The Commander scrunched his face and blinked his eyes in an exaggerated manner as he tried, by the sheer power of will, prevent a very inconvenient nosebleed. Crossing his eyes then refocusing them on the scene before him, he could only smile. Spring was staring with some concern as she gradually retracted the boot that she caught as it fell from the Commander's face. Gwen in an understandably wrinkled uniform attire, covered her mouth with one hand as the other was occupied by the offending member.

Krissy, being held up by Gwen in one arm, quickly brought up a good bunch of her shirt to hide the smile. Her eyes continually scanning the gray man's face for his reaction. When he finished his different exaggerated facial experiments, he turned his attention towards her and smiled widely and said, "Well good morning to you too!" The Commander swings his head around the room and says to everyone else, "Take your time, we're heading back out to the pub for breakfast and to drop off the other girls."

Gwen breathed a sigh of relief as she silently chastised Krissy in her arm and pulling down her spit soaked shirt and then questioned the Commander, "Other girls sir?"

"Uh huh," he nodded sagely, "The ones that actually drove you back here last night."

Gwen allowed her hand to be fiddle with by Krissy as she stood still in confusion, her eyes narrowing as if trying to comprehend the words the Commander was saying. She then widened her eyes in surprise as she realized she had no recollection of ever returning back to her dorm last night, let alone her bed! As the dawn of realization spread across her face, the Commander continued to nod his head until a more rambunctious Logistics Officer swung the door wide open and pushed the Commander aside.

"Goo~d morning everyone!" Kalina greeted as all but the Commander's lower legs disappeared from the view of the doorway.

Alphie leaned in behind her as she struggled to decide what to do first, between assisting the Commander on the ground, greeting everyone, chastising Miss Kalina, and retrieving Miss Krissy, she was rather overwhelmed by it all. Alphie leaned on the doorway behind Kalina as a wave of fatigue and sudden migraines entered her motor computing unit.

Spring, assisted by Gwen, helped to put the last boot on Krissy's left foot. Thankful they no longer had to struggle for it, they looked as Krissy buried her face into Gwen's neck, having been caught by surprise from the loud lady at the door. Gwen placed a comforting hand on Krissy's back as she turns away from Kalina to check on Sigil. Spring is the only one that acknowledges Kalina and greets her, "Good morning, Miss Kalina. A pleasure to see you as always."

"D'awww! Thanks, Spri-" Kalina suddenly gasped with excitement as she spotted the child in the room. "Awwww! Who's this little-D'oh! Ow~~!" Kalina tried to reach for the silver-haired child but then cried out as she received a quick chop to the back of her head by a vengeful hand.

Kalina winced and covered her head as she ran behind Spring, fearing further retribution, she complained to her shield, "Wah~, Spri~ng! The Commander hit me~!"

"Yeah! For shoving me over!" He rebutted as he pointed a stern but wavering finger in her direction as she continued to hide behind Spring. "And why are you crying to her?!"

Kalina stuck her tongue out then returned to hiding again behind Spring. She then replied as she spoke between the gap of Spring's arm and torso, "Don't be a big baby! I didn't even touch you!"

"No you-!"

Then from the direction of the showers behind Spring and Kalina, another voice joined in as it cried in a sing-song call, "Oh~ Commander!"

Sevs visibly winced at the sound of his title and responded weaker than he should have, "Y-ahem-yes Penny?"

"Have you come to help me dress?"

"Ummm..." he looked around at the current company who all shared varying levels of facial responses. "No?"

Kalina looked over to the Commander blank-faced and asked quietly, "Was that a question?"

The Commander pursed his lips and shook his head vigorously.

"Oh!" something clattered on the ground, most likely a bottle of some sort. "I've fallen Commander, won't you help me up?"

Everyone first stared at the open bathroom door where Penny's clearly visible legs were seen teasing from just beyond the doorway. There was a very uncomfortable pregnant pause in the room. Then everyone's gaze returned to the Commander who was pinching his nose to prevent the geyser of a nosebleed from erupting all over the present company. Sensing and sharing in his frustration, Gwen took it upon herself to rectify the situation, she wordlessly handed Krissy over to the Commander who accepted this surprising offer and held her in suspension half an arms distance away from him. Krissy stared at the Commander while chewing absentmindedly on another piece of her shirt again. Sevs returned the stare unimpressed.

Gwen straightened out her apron and moved towards the restroom.

Sevs lowered the child slightly then called to the restroom, "O~kay! I'm coming in!" He looked to the others to share in his joke and was met with more of the same sort of responses. Spring with a slightly amused look, Kalina, still cowering behind her, looked over to the bathroom with some curiosity but keeping a wary eye on the Commander. Alphie looked so out of place and watched awkwardly as she tried to reach for Krissy. The Commander only quickly obliged and handed the child off as they all watched now for the next few pivotal moments in their morning.

"Commander is that you! I'm rea-Gwen?"

"Good morning Miss Penny." Gwen said stoically, "I heard you needed...help!" Her eyes flashed something horrible and a very dark and oppressive aura seemed to flood throughout the bathroom.

"Oh pooh! Yes, Gwen, just not yours!"

Gwen closed the bathroom door behind her and went straight to work. What followed the initial conversation was a small yelp and some more clattering. The rest, they could only leave to the imagination.

The Commander arched his eyebrows briefly then returned to the matter at hand. "Right! Anyway," another clatter and yelp from behind the bathroom door, "Anyone who wants breakfast, get dressed, and ready, we'll probably leave in about an hour or so."

