Dan had sat in the garden with Mitzi until she had to get ready for work. She’d been in his lap and kept teasing him with glimpses down her work top and kept giggling. He was pretty sure it was an attempt to distract him from his paintings, and it had worked. Her work dress was strapless and exposed her shoulders. It gave him thoughts. Talwick had made gagging noises when he’d stuck his head out back to yell for Mitzi and caught them making kissy-faces.

  After the crew was gone, Dan went back inside. Sitting out there, even in a beautiful garden in the sunshine, was still sitting alone. He’d had a plan the previous night, and he saw no reason to not go through with it now. He found Daga and Mat preparing lunch for the broodlings.

  “Hey guys.” He said as he walked into the kitchen. Mat waved, Daga nodded. “Crazy request. Would one of you like to bring Viv and we can make a run to Wally World after lunch?”

  Daga looked at him like he was nuts, but then she grinned a toothy grin.

  “Dan. You, someone Runt has started trusting like a member of the brood, are asking to take our most well behaved kid somewhere. I’d trust you with Viv more than I’d trust most of the goblins here. Just don’t keep her out late.”

  Dan nodded and gave them a smile. Before he could get to the dining room, Mat spoke up.

  “Hey, Dan?” Mat said while making his sandwiches.

  “Yeah?”

  “Treat her well, man. She’s kinda seen a lot. All of the kids are smart, but she’s too smart. She knows what she’s seen, if you catch my meaning.” Mat said sadly.

  Dan stopped dead.

  “What has she seen?” He asked.

  “There were fourteen in her generation when we left the dungeon, man. There were four left when we got here.”

  Dan winced.

  “Thanks. I’ll take care of her. I love the kid. We shouldn’t be gone long,” he said.

  He reached the living room and Viv was sitting there with her screwdriver and putting an alarm clock back together. The other three were in the street playing.

  “Hey, Viv? I’m going to the store after lunch. Would you like to come with me?”

  She looked up and now her somewhat placid face took on new meaning. His heart nearly broke. She knows what she’s seen.

  “’S that ok?” She asked.

  “Daga and Mat said you could. It’s a secret mission and I need someone I can trust on this.” He thought that sounded sufficiently interesting.

  Viv stood up and set the clock on the coffee table and set her screwdriver next to it.

  “’K. I can help.” She said, as out came the sandwiches.

  At Wally World, Dan sat Viv in the child seat of the buggy. She looked around at everything with interest as they walked in. He was stopped by the greeter though, and that worried Dan, but she just wanted to tell Viv how adorable she was.

  Dan had checked his bank account and since rent wasn’t going to be a concern that month, he could make this work. First, he picked out a TV that he’d have to get carried out. It wasn’t the biggest in the world, but he had a kid with him and he didn’t want the cart to be awkward. He picked out a digital antenna for outside, a TV stand he could assemble with Viv’s help, and a Blu-ray player. Then he needed something to play.

  “Ok, Viv. This is your first part of the mission.” He said in mock seriousness. “I want you to take a look at these TV shows and pick out something you and your siblings might like. Can you do it?”

  Viv saluted, and he picked her up and set her down on the ground. She spent a good ten minutes looking carefully and thoroughly. Dan looked through some discs himself but mostly kept an eye on his young charge. Finally, she walked up with one. It was Bluey.

  “Excellent choice, Viv.” He said with a smile and she beamed at him. He set her back in the cart.

  “We’ve got one more stop to make and then we can check out.”

  Dan headed straight to the toy department, and with Viv’s help he picked out a toy for each of the broodlings. Viv didn’t pick anything for her self at first. He bent down enough to be on eye level with her.

  “Just because you’re picking, doesn’t mean you don’t get to pick something for yourself. I just want you to pick your own gift out. You know what you want more than I do, hun.”

  She tilted her head and looked at him.

  “You’re sure I get something too?” She asked, and Dan thought he was going to cry.

  “You ESPECIALLY get something, Viv. You’re my buddy.”

  She hugged him. Dan would never have guessed goblins were as huggy as they were, but she hugged him and he hugged her back, trying very hard not to cry twice in the same day.

  “Th’nkya.” She said and let go. She picked out a Lego set. Dan grinned at that. She had a knack for building.

  On the way out, he saw one last thing and grabbed it on a whim. Viv seemed to know what he had in mind and she gave him a thumbs up.

  The service at the Wally World in Natchez was phenomenal. Mostly because there just weren’t that many customers to keep everyone busy. The TV got loaded and Dan tipped the young man with not much of a starter beard. He got Viv back in the car along with everything else and headed back to Goblin House.

  The next while consisted of Viv helping him get the TV stand assembled, getting the TV in place near an exterior wall, and then getting the antenna hooked up. While he was out on the ladder, he caught site of the old man on the distant porch again. The man must be retired. Dan waved at him and was surprised when the old man waved back. He was going to have to introduce himself eventually. No more waiting to meet the neighbors.

