McArthy slowly drove down the rode, though he preferred the term 'floating'. The world they were in had a very interesting assortment of vehicles, it was strange to him to see hover tech used in such a casual fashion. His only experience with them had been dealing with ghosts or wraiths, and now he was just driving one down the road as if it was a normal car.

The road they were on was very wide, but he still drove slowly due to the people along the sides. It led right past their house and had no real sidewalks, but right now he was on his way to the restaurant. Turning to his right with a smile, he looked at Mim, who was cradling Hess in her arms, the two softly chirping at each other.

Chuckling, McArthy pulled into a small parking lot and said, "This ghoul drives pretty smooth, ya know."

Turning to him with a tilted head, Mim asked, "Ghoul?"

Smiling, he nodded his head and said, "Yeah, ghoul! Like, ghost, wraith, revenant, banshee, and now this one is a ghoul! Get it?"

Mim stared at him for a few seconds, then huffed in amusement and said, "I do. Doesn't make it funny."

McArthy chuckled as he brought the vehicle to a stop and said, "Oh it's funny. I know it is, what was that little chuff?"

Handing the baby to McArthy, Mim jumped out of the stopped vehicle and said, "The joke wasn't funny. What was funny is what a dork you are."

She walked around the vehicle and took the baby out of his arms as he laughed, then he jumped out himself and said, "Well, as long as you laugh."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close as she cradled their child, then he lowered his face towards Hess and rubbed his nose against her snout. The baby giggled as he did so, then reached out and grabbed at his nose. Chuckling, he pulled back and looked at Mim, who was giving him a very soft gaze.

Before he could ask her anything, she licked him on the cheek, rested her head on his shoulder, and said, "You don't know how happy it makes me seeing how you love our chick."

Sighing, he gave Mim a kiss on the beak and said, "Then I guess you'll only be getting happier. Now come on. You wanted to see what the opening hours looked like! I'll give you a teaser, it's slow."

With a croon, she lifted her head and they began walking out of the parking lot, heading for the building next to it. Standing next to the restaurant's front door was a familiar sangheili, already dressed and ready for work.

Widely smiling, McArthy waved to the sangheili and called out, "Hey, 'Oru! Nice to see you prompt and ready for your shift!"

'Oru turned to see the two approaching with their child, then waved back and said, "Of course, Mr. 'Tol. Somehow you found a way to make my job as a waiter… enjoyable, in a way."

McArthy shrugged as he and Mim stepped next to 'Oru and said, "Eh, I try."

Looking up at the taller sangheili, standing 7 inches taller than both of them, Mim said, "Nice to see you again, 'Oru! How've you been?"

The sangheili smiled with his mandibles and said, "I've been better than usual, ma'am. It's nice to see your baby is in good health. Actually, it's nice in general to see her."

Chuckling, Mim slightly raised Hess and said, "And she's happy to see you!"

Hess reached out towards the sangheili, who lightly chuckled and waved one of her fingers in front of her, Hess trying to throw her hand out and grab him. 'Oru gave the end of Hess' snout a light tap, then turned to McArthy unlocking the doors. Opening them wide, McArthy held them open for 'Oru and Mim to walk in, then shut them.

Cracking his knuckles, McArthy moved behind the counter and said, "We still got a little time before we open, so let me get all the things ready, and maybe I can whip up my darlings some breakfast."

Mim chuckled as she sat Hess on a baby chair, pushing it up to a table near the counter. Once making sure Hess was secured, she turned to McArthy and said, "I already fed Hess, so just make me something."

She watched her mate nod and disappear behind the counter, then turned and watched 'Oru begin preparing the restaurant for opening up. He finished cleaning chairs and brought them out to the tables, then began wiping the tables. Mim sat herself on a chair next to Hess, then turned to 'Oru and asked, "You do like working here, right? I don't see you often since you work mornings."

Without pausing from his cleaning, 'Oru looked up with a smile and said, "Of course! I was having trouble finding work before, luckily Mr. 'Tol was kind enough to hire me. I'm still a little annoyed even this long after that my father had to ask him about it, but in the end I am still thankful."

Tilting her head, Mim asked, "How much longer do you think you'll be here?"

Chuckling, 'Oru moved to the next table and said, "I've been here for what? Two years now? I'll still be here for a while, most likely, if I don't get fired! I, uh, just got accepted into… college? I think that's the right word. Anyway, because of it I don't exactly have the time for a more complicated job, nor the experience."

Nodding, Mim asked, "So is experience why you had a hard time finding a job?"

This question seemed to make 'Oru pause, his body freezing up for a moment from his cleaning, then he slowly began again and said with a hint of hesitation, "U-uh… yeah. That's… that was definitely a big factor… in that."

Sensing she accidentally hit some kind of chord, she crooned and said, "Well, at least you enjoy it here! And I'm sure McArthy won't fire you, from what he says and what I have seen, you do an amazing job!"

Looking back up at her, 'Oru asked, "He talks about me?"

Chuckling, Mim nodded and said, "Of course. He can't go a day of work without seeing you. He thinks of you as a good friend."

