Disclaimer: I do not own Daily Life with Monster Girls

Chapter 8: Visitors and Resolutions

Jack woke groggily a few hours later. Someone was calling his name.

"Ugh wha?"

"Mr. Keysman."

Jack put a hand on his face and breathed in. "Hang on. Hang on." He pulled the blanket off himself and set his feet on the off-white carpet. Jack shook his legs and torso, trying to excise the slept-in-clothes feeling.

Agent Smythe stood before him. "Oh hey." Jack suppressed his initial reaction to seeing the man that destroyed his home. "What are you doing here?"

"Something wrong with your bed Mr. Keysman?"

Jack shook his head, trying to get the last vestiges of sleep out of his head. "What? No, no. Just had a rough night."

"You seem to be in one piece Mr. Keysman." Smythe observed.

"Yeah I...Wait what?" Jack blinked up at him a few times trying to discern what he meant.

Smythe just gave an enigmatic smile then turned his face upward. "And good morning to you too Tetra."

Jack looked back at the far corner. The arachne was splayed out on a hammock made of thick webbing. She had one hand extended toward Smythe, flipping him off. Jack chuckled at her observance of decorum. Note to self, arachne are not morning people.

The agent shook his head once. "Yes, very amusing." He stated dryly. "But it is fortunate I caught you both. I'd like to talk about the incident."

Jack stared ahead trying to recall any 'incident'. "Oh right. With Calvin."

Smythe tilted his head back down at Jack. "Yes."

Jack covered his mouth as he yawned. "Mind giving us a few minutes? You did wake us up."

Smythe raised an eyebrow. "It is ten thirty."

"Oh shit, really?" Jack bolted up and crossed over to the kitchen. He lifted the lid on the crockpot and checked its contents. He sighed in relief. "Okay, still good." He walked back to the living room. "I gotta wake up Sula."

He ignored whatever Smythe was about to say and walked briskly toward Sula's room. It was fairly easy to find, since it had a huge poster of a certain badass looking ninja wielding a katana and an Uzi on the outside. Huh, maybe she's familiar with Marvel comics.

Jack knocked a couple times. "Sula, you up yet?" When he got no answer he twisted the handle. "Sula, it's time to get up." Jack heard faint music as he opened the door. He took one step inside and stopped. He caught his breath as he took it all in. If he hadn't known better he'd thought he entered a shrine to every world culture.

Everywhere around her room were paraphernalia from across the globe. There was a shelf with a line of little carved statuettes. Each of them ranged in color, style, and height. Below it were larger carved statues of creatures or people that Jack only barely recognized from his own world history studies.

She had a small book shelf that contained several tomes in several languages. Jack thought he'd seen the spines of a few classics at the local library just not in English this time. On top of them was a toy collection made up of figures from Japan, Russia, and who knows where else.

Along the walls were posters of foreign films and soccer matches. A dartboard had a picture of a man with a large mustache and a military beret. Above that was an ornate crest with two rapiers crossed over it.

And everywhere else save her bed were various other knickknacks, doodads and whatever else from this country or that. Jack was dumbfounded by how much there was. It took him a few seconds to realize that the soft music he heard when he entered wasn't playing anymore.

He blinked and turned toward her bed. Sula was upright and staring at him. She had a book and two earbuds in her lap. "Jack, what are you doing in my room?"

He smiled bashfully. "Oh hey Sula, I was gonna check if you were awake and then I got distracted by... something" He waved a hand at one wall of the multicultural shrine. "Where did you get all this?"

She smiled a bit. "You like it?"

Jack nodded. "Like it? I think it's awesome. Even if I don't know what half of it even is. I feel like I'm in one of those mini-museum sites. Except I didn't have to pay the five bucks to get in."

Sula giggled. "Would you like a tour?"

Jack nodded again. "I'd love one." He turned to face her. "But Smythe is here and I promised you a large breakfast to make up for last night."

Sula frowned concernedly. "What's he want?"

"Probably to check up on you two." Jack replied. "Oh, and to go over that little incident with Tetra and Calvin." Sula raised an eyebrow. Jack raised his hand above his head. "When she lifted the kid up with her webs and it totally looked like she was going to maim him."

"Oh right." She grimaced. "That was pretty bold of her. To do that to a stranger barely a minute after she saw him."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, that's definitely an issue. Come on, let me know what you want and I'll get started on it."

She shrugged, "Eggs is fine, any style."

Jack gave her a thumbs up before exiting. "Will do."

"Uh Jack?" Sula called.

He turned around and poked his head back into her room.

Sula was looking at her hands, fidgeting with them. "Jack, what you said last night."

He blinked and took a step into her room. She looked up at him. "You don't think...we're a family?" Jack blinked rapidly.

"You said, you didn't consider us a family."

The hurt in her eyes cut Jack deep. He took a few steps toward her. "Sula I...It's only been a day and-" Jack stopped when her face started to scowl.

"I...I don't understand." Jack stuttered. "Sula, if I've offended you..."

She looked away and pushed her arms into the bed. "I suppose you wouldn't."

Jack tried to think of something, anything he could say. But he didn't have the first clue why she was upset.

