February 30, Winter, year 37

Homeward, homeward, homeward we go!

Claire was practically dancing as they packed. Even the children arguing about which trinket or toy went in whose suitcase couldn't bring her mood down, and her cheerfulness was catching. Squabbles turned into amiable disagreements, turned into good-natured teasing.

There were more bags than when they'd arrived. Everyone had gifts and other items to take along on the trip home. Not to mention the live, flying animals. Claire had been forced to take from Alan the flying frog he'd wanted to keep, knowing full well that he'd only use it to cause problems at home, and he'd complained for a while until he was reminded that it would be full spring tomorrow, which meant more bugs and things to catch.

After that he happily bounced back to his packing. Every so often as they worked in cleaning up the room, someone would start humming a song, and then someone would add in the lyrics, and before anyone really knew what was happening, music was echoing through both rooms.

And for the most part, the babies slept right through it. When they cried for food or changing or just because, there was a temporary halt in packing so that the trio could get the attention needed.

The closet was cleaned out—Claire liked the fabric and wanted to turn it into some more useful types of clothing—the toys were packed away, the baby-presents were tucked away in a sack all their own, the winged cats were in a large covered basket, Meri's Pegasus was waiting for them at the portal area…

Claire let out a long, pleased sigh. At last. At last everything was coming to an end. Soon enough she would be back where she belonged, and after that rooting around in the good, rich earth that she loved so much.

Skye looked up, and chuckled softly.

"Ready to go home?" he asked, sipping his suitcase closed.

Claire's grin was bright.

"You know it!" she chirped. "Me and everyone else, I do believe. No?"

"Yes."

It wasn't too surprising to learn that they wouldn't be getting home until about midnight. What was surprising were the promises of visits and letters, the hugs and the tears.

Eventually Claire had to pass off the babies to Lauren and Jamie as she received hug after hug from the People she had gotten to know and enjoy the company of in the past months.

"We'll visit," Tsuyu promised. "One of these festival days, you'll see."

The blonde grinned.

"I'll be careful," she teased.

Kaemon and Daisuke laughed, and even Akio cracked a smile at the joke. Tsuyu, Akahari and Haruka all laughed as well, embracing Claire in a three-way hug.

Skye received—gentle for he was holding Lucien—claps on the back, and several brother-hugs.

"Keep in better contact this time," Daisuke grinned. "Mother will be very disappointed if you don't, and from what I've heard she's started picking and choosing through eligible bachelors to marry off Hotaru-chan and Yuki-chan."

Skye shook his head.

"Mother will be fighting an uphill battle there, I think," her replied wryly.

With Claire's influence, both women had been getting their backbones back. Yukiko's pranks were becoming more frequent, and Hotaru's vanishing from the palace was more and more frequent.

"I'll try to keep her at a minimum," Daisuke promised both his bother and his sisters. "I want my family to be well, not miserable."

Skye clapped his younger brother on the shoulder with a warm smile.

"Good. Let them be themselves, and start enacting those changes. It's time the People moved forward instead of stagnating."

Claire grinned at that last remark, and claimed her husband's free arm contentedly, pulling him away at last.

"Come on silly, we can't leave without you, you know," her eyes glittered with mirth. "Let's go home!"

The entire village and then some were there to greet them once they touched down on good old earth. Jill, carrying her own twins, and Jack with Eve and their new baby girl, were at the forefront of the line to hug the blonde farmer, and soon enough everyone was inside a sea of loving, familiar, and most importantly friendly faces.

Melissa glomped tight to Lauren's arm, and refused to let go, even when Lauren jokingly attempted to pull her arm free. She didn't really mind, she had missed Mel almost as much. In the back of her mind was the mental note that soon she would have to come clean to her Mom… And somehow this worried her less than it had at first.

Sharron shyly greeted Jamie, and he was the exuberant one this time, for a moment forgetting his embarrassment and picking her up in a hug. Following the hug he endured good-natured ribbing from his cousins Robert and Max, blushing but happy.

Alan, Mirei and Meredith were dog-piled by their cousins and friends, all babbling questions about the Pegasus, the Palaces of the Moon, the journey, the People themselves…

Skye smiled, watching as everyone was absorbed into the commotion. This was how it was supposed to be. Bright, cheery, and full of love and laughter. Maybe though example they could show the People of the Moon how life was really supposed to be lived.

Naturally, none of them got home until near six in the morning. Skye stabled the Pegasus, whom Meri called Butterball, as everyone else made their ways into the newly remodeled house.

No one was for sleep beyond Claire and the babies though. They had finally come home, it was time to get back to work.