Katja Pt. 13

Katja laughed, "Yes, she'll be here soon, along with her brother Jonny."

Cleo purred, "Jonny is fun also, but since his mate Lucy is here, he'll be playing with her." She sighed a little, "I can't wait until ours are big enough to play."

Katja laughed and picked Cleo up to hug her. Cleo lick her cheek and Katja licked hers. "Don't worry little one, I'm sure they will soon."

Katja but her on the couch and asked Erik to give her a hand.

Erik smiled and nodded, then stroked Cleo also. Then he followed Katja into the bedroom.

They walked in and came over to the crib to see they're two smiling children. Brigitte purred loudly and held her arms up saying, "Daddy, I need a hug."

Erik grinned and picked his daughter up to hug her. Brigitte purred even louder and snuggled into his arms. Katja grinned and picked up Geoff, who purred a little more sedately, but smiled as his mother hugged and kissed him making him purr a little louder. The snuggling was the same however.

Then Katja said grinning, "I hope you two had a good nap, there are more people coming to see you. So, we need to get you ready."

They got the children cleaned up and changed. Then carried them out to the living room, Uncle Geoff and the others greet them. When little Geoff saw his uncle Geoff, he smiled and purred, "Hello uncle Geoff." He found it funny that they both had the same name.

Uncle Geoff grinned ear to ear, "And hello to you to nephew, it is good to see you again." Uncle Geoff reached down to stroke his nephews head and was surprised when he hugged his hand and said, "Love you uncle Geoff."

Tears formed in Geoff's eyes as he said back to his nephew, "I love you to little one." Victoria twined her arm around her mates and hugged his arm. Geoff looked at his human mate and smiled stroking her face.

Azlan and Helen greeted little Brigitte and she smiled and purred loudly as her uncle Azlan stroked her face saying, "And how's my favorite, pretty niece?"

Brigitte smiled at her uncle and purred, "Hello uncle Azlan, I'm fine." Then she hugged his hand also. Azlan smiled, then looked at Helen who reached over to kiss him.

They sat on the couch and talked while holding the children instead of putting them in the playpen. Geoff and Brigitte watched and listened to everything going on. Everything was new to them and they enjoyed the attention they were given.

In a bit, the doorbell rang and Erik smiled, "The rest are probably here." Since Katja was holding Geoff, he asked Brigitte smiling, "I have to get up and get the door kitten, who should I have hold you?" Brigitte purred, "Uncle Azlan please."

Azlan grinned ear to ear, and held out his hands. Erik smiled and handed her to him. Brigitte smiled and purred, then snuggled up in her uncles' arms. She had four favorite people right now, her daddy of course was number one, her uncle Azlan, her mommy and aunt Ariel. She'd go to anyone, put they were her favorites.

Katja laughed at the look on her brother's face. "Well, my daughter definitely has good taste in males." The girls all laughed at that statement, and Brigitte purred loudly.

Erik went to answer the door, and smiled as her saw the small crowd standing there with Neko in the lead. "It's good to see all of you, please come in."

Neko smiled as he took Erik's hand, "Congratulations Erik, were very happy for you and Katja."

Erik smiled warmly at him, Neko was like the big brother her never had. "Thank you Neko, it much appreciated. Please, everyone join us."

Neko was followed by his son Axel and his family. Little Jonny gave him a big smile and a hug. Besides his father and grandfather, Erik was his hero and idol. Erik had made it possible for him to see and talk to Lucy, and he always called him little brother.

Erik grinned as he hugged Jonny back, "Welcome little brother, it's good to see you again. Lucy's in the living room, waiting for you."

Jonny smiled and made his way quickly into the house. His mother Allie, along with their youngest, little Gesa were next. She smiled and kissed his cheek, as she was holding Gesa, the hug was one armed. "Congratulations Erik, we're so happy for you and Katja. You and her are family to us."

Erik smiled and kissed her back, "Thank you Allie, we feel the same about you and Axel." The he grinned and tickled little Gesa. "And how's my little sister today?"

Gesa giggled and said in broken English, she was still learning. "Hello Ric, love you. Mommy say you have little ones now. Is Elan here?"

Erik smiled, and stroked her face, "Yes kitten, she's here and looking forward to seeing you."

