Memories Part 2: Spreading The Hope

Hello everyone!

It's been a really rough few days for my little brothers; there are grown men Up Here that are wondering how they made it though this so far. Their Love has put the Book Of Life in turmoil, yet Our Father is pleased with the resilience they have shown through their latest trials. I know of the plans Cory and Sean have decided on, and while their timing would seem off it actually is the one thing needed to pull the huge family they have assembled back together. The Ark has declared the start of a new cycle of humanity; with this action they will set the tone of the cycle which shall endure through the ages. With all the powers that Our Father has gifted me with, I hereby Bless Cycle Five, known as 'Escaping Darkness', and those who have brought about the dedication of the new cycle.

On a more personal note, I'll say outright that my little brothers have all made me proud. Levi just left here, you should have seen him joking around with some of my friends after introducing his new brothers to everyone! This is the first time in a very long time that non-Angels have been regular visitors in Heaven; Kyle's family are quickly showing that they have earned the right to interact with those of us Up High. I'll say it again, I love all of my brothers, and I think you will appreciate the significance of what Cory and Sean are about to do.

Enjoy the next segment, and may you receive all of the Blessings that Our Father can bestow upon you.

Mikey

 

"What have you got planned this time, Blondie?" Justy giggled from his seat next to Adam and JJ.

Cory looked over at the trio. "Something that Sean and I should have done as soon as it became an option for us." He paused as he looked around the room, scanning the faces watching expectantly. "Y'all look to us as examples; by trying to make sure we did not screw up, we've ignored doing the one thing that our own kids need. Sean and I have our own little family, a family that came close to losing more than one member over the last few days. Sean and I have committed to each other in words more times than anyone but Ark can count, yet we have not taken the final step to prove to our kids that we really BOTH plan on being there for them forever. Since waiting on the right time to do it seems to be backfiring and causing it not to happen, we've decided that we are making now the right time. Tomorrow we're going to prove that those who were injured or killed over the weekend did not do it in vain; tomorrow we set the example for everyone here to follow. Tomorrow Sean and I are going to commit ourselves to each other for life. Tomorrow we WILL be joined under Socius."

Cheers met Cory's speech, and he and Sean suddenly found themselves pounced by everyone.

Riti, flapping above them, asked, "Socius is a Bonding, isn't it?"

"Yeah, Reet," Justy called out from within the mound of bodies pressed around the giggling Cory and Sean.

"Sweet! I gotta tell Grandma!" and so saying, he swooped out of the room in search of Queen Elizabeth.

Teri watched him go, and had a sudden premonition... this was not going to be a ceremony as quiet as Kyle and Tyler's had been.

Sean giggled from the bottom of the pile. "Hey guys, Cory and I can't enjoy our honeymoon if you squash us and put us in body casts!"

"Like a little thing like a body cast would stop you two!" JJ giggled as he helped Sean and Cory out of the pile. "Congrats bros! I think you gave us just enough time to set it up for you!"

Cory shook his head with a grin. "You don't need to do that bro; just something simple is all we need to prove our love for each other."

"I don't think," Riti called out as he flapped back into the room and swooped into Cory's arms, "that 'something simple' is going to fly! Grandma is on the Comm to my bros and she's got... plans..." The winged boy was suddenly reduced to giggles, which only increased as both Cory and his soon to be husband started tickling him.

"I had better go help... to make sure it stays under control." Teri announced with a gleam in her eyes.

"We'll help too!" Eli and Benji announced as they lifted themselves and Teri above the crowd and proceeded to 'fly' to join the Queen.

"Something tells me that we have no say in what it's gonna be like!" Sean giggled as he nodded towards where Dylan and Bryce were having an excited conversation with Cyna's hologram. "If those two are anything like their brother, anything is possible!"

The sound of transporter beams made everyone turn around. Ten beams resolved and out of them came Jason and the other Dragon Division members.

"Correct, Uncle Sean!" Oliver crowed out. "You and Uncle Cory have NO say..."

"Other than 'I Do' once it's time!" Nathan giggled.

Cory rolled his eyes. "C'mon guys; it's special for me and Sean, but you guys don't need to make it a big production."

"Not a production," Riti said as he flew from Cory's arms towards his girlfriend. "You guys are special to your Clan; more so than to us, even if we did fall in love with you all while watching over you. We just want it to be the bestest day ever for ya!"

"Agreed!" Victoria added before giving Riti a serious kiss.

"Get a room!" Korris growled playfully.

Telez raised an eyebrow in a very Vulcan fashion, "Why should they? You and Chang 'Finding each others tonsils' all afternoon was well in the open!"

"And redundant, as Klingons HAVE no tonsils!" Antony added.

"Bite me! Both of you!" Korris retorted, darkening up as he blushed.

"I thought that was Chang's job!" JJ giggled.

Koth bounded over to his big brother, pounced into his arms, and quickly pulled down the neck of his robe. "Chang already did! See??"

There, now revealed on Korris' neck, was a stunning love bite.

"I thought that was Brandar's job!" C.J. giggled.

"Naw, I don't leave marks THAT big!" Brandar yelled across the room with a grin.

"Besides," Korris managed to say through his embarrassment as he fought with his kid brother to get his love-bite covered, "I've nothing to fear from Brandar; I think my blood'll make him rather sick!"

"I could always spit instead of swallowing!" Brandar yelled back.

"I would say something," Telez said calmly and formally, "but my Zan'Fi Na might take me to task for doing so."

"Too bloody right, sweetheart!" Antony retorted.

"Bloody? I don't think I want to know!" Sean groaned.

"Nice change of topic guys; I don't think you're getting out of explaining why neither of us has any say in how it's gonna happen!" Cory giggled.

Jason smiled, then gestured. Cory and Sean rose up into the air by two feet. "Those of you who love these boys, and would do anything for them, and want them to have the best, most beautiful wedding that they can have, just concentrate on your love for them. Your emotions will be picked up by my sis, and you'll find yourself floating with them. One by one, you shall get to hug your 'big brothers' and tell them in YOUR own words what they mean to you."

Jason was not even half way through speaking yet many Clan members found themselves floating up and, one by one, moving to the now gob smacked duo who could do next to nothing other than receive and accept the love and affection being poured out to them.

"Deal with it, my brothers. You're special, and you're gonna get a special day tomorrow!" Jason called out as he, Nathan and Victoria stood there with their eyes blazing in power.

"We have decided," came a commanding voice from the doorway once the last of the Clan had finished hugging the floating pair, "that the teenagers known as Cory and Sean Short shall, from this moment forth and until they stand before us all to commit themselves to each other in marriage, keep their cute noses out of what is being prepared for them. This is by order of The House of Windsor and the House of Surak."

"Agreed," added Sarek, standing next to Queen Elizabeth with Amanda at his side.

"Well, okay then," Cory conceded reluctantly. "Just one last question, though."

"Make it quick, child. I don't have forever, unlike some in the room," the Queen chuckled.

"Can Jace PLEASE make us stop floating now??" both Sean and Cory whined.

Jason sniggered as he lowered both boys down towards them. "Come 'ere, bros! Your Dragon Brothers..."

"And sister!" Victoria put in, digging Jason in the ribs.

"And sister... damn, Viccy; that hurt!... we want to hug ya too!" Jason finished as they all pulled the Short boys into a mass hug.

"Timmy?" Oliver called out.

"Yeah bro?" Timmy responded as he and Ricky ran in, pouncing Sean and Cory and knocking them into the chair behind them.

"We all need to keep your daddies out of the way while we plan their doom... I mean, their marriage..." Oliver giggled. "Can you and your bros keep them out of the way? You know, take it in turns so you guys get to help us out too?"

"We's already been plannin' it!" Ricky giggled. "Austin's got first shift while Granma Lizzy takes me an' Timmy out to pick up some stuff."

"Wicked!" Oliver bubbled, "Can I help you too?"

"Uncle Jace?" Timmy asked with puppy-dog eyes. "Can Ollie come too? Pweeeeeeeezzzeee???"

Jason tensed up slightly as he struggled with his memories. "Ah... who's going with you, Timmy?"

Timmy smiled. "The girl kitty kids, Granma Lizzie, an Granma Teri!"

Jason looked around and saw Aphrodite and Artemus waving at him. He relaxed and nodded at the boys before him, "Sure, Timmy. He can join you."

