Pair bonds and how they grow.

  The primary growth of bonds happens through proximity and time. Some think this obvious but bonds can both occur and continue to grow between individuals who are in contact with one another but never in the same place. It is rare, it is slower, but proximity is only one factor.

  Another is connection. That feeling of importance someone has to you? The way you get along better with one friend than another? That is connection. The stronger the connection, the quicker the bond grows.

  The final major contributor is reliance on the bond. The bond serves many purposes, provides many effects. Drawing on the bond, leveraging those benefits, turning to it for support. Every time one of the pair does so, or better yet both at the same time, the bond deepens.

  ~ * ~

  Hard to believe that only a few months ago this was a completely empty lot, Seb sent as he took in the new cafe.

  It looks great, Anya answered.

  Seb nodded in agreement. The cafe was the first of many buildings Fay had planned. Apartments, more stores, office space, and buildings with no specific purpose were all going to be built and stabilized by Engineers over the next months and possibly years.

  Nearly a quarter of the lot was reserved for future expansions to the Holding, they didn't foresee any near-term need for drastic growth and they could always delay until their Seed was ready for another branch if need be. That left plenty of space for, as Fay, Alex, and Yshe had all phrased it, Affiliated industry.

  "Everyone," Briana called out from the door to the cafe.

  It took a moment for the small crowd to fall silent. Sovereign Lys and her Seneschal had come, along with all the Engineers who had helped out with the construction efforts. Several of them had also brought along friends and family. Many of Briana's regular patrons had arrived for the opening as well, they seemed the most anxious for the ceremony to conclude, other than Fay that was.

  Fay stood halfway between the crowd and her girlfriend. She kept twitching her head one way then the other, clearly wanting Briana to have her moment but also wanting to be there for it. He could feel Anya resisting the urge to tease her, to call out and bring attention to her anxiety.

  "Thank you all for coming," Briana continued. "I'm not going to make a long speech, I know all of you are here for coffee and food. For my regulars, menu and prices are the same for the time being, we aren't adding anything new until we get used to the new place. For those who did all the work making this a reality, thank you."

  She paused, turning towards Fay and holding out a hand.

  "Fay! She's asking you to join her," Anya finally pretended to whisper after the moment drew out.

  Be nice, Seb sent.

  She wasn't moving.

  Fay shook herself slightly then crossed the space in a few steps and took Briana's hand.

  "Finally thank you ever so much to Holding Syl for making this possible. I present to you all 'Kaf-Fay'."

  Briana turned, gesturing to the now revealed sign above the door. Seb blinked as he read the words. He felt Anya's surprise as well.

  "Bri!" Fay all but screamed a moment later, apparently equally unaware of the new name.

  That's- Anya began. She-

  Seb slipped his arm around her, pulling her to his side and holding her as they stepped up behind the pair, giving them their moment as the crowd filtered into the shop. They were close enough to nearly intrude, more than close enough to hear anything said aloud, yet all he could hear was the slightest of hitches in their breath.

  Fay was crying, no, they both were. Their body language made it clear they were happy, the slightest of movements making it clear much was being said in the moment.

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  Do you think that's how we seemed? he asked.

  What do you mean?

  Every time someone made a comment about our speaking over band.

  Oh, maybe?

  Finally Fay turned to look at the two of them, Seb couldn't help but smile at how happy she looked.

  "Did you see the name?" she asked.

  "Yes," Anya said.

  "She named it after me. And she's going to try to find some actual kaf to sell, once I teach her how to brew it."

  "Teach me?" Briana chuckled. "You mean after you burn the water and complain it doesn't taste right over and over?"

  "Kaf isn't the same, you have to-"

  "Fay, she's teasing you," Seb said.

  "-be very careful with how you handle the beans or else it won't come out right," Fay continued after the slightest pause, clearly ignoring him.

  "Shall we head inside? I'm sure your regulars want to order," he said with a glance at Briana.

  "Oh! Yes," she said as she ushered them in.

  ~ * ~

  Fay glanced around the shop as the door shut behind them. She'd seen the original plans Yshe had provided but Briana had refused to let her see any of the changes that she'd made once she found out.

