Kealey was probably more nervous about where she and Shin were going than she’d been for anything since she’d met his parents in Japan. They were going to see Tarin and Lee, and meet the baby. The one whose emotions Kealey had felt, even in the womb.

Man this was weird. Sure there were babies all over New York, Kealey saw them being pushed, carried, trundled, and sometimes even pulled down the street. These were always fleeting encounters though, never an extended visit where she had to spend time around them. Situations like that had always resulted in disaster. Babies were like little moving bundles of emotion…and they felt everything so strongly. Sure, it had been a long time since she’d spent any time around a baby, and she was doing much better with controlling her powers these days…but still.

”You told them on the phone right? That babies make me weird sometimes, and that if I get weird it’s not because I hate their baby…it’s just because I’m strange.” Kealey reached up to fiddle with a curl as they walked, and found only her new, straight hair that she instead pushed behind her ear.

The bus had dropped them off close to their friends’ apartment, but not on the doorstop…but each step was bringing them closer. Like a countdown…

They were going to have company come over. That was definitely not a common occurrence for her and Tarin. Other than some of their family right after Kevin was born, Lee couldn’t even really remember the last time they had company.

But now Shin and Kealey were coming over to visit and to see the new baby, so Lee figured she should get the baby ready, since she already was in a black skirt and deep red short sleeved blouse.

The problem as Kevin lay in his crib was that Lee wasn’t exactly sure what to put him in. This was the first time since Tarin’s mother went home that Lee was actually going out of her way, so to speak, to show the kid to anyone. That required more thought about his clothing, even if the chances were very good that he’d end up spitting up on the outfit before Shin and Kealey left.

“Tarin!” Lee called out of the nursery. “Can you come give me a hand?”

Lee needed help in the nursery. Oh man…the few memories that he had about situations like these…did not end well. They usually involved horrifying sights…or smells…or stuff. Tarin shuddered, but responded to Lee’s call.

The first step into the nursery didn’t reveal any horrifying smells, and on closer inspection, didn’t reveal any scary sights either. Maybe this was going to be something more simple. He made his way to the crib and looked down, grinning at his son.

” What’s up?” he asked Lee, reaching into the crib to pick up the baby. “We should probably put clothes on him before Shin and Kealey get here though.”

It really didn’t take Tarin long to make it into the nursery after she called him. And he went straight to Kevin in the crib. That action was something that would have surprised Lee a year ago, but now seemed completely normal. Still, as Lee turned around from the dresser, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of father and son there.

“And that’s where I’m hitting the problem,” Lee replied, stepping forward to give Tarin a kiss. “I’m not sure what to put him in today. Any ideas?”

” Ahhh, I see.” Tarin said, kissing Lee back then moving the baby to one arm so he could move to the dresser and look for an appropriate outfit. The dresser was packed full of baby clothes, far more than Kevin would be able to wear before he hit the three month mark. That was part of the reason Tarin had no problem changing his outfit two or three times a day when vomit or poop demanded.

Today was special though, “We want to impress our guests, don’t we?” he asked, digging for something in particular with his one free hand.

”A ha!” he announced a moment later, pulling out his query and displaying it triumphantly while shoving the now disheveled drawer shut with his hip.



this will be perfect.”

"You'll be fine," Shin said.

One step.

"Tarin saw me loopy when my eyes did that weird change thing they did in the camps. He can deal with strange things."

Two steps.

"And he can see ghosts, so I'm sure he's familiar with the feeling of being the only one in the room sensing something very noticeable." Shin continued, taking a third step, closer to the apartment.

"And Lee's awesome. Everyone will understand."

Fourth step!

"I have complete and total faith in you, Kealey. Now let's stop stretching these steps out for ages, and get to the door." He grabbed her hand, and hauled her onward, to their goal.

Knock knock.

Step by step they moved closer to Tarin and Lee’s apartment, and step by step Shin did everything he could to make her feel better about what they were walking into. She was a grown woman, and she was being ridiculous. Who was afraid of babies? Babies! People loved babies. Kealey scowled at the thought. The reason people loved babies, was that they didn’t have a clue what was going on inside their round little heads or behind those big adorable eyes.

Babies were little drooling, eating, coo’ing, crying balls of emotion. It was like they hadn’t developed far enough to feel more than one thing at a time…and what they felt was so strong. It was a trial, but Shin had faith in her. He always had faith in her…and he was always being truthful when he pointed it out. Kealey smiled and nodded her head more at all the things he was saying.

”You’re right, I’m being silly.” she said, squeezing his hand as they approached the door.

Shin knocked, and Kealey smiled, waiting for someone to open the door.

Tarin seemed to understand her trouble with picking out Kevin's clothing. It wasn't like they needed to impress Shin and Kealey, but that didn't mean she wanted Kevin to be wearing just anything.

And then Tarin was moving over to the dresser that she had just left to look for something for their boy to wear. Digging through the drawer with one hand looking for clothing.

Finally, Tarin pulled out a onesie and held it out for her to see. Lee couldn't help the slight laugh as she shook her head. "Well, if he's anything like you, parents will have to do that," Lee said, smiling at her handsome little boy. "But yeah, that will work."

Just as Tarin was bringing Kevin and the new clothing over to the changing table, Lee heard a knock on the door. She hadn’t thought that Shin and Kealey would have been there quite yet, but it was very possible that she had lost track of time looking for something the boy could wear.

“Did you want to let them in, and I’ll wrestle him into submission?” Lee asked, smiling at her husband though she kept her eyes on her son. He seemed to know when they were going to change him, and started squirming the moment he was set down.