Maxine was smiling a few moments ago while walking to her house, but she saw a crowd of reporters staking outside of it. What the actual fuck are those guys doing here? I don't recall anyone saying that I was leaving the hospital at all. Unless somoene leaked it. Fuck! That's probably the case. At least I got all of my shopping done without being harrassed.
She doubted she could enter her old home through the front door or even approach it under these circumstances without being swarmed by the reporters. Her only choice was to enter her old home in stealth and hoped no one noticed the doors opening and closing by themselves.
With a thought, she bent the light around herself to fade out of sight and carefully approached her old home. God, I'm happy I thought to ask Neesa to teach me how to do this. Although, I have a feeling she left a few things out just in case she needs to keep track of me. She avoided the front door and walked around to the back door. The fence wasn't an obstacle as she leapt over it, but she found another half a dozen reporters peering over the fence with their cameras. Don't these guys have something better to do? Wait, a reporter from a newspaper or TV network would try to catch me or anyone else at the front door. These assholes are paparrazi. Now I won't feel so bad about what I'm going to do next.
With a small motion of her essence, she destroyed all of the cameras aimed at the back of the house and went inside while they were still stunned at what had just happened. She immediately drew all of the curtains closed as soon as she reached them. Although she would prefer natural light to illuminate the kitchen, she prefered not to have her picture taken while she is cooking.
Once that was done, she headed to the kitchen. She made sure all of the knives were sharp and the pans that she needed were clean. Alright, time to cook one of Silky's favorite meals: Cheeze-it fried chicken with mash potatoes and gravy.
She had just begun the process of preparing the breading when Silky arrived home from school. Thankfully, she was in her humaniod form. As she recalled, her teachers had insisted that she remain in human form while at school. It had something to do with her being a distraction in her arachne form.
True to form as soon as Silky saw Maxine, she hug tackled her from behind. "Mama! You're home!" Silky shouted joyfully as she snuggled her face into Maxine's back.
"Yes, I'm home and I'm making one of your favorite meals," Maxine said happily, "Do you want to help?"
"Yes! I'll be right back, mama," Silky said as she ran to the bathroom to wash her hands.
Maxine smiled and went back to work. Thankfully, she had just finished preparing the breading when Silky got back. "Do you remember what you need to do?" Maxine asked.
"Yep," Silky said happily.
"Good," Maxine said and cranked up the heat in a large skillet while pouring in a lot of oil, "Start breading the chicken then." She had already peeled the potatoes and put them on to boil. They should be ready to mash as soon as she was done with the fried chicken.
"'Kay," Silky said as she did as she was asked. Maxine looked at the blissful look on Silky's face as she helped Maxine cook. It was a look that she had missed.
Once they were nearly done cooking the cheeze-it fried chicken, Silky got a confused look on her face and asked, "Mama, this is a lot more than you usually make. Is Emily coming to eat with us?"
"I invited her, but she may not be able to come. She has a lot of work to do at the hospital, but someone else is definitely coming to eat dinner with us as well. Want to guess who?" Maxine asked in return.
"Hmm," Silky said before going into deep thought and answered after thinking for nearly a minute, "Is great grandma coming?"
"No, but close. Grandma Hellen is coming for dinner," Maxine told Silky.
"Really? But how? She doesn't have a body," Silky reasoned.
"Grandpa Guan made it so she has one now," Maxine answered, "He had to work really hard to revive her."
Silky's eyes widened in surprise as she asked, "Is he Jesus?"
"What?!" Maxine asked in confusion. She hadn't expected that Silky had already been exposed to religion.
"Well, I went to church and learned about Jesus. He was able to bring someone back to life," Silky said innocently, "All he had to do was yell at him to wake up and he came back to life. I think the man's name was Lazarus."
"Well, your grandpa isn't Jesus," Maxine explained the best she could, "Jesus is way better. He beat grandpa's rez time by almost a full month and he didn't have to use a bunch of super rare items to do it."
Silky became silent as if deep in thought for a few seconds before before she said, "So Jesus is better at it?"
"Well, of course he would be better. He is the son of god," Maxine agreed, "Even cultivators are nothing before the maker of all things. Afterall, even if grandpa wanted to, he can't make something out of nothing. Creation is solely in the realm of God's hands. No matter what anyone says, cultivators and scientists can only manipulate what is already there."
"A truer statement could not have been spoken," Hellen said as she appeared out of Maxine's shadow, "The descent of god's child is a common theme amongst most cultures spread throughout the galaxy."
"That's an interesting tidbit of knowledge, mom," Maxine said and Silky leapt at Hellen shouting happily, "GRANDMA!" Hellen caught Silky and hugged her tight. Silky's hands left a trail of Cheeze-It crumbs, egg and flour dust all over the back of Hellen's blue dress, but it didn't look like she minded it much.
