Blue eyes met brown as he pulled himself up from the ladder hatch. He started to lose track of what he'd come to do by taking in his surroundings. Sportacus' new airship was a sight to behold compared to his old one; he'd not had the chance to properly study it despite being given a guided tour by Boris when he'd flown it in on that first day. Though it bore many similarities to its predecessor it boasted some more up to date mod cons and was bigger in size with more floor space and ceiling height. Its water cooler was flush to the wall with a cascading waterfall effect instead of the dome that stuck out; the piloting section was slightly bigger with a more refined shape. The old sports candy dispenser with the extendable table had been replaced by a larger and more up to date one with a console that folded out of the wall beside it for preparation of whatever Sportacus desired. A touch pad on the floor opened a hatch that raised two stools which allowed for someone to seat themselves in front of the window above the counter. Two large built in storage sections on the opposite wall near the door housed Sportacus' monogrammed sports equipment and spare uniforms. Light seemed to reflect off of every surface with a larger viewing deck.

His voice was full of the awe he felt inside as he brought his eyes back to Robyn. "I don't think I'll ever get over how cool this thing looks."

"You're not here to talk about the airship." Robyn's response to Kit held little more than a quality of directness.

Despite their angry exchange of the morning and the words he'd spat at her without a care as they left his lips, he sat down beside her on Sportacus' bed. He carefully took one of her hands in his, the hand that had slapped him. He shifted himself uncomfortably as he tried to find an opening to what he had to say. His eyes drifted from her to the floor, from the floor to the ceiling, from the ceiling to the window deck and finally back to her. Though he held her hand her fingers remained rigid, not intertwining themselves with his as they had always done before. Her posture was stiff while his was hunched slightly, his body language more open while hers seemed closed.

Licking his lips he said the words that quite often seemed so difficult to say, "I'm sorry."

"I don't know if I am." Was the defensive reply.

"I wouldn't expect you to be. We really know how to hurt each other don't we?"

"You could say that, especially after what you said earlier. If you really think of me like that why are you here?"

Kit shook his head, "I don't. You know I don't. I'm not even sure why the hell I said it in the first place. Come home, Robs."

Home.

It was their home again. An undeniable space had been left by the young man that had resided with them for almost three months. His guards had made little impact except to always make the house feel as though it were full but now they were back on their usual duty it seemed so very empty. Every now and again as they went about setting the table for mealtimes one or other of them would lay an extra place or dish up an extra serving of food for the third person that wasn't there anymore. They'd look at something he'd done for them, like mending the spice rack or erecting a shelf and visualise his face filled with concentration as he completed the task. They'd smile as they remembered him subconsciously sticking his tongue out the corner of his mouth as he tightened a screw or carefully lined up a hammer with a nail.

Though Morgan was undoubtedly guilty of a multitude of despicable crimes they'd come to understand him as a young man cast adrift on a tide that they weren't convinced he'd chosen entirely for himself. No one understood why they missed him. No one understood how they'd accepted him the way they had. They often wondered if it was their age, the fact they'd never had children of their own or that in their lives together they'd become lonely, aching to hold the social functions that they once had done. Christmas was coming, the first they'd celebrated for almost two years. Once again their house would be filled with the sound of laughter, the hustle and bustle of presents being opened, Christmas songs being sung and Kit's outlandish humour as he entertained everyone.

Though this year there were more people than ever in town that they wanted to share the celebration of Christmas with. A plan had been made that on the proviso that not all of the Network officers could fit in the house, the Christmas party would be held in the function room of the Town Hall. It had been agreed that everyone would pitch in and bring food with them, serving up a veritable feast which promised to offer a taste of different corners of the globe.

As the Mayor and Bessie sat finalising the arrangements their thoughts turned to the seating plan for the banquet table. It hadn't escaped them that Kit and Robyn's relationship had become strained and they hoped against hope that they could overcome their problems in time for the festivities two weeks ahead. Never had the two professed any preferences for where they sat in relation to one another but careful attention had to be paid to their proximity and Kit's proximity to one of the two special guests coming especially for the occasion.

"I'm sure if we sit Kit next to one or two of the Network men he might be more inclined to behave himself than torment Robbie, Sportacus or our special guests." Bessie reasoned out loud.

Mayor Meanswell smiled as it seemed that issue was slowly being reasoned out. "That's a good idea, but perhaps not next to Langford or Boris. He seems to get on quite well with that young Tobias."

"He does and I'm sure he won't be afraid to keep him in line. Now Milford, just remember to try to not spoil the surprise for everyone when it comes to our special guests."

Mayor Meanswell's lips contorted as he tried to refrain from spilling the secret he'd been entrusted with. This time he was convinced he could break his usual pattern of blurting out information he was trying to keep a surprise.