After that we fixed our state of dishevelment, we all returned to the other side. Where upon, I asked them not to mention the Merchant's Guild incident to Leeson or Halsan since they were still not completely over the event.
Quatal clung to my back again, she had got the hang of controlling her strength and it seemed she was controlling her serpentine instincts a bit better, but I found myself quietly saddened by it and moved her legs and arms to wrap around me like she used to.
"You're daddy's little girl, you can always be yourself around me. Save the human ways for them." I declared as we went up the stairs, making her beam with joy and tense all the limbs that I had re-positioned to hold her own weight.
When we got back it was somewhere in early evening and we realised that the day was lost, to make amends I started preparing another feast.
To all of our suprise Astrael asked if she could help me today. "One day the child(ren) might want to spend the night with Auntie Astra, especially if you go away for a break, I should know how to feed them."
"I mean.... Yeah, sure, you're not wrong. Let's start with some simple dishes, but starting now would leave it cold by dinner. Why don't I teach you a desert we can get cooking?"
I never thought I'd teach a Deva how to make apple pie, but it was definitely one of those hidden items people have on their bucket list that goes unknown right up to the point it's ticked off.
I can honestly say watching her lose her mind making the pie crust was as hilarious as watching her cut the apples was terrifying. Luckily, we narrowly avoided making more work for Fala, but several kitchen knives were mutilated beyond repair, but no one had the nerve to stand between Astrael and her nemesis.
After that particular scene was seared into everyone's memories, I conjured some new knives, a chopping board and what patience I had left to prepare for the next part.
Thanks to the delay, the time was right to start dinner, I was not prepared to let her crack eggs though, the very idea of it made me feel physically ill.
Instead I gave her a block of cheese and a grater and let her have at it, explaining the beauty of omelettes is that the cook decides how easy or complex they are.
"Then why are you making it so complex..." The semi-omnipotent/omniscient entity muttered under her breath as I cracked my neck and exhaled upwards to the sound of laughter from Eve and Quatal.
"You signed up for this when you quoted the reason for learning as preparing food for my "child(ren)". Or was that just an excuse?" I said, scolding her as much as my courage would allow.
Luckily despite my student's persistent belly-aching we just about got food on the table.
It was passable, but there was an unmistakable tension in the air between my pupil and I. (well one them, the other was as adorable as always.)
Though the tension quickly spread when Quatal informed everyone that Astrael did most of the cooking, then everyone took a frightful first bite, preparing themselves to compliment bad food.
Unfortunately that caused a spiral, since I then got annoyed by the idea they though I would let anything inedible be made. Which led to my discovery that the sentence "Perhaps my food has left you all a bit soiled." Carried significant influence amongst our group. A fact Eve and I both committed to memory for the purposes of mischief and minor blackmail should the opportunity show itself.
Whilst Kriel, Eve and Quatal handled clean-up, Astrael took me back to the other dimension because she needed a private chat, though the fact she eyed Halsan told me it would have been funnier to have it in his prescence.
"Would you mind if I brought my sisters to visit?" She asked awkwardly, so much so in fact it left me a little taken aback.
"Of course, do you need me to summon them? Why ask when I already told you I was happy to have the entire domain of black move into this dimension?" I said as I took a seat on one of the couches.
"I ask because they aren't like me... They aren't like the devas of the white, they are more like me than them, but they are both more... emotional, things could get awkward and you won't be able to ask questions."
"I mean, I'm happy with it and I'm sure Eve and Quatal will be thrilled, but I won't speak on their behalf. If they say it's fine, it's fine. I'll deal with Halsan as required, but it would be best if you can bring them here first to avoid a flashy entrance. Is that possible?"
"Maybe, I'll do my best and thank you Adam." She replied sincerely, offering the overly formal bow she used to.
I went and brought Eve and Quatal over and as expected they both agreed, which meant all I had to do was tell Halsan, who I imagine felt a chill run down his spine at that moment.
A short while later...
"More devas! You want to bring more... No offence Astrael, you are a pleasure.... You on the other hand, are a Haemorrhoid I could do without."
"What a colourful way to speak in-front of young ears."
"I already knew! I prescribed him that cream you mentioned in your book, the small one just for Uncle Halsan. "Things the moody man will probably need at some point if not yesterday". You know, the one you wrote in prison." Fala added, unnecessarily stoking the fires, whilst also earning a great deal of pride from everyone in regards to her knowledge.
Whilst she earned pride however, my allies were rendered useless by way of stomach cramps and uncontrollable laughter.
The back and forth went on for an incredible duration, but in the end he couldn't deny that it would be entirely reprehensible to deny her the opportunity to share her experiences and adopted family with her "biological" family.
Astrael was so happy when he agreed she nearly crushed him in a hug, then returned to the other side to try and break through the veil of transcendence from their, which she managed to do after a few tries.
We realised that we didn't really know anything, we hadn't discussed what was going to happen yet and it suddenly seemed she just got carried away and flew off earlier than she meant to. We had a pretty good sense of her pride however and were absolutely certain that she wouldn't return anytime that night.
She would get past the veil then immediately get embarrassed, she would compose herself, then go see her siblings. She wouldn't return that night for anything, which meant our nanny had left us abruptly and we had to consider what that meant.
Obviously we were thrilled to sleep in the same place as our little girl, we would gladly do so even if there weren't a cosy cabin to enjoy, but it wasn't entirely practical either. Quatal still needed to be in snake form as much as possible, which would mean leaving her alone in the dimension or someone staying with her.
The issue with someone staying with her was that we had things to do, as free as my schedule was, I still had things to get done and oversee, I just didn't have set deadlines to work to.
In the end though, Eve and I decided we would just make do, she would stay with Quatal on days I worked the clinic and saw to business.
I would stay with her on the days I didn't have to help at the clinic so Eve could sort out wedding plans, teach Fala magic, coordinate with Halsan on the other ceremony and just generally make me feel like I wasn't pulling my weight.
She didn't come back immediately, which had concerned us. The first night we went over to the other side to stay with Quatal, but as she settled down for the night she kissed us both goodnight then said "You two should sleep in the house. Auntie Astra says mummies and daddies need to sleep together to be happy."
Now, we weren't exactly happy to hear she had been told that, however it would have been a shame to disregard our daughter's concern for her parents' happiness, so we honoured her wishes and gave her one last squeeze before we retired to our bedroom.
Things had been growing increasingly intense between us, as little as my body seemed to react to the experience, my mind was in full revolt every time we shared those intimate moments.
Every kiss, caress and touch was intoxicating and as bad as it was for me, Eve was suffering far worse.
Every intimate moment made self-restraint harder for her, yet the mention of time to cool off got her more heated in the moment and pushed her to do just enough to make the thought as equally unthinkable for me.
That night, was one of the worst.