"Me too?" Kalina asked excitedly as she came out from Spring's shadow finally, "I just love talking with Ms. Eva! She tells the funniest stories!"

"Don't you have...work? Or something?" Sevs said with a wave of his hand, mildly annoyed but nonetheless amused at the girl's interesting character and charisma.

"W~ell. Yes. But!" with a few types away at her pad, "I can always bring work with me! I won't be too busy!" She smiled brightly as she bounced on her toes. The Commander reared his head back slightly in mocked disgust then turned his attention to Alphie and Krissy, and how about you two? Want to join us on a quick breakfast raid? Gonna hit the greatest place this side of the...uh...British...Channel?" Sevs managed to work out in his confusion. Then grinned as he decided to roll with what he managed to say. Alphie, now comfortably holding Krissy again and trying also to break Krissy's shirt chewing habit, replied, "Ah thank you Commander, but unfortunately I don't think Krissy's mom would appreciate it if she went off without her knowing."

She looked at the Commander then quickly corrected, "Uh! Not...that...there's anything wrong with going to breakfast with you and your T-Dolls, Commander! Just. Uhm! We! Uh!-" Sevs held up a hand, casting a smile to the ground before returning to meet her worried eyes and said, "It's fine! Alphie, it's fine! Let's just call it a rain check! We'll have to invite her family out too if they work for us on base!"

"Uh...you see...they-" Alphie was about to explain when Gwen slid the door open from the bathroom then walked out, her eyes closed and huffed as she stepped aside. Penny was next to emerge from the still steaming bathroom with a mighty pout on her face and a very intricately braided hair underneath her white-frilled bonnet. Fully clothed in a clean set of her maiden uniform attire, she had her arms crossed and pouted at Gwen, "Hmph! Why do you have to ruin my fun!"

"I would hardly call it fun," Gwen said simply.

With a small break in their conversation, Alphie ensured that Krissy's boots were on and then slowly backed away as she apologized, "I'm sorry but if you'll excuse us, I must continue on my deliveries!"

"Hm? Yeah! No, please! Go on, thanks so much for your help this morning! See you both tomorrow! And be sure to invite Krissy's parents for me would you?"

Alphie tilted her head slightly before nodding, "Of course, Commander, please, have a good day. Say goodbye Krissy!" She whispered then pointed at everyone's direction. Krissy blinked twice as she twisted her body to face the crowd. She waved her hand, open and closing her palm simultaneously. Kalina smiled and melted emotionally as she leaned heavily on Spring. To Spring's slight surprise, she had to make slight adjustments to her posture to support Kalina's sudden shift. Sevs hunched over slightly and smiled the best he could and waved the same way as they made their way out the door until he could no longer see them.

Unknown to anyone else but Krissy, she had also waved to the messy haired boy that stood at the doorway of the Commander's office who, as he finished rubbing his eyes, stared as Krissy was leaving.

Sevs turned around counting the number of heads in the room then looked over to see one last person still passed out. He arched an eyebrow and walked over slowly towards the still slumbering red-headed Sigil and cocked his head side to side in his curiosity. Everyone else followed and gathered around the miraculous sight and for a moment or two, watching her breath. Her hair wrapped around her face to make her barely unrecognizable from any angle. Kalina stood in between Spring and the Commander now and made a much quieter "Aw-ing" noise.

Sevs said quietly, "Somebody, find me a stick, let's see if she's still alive." To which he received a quick slap to his elbow from Kalina for his joke. He mouthed mockingly at his pain then replied, "I was joking!"

"You're just not a nice person!"

"What? Of co~urse I'm nice! Everyone knows I'm nice!" Kalina stared back with a heavy dose of doubt. "I am!" Kalina rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the sleeping T-Doll at hand.

Sevs spoke with his eyes fixed on trying to trace every strand of hair from Sigil's hair. "So. Has anyone tried waking her up?"

"Several times, Commander." Spring said dutifully with a hint of amusement.

"She worked very hard yesterday after setting up the room and Common area." Gwen added.

"And she came from the mission, and helped with shopping..." Sevs rattled off, then shrugged, "Still...she's gotta get up sometime. I'm surprised she slept through all of that," he nodded his head off to the side where they first came in. "Well..."

"I've got this!" Kalina said as she shoved her personal datapad into the Commander's arms and pushed him aside. The Commander pursed his lips and shot Spring a dead-eyed expression whose only response was to shrug as she watched Kalina's method of waking Sigil up. Kalina rolled up her sleeves, with a wave of her hand, she slipped under the covers with Sigil and laid down facing her. Sigil felt a disturbance on her bed and tried to readjust to feel a bit more comfortable. She rolled over to the other side, flopping her arm around then realized it landed on something much more oddly shaped than any pillow she was familiar with, unsure of how long she's been asleep, she cracked an eye open and was slightly confused at all the orange-red she was seeing. Realizing it was just her hair, she lifted her head and hand and brushed them away only to see...

"Go~od morning!" A bright-eyed and very loud Logistics Officer lying in bed next to her.

Needless to say, her heart got the jump-start it would need for the rest of the week.

~-.-~

For the better part of their morning, Sevs kept Kalina busy by more or less requisitioning her to help rearrange the new furniture. Ms. Eva's two assistants emerged from the second dormitory in their own uniforms and assisted with the interior redecorating. A couch or two moved here, replacing the dull gray table for something with a bit more...personality. A rug laid about, and a few slaps on a certain greedy little pickpocket's hands, and then...they were done. The Common Area finally looked so much more welcoming.