Sula took a deep breath. "I guess I'm just a bit homesick is all."

Jack looked at her askance. "Oh...o-okay."

She closed her eyes and frowned. "No, it's more than that." She took another deep breathe and let it out.

"When a husband is recruited and arrives at the island the whole tribe welcomes him in. We have a big feast and games and music and dancing." Jack noticed her frown was slipping away. "At the the end of the night there's a lottery." She smiled nostalgically. "And one lucky girl gets to 'break him in' so to speak."

Jack pressed his lips together and tried not to smile with her.

"It's a bit overwhelming for some of them. Others take to it like they've finally found their purpose in life." Sula paused. "The point is, from day one the new husband is part of the family." She rotated her head toward Jack. "And I guess I was just expecting things to be like that here."

Jack blinked a couple times. "Um...how much like that were you expecting?"

Sula rolled her eyes and bopped him on the head lightly with her palm. "Not like that silly." She waggled her finger in front of his face. "Besides, that's illegal." She she stated overly sarcastically.

Jack raised a hand and opened his mouth to say her assumption was wrong. But then he closed his eyes and let out a short breath. "I suppose I should have phrased that better."

Sula giggled. But then she looked down again. "And I think waking up alone in the morning so many times after I left the island finally got to me as well."

Jack scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm supposed to help you get up in the morning right? I missed that by like, three or four hours."

She narrowed her eyes and bared a couple fangs. "Or you did it three or four hours too early."

Jack hunched his shoulders and grinned sheepishly. "I'm really sorry I did that. Tetra scared me after that nightmare I had and I wasn't-"

Sula held up a hand and he stopped talking. "It's alright Jack. You'll do better tomorrow." She lowered her hand. "But right now, I believe you promised me eggs?"

He nodded and took a couple steps back. "Right. I'm on it."

Jack left her room and crossed through the hallway to the living room. Tetra was finally getting off her hammock at Smythe's cajoling.

"Ugh. I slept in this?" She slipped off the hoodie and dumped it on the floor before ascending the stairs. Both men looked away briefly while the naked arachne left the room.

Jack rolled his eyes at her manners and started toward the mess she left. Smythe put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't" Jack looked back and furrowed his eyebrows. Smythe pointed at the hoodie on the floor. "It's a trap."

Jack gave him a skeptical look then scrutinized the hoodie more intently. He could just barely see a thin strand attached to one of the sleeves. It was leading up the stairs. "Tetra!" Jack yelled. "We talked about this."

"Spoilsport!" She called back.

Jack facepalmed and turned back to the the agent. "Thanks for that. Want something to eat? I'm making eggs."

Smythe raised his eyebrows in consideration. "I'll take a plate of scrambled."

Jack nodded and entered the kitchen. "Coming right up."

Tetra and Sula both entered the kitchen right when Jack finished up a full pan's worth. He added in copious amounts of ham and a few chopped up olives for variety. "So, what's first on your agenda for us agent?" Jack asked as he scooped the yellow foodstuffs onto their plates.

The agent displayed an enigmatic smirk. "Perhaps you should sit down before I ask my first question."

Sula rolled her eyes and Tetra gave him an odd look. Jack got kinda pensive himself. He passed around each dish and then sat at the opposite end from Smythe.

"Did you have sex with either of your guests?"

The question hung there like a fog. It clung to every surface like a sticky film. Jack blinked several times. Sula glared at the agent to her left. Tetra snickered and started in on her meal.

Jack closed his eyes, took a breath and answered back "No."

"You mind looking at me when you say that?" Smythe asked pointedly.

Jack opened his eyes and faced the agent directly. "No."

Both men took each others measure. Sula glanced between them, not sure what or if she should do anything. Tetra continued eating.

Finally, agent Smythe nodded and picked up his fork. "Very well then." Jack breathed out and picked up his own.

"Well we did have some fun on the couch last night." Tetra interjected. Everyone else snapped their heads up to her. "He fell asleep halfway through of course."

Smythe looked at her skeptically with a hint a amusement. Sula gaped.

Jack sighed and closed his eyes. "We watched a movie together." He opened them back up and glared at the arachne to his right. "I fell asleep before it was over." Tetra smirked and continued eating.

Smythe nodded lightly while keeping his eyes on Tetra. "Which movie?" He asked.

Thankful for something he could answer confidently, Jack gave the title and basic synopsis that he gave Tetra last night. When he finished, Smythe was still watching the arachne.

"Tetra? Can you confirm?" He asked.

She snickered. "Yes, Conrad." The agent closed his eyes and his amusement faded. "That is exactly what happened last night."

"I see." He opened his eyes and looked over at the lamia. "Tetra seems to be content here. How about you Sula?"

"I am well, Agent Smythe." She glared at Tetra. "Jack is a fine host and I am grateful that we've been assigned together." She answered. Jack dipped his head a bit and ate his eggs. The arachne merely sniffed and continued eating.

Smythe smiled. "That's good." He looked back at Jack. "Because your next guest should be ready to move in by tomorrow afternoon."

All three of the residents looked at him in shock.

"Already?" "I haven't even unpacked yet." "I really need some more time to adjust.."

Smythe smiled enigmatically again. "It's good to see you're all excited about the news."

