Chapter Fifteen: Towards Something New
Eric's POV
"What are you smirking at?" My wife asks me, intrigue in her voice as I am boxing up items I know we will not be needing between now and our migration back to Louisiana. Sookie is dutifully seated near the box, picking up each item I have just placed to give it a thorough wiping down.
"Pam. She has finally made up her mind," I answer. Though that statement is true, I was genuinely smiling at her need to dust the little knick knacks. I am certain she will wipe them down before placing them in their new homes.
"She went for it!?" Sookie asks me excitedly.
"I can feel that she is already back on her way home to us and she is delighted," I explain. "Which means, Jenny is coming with her."
"I really hope that we can all get along." Sookie frowns as she carefully fits the clay goblet Leif made in fifth grade into the box. "That's the scary part about when the family expands. What if we don't like each other?"
Rather than place the next item into the box myself, I instead hand it to Sookie. "Civility is more important than compatibility. After these past twenty years, I am certain you have noticed that the necessity to maintain proximity has waned. Jason does not spend every waking moment around you as he did our first few years of marriage."
"Still, everyone comes home at some point or another. I would just hate for Diedre, Quigley or Jenny to feel left out. Especially since Cammie, Jason and I are so close."
"What about me?" I cannot help but tease.
"You're on a completely different level and you know it." Sookie catches the front of my shirt as I hand her the next item to be packed, and I lean in to accept the kiss she is offering. As my tongue traces her pouty lower lip, I cannot help but think for the hundredth time since the children graduated that I would love another baby in the house. "Stop it," Sookie mumbles against my lips.
"I cannot help it," I laugh as I pull away.
"And here I thought I would be the problem with wanting too many babies," Sookie grumbles.
"Do you not want any more?" I ask worriedly.
"I do," she assures. "I just hope it's not any time too soon." She picks at her nails thoughtfully and I know Pam will chew her ass out for that when she arrives. "It just doesn't feel like it's time, you know?"
"Really?" I finally take a reprieve from packing and sit beside her on the floor. Sookie pulls her knees up to her chest, reminding me of the cautious young woman I married.
"Is that strange?" She asks me.
"Perhaps not. After all, we both felt the change at about the same time," I reply. "Your fertility still confounds Ludwig. The most she has ever been able to confirm is that you are still capable of having more children."
"I wish we knew more for Alexis's sake." My wife frowns thoughtfully. "She hasn't gotten a period since she was seventeen. Even I still got mine for the first few years after we Bonded. I'd hate for her to get pregnant during college. She's so young, and there's so much time."
"Immortality has definitely become even more complicated since our bloodline advanced as it did." I watch her nod thoughtfully. "Perhaps Ludwig should do another workup before Alexis completes her Bond to Quigley. She can compare your levels at eighteen to Alexis'. Would that make you feel better?"
"I'll call Alexis and ask her if she would like it," Sookie replies, rising from her seat to find her phone. I hear my wife talking to our daughter moments later, and the promise from Alexis that she will call Ludwig herself to have her blood drawn for tests. When Sookie returns, she runs her hand worriedly through her hair.
"How are you more anxious?" I tease my wife. Of course, I know the answer is simple. She is a mother worried about her daughter. Whether the news is good, bad or neutral, Sookie will always worry over our children's happiness.
Before Sookie can respond, a *POP* sounds off beside us, and I look at little Doctor Ludwig standing in our sitting room. "Good evening, Doctor."
"Northman," Ludwig nods at me in her usual manner.
"I take it your dropping in on us has something to do with our daughter calling you?" I hazard a guess.
"Indeed," Ludwig nods. "I asked your daughter to head over here with her soon-to-be Bonded as long as she is comfortable with you knowing her medical information. She then laughed at me and asked what secrets I think she could possibly keep for eternity."
Sookie sits down beside me heavily. "What's wrong?"
"It is not a matter of something being wrong," Ludwig shakes her head. "Still, it would be inappropriate for me to discuss without the actual patient present. She is her own woman now, Sookie."
My wife is one of the few individuals I have heard Ludwig call by their first name. Even being called by a surname is a mark of respect coming from Ludwig. She still refers to me as Viking when she finds me particularly annoying, which has become far less often since I married my wife. Although, 'Viking' became a regular utterance during Sookie's pregnancy, for I badgered Ludwig regularly for updates and information.
