The great pyramid grew steadily, at a pace that would not have been attainable had not magic been involved. The golden staffs actually made him a bit envious of their recharge ability, for his magic had allowed for them to reenergize, while ironically now he could not. He was meting out what he felt he had left as judiciously as he could, but eventually his stores would run dry. It was getting to the point where he was going to have to try utilizing his earlier idea. He wouldn't know until he tried it.

Hesmetep was by his side as much as she could be, reveling in her role as wife and goddess. True, she didn't have any powers, but she was a goddess by default and she made sure everyone, including her father, knew it.

When she heard her husband lament about the unfairness of the inherent power within the staffs, she reminded him that there was only one staff of his she was interested in and that she at least had the power to restore it to potency. He rolled his eyes, rubbed the top of her smooth head and shook his own.

“It's only been a few weeks since we first bedded. You're acting like and raving sex addict now."

“My husband must forgive my weaknesses when he is involved. No other can claim what I can claim."

“And that is?"

“That is that I sleep with a god."

He looked down at her with a pained look on his face.

“You know how I feel about that term."

“I do. But seeing as I was visited by another god, and that you were accompanied by two others, I think that you fail to see the importance your presence here is to us. God or not, everyone believes you are one. They have not felt so blessed in ages."

“Just because I'm helping your father complete his pyramid?"

“No just on account of that. They swear the fish in the river are easier to catch, and that the grain in the fields grows plumper than any year in memory."

“I don't think that I have anything to do with it. My power is ebbing."

“And where does it go? Into the fields? Into the river? You may or may be the cause of it, but my people rejoice in your presence regardless."

He shook his head. It was the jackal one again, perhaps permanently this time, for all he knew.

“I wish they wouldn't. It makes me uncomfortable."

“How so my lord?"

“I told you. It's hard to explain, but I'm from this world originally. I got pulled to another, and then back to this one, only at a different time."

“All of that and you claim to be nothing special! My lord has greatness to him that he refuses to accept."

“I'll not argue that. It's just that I want to be normal. And failing at that, I would much like to be back home; the other world home. This one just isn't the right place for me to be."

“I feel that it is. Would you leave me behind, should you ever have a chance of returning?"

“No. You can't imagine the commitments I have back there, so you have to understand that if I did, my attention would be divided."

“There is plenty to you that can be shared my lord, and if you get your powers back, then that bounty will be more plentiful than any one woman needs."

He kissed the top of her head.

“I only hope you feel that way should we actually get that chance. As of this moment, I don't have high hopes."

“Does my lord have children?"

“Yes. In more variety than perhaps you can imagine."

“Perhaps I can. I would like to meet them if that would be possible; if we can go to the place you call home."

“I don't know. I've been dallying with an idea I've had for some time, in drawing all of the power from the staffs. But if I do that, then there won't be any left for building the pyramid."

“Would it be enough to get us home?"

“Us? You are home."

“My home will always be with you now."

He pulled her in close.

“You know we should never have met, right?"

“And yet we did. Do you regret it?"

“Of course not!"

“And you recall that this, our meeting and pairing, was predicted?"

“Yes, so you have said. I would love to meet this Hathor. Now why do you think she would show up before I get here and then lay low while I try to figure this mess out. Her help could be invaluable right now."

“I cannot say my lord. The thoughts and motives of the gods are well beyond me."

“Not as much as you might think dear," he said honestly. “But knowing what she knows would help out quite a bit."

“Such as how she knew your real name?"

“There is that. There are a lot of folks I know that don't know me by my real, given name."

“So then, could this goddess not be someone you know?"

“From the other world? That looks like a cow? Most women would never be caught dead looking like something they hate to be called."

“I fail to understand my lord."

“It's nothing. Something from my own time really, and stupid to bring up."

“As you wish. I must assume she has her reasons for doing as she has done."

“One would think so."

They were walking through the streets. The residents had grown accustomed to the unusual sight, and while most till stopped and stared, they carried on with their duties after only a few seconds. As Jon-Ton joked, they were becoming old hat.

Hesmetep had no idea what that meant.

Now robes she knew about, and when he saw someone in an old, battered one following them, she remarked to Jon-Tom that they were being followed. She didn't say it with any fear in her voice, for she thought that she might recognize the robes, if not the one wearing them.

