"You are kidding me. That gown is famous. She was just wearing a t-shirt."
Bethy groaned. "Yes, t-shirts. There have been zombie t-shirts and Care Bear t-shirts. T-shirts, grungy sneakers, and jeans: That is what the Gown of Éire Danu has been reduced to."
Meryn shrugged, stretching the fabric of her hoodie
out in front of her. "This is so comfy, Bethy. You should really try this. I mean especially when you start showing. Your belly won't fit in those fancy dress pants of yours."
Bethy gasped and looked behind her.
Sebastian was already moving "Do not worry. I will take measurements and make you a whole new wardrobe of fashionable maternity clothes. You will be comfortable and beautiful."
Bethy exhaled. "Thank the gods!" She looked at Meryn's hoodie and shuddered again.
Meryn looked Magnus dead in the face. "Stuffy."
Magnus chuckled. "Maybe we are a bit formal."
Adriel looked over at Kari. "Kari, how is your brother doing?" he asked conversationally.
She nodded and then looked at Meryn. "He has made friends here, and I cannot tell you what a gift that is. Even now he is having dinner with Nigel and Neil. He normally just spends his time by himself or reading. He has never been able to make any friends on his own, never mind a paranormal his own age. I was already so grateful to find my mate after coming here, but the second blessing is for Avery to have friends."
"Avery's good peeps," Meryn said. She tilted her head. "I can't adopt him as my brother like I did the others because he's yours, but I can tell he is definitely going to be good friend.
Aiden blinked. "Brothers?" he asked.
Meryn nodded. "Yep! So they are still my minions and Baby Keelans, but Ryuu helped me figure out that that means I care for them like brothers. So they are my brothers now."
Aiden, Adriel, and Magnus blinked. Adriel leaned forward to look at Meryn. "Wait, have you formally adopted them?" he asked.
Meryn frowned and looked up at Rex. "How can I make it official? Can you help?" she asked.
Rex nodded. "Of course."
Aiden scowled at him. "Don't help. She needs to stay out of trouble."
Rex leaned down and whispered to Meryn conspiratorially. "Come see me later, and I'll help you with the paperwork."
"Nice!" she said and held out her tiny fist. He just looked at it. She sighed. "Hold up your hand." He held up his hand. "Now make a fist," she instructed. He made a fist. She took her little hand and bumped his. "Like this. It's a fist bump."
Rex looked down at his hand. "Fist bump. Declan, we can fist bump," he said, looking excited.
Declan just shook his head. "No, we can't."
Kari could see the stubborn look on Rex's face. She was willing to bet that Rex would not leave the city until he had gotten his fist bump from Declan.
"Meryn, we need to talk about this," Aiden began before a light vibrating noise interrupted him. He looked confused for a moment and then pulled out his phone. When he saw the incoming number, he stood and looked around the table. "My apologies, I have to take this. I'll be right back." He walked out of the room.
Meryn turned in her chair to look at Ryuu who shrugged. Meryn sat back down and began chewing on her thumb.
"Guilty conscience?" Eva teased.
Meryn shook her head. "No, that's why I'm confused. I haven't done anything yet."
"Yet?" Adriel asked.
Meryn shrugged. "It can't possibly be a bad idea if my future self hasn't traveled back in time to stop me."
Eva's mouth twitched. "Is that the basis for your decision making?"