Sula and Jack frowned at the agent. Tetra glared.

Smythe stood up. "Thank you for the meal Mr. Keysman. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to discuss a few things things with you upstairs."

The agent left the kitchen. They all watched him go until he was out of sight. Then all three of them leaned in and formed a conspiracy circle.

"I'll distract him, you two maul him." Jack growled.

"Where will we hide the body?" Tetra asked.

"I'll drown him in hydroflouric acid. Dissolve him completely." He answered.

"That actually works?" Sula asked.

"It works on Breaking Bad." He assured her.

"Mr. Keysman, if you are done plotting my demise, I do have a schedule to keep." The agent called from the hallway.

All three grimaced. Jack turned his head and called back. "Fine I'll be right there." He leaned back in toward his roommates. "This meeting of the Two Monsters and a Guy Murder Squad is adjourned. As president-for-life I expect progress toward this week's goal by tomorrow night." He eyed each of them and shared serious nods of agreement. Despite the macabre subject both monster girls grinned before his departure.

Jack left the kitchen and followed the agent up the stairs. "You do realize that you are pushing us a little fast here."

"Mr Keysman I have several students that need to be assigned to a host and you volunteered for four more. This location can easily accommodate such numbers and yourself." Smythe explained with only a hint of exasperation.

Jack grimaced. He was going to start yelling at Smythe about tearing down his parent's house when the agent entered his room. Jack followed him in and Smythe closed the door behind them.

Smythe looked pointedly toward the unmade bed. "Have the nightmares started?"

Jack blinked and took a step back. "How did you know...?"

The agent pursed his lips and nodded sympathetically. "It's a common experience among new hosts, especially for ones that are the only human in the household."

Jack looked down in thought for a moment.

"It doesn't happen to everyone." Smythe added. "But it's occurred enough to warrant a personal check-in for the second day of the stay."

Jack continued looking at the ground.

"If you can remember, I'd like to hear about it Mr. Keysman."

Jack nodded and told Smythe every detail he could recall. When he finished, Jack sat down on the corner of his bed.

"Why does this happen?"

Smythe tilted his head slightly.

"Why am I afraid of them? They haven't done anything to me."

"It takes time to fully accept them Mr. Keysman." Smythe explained. "Just because you are fascinated by their existence and willing to host those two does not prepare you for the reality of encountering them constantly on a daily basis."

Jack looked up at the agent and narrowed his eyes. "I worked with a werewolf for almost a year. I've had some rough spots with him sure but I'd like to think that I've accepted Talbot as who and what he is by now."

Smythe shook his head slowly. "You had somewhere to retreat to at the end of the day Mr. Keysman. You went home and slept safely in a house that did not also contain a liminal."

Jack blinked a few times.

"Here, there is no place for you to retreat to."

Jack frowned and gritted his teeth. "I don't need to retreat from them."

"Your nightmare is telling you otherwise."

Jack made fists with his hands and pounded the bed. "Other humans live with and fully accept the liminals they are hosting. Why am I having trouble with it?"

"You are doing a fine job as host Mr. Keysman. The trouble is that you are in constant physical danger and you are not accustomed to that."

Jack narrowed his eyes at Smythe. "I don't feel like I'm in constant danger."

"But that thought is always at the back of your mind Mr. Keysman." Jack grimaced and looked down, knowing he couldn't argue against Smythe's point. "And sometimes liminals will behave in some ways that remind you of how much potential danger you are in."

Jack breathed in and nodded a few times.

"You've been the victim of liminal violence in the past Mr. Keysman. You know full well the kind of damage even one can do to a human."

Jack snapped his gaze back up at the agent. "What're you..?

Smythe closed his eyes briefly. "Tetra told me about the full moon encounter with Talbot that you shared with her."

"Oh." Jack stated morosely. "That. He apologized and I forgave him for that."

"You forgave him for almost killing you Mr. Keysman." Smythe paused a moment. "His actions that night, whether they were influenced by the moon or not, were completely unacceptable."

Jack took in a sharp breath. "You aren't going to punish him are you? That was months ago."

Smythe crossed his arms. "He is overseen by a coordinator outside my jurisdiction."

Jack let out a breath.

"I have informed Agent Rivers and she is investigating the matter." Jack looked back up at Smythe. His mouth opened in disbelief. "I suspect that you will be asked to give a statement to her in the next few days."

Jack sputtered. "He- he doesn't deserve to be punished! He's great at his job, he-"

Smythe held up a hand. "Save your defense for Agent Rivers. I have no influence on Talbot's status."

"Status?" Jack asked. "You mean he'll be deported?"

"Mr. Keysman you are lucky to be alive!" Smythe all but roared.

Jack shut his mouth. He remembered that this wasn't the first time he's ever heard Agent Smythe raise his voice.

"In fact, you've been lucky twice." Smythe continued in a calmer tone. "Had I known about the incident with Talbot earlier and your failure to report it, I would never have considered you for a host position."

Jack dropped his jaw in disbelief again.