Sevs began rattling off some notes for the changes he wanted to be done to the Living Quarters since it looked like he was going to be staying a while. While they had some basic amenities and then some, there was still quite a lack of character in the rather droll common area. Such as the lights, he complained it sapped away as his energy as he dragged his feet around the floor. He wished there to be at least some sky lighting and some windows in every dorm.

Willow was able to get the young man dressed and somewhat presentable with the clothes limited available. With Spring's help, the diapers for the infants were changed once again. Maria and Mary took their time to get acquainted with everyone in the dorm after they had woken up and readied themselves into a new set of uniforms.

Once everyone was ready, Sevs counted heads to ensure everyone was ready for the road, then scrunched his face as he realized he was missing one. Kalina was busy cooing and introducing herself to the infants that Willow and Spring brought out to care as to even why they were there...just yet.

"Here kitty kitty kitty." He said as he crouched down trying to spot any sign of Ida. "Where's that lazy cat?"

Then as he was about to check the dorms, he frowned then backed up to his office. He looked at his used cot and walked over to it. The blankets were neatly placed over the cot, the pillow centered at the head. But something was still off about it. Sevs took to his knee, reached under his cot and gripped tightly as he pulled the sleepy cat out from her hiding spot. Holding her by the back of her hoodie, he dragged her out and brought her face level to his. By some strange magic, it seemed as if her body simply stretched to an unnatural length as he held her up, similar to one of those uncompressed slinky toys.

After a few sleepy yawns Ida's eyes slowly came into focus and as she smiled and said sleepily, "Nyaa? Oh~! Good myorning Commeow-zzzz."

Her head drooped suddenly and her weight dropped with her. Not in the mood to carry her all the way out to a truck, Sevs took the-argumentatively- rougher approach. He flicked her nose then blew into her feline ears and dropped the mad cat faster than...well...as one would do if they held a mad cat. Sevs slammed his back against the corner of the door frame shielding his face with his arms as he watched Ida land on all-four on the ground, hissing in his direction, her tail standing ram-rod straight into the air.

She then scrunched her face as she sat in a squatting position, simultaneously rubbing her nose and ear. "Nnnnyow why'd you do that fo~r? Commeownder's so mean!"

From outside the office, Kalina could be heard shouting, "Exactly what I said!"

"Well I'm not carrying you to breakfast!"

Ida paused in her grooming as her ears twitched and her head perked up with interest, a very hungry smile flashed across her face as she darted out the office door shoving the Commander aside and throwing an arm around Kalina. "C'mo~n slowpoke," she called out as Kalina recovers her balance, smiling and laughing, "Don't wanna miss breakfast nyow do nyah?" Ida and Kalina began skipping down the hallway together, arms over shoulders, singing some tune the Commander wasn't too familiar with.

With an irritated sigh and slightly pained groan as he tried to rub out the pain between his shoulders, he grabbed his bag, packed some formula, diapers then grabbed his coat before heading out, following the girls out to the motor pool.

~-.-~

After tactically acquiring two separate civilian models of HWMMV's, Kalina at the wheel of one, and Spring in the other. Too tired to argue, Sevs only glances in her direction worriedly, grimacing as she tries to adjust her seat.

"Can you reach both the pedals?"

Kalina pouts and sticks a tongue in his direction as he leans back in his seat and closes his eyes as she starts the engine.

"How about the road? Can you see-" A leather jacket slams into his face.

"Just let me drive! Geez! Old geezer!"

"Hey!" He barked as he adjusted her jacket under his head. "You should respect your elders!"

"Ple~ase!" she waving off Sevs sagely wisdom as she throws the vehicle into gear. "You're old, but not that old."

"Pft. Says you! I am as old as time itself!"

"Oh~kay," Kalina says rolling her eyes as they drive up towards the base gate. She waved her badge and informed the number of vehicles in their party. The guard made note of it and saluted her as they drove off. "If you say so Commander."

"I do say so because it is so." Sevs replied casually.

Kalina shook her head and made to roll down her window just a crack. Then drove with one hand as she felt the breeze flow over her, she shifted hands to lean closer to the Commander then whispered, "Hey Comma~nder?"

"Zzzzzz."

"Commander?"

"Zzzzzz."

"Oh no, looks like I'll have to take his Credit Chip then."

"Nyope...dun't even...thinkz 'bout zit." The Commander mumbled sleepily as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

With her free hand, Kalina struck the Commander's arm and got his attention. "Hmm! Huh?! Wazzit noaw?!"

"Commander! We have to talk!"

"What?" The Commander said groggily as he checked his watch barely 10 minutes into the ride and already his nap was disturbed. He answered in a whining voice, "Don't you know where we're going?"

"That's not it Commander! Wake up!"

With a long and exaggerated sigh, he shifted his seat and sat up semi-attentively. "Ahem, yes...Logistics Officer Kalina, what can I do for you today?"

"Oh don't give me that! You know what we need to talk about!"

"..."

"...Well?"

"I've...got it handled."

"What do you mean you've 'got it handled'? Do you know what happens if the IA finds out about this? Where did you even find them in the first place? You didn't just bring them in off the streets did you? Do you-" As Kalina bombarded him with questions, Sevs threw up both his hands trying to ward off her questions and wincing in pain from the increasing volume and speed of her questions.

