mind and body...and after you studied a while and like, got through a few belts, Mom wouldn't be able to do that again!"

Kim's eyes widened for a second. "Pffffffffffft," she scoffed, waving a "pshaw" motion at Kimi. "'A few belts'?? You're a red belt, and I can handle you, no big."

Kimi narrowed her eyes at her mother, wrinkling her nose and grinning slyly. "Maybe....maybe not...not after the secret move I learned today..."

"Oooooo," mocked Kim with a sly expression, wiggling her fingers at Kimi, "Se-cret moooove."

Kimi nodded slowly, still smiling. "Mmm-hmmmm...duuuuuck..."

"...duck?" quizzed Kim, puzzled.

"...duuuck..." repeated Kimi, this time bringing up her hand, slowly waving it back and forth, her thumb and forefinger together, and slowly moving it in the direction of Kim's chair.

"Duck?" Kim asked again. Then her eyes suddenly shot wide open along with her mouth as she uttered a huge gasp. "DUCK! William, she found the tape of her birth!" With that, she sprang from her chair and ran into the hallway, with her daughter in hot pursuit chanting quickly, "Duck duck duck duck," through her laughter.

William just turned in his chair, laughing as the chase ensued, listening to the two running through the house, and the noise as Kimi reached her target; "DuckduckduckduckGOOSE!"

"YeEEEEK! OW!!!" Kim shrieked while trying not to laugh. "William, HELP!"

"DuUUUCKduckduckduckallaboutGOOSE!!" Kimi laughed again as they burst out of the bedroom down the hall.

"OUCH!" shrilled Kim. "You-SO-did-not pinch me-OW! William, do something!"

Kimi gained the upper hand and took Kim to the floor, holding one hand on the back of her head, the other giving her mother a playful smack on the rear. "What up....Tara," she said through a giggle.

William watched the two, chuckling, his hand rubbing his chin in thought. "Hmmm...get between two karate experts...how shall I put this..." He glanced at the table for a second, then brought his hands up in mock surprise, clapping them together. "...it's all about--oh look, more Chick'n Bitz for me!"

At this, both women froze and looked in the direction of the kitchen, then at each other again. "Say your name...Tara," Kimi said breathlessly, "or it's all about Dad ate your dinner." Kim managed to twist her head sideways, looking up at her daughter who was leaning down. "Yeessss...? You were going to say...?"

Kim feigned a pained look. "I was going to say...," she started, "My name...is Jessica." Kimi instanly burst out in laughter, joined by her mother. With Kimi's voice being only slightly higher than Kim's, but with the same tonal quality, each of their laughter nearly sounded like an echo of the other. They both relaxed their grips, collapsing into each others' arms, continuing to laugh - then rose from the floor. "It's all about save our dinner!" Kim proclaimed, and took a step toward the kitchen - then quickly whipped around, bending slightly and holding her hands toward Kimi at about waist level, protecting her flanks. "You just mind your affairs, chick," she tittered while backing slowly to her chair, "There will be no more duck-goose during dinner."

Kimi merely responded with a triumphant smirk and a wrinkle of her nose, and took her seat. "See the fun you miss by not knowing karate?" she giggled at William.

"You weren't using karate just then," he said.

"Yes I was," Kimi responded. She waited a beat - "It was all about the Fourth Level of Duck Fu...the Crumbly Crunchie Attack."

Kim was sipping on her drink as her daughter said this - and she burst into a fit of giggles, a bit of lemonade dribbling from her nose. "Just how much of that tape did you watch?" She asked after recovering a bit.

"I got as far as where you said, 'I can't push a car, I'm having a baby up in here!" replied Kimi, "Then I had to stop--" she fell into a giggle "--I had to go to the bathroom, It was all about laughing so hard. But I want to watch the rest of it."

"I'm....not sure about that," Kim said. "There might be some things you're not quite ready to see."

"Mom," protested Kimi, "uhh...d'uh! It's all about I was there for the real deal. I can't see the replay??