"There are powerful forces that will seize on any opportunity they can to influence public opinion against the Exchange." Smythe explained. "If any of their cronies caught wind of what happened to you the media would descend like vultures on it. The headlines would be 'Attempted Murder by 'Liminal' with a subtitle of 'Exchange Ignorant of Crime.'"

Jack stiffened. "Oh gods."

"I was going to scrub you from the Homestay program." Smythe paused and took a breath. "But you agreed to be Sula's host. And I couldn't put her through another failed homestay attempt before it even started." He looked away for a moment. "I hadn't seen her so happy since before the last host rejected her more than a week before."

Smythe closed his eyes for a moment. "So I took a chance. And it seems to have paid off."

Jack blinked and looked up at the agent. Smythe looked back at Jack. "You reported the incident with Tetra and that boy...what was his name?"

"C-Calvin." Jack supplied.

"Yes, Calvin." Smythe nodded. "You reported it immediately. And because of that, the Exchange can resolve this issue in a timely manner."

Jack looked down at the floor. "I-I didn't realize.."

"That not reporting Talbot could have ultimately hurt the Exchange." The agent finished for him.

Smythe stayed quiet for a moment as Jack processed everything he had heard.

"Liminals learn much the same way we humans do: by making mistakes." Smythe said. "The difference is that their mistakes have a much higher likelihood of causing bodily harm or death. The Exchange's job, your job, is to minimize the impact and frequency of those mistakes."

Jack nodded a few times at the agent's words. "And the only way the Exchange can address problems with the liminals it oversees, is if they know about it."

"Correct." Smythe affirmed.

"So..." Jack began as a new thought formed in his mind. "Why are you assigning me many more liminals than the average homestay and why are all of them going to be female?"

Smythe raised his eyes up for a second. "The answer to your first question is that the Homestay program has great need of individuals like yourself Mr. Keysman. Individuals with experience with the more dangerous liminals like Talbot."

"Several host families will take in a cu sith or a barometz or a nekomimi with very little reservation." Smythe waved a hand at the door. "But an arachne and an echidna will have a much more difficult time being accepted."

"Despite the inordinate amount of failed attempts, Sula has displayed an amazing capacity for maturity and patience. In the face of so much rejection and disappointment she has maintained a hopeful attitude and has never once directly caused a problem for the Exchange. She is a model student for the homestay program. The only thing she has needed is a host who would accept her as who she is without rejecting what she is."

"Tetra is a recent addition to my jurisdiction, but is not the first arachne student I have found a host for. Again, I knew I needed someone like yourself Mr. Keysman. Who at the very least got along with or acted amicably toward the more dangerous liminals."

"If you can be a good host for them Mr. Keysman, you can be a good host for more."

Jack nodded and chuckled a bit. "'The reward for good work is the opportunity to do more.'"

Smythe tilted his head to the side appreciably. "Jonas Salk. Very good Mr. Keysman."

Jack looked up and blinked. "I never knew where that saying came from." He looked toward the wall behind Agent Smythe. "I thought it was just something my dad would say to us."

Smythe cleared his throat. "As for your second question, the answer is demographics."

Jack blinked again and gave Smythe a skeptical look. "Demographics?"

The agent nodded. "Before the reveal of the existence of extra-species, what was the percentage of the number of men and women in the world?"

Jack furrowed his eyebrows. "Close to fifty-fifty, right? Maybe a little more men than women."

"And after the reveal?"

Jack glanced to the side and then back up at the agent. "About the same-oh no." Jack's eyes widened in realization. "Several of them are exclusively female species. And that means..."

Smythe nodded and smirked. "In this world Mr. Keysman, the future is, quite literally, female."

"Huh." Jack chuckled once. "I thought that was just a slogan on a shirt."

"Not anymore." Smythe shook his head. "Now, as for the next issue I'd like to discuss with you." He paused. "Your assignment to this location."

Jack's face darkened. He stood up and glared hard at Smythe. The agent held up a hand. "Please. Please understand. I did not know what had already been done to your donation when I called you for the documentation."

"You. Didn't. Know?" Jack bit out.

"Please sit back down Mr. Keysman. This will take some time to explain." Jack didn't move.

Smythe lowered his hand and breathed out once. "Very well." He cleared his throat.

"My office partners with a company that handles all renovations and remodeling required for homestays with specific needs. When a mermaid, for instance, is accepted by a family, that company is responsible for converting part of the house into a water-proof room and pool for the student."

Jack breathed in and out once. "What does that have to do with my parent's house?"

Smythe closed his eyes briefly. "In order to facilitate these changes as quickly as possible, our email system automatically informs this company of the arrival of liminals at my office that usually require major changes to a house to accommodate them. They also are tied in to the donation database."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Why would they be informed of that?"

"Many local businesses and private citizens donate excess goods to the Exchange. This also includes construction materials and tools. For tax write-offs of course." He waved a hand. "When they are authorized to modify a host family's home, the company takes what they need from the donation pool and bills the Exchange for the rest."

Smythe opened his eyes. "When your parents' house was added to the donation pool however, the owner of the company saw an opportunity."

"An opportunity for what?" Jack asked.

"To build the home of the future." Smythe answered and waved a hand encompassing the whole room.

Jack looked around trying to understand. "The mansion? How is this the future?"

