"Another successful Zac and Kate Valentines Day," Zac said, collapsing down onto the couch.
Avery looked up from where she was holding Junia. Shepherd was sitting by her feet, happily scribbling in the new colouring book she'd given him.
"Ew," she commented.
Kate laughed as she came into the room, sitting down beside Zac. "Not like that. He means because we went to an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. And so now his pants are only just able to be done up."
"Correction, dear lady," Zac chuckled, lifting his shirt to reveal the button on his jeans was actually undone. "I have succeeded at eating."
Kate rolled her eyes and then returned her attention back to Avery and Junia. "She's really content with you."
"Isn't she with other people?" Avery asked, rocking Junia gently.
Zac shook his head. "I mean, she's good for everyone after awhile, but she doesn't settle straight away with people. Unless you're doing some weird Grandmaster mind control thing."
"I do it on all of you," Avery laughed. "To make you all my puppets."
"Uh-oh," Zac smirked.
Avery looked down at Junia just before handing her over to Kate carefully, then looked up at Zac. "You got that right."
"What do you mean?" Kate asked, furrowing her brow slightly. "Does she need to be changed?"
"Oh no, I was just thinking... she's a gorgeous baby, but sorry Kate... she got the Hanson nose," Avery said, indicating her own nose and Zac's nose. "I fixed mine years ago, but.. Zac on the other hand."
"Hey!" Zac protested. "The nose suits me. It sets me apart."
"Something that big usually does," Avery replied.
"You wanna talk big - "
"You realise that's your sister, right?" Kate pointed out.
"Yes," Zac chuckled.
"Sometimes I wonder why I don't just stay with Taylor when I come visit," Avery laughed.
"Well," Kate said, getting the conversation back on track. "Hanson nose or not - "
She cut herself off when she saw that Junia's nose had changed shape before her very eyes.
"It changed," was all she said.
"What do you mean?" Zac and Avery said in unison, both getting up to see what Kate was talking about.
"It did!" Zac was in awe. "A shapeshifter in the family? I wonder if this is a part of our Dath bodies adapting or if - "
"It's her power," Avery cut in.
"How do you know?" Kate asked.
"It's not regular shapeshifting," Avery told them. "There's a telepathic component to it, and empathic, I can faintly feel the waves from Shepherd and Junia now. You'd have to check with Ike to see if I've gotten the name of it right, but I think it's pathic shifting. It's a rare one."
"Well how about that," Zac grinned. "Our little Junia."