A peace like she hadn't known in years flooded through Alejandra Albright's soul as she escorted her family through an alien forest back to the safety of a sentient tree.

A week on this planet, and already that sentence barely moved the needle on her 'weirdometer'. That was either a testament to the incredible hardiness of the human psyche, or it was Stockholm Syndrome. Either way, she felt good.

"And then Harry was all like, Boosh! Crab for dinner! Weren't you big guy!"

She smiled quietly to herself as she listened to her children chatter animatedly back and forth over their recent victory over the 'crabbin'. Toraline had imparted the true name of the creatures to her and Matty as they'd loaded the sled with what they would need for tonight and the next couple days.

"And Isabel was so cool! When you jumped on the crab's back, and did that whole "Aladdin And The Snake" double-strike thing!" Olivia gushed at her big sister, who in turn preened under the praise and puffed out her chest.

"Well you were pretty cool too," Dinah said, grinning wide. "When ya did that whole 'hey, I'm gonna turn the earth into mud and then stab ya with it!' thing."

"Aw, I couldn't have gotten it if you hadn't already popped it with that arrow through the knee thing!" There was a sudden contemplative silence, and then Olivia continued in a more thoughtful voice, "hey, is it weird that a joke from our world wound up as a power in this one?"

Alejandra blinked, turning her eyes away from the surroundings and back towards her daughter. "It was?"

"Oh yeah!" Lucas said, turning around from where he sat on Harry at the front of their procession–Harry being up front because he was pulling their makeshift sled through the forest. "I thought I recognized it!"

"It's from a game," Dinah supplied the missing information to Alejandra and Matty at their questioning look. "And a really old internet joke."

"Like some of our professions and classes." Alejandra frowned thoughtfully, then turned to glance at the sword on her husband's hip. "Toraline, I meant to ask you about that. A lot of the things we're seeing are obviously not just 'translations' but are actually pulled from our world. Is that… Normal?"

"It is not un-normal" the sword said instantly, like it had been expecting the question. "In times past, before Mighty Caesar instituted a more regimented structure, it was said that the Arts and Classes could draw their own structure from the minds of the Sojourners who chose them. And, given that you and your family are molding the new system by your very presence and choices, it seems likely that the System will draw even more heavily from your experiences and world lore."

"It can read our minds?" Olivia asked with just a hint of alarm.

"Not in the way you think of it. The complicated explanation would take several hours and delve into realms of mathematics and magics that you likely have not encountered before, but…"

"I'm good with 'it reads our minds," said Lucas, interrupting.

"Ditto," Isabel said.

"I ain't really up for maths right now," Dinah agreed.

"Same," said Olivia, who then frowned and turned to address her friend. "Hey Dinah, what's up with your voice? You're talking weird all of a sudden."

Alejandra glanced at the girl and saw her stiffen up, then her shoulders firmed and she turned her head to look at her friend.

"This is how I really talk," she said almost defiantly. Then, quieter and more timid, "is that okay?"

Olivia made a noise with her lips. "Heck, I don't care how you talk! Just don't start playing the banjo and we're good."

Dinah blinked in surprise. Then, like a sun rising up over the mountains and mist back in California, she smiled.

Then the smile turned just a little bit evil, and she leaned in close to her friend.

"Kin ye squeel lahk a piggy?" she asked right into Olivia's ear.

"Ack! Get away from me you dweeb!"

Laughter rang out in the forest, and Alejandra added hers to it. At some point during the walk Matty had wound up next to her, and his hand had found its way into hers again. He had been awfully touchy-feely over the past few days. But… She couldn't really blame him.

It had been a long time since he'd been able to touch her.

The thought caused something warm and hungry to awaken in her belly, and she was suddenly very aware of how close her husband was walking next to her.

"Hey there handsome," she said, and was a little surprised at the purr she heard in her own voice. "Come here often?"

"Why madam," Matty said, placing a hand against his breast and looking aghast. "Are you attempting to seduce me?"

"I'm not sure. It's been a while." She let a rueful grin creep across her face. "I'm not sure I recognize it anymore."

"It has been a while, hasn't it?" She felt his hand squeeze hers, and the warm glow in her belly flared. "Let's get this motley crew back to Billy and we'll… See what can be done about that. What do you say?"

There was nothing rueful about her smile this time. "I'd like that." She paused and glanced at the kids. "If we can figure out some kind of privacy."

"Agreed," her husband said in a deep growly voice. "I'll build a house if I have to."

