A little chat among the adults after the kids are in bed...

River, Alex, and Easter are safely in bed now, diner having been at six, and it now being after eight.

Dinner was followed promptly by the 'Evening Political Discussion' between themselves you and Mrs Williams, in which you discussed the political news of the day as according to the 'Millennium Star' this morning with them, with Mrs Williams playing the 'Loyal Opposition' and presenting the 'conservative' viewpoint, but not especially effectively since it was clear she agreed with you, and was mostly spouting memorized buzzwords.

After that they had their 'bedtime story' with Africa, then the three of you divided them up for their baths, their fortunately being four 'full' baths in the house, supplemented by four more 'half' baths, so even if EVERYONE was suddenly seized by the need to go to the bathroom simultaneously it would just be a matter of scrambling to find an 'open' room.

Once bath-time and teeth brushing were completed they were tucked into their individual rooms and you said good night to them, from oldest to youngest, and turned out the lights.

Then, one by one, you found the other adults and told them that it was time for a 'staff meeting' in the 'basement'. The 'basement' of the condo is not really a basement, because it is on the 27th floor of the building, but each 'condo' is designed in so far as possible to look and feel like a very large house in the burbs somewhere, complete with having 'windows' in the bedrooms that actually are Ultra-Hi-Def screens which can tap into live video feeds from weather cameras all over the country, including Hawaii, with individual climate controls to match if the window is 'open'. The master bedrooms also have ACTUAL windows behind sliding doors so you can look outside, as do most rooms on the 'ground floor', though being on the 27th through 29th floors none of them can be opened. Getting back to the basement, it contains a built in 'storage area' and the 'utility room' with washing machine, dryer, and water heater, on opposite sides of the 'Recreation Room' which is where you gathered the rest of the adults, to talk about strategy, policy, and what might happen in the future.

You figured you would get the bad news out of the way first, needing to know, for the children's sake if everyone was 100% on board come hell and high water. "OK, first I wan't to welcome you all to our family and thank you for your help with the kids. Second, I need to make sure you all understand what I think is going on here, just so you are not blindsided if I am right." You began as everyone sat on the mismatched chairs that you had brought down and assembled in a circle in the middle of the room. "I think they have brought you in to take care of the children while they deploy me to the fighting in Afghanistan." You explained, and noted with satisfaction the looks of determination on everyone's faces at the news. "I hope I am wrong, and I don't think they will do it right away, they want to make sure I am re-trained up to national guard standards before they do that, but I just want us all to be prepared for the worst, and I need to know that if that happens I can count on you to keep the kids safe and sane while I am gone, or Goddess help me if I: 'don't come back'." You finish grimly.

"You can count on me Mam, I wont let them down." Chef Joseph says solemnly and there are murmurs of assent from the others.

"Good, on to some matters of policy." You state. "First, we are a firearm holding household, there are three gun safes in the house, one per floor, each controlled with a separate six digit combination input through a 'Tempest' hardened key pad. I know it's late, so I won't try to teach any of you with the required background the combinations tonight, but tomorrow morning when you are fresh, I will walk each of you who is qualified through the procedure to access the safes before I go to work. No matter what, you are never to allow any of the children, but ESPECIALLY River, to access those safes without my express permission, until and unless they are at least 18 years old and have passed a properly administered firearms safety course and certification, is that understood?" You explain, not able to stress enough how important it is that these weapons be kept safe. You know the kids can regenerate, but are unclear on if a shot to the head could cause memory loss or other permanent damage, nor for that matter if any of the four new family members regenerates or is bullet proof.

Everyone agrees with this as well, but it is you who are in for a surprise. "We all know about River's 'Gift of Gab', and are resistant to it, shouldn't be a problem." Africa explains.

"That's good to hear." You recover smoothly, then continue on. "Second and related point, all of YOU are going to have to take a firearms safety course if you haven't already, chose one of the weapons in each safe to certify on and train with it at least once a month. Both I and my wife did when she was alive and I fully expect the children to as well when they are older. Now, do any of you already have firearms certifications?" You ask with concern.

Joseph and Mei-Lien raise their hands, while Kelly sniffs disdainfully. "I most certainly will not be learning how to use those ugly and barbaric devices! In the event that I need to defend myself or the children I have less violent options than resorting to:" Mrs Williams visibly shudders. "Firearms!" She spits the last word like it pollutes her mouth to utter it.

"Very well, since you seem adamantly opposed to the concept I will allow you to refrain, however I am pleased to note that two of you are already experienced and with the basics and will only need to retrain with the models we keep to hand in this house. What about you Africa? Do you stand with your colleague on the educational front in her opposition or the rest of us in being willing to learn?" You ask. For a few seconds there is silence, then...