Gesa smiled and said to her mother, "Mommy, down. I want to go see Elan."

Allie laughed as she set her down, "Go ahead sweetness." Gesa grinned from ear to ear and took off as fast as her little legs could carry her.

Erik greeted the rest as they entered, there were many congratulations, kisses, hugs and handshakes. They all carried either presents or food.

He looked around at the house full of people and smiled, Katja and the children were the center of attraction. He grinned, accept little Gesa, she was in his sister's lap smiling and trying to explain something that happened to her. Helen had a wide grin on her face, she and little Gesa were sisters and she loved the little girl.

Then Helen smiled and said, "Why don't I introduce you to my niece and nephew Gesa." She smiled and nodded okay.

Helen picked her up and carried over to sit between Katja and Azlan. She smiled and said, "Gesa, this is Katja's daughter Brigitte. Brigitte, this is my little sister Gesa."

Gesa smiled as Helen called her sister, then looked at Brigitte cuddled up in Azlan's arms. "Hello Bri, I'm Gesa."

Then Gesa eyes went wide in surprised when she heard in her mind "Hello Gesa." Gesa looked at Brigitte, then up at Helen. "Elan, Bri talk in my head!"

Helen smiled, "Well, she's a little young yet sweetheart, she can't say words yet. Maybe you should try in your other language. Gesa said something in Lyonness and Brigitte responded, "Yes, I can speak in that language too, but only like this for now. Mommy says it will take longer to do it the normal way."

Gesa giggled, "Your pretty like your mommy." Brigitte purred, even being only a day old, the quickest way to get on her good side was tell her she was pretty. "Thank you, Gesa. We are friends now?"

Gesa smiled and purred, "Yes Bri, your my friend too."

Gesa looked up at Helen and Katja said smiling in English, "We friends now."

Katja laughed, "That's good little one. It's always good to have friends."

Then Katja said, "Gesa, this is my son, Geoff. Geoff, this is Gesa."

Gesa looked at Geoff and heard him say. "Hello Gesa. Your pretty like my sister."

Gesa smiled, "Hello Geoff." Then her eyes went wide as she saw Geoff's tail swish back and forth as he smiled at her. Gesa looked at Geoff, then at Erik, then said wide eyed. "You have tail! I didn't think humans had tails."

Geoff purred as Katja answered her, "He is the only one who has one right now kitten."

Gesa smiled and said to Geoff, "You have a nice tail, I have one to." She swished hers back and forth. Geoff purred, then giggled, "Your tail is very nice Gesa." He smiled and reach out a hand to take hold of Gesa's. When he did, Geoff and Gesa smiled at each other. Then they said at the same time, "We are friends now." Then Gesa bent down to kiss his cheek. Geoff's eyes went wide and he purred loudly and smiled. "Gesa my friend forever."

Katja looked at the two of them, then thought, "No, it can't be." Then she felt a warmth and heard in her mind, "Not now my daughter, but yes, once they become of age. Until then, they will be close friends."

Katja looked stunned, then quickly smiled not to draw attention. The fact that Gesa would be six years older than Geoff didn't matter. She had read that with humans, age seemed to be a big thing, but not with her people. She thought they'd be a good match, and much like with Lucy and Jonny, they'd be growing up together. More so really, since they would be closer and be together in the town.

She looked around and saw Allie, with the same look as she had on her face. They looked at each other and smiled. They would talk in a bit.

Then Katja smiled as she watched the two of them talking to each other. Gesa was talking aloud and giggling, but she couldn't hear what Geoff was saying to her. She had been able to hear her son no matter who he talked to, but not when he said something to Gesa.

Then she smiled and said to her, "Gesa, would you like to sit here and let him sit in your lap while you two talk? You have to be careful, but I think you'd be alright."

Gesa and Geoff grinned, then both purred, so she had her sit in the corner of the couch and she sat Geoff in her lap. Gesa wrapped both arms around him to make sure he couldn't move, then Geoff laid his head against her. Gesa giggled, "Yes, this is fun."

Helen stayed on the couch with them and Azlan. She thought something had happened, but she wasn't sure.

Brigitte watched the two of them from where she was in uncle Azlan's arms. Then she sent to her brother, "Having fun brother?" She was a tiny bit jealous, though she didn't know that's what it was. Gesa was holding her brother like she did when they slept now and before. But Gesa was a friend now, so it was over quickly.