"KEWL!" Timmy exclaimed. "C'mon Granmas! We gotta make it sp'cial for Daddy and Poppa!" He grabbed Ricky with one hand and Ollie with the other, and ran off with them.

Iori looked with resignation at Duke and William, and the others in the room would have sworn on oath that all three eagles shrugged before flapping out after their Guides.

"Poor birds." Cory giggled as he saw Austin, Leo, and Conner making their way through the crowd. "Here we go Sean; looks like the babysitting is about to begin...."

"You got that right, Dad." Austin giggled as he joined them. "Let's go; you have a tee time in five minutes with me and your grandsons."

"Have fun," Jason called after them as they made their way out of the Rec Room. "Remember, if you don't behave, Austin will send you to bed without your cup of cocoa!"

"Bite me, Jace!" both yelled back as the door closed behind them.

 

Meanwhile, from Mike Reynolds' Perspective:

"Well you guys about ready to go?" I asked as I looked over at 'my' boys. Sammy, Kartik and Vishnu looked up at me and nodded.

I turned to Meredith Evans, Jason's grandmother, and said, "Well, if you could arrange transport we'll follow your lot back to Orlando; and thank you for a wonderful meal as well as pleasant company for the evening."

"Our pleasure, Mike, it's been quite nice meeting you and your boys," she replied as all three of my boys stood up and gave her hugs before coming to stand by me so we could be transported out.

"Bye everyone," Sammy called to the Dragon kids around the room as Meredith said, "Draco, if you would be so kind?"

"Energizing, and seeya laters, SamSam!" Draco replied.

"Pip, Pip; Cheerio!" Sammy giggled, in a really bad British accent, making me wince.

"Ha Ha... the Clan Swimming pool, wasn't it, Grandma Mere?" I heard Draco ask as the shimmer of a transporter engulfed us. When it faded we were in the rec room of the Orlando Compound.

I could see Jason and the rest of his family there along with others and could tell something was going on but no one seemed disturbed so it must not be bad.

Looking at Sammy I could see him looking around as well and suddenly watched as his face clouded up and he muttered, "Married, you've got to be kidding me!"

"What's going on munchkin?" I asked concerned with the look on his face as I pulled him into my arms.

Vish and KT had odd looks on their faces as well.

Jace quickly walked over and said, "Sammy, it's alright, bro."

"No it's not," he replied as I asked, "What's going on and why's he upset?"

"They're gonna go and get married, dad; the day before the funeral and after everything that's happened, they're gonna go and get married!" he replied and I could feel his hurt and anger as he said it.

"Come over here, guys," Jace said softly as Nath' and Viccy came up alongside him and all led us to a nearby couch where we sat down.

"Someone want to tell me who exactly is getting married?" I asked.

"Cory and Sean," Nathan said as I just looked at him.

"Why would they do something like that?" Sammy asked before I could say anything.

"Cause their family need it, bro" Jason replied softly.

Sammy was shaking his head as Viccy said, "After everything, it's more than needed."

"It's wrong," Sammy replied as Vish added, "It dishonors those who have fallen for them!"

I could tell Vish and KT were equally unhappy in hearing this and at first it did seem that way but I also understood something they didn't.

"There is no dishonor," Jace said softly as he tried to get across to them what it was really about.

"Do you know how many of our family died Saturday and this is the way they act?" Vish asked with a low growl coming from deep within him.

I moved an arm out and hugged him but he wasn't looking to calm down that was clear.

"They could at least wait until after the funeral a bit, dad," Sammy said looking up at me with that hurt confused expression on his face.

"Why?" he finally asked me.

"SamSam..." Viccy started but I interrupted her politely, "Sam, listen to me please."

He just looked at me for a moment as I looked between him and his brothers finally getting reluctant nods from all of them.

"I know it seems not only bad timing but disrespectful as well but I think there's a reason for it. With everything that has happened, with all the people who have died this is a way to show them going on and that their love is true. It's a way to start the healing for everyone. What is more important than anything right now?" I stopped looking between them before continuing "It's to show their love for each other and most importantly for their family. Sammy you know how much Sean and Cory care for one another and while it may seem odd that two such young boys could even get married let alone would can you think of anything in the world that is more right for them and their family?"

He didn't want to but finally said, "No, I guess not, they really love each other but..."

"But," I interrupted, "The timing seems to suck?"

"Yeah," he mumbled.

"You know people who face death often have a need to connect after. This is most often with soldiers who living through a battle play like rabbits as soon as they can but there are other ways too. This whole family is hurting guys, especially Sean and Cory. Do you all know what marriage signifies or is supposed to?" I asked.

"Our lessons taught it was so that a man and woman could reproduce and nurture any resultant offspring in a legal binding relationship," KT said into the silence that greeted my question.

"Yes, in its base form that's true although not limited to just a man and woman; but it is also supposed to mean so much more as well. It's about a commitment between two people to love one another for all time. It's also a pledge to have and raise any children they may have together and be there for them no matter what. It's the physical representation of their love and those commitments," I told them.

"And it's more than just for each other that they are doing this," Jace added as he gripped Sammy's hand tightly.

"Yes exactly, Jason. Boys it's about going on and being there for each other and more importantly for all the kids as well after everything that has happened. I'm sure they would have gotten married anyway but I think it's happening now not in spite of what happened but because of what happened. You all know what it's been like for us since Saturday and how hard it's been. Well Sammy you surely have been able to feel what these kids here have felt during this time. How insecure and worried they've been? Think about what happened when Pablo showed up? He was just a kid and did you see how everyone jumped?"

"Yeah," Sammy said and I knew he remembered what had happened...

 

:Flashback:

We were sitting around just holding one another when Teri walked in and asked, "So how's everything going?"

"Better now," Sammy replied grinning as he turned and smiled at me.

"I bet, I'd say you're much happier now that you got your whole family back," she replied.

"Uh huh, I thought I'd be alone," he muttered.

"Never happen bro," a voice said gently and we all looked up with Sammy gasping in shock to see Pablo walk towards us openly.

Teri looked at him in surprise and asked, "Another kid?"

Just as suddenly JJ was there with a phaser in his hand demanding, "Who are you and how did you get in here?"

Everyone in the room was frozen watching this, fear written plainly on their faces as JJ started to call out, "Ark; issue a security alert, and get a team to the..."

Suddenly Pablo's wings appeared along with a golden glow surrounding him causing Teri and JJ along with several others to gasp in surprise before the glow faded out along with his wings.

"Sorry about that," he said softly and you could feel the entire room sigh in relief as JJ cancelled the security alert.

"Teri, this is Pablo, my first son," I said as Pablo smiled up at Teri and said, "Hi."

"Hi there; you don't happen to know my boy do you?" she asked with a smile.

"Ya could say that," he replied grinning up at her.

"You don't seem surprised?" I asked.

"No. He's not the first angel I've seen," she said.

"You remember Mikey, papa?" Pablo asked me.

"Yes," I replied.

"Well, that's her son," he said.

"You've met my firstborn then?" she asked.

"Yes I did briefly yesterday," I told her.

"He let me help Papa and my family," Pablo said.

"Mikey?" Sammy asked.

"Yeah, you haven't met him yet, kiddo, but he's an angel, kind of like Pablo," I replied.

"Nah, he's boring, nothing like me," Pablo retorted, grinning with that impish grin of his as giggles erupted around us.

"God help Heaven and him, then," I said as he replied, "Hey!"

:End Flashback:

 

"So, I think that it's to reassure those kids and show not only their love for one another but for all the kids especially their own. I think if you look at it you'll see why it's so important that it does happen now and not later. These kids need this to go on and know for sure that they're loved and cared for. And yes before you say it they do but right now Sean and Cory doing this shows them in a way that nothing else could," I said as they looked at me and I could tell they were thinking hard about it.

I continued, "Vish, KT think about something else too. Those people attacked us and part of that reason was to destroy Cory, Sean and his family but not only that but what that family represents. So many gave their lives to defend not only us but that family as well. What more fitting tribute could there be than making that family official and showing the world their love and that the fire wasn't quenched by what they tried to do?" I asked looking especially at my two newest babies.

"What more fitting tribute for your family could there be than having a ceremony that celebrates life and love along with it going on but most importantly shows that your family didn't die in vain?" I asked softly.

"Sammy, feel around you; feel what the others are feeling," Viccy said quietly into the silence before Nathan added, "Feel the love but also feel what hasn't been there, something as much if not more important."

