I smiled with a few tears in my eyes. "That's a wonderful name for the mansion...naming it in honor of your Uncle Josh.", I said with a sniff as I hugged my children.
I heard sniffles and sobs from everybody else, and I blinked my eyes free of tears before glancing at Dad, "You know you can move in with us. I mean, you live alone in that house after you got estranged from Mother, and selling the house would be best. and especially if you do a divorce trial, there's a chance the town or even her, would have to owe you some money as well..I mean, the mansion is two hours out of this town, and there's another town near the mansion where I could have the kids at school there instead.".
Dad was in deep thought for a moment. "Okay...I'll move in with you and the others.", Dad smiled. "Yay!", The twins cheered as they ran to hug their grandfather.
Hopper laughed softly, "The more, the merrier. So, from the looks of it, it's you and me, my angel for the first bedroom, the twins in the second bedroom whichever they choose out of the rooms, Manny and Gypsy get the third one, Chris and Francis get the fourth one, Rosie and Dim get the fifth one, the brothers get the sixth one, and last, but not least, Heimlich and Slim gets the final one. Is that right, or am I wrong?".
"Well, I misread here..there is another room in the mansion...my dad can have that one once it's changed into a extra bedroom.", I said with a smile. "Then it's decided." Chris said with a grin.
I grinned lightly, "Great, now we gotta sell this house and Dad's house. That would take probably a couple of months, especially with the decision of Dad divorcing Mother...".
"But in the meantime, we can start moving our stuff into the mansion.", Dad said with a chuckle. "Yeah.", I said with a smile.
Manny smiled warmly, "Then we mustn't waste any time, then. Bright and early tomorrow, yes?". Gypsy nodded, "He's right. I could see the night coming over us.", looking through a window.
"Well...first, let's make some dinner for you guys..you all must be hungry.", I said with a smile. "What do humans eat?", Flik asked in wonder.
Ashley giggled softly, "You gotta wait and see, Flik, but you gotta know, Mom is a great cook!", before I saw Dad call out to me, "Uh, Angela, it has been nine weeks here. I had to get most of the food out of the refrigerator and freezer...Mold and over-frozen, remember? From tv and stuff?".
"Well...looks like we'll have to order takeout.", I said picking up my phone. "What are you going to order?", Alex asked with a pondering look.
Time skip-
I smiled lightly as I watched everybody enjoy their food, hearing exclamations, hums, sighs of surprise and pleasure. I knew ordering American style food is a great start as Burger King is cheap yet delicious plus they have great salads, so it could be fine for Dot, Flik, and Atta.
"This is great!", Francis said as he ate a burger. "I love this salad!", Atta said with a hum.
"I love these fries!", Molt said with a wide smile. Chris nudged me with a grin, "Great choice, Ang.", chuckling lightly, "I sure missed having my usual cheeseburger.".
I chuckled. "What do you think, my love?", I asked Hopper as he was enjoying a burger, fries, and soda. Hopper grinned lightly, "I never knew that human food would be this delicious otherwise I'd have raided a dumpster or something when I was a grasshopper. True, this burger is bigger than a grasshopper, but it would have fed the whole gang!".
"I love this...what do you call this again?", Flik said as he held in his hand a milkshake. "A milkshake.", I said lightly with a chuckle.
Flik grinned, "It's brilliant. I am amazed at what things that humans could create!". I grinned. Soon, everyone was finished with their food. "Let's watch a bit of tv before we all go to sleep.", I said with a smile.
Ashley nodded with a giggle, "Yeah, and I know the perfect channel to watch, PBS Life!". Alex giggled with a grin. "What's so special about that show?", Francis asked in skepticism. "You'll see, babe.", Chris said with a smile.
Time skip-
We were all watching a documentary on PBS Life. I grinned as the documentary was focused upon Africa, a whole place on the other side of the world. The gang sure is amazed by this, even Hopper who was surprised about some unique animals there who shouldn't be underestimated like the honey badger.
The gang was scared when the birds were shown next. "Man, that bird is so huge!", Molt said with a shudder. I nodded, "And that bird back in the old world was probably a finch or robin of some kind, he was small compared to the birds here on the documentary.".
"I wonder how the bugs in Africa can survive those kinds of animals?", Rosie asked in wonder. Then a huge snake was shown on the tv.
Dim shrieked out in surprise, burrowing into Rosie's side, whimpering, and Rosie cuddled him closely, "It's okay, it's okay, Dim, I am here. It's just a show. The snake is not here to hurt you...", glancing at me and the twins as we were befuddled by the sight, "A snake was there on the day I found him alone...He couldn't tell me about what happened, just that he has a bad fear of snakes since then...".
"Poor guy.", Alex and Ashley said with sad frowns as they went over to hug Dim in comfort from the other side of him as he's practically glued to Rosie's side.