She whispered up to him;

“I think that the wearer of that cloak is none other than the goddess herself. Why she is following us without speaking is unclear. She has already spoken to me once, so why bother being discreet now."

“Maybe we should stop and ask her."

“Will she be angry?"

Jon-Tom wasn't certain he cared.

“If it isn't her, I'll probably give some poor old woman a fright. If it is her, then maybe we'll get some answers."

“Might I do it, my lord? She will not be as frightened of me as she might be of you, should it prove to be nothing more than a peasant woman."

“Sure. I'll stand to the side here and watch."

Hesmetep let loose of his arm and approached the hooded figure. Jon-Tom could see a face hidden in shadow, but the features were both unremarkable and unrecognizable. He was almost hoping it was Eve. But she would have pounced on him the moment she found him, he was pretty sure of that.

There was a brief exchange, and the cloaked figure grew more animated. Hesmetep seemed to be explaining something to her, and in the middle of it all, the cloak fluttered to the ground, empty. Jon-Tom bolted over to where the two had been conversing. Hesmetep was reaching down to pick up something from the sand.

“What the hell happened?"

“I cannot say. This woman had many questions about you, and how long you had been here. I told her what I knew, thinking that she must be from some outer village. She grew very excited and then, in a blinding instant, vanished completely! She left this behind."

She held up a small statuette of the goddess Hathor.

“Vanished? That implies magic. No one here can do that."

“Yes, so you have said. I found her demeanor to be calm and tacit. It was unusual for her to disappear as she did."

“The mystery deepens. It wasn't this Hathor was it?"

“No, for I saw her face very clearly. She seemed old, but with the visage that once had been every lovely."

“Doesn't ring a bell. So maybe we should just call it a…"

The statue jumped out of her hand to land back on the ground and standing before them was Eve. Jon-Tom knew her form, even if his new bride did not.

“Hello you errant spellsinger."

“Eve! But how?"

“How what?"

“How did you find me?"

“It wasn't easy. We'll talk about it when we get back."

“It isn't going to be that simple."

“Sure it is. You come with me and we go home."

“No it isn't. This is Hesmetep. She's…"

“Your newest wife. You have quite the collection as of late."

“How did you find out so quickly?"

“It doesn't matter. You have some friends with you also? I don't think it would be wise to leave them behind. There might be repercussions."

“Uh, how do you know about them? How long have you been here?"

“The length of time is immaterial. What I have done with it is what is important. Your darling little girl here told me what I needed to know just a moment ago as you see it, and I then jumped back in time to before you got here, figuring that a little instruction might ease you into your role here."

“You were Hathor?"

She changed into the likeness of the goddess. Jon-Tom suddenly felt annoyed.

“Why didn't you just wait for us to get here and avoid all of this trouble?"

“It didn't seem to be the proper thing to do. After all, seeing you as I just did indicated that there was more than just a physical connection between the two of you. Love is not a thing to be toyed with lightly."

“Are you saying she can come back with us?"

“There isn't a choice really. It will add to the dilemma you are going to be returning to, but I see nothing else that can be done."

“Dilemma?"

“Return?" piped in Hesmetep.

Eve smiled at her.

“Yes, return. I have searched through this world's records, and all evidence of your life here is nonexistent. It was as if you were wiped off the map."

“So I left?"

“In that sense, yes. You have yet to do it, but you will."

Jon-Tom repeated the question.

“Dilemma?"

“Yes. I was trying to arrange for something to make you a bit happier with your life, and then you vanished. Sybeele is doing well enough carrying our child, but I thought that she could use some helping hands."

“Servants? You lined up servants? I can spell sing up anything we could possibly need. Well, I could. I was still recouping my power when all this happened."

“Our child?" asked Hesmetep perturbedly.

“It's a long story dear. But I assume you two have been active, and that you know the general principle behind it."

“Yes."

“Well, I can't afford to be pregnant in such a manner. But I value life. So I made a deal with someone to carry the child for me."

“How is that possible?"

“With magic dear. You might be surprised what you can do with it."

“I have seen some. Enough really. I think that I believe it can do anything."

Jon-Tom was getting grandly irritable all of a sudden.

“Who did you get to work for us? I don't need a lot of people around right now."

“Testy testy. You can just wait until we get back to find out."