I watched as Sammy looked around the room quietly. Jace still held his hand tightly, and Viccy and Nath' reached and linked their hands with them both. At Jason's glance, my two new babies reached and also linked their paws with the others. They all closed their eyes.

Sammy opened his tear filled eyes after a moment to look at me, and they were glowing again. Before, this frightened me, but now, with Jace, Nath' and Viccy sitting there with their own eyes glowing, and knowing more about what my beautiful boy was becoming, I felt at peace about it. Sammy smiled at me before taking a deep shuddering breath and whispering softly, "Hope. It's hope."

Vish murmured, "Peace."

"Safety," KT added, making me smile at the three of them as each expressed the same thing in different ways as they individually felt it.

Viccy, Nathan and Jace were all nodding with gentle smiles on their faces as Vish looked at his brother then back to me, "I guess we need some nice clothes then."

With the glow fading from his eyes, Jason murmured, "For you two, you need my Dragon Ship... only Vulcan's have a hope of making comfy tuxes for G-Cats."

 

Meanwhile:

"Seth," Sarek walked into Main CIC and walked up to the teen seated by the nearest console, "I have been made aware while I was in Utah that a number of children have appeared today, all in very mysterious circumstances."

"You could say that, grandfather," Seth smiled as he turned from the viewscreen. "Justy just finished giving me the details for the newest boy. The first group have already been updated. The newest is still not Clan, so I'm entering him in the 'Rescue' section for now."

Sarek nodded and sat next to the teen. "May I be permitted to read the data?"

"Sure," Seth answered, pulling up the relevant files. "This one is for the Farnsworth group, and... here, this one is for Joel Williams. Both have stories that are... well, hard to believe."

"Acknowledged," Sarek said as he began to update himself on his growing family.

 

C.J. looked at J.J. "What d'we need to do to help get ready?" he asked.

"They said we're using the new Auditorium," J.J. said. "But that's more than you and I and Adam can handle, setting it up for this."

"I'll get the others," C.J. said earnestly, and slipped over to one of the secure terminals. He sent a pulse to Jed's communicator. "C.J. to Jed," he transmitted.

There was a long pause. Then, "Jed, unh, here. What's, unh, up, Ceej?" As he paused, slurping sounds could be heard on the terminal speaker.

"When you and Jared finish, collect Mickey and Raffy and get over here. Cory 'n' Sean are tying the knot, and the guys need our help setting up for it."

"Okay." A grunt. "We'll be right there. Ooooooooh. Um, Jared, we need to get over to C.I.C." Another moan.

"You do realize you're on speaker over here, don't you?" C.J. said through giggles.

"I'm gonna kill you, Ceej!"

Three minutes later, Ark had transported Jed and the three McKendrick boys in.

"Um, Jared, you need to wipe off your chin," Adam said in a stage whisper.

Jared automatically reached up to wipe off his chin before realizing he'd been pranked.

 

"Okay, we need to get the front area looking like something more than an auditorium stage, something fit for them to get married in," J.J. said as they entered the auditorium.

"Will this help?" Josiah asked as he strolled in from the side. With a gesture, he produced from zero-point energy an enormous roll of red carpet to line the central aisle. C.J. and Raffy jumped behind it and began pushing it slowly down the aisle, unrolling as it went.

In the front, Josiah fabricated a large, beautiful arch of read and white marble, under which was an altar of the same material in front of which they might make their vows. To one side was a polished walnut pulpit; to the other, a series of chairs.

"Hey, what about music?" Jared asked.

J.J. got a devilish grin, pulled out his communicator, and walked away from the others.

"Candles," said Mickey. Josiah cocked an eyebrow at him. "Every wedding I've ever seen, there were lots of candles." Josiah nodded and obliged. Suddenly there were dozens of candle stands, each with up to a dozen large candles on it, flanking the arch and altar.

"What about kneeling cushions?" Adam asked speculatively.

"They're not going to do that during the service?" asked a scandalized Jared.

Mickey laughed. "No, silly, for kneeling for prayers. Know if they'll want 'em?"

"Won't hurt to add some in, in case they want 'em," Josiah said. Two pale gray cushions with the Clan sigil embossed on them in bright green appeared before the altar.

"Hmm, now that I think about it..." Josiah said speculatively. The front of the altar turned into marble dust, and reformed a few seconds later with the Clan sigil in bright green nephrite sunk into the marble.

Levi popped into existence next to Josiah just then, and motioned him down. The older boy bent over, and Levi whispered in his ear.

Suddenly, hanging floor to ceiling against the back wall of the stage area, were two banners of pure silk. To the left, on a muted russet background was the jade-green Clan Short Crest. To the right, on a subdued forest green field stood out the Seal and Crest of the House of Surak, in brilliant crimson, with the IDIC symbol at its center overlaid by the Broken Sword, Sa'ren. Satisfied, Levi nodded his approval and disappeared again.

"That ought to do it," J.J. said as he returned from his comm chat.

"Guys!" Jason called into the Auditorium from the doorway. "I... oh, my, GOD! Wow, this is fan-bloody-tastic!"

"Yeah, Josiah did great work," Jared said happily.

"What's up, Jace? You look like you need something," Adam asked.

Tearing his eyes away from the revamped stage, Jason asked, "Anyone seen Pauly? Calen thinks it would be nice for him to carry the rings tomorrow."

"We haven't," J.J. answered. "Did he go with Aunt Teri and the Queen and the other munchkins?"

"Nope," Jason shook his head, "Just Timmy and Ricky with my Ollie. No worries, I'll find him. I mean, how hard can it be, finding one little boy in a Clan full of... nevermind!" he finished with a laugh before heading back out again.

Faintly, from just outside the door, they could hear Jason calling out, "ARK?? You know where Pauly is?"

<Yes, I do.> came the reply.

A pause.

"And where is that?" Jason eventually asked once he worked out that Ark was just literally answering his question.

<In the Main Kitchen at Teri's house, ready to help Tommy eat the mistakes.>

"Thanks!" Jason called, then muttered, "She could have said right away..."

<Learn to be specific when you ask, Jason; and I am not female!>

"Could have fooled me!" muttered Jason again before moving too far from the door for the boys listening to hear. Not that they could have heard anything else, as they were laughing so hard they were hurting their ribs.

 

Meanwhile:

"Where first, Granma Lizzy?" Ricky asked excitedly.

The Queen smiled, "Well, first we have to go to a certain little shop I know very well."

"Where is that, Your Majesty?" Artemus asked politely.

"Harrods of London," came the chuckled reply.

Oliver offered, "I could asked Draco to take us there, Grandma."

Teri picked her jaw up off the floor. "Lizzy. What are you planning?"

"You will see, child," she said mysteriously. She turned as her grandson, Harry, came up to them. "Have you contacted the palace?"

"Yes, and they are getting your orders handed out," he replied. Harry looked down at Oliver, "Lieutenant; do you think a lowly Captain such as myself could tag along?"

"Sure!" Oliver giggled.

Timmy and Ricky clambered up into the Prince's arms and were cuddled on his hips, "Kewl! Come on, Prince! Let's gooo!"

"Draco!" Oliver called out.

'Let me guess! Transport for eight to Brompton Road, London, England?' Draco responded.

"At once," the Queen commanded with another chuckle.

'Transporting; and the Dragon Prince's Guard have been alerted. They shall be with you shortly.'

Seconds later, they all appeared outside of the famous London store, and found that the staff were quickly opening up.

"It is not often they reopen the shop after Closing Time," Harry said quietly to Teri as they were let inside.

She nodded, "I can well imagine. The change in perspective always takes me by surprise, due to the time difference here."

"But the good thing is that at nearly one in the morning, we won't have to queue up!" Oliver giggled.

The floor manager came up to them and nodded politely at the Queen, "Your Majesty; we received your message from the palace. We have placed the calls for our jewelsmiths to come in for a special order. What else is there that we can do for you this evening?"

"First, some tea and refreshments for these young ones, then Teri Short and I will need to have a long talk with you. Also, can you have a capable assistant take the children around the store, please?" she replied.

"Certainly, I... uh, sorry, Ma'am, but..." the poor man trailed off as his attention shifted to the Lioness and Tigress standing behind Oliver, grinning at him.

"Just assume they are alien, Mr Jennings, and it will be easier for you," Prince Harry chuckled.