"I'm happy to see you too, Silky," Hellen said happily and looked at Maxine questioningly, "Am I too early?" All of the mess on her dress and Silky's hands simply vanished. Huh? There isn't even a residue. Hellen's got to teach me that trick.
"Not at all," Maxine said, "Claudia won't be home for another fifteen minutes though. So take a seat while I finish up with dinner." As Hellen took a seat, Maxine checked on the fried chicken and it was nearly done. All that was left was to drain the excess oil and start mashing the potatoes.
While she waited for the oil to drain off of the Cheeze-it Fried chicken, she mashed the potatoes and made some white gravy using the left over grease. It wasn't that hard just a little time consuming. She had timed it so that Claudia should be arriving home just as she finished setting the table.
Claudia got home while exclaiming, "Ugh, can't those reporters ever take a break! Huh? What smells so good?" The next moment, Claudia walked into the kitchen and froze. Huh? What's this about? I told mom I was going to come and cook her a meal today. Maxine finally noticed that Claudia wasn't staring at her, but at Hellen. Ahh, now I remember. I forgot to mention that Hellen would be coming.
"Are you ... Maxine's real mother?" Claudia asked very carefuly.
"Yes, I am and I'm very grateful to you for raising my daughter. Rather, our daughter. You are the one that birthed and nurtured her. I'm simply the one that gave her life," Hellen said calmly, "Now, please, sit down and eat dinner with us. I've been looking forward to eating the meal our daughter has made for us."
"Y.. yes," Claudia said nervously as she sat down carefully at the table. She looked to be inbetween four and five months into her pregnancy if Maxine's eyes weren't wrong.
Maxine sat down beside her and began eating. Silky as usual was making sounds of delight as she devoured her pile of Cheeze-It Fried Chicken. Hellen on the other hand was taking her time and savoring every single morsel of food.
It was a pleasant experience, but it only lasted as long as the food did. Hellen was the first to speak, "Thank you for the delicious meal, Maxine. Although I think you may need to watch Silky's portions. It can't be good for her to eat so much."
"I know, but this is a rare occasion. It's not every day that she gets to welcome me home and have both of her grandma's to enjoy dinner with," Maxine said happily.
"I see your point," Hellen said understandingly.
"I need to ask. How is it that you look so ... young?" Claudia asked, "I only ask because you look like you are barely into your twenties."
"I'm a peak gold stage cultivator and I won't start showing any real signs of aging until I'm physically more than two hundred years old," Hellen explained.
"That's unfair. I thought it was just some kind of beauty cream," Claudia commented to herself, "I guess I'm out of luck to look that young again."
"Not entirely," Hellen said to Claudia, "There are some ointments that can make you appear younger. Although, I would have to ask Guan to make them."
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"That would be wonderful," Claudia said happily, "By the way, where is he? Shouldn't he be here too?"
"He's busy concocting a batch of potions," Hellen remarked, "For whom, I'm not sure."
"He sounds like a workaholic," Claudia commented.
"Not really, he hasn't made any potions for quite some time," Hellen said, "Although, I will admit he was never one to socialize much with anyone besides a few close friends. He doesn't trust others easily."
"Excuse me, but why doesn't he trust others easily?" Claudia asked.
"When he was Maxine's age, he watched as the man that raised him got butchered before his very eyes and before his adopted father's blood even dried on the ground, Guan was forced to craft potions for those murderers. All because he of their greed after he saved one of them with one of his potions," Hellen explained, "That was the first time he tasted betrayal nor was it the last. I don't know how many times he was betrayed in a similar fashion, but something inside of him broke because of it. It was only after I freed him from a specially made prison that he began to trust me. I didn't blame him for his distrust. If I was betrayed and hurt as many times as he has, I would be wary of trusting others as well. I think the only thing he is afraid of is to be hurt again."
Claudia had stayed silent throughout Hellen's speech, but it was Silky who spoke before anyone else, "Where's grandpa? Can you take me to him?"
"I can you to him if that's what you really want, Silky," Maxine said as she took Silky's hand, "I will leave you two to talk some more. We won't be too long"
"Go ahead. He needs a visit from you," Hellen said contently and Maxine opened up a portal to the cave in the shadow world.
As soon as they were inside of the cave, she turned to look at Guan, whom was seated in the deepest part of the cave. He was in a meditative pose and contrary to what Hellen said, he didn't appear to be doing anything. Silky moved towards him slowly.
"Grandpa," Silky said gently, "Can I have a hug?"