“Maybe I don't want to go!" he said defiantly.

“Life hasn't been all that easy for you, has it? Maye you weren't cut out for everything you've done."

“Of course not! I was just some stupid college kid that got yanked over to another world! I was never supposed to be all of this!"

“No. I guess you weren't. Shall I put you back where you belong?"

“Can you?"

“Yes I can. But there's a catch."

He sighed.

“Of course there is. What is it?"

“You have to decide where it is you belong now."

He stopped talking. He had tried to run away from everything and now he had come to the end of the road. True, it was a road he had not envisioned, but now he had to make a choice. Did he have her take him forward in time to when he was a student, or did he have her take him back to Hobarrow? He already knew the answer. He wasn't sure he could say it."

“Hesmetep comes with me."

“That really isn't your choice. That is hers to make."

The girl looked surprised.

“But you said I would get my reward!"

“I did. I never defined what it was. That is for you to choose."

“I choose him! Where he goes, I go, as long as he'll have me."

He gave her a hug.

“Of course I'll have you. But you'll never see your family again. That's a major thing to consider before you decide on a permanent course of action."

“Father has many wives, and I have many siblings. I will miss them, but I hope to make new friends, and find out all about an entirely new world. I hope not to have time to miss them. And if I do find myself feeling forlorn, I assume you'll be able to take my mind off of it?"

He chuckled.

“I'll do my very best!"

Eve looked mildly impatient.

“I have wasted a goodly portion of my time looking for you, not to mention what I had to do to get you to this point. Might we gather your friends and be off?"

“But what if Hesmetep wishes to say goodbye to her family?"

Eve frowned. “I think it will make it harder for her, but then, I cannot say that I know about such interactions. She may do as she wishes. Still, I feel that enough time has been devoured in this search that we can spare as little as possible."

The little Egyptian cocked her head.

“But you can jump between times. Is not what you're saying an untruth?"

Jon-Tom looked at her and then to Eve.

“Yeah, what gives?"

Eve gave up.

“I have a surprise for you, and now that I found you, I wish for you to see it. She is correct; I can get us to the point in time back on my world whenever I want. But I want to go now."

Jon-Tom gave her a dirty look.

“I'm sure I'll be amazed by whatever it is you have cooked up. That's no excuse not to allow for her to say goodbye. And I think you can make an appearance too. After all, when will there be a next time a civilization get to see a collection of their gods in one place?"

“Are you sure that's a good idea?"

“Look Eve, I really am glad to see you. But don't go thinking that you can bully your way through this. As she said, you can get us back to precisely where you want us. The least you can do is to show a little kindness. Let her have her goodbyes."

“As you wish. What she has to look forward to is far superior to anything she will be leaving behind."

“Oh lord, what have you cooked up in my absence?"

“Plenty. It could be more but I had to go looking for you and so I was forced to cut it short. By the way, where did you go and how did you avoid me?"

“Long story. Let's just say I was not in the mood to be found."

“But this ocelot. She found you."

“She wasn't looking for me. We just sort of…hit it off."

“And the Plated Folk male; how did he come into all of this?"

“I thought you said Hesmetep told you what you needed to know."

“It's not quite that easy. You don't have a firm grasp of time travel. It isn't just when you're going to, it's where. And even then, you can double back on yourself. In essence, you can be in two places at once. So I am trying to piece together all that transpired during you…lapse in judgement"

“Yeah; I'm getting a little tired of time travel, and just about as much in trying to explain myself."

“Once we go back, I will seal the rift as best as I am able. Then I plan on returning to my place within the planet."

“What? Why?"

“Because I see now that it's where I should be. This has been fun, and maybe in the long run it was meant to be, but I never expected you to do what you did. It has been my home for a very long time and now I see how important that is. You too need to be home; a home of your choosing. You have chosen it, and when we return, you will have it."

“What if I'm not happy with it when I get there? Being a god has been rather fun, even if I didn't over do it."

“It is a decision you will live with once you get back. All I can say is that I am trying to give you a happily ever after in the best possible way I know how."

“Are you sure of that?"

 “I would be hurt by your disbelief were I not expecting it. I think you will be happy, but perhaps not in ways you expect to gain such emotion."

“You speak in riddles."

“I do. Spoilers and all of that."

