[Earth] Family Dinner [Closed]

Nicola Mathioudakis gently added the last coat of sauce on the sizzling item in the pot, producing a light glaze and salivating odor. Satisified, she removed it from the stove, and set it alongside the rest of the dinner.

No matter what her sisters said in jest, Nick was getting better and better at cooking. Tonight, she certainly hadn't squelched her efforts. She'd never actually met Tayisan before and it honestly really didn't matter who was coming over.

The point was to try to recreate a little bit of what life had been like before the war, The Mathiodakis' had always been gracious hosts, making every guest feel welcome in their home. Hopefully the presence of a newcomer would reawaken a bit of that old exuberance, and return a semblance of what life used to be,

Thats what I'm hoping anyway.

Meanwhile in a not too distant aircar, the eldest Mathioudakis sister sat in driver seat, guiding her passengers to her family home. Her husband on her right, she briefly glanced back at the two passengers in the back seat, Delia secure in her carseat, and the guest of honor.

"It's going to be great, and you don't have to worry about anything. I'm sure my sisters and my dad will fall in love with you pretty quickly. Its hard not to, after all."

Muck said, trying to be reassuring.

Looking up from playing with the baby, Tayunji gave Helena a sheepish smile. "You say that like I do it on purpose."

Pushing some of her hair out of her face (and out of grabbing distance from little Del) Tayunji continued. "It should be easier to meet them than it would have been a year ago. A lot less overwhelming."

"You sound more confident meeting them than I was"

Vohk said from his seat, glancing back and smiling involuntarily at those little hands reaching for red hair.

After a moment, he grew a bit more sober.

"They were all hit pretty hard by the war and have their own ways of dealing with it. Neither of us think it will be a problem, but..."

He glanced at his wife.

"You might have to exercise some patience with them."

Muck grimaced, but did not disagree.

"My sisters have adapted best, sort of. Nicola lkes to collect memorabilia and wear pirateseque clothing. Maria paints a lot, as way to adapt to her tremors,"

She pursed her lips for a moment.

"Dad's taken it the hardest. You might not see him at all, I don't know. He's usually pretty quiet, but we're hoping a guest might get a reaction out of him. Something"

Helena didn't sound very hopeful of that.

A moment later, they arrived, parking alongside the two story Mathioudakis home.

Inside the house, Nicola raised her head at the sound of a descending engine.

A moment later, she was outside, all waves and smiles, as she went to greet everyone as they came out of the car.

"Hi guys! Thanks so much for coming! How was the trip, how's Del, and..."

She paused when she got to Tayisan, and extended.

"You must be Tayisan. My name is Nicola, and I'm Muck's sister. Thank you for coming."

She extended a hand in greeting.