"Hmm?" Guan said as he opened his eyes and his gaze immediately zeroed in on Silky, "Yes, of course you can." He instantly shifted his wieght onto his knees as he opened his arms invitingly.
Silky ran up to him and surprisingly, gave him a gentle hug rather than one of her hug tackles. "I love you, grandpa," Silky said as she hugged him tightly and Maxine saw Guan's eyes widen in surprise, "So does mama, even if she doesn't say it."
"I know, Silky. I know," Guan said softly and he looked at Maxine over Silky's shoulder, "Thank you for bringing her here. I've always wanted to get a hug from my cute little grand daughter." Silky parted from the hug and showed a spectacular smile.
"Grandma said you have scales on your face. Can I see them?" Silky asked innocently.
"As you wish," Guan said as he removed the mask covering the lower half of his face. Huge serpentine scales declorated his jawline. However Silky unabashedly raised her hand up and ran her fingers along those scales. Guan looked uncomfortable, but he didn't recoil from her touch.
"So cool!" Silky exclaimed in excitement and Guan swiftly relaxed as a rare smile spread across Guan's lips. Maxine sat down on a rock and watched the two of them.
[Did you put Silky up to this?] Guan asked via spiritual sense as he attempted to play a word game with Silky.
[No, this is all her,] Maxine answered, [She wanted to see her grandpa. Ask mom if you want the details as to why.]
After a short pause, he replied, [I see. Silky only wanted to reassure me of our familial ties. Arachne have always been very family oriented, but that normally only applies to their female relatives, not their male relatives. Silky is definitely an odd one, but I'm grateful for it. Thank you again for bringing her here.]
[Don't mention it, daddy,] Maxine answered with a smile, [She was the one that wanted to come see you.]
Maxine began to pay more attention to what they were saying and got quite the surprise. "Grandpa, will you come to eat dinner with us next time?" Silky asked, "I will help make something extra yummy if you do." By this time, Guan looked completely content. Silky has a gift for making other people feel loved.
"We shall see," Guan answered non-commitedly.
"Please!" Silky begged using all four of her eyes to give Guan the pitiful puppy dog eyes. She's had to have practice at that.
"Fine, I will come eat a meal with everyone on the meal known as Thanksgiving, alright?" Guan acquiesced.
"Yay!" Silky shouted cheerfully and she gave Guan a quick peck on the cheek, "Thank you, grandpa." Maxine nearly laughed at the pure surprise written all over Guan's face. His expression turned to one of joy as he reached up and touched his recently kissed cheek.
"You're very welcome, Silky," Guan said.
[Maxine, I need to teach Silky how to use poison,] Guan announced randomly.
[What?! Why?] Maxine asked.
[She's an arachne that has naturally occuring venom and I was able to detect slight traces of her venom in her saliva when she kissed me on the cheek a moment ago. Neither of her two teachers have lethal venom like Silky does. Only another highly venomous arachne can teach properly her how to properly control it. Although I can teach her, it won't be as effective as another arachne,] Guan answered and continued to explain, [Regardless, she needs to be taught before she reaches adolescence. I don't want her to inadvertently poison Claudia or her future love. It would forever destroy this happy little girl before me.]
[Then you teach her what you can,] Maxine replied, [Just be patient with her, she is as you said still a child.]
[I will keep that in mind, Maxine,] Guan said.
[Thank you again, daddy,] Maxine said and she gave Guan a quick hug.
[You're very welcome, Maxine,] Guan answered.
"What are you and grandpa talking about?" Silky asked curiously, "I could tell you were doing that thing where you talk with your minds. Grandma Hellen told me how to tell when someone is doing it."
"About you," Maxine said, "Grandpa noticed that you have some poison in your spit and thought it was a good idea to teach you how to control it so it isn't there. At least until you can have a proper teacher here. He was just asking my persmission to see if he could."
"Okay," Silky said, "But teacher Mikari already said they were looking for someone to teach me to do that already. My new teacher should be here in one or two months."
"Oh? I didn't know that," Maxine commented, "Did Mikari say anything about this to grandma Claudia?"
"No, she said I shouldn't tell grandma Claudia, only you," Silky admitted, "I sort of forgot to say anything before now." Maxine felt angry at Silky, but she quickly pushed her anger away. She hadn't exactly been around enough for Silky to have told her in a speedy manner.
"It's alright," Maxine said as she hugged Silky, "Everyone forgets things, but next time when you should tell me something, tell me right away. Alright?"
"Alright, mama," Silky said.
"Well, on the bright side, at least you don't have to teach her," Maxine said to Guan.
"Indeed, I wasn't looking forward to explaining theoretical knowledge to a ten year old arachne," Guan replied.