  The Blu-ray player was pretty self explanatory. Daga and Mat kept checking on them and made sure everyone had supper as Dan did some digital fiddling. He got the local channels programmed in and tested the player. All was in working order.

  The first real test was with the broodlings. He gathered them all together, explained how the player worked, then watched as Viv got the disc in. While they watched their cartoon, one called “Handstand”, Dan took Daga and Mat aside and explained the concept of “screen time” and how two hours would probably be a good amount of time for them. This got the two caretakers to talking about possibly more blu-rays, and Dan laid down on the couch.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  He thought about painting and it made him feel like someone had crumpled his insides up like notebook paper. It was too soon. He’d have to try another day. He looked at the kids watching the cartoons Viv had picked out. He looked at himself laying on the couch. He thought about how tired he was physically and emotionally and chuckled. He looked and probably felt like his dad used to.

  Mitzi was exhausted by the end of the night again, but Bandy had kept her spirits up. Mitzi had actually gotten behind the bar and started launching rolls for once. The tavern used to wear everyone down. Runt’s was becoming fun. By the end of the night, as tired as she was, Mitzi felt great.

  They’d had a couple of Short Stack orders. After Dan though, Mitzi was permanently on camera duty and Bandy was now center stage. She played it up more than Mitzi ever had. She’d walk out swinging her hips and give the poor shlub the bedroom eyes. Then she’d give him the piranha smile and make it awkward as fuck. She twerked on a guy. They actually had their first REPEAT order of the Short Stack that night. Bandy should have been doing it from the start.

  Something else that had helped her through the long Saturday was Dan. He’d been cheerful most of the day. Oh, he’d gotten down a few times, but his mood had stayed high. She couldn’t wait to see him.

  There had been one dark point during the night.

  Mitzi hadn’t been aware anything was up until a police car pulled up and they’d thrown Candy into the back seat. That set Mitzi’s anxiety off. She might actually get her chance against this nut case. Or Bandy would, at any rate. She’d told Bandy about Dan’s concerns and Bandy had reminded her that Dan didn’t have to know what Bandy did with her time.

  Mitzi warned her again about consequences, but DAMN did she love her sister.

  They had finally pulled up at the house after work and filed out. When she got in the living room, the kids were in bed and Dan was sitting on the couch with a self satisfied look on his face and the remains of Chinese food. Then she noticed the TV.

  “YOU DID NOT!” Bandy shouted and ran over to it. She turned the thing on and started going through channels. She had no idea where Bandy had learned to work one, but there it was. Bandy looked at Mitzi.

  “Sis, you need to watch it. I might have to steal this guy.” She said with that smile of hers.

  “Dan,” Mitzi said, “what did you do?”

  He grinned sheepishly.

  “I felt bad this morning, obviously.” He said.

  Mitzi hopped on the couch as the brood came in and several started discussing the TV. Runt included. Geraldine just shook her head and kept walking. She nodded to Dan and kept going. That was more respect than Runt usually got. Usually.

  Dan stopped her, and pulled something from the end table and handed it to Geraldine.

  “I picked you up something since I figured you wouldn’t want to watch TV.” He said.

  Geraldine looked. Mitzi looked. It was a book of Sudoku. Geraldine smiled at him.

  “Oh, you are entirely too good at this, boy.” She patted Runt on the shoulder before heading back to her room.

  “Were you that bored today?” Mitzi asked with a grin. Dan shook his head.

  “No. I decided I wanted to do something for someone else, and since I don’t have rent for a while, I can afford to.” He said. “I grabbed Viv and got the TV and stuff. I got the kids some toys, too. Viv’s been putting together a Lego set most of the day. She really took her time on it.”

  Mitzi just stared at him. She had a thought and it was an embarrassing one. It wasn’t even the first time that day she’d thought it.

  “What?” he asked.

  Sometimes the bond could be annoying. She looked away from him, blushing, and spoke quietly.

  “I, uh, I think you’re going to be a good parent one day, Dan.”

  Just then, Runt walked up to the two of them.

  “You didn’t get cable, did you?”

  “What?” Dan asked. “No. No. Just an antenna. Maybe you can get cable later, but this is free, so, you know.”

  “Mind if I ask why?” Runt asked. Mitzi thought it was a bit of a rude question, but Dan answered happily.

  “Like I’ve been saying, you guys deserve better.”

  Runt stared at Dan, and Mitzi could only wonder what was going through her uncle’s head.

  “Dan?” Runt asked. “I know there’s things that goblins legally can’t do, but. . .” He faltered.

  Mitzi’s eyes grew wide. He wouldn’t. Not without asking her first. Would he?

  “Would you want to join the brood? It’s the only thing I can do for you. Actually, I guess that would officially make us a tribe if you did.” He looked wistful. “A tribe. Me and Sandi used to dream about that.”