The words hit a chord inside her, and she felt her eyebrows rising. "That's… Actually a good idea, don't you think?"

"I do," he said, nodding. "Billy's nest-beds are nice, but… We're going to want a real roof over our heads soon enough. With walls for privacy, not just for us but for the kids."

"And you're already running plans for it through that head of yours, aren't you?" she asked, grinning at her man.

"Better believe it, toots," he said, matching her grin. Then he sobered and took a breath. "I need you to keep an eye on me though, okay? Make sure I… I don't get caught up in it again. Like I used to."

This time it was her turn to squeeze his hand. "Deal, mi corazon. And you do the same for me. Because while this is new and exciting now, soon it will not be, and I am worried that I will… Regress, I think is the term that Doctor Jackson used, wasn't it?"

"I never liked that guy," Matty said with a grunt. "He liked to use five dollar words when a nickel was all he needed."

"Yes," she agreed easily. "But he was not wrong."

I just didn't want to listen to him then, she added to herself.

No more. No more running from who she was, or from what troubled her. Neither she nor her family could afford it anymore.

The walk back to their clearing, and the giant sentient tree in the center of it, passed quickly. The kids continued their lively chatter, running on adrenaline and sugar–Matty had lamented the loss of his Snickers stash more than once on the trip–and even managed to draw the adults into the banter once or twice. But for the most part, she and Matty were content to just walk, keeping an eye out for danger even as she found she could almost pretend this was a sunday stroll after church.

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That was another thing Matty had insisted they bring with them. Their old leather Family Bible sat in pride of place at the front of the pile of assorted foodstuffs, bedding, clothing, tools, and other bric-a-brac that Matty had decided needed returning to the clearing.

Once they reached the clearing, Bel took charge of starting the fire and dragging the dozen-plus giant crab legs over to it, along with gathering water from the flowing stream in the big pots she had hauled out of the Dilligaf.

"Welcome back" came the rustling leaf voice of Billy as they came into view. "I'm so glad you've returned!"

"Did you think we wasn't gonna?" Dinah asked as she walked up and patted one of Billy's trunks.

"I… Was a little fearful. It's been a long time since anyone was here. And I wasn't completely sure–"

"Hey," Dinah said, and this time she rapped her knuckles against the trunk. "You're family. We don't abandon family. Got it?"

There was a rustle that sounded strangely pleased, and Billy said "Yes ma'am!"

The rest of the family began to unload the sled, and Luc took a minute to unhook Harry from the harness and lead the big alien elephant aside to get a drink of water from the river. Isabel immediately took charge of getting the fire started and the cooking going, and every now and again she'd dart over to the sled as one spice or another was unearthed, along with a large box of butter that miracle of miracles hadn't gone bad yet. And, using a couple of heavy cleavers she'd found in the galley, she set about chopping the giant crab legs into cookable segments.

Soon, the smell of boiling crab filled the clearing, and Alejandra found her mouth watering and her stomach growling. They'd been subsisting on cold-cuts and whatever was at hand for the last week, the smell of real cooked food was almost intoxicating.

"Siddown you two," Olivia said as Alejandra and Matty moved to help. "You've been carrying us for the past week, it's time you got some real rest. Hey, Billy! New orders! If Mom or Dad make one move to try and do anything except rest, grab 'em and plop their butts on a log, will ya?"

"You got it, Consul Oliv–"

"Hey!" Olivia put her hands on her hips and peered up at the branches. "Olivia, Liv, or 'sis', got it? None of these fancy titles."

Alejandra had to chuckle as Billy the Tree, newest member of the Albright family, stammered out an affirmative.

"It seems like we're the victims of a mutiny, mi corazon," she said to Matty as they both moved over to one of the logs around the now merrily-blazing cookfire.

"We should keel-haul the lot of them," Matty said with a grin.

"Can't!" Lucas called from where he and Harry were splashing in the river. "Boat's busted!"

"It's a yacht," Matty called back.

"Still busted!"

"I guess that puts a spoke in that plan then," Matty said, laughing. Then he took a moment to unsheathe Toraline from her makeshift scabbard and lay her against the log. "Thanks for your help today Toraline. Is there anything we can do for you?"

"Thank you, Consul, but in this form I do not require sleep or sustenance–"

"Wasn't what I asked, Tori," Matty said kindly.

There was a long pause, then the sword, in a slightly different tone, said "I… Would not look unkindly upon it if you were to brew a cup of tea and place it before me, so that I might enjoy the scent?"

"Bel!" Matty called to their eldest. "Did you bring any tea back?"

