***

And Yet Another Two Years

***

Kathy looked around the small jail cell she was sitting in, grimacing at the simple lack of features.  "Even American jails are better than this," she said dryly, sitting on her bunk.  "At least they have toilets."  She pulled her knees up, resting her chin on it.  "How in the hell did they get me mixed up with Cat?  I'm not even as heavy as she was the last time I saw her."  She looked down at her bulging stomach.  "Maybe it's you."  She shrugged and went back to remembering how this had all happened.

Jigen had gotten fixed.  She had went to hold his hand.  The doctor said he had a problem with one tube, that it wasn't cut, he couldn't because it was off too far and he'd have to open another hole, but it was clipped.  Then she had gotten pregnant a year and a half later.  "Oh, yeah, that fight," she said bitterly.  He had accused her of sleeping around on him, specifically with Lupin.  She had yelled back that she hadn't and he knew she hadn't since she was never out of his sight.  He had pointed out the fact of his surgery, she reminded him that one had only been clipped.  He stomped off, going to blow off some steam.  She had packed up the kids and left with Kit.  Lupin had found them once but she had left.  They had been traveling around to see the world, but then she got here, to Jordan, and they said she had killed someone back in Chicago, one of theirs.  When they really wanted Cat, called her by Cat's name, didn't believe her fingerprints, and Chicago was actually backing her up on this.  She had used her single call to call Zenny for a favor and he was supposedly on the way, after threatening to send her husband to her.  She had stopped that idea rather quickly when she told him what was going on.  Now all she had to do was wait.  And wait.  And wait.

But at least no one was trying to harm her.  They had drawn blood for a definitive test of her identity.  Apparently someone believed in DNA.  She sat up as the cellblock's door opened, standing up when she saw who it was.  "Finally!"

He smiled at her and the door was opened.  "They've decided they made a horrible mistake," he said gruffly, taking her hand.  "Where are the kids?"

"I sent Kit ahead to the next place," she admitted quietly.  "I sure as hell didn't want them here."

He nodded.  "Good idea."  He walked her out, looking at the paperwork set in front of them.  "Fat chance."  The cops looked stunned. "Your own officers proved that she wasn't Cat Demoranth-Vecchio.  She never has been."

"They are the same!" the cop thundered, pounding his fist on the table.

"Dude, I know Cat.  We're friends.  She's heavier than me, has darker brown hair than my own natural reddish tint, and she's about six inches taller than I am."

"Bull!  You Western women dye your hair all the time."

"Yes, but if I had, my gray wouldn't be showing.  It doesn't work that way.  It covers the gray."  He looked crestfallen.  "You've proven to your Minister of Justice that I'm not her.  If you want her, I wish you all the luck in the world getting through Chicago's bureaucracy, her husband, his family, and about a third of the cops on the force.  Now, if you want to keep me, I'm going to kill someone.  I'm already having mood swings."

He glared at her.  "We can fix that."

"You just try," she invited coldly.  "I can send you to hell.  I've done it others."  Someone new walked in and she looked at the man in the suit.  "You his boss?"  He nodded, looking quite calm.  "Good.  Do you actually believe I'm Cat Demoranth?"

"No," he admitted.  "You are however an unescorted woman."

"My husband is somewhere else," she said snidely.  "Real women can travel and see the world without help.  If you don't want me here, evict me from the country.  I will *gladly* go somewhere else."  He nodded, handing over a passport and a ticket.  She looked at the destination.  "I doubt I'm going to Iran, dude.  Zenny?"

"Coming."  He signed her out and handed over her things.  "Your wallet's in there and it's full," he said, helping her into the car.  "My wife said hi, she said that the latest pictures were adorable."  He got in to drive, taking her back to the hotel to clean up and then they left together.  "What did she do?" he asked finally.

"She caught one of their embassy guards in the middle of raping a girl and blew his ass away.  They got a tad bit upset, but IA, the civil court, and all that stuff found her not guilty.  She had no other recourse because otherwise the girl was going to die.  He had pulled a knife and was calling her a whore."  She shivered and curled up.  "I hate this country."

"There's people like that all over the world," he soothed.  "Where are we heading?  The Chief wanted to talk to you."

"Kit and the kids are in Italy, in Florence."

"So's Jigen."

"Fuck."

"Basically," he agreed, pulling up in front of the airport.  He got her and her bag out, taking her inside.  The security people followed them around but they didn't try to stop her from changing her ticket to Venice.  "You're sure?"

"Yeah.  Very sure."

"He'll know."

"No he won't.  There's about to be a small thing that'll draw Lupin's attention," she said bitterly.  "They're my kids.  He stomped out and made sure I knew that."  He stayed silent, staring at her.  "You didn't hear?"

"No.  What happened this time?" he asked, leading her through to their gate, sitting next to her.  "What caused this fight?"

"His surgery only cut and tied one side, his other tube was out of alignment and the doctor could only clip that one with the way it was wound since Jigen didn't let him make a bigger hole.  So he did.  Then this one comes to be," she said, stroking her stomach.  "So he accused me of sleeping around on him, specifically with Lupin."  Zenigata's mouth fell open but he was staring off down the hallway.  She looked at the person, then waved and snorted.  "Tell Lupin I'm repossessing my kids," she called.  "He can take a leap off the Tower in Pisa."  She looked at her buddy again.  "Thank you for coming to help me."

"Not an issue," he said quickly, not staring at Fujiko anymore.  He smiled down at her.  "What's this one?"

"We're doing an amnio in a few days," she said, stroking her stomach.  "I think it's a girl.  She's calm like Jissan was, not the kicker that Mal or Chad were.  How is he?"

"Doing just fine.  Mal and Kit called and told me all about what happened.  I expected you to call on Jigen, but then I heard he wasn't around anymore."  He grimaced.  "You'll probably have to fight someone for them."

"He can kiss my ass, they're my kids.  I did it without him before."  She sniffled.  "He was mean, Zenny!  He accused me of sleeping with him so I could leave him.  He said all sorts of mean stuff."

He gave her a long hug.  "I know," he soothed.  "Jigen can be an asshole when you shatter his worldview.  Do you need something for a paternity test?"

"If you've got a handy sample lying around."

"Well, you've got the kids, or we do have DNA on file with Interpol from a few years back when someone accused him of rape.  He cleared himself by sending in a sample and a certified letter from a doctor that he had taken the sample."  She sniffled and nodded.  "Then we'll do the lab work through the office while the Chief talks to you."

"Okay."  She leaned against his chest.  "At least they didn't try to touch us."

"No, they wouldn't have," he soothed, stroking her back.  He pulled out his phone so he could call his wife.  "I've got her.  She's fine.  They somehow got her mixed up with Cat.  Yeah, that one."  He smiled.  "No, we're heading for Venice and then somewhere from there," he said fondly.  "I'll see you soon."  He hung up, smiling down at the sleeping woman. He watched as Fujiko walked over.  "It's Jigen's."

"I heard.  I also heard Lupin rip him a new one."  Zenigata shrugged one-sidedly so he wouldn't wake Kathy up.  "She okay?"

"No.  They had her in jail for nearly two weeks because they thought she was Cat Demoranth."  Fujiko looked horrified, looking down at the thinner, trimmer, tighter body.  "Exactly."  He grimaced.  "We'll be fine.  Please don't tell Lupin.  Let him stay out of this."

"He is.  Jigen's back to being silent, stone man."  She waved. "I'm off to find a person.  Wish me luck."  She put up her head covering and walked off, heading out of the airport for her latest job.  On the way she called Lupin.  "She was rescued."  She listened to his instructions.  "No can do, Lupin.  Zenigata has her."  She smirked.  "That's his problem."  She hung up, heading to find the stockholder in the diamond mine that so entranced her.

***

Lupin got up, answering the door a few days later.  He took the envelope and tipped the bellhop carefully, then shut the door in his face.  He looked at the name, then tossed it at Jigen. "From Interpol's labs."  He sat down, picking up the book he had been previewing before reading to his daughter.  He wanted only the best for Absinth and the little Fourth.  Not that the Fourth would enjoy this one, but his daughter would adore it.

Jigen slit it open, pulling out the lab report.  He sat up, reading it again and again.  He looked up.  "It's mine?"

"It's yours, idiot," Lupin agreed.  "You're going to be groveling for a very long time, if she takes you back.  Since she knew you were watching and seeing the kids when she took them from you, I'd say that you've got one long road to even get her to talk to her.  Have fun with the broken glass littering it."  He turned the page, getting engrossed again.

Jigen read the letter again, looking defeated.  "Another girl," he said quietly.

Goemon walked in and shut the door, putting the child on his back down.  "He wanted to see you before his mother left the city."

"She's still here?" Jigen asked hopefully, hugging his younger son.

"Barely.  She'll be leaving in a few hours.  I do not know where she is going."

"She's got two sets of tickets.  One to Mexico, one to Yokohama."  Lupin read on, turning the page when he was ready.  He smiled as the little boy invaded his lap too.  "Hi, Elven."  He hugged him hard.  "How is my favorite hellion?"

"Play!" he said happily, smiling up at him to show his teeth.

"Wow, you've got another one."  He ruffled the dark hair.  "Good job, Hellion."  He gave him an extra squeeze.  "I'm reading, would you like to cuddle?"

"No play?" he asked, sniffling a bit.

"Play with the daddy."

Chad got down and toddled over, tugging on his father's hand. "Play!  It!"

"Okay, we'll play some tag," Jigen agreed, chasing slowly after the baby as he ran.  "Have you been playing this with Mal?"  His son nodded, nearly falling over.

"Be careful," Goemon said patiently.  "No running into things.  Your mother would get very upset if you came back bruised."

"Hey, Chad, where are you guys going to see next?" Lupin asked.  Chad looked confused, stopping to look at him.  "Your mommy said you guys were going to leave this city and go somewhere else. What did she say you were going to see?"

"Sea?" he asked.

"Wow.  I bet that'll be very pretty," Lupin said, grinning at him. "He's going to catch you."  Chad took off running again, dodging around his father.  "I'm guessing he's going to Mexico."

Jigen smirked at him.  "Thanks, dad."

"Welcome.  Hey, Chad, go pounce my kids and wake them up.  I've got another chapter read."

Chad ran that way, going to pounce Abby.  He liked Abby.  She was neat.  Not at all like his sister.  He pounced her, hugging her.  "Hi!"

Absinthe woke up and patted him.  "Hi, Chad."  She blew a kiss.  "No playing?"

"Play?" he asked happily.  "Read!"  He pointed at the living room.  "Read!  Read me!"

"Okay, we read," the Fourth said, sitting up to rub his eyes.  "Come on, Chad."  He climbed off the bed and walked around, helping Chad down.  "Come on."  He and his sister walked out together, letting him stay between them.  His father smiled and made room for them around him so they could all see the book. "Read?" he pleaded, giving a begging look.

Lupin patted him on the head.  "Of course I will."  He went back to his original place, starting off on the next chapter of the Three Musketeers.

Jigen sat down to look at the paper again, reading over the relationship part.  It said she was his.  "How?" he asked.

"I told you to get that tested," Lupin said as he turned the page.

"Maybe I will," he admitted, heading out to check on that.  He'd be back before Chad missed him.  He liked being read to.

***

Kathy looked down at her new daughter, smiling at the happy baby she was.  "Hi, Avalon."

"Mommy?" Mal asked, walking in to help watch his baby sister.  "She okay?"

"She's just fine," she soothed, patting him on the head.  "Do you like Avalon?"

"I like," he agreed happily.   They had gotten to help pick the name. "Lon will be happy with it too."

"Yeah, but her Godparents probably won't like it," she said miserably.  She sat down, pulling Mal into her lap.  "Where are Jissan and Chad?"

"Napping."  He curled up against her chest. "Does the baby eat like Chad did?"  She nodded, rocking them a bit.  "Wow."  He poked her on the chest.  "They hold a lot of food."

She laughed and squeezed him.  "They're full of milk, son.  Not things like hamburgers."

"Can we have burgers tonight?"

"Sure."  She stroked his back, watching her new one fall asleep.  "Avalon Arwynn Jade."  He grinned at her, he had liked that name.  "You think your father would like it?"  He nodded, looking very serious.  "Would you like to see him?"

"Yup," he said happily.  "He come soon?"

"I don't know when he'll get here, but I'm sure he'll have another treat for you."  She went back to rocking him, he was very soothing to her in these moments.

***

Jigen hopped up when the door was knocked on, staring at the person on the other side.  "Ray, is she all right!" he asked, grabbing him to pull him inside.

Ray got free and backhanded him, looking down at him as he adjusted his suit.  "She is."  He pulled out something, weighing it in his hand.  "She said I should give this to you.  I'm not so sure you deserve it.  Cat's not either."  Jigen sat up and Ray glared at him.  "A real man doesn't abandon his family."

"She always leaves before I can do more than see the kids for a few hours," Jigen protested, getting to his feet.  "I've wanted to talk to her."

"After what you yelled at her?  I'm surprised you're not in pieces," Ray said coldly.  "You deserve it."

"Then help me fix it," Jigen spat.  "I want my wife back.  I realize I was wrong.  I was wrong to jump to conclusions.  I was wrong to accuse her.  I'm sorry, I was jealous."

"That's your problem," Ray said snidely.  "Right now, you've got a bigger one.  Chad's developing asthma."  Jigen looked horrified.  "He's already had one attack."  He stepped closer.  "If she had asked, I would kill you for her," he hissed, staring into the darker eyes.  "No man deserts his family that way.  She went through hell this time because of your jealousy.  Now, I can give you this birth certificate, or I can kill you.  I'm still wobbling.  Do you *think* you can suddenly act like a real man?"  Jigen nodded.  "Good."  He handed it over, then he punched him, breaking his nose.  "That's for Avalon and the hell she went through.  When she had to call Zenny to get her out of jail, that should have been you.  When she nearly died a few months ago from taking care of Chad to the point of being hospitalized herself, you should have been the one watching the kids, not Kit.  Not Cat.  Not me.  You."  Jigen looked up, nodding at him.  "Good.  Now that we have an understanding that you're going to grow the fuck up again, she's back at home.  Chad's still having attacks.  There is no more smoking in the house or anywhere near him.  The doctor is trying something new since he had an attack the last time during his nap.  Your wife panicked and panicked so bad the dispatch woman had to calm her down and get her thinking.  This is your family and unless you want it to suddenly become mine or Zenigata's, I'd straighten up today.  She's giving you *one* chance to come see your youngest and Chad.  By the way, Mal expects one hell of a present from you."

"He's got it coming," Lupin agreed, looking up from the couch.  "She okay now?"

"No.  She ripped during the birth.  They had to remove everything." Lupin winced.   "Fortunately she was in Zenigata's office when her water broke and her uterus ruptured. They managed to save her life."  Jigen went paler than normal.  "It's amazing.  People do love her.  Remember that the next time your irrational behavior gets out of hand."  He left, leaving them there.  His wife wanted to walk him around the main park by the Eiffel Tower before they headed back to the house.  Zenigata had her under surveillance.

Jigen opened the birth certificate, moaning.  "Avalon Arwynn Jade," he announced.  "With her last name."

"Then we'd better come up with a really good plan to get your woman back," Lupin told him, sitting up.  "First, let's get the bleeding stopped. You okay?"

"It's only the cartilage broken this time."

"Ray obviously used to brawl."

"I'm just glad it wasn't Cat," Jigen said, forcing himself off the floor and onto the couch, staring at the birth certificate.  "Isn't this the copy that gets submitted to the Hall of Records?"

Lupin came out with a wet washcloth, handing it over as he looked at it.  "I'm not sure.  We can check."  He put it aside, shaking his head at the blank under 'father'.  "You are in so deep."

"I deserve it," he admitted, looking down as he tried to get the bleeding stopped.

"You do," Lupin agreed.  "I agree totally.  Goemon said the same thing when he left two months ago to see Kit and stayed."  Jigen gave him a depressed look.  "Now, we have to fix it.  We have to get Mal something or he'll pout worse than Abby.  We need to get something for Jissan and Chad too."

Jigen looked up.  "Some toys?"

"That's a good place to start," Lupin agreed, hauling Jigen up.  "Bring the certificate in your stuff.  We'll go shopping on the way up."  Jigen nodded, going to pack quickly and then following him to the store.  "This would be so much easier if it was Fujiko."

"She'll come back again, boss," Jigen said lightly, giving him a look.  "The same as mine's willing to talk to me again."

"Consider it a minor miracle," a female voice said behind them.

Jigen looked at her.  "I'm sorry, Cat.  I wanted to tell her that earlier.  I tried, but I couldn't find her."

"I know.  Between she and I we do have a good bit of experience of blending in while staying in plain sight."  She crossed her arms over her soft, plush chest.  "Eyes off the tits, Lupin."

"Sorry."  He looked at the toys, giving Jigen a sideways look.

Cat stared into Jigen's eyes.  "I believe you want to fix this.  This is the only chance you get.  Either you fix this totally or you fail and go kill yourself because I won't have that woman hurt.  Ray agrees with me.  If we could, we'd bring her back and put her between us."  Lupin choked so she glared at him.  "Go away."  He moved down the aisle, looking at the board games.  She looked at Jigen again.  "I'm serious.  You have a single night to convince her to let you stay.  And stay you had better.  You can go work, you will not be gone more than a few weeks.  You will *never* accuse that woman again.  You knew better when the words came out of your mouth and you didn't apologize."

"I couldn't find her," Jigen defended.  "I mailed letters apologizing."

"After the paternity test," she agreed.  "I read them to her."

Jigen slumped.  "I'm sorry, Cat."

"You are, and you're going to be a sorry dead man if you ever *think* of hurting her that way again.  Am I clear?"  He nodded quickly.  "Good.  That broken nose is nothing like what I can and will do to you.  Ray likes to believe he's gotten past his roots.  I haven't."  She turned and left them there, handing something to Lupin.  "Mal likes soccer."  She left the store, heading back to Ray's rental car so they could travel back and get Kathy ready to meet with him.  She was fairly weak still and needed some help.

Jigen looked at the games, then started to check ages, pulling down some for the kids and some for adults, putting them into the cart.  "I'm staying, Lupin."

"I understand.  Can we stay too?"  Jigen looked at him.  "We can go back to the other house if you want," he offered.

"No, I want you there," he admitted.  "I still need you, man.  You make one hell of a counselor."

Lupin snorted.  "Wonderful.  Back to being the big brother."  He added a few more toys to the soccerball, then tossed them into the cart.  "Does Jissan like dolls?"

"We can do both," Jigen suggested.  "Last I knew she didn't have one, just that old bear."  They went to find her a doll and a lot more stuffed animals.  For Chad's room they talked to the sales clerk, telling her that the baby had asthma.  She was very helpful and suggested they keep the stuffed animals away from him.

***

Jigen walked into the house pushing the big box in front of him.  Mal saw him and squealed, running over to hug him.  "You came!" he said, grabbing him for a hug.  "You back?"

"If your mom agrees.  Where is she?"

"She's napping," he said, looking at the box.  "All for me?"

"For you.  Some games and toys.  There's another one for your sister and brother."  Mal grinned and climbed on top of the box, getting a better hug.  "I'll stay if I can, little man.  I missed you."  He gave him an extra squeeze.  "Your mom in our room?"

"No, she in garden room," he said, pointing down the hall Goemon was coming up.  "He back!  He bring presents!"

"So I can see.  He can help you lift it upstairs later."  Lupin came in kicking another box, which was apparently lighter, and dragging another one.  "What are those?"

"Most of Mal's are toys and games.  The light one is Jissan's, more stuffed animals and a few dolls," Lupin told him.  "Chad's was specially picked for kids with breathing troubles."  He pointed at the name written on it.  "His is marked and should be fine for him."  Lupin looked around.  "No kids?"

"They're upstairs.  They've just gotten back from swimming."  Goemon looked at Jigen.  "We moved her to my old room after the birth.  She couldn't walk up the stairs so it was easier.  It was a temporary move."  Jigen nodded, taking the birth certificate with him.   "Are you staying?" he asked Lupin.

"If she wants," Lupin agreed.  "The kids are coming up to play in about an hour but I'll let her make that decision."

"I see."  Goemon stepped closer.  "Do you feel your problems had something to do with that fight?  You are very affectionate with her," he noted quietly.

"Goemon, I love the woman.  I love Fujiko and I love that woman, but I realize she's Jigen's.  If she minds, then I won't get near her.  I'm leaving that up to her."

Goemon nodded. "A good answer."  He looked at the boxes.  "Jissan doesn't like stuffed animals."  Lupin groaned.  "She does like games however.  She only likes bears and cats."

"Hey, we can change some around," Lupin pointed out, smiling at Mal.  "Would you mind exchanging your sister some games for some stuffed animals?"

"I love animals," Mal said happily.  "Please?"  Lupin grinned and opened up the two boxes, letting him choose how to sort the things out.  The adult board games were put aside so they could be shown to the mother for her amusement.

Jigen knocked on the door and walked in at the grunt.  He stopped beside the bed, handing back the birth certificate.  "I'm sorry."

"You are," she agreed dryly, putting down her soda.  "And?"

"I know better.  I knew better then.  It was irrational, Kathy, and I'm sorry."  He pulled a chair over.  "I'm an ass.  I had no right to say any of that to you, and especially not to yell it in front of the kids.  It was totally my fault."  She nodded, waving a hand.  "I don't know what you want to hear," he said miserably.  "I wrote everything in the letters."

"I read and had Cat read them."  She shifted, rolling to face him.  "So you know, Avalon is the last."

"I didn't want you hurt.  That's why I tried to have myself fixed," he reminded her.

"Not so you could go out and fuck around on the job?" she asked bitterly.

"That was a rumor," he said quickly.  "I haven't touched anyone, not even Lupin."  She grimaced.  "I'll even give up that if you want.  He said he's leaving it up to you whether or not he stays with his two terrors."   She shrugged.  "You don't care?"

"It'll give the kids someone to play with."  She shifted and winced.  "Sorry, I'm still sore."

"What can I do to ease it?" he asked instantly.

"You could act like I'm not diseased," she said bitterly.

"I wanted to let you decide if I could hug you.  I don't have the right to come in and leap into the bed with you to hold you after what I did.  I've been a miserable fucking prick, Kathy.  Even Goemon said so, in those exact words."

"Goemon swore?"

"Goemon swore.  A few times."  He touched his nose.  "Ray hit me.  Cat said I'd make good hotdogs."  He slumped again.  "I know why you sent the birth certificate.  I'm leaving it up to you.  My future's in your hands, wife."

She looked at it.  "You didn't change it?"

"I didn't think I had the right," he admitted.  "Like crawling in with you, I lost that privilege."

"She's still your daughter," she said firmly.

"I knew that by the next morning.  I tried to come back but Lupin said you had snuck away with the kids.  That pissed me off.  At least you could have let me apologize then," he said bitterly.

"Why?" she asked sarcastically.  "So you could do it again during our next fight?"  He shook his head.  "I'm not going to put up with that, Jigen.  I swear you won't have the chance.  Weakness or not, I will kill you if you *ever* yell at me like that again."  He nodded, standing up.  "Where are you going?"

"To beat my head against the wall before someone kills me," he told her bitterly.

"Sit!"  He looked startled but did sit.  "We will work this out.  If you leave this room, we are through.  By the time it's midnight we will either have worked this shit out or I'm going to be filing for divorce tomorrow first thing."  He looked horrified.  "Do you understand me?"

"Absolutely," he agreed quietly.  "I'm sorry, Kathy."

"You definitely are," she spat, sitting up with a wince.  He moved to help her and she swatted at his hands.  "This is your fucking fault, Jigen."

"I know.  It's all my fault.  I couldn't get my mind past your playing with Lupin and see that it was just playing."  He shifted to sit on the end of the seat.  "Are you all right? You look really pale."

"I nearly bled to death!  What did you expect?"  She noticed he went pale right before he ran for the bathroom. "Jigen?" she called, grimacing.  She heard him getting sick and started to get up but Lupin walked in and tucked her back into bed and did it for her.  "I can deal with this."

"I know, but I want you in that bed.  Goemon just told me what happened."  He grimaced at her.  "Can we stay too?"

"Sure.  It'll give the kids someone to play with.  It might be awkward."  She shrugged. "We'll figure it out."  He climbed in, one knee resting on the bed so he could hug her.  "I'm fine."

"You're not fine.  You nearly died," he whispered.  "I can't lose you too."  He got free and looked at the bathroom, then at her.  "You come right back out here."  She nodded so he helped her out of the bed and watched her walk into the bathroom, then went to stop Jissan from coming in to show off her stuffed panther.  "Not yet, princess.  She's in the bathroom with your daddy."

"They bath?" Jissan asked innocently.

Lupin grinned down at her.  "Something like that I'm sure."  She held her arms up so he picked her up.  "How would you like to play with Abby for a while?"  She nodded, giving him a happy look.  "Good girl.  Let's call Kit and tell her she can bring them back."  He walked toward the study, finding Kit already in there.  "My two?"

"In the tv room napping on the couch.  They fell asleep in the car."  She smirked at him, handing over the small camera's output.  But he turned it off.  "You didn't want to watch?"

"They deserve privacy for this argument," he said gently, putting Jissan down.  "Show her what your daddy found for you."

"Kitty, just like ours," she said, holding it up.

"It's a very pretty panther, Jissan.  What are you going to name it?"  Jissan looked stunned.  "Let's go put all of them in your room so you can figure out their names.  Then you can show Abby and Arsene."  She nodded and trooped out to tell Mal and Chad, who was hugging his safe stuffed animals.  Kit smiled at him.  "Did they find you something comforting to hug other than Avalon?"  He smiled and nodded, holding up his bear.  "That's a very nice bear, Chad.  Let's get this stuff into your rooms.  Goemon, could you please help us?"

"I've got Chad's," Lupin said, picking up that box.  "Lead on, Chad."  Chad walked very calmly up the stairs and Lupin sighed in defeat.  "Will he be okay?" he asked quietly.

"They think he might grow out of it," she offered, patting him on the arm.  "Come on, guys.  Goemon?"  He came out of the kitchen, lifting Mal's heavier box so she could get Jissan's box.  "Ooh, games?" she asked, catching sight of the special edition of Trivial Pursuit.  "Wow.  Thanks, Lupin."  She hurried up after the kids, making sure Chad was okay.  "Remember not to let the real cats snuggle up to them, Chad."

"Yes, Kit," he said happily.  He finally had a bear of his own and his daddy was back, his world was complete.  "Lon?"

"She's napping, Chad," Goemon told him.  "You can see her after you've got everything unpacked and arranged."  Chad nodded, going to do that so he could see his baby sister.  He loved his baby sister, she sucked on his finger for him.  It kept him from doing it.

Downstairs, Jigen was carrying his woman back to the bed and sticking her back in it.  "You shouldn't have gotten out of the bed for me."

"You think you're not worth it?"

"No, I think I am, but I know you need to rest.  I'm not having you stay this weak."  He sat beside her. "This okay?"

"Fine," she said patiently.  "We are agreed that you're in the wrong?"  He nodded strongly.  "And that if you ever do it again, Cat won't be able to find enough of you to make hotdogs out of?"  He nodded again, just as quickly.  "Good.  Then I might be able to forgive you that bit of irrational behavior."

"I'm so sorry, Kathy.  I was out of my head."

"No, you weren't drunk, fevered, or otherwise incapacitated.  Your mind took a trip without you," she corrected.  "Where it pulled that one from I'm not sure," she continued calmly. "But I want that part of you exorcized.  This is your *only* chance.  One and only."  He hugged her gently.  "You think I'm that weak?"

