And then 'Chelle's coming home.

"Monaco? Why did they go to Monaco? And why the fuck did they give the staff the week off?"

"They knew I'd just come here," Lan sounds tired.

"That doesn't make it right."

Zev leans to look through the doorway to see the hall. 

"Everything okay?" He calls out.

"Lan's parents decided to go to Monaco this morning," 'Chelle gripes. "And left him a note."

"At least they left a note," Lan responds. "Half the time I have to figure out where they've gone without a note."

"They sound like truly awful people." He holds out a hand to Lan.

"They're not that bad," Lan says, taking Zev's hand and squeezing. "They're just not good at being parents."

"It amounts to about the same thing," 'Chelle mutters.

"I'm afraid I'm with 'Chelle on that one, Lan."

Lan shrugs. "I've got you guys now."

"That doesn't make them-"

"Please, 'Chelle?"

"Sorry," 'Chelle says, leaning into Lan's side.

Zev holds his tongue, but squeezes Lan's hand tighter.

"You three do know that the living room is infinitely more comfortable than the hall?" Aaren points out from the kitchen doorway.

"Your father makes a very good point."

"You're also making the place look untidy."

"Point, I'm gonna go get changed anyway."

Lan manages a weak laugh, and steers Zev back in towards the living room.

Zev keeps their hands together, seeing how much Lan needed it. And, if he’s honest with himself, he’s become quite addicted to physical affection. 

Nova looks up from where he's still curled on the sofa.

"Hey," Lan says softly. "Hope you two had a good day and Ira didn't traumatise you too much?"

“She actually let us win Ludo,” Zev says with a smile. He wants to say that she probably gets him more than anyone else would, but that doesn’t seem appropriate. 

Instead he sits back next to Nova, wrapping his arm back around him. It feels like it’s meant to go there.

"Yeesh, she must like you. Well done!"