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The five Aldrich Winters were all feeling much the same as Lin, and all looked just as wild. Even Shiro's hair, usually at least a semblance of neat, was brushing against his shoulders.

"By my calculations," he mused, "not that it's going to be perfectly accurate, the way things have been going ... three days, maybe? Aurin is in a bit of a hurry to see Aerin, and with Rhea being anxious to see her family again ... I don't think you should wait too terribly long. They promised not to leave without you after all."

Storm and Starr didn't wait for the others, but immediately broke into a run, hurrying to return home to see their parents.

"And speaking of which," Shiro added, hefting his bags on his shoulders and starting after Lin, "we should speak to obaa-san and ojii-san about putting a calendar up in here. A daily calendar so that we can know exactly what day it is when we get back. And what month. And what year."

He grimaced slightly. "Who knows how long we've been gone?"

For them it had been nearly five years. It had been fun, but who knew what time of year it even was now?

Kaito, the most feral of the nekos, sniffed at the air. "Smells like winter," he shrugged. "Air's drier than usual, and I can smell a bit of wood smoke from the main fireplace."

Shiro and Kaito were about to greet Donovan when he quipped about the stork at Lin's window, and then they stared at each other, shocked.

At Lin's question, Shiro was the first to shake off the shock. "Possibly because you seem to have acquired a baby while we've been gone for five years?" he replied.

"This I have to see!" Kaito grinned, breaking into a run. "Race you there!"

Kaito laughed and kept right on running. "No way!" he cried gleefully. "Come on, hurry up, slowpoke!"

He had more energy than usual: despite being exhausted from the trip back, he was hyper from the excitement of being home again.

Shiro sighed. "Well, I'm going to go see Kaa-san and Tou-san first, I'll come by your room later and see what's going on."

"I'm with Shiro," Ura said expressionlessly. "Kaito will make enough commotion for the three of us."

"See you later, Lin," Shiro waved, going down a different hallway.

Kaito was waiting at Lin's door, since even he had the sense not to go into someone else's bedroom without their permission. Still, that didn't stop him from peering into the doorway and staring curiously at the stork at the window while he waited for her.

He laughed at her comment. "It is, so you better get used to it!" he grinned. "Now come on, let's see what the fuss is about!"

His yellow eyes gleamed mischievously as he followed Lin into the room.

Kaito peered over Lin's shoulder at the baby in her arms. He grinned widely. "Awww, she's so cute!" he cooed. "Congratulations!"

He reached forward and brushed a fingertip ever so lightly against the baby's cheek. "What are you going to name her?" he asked Lin brightly.

It was clear from his lack of surprise just how strangely the family had grown over the past few years (or more depending on how long they had been gone). How many of the children had been expected, really? No one had expected their first ones!

"Don't look at me, I've never raised anyone!" Kaito raised his hands defensively. "But think - if she was brought to you, and the stork kept chasing Ojii-san away, then obviously she was meant for you, which means that whoever sent her, or chose you, or whatever, thinks that you can do this. Right? Besides, it's not like you're the only one here who will be looking after her!"

He grinned and nudged her playfully. "I'm sure Obaa-san would be glad to help you out, or anyone else here who has children. You have Helen to make her clothes, about a million brothers or sisters or nieces or nephews who can babysit when you need ... really, what's the problem?"