"Yes."  He pulled back.  "I know I am."  He looked down at her, moving some of the longer hair off her cheek.  "I've missed you.  I figured out what was wrong in this separation, but I still missed you.  I kept hunting for you and then you left without letting me even catch sight of you."

"You saw me a few times," she corrected.  He looked confused.  "Am I or am I not good at disguises?"  He grinned at her.  "You saw me a few times.  I'm not surprised you didn't realize it, you were always so focused on the kids."

"I thought that was the last time I'd get to see them each time you let us catch up to you."  He stroked her cheek again.  "I figured out what it was.  You were helping with Absinthe and her colic and I got jealous because you and Lupin had this language between you.  He was giving you looks like he used ta give Fujiko."  He looked embarrassed.  "That's all I could figure out."

"So you took an incredibly close friendship, changed it into a torrid affair, and had me knocked up with a true heir of the line?" she asked blandly.  He nodded, grimacing.  "You do realize that even if we had wanted to, we couldn't have had an affair without you knowing. You were clinging so hard to me I was never allowed out of your sight unless I was with Kit and you were constantly inside me."  He blushed.  "That was part of it?"  He nodded.  She hit him on the chest, making him groan.  "Not the effect I was going for," she admitted.

"You're still so weak," he said sadly.  "I'm sorry, Kathy.  I didn't really want her to happen, but I'll love her like the others.  I was a dumb asshole.  I had no business even thinking those thoughts."

"I thought about comforting him," she admitted. "I was going to bring it to you and then you went caveman on me."  He grunted and slid down, resting against her shoulder. "You okay?"

"A touch of the flu."

"Then you shouldn't be that close.  The doctor said I was not to get sick."

He stroked her stomach.  "I took that new medicine.  It's nothing bad now."  He found the pad over the stitches.  "My poor woman."  He looked up at her face, seeing the hurt look.  "I hurt you."

"You hurt me more by yelling absurd things at me in front of everyone."

He leaned up, kissing her on the cheek.  "I'd kiss it better but you might catch this."  She frowned at him.  "I'm not putting you at risk, Kathy.  If you want, you can kick my ass; we both know Ray was going to but he found a bit of control."

She sighed.  "I didn't ask him to do that."

"I know.  He had it right, real men don't do things like that or walk out on their families."

"I'll have a talk with Ray when they get back."

"No," he said, sitting up.  "He was right to knock me on my ass, break my nose, and tell me off.  You should have sent him six months ago."  She frowned at him.  "Really!  I was kicking my own ass hard enough and it would have made me feel better and force me to fix it."  He cupped her cheek.  "I was so wrong."

"You keep saying that," she said bitterly, looking down at her stomach.  He forced her chin back up.  "You were wrong, can't we move on?"

"We can," he agreed.  "But I still didn't want to hurt you.  I didn't want you to have to go through this."

"So you don't want your youngest daughter?"

"I do, because she's ours.  I didn't want the damage she caused in coming."  He leaned in slowly, letting her pull away if she wanted.  "I'm your man, Kathy.  She's my little one.  I love her even though I haven't seen her.  She'll be just as spoiled as the others."

"Chad's more spoiled," she pointed out.

"I know.  I'm working on that too.  How is he?  Ray mentioned asthma?"

She sighed and nodded. "The doctor isn't sure of what the cause is.  There is to be no cologne, no aftershave, no fur near him, no stuffed animals, nothing that can harbor dust mites, nothing that you and I considered normal childhood things."

"We found him some asthmatic-safe stuffed animals.  We went looking for them specially."  She smiled and relaxed some.  "He's got his own bear, a few other friends, and some other toys. I'll warn Lupin about the aftershave and cologne thing.  How about body washes?"

"No, that's fine so far," she admitted.

"Then we can stick with that and warn Fujiko if she ever comes back."  She nodded, sliding down again.  "Are you okay?"

"Just tired."  She held out her arms.  "Hug?  Please?"  He laid down beside her, holding her gently.  "I'm horrifying now, huh?" she asked.

"What?  Hell no, woman.  Even if they had to chop you into smaller pieces because of cancer, I still wouldn't find you horrifying.  This single organ being removed isn't that bad of a problem for me.  I had that problem of mine fixed anyway. I had to make the appointment *months* in advance with the best doctor but Lupin went with me."

"What about him?" she asked quietly.

"We agreed, we're leaving that up to you."

"It'll be awkward."

"Hey, I'm officially retired. I told him that earlier today."  She looked stunned as she pushed him back.  "My place is here."

"You can go out for jobs, we don't mind."

"I do.  At least for now.  Let's settle in and find the natural thing we had before.  Then we'll see if we want to go on more jobs.  Abby's gotten pouty and whiny recently and he's hoping that Jissan and you can help him turn her around."

"Love to," she agreed.  "They might as well be mine anyway."

"Exactly," he agreed, giving her a hopeful look.  "Can I hug?"  She nodded patiently so he hugged her gently.  "Thanks."  He snuggled in.  "I missed this.  I nearly had to find myself a teddy bear."

"I'm not that heavy anymore."

"I noticed, but I didn't care before.  I still don't."

"I'm also very sore in both holes."

"Honey, I'm not even thinking about sex.  Right now, you're my anchor and sex will come later.  Right now, just let me lay here.  Okay?"

"Sure," she said, smiling down at his hat.  She took it off and tossed it onto the chair he had drug over.  "Better."  He nodded, brushing his hair back for her to play with.  "Oooh, I see a small bald spot starting."

"Eww."  He stroked her breast gently.  "You smell like you did after Chad," he told her, leaving her alone when she moaned.  "Sorry."

"No, not an issue."  She stroked through his hair.  "Let's get this settled, okay?  I don't want to have any more fights this year."

"Deal.  What happened in Jordan?  I heard about it from Fujiko and she has never been able to explain things succinctly."

"They thought I was Cat.  She had killed someone who had been raping a girl."

"Did they hurt you?"

"No, they yelled a lot.  They threatened a few times. The one guy who came near me found himself crying in pain."  He looked up, frowning at her.  "He quickly learned that you do not approach me with a needle of anything.  That's when they did the bloodwork for the DNA test that proved I wasn't Cat.  Not that it got me free then, but it did get me a phone call.  I called Zenny and he joked about telling you."  She went back to stroking his hair.  "I'm fine."

"I noticed, but you shouldn't have gone through that.  I should go hit them."

"They're already mortally embarrassed.  Their guards were just evicted from the embassy in Chicago for going after Cat.  That's why she's over here. To protect her."

"That's fine.  I'm sure they'll tell Lupin and let him help with the defenses.  No kids?"

"No, they're around here somewhere.  She's thinking about a third."

"She can have Abby," he snorted.  "She could use a real mother."

"Look at hers," she said quietly.  "She can't help it.  Her mother comes and wants it, then gets scared and runs away for months on end."

"At least I'm here for a longer time and stay away shorter times?" he suggested, completing her thought.

"I wasn't going to say that out loud.  Mal could use a strong male influence.  Zenny's helped him by email, phone, and a few visits, but it's not the same."

"Then it's a good thing my ass isn't moving from this house."  He gave her a gentle squeeze, making her moan.  "Sorry.  Pinch me if I get too close to your pain limits."

"No, I'm fine. It's time for another dose of pain killers."  He looked up at her.  "It was an *emergency* surgery, Jigen.  They didn't have time to numb me or anything.  They cut in off to the side because the baby wasn't there and did it that way.  The paramedics made the first small cut in the ambulance to grab the vein shooting blood and clamp it."  He winced.  "So I'm still pretty sore."

"I understand.  I'm not going to touch you until you say so.  I'm letting you tell me when you hurt."

"Thank you.  I don't need carried either."

"Let us fuss, Kathy.  We should have been doing this all along.  It was my stupidity that robbed us of being there and made you rupture probably."

"No, they said that I had stretched a bit too much.  Avalon's a big baby and her twin wasn't that small."

"Twin?"

"It stopped developing a few days before I ruptured.  Avalon came out ill too, but they fixed her up pretty quickly."  He covered her, holding her.  "Thanks."

"I'm here for whatever you need.  Have we held a funeral?"  She nodded. "Here?"

"In town."  She kissed him delicately on the swollen nose.  "I'm sorry Ray hit you."

"I deserved it," he said firmly, kissing her gently.  Someone knocked and he was moving when Ray came in.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome.  Get off her."  He handed over the small cup of medicine.  "For you, m'lady.  Avalon has been up and is charming my wife and Lupin.  Abby is pouting at him for loving the new baby."  He watched as she took her medicine, then nodded at Jigen.  "Can I talk to you?"

"He was only hugging me, Ray.  He didn't know about Taylor."  Ray nodded.  "It's okay.  We're good.  He apologized and nearly drove me suicidal from the berating himself."  Ray raised an eyebrow.  "We're working in out, I promise."

"Good. We're just in the kitchen if you need anything."

"Can I see her?" Jigen asked.  "I came right in here."

"You didn't stop to see the kids?"

"I met Mal in the hallway and he claimed his box of toys," he admitted.  "I figured I'd see the kids as soon as I made it right with you.  They're my babies, but your my woman."  He gave her a long look, then she smiled at him.  "You're sure?"

"Ray, can you tell the horde to come in?"

Ray nodded, going to do that.  He kept his own kids from helping them hug their parents, and Abby and Arsene as well. "No, you four come help us cook."  They trooped after him, his kids telling the other two about how their dad could cook.  He nodded at the bedroom.  "He wants to see his kid now that they're working it out."

Lupin took the baby from Cat and carefully stood up.  "I'll be right back, guys.  Pay attention to Ray.  He's a great cook.  I wanna cook like him."  He headed into the bedroom, sitting on the end of the bed so Jigen could see her.  "She's a big baby."

"Yes, she was," Kathy agreed dryly.  "I got as large as a house with them."

"Them?" Lupin asked.

"She nearly had twins, but one of them had a heart thing," Jigen said quietly, taking his daughter.  "Hey, Avalon."  She yawned, looking up at him.  "You're about the same size as Mal was at four months."  Mal chuckled and crawled over to pat the baby on the head.  "Carefully, Mal.  Remember, Chad had a soft spot there."

"I always careful," Mal said seriously.  "They treasures."

Lupin sniffled and hugged the kid.  "Thanks, Mal.  You make me proud."  He let him go and grinned at Kathy.  "So, we're all good?"

"You could stay for a bit," Jigen admitted.  "Let her visit with everyone else while I talk to the kids?"  He looked at Kathy when she patted him.  "What?"

"Good job, you didn't even think he was going to steal me."

"No, the better thief got you first," Lupin said with a wink.  He laid down on her other side, patting Jissan on the head. "This one already told Abby off for pouting at me for holding Avalon."

"Good job, but play nicely.  Remember, Jissan, she doesn't have a mommy most of the time."

"Daddy stay?" she asked, looking at her father, hugging her panther.

"I'm staying for a really long time," Jigen promised, staring at her, then at Mal.  "We're not leaving for a while and next time it'll only be for a few weeks.  Then I'll come right back."

"Plus, that won't be until after your next birthday, Mal."  He tickled him, making the boy swat him but smile too.  "That good with you, princess?"

Jissan nodded, smiling at her father.  "Me hug too?"

"Sure.  I've got a free arm."  She came to sit in his lap, hugging him hard.  Then Chad tried to push her so she had to give way to him.  "Hi, Chad," he said with a smile.  "Have you been a good boy?"

"No," he said happily.  "I talk 'Lon all night."

"That's fine, as long as she's not cranky," his mother reminded him, patting him on the head.  "I do believe you'll be a blonde.  Just like my mom."

Jigen looked at his son, then nodded.  "Maybe."  He curled up so the kids could sit around him and pat and touch him.  "There, is that better?"

"'Lon should eat," Mal told his mother. "She hungry."

"She can eat when you do," she said firmly.  "You don't need to help her eat."

"How did our kids get switched?" Jigen asked Lupin across his wife's side.  "Arsene is a great gunman but a lackluster thief.  Mal is a great thief, but I'm sure we can train him to shoot very well."

"He does," she pointed out.

Lupin looked at him.  "Belly patting must influence the baby some too.  That's why Abby's exactly like a mini-moody-me."  Kathy laughed.  "Seriously.  She's got her mother's temper, my skills, and my looks."  He shrugged. "We did, we switched kids."

She smiled at him.  "You can cuddle closer, Lupin."  He shifted closer, putting an arm around her lower chest area.  "That's better."  Jigen looked down, then forced a smile.  "Feeling jealous?"

"Slightly.  But the kids are in here so I can't get your front."  He looked back at the stunned Lupin.  "She's my woman, Lupin."

"Of course, I wasn't even going to suggest otherwise, Jigen."

"Good."  Jigen and his wife shared a look and he nodded.  "I know he needs you; that's what I was picking up on before," he admitted.  "You two were so close and all that, and I was feeling left out."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Goemon asked from the doorway.

"No," Jigen told him, giving him a look.  Jissan took Avalon, making the adults move to help her hold her sister.  "What I was saying is that these two are really close and that's what I was picking up on before, I was feeling left out of their little world."

"It sounded like you offered to share her.  In which case, it would be a tossup as to who got to kill you."

"We're only sharing cuddles, Goemon.  Lupin doesn't need me, he needs someone who can focus on him full-time."  The samurai nodded and nodded at the kitchen.  "They can stay."

"Dinner's nearly ready," he offered, coming in to take the baby.  "The adults should speak now.  Lupin?"

"In a minute," Jigen told him.  "We need him in here right now."  Goemon nodded.

"Am I eating in here?"

"Yes.  There was a long pause when Ray found the rat poison," he warned.  "We kept him from using it.  Yet."  He escorted the children out, taking Avalon with him.

Lupin looked at Jigen once the door was closed.  "I thought the same thing he did."

"Me too," Kathy noted.

Jigen sighed.  "It would solve all this, right?"  They nodded.  "And it would keep Lupin from being a miserable prick."

"It would, but I'd never do that," Lupin told him.  "She's not the one I want.  Hell, I'm willing to back away from you if I have to."

"Doing that leaves him without the outlet he needs," Kathy pointed out.

"Yeah, but Fujiko hates it. It was a condition she put forth to come back," he said miserably.

"Lupin, if she comes back that way, she won't be back," Kathy told him.  "She doesn't want you, she wants a protector who pays absolute attention to her.  Someone like...Guillermo."

Lupin burst out in giggles.  "She hated how he treated his last woman.  She thought he was controlling."

"She might, but that's what she wants from you," Jigen agreed.  "If we all agree, then I can see it," he said quietly.  "I'm not going to suggest it.  I want included in this decision.  I want you to know that I'll kick your ass if I'm not."  Lupin nodded, giving him a tolerant look.  "But it would help you and she's not getting all the understanding male stuff from me."

"Oh, I don't know, you do a pretty good job of that," Cat said from the doorway.  She carried in the tray.  "The bitch making conditions?"

"That Jigen and I give up our stress-relief habit," Lupin told her.  "That I set up a nest for us and we live there together.  She keeps forgetting about the kids in her discussion of what she wants in a house.  She wants a prepaid card and an emergency account so she can leave if something happens."  Lupin made a wry face.  "I'm not sure I want to humor that one."

"I wouldn't," Cat admitted.  "If you give in, she'll walk all over you.  If you don't and she comes back, then she wants you.  If she doesn't come back, then she never wanted you in the first place.  At which time, what Jigen just said would be applicable."  She looked over as Abby carried in a pitcher of juice, carefully holding it with both hands. "Thank you, that was very helpful, Abby."  She took the pitcher and put it on the bedtable.  "Let her eat."  She patted Abby on the head.  "Are you excited about staying?"

Abby looked up, waving at Kathy.  "Hi, Auntie.  Can I tease Mal?"

"No.  Why would you want to?" she asked patiently.

"He mean, he picks on me."

"I'll talk to him about that," Jigen told her.  "You guys should be like brother and sister, not fighting like cats and dogs."  Abby grinned and walked out to tell Mal that he was in trouble with his father.  Jigen followed and stopped the fit.  "What I said was that your mother and I wanted you two to get along.  Not that she can pick on you.  Not that you can pick on her.  We want you two to be able to get along like you do with Jissan," he said calmly.  Mal gave him an adoring look.  "I agree, sometimes she's insufferable.  You bring that to us, not pick on her.  Plus, if she picks on you, we want to know."  He looked down at Abby, who shrunk down in her seat.  "Got it, Mal?"  He nodded, looking happier.  "Then play with each other, not pick at each other."  He patted Mal on the head and went back to his wife's room.  "Hey.  Stopped that one."  He coughed when Lupin didn't come up for air. "Hey!"

"Sorry."  Lupin laid down again.  "They were listening to me rant about Fujiko."

"Really?" he asked dryly, checking the hall and then closing the door once Chad had walked in.  "Helping us eat?" he said when he saw the spoon.

"Please?" he begged.

"Sure, sweetie, come up here," Kathy told him.  "You can have the toast until Auntie Cat goes back to help her kids."  He beamed at his father, picking up the toast to nibble on.  "Right, Auntie Cat?"

"Right."  She stood up, looking at Jigen.  "It's amazing.  Lupin needs and you answer," she said quietly.  "You need and she answers.  She needs and you both answer.  Keep that in mind, huh?"

"From now on," he agreed. "He and I worked that stuff out long ago."

"Good."  She patted him on the chest.  "Come on, Chad. You can help me eat my dinner too.  I'm already too big."

"You have baby?" Chad asked.  "Mommy have baby when she big."

Cat smiled at him.  "You ask your Uncle Ray that question," she suggested, picking him up without disturbing the tray and carrying him out.  "Here," she said, handing him to Ray.

Ray grinned at him, letting him sit in his lap.  "Stealing your mom's toast?"  Chad nodded, eating another bite.  "What's wrong?"

"You have baby?  Mommy big when she have 'Lon."

Ray blinked at him, then at Cat.  "That's an odd way of asking if I wanted another one."

"He asked me," she said with a wave of her hand.

"We'll see," Ray told them both, helping Chad sit in his booster seat.  "There, now you eat your dinner.  You can play with your daddy tomorrow."  Chad and Mal both nodded but Jissan pouted. "What?"

"Bedtime story?" she asked hopefully.

"If we can pull him away from your mom," Cat told her.  "If not, I'll tell you all about being a princess cop."  Jissan grinned at that and started to eat again.

Abby looked at her.  "You're a princess?"

"No, sweetie, I'm a Queen," Cat said with a grin for her.  "Now eat for us."  Abby nodded, eating very quietly.

"Do you have crown jewels?" Arsene asked.

Ray chuckled. "No, ours is a jewel-poor crown.  One day, you'll have a queen of your own and you can get her all sorts of jewels."  Arsene smiled and ate another bite, looking at Mal, who was shaking his head. "No?"

"No, we not buy, we steal," he said proudly.

"I not steal," Jissan said.  "I be like Auntie and Mommy."

"That's fine," Cat said, winking at her.  "We'll make sure you become a queen of your department, sweetheart.  You can come help Eric if he wants to be a cop. Everyone eat."  Everyone dug in, politely eating with the manners their Uncle Goemon had taught them.  "Wow.  Think we could get whoever taught this group manners to work on our two?"

Goemon coughed and waved his fork since his mouth was full.  "It would be my pleasure," he admitted once he had swallowed.  "Especially if it leads to no more pouncing at dawn."  The parents chuckled and nodded.  "Then I shall start tomorrow."  He looked at the children.  "We will be working out tomorrow morning after breakfast."  They all smiled and wiggled a bit, but ate in a mannerly way for him.  Eric slurped a bit and Goemon gave him a gentle pat on the back.  "Eat slower, taste the food, Eric.  It gives the cook a great compliment and shows how much you liked it."  Eric smiled and ate slower, looking up at him, then at his father, who smiled.  "Very nice.  Now if only you could close your mouth perhaps?"  Eric did so, and he got another pat.  "Very nice.  Continue like that if you could."  He turned back to his own dinner, smiling at the boy, just like his parents were.

Eric beamed, this was kind of neat.  His parents were showing him how good he was in front of other kids and parents.  He nibbled on his pasta, then slurped up a piece.  His father chuckled.  "We do that at home, I can't fault that one."  Eric gave him a sly look, then slipped a piece of pasta onto the floor for the dog none of them ever seemed to see.  "No feeding Dragon your dinner," Ray said firmly.

"Dragon?" Abby asked, her head popping up.  "Real dragon?"

"Dragon is his friend," Ray told her gently.  "He's so special we can't catch sight of him."

"He only relates to kids anyway," Cat added.

"He imblisible," Eric told them.

"Invisible," Cat corrected slowly.  "Try it again?"

"In...invisi...ble."  He beamed when she nodded.  "Get treat?"

"You can speak in complete sentences, son."

"May I please have a treat?" Eric corrected.

"There's dessert," Cat told him. He giggled and dug into his dinner, eating very mannerly like the other kids.

"I still say you should get a teaching certificate," Ray told her.  "Public schools just aren't the same as private schools."

"I'm not sending him to Catholic school where the nuns can teach him how I'm evil because I'm not Catholic," she said patiently, cutting up some of her pasta. "I will not have my son disgusted with me for my chosen faith."

"I agree," Ray said quickly.  "That's why I think you should get a teaching certificate, so you can home school our kids."  She gave him a long look.  "You'd be excellent at it.  You do great teaching them now."

"We'll see."

"Okay."  Ray beamed at her. "Then you could relate things back to your specialities."  She looked thoughtful.  "And we could move out of Chicago before the city collapses on top of us."

"You'd hate living in the country."

"I might, but then again, I might not.  I can always travel back.  Maria and the kids don't want to move yet."  She gave him a long look.  "That last case nearly killed us both, Cat.  I'd like to see the grandkids."

She sighed and nodded.  "We'll talk about it tonight."

"That's all I wanted," he agreed gently, smiling down at her.  "We'd have a lot of work to do anyway.  But if we timed it right, we could join the sheriff's election next year."  She licked her lips.  "I want it of course, but you can be our star detective and consultant while you teach the kids and run the resort."

She gave him a long look, then ate a bite of her food.  "What makes you think that they wouldn't accept me?"

"Because, love, you are one scary bitch," Kathy said from the doorway, carrying her tray.

"What are you doing out of bed!" Ray demanded, getting up to force her into his chair.  "Didn't your man do that?"

"Avalon's presently being cleaned up from where she puked," she admitted.  Ray gave her a harsh look.  "Fine, I snuck out.  Okay?  I don't like being on bed rest."

Lupin walked out and picked her up, carrying her back to her bed.  "I'll be right back."  He put her onto the bed, tucking her in gently.  "Stay there.  We bought games and everything."  He closed the door behind him, coming back to sit down. "Sorry.  She really did sneak out while we were trying to calm Avalon down from puking heavily."

"She's had some stomach virus," Cat told him.  "It happens in kids all the time."

"I realize that. Mal had the most spectacular bout of it once.  Right after eating green and orange popsicles all day."

"Some of us are trying to eat," Goemon noted.

"Sorry."  Lupin grinned at him.  "Kathy has graciously allowed us to stay as well.  Do you think the three of us could work some manners into my terrors?"  Goemon grimaced.  "Please?"

"Why are we staying?" Goemon asked.

"Because she needs us, Goemon.  She's tired, she's weaker than normal, it's going to be a long recovery and the kids will need someone to support them while Jigen gives her his full attention.  Kit's great, but I'm sure you two want to do something together, alone, soon?"  Goemon blushed and Kit looked nervous.  "As is, if she wants, we can find a house nearby.  That way we can referee, counsel, and help the little people."  He patted his daughter's head.  "We all know that some of them need a second and third parent sometimes."

"I agree, she could use some teaching," Goemon offered.  He glanced at Cat, who shrugged. "Kathy has agreed?"

"I asked her directly.  She said things might be a bit awkward but we'd work it out.  She's acting like she wants to forget the fight and I perfectly agree.  We need to work this out and move on or else all our friendships will break."

"I agree," Kit told them.  "She does need more help than I and Jigen can give her.  She needs someone who's willing to put her back into bed.  She hates staying in there all day."

"Jigen and I got games for big kids too," Lupin promised.

"I saw.  Thank you.  I haven't played Operation in years," Kit said with a small smirk.  "Has anyone seen my mother?"

"I did," Goemon admitted.  "She wanted to know why I was embarrassing her by not making ourselves official."

Kit grimaced.  "Remind me to kill my mother the next time we see her, okay?"  Goemon nodded.  Thank you.  Great dinner, Ray."

"Eh, it's nothing," he promised.  "We cook like this at home all the time."

"True," Cat agreed.  "Ma makes more food than this each week on Saturday night."

Lupin smiled.  "That must be nice, to have a family around who likes you."

"We like you," Kit told him.  He looked stunned.  "It's a family of your own making, not of blood, but you are like a family."

"What's incest?" Abby asked.   Everyone stared at her.  "Someone say Daddy and Uncle Jigen have it 'cause they brothers."

Lupin blushed and cleared his throat.  "They were making fun of us, dear, it's a bad thing, but nothing something you'd understand at this moment."

"It's when cousins or brothers and sisters marry," Cat told her.  "It's a bad thing because they have babies that aren't quite right."

"Oh."  She looked satisfied. "Thank you, Misses Ray."  Lupin winced but Cat chuckled.  "Not Misses Ray?" Abby asked, looking confused.

"Misses is only used when you use the *last* name," Ray told her.  "So she's be Misses Vecchio."

"Oh!"  Abby nodded.  "Thank you, Mr. Ray."

"Our last trek was in Alabama," Lupin admitted.  "That's probably where that comment came from too."  Ray snickered.  "No?"

"No, Zenny said it," Ray admitted.

"He should know better, he has children," Kit pointed out.

"Yeah, but I can't really imagine any of the little Pops saying things like that at the table," Lupin pointed out.  "Can you?"  She burst out in giggles.  "I didn't think so."

"His son asked what sex was in a mall," she chortled.

Lupin winced.  "I heard about that one.  Somehow he managed to blame that on me too. Why they were standing in front of Victoria's Secret I may never know."

"Miriam," Cat said simply.

"She's eleven."

"She's twelve and the average age for puberty is eleven," Ray corrected.  "It was necessary in case you hadn't seen her recently."  Lupin looked stunned.  "Looks like a female version of her dad too."

"Those same long eyelashes and all," Cat agreed. "She's one of those who can fit into anything in that store."

"Wow."  Lupin looked at Kit.  "Really?"  She nodded.  "Then we should send the poor father a card."

"Just wait, some day your daughter will wear a bra too," Cat pointed out.  "And with her mother's rack, she'll be built like me."

"Hey, I like you," Lupin told her.  "You're very comfortable looking, like you're the sort who'd cuddle."  Cat smirked at him, raising an eyebrow.  "I came to that same conclusion about Kathy.  She looked like someone very womanly when she was heavier.  Like she was more maternal and much more cuddly."

"Yeah, she complained about all the cuddling," Cat admitted.  "A few times actually."

"You cuddled auntie?" Arsene asked his father.

Lupin looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, I did, son.  She's a very good hugger.  You should try that the next time you get banged up running into your sister.  She has a way of making all the hurts go away just from a hug."  Goemon gave him a long look.  "She's the one who made me not hunt down certain women to commit homicide."

"As long as it stays on that level," Goemon told him firmly.

"Any decisions of that nature would come from her and she would have to propose it," Lupin said quietly.  "The same as it would have been before."  Goemon looked appeased by that.  "How's the new house?"

"We've finally decided on a color in the bedroom," Kit offered.  "We wanted something similar but not really the same.  So we've got it completely decorated and I even won the argument of thin curtains on the big windows in our bedroom to stop any potential peepers, but ones that can be pulled back so he can look outside."