"Ayeyiyi! Lady! Calm down! One question at a time would you!" He rubbed the back neck and rolled his head slowly trying to work out the kinks. Finding that he made one instead, he stopped and turned back his attention to Kalina, "Geez, look. I'm handling it, right now. As we speak. And no, Internal Affairs won't find out 'cause they won't know a thing! Yes and no. Not off the streets but...I didn't leave them there either. Just...trust me. I got it handled."

"Commander! Those kids, I don't want to know where they came from but they..." Her face twist agonizingly, her mind conflicted with letting them stay or taking them to be cared for by what little remains of the government. Finally, she spoke up, "I just don't think they can stay here. I'm...sorry."

The two remained silent for a few minutes. Sevs sat up spoke up softly, "Hey now, don't you worry about that. They aren't staying there." he tapped Kalina's arm as she drove and said with as much assurance as he could grind out "You let me worry about that, you just focus on slamming down that breakfast today yeah?"

"Hmm. I guess." Kalina murmured dishearteningly, concern written all over her face as she continued to stare out into the road as she drove. Sevs reclined his seat slowly, his eyes fixed on her expression for a while then turned his head to face the other passengers in the vehicle. The two assistants from the pub, Gwen, Penny, and Sigil all sat silently in the vehicle. Sigil and Penny had effectively pinned Gwen with their heads as they used her shoulder as a pillow to continue their rest.

Gwen seemed comfortable enough as she kept her eyes closed and rested as graceful as she could in such a blocky vehicle. The two assistants were also soundly asleep in the middle row. Whether this was all a facade or not, they did get one thing right. Sleep was definitely important.

While the Commander's mind numbed and quickly shut down to return to the land of blessed sleep, Kalina's, however, was just the opposite. As she felt the bite of the cold winter wind bite at her cheeks through her window, a passing semi truck released a plume of smoke and kicked up a grand cloud of dust as it passed. She hadn't expected something so small to trigger something so powerful as her mind spun up and inadvertently took her back...to a living nightmare.

~-.-~

She could remember it, the day she failed. She was so young. So helpless. She could remember it so clearly. She remembered the very taste of the soup she had that day. She remembered the very hour when the bell tolled and class began. She remembered the taste of blood, of ash, of smoke and fire. She remembered.

She remembered the terror in the eyes of the town elder as he ran in through the schoolyard and started rushing the children into the church. The other Sisters and the Father helped gather the children and the town's volunteer staff. Tears streaming some of their faces. The terrified whispers, the hopeless crying, the confused and the outraged...There was so much yelling. Father Simone had just started waving the children down the steps before there was a roar of engines and the squeal of tires on the gravel road just outside. The repeated sounds of gunfire into the air. Everyone flinching at the sound, stunning some to the point of immobility. She wasn't one of them, but her younger sister...

She was separated from her sister for a moment as she was roughly shoved to the ground by the crowd of frightened children. As she picked her up, she could feel her sister clutching on tightly to her waist. She could feel her trembling. Or was that her? She couldn't tell anymore, the whole world seemed to shake all around her. The rush of other children and staff pushing past them. They thought that a basement would protect them...they were wrong...they were so...wrong.

Father Simone sprinted towards the church entrance trying to close and barricade it. He had nearly gotten the door closed when a burst of rounds came whizzing through the doorway. Father Simone's body jerked several times, splashes of blood, chips of bone and fragments of bullet rounds sprayed out through his back. Screaming, screaming, everyone was screaming as Father Simone's body fell to the floor. Watching in terror it was as if his eyes locked onto hers, he gasped several times, his body jerked involuntarily as he tried to reach the doors again. His hands and head fell, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he moved no more.

Armed thugs rushed through the door. There wasn't any time to move, no time, there wasn't enough time to-

~-.-~

"Kalina? Ka~li~na~? Hello~? Anyone home?" Her eyes cross, her head recoils slightly as she focuses on the hand was waving in front of her face. The Commander nudged her shoulder with his once he successfully grabbed her attention. Kalina turns her head away from the window and jumps back in her seat slightly as she's staring face to face with the Commander.

Kalina only then glanced around her surroundings in her uneasiness and noticed she was back in the corner booth where they first had breakfast, although she had no recollection of ever parking or even entering the pub! From a short distance away, the staff, Mr. and Mrs. Eva were all gawking at their youngest customers yet. The children the Commander had brought along were receiving all sorts of rightful attention. And then there was still the Commander as he sat back patiently waiting on her.

He watched her with concern but his face showing more curiosity. Kalina hurried to throw on a nervous smile as she tried to recollect her precious image.

"Ah! C-Commander! I was just-"

"Enjoying the view?"

"Uh...y-yes! Just a great view of the-" She turned to where she was pointing out the window and realize that her view was mostly of the Humvee's they came in. "-car?" she suggested, hoping that the Commander would buy such a ludicrous excuse.

The Commander's eye narrowed for a moment as he leaned in even closer as if there was something on Kalina's face. He threw a glance over to the car parked outside then leaned back shrugging casually. "Well, I can't blame you there. It sure is a tough ol' thing..." He scooted away from her and off the bench and took one step toward the bar. Kalina was quick to follow as she tried to exit the seat but was stopped when the Commander suddenly turned around, leaning on the headrest of the bench and asked in a hushed voice, "Are you... feeling okay? Lookin' a bit pale there."

Kalina stopped moving and looked up to face the Commander, she held up her and waved them defensively as she tried to assure him, "Yes yes! I'm fine! All good here! Just thinking about work and...uh...yeah just work!"