They decided to move everything outside as there was more room and it was still nice out. In another month and a half, the weather would start to get cooler so it was best to enjoy it while they could.

As they were moving everything, Katja caught Allie's arm and asked her to hold up until everyone was outside except the two of them and the children.

Katja smiled, "Did you get the same message I did Allie?"

Allie grinned, "Do you mean about our two children?"

Katja nodded grinning back. Allie returned it, "Well, I guess our two families are going to be even closer eventually."

Allie smiled, "I think it's wonderful. I wonder who is going to be picked for Brigitte."

Katja grinned as she watched as Ariel and Tony walked out the patio door hand in hand. "I think I already know that too. Ariel and Tony are finally going to be Mated two weeks from now. I have a feeling it will be their son." She felt the same warmth she did before, but no words this time.

Allie smiled, "That makes sense, with all the kids growing up together, it should be a forgone conclusion that they'll be very happy." Then she sighed, "I do feel a little sorry for Lucy and Jonny, granted they spend time together as much as possible and talk on the computer, but it would be nicer if they could be together more. It's not bad now, but as they get older, it might be rougher on them."

Katja nodded, then said, "We were talking about that. Erik had an idea about seeing if Jack and his family wanted to move to the new town and open an office there. He takes care of a lot of legal things and we'll probably need that once we get settled in. Since he knows our people, he could be a big help as we establish things as the town grows."

Allie grinned, "How is it that Erik always comes up with an answer or solution to all these problems?"

Katja grinned again, "Ask the Goddess, it's probably due to one of Them. They want this to succeed as much, if not more, than we do."

Allie and Katja grinned as both of them once more felt warmth, then heard a lilting girlish voice say, "You know too much for your own good my daughters. Our Son must be rubbing off on you. All will be well in time."

Allie grinned, "Well, that answers that. Let's go and join the party." Katja picked up purring Geoff and Allie picked up a giggling Gesa."

The rest of the afternoon was wonderful. They all agreed that this was a good custom and they would start doing for there own friends. They had given Katja and Erik a nice selection of clothes for both of the children, some other needful things and of course toys and things for the children. The food was also wonderful, it was a mixture of Earth and Lyonness dishes.

Erik noticed that little Gesa hardly ever left the side of his son. He grinned because it was like a one-way conversation, Gesa would giggle and smile at something that Geoff had said, then answer him back aloud. What surprised him most, he normally heard his son when he said something, it was like he was saying it aloud. But, when he talked to Gesa, he heard nothing but it was apparent that Gesa did.

He also noticed that Katja and Allie would smile at the two and share a knowing grin. He shrugged, it must be something the Lyonness do. Like most parties, whether they were human of Lyonness, the people broke into groups, mainly male and female. He smiled when he saw Jonny and Lucy together, most of the times they spoke quietly together holding hands, then the next time, they could be running around the yard. He felt a little sorry for them, they wanted so desperately to be together more often. He could only figure it would be worse once they got older. Lucy was ten now, but as he noticed before, she seemed older. He put it down to being trained by the Goddesses, he was sure it would age her quicker because of the things she needed to learn. He had learned that the Lyonness aged different than humans, by the age of sixteen, they were considered adults and treated like one. Seeing how his children aged and grew, made it more understandable. They were only a day old, but were able to communicate almost like an older person, and they seemed to understand things better.

Humans aged much slower, but he wondered if that was more a cultural thing, that humans held the children back. He remembered reading about older cultures, that a lot of them considered manhood or womanhood by the onset of puberty. How in some cultures, they got married at thirteen or fourteen because they were considered adults. Now, it was felt that biologically, they may be old enough, but it was thought that they weren't emotionally developed enough to deal with day to day things. So, they weren't considered adults until they were eighteen or twenty-one years old. That thinking might have to change somewhat as the Lyonness integrate into our culture.

He knew that at one time, you could enlist in the military at sixteen, but they had changed it to seventeen a while back. If they were thought to be mature enough at sixteen to join the military, why not the rest of life?"

