"Well, truce or no, did anyone have any requests for dinner?"

Zev looks to Lan and ‘Chelle for that, he wouldn’t even know what to ask for.

"Oooh. Moroccan chicken? That's good!"

"Any objections to that?"

"None here, sounds good to me."

"Final questions: couscous or rice? And lemon or plain?"

Zev perks up a little at the idea of trying something new. "Couscous? And lemon. If that's okay with everyone else?"

"None from here!"

Nova shakes his head. (As though he could say otherwise, when Zev looks excited by the idea.)

"Lemon couscous it is then."

Aaren waves slightly and heads through to the kitchen.

Zev curls up again, flexing his hand a few times. It feels good, though he’s still not used to the healing magic. Not that it’s something you want to get used to, being injured that often. 

And the next few days pass in much the same way. 'Family' breakfasts, calm days with Lan complaining about the work he has from his tutor, documentaries playing on the TV.

Lan and 'Chelle are both open and easy with their affection, both spoken and, with Zev, physical - pats on the shoulders, brief hugs.

'Chelle finds them two warm winter jackets that are still lightweight enough that they won't feel constricted by them.

Aaren makes a variety of meals, all taking into account the fact that Zev and Nova are still coming back from the brink of starvation.

And Saturday morning the wake to find him making a picnic, a phone trapped between his ear and shoulder.

"Yeah, Steve, I always make extra, what do you take me for-?"

Zev sits at the counter, nursing a cup of tea, and wonders if he should offer to help. Aaren only has so many hands.

Well, 'Chelle's in the kitchen as well, and rescues her Dad's phone, winking at Zev. "Yeah, Uncle Steve, you know what Dad's like, we're gonna have far more food than any of us could possibly eat."

Zev laughs, winking back.

Inexplicably, she pulls a packet of breadsticks out of one of the cupboards and adds it to one of the bags.

"Yeah, we'll be ready to leave in about half an hour? Yeah, probably better for you to come here, I think all of us squeezing into Dad's car's gonna be a bit of a push..."

Nova leans a little more into Zev.

Zev wraps his arm a little tighter around Nova, and kisses the top of his head.

"Alright, cool, see you in twenty."

She hangs up the phone. "Uncle Steve's gonna come over here so we can split into two cars."

"Makes sense," Aaren agrees. "Okay, I think I've got everything. Is Lan awake yet?"

“I did hear ‘Chelle make an attempt,” Zev laughs. 

"M'wake," Lan mumbles as he stumbles into the kitchen. "S'that coffee? Coffee!"