  Mitzi looked at Dan. He was touched. Even if she hadn’t had the bond, it was obvious in his expression.

  Dan leaned forward to get on a better eye level with her uncle.

  “I would be beyond honored, sir.” There wasn’t a hint of mockery or amusement in him. Like with everything else with her people, Dan took this seriously.

  Runt looked at Mitzi and she gave him a quick nod. She understood. He wanted to know if DAN was being serious.

  Runt held out a hand, and Dan shook.

  “Tomorrow night, then. There’s a small ceremony. I’ll talk to Geraldine about setting things up. It’s her ceremony, anyway. She’d already floated the idea to me anyway.” Runt said.

  “Uncle Runt?” Mitzi asked. There had been something on her mind all week. “Are you and her ok? She’s, uh, I don’t know how to say this.”

  “Less of a bitch to me?” Runt said and Dan laughed. “Yeah, Mitzi-girl. We’re good. We’re just trying to put 40 years of hurt behind us.”

  “Sir?” Dan said. “Thank you. Just thank you. I haven’t had a family in a long time.”

  Runt gave him a clap on the shoulder and smiled before walking back to his shared room.

  Dan sighed and Mitzi looked at her brood as they sat down to watch television. She hopped off of the couch and took his hand.

  “C’mon. Follow me.” She said, and Dan did. She walked him through the kitchen, turned on the back porch light, and led him down the long steps into the backyard. She motioned for him to take a seat, and when he did, she sat on his lap, smiling.

  It was warm, even if they were headed into September. The mosquitoes weren’t bad and the sounds of crickets and frogs could be heard in the darkness. It was peaceful. Something in Dan felt like it unwound and Mitzi leaned against him.

  “Want to talk?” She asked. He had a parade of emotions going through him.

  “If you had told me a year ago that I’d be in a relationship with a beautiful goblin girl, I’d have friends again, and a tiny monarch would invite me to join his tribe, I would have called you crazy.” He chuckled.

  “I won’t lie. That was a shock for me, too. Dan, you’ve really impressed Runt. More importantly, you’ve impressed Geraldine. That’s hard to do.”

  Dan gave her a questioning look.

  “You were nervous when he asked. What did you think he was going to say?”

  Mitzi knew she was blushing now.

  “Dan, goblins don’t marry. Not like humans. We pair off. We take mates. Agreements are made between broods. I guess bonding happens with the wilderness tribes, but normally it’s like a political marriage? Just the way Runt started that conversation. . .”

  She could see Dan turn red in the scant light from the porch.

  “Oh. Ooooooh. Oh wow. You thought. . .”

  “I didn’t think he would. Hopefully. Not without asking me first.” She said.

  Dan nodded. He felt hesitant.

  “And if he did bring it up to you?” He asked quietly. Mitzi sat up in his lap, eyes wide.

  “Well.” Mitzi said. She began nervously sharpening one claw with another. “I don’t know. I don’t know that he really has to. Not if I were to decide on my own. Things are different now.”

  Dan sat very still.

  “I mean,” she said, “legally we couldn’t do a human ceremony or anything. . .”

  “But goblins don’t do that.” Dan said. Even the bond was bizarrely quiet. Mitzi felt off kilter. Dan took her hand in one of his.

  “I’m not asking you for anything right now, Mitzi. Love or not it hasn’t even been a month yet.” NOW she could feel embarrassment through the bond. “AND I’m living on your couch. In the tribe or not, I would like to have my own place. Our own place.”

  Our own place. He wanted a place for them. Just them.

  The discussion was followed by an awkward silence. Finally, Dan smiled.

  “What can you tell me about the ceremony?”

  “Oh!” Mitzi said, glad for the distraction. “I don’t really know. It’s probably like what they did when me, Bandy, and Talwick joined the brood. There’s a sharing of a brew with the elders, so that’s Runt and Geharadeen.”

  She smiled at Dan’s reaction to the name.

  “Is that Geraldine’s real name?”

  “Yes. A lot of times we still call her that. She’s the matriarch, so she gets special treatment.” Dan nodded.

  “Anything else?” He asked.

  “Nothing I can tell you before hand. Promises, really though. You’ll have a chance to turn it down, but I don’t know how that would go over.”

  “I won’t.” He said.

  “You sure about that? Joining up with a bunch of goblins? We’ve caused you a lot of trouble already.”

  “Mitzi, I like you guys. The first time I walked in the restaurant I thought you guys were fun. Everything I’ve learned about you all has shown me you are a kind and loving bunch. More than my own family was.

  Mitzi hated hearing that every time it came up. She hugged him.

  “That isn’t right.” She said.

  “Nope. But I can choose my family now. And I choose this.”

  Mitzi laid back against Dan and listened to the sounds of a southern night, waiting for her family to get tired of the new TV.