Smythe snorted. "A bit ostentatious, I'll admit. But humanity and extra-species are going to be mingling and cohabiting this planet a lot more closely with each other. Home-stays will eventually integrate into homes. Entire communities of mixed species will arise. While we may have different needs and wants, all known species require shelter of some kind at some points in their life-cycle."

Smythe dipped his head. "With those two things in mind, the home of the future will have to provide for humans and non-humans simultaneously."

Jack nodded his head. "That's why all the rooms are so huge."

"And unfinished." Smythe added. "This will be the first human-built residence specifically designed for multiple extra-species in America."

Jack furrowed his eyes. "So why tear down my neighbors' houses too? Was my parent's lot not enough? And what happened to Mr. Davila and Mrs. Vivens?"

"As I understand it," Smythe continued. "The design for this location is very ambitious and requires much more space than your donation allotted for. So the owner of the company purchased Mrs. Vivens and Mr. Davila's residences, at considerable cost, to complete the project."

"Mrs. Vivens is currently residing at a casino in Las Vegas this week." Smythe answered. "Mr. Davila arrived in Costa Rica about two weeks ago and is enjoying retirement at his maternal grandmother's residence. "

Jack blinked a couple times. "They just, sold their houses and left?"

"You gave yours away." Smythe pointed out. Jack took a step toward him. He clenched both fists.

The agent held up a hand again. "Someone made them an offer to change their lives Mr. Keysman. And both of them took it. Much like a certain host I happen to know."

Jack breathed in and out a couple times. "Who?"

Smythe rubbed part of his neck. "Her name is Ms. Zahn."

Jack couldn't recall ever hearing that name before. "Have you met her?"

Smythe nodded. "Several times. She is a very wealthy woman and possesses a passion for extra-species not unlike your own. She has devoted a considerable amount of her resources to aiding the Exchange here in America and abroad."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "She's rich and she helps people. What's she really want?"

"Despite what you may be thinking Mr. Keysman. Ms. Zahn is not some heartless gains-driven dilettante." He reached inside his suit jacket and withdrew a slightly creased and bent at the corners photograph. He handed it over to Jack.

Jack took it with one hand and blinked. "Where..?" He looked up at Smythe. "Where did you get this?"

"The demolition crews found it while excavating your parent's residence." The agent explained. "They turned it in to the foreman who passed it along to the company president and then to Ms. Zahn herself. When Ms. Zahn learned that the man who donated the residence was assigned here, this photograph was given to me to give back to you."

Jack 's trembling hands gripped the photograph. "We looked everywhere for this one. Isaac and Matt and I. After our parents died, we looked everywhere."

He sat on the bed and took in every detail of the old photograph of his family. "This is from our trip to the Grand Canyon. Dad gave our camera to the tour guide to take our picture. By some ridiculous chance he caught the sun setting behind us perfectly." He thumbed the bent corner of the picture and shook his head. "Mom said we looked like angels. She framed it and put it on the mantle above the TV."

Jack sighed heavily. "Then one day it disappeared. No one had any idea what happened to it." He nodded a few times. "I'm gonna have to scan this and email my brothers." He paused a second. "I'm going to have to tell them about all this too." He waved a hand at the door. "About Sula, Tetra, you, the house. Ugh."

Smythe looked at Jack quizzically. "Something wrong with talking to your brothers?"

Jack nodded a few times. "Yeah a lot's happened and just emailing them back and forth about all this with out actually seeing them...oi." Jack took a breath. "I wanna show them everything but I don't want them to see the house just yet." He looked up and eyed the agent in front of him. "At least not without some warning ahead of time."

Smythe swallowed and adjusted his tie. "Perhaps you could visit them?"

Jack was taken aback and blinked. "Go to California? What about Sula and Tetra?"

Smythe shrugged. "I'm sure they'll tag along."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "What about this new girl that's gonna show up tomorrow?"

Smythe raised an eyebrow. "I didn't mean right away Mr. Keysman. Transporting one of the larger liminals cross country requires preparation and other arrangements. Two or more will be an interesting exercise in logistics."

Jack blinked a few times. "If you think you can do it, that would be pretty cool."

Smythe shrugged. "This kind of traveling was going to happen eventually. Might as well let my office take a crack at figuring it out." He crossed his arms. "But I have one last issue to deal with today. If you could call Tetra in here please?"

Jack nodded as he got up. He placed the picture of his family on top of his dresser and then crossed to the door. Jack opened it to reveal Sula lightly bouncing in place right outside it. She had her hands clasped up near her chin with her golden eyes wide and the biggest smile on her face.

"Can we go to California? I wanna go to California. Can we go to California?" Nine-year-old's on a caffeine high had nothing on an overly excited echidna.

Jack took a step back and blinked. "You were eavesdropping on us?"

She nodded excitedly. "Uh huh, we were." Jack heard a strained choking noise come from down the hallway.

"You were supposed to hide you stupid snake." Tetra yelled from the same direction.

Sula frowned and stuck her tongue out at the arachne. "You shut up, I wanna go to California."

Jack closed his eyes and face-palmed. "I guess we should if you really—gurk!"

