Denial

"It's not true!" Siria pleads, looking up at her parents with teary eyes.

"Baby, we're just trying to explain to you that we were married to other people before each other," Kat tries to comfort her daughter, who is still distraught. She knew that this talk would be hard. "Would you rather we lie to you about it?"

"No, lying is bad," Siria grumbles, regrettably so.

"Back before your father and I even knew each other, we were married to different people. Then, when Felia and Sirius were destroyed we lost those people to whom we were married. It was after that when we met," Kat says patiently. She and Doggie agreed to try explaining to Siria what their situations had been before SPD.

"It doesn't mean we love each other or you any less," Doggie tries to assure his daughter. As mature as she is for her age, he expected her to have some trouble with it.

"Did you have babies before me?" Siria's eyes are terrified.

"No," Kat answers immediately. "Even if we had, you're our number one girl."

Siria is still upset, even if she doesn't know entirely why she's so unsettled at the news. "Do you still love the other people?"

Doggie and Kat trade looks – somewhere between sympathetic and wistful – before turning back to their daughter. Doggie takes a moment before speaking softly. "Angel, remember when you found out that blue butterfly in the gardens died? Well, we love those people the way you still love that butterfly. You'll never forget it, and you miss it, but that doesn't mean you love any other butterflies any less."

Kat smiles at the wisdom that radiates off her husband's tongue. He has a way of explaining things in the most mystifying ways. It never fails to pacify Siria's curiosities, or astound Kat. "Do you understand, Siria?"

"And you still love each other?" Siria's lip trembles again.

"Of course, honey, of course," Kat reaches out and gathers her daughter into her lap. "Your Daddy and I love each other so much."

"Princess, I have never loved anyone more than you and your mother," Doggie takes his daughter's smooth, humanoid hand and presses the lips of his muzzle to it. "I promise."

"Okay," Siria mumbles, deciding that this alarming news can be properly digested at a later date. On a happier note, she looks up at her parents. "Is it true it's your adversary tomorrow?"

"Anniversary?" Kat raises an eyebrow, impressed by her daughter's speech ability, even if her attempt was ill begotten this time. "Yes, it is, Siri. Who told you that?"

"Aunt Z; she told me that Aunty Syd was gonna buy you guys a present," Siria laughs a little when Kat slumps her chair and her father shakes his head. "She also said that Uncle Jack is going to invite us all to dinner in the city, and Uncle Sky is coming, and Uncle Bridge is gonna bring his own toast!"

Kat looks at Doggie with a quirky smile, at least satisfied that Siria is happy again. "Sounds like our kids."

"Mommy, how come you call them your kids if they're my aunts and uncles?"

"That's for another time, sweetie," Kat slumps further, not ready for another "talk".

"Where do babies come from?"

"That's for way later!"