"Green, chamomile, and that weird fruity stuff that Olivia likes that tastes like dirt that got scared by a blueberry," Isabel said as she sprinkled salt over the boiling pots. "Kettle should be in the sled too."

"The… Fruity one, sounds interesting?"

"Done," Matty said and started to stand, but an ominous rustle from above made him stop and glance up.

"I'm sorry Consul Matthew—Er… Matt. But I have orders." Billy said, and Alejandra could swear there was a note of playful innocence in the tree's voice.

"Fine. Olivia!"

"Yeah Dad?" Olivia asked from where she was stacking supplies between a couple of close-grown trunks.

"Brew some blueberry tea for Toraline, please?"

"Sure thing! Tori, you like sugar with your tea?"

"... Yes please?"

It was almost like a normal dinnertime back at their old house in Long Beach. More normal, because this time Alejandra wasn't afraid she'd lash out and hurt anyone, and she wasn't low-key angry all the time, and Matty was sitting so close to her she could feel the warmth radiating off of his body and into hers…

"Billy," she said softly, knowing the tree would hear even if her children couldn't. "Do you think you could make another one of those nest-beds you made before, but with more… Privacy?"

"Of course, cons–Uh–Alejandra."

"One where you can't peek inside either?" Matty asked, grinning.

"Of course! In the past, Caesar has made use of such abilities of those of the Kel'Darshein when he wished to meet in secret with his advisors or–"

"Or make love to his very pretty wife?" Matty asked in a voice pitched for her eyes alone. His words tickled against her skin, and she felt a by-god schoolgirl blush creep across her cheeks.

It felt good.

Dinner was delicious. The giant crab legs had a strange peppery flavor to them unlike anything Alejandra had ever tasted, but the texture was firm and the bite was just perfect, and with the butter Isabel had rescued from the galley… It may not have been a meal fit for a king, but after the week they'd just had, it tasted better than anything Alejandra had ever eaten in her life. Better even than that barbecued goat PFC Simmons had made after their last night patrol.

The night was quiet and dark as the fire started to die down. Nest beds emerged as the kids started to wash up, using water from the river heated over the fire in metal pots. Matty and Alejandra were quiet, just leaning against each other, stealing little touches and kisses when no one was looking like they were teenagers on a campout.

Then, finally, it was time.

"Come with me," she said to Matty, standing and moving towards one of the nest beds Billy had made that was larger and more solid-looking than the others.

"Yes ma'am," Matty said with that grin he saved just for her, the one that made her feel like she was the only girl in the entire world, and that was exactly the way he liked it. The warmth in her belly flared and didn't die down this time.

"Goodnight kids," he called as the others started crawling into their own beds.

Tomorrow, there would be work to be done. They would have to choose what boons they needed most from the list that the kids would have available to them. They would have to make plans for their new… Home. They would have to lay up provisions, explore their surroundings, explore their new powers, make so many decisions…

Tomorrow.

Tonight, even if just for this one night, was for her and Matty to be alone together. For the first time in…

Far too long.

They barely made it to the nest bed. The branches closed over them just as she ripped his shirt open in her need. The heat in her belly became a flame, and the kiss she offered him was taken and returned in earnest as they fell into their bed.

Their bed.

In their new home.

Then the outside world was sealed off, and there was nothing else but her and her husband.

And for the first time in a long time, they became one once again.

* * *

Isabel Albright smiled softly as the nest bed closed over her parents.

Good for them.

She rolled over in her own bed and yawned deeply, the events of the day playing over in a highlight reel in her mind. It had been crazy. It had been beyond crazy. The hall of doors, the bugs, Billy the Tree, Harry, the crabs… It had all happened in one day.

And tomorrow was another day.

Despite it all, she grinned a grin as big as all outdoors. It had been a crazy, scary, messed up, awesome day.

And tomorrow was another one.

She rolled over in the most comfortable bed she'd ever slept in and breathed out a deep sigh of relief. God, this was the life. This was the life. And the bed just made it so much better. She looked out over the campsite and caught sight of Toraline, still setting against the log, the cooling cup of blueberry tea in front of her…

Isabel frowned as a memory tugged at her sleepy brain, brought forth by the image of the sword. What was…

Oh yeah…

"Hey Toraline," she asked, her voice already heavy with impending sleep.

"Yes, Consul?"

"Back when you were explaining the System to us, you said something," Isabel said, her eyes starting to droop.

"What exactly did you mean when you said 'All Other Systems'?"

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