Jack was cut off as something strong suddenly wrapped around and squeezed his entire body. "Yaaaaay! You're the best host ever!" Sula cheered while giving Jack a lamia style hug.

"Can't...Breathe..."

"Huh?..Oh no." The lamia gasped.

"Sula, let him go." Smythe commanded.

"Oh godz." Jack gasped as Sula unwrapped herself. He leaned over and put his hands on his knees.

"Oh my goddess, I'm so sorry Jack." She covered her mouth with her fists. "I just, I got so excited, I forgot to be careful, and I just, I wanted to thank you and I..."

Jack held up a hand. "It's...okay." He wheezed. He turned to the side and gave Smythe a look. "I've had worse."

"Oh, Agent Smythe, please forgive me. I'm so sorry I lost control." She hastily apoligized.

Smythe rotated his head slightly toward Jack. "Mr. Keysman, how are you doing physically?"

Jack stood up straight and took in a breath. "I am well Agent Smythe. Thank you for asking."

"Were you assaulted by a liminal today Mr. Keysman?" Smythe asked.

Sula gasped.

Jack looked at Smythe directly. "No sir. I merely received an enthusiastic hug from one of my roommates. There is no incident to report."

The agent took a moment to answer. "So I see."

Jack nodded at him then turned toward the lamia. She still had her hands near her face, not wanting to risk any more harm. "Sula, how about you check on the roast while Smythe and I discuss something with Tetra."

"O-okay Jack." She said weakly.

Smythe cleared his throat. "Actually Ms. Peri, I'd like your input on the incident yesterday. If you could invite Tetra in here we can get started."

The echidna looked unsure for a moment then nodded. She leaned back through the door and motioned for Tetra to join them. The arachne had to shift her bulk at an angle to get in comfortably. Jack's room was the only one with a typical human-sized door. All the others were wide enough for a large breed arachne to get into fairly easily.

"First of all, this is not my first time addressing an arachne that used their webs to restrain someone against their will." Smythe began. "Nor is it the first time I've dealt with a liminal that appeared to threaten a human child."

He looked at all three and waited for a response. No one gave him one.

"Now, how about you each give your account of what happened yesterday." He looked at Jack. "You first Mr. Keysman."

Jack, Sula, and Tetra each recalled meeting the neighborhood kids and Tetra's attempt to correct Calvin's treatment of his sister's possessions. Smythe asked some questions for clarification but didn't comment.

After they finished, Smythe rubbed his eyes. "Alright, I don't believe I can deflect this, so we'll have to deal with it directly." He looked at the arachne. "Tetra, are you prepared to apologize for your behavior toward Calvin Tam?"

She sucked in a breath. "I will apologize for using an arachne method of disciplining a juvenile on a human."

Smythe nodded affirmatively. "Good." He pulled out his phone and dialed it. After a few seconds it connected. "Mrs. Tam? This is Senior Coordinator Smythe. We spoke yesterday."

Jack and his two housemates looked between each other. They all seemed to be asking themselves: we're doing this now?

"I'd very much like yo resolve this issue immediately Mrs. Tam." A pause. "Excellent. If you can please come to the Keysman residence and bring Calvin and Chloe, we can settle this." Another pause. "I understand Mrs Tam. You have my personal assurance that no one will be harmed. I've spoken to Tetra personally and she is prepared to apologize."

Tetra seemed to glower a moment but instantly schooled her face.

"Very good Mrs. Tam. See you and your children soon." Smythe disconnected and looked at them. "You have three minutes."

Sula was first out the door. She darted around the corner and disappeared down the stairs. Tetra frowned a second and started to angle her way out through Jack's door. Midway through Smythe interrupted.

"Tetra." She gritted her teeth and shot him a hard look. "Put on something modest."

She rolled her eyes and disappeared going the other direction. Smythe hesitated a second then left the room as well, closing the door behind him. Jack sighed and got out some better clothes from his dresser. He donned them and joined Smythe downstairs by the front door atrium.

"This will really be it?" Jack asked.

"As long as Mrs. Tam is amenable, then yes." He answered.

Jack narrowed his eyes. "But aren't you-" The doorbell rang.

Jack grimaced then sighed. He reached over and answered the door. A woman of medium height dressed in a white long-sleeve t-shirt with an open light brown jacket and blue jeans stood at the entrance. Her long dark hair spilled onto her shoulders. Her brown eyes scanned Jack and agent Smythe.

Jack couldn't help but feel that he had seen her somewhere before.

He nodded at her once. "You must be Mrs. Tam." Jack opened the outer screen door for her. "Please. Come in."

She hesitated a second, then opened the screen door the rest of the way revealing her children. Jack smiled lightly. "Chloe, Calvin good to see you two."

Both smiled back at him. "Hi Jack." They said in unison. Mrs. Tam gave Jack a more scrutinizing look. He made a mental effort to not be affected by it.

"Mrs. Tam." Agent Smythe greeted. "Good to finally meet you." He held out his hand.

Mrs Tam broke her glare on Jack and faced the agent. She grasped his hand and completed the handshake. "Yes, good to meet you too."

Her voice was similar to Chloe's if deeper and obviously more mature. Jack noted that she and her daughter resembled each other remarkably well. That must be why she seems familiar. Calvin must get his looks from his dad.