"After the events in Spain," Ludwig continued, "you had me give Alexis the once over, and I took a little blood at that time too. Not a lot, as she was still recovering from the attack, but it has been a while since she hit puberty and I needed updated readings."
"So you have already compared her stats to her levels at fourteen?" I ask curiously.
"As a matter of fact, I have," Ludwig nods. "But since that was not your concerns at the time, I decided to shelve the results until the topic was broached. I suppose with her preparing to Bond, now would be the time questions were being asked."
I hear the front door opening and glance at the clock in surprise as I hear my daughter's voice. They must have drove at top speeds, I think worriedly, wondering if Alexis has been just as concerned as her mother. Am I a terrible father for not thinking this would be such a preoccupation for her?
"Alexis," I call so she knows what room we are in. Soon she and Quigley appear in the sitting room. Alexis looks around, taking in the sight of the familiar room slowly being dismantled for the move to Louisiana.
"Hi, Daddy," she waves nervously. Quigley's arm is securely around her waist, his hand protectively placed upon her hip.
"How are you feeling today?" I ask, rising to meet her in the archway and place a kiss on her crown. I hear the beginnings of a rumble in Quigley's chest. They have already had their first mutual exchange now, and he is fighting the territorial instincts that stir when another vampire comes near his prospective mate. The fact that I am her father is probably the only thing that kept him from pulling her away from my touch.
"Still tired," she confesses. "Even all the extra blood and food isn't enough to keep me awake."
"That is not very surprising," Ludwig chimes in. "Your body was running on quite the deficit, and then you exhausted yourself further by traveling immediately after. At least give yourself a week of proper rest and nutrition before trying to remain awake for more than the average day."
"Yes, Ma'am," Alexis nods in understanding. "It's just really weird to not be able to keep my eyes open after a single day."
"When I was pregnant with you and Leif, I felt the same way," Sookie recalls. "I'd been remaining awake for nearly a month at a time, and suddenly I was sleeping like a regular person again. It took me quite a while to get used to that. Your dad helped a lot, though. He even graded papers for me."
"And you, Priest," Ludwig points her finger at Quigley accusingly. "You better be taking the absolute smallest sips for these exchanges for your Bonding ritual."
"I assure you, I am," Quigley replies. "I would have preferred to wait, but Alexis charges ahead when she makes up her mind."
"Like mother, like daughter," I laugh.
"Well," Ludwig sighs. "I suppose there is no point prolonging the wait. Alexis, I have already run your labs from the sample I took in Spain. Those labs did include the same hormone tests from when you were fourteen as well as the ones I performed with your mother's blood when she was your age. The tests did not come back similar at all, and while it is medically impossible for me to say with complete certainty- you appear to be incompatible with procreating."
"Oh." Alexis whispers, and I watch as Quigley's eyes dart to the side, taking in her response. "So, you're feeling confident that I'm most likely sterile?"
"Yes." To her credit, Ludwig looks remorseful with this news.
"Okay," Alexis nods slowly, absorbing the information. Sookie is frozen beside me, waiting to see what our daughter needs. I can feel guilt and sadness running rampantly through her, but also… "I gotta say," Alexis whispers, "I'm sorta relieved." Sookie closes her eyes and takes in a slow breath. "Maybe it will hit me later, but right now, I'm not upset about it." She looks tentatively at Quigley and whispers, "Are you disappointed?"
"Storeen, I came to terms with not having kids over a millennium ago. Being Bonded to you is all that I long for," he assures her, earning a loving gaze from my daughter.
"Is there anything else, Dr. Ludwig?" Sookie asks quietly after the couple has gotten lost in each other.
"No, everything else is about right as rain. As I mentioned, eat plenty, maybe add a few extra bloods for consumption this week, and get plenty of sleep. Probably growing pains level of sleep?"
When our children were going through their growth spurts, they slept so much we thought something was wrong. It turned out they were craving blood and did not know how to describe that need to us. Eventually Ludwig suggested letting them try blood, and their sleep patterns improved dramatically. There was still excessive needs for sleep, but Ludwig had assured us that was normal for human children as well when they were going through a rapid growth rate.
"Okay, I have plenty of time to fix my sleep schedule for college now that my trip got cut short," Alexis nods. "Quigley and I can pick up some blood on the way back to the hotel."
"Just take some from our fridge," Sookie tells her. "We got O Neg, in the basement fridge. Gotta get rid of it before the big move, anyway."