“Fine. It's not that I don't trust you, but then again, I don't know your mind."

“No man should ever know a woman's mind."

“Well, I'm batting a thousand on that one."

“As it should be. Now, send your beloved off to give fair warning to her father. We will follow along at our convenience."

He turned to tell Hesmetep to go, but she was already on her way. Eve chuckled softly.

“She is quite smitten with you. You'll have no choice but to take her, for I for one would never be part in causing a broken heart."

“She is something, isn't she? I almost feel like I should remain here with her."

“Unless you took over the rule of her father, I rather suspect you would have no place here. And if you did usurp his power, what would your history books say?"

“I know, I know. But it seems unfair yanking her away."

“It is her choice. Once she has made it, it is then up to you to show her that she made the correct one."

“Right. She'll be feeling like a concubine. A part of a harem."

“She might. You have woven a lot of threads in your life. The question is if you treat them as a frayed rope or as a lifeline."

“I don't really know any more. I would have to gather them into my hand and examine them."

“Yes, I suppose you would. It'll be something to consider when we get you back to where you belong."

“I'm not sure where that is anymore Eve."

“Understandable. Home is where your heart is. How many rooms do you have in it?"

“Home? Heart? I think I have a hole in it where all the light gets sucked out. I feel a lot like a ship taking on water."

“Nonsense. You are happy here, but why that is so? You worry about breaking your timeline, but in reality you fear going back. Why?"

“Too many things to list."

“Shall I list the main ones for you then?"

“Go right ahead, oh wisest of us all," he replied in a tone that was rather bland.

“You're tired. You wonder if everything you do has a genuine purpose. You think that your worth is tied to your magic. You want a little peace and quiet. Shall I go on?"

He stood there, mildly bemused by her words.

“More accurate then I would like to admit. The peace and quiet I have here you know."

“Oh don't be silly. Here you are, pretending to be a god, looking like one of your ancestor's deities, helping the ruler of the land built a giant monument, all the while married to his daughter. And yet you still worry about your world's timeline? I think you need to rethink your concepts."

“Fine. What do I have back in Hobarrow?"

“Many things, if you're willing to see them. Yes, life isn't always perfect, but then, would you have it any other way?"

“I don't know. I was all settled down and retired before I got yanked into this fisaco at the Highlands. I left that rather a mess."

“Nonsense again. You left a doppelganger who does just fine in your stead.  

Jon-Tom looked stunned.

“Good God, I did, didn't I?"

“Don't sound so shocked. It wasn't your worst idea ever. He is quite happy keeping all of the lionesses happy."

“But what of Talea?"

“What of her?"

“She…I mean…I don't know what I mean. I should never have left her."

“But you did. You have left a lot of loves and lovers behind. Call it the nature of your existence. It is no bad thing you know."

“Easy for you to say. You traded off our child rather than deal with the consequences."

“Now see here! I am looking out for the child in ways you cannot fathom. So don't get high and mighty with me. I intend to go back to what I was before you created this," she said with some heat as she indicated her present self. “I do not hold it against you, but by the same token, I see where remaining this way is impractical. I am part of my world, and every time that I leave it, I feel it suffers for it."

“Oh. I didn't think of that."

“Which is why I feel that haste is important, even if I can time myself on when I return. We each have our place Jon-Tom, and I cannot make your decision for you. You must do it, for you must live with it. Just as your young wife will have to make hers. Just as I have made mine. You will not always be happy with the decisions you make, but you will have to live with them. Make sure you can do that."

He sighed.

“Can I ever be normal again?"

“You are normal you idiot. What you aren't is average. You seem to have never adjusted to your new normal, and it's wearing on you. It's like a coat that's too small. You need only to open your eyes and see what you are, and more importantly perhaps, what you are to so many other people."

“I don't know. I feel obliged to too many I think."

“Nonsense. They on the other hand rightfully feel obliged to you. And for good reason. But I think you need to find this out on your own."

“Eve?"

“Yes?"

“Are you sure?"

“Of course I'm not. But when have you ever felt sure of anything?"

He smiled in reminiscence. 

“Roseroar."

“Yes, she was special to you, wasn't she? But that was a long time ago in the future. You need to think about the here and now, leastwise once you're back in Hobarrow."