"Good job," Ray encouraged.  "Cat let me buy her all new sheets as long as I got the right type.  I even got to help her shop for our bed."

"And clothes, and shoes, and cellphone, and books," Cat agreed, smirking at him.  "You know, if we do that, we'll have to do something with the pension money."

Ray winced.  "Don't remind me."

"Roll into an IRA account," Lupin suggested.  "I did that with some of Kathy's settlement money."  Ray gave him a nod.  "Sorry, but sometimes I have to interfere that way."

"Eh, it's not a problem," Cat offered.  "Our financial manager got arrested last month for securities fraud.  Not that he helped *us* but he was helping someone cheat the system."

"Get the house fixed up first," Ray said gently.  "Then we'll move up there and start over again.  That way the kids will never have to worry about another drive-by."

She looked over at him.  "Okay.  As soon as we get back, I'll get with the painter we both liked to have him tell us what we need to do.  I'll call the various groups and offer a chance to come paint over those murals."  Ray beamed.  "Then we'll move."

"Then we'll move," he agreed. "After we dredge the lake again, just in case."

"With the drought last year, it was nearly empty of water anyway, I had someone come do it then."  She ate another bite of dinner, making him smile.  "Ray, I am on a diet."

"Not if you're getting pregnant again you're not," he said firmly.  "No more, right?"

"No, but I wouldn't mind a daughter."

"Neither would I, but no more after this, Cat."

"No more," she agreed.  "Plus, there's a really good OB up there who can agree with what we were doing before."  Ray beamed at that.  "Are you sure?"

"Yup."

"Good.  Starting tonight?"

Ray arched an eyebrow up.  "I knew you were amazing, but to change your cycle that way?"

She gave him a teasing smile. "Practice run?"

"Eat," he suggested. "You'll need it for that remark.  I don't need practice."

She ate faster.

Lupin chuckled and shook his head.  "That's what I want."

"And yet you picked Fujiko," Goemon pointed out.

"I know," Lupin sighed.  He looked at Ray.  "I once promised Kathy I'd take her in if something happened to Jigen and take care of her and the kids.  I also said I'd do the same in case something happened to you and you left Cat and the kids behind.  If that bothers you, you might want to make sure she's well-protected from the people who're still after you from Vegas."

Ray blanched.  "How did you know about that?"  Lupin gave him a small smug smirk.  "Never mind, dumb question.  They're not coming."

"No, they're not," Kit agreed.  "I heard they suddenly got arrested."

"They pissed me off royally by daring to talk about hurting Cat in public.  Not the kids, her."  He looked at Ray again.  "No return favor needed.  Protect her, huh?"

"Always," Ray agreed. "If I can't, then Stan and Ben will."

"I'm not a possession," she noted.  "Nor am I a kitty to be bequeathed."

"No, but you're more precious than anything to me," Ray told her.  "If something happened ta me, I want you to go to Stan and Benny for protection and to let them help you with the kids.  Ma's health is starting to fail, Maria's one who'll help you, but I want Stan and Benny looking out for you.  Got it?"  She grimaced but sighed and nodded.  "Thank you.  The same as I'd go to them if something happened to you."

"That sounds scarily like a movie," she said dryly.

Ray beamed.  "Hopefully not, I always thought they were sleeping together."  He ate a bite of dinner while she giggled. "Eat, woman, you're gonna need it for that practice comment."  She started to eat again, smiling over at him.  Ray kicked Lupin under the table.  "Don't even think about it."

"I wasn't, but I was willing to make the same offer.  Kathy keeps saying she wanted to set me up with her."

Ray got up and helped his wife stand.  "I think we'll go erase that nastiness from our minds."  He led her up to their room, proving that he didn't need practice to please her.

Lupin smirked at Goemon.  "Sometimes, I scare myself with how good I am."

"Someday that arrogance will get you killed as well," Goemon warned.  Lupin looked hurt.  "Do not try that with me."

"I wouldn't *dream* of it, Goemon!  Seriously, I love you and the princess kitten together.  You two are damn adorable.  I want to be a best man at the wedding."

"Wedding?" Kit asked, eyes wide.  She looked at her boyfriend.  "We're engaged?"

He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to her, a letter.  "From your mother.  She was encouraging such an action.  She called me dishonorable again."

"My mother can blow herself," she said bitterly, tossing it into an empty plate and using her lighter to set it on fire.  Goemon snickered.  "Not the original?"

"No, the original is in our room."  He patted her on the hand.  "I would if you wanted."

"I...."  Her mind froze.  "Um."  She blinked a few times, then looked at him.  "Huh?"

"Next week," Lupin stage whispered.  He gave Goemon a long look and a wink, tossing something over once her back was turned to check on Chad's dinner progress.  Goemon looked at the catalog, then hid it inside his robes before she could see it. They shared small smile.  "Do you think the kids need new clothes?"

"No, they're scruffy but that's normal," Kit said, looking at him again.  "Why?"  She could force that thought from her mind.

"Because Abby looks like she's wearing a tubetop," Lupin pointed out.

"I comfy," she said firmly.  "I like it."

"Wonderful, but how about some *new* clothes," he suggested, tempting her. Sometimes she was every bit her mother's daughter.  She beamed and nodded.  "See, I knew you'd like that idea.  We'll go next week, okay?"  Abby nodded, digging back into her food with a messy and loud slurping.

"Absinthe Leona Lupin, you know better," Kit warned.  Abby quit eating like that, eating properly again.  "Thank you."

"That is why she needs a closer aunt," Lupin sighed.  "Maybe a mail-order bride?"

"You can do better than that," Kathy said as Jigen walked her out. "I'm sitting," she defended when Goemon opened his mouth.  She did sit, taking Ray's seat with a hiss.  "Sorry, still kinda sore."

"It's not a problem," Lupin promised.  "We adore you even when you're sore, bloated from the air they pumped into you, and cranky."

"The same as we love you when you run from snakes," Jigen agreed.

Kathy beamed.  "Thanks, guys."  She looked around, then at Lupin.  "Made Ray go postal already?"

"Made him want to have his wife."

"Ah.  You're good at that," she pointed out.  She looked at Goemon, then at Kit, then she smiled.  "We've got a new challenge."

"What?" Kit asked.  "Where's Avalon?"

"I put her into the basinet in there," Jigen told her.  "On her back, with one side propped up a bit so she can't drown if she starts to get sick again."

Kit nodded. "Thank you."  She looked at Kathy. "What challenge?"

"It's a bit of problem," Kathy noted.  "I just took a phone call on my cellphone.  There's one last person looking for us.  All of us.  Zenny just called.  The nut from Mexico lived."  Goemon looked stunned.  "Zenny got mailed a chess piece."

"Hell," Kit said quietly, shaking her head.  She had read about that mess.  "And you're not in shape either."

"That's okay," Jigen put in.  "Last time I had a broken ankle and she did all the tough stuff.  This time I can do that for her so she can rest."  He smiled at his wife, who blushed.  "And she will be resting, even if I have to have Lupin read you bedtime stories too."

"Bedtime story?" Mal asked, smiling hopefully at him.

"Sure, Mal, we'll read you a bedtime story tonight," Jigen agreed.

"You not do voices," Abby pouted.

"Quit, daughter, I'll still do yours," Lupin said quietly.  She nodded, liking that a bit more.  "Where is he this time?"

"Zenny's on his way over.  I've made arrangements for Cat, Ray, and their kids to take a long cruise.  That way they're safer."  She glanced at Kit but she wasn't showing signs of having another sudden vision of flaming wreckage.  "For right now, we need to update the computer in the office.  We need to check over the defenses.  We need to meet and greet this idiot and prove our point again."

"Hopefully without a jaguar this time," Goemon offered.

"Yes, hopefully without getting my chubby butt bitten again," she agreed.

"Kathy, you're not fat," Jigen said gently.  "You're not even plump.  You're back to the point you were when we first met you."  She grimaced and shook her head.  "I swear.  If you don't believe me, try on that leopard corset.  That's why you kept the thing."

"True," she admitted. "I never did adjust it after that last wear."  She shrugged. "I'll try it later, when I can get upstairs again.  Speaking of, I'm not that weak, guys, really."

"Bullshit," Lupin said simply.  She frowned at him. "You're still wincing when you sit."

"I've got a huge blister on my cheek!"

"So?"  He gave her a look.  "Your big brother says you shall rest.  Goemon agrees with me.  Kit probably does."  Kit nodded.  "That's the other reason we bought board games."

"Board games?" she asked.  "When?"

"When we got the kids their things," Jigen told her.  "I know you hate bed rest.  I was hoping to play a few with you," he offered.  She nodded, giving him an understanding look.  "Thanks, hon."

"Well, that's certainly better than wife, woman, or bitch," Kit noted.

"He calls her what?" Goemon asked.

"I've mentioned to a few other people that she's my bitch," Jigen told him.  "Common phrasing.  Everyone understands that."

"It'd be like a motorcycle person saying it," Lupin offered.

"It is still disrespectful," Goemon said firmly.

"I don't call her that," Jigen defended.  "Never to her face!"

"I called myself that a few times too," she admitted.  "Goemon, down boy.  We've worked it out.  I've already called off the lawyer.  It's fine.  We're healing now."

"It is still not right," he said firmly.

"Goemon, I am his bitch.  The same as he's my bitch.  Depending on who leads in what situation, we do act as second to each other.  It's a common term where we're from."

"That doesn't make it correct," Kit said firmly.

"I'm shutting the discussion on this topic," Kathy said firmly.  "No more.  It doesn't bother me, thank you for the concern, but enough."  Goemon looked hurt so she stared him down.  She said something to him in Latin and he blanched, nodding.  "Got it?"  He nodded again.  "Thank you."  She looked at Jigen again.  "It was useful when I was in the hospital.  I played around with an online translator."

"Fine with me," Jigen agreed happily.  "Are we going on any more trips to see places?"

"Not yet," she admitted.  "I want to travel some more some day but not yet."

"Whenever you're ready," Lupin promised.  "We're very good tour guides."

She chuckled.  "I'm sure you are.  'And here, I slept with that brunette'," she teased, pointing toward a window while trying to mimic him.  "We broke into that house there."  He pinched her on the arm, making her laugh.  "Sorry."

"No, it's true.  Depending on the city of course," Lupin agreed.   Goemon grumbled something.  "What was that, elder?"

"No picking on Goemon either."

"Sorry," Lupin said, grinning at her, then at Goemon and Kit.  "We'll work it out too.  I won't pick on you two too much."

"Ha!" Goemon let out.

"I said too much," Lupin pointed out dryly.  "You're too fun to leave alone totally, Goemon.  You blush."

"Quit," Kit warned.

"Sorry, princess kitten."

"Quit calling her that," Goemon demanded.  "She is not yours to call pet names."

"She's like my kid sister, and I'm much less fond of younger siblings than older ones," he said when Goemon looked at him.   "Really, I do have *some* self control.  I do not sleep with every woman I meet."

"If you did, you'd be very tired," Kathy pointed out dryly.

"He certainly seems to try on occasion," Goemon said, glaring at Lupin.

"Goemon, I don't want what's yours.  She would die in my life, like she would in her mother's."  Goemon looked upset at that point.  "As much as I like my little sister, I'm not going to touch her, stroke her, fondle her, or otherwise engage her natural womanly essences.  Get over it already."

"Sorry," Goemon said, getting up and storming out.  Before anyone could stop her, Kathy followed him.  "What are you doing out of your seat!" he demanded.  "You are unwell!"

"I may be unwell, but you just threw a major fit, Goemon."  He looked stunned. "Like taking Mal out of the grocery store without buying him a candy bar fit."  She blocked his path, standing very close to him so she had to look up at him.  "Now, if you want to talk," she said more gently, "I'll listen.  I know what's going on. He's goading you into making a move.  Finally."

He glanced back at the kitchen.  "We have an agreement."

"Goemon, do you want to see her on a horse anytime soon?" she demanded.  He looked stunned.  "I know you remember how I got married and unless you want to find her riding a horse toward you soon, I'd go meditate tonight."

"I do not always meditate."

"I know you, Goemon.  You'd be up on the roof by now if I hadn't blocked you to have this discussion.  It's where you go to think.  Believe me, I've watched you smooth over some conflicts this way before.  Let me make this really clear.  She likes you.  She likes you enough to threaten to kill her mother over your ass.  Your movement toward her is geologic.  If you do not move soon, I will put her on that horse myself.  Do you really want to see your woman riding up to you?"

"No, that is now how I envisioned our union," he said, smiling down at her. "I do so desire."

"Then make a move!" she said, swatting at his chest.  "I'm too damn fat to do much, but...."

"You are not fat!" he said warmly.

"Goemon, an important lesson in women is that it's about how we see ourselves, not how our lovers see us.  If I think I'm fat, then I'm fat."

"You are not fat.  You may be thinner than you were when we met you," he defended.  "You are thin, beautiful, and only lack your health at the moment, which you keep ignoring."

"You're lecturing, dad.  I don't need it from Lupin and I don't need it from you."  He grimaced.  "That's another thing.  What *I* decide to allow in *my* relationship is really none of your business.  If I let Lupin curl up with me and Jigen on occasion, it's to soothe the pain and agony that Fujiko is causing him.  If I decide that their stress relief thing is okay, then it is.  That's between us and I'm not married to you."  He nodded, hanging his head.  "Now, you've just insulted Lupin, upset your woman, and made Jigen frown at me.  We should go back to the table, where you will apologize and then later you can work it out on the roof.  You can even use ours if you want."

He nodded.  "I shall."  He picked her up, putting her over his shoulder, weathering her swats.  "Quit, your injury is not being pressed on and you are still weak."  He walked her back into the kitchen, looking at her men.  "Which of you want her?"

"My shoulder's been aching again," Jigen said, giving his wife a sorry look.  "I feel my age."

"Give her here, I can carry her back to bed in a few minutes," Lupin offered. Goemon carefully handed her over.  "Thanks."  He patted her on the back.  "See what happens when you worry Jigen?  You get Goemon upset and over-protective."  She snickered, swatting at him.  "Good.  Now, how should we arrange their wedding?"

"I'm fat."

"Kathy, hush!" Lupin ordered.  She looked hurt.  "You are not fat.  You are not much above what you were when we met you.  I can see a rib or three.  You're not fat."

"She's not," Kit agreed.

"If I'm not, then I've got a whole closet of things I haven't worn in years and nowhere to wear them."

Goemon coughed, sitting down next to his woman again.  "That may be fixed," he admitted.  "We can always take you out to dinner."

"Sure," she agreed.  "Once I can balance on my shoes again."

"Thank you," Lupin agreed, patting her on the back.  "Pick off my plate if you want."  He looked at Jigen.  "You know, they make pills for that ache."

Kathy choked, looking at him. "He doesn't need the Big V."

Lupin smirked at her.  "I wasn't talking about that ache, I was talking about the arthritis he's developing in his right shoulder, sweetheart."

"If he ever needs Bob's Little Marriage Fixer, we're all in trouble," she pointed out.  Lupin looked horrified so she smirked at him.  "Right?"

"Very," he agreed. He coughed and shook his head, looking at Jigen.  "Don't ever need the little blue pill."

"I haven't so far," Jigen said dryly.  "Quit stroking her thigh."  Lupin looked down at his hand, then at him.  Jigen looked too.  "You're not?"

"No.  Again, I do have some self control, Jigen."

"You guys need a damn marriage counselor," Kathy announced.  "I can't do that."  She stood up with a wince.  "With that wise advice, I'm going to take a shower.  Laters, all."  She headed that way, checking on Avalon before covering her bandage and then climbing in to the warm spray she had started.

Jigen looked at Lupin.  "It hasn't happened yet."

"I know.  It's a horrible thought if it does."

"Yeah," Jigen agreed, considering it.  If he ever became impotent, his lovers would be really pissed at him.   "I guess you'd have to find something new to do."

Kit cleared her throat with a blush.  "I took the liberty of having certain rooms cleaned and their sheets changed," she announced.  "We all know Kathy won't be able to touch anyone for at least another month."

"Month?" Jigen asked, looking horrified. "What did that butcher do to her?"

"Nothing went wrong with the surgery, but a few nerves were yanked during the rush to stop the bleeding," Goemon noted.  "She's in pain from that more than most other things.  We must keep her calm, laying down, and resting until it passes."

"I want a second opinion," Jigen told him.

"As did I, but she has not allowed such exams to occur," Goemon noted.

"Someone will have to take out the stitches," Lupin pointed out.   Goemon gave him a look.  "Thank you, Goemon.  We'll handle that part."  That earned him a smile.  "Where did the kids go?"

"They're in the backyard watching the sunset," Goemon told him, pointing out the window.

Lupin looked; his daughter was off to the side, Jigen's three were curled around Aresne, Ray's two were curled one behind the other, and the kid he didn't know was off to the other side.  "Who's he?" he asked, pointing.

"He lives with the horses, but he likes to come over and play," Kit said softly.  "He's a nice boy most of the time. A little rough now and then, and he doesn't understand that Chad can't really play rough, but he's fine."

"Okay," Lupin agreed.  He looked at Jigen.  "My son shows good taste." Jigen stood up so he could see, then snorted, shaking his head as he sat back down.  "He does."

"He does," Jigen agreed.  "Just like his father."  Lupin smirked at him.  "What about Abby?"

"She's having a moody day.  I had a few of those at her age, she'll get past that soon enough.  All real Lupins do it."

"Aresene doesn't seem to have acquired that habit," Goemon said gently.

"Yeah, I know, I think he got my other side.  He's a really good gunman and he's looking to be a caring lover some day, but he won't be the genius that Grandfather and I are."  He looked at Jigen and suddenly grinned.  "If we ever find a kid like Artemis Fowl, we're adopting him."

"If we ever find a kid like him, hopefully he'll come to us and we'll mentor him," Jigen agreed.  Lupin beamed at him.  "If we do, can I get the weapons that fairy chick uses?"

"Sure," Lupin agreed happily.  "I'd like to see you with a nuclear gun some day."  Jigen snickered.  "We all good here?"  They nodded.  "Then I'll go find her something to prove she's not that fat.  Jigen, I believe she could probably use some attention for things like a backrub or a foot rub.  Goemon, I believe it's time for you to go do your nightly thing and stare at the stars, and your beautiful young woman there can either herd the kids upstairs, where I'll work on bedtimes until Jigen can come read too, or can help you stare at the stars."  They nodded, each eating a bit more before going to do that.

***

After their massive shopping trip, Goemon was much calmer.  Ray and Cat had departed with their children for their cruise home.  The children had eaten earlier and already went to bed.  All the household business had been taken care of that day, including the hiring of a new cook since theirs had decided to retire last month.  The groceries had been bought and put up.  The children had decent clothes and the old ones were now decorating many animals courtesy of Jissan.  But Goemon had found only one thing he wanted to look at.  He smiled at Kit, then cleared his throat, stopping the petty bickering between Lupin and Zenigata, who had been there when they had returned.  He looked at Kit.  "It was pointed out to me that I had the desire to see you on horseback, yet that is not how I wanted to see you."  Kit looked really confused so he produced the box and pushed it over to her.  "I found this for you earlier and I hope you like it."

Kit slowly opened the box, then burst out crying, hugging him.  "Goemon!"

"Shh," he soothed.  "We will plan our own affair so you do not end up in some gothic dress on a horse."  She pulled back and kissed him gently.

"The proper procedure is to put it onto her finger," Zenigata said dryly.  Goemon glared at him.  "It is."

"I'm aware of that."  He slid the ring onto her finger.  "There.  It fits."

She chuckled.  "I noticed you looking really hard so I had the kids distract you so the guy could measure me," she admitted.  He shook his head.  "I thought it might give you a better idea, just in case."  She looked at her ring.  Pearls and gold, with a single diamond in the center.  "It's very pretty."

"Thank you."  He looked at Lupin.  "I will be planning my own event."

"Sure," Lupin agreed smugly.  "I don't think she'd want the whole horse thing that we did for Kathy and Jigen.  Maybe a traditional thing?" he suggested.  "Full costumes and all?"

"What is it with you and costumes?" Kathy asked.  "You put me into one.  You put Cat and Kit into one.  Then you guys got to wear tuxes."

"Traditional Japanese weddings are a bit more formal," Goemon told her.

"Including this really big wig," Kit shared.  "You know, I tried on a kimono once and the woman told me I'd make a very pretty geisha, so I haven't been in one since."  Goemon gave her a long look.  "Sorry."

"It's not a problem," he promised, patting her on the hand.  "We'll figure it out together, without Lupin's help."  She beamed so he gently kissed her.  "Now, we should eat.  Kathy needs her strength to endure this wedding business."

Lupin raised his glass.  "To finally getting off your ass," he saluted.  The others cheered and drank but only Lupin gave him a smug look.  "Can I see?"  She let him see the ring.  "Very distinctive and pretty.  Just like you, dear."  He leaned back again.  "Jigen, I noticed a few of our buddies watching the kids today.  We'll have to put our foot down with the lists."

"Definitely," Kathy agreed.

Lupin looked at her.  "You, no more hacking into my email accounts.  I got razzed about that for months."  She beamed and winked.  "Fine.  We're still not naming the next cat Boshephalus."

"Shoot."

"Lupin," Jigen groaned.  "That's ancient history."

"What was?" Kit asked.

"Our beloved Kathy found my email open one day," Lupin said.  "It was during the 'naming the Chad' days."

"She asked both of the main underworld mailing lists for naming suggestions," Zenigata finished smugly.  "She said she wanted unusual and from the ones I saw on the list, they certainly were."

"I was answering emails for weeks," Jigen agreed, looking at his wife.  "Thank you for not doing that with Avalon."

"Hey, I liked those books," she said softly, looking at her plate.  "Lupin, I, um, thought I saw Fujiko earlier too."

He shrugged.  "Then that's her thing," he noted.  "I'm not letting her influence Abby any more.  It's been mostly bad so far."  He took a longer sip of his wine.  "We really should be eating.  This new cook seems to like to feed us."

"That's what you get for hiring an Italian mother as a cook," Jigen pointed out, digging into his own food.  It was good.  There was a lot of it.  Even adding in a sudden dinner party wouldn't make a real dent in it.  "Isn't that picnic coming up?"  Kathy nodded.  "Are we hosting?"

"It'll be in the park again this year.  The new pavilions were built," she assured him.  "We'll only have to bring a lot of food and the kids."

"I'll help you figure out what you're wearing later," Lupin promised.

"Thanks."  She ate a bite of dinner.  "Kit, staring at it won't make it disappear, I promise."  Kit frowned and quit looking at it out of the corner of her eye.  "Trust me, it takes a bit to get used to.  The weight startles you sometimes."

"It's to remind you that you can turn to him," Jigen offered.

"If you want, I've got a contact email address for your mother, Kit," Lupin offered.

Kit looked at him, then blinked.  "You mean I have to invite her?"

"It would probably be most politically correct if you did," Goemon pointed out.  "That way she can find no fault except in her own behavior."

"Hmm."  She shrugged.  "Only if she can quit fussing about you.  I won't have it at my wedding."

"Agreeable," he agreed lightly, smiling at her.  She grinned back and kissed him again.  "Eat," he encouraged.  She dug into dinner with gusto, knowing why she needed to eat.  He dug in himself, helping clear some of the food once they were all done.  Then he took his woman back to their house and proved that he loved her.

***

Lupin looked up as Zenigata walked into the office later that night, waving him over. "Chess piece?"  It was handed over and he connected the USB port.  The DSL line instantly uploaded them to the site.  "Hmm.  No change is strategy. Arrogant prick.  Who was the first move?  It doesn't show up."

"We don't know yet," Zenigata admitted.  "It's like he's moved but he's not telling us his moves or his team.  Why am I a rook this time?"

"Because dear, sweet, gentle Kathy is our Queen."  He grimaced.  "Which is fairly wrong on a few counts."

"Gee, maybe if you weren't sleeping with her," Zenigata said dryly.

"I'm not, no one is.  She's still in pain.  I have cuddled her on occasion."  He looked at the board again.  "He's removed Fujiko completely.  We have me as king, Goemon as rook and bishop, Jigen as my knight.  Kathy is my queen and her knight, Jigen's her rook, and Kit's her bishop."  He looked up.  "Where are you?"

"Either I'm the first move or I'm a pawn, I guess," he admitted.  "Better this way anyway."  Lupin hummed but didn't comment, searching for clues on the board.  "No dossiers?"

"Not a one this time.  Maybe he feels he gave us an unfair advantage last time.  Either that or it's purely mental."  He leaned back, considering the board.  He made a bold move, moving Goemon.  "There, let's see his."  The board updated and a knight came into play.  Lupin moved a pawn.  The other side moved another pawn.  Lupin captured one of their pawns and pushed it off the board.  The other side opened a chat window.  "Oooh, the guy wants to know if I concede yet," he said with mock fondness.  He sat up, picking up the keyboard, then went back to typing in moves.  He did answer his opponent with that same sentiment, that he obviously didn't know him very well.  "Hmm.  We just moved a pawn that did have a file.  We're getting visitors in a few days."  He looked up and smiled. "It's the Mountie."

"He's using the Mountie?  Ray's partner?"

"Oh, yeah.  He's gonna love this one."  He smirked at the inspector.  "So, she's consulting yet we never see her doing any work.  Did you guys fire her?"

"Huh?  Oh, no, she's on medical and maternity leave.  The Chief really liked her when he met her in the Venice office.  Said she was a firecracker and that he adored women like her.  He's a former Texan," he shared at the amused look.

"We saw who did the paternity test.  Jigen was nearly convinced before that."

"She wanted him to have proof, that way he couldn't ever bring it up again."

"Which he does.  Avalon looks almost exactly like him, only without the beard."  Zenigata rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Pops, even you've seen it."

"I have," he admitted. "Poor kid'll be funny looking probably."  He glanced around again.  "How come you get to use the office?"

"Because she said I could tonight.  She also said I'm buying her a new computer when I buy one for my own office."

"You're moving in full time?" he asked blandly.

"No, not really.  Most of the time.  I need to be around people and she needs us, plus the kids need the distraction and the help.  Abby's got my moods and her mother's crankiness."  He shrugged. "It suits us all until she gets tired of us."

"Plus you've found someone you can't smarm your way into the bed of," Zenigata pointed out.

"True, Kathy is one of the few people I know who likes me for who I am, not for my skills or what I've gotten in the past."  He checked the board, then grimaced, typing into the chat window.  "He made two moves.  That is not legal."  The guy made another move so Lupin pulled a CD out of his jacket and stuck it into the CD drive, letting it run.  He loaded the site into it, then smirked.  "He's not in Mexico, he's in Canada."  He picked up the phone, calling the local police.  "Hello," he said smoothly.  "I am online with someone and he's just threatened to kill many police officers.  Yes, I do.  We arranged for a meeting."

"He's also still wanted," Zenigata said, snatching the phone.  "Who am I speaking with?"  He grimaced.  "Sergeant Volish, I am Inspector Zenigata.  Yes, him," he said patiently. "We were tracking a felon who managed to escape in Mexico about ten years ago.  He is guilty of murder, keeping a jaguar in his house, and of trying to contaminate American cops.  Yes, we do."  He looked at the screen so Lupin highlighted it for him.  "It says he's in Number 3 Mark Duvall Place, Ottowa.  Yes, that case," he agreed, smiling happily.  "Thank you.  Do be careful.  The man escaped last time with a gunshot wound to the gut.  Yes, I can be reached at this number.  Thank you, Sergeant."  He hung up.  "I love working with the Mounties.  They're always so good and efficient."