"Ahem, okay. Pleased to meet you," he managed to say.

Aphrodite nodded her head and smiled shyly at him, while Artemus giggled.

"Paula!" Mr Jennings called, turning to the few staff that had been running an audit when the Queen's message had arrived.

"Yes sir?" she replied, running over.

"Please see to the refreshments for this party; but before that, I seem to remember you have a few young nephews and nieces?"

"Yes, I do, sir," she said with a smile.

"Good," he said with relief. "I am not good with children; sorry, kids, but I've never had any myself. I wouldn't know what to do to help you, but this young lady will be perfect to help you shop."

"That's okay, sir," Oliver smiled. "I can sense you're not a bad person. We just make you feel uncomfortable."

"Yes," Mr Jennings replied with a small smile. "That is why I work the night shifts. Anyway," he turned to the Queen. "If you will follow me, your Majesty, I will escort you and your party to the Restaurant."

The party followed behind him, Timmy and Ricky looking around in wonder. Oliver giggled, "First time in a shop like this, bros?"

"Uh huh! Daddy'd be flippin' out if he brought us here!" Timmy answered.

Ricky nodded, "Yeah! He'd think we'd break something!"

"Don't worry," Paula laughed. "I'll be showing you guys around, so we'll have fun without that happening."

"Thanks, Auntie Paula!" they both chorused.

After they had all taken their seats, and the three eagles had found a comfy perch on the nearest book shelf, Mr Jennings took the drinks order from the three adults while Paula did the same with the five kids.

"Can we have hot chocolate, Auntie Paula?" Ricky asked, his puppy dog eyes on full bore.

She chuckled and nodded, "Sure, sweetie. What about you, kiddo?"

"Same, please," Oliver nodded, licking his lips.

A loud purr drew her attention to the Tigress, Aphrodite. "Do you have cream?" the twelve year old G-Cat asked eagerly.

"I should have guessed, and yes, we do," Paula laughed. "I'll be right back."

As she walked away, Oliver's communicator went off.

"Ollie here, go ahead, Uncle JJ," he answered.

"Hey Ollie. We're getting the place ready for the wedding, and Jared said we need music. I'm thinking we need something... major... as in MAJOR major."

"I know what you're thinking, Unk! I'll ask Grandma Lizzy and call you back. You will need to get Starfleet in on the link up, though. Can you handle that bit?"

"You bet. Give Timmy a wedgie from me, and chat to ya in a bit!"

"Ollie out!" The eight year old giggled, then glanced evilly at Timmy.

"No way! Help, Granma!!!!" the boy squealed as he ran away from Oliver laughing.

 

Sarek looked up at Seth. "Can you explain why the date of birth for Joel has a question mark by it?"

Seth rolled over and replied seriously, "Cory said that Joel gave that as his birth date, but we don't know if it is correct or not, going by the fact that he had been a slave all his life. We know the year is right, as Mikey confirmed it, but..."

"However, the child may be in ignorance as to the exact date. I see," Sarek replied as he looked back at the screen. "The mystery around this child is greater than most know. Judging by the video records from this afternoon, that was no ordinary method of transport that brought him here."

"You can say that again, Grandfather," Seth laughed.

"Why do I need to repeat myself, Seth? Was I not sufficiently clear the first time?" Sarek asked curiously.

Seth could not respond for laughter.

 

Half an hour later, in Harrods London:

The party were just outside the restaurant area talking to their respective guides. Mr Jennings was about to lead Teri and the Queen towards the Jewelry section when Oliver ran over.

"Grandma Lizzy?"

"Yes, sweetheart?" she looked down at him.

"JJ sent us a message earlier, and he's after music for the wedding tomorrow. Special music," he said, winking at her.

"Ah. I know exactly what you are asking for, child. I shall handle it," she replied, also winking.

"Thanks Grandma!" he crowed before running back to Timmy and Ricky. The five children then followed Paula off towards the clothing section while Teri turned to Elizabeth.

"What was that about?" she asked curiously.

The Queen chuckled, "You'll find out, Teri." She nodded at Harry, and said one word, "Canterbury."

"On it," Harry chortled as he turned and left the store.

Outside, the Dragon Prince's Guard were standing Watch, and Harry engaged in a brief discussion with a number of them.

 

Timmy came zooming into the room where Teri was looking over wedding rings and climbed into her arms.

"Granma!!! What's Daddy and Poppa's sizes?? We're getting them real 'posh' suits for tomorrow, an' we wanna get it jus' right!!" he half yelled out.

Laughing, Teri replied, "Tell Oliver to check with Starfleet HQ, Timmy. They have everything on file."

"Cool!!!" he bubbled as he jumped down and ran out, "Thanks, Granma!!"

"Kids," Teri muttered lovingly, before glancing at the Queen, "'Posh'?"

"Oliver," was the Queen's only response as she tried not to laugh.

Teri shook her head as she chuckled, "Please don't let Ollie and Tommy be with that kid at the same time. The damage to the English language will be beyond repair!"

Half an hour later, Teri muttered, "I know why you want ring sizes, but what else do you have in mind, here?"

The Queen smiled from her chair as she watched the Jewelers work. "Just wait and see, Teri. I am preparing a surprise for you all. That is why my other requests to Mr Jennings have been done quietly."

"I think I'm nervous," Teri groaned.

"So was Angela Evans when I did the same for the Evans children!" Elizabeth laughed.

 

Meanwhile:

"Mont? Bast? Where are you?" Hermes bubbled as he came into the Rec Room followed by Mercury. They both stopped dead as they saw the chaos. "Oh, fun fun fun; what's going on, what can we do to help, and where are Mont and Bast?" Hermes bubbled to Justy, who was, by now, grinning openly at them both.

"Well, first, slow down. Second, Cory and Sean have just told us they are tying the knot, and third, your bros are in the kitchen over there. They know that their charges are safe while in the Compound, so they are eating."

That last made the two twin cheetah boys' ears poke up. "Food? Where?? We've not eaten since coming back from our last trip to save this kid who was being abused by his mom, so we're really really hungry and..." Mercury was about to run full tilt into his story when Justy's laugh stopped him.

"Whoah there, bro. Go in there and eat, and leave some air for the rest of us!" he giggled, giving them a brief hug.

Two teeth-filled grins and Cat kisses was his response before the two boys pegged it at an extraordinary pace from one room to the next.

"We're gonna need sedatives in stock with them about," Adam chuckled as he walked past Justy.

Justy sniggered again, "Tell me something I don't know, bro!"

 

"So, what's our mission, guys? Logan just said we're someone's bodyguards and he didn't know who it was..." Mercury said between mouthfuls of meat.

As he took another bite, Hermes swallowed his own mouthful and continued, "But he said you knew and would have to update us... so, who is it?"

Bast grinned before launching into what he'd been told about Joel and his arrival. He then added, "Cory wants the boy protected from harm; all harm, and he scared the hell out of us with a telepathic command doing so, soooo... you're here to look after Joel when Cory and Sean can't."

Mont added, "You'll likely be like me and Bast, bros: sticking with the kid even when our two are with him. He seems skittish though, so let Cory and Sean lead you through things with him."

Both cheetah's nodded while still inhaling their food. Mercury managed to finish a few seconds ahead of his twin and asked, "Where's he now?"

"Across the road, in the Med Centre at the Camp," Bast answered. "He should be sleeping right now, at least as of a fifteen minutes ago when the Doc called."

"Okay," decided Hermes, "we'll go over there and wait for him to wake up."

"Yeah, I think we'll sleep in shifts or something," Mercury added.

The two lions nodded at them as they rose and ran out. Antony and Telez, who had been watching the entire thing, giggled. "Do they ever slow down?" Telez asked.

"Yes. They're like cheetahs in a lot of ways, but mix in human kids as well," Bast laughed.

Mont explained, "Cheetah's move fast, but most of the time they conserve energy. The twins are like that, but add in restless children's energy, so it's a fun mix. They sleep a lot, play hard, then go even more nuts, then sleep again. But when on duty, they conserve themselves, and do seem far slower than most other kids; just in case they need to push themselves into overdrive."

"Ah," Antony nodded in understanding. "We've wondered at them all the time we were watching your Unit."

Curiously, Bast asked, "How long have you been watching us?"

"A month, or just over," Antony said, "I had a dream that your Commander was important, so Jace set up the Watch. Koth and Korris took the lead the most, though."