"Thanks, Mom," Alexis gives her a small smile.
"Could do with a nip of that now, if you don't mind?" Quigley asks politely and Sookie blushes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't offer anything when you arrived!" Sookie stands up sharply. "Dr. Ludwig, would you care for anything to drink?"
"Another time, Sookie," Ludwig calls after her as she moves toward the kitchen. "I must be going. And you, young lady," she points to Alexis. "You be sure to contact me with your transcripts. If it's your intention to train under me, you better be out to impress me."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Alexis jumps at the command. When the doctor vanishes, my daughter looks to me and sighs.
"Are you alright, Alexis?" I ask gently.
"Up for a little walk?" She asks her own question rather than answer mine. With so many family members that can hear a pin drop from anywhere within the house, it has become common to move conversations outside. Although the discussions rarely remain completely confidential, it does bring a form of openness and comfort to know that the conversation itself is not under direct scrutiny.
"Yes. Quigley, enjoy your blood. We should be back by the time you finish it. Sookie," I call to my wife, "I am going for a walk with Alexis. We will be back shortly."
"Alright, have a good talk!" She hollers back reflexively. Since Camilla still has human hearing, Sookie has not quite broken the habit of yelling through the house.
Once I am out on the sidewalk with my daughter, we are only six or seven houses down before she asks the question I know has been eating away at her. "Is Quigley being honest? Is he really not disappointed?"
There is really only one way that I can answer this question for her. "When I found out that your mother would be able to give me children, I was excited because I knew children were what she wanted. I was very aware that biological children were no longer an option for me for well over a thousand years and I accepted that easily enough. When your mother became pregnant with you and Leif, I was relieved that it happened because I knew it was what your mother wanted. It was not until I heard your tiny heartbeats fluttering inside her that I began looking forward to becoming a father. It was not until I felt your tiny kicks through her stomach that I fell in love with the two of you. Then, when I held you two in my arms, that was when I found one of the most fulfilling experiences in my existence."
"So, you think he didn't have his heart set on a hypothetical?" Alexis summarizes and I laugh and nod. "Is it horrible that I was relieved when Ludwig told me I most likely won't have any kids?"
"Horrible?" I look at her in surprise. "Why would that make you horrible?"
"Isn't wanting to have kids supposed to be the norm?" Alexis shrugs. "Does feeling relieved I can't have any make me less… human?"
"Ah, you think it is your vampire half that did not want children? That it is some sort of indication that you are missing some key percentage of humanity?" I guess.
"Yeah," she confesses.
"There are plenty of one-hundred percent human women who would feel this exact same way as you after receiving this information, Alexis. I would say it is a very human reaction. Not every woman wants to be a mother. Not every man wants to become a father. That is not to say that they cannot rise to the occasion and fall absolutely in love with the role as I did. That does not mean that you might not seek alternate opportunities in the future should you discover you do desire to be a mother. Camilla is currently experiencing that with her 'baby girl', as she calls the little daemon youngling."
"I guess we could adopt in some sort of capacity if the urge really hit us," Alexis ponders. "Who knows, once we start our new chapter in Elfyria, all kinds of new potentials could pop up."
"That is very true," I agree. "May I ask why you wanted to go on this walk with me instead of your mother?"
Alexis laughs, "I didn't need comfort, I just needed an honest perspective. Mama worries a lot more about saying the wrong thing, and sometimes I just need to hear what's real."
I cannot help but laugh at her meaning. "It is true that while your mother does not judge, she sometimes worries too much that she is being too blasé."
Alexis smiles at my laughing agreement.
"And sometimes," Alexis slowly adds, "I just need to hear things from you. Even if I know what you'll say."
"I am always here for you, Sotnos," I lean over to kiss the top of her head gently. "No matter how old you get, no matter how much you learn and grow, your family will always be standing behind you."
"I know," Alexis sighs. "Everyone's been so great the past couple weeks. Although, you're still treating Leif and I like kids."
"Are we?" I ask in surprise.
"Aunt Cammie must have gotten back to you about what those necromancers were after," she points out. "And you haven't mentioned anything about leads on how they knew about me."
I sigh and shake my head, "There are no real leads. I contacted King Filipe of Spain and Queen Penelope of Greece prior to your visits so that a warning could be issued. Practically all the vampires of Europe knew when my children would be on the continent," I explain. "The buzz could have easily gotten to other supernaturals including the necromancers. It could also be that the coven was tipped off directly by someone trying to see if holes could be poked in our family's defenses."
