When everyone finally gets together.

Ae walked out of her room, the lights were even brigther in the main room. Mostly because david had opened up the blinds to keep from having to turn on EVERY light. He and mom both sat at the round dining room table and were talking about something with voices raised and hands moving. Nicodemus was asleep in mom's lap and purring loud enough to be heard across the room.

As Ae entered the room David and mom both stopped and looked over.

"See you woke her up David! I told you to be quiet."

"Mom really? You lived with her how long and know she sleeps like the dead." David replied before turning to Ae "You were in late. Good nights work?"

Ae shook her head. "The site I'm working at is dimly lit and they wont let me bring in extra lights from storage so I'm working half blind. I will never get this installation done in time if they don't let me do what I need to. I'm an artist and I need light. Even Michaelangelo got light working on paintings upside down. It's ridiculous! And the guy doing the wall murals brought in this god awful robot printing device that is PRINTING the work onto the walls. Its an absolute cheat."

Mom pulled out the chair next to her. Ae grabbed a mug and poured coffee and creamer and sat down. This was an all too familiar setting. Old feelings from high school kicked in with mom pulling them down to sit before rushing out to be angsty teens.

"Well it makes one momma's heart proud to be here with both her babies in the morning. I love knowing that you two will watch and take care of each other." Mom said holding and squeezing both hands.

"You do know we are adults right mom? We can survive on our own. I appreciate you being worried though." David said looking at his moms glowing face.

"Oh I know but give your old mom some credit and entertain her when she's being nostalgic. You two have always been my pride. And Ae I talked to your mother. She told me to tell you hello and not to worry they are safe in Oregon somewhere doing something with reenactments. She told me she wants to come visit when they head back down south to the coast for the november fair."

Ae laughed. "I quit worrying when they quit coming home. They will be fine. As long as that old van of theirs keeps running they will keep moving. Having a cell phone just made it easier for them to justify moving around from place to place."

Ae wrapped her hands around her warm mug of coffee lacing her fingers together to warm her hands up looking down at her glass. Staring at the black liquid like it might open up a window and give her some insight into the way her parents work.

David coughed while looking away to distract his mother and change the topic of discussion. "Well mom while your here can I make you breakfast. I do hope you find the place homey enough for the two of us. It's nice and will get better when someone finally gets all her boxes put away."

"I know David its in my list of things to get done today." Ae said looking up at him from her coffee with her head still pointed down. "I will get it all moved into my room at least. Except for that one.. Nicodemus dragged a blanket in there and I think its his new home. You get to fight that battle with the cat."

Nicodemus perked his ears at hearing his name. He looked around and yawned before going back to sleep or at least pretending too.

"No problem I will move it to my room." David replied.

"I'm so glad to see you guys working out. Okay now shall I make some breakfast?" Mom asked with a slight bit of delight.

"Why not. I do miss your cooking." Ae replied cheering up at the thought of food not from a container.

"Coming right up, and I apologize for that lack of vegetables!"

David groaned and got up from the table taking his coffee cup with him to the sink. Ae and Mom chuckled to themselves. The girls won this time.

David thought forward to next week when he had plans. Students were doing a new program and he needed to focus on that. I wonder what will happen, he thought to himself. His thoughts drifted him off while his cousin and mother chatted happily in the kitchen about Ae's latest project.