Eventually, Steve and Ira leave, with Steve reminding Zev and Nova that they can call him any time, and Ira chiming in with a brief anecdote about calling him at half one in the morning to pick her up from another city entirely.
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.
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-?"
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..."
"Red pandas are closest, and then I think the aye-ayes are past the lions in the low-light exhibit. So we can do that. And there's other stuff along the way, just say if you want to stop."
Steve and Aaren have already taken care of paying for everyone, so Ant can lead the way, with 'Chelle knocking her shoulder into Zev's companionably.
"Except for the margay enclosure. The first trick to finding the margay is finding the enclosure. I have no idea how it keeps being hidden."
And an equally eager 'Chelle will lead them to the low-light exhibit. The aye-ayes are part way through, so they get to pass the galagos, slow lorises, armadillo and civets before they reach the aye-ayes.
Who are rather awake and climbing around the branches in their enclosure.
The keeper finishes up his talk, and then takes questions from his...admittedly very small audience, but there's the impression he's done this talk to less.
'Chelle asks a couple, although that seems to be because she's pretty sure Zev and Nova won't, rather than a lack of knowledge on her part.