It had been one of the toughest calls I have had to make in quite some time. To let the vampire community know that my children would be traveling alone abroad… On one hand, it meant confessing they were alone. On the other hand, concealing their movements could have provided deniability for someone to make an attempt on them. It could have been argued they did not know they were my children and an attack was an honest mistake. Therefore, I sent my children off on their own with a warning to all vampires of Europe. Leif at least had Thorn to ward off malicious intent. Alexis had braved the journey alone.
"And what were the necromancers after?" Alexis demands, making me smile as she pulls me from my previous thoughts.
"Bodily artifacts of the living to control their dead," I reply. "By using your blood and fangs, they intended to issue control over me. It is a particularly gruesome method, but I suppose a coven that big of necromancers could not resist the temptation of trying to subdue an ancient vampire. It is unprecedented that a living relative have such a close lineage to an ancient vampire. Normally such acts are done raising a deceased parent, such as a strong, departed witch. Blood is enough, but I suppose them mentioning an attempt to take your fangs was either to explore magical value or use as an amplifier in the casting they intended to put onto me."
"So, you're not even going to look into whether they were working alone or at someone's instruction?" Alexis asks.
I hesitate, but ultimately decide on the truth, "Alexis, without anyone to interrogate, we would be throwing darts randomly at a board." My daughter's face pales at the indirect mention of her kills. "Every member's correspondences were combed through. There were calls from a burner phone to the high priestess's phone, but no way to determine who made the calls nor whether they were connected to the plot."
"So the trail just goes cold?" Alexis asks quietly.
"Yes, Sotnos," I tell her regretfully. "But though we may never know if there were some deeper agenda to what happened, you did accomplish many things. The most important is that the entire supernatural world knows that you and your brother are not helpless."
"Yeah, well, it might have been a different story if roofies didn't burn off so quickly for us," Alexis points out frustratedly.
"Just wait. You and Leif are still growing. Once you stop, like your mother and aunt, you will burn out most drugs before they can go into effect. Your mother was pissed when she could not get an epidural."
Alexis laughs, "I guess that's something I can now say I don't have to worry about."
Wrapping my arm over Alexis's shoulder, I pull her close to plant a kiss atop her crown. "If you ever need to talk about it more, I am here for you, little one."
"Thanks, Dad. I love you."
"I love you, too, Sotnos."
Sookie's POV
"PAM!" I can't help but squeal as Pam arrives at our home. She knows instantly that I know she's committed herself entirely to Jenny because we've just seen each other last week, which is far too soon for me to be this keyed up about missing her again.
"Sookie," Pam sighs, accepting my hug. She steps aside after I've thoroughly greeted her, revealing Jenny, who I could see just barely standing directly behind her.
"Welcome back, Jenny," I wave merrily to our future family member.
"Hello… Sookie, right?" Jenny reaches out to shake my hand, and I return the gesture. "And Eric?" She looks at my husband nervously.
"You got it!" I reassure her. "Pam says you got your bachelors at UCLA last year. My son is starting there this fall. What did you study?"
"Music and economics," Jenny tells me, and her mind opens like a book before me. It takes me longer than usual to shut it out as I haven't dealt with any regular humans in a bit. It was usually like this at the end of summer vacations while I was a teacher, and it's probably going to be even worse as I take the next few years off to learn how to govern Elfyria.
"Oh, and I take it music was your plan and economics was your family's plan?" I truly don't have to guess.
"You nailed that one right on the head," Jenny laughs, still a bit tentative.
"Well, you will find I'm quite good at reading people," I don't know how much Pam has really told Jenny about the family. "You could say, you won't be able to keep any secrets from me until you've officially joined the family. No rush though. I hope I didn't sound like I was being pushy!"
"Not at all," Jenny assures. "And I do need some time to process all this." I see how broken up she is at disobeying her family and running away from them, but the relief at having the future she genuinely wants is overpowering the guilt. "Pam has been slowly explaining your family to me, but it's a lot."
"It is," I agree with her. "That said, the more time you realize you have, the less daunting the day to day feels."
Before I realize it, Jenny and I have drifted away from the entryway, leaving Pam and Eric alone while I bring our future family member to the deconstructed sitting room.