William placed a hand on Kim's shoulder. "It's not that bad, hon...it is her birth..."

"I mean, c'mon," Kimi reiterated her case. "You told me all about where you come from...I want to learn where I come from...and we have a tape!" She puctuated her request playfully by bringing her finger and thumb together again in a pinching motion.

Kim instantly scooted sideways in her chair away from her daughter. "Okay...I'm outnumbered," she sighed. "But the only way you can watch the rest of it is with us in the room." She then thrust a pointed finger in the direction of Kimi's pinching motion. "And any more of that, and I'll fix you a nice Vallium shake for dessert."

Kimi's instant response was to withdraw the pinching threat, coupled with a giggle, knowing that her mother was kidding. She then dipped another Chick'n Bit into her container of chipotle and popped it into her mouth, a pleased smile on her face. Kim returned to her meal, dipping one of her Bitz and putting it into her mouth and purring, "Their honey mustard sauce is just the beeesssst."

"There's one thing I wish you had passed along, gene-wise," commented Kimi. "The way you react to food."

Kim smiled, then turned to William. "Hon, let's bring some tofu home tomorrow night. I want Kimi to have a taste of Celler food."

"Tofu isn't all that diamond," Kimi said. "Well, it depends on what flavor you give it."

Kim snickered at this. "Flavor?" she said, "I said Celler food...what flavor?"

"What...it's all about bland?"

"Bland as paper," William added.

Kimi's gaze turned toward her plate. "I think I'll save that Vallium shake for dinner tomorrow night," she said. Kim and William just chuckled at this.

6:42 PM.
After dispensing with their paper plates, the three repaired to the living room with Kimi taking her usual place on the far right of the couch, Kim and William seated to her left. Kim uttered yet another sigh as she sat and picked up the remote for the VCR. "I can't believe I'm letting you see this, Ki. I can't even believe that I'm watching it myself!"

"It's all about Dad said I could," replied Kimi. She punctuated this by sticking out her tongue; which was met by a light and quick slap on the thigh from her mother, who then pushed the "play" button on the remote. Kimi immediately pursed a smile onto her lips as Kim's sedated expression appeared on the TV screen - especially her eyes, which were showing even more emotion and expression than usual;

:::Does this mean you're not going to pinch me?:::
:::No way! I'll buy you a hot fudge sundae even if I don't get to pinch you. I just pinched Tara over there because she reminds me of somebody I used to work with.:::
:::It's Jessica.:::

"Good call," Kimi snickered. "She does look like Tara." She then exhaled a soft laugh. "It's all about the dumb blonde."

"Heh," Kim chuckled. "You'd be surprised. Tara was only the 'dumb blonde' on the show. Behind the scenes, she was one of the technical advisors. She did the tech work on all the gadgets that Wade would give us."

Kimi was sipping on her drink when she turned to face her mother, her mouth still around the straw, dragging it out of the cup. "Then she's a reeaally good actor, to be able to be that lead on the show."

"Guess you have to be pretty smart to play dumb," added William.

Kimi continued to watch with interest as the anesthesiologist made ready to administer the needle for Kim's epidural;

:::Is that it???" she asked. "That's the needle? Come on! I barely felt a thing!:::
:::I'm sorry, Kim...that was just a felt pen. I'm marking the location of your spine. Now you have to sit still for me.:::
:::Sit still while you stick a needle in my ass...you're funny, Nora, Maybe next you're going to have me stand on my hea-HEY!! HEY! HEEEEEEYYYY!!! OWOWOWOWOWOW!!!:::

Kimi winced as she watched her mother clamp her hands intensely onto William's wrists - then shrank back into the couch a bit as another contraction came. "Look at your EYES!" she exclaimed. "All about pain!"

"Soooo all about pain," Kim added.

