While they were waiting, the trio gently prodded Miranda for details. They knew almost nothing except the tale of Mimi's extraordinary action. Even though she was unusually, oh, "approachable" was a good word, Miranda had little to say as she herself didn't know much yet.

Finally they all realized that the only way to get the answers they craved was to get Mimi functional again so she could tell them what had happened.

(They were wrong of course. Stavros and Consuela knew almost everything that Mimi knew, and some things she didn't, as they were the ones who had talked to the children while they were bathing. That error would be painfully corrected in the next two days as the others realized how stupid they'd been to discount the children as a source of information, especially Miranda, as she regularly collected intelligence from children in The City.)

When it was time, they trooped to the door of the bathing room. Yoko knocked, "It's Yoko and Kaho. May we come in please?"

'Suela looked at Heidi who, thankfully, was much more relaxed. She nodded, and 'Suela answered, "Come on in."

Yoko was first in. Heidi saw a somewhat oddly featured but still attractive young woman, who was probably in her teens, though she was rather small. She was followed by a woman who surely had a tree somewhere in her ancestry. Heidi had never even heard of someone so tall.

Fortunately the tall one had a truly friendly smile on her face and Heidi couldn't help but respond in kind. The small one, Yoko, was also smiling. "It's time to get you out of there and get that nasty illness taken care of. Are you ready?"

Heidi was long past ready to not feel so bad, and she nodded several times.

Yoko and 'Suela got her up, dried off, and wrapped in a robe, after which Yoko made introductions.

"I'm Yoko Fukui and this giantess here is my sister-in-law, Dr. Kaho Fukui. We're going to fix you up, so if you'll just sit on this stool here..."

Yoko led her to the side of the room and had Heidi sit with her back to the door so she wouldn't see Biki and Jason when they entered.

"We're going to need your shoulders bare, so just slip the robe down a bit. Yes...that's fine. Now Dr. Fukui will put her hands on your shoulders from the front and I'll put my hands on hers from the back. All you need to do is close your eyes and relax, OK?"

Having never met a doctor, nor even seen one from a distance, Heidi presumed that this was normal, so she complied without questioning the proceedings.

Once Kaho and Yoko had begun, Biki entered. She, 'Suela, and Sara got Mimi up and into a robe. Next, as per the plan, they laid her down on the floor. Jason entered, then he and Biki set up. From that point on, there was silence in the room except for the faint sound of breathing.

Sara, who had never seen a healing session before, stood in a corner with her eyes darting back and forth from one trio to the other. How exciting! It was unfortunate that she couldn't publish any of this, but knowing that she was one of the few people in the world who had ever seen such a thing was intensely satisfying.

Both groups finished at the same time. Kaho looked at Yoko and nodded. Complete eradication of the invaders accomplished. She looked over to Jason who raised his right hand and rocked it in a "so-so" motion. Kaho nodded. That was better than she'd hoped for given how badly Mimi had abused her mind and body. Even so she couldn't fault her actions. A life was saved. Being worn out for a week or so was a small price to pay.

After that, Miranda, who'd snuck into the room, backed out and ran into Sven who was behind her. She snorted. He was just as curious about things as she was. Were he not so busy managing the family's affairs, she'd have recruited him in an instant.

As it was, "Sven, I think a light meal is in order, for six..."

'Suela raised her hand and Miranda amended it to, "Make that for seven. In the kitchen I think. The dining room might overwhelm our guest."

'Suela smiled her thanks and walked to Heidi to help her to her feet.

"We're all tired, but before we go to bed, we should probably get something to eat, don't you think?"

Heidi surprised herself by nodding. For the first time in several days she was hungry. She'd only pretended to eat when they were at the Peddlar.

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"Heidi, while Yoko and Kaho were helping you, Yoko's sister Hibiki and their husband Jason were helping Mimi. They're behind you and would like to say hello, if that's OK?"

(Once the trio had been married for a year, it was felt to be safe for Consuela and Stavros to know about it. They'd, publicly at least, accepted the reasoning behind their not being told at the time of the wedding. Since then, they'd taken extra special care not to talk about it, except when they were alone, and even then only in twin. They reasoned that if they worked hard enough at behaving in a mature manner, they might hear all sorts of interesting things from the older family members in the future.)

Heidi nodded and slowly turned around. She saw a girl who looked remarkably like Yoko, obviously her twin. The young man/boy was smiling in a friendly manner as he held Hibiki's hand. Then it struck her. "Their husband?" Was he married to both of them? How odd, but also how interesting. Once she got settled in, there was going to be so much to learn!

