"Thanks Day."
"For what?"
"For packing up my things," Julie said.
Friday shrugged.
"You have a couple of children to worry about, and we have to check out at ten. It's the least I can do to help."
"Well, I still appreciate it."
"That everything?"
Julie tucked Dax into the pram.
"I think so," she said.
"Groovy. Then to the lobby we go."
**********
Zac put the last of her things into her bag as Saku watched Elektra.
"Well, I think that's everything," she said. "What do you think Jessi?"
Jessica
"I think we're ready to go, and I can't believe it's gonna be Christmas Eve, when we've been here a year!" Jess said.
Zac
"Yeah," Zac nodded. "Plus I think it's going to be weird being a guy again after being a woman and having a baby..."
He trailed off and looked admiringly at Elektra.
Jessica, Rachel, Orion, Dawn and Willow
"I miss home, though" JEssi said. "I miss Mom," she said, embarrassed to admit it.
*****
Rachel slipped Anakin and Krit into their pram. Because of their telepathy, Orion had taken a liking to the tots, and since it was a large pram, Rachel allowed Orion to sit in there with the two 7-month-olds. He was baby-sitting.
"I can't believe it's been a whole year already," Rachel said.
"I can't believe I'm a year older, and I haven't missed any school!" Armelle said. "Although Parliament might not like it if I come of age before they know of it." she giggled.
~*~*~
Dawn and Willow were preparing the portal spell. Check out was at 10, and then they were going home.
Zac, Saku, Friday and Julie
"I miss everyone too," Zac said. "C'mon, we should get going."
Saku turned into a boy, now looking about 13, and opted to take Elektra down while Zac got her bags.
**********
"Hmm," Friday said, "Looks like we're the first ones down here."
"Yep," Julie nodded. "Well, I'm sure the others won't be far away."
Rachel and Jessica
Armelle carried the bags, thanks to Slayer strength, while Rachel pushed the pram into the elevator.
~*~*~
"I'll meet you down at the portal," JEss said. "Dawn checked us out, so we just have to turn in our keys."
Zac and Julie
"Okay," Zac said.
Before too much longer, everyone had checked out and otherwise turned in their keys, and were soon all gathered at the portal.
"Well, time to go home, I guess," Julie said.
She had no idea what she was going to say to Bobby.
Dawn, Willow and Jessica
"Thanks to Willow," Dawn said happily. "The portal is actually a doorway. we walk through it, and we should be in Zac's back yard."
"Everybody ready?" Willow asked. She and Dawn chanted, and something appeared that looked a little like a wormhole from SG-1.
Jess took several of the suitcases, and walked through the portal.
"Why not?" Armelle asked, and ran through.
Saku, Zac, Julie and Friday
Saku took Elektra through, and Zac followed close behind, bags in hand.
Julie paused to take a breath and stepped in after, twins in her arms.
Friday, loaded up with many bags, followed.
Orion, Rachel, Dawn and Willow
Orion took the boys through, while Rachel carried her bags, and Dawn and Willow brought up the rear.
"Everybody here?" Willow asked. Everybody seemed to be. "Good, let's get inside. We're standing in a foot of snow in our beach clothes."
Julie, Isaac and Zac
Julie giggled. They all picked up their things and headed inside.
"What the..." Isaac began, then opened up the back door.
Good thing he happened to be there... or maybe the house had magaically organised things so that Isaac would notice their arrival... who would ever know?
"Well, welcome back," he said. "Nice night, isn't it?"
"Hi Ikers," Zac said cheerfully. "Meet Elektra. And Anikan, and Krit, and Cindy and Dax."
Isaac looked at the five babies.
"Julie turned out to be pregnant too."
"Ahh. Well, you guys come inside where it's warm. Must be freezing out there."
Orion, Rachel and Jessica
Ella moved gracefully through the hallway, with Annie at the moment.
"Buh!" Annie said happily as she saw her Mama.
"Annie! You want to meet your brothers?" Orion hopped out of the pram, making room for Annie to sit up with her brothers. They looked like triplets.
"Okay, now everybody is going to think I had triplets. It's a good thing my new apartment is big enough for three babies."
"Where are you living?" Armelle asked.
"Above Frankie's studio. I'm one of the female stunt doubles, did I tell you that? After all my years of being a gymnast and an Animorph, Frankie is helping me break into the industry as a stuntwoman."
"Only you," Jess said, shaking her head.
Julie, Zac, Saku, Friday and Isaac
"That's awesome," Julie said. "Hey, I'm just going to pass Cindy and Dax off as being Tinga and Josh's quads."
"Oh, Ella," Zac said. "Saku is holding Elektra."
Ella took a moment to look Zac over, then turned to Saku and admired the baby girl.
"Yeah, I should probably make you a guy again," Friday mused.
Isaac chuckled as Zac looked up at her. Friday grinned and a moment later, Zac was back to maledom.
"Oh dude!" Zac exclaimed, looking down at himself. "I've put on weight. Look at all this fat, I - what?"
"I think being a girl for a year has taken it's toll, Zac," Isaac laughed.
Orion and Cassie
"It's so cold here," Armelle said, "I'd gotten used to the beach."
"Oh, Orion?" Ella said. "Somebody showed up for you this morning. She's in the lounge."
Orion cocked his head and went into the lounge, where a cat was sleeping on the sofa.
Cassie! Orion exclaimed. And hopped on the lounge with her. They nuzzled each others faces, then started to lick each other affectionately.
Saku, Julie and Zac
Saku's face brighted at the sight of his other cousin. He gave Elektra to Ella, shifted to cat and joined them.
"Well, as fun as all this is," Julie said. "I should be getting home."
She looked at Cindy and Dax.
"I have no idea what I'm going to say to Bobby..."
Zac gave her a hug.
"I'm sure it'll be cool," he said.
"Thanks Zac."
Willow
"Well, why don't I take you home, and you can figure it out there?" Willow suggested.
"Friday and I could even go with you for moral support if you'd like," Armelle offered.
Julie
Julie smiled.
"Thanks for the offer," she said. "But I should do this on my own."
And not long thereafter everyone who wasn't already went home, or else to wherever it was they were going to spend the holidays.