"After what Logan said on the comm, we think we know why!" Mont giggled. "Chang and Juan have found some good friends!"

"Oh yeah, that they have," Telez laughed. "Although I'm surprised at Koth; he seemed so down for so long now I didn't think he'd want to form any form of relationship so soon."

"Why?" both lions asked.

"'Cos he's in love with Viccy AND Riti. They love him just as much, but they love each other more, so Koth just pulled back and let them. He's happy for them, but... lets just say we're happy he's found at least a good friend in Juan," Antony finished.

After that, the four boys talked a short while longer before heading off to help with the chaos around them.

 

Meanwhile:

Tyler grinned as he appeared on the sidewalk leading up to the house. The various balls and such scattered on the porch showed him instantly that the formerly homeless boy had regained his childhood. He climbed onto the porch, then reached out to ring the doorbell.

The door was opened by a thirteen-year-old boy with long brown hair. "Can I help you?" the boy asked.

"Could I please speak to Pastor Mills ... Paul?" Tyler asked with a twinkle in his eye.

The boy turned his head and yelled "DAAAD! There's a kid at the door for...." His head snapped around to Tyler. "How'd you know my name!?"

"My Guardian Angel told me." Tyler giggled.

Paul stood there with his jaw hanging open, trying to process a response as the pastor joined him at the doorway. "Hello there Tyler! What brings you to these parts?"

"Dad? You know him?" Paul stuttered. "He told me his guardian angel told him my name!"

"That he did, son. His guardian angel is the one who told me it was your time to have a new home." the pastor replied.

Paul looked at Tyler in shock. "You're THE Tyler? One of the brothers' Dad told me about? The one who has a big brother who is a Saint?"

Tyler nodded. "That's me!" He paused for a second, then added "Is that cookies I smell, Pastor?"

Pastor Mills got a shocked look on his face and spun around. "Bring Tyler into the family room Paul; I need to get the cookies out before they burn!"

Tyler giggled as Paul showed him into the family room and offered him a seat. "Dude, it must be weird having an Angel as a brother! You want something to drink?"

"Thanks; what do you have?" Tyler replied. "I'll fill you in once your Dad gets back out here."

"We've got sweet tea, milk, water..." Paul replied, scrunching up his face as he finished with "...and Diet Coke."

Tyler giggled. "Sweet tea sounds good, my big bro has got me hooked on it. Thanks."

"Kewl; that's my favorite too, that's why Dad keeps it around." Paul replied as he ran to the kitchen.

A minute later, Paul returned with two tall glasses of tea. "Dad will be out shortly; he's trying to figure out why the inside of the oven was room temperature even though the flame was still burning. The weird thing is the cookies were done exactly right; he NEVER manages that!"

Tyler giggled as he accepted the tea. "He's not gonna figure it out!"

"Whadda you mean?" Paul asked as he took a nearby seat.

"Family secret!" Tyler giggled as he tried to look innocent.

As Paul stared at Tyler in shock, Pastor Mills joined them. "Family secret? Since when do Saints save cookies?" he asked, still confused about the events in his oven.

Tyler grinned. "Relax, a lot of stuff has happened that you don't know yet."

"I'm afraid that a lot of 'stuff' as you called it has happened that I do know about." Pastor Mills replied. "I've kept up on it however I can, but I still worry about you and your brothers."

Tyler nodded. "We're learning to deal with the attack; a lot of people have stepped up to help us through the after-effects. Right now the best thing is to get everyone who was involved thinking about other things until the funeral so they can have closure. That is kinda why I'm here; I wanted to ask a favor of you to help out. Cory almost died during the attack, and it made him realize that there was one important thing he keeps putting off."

Pastor Mills sat back. "I knew he had been injured; nobody told me it was that bad. I don't want to think about what poor Sean went through; it almost killed him when Cory lost his memory."

Paul interrupted his dad. "Dad; if it wasn't for you helping Sean, I wouldn't be here. You're always tellin' me that the Lord gives us signs and it is up to us to follow them. I'm seeing a big billboard here, and it's saying that you're retiring too soon. I don't think last Sunday was your last sermon ever; it was just your last sermon here."

Tyler couldn't help but giggle. "Hey Paul; you sure you can't see the future?"

As Paul sat back and grinned, Pastor Mills shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder .... but what was it you were going to ask, Tyler?"

Tyler grinned. "I was just wondering if you might be free to perform the marriage of Cory and Sean tomorrow. Paul is invited too."

"Billboard, Dad!" Paul giggled.

"I get the hint, squirt!" Pastor Mills chuckled. "I'd be more than happy to, Tyler. I assume you can make travel arrangements?"

"You might say that!" Tyler replied innocently. "Do you want to save time and move all the stuff from your house too? Mom told me which apartment suite you can have already."

Pastor Mills looked over at Paul; his unasked question answered by the grin on Paul's face. "For some reason I don't think I have a choice. The Lord leads and I follow; it seems that we're about to become residents of Florida."

Tyler nodded with a huge grin. "You had a choice; I think you'll like the outcome of this one a lot better."

Both of his hosts looked at Tyler quizzically. "How do you know that?" they chorused.

Tyler giggled. "I think once you know the 'family secrets' you'll understand. Among other things I'm a two-way telepath; I can read minds and, even though I won't do it without the person's okay, I can send information to somebody's mind. I don't do either one unless I'm saving someone or I've got the person's approval to do it. There is a lot that you need to know about before you go to Orlando; it'd take a long time to talk about it, but if it's okay with you I can send it to your heads."

"KEWL! Sign me up!" Paul exclaimed as Pastor Mills thought it over. "C'mon Dad; his brother is a Saint, do you really think he'd do something wrong?"

"Point taken, Paul. Go ahead Tyler." Pastor Mills replied.

Tyler nodded, then proceeded to 'download' the information about the current makeup of the Clan to both of them. Once he was done, he sat back and awaited their reactions.

"Interesting." Pastor Mills mumbled as he reviewed the new information. "Thank you for filling me in Tyler; I can't wait to meet the G-Cats for myself. Your brothers have definitely chosen some of the best to surround them."

Paul just stared at Tyler in awe. "No way! The G-Cats are kewl, but there ain't no way you could do all that Tyler! You're just a kid!"

"I am?" Tyler giggled as he unmasked the natural protective shield that separated the anti-energy of his body from the surrounding environment. As the purple glow obscured his form, he added "I really can't go walking around like this, now can I?"

As Tyler returned to normal, Paul looked on in wonder. "You drank just like a kid, you felt just like a kid when I touched your shoulder, yet you ain't a kid? How does that work?"

Tyler shrugged. "The way Miah explained it is that my species is made of anti-energy, but we have a natural skin of neutral energy that protects us from the environment and the environment from us. It's still programmed into me what I look like, so I can't imitate someone else. Miah thinks that when we eat or drink our bodies just convert everything to a type of energy we can use; he says all of our insides are still there, but they don't seem to do stuff like they used to. The thing you saw glowing was the 'shield' around me; I guess it feels like my skin because it's made from what used to be my skin."

Pastor Mills nodded. "That makes sense Tyler; my older brother is a sub-atomic physicist and that sounds a lot like some of the material he was studying in college. I had my own doubts about the information you gave us about yourself, but you just proved that my doubts were unfounded." He then turned to Paul. "You still want to move, son?"

Paul stared at Tyler for a minute, his brain still processing what he had just seen. He finally reached a decision, and smiled at Tyler as he replied. "Yeah Dad; I really do want to. At first it was just because I thought it'd be kewl to hang with the cats and people from other planets. I really thought about it when Tyler showed us his shield. From a distance, it's awesome thinking about meeting different species and all that; but finding out that Tyler is really what he said he is made me have to make sure I could really think of them as people and not something to look at. I figured out my answer when I realized I still would like to be Tyler's friend for the same reasons I wanted to be before I found out he was different."

Tyler giggled. "Kewl! You've got your first friend in Orlando before you even move! Due to some high-security reasons, we need to tell your neighbors that Starfleet is helping you relocate. That way they won't freak out when your house is empty in the morning, and they'll think that things vanishing from your yard is Starfleet beaming them up. After that, I'll take you to your new home, and we'll make sure your stuff gets there our way."

 

Doc Austin heard a quiet knock on the door and when he turned from the monitor over Joel's bed toward it he saw Hermes and Mercury's heads poking around it.