“Fine. You win. I wanted to go back before we talked, and now I know I have to go back. Let's get everyone gathered up, say our hello and goodbyes, and be off."

Khepri and Lanana were introduced to Eve. The ocelot assessed her as merely another female rival for the human's attention, but the Plated Folk wizard fell to his knees.

“Your form is not what I envisioned, Oh Grand Mother, but I feel within my exoskeleton that you are as this human has described. I am humbled by your presence."

“Oh do get up. I am no one to be bowed to."

He stood, still obviously in awe.

“But you are. I can feel it. You, human; can you not feel it?"

Jon-Tom was feeling a lot of things right then.

“What?"

“Power! She is the source of our power! Has yours not returned?"

The spellsinger snapped his fingers and found himself dressed in his old clothing again.

“Hot damn! I didn't even think about it!

He took his cloak off, opened the secret compartment and was rewarded with his faithful duar.

“You know; I almost feel young again."

“You are only as old as you feel."

“I suppose you're right. Are you sure you didn't have anything to do with this?"

“I have had everything to do with this. But that point is moot. I have made my decision, and I think you have as well. Shall we make our presence known to this king of yours and be on our way. I met him once already mind you and I was not impressed."

“Please don't say that to him! He has a pretty big ego."

“What male doesn't?"

“Me?"

“If you say so. I think it may be far larger than you would care to admit. But then, there are ways of handling that."

“Oh?"

“Yes. And you'll just have to wait and see."

“Oh hurray!" he said with a touch of sarcasm.

“Shut up Jon-Tom. You'll be fine."

The king was quite unhappy that they were leaving. Not so much his daughter, but he felt the gods were deserting him. Eve, as Hathor, chided him to no end.

“Your daughter goes to be consort to someone well worthy of her, and your little pyramid is farther along than you could have hoped. Keep the rods, but know that they will become inert within a month. You will have to rely on your own people to finish it."

“But my goddess, how can this be done?"

“This is not my problem, nor anyone's but your own. You should be on your knees thanking Anubis for all that he has done instead of sitting up their whining like a little baby missing its favorite toy."

Her words stung him, and he stood, kneeled and bowed until his head touched the floor.

“My you grant forgiveness to me, oh great gods. I am unworthy."

Eve didn't cut him any slack.

“Yes you are. Remember that from now on. You were in the presence of a superior entity that you did not recognize as being so. You still have failed to see it. And now you lose her to us."

He looked up, the confusion apparent on his face.

“Of whom do you speak?"

“I speak of your daughter."

Hesmetep positively beamed at the endorsement.

“She is a far superior creature than her father. This land will diminish now; not because of our leaving but because of her departure from it. The sun will shine less brightly, and your kingdom, while enduring, will glimmer as tarnished silver, not the gold you so crave. Anubis has a new wife, and she was the gem of all you have. Gaze upon her one last time."

Khufu stood.

“I will dedicate a monument to her for all to see. I'll…"

“You'll do no such thing. From this day forward none of you will remember her. Once we leave, all memory of her will be wiped from your minds. I do this not for you, but for her."

Hesmetep stepped forward.

 “Must you?"

“I must my dear. It is the only way I know of for making your absence absolute."

“I see. Then do it. I will not return to a father more intent on building a death chamber than in living a happy life."

Khufu felt the rebuke like a knife in his side. She turned to him.

“I love you father, but I think that you do not love me. I have a man that does, and I willingly go with him. May you live out your years with such happiness as you can find, and when the time comes, may the gods have mercy on your soul. If it happens to be they with whom I accompany on what I understand to be a very long journey, then I pray even harder for you, for they already know what it is that you are inside. I will think of you often, while you will think of me naught."

He stared at her, trying to find the right words and failing. Eve made a brief gesture, and the entire group vanished from sight, from Egypt, from Earth.

Hobarrow was much as he left it. His ability to determine time once he got back was still fluctuating, as was his stomach. Time travel was unsettling.

“So, how long have I been gone, local time?"

“A few weeks. I could have brought you back to right after you left, but then that would have led to other complications. I needed time to do what I wanted to do, even if I was unable to do it all."

Hesmetep looked about her, amazed at the unusual architecture. She was even more amazed when she got a glimpse of some of the citizenry as they passed by. She saw creatures that were vaguely familiar to her, but plenty that didn't even come close to being within her realm of experience. But they nodded, smiled and walked on by as if this were a normal day. If this weren't the kingdom of the gods, she had no idea what was.