"You're moving?" Jenny realizes. "Oh, right, Pam mentioned something about Louisiana?"
"Yes, the whole family is transferring back to Louisiana. Eric and I plan to return to my childhood home, and Pam is going to find residences for everyone else. There's some stuff going on and Camilla has a lot of researching to do, which demands the move."
"But you're all going?" Jenny frowns, and I can see worry going off in her head.
"We don't all move together all the time, it's not mandatory or anything," I tell her. "However, my brother Jason, Camilla and I all got jobs as teachers up here in Ohio for several reasons. Pam has always drifted around as she pleases, though. The big move is sort of… preparing for something much further down the line," I try to explain.
"Sookie, can you please be candid with me about Louisiana?" Jenny requests, steeling herself for my response.
I sigh and try to think of the best way to explain. "In about twenty years or so, I am expected to take up the throne of a magical realm. The portal we can access to that realm is in Louisiana. In preparation for that time, Camilla needs access to the portal, and I need to learn how to govern a bunch of supernatural creatures. It could easily take twenty to thirty years to prepare."
"So, you'll be the queen of another realm when you're, like, forty or so?" Jenny asks and I tilt my head at her in surprise. Did Pam not explain that I don't age? "No, wait, you're older than you look. You have grown kids. I still don't quite understand that part…"
"Around the time we go to Elfyria, I'll be about sixty-five or seventy years old." I tell her.
"Wow, you look good for forty-something," Jenny laughs nervously.
"Camilla and I are Living Immortals," I explain. "Our bodies can still change or be altered by external forces, but we don't age past our optimal ages and we cannot be killed."
"Wow," Jenny slumps back in her seat. "That's… crazy."
I laugh and nod in agreement. "If you choose to join our family, you too will become a Living Immortal. It's important that I impress upon you the importance of the gifts we have been given, and tell you that they can and will be taken away if abused."
"Abused?" Jenny stares at me with intrigue.
"In the human realm, it is important for us to fly under the radar. It is not our place to overwhelm others with our gifts."
"But it's okay to do it in the magic realm?" Jenny asks confusedly.
Her question makes me openly grimace, "According to the information we have received, it's only with my return to Elfyria, and taking the throne that the curse on the realm can be broken. Basically, I have to use my gifts to give the realm life again, or else it will be lost forever."
I watch Jenny process this information, her brain bubbling with confusion and apprehension.
"Again, if it's of any consolation, the move to Elfyria is most likely another twenty or so years away," I add as I watch her poor mind grasping for comprehension. "And yourself and Pam would have no obligation to follow us there. Or if you did choose to come, you would not be required to remain."
"Weirdly, that does help a little," Jenny laughs.
"I know it isn't fair to unload all this information on you, but I also want you to have the opportunity to walk away from it. You need to know before there is no turning back. Once you are Bonded to Pam, you will become a part of our bloodline and all the gifts and curses that come with it."
As I say this, I watch very closely at Jenny's thoughts. They stray frequently to her family, her obligations to them, and then return to Pam and the love and freedom that come with choosing her. So far, I see no ill-intent in her thoughts. There is nothing to make me call my brother over to glamour the memories of Pam and all our family secrets out of her head. Eric could do it, too, but Jason's glamour seems to cause a lot less conflict in human brains than any other vampires' in the family.
"Will I be able to study music and compose instead of using my Econ degree?" Jenny asks and I laugh.
"You can study anything you want, Jenny. Of course, how you choose to live with Pam is between you and her. That said, I know Pam would give you anything you ask. She acts all cold, but she's got a warm, squishy center."
Jenny bows her head before smiling, "Somehow, I think you're the one who softened her up for me. I think if I met the Pam that existed before meeting you, I'd either have become a meal for trying to steal her wallet, or a one night stand at best."
I can't help but smirk. "Maybe. Pam's always been full of surprises." Standing up, I finally ask, "Would you like anything to drink? Are you hungry?"
"A vodka cranberry if you have it?" Shit, I hope that doesn't sound like I'm an alcoholic! It's, like, 10AM!
"Yeah, I can make you one. You've had a long flight in and just got a ton of new info," I reassure her worries. I see her eyes go huge when I pull out a jug of vodka. "Oh, Living Immortals burn through alcohol really fast, so we tend to make very strong drinks if we want to get a little buzz going," I explain.