:::Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the entire cast of 'ANTZ,' THIS HURTS, NORA!! AND I GOTTA TAKE A DUMP!!!:::

Kimi looked over at Kim, her mouth trying to purse back a smile. Kim just dropped her head into her hand as her daughter let forth a closed-mouth giggle, much in the same fashion as hers - "Hmmm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm...it's all about dump!"

:::Hey Tara...how's the caboose?:::

Giggles once again overtook Kimi. who was sipping from her drink. She quickly brought her hand over her mouth and coughed a couple of times through her laughter, drops of her soda seeping out from between her fingers.

:::William...this is kinda comfortable. We gotta get one of these beds for the corner of the bedroom!:::

Kim looked at her daughter, who had leaned over the arm of the couch, her body jumping with silent laughter. Kim's only recourse was a quick smack on Kimi's rear, producing an "ow" punctuated with laughter. Kimi then sat up as her mother's tone of voice and expression on the tape changed to one of seriousness:

:::William? This is it. This is where you come in. You have to concentrate along with me - and do what I tell you....'K? Take hold, babe...this can't happen without you.:::

Kim leaned to her daughter, placing a hand on her arm. "This is where it gets a bit hairy," she said softly.

:::Here we go...I'm your basic average girl, and I'm adding to the world, you can't stop me 'cause I'm Kim-Preg-na-ble--:::
:::I've heard that song...THAT'S who I was thinking of. You look just like Kim Possible!:::
:::Omigosh! Call the lab - tell them the brain is alive! I LOOK just like Kim Possible because I AM Kim Possible!:::

"Ahhh, HAHAHAHA!!" Kimi burst out. "Tara takes one between the eyes!"

"Wait for the finish," Kim shushed, smiling widely at her daughter.

:::You know, when this is all over, I'll be apologizing my ass off to you...but if you interrupt me just once more, I swear I will stand straight up in these stirrups and deck you like an unfinished ship...are we clear?:::

"Boooo-YA!" Kimi exclaimed, engaging her mother in a high-five as the TV showed Jessica marching out of the delivery room. "Heheheee, Mom was diamond even before Kimi came along to show her how!"

"Show ME how!??" Kim smirked. "Where do you think YOU got it??" The three of them laughed at this - then Kimi's attention became focused on the television as Kim seemed to drift into a trance:

:::Animation breathes its Life from a Cloudless Mind...:::

"Whoooaaaa," Kimi drew out, placing her hand on her mother's leg, "that's from the incantation thingy..."

:::The Doubting, though surrounded by Light, are blind...:::

Kim nodded in response, her hand finding her daughter's.

:::The Candle falls before the Wind...The Mirror falls behind you...:::

Kimi's startled reaction matched that of the doctor's on the screen as he stood, knocking the stool into the cart of instruments. "That light...is that...?"

Kim said nothing, but patted her daughter's hand warmly.

"...that's...the light from the...Cross...isn't it?" Kimi stammered. She sat in rapt absorption of the events unfolding on the TV. She was so engrossed, she nearly screamed when the alarm sounded on the vitals monitor. Her grip on her mother's hand suddenly tightened, as if she, like William on the tape, were holding on as Kim's lifeline:

:::Pressure's falling--she's flatline. I've got no pulse.:::
:::Dammit! The baby's gonna crown any second! Get a crash cart in here, stat. Get an amp of Atropine and an amp of Epi on standby.:::

Kim looked over at her daughter. A tear hovered at the corner of Kimi's eye as the doctor continued to bark orders at the attending nurses. "M-m-moomm...?" she said in a wavering whisper.

Kim leaned over, slipping her other hand to Kimi's shoulder. "I'm right here, Ki."

"You...you almost...died giving birth to me...?" said Kimi, the emotion rising in her voice, her hand tightening even more around her mother's.

:::Wait!! I have a pulse. It's...slow...20--:::

"No, baby," Kim explained, trying to calm her daughter, "not even close. It looked that way to everyone in the delivery room--"

"Even me," William interjected, his arm sliding around Kim.