Jon-Tom stood at the door, hand on the knob, just waiting for the courage to open it. He had run away from his problems, and now that he was back, he was still uncertain how to face them. But seeing how Khufu had treated his own daughter he steeled himself to tackle his problems as manly as he could.

The door opened without him.

Sybeele stood there, looking radiant and happy and glowingly pregnant.

“So. She found you at last. You seem to have a knack for vanishing."

“That's it?" he asked, amazed at the reception. “No anger?"

“Oh, I was furious with you at first. Then I was worried. Now I just glad you're back safe."

“Are you really glad?"

“Yes stupid. And you'll never guess who else is glad to see you're back?"

Eve hushed her.

“Not now dear. Let him get acclimated. In the meantime, you'll have someone else to talk with. Meet Hesmetep. She is his newest bride and also of Earth, just like you."

Jon-Tom waited for the fireworks. Sybelle had power equal to his, even if she had to retain most of it caring for the fetus within her womb. But there was no backlash. In fact, she didn't even pay him any mind for a moment.

“Welcome to our home – your home. You may find it a bit unusual here, and I think you will find it a bit crowded as well. But there is as much room in here as stupid there has in his heart, which means there might be a bit of jostling here for room and love as he gets used to his new situation, though I doubt you will finding anyone fighting too hard over him."

“I don't understand."

It was spoken simultaneously by Jon-Tom and his new bride.

“I don't suppose you do. Come inside."

Kephri was fidgeting nervously. He was an enemy behind the lines and growing more nervous by the second. Eve tried to calm his fears, but he wouldn't listen.

“You must return me to my people! I would rather they kill me as a deserter than to be tortured and torn apart by these Warmlanders!"

“No one is killing anyone. For now, you are a guest of this house, and if you would feel better about it, I can reform you into something more…furry."

“You can do that?" asked a rather pensive looking pangolin.

Jon-Ton chuckled. “Already done, though I see she accommodated your namesake into your appearance."

“What?" The Plated Folk wizard looked at his arm, and then the other, and then all that he could see of himself. He was wearing simple clothing, but enough of his new body showed to make examination possible."

“This is strong magic indeed!" he cried.

“The strongest," agreed Eve. “Be at ease and rest here. When you feel you are ready to return, I will get you back to your people in a manner that will make you appear the hero."

Jon-Tom suddenly remembered the Greendowns.

“How did the battle go down?"

Eve understood the nature of his abrupt question.

“The Plated Folk backed down once their main wizard vanished. The wall you helped to enhance was more than they were expecting, so for now, they are still entrenched, not wishing to give in, and yet not wishing to fight vainly against an obstacle too massive for them to handle. The general was able to call in reinforcements, so all in all, it's the usual sort of stalemate they're used to."

Jon-Tom listened intently.

“So I sort of saved the day?"

“You did. Neither side ended up with many casualties because of what you did."

“So maybe I did some good after all?"

Eve came across sounding peeved.

“After all? Jon-Tom, you continuously underestimate yourself where it counts. How about you just hush for now, until you have reason to use your vocal cords to good use?"

“Fine. Can I go inside?"

Sybeele stepped between him and the doorway.

“Not so fast. You have to promise me that you'll not be angry. The house is not as you left it. Me, for one, think it's a better place."

“I can but believe you, though I will not be happy having a slew of servants in here. I for one feel no need to have domestics. Magic can handle just about everything."

Sybeele nodded, patting her belly.

“Yes it can. And maybe there will still be a need for your kind. Eve has claimed that she is going to go back to living within the planet. That will leave you as the one most adept at making things happen."

“I'm not sure if I'm really any better than I was when I began."

“Sure you are. You just need to relax and get past all the angst."

“Angst? You think I have angst?"

“Eve said you did. Do you?"

“Probably enough to freak out Freud."

“Who?"

“No one important. So, what's the surprise then?'

“If you think you're ready for it, you may go inside now."

He motioned for the Egyptian girl to go ahead of him.

“You'll not be second best here. I will do my utmost to treat both of you as equals."

Sybeele giggled.

“Sure you will. Both of us."

Jon-Tom felt annoyed at her mirth.

