Family 2.0

As Baruch sits on Anax's lap while I hold Amadeus, he looks between the two of us.

"I thought that maybe we should spend time together," Anax says kindly and I smile at him, "so, let's just eat together and talk."

"So," I look at Calliope as the food starts arriving, "can you tell us about your family?" She, actually, smiles as she thinks about it, "Well, we had 7 Mothers and 34 siblings, but most of them are gone now."

Her smile disappears as she thinks about it more.

Anax sighs, "A lot of people were lost during the war." I nod, "Sorry." "What about you?" she asks and I sigh deeply. "My real parents died," I say seriously, "my adoptive parents, also, died, but I have Heidi, my real sister, and my adoptive brother, Jaxon. That's enough for me."

Everyone just goes quiet and keeps on eating until Anax speaks up again.