The Commander decided not to pursue the topic any longer as he shrugged and slowly back peddled towards the group by the bar. "Well, can't work your life away! C'mon. You want breakfast don't you?"

Kalina didn't need to be asked twice as she skipped over to the bar and joined all the other girls that were fawning over the three children. As they approached Eva could be heard saying, "Oh bless my stars above, aren't they just the most precious things? Dear, won't you look at them?"

Mr. O'Flannigan looked over his datapad, reading the Daily Gazette, and commented tiredly, "Yes yes dear so you've told me already and I am looking at them."

"Oh you stubborn caveman, I said come and look!" Ms. Eva removed the datapad from her husband's hands and dragged him over to the counter where the children were. William sat on the counter while he held Zara in his arms, his eyes following where ever Willow and Alysia went. Everyone cooed and aw'ed they're and it just didn't seem to end with every movement, sneeze, yawn, it was just a never-ending cycle.

"Awlrigh' AWLRIGH', you daft woman if I didn't love you-"

"Oh but you do and you'll love me so much more, look now dear!"

"You baby crazy-hmph." Mr. O'Flannigan grunted as he finally took the time to look at the children since they first stepped into the door. He looked at William, and William at him. Zara sneezed and Alysia yawned, and the little boy meekly waved in old Patty's direction.

Try as he might, he couldn't hold out against the charms of such tiny little creatures as he reluctantly stretched out a hand and gently pinched William's cheeks, "Th-There's a good lad."

Mrs. O'Flannigan rested her head on her husband's shoulder and sighed fondly, gripping his arm between hers. Sevs stood behind the crowd looked at Paddy O'Flannigan, slack-jawed and apprehensive trying to figure out how a rough and tough old man like him, was now gushing and blushing like a child at a puppy park. Spring, unnoticed by Sevs, with two fingers, closed his mouth and said quietly, "You're staring, Commander."

The Commander looked down toward his now-closed mouth in confusion then stood a bit straighter as he said, "Yeah...Well. Not my fault everyone's attention is on them. And Paddy never gushes. Tough-as-nails of a ba-Ahem!-geezer. And look at him melt!" He pointed with exaggerated outrage at Paddy who continued to ruffle William's hair, poke at him and start his little games of peek-a-boo with Zara. Sevs crossed his arms over his chest and continued to stare in disbelief.

"Commander," Spring said almost playfully, "You sound a little jealous."

"And you sound...really chipper," Sevs confessed all the more confused. He turned his head curiously towards her direction. He smiled, and let a small chuckle escape as he leaned in as if to share some secret. "Y'know...you can smile."

"I am smiling. Perhaps you should do the same." She answered coyly.

"What?" Sevs said throwing his head back, feigning offense, "I wasn't? Now hold on a minu-" He was interrupted by the sound of two distinct and sharp claps in the air drawing everyone's attention.

"IF everyone is feeling any sort of peckish, we will be taking orders now!" Mrs. Eva declared. She waved her hand to the other A-Dolls as they got the message and made very few complaints, all waving at the children as they all passed them by. Mrs. Eva had to more than insistently guide her gushing husband back to the kitchen where he belonged reminding him, "Now, now dear, the children must be famished! I'll get their orders and you be sure to cook them up something nice and special won't you?"

Laughing dumbly and slowly coming out of the affectionate haze that clouded his mind, "Yes dear, you know I surely will!"

"There's a good husband." She said as she gave him a peck and a pinch on the cheeks. He fastened on his apron, washed his hands and prepared his kitchen for service. Ms. Eva came back out to direct her girls to tend to start tidying up the place.

Ida offered her arms to hold Zara, William looked at her then back at Zara. He hesitated but eventually nodded his permission. Ida scooped up Zara from his arms into hers, then William began to scoot off the counter into a bar stool. Kalina came around from behind and carried him to his seat. She then took a seat beside him, leaning on one arm and smiling very warmly in his direction. Slightly uncomfortable with the constant smile she was also gushing his way, he waved and greeted her with a simple, "Hello."

To his unfortunate surprise, he was swept up into her arms, his arms pinned to his side his face pressed up against hers...to say the least, it was embarrassing for him as he struggled to be released by his captor. To his even more unfortunate demise, it seemed that the more he struggled the more he was cuddled by this very strange young lady in the leather jacket. It turned out that Kalina felt more comfortable with him on her lap so she decided to take his seat and be his instead. It was all rather tiresome for the young man, but...he couldn't deny how comfortable she was.

Mrs. Eva finally turned up in front of everyone once they were seated and started taking their orders. Unsurprisingly, Penny, Kalina, Ida, and Sevs ordered the most out of the group. Gwen settled on some oatmeal and yogurt. Sigil ordered some Irish Breakfast, and Spring decided to go with Irish Breakfast with a small side of a yogurt parfait. Marie and Mary were a bit undecided and chose to go with some eggs and toast with a small side of yogurt parfait as well.

While they were waiting on their orders, the Commander pulled out his datapad from his backpack and started scrolling through various reports from other Commanders in their assigned sections on the public board. He bit his lip guiltily as he remembered he had yet to turn in his reports for the two previous sorties. He kept reading on some interesting developments in the other sectors and groaned mentally as he figured he might be called out to any of those locations soon with the way the containment project was progressing.

He massaged the side of his head as the info kept flooding in. Casualties upon casualties, some restoration efforts halted along the fronts. Hostage situations and other difficult news...

