"Can't wait to meet her. What's is she like?"

"Warm," 'Chelle says immediately. "Provided you aren't messing with her people."

Nod nod. "One more reason, among many, to have decided not to mess with dad."

"The reasons are multitude. Seriously. Uh- have you read any Pratchett?"

"The Ogg hypothesis, 'Chelle? Really?"

"I don't read a lot and have read that. What's the Ogg hypothesis?"

'Chelle beams. "So, the Ogg family in Pratchett is massive. And they have a variety of ongoing spats. But the minute anyone outside the family becomes involved, the entire Ogg family turns on them like a well-oiled machine. Which is exactly what we're like. With less internal feuding."

"Aha. Great."

"It really is."

Aaren checks his watch. "Well. I'm going to head to bed. Whether or not you three do the same is up to you. Sparky, please at least try to sleep?"

"I'll try, Dad. Promise."

"Sleep well, Dad." Then he turns to the others. "So, what do you wanna watch next?"

Aaren smiles, and takes the dishes to the kitchen before heading on up the stairs.

"Wanna find some random kids cartoon? Those're always fun."

"Sure. I don't think you will stay up long enough for an actual movie."

"Not wrong," Lan agrees cheerfully, grabbing the remote and finding a cartoon - pretty much exactly at random.

"Lan falling asleep on the couch on someone's shoulder and/or lap is a longstanding tradition around here."

"In that case, allow me to participate in it for the first time before many."

Snuggle?

Snuggle!

And sure enough, after a while, Lan starts to doze off on Percy's shoulder.

Percy will endeavor to be a nice pillowy shoulder.

Pretty successfully! Lan seems to be resting surprisingly peacefully.

Percy is proud.

Well, he is actually filled with contentment. But close enough.

And while 'Chelle isn't sleeping, she seems fairly content in the snugglepile.

Eventually though, she shifts slightly. "We should probably try actual beds," she half-whispers to Percy.

Nod nod. "I can carry him upstairs?" He whispers back.