Her musings were interrupted by her stomach rumbling. Yoko took her hand and pulled gently. "I'm hungry and I 'spect that you are too. Let's go find somethin' ta eat."

So saying she gently pulled Heidi down the hall and into the kitchen, where they watched Cook moving rapidly about. While they waited, Sara came in and sat next to Heidi. To her surprise, Heidi found herself leaning against Sara, closing her eyes, and enjoying the sensation of being cuddled up to someone who cared about her. How she knew that, she couldn't say, but she knew it was true. Finally, even though everything was strange and new, she felt at home for the first time in nearly three years.

The sounds of the cook bustling around the kitchen somehow sounded familiar. So familar that she found herself nearly asleep and starting to dream of her childhood. Soon she was asleep in truth and began to slip backwards off the bench. Fortunately Sara managed to throw her left around Heidi's shoulders so as to keep her upright, which woke Heidi partially.

Heidi still had her eyes closed, but she wrapped her arms around Sara and whispered, "I'm sorry Mama. I know I shouldn't cry, but I've missed you so much!"

Sara responded, "I'm sorry too little one. I'm not your mother, but I'd be more than happy to be your big sister.if you'll have me."

Heidi's eyes sprang open. She looked up and saw Sara's compassionate smile only a few centimeters from her, whereupon she threw her arms around Sara. Feeling Sara's loving embrace, she finally let go and cried all the lonely tears she'd been holding in the past three years.

Cook mumbled, "I forgot something outside," and hurried through the door but not before everyone saw the tears on his cheeks. After that there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even Kaho, who had just entered after making sure that Mimi was properly tucked into her bed, was seen to be dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief.

After a time, once everyone was more or less calm, Cook reappeared and presented a cold meal, there not having been time to cook anything. As there was some fragrant hot tea to accompany it, nobody objected. Not that they would have anyway, as one needs an empty mouth to be able to speak intelligibly.

Heidi was clearly much less tense than when she'd arrived, though, even while eating, she continued to lean against Sara.

After they'd finished, Sara patted Heidi on the shoulder, "Wait here a bit, will you?"

Heidi nodded, turned to 'Suela, and began to ask questions about The City.

Sara looked at Miranda and gestured with her head toward the door. They meandered out and went to the family parlor.

Sara waited to speak, but Miranda made a "go ahead" gesture and said, "You first. You're the one she was glued to."

Smiling her thanks, Sara said, "She's resilient, smart, curious, has a loving heart, and there's something generally appealing about her -- even if you don't include the fact that she wants to be a teacher."

Miranda drawled, "Which, of course, has nothing at all to do with your assessment."

They grinned at each other after which Sara offered, "Your turn Mother."

"Indeed. I tend not to believe in coincidences, especially in this city and considering our, let's call her our 'protector' for the nonce. Even so, I find it an interesting 'coincidence' that 'Suela is the one who stayed in their bedroom and it was Stavros who moved into Genie's old one after she and Mario married. And what a 'coincidence' that there's still a second bed in the room that we'd been keeping there for no particular reason when normally it would have been moved into storage."

She steepled her fingers. "Just for once, and only this one time mind you, I think I shall not object to Blue's machinations. It's a bit early to tell for sure, but my gut says that we've just figured out where one of those 14 children Mimi saved will find a permanent home."

Sara smiled happily. "I concur. And while we're talking about things that are premature, I expect that in six years, when she's 18 and finishes her secondary education, she may have more choices than she might expect. She could train as a primary school teacher, as she plans, but there just might be a place for a, oh, let's call it a 'children's librarian' at the cathedral's new library about then."

Miranda answered, "Interesting. And when did the idea of creating such a position hit you?"

"Oddly enough, about three weeks ago. What with the funds and plans for the new building to merge the libraries having been approved, we're now ready to start construction. Archbishop Comfort and I figured that the construction, plus the moving and merging of the materials stored at each of the current libraries will take about five and a half years. At that time, we'll be ready to create the children's position."

"Sara, we know that she's not had any schooling for at least two years, possibly longer. Do you think she'll be able to get caught up?"

"With her living here, and with me tutoring her in her weak areas, and if she truly wants it enough to work for it, then the answer is 'yes'. It is most definitely possible."

Manda raised her head toward the ceiling. "I guess you deserve a hug, but let's not do it right now. I don't want Heidi to see you by accident and run out into the street screaming."

"Spoilsport!"

For once even Miranda had to clap her hands over her mouth to keep from laughing.