"So mom, dad. I have a bit of an announcement." Lia paused and looked around the full dinner table (they would need a new one soon this one would be too small soon), taking note of the mischievous twinkle in her brother's eyes. "Mace and I are going to have a baby." She took a deep breath as if fearing an outburst. She should have known better. Nikki gave her daughter her most devious smile.

"Looks like having that one apartment paid off in more ways than one."

"Mom!" Lia cried, Mason blushed furiously and ducked his head, Leo titled his head back and let out a bark of laughter and Tali brought a hand up to cover her smile.

"Would you rather me judge you for having premarital sex? Your father and I were lucky you came along a believable time after our marriage otherwise my parents might have disowned me." Leo put his head on the table, laughing too hard to sit up straight anymore, his laughter echoing off the gold dragon wallpaper. "Don't think you're off the hook young man, you dropped your receipt last weekend, the big box eh?" it was Leo and Tali's turn to go bright red and for Mason and Lia to laugh.

The door bell sounded shattering the laughter like a rock through a window. Jude turned blue eyes to his children.

"Don't look at me dad, my friends are out of town. Concert remember?" Leo muttered, remembering with bitterness the concert he couldn't attend, damn finals.

"I don't have friends in town." Lia reminded her father, he gave her a sad look (she had moved to Chicago a year ago when Mason got a job in the city).

"I'll get it," Nikki said, patting her bright red lips with a napkin and tucking one bright purple strand of hair behind her ear.

"Can I help you?" there was an officer at the door. His uniform looked odd and formal against the riot and flowers that surrounded her bright red door (the one with the golden knockers).

"Hello ma'am I've been told that this is the residence of one Leo Regulus Garcia." Even the officer's speech was too formal.

"Lizowski." She corrected absentmindedly

"I'm sorry ma'am? What?"

"Lizowski, his last name is Lizowski not Garcia, might I ask why you are looking for my son?" she quirked one eyebrow.

"I'd like to inquire about his knowledge in the death of Caitlyn Garcia nee Cooke." Nikki took a step back, the weight of his words hitting her like a physical slap. He noticed the shock on her face (this had been a family friend then) and softened his expression, "we know he wasn't involved, we were wondering if he could give us insight into the relationship between her and her ex-husband."

"Come on in officer, the family just sat down to dinner." Nikki swept her hand into the house, "don't worry about taking off your shoes."

When the officer entered the dining room all conversation ceased, Lia's grip on Mason's hand tightened, Tali placed frightened hands in her lap, Leo covered them with a steady one of his own.

"Which one of you boys is Leo?" the officer asked.

"I am sir, what can I help you with." Leo asked pushing his hair back only to have the multitude of green and blue braids fall straight back into his face. The officer was struck by his striking blue eyes (his mother's eyes, or his fathers if the officer thought about it looking at the blond at the head of the table).

"Is there someplace we can talk that's more private ma'am?"

"Of course follow me." Nikki said gesturing to the sitting room (covered in her son's paintings and articles about her daughter's research successes, the floors covered in the mish mash of Asian inspired rugs and carpets that Jude loved so much).

The family continued dinner, Lia sending pleading looks to her mother only to have Nikki shake her head in response. Thalia pushed the food (her favorites, Nikki always made her favorites, and strawberry pie for dessert) around her plate. Jude placed one gentle hand on Nikki's thigh. They could all hear when Leo started to cry. Thalia looked physically pained, her lovely brown eyes flicked constantly to the closed family room door.

"Go on Tali, he needs you right now." Jude almost-whispered.

Lia couldn't remember a more silent dinner her father's last statement rang in her ears still.

"he's going to need a cigarette and drink after this isn't he."