"That's why we don't do much in Canada," Lupin agreed, looking at the board.  "Now he's really cheating."  He shrugged and got back into it, capturing the other queen.  The other man tried to make a move but Lupin caught that one and only sacrificed two pawns to get Check.  Then all movement on the board stopped.  A new message appeared in the chat window, asking who he was.  He typed his name and Zenigata's name in.  A 'thank you kindly, we have him in custody' message appeared next so Lupin closed it down.  He unhooked the chess piece and put it on the desk in a prominent position so it could be played with.  "There, done."

"Thank you."  He nodded.  "I'll be around for a few days to watch over her."

"Not an issue," Lupin agreed.  "We're holding to the truce.  Otherwise you'd already have been tied to a chair.  Again."

Zenigata groaned.  "Someday I will catch you outside of her house."

"I'm sure," he agreed happily.  "Cat caught us on a plane to Vegas once but we escaped."

"When?"

"The trip to the convention where she and Ray got married," Jigen said from the doorway.  "Kathy's nearly asleep and she's jumping each time there's a noise.  Did you want to sneak in tonight?"

"Would you care?" Lupin asked.  Jigen shook his head.  "Then, yeah, I'd like that.  It'd be nice to be hugged."  He got up, walking around Zenigata.  "Have the computer if you want."

"I want the office, not the ancient machine," he said dryly, watching them leave.   He sat down behind the desk, liking the stately room and the comfortable chair.  "I need to get one of these for my home," he said, stroking the leather armrests.  "The wife would never go for the expense, but I like this."

Lupin stuck his head in.  "The real expense would be finding it at all, but Lazyboy does do a mean imitation of a good desk chair."  He waved.  "Have fun  and take your medicine."  He trotted off to take his shower since Jigen would hopefully be done.  And if not, maybe he'd wash his back too?   He strolled in and whispered in Kathy's ear.  "It's just me, we're both protecting you tonight."  She patted him over the whole of his face, pushing him away.  "Thanks, babe."  He strolled into the bathroom, finding Jigen soaping himself through the glass doors.  He stripped down quickly and stepped into the spacious shower.  "Saving on the water bill," he said at the wary look.

Jigen handed back the shampoo. "I'm not ready."

"That's fine.  I understand."  He got his hair wet, then worked the shampoo into it. "Pops is trying to figure out how to steal and not get caught so he can have your wife's desk chair."

"Thank you for pointing out she was my wife."

Lupin gave him a hurt look, looking quite odd with the head of bubbles he presently had.  "Did you actually think I could take her from you, Jigen?"  Jigen sighed and shook his head.  "Then can we please move on?"

Kathy walked in to use the bathroom, grimacing at them since they were staring at each other.  "Push him up against the wall and have him already," she said, looking disgusted as she finished up and washed her hands.  She walked over and opened the glass door, staring at them.  Lupin made a move to cover himself but she snorted. "It's not like I haven't seen it and had it poking me in the back, sweetheart."  She looked at Jigen.  "Are you *still* jealous?"  He shook his head, giving her a mute look. "Then what is the problem?  Didn't I say you could?"

"I feel more strongly about watching out for you than trying to conquer him again."

"I have bodyguards, Jigen, I need people who want to sit and talk with me while I recover.  Do you think you might be able to do both?"  He nodded, more firmly this time.  "Then why not indulge yourself until I'm not sore?  You probably haven't had any in a while."

"Since two days before I left," Jigen admitted tiredly.

"You punished him too?" she asked Lupin, who nodded.

"I thought he deserved it.  He was okay during the separation, more focused, but he was also an asshole to be around.  Either that or a void sucking happiness."  He glanced at Jigen.  "I didn't feel I should comfort him until he came to the conclusion that he was really wrong and at least try to come back to you.  I didn't even offer to bring him with me when I went out on whoring missions."

She nodded slowly, gripping the door.  Jigen pulled her in between them, letting them steady her.  "Okay, so let me get this straight.  You didn't get *any* while we were apart?"

"No," he said simply.  "Lupin wouldn't and we are still married.  You?"

"I considered it but I felt miserable the whole time I was pregnant."  He grimaced.  "It would have been in retaliation, which also decided me.  I'm not that petty to sink myself down to that level."

"Your father might be proud of that statement," Lupin said, wrapping his arms tighter around her waist.

"My father once told me I was an embarrassment to my department," she said coolly.  "That was before he died.  Fortunately I lived to spit on his grave and so did Uncle Dan."

"How did he die?" Jigen asked.  "Gun battle?"

"Drunk during a shift and he drove his cruiser into the front of a bar.  The same one he went to drown his sorrows in.  Everyone thought it was quite poetic.  Completely destroyed the place.  Then I got to do to him what he did to my mother, in front of the person he did it in front of last time.  Uncle Dan frowned at me, but he understood.  That was before the heart attack took him."  They nodded, hugging her.  "I kinda miss Uncle Dan.  He'd have told you that you needed counseling as a couple."

"We had it mostly worked out before you came in," Lupin assured her.  "Can I have the water so I can finish my hair?"  They shifted, letting him have the water for a few minutes, even though he didn't really let go of her.  Once he was done he looked over at Jigen.  "You did what I wanted you to."

"I know."  Jigen hugged his wife tighter.  "I'm not sure it's such a good idea.  I'm still feeling jealous."

"Jigen, are you jealous because he's your special friend and he wants to share me, or because I'm some sort of intruder into your thing?" she asked.  He looked stunned, staring down at her.  "Seriously.  Which is it?"

He shuddered.  "That's just wrong."

"It's not," Lupin admitted, leaning more heavily against Kathy's back.  "It isn't so much that you don't want me to have what's yours as you don't want her to have what's yours."

"Cat calls it the Caveman's Harem mentality.  You and only you can touch all your women, but you treat them as precious artifacts, like the first firebrand."  Jigen's mouth fell open.  "See, I knew she was right."

"She's not," Jigen told her, shaking his head to clear it.  "She's not right at all.  I could care less if I share Lupin with you, it's more that I don't want him to...taint you is the best I can explain it."

"You don't me to teach her how to whore around like I do?" Lupin asked dryly.

Kathy burst out laughing. "Jigen, do you have *any* idea how preposterous that sounds?  You *know* I've done some of that in my day.  He's not being a bad influence on me and he sure as hell steadies you."

"Sorry, every now and then I get this feeling that you're still pure and innocent," he defended.

"After all I've done, I'm *pure*?" she asked, smirking at him. "After all the times that I threw you onto the bed and climbed on top.  After all the times that I pounced you in some bathroom during some sort of function.  After how many times I took you in the middle of the police conventions and did you in a broom closet where every single cop in the place could hear.  And you think I'm pure?"

Jigen looked down.  "Sorry, sometimes it hits me and I don't always manage to counteract it."  She tipped his chin back up.  "I didn't mean to insult you."

"You didn't," she promised. "It's sweet that your rose-colored glasses are so asexual."

"That sounded like a Cat phrase," he teased, trying to get the attention off him.

She leaned into him, kissing him gently.  "That's because I stole it off her and modified it for this situation.  I'm no more innocent than you are, Jigen. I've killed people, I've slept around, and I've even had to do a bit of torturing now and then.  I've not been pure since before you met me."

"You were when I met you," he defended.

"I guess I was, but that was a really long time ago.  Nearly twenty-three years if I'm not mistaken."  He nodded, pulling her closer to hold.  "Thanks, babe.  Now, can you please soothe your boy too?"

"C'mere," Jigen ordered.  Lupin moved to hold them both, barely making his arms go around Jigen's waist.  "Do you like that idea?"

"That you two share me?  I do," he admitted.  "I have no problem being your snuggly bed toy."  Jigen gave him a look.  "Seriously.  It's good for me.  It'll steady me and let you two have something that can be used to diffuse any upcoming problems."  He grinned.  "Plus, I'm getting the better end of the bargain, I get you both."

She pinched him.  "Nasty bugger."

He kissed her on the cheek.  "Of course I am."  He grinned at Jigen over her shoulder.  "Aren't I?"

"Almost always.  There've been days when I wanted to fumigate you as you came in the door, Lupin."  He shook his head.  "Fine.  I'll quit being so paranoid about this stuff and you two will be cute for my pleasure."

"That's fine," Kathy agreed lightly.  She kissed him gently.  "Now if only I weren't sore."

"Ehh, I can wait."  He stroked her stomach.  "I missed you."

"You missed petting the baby?"

"Well, yeah, but I missed you more," he said quietly, looking down at her.  "I was a miserable prick without you."  Lupin nodded.  "You, finish cleaning up."  He walked him and his wife out of the shower, drying them both off before walking her out to the bed.  He tucked them both in, then snuggled in next to her.  "Did you want to talk more?"

"Not unless you wanted to," she offered.

"Maybe later.  Right now, I'd rather hold you and make sure that you're all right."  He went back to stroking her stomach, keeping away from the surgical opening.  "You're sure you're all right?"

"I'm just fine," she said firmly.  "I'll be up and running very soon."

"Good.  Would you let a doctor tell me that?"  She gave him an odd look.  "You'll have to get the staples pulled anyway."

"Yeah, I guess," she agreed.  "If we can talk the local OB or surgeon into it."

"You've got an appointment tomorrow at nine," Lupin called as he came out of the bathroom drying his hair.  "With the local surgeon.  He wanted to check your stitches or staples."  He blew a kiss.  "He was not happy that this sort of thing happened away from your home.  He said that the only doctors who could ever understand you were here or in Chicago.  He was frowning greatly when I told him about it when I ran into him while getting cigarettes."

"You hit him up for an appointment in the store?" Jigen asked, awed by his partner's audacity yet again.  The local surgeon was a bear of a man, with an attitude to match.

"I asked him for some advice on how to cure the ache around a stomach wound.  He gave me a dirty look, then realized who I was and asked which one of us got hurt this time and did we need to be checked over.  He offered to make a house call but I figured he'd want you in the office so things were closer at hand."

Kathy sighed.  "I'm fine, guys.  Not all doctors are incompetent."

"No, but he thought you should be out of pain by now," Lupin offered.  "He thinks that something's pulling somewhere."

"During the rush, the doc over there caught one of the nerves.  That's all this pain is."

"Maybe, but I'd rather be sure of that," Jigen said quietly.  She caved and nodded.  "Thank you, princess."  He gave her a soft squeeze, making her moan.  "Sorry."

"No, it's not as bad as it could be.  Avalon's only a week and a half old.  Right afterward I couldn't stand even the pressure of the bandages."  Jigen nodded against her shoulder. "If I had a way, I'd send you back there so you could apologize," she offered.

"I wish we had found something like that too," Jigen admitted.  "Even just to get a message to my earlier self, say four days after I left.  When I wasn't drunk over my stupidity."

"Maybe two days earlier," Lupin suggested.  "That way we weren't kicked out of Brussels for that brawl."

Jigen nodded.  "Yeah, maybe."  He hugged her again and settled in to nap with her. "We should sleep.  The kids are going to pounce us tomorrow."

"With all luck, not literally," Lupin agreed as he climbed in behind Jigen, knowing he needed the holding more.  "Tell me if I grope you in my sleep again."

"Sure."

Lupin flipped off the lights, staring outside at the grounds as the night shifted and the trees swayed in the light breeze.  He fell asleep comfortably warm and feeling a living person next to him for once.

***

Kit was the last one up so she got to answer the door when the doorbell rang.  She headed that way quickly so the person couldn't ring it again and wake everyone up, but stopped when she saw who was on the other side.  "Fujiko?" she asked in shock.  Fujiko nodded as she pushed her way inside.  Kit sniffed then groaned.  "Go shower, now."

"Why?  It's not like I stink."

"Because Chad has asthma and we can't wear perfumes around him," she said firmly, pointing.  "Now.  Before he has another attack."

"Fine."  She headed up the stairs with her bag, going to do as ordered.  She didn't want to think about her welcome if she caused the kid to have an asthma attack and he had to go to the hospital.

Kit scurried down the halls, slowing when she came to Kathy's present room.  She tapped gently before walking in, knowing at least Kathy might draw on her otherwise.

"What?" Jigen asked quietly.  "We can take care of Avalon.  Go grind Goemon into your bed again."

"Fujiko just showed up," she hissed in his ear.  "I sent her to shower off the stench of perfume."  Jigen rolled to look at her.  "Looked unconcerned as anything," she told him.  "She's upstairs in a free room."

"Thanks," he said quietly, getting up to pad up there.  He knocked before walking in, startling Fujiko, who was brushing out her hair.  "Get caught doing something?" he asked dryly.

"No, I came to visit the girl."

"You'd have to visit them both, and there are now rules in place, Fujiko.  No smoking in the house.  No perfume, no body spray, nothing with scent around Chad or the other kids. Not even a roll-on stick of perfume.  Nothing.  Plus, you do not upset my wife.  She's fragile after having Avalon."

"Avalon?" she asked dryly, smirking at him.  "Another misnamed one?"

"I don't mind her name that much.  She is a pretty mystical baby."  He crossed his arms.  "I mean it, Fujiko, or you can leave now.  I won't even tell Lupin you're here."  He glanced around.  "By the way, you might want to switch rooms.  This is where we usually get it on."

She grimaced as she stood up, brushing herself off.  "Thank you for telling me that.  Now I'll have nightmares."  She shuddered.  "I won't wear perfume, but I'll be changing rooms."

"As long as you don't keep the rest of us up," Jigen said firmly.  "Kathy's in bad shape and I don't need to pull Lupin outta your bra again."  He turned, closing the door behind him.

She looked around, giving the room a really disgusted look.  "Eww.  I can't even imagine doing that.  My poor Lupin."  She gathered up the things she had unpacked and headed to another empty room, running into Jissan in the hall.  "Should you be up?"

She looked up at her aunt, then nodded.  "I always am."  She padded off, going to check on Chad.  She smelled, a lot.  "Chad?" she called softly, walking in to look at him.  He was napping so there wasn't a problem yet.  Otherwise she might have to hurt the auntie.  Her bestest friend Absinthe would help her with that.  She didn't like her mother at all.

***

Lupin knocked briefly before walking into Fujiko's room.  He sniffed, then grabbed her bag of clothes and the dirty laundry, taking them down to have them cleaned of the perfume too.  Then he went back upstairs, surprising her.  "I put your stuff into the laundry."

"Most of that was new."

"Yeah, but it still smelled of your perfume," he noted.

"Can I at least use body wash?"

"So far that hasn't set him off yet," he agreed, sitting at the foot of her bed in a chair. "Why did you come back?"

"I came to see Abby."  She sat up, pushing her hair back.  "Why?  Is this a bad time?"

"Kathy had to have emergency surgery with Avalon," he said quietly.  She looked upset at that so he went on.  "She's on complete bedrest, though she doesn't like it.  There will be no bothering her."

"Of course not," Fujiko agreed.  "It's not like we chat all the time anyway."

He grimaced a bit, then cleared his expression.  "I'll bring you up something to wear, Fujiko.  The kids should be getting up soon."

"You really do enjoy this dad thing, don't you?" she asked dryly.  He nodded, smirking at her.  "Fine, then you're happy.  What about the kids?"

"What about them?  Goemon and I have done a really good job civilizing Abby so far."

"She's a little girl, Lupin, not a little boy.  She doesn't need civilized, she needs nurtured."

"She needs both and we do so amazingly," he said, staring her down.  She looked away first.  "Why else did you show up?"

"My last boyfriend was a prick so I'm escaping him," she sighed.  "I'd rather not have to shoot him, just in case I need him someday.  He's very influential."

"I thought it might be something like that," he admitted as he stood up.  "Your stuff should be done in a few hours, I'll pull something out of Kathy's closet for you.  Your chest is a bit bigger, but she's got lots of stretchy stuff."

"How would you know?"

"Who do you think organizes her closet?" he asked with a small smirk.  He strolled out, going to do that before he could wake his daughter and run away with her.  He had a very bad feeling about this meeting. He walked into their old room, going right to the 'thin' closet.  He found a stunning dress he hadn't seen before hanging on the front and gaped, then smirked.  It was beautiful and it would make Kathy look stunning.  He wouldn't do that to her by letting Fujiko wear it first.  He dug in the back, coming out with an older stripper outfit, one in lycra and cotton that had a halter neckline and a knee-length skirt, but the tan color would look better on Fujiko than it would on Kathy.  He carried it in to her, handing it over gently.  "There, it's older but it should fit."  He walked out, going down to talk to the cook and inform her they had an extra person, plus to get a long smoke.
By the time he had his third, Jigen had joined him.  "The bitch?" he asked.

"I lent her that older tan outfit out of Kathy's closet.  Her clothes reeked of her perfume.  They're in the wash."

"Not a problem," Jigen admitted.  "What was that white dress for?"

"I don't know, but she'd look good in it.  It's just shiny enough to highlight her new body."  Jigen nodded, lighting his second one.  "Do you like Avalon's name?"

"I do.  She's magical to me.  She survived, man, that's all the magic I need."

"Good point.  I'm hoping that Fujiko doesn't make another baby name comment."

"She did last night," Jigen admitted.  "I told her the same thing.  With all the trouble Kathy had while pregnant with her, she survived and that makes her magical."

Lupin looked at him.  "I'm sorry, Jigen."

"I'm not.  I didn't really need more kids, but I did want to pat and stroke her during it."  He took a longer drag and put out the cigarette, crushing it under his shoe as he exhaled.  "I'll live.  She's okay, that's all that's important."

"Yeah, but it still sucks," Lupin prompted.

"Yeah, but I couldn't be there because of my big mouth.  I get that.  I'm over it now."

Lupin stepped closer.  "You're not, Jigen, and I don't blame you if you kick yourself about it.  If I had a way, I'd go back and stop it for you.  Every man deserves what we had with Chad and Abby."  Jigen sighed and nodded.  "So you can be upset at yourself."

"I am," he admitted. "But I know it's my own fault so I can't really kick myself too hard over it, ya know?  I wish I had done things differently."

"Now all we need is some sort of genie," Kit noted as she walked up to join them. "Is the new guest awake?"

"Yup," Lupin agreed.  "I tossed her clothes into the wash already.  She's wearing something older from Kathy's closet."

"As long as it's not the white one," Kit said firmly.

"Not unless she snuck in there and took it," Jigen said, looking inside. "Usually she'd be bugging you by now."

"She hadn't showered yet," Lupin told him.  "Shouldn't the kids be up?"

"Probably, but they're kids, let them nap," Kit said happily.  "They'll wear us out later I'm sure."

Both men nodded and smirked at her.  Inside, Fujiko snuck up the back stairs to change.  That white dress was special, she shouldn't have decided against the tan dress.

***

Kathy wandered into breakfast, clutching the back of chairs.  "I need caffeine," she pleaded.  "Please?"  The housekeeper gave her a look.  "I know the doctor said I couldn't have any, but I have an appointment with the new one in an hour."

"Shit, forgot about that," Lupin yelped, looking at his watch.  He and Jigen started to wolf down food.  "Take a shower?" he asked between bites.

"Yes, dad, I did, and I even put on clean underwear so the doctor couldn't be embarrassed by any strange marks on them," she said, frowning at him.  "I have been to the doctor's before, Lupin, really."

"I know, but if we don't hurry, you won't be there on time."  He finished up and gulped his coffee, waving a hand in front of his mouth as he hurried to get dressed.  He was in casual clothes, not something to go out in.

"We go?" Absinthe yelled after him.

"We'll see," Jigen offered.  "Or you guys could go pounce Goemon again this morning."  The kids looked at each other, then nodded and headed out to do that.   He showed them neat things and played with them.  "Abby," he called, bringing her back.  "Honey, your mom's here," he said quietly.  She scowled and straightened up.  "She's upstairs somewhere."

She kissed him on the cheek.  "Thank you, Unclie.  I not yell."  She headed off at a dead run after the other kids, going to get their help to ruin her mother.  Auntie Kathy was so much nicer and Auntie Kit was a blast.  Why couldn't her father have taken one of them to be her mother?

***

Lupin walked Kathy up to the admissions desk. "It'll only take an hour," he reminded her gently.  She had balked at having her staples redone already.  "Please?  If it'll make you hurt less?"

"I'm fine," she protested.

"You're not, and you're going in or else," Jigen warned.  She grimaced at him, then pouted.  "Keep it up and no ice cream for lunch."  She sighed and nodded, walking the last few feet by herself.  They had been expecting her so everything was all right.  She was quickly whisked away for the pre-surgery tests, making the guys find a comfortable seat and the nearest smoking area.  It was going to be a few hours before they could hover around her bed again.  Jigen looked at Lupin.  "You really don't want to be around Fujiko?"

"I might snap and have a flashback," he said bitterly.  He pulled out his phone to call the house, getting Goemon. "It's me.  They wanted to check her insides.  The surgeon didn't like the incision at all.  So we'll be back in a few hours and she'll be back in bed fully."  He smiled.  "No, she's fine, Goemon.  He thought it had been oddly stapled so he wanted to go in and redo most of them.  Especially the internal ones."  He smiled.  "You're welcome.  How is Abby?"  He listened to the quiet voice.  "Cushion her for now.  Is Fujiko bothering her yet?"  He grimaced then groaned and shook his head.  "No, she doesn't have to wear a dress.  I have no problem with her wearing pants around the house.  Yes, but you can't play in a dress. Dresses are for when you're older."  He smirked.  "Thanks, man.  Yeah, he's here beside me.  Tell the kids we'll be home this afternoon."  Mal yelled something and he chuckled.  "Tell the chocolate bunny we'll try to talk his mom into getting him some."  He hung up.  "She's nagging Abby about not wearing a dress."

"You can't play in dresses," Jigen pointed out.

"Exactly. Arsene is also nagging back now.  Apparently we do not share the same tastes in women."

"He'll probably go for women like Kathy anyway," Jigen offered.  "Wonderful ones who want to cuddle."

"Maybe.  Did I really only see her breasts when I saw her?"

"We were never sure what you saw in her," Jigen said dryly.  "Goemon and I always thought that a good, long affair with her would have cured you quick, but we couldn't prove it.  She wouldn't cooperate when we suggested it."

"I bet," he said dryly. He considered it.  "I think I got everything I wanted from her," he admitted.  "I feel like I'm growing up again.  I'm looking for more than beauty and breasts."  Jigen snickered.  "I am.  Damn it, I need to clone your wife so I can have one for myself."

Jigen patted him on the arm.  "We know it's possible."

"I don't want to be a miserable prick like Mamo," Lupin pointed out.  "Maybe that new technique so I can have one that's half Cat and half Kathy?"

Jigen paused, then quickly shook his head free of that image.  "That'd be one tough little kid.  It'd come out with an attitude, in motorcycle leathers, and with a gun."  Lupin snickered, leaning against his arm.  "It would.  You'd have to make sure it was a girl too, or else the little boy would be one of those tough, sexy, dangerous men who'd try to take over the world.  You'd never get any again."

"I can just see him.  Well-muscled, long haired, striding down the hall in motorcycle cop leathers."  Jigen let out another chuckle.  "High boots, all the women staring and drooling, until he opened his mouth, quoted Shakespear or some philosopher, then they'd pass out at his feet and toss off their clothes for him."

Jigen nodded.  "I can see that.  Either that or he'd be one of those big bear guys.  Tough yet still a bit chunky.  Kinda hairy.  Big, huge arms."  He looked over as Zenigata strode in, not wearing his trademark trench coat.  "What's up, Pops?  It's just a small thing."

"It's not that," he admitted.  "I wanted to have a word with you two outside of the house, just in case."  He stood in front of them, handing over a folder.  "My boss sent me over here to guard Kathy so I couldn't find out about that.  Unfortunately he didn't count on the rookie who got told to hand anything Lupin related to me."

Lupin looked at the folder, frowning when he saw what it was on.  "Where did this come from?" he asked, reading faster.

"We're not sure.  It was found on a dead courier.  We're not sure if it's a reality, if it's a fake, or if it's a plan.  I talked with the kid, he's a conspiracy person.  He thinks they've already started it."  He sat down on Lupin's other side.  "The list of names is fairly interesting and would yield some interesting matches, but otherwise?"

"Superior cops, superior thieves, superior athletes, models, and actors."  He looked at the Inspector.  "You're on here?"

"I'm on there," he admitted.  "I haven't said I know about this yet.  I figured you might have heard something."

"Not yet, but let me make a few calls," Lupin said, frowning as he handed it to Jigen and headed out to the smoking area with his phone.  His first contact was a hacker he knew.  "It's Lupin," he said in greeting.  "Zenigata was handed a file that was the plans for a superior person breeding facility.  Yes, like that," he said, grimacing harder.  "Is it real?"  He leaned on the railing, watching the world go past.  "How can you be sure?"  He snorted.  "That's not foolproof.  Search this out for me.  No child of mine will ever be raised by the government."  He nodded.  "Fair enough.  As long as they're not perverted ones?"  He smirked.  "I didn't think you were, I wanted to make sure you were being blackmailed to find some for someone else.  Thank you."

He hung up and called the highest person he knew in Europe. "It's Lupin, give me to your boss now," he ordered quietly.  "Because someone's come up with a plan to breed the best of the human race together and included me.  Yes, now," he said impatiently.  "Otherwise, I'm going to let Jigen wear out his worry about his wife on you guys."  The phone was handed over immediately.  "Hey, it's Lupin."  He listened.  "Yeah, about that.  Is it real?"  He listened.  "Are you sure?"  He nodded.  "Can we find it and kill it?"  He sneered.  "Like that would matter to me.  I am Lupin the Third.  I did take down Mamo."  He snickered.  "If you think that, go right ahead.  Where and for how long?"  He took mental notes.  "Any kids yet?"  He smirked.  "Good," he purred.  "Make sure it stays that way."  He hung up and walked inside.  "Someone's working on the better human race.  They have samples, no children yet.  They're somewhere in Britain.  We're being sent the address."  He sat down again, looking at Zenigata.  "They haven't gotten a sample of you yet.  Someone's looking for you."

Zenigata grimaced.  "You're sure?"

"Reasonably so.  Jigen, we need to send Hamad some pictures of the kids.  He's making a collage."

"Fine," Jigen agreed, stretching out.  "When can we go?"

"I'm not so sure we're the right person for this job," Lupin said, looking at him.  "Let's send in someone more official, let them get some glory."  He looked at Zenigata.  "They're not governmental, but they're not that far off."

Zenigata took the folder back as he stood up.  "I can see my way to doing that.  This does stink."

"Have fun, Pops," Jigen told him with a small wave.  "Should we call you backup?"

"No, I'm sure I'll have it," Zenigata said firmly, looking at Lupin.  "You'll give me the information?"

"Sure, Pops.  Have fun with it.  This will be something that needs more publicity so it can't happen for real and all those samples are destroyed."

"There are too many egomaniacs out there," Zenigata agreed, looking at Jigen.

"I'm not telling her, it'll upset her," Jigen pointed out.