"Come in, guys; Mont told me to expect you when I called him earlier," he said with a smile.

The two cheetah's moved into the room, smiled at Antonio as the boy was studying a datapad, and moved to the bedside.

"Is Joel okay?" Hermes asked softly, in barely a whisper.

"Don't need to whisper," Antonio said without looking up, "he's in assisted sleep; you won't disturb him."

Mercury giggled, "Oh, okay."

Antonio looked up curiously. "Mont said you guys were hyper. Where's the hype?"

Sniggers greeted that. "Well, we're feeling calm, right now. We did the 'hype' when eating, now we're full," Mercury said with a chuckle.

As he turned towards the bed again, he saw Hermes sniffing at Joel's face and nestling his own cheek against the tiny boy's. "He's so small. He can't be nearly thirteen," Hermes whispered sadly.

Mercury nodded in agreement, then asked Doc Austin, "Shall we stay here with you all tonight? And if so, what part of the room would be best for us to nest in?"

The Doctor shook his head slightly, "Best not stay in here, boys. Joel hasn't finished his metamorphosis yet, and we've already had a few urgent moments with him."

"He looks normal, though," Hermes said, in between licks to the boy's face, neck and upper torso.

Mercury joined his twin in his efforts. "Yeah; he looks like he's finished," he said before starting to groom Joel.

"His outward changes seemed to be the easiest," Antonio said as he came over to watch in fascination. "The internal stuff is the hard and nasty bit. His heart is slowly moving in his body, and the stress is massive. And that's only one of the things going on inside Joel."

"Oh," Mercury murmured.

"Where should we stay, then? We have to guard him," Hermes added.

Doc Austin chuckled, "I've set up the room next door; just as Mont suggested. There's blankets and pillows in one corner, and the wall monitor is set to this room. If we need you, you'll know. Get some sleep, guys, you've had a busy day; or so I've heard."

Both cheetah's nodded; then yawned.

"Looks like you're right, Doc," 'Tonio giggled. "Go on. I'll bring you something to snack on in a few hours if you need it. What do you like?"

Mercury giggled, and then both twins said in unison, "Anything creamy! Or if meat, then raw! Yum!!"

"Okay," 'Tonio smiled. "Get moving, then. I'll see ya in a bit."

 

Seth grinned over at Jordy, "Did you enjoy the golf game bro?"

"Yeah, Lehman did AWESOME!" Jordy replied with a grin.

Seth chuckled, "I bet he did.... do you think you can come down from the clouds long enough to do a little work? Tommy's claimed kitchen duty, so I need you to handle comms."

"Bite me, Seth!" Jordy exclaimed with a blush.

"I think Lehman has already claimed that right." Seth replied with a grin. "Take a seat, we've got a few hundred calls to make."

Jordy stuck his tongue out as he took a seat. "You're just jealous!"

"Whatever!" Seth chuckled. "You handle notifying all of the remote Clan members; I'll take care of the Federation side."

"Gotcha!" Jordy replied as he settled in and began his calls.

Seth grinned as he opened his own channel. "Clan Headquarters to Starfleet Headquarters."

"Starfleet Headquarters, Ensign Charles; how may I direct your call Sir?"

"Could you please connect me with Admiral Morrow, Ensign?" Seth replied as he sent the Clan credentials to the operator.

"One second Sir." Ensign Charles replied, his eyes widened at the sight of the credentials in front of him.

Almost immediately, Admiral Morrow appeared on the screen. "Good evening Seth; how may I help you?"

Seth grinned. "I thought you might want a heads-up so that you can clear your schedule now, Admiral. Knowing the people involved, the official invitation will arrive shortly with all of the details. Cory and Sean are getting married tomorrow...."

Admiral Morrow interrupted Seth. "Say no more; I'll make sure that everyone who should be there will be. I'll also make arrangements for the Enterprise to be linked in via subspace. You worry about Earth-side; I'll handle off-world."

Seth grinned. "I figured that you'd say that! Any way we can help just let me know; I've got a ton of kids looking for ways to be a part of this."

"Understood Seth, I'll tell the technicians to get volunteers to help setup the transmitter for the subspace link." Admiral Morrow replied with a smile. "Thanks for the heads-up; I'll do my part to ensure this goes off without a hitch. Morrow out."

"Clan Headquarters out." Seth replied.

 

"We ARE under orders from Starfleet that no Earth Based agency or government may come into the Compound!" a very green Ensign practically yelled at Nathan.

Nathan was rather taken aback by the anger he could hear in the young man's voice. The Colonel of the Coldstream Guard Regiment raised an eyebrow, but did no more. Neither did the Regiment standing behind him. They were trained to remain emotionless and stoic no matter what occurred.

"Ensign, I require your name," Nathan asked politely, yet forcefully.

"Ensign William Grant Jr., and that is beside the point..."

"Ensign," Nathan interrupted firmly, opening the robe he wore to reveal his VSO uniform and Commander rank insignia. "You will not use that tone with me. Now, what is the problem here? I identified myself as a Member of the House of Surak, and by convention, all Family and House members have access to House holdings, and the Clan Compound is such. What is the issue here?"

"Them, sir," Ensign Grant said as he came to a stiff attention. "They are not Starfleet personnel, and therefore not trusted."

Again, the Colonel of the Guard raised an eyebrow, yet did nothing else. This was just too much fun.

Nathan, however, had grown concerned. The emotions rolling off the young ensign were chaotic, and grief and loss seemed to be nearest the surface.

"Ensign, I am a telepath and empath, and I feel something is wrong. Can you tell me what it is, please?" he asked.

"I..." the Ensign paused, then tears came to his eyes, and in a rush he blurted out what had been troubling him. "My kid brother was a South Carolina Police Cadet and he answered the call on Saturday to come help these guys... I...I WON'T allow his s...sacrifice to be in vain... I won't... I just..." He could not continue for his tears of grief.

Nathan sighed. Obviously the boy had died, and such was the result. Another family hurting.

"William," Nathan said softly, "Come with us, please. The Guard behind me are authorized to be here, and you need help. Follow with us."

So saying, the blond Commander of the Dragon Division led the Coldstream Guard and the Starfleet Ensign inside.

 

Main kitchen, Teri's house:

Helen looked around the kitchen at the group which had migrated over almost as soon as the news broke. 'This is going to be one Hell of a reception dinner!' she thought to herself with a smile.

Anne broke through Helen's thoughts. "I just informed Teri that we were handling the preparations for the dinner. She now understands that she is to stay out of this kitchen and concentrate on making sure Sean and Cory keep their little noses out of what we are planning. Helen, this is your kitchen, but with your consent I would be willing to oversee the preparations so that you can concentrate on the actual food."

Helen nodded. "Anne, there ain't a single person here that has the nerve to argue with you. I would be honored to let you oversee the preparations; just be aware that Tommy has claimed the cake as soon as Tyler gets back."

Anne chuckled as she looked over at Tommy's defiant look. "I think that's really sweet Tommy. Ask for help if you need it, but I'll agree to let you boys do your part."

Tommy nodded with a grin, obviously satisfied that he got his way. "Whatcha'll waitin' for? We got a hitchin' to be'a cookin' for!"

"Yeah, what Unca Tommy said!" Pauly added with a grin.

As everyone broke out in laughter, Anne smiled. "You heard the boy! Helen, you handle the meat crew; Jackie, you take the pasta crew. Lady Amanda, would you be so kind as to head up the vegetables and other main side dishes? Kayla, Angela and Sara; would you please handle all of the sugar-loaded desserts that we all know the boys will load up on?"

As Anne was saying this, Jason ran in puffing like a bellows. "I need more fiber... Ark said Main Kitchens in Teri's house... but DIDN'T tell me WHICH house was hers!!"

He sat down on the nearest stool and tried to catch his breath. Pauly ran over to him with a glass of water, "Here, Unca Jace! This helps?"

"Thanks, sweetie," Jason smiled and took a long drink.

"Why are you here, love?" Angela asked her son.

Jason grinned and after putting the glass down, he grabbed Pauly and started to tickle him. "Seeking this little monster! I've been all over the friggin' place lookin' for you, golden-top!"

"Me an' Wacko's been right here, silly!!" Pauly replied with a giggle.

