I decided to take Alisia upstairs, to check out the bedrooms and maybe put Alisia down for a proper nap. I climbed the stairs, cradling Alisia carefully. The stairs opened up into a brightly light bedroom, this floor was wooden, with more green rugs on the floor. The bed was an open flower, lying flat on the floor. There were tall wooden bookshelves sitting against the walls, and next to the bed there was a nightstand with a picture on it. I stepped closer to the nightstand to look at the picture and I made an 'Awwhh' when I recognized it. The picture was of Ronin and Tara, looking completely young and in love.

"Let's go see your room, Lissy." I crooned, crossing the room and entering a nursery. The floor was also wooden in here, but there was a pink rug covering the floor. There was a wooden, rocking cradle with a pink blanket inside. Hanging on the wall, there was a portrait of a beautiful Hispanic woman with curly black hair in a gorgeous flower petal dress. On her head was a crown, and I could only assume that she was the Queen before Tara. In her arms, was an adorable African American little girl. "So it looks like each Queen raises the next one," I assumed out loud. Alisia made a happy gurgle that sounded like she was agreeing with me. I sat down in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, next to a window. I hugged Alisia close to me while we rocked. "I really hope I can do this, Alisia." I murmured to her.

"I'm certain you'll do just fine," my dad's voice came from the doorway.

"Dad!" I said, surprised. If I wasn't trying to rock Alisia to sleep, I would've stood up. "How did you know to come here?" I asked him.

"General Ronin said this is where you'd be living. I am actually living somewhere else," Dad said, and he looked just a little annoyed.

"Dad? Is something wrong?" I asked. I'd barely noticed when we walked in that there were only two bedrooms, mine and the nursery.

Dad shook his head. "No, no it's just fine. I'm not far away, I'm just the next house over," he said, sounding like he was reassuring himself. His annoyance melted away and this lovey-dovey look appeared on his face. "This world is wonderful, MK. So many of my theories were right! I think these people actually are living faster than humans! And the complexity of their social structure! Their hierarchy, their traditions! They are so much more complex than I imagined!"

I smiled at his ramblings and of Alisia's window. "They're our traditions now, Dad," I said softly. I stood up slowly and carefully layed Alisia down in her cradle. Then I took Dad's hand and led him out of the room and back downstairs. We sat down on the couch, and I just kind of looked at Bomba. Even though our relationship was better than it was, we'd still been apart for almost eleven years.

Dad chuckled delightedly. "Oh yes, I suppose they are." Dad looked down at the floor and then he looked like he'd just remembered something. "Oh, MK.. I suppose I should tell you..just before I came here, well..Ozzy..Ozzy passed away," Dad said softly.

My heart sank. "Oh.." I said, trying to absorb the impact. Ozzy was a really good dog, and even though we'd also been apart for a long time. Memories came rushing back of him. And then memories of my dad came rushing back to me. Playing outside, swinging, chasing each other. And then finally..memories of my mom. This was too much to bear, and the tears came to my eyes before I could stop them. I put the heels of my hands to my eyes to block the flow.

I heard Dad's intake of breathe, and felt him hesitantly scoot nearer to me. He opened his arms and I fell into them, crying.

"Honey..I didn't realize you would be this upset," he said, holding me tight.

"It's not Ozzy, Dad. I mean, some of it is Ozzy, but.. Dad I really miss Mom," I said in a tearful voice.

Dad sighed heavily, and then I heard him shakily inhale, like he was holding back tears too. "Oh honey.." he said softly, stroking my hair, "I'm so sorry I wasn't there."

I cried heavily into my dad's shoulder, not responding. I was so angry at everyone when she died. I was completely enraged. I hated my mother for letting the cancer beat her, and I hated my father for not being there. I missed her so much..how could she leave me? What would she say, if she could see me now? Honestly, I think she'd be upset. I think she would be disappointed, that I'd 'thrown my life away' for some boy and a baby, and a world I knew nothing about. I hated that I might have disappointed her. But she was dead. And now I would never know what she really thought.

When I was all cried out, I leaned away from my Dad. "Thanks Dad," I tried to smile, wiping my bloodshot eyes. "I actually really needed that," I cry-laughed. "But I think I would just like to be alone right now, and try to get settled in," I said, a little apologetically.