"Fine.  Thank you."  He left, going to call his boss about this case.  There was a nice office open in the local police station and they needed to know this sort of stuff happened.  He walked in with a nod.  "Calling my boss.  Someone's taking genetic samples to make the perfect human race again."  He walked in and closed the door, dialing his boss before he could sit down.  "Commissioner, it's Zenigata.  I have information on that breeding plan."  He smirked.  "I bet you didn't, sir, but now that I do, I have some information.  No, they upset Lupin.  He's feeding me information through Jigen's wife so he won't have to destroy them himself."  He sneered.  "I'm sure, sir, but they didn't give permission to take their samples and the persons involved are quite upset.  As I am.  Yes, it's real.  Lupin found out that they're at the sample gathering stage.   No, so far I only know they're in Britain.  I'll need backup of course."  He didn't even make it a question.  He was going to stomp these people flat!  "Thank you, sir.  Of course I want to work with him.  Thank you, sir.  No, she's having her incision looked over by a local surgeon since she's still in so much pain.  Her husband demanded and they're waiting on her to come out of the surgical suite now."  He smirked.  "Of course, sir.  Thank you, sir.  Please send everything to her house.  I can easily work from there while my wife's visiting her sister.  Have a nice day, Commissioner."  He hung up and walked out, looking at the men.  "A courier from Interpol will be here in a few hours.  We have people going around collecting genetic samples from various people to make a better human race.  Including mine and Kathy's."

The local Captain gave him a horrified look.  "They're breeding better cops?"

"And crooks.  They took Lupin's main gang's samples too," he said bitterly.  "Some politicians, some actors, some athletes, and ours."  He let him see the file.  "If you find anything relative, you tell me.  I want this shit stopped."

"Yes, Inspector," he agreed, looking horrified as he read through it.  "Those are some odd combinations."  He looked up, looking a little green.  "How would they do such things?"

"The same way they cloned a sheep, only a bit different in procedure."  He shrugged.  "I don't understand it, but even the FBI is upset about this one now."

"Good!" the captain said, handing the folder back.  "May you find them and smash all the vials."

"If at all possible," he agreed bitterly.  "Those kids would be horrible on the world."  He headed back to the house to call some of his contacts for information.  Maybe he could find out more than Lupin could this time.

***

Kathy woke up, looking up into Jigen's face.  "Hi," she said sleepily.  "What's wrong?"

"Someone came up with a harebrained idea to select the next generation of super cops and crooks.  They're trying to gather samples.  Pops went after them."

"Okay.  That's good.  Did they get anything off me?"  He nodded.  "Wow.  Gonna have to help him hurt them then."

"Let him try first, we'll save the big guns for later," he said softly, stroking over her lips.  "Want some water?"  She nodded so he grabbed the glass, letting her sip from the straw.  "They wanted to breed you to Pops, and you to Cat, plus there were possible combinations of you and Goemon and you and Lupin, or Lupin and Cat."  She spluttered so he helped her sit up, patting her on the back.  "Sorry."

"No," she said, looking at him.  "I remember hearing someone talk about that.  They've been doing this for years?"  He shrugged, helping her lie back down.  "That stupid British kook!"

"Calm down or they'll kick me out," he said quietly.  She calmed herself and nodded.  "Thanks.  You okay?"  She looked at him and shrugged.  "In pain?"

"Not more than usual."

"Good."  He pushed some of her hair back again.  "I want you to be better, Kathy.  Please?"

"Sure.  As soon as possible, Jigen."  She blew a kiss and snuggled back down.  "How long before I can go home?"

"Three hours, to make sure you don't have a relapse or a reaction."  She nodded, taking his hand to hold.  "You feelin' okay?"

"Just tired."  She yawned and curled up on her side around his hand.  "This is nice."

"It's yours whenever you want," he promised gently, using his free hand to stroke her hair.  "I've missed the usual you, Kathy."

"I know, and I'll be better soon."

"Good.  Then you can whip my ass at scrabble again."  She snickered.  "Good girl, you rest."  He went back to stroking her, making sure she slept.  The nurse came in to check on him and got him a chair to lounge in since he hadn't been able to reach it without moving his hand.  It comforted her and he wasn't going to make her wake up for anything.  He considered the kids that might have come from those relationships.  He could see most of them, but her and Goemon?  He shuddered.  "Nasty thought," he muttered, staring down at her.

Lupin strolled in a few minutes after the nurse had left.  "She asleep?"  Jigen nodded.  "You tell her?"

"And convinced her to let him handle it for now."

"Good."  He patted him on the back.  "I can't get my mind around her and Goemon," he said, shaking it quickly.

"Me either," Jigen admitted, smirking up at him.  "Think about how uptight that kid could become?"

"How good it'd be.  His speed and her brains?"

"He's smart, he's simply focused," she said quietly.  "Hush."

"Sorry," Lupin said, leaning down to kiss her on the side of the head.  "You need to rest."

"I'd be able to but you two just gave me nightmares."  She looked at them.  "That would be one confused kid. It'd take an intervening generation to smooth out the worst of both sides traits.  Maybe one of their kids and one of ours."

"I'm sure they'll work it out without our pushing," Jigen soothed, going back to stroking her.  She hummed and smiled, closing her eyes.  "Any word on Fujiko's motives?"

"She ran away from her last boyfriend and is at loose ends," Lupin told him bitterly.  "The same as last time."

"You've got to break that woman of that habit, man.  She'll never leave you alone otherwise."

"Yeah, well, I tried.  I tried finding her decent men and sending her to meet with them.  I tried talking to her.  I tried taking the kids away for a long vacation when she started her crap last time.  She keeps coming back."

"Like a cat, she returns to be fed yet again," Jigen noted.  "If she hurts Abby, I can't say that my girl'll leave her alone."

"I can't say that I want her to," Lupin admitted miserably.  "I love her, Jigen, but sometimes I can't stand her.  She's hurting my kids.  I love my kids."

"Your kids have to come first in your life," Goemon instructed as he walked in.  "Fujiko just left."  Lupin gave him a shocked look.  "She was thinking and pensive."  He handed over the flowers.  "I told her she'd be home tonight but she thought it might be nice and that way you couldn't yell at her if they couldn't be around Chad."

"I have no idea one way or the other," Jigen admitted.  "Does Kit?"

"She said that they should be fine, he hasn't reacted before and he doesn't like to sniff flowers anyway."  He came over to look down at her.  "The nurses were discussing releasing her as soon as she could stay awake."

"M'wake," she mumbled.

"Sleep, princess," Lupin ordered, grinning up at him.  "What is my ex doing besides thinking?"

"Pouting.  She's quit tormenting Absinthe however.  Abby tried to run away to the river to swim."

"Pool's going in next month," Kathy mumbled.

"Woman, sleep, or else I'm going to have to kiss you until you can't breath," Jigen ordered gently.  She flipped him off and he grinned.  "I know you're tough and strong, but you need to nap.  Napping means that you get better faster and then you can be pleasured and pampered."

"Diapers gross.  Feels like a pad."  She blinked at him.  "I'm fine."

"Sure you are," Lupin agreed.  "Even if they release you, you're staying on the couch or in bed until we see no wincing, no shakiness, and no pouting."

"I haven't pouted yet," she defended.

"Then what do you call what you are doing now?" Goemon asked.  She pouted at him for real and he sighed.  "Please follow the orders."

"Goemon, they've got a new problem and they won't even let me help," she told him.  "Someone's trying to breed the next generation.  They're suggesting my eggs and your seed."

Goemon raised an eyebrow, looking down at Lupin, who held up a hand.  "It's some mad scientist person who wants to build a perfect human race again.  They've got samples of you, me, Jigen, Pops, her, Cat, Ray, the Mountie, and a few others."  Goemon whimpered.  "There was a list of probable matches and possible ones.  You two were a possible one."

"As was the one listing you and the Mountie," Jigen offered.

"Who is killing them?" Goemon asked calmly.

"Pops," Jigen and Lupin said in unison.

"Then I think he'll need some help destroying such things.  I'll be back shortly," he announced, heading out to find the cop and get him to let him come along.  Or else he'd make sure he could go along to destroy his own sample.  Those would be *horrible* children.   He found him in the study checking his email.  "I am going to destroy those samples."

Zenigata looked at him and grinned.  "Sure, Goemon.  Just as soon as we figure out where they are and I get to arrest you since you'll be doing something off her property."  Goemon growled and moved in, making the inspector flinch and move backward as fast as the chair would roll.  It didn't save him from the stiff grip in the front of his shirt.  "Goemon."

"I will be destroying them.  With or without your help.  Or do you wish to someday deal with a child that is mine and Kathy's?"

"Huh?" Kit asked from the doorway.

"Someone's doing genetic experiments and has decided who should be bred to who," Goemon told her, glancing back at her.  "He suggested I should be bred to Kathy.  I wish to destroy him greatly."

She chuckled.  "I'd have to run from that kid, Goemon.  He'd be rotten.  Either so over- controlled that he'd never leave his thoughts or so wild that nothing would ever calm him down."  She walked in and gave his back a hug.  "It's all right, I know you'd never do it the natural way.  Who else was suggested?"  Zenigata pointed at the folder.  "Let him go, dear."  She sat down to read it, chuckling over the list. "Lupin and Kathy, there's a recipe for hell on earth."  She continued to read the list.  "Huh.  I'm on here."  She looked up at him.  "Interestingly enough they decided to merge me with a scholar and then take that kid and merge it with yours in the next generation."

"It is foul," Goemon said firmly.

"It is," she agreed, smiling at him.   "Someone has a very bad idea of what the world needs to save it.  I mean seriously, you and Constable Fraser?"  She started to chuckle again.  "That kid would live as a priest if they could ever get out of their meditations."

He scowled at her.  "He is a fine police officer."

"I know, but imagine it, Goemon.  You and him?  A kid from you and him?"  Goemon's face cracked.  "Or you and Kathy?  Her desire to be partially dressed and her body, with your skills?"

"It'd either be the most talented stripper ever, the most deadly of all cops ever, or one of the most deadly assassins," Zenigata admitted.  Goemon scowled at him.  "I didn't like someone suggesting that Lupin and my seed be mixed either, Goemon.  I want to destroy them just as much as you."

"Good," he agreed.  "If you cannot, I will be following you to finish what you leave."

"Hey, have fun with it," Zenigata agreed.  "I'd welcome that sort of help.  Though I'd still arrest you," he said smugly.

"Only if I did not capture you first," Goemon said slyly.  The cop burst out laughing.  "What?  I was not kidding."  He helped his future wife to her feet. "Come, we should find the children."

"They're napping, Goemon.  It's a wonderful state, it gives parents free time."  He shivered and led her from the study, down to the gym to work out with her some more.  She was getting quite good.

Zenigata shook his head.  "I do not want to know," he muttered, getting up to retrieve the folder.  Some of the combinations were rather adorable.  Dennis Rodman and Lupin?  "Probably the world's best drag queen," he muttered as he went back to his email reading.  He had to find that one email address.  He found one letter from a thief on the mailing list he snuck onto, an accusation, and put it aside to answer it later.

***

Lupin sat up in bed that night, his mouth open.  "That cave!" he said excitedly.

"Lupin, sleeping is good," Jigen reminded him bitterly.  "All humans need sleep, even you."

Lupin got to his knees, making Jigen's eyes open by holding them open.  "Do you remember that cave, Jigen?"  Jigen batted at his hands.  "The one that if we entered we could never enter it again?  That one that we were warned could change history?"  Jigen nodded, grimacing up at him.  "The one with the genie in it?  The one who can grant wishes?"

Jigen shrugged.  "So?  He said he could only change one thing apiece."

"Jigen, my wish, your wish, Goemon's wish, Kathy's wish, Kit's wish... all the same wish.  Mostly."  He grinned.  "Even if we only change *one* thing..."  He glanced at Kathy's back, then back at Jigen.

"We can't be sure it'd work, Lupin.  Things like that often don't."

"Pascal?"

"Damn, you would have to bring him up."  He grimaced. "Flaming fingers are one thing.  Changing an important event is another."

"Yeah, but it's not important to *everyone* just to those of us who love you both."  He kissed him gently.  "At least we could try."

"She's still sore."

"She is," Lupin agreed, "but the longer we wait, the harder it could be."

"What are you yammering about now?" Kathy asked, sounding quite grumpy.  She turned over slowly, looking at them.  "You look guilty.  I said you two could do that whenever you wanted."

"Not that, Kath," Lupin said with a smirk.  "What would you say if I told you that I had the world's only genie in a cave?"

"I'd suggest you take some of the medicine that Zenny does to keep him sane when you're all here."

"I saw the cave too," Jigen admitted.  "The guard said we could only go in once and it could change many things.  We decided it wasn't worth it then."

"So what got you thinking about it now?"

Lupin put a hand on her stomach.  "Neither of us want to see you hurt, Kathy. We want you to be healthy, whole, and in good shape."  She swatted his hand.  "We're allowed to ask a few questions of the genie before we make a wish.  That would let us make sure that you're fine."

"I can live with this," she pointed out.  "If you two are so worried about my former womb then go ask to have one put in you."  She flipped back over.

"We could make it so we caught it before you ruptured," Lupin whispered in her ear.  "That we were there.  That the fight didn't happen."

She swatted at him.  "You're a fucking torment, Lupin.  Leave, demon."

"I'm not," he said, looking and sounding hurt.  "I'm trying to help, Kathy, I am really."  He moved to cuddle up to her front.  "We want you to be healthy and well.  We want you to be happy and all okay and all that."  He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.  "I want you to be better.  I don't like it when you're sick, just as much as he hates it too."

"Fine," she said bitterly.  "It still probably won't work."

"It will.  His guardian had been there for centuries," Jigen told her.  "He asked for knowledge, eternal life, and a reason to keep going."  He curled up behind her.  "This isn't how I'd want to fix this either, babe.  He's simply offering."

"It's still a torment."

"Not if we fix other things first," Lupin pointed out.  "Kit could wish that the fight not happen."  She grunted and sighed, nodding.  "That would create less stress, we wouldn't have left you, and you might not have ruptured.  Then you'd feel better."

"You could wish for me to have been fixed properly," Jigen offered.  "Not that I don't love Avalon, but that could cure that problem too, or if she was to be gotten earlier. That way she wouldn't have hurt you so much."

She sighed.  "I don't like that one at all, Jigen."

"Neither do I, but I don't think as quickly when I'm tired and Lupin woke me up too," he admitted.  He kissed her on the cheek.  "I love Avalon, I wanted to be here for her birth and to stroke her when she kicked and all that stuff."

She sighed.  "Where would this cave be?  I'm not allowed in any part of the Middle East."

"It's in Italy," Lupin admitted.  "It was moved during the Renaissance.  The guy who made the wish was a priest."  He grinned.  "Please?  We'd take you, the kids, Kit and Goemon, all of us."

"We get to ask to see if certain things are permissible?"

"Not only that, but how they would affect you," Lupin told her. "We each get three questions and one wish."

She sighed.  "Fine."

"Thank you.  At the very least it won't hurt us to ask," Lupin pointed out.  "And if not, then we'll be going to Florence with the kids."  He grinned.  "I love you, Kathy."

"Mine," Jigen said, giving her a squeeze, making her moan.  "Sorry, babe."

"No, it wasn't in pain."

He kissed her on the side of the neck.  "I'd still have to be very gentle with you.  If you wanted, I could do a little bit."  She looked back at him and he nodded.  "Really.  I love you."

"Sure, I'm all for sex," she agreed.  "Gentle touching only."

"Hey, I'm all for gentle at times," Jigen agreed, leaning down to kiss her once she was on her back.  He moved down, gently stroking and touching her, then moving lower to look at her.  On some level he had expected her to look different but she didn't.  She looked exactly the same.  She didn't react as quickly to him but she did still react.  She wasn't as wet either.  That was okay though, his tongue gave him more than enough slickness and that was all he was ready to do for her.

Lupin held her hands.  "See, it doesn't matter to him," he whispered.  She nodded, clutching him, crying softly.  "Want him to stop?"

"No!  I want that."  She took her hand back to wipe off her cheeks.  "I didn't want to horrify him."

"It looks the same.  The only evidence is a slower reaction time and less wetness," Jigen promised, looking up at her with his chin on her pubic mound.  "I promise, Kathy, I'm not horrified."  She sniffled and sat up, hugging him gently.  "I'm not leaving you, never again."  She rested against his chest, moving one of his hands down to play with her.  He chuckled.  "Sure, grumpy.  I'll play with you."  He played with her gently, letting Lupin support her now while he played.  She did come but it took twice the time.  He could live with that though.  It gave him more time to play.

***

Kathy looked around the cave-like basement, then back at Lupin.  "Are you sure about this?"

"I can't think of a better reason to be down here," he promised, holding her free hand.  It was just the adults, they had called in a favor to get one of Lupin's contacts for the kids to torture for a few hours.  He looked at the guardian.  "I told you I'd be back."

"I had no other thought," he agreed, smiling at the woman between them.  "For her?"

"For her," Jigen agreed.  "Mine."

"Also fine," he agreed with a smirk.  He had expected Lupin to come back with a spectacular wish that would make him the most wealthy man on the face of the earth.  "Remember, you only get three questions and one wish each."  He opened the door, letting them into the other chamber.  "Enter freely of your own will."  They stepped in, Kit going last.  Then he closed them inside.  "Those poor people. Hopefully they know what they ask for."

Lupin looked up at the floating being.  "Morning."

"Again?"

"I didn't think it was that important then, I do now," he admitted.

"Fine, ask."  The genie looked at the women.  "Odd, one of you is a pure being, one of you is being of light."  He snorted.  "Not at all like your usual women, Lupin the Third."

"True, but she's mine as well as Jigen's."

"You're both mine, get it right," Jigen corrected.  "Me first?"  Lupin shrugged.  "She recently had a health problem."

"Her missing uterus?"

"Exactly.  What would happen if we wished it hadn't ruptured?"

The genie considered it, then nodded.  "She'd be dying in another ten years."  She gasped, clutching their hands.  "Of natural causes."

"Would it be different than now?"

"A few less years.  Nothing further."

Jigen looked at her, then up at him.  "What if I wished away the fight before then?"

"Then she would not rupture, but she would have those extra years," the genie admitted.  "If you didn't have it at all, you would have another one after the baby was born.  If you only had a small one and things were fixed quickly then things would be as they are now.  She would still be whole by the way."

Jigen looked down at her.  "Then I wish we only had a small fight and it was fixed quickly, like you saw."

"Done," he agreed, waving a hand.  "Reality will change once you walk out.  You'll be back at home with the children."  He looked at Lupin.  "You next I suppose?"

Lupin smirked.  "I want to make one legitimate find, all mine that no one else can claim, that will make me happy and well-off for as long as I live, and hey if it brings Fujiko running then I'm all for it too."

"Interesting.  If you do so...."  He shrugged.  "You'd only have her for a year before she left again.  Your own nature would drive her away.  In case you hadn't noticed she has a narrow viewpoint on the matter of love and you."  Lupin nodded.  "I could make that happen if you wanted," he said smoothly.

"I can live without her but to have her for even a year would be wonderful."  Lupin looked at Kathy, then kissed her gently.  "I'm still going to be there."  She nodded, giving him a look. "No?"

"You'd waste it for a year with her when you can have her anyway?"

"I...."  He swallowed, then nodded.  "Good point."  He looked at the genie.  "Is there anything that can bring her and keep her with me?"

"A total personality and lifestyle change," the genie told him.  "No more wanting women all the time, no more needing that little playing you do with your friend.  No more being friends with anyone but her."

Lupin hung his head.  "Then I wish I made the find I spoke of earlier.  Legitimate and no one else can claim it.  If she comes she does."

"Deal," the genie agreed.

Goemon shook his head.  "We are here for moral support."

"That's not the way this works.  If you walk into this room then you either make a wish or you forfeit for good."  Kit walked up to him and whispered into his smoke trail.  "That is more than doable," he agreed, smiling down at her.  "And an unselfish wish."

"No, it's fully selfish.  I have always dreamed of it."  He nodded.  "Please?"

"Agreeable," he said, flicking a finger at her.  He looked at Kathy.  "You have one floating around your mind?"

"If I wished for optimum health for all my friends, including Cat, Ray, Stan, Benny, their kids, Zenny and his family, Kit, and all of us and our kids, would it do anything negative?"

"Optimum health?"

"I know the only way we can be perfectly healthy is if we're dead."

"Very well thought out.  Optimum health would also depend on their bodies.  Your friend Cat would still have some sugar problems but not be diabetic any longer."  She nodded.  "Your friend Ray would still have some blood pressure problems.  Your friend Kochi would still be obsessed and have high blood pressure.  Oh, he didn't stop all of it," he told Lupin.  "Those of us who are in the know think that you should know."

"I think they could stand that," she admitted.  "Please?"

"Of course.  You, your family here, your children and those in the group, those people and their families and children are all in optimum health."  He smiled at her.  "It is a generous thing for a being of light to make such a wish."

"Thank you, but I worry about Cat.  She wants more kids."

"And now she will have many of them," he agreed dryly.  "She is one who is very fertile, as is her husband."  Lupin snickered.  "You will some day look at her eight or nine children and feel envy."

"I might, but I'd never be able to stay sane with that many kids."

The genie nodded. "I can see your sanity slipping with only two."  He looked at Goemon.  "Are you sure?"

Kit stepped back and pulled him down, whispering in his ear.  "That would be wrong."

"Why?"

"Hmm."  He grimaced.  Then he looked at the genie.  "There are unfound treasures still, correct?"

"There are."

"Is there some way to allow them to find one?"

"There is," he agreed.  "There is one close to where you live, a horde from a pirate really."

"Is there some way we can find that, split it equally, and not get into trouble for it?" Goemon asked.

"Interesting.  A sudden influx of money tends to cause problems but you all have money and your desire to have it split evenly is very pure."  He nodded.  "I can see that it would not matter to any save the children."

"We can make them immune from the problems of wealth.  We already do that with them," Lupin told Goemon.

"Yes, we can.  Then that is what I wish, that we find something of that nature, close by so no one has to travel far and get into trouble for it, and that we would split it evenly without complaints, and that we would have no troubles from it."

"Very well.  Take this."  He handed over something.  "Lead them there tonight.  Going during the day would upset some people."

"Thank you."  He bowed.  "We should leave."  He walked his fiancé out.  "What did you wish?"

"That I was in good heath, that my womb was fixed and whole, working if possible, and that any problems like cancer would never happen to me."  He gave her an astounding look.  "I had a brother, Goemon.  He had bone cancer."  She shrugged.  "It was a horrible and painful way to die that took him three years, even with the drugs."

He hugged her as hard as he could.  "I do not want to lose you."

"Now you won't to that," she agreed.  She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed back. "This means that I am more than capable of doing what we both want eventually."  He gave her a shocked look, then smirked.  "Some day, not tonight, Goemon."  She pinched him lightly on the back.  "For now, I'd like to look at this map."

"Me too," Lupin agreed as he walked out, helping Kathy back over the threshold.  She helped Jigen.  He looked over as someone he didn't know came up.  "Hi."

"Mommy!" he said, hugging her.  "Daddy!"  He hugged Lupin.

Jigen blinked, then looked at Lupin.  "That wasn't a side effect I had counted on."

"Me either.  To the office, crew.  Little guy, go play with the others, okay?  Bring the baby to us."  He nodded, going to do that.  He looked at Kathy.  "I knew I had thought about asking you, but really."

"I'm thinking it cured a different fight than we were all thinking of," Jigen pointed out.

She hit Lupin on the arm, heading in to check her diary.  She had gotten into the habit of keeping one on her computer.  She opened it and did a name search for the kids, coming up with all them.  They were all the same, it's just that one who was different.  "Oh, my god," she whispered when she read it.  She waved Jigen over.  "I didn't even know I could do that."

"They say one out of every five pregnancies is miscarried without the mother knowing," Lupin agreed, smiling as the boy came in with the twins.  "Thanks.  We need to think up some cute nicknames for these two."

"Taylor and Avalon are good enough," she told him.

"Why do you use their middle names, mommy?" the boy asked.

She checked the diary.  "Everett, I like those."  She paged down to find those names.  "Your father's normal person taste sometimes irritates me."

"Okay."  He walked out, closing the door behind him.  "They're back!" he called.

Lupin snickered.  "Wow, mom.  What are their first names?"

"Robert and Marilyn," Jigen told him.  "Marilyn Avalon Jade Jigen and Robert Taylor Jigen."

"Cool."  Lupin sat down to coo at the kids, making them wiggle and coo back.  "You two are so pretty!  Yes you are."

Kit unrolled the map.  "No wonder we'd have to go at night.  It's under the local police station."  They all gaped at her.  "Remember, they've got smaller hearts, Lupin.  Don't get them too excited."  She looked up, frowning.  "Okay, I don't know how I knew that.  Kathy, do you remember their births?"

She nodded.  "Yeah, I do," she agreed, glaring at Goemon, who hadn't been able to move to get her to the hospital.  "Next time, don't panic, okay?"  He nodded quickly. She looked at the kids, taking Robert to hold.  "Hi, baby.  I missed you while you were gone," she whispered, cuddling him tightly.  He tried to latch onto a nipple. "That's fine, you can do that."  She undid her nursing bra and let him latch on, making him one happy baby, even if he did let out a massive fart.  Lupin moaned.  "No."

"Sorry.  You just look so natural."  He rocked Avalon, making her stay happy until her brother was done.  "She's just so great. Some day you'll be a girl like that.  Yes you will."

Mal walked in, grinning at them.  "Uncle Zenny here," he said happily.  "We monopolize him?"

"Sure.  You do that," she agreed happily.  She looked at Goemon.  "Splitting it equally?"

He coughed.  "I suppose we could, depending on how much is down there."

"It would keep him in psychiatric drugs," Lupin agreed dryly.  "She's hungry, Kath."

"I know.  Soon, let him get some first.  He's starving."

"Perfectly understandable."  They shared a look then Lupin looked at Jigen.  "Is this going to freak you out?"

"I was there when he was conceived," he admitted.  "It said we had a fight but then realized that it would have happened sometime probably."  He shrugged.  "I guess we've learned to get along."  He smiled at Mal.  "Did you need to watch, son?"

"No," he said, sliding further inside.  "What you talking about?"

Lupin snickered. "He's about the right size, just a bit too light," he explained.  Only Goemon and Kit didn't get the tv joke.

"Not laugh at me," Mal said, swatting him with an angry scowl.  "Bastard."

"Mal," his mother warned.

"Sorry, mommy."  He frowned at Lupin.  "Meanie."  He looked at the map.  "Is that to treasure?"

"Not really.  Just a new plan for a building, something we hadn't considered," Kit explained.

"Shoot.  Neighbors said that there's treasure around here.  We should go look for it."

"We might," his father agreed.  "If we do, you can have a new toy."  Mal beamed.  "Now go play with Zenigata."  He ran out, slamming the door behind himself.  "Maybe if we share with Pops he'll retire."

Lupin snorted. "Not a chance."  Robert let out another fart so he looked at him.  "Bad bellies, little guy?"  He looked at them.  "When was Everett conceived?"

"That first bout of multiple stress relief," Goemon told him.  "Right after we got here and after Jissan was born."

"So he's Chad's little brother?" she asked, reading the diary again.  "Oh, they're twins.  Got it."  She nodded, looking at Lupin.  "And I thought Cat was fertile."

"Speaking of, how did it change for her?" Kit asked, looking up.

"I'll call her later," Kathy offered.  "For now let's find this treasure and get used to the other things."

"Deal," they agreed.

***

Constable Benton Fraser walked into the 27th precinct and up to the detective's squad, going right to his partner's 'big sister's desk.  "Do you feel odd?"

"No," she admitted, smirking up at him.  "I don't know how Kathy did it, but it was definitely her. I can feel her."  He looked stunned.  "How odd do you feel?"

"Very."  He sat down next to her, looking at her.  "Where is your sugar meter?"

"At home, where it should be."  She leaned closer.  "Ray and Stan don't seem to realize anything," she said quietly.

"If you two are planning an affair, I'll have to kill you both," Stanley said from behind them.

