Thank you to all who reviewed...I was beginning to think that no one liked this story on this site...I will try to get the next couple of parts up a little faster than this one...
Part 3
The door to the Langley house squeaked open and a tired Cal stepped through.
"Nancy?" He called, plopping himself down on the nearest piece of furniture. He had followed the truck to the sheriff's station, where they had dropped off the royal siblings. After they had left, he had gone in and asked about the children and the people who had dropped them off. (He'd seen them get picked up and wanted to know if they were all right.) The sheriff told him that the Evans' had found the two wandering out in the desert, naked and alone. He also found out that they had made an inquiry about when the children might be available for possible adoption.
"Diane seemed to like the little ones," he had said. "And I for one think those kids would be mighty lucky to have parents like the Evans."
After thanking the sheriff, and making a mental note to look further into the Evans' background, he had gone back to the pod chamber to await the arrival of the final child, Ava. Only when he entered the chamber, he had found it empty. Her pod was missing! He had not been there for Zan and Vilandra and now he'd lost Ava, too! He had searched for any sign of a break-in or for evidence that would point to who might have done it or where they might be taking her pod, but there had been nothing. Whoever it was knew what they were doing.
"Daddy!" Was all that Cal heard before his daughter launched herself onto his lap, abruptly breaking him from his thoughts. "You're home!"
"Yes, sweetie, I am." He laughed, "and it appears that I'm just in time to send you off to bed." He said taking in her pajama-clad appearance.
"I was just doing that," Looking up Cal found a tired-looking Nancy holding his son, whom also seemed ready for bed in one of his old t-shirts. The sight made him smile, but had she accepted him? "However, she and Michael just don't want to stay put."
"Michael?" Cal asked, raising an eyebrow. She HAD accepted him, or she never would have given him her father's name. "You named him already?"
Nancy looked to the boy in her arms, affection sparking in her eyes. "Yes, well, I thought 'Rath' was a little harsh for him." Then her eyes snapped to his, worry in her eyes. Would changing his son's name hurt him? "But if you'd rather 'Rath', I mean..."
Cal shook his head; "Michael's fine." He said with a smile.
"Michael can speak, too, Daddy." Liz informed him proudly. "He said my name, and called me 'sister'."
"Did he now?" They learned faster than he thought.
"Uh-huh." Liz nodded her head vigorously.
"Well, with all that excitement I'd thought you'd be in bed by now." He said with a meaningful look.
"But Daddy..." Liz whined, "I'm not sleepy."
"Oh, but it's past your bed-time." Cal stated. "And tomorrow we have to start a special project, ok, princess?" He had to start on Michael's training immediately, and if Liz's powers were starting to manifest themselves then the sooner he started with her, the better.
Liz's eyes dropped to the floor in defeat. "Ok."
"Take Michael with you, Lizzie." Nancy said as she let Michael down, then giving both children a hug and kiss she murmured: "good night."
"'Night, Mommy. 'Night, Daddy." Liz said as she stifled a yawn, and grabbing Michael by the hand they made their way down the hall.
"Thank you." Cal said as soon as the children were out of sight.
"For what?" Nancy asked, confusion wrinkling her brow.
"For accepting this," Cal stated as he stood up and made his way towards her. "For accepting my son."
"I accept and love you," she stated, her eyes shining with emotion. "He is part of you and a part of Liz, and therefore I have to love him."
"No, you don't." Cal said gently, enveloping his wife in his embrace. "And you didn't have to give him your father's name, either. You said you were saving that for your first born son."
"Michael is your son, and therefore he is my son. Whether he is related to me or not, I will love him like my own."
Cal smiled down at her, love and admiration shining in his eyes. "I love you, you know that right?"
She nodded, and raised her lips to his; "I love you, too."
Cal winced at this, not liking were this was going. She had asked him what he had planned for his "special project" he had mentioned and the answer she received obviously did not bode well with her. "I have to do this now, Nancy," he explained his gaze fixed on his breakfast. "The sooner we start on their training the better."
"But they are just babies!" Nancy countered; they were just little kids they needed time to be kids. "Michael hasn't even started school yet!"
"All the more reason to start now!" He maintained his stare locking with hers. "What if something were to happen at them at school?"
Nancy remained silent for a moment. He had a point, and waiting until they were in school could endanger them if they used their powers in public. Although, couldn't he at least wait until they had brought Michael up to his age level?
"Couldn't you at least wait a couple weeks?" Nancy asked, trying to compromise on the situation. "Until we get Michael fully situated?"
Cal ducked his head guiltily and gave her a mumble in reply that sounded suspiciously like: I started last week.
Nancy's eyes narrowed at this, "Come again?"
Cal raised his head, time to face the music, he thought. "I started the kids' training last week." He said quickly with an involuntary wince as he waited for his wife to explode.
Liz and Michael sat in the living room practicing some of their 'quieter' powers, as Cal liked to put them, (the ones that didn't involve blowing things up) when they heard their mother scream in frustration and voices start to rise.
"They loud," Michael stated, nodding towards the kitchen. He was currently changing his stuffed teddy bear into a stuffed dog and back again, each time the animal becoming more extravagant.
Liz nodded, "Mommy doesn't like us training." She explained as she directed domino pieces into place with a wave of her hand.
Training, that Michael understood. Daddy had used that word when he explained how to use their powers. Unfortunately, while trying out his explosive powers, Michael had accidentally blown-up Mommy's favorite flowerpot, which led to a lesson in molecular reconstruction. "Mommy mad?"
Liz nodded again, "but Daddy'll make it better." She said finishing her design, and moving to her brother's side, she inspected his work. Making a face at the exotic looking animal, she waved her hand over it, leaving in its place a cute little bear.
"That's better." She proclaimed before heading back to her dominos, leaving an angry Michael in her wake.