[Sorry to bother you, but Emily is here. She wants to talk to you, Maxine,] Hellen said.
[Sure, we were almost done here anyways,] Maxine replied, [Did she say what about?]
[No, but judging from her stance, it's important,] Hellen said.
[Alright, be there in a few moments,] Maxine said before she turned to Guan, "Well, you heard mom. I have to head back. Say bye to grandpa, Silky."
"Bye bye, grandpa," Silky said as she hugged Guan, "Smile more, okay?"
"I'll try," Guan said with a tiny smile before he covered his face back up and Maxine widened the portal back to her house before jumping through.
Emily had already served herself up a plate of dinner and was eating it while listening to both Claudia and Hellen talk. Maxine sat beside Emily and Emily wasted no time telling Maxine what was on her mind, "Maxine, someone scanned me today with their spiritual sense."
"And?" Maxine asked wondering what Emily was getting at.
"It wasn't a scan to see if anyone was in the way while they ran full speed, but a thorough one. They paid particular attention to my uteris," Emily whispered extremely softly. What?! The Shadow Lords must have gotten word about Guan's potion and found out about my desire for children. It's not like he was keeping his gender inversion poition under wraps anyways.
"That must be the work of the Shadow Lords," Maxine said, "I guess they finally heard about daddy's gender inversion potion."
"Still, it was rude and uncalled for," Emily complained.
"Now you have an idea how I feel," Maxine countered, "Hell, if they thought I was their 'Shadow Queen,' they could very well kidnap you to get me to do what they want." Emily looked afraid as soon as Maxine stopped talking.
"What? They would do something so low?" Emily asked.
"Yes, if it meant they could get their deity-level ancestor into our plane," Maxine answered, "Even if I broke up with you right this moment, they would still do it. They know how much I care about you."
"Then what do we do?" Emily asked and finally their conversation got noticed by Hellen and Claudia.
"If Maxine is this 'Shadow Queen,' the both of you will flee to the farthest reaches of the galaxy with Silky," Hellen answered Emily.
"What?!" Claudia said in surprise.
"Calm down, Claudia. I said IF Maxine is this 'Shadow Queen.' Odds are that she isn't, but the possibility that one of her children will become one is much higher," Hellen reassured Claudia.
"That's not any better!" Claudia shouted angrily as she got to her feet.
"I don't like it any more than you do, but Maxine has both me and Guan to help her disappear," Claudia stated, "I wish it wasn't necessary, but even my husband can't annihilate an entire race of Lord-class cultivators. They literately have thousands of immortal stage cultivators."
"Should we really be talking about this here?" Maxine asked.
"It's fine. Guan has shielded this whole house with his spiritual sense just moments before I came here and has maintained it this whole time. Unless their spiritual sense is stronger than his, they wouldn't be able to listen in even if their lives depended on it," Hellen said calmly and continued to talk to Claudia, "And if it makes you feel any better, Maxine should remain hidden for no more than a decade until both Emily and herself are strong enough to defend themselves."
"A decade my not seem like much to you, but that's a large chunk of my life," Claudia countered.
"True, but you will get to see her again. That I promise you," Hellen said confidently.
"That's all fine and all, but what if they kidnap mom?" Maxine asked, "She's a normal human and can't really defend herself."
"That may be true, but the Shadow Lords wouldn't bother. Claudia hasn't exactly been a good mother to Maxine for a large chunk of Maxine's life. From their point of view, Maxine is just as likely to be pleased with her detainment than not," Hellen explained, "Emily's grandfather is safe due to his age and his family history of heart attacks."
"That's good to know," Emily said, "But still I don't want to leave Earth. It's my home."
"Neither of you may not have a choice," Hellen said, "But this is something that may or may not happen in the next couple years. There is no need to worry about it now."
"Mom's right," Maxine agreed, "Let's enjoy ourselves. Who's up for a movie?" Silky ran into the living room. "You guys better get in there fast. If I know Silky, she will put on Charlotte's Web without giving us a chance to look for something ourselves," Maxine advised, "I will make some popcorn and join you in a moment."
Everyone else walked into the living room while Maxine was left to make the popcorn. She was happy that she could still experience the simple pleasures of being at home. I just wish I could enjoy this life with all of my parents in this life and the previous one. Maybe I still can. Afterall, Orianna is definitely going to marry Maxwell in the future. I could just use the excuse that I'm off to see my future inlaws with a few gifts. That reminds me. I need to chat with Emily again about having a baby after the movie. I hope it goes well, but after that talk we just had with my moms, I don't think she will want one just yet. Not to mention she doesn't want to have a baby before either of us are eighteen. Still I can always be hopeful.