"No, dear, we think Kathy just did something very major."  She grinned at him, then at Ray.  "Dear, you know how I've wanted a baby?" she asked.  He nodded, giving her a dirty look.  "I don't think the doctor's going to mind so much now."  He dropped his coffee cup and came over to pull her up, taking her into the closet for a discussion, Stan and Benny coming too.  Once they were closed in, she turned on the light.  "We all know I can feel certain strange things, right?"  They all nodded.  "Well, I have the feeling I'm not diabetic anymore."

Ray looked confused.  "I thought you were borderline."

"She was fully Type Two this morning," Stanley said, frowning.  "Huh?  I remember you not being too."

"It'll probably take a day, but I do believe our little beloved one in France somehow made a wish for good health."  She grinned at Ray.  "We need to make me another appointment tonight, Ray."  He nodded, smirking at her until he could kiss her.  "Thanks.  How do you feel?"

"About the same.  My blood pressure's still up, I can feel it pounding.  It's time for a pill anyway though."

"So, she asked for good health for us but it couldn't take out some job-related things," Benny said.  He looked at her tag, which was hanging out.  "Did you not put on a 3X this morning?"  She nodded.

"She's been a 1X or a 2X the whole time I've known her," Ray defended.

Cat kissed him gently.  "Kathy made a wish somehow, Ray, that we all be in good health.  To do that for me, I've lost a few pounds.  Benny's joints probably don't ache as much.  Yours is job related so I guess she couldn't cure it."  He gaped.  "I don't know how, but I *felt* her do it.  It *felt* like her to me."  He closed his mouth and shrugged.  "If you do have any conflicting memories it might be helped tomorrow."

"I was staring at the picture on your desk just a moment ago because there was a kid I didn't remember," Stanley admitted.

"Everett," Benny told him.  "Chad's twin.  Fraternal twins, he's Lupin's.  They all acknowledged it."

Ray swallowed.  "That one I only kind of remember."

"If we take a nap, it should fade so we remember this new one."  She kissed Ray again.  "But we do need to get me checked over again, Ray.  I want to have a little girl."

"Fine," he agreed smugly.  "I'm all for trying really hard for a few months."

Benny put a hand on her stomach.  "Possibly not.  Cat is the most fertile person I've seen outside of your sister Maria, Ray."  Ray whimpered.  "Then again, you won't have to worry about things like condoms if she is."

"We're going to do a test during lunch," Ray said calmly.  "Then I'm going to take a nap to take care of all these half-memories."  She grinned and nodded.  "That good with everyone?"

"Sure, Ray," Stanley agreed.  "Someone's going to start suggesting we're having an orgy if we're not done soon."

"Only you would say that," she snorted.  "Brat."

Someone knocked on the door.  "If we're discussing a new baby, I've got a test in my office," their boss called. "Just in case.  Vecchio, they do make operations for that."  He walked away.

Benny let out a chuckle.  "At least he enjoys us."  They all piled out, Cat taking the test to do in the bathroom.  When she came back with the pink thing he looked at Ray. "Are you still thinking of moving?"

"I am," he admitted.  "The kids'll need a place to roam soon."

Cat whistled, bringing all attention back to her.  "We're pregnant again," she announced.  "Mood swings should start in approximately another five months or so.  Fair warning."  Huey whimpered so she smiled at him.  "You've got time."

"Sure I do," he said dryly.  "I'll only have to listen to morning sickness before then.  Why is it that you two can't use birth control?"

"We do," Ray told him.  "All the time.  Some of us just come from fertile stock."

"As proven by his sister and baby number five being on the way," Stanley pointed out.

Lieutenant Welsh came out, handing over a brand new bottle of Pepto.  "Here, you're probably out after your last bout."  He took the test strip to stare at while he filled out her paperwork.  "I'm going to photocopy this and just sign it overtop of my name."

"We're hoping for a little girl.  I want a mini-me," she said happily.

Huey gave her a stunned look.  "I hope I'm retired when she joins the force."  She punched him on the arm then went to get the next perp to check into the system.  He looked at the one sitting beside him.  "See what I put up with?  And then I have to chase after you."  He let out a small whimper.  "She'll be in a good mood for weeks, and then the hell will start again.  When you get bail, spread that around.  Maybe crime will drop again this time."  He nodded quickly, leaning closer to mumble his name and address.  He had been balking.

***

Kathy looked up from nursing the babies as Lupin and Jigen came back, handing over her share.  "That's all?"

"The rest was shiny stuff that's being cleaned.  That's just the jewels part," Jigen admitted.  He laid down to watch the babies eat.  "Hungry again, guys?"  He stroked their stomachs, making them kick a few times.  "You guys are so wonderful."

Lupin lay down against her back, hugging her around the waist so he could watch over her shoulder.  "I still think that's amazing."

"Me too," she agreed lightly.  "Thank you, Lupin."

"It's not a problem," he promised.  "I still adore you."  He looked at Jigen. "I've got to take a trip to Africa.  I'll be back in a few weeks.  Can you handle Abby and Arsene?"

"Sure," Jigen agreed.  "Have fun.  Tell us what it was before the press."  Lupin nodded, kissing each of them and stealing a drop of milk off her before packing a small bag and heading out.  Jigen kissed her gently.  "Now that you're just mine again," he said fondly.

"It's not like you *really* share me."

"No, I don't, and I'm happy with our arrangement of him coming in to nap now and then and me getting to fuck him into next week."  He grinned at the kids.  "They're adorable, Kathy."

"Yeah, they are," she agreed, smiling down at them.  "Have you noticed that the memories are weaker after our naps?"

"I did," he agreed.  "It doesn't matter to me.  You're okay, they're okay.  You're all that I ever wanted but having my own dynasty is kind of invigorating."  He kissed her again, then picked up Avalon and took her back to her basinet.  Once his son was done he took him back to lay with his sister, then came back to cuddle with his wife.  "Still sore?"

"Not yet," she admitted with a wicked grin.  "You know, we should have pumped a bit of milk and sent it with him."

"He stole one of the bottles out of the fridge," Jigen promised, kissing her.  He stroked her full breasts.  "They not that hungry?"

"I'm really full," she told him.  He pinched a nipple then licked off his fingers.  "You can if you want."  He hummed and went down to suck a few times.  "Mmm."  He chuckled and moved her onto her back, kissing his way down her to her pussy.  He stopped. "Episiotemy?"  He nodded, licking over it, making her squeal.  "Jigen!"

"Bother you?"

"Not if it doesn't bother you!" she shouted, letting him go back to what he had been doing.  "Shit, husband, more!"  He chuckled and sucked on her for a few minutes before standing up and getting undressed.  He dove into her body, kissing her gently.  "More!"  She scratched his back, arching up into his body.  "More, please!  Jigen!  Please!"

Lupin came back in and kissed her.  "You woke up Everett."  Jigen growled at him.  "Keep it up, I can always tease you," he said dryly.  He dropped his bag and nipped Jigen's back for him, forcing him to thrust into Kathy's body.  "I can leave tomorrow."

"Do we want another set of twins?" Kathy asked.

"Condom," Jigen said.  Lupin got him one.  He pulled out and put one on then went back to pleasing her. "I'll fuck him next," he said with a smirk, working her harder.  She wiggled and pushed back, making him moan.  "Shit, woman."

Lupin laid down next to them, stripped completely now.  He sucked on Jigen's nipple like he did Kathy's, making her moan in pleasure.  He licked up Jigen's neck, getting a shiver that always turned him on.  "Please do me next?" he pleaded.  "Before I have to go without for *weeks*?"

"Hush, slut," Jigen warned.  "Get yourself ready for me."  Lupin grabbed the lube, working on his body until it was open and ready for Jigen's invasion.  He smirked at Kathy.  "Like watching me do him?"

"I love watching you do him.  You always make him give in and go submissive underneath you."  She stroked over Lupin's lips, letting him suck on her fingers.  "Plus he's super horny this time."

Jigen handed him a condom.  "Put it on."  He pulled out and looked at Lupin's body, then slid in once he had it on.  "Less laundry this way," he said, working him hard.  His wife stroked herself for his benefit.  "Very pretty."

Lupin whined and pushed back, wanting and needing more.  "Harder," he panted.  "Please, Jigen?"

"Oh, you're getting it," Jigen promised, working him harder and deeper, slamming into him.  "Lick her only, Lupin.  My sluts only play with each other with my permission."

"Hey," she protested.

"Okay, my wife and my slut only play together with my permission," he said with a smirk, spanking his naughty partner.  "Do it or I stop."  Lupin hurried to lick her as soon as she had turned to give him a better angle.  "Better.  I like that."  She was thrashing on the bed.  "Why go back to the bitch?" he suggested.  "Going back to her robs you of all this."  Lupin whimpered and licked harder, sucking on her.  "No fingers," he chided, spanking him again.  Lupin's fingers went back to the bedspread and Jigen did what he had been wanting, making him scream into her body.  "Natural muffler," he said happily.  He came inside and Lupin keened with need.   "How do you want finished?" he asked.  "You've been mostly good."

Lupin gave her a pleading look.  "Please?"

"Sure, baby.  Give it here."

He moved up, letting her suck on him.  He had learned to love her blows more than even Jigen's.  He moaned and came, going limp against Jigen's body.  "Thank you."  He calmed himself, then kissed them both and took another sip from her, then cleaned himself up and left again.

"Good luck," she called after him.   She pulled Jigen down, kissing him.  "That was very nice of you.  Usually you're not that sharing."

"She'll come back once he finds the whatever.  He needs to remember that she doesn't really love him before he gets lost."

"We'll be here when he needs us," she promised, kissing him.  "Change that thing, Jigen, I'm not near satisfied."  He changed the condom and dove back into her, going back to pleasing her.

***

Kit squealed as she opened the paper about a week later, holding it up.  "He found the biggest natural diamond ever," she yelled.  Goemon and Kathy both came rushing in to grab it and look over.  Jigen had the kids in a carrier on his chest so he had to walk slower.

"It says it's the size of a boulder.  Has flaws.  Can and probably will be trimmed.  Weighs about eighty pounds," she said, letting Goemon hold it.  She smiled and kissed him. "Can we do something with ours?  I'd like a pendant to match the one you got me years ago."

"That's it?  No crown?" Jigen teased.

"I have a crown, I was Harvest Queen in high school."  She smirked at him.  "Besides, why do I need a new crown?  I have you, that's all the scepter I need to prove my queenly status."  Goemon choked, giving her a funny look.  "What?  He is long, tall, and skinny."  She leaned against Jigen's chest, stroking his waistband.  "Besides, that's not one I can carry around in public."  Even Jigen was blushing with that one.  "Poo, you're not fun today.  Come on, kids, let's go lay in the grass."  She took them, taking them to play outside.

Jigen shook his head.  "She's in a good mood," he noted, taking the paper to read.  "How much would eighty pounds be in carat weight?"

"I have no idea," Goemon offered.  Kit burst out giggling.  "What?"

"She just got the joke," Jigen told him, patting him on the arm.  "Are we taking bets on how long it'll be before Fujiko shows up?"

"The paper says he's in Africa still, and then he's heading for New York, where the people cutting it will be on display while they measure.  He's specially hiring guards as well.  Not that anyone would *dare* steal from Lupin, but still," Kit told them.

Jigen laughed.  "Yes they would, Kit.  He'll be all over those guards until the thing is chopped up."  He checked the store.  "It's on display in Cartier.  Should we pop over to help?"

"No," Goemon said, shaking his head.  "If he had wanted us he would have called."

"Why didn't he call?" Jigen asked.  He looked over as Mal slunk backwards.  "Did your Uncle Lupin call?"

"I forgots!"

"Obviously.  Get me the phone."  Mal handed it to him so he called Lupin's cell, getting an 'out of service' message.   He called Cartier.  "Put Lupin on, would you please?  No, it's the uncle watching his son."  Lupin grabbed the phone.  "Your son is pouting and Mal never gave us the message, buddy.  Congrats.  How long should we hold off Fujiko if she comes here and how long before you get home?"  He listened to the smug voice.  "Sure, have a nice vacation.  Remember to send your son pictures."  He hung up.  "He'll be going on vacation to make Fujiko chase him. He'll be back two weeks after they cut the thing up."  He put the phone back.  It rang again so he picked it up.  "What?"  He chuckled.  "No, that was his wish, Pops.  Yeah, I know, but we'll get over it."

Kathy walked in and smirked at him.  "If he doesn't come back, we'll just have to take his new prize and make him come to us."  She grinned at him.  "Come play with the babies, Jigen.  They're crawling!"

"Later, Pops, they've just started to crawl."  He hung up and went out to watch them crawl around, patting them on the head.  "You're mobile. Congrats, guys."

"Pretty soon it'll be okay to travel with them," she said hopefully.

"I have the feeling we'll be going to Japan for Goemon's wedding," he shared with a wink.  "That good with you?"

"Wonderful with me."

Goemon came to the door.  "Said who?"

"You're not getting married in Japan?" Jigen asked.

"Well, yes," he admitted.

"You weren't inviting your best friends?" she asked.

"No."

"I'll pout and whine," she warned.  He sighed and hung his head.  His wife kissed him.  "See, she agrees.  You can't get married without those who might as well be your family."

"Fine," he agreed.  "We wanted something quiet and simple."

"And you think Lupin will make it a spectacle?"  Goemon leveled a look at him.  "Okay, so he might, but we can control that."  He stroked his wife's side. "I'm sure we can."  Kit giggled and headed back inside the house.  "Tell us when, Goemon, so we can pack all the kids up and come."

"Fine," he agreed, walking back inside.  The wedding party had just tripled.  He could deal with that.

***

Lupin looked up as Fujiko finally found him and came up to him, sitting in his lap.  "Hey, Fujiko."  He stroked her back like he normally would so she kissed him, making his mind run out his ears.  "What's up?"

"I wanted to congratulate you," she said softly, kissing him again.  "Buy me dinner?"

He grinned.  "Sure.  Just dinner?"

"Well, maybe breakfast too?" she asked as seductively as she could.

He giggled and hugged her.  "Sure, Fujiko, anything for you."

"Including a wedding?"

He pulled back, looking stunned.  "What?"

"Wedding," she repeated.  "You know, that thing where I live with you, we raise the kids together?  Before *she* warps your son to the side of good?"

He grimaced. "I like Everett where he is, Fujiko.  I like Everett how he is.  I also like Abby how she is and Arsene how he is."  She pouted.  "Don't."  He stood up, putting her back onto her feet.  "Would you still want me if I said I'm giving it all to the kids?  It's in an untouchable trust, except for three pieces.  All for the kids."  She stared at him, mouth hanging open.  "Well, it is."

"Huh?  You're not keeping it?"

"No, I am, I'm just keeping it in the family," he said smugly.   This way our daughter and my sons learn to appreciate diamonds and will want to follow in my footsteps."  He waved a hand and a waiter came over.  "Get her dinner for me too," he said, handing over his credit card.  "I'm going for a stroll."  He took it back once the waiter had noted the number, heading out into the night.  One of his remaining guards came running, pulling him off the sidewalk.  "What?"

"The pendants were taken," he panted.  "We were gassed, the pendants were taken and this was left," he said, handing over the note. "I swear I saw Goemon, sir."

"Bastards," he said, opening the note.  He snorted.  "Yeah, sure."  He patted him on the arm. "Let me pack, I'm heading back to talk to my friends."

***

Lupin walked into his daughter's room, finding the box sitting in the moonlight on her dresser easily.  It had been placed in plain sight.  He looked it over, but the latch was like nothing he had seen before.  Someone coughed behind him. "What?"

"It's a DNA lock," Kathy told him.  He turned to look at her. "Keyed only to her."  He gaped.  "We told you to come back and you didn't.  Next time, listen."  She walked away, slamming her door.  She curled up in bed, getting comfortable on top of Jigen's chest.  "He's back."

"I figured with the way you slammed the door."  He yawned.  "Sleep, princess, he'll be up for hours yet."

Lupin walked in.  "You stole from me!" he said angrily.

"No, I got them to their rightful owners and then made sure they'd stay with them.  Those boxes are unbreakable.  I had a thief in Japan build them for other things," she said coolly.  "You're going to miss Goemon's wedding.  We're leaving tomorrow for it.  Since you decided to ignore your friends and family, we had to take matters into our own hands."

"The guards saw Goemon."

"No, the guards saw me and Zenny's wife," she said, rolling to look at him.  "She's quite good in her own right."  He shook his head, tossing the box onto the bed.  "Since you set it up that the necklaces were going to the kids, and said so publicly, we didn't think you'd mind so much.  Your daughter needs you, Lupin.  That's what being a father is."  She rolled back on top of Jigen, getting comfortable again.  "She's having nightmares, you might want to soothe them since she sees you abandoning her."

"Maybe I should take her and go."

"Then do it," Jigen told him.  "You're not moving Everett. We'll tell the kids that you've decided to come to the wedding but had to stop on the way."

Lupin groaned.  "Why did you do this to me?" he demanded quietly.

"Because, asshole, you deserved it," she said bitterly.  "Don't worry about the kids, they're in their own rooms now."

"But..."  He looked around, the kids weren't in there.  He sighed and sat on the end of their bed. "I was coming back next week.  After I made sure Fujiko was out of my system."

"Sure she is," Jigen said bitterly.  "That's okay, I know what she was going to lace your food with."

"Huh?"

"Zenny heard it.  She bought an aphrodisiac, Lupin, and a very small bottle of poison."  He curled up and she kicked him.  "I don't let people who can't call, write, or answer my attempts at communication curl up with either of us."

"I called!"

"Not since Mal got that first one," Jigen said stiffly.

"Jigen, buddy."

"No, Lupin.  The thing was right, this did change things.  If you're part of the family then you're part of the family.  If you're not then go let Fujiko kill you for things she won't ever get anyway."

Lupin gave him a hurt look.  "I'd never do that."

"You nearly did," Goemon said from the doorway.  "She's coming up the driveway with a police officer."

"She can fuck off," Lupin said, standing up.  "I'll deal with this myself.  Thanks, Goemon.  Why didn't you tell me it was this week?"

"Because I could not reach you," he noted icily.  "Had you wanted to know, you would have stayed in touch for the last three months."  He walked off.

"I'm sorry," Lupin called.  "Damn it.  I'm sorry, Jigen, Kathy.  I didn't keep track of time. Please don't be mad at me."

"We'll see," she said.  "Close the door after yourself."

"Fine."  He walked down the stairs when the pounding started, glaring at the cop.  "It's the middle of the night and you'll wake up my kids."

"My daughter," she corrected.

"No, Fujiko, you signed custody over to me," he said firmly.  "I've got the forms in the safe if you need to be reminded."

"They've been turned back to me," she said, presenting the order.  "They're mine now."

"Two of them aren't yours naturally."

Kathy came down the stairs.  "Officer, remove this foul bitch from my property before I kill her for trying to claim *my* child."  He looked stunned.  "Everett Lupin is *my* son.  Has been *my* son.  He's more *my* son than he is his father's.  The same as I am the designated caregiver if something happens to him, Fujiko.  Even his daughter.  Oh, by the way, I put the necklaces in a safe place.  The girl can't get into hers."  Fujiko gaped.  "Didn't hear all that I could do?  Now get off my property."

"The court order does say all three children are their mother's."

"Only the little girl is hers," Kathy told him.  "Want to see the birth certificates?"  He nodded, following her to the office with Fujiko in tow.  Lupin followed behind after letting the cat back into the house and closing the door.  She pulled out the file, searching out the three birth certificates.  "Hey, you never put your name on here, Fujiko.  Shocking, not."  She laid them out on the desk and he sighed, calling the judge who had signed the order.  She looked at Fujiko.  "I swear that if you woke up my kids you're gonna be one sorry bitch, woman.  No one bothers my kids.  Especially not you."

"She's my daughter," she said angrily.

"Yeah, and you've never even so much as changed a diaper," she countered bitterly.  "Where were you when she had colic?  Or when she had the flu so bad they thought she might have meningitis?  Or even when that guy came up and tried to kill her last year and I and Jigen saved her?  Where were you?  Bali wasn't it?"

The cop looked at her.  "The judge said to please quit making threats, ma'am."

"Give."  He handed over the phone.  "One of the children that you so generously gave her is *my* son, not hers.  The other is from another mother and she has *never* been here for the girl."  She listened.  "That would be more than acceptable.  Thank you."  She hung up.  "Goemon!"  He came to the doorway.  "When is the wedding?  We'll need an extra day for the court battle."

"Not for another week.  You were coming over early to sightsee."  He looked at Lupin, then at her.  "There is nothing that can't be postponed if necessary."

"It shouldn't be," she said, hitting Lupin when he tried to touch her on the arm. "Not allowed anymore, Lupin."  She gave Goemon a small look.  "Can you do a quick turn through the hallway?  Make sure no one's up and wandering?"

"Of course.  I was headed that way anyway."  He walked away.

She looked at the cop.  "We're not housing her here until the court proceedings tomorrow morning.  Nine, Fujiko, local courtroom."  She snorted and walked out.  "Thank you."  She looked at the cop.  "Expect to be woken up to testify."

"Yes, ma'am," he agreed, heading out with a small smirk.

She looked at Lupin.  "You can squat in one of the spare rooms."

He grabbed her to hold.  "I'm sorry, Kathy."  She kicked him in the nuts, making him wince and let her go.  "Okay, you're still mad."  He looked up at her, falling to his knees.  "Feel better now?"

"No!  Do you know how much you worried me?  How much you pissed off Jigen by deciding that we didn't exist?  This new you sucks, Lupin.  We don't like him.  Either be yourself again or don't, but don't expect us to like this new personality shift."  She stomped out, heading back to bed.  Where she cuddled Jigen like he was the last person on the earth and he was going to disappear.

Lupin considered it.  He had been horrible. "Goemon?" he asked when he walked past the doorway.  Goemon came back and helped him up.  "I'm sorry, buddy."

"I'm sure."

Lupin hung his head.  "I didn't even realize, Goemon.  I want to make it right."

"It's the middle of the night, Lupin.  Do so in the morning.  All things look differently in the light."  He left him there with his thoughts.

Lupin sat down in the comfortable desk chair, grimacing.  "She changed it."  He looked at the calendar on the desk.  He had been gone for five months?  "How in the world?" he muttered, heading out to prowl around the house.  He found her new office door locked and left it that way.  Breaking in wouldn't make her like him again.  He stayed away from their door, going in to check on the kids.  Everett woke up and gave him a long look, then went back to sleep.  "Yeah, it's me, I'm back."

"Sissy upset with you."

"I'm upset with myself," he admitted, going to hold his daughter.  He could hear her crying.  "Hey."  She looked up and glared at him.  "I'm sorry, Abby.  I didn't realize.  I let time get away from me."

"Now you're going to give me to her?" she spat.  "I hate you!"

"Your mother's touching you over my dead body," he assured her, walking inside to hold her.  "There is no way I'm letting you live with her even part of the time, Abby, sweetie."  She let him hold her but she was stiff.  "I'm sorry."

"I wrote you."

"I didn't even think to check my email," he said softly, trying to calm her down.  "I'm so sorry."  She snorted and got away from him, looking every bit like him.  "I didn't think I'd be staying away so long.  I thought it'd only take a few weeks."

"If I'm your kid then you should want to talk to me.  Mal's mommy and daddy call when they only go out to dinner."

He nodded.  "I'm sorry I suck so badly, Absinthe.  I never meant to hurt you."

"Well you did."

"I know, and I'm realizing how much."  He looked at her.  "I want to make it right, daughter.  I didn't meant to.  It wasn't on purpose."  A thought came into his head, hearing this same speech from his grandfather after a particularly long job.  He shook his head to clear it.  He hadn't believed his grandfather, she wouldn't believe him.  "I want to know everything I missed," he said honestly.  "I didn't want to miss anything, and I'm damn sorry I did.  I can't even claim it was work, Abby, honey.  I'm a dumb fuck sometimes and I need my ass kicked when I slip.  But I still want to make it right with you and the others."

She sniffled. "You abandoned us!"

"No!" he said, moving closer to hold her so she could cry on him.  "I did not abandon you.  I didn't mean to stay away so long and I knew your aunt and uncle would watch out for you for me.  They're not me, but I knew they'd be the next best thing."  She shook her head.  "I'm not leaving again.  Next time we go anywhere, you're coming with me, Abby.  No more going out on my own."  She pulled back to look at him so he wiped off her cheeks.  "I swear.  Unless it's *really* dangerous I'm not leaving this house without you again."  She nodded, giving him a trusting look. "Now we've got to work on our plans for tomorrow.  Your mother is trying to take you.  We have to talk to a judge.  Your aunt is really irrational about this.  She just threatened to chop her up."  Abby laughed at that.  "Yeah, I know, it'd be a waste of a sharp blade."  He chucked her chin.  "Let's go look in on your brothers."

"Arsene and Jissan were wandering earlier."

"Then we'd better find them before Kit does.  She's got to have a bad case of nerves and she'll yell at them. Put on some clothes."  He walked out, looking in their rooms.  They weren't in there.  His daughter joined him and they headed outside to track the two.  They weren't trying to be unobvious.  They had left a trail in the grass and bushes.  They found them by the river, digging a big hole.  He coughed, startling them. "What are you doing?"

"There's a kitty in trouble," Jissan said stiffly.  "We're saving her and the kittens."

Lupin came over to look in the hole, then winced.  "Okay.  Let's work on widening the hole.  Have you gotten any out?"  His son pointed at the cats on his jacket.  "Move it away from the water, son.  We'll get her out."  He pulled out his Swiss Army knife and chipped at the sides of the hole, making it wider so he could get his hand down there.  "What is she in?"

"A burrow."  Jissan looked over as Abby came to help.  "Can you help us watch the kittens?"

"Sure," she agreed.  "Arsene, my mommy came back."

"Stupid bitch," Arsene said bitterly.

"Hey!" Lupin said, frowning at him. "No swearing at your age."  He looked down, he had missed the cats, fortunately.  Jissan would have killed him if he hadn't.  He pulled out the mother with a bit of a struggle, putting her with the kittens.  Then he reached down to grab the rest of the kittens, lifting them out.  He found one last fuzzy thing and pulled it out, but didn't quite drop it fast enough.  "Eww!"  The kids took the kittens and followed him back to the house.  "Let's all go bathe," he suggested.  Goemon came out with his sword.  "Jissan and Arsene decided to save some kittens," he said, eyes wide and watering.  "They were stuck in the burrow of a skunk."

"So I can smell.  Try to bathe it off.  Put the cats in a basket and bring them with you."  He looked at Abby. "Hug him, that way your mother will find it harder to kidnap you."  She looked stunned but hugged her father.  "Thank you.  Now go bathe.  You're stinking up the house."

Jigen came down the stairs.  "Did you all die and get dug up?" he asked, putting his gun up.

"The kitties were stuck in a skunk hole, Uncle," Arsene said, holding up the mother.  "Jissan said she needed us and I'm the best digger so she got me."

"Uh-huh.  Go bathe."  They trooped up that way, Jissan finding a laundry basket and padding it for the kittens.  He looked at Lupin. "It's only been an hour and you've caused two problems."

"Only one.  Fujiko caused the other."

"She's your bitch."  He turned and went back to his room, taking a shower in case any of the stench had stuck to him. "Kathy, how would you get off skunk scent?"

"What's a skunk?"

"Thanks."  He picked up the phone, calling Cat's cellphone.  She had grown up in the country.  "Cat, it's Jigen.  Yeah, just tonight.  The theft worked.  The kids just rescued some cats from a skunk hole.  Oh, yeah, badly.  Lupin too.  How do we cure that?"  He listened to her rummage around in a book.  "Thanks, yeah, we might have some."  He hung up.  "Tomato juice or pureed tomatoes."