A few hours later-
"Good night!", I yelled out from my room. "Good night!", Everyone else said. I was glad that Dad went to his house, and he said he'd send a email to his lawyer for the night before he goes to sleep, and I am so proud of him for doing this. This has been a long time coming...
I came into my room, seeing Hopper at the window, staring out at something, and I walked up to him, "Penny for your thoughts?", and he glanced at me with a bit of confusion as I giggled, "Common thing to ask around here. It means what are you thinking?".
"I'm thinking about how I am going to adjust to having a human life...now that I know I will be able to have a longer lifespan and to be with the love of my life.", Hopper said with a smile on his face.
I rested my head on his shoulder with a smile, "I am sure you will learn fast, Hopper, and believe me, I couldn't imagine this life now without you at my side, or be the wonderful father the twins need to have while growing up. You will be frustrated at times, oh, but you will love this life as long as we're right behind ya.".
"I hope so...I will spend most of my time reading or watching tv to learn more about your world...before I can explore it.", Hopper said with a smile. "Yeah..it's for the best.", I said, nodding softly.
Hopper then cupped my cheek, and kissed me on the lips...I returned the kiss. Hopper then picked me up bridal style, and carried me to the bed.
I smiled softly, "You're getting better at kissing the human way, flyboy.". Hopper smirked softly, "Thank you, my angel...Are you sure you're okay with sleeping near me...I mean, being a human man now? I don't want to scare you or bring you nightmares from...that day...And...well...I have to admit I am mightily curious about you under those...er..pajamas...I don't want to lie to you... while you were putting the twins to bed, I was looking at myself in that mirror in the bathroom..There must be books about human physique...but I'll wait someday...".
"I will admit..I was afraid to be in a relationship...in fear that the same thing might happen to me again...but thanks to you...I have started to get over my fear...and I promise I won't try to kick you again.", I said with a tender smile.
Hopper smiled softly as he kissed my lips for a moment, and then he laid besides me. I laid my head on his chest, and Hopper wrapped his arms around me.
I whispered softly, "I love you, Hopper.", and Hopper caressed my hair gently, breathed quietly, "I love you, Angela.". I then felt myself fall asleep as my eyes closed.
(Alex's P.O.V.)
"Where am I?", I asked in confusion. "Alex, is that you?", I turned to see my sister.
"Ashley...are we having the same dream?", I asked in shock. I looked around to see that we're in some sort of playground park as Ashley responded lightly, "Must be a twin thing.".
I then hear a chuckle, "Pretty close to the truth there, niece, but I brought you two together to meet me. After all, I promised your mom.", and I turned around, seeing Ashley do the same, and there, leaning upon the ladder to the monkey bars, is a teenage guy, years older than us.
I blinked in surprise as I recognized him, having seen pictures in the family scrapbooks, "Uncle Josh?". He grinned lightly, "Couldn't get past you, kid.".
I had tears in my eyes, and so did Ashley. Uncle Josh then knelt down to his knees, and spread his arms out. "Come here, you two.", Uncle Josh smiled brightly.
Ashley beat me in running up to Uncle Josh, but I didn't care as I was getting to know Uncle Josh right now! It was weird to see that we matched Uncle Josh in height when he got down on his knees, but it helped out in hugging him for real.
The two of us hugged our uncle as we were crying tears. "Is it really you, Uncle Josh?", Ashley sobbed with a hopeful look. Uncle Josh ruffled Ashley's hair warmly, "Totally me, Aly..Do you mind if I call you Aly? I used to call your mother Angie...".
"Yes, I'm okay with it.", Ashley smiled widely. "How are you here, uncle?", I asked in awe.
Uncle Josh chuckled softly as he got up, helping us up as we went to a bench, with me on one side of him, and Ashley on the other side, and Uncle Josh smiled lightly, "I am your mother's guardian angel, and with some power, I can manage to visit you two, but only tonight. So we have a few precious hours to talk before I have to leave.".
"Guardian angel?", Ashley asked in curiosity. "I was also the one who granted your mother's wish...that led you all going to the world of A bug's Life.", Uncle Josh said with a grin. I gasped in amazement, "You did that? For Mom? Wait, did you actually match Mom with Hopper aka Dad?".
"Well, your mother did that on her own...I was really upset seeing her not being able to find someone to love all her life, and for you two to have a father figure in your life.", Uncle Josh said with a sigh before he smiled at us. "Thank you, uncle!", I and Ashley said happily as we hugged him.
Uncle Josh laughed softly, "You're welcome, pups.". I blinked in confusion, "Pups?", and Uncle Josh chuckled softly, "Angela may have been human most of her life with that side journey of being a grasshopper, but she's a wolf at heart. After all, no matter how you see it; family, pack, gang, it's all the same.".