  The overall layout matched what she remembered, and expected. Easily double the seating of the previous cafe with significantly more space to display pastries and other food while also ensuring customers would no longer be crowded against one another when waiting to order.

  She could see Seb and Anya looking around as well, hovering a couple steps away rather than joining the line. Briana leaned in to kiss her cheek before rushing away, waving her hand towards a booth at the end of the counter.

  "Your coffees will be at your table as soon as I pour them."

  Yours, she sent for emphasis without turning back to look at them.

  Fay blinked back further tears at the message. They'd only just started using the band to communicate. It felt strange, it wasn't something she'd ever really had reason to do beyond brief moments, but never as a consistent connection. As far as she was aware few people used it as their primary means of communication, They might use it for private asides, or when situations needed silence, but for emphasis, not for constant contact.

  That might be why their bond was growing so fa- No. She was not digging into that research path, she could look into it later. Today was coffee shop day, Kaf-Fay day.

  She led Seb and Anya to the table, her table. Set against the wall as a booth it continued past the counter, the third side of the bench on the employee side. Briana would be able to join her without having to make her way back and forth when another customer came in, they'd be able to eat and drink together with ease.

  "Surprise!" Sandra said right as they sat down.

  "Sandra?" Anya said. "I didn't realize you-"

  "Yshe had me sweep the floor one last time. She said that it wouldn't do for the first customer to see anything but a spotless store."

  "Sweep.. the floor?" Anya asked.

  "You know, clean up? That thing you never used to do unless Mother was on her way?"

  Fay saw Seb carefully look away from the pair and followed his lead by sliding all the way along the bench to be able to watch Briana work. She supposed she was technically behind the counter herself at this point, but she'd been told it was her table, she'd sit where she wanted. Besides, who was going to complain?

  "Stay on your side, you," Briana said with a smile as she deposited the coffees. "The only customer allowed behind the counter is my girlfriend."

  Fay opened her mouth to answer, hesitated, then found herself closing it on a pastry that Briana had managed to grab in the moment it took her to think of something to say.

  "And you," Briana said looking at Sandra. "Yshe told me to tell you that you're allowed to spend time with your family, but only until the rush calms down."

  "Yes ma'am," Sandra said before seeing there was no coffee at the table for her. "Could I have a coffee?"

  "What do you think?" Briana asked.

  Fay swallowed her bite of pastry as she nodded. "She's family and she's at my table. She can have a coffee."

  "Thank you Fay," Sandra said.

  A moment later another coffee was on the table and Briana was back at the counter. The line slowed as it thinned, regulars making way to the other guests who weren't already familiar with the choices. Fay sipped her coffee while Sandra went on about how much she was learning from Yshe and how much effort she was expected to put in.

  "There's a reason for all the effort. Advancement takes work," Fay said.

  "I know, it's just…" Sandra trailed off as Lys walked over.

  "Daughters, Lord Seb, Seer Phelann."

  "Mother," Anya and Sandra said in near harmony.

  "Sovereign," Seb and Fay echoed a moment later.

  "This is a lovely place. A good use of the space, especially if there is already a clientele," Tomas said from where he stood behind his Sovereign.

  "Thank you, I'll make sure to let Briana know you like it," Fay said.

  "We appreciate that," Lys said before turning to her daughters. "Anya, I need to think about what you said last time. You weren't the first to tell me that."

  "I wasn't? But no one associated with Lys has been past the wall since before you were born."

  "I'll explain another time. Privately."

  "Of course mother. We can arrange something."

  "Thank you," Lys said before giving the slightest of nods and turning to leave.

  Fay glanced at Anya and sure enough she was deep in conversation with Seb despite their best attempts to hide the fact. They were both slightly too still, slightly less focused than when they were actively paying attention. At least they weren't actively reacting to one another's words, not the way they did when she first met them.

  "Thank you all for being here," she said. "For being part of this."

  "You're welcome," Sandra said. "Do you think I could get a pastry?"

  "Sandra!" Anya said before giggling.

  Soon enough they were all laughing loudly enough that Briana came to check on them. Fay tried to explain but she wasn't exactly sure what she was explaining. She was happy, she was at her table, with her family, why shouldn't she be laughing.

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