Kissing the boy's cheek lovingly, Jason murmured, "You're just like my Belar." He then sat the giggling munchkin on his lap, wrapped his arms around the boy's slender waist, and then asked the room, "Can I have quiet please? I have something very, very, VERY important to ask this nice, responsible young man!"

Angela rolled her eyes, looked with a smile at Anne, and both women sat down. Everyone else did the same, and Tommy sat on the floor with Wacko's head in his lap.

"Now then," Jason said in a far softer voice, "Lil' dude, I have a task that ONLY you can do, and it's the most important job that can be done at a Wedding."

"Keepin' Daddy awake?" Pauly replied with a giggle.

Jason giggled evilly, "No, that's your Pop's job, sweetie; trust me on that one! This job is MORE important, and if it's messed up, the wedding can't happen at all. Your big brothers just told my Ollie that ONLY you can do this job. No one else."

Pauly's eyes lit up excitedly.

"BUT..." Jason said in a conspiratorial stage whisper, "I have to make SURE that you understand how important it is, AND that you want the job before I can tell you what it is..."

Pauly started bouncing up and down. "Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"

"Are you sure you can do it?" Jason asked, mischief seen in his eyes. "Are you AND Wacko able to protect the special things that you are to look after?"

Pauly flipped around, and balanced himself on his legs while holding onto Jason's shoulders. Still bouncing, he replied, "YES! YES! Tell me already Unca Jace!!!!!"

Jason was so glad that he had expected this reaction and had placed a mental shield around little Jace and the family jewels. "Okay, I will," he giggled as he pulled the boy in to sit on his legs facing him. "Tomorrow, when your Daddy and Poppa walk into the Ceremony, you and Wacko will be walking in front of them. You will be carrying a very special cushion, and on that cushion will be two golden rings. Your Daddy's and your Poppa's Wedding Rings. You and Wacko have to look after those Rings and not let anyone touch them until you are asked to give them to your daddies. You have to keep them safe and not lose them. Can you and Wacko do that?"

Pauly nodded his head eagerly, and Jason found that his lap was suddenly overloaded as Wacko joined Pauly and began repeatedly licking Jason's cheek in acceptance of the task.

Jason fell off his seat and landed on his back, Wacko and Pauly still there, each taking one side of Jason's face to kiss happily.

"I think you done got your answer!" Tommy giggled. "Ya'll git offa Jace 'fore he's squished an' turned into a pancake!"

Pauly's giggle and Wacko's purr made it clear that the image of Jason becoming a pancake was quite funny to them. They both gave Jason one last wet kiss; wet enough that there was a line of slobber heading towards each of his ears.

"Thanks, sweeties; don't need no bath tonight!" Jason giggled as Pauly helped him stand.

Angela cast a withering look at her son.

"Okay, Okay; just kidding, Mam!" the boy laughed. "Just thinkin' too; Grandma Anne? Do you think it would be okay for my Grandma Meredith to come over and help? She makes REAL great cakes and puddings!!"

"What are you waiting for, child? Get moving!" Anne replied with a chuckle.

Grinning widely, Jason turned and yelled, "GRAN!!! You can come in now!!!!"

Chuckling to herself, a rather large, elderly, grandmotherly woman entered the kitchen. "I think, Jace, that your mother is going to crown you," she laughed as she hugged her grandson to her ample tummy.

Pauly was immediately drawn to this woman, whose very presence was filling the room with love. "Can I call you Granma toos?" he asked as he moved closer.

Wasting no time, Meredith scooped up the tiny boy with a happy cry, "Oh my, you're a lot cuter than you looked on the viewscreens, Pauly! What a handsome young man! I believe you and Tommy and Tyler are making the Wedding Cake?"

"Uh huh! Me's gonna help pass stuff to 'em!" he said proudly.

"That's great! I hope the three of you teach me a thing or two about making the BIGGEST Wedding Cakes in the world," she said, as she smothered the boy in hugs and kisses.

"Gran?" Jason asked from her side.

"Before you ask;" Meredith said, placing Pauly back on his feet, "yes, your grandfather is here. He's in that round building over aways, terrorizing some poor boy called Gavin with tickles, and making those two cat boys, Mont and Bast, purr the place down with belly-rubs."

"Sweet! Okay, guys! I can't cook to save my life, so seeya!" Jason yelled as he ran out.

As Jace ran out the doorway, Tyler walked in with Paul trailing behind him. "KEWL! A Grandma convention!" Tyler giggled. "This is Paul everyone; his Dad is Pastor Mills. We kinda got kicked outta their new apartment until his Dad has everything set up; so since I'm supposed to be helping make a really big cake he decided to join me!"

Paul grinned as he put his hand on his newest friend's shoulder. "Yeah; I've never seen a wedding this big; there are a ton of people already here!"

Pauly walked over and pulled on Paul's free hand. "Hi Paul, I'm Pauly. You wanna help me help Unca Tommy an' Unca Ty? You can get them the stuff I'm too little to get!"

Paul grinned as he lifted Pauly to his hip. "You know what? I think I like that idea, Pauly!"

"Kewl! You wanna play with my kitten Wacko while we's waitin'?" Pauly asked with a huge smile.

Paul looked towards where Pauly was pointing, and saw the black panther 'kitten' sitting there watching him. Once he regained his voice, he replied. "Sure little guy; I've never touched a panther before!"

 

Cory reached up and gently moved the hair away from Leo's sleeping eyes as the boy napped on his lap in the seventh-hole rest pool. "You guys really don't plan on letting me and Sean have any say in this, do you Son?"

Austin giggled as he looked at both of his sons cuddled with their grandparents. "No way Dad; it's time you let the rest of us do something. You and Pop are going to take a break if we gotta seal you in a box to do it!"

Sean giggled as Conner poked him in the ribs. "You hear that, Granpop?" Conner giggled. "Stop working or we'll make you!"

Leo shifted around in his sleep and pulled himself tighter into Cory's chest.

Cory smiled softly at the group surrounding him. "I love you too guys; thank you."

 

After having found a place for the Coldstream Guards to stay for the night, Nathan returned to CIC where Ensign William Grant was being watched over by Kelly and CD. Seth and Jordy were still on the Comm talking to various Clan Members and others who were being invited to the wedding. Once CD saw Nathan enter, he gave the Ensign a final hug and left with Kelly to return to the Wedding preparation.

Nathan sat next to the Ensign and asked, "Feeling a little better now, William? CD is good at comforting when people are upset."

"Yeah," the young man smiled. "He gives good hugs, and don't stop 'til you start smiling."

"Just one of the many reasons why we love him," Seth said as one call ended. He immediately started a fresh call.

"Feel like talking about your brother, Will?" Nathan asked quietly and gently.

Nodding, the Ensign sniffed, "Yeah. My little bro. I miss him already, yet I can't believe he's gone!"

"I know that feeling," Nathan murmured softly.

"What makes things so much worse is that I'm totally alone, now. That's why I'm so hot for protecting this place. These guys have made me feel so welcome in the month I've been here, and they are the only family I have left," the Ensign said as he started to weep again, albeit softly this time.

"What happened?" Seth asked as he finished his last call and turned to face them.

Ensign Grant cleared his throat and started, "I was 15 and accepted into Starfleet. I'd only been there a month when my folks were killed in a car crash. My kid bro was with me in San Francisco for a visit, and we were devastated. Command was great, though; they set it all up for my brother to stay with me. He was only 10 then, and I would have died to have seen him anywhere but with me."

"Just last month, he applied and got into a Special Training Program. He was to train with the Police Cadet force in South Carolina as a fast track for joining the Fleet with me... then Saturday happened, and..." the Ensign could say no more as he began to sob heavily again.

Nathan moved and cuddled him, using all his ability with empathy to syphon off the grief slightly. "What was his name?"

"Grissom. Although he hated it," Ensign Grant sniffed, yet a smile appeared on his face. "He always wanted to be called Luke, his middle name. Not that I blame him; I prefer mine as well. John."

Seth looked at John curiously for a second. "Grissom Luke Grant?"

"Yeah," sniffed John.

Seth turned back to the console. After a few very long minutes, he turned back. "No casualties by that name, John. I had to double check, but he's not on the list of the fallen."

"No, he's MIA, presumed dead," John said softly.

Nathan suddenly had an idea. "I'll be right back, bro. Need to find someone. Seth, can you talk with John while I'm gone?"

"Sure, Nath'," Seth smiled as he wheeled closer to John.