"Commander," Ms. Eva said as she came around the end of the counter to deliver his plate of food. "It isn't particularly healthy to be reading such grim news before you've been fed."

He grimaced as he put away his datapad and accepted the plates of food. He tucked a napkin just under his loosened collar and said, "Ah, the grand wisdom of Mrs. O'Flannigan herself. The kindest and wisest in all the land."

"And...?" Mrs. O'Flannigan said expectantly.

Sevs slapped his forehead without missing a beat as he exclaimed, "OH! And how could I ever forget the most gorgeous and fairest maiden of the land!"

"Oh, you absolute scoundrel!" Teased Mrs. Eva, a clatter of kitchen utilities could be heard from the kitchen, "Quickly now, the usual fare will do." She said quickly as she leaned closer to the Commander. He only all the more happily gave her a quick two pecks on the cheek as her husband rounded the corner in a fury, "And you can keep the change dear." Sevs said loudly as she walked away in a giggling fit towards her furious husband.

"Why you no-good-rotten sunuvab-" He was stopped short in his tantrum as Mrs. Eva planted a wonderfully timed kiss on his lips. Kalina nearly spat out her drink as she hurried to cover William's eyes by burying his head into her neck. Penny looked on with adoration and longing, Gwen and Spring concentrated on their food while Sigil was overall oblivious to it all as she clearly was enjoying her own food too much.

"Come now Mister O'Flannigan," Mrs. Eva said teasingly once they stopped eating each other's faces. "Why don't you help me...clean up the kitchen." She said as she teased his chin with a stroke of her fingertip before gliding away, letting the bottom of her dress catch some unseen draft and showing a very naughty ankle.

Mr. O'Flannigan may not have been completely immune to old tricks as he may have others believe but as soon as her finger left his old scraggly beard, he whipped his hand towards the bottom of his prize as she glided away and said after her laughing, "Oh I'll clean your kitchen alright, Mrs. O'Flannnigan." She disappeared back into the kitchen with her husband hot on pursuit but not before he gave a stern warning to his customer, "I'm not done with you yet boy!"

"You're just jeal-" The Commander tried to say with a face full of eggs, bread, and sausage in his mouth but had to stop short of his taunting as a wooden spoon went flying at his head. Narrowly avoiding the spoon, he enjoyed a nice hot sip of coffee as he could hear the two galumphing and flirting away in the back. He shook his head and chuckled to himself still staring at the space where Paddy was just standing, then his gaze wandered to the other T-Dolls in the pub who were giving him various looks of disapproval. Well. Except for Penny. Always.

"Wha'?" Sevs asked questioningly as he took another sip of coffee. He rubbed the sides of his mouth and asked again, "Is it something on my face?"

~-.-~

"You're going to have to say yes this time."

"And...why would that be?"

"It's the end of the year, dear. You have no more days to say no!" Persica said thoughtfully as she continued to brush Krissy's hair. For the past hour or so since Krissy, her caretaker, and her mother's arrival, all they have been badgering about was about the plan for tonight. Krissy sat on Persica's lap wrapped in a slightly large child-sized lab coat with a notepad and fishing out different colored crayons to suit her needs. Occasionally Krissy would show her "Aunt" her progress to which she would be rewarded with a gentle pat on the head and a very impressed facial expression which encouraged her to continue.

Helianthus pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration and squeezed her eyes shut trying to find a reasonable argument as to why she's to busy with this ridiculous idea. Too tired to even find words to work in her favor, she chose to take a seat to hopefully get some form of an excuse out.

"And besides my dear," Persica continued on, "She'll be perfectly alright with me and my pets!" She continued to finish up the hair brushing while the child was still mildly distracted by one of the mentioned bets that sat under her desk. From the shadow, it stared at the child with mild interest and curiosity. The child noticed this and stopped her coloring for a moment. She looked at the unblinking eyes before offering her Forest Green crayon. The figure moved it's unblinking gaze from the child to the crayon before approaching in a much more friendly manner, squatting up beside her and drawing happy little trees on her notepad.

"Their...hair...is insufferable to remove from her clothes," Helian said pointedly as she observed the interactions with a stern motherly glare.

Persica shrugged, "And I will be sure to thoroughly vacuum her clothes then." To which Krissy's mother could only sigh and shake her head. Krissy looked up towards her "Auntie Percy" at the hint of the discussion over her. Persica smiled down at the child and hugged her gently with a hand covering the finely brushed hair that she adored ever so much. She then swiveled her chair to face Helian and set the child down to return to her mother.

Krissy hobbled over and fell arms first into her mother's lap which earned her an affectionate sigh. Krissy's face laid sideways on her mother's pants before she tried to crawl on to her mother's knees. Helian picked her child up and set her down on her lap, stroked her fingers down Persica's work, then sighed again as she made up her mind if only to stop her from staring.

"I get to pick the dress."

"You always pick the dress. You don't have any other dress."

Slightly flustered by the accusation but more annoyed by the harsh truth of it, she chose to change the subject. "I will only allow the braiding of my hair."

"A~nd makeup my dear?"

"Irrelevant."

"Necessity." Persica fired back.

"...Moderation?" Helian relented.

"Acceptable."

"Backstory?"

"I am... a local gardener?" Helian said hesitantly.

"Are you asking or telling?" Persica said with amusement.

"I am a local gardener," Helianthus said with confidence, however it left her with such a bitter taste in her mouth as she was nowhere near a suitable gardener in the slightest.

