You all totally saw it coming.
Now, go and hug your parents. Because I said so :P
"Shh!" I flapped my arms wildly to get their attention. "You have to be quiet! My mom's coming!" I quickly closed the door, and turned around.
Oh. She was here.
Mom was giving me that look, arms crossed and one foot steadily tapping. I swallowed.
"Gyatso, your sister says she heard noises. And your brothers were tripping over themselves trying to stop me from coming up here. What is going on?"
I gaped at her, mind fumbling for an excuse. I'd tried to postpone this moment until Dad got home; Mom could never stay mad for long around Dad. Stupid brothers, they can bother me no problem, but they can't distract Mom for five minutes—
"Gyatso." She gestured to the door. Slowly, I backed away.
"Uh, Mom, please don't freak out. I mean, we were going to tell you—"
She pushed the door open, and blinked. Fifteen pairs of yellow eyes blinked back at her.
"…The last time I checked, we had two lemurs."
"If it helps, the last time I checked, we had seven."
"Gyatso!"
"Mom, please? I'll take care of them, I swear! And Jian and Taku can help! You won't even know they're here! Promise!"
"You want to feed all these lemurs and Appa?! Not to mention clean up after them! Two pets are quite enough, I can't believe—"
Just then, Dad barreled in, with Jian under one arm, Taku tossed over his shoulder, and Lin Fah balanced on his head.
"Katara!" Somehow managing to hold onto my squealing siblings, he bent to kiss her. Then he noticed the surroundings.
"…Why are we in a broom closet?"
And then, "Wow, Momo's been…busy."
"Lemurs!" Lin Fah cried. One of the newest babies flitted over and landed on her head. She giggled and stroked its ears, and it settled on her shoulder, nuzzling against her cheek.
Dad and Mom shared a long look. Or rather, Dad's smile grew as Mom struggled to keep a stern face.
"Can we keep them? Pleeeeeeease?"