Then his thoughts turned to Lucy and Jonny again, he and Katja had talked one day a few weeks ago about seeing if they could convince Jack to start his own practice at the new town once it was done. They would need some kind of lawyer for things and since he was a business lawyer, he could help them when they started various businesses they had talked about. The surrounding towns would also need a good lawyer as they got busier as the town progressed. Then, since he was so familiar with them, it would be better than getting just anyone. Also, like he and Tony had figured, it would be cheaper to get a house and a storefront now.

He thought about it, and this seemed like a good time to bring it up with everyone here. They could get their opinions also. When there was a break in the conversation, he said, "Jack, let me ask you a question and see what you think about it."

Jack nodded at his friend and said, "Sure, shoot."

Erik took a drink then said, "Well, I was thinking, we're moving out to the new town in about six or seven months, and it should be done in about eighteen months. I was thinking it might not be a bad idea, for you to think about possibly starting a law office out there. As people transfer there and they start businesses up, they'll need a lawyer to help mange the maze of all the legal stuff. Plus, any other legal things that may come up, granted, I know you specialize in business law, but you do have an understanding of the other aspects I'm sure. Or maybe even if you know someone else to go in with you that knows others aspects.

Jack's eyebrows went up as he pondered this, "I have always thought of starting my own office one day. Maria and I have talked about it."

Erik nodded, "Well, this might be the perfect opportunity to do it. Get in on the ground floor so to speak."

Then Geoff said, "You know Erik, that might not be a bad idea. None of us really know about the legal aspects. I've come to learn that it is a very specialized aspect of human life dealing with the contractors and such. Plus, like you mentioned, we are going to be starting up some businesses, like the cleansing units and similar things. As I understand it, they will be things that need to be done. Ah, what was it... Oh, yes, licenses and patents, or at least I think that's the English word."

Erik nodded, "Yes sir, those are the correct words, you'll need to patent it so other companies can't copy it and sell it also."

Then he shrugged, "Plus I'm sure there will be other things as well that we'll find out about as we go along. It would be nice to have our own legal representative, even with dealing with the contractors if needed to."

Erik smiled, "That's one the things I was thinking of when I mentioned it."

Then Erik thought for a minute, "It might be a good idea, if Jack agrees, for us to have him on a... retainer, I think the word is." He turned to Jack, "Is that the right word Jack?"

Jack nodded, "Yes Erik, retainer is the correct term. It means I would work for whoever's in charge, to help whenever it's needed. An agreed upon fee is paid to the lawyer to handle all the legal aspects and be "on-call" for any problems that may arise."

Geoff nodded, "Well, what with all we've learned, I'm sure the governing body would agree to something like that. Just as I hired Helen to help me keep track of everything, Jack could help us keep track of the legal end of running the town." He chuckled, "I sure we'll run into something, every time we turn around some little thing comes up that we have to find out about."

Erik nodded, "Jack, this also might be the best time, if you want to do something like this, for you to find a place to live and work out of. Like Tony and I found out buying our places, everything is basically dirt-cheap right now. But I doubt that will last much longer as the town gets finished." He laughed, "The place Katja and I brought is worth at least double what we paid for it, once things picked up."

Erik took another drink, "The area around there is very nice. Sort of a combination of suburbia and country, if you know what I mean. I could hook you up with the realtor we dealt with, she's very nice and pleasant to work with."

Jack looked at his glass and took a drink. "I really like the idea, granted, I need to discuss it with Maria. I have an idea of who I could ask to go in with me, the son of a friend of mine, he just pasted the BAR exam. So, he would be up on all the new legal aspects." He took a deep breath and nodded, "The more I think about it, the more I like it."

Erik nodded, "Well, talk to Maria and discuss it. It's not like you'd be going to an area where you don't know anyone. Most of us would be there, plus I've heard interest from some other humans that are considering it also. Right now, it's mainly business types, people that have started to have a lot of dealings with us. Stores, restaurants and such."

Then he smiled, "Also, Lucy would have the choice of going to our school when it opens or one of the existing towns. But with Jonny and some of the other friends she's made from the crew's families, I sort of figure she'd want to go to our school."

The Erik grinned again, "Also, as her "Flock" so to speak would be there mainly, it might even work out for her better."

Jack's eyes went wide, then he chuckled nodding, "Yeah, your right, I didn't think about that."

He took a drink shaking his head, "Sometimes it's easy to forget what my daughter is going to become as she gets older."