"Can I get any of you anything? Water? Soda?" Jack asked.

"No thank you." Mrs. Tam stated. She paused a second then looked back at her children. They each looked alarmed and then faced Jack.

"No thank you." They said at the same time. Jack blinked a couple times.

"I'll take a water." Smythe said. Jack looked back and gave him a mildly annoyed look.

"I'll be right back." He said and exited the living room. As he completed Smythe's request he noticed Sula lurking at the edge the hallway when he approached the kitchen exit.

"Sula." He whispered.

She jumped at bit and turned toward him. "Oh Jack. You startled me."

Jack walked up to her. "What are you doing?"

She hugged her arms and looked down. "Jack are...are you really comfortable with me being here?"

Jack blinked. Then he put his free arm on one of hers. "It was an accident Sula. And I am fine. You let me go before anything was damaged."

She looked up at him briefly then back down. Jack let out a sigh "I can hardly blame you for being excited. You want to see the world right?"

She smiled a bit and nodded. "Uh huh."

"So we'll go." He promised. "Just remember to use your arms only next time you thank me okay?"

She nodded once. "Yeah." She continued looking down.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked.

"It's just...I hadn't done something like that to any of the husbands for years. And then suddenly, today I lose control." There was real worry in her eyes.

Jack lifted her chin a bit. "Hey, everyone makes mistakes." Her expression didn't change. "And what do we do when we make mistakes?" Her eyes regarded him curiously.

Jack dropped his hand. "We learn from them." He concluded. She smiled a bit.

"Something is still bothering you though right?" Jack asked. Sula lost her smile and nodded.

"So we'll figure it out." He motioned his head toward the living room. "Now c'mon. Say 'hi' to our guests." Jack entered the living room. Sula swallowed once and slithered forward after Jack.

"Mrs. Tam. I'd like to introduce you to one of my homestays." Jack stepped to the side. "This is Sula Peri."

Sula gave a wave and dipped her head slightly in greeting. "H-hello Mrs. Tam." Chloe and Calvin's mother just stared. For a brief moment nobody moved. Then Calvin burst forward toward the lamia.

"Hey Sula!" He said excitedly. "Can we play again? That was really fun last time."

Mrs. Tam's mouth opened in shock. Jack tried not to snicker as he handed Smythe's water to him.

"Um, I suppose." Sula said hesitantly while looking at Mrs. Tam and back to Calvin.

"I-" Mrs. Tam said. She swallowed and composed herself. "No." She looked at her son commandingly. "We are not here to play."

Calvin dipped his head and returned to his mother quietly. Chloe looked up at her mom. "But I brought my knitting things." She patted a knapsack at her side.

Mrs. Tam looked down at her daughter. "We are not here to do that either."

"That's a shame." Tetra commented while entering the living room from the other hallway. Everyone looked toward the arachne. Jack gave a mental sigh of relief at seeing the light blue long-sleeved sweater and dark blue skirt she wore.

Tetra inclined her head toward Chloe."Your daughter is quite skilled at weaving for one so young."

Mrs. Tam's breath seized up and her hands each reached toward one of her children. Tetra pretended not to notice.

Jack cleared his throat. "Mrs. Tam, this is Tetra, my other homestay."

Tetra bowed slightly. "Greetings, Mrs. Tam." She raised her head and locked eyes with the woman. "I wish to apologize for my behavior toward your son yesterday."

Mrs. Tam didn't say anything. She didn't look away either. Chloe and Calvin looked up at their mother with worried expressions.

"Well, now that that's done." Smythe announced. Everyone snapped their heads toward him. He took a big gulp from his glass and set it down on the coffee table. "I can get going."

He turned toward Mrs. Tam. "I believe that concludes our business today Mrs. Tam. I appreciate your promptness and understanding in this matter."

Mrs. Tam nodded silently and lightly guided each of her children toward the front door.

Jack noticed Tetra's mouth had curled down into a sneer. He looked over at Sula who was staring at the floor.

Jack pursed his lips, wishing he could say or do something to help Mrs. Tam understand. But he couldn't think of anything that wouldn't be an obvious sign of desperation.

Smythe turned toward Jack. "Mr. Keysman." He nodded. "I'll be in touch." Jack nodded back but kept his eyes at the floor.

"Wait a minute." Mrs. Tam exclaimed. Everyone glanced towards her.

She raised a finger and pointed at Jack. "You're Jack Keysman?"

He looked at her uneasily. "Um yes, I am."

"You're Kathy and Greg's boy." She stated.

Jack blinked a couple times and motioned an index finger toward her. "You knew them. You were at the wake. That's why I thought I recognized you."

"You're the good one." She continued. "The one that stayed." She dropped her hand. "Your brothers went off to be amateur Hollywood dilettantes."

Everyone else in the room was stunned at her words. After a pregnant pause Jack burst out laughing.

He doubled over and covered half his face with his hand. "That's what, hehehe," He breathed in "That's what mom used to call them when she was mad at them." He chuckled. "When she really missed them."

"I thought," She looked at Smythe. "That when he called this place the Keysman residence he was being crass." She looked back at Jack. "I didn't think he meant an actual Keysman lived here."