"Ki," Kim continued, "I was the first Celler to ever even become pregnant in the Flesher environment, much less give birth. The Cross Agents studied this tape for over a year before they could come up with any sort of explanation. They determined that it had something to do with the Resonance frequency...some sort of...readjustment it had to undergo before I could give birth to you." She then beamed at her daughter. "As you can see, I'm okay - and so are you."

"...so I...am a Celler?"

"No. You acquired traits from both of us...just as any child gets traits from both their parents." Kim's smile widened. "There's a little of both of us in you."

Kimi looked at her mother for a moment - then her nose wrinkled as her face broke into a smile, and she reached to embrace Kim. Their attention was once again drawn to the TV as the brightness of the light from Kim began to cast their shadows on the wall behind the couch:

:::Cover your eyes!:::
:::The Improbable...Now Plausible...The Incredible--:::

Kimi slowly leaned toward the screen as the light faded and thrust the room into near-blackness.

:::I need a light on:::
:::--Now Possible.:::

The cacophony of noise caught Kimi unaware, causing her to jump back against the back of the couch. The image on the screen melted into intense white, tinges of light blue curved around the edges. "Wh--" she stammered.

"We found out since this happened," Kim offered, "that because of certain types of radiation in the Resonance, no camera can capture it on film." She then smirked. "The radiation is harmless to Fleshers - but murder on video electronics."

"So there's nothing more to see?"

"No, that's pretty much it," said William, trying not to chuckle. "Only one more thing the tape doesn't show - it was a girl."

Kim broke into a string of uncontrollable giggles as Kimi leaned forward, looking over at William. "Really and for all about TRUE!?" she exclaimed in mock surprise. She then quickly reached for a magazine on the coffee table, rolling it up and rising to her knees on the couch. "Ohmigosh Dad...there's a Clue Bee on your head. Don't move, I'll get it." She dove across Kim's lap and started to swat at her father. Kim collapsed into laughter, and could offer her husband little more assistance than a few playful smacks on Kimi's rear.

William laughed as he snagged the magazine from Kimi's hand. "Say there, Inspector Clouseau-not," he chuckled, "did you think to check the mail this afternoon?"

Kimi recognized the resemblance to a line from one of Kim's shows, and played along. "I did not," she said, a rather indignant expression crossing her face. "I'm not your mail-checking person."

"If you want your first driving lesson tomorrow," William countered, "you WILL think to check the mail this afternoon."

Kimi gave an exaggerated mock sigh and rose from the couch. "It's all about blackmail," she exhaled as she crossed the room toward the front door.

"No no, not blackmail," William corrected, smirking, "just regular mail."

Kimi reached a small pass door beside the front door and opened it, bringing out a small stack of white plastic chips, each wafer-thin and about an inch square, and each adorned with the eagle-silhouette logo of the US Postal Service. "Looks like the usual end-of-the-week effluvia," Kim said, reaching for a small device on the coffee table about the size of a laptop computer, and opening a compartment in the back of it. "Flip 'em in," she said. Kimi placed the stack of chips onto the tray and pushed the compartment closed as Kim flipped up a screen on top of the device which lit up. "12 mail chips entered," the screen read. "Performing virus scan..."

"You'd think they would do that at the Post Office instead of letting potential viruses get all the way to the house," William commented as a progress bar slowly moved across the screen.

"Yeah," Kim replied, "but remember the added cost they projected of them doing it instead of us? Each piece of mail, instead of $2, would cost $5 or more."

"Government bureaucracy," sighed William. "Our tax dollars at rest."

Kimi retook her place on the couch next to Kim as the progress bar filled. "Virus scan complete. No viruses detected. Read mail no. (1-12)?" Kim pressed the "1" on a small keypad, and a figure filled the screen:

:::Hi. I'm Dora Menendez. How would you like to save up to 20% on your home insurance?:::

"Ads and junk mail," Kim scoffed, pressing another button. "Read next mail?" She pressed a "yes" key and another person jumped up on the screen.