“I mean it!"

“Oh I know you do. I just don't think you'll succeed."

“Why?"

“Because I know something that you don't."

“Which is?"

The next voice was familiar to his ears, and yet nearly grated on them. He had abandoned the owner of it a while back and was very close to not turning to face her.

“Hello Talea."

“Hello Jon-Tom. Nice digs you have here."

“It's not the tree."

“True, but it's not the Highlands either. You do get around, don't you?"

He was staring at her. She was almost as young as when he had first met her; well, her appearance was. Like him, she retained a lifelong supply of memories that a youthful appearance couldn't hide."

“I guess I do. Not really what I planned for my retirement."

“You retire? Ha! You like adventure too much."

“I'm getting all adventured out."

She made a face at him.

“I hope not."

“Why?"

“Because I think another one is just starting."

“You mean my newest, um, addition to the family?"

Talea looked at the brown skinned girl.

“Her too. No, I was referring to someone else. There was a promise of more, but I think that maybe Eve will give you a little slack at first."

“Slack? Eve said she was returning to the planet."

“I'm sure she is. But you have given her freedom and I really doubt she'll give that up. So expect the unexpected with her on the loose."

“Oh, I do. She's had me involved in any number of things I have come to regret."

“And you haven't done any on your own?"

“Sure I have, but not on such a grand scale."

“Then let it drop. I think that maybe she'll have redeemed herself to you, though that remains to be seen."

“Why? What could she do that would make an impression on me after all I've been through?"

Sybeele giggled.

Talea smiled.

Hesmetep's eyes grew wide.

“Hello handsome," cooed a voice as smooth as silk. In fact, one might say it came out as a purr.

Jon-Tom felt the hairs on the back of his neck jump to attention. The voice came from behind him, from the doorway to the next room, but he knew like he knew it like he knew no other. He didn't dare turn, just in case this was a cruel trick. But the footsteps, though they came softly, still could be felt through the wooden floor. The breath on the back of his neck made his hairs dance in place. The musk scent made his head swim.

“Aren't you even going to greet me?"

He turned.

“But you died!"

The tigress kissed him soundly.

“Yes I did."

“But how?"

“Oh, how should I know about the nuances of magic? I told you once not to try and save me, and you were such a good boy then. I had no idea how much I would miss you. Then I met this entity; this creature; this goddess, and she offered me a second chance. But you seem like you have no need for me."

His brain snapped into gear.

“Of course I do. You have no idea how much I do. But…"

“But what?"

Those eyes bored holes into his soul and out the other side.

“I have commitments already. Why would she do this to you?"

“Jon-Tom, I would do anything to be with you again. I have been appraised of your situation, and I am not distressed by it. You always had more than enough love to go around."

He was staring at her, torn between wanting to hug her, and restraining himself so as to not look biased in the eyes of the others. This was her; the first real love he had on this world, and one he regretted not following through on. He could have done it and he should have done it. But how was she alive? And why?

“Did I? Then why do I feel so empty now?"

The tigress smiled.

“Because you constantly give it out, and yet never let anyone return the favor. Maybe, for once in your stupid life, you should let people reciprocate. Take a little in. You might be surprised how good you'll feel. I know you think of yourself as selfless, and that's a good thing. But being a little selfish is healthy. It means you're thinking of your own needs too.  And I think that this household is filled with females ready to give back to you in a really big way."

He turned to the one person he felt had more of a say in all this than anyone else; Talea.

“What do you say to all of this?"

“We both should be dead at this point in our lives. Roseroar was. We have a second chance to have another life, and I suspect you have had much more time devoted to longevity than even I. I say that we should make the best of it. I doubt Eve would have done this if she didn't think we could make it work."

“Yes, where is she?" he asked, suddenly aware of her absence.

“Gone I suspect. I think she understood that she may have been a little too much for you."

Roseroar sputtered out a rebuttal.

“Her too much for him? I think it was the other way around. There are presently four females under this roof, and I think he'll have time for every one of us."

Jon-Tom latched on to one word she said.

“Presently?"

“Yes, presently. There were supposed to be more, but I think she has left that up to you to decide."

There certainly were many more. But could he? Should he? Would he?

The chances were good he would. But he just got home. Time to settle in first. He had plenty to deal with as it was. No point in rushing into more.