As things progressed for the Division of Cosmic Artifice, the task of designing and programming the data-structure and architecture for Uhrwerk grew increasingly expansive. With Monty’s time being split between the Division, their home, and his duties as the House of Antipodes current Mister Gray, most of the responsibilities of leading the Division fell on Margot. As a result, on most days, Margot came home feeling exhausted.

Yet most days, when Margot came home, no matter how tired she was, by the time she’d finished teleporting into the entry hall of their family’s stellar mansion, she found herself feeling revitalized. There was something in the air there. There was something about returning to the one place in the multiverse where the people weren’t expecting her to solve ‘all’ their problems for them, and if they did have expectations they also expected her to have some expectations of her own.

She was pretty sure that a big part of it was the smell. The air always hung heavy with the delectable scent of a dinner that was either home-cooked or the product of one of their family’s favored take-out places. It was a smell that would always whet her appetite and help her feel a little bit more human.

“Mhm...I’m home,” said Margot. Her tone both satisfied and grateful, as she tired hung up her coat and satchel.

“Welcome back,” said the light, comforting, voice of her husband. He was holding Tau, Primrose’s son. While her own two offspring clustered around his legs.

“Hi, mommy,” said Seren.

“Hello, mother,” said Dana.

“Hi, Aunty,” said Tau.

Margot turned around. Smirking and rolling her eyes. She secretly thought her husband was part-cat. It wasn’t just his independence, bouts of imperiousness, and tendency to randomly get needy and all but demand attention. It was the fact that he seemed to find it fun to sneak up on her, even after all these years. The fact that he could still pull it off even with her heightened senses, her rapidly developing spiritual-awareness, and her akashic attunement, was a testament to the man’s skills, and how much the man loved that particular game.

Margot stepped forwards, she gave Tau a hug and peck on the forehead. She gave her husband a deep kiss that left both her and Monty purring and probably would have turned into something more if it weren’t for the kids in the room. Then she swept up her two brats, spinning them around before putting them back on the ground. Delighted by their happy shrieks.

“So what’s cookin good looking?” said Margot. Looking over at Monty.

“Oh, nothing much...I thought I’d try seafood today so I caught a few river leviathans when I was on my way back from work,” said Monty.

Margot blinked. Aware that an earlier version of her might have been just a tad horrified and befuddled at the idea of visiting a world where even the rivers and ponds could hold massive aquatic monsters. Now though, now she just found herself making an odd face and saying,

“Hm, is it still seafood if it came from a river?” said Margot. Aware of the dictionary definition, but asking anyway just to be annoying, and also because three months of time-dilated world-debugging had left her just a tiny bit loopy.

Monty seemed to give the question some serious thought, but considering that his database probably should have supplied the answer, his head was probably just as cottony as hers was right then.

“Hm?…I’m pretty sure it counts as seafood so long it’s got scales, and/or gills”

Margot just smiled.

“Whatever you say, dear. And, I’m sure it’ll be delicious regardless,” said Margot. Not bothering to mention that her husband at least four of their six children probably counted as seafood according to his definition.

“Damn right, it’ll be delicious. Do you know how picky these brats of ours can be?” said Monty. Head held high. Nose tilting towards the sky.

“Damn! Ass!” shouted a cheerful Tau.

Both Monty and Margot blinked as they watched the toddler turn the expletives into a mantra. Then Monty dejectedly sighed.

“Oh, fuck my life. Prim’s gonna kill me…” said Monty. Palming his face.

Margot just laughed. Laughing harder as the f-word was added to the song of expletives.

“Eh, you’re deathless remember?... At most, she’ll just be mad for a bit,” said Margot. Her tone only somewhat sympathetic. Her shoulders trembled as she tried not to laugh.

“...Besides, it’s not the first time you’ve slipped up. Remember Henrietta’s kids and the cock song?”

“*Oof*...You know what? It’s fine. I’m Monty Kaylan dammit! The kids were practically born knowing what Time, place, and occasion is. And so long as the kids know where certain language is and isn’t appropriate, I’m not going to sweat it too much…Especially, if I make sure they know that around their mothers is probably one of those not-so-appropriate areas for swearing,” said Monty. Narrowing his eyes. Saying the last bit in a conspiratory manner.

“Oi, oi….Do you really think I won’t tell the other wives on you?” said Margot. Her eyebrows furrowed.

“Hm...That’s true, Guess I’ll have to seduce you into keeping your silence,” said Monty. Pulling Margot in for another kiss.

*************************************************************************************************************

After dinner, the family would always go its separate ways. Monty would usually split into various copies. Either to accompany the kids or accompany his wives. Tonight was one of those nights where instead of letting a Monty-clone accompany Seren and Dana, Margot decided to do it herself. Which made her feel just a tad guilty as the spare Monty-clone pouted, crossed its arms, and poofed out of existence. Vanishing in a cloud of colorful smoke and confetti.

As Margot gave Monty a peeved look for his overdramatic method of canceling his cloning technique, she took the twins in her arms and led them over to one of the mansion’s training rooms.

As the door slid closed, Margot clapped her hands and said,

“Okay, remind me if I’m remembering this wrong...We did the ninjitsu course last time so that means today we’ll be…”

“Pirates!” screamed the two children.

Whenever Margot felt she was up for she’d take the kids into the training hall, to run some of its wilder simulations. Last week, she and the kids had enjoyed running around a floating technocracy as robot-ninjas. This also happened to be a good opportunity for Margot to teach the children about parkour, grammar rules, proper use of grappling hooks, and advanced hacking techniques.

Now, they were going to be superpowered pirates, sailing the seven seas in a search of treasure, friendship, and adventure. It would also be a great opportunity for the kids to learn about math, channeling various forms of anomalous energy, and maritime combat.

In truth, Margot mostly enjoyed the experience for the opportunity to spend time with her kids. The educational aspects were just her way of quieting the anxious voice in her head that said she was wasting time and not helping her kids be the best they could be. A voice that Margot did her best not to listen to because she quietly felt that even if she didn’t want her kids to squander their talents, she still felt the best thing they could be right now, was just kids. Happy, healthy, kids.

After training, it’d be time for bed. Margot would read them a chapter from their favorite manga and tuck them in. Then she’d go and do some stuff for herself. Making herself a little nightcap, while waiting around in the usual spot for Monty to show up so they could flirt, spend time with each other, and probably do a little more, now that there were no kids around.