"Of course," Dad said, standing. He put his hand on the top of my head. "MK, I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too Dad," I said, wiping the rest of the tears on my sweatshirt. I heard the door shut as Dad left, and I threw myself backward onto the couch. It was half of a pea-pod, filled with something soft, but I wasn't sure what it was. It was white. I grabbed a pillow from the end and hugged it to my chest, staring up at the ceiling.

I was thirsty, so I whirled up and found my way into the kitchen.. and I was completely amazed. These people really were advanced. There were counters.. and a table.. and an icebox. A sink! It looked to be made out of hallow stone, or bones of an animal maybe. I cautiously turned the tap, and clean water poured out. I giggled ecstatically. Running water! I opened several cupboards before I found the cups, but I filled one with water and carefully took a sip, smiling in relief as I tasted the cool, fresh water.

"Aah," I let out a gratified sigh as I slid into a chair at the table. I wasn't sure what to do with myself, exactly. I looked down at myself and then I was like, "Nope, I know exactly what to do."

I couldn't run to the bathroom fast enough. I literally shrieked when I saw what my heart most desired- a shower. I stripped my clothes and walked into it, turning the dial experimentally each way to see which direction was hot and which was cold.

When the hot water cascaded over my body, I sighed in relief. "Thank goodness," I murmured.

Apparently down here they used honey in everything, because it was in a bottle inside the shower. I used it to wash my hair and scrubbed my body clean of any dirt. When my shower was over, I stepped out and groaned at the thought of having to change back into those nasty clothes. I really needed new ones..

"MK?" I heard a voice come in the door. "MK where are you?" It was Nod, and I panicked. I looked around for anything to cover myself with.

"Nod—" I yelled, finally grabbing what could pass as a towel-like leaf and wrapping it around myself. "Don't come in, I've just gotten out of the shower!"

"Oh!" Nod said. I could hear the amusement in his voice. "I'll just leave these on the couch then and wait outside!" A few moments later I heard the door shut and I sighed in relief. "That could've been bad," I thought. I cautiously exited the bathroom to see what Nod had left on the couch. I grinned when I saw them. Clothes! It was just two outfits, a dress, and then a shirt and a skirt, but I was so grateful. "Oh my gosh.." I picked up the shirt and skirt first. It was something I never would have worn Up Top, but when in Rome..and I lived in Rome now. They were made of violet petals, both garments were, and the shirt was sleeveless. I threw them on and then opened the door for Nod. He was standing right outside it, and I threw myself at him in a hug. "Thank you so much!" I said, holding him tight.

Nod kind of swirled me around and then set me down. "It was no problem, I knew you needed them," he smiled.

"Where'd you get them?" I asked, twirling the skirt just a bit.

"Well, I told my mom about what we talked about, the wardrobe thing, and I asked if she had any stuff she wanted to give away. She was happy to give some of her old stuff to you, this is what she had that we thought would fit," Nod explained, looking a little embarrassed, his cheeks having a light pink tinge.

"Thank you, I love them," I gushed once again. I stepped into the doorway. "Do you want to come in?" I asked.

"Sure," he obliged. He had to duck just a bit to fit his tall frame into the door. "How are you settling in?" he asked.

"Alright, I guess," I said. I picked up the dress and headed up the stairs to lay it on my bed, not realizing that I was inadvertently leading Nod to my bedroom. As he reached the top of the stairs he saw the room.

"Wow, nice," Nod admired. Suddenly Alisia started to cry.

"Oh, Alisia's awake. She's been sleeping for a really long time," I said, rushing into the nursery.

I peered into her cradle and Alisa lay wailing on her back, scrunching her tiny fists by her head. "Awh, shh," I said to her, picking her up gently. "She's probably hungry again," I reasoned. Nod found the bags full of things we'd bought earlier and got a bottle ready for me, handing it to me. I stood up and fed her the bottle, and Nod stood just behind me. I looked up at him and he was looking at Alisia with a small smile on his face.

"She's possibly the cutest Queen I've ever seen," he said, putting an arm around my shoulders again. It sent shivers down my spine.

I giggled. "I'd say I have to agree." I looked adoringly down into her angel face.