"We don't have any," she said, flipping onto her other side.  "Bloody Mary mix."

"There's that convenience store," Jigen noted, pulling on some pants and his hat.  He put on a shirt as he walked out, taking his wallet from the front table with the keys.  He headed out.

***

Lupin walked into the court room the next morning.  "Sorry, the kids rescued some kittens last night," he told the judge.  "We were unstinking them."

"Kittens don't normally smell that bad," the judge noted tolerantly.

"No, but the mother cat was hiding her kittens in a skunk hole; they were cohabitating."  He winced.  "Exactly.  Abby?"  She walked in.  "This is the only child that is Fujiko's."

"The other two have two separate mothers," Fujiko said.

"Yes, and one of them takes care of all of them when I'm a dumbass and leave for months on end."  He sat down, looking up at the judge.  Then he pulled out the birth certificates, handing them to the bailiff.  "The birth certificates.  Arsene's mother is dead.  Everett's mother is the one I trust as much as I do myself.  She's on her way in, she had to stop and pick up something at the store for the baby."  The judge nodded, looking over the certificates.  "I have to wonder why the woman wants to see her daughter.  She's never shown a desire to see her before.  Even when she wants to see her, it's only for a week at a time."

"She's my daughter."

"Her necklace is locked in a DNA coded box, Fujiko."  She looked stunned.  "Abby herself can't open it without Kathy helping her."  She frowned at him.  "She did it so no one could take it from the kid."

Abby walked up to look at the judge.  "Why are you trying to give me to the selfish bitch?"  The judge looked down at her, frowning.  "Daddy said there were a few times that swearing was appropriate, I think this is one.  My mother hates me.  She only had me because daddy paid her.  Daddy wanted me, not mother."

"Still, she is your mother."

"And she'd rather poison herself than spend time with me.  She doesn't want me to play, to sing, to laugh, to dance around the house, to talk, to read, or to be anything but a robot."

"You're very articulate for only being almost four," he said gently.

"That's because I'm a genius, like daddy," she said with a smirk for her father.  Then she looked at him again.  "Daddy said so."

"I'm sure you are," he agreed.  "Where was your father recently?"

"He was on vacation away from us.  Auntie said so."

"I just got done with that diamond I found in Africa," Lupin said, handing over the clipping.  "I took a vacation to evade her mother's grasping and scheming.  Unfortunately I didn't keep very good track of time and I had to explain a lot of things to my daughter and sons last night.  My friends are still pissed at me."

"You still owe me a birthday present, daddy," Abby said very seriously.

"Sure, princess, we'll find you something as soon as we're done here," he said with a smile.

She rolled her eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh.  "That's not how you're *supposed* to do it, daddy. You're supposed to surprise me with something," she explained patiently.

"She even sounds like her mother," Jigen said bitterly as he walked Kathy and the other two into the courtroom.  "Sorry we're late.  Pharmacy run."

"Not a problem," the judge admitted.  "You are?"

"The mother of one of his sons and the might-as-well-be mother of the other two," Kathy told him.  "They live with us."

"You live...."  He pointed out the window and she nodded, pursing her lips. "I see.  Are you legally their foster mother?"

"No, but I have medical power of attorney for the children if he's not available.  I'm also his on-call expert when there's a problem.  I've nursed the kids through everything that they've had with him right there."

"You have other children?"  She nodded.  "Has he not been around often?"

"No, he's not really gone that often.  Recently he had that diamond thing in New York so he was gone for five months, most of it without us knowing where he was.  Usually he's calling every day if he has to be gone more than a day."

"I doubt that's *his* diamond," Fujiko snorted.

He glared at her. "Interpol and Inspector Zenigata said it was mine.  There was no other claim to the thing and it wasn't on any tribe's lands," he said coldly.  "Trust me, Zenigata looked as hard as he could."

"Pops would," Jigen agreed, sitting behind Lupin.  "Abby, sit."  She sat in her father's lap.  "Fine.  Everett, want me or him?"

"Let sissy have him, she have fits," he said.

Arsene took the direct approach, he walked up to the judge and sat in his lap.  "I like the robe.  It's very pretty.  Do you go to Hogwarts?"

The judge patted him on the head.  "No, I didn't. It's a sign of my office."

Kathy sighed.  "Arsene."  She pointed at her lap.  "Now."  He came back with a smile.  "Thank you."  She gave him a hug.  "Sorry, Your Honor."  She handed the bailiff the pen the boy had taken off the judge, giving him a small shrug in apology.

"He's delightful," he noted.  He looked at Fujiko.  "Why was your name not put onto your daughter's birth certificate?"

"Because I was dumb at the time," she said bitterly.

"Because she was his surrogate," Jigen offered.

"You were?" the judge asked, looking at her.

"I'm her natural mother. All he saw me as was a womb."

"I paid her six-point-seven million in diamonds," Lupin said quietly, stroking his daughter's back.  "I wanted her badly enough to pay for it.  Even though she was supposed to be my girlfriend."

"Oh."  The judge grimaced.  "What of the other children?"

"We have medical records, education records as best as we can determine, and their test scores from their pediatrician last month," Kathy admitted, holding up the folder.  "For all three of them."

"Thank you."  He took them, looking over them.  "They are quite good," he admitted, flipping through them.  "All their shots are up to date.  Up to American standards?"

"I was one," she admitted.

"Ah.  Very well then."  He kept going.  "That's good.  Miss Mine, you also leveled a charge of them not taking proper care of the children?"

"They have guns around my daughter!" she said hotly.

"I also have a permit, signed by the head of National Security before this one," Kathy told him.  "I'm under death threat from some of my former undercover cases as a police officer.  My husband is under threat by some of the same mafia members and other crooks for being so good.  Lupin himself is under threat by some of the same people.  We live together for protection."

"But also so we can tag-team the kids," Lupin added.  "I've got my three, she and Jigen have some.  Goemon and Kit will have some someday.  We all help out with the kids.  Until I left this time, I was often the one who helped them with their studies and I was always the one who read the bedtime stories, plus I cook whenever the cook is off."

Kathy nodded.  "He did."

"What happened with this latest separation?" the judge asked.

"I was a dumbass.  I called and one of the kids answered, but I didn't hear back for days so I got hurt feelings.  My phone lapsed and I thought I sent them my new number but they never called so I thought they were mad at me.  I was going to come back and then Fujiko found me and tried to bribe me into marrying her."

"We never got a phone number from you," Jigen told him.  "Not a single email."

Lupin frowned at him. "I sent you one.  Come to think of it, I don't remember getting the ones Abby said she sent either.  We'll figure that out later.  I didn't want to be out of contact," he told Kathy.  "I really didn't."  She frowned at him and pointed at the judge.  So he sighed as he turned around.  "They're still mad at me and I understand why. I'd be mad at me too."

The judge nodded.  "At least you realize the mistake you made."  He frowned at Fujiko.  "I noticed when I took a longer look at the papers that you don't have a home address listed. Why not?"

"I travel through most of the year," she defended.  "Lupin doesn't have one either."

"I have many houses around the world," Lupin defended.  "I also usually live with Kathy and Jigen.  They're my family, as much as anyone is.  Them, the kids, Goemon and Kit, all of them."

The judge leaned on his elbows, looking at them.  "I would like to speak to the children."

"No," Abby said, shaking her head. "I saw this on Law and Order.  You'll talk to us and give us to the mean bitch.  I refuse.  I won't live with her.  She'll make me wear a dress and make me not be happy and she won't help me read or play or anything.  I won't!"

Lupin hugged her. "Calm down," he ordered quietly.  "Just because he's talking to you doesn't mean that he'll give you to her."  She relaxed against him.  "Good girl."  He kissed the back of her head and gave her a squeeze.  "What did you want for your birthday, princess?"

"I want a new pretty thing."

"Unlike the big pretty thing I just sent you?" he asked.

"I can't wear that.  It's huge, daddy!  It's all the way down to my belly."

He smiled, tickling her.  "Not quite."  He looked back at her.  "They're keys."

"I knew that when I took them and put them in the DNA coded boxes," Kathy agreed.

"You took them?" the judge asked.

"I asked her to retrieve them to make sure no one could take them from my children," Lupin told him, lying a bit.  The judge stared at him.  "Fine, she stole them from my room but I don't mind now that I know why.  It makes sense and I would have wanted her to."

"Fine."  He grimaced.  "You have many guns?"

"Locked in a room with a very high knob so the kids can't open it.  They've all had gun safety classes as soon as they were old enough to understand.  Abby and these two got theirs a few months ago."

"Interesting."  The judge rubbed his eyes.  "It's been a long night.  I would like someone to monitor her interaction with them for visitation purposes."

"No!" Absinthe yelled.  "I'm not going with her!  I'll run away and let bad people touch me first!"

"You, quit," Kathy ordered firmly.  Abby settled down, looking miserable.  "Do not even threaten that again, young lady.  If one of those bad people even *thinks* of touching you they'll have to go through me.  If you *ever* think about running away for real you will find yourself grounded so damn fast your ass will feel like I beat it until it was numb.  That is dangerous and deadly.  You will not *ever* do that."

"Yes, mommy," she said weakly.

"Hey, that's my job!" Fujiko said.

"Whine, bitch."  She looked at the judge as she stood up.  "I'm starting to feel unreasonable here, I'm sorry.  The woman never sees her daughter.  The last time she did she nagged her to the point of crying because she wasn't wearing a dress and she was playing outside.  There's a few of us yes, but we do love the children.  We love them enough to celebrate the littlest of accomplishments.  She was offered that chance and turned it down.  She knew she had an open invitation to come back to Lupin's side if she ever wanted him and the kids.  She came back because he found that diamond.  That's not a mother, it's a whore."  The judge looked shocked.  "Sue me, I was from Chicago."

He chuckled.  "So I can tell.  Your accent comes out when you're pissed."  He frowned at them.  "I would still like to give her the opportunity to get to know the girl."

"Then she can come to the house anytime and have us watch her," Jigen agreed. "Our nanny is marrying one of our best friends this week.  We're all in the same place."

The fax machine started and the bailiff retrieved the documents, handing them to the judge.  "They're relevant, sir."

The judge read them over, then looked at Lupin.  "Quite interesting friends you have, Mr.  Lupin.  Your greatest enemy sticks up for you?"

"He's seen me be a father," Lupin said calmly.  "What did he say as a cop?"

"He said that you do seem to care for your children.  That you are a very hands-on father when you're around and you leave the children with people who care the most about them whenever you feel the need to leave them. That you have always respected and loved the children, even going so far as to have Arsene's mother threatened if she tried to get rid of him or have him adopted off.  That you totally warped the system in Japan to get your son."  He looked at him.  "How did you do that?"

"The mother was a thief who used a used condom to have herself impregnated," Lupin admitted. "I called in a contact to have her taken care of while she was pregnant.  She tried to have the baby adopted out and I did threaten her.  She eventually turned herself in and I  got to claim him from the hospital after a paternity test."

"How did Everett come to be?"

"I was morose and depressed because of her," he said, nodding at Fujiko.  "Jigen and Kathy were kind enough to take me into their bed to hold and cuddle and things got a bit more involved than intended.  We both got her knocked up that day."

"I see."  The judge frowned. "You are aware your life reads like a soap opera?"

"As the world turns for each of us," he said with a small smirk.  Jigen hit him.  "Ow.  Sorry."  He looked sheepish.  "Jigen and Goemon are also responsible for making sure I grow up."

"Hopefully they're doing as good of a job as the mother is," the judge noted.  He smiled at Kathy.  "Would you consent to be their foster mother?"  She nodded.  "Fully?"

"Fully," she agreed.  "Everett is mine and I've had a great hand as one of two females in their lives."

"Very well then."  He coughed.  "As I see it, Miss Mine has not proved her accusations.  I would like her to have the opportunity to see her daughter should she wish. I would also like to have her ...."

"You're favoring them because they've got money!" she shrieked.  "That's all this is!"

"Shut up, Fujiko," Lupin said bitterly.  "You have money. You're a thief too.  You pulled a bank job not six months ago and netted sixty million dollars."  She gave him a hurt look.  "This isn't about money.  Except on your part.  What will it take?"

"I want one of those necklaces."

"No."  She growled. "No.  They were made for the children specifically.  Until you suddenly become my daughter, I'm not going there."  He patted Abby's stomach.  "They're hers and the boys.  No one else will ever get one of that design.  Now, if you want paid off, I'll gladly do that.  Did you want a ring, a necklace, or a bracelet?  Or should I even bother and just hand you a ten carat diamond."  She swallowed so he pulled it out of his pocket. "That was going to be your engagement ring."  He tossed it at her.  "Go away."  She stomped off and he looked at the judge.  "Thank you for letting her rant.  It would have taken much longer usually."  Abby sniffled. "Hey," he said, turning her to hug her properly.  "She still loves you it's just that she loves the diamonds more," he soothed.  "Some day she'll come back to be the mommy."

"Can't you just marry the real mommy?" she pleaded, looking at him.  "Marry them both, daddy.  We love them.  They're our parents too."

"If it were legal, I would," he promised, wiping off her tears.

She looked at the judge.  "Can't you make it legal?  You're a judge."

"I'm sorry, little one, but I don't make the laws, I only enforce them."

"Mommy," Abby pleaded.  "Please?"

"We're working it out, princess.  You won't be without us or him ever again."  She pouted and jumped up and down, throwing a fit.

"Absinthe Leona Lupin, quit," Jigen said firmly. She burst out in tears and he grabbed her before she could run past him, holding her tightly.  "Just because we're not married doesn't make him any less your daddy or us any less your parents," he soothed.

"Here, switch with me," Kathy said, taking the hysterical girl.  "I'm still the mommy," she soothed.  "If you father tries to take you from me, I'm gonna kick his ass, okay?"  She shook her head frantically.  "Shh, Abs.  He's not leaving.  We're not leaving.  You'll never have to live with your real mother.  I'm still your mom, the same way Kit is.  Even if it's not legal to be a trio, we still love you and we'll work it out so you're not ever without us."  She sobbed on her so she comforted her gently, looking at Lupin.  "Fine, we'll talk tonight."

He nodded, swallowing.  He stood up and helped her stand, hugging Abby from behind.  "You're not losing her, princess.  I still love her.  She's still your mommy, even without a ring.  That would make Uncle Jigen grumpy again and I never want him to be that mad at the world."  She sniffled, looking at her uncle.

"I'm fine with it, Abs.  We're all good with sharing your daddy between us."  She nodded, settling in so her father could take her.  "Now, let's head home."

"Can we get some ice cream?" Everett asked.  "It'd make sissy feel better."

"I knew you'd come out with the Lupin begging soon enough," Jigen sighed, patting him on the back.  "We'll bring some home to share with the others and Goemon and Kit."

"'Kay."  He looked at his sissy.  "You be sick again?"

"No," she said tiredly.  "Not sick."

"It's fine," Kathy assured them.  "Thank you, Your Honor."

"I'm more than happy to not make that child go to her," he noted, banging his gavel.  "Case dismissed."  They wandered out, taking the kids back to the car so they could head home.  He looked at his bailiff.  "How did Zenigata know about this?"

"That's from the police station, sir.  It's a direct link."

"Oh.  Wonderful."  He nodded.  "Hopefully he catches that woman."  He went back to his chambers to note the case's result.

***

Lupin looked up as Jigen and Kathy came out to where he was drinking and staring at the stars.  "I majorly fucked up."

"Yup."

"I'm sorry."

"Yup."

"Jigen," he said miserably, looking at him.  "I want to fix this."

"So instead of talking to us you come out here to get plastered?"

"I'm thinking about my mistakes, it's only my second drink," he admitted at her cold look.  "I didn't want to intrude.  I thought we'd be talking tomorrow since we didn't today."

"We were willing to but you hid, man," Jigen said calmly.

"You said I couldn't come into your room so I didn't," Lupin defended, standing up to stare at them.  "I want to work this out!  I want more than anything in the world at this moment to work this the hell out so my daughter quits crying!"  She hugged him and he relaxed against her.  "I don't deserve you."

"True," Jigen agreed, sitting down.  "Kathy."

She disengaged and sat down in another chair.  "Sorry, I was feeling motherly.  He needed a hug."

"Yeah, he can be a little kid sometimes," Jigen agreed. "Did you actually try to write or were you bs'ing the judge?"

"I did write.  I wrote a few times," Lupin defended.

Kathy coughed. "I checked, our ISP address has suddenly changed.  My provider was just bought out by Worldcom."

"That would explain it," Jigen agreed.  "That point.  That doesn't explain the phone being out of order or him not calling."

"The second time I tried to call I didn't get an answer.  I thought you were screening them and that I'd be home in a few days so I could talk to you face-to-face."  He pulled out his cellphone.  "I switched phones and companies.  My old one hadn't changed in years and this one had a better plan. It's also got an email feature on it.  That's how I sent the emails."

Jigen looked at it, finding his sent file.  "There are two or three in here."

"It erases after thirty days," Lupin told him, looking miserable again.  "I got one for each of us."

Kathy snorted.  "Wonderful.  'Cause, you know, we're so often separated these days."

"I thought it'd be nice.  At the very least it could be helpful when one of us has to go do something with only a couple of the kids, like the doctor's."  Lupin glanced at her and put his half-empty glass down.  "I didn't mean to worry you, Kathy.  Jigen knows I'd never do this normally."

"Which is what scared the hell out of us, especially after seeing a few 'who's who' specials on tv that noted you were suave, debonair, and very nice," Jigen said dryly, handing the phone back.  Lupin groaned.  "PR people?"  Lupin nodded.  "Why?"

"Because I wanted to change some public perception about the stone.  That's why Interpol investigated.  Once Pops heard he swore up and down that I had stolen it to Cartier's people.  They knew I was a thief so I paid for Pops to examine the evidence with another cop.  They found that it was mine."

"He knew about the wish," she noted.

Lupin nodded.  "Doesn't really surprise me.  All I'm surprised at is that he didn't wish to have it all undone."

"Doing so would have hurt her," Jigen said, nodding at his wife.  "His very short note said so.  He wished that his family find happiness in their chosen fields and prosperity enough to live comfortably."  Lupin nodded, looking down at his hands.  "So, what have we learned from this?"

"That I'm an asshole.  I should have made sure I was getting through when I didn't hear back," he said miserably.

"You honestly didn't care that you didn't hear from us for months on end, Lupin," she said bitterly.  She stood up and walked away.

"This is where you chase the girl," Jigen pointed out.  Lupin gave him a look. "Do it now before she never speaks to you again."  Lupin jogged after her and Jigen lit a cigarette to think.  He had forgiven Lupin many things over the decades they'd been together. Was this really worse than any of those?

Lupin caught up with Kathy on the stairs and picked her up, carrying her back to her new office.  He popped the lock easily and carried her inside, then locked the door again.  He got to his knees, looking up at her.  "I deserve to be killed for what I did, Kathy.  I know that.  I know that you're more than capable of it."

"It'd take away Goemon's eventual fun," she said coldly.

He crawled closer.  "I don't want him to do it.  If I've hurt you this badly then I want you to do it.  I don't care if you tie me to a wall and whip me until all my back is torn up, I deserve it for worrying and upsetting you that way."  She looked stunned.  "Woman, you're more to me than anything I've ever said.  If I didn't have you, then I'd be insane.  Jigen hasn't held me together, you have.  You're there when I need to bounce ideas around.  You're there to soothe aches.  You're there to help me be naughty and fun.  You like me like Jigen and Goemon don't.  You appreciate me.  You used to love me.  I want to apologize.  I want to treat you better.  I want to fix this thing."

"You already had your wish, Lupin."

"If it was that simple, I'd retract it," he said bitterly.  "I seriously would."  She sat down, staring at him.  He crawled over, putting his head on her lap.  "I'm sorry, I'm a sucky friend and I fucked up so majorly that I can't forgive this in myself.  Even if you and Jigen forgive me I'm still going to regret ever doing this.  I've lost the three most important people in my life because of this."

"She wasn't yours to lose, Lupin," she said tiredly.

He looked up.  "I know that. I was talking about Abby.  She won't trust me for a very long time.  Even when I only go out for cigarettes or liquor."  He stared into her eyes, seeing the pain.  "I'm so sorry, Kathy.  I should have been more conscious of you guys and your feelings.  Please don't make me leave."

She pushed him away.  "You're using emotional blackmail."

"I'm not.  I don't want to leave, but I'd rather have you back like we were before.  I never want to have a split like's developed.  I want to be happy and to make you happy.  I want to make you and Abby happy so you can make everyone else happy."  She let out a bitter laugh.  "Really."

Someone knocked on the door.  "Are you fighting?" Jissan yelled.

"No, we're acting," her mother yelled.  "Go back to bed."

"Yes, mommy.  Kitties hungry."

"Then get them some food and then go back to bed," Lupin called.

"Yes, daddy."

Lupin slumped.  "I never asked for that."

"No, but you seem to have earned it somehow," she said bitterly. "I'm wondering how."

"Because I treated them good most of the time.  The way I used to treat you and Jigen."  He sat back on his heels, staring up at her.  "I didn't want to hurt you, Kath.  I don't ever want to hurt you.  I want you to be happy and healthy and sane."

"Are you saying I'm not sane?"

"I figured I caused a few gray hairs," Lupin admitted.  "Probably some mental anguish."

"Try enough angst to drive a Greek poet insane," she said bitterly.

"Is chicken good for kitties?" Jissan called.

"Sweetheart, go ask your father," she called.

"Fine.  Sorry, mommy.  Are you kissing his booboos?"  She giggled.

"No!  Go do something else, daughter."

"Yes, mommy."

"Booboos?"

"I cut myself earlier making dinner," he admitted, holding up his hand.  "It's just a small thing."  She took the fingers to look at. "The knife wasn't very sharp."

"I can see that.  You didn't tell us you bled into the food."

"I didn't, I was slicing things into the colander and slipped."  He shrugged, taking his hand back.  "I've had worse."

"So have I but you always used to bandage mine."

"I remember," he said with a small smile.  "I always liked bandaging you.  You wiggled."  He shifted closer, hugging her gently.  "I'm sorry I'm such a fuckup.  This is all up to you, Kathy.  I know Jigen, he's waiting for a sign from you."  Someone outside walked past the door and they were heavier.  "Sounds like he escorted her back to bed."

"Probably.  He seems to do a lot of that."  She grimaced down at him.  "You have a white hair."

"I have more than one," he said bitterly.  He pulled back to look at her.  "I'm too old to be acting this way, I should know better."

Jigen broke in, closing the door behind him.  "We settled on some wet food and she's back in her room with the cat, the sixteen kittens, and their dinner."  He walked in, sitting next to his wife.  "Comfortable?"  Lupin shook his head.  "Why not?  I know you were holding her."

"Because I'm a miserable fuckup, Jigen.  I'm probably going to regret this for the rest of my damn short life."

Jigen slapped him.  "Do not speak like that in this house," he said firmly.  Lupin looked stunned.  "You're going to outlast all of us, no matter how bad of a fuckup you are."

"Jigen, he actually cut himself earlier and didn't tell anyone," she said quietly.

"They make drugs for those who hurt themselves," Jigen agreed. Lupin looked stunned. "You just said it."

"I...."  He shook his head.  "I didn't mean it that way, Jigen!"  He stood up, looking down at him.  "It was a cooking accident.  Nothing more.  See?"  He let him see the cut.  "Nothing to worry about.  I'm not suicidal!"

"Sure you're not," Jigen agreed.  "I've seen you at that state before.  You've been depressed for a while now."  Lupin shook his head. "Yeah, you have.  That forgetfulness was the same as last time.   I know you remember Peru."  She gasped.  "Yeah, him.  He got us caught."  He looked up at the stunned man again.  "What in hell is wrong with you?  You had everything you could ever want and then you fucked it up, man.  Do you even have a clue what's going on in your head?"

"No," Lupin said sitting down again.  "I'm not depressed.  I was happy."

"Were you?" she asked.

"Yes."  He looked up.  "Wasn't I?"

"Do I look like I read minds?"

Lupin slumped.  "Maybe I wasn't," he admitted.  "But I'm not depressed."

"It happens a lot when you realize you're getting too old to do your chosen job, Lupin."  Jigen tossed over a bottle of pills.  "I found them when I unpacked your bag."

"What are those?"  She took them.  "Pain killers?"

"For his aching joints," Jigen told her.  "He aches more than I do probably.  Probably even more than you do."  He looked at Lupin.  "Now that we know, we can do something about them.  That isn't the best one on the market for arthritis, but we can fix that."  Lupin sniffled.  "Hey, it happens to us.  We age.  We're not robots."

"Even robots wear out and age," she pointed out, handing Lupin his pills.  "Is that what caused this manic desire to be young and pretty again?"  He shrugged.  "If it was, then it's understandable.  Making you a mental case at the moment, but a reason why your mind went off wrong."  He looked at her. "If it's not, then give me a better reason."

"I started taking the pills right before we went to Florence," he admitted, tossing them away.  "I hate them."

"So?  We all have things we hate.  Aging isn't fun for any of us," she pointed out. "Hell, you should see my daily pill routine, Lupin."  He looked stunned.  "No one ever sees me taking them but I'm taking something for the joint pain, something else for the back pain, an aspirin just in case for my heart, two multi-vitamins, and usually a calcium supplement on top of that."  He swallowed.  "We've all gotten hurt.  We all ache.  Even Goemon's been known to get up in the morning and moan in pain."  He shook his head.  "I had to help him the other afternoon after a nap on the couch. His back locked."  Lupin slumped again, nodding.  "Now, was this the cause of that problem?"  He nodded, looking down at his hands.  "Then if you really trusted us you would have let us comfort you."  She stood up but Jigen stopped her, shaking his head.  She sighed and sat down then Lupin came over to hug her again. "Fine, you're an adorable fuckup and a mental case," she said.  "I can't fight the problems that getting old are causing either.  I guess I can't really be too pissed that you gave into your urges to have one last kick."

He shook his head.  "I really didn't realize," Lupin said into her stomach.  "I didn't want to or whatever but I didn't even think about the time.  I was on hold."

"Then we'll work it out," Jigen said.  He looked at his wife.  "If you think it'll be okay."

"I said you could do whatever you wanted with him."

"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it, Kathy."  She opened her mouth to protest then shook her head.  "He didn't abandon you."  She nodded.  "No, he didn't. He had every intention of coming back sometime, after he had his midlife crisis."

"If this was you, you'd have found your shit packed on the lawn."

"True, but you two aren't married," Jigen argued. "All but sometimes but you're not.  Now, you're causing more pain. Think carefully, wife.  Can you forgive him for being freaked out by getting older?"  She hung her head, shaking it.  "I didn't think so.  You had that tummy tuck to take off that extra skin when you had yours.  He went out and partied with the pretty people who used to flock to him.  You both came back."

"What did you do?" she asked smartly.

"I had this revelation a few years ago," he said dryly.  "I got really drunk, didn't take anything for my hands or my shoulders, and I woke up one morning in enough pain to actually go to the emergency room by ambulance.  I stretched myself out so badly that they put me in to make me sleep for real."  She shuddered.  "Yeah."  He shrugged.  "It happens to the best of us, even Goemon. Now, can we get past this and move on or not?"

"I guess," she sighed.  Lupin hugged her harder.  "Isn't that an uncomfortable position?"

"Yes, but who cares."  She gently stroked through his hair so he looked up at her, seeing the understanding.  "What did you do?"

"I pulled out all my old clothes and tried them on, that's when I went to take off the baby skin."

"Fortunately you do look hot in some of it," Jigen offered.  "Not all like the mom to so many kids."  Lupin groaned, shaking his head.  "Abby will be fine, Lupin."