She watched the sangheili slowly lower his gaze back down to the table he was cleaning, a faint smile on his mandibles, then Hess began chirping and wrestling with the buckle on the seat. Sighing, she softly began chirping back, trying to calm her down, then heard footsteps approaching her. Turning her head, she watched McArthy plant a plate with a pile of pancakes between them as he took a seat next to her.

With a chuckle, she began lightly rubbing Hess' head and said, "That was quick."

Shrugging his shoulders, McArthy said, "I have a big kitchen. Got enough pans and stoves to cook a lot at once. I told you I'm good- though the bottom few are a little burnt."

He then raised a container and asked, "Syrup?"

Mim nodded her head, then he pushed an empty plate in front of both of them. Turning his head to 'Oru, he asked, "You want some?"

Chuckling, 'Oru said, "You know I do not like eating human food, no offense, of course. Plus, I already had breakfast."

McArthy nodded, then turned back and said, "Gotta at least offer you some. At least you didn't become addicted to the stuff like Va."

Mim tilted her head and asked, "What do you mean she's addicted?"

Chuckling, McArthy gestured behind the counter and said, "I caught her gnawing on some in the freezer a few times when she was supposed to be out here serving. She stopped recently, but still, it was kinda scary to walk in the freezer for some meat only to see a ruuhitian eating into cooked ribs."

The two lightly laughed as McArthy placed a small stack on Mim's plate, pouring some syrup on it, then turned and placed his own stack. Before he could even pour his syrup, he heard the sounds of tongue slapping and wet munching, then raised his gaze to see she already only had one pancake left.

McArthy looked up at Mim's eyes as her maw was wide open, syrup leaking off the sides of her beak, about to chomp down on the last pancake. She met his staring, then slammed her mouth down on the last pancake and eviscerated it.

He couldn't help but laugh as he watched her do so, then she licked her chops and said, "Thank you, my mate."

Chuckling, McArthy bobbed his head and said, "No problem, hun. If you get a belly ache, don't blame me."

Suddenly, Hess began chirping again, this time louders as she dug into the buckle with her claws. Mim crooned and moved over to her, then McArthy sighed and said, "Hey, let's not lock her into a chair like that. We're not even dining for long."

Mim looked up at McArthy, then unfastened the buckle and raised their chick in her arms. Hess stopped her chirping now that she was free, then began reaching for her father as he ate. She cradled Hess in her arms, humming a song softly to the baby.

After a few minutes, McArthy finished his own breakfast, then rose up as he wiped his face. Moving to Mim, who was still seated, he put his hands on her shoulders and began massaging her. She released a long croon in response, her neck vibrating from the feeling. Hess still reached out for McArthy, who chuckled and grabbed Hess from behind Mim.

She let go of the baby, letting McArthy raise Hess over her and cradle the baby in his own arms. Mim stood up from her own and stepped next to McArthy, giving his cheek a lick. She turned her head and saw 'Oru stare at them from the corner of her eye. After a moment, the sangheili sighed and looked away, going back to cleaning the tables. She hoped they weren't bothering him, Mim understood why some would find their relationship… distasteful.

Sighing, McArthy moved to the long window next to the entrance, revealing the lively road running along the shoreline. Mim moved next to him, rubbing her hand up his back as they stared out. As they stared, McArthy chuckled and asked, "Did you ever think we'd be here?"

Mim rested her head on his shoulder and said, "It's what I dreamed of so long ago."

McArthy leaned his head over, rubbing it against hers, then said, "I'm happy. I've been happy. To think I never thought I'd have something like this."

Moving her hand to hold him by the shoulder, Mim pulled herself closer and said, "I'm happy that you're happy. I have everything I could want, and then some."

Chuckling, McArthy looked down at Hess and said, "Yeah, same."

Mim nipped him in the ear, making him chuckle more, then asked, "Is 'same' all you have to say?"

Sighing, McArthy smiled and said, "Well, you summed it up pretty well. So, yeah."

Giggling, Mim pressed her snout against his cheek and said, "I love you."

McArthy didn't reply for a few seconds, being overcome by a light fit of chuckling, then said, "Ditto."

His chuckling turned to laughter as Mim nipped his ear at his reply. Mim couldn't help but giggle herself as her mate laughed, then she laid her head back on his shoulder as they looked out at the shoreline in view. McArthy looked out at the waves slowly washing up and down the beach, calm waves splashing over the occasional swimmer. He wasn't outside, but he could almost hear the sea. The peaceful ambience was something he had gotten used to, and it gave him a feeling of contentness he never thought he'd have.

He was home.

Hey guys! It's me, and it's true, we are at the end. This is it, the story is complete. I hope you all enjoyed it, I'm very proud of myself more making it through it. This story is definitely one I'm genuinely happy with, I just hope you all feel the same.

Now, onto stuff. If you guys liked these characters, and want to see more of them, they will come back. Specifically, in two places. One will be on my main account that you can find in my favorite authors, RedRaptorWriting, though I won't specify. And the second will probably be the bigger one if you like them. On this account, I will be posting a slice-of-life series of these characters living on these new planets! I'm quite excited to write it. You'll find out more details once I post it.

Well, that's it. I hope you all enjoyed, feel free to leave your feedbakc now that this story is over, and I hope you have a good day or night!