Jack pressed his lips together and nodded. "I'm here, I'm back."

"And you, you're a host. What about your job?" She asked.

He shrugged. "I quit. Got a new one here."

Mrs. Tam looked at him oddly. "As a host? For only two? In this place?"

Jack tilted his head side to side. "It's more than that and kind of a long story, but yes I work for the Exchange as a host now."

"I see." She looked at Sula and then at Tetra very intently. Then she looked down at her children's hopeful faces. She took in a breath and closed her eyes.

When she opened them she walked up to Sula from across the room. The lamia glanced over at Jack. He shrugged and shook his head. Sula looked back at the woman in front of her.

"I want your word." Mrs. Tam said. "I want your word that you will never harm my children."

Sula's face set confidently. "Never. I'll treat them like my own."

Both women stared at each others' eyes. Then Mrs. Tam crossed to the other side and looked into Tetra's eyes.

"I want your word that you will never harm my children."

Tetra didn't blink. "I will never harm your children."

Mrs. Tam nodded a couple times and took a couple steps back. "If you see any of my children misbehaving, or hear about them misbehaving, I want to know about it first." She looked between Sula, Tetra and Jack. Each of them nodded back at her.

Mrs. Tam turned back to her children. "You hear that Calvin, Chloe? You misbehave and I will know about it."

"Yes mom." "Yes mommy."

She took in a breath and let it out. She looked at Tetra. "I accept your apology." Tetra smiled lightly and nodded in acceptance.

She looked back at her children. "Alright, you may play." Chloe and and Calvin's faces lit up. Mrs. Tam gave them a commanding gaze again. "But only where I can see you."

"Yes mom." "Yes mommy."

Mrs. Tam breathed out and almost collapsed into a nearby chair. Each of her children ran up to their new mother-approved monster friend with bright smiles on their faces. Jack stepped forward and sat on the couch nearest Mrs. Tam.

"Thank you. Mrs Tam." Jack said.

She shook her head. "Don't thank me Jack. Thank your mother."

He blinked.

"You may not have visited as often as you should, or called her as often." Mrs. Tam said severely. Jack dipped his head a bit. "But when she needed you, you were there for her Jack. She always knew she could rely on you."

Jack closed his eyes and held back his tears by sheer force of will. "I just wish, I could have been there."

Even with his eyes closed, Jack could sense her shaking her head again. "There was nothing you could have done Jack. If you were there, you might have been a fourth person to die that night."

He opened is eyes and furrowed his brows. Fourth? Oh, right the driver of the Firebird.

Jack nodded his head. "Yeah." He glanced at her. "Sure I can't get you anything?"

She nodded animatedly. "Oh yeah I need a drink now."

Jack smirked. "Alright. Water, soda, juice?"

"No Jack, I need a drink."

He blinked. "Um...I'm not sure I have any of that here..." He looked back at agent Smythe. "Do we?"

Smythe coughed into his hand once. "You actually do Mr Keysman." He looked over at Mrs. Tam. "A glass of Casa Valduga sound appealing?"

"Oh yes, that's sound great right now."

Jack got up and followed Smythe to the kitchen and then to the far back of the pantry. He blinked a few times when he saw it.

"I have a wine rack. With wine." He looked at agent Smythe. "Why do I have wine?"

Smythe smirked. "For occasions such as this."

Jack rolled his eyes. "No I mean, how do I? This stuff looks expensive."

Smythe selected one bottle and drew it out. "These are actually an incentive that Sula's tribe shipped here."

"An incentive? Oh." Jack realized.

"Mmhmm. When Sula told them how difficult it was for her to get a host, her elders purchased and shipped a crate of local Brazilian wines to my office." Smythe confirmed. "You take in the echidna you, get the wine."

"That could be seen as kind of a mixed message." Jack pointed out. "'Here's our representative, oh and here's a butt load of wine, you might need it.'"

Smythe snickered. "Well, her previous hosts' loss is your gain Mr. Keysman."

Jack rolled his eyes harder. "Right. 'Cause I'm hosting her for the wine obviously."

Smythe kept his snicker. "I can take these off your hands if you want Mr. Keysman."

Jack glowered at him. "I'll get a glass." He left the pantry.

"Bring three. You should try this."

Jack looked back at him. "Who's the third one for?"

Smythe exited the pantry with a 'seriously' expression.

"Of course." Jack shook his head and retrieved the fanciest looking glasses from the cupboard.

Smythe popped open the bottle and set it on the table to breathe. Mrs. Tam walked into the kitchen a few seconds after.

"Mmm. That smells good." She commented.

Smythe poured each of them a glass. He held up his own. "To the Exchange."

Jack nodded and raised his glass. "To the Exchange."

Mrs. Tam blinked and looked back toward her children playing in the living room. She turned back toward the two men and raised her glass. "To the Exchange."

Thanks again for reading.

Like I warned, updates to this story will be less frequent. And this chapter was almost twice as long as usual. So it took over twice as long to write.

At any rate, thanks again the for all the follows and encouraging reviews. It's appreciated.

Happy Pi day and "Wakanda Forever!"