The little bell rang out cheerfully as the door to the Green Hill Diner opened. Jessica looked up from her dishes and smiled her customary greeting. "Hello, welcome to the-"
Her eyes widened.
"A-Aslan," she gaped.
"How have you been, Jennifer?" Ash asked.
"Jim! Come over here! Hurry!" Jennifer gasped.
A gray bearded man appeared from the door to the kitchen and spoke gruffly. "What are you screaming about?"
His eyes fell on the figure in the open doorway.
"Hey," Ash said.
"Ash!" Jim rushed forward and wrapped his son in a mighty bear hug. "How have you been? Still taking down bad guys in New York?"
"Oh," Jennifer said worriedly, stepping forward. "I hope you aren't getting into too many fights."
"I hope you're winning," Jim said.
"Jim!"
Jim grinned as Jennifer whacked him with a dish towel.
Ash smiled. "I try to avoid fights where I can, Jennifer." Ash grinned and winked at his father. "But when I do fight, I make sure I win."
Jennifer whacked both of them with the dish towel in two sharp pops. They both laughed, wincing and putting up their hands in surrender. Jennifer stopped her attack as her eyes caught the unfamiliar face that had followed Ash through the doorway.
"Oh? Who's your friend?"
Still laughing, Ash looked up and smiled at Eiji. "This is Eiji. Eiji, these are my parents."
Eiji bowed low. "P-pleased to meet you," he said haltingly in English.
Ash's eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh, he's so cute," Jennifer giggled. She held out her hand and Eiji shook it, smiling timidly.
"And you brought the rest of your friends too!" Jim said. "Shorter!"
Shorter grinned as he walked through the door and met Jim in a hearty handshake. "Jim Callenreese. You're getting fat."
"And you're going bald," Jim retorted, laughing.
Shorter clamped his hands on his hair. "I am not! It's a mohawk. It's intentional."
"Just keep telling yourself that," Jim laughed, patting his belly.
Shorter pouted, "Low blow, old man. Low blow."
Jim chuckled and then turned to Ash. "So what brings you here, son?"
"We're hunting down the guys that murdered Griff. The trail leads to California."
Jennifer's eyes were sad as she hugged Jim's arm. Jim's fists clenched in anger and his eyes were cold and full of sudden grief.
"Just tell me what you need, son, and I'll do it. Whatever you need-"
"Dad," Ash laid a gentle hand on his father's shaking shoulder. "I told you. I don't want you involved. It's not your world."
"It shouldn't be yours either," Jennifer said quietly. "You're just a kid, Aslan."
Ash looked at his father and smiled sadly. "I haven't been a kid in a very long time."
Jennifer scowled at the ground, tears in her eyes. Ash laughed and kissed her cheek gently. "It's okay, Jennifer. You should see the progress I'm making in New York. The gangs are working together now. The streets are a lot safer." Ash glanced back and smiled. "I'm happy."
Jennifer followed his eyes to the young man at his side - Eiji.
"I see," she said, a smile coming back over her face.
"How long will you be staying with us?" Jim asked.
"Just for today," Ash said. "We need to leave in the morning."
"Well then you'll be staying long enough to introduce your friend to our famous Callenreese dinner!" He nudged Ash slyly, "With pumpkin pie for desert."
Ash went red and rolled his eyes. "Dad..."
Jim grinned and quickly bustled back into the kitchen before his son could protest further.
Jennifer laughed. "Well come on, you three. I'll show you where you can stay for the night."
She held out her hand towards the door. Shorter put an arm around Eiji's shoulder, laughing and joking as he led the way outside. Jennifer grabbed Ash's arm quietly and pulled him closer.
She whispered, "Should I make Eiji a separate room or will he be staying with you?"
They looked up at the clear sound of Eiji's laugh from outside, Shorter grinning proudly about some joke they had missed. Eiji looked back at Ash and smiled.
Jennifer looked at Ash, her eyes warm and knowing.
Ash smiled. "He'll stay with me."