Nathan got up and ran from the room. Once in the Rec Room he sent out, 'Levi? You busy?'

"Not right now! What ya want, Unk?" the cheeky cherub giggled from behind the blond twelve year old.

Nathan spun around and laughed, "Mikyvis! Okay, dude. Can you read my mind about our friend John in the other room with Seth? I think we need to check on something. I'm getting a feeling that things ain't what they seem!"

Levi giggled. "Got it; fortunately us blonds keep our minds organized. Let's go check Up Top to see if he's checked in there!"

"What?! You're taking me to..." Nathan began on Earth, then finished outside the Pearly Gates, "... Heaven?... oh, my..."

"Saint Peter, this is Nathan. We're trying to find someone, and I figured that you'd know best if they had changed planes." Levi announced respectfully.

Nathan spun about and saw a kindly man standing by the Gates, his Golden Wings glowing brightly. "Wow!! Uh, Hi!"

"Oops; I kinda rushed, didn't I?" Levi asked with a smile.

"Uh huh!" Nathan giggled.

Saint Peter shook his head with a fatherly smile. "Young Nathan, it is not your time to see the things which you now see. While Levi shields you, his shield only protects parts of your mind. Go with peace children; the one you seek still resides on the Earthly plane."

"Thanks, Saint Peter; I had a feeling that was the case," Nathan smiled, as everything swam before his eyes, and they both found themselves back in the Rec Room.

Levi giggled, "Angel Transport tickles!"

"Yeah," Nathan smiled, "He's nice, though, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is! So, where next, Unk?" Levi asked with a smile.

Nathan thought for a second, then, "I know a certain AI that should know. Draco?"

'You always think of me last. I know, you know! But nooooo... you have to go visit Heaven... I feel so insulted...' Draco's voice came from Nathan's Comm, laughter just hidden in it.

"Aww, shush, D! You know where Luke is?" Nathan giggled.

'Yes. I have been liaising with Ark and Daileass since I heard John's story. He's in Broadlawns Hospital, Des Moines. It seems like some twa... I mean some idiot Administrator felt the need to update files was beneath him when it came to injured kids and cadets.' Draco said darkly. 'I have invoked Code 3-Blue-Sigma, and the VSO are now talking with Section 31 about 'dealing' with him.'

"Good. Thanks, Draco! Okay, my little Leevee-Angel, you up for finding Luke and getting a family reunion going here?" Nathan asked as he picked up his favorite Levi and cuddled him over his hip.

"Ask him yourself!" Levi giggled as they found themselves in a hospital room.

Sleeping on the bed was a black haired youth, his left leg in a cast, and many bandages around his body. The room was lit, yet void of anything that could be considered entertaining. Nathan was now thoroughly pissed off.

"Can you deal with his injuries, sweetheart? Looks like they did fuck all after the AI guys stabilized him! I'm going to find this admin asshole and drop him from a great height!" Nathan nearly spat out as he moved for the door.

"Uncle Nath? What would Uncle Jace say to do?" Levi asked softly.

Nathan snorted, "I'm slow tempered compared to him, Leev," he said, but then he calmed down slightly, "but Antony would find out more info first. Thanks, Leev. Can you heal him? I promise I won't do anything permanent to the idiot unless called for."

"If you need Uncle Antony to help I can get him. I'm already healing Luke; I just don't want to see you do something because you are mad."

"Once I get there, training kicks in, sweetie; don't worry. Unlike the Clan, VSO don't need a second to dispense justice..." Nathan began, but a soft beep from his belt alerted him. He pulled out his tricorder and looked at it. "Well, I'm not alone after all! The Sehlat Division have been mobilized, and have brought some S-31 nutters as well... those S-31ers are cool as hell, but nutzors too! Okay, be right back, Leev. The Dragon and the Sehlat working together is always fun for mischief!"

Nathan left the room at a run, leaving a smiling, happy Mikyvis with the still sleeping Luke.

 

"Uno!" Nathan heard as he walked into the hospital room.

"Hi Uncle Nath!" Levi exclaimed from his seat on the foot of the bed. Luke was sitting up on the head of the bed, and it was obvious the two of them were playing a card game.

"Hey! And hello, Luke! Looks like my angel did his usual and made a miracle!" Nathan said happily as he snuggled in close to Levi.

"Hi," Luke replied with a smile. "Levi's told me all about you. Thanks for coming to look for me."

"No probs, dude; s'what we do!" Nathan giggled.

Levi asked his uncle, "What happened out there, Unk?"

"Oh, not a lot, other than everyone getting healed by S-31 and VSO doctors, the Chief Administrator ripping a new asshole on the git who caused these problems... then Division Commander Sellik of the Sehlat arrested him on child abuse charges. I think I-Metra is going to have a target to help her Pup learn to pounce!"

"Ohhhhhh... they invited him for dinner?" Levi giggled. "I hope they have lots of mustard!"

"Yup, and he's the main course! Oh, Luke?" Nathan sniggered.

"Yeah?"

"The guy in charge here says he's sorry about what happened. He's going to really pay more attention to the running of this place and not trust everyone working for him as blindly as he used to. He's also signed your release papers so you can come with us right now!" Nathan said happily.

"Cool!" Luke bubbled.

"Yeah," Nathan smiled, "Your bro is going to be so happy!"

Levi giggled, and three seconds later they found themselves back in CIC; Luke suddenly perched on his brother's lap.

"Told ya' they'd come through!" Seth chuckled.

"Luke?! Oh my God!" John sobbed out loudly as he nearly crushed his 14 year old brother to his chest.

"John, I just fixed those ribs, don't break them again already!" Levi giggled, silently helping to make sure that Luke was not injured by his brother's welcome.

"Hiya, Jo-Jo," Luke said tearfully as John's hug changed to a far more gentle embrace. "Sorry I scared you, but..."

"No, never be sorry!" John said through his own tears, "You did good Saturday! Just the thought that you'd d...died was so hard. But you'd have died saving kids, and that's always what you wanted to do, bro; to save people! I'm so proud of you!"

Nathan watched, with Levi cuddled happily on his lap, as the two brothers talked and talked.

"Seth?" Nathan asked the sixteen year old quietly.

Seth tore his eyes away briefly, "Yeah?"

"What's going to happen here? With them both?"

"Already sorted, Nath'. We just need to tell them; or, I should say, Adam will... Hey, Adam! Here they are!" Seth waved to the vifer as Adam walked into CIC.

"Hey guys!" Adam said as he joined them. "Nath? Did I hear right that you're doing community service now? I heard that you made a contribution to help curb the Sehlat food shortage."

"Yeah. I was busted as the cutest non-Mikyvis Blond on Earth, and had to help feed the poor, starved Sehlats!" Nathan giggled.

"Where's Dmitry when you need a second opinion!" Adam exclaimed. "No Levi!" he quickly added as he saw the smile forming on Levi's face.

"You're learning, I see!" Nathan howled with laughter. "Although, I'd love to meet him; Riti has been trying his best to be a Dmitry Mark-2 since he appeared here!"

"I'm sure you'll meet him soon enough." Adam giggled. He turned to where John and Luke were still sitting. "Let's see... new faces, happy tears, and an older brother who appears determined not to let his little brother go. That meets the description Seth gave me, so you guys must be John and Luke. John, as of right now you are permanently attached to Clan Headquarters Security; once Commander Casey has set up the new chain-of-command you'll find out who you report to, but until then you'll report to me."

John's mouth dropped open, while Luke squirmed about happily on his lap, "That's so cool, Jo-Jo! Your letters made it clear you loved it here!"

John, after finding his voice, choked out, "But... what about Luke? He wanted to be in Starfleet Security as well, but I can't bear to let him go out of my sight again! I was just telling him I'd leave the Fleet and go to Charleston to care for him there..."

"You'll do no such thing." Adam interrupted. "Once Luke has been cleared for duty by our resident brain leeches, he's already qualified for training with Clan Internal Security. Until that time, both of you are on family leave right here."

Luke went still as it was his turn to gape at Adam. Eventually he whispered out, "I get to live here? For real? Does that mean... I, ummm...." He trailed off, looking uncomfortable asking that which he so obviously wanted to ask.

Nathan smiled softly, "If you find yourself swearing brotherhood with even one of these guys, then yes, it will then mean you are part of the Clan, Luke. Until then, you're their friend."