Aiden scooted the bowl so that it was squarely in front of Pip. "You work on that one."
"You're a good man Aiden McKenzie," Rheia said smiling.
Aiden blushed and shrugged his shoulders. "It's just soup."
"Wait until you try Magic Pudding, then dinner, then coffee, then breakfast, then tomorrow's lunch, plus snacks!" Meryn exclaimed.
Pip turned to her. "There's more?"
She grinned. "You have no idea."
"Let's take it one meal at a time denka. That way he can be surprised and enjoy each new discovery," Ryuu suggested.
"Good point," she agreed.
"Maybe we should introduce everyone," Micah suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea," Ellie agreed. She held up Benji. "Hello Pip, my name is Benji, pleased to meet you," she said in a squeaky voice.
Pip giggled. "Hello Benji," he said waving. Ellie went up and down the table introducing everyone and explaining who they were and what they did.
As soon as she finished Pip stood and pointed to each person repeating each name and whatever information Ellie shared. When he was done he looked down to Meryn expectantly.
She beamed up at him. "You're not slow, you're a freaking genius. How'd you do that?"
Pip sat back down. "It is easy if I put the information away correctly." He frowned. "But sometimes I do not understand what people tell me, not like everyone else."
Avery gasped. "You're like me! It's called having a photographic memory. But I have a hard time understanding some social cues if they aren't explained to me."
Meryn nodded. "Yeah, they fuck me up too."
Pip looked down the table at Avery. "I am not broken?"
Avery shook his head emphatically. "No! In fact you're special." He turned to his sister. "I've learned that being different isn't such a bad thing after all."
Kari leaned over and kissed him on the top of his head. Meryn watched carefully then leaned over and kissed the top of Pip's head. Pip touched his hair a look of wonder on his face. "My first kiss."
Meryn smiled. "I thought it only counted if you got kissed on the lips."
Pip kept his hand on his head. "No. That is the first time anyone has ever kissed me."
"I am so going to fuck that douchebag up," Meryn whispered under her breath.
Rex cleared his throat. "I didn't hear anything."
Gavriel shrugged. "I have no idea what you are referring to."
Pip frowned and pointed to Meryn. "She said that..."
Aiden wrapped an arm around Pip and covered his mouth. He leaned in and in a clearly conspiratorial whisper said. "They know."
Pip blinked and Aiden removed his hand. "Oh!" he then shared an evil grin with Meryn. "I get it."
Meryn smiled back at Pip before she began to frown. She stood, then walked to stand between the twins' chairs. She kissed both of them on the head then returned to her seat. They exchanged the same poleaxed expression.
"Just in case," Meryn said reaching for a sandwich.
"Look at you! Amelia would be so proud," Rheia teased.