Marianna had thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast of bagels and fresh fruit at the new bagel shop. Bibi's Bagels, it was called, and it definitely had a Jewish flair. The grandmother of the owner, who invited everyone to call her Bubbe, oversaw the entire operation, involving herself in every step from buying the flour to wiping a smear of cream cheese off of a customer's chin (Alan had been surprised, to say the least). The owner himself spent much of his time in the kitchen, but managed to come out and say "hi" to "the famous DeSka sisters." (Mari rolled her eyes at his greeting; thankfully, he didn't notice, being too involved in worshipping Daniela.)

Now, with Ellie and Zachariah safely deposited at home, and Daniela promising to get the Club set for the lunch crowd, Mari and Alan were on their way to collect Dream and UPChuck. Marianna, of course, also expected to have to converse with Mac, pilot for that trip. They'd done a rather good job of avoiding each other, in five years of marriage and nine months (or so) of divorce. Mari blinked back into reality as Alan reached over and grabbed the steering wheel.

"Right side of the road, Mare. This isn't England, or Japan." He looked at her curiously. "You alright?"

"Honestly, love, you must ask me that a thousand times a day. I'm fine, just daydreaming a little bit."

"Not in the car, please?"

"Yup. Talk to me, keep me awake."

"I think you're insane, letting Daniela open the Club," he said by way of starting a conversation.

"I really think she's responsible enough. I lived with her for sixteen years, and we haven't been far apart, really, for the rest of it," Mari replied. "She's twenty-seven, after all, and despite never having held a job, she manages to pay her bills."

"Does she even have any job skills?"

"Other than her doctorate in psychology?"

"Doctor Daniela DeSka? I'm to believe this?" Alan laughed.

"No, I'm serious. Hell, she's a social butterfly. Who else better to understand the workings of the human mind? Incidentally, her doctoral thesis was on the interaction between human and non-human species, with a concentration on Doreen and Frogman!"

"I don't want to know anymore!" he cried, head reeling with the revelations.

"Well, now you know how I feel when you tell me you're a hired killer, a billionaire, and owner of Torturo!" Marianna smiled smugly and pulled into the parking lot of the airfield. "Here we are again," she sighed, "and if I'm not mistaken, that's Mac's plane landing now."

The small passenger plane was taxiing down the runway toward the terminal, which was now both calmer and more deserted than it had been a few hours ago. Only one other plane was coming in now, on the other side of the terminal, equally small but with a slightly larger passenger list. Marianna bounded toward Mac's plane, completely unconcerned with the other flight.

Dream stepped down from the plane, healthier-looking than usual (probably due to the lack of stress and increase in... ahem... physical activity... over her honeymoon), and definitely looking happy to be home. The first words out of her mouth confirmed this last: "It's warm! Thank the gods for lower latitudes!"

Marianna laughed. That was pretty much the feeling she'd gotten from Daniela, too. "Although I did need a break from the consistent sunniness of Layla:)," Dream continued. Then, blushing, "Not that I really spent all that much time out in the snow..."

"I've been there, hon, you don't have to be shy around me," Mari said, grinning. "'sides, no one is around to listen right now. Hey, gotta tell you first off, you look good. Second, the twins' christening is going to be next week, and I want you to be Jamie's godmother. I'm asking Dava to be his godfather."

"Anyone in mind for Amanda?"

"Daniela and Pandora. 'Dora had two godmothers, same situation, we ran out of men who belonged to the church."

"So you are baptizing them Catholic?"

Mari smiled grimly. "Another attempt to reconcile with my parents, not that I expect that to happen anytime soon."

"Hmm," Dream said thoughtfully. "Well, I guess there's going to be a run on godparents..."

Marianna stared at her, a smile slowly creeping across both their faces. "Really, now?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I've got a hunch."

"That rocks my socks, Dream. I like hearing happy news." She hugged her friend tightly, then glanced over to where the three men were talking and unloading luggage. "Looks like Alan and Mac resolved their differences."

"Uly's been restless, wanting to get back into the company of men," Dream commented. "I'm okay for certain things, but... I guess like I have to pour my heart out to you, he's gotta talk to Alan once in a while."

"Yeah. Guys share their feelings with each other more than they let on."

"And those two are so much alike."

"Which leads me to wonder why they picked such different women."

"I thought we picked them!"

"Ah, true."

"Same taste, huh?"

"Great minds think alike." Mari looked over to the men again, and noticed that they were peering across the airfield, straining to see something near the other plane. The glare of the noon-day sun prevented all of them from seeing very well, but Mari was wearing her sunglasses (the ones that make her look like a bug) and could just about make out...

"Doreen!"

Dream blinked, startled. "You're kidding!"

"Uh-uh. That's definitely her. Tall, cropped dark hair, pregnant... definitely Doreen." One glance, and the two were sprinting across the airfield to see just what was going on.