"I'm not a big drinker, but I don't think I'll mind," Jenny laughs. "I usually only drink at parties and special events."
I can practically feel how nervous Jenny is, and that is without peeking into her mind. I can't blame her, though. She really has been getting crap loaded on her from all sides since meeting Pam. Her family's expectations, her feelings for Pam, Pam's feelings for her, and now this whole other family with giant expectations. I just couldn't stand it if she found all this out after making promises or God forbid moving forward with the Bond. My own daughter faltered at Bonding, and that is with a much deeper understanding of what the Bond means.
"This isn't an interview, Jenny," I assure her as I finish mixing her drink and hand it over. "This is just me giving you as much information as I can so you can make up your own mind."
"I appreciate it, but once I make up my mind about something, it's super rare for me to back down," she confesses, making me laugh.
"You will fit in with this family just fine, then," I laugh as well. "To be fair, though, everyone is pretty awesome, so it's hard to see the downsides to joining the family."
"Family… You guys use that word a lot. I'm not all that versed in vampires. I was never really interested in them, but I always thought they referred to it as bloodlines and nests?" Jenny explains why she is having trouble with the word, but I know that the word 'family' is filled with a lot of promise and lacking in delivery.
"I suppose we adopted the word due to the combination of living and non-living members," I reply thoughtfully. "After we gained our gifts, a lot of the vampire formality rules kinda got left in the dust, too. The hierarchy especially went out the window when my son Bonded."
"Why is that?" Jenny asks.
"Mostly because he is Bonded to the oldest vampire in existence. Per vampire culture, that would normally put her in control, but even that is now questionable. We have been living like this for decades, and Diedre is only just starting out. Her status will most likely be revoked within the vampire community once my daughter is Bonded to her Child, but she is already bound to the same expectations as the rest of the family. Although, given her age, I think a rampage and corruption of power are far less likely than with a younger family member."
"Like me," Jenny mumbles.
I actually get a good laugh out of that. "Suga, if you going on a rampage were any worry, I got a handful of vamps that can restrain ya. No, no. We'd be mighty pissed and you'd be straight in therapy with Godric, but I don't think you'd get a massacre in before we got you contained." Jenny stares at me with wide eyes and I give her another reassuring smile. "My point is, we would deal with it and help you through whatever you're going through because that's what family does. No one expects you to go through eternity without making mistakes. But we do want you to realize you have a whole family here ready to support you however you need. And whoever it is you find yourself most comfortable leaning on- there's no hard feelings, suspicions or guilt trips."
"So, you're saying if I got in a fight with Pam, you guys wouldn't all just side with her?" Jenny asks tentatively.
"If? She ain't drove you into screaming madness once yet?" I joke, but not really. It gets a laugh out of the young woman across from me, at least. "And yes. You don't immediately get put in the dog house if you and Pam have a fight. We all know how frustrating anyone of us can get, and anyone would understand if you need a moment away. Heck, I go over to my brother's house when Eric drives me up the wall. There was a whole week when I first got pregnant that I couldn't stand to be near my husband 'cause he kept treating me like glass."
"That does make me feel a lot better," Jenny finally takes a sip of her drink and I watch guiltily as she has difficulty swallowing it. "Yikes, that's super strong."
"Sorry about that," I laugh. "Guess you won't be driving for a bit."
"That's okay. Pam hates my driving anyway."
"No news there. She hates everyone's driving except Eric's."
We sit quietly a moment before Jenny asks, "So, am I going to get a one-on-one with everyone in the family or are you the official family greeter?"
I chortle at her question. "If you'd prefer to do one-on-ones to get acquainted, that can be arranged, but I am the official family greeter."
"You do a good job."
"Thanks."
"I would like to get to know everyone soon," Jenny continues. "Maybe not one-on-one, but the last time I was here, I guess there was major family business going on, so the most I got was names and faces."
"Once we all get situated down South, that can definitely be arranged. We try to do complete gatherings around the holidays, just for the sake of consistency. The holidays also make it a lot easier for everyone to make it. Perhaps Thanksgiving. It's a few months away, which will give you some time to officially settle in with Pam."
"I look forward to it."
"Me, too."
It feels like Jenny has grown more confident in her decision. I think she will be an official member of the family soon, and I hope that she can find the same love, acceptance and friendship that we have all found in this extraordinary family.
TBC
A/N: Please, remember to review!
-Andi