"No, she won't.  She thinks I abandoned her.  She's still having nightmares."

"Then go cuddle the girl," she said, pushing him away.  "Being a father has to take precedent."  He nodded, getting up with a small moan of pain to do that.

"Take the pills," Jigen ordered quietly. "We'll start doing a medicine round at breakfast."  He looked at her.  "You're taking two vitamins?"  She nodded. "Why?"

"Because they have gaps."

"Oh.  Okay."  He grinned at her.  "Want to go cuddle?"

"Only if we're naked and I get you to suck some of this last milk out of me."

"You could let him," he offered. "We'll each take a side."  She looked hopeful. "You know how much he likes that."

"I do."  She stood up and helped him up.  "When was that?"

"The year you were pregnant with Mal."  He followed her up to their room, stripping them both.  "Oy, Lupin, come in here when you're done cuddling Abby."  Lupin came jogging in and shut the door when he saw how naked they were.  "She's drying up and it's itching some.  She needs us to relieve that last bit of pressure.  As a sign that we've forgiven you, you want a side?"

"Please," he agreed, stripping down and climbing in on her other side. "This okay?"

"Just fine," she agreed.  He grinned and licked across a peek, making her shiver.  "No playing."

"Yet," Jigen teased, latching onto his side.  He got a few good slurps then moaned, one hand going down to tease her.  "You'll probably have to be on your stomach above us to get it all out, babe."

"Jigen," she moaned, arching up into his fingers.  "Are you sure?"

"More than ever.  We need to show him that he's still wanted by us."  Lupin pulled back, looking startled.  "You disagreeing?"

"No.  Thanks, Jigen."  He latched back onto his side, playing a bit now by kneading the tender flesh.  She wiggled, making him grin around the nipple.  He looked at Jigen, nodding at his fingers.  Jigen nodded so his hand went down to help.

"Shit!  Boys!  Not the purpose!"

"If you want us to, we'll stop," Jigen agreed.  "I can always pull off if you want."

"Or let me handle that for you," Lupin agreed.  "I don't mind."

"I bet," Jigen agreed.  "That what you want, Kathy?"  She shook her head frantically so Lupin's fingers found the exact spot and started to move it delicately.  She bit her lip and arched up, letting them support her back.  "What do you want, dear?"

"Suck me."

"Already doing that," Lupin pointed out.  He watched as Jigen's head was pushed down.  "Hey, I get both sides," he said happily, switching over.  "I'll miss this," he told her.

"Keep doing that and I won't dry up," she warned.

"Really?"  He continued to suck, making her moan and pant.  He glanced at what Jigen was doing, smirking at his finesse for pleasing his woman.  "He's very good at that."

"Hush, Lupin."

"Fine, Jigen, I won't praise you."

Jigen looked up, licking his lips.  "Quit or don't get any."  He slid into his wife's body, making her howl and grab the sheets to claw at.  "You, relax or it'll be over with too soon."  He moved gently, pleasing her in ways he hadn't in a few days.  She was howling and arching up into him, meeting each thrust with her hips.  He leaned over, batting Lupin away from the nipples, taking his turn as he rode her.  This would be one of those times where she wasn't near ready by the time he was ready to come.  He felt a finger come down to tease her some more and smirked at Lupin.  "Helping?"

"Yeah.  You look done in."  He flicked the delicate nub of flesh, making her sob and ache but she wasn't any closer.  "Go over," Lupin encouraged.  "I'll take over."  Jigen gave him a look.  "In whatever manner you deem appropriate."

"Hell, if we're really going to stay like this, you should be equal to me in her body," he complained, speeding up.  He came with a muffled bellow, then moved out of Lupin's way, letting the younger generation take over and pound their wife into the mattress.

Lupin cackled in glee.  "All mine for a few minutes," he said happily, taking her hard and strong.  She wailed and arched up one last time, coming against him. He felt the ripples and came from that, going limp overtop of her.  He got a few last sips from her breast before none came out then rolled to her free side, holding her tightly.  "Thank you for fixing me."

"Welcome," she panted.  "Condoms?"  Jigen groaned.  "Oh, hell."

"Pill pack?" Lupin suggested.

"Catholic country," Jigen reminded him. "It's an eight hour drive to the nearest border where she might be able to get one."  Lupin sighed.  "Kathy, maybe we should clean you out. Take a bath, make 'em float?"

"Fuck it.  I don't care.  I missed the pampering."  She rolled to face Jigen, pulling Lupin up behind her.  "That is not an invitation for anal sex."

"That's something special between you and him and him and me," Lupin agreed quietly, snuggling up.  "Thank you, guys."

"Shut it or ruin it," Jigen warned.

"Yes, sir."

"Just don't call him daddy," Kathy said dryly.

"No, he's a wonderful dad but I don't think he'd make a good one for me."  He reached over to pinch Jigen.  "You're a really strict dad sometimes."

"Your daughter will be wearing a bra, lacy thongs, and dating in ten years," Jigen reminded him.  "Being a bit strict now might push that back another three or four."

"Convent school," Lupin said slowly and clearly.

"The girls who went to Catholic school seemed to hit that stage earlier, not later," Kathy said tiredly.  "Look at Ray's sister Maria.  She found Tony in ninth grade."

"Besides, if she's got your lustiness at all, you're screwed," Jigen said smugly.

"As opposed to Mal, who's already curious about what girls look like and has tried to look up Abby's skirt?" Kathy retorted.  "Let's remember, Mal is my son too.  I'm about in third place to the guy."

"We'll get Goemon to teach them self control," Jigen and Lupin said in unison.

"Starting tomorrow," Lupin agreed.  "'Cause I know Arsene is going to follow in my footsteps."

"He's going to sleep with a third to a half of his University class?" Jigen asked.  Lupin pinched him.  "You didn't?"

"We both know I only did that year at University to please someone else and to have access to the libraries."

"Maybe you should go back," Kathy mumbled.  "Teach classes."

"Hmm, I probably could," Lupin agreed quietly, smirking into her back at Jigen.  Jigen shook his head. "No?"

"You can't teach thieving at Cambridge, man.  It's not allowed."  He pinched Lupin.  "Sleep, now."

"Yes, Jigen."  He closed his eyes, sniffing in the scent of her sweat.  "She smells good."

"If you wake her up, she'll be even more cranky," Jigen warned.

"I can wait for wakeup sex," Lupin agreed.   Jigen snorted. "Unless you're still feeling randy."

"I've never known a guy named Randy."

"Funny, Jigen."

"I thought so.  Sleep, Lupin.  Before I feed you a viagra and tie you to the bed so you suffer while I please her."

"Sure."  He grinned as he fell asleep.   Jigen only tortured the ones he loved.

***

Helena walked into Kit's room with the test kit the next morning, handing it over. "They've always worked for me so far," she said dryly.  "Follow the directions.  Where is he?"

"I haven't told him yet," she said quietly, taking it into the bathroom.  She came out five minutes later shaking hard and Kathy had to give her a hug.  "I'm scared."

"Of course you are."  She kissed her on the temple.  "Now, we have to find out how to deal with the issue of telling him."  Kit looked at her like she was insane.  "Do you want to be subtle, sneaky, or just flat-out tell him."  Kit turned pale.  "Hey, no passing out!"  She shook her. "Buck up.  You're a woman, you can do this!  Look at how many times I've done this!"  Kit nodded weakly.  "Do you want *me* to tell him?"

"No," she said, looking like she was begging.  "Do I have to tell him?"

"Yup, sorry, kiddo."  She took the strip and walked her out.  "Decide now or I'm going to hand it to him and run."  Kit leaned against the wall clutching the little stick so she took it from her hand and walked into the dining room, putting it in front of Goemon.  "Early wedding present."  Then she took off running.

"I seem to remember that move," Jigen said dryly.  "Goemon, when did you sleep with my wife?"  He gave him a horrified look. "Goemon?"

"Goemon, if you didn't sleep with Kathy then it's probably Kit."  He got up and ran toward their bedroom to get sick. "Huh.  I think he's scared."  Lupin looked at the test strip.  "It's positive."  He grinned.  "What happens if she has another one?"

"I'm going to be floored, beat you senseless for doing that to her, and then pout for a really long time," Jigen assured him.  He sipped his juice, smirking at Kit when she wobbled in. "He's getting sick."

"That's my job," she said, turning around to check on her soon-to-be husband.  "That's my job," she complained.  He came staggering out of the bathroom and hugged her as hard as he could.  "Are you okay?"  He shook his head.  "Angry?"

"Not angry," he whispered.  "Scared, stunned, and in shock."  He went back to rinse out his mouth then came back out to treat his woman like he had wanted to before.  Since something had happened and she was now with child, he didn't have to be so careful with her.  He grabbed her and pulled off his clothes, then hers, leaning her against the wall to have her this time.  She squealed and clutched at him, panting hard.  "This is how I should take you all the time."  Her breath caught and she went with it, banging her head against the wall, with one snap of it when she finally came.  He carried her to the bed and put her underneath him.  "I see that you liked me being without control.  Expect this. Jigen always loses his when his wife is with child.  I fear I will be the same."  He dove back in, taking her hard enough to give the poor girl whiplash, making her shriek up and down the scale of pleasure multiple times in each direction before he finally let her go and came himself.  He went limp overtop of her, breathing hard.  "Yes, much more often," he agreed with himself.  She pushed weakly at him so he moved, letting her breathe again.  "Sorry."  He stroked her stomach.  "When would this have occurred?"

"The night of the meteor shower," she said weakly, looking at him.  "Wow.  Usually you're much more gentle.  Is that in congratulations or in fear?"

"That was in reward for myself I suppose."  He kissed her, then licked a bead of sweat off the tip of her nose.  "Sometimes I do lose control, Kit."

"Good!  Do that more often!  I can't move but I want that again!"  He chuckled and pulled her closer to hold, touching her gently.  "Goemon, aren't you tired?"

"Extremely but I want you to nap, little kitten."  He teased her until she came with a gentle sigh and her eyes drifted shut.  "There, I like that look."  He kissed her again and then went to make sure all the arrangements were ready. She would not be able to escape him now.  He put on his loincloth long enough to find a phone, ignoring Mal's shocked look and his mother's.  He finally found the cordless phone and took it back to his room, only being stopped by Abby.

"Uncle Goemon, are those like my mommy's thongs?  Is that like ancient buttfloss?"

He looked down at her and shook his head, picking her up to present her to her father.  "Ask him."  He walked off, shaking his head.  "It is his influence," he told himself as she shut his door.

Lupin looked at the daughter he had been handed.  "Repeat that question please, empress, I only heard half of it and your Uncle Jigen didn't hear any of it," he said smugly.

"I asked him if that was like mommy's thong or was it like ancient buttfloss."

Jigen choked on his puff of cigarette.  "Oh, damn," he gasped.

"Uncle Jigen, those things are very bad for you," Abby chided.  "See, you wouldn't be coughing if it wasn't."

Lupin kissed her on the forehead.  "Go play, Abby."

"Okay.  Can we play Candyland later?"  He nodded so she hurried off to find that game.  Some of the pieces might be missing, Chad had been playing with it last.

Lupin looked at Jigen.  "Should we call an ambulance?"

"I'll teach her not to say things like that," Jigen warned.  His wife came back from her jog so he grabbed her to hold while he coughed.

"Is he okay?"  She threw away his cigarette.  "See, I told you you should cut down, Jigen."

"Abby just asked Goemon if his loincloth was like mommy's thongs or were like they like ancient buttfloss," Lupin shared. She snickered, squeezing her eyes shut.  "He choked on an inhale."

She kissed him until she saw spots then let him go, watching as he panted for breath.  "Better?"  Jigen nodded.  "Good.  Less wheezing.  So I guess the wedding is definitely on?"

"Considering he had her against the wall and took her hard enough to bang her head against it repeatedly then took her to the bed and had her so hard she screamed, squealed, and he had nail marks on his back, yeah," Lupin agreed.  "It had better be."

She gave him a long look.  "Watching?"

"You didn't have to, his bed squeaks," he defended.  "Her head hit the wall numerous times too."

Jigen nodded.  "It did.  We came out here to get away from their first bout of noisy and exhausting sex."

"We should make them a tray," she said, getting up to be kind and considerate.  She made a pitcher of apple juice and some cheese and crackers, plus the leftovers of breakfast's pastries, and carried them to his door, kicking it with her foot.  He opened it, looking confused.  "For breakfast, Goemon.  A girl can't go on like that without food.  Trust me on this.  Besides, it's tradition for you to serve her breakfast in bed at least once while she's pregnant."

"Thank you," he said quietly, taking it from her.  He didn't quite slam the door but it was close enough.  As soon as she was awake and had eaten, he took her back down to their house so they could have some privacy.  Of course, she barely made it through the door before he pounced again, having her on the soft rug in the middle of the living room that she liked to sit and play with the kittens on.  Her kitten came to investigate and he looked at her.  "Go away, you may not help."  He pushed in harder, making his wife squeal in pleasure and clutch him.  "Shoo your cat away."

"I'm fine, mommy's fine, dear.  Go play."  She grabbed Goemon's ears, kissing him hard.  "Keep it up, the baby will have scrambled brains," she warned.  He slowed down and was infinitely more gentle with her.  "Not that I didn't appreciate it but it felt like you were going through my cervix, husband."

He growled and nipped her on the throat. "Say that again?"

"Husband?" she asked, grinning at him.  "Aren't you?"  She rolled them over, climbing on top.  "Lupin's books all say this is a fun way," she said, moving slowly.  He grabbed her hips, helping her move at a speed that was not teasing and was curing his insatiable urges.  She came with a squeal and went limp across him, passed out.

"Hmm."  He stroked her back, finishing himself off quickly.  He rolled them onto their sides, cradling her against his body.  One hand found its way to her stomach and he touched it gently.  "Hello, son.  Hopefully you are a son.  If not, then I will not mind much, but I do hope you are a son."

***

Three weeks after the wedding, Goemon and Kit were back at the house in France, having spent their honeymoon in Japan.  They made it back in time for breakfast and Kathy walking down a stick and putting it between her two men.  "I'm going to get one of you for this," she said, looking down at them.

"I thought you had yourself fixed," Goemon said to Jigen.

"I was!"  He looked at her, then at Lupin.  "Dance around in happiness just once and I will kick your ass."

"Okay," he agreed, eyes wide.  He looked up at her.  "Really?"

"The stick hardly ever lies."  He grabbed her and kissed her stomach, nuzzling it.  "It's too small to feel that."

"I don't care.  You're wonderful.  You're amazing.  Shit, I want to take your right here and now."

"I don't do sex in public."

"Fine."  He stood up and picked her up, taking her up the stairs.  There he laid her on the bed and dove into her, tasting her.  "Oh, good, so good," he moaned.  "Wanted this, really wanted this.  Gods, you're amazing.  Would marry you but can't, but are amazing.  Will be around all the time now," he babbled between licks to her wet crotch.  "Damn, woman are wonderful."

"I'll tell Jigen you said that and see if he won't cut you off."  She wiggled away from him but he pulled her back, diving in with his tongue to make her squeal and thrash.

"I should have done this last time but Jigen got you.  Never got to do this from day one."  He looked up, licking off his lips.  "You particularly queezey or anything?  She shook her head.  "Good," he laughed.  He stripped himself as quickly as he could and dove into her body, panting hard as he rode her, being gentle while giving each and every stroke all he had.  She was moaning underneath him and slapping at his hands where they rested on the bed.  He laid down to hold her while he did it.  He didn't have as good of traction but so what.  He was having her all to himself for a bit, making her feel him for real this time.  She was moaned and squealing, kicking at him.  "Mal, out," he ordered pointing.  "Now!"

"Fine," he said quickly heading out and downstairs.  "Why is Uncle Lupin having sex with mommy?"

"Because she agreed to have a baby for him," Jigen said simply.  "To give Abby another sister."

"Oh."  He nodded.  "Okay.  She was really loud, daddy."

"I know, son."  He patted him on the head. "Go play.  Keep the other kids out of our bedroom today, okay?"  He nodded, going to find his other uncle and bug him, and if he couldn't that's what Cartoon Network was for.  Jigen loosened his tie as he strolled up the stairs, listening to them being loud as he walked up.  He got it undone and then undid his shirt and belt, leaving only his pants buttoned.  He leaned in the doorway, smirking at Lupin.  He was totally engrossed so Jigen grabbed their lube, a condom, and got rid of his clothes.  The first Lupin realized he was there, he was starting to push inside.  "She's mine, Lupin."

"Fuck, more," he panted, pushing back.  "I'm being good, I swear I'm being good, Jigen.  I promise I'm not being too rough or anything."  Jigen sank in fully and he winced.  "Damn it, I hate it when you're sneaky."

"Tough shit, daddy.   Now move."  He pinched him, making him thrust into her, then Jigen followed, then pulled back out, prompting Lupin to.  He moved faster and faster until she was chanting his name instead of Lupin's and Lupin was keening with need.  "Not yet," he growled.  "Not until I've had my fill of your body."

Lupin tossed his head and nodded, holding on for as long as he could.  He felt Jigen come and let it out with a sob, coming in her body.  "Oh, damn," he moaned, flopping down.  He kissed her between the breasts.  "I love you, Kathy.  You're so damn wonderful."

"You sound drunk," Jigen teased.  "Is she intoxicating?"

"Hell yes," Lupin agreed, glancing back at him.  "Sorry, did I take your spot?"

"No, I expected it when you picked her up.  That was my way of paying you back for knocking my wife up again.  Remember, in six months she can't have any at all."

"Hell, I'll tie myself on my knees for your pleasure, Jigen.  Even if this one isn't mine."

"Yes, you will," Jigen agreed in his ear.  "For her pleasure."  Lupin nodded so Jigen blew across a trail of sweat, making him shudder.  "Now, politely clean her up and then tuck her in.  I'm not near done with you and you can't have her again until I say so."  Lupin moved backwards, licking her gently then tucking her in.  "Good.  Now get the handcuffs and hand me another condom."

"Ha...handcuffs?" Lupin stuttered.

"You were a bad boy, Arsene Lupin the Third.  You knocked my wife up without asking her permission.  You know we always use condoms in here."  Lupin nodded, swallowing.  "Now, hand me another condom and hitch yourself down."

Lupin did so and looked at him.  "Stomach or back?" he asked quietly.

"Back for now."  Lupin nodded and lay down, hitching himself to the headboard.  Jigen kissed his wife until she woke up.  "Would you like to torment him for getting you pregnant?"

"It could easily be yours," she pointed out.  "Robert and Avalon are."

"I know, but I have the feeling its not.  Want to do anything to him before I ride him into unconsciousness?"  She smirked at him.  "Seriously.  He didn't have my permission for this."

"Ooh, are you jealous?" she asked, playing with his nipples.  He hissed and straightened up.  "Only you get to make me pregnant?"  He nodded, staring down at her.  "You're the one who said he could have me."

"Tough.  Having you and getting you this way are two different things."

"It was an accident, Jigen.  We've had a few of those."  He smirked at her.  "Fine, you prove you're the better man.  I'll simply suck him for you."  She licked him and moaned.  "It's been so long since I tasted another woman.  I need to do this more often."  She went to town on him, making him grit his teeth to keep from thrusting into her mouth.

"Good boy," Jigen purred, slicking up the condom and sliding back into his hole.  "Very good boy.  Now all you need is some restraint.  I think we can do that after she's had her fun."  She pulled off. "You don't have a cockring?"

"In my old Mistress stuff," she offered.  "Two or three."

"Good, find one for him."  She went to the closet and found that box, digging around until she finally brought it out and dumped it in the middle of the floor.  He accepted the small leather band.  "Close and lock the door.  Mal's already seen you two."  She did so while Jigen put the cockring on his friend.  "There, much better."  Lupin whimpered.  "Do that again, I like that," Jigen ordered, moving harder and faster.  "We should find a way to put one in you so you can have one yourself."  Lupin squeaked, shifting some.  Jigen grabbed his ankles and pointed at a set of straps.  "Do we have something to hitch those to?"

"Only the headboard."

"Fine, do that.  We'll make sure he gets a hot soak after I'm done with his ass."  She hitched his ankles up and tied the straps between his hands.  He groaned but it wasn't much different in position.  She slid the end cuffs down to his knees and it pulled him back much better.  "Thank you, dear.  Kiss?"  She kissed him, moaning into his mouth.  "Responsive already, Kathy?  Are we sure you're only a few weeks along?"

"We didn't have sex for three weeks before then," she pointed out. "I would have known last month if it had been yours."  She dug through the rest of the stuff. "I've got a small ring gag."

"No, I like hearing him," Jigen assured her.  "What else?"

"Varying sizes of toys.  A few crops.  One hole stretcher for between bouts."  She held it up.  It looked like a hollowed out buttplug.  "It's very useful."

"I'm sure," he agreed smugly.  He pulled out and came over to look at her stuff, picking up an enormous fake dick. "Where did this come from?"

"It was a present.  One guy wanted to know if he bought it would I use it on him.  I said sure.  I lubed it up and he chickened out at the next size down."  She picked that one up, it was about twice as thick as Jigen was.  Lupin let out a moan.  "Want it?"

"Sure," he agreed, carrying it back to the bed.  "I still say we should find some mad doctor who would be willing to find a way to make this one pregnant."

"Then you could have both of your harem up at the same time?" she teased.  She straddled Lupin's head and kissed Jigen between his feet.  "Lick, Lupin.  Get me ready for him."  Lupin did so, licking as hard as he could.  "Good boy," she agreed. "You gonna let him see that, Jigen?  Or you just gonna stick it in him."

Jigen looked down at Lupin, then put the thinner one between her thighs, making him pause, his eyes going very wide.  "Off him, dear."  She sighed and moved.  "Now, I'm going to put that one up you for doing this to her," he said gently.  "If you want, I can use this one."  He showed off the bigger one and Lupin went pale.  "Or I can be really mean."

"Jigen, I'm not a size queen," he pleaded.  "Please?  I'm sorry I slipped up and didn't use a condom.  Please, don't stretch me so you can't enjoy me later."

Jigen smirked at him.  "Nice try.  You'll unstretch eventually."  He lubed up the smaller one and slowly worked it into the gasping body.  "Fight it, you can do it," he encouraged.  Lupin went limp and it slid in the rest of the way.

She looked. Then she smiled at him.  "You look hot like that."  She got up to get a hand mirror so he could see himself.

"Damn, I look like I'm taking an arm," Lupin whined.  Jigen moved it a few times and his eyes rolled back into his head, robbing him of speech.  While he was like that, Jigen lubed the other one and switched them out, working that one in.  "Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!"  He came but nothing came out.  "Please, God, Jigen, please!  Please, man, please!"

"Shh," she soothed, stroking his chest and stomach.  "I'm right here.  He can't be too mean to you or else he'll have to be just as mean to me."  Lupin shook his head so she flicked the end of his cock with her fingernails.  "Yes, he will.  I'll make sure of it.  Right, Jigen?"

Jigen looked at the one he was playing with.  "It's not quite as big as the last baby."  He grinned. "If you want, I'll have him clean it off."  She swallowed. "I'm sure he doesn't think I'm being mean by doing this to him, babe.  It's just that he's wearing the cock ring.  Speaking of, lick the head of his cock, I liked it where his eyes rolled back into his head."

She grinned at him before leaning down to suck him gently.  Lupin was swearing in a few languages now, trying to thrust up into her mouth, but she wasn't allowing it and each thrust let Jigen pushed that toy in further. "Jigen, I don't want to watch your hand in him," she pleaded.

"I'm not," he said with a wink.  He shoved that one all the way in.  "It'll slide out in a minute."  He waited, nodding for her to move.  He leaned down to suck on Lupin himself, making his friend wail and thrash.  The toy did reappear and he shifted it again while sucking.

Lupin finally wailed and went limp.  Kathy checked his pulse.  "He's not dead."

"Good."  Jigen pulled out the toy and took them both to clean them himself.  He came out and they let his legs go, shifting the handcuffs so he was on his side.  Jigen put on a new condom and slid back in with a moan.  "He's much looser now.  Feels like you a few weeks after birth."  She pinched him on the scrotum and he lunged, waking Lupin up.  "Whine at her, man, she just pinched me."  He moved slowly.  "This is what it feels like after she's given birth."

"I'll be good, Jigen, I swear," Lupin pleaded.  "Please take off the cock ring?"

"If I do and you come before I'm ready I'm going to have to go back to those toys and use them longer."  Lupin whimpered and arched back.  "You sure you can hang on?"  Lupin shook his head.  "Want me to take it off?"  Lupin shook his head again.  "Certain?"

"Yes, God, that was more than I ever needed in my ass, please, Jigen."

"Even if I let her wield it?"

"Hell, I don't care, just let me come," he sobbed. "Please!"

Jigen reached around and undid one of the two snaps.  "Want me to suck you as well?" he asked in a gentler tone of voice.  "Or her?"

"Either, don't care.  Both good at it."  Jigen kissed him on the neck, then bit really hard.  "Ow! Owowowowow!"  Jigen chuckled and licked the skin.  "Let her, you're being mean today."

She laid down in front of him, licking over him, slowly taking him in until she could undo the last hitch with her teeth.  He groaned and rode her mouth hard for a few seconds before coming.  She pulled back, licking him clean.  "Good boy," she soothed.  She kissed Jigen, making him come as well.  Then she sixty-nined with Lupin, letting him have her while she brought him back up if possible.

He lapped her, doing the best he could at this angle.  He loved this woman.

"I didn't say you could have her yet."

"Jigen, you're not licking me and someone had better," she retorted.  He groaned.  "Now, do me right or let him do me right and put yourself into the handcuffs.  That's mean."  She went back to licking him, making Lupin come back up.  "Come on, babe, you know you want it."

"Want you," he pleaded into her fur.  She shifted around, kissing him while she sank down onto him.  They both moaned.  He thrust up, taking her as hard as he could, and she was enjoying the hell out of it by the noises she was making.

Jigen stroked up her back, reaching around to play with her clit.  "Needed it bad?" he taunted.

"Hell yes, like the other times."  She leaned back against him, letting Lupin watch her breasts bounce, her body move against his and Jigen's, his arm coming around to tease her.  "More, Jigen!  Please!"

He gave her a little pinch and she came with a shout, then he pulled her off Lupin and looked down at the hard, wet cock. "What should I do with that?"  He looked at her, then at it.  Then at Lupin and back down.

"Suck it?" he asked hopefully.  "It was an accident."

"You bringing her up here to fuck her into the mattress wasn't."

"No, it wasn't," Lupin agreed.  "It was instinctual.  Look at what Goemon did to Kit."

Jigen sighed.  "Good point."  He licked across the head, cleaning his friend up until he came.  "There, better?"  Lupin weakly rattled the cuffs so Jigen got him free and squashed between them.  "Remember this lesson, Lupin, she's still my wife.  The same as you are."  Lupin nodded, patting him on the hand. "Good boy.  I still want to find someone to do that to you.  I want to see you round and pregnant with a kid."  Lupin shivered.  "You'd let me?" he asked in shock.

"It'd have to happen before I could say that.  I just had a picture of my own breasts leaking milk."  He leaned down, licking at hers.  "No milk yet?"

"Not for a few months."

"I guess I can wait."  He clutched her to him, holding her as tightly as he could.  "For a bit."

Jigen laughed.  "I'm sure it'll be fine."  Lupin shrugged and went back to cuddling.  He had needed this to ground him, they all knew it. Otherwise he could have done Kathy some serious damage by taking her until he passed out.

To The Next, and final, Chapter