Beauty arrived at home feeling much better. She was grateful the hellhound had been on their side and there were no more gorgon nearby thanks to Obsidian. No one else seemed to have a clue they'd been in danger of dying, blissfully ignorant of what happened daily right under their noses. Until she had stumbled into the forest, she had been one of those people.

The front door opened as she cooked dinner and her father walked in. "Ah, there's my favorite girl."

"Hi, Dad, welcome back." She paused what she was doing to hug him.

"It is good to finally have some free time." He embraced her in return. "How was your day, dearest?"

"Great. I finally got to see my friends. Obsidian hunted down any other potential gorgon nests and found them all empty."

"That sounds good for us."

She nodded. "So how long until you go back out?"

"I suppose it all depends on whether or not I hear back from Silt and New Castle in the next couple of days." He squeezed her hand when he saw her sad expression. "I'm sorry, I know me being away so much isn't easy. If I don't hear anything by morning, perhaps we can go meet your friends?"

She smiled widely. "Sure, I was planning on going there anyway. Hungry?"

"Famished. I will go wash up." He stepped into the bathroom for a few minutes and joined her at the table. "Everything looks amazing."

"Thanks. Let's eat." She smiled and they dug in. "So what will you do once you hear from those places you mentioned earlier?"

"Set up a manufacturing line. I imagine that after a while, I won't be able to keep up with the demands from all these businesses and their affiliates. At the docks, people came to me and I had staff to help, however since the foreclosure things have been tight. Enough unpleasantness for one evening, how is your job at the shelter?"

"It makes decent money." She shrugged. "I don't care for my boss or coworkers, though I am not required to stay and make it a career."

"You're right, my dear. When I was your age, I wanted to be a rock star. Thank goodness I listened to your grandfather and kept on studying as his apprentice, then after all my friends dropped out of the band we had made I found solace and enjoyment in woodworking. Doing it by hand is considered a hobby now, something I hope to change."

"You tell me dreams become reality when you take them one step at a time."

He smiled and patted her hand gently. "You flatter your old man."

"Someone wise told me you're only as old as you feel."

"Any other pearls of wisdom, cheeky girl?"

"If I find any, I will let you know." She laughed with him at their inside joke and cleared off the table.

"Thank you for the lovely meal." He kissed her cheek. "I am going to take a bath, holler if you need anything."

"Okay." She tuned the radio to a classical music station and hummed along as she washed and set their dishes on the rack to dry. Afterward, she changed into her pajamas and sat in the chair by her bedroom window with one of her books until her eyes could barely stay open, so she called down the hall: "Good night, Dad."

"Good night, dear heart." Came his reply.

She woke to the smell of breakfast being made and changed into one of her faded blue outfits for the day. She headed towards their dining area, which was technically a part of the kitchen in their small home. "Morning, Dad. It's been a while since I saw you at the stove."

"I miss cooking and didn't want you to feel like you're always the one doing it." He chuckled and flipped the pancakes he was making. "Could you get us some plates?"

"Of course." She grabbed two from the cupboard and held them while he divided the food when it was done. She set them on the table and pulled the maple syrup out of the fridge as he put silverware next to their plates. She sat down with him and began eating. "This is good."

"I was hoping you would say that." He smiled. "I worried I had lost my touch."

"I doubt that is even possible."

"Alas, the old saying "if you don't use it, you lose it" is quite often true."

"Not today."

"Agreed." He laughed as they washed dishes together and left them to dry. "What do you want to pack for our lunch? Sandwiches or leftovers?"

"An excellent question." She peeked inside the fridge. "Most of our leftovers require being heated back up unless you want something like cold kimchi noodles."

"That would be pretty good with a side of cucumber sandwiches."

She nodded her agreement and handed him said vegetable from the crisper along with a block of sharp cheddar. "Want to make those and I will split the noodles?"

"I certainly can. What do you think would be good to take along in our thermoses?"

"Maybe some iced matcha green tea?"

"An tasteful suggestion." He set down everything and put the kettle on first before he prepared their sandwiches. When the kettle whistled, he poured the hot liquid into a large cup. He added the matcha green tea and let it steep for a minute. He waited while she filled their thermoses with ice and filled the empty spaces with tea.

She packed their cooler with his help, adding a couple of ice packs from the freezer to help keep their food cool. "Now it looks like we're set. Can you think of anything else we need?"

"A quick trip to the restroom and some sunscreen?"

"Absolutely." She grabbed the sunscreen while he used the bathroom and then took a turn. "Ready?"

"As ready as I will ever be."

She smiled and led him out the door.