All between the trade of back-and-forth's Krissy turned her head as trying to follow the conversation as if watching the words literally fly out of their mouths between them.

"Well then. I suppose you're going then!" Persica exclaimed victoriously as she fiddled with something behind her back.

"Alright then...I suppose..." Helianthus felt as her child leaned against her chest and played with the ends of her hair, counting every fray, split-end, and occasionally brushing it against her cheeks. Helianthus stroked her child's hair absentmindedly as she tried desperately to put out the mental image of the horrors that was sure to come.

A dark and predatory smile followed by a looming shadow crept over Persica's face as she stood from her chair, fixed her lab coat and purred out, "E~xcellent."

Helianthus set her child down to go follow one of Persica's pets as the adults...prepared for tonight. Alphie could only look on in embarrassment and horror as Persica went and did her worst. Seeing how gruesomely unpleasant the sight was, decided to continue her duty to keep Ms. Krissy occupied for the time being.

~-.-~

After breakfast, Sevs brought some crucial details and a very far stretched request to Paddy while Mrs. Eva went to give her other guests some more gossip and talk and to give the adorable children their much-deserved attention. From where they were seated on the second-floor loft, away from everyone else but within sight, Sevs looked down to them and watched how they interacted. Ms. Eva seemed to be just overflowing with the chance to be near any of the children let alone holding one. It had been a while but the infants were now awake and giggling at being tickled, at the love and attention they were getting, and absolutely enjoying being fed more milk.

Paddy and Sevs were locked in a spacing-out contest trying to find any other reality except the one they were in now. The reality and gravity of the situation were both rather dire. Sevs couldn't house the children for fear of Internal Affairs finding out and accusing himwar crime-crime. They could anonymously donate them to some Cathedral or one of the local centers but the system now was much worse than it was before the war. Neither wanted to risk the children being swept up by some corrupt back-alley deal. And so the option was left that they would take them in.

Whatever services, supplies, gifts or anything that they needed, the Commander offered to pitch in for the couple as they practically raised the A-Dolls they have now but this was different. They've never had actual children before. It excited Mr. O'Flannignan, but it caused him just as much worry and grief.

"Now..." Mr. O'Flannigan slowly grounded out. "You can be certain the Missus'll be damned glad to hear of it son. But..." He hesitated as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat and took another drink of his ale. "Are you sure you'll be able to help pay for them? You know we've got some scraps saved and-" He was stopped as Sevs turned to look back him and waved casually at the mention of payment.

"Paddy, you and I both know what you're saving for. Look. It's fine. You send the bill to me. I'll take care of it. You buy what you want or need for them, I'll reimburse with interest. You'd be doin' me a kindness no amount of money could ever repay."

Paddy barked out a laugh, "HA! That's rich, I'm not sure who's doing the favor here lad, but rest assured...We'll keep'em safe."

After that, they shook hands, both of them letting out a shared relieved sigh and chuckle as they made their way down towards the group. Sevs went behind the counter and poured himself another cup of coffee for his weary soul and watched as Mr. O'Flannigan pull his wife off to the side in the kitchen. She hands to Gwen, Alysia, before leaving her seat and following. Sevs surveys the scene once more and smiles again at the sight. It's something like out of a movie. A group full of gorgeous women, cradling and fawning over infants and children at the table. A cat napping on the bench behind the group after gorging down five plates full of food.

Off behind him in the kitchen, he heard a slap, an excited squeal and some tears. He tried to ignore it but it wouldn't be too long before he heard the rapid approach of a very excited Mrs. Eva as she more-or-less tackled his rib-cage and gave him the tightest hug he had ever felt. He swore that any tighter he'd finally have the chance to see the insides of his stomach and then some. He thankfully had the foresight to slide his cup of coffee as far away from the nearly death-by gratitude scene before addressing the absolutely ecstatic woman with a genuinely casual interest.

"Woaaahh now! Ease up there! I know I'm good irresistible but this is a bit much, your husband is right there. You remember him don't you?" He slid two thumbs between him and his attacker's arms if only to give him a chance to breathe. He hadn't seen the old girl this excited since the wedding! She finally let go of him, only to latch on and stomp her feet several times squealing some incoherent nonsense. By this time, everyone in the Pub was looking with increasing interest.

Feeling his spine about to give way in the worst way possible he tried to reach around to pat her back but felt a slight pop near the mid-lower spinal column forcing him to tap out aggressively on the counter. "Okay okay okay! I get it! I'm sorry!" He pleaded helplessly, tears of pain welling in his eyes while Mrs. Eva was crying the tears of joy that just didn't seem to end. She let go of the Commander just as he was about to pass out from blood loss and said quickly and excitedly, "I can't believe you! Are you serious! Do you really mean it? Honestly!?"

With his back leaning over the counter, gasping for breath with years worth of life drained from his face, he struggled to remain on his feet and nodded vigorously as he breathed out a very raspy, "Ye~s! For the love of all things, yes! It's tru-hu-hu!" He coughed out the last bit. A smile crept on his face when Mrs. Eva slapped his arm rather roughly chiding him saying, "Oh now you stop that! I know you've handled worse!" The Commander looked apprehensively at her and raised his eyebrows suggesting that her statement wasn't exactly the most honest or plausible.

"I reckon you dun near kilt the poor fellow dear." Paddy yelled from the safe distance behind her. Ms. Eva rolled her eyes at the mention as she waited with a degree of impatience as the Commander recovered from his charade. With a nervous hand covering her mouth and another to hold herself, she peeked over her hand and threw an anticipating, "Well?"