:::THIS week - not next week - THIS week is the week to jump on lower rates for your mortgage--:::

"Ugh," Kim sighed. She pressed another button.

:::Say ladies! Have bigger, firmer, more beautiful breasts by this time next month just by using our patented system--:::

"Gaahhh!" Kim burst out. Kimi held up her hand at the screen, closing her eyes and turning her head as her mother stabbed another button. Tina Drexel's familiar face filled the screen. She was standing on a balcony, a beautiful evening landscape spreading out behind her, the setting sun coating everything in a warm golden hue.

"Hey...Aunt Tina!" Kimi straightened up.

"Isn't her flight supposed to come in tomorrow?" asked William.

"Yeah," Kim said. "She must be replying to the v-mail I sent her this afternoon. I gave her a little heads-up on the work front so she could brace for Monday."

A light breeze blew part of Tina's brunette bangs over one eye. She brushed them back and smiled into the screen, flourishing her fingers in a wave.

:::Hi guys. K, I know you sent your v-mail from work, but, by the time I got this...I mean, we were out shopping then stopped at a restaurant, and it's a lot later here than back there...so, I figured you'd be at home with W and Ki by the time I sent a reply, so...heh....hi again, guys:::

"Soooo T," Kim snickered as Tina continued.

:::Sorry about the bad time at work...but I'm glad to hear you made it through the week...now you can rest up on the weekend, and I'll be back on Monday to save the day, just like always:::

Kim giggled. "The funny part about that? She usually does find the department a way out of tight spots."

"Well, look at the teacher she had," William added, smiling and slipping his arm around his wife. Kim leaned into his touch.

:::This is my last night here with Donna and Ben, and I gotta tell ya...I've had the most wonderful time here..the sights...the people...the food--ohh, the FOOD, Kim!::: Tina then looked to her left for a moment. :::I was thinking of panning the cam and letting you see more of the beautiful skyline of Cairo...but someone said not to until they talked to you:::

Tina motioned her arms out from her sides, and she was joined by a blonde man in a grey polo shirt and jeans, and a woman dressed in a long flowing purple gown, with brilliant blonde hair put up into a bun. Kim broke into a wide smile. "Donna and Ben," she said. "Wow. Egypt has been good to them."

"That's Aunt Donna and Uncle Ben?" asked Kimi. Her mother nodded in response as Donna spoke:

:::Hey Kim! Hi William! And Hi to Kimi, if she's there. Wow, it's been forever since we've seen you guys! Tina tells us you're just about running Meridian now...doesn't surprise me...you were both destined for good fortune. Things are going really well here too...the restaurant has been rated one of the best in the city. Ben just got a promotion at the base. Life is really good here...but we're not going to tell you any more:::

Kim and William slowly turned to each other as Donna paused for a few seconds.

:::That's right::: Ben continued. :::We want you to come see for yourselves. Donna can have her assistant take care of the restaurant for a couple of weeks, and I can wrangle some more vacation time out of my boss at the base...so c'mon! It's high time we saw you again...and even higher time you saw Cairo. It's like no other city in the world!:::

Kim and William looked at each other again. "We were trying to decide on where to take a vacation," Kim said softly as William nodded in response, smiling.

:::We were thinking about sometime in mid-June to do this::: said Donna. :::The weather doesn't get nasty hot for about another month after that...it would be the perfect time. It'll be after midnight by the time you get this, so reply in the morning and let us know what you think. We'll be taking Tina to the airport about 9 our time....which might be about...1 AM your time. Please let us know. We'd just love to have you guys!:::

Tina closed the v-mail. :::I'll talk to you when I get back home, K. And don't worry about work...I'll handle it, just like always!::: The three then waved and shouted their goodbyes.

Kim looked to William again. "Wanna?"

William took his wife's hand. "We're there," he said.

Kim immediately embraced him with a squeal of thanks, then reached back for Kimi to join them. "Pack a few summer things after school lets out, Ki," she said, "We're going to Cairo for vacation."

to be continued...