The Commander straightened up, fixed his tie and nodded, "Yes. It's true. Every word of i-" He visibly flinched again as she ran and tackled him once more with a near ear-splitting screech. Paddy decided to help himself to another pint of ale, focusing on that task alone while his wife enjoyed her moment. Ida, hearing the screech sat up and straightened out her ears in attention as she groggily asked, "Nyahhh, why's it so nyoisy?" No one around her bothered to answer her as they were still trying to piece together the scene before them.

This time, the Commander was ready for Mrs. Eva as she came charging towards her. He grabbed her by the arms and jumped in pace with her sharing her excitement, "Okay! We're excited! We're jumping and excited! Very happy!"

"Um...Commander," Mary decided to speak up finally, "Why is Mrs. O'Flannigan so excited, sir?"

Wrapped up in a hug once more, the Commander teetered from one foot to another as he was spun around. The Commander smiled as he pointed to both Mr. and Mrs. Flannigan, "They're adopting!" As if those two words would explain everything. Everyone in the bar turned to one another then towards the children at the middle table. The staffing A-Dolls in the pub gave a small round of applause shared with a few cries of joy and returned to the adoration of the children all the more, promising this and that to the infants that couldn't comprehend even the slightest bit.

Half finished with his current pint, Mr. O'Flannigan hobbled over to peel his very clingy wife off of the poor oxygen deprived Commander and bared the remainder of the punishment wrapping an ever affectionate arm around her and guiding her over to the table. The gathered A-dolls made way for the King and Queen of the Pub to approach the new prince and princesses-to-be.

It was a happy moment to be sure.

Gwen looked reluctantly towards the Commander, who nodded his approval. Alysia was first to be given to the misty-eyed Mrs. Eva, Zara, handled by Kalina, was initially transferred in the most awkward of fashions as Mr. Paddy as too excited for his own good he didn't know which way was up! It took a bit of a verbal walk through to support the head and cradle her gently but securely which did not equal tightly and that yes, small bounces and such were okay.

Mr. O'Flannigan settled for small rocking motions and laughing nervously trying to calm his nerves. His wife seemed much like a professional mother but deep down in her core, she was every bit excited and nervous as her husband. The both of them took a seat at the bar and soaked in every moment of this wonderful moment.

The Commander moved around the two and over to Willow and William's seat, knelt down to William's eye level and asked, "How would you like to stay with these gentle folks here? You'll always be well fed, warmly dressed-"

He stopped as William shook his head vigorously and hid his face under Willow's trench coat. Sevs sighed seeing how this was going to be a bit of a task trying to coax him out. Willow gently removed the child's hand from her coat and brought his face to look up at hers. She smiled compassionately as she asked, "What's the matter young man? The Commander trusts them, they're much better cooks than what we have at base. And don't you want to make sure your sister's are alright?"

"That's right! Only you know what makes'em fussy!" Sevs added, then leaned in to whisper, "And only you know the secret to make'em nice and quiet-like."

William looked between Willow and the Commander before shaking his head vigorously again and wrapping his arms around Willow again and mumbling something that was caught in between her clothes. The Commander furrowed his eyebrows towards Willow, hoping she understood something, Willow frowned as she leaned back in her seat and gently moved the boy away from her body and asked, "Wha'ssat now? Didja say somethin'?"

The boy looked up and said with a heartbreaking sincerity, "Buh' I wanna stay with you miss." Willow looked blankly at him for a moment before slowly enveloping him in her arms and leaning over his head to feel his curly hairs brush against her cheeks. Her eyes misted up for a moment before she wiped it away with her gloved hand. She drew the folds of her coat over the boy to keep him warm and he nestled in all the closer.

Sevs found himself with all eyes on him. Suddenly feeling the strange peer pressure to make a decision he was at a loss for words. He chewed on the inside of his cheeks, then his tongue and looked at the elderly couple at the bar. Mrs. O'Flannigan was the first to speak up, "Oh, if it wouldn't be too much trouble Commander, could the boy stay with you? Just for a couple of nights. We'd need to renovate the rooms upstairs anyhow to fit him in. Isn't that right dear?" She nudged her husband once, then a little harder the second time followed by an insistent cough.

"Hm? Uhm. Yes. What she said." Mr. O'Flannigan said absentmindedly, followed by an eye roll and a hopeless groan from his wife. "What? I said the right things!" He mumbled said defensively.

"You are absolutely hopeless..." she said adoringly to her husband as she leaned on his shoulder. She then perked her head up as she realized something and instructed one of her assistants to fetch something from the back. The assistant returned promptly with a small red and envelope in hand and passed it along to the Commander. The Commander accepted the ticket between two fingers and raised it up to eye level and raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

"So~, what's this then?" He asked as he poured himself another cup of coffee. The caffeine was finally hitting his system as he could feel the blood pumping through his legs now.

"Ah, well, we've been meaning to give you this since your graduation but it seemed to slip our minds."

Paddy was suspiciously only too aware of this now as he nodded in agreement. "Aye, that's right. You know how forgetful we are," he said as he and his wife moved just a little bit further from the Commander. "Anyhow," he waited until the Commander took his first sip of coffee, "as our way of thanks and congratulations we got you this-" now was the fun part, "speed dating invitation!"

Coffee spitting, a choking Commander, and an angry cat. It all happened, all together.