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L eska finished her last day at work before maternity leave. The holidays were also upon them, and Z-Corp was breaking into different department parties.

An in-house courier brought her a huge basket with a smile. I guess someone missed the baby shower.

I suppose. Vinul is going to have to carry this for me. She laughed and looked for the card.

She found the card and blinked. Wishing you the best, them the best, and her the best. Happy holidays.

Leska stared. The card was written in Uraddan with a little dragon drawn in one corner.

She looked at the courier, who was just leaving the office. Do you know who put that in there?

No. I can check the surveillance if you want.

Please. I need to know who sent this.

There was a nod, and the courier called it in to security.

Leska slowly opened the wrap around the basket, and the scent of chocolate and honey came out, but there was a stack of baby quilts, larger toddler quilts, onesies of varying sizes, and dozens of tiny socks.

All of it was super soft and wonderful to touch.

There wasn t one rough edge in the whole pile, and it was all in gorgeous gem tones.

Leska sniffled and wiped her cheeks as she took in the handmade grouping.

At the bottom of the basket was the item that made her sit down. It was a tiny t-shirt that was printed on both sides. Gorgeous like my mom was on one side, and Brilliant like my auntie was on the other.

She made a call and looked at Tirra. Did you send me a bundle of baby stuff?

No. I gave my present at the shower. Why?

Does that the seer friend of yours still see you having two sisters?

Tirra nodded in excitement. Why?

Because she just sent me interoffice mail. She s here.

Tirra blinked. Who is she?

Leska rubbed her agitated belly. Security is trying to find out who put the present on the cart.

So, when will we know?

Oh. They are calling now. Gimmee a sec.

She paused the call and answered her office line. They had no clue. The package just appeared mid-route in the cart. No one was ever seen putting it there.

She thanked them and got back to Tirra.

No trace. Security can t find them.

Huh. That s weird. Can I look into it?

Yup. I am going to take my loot home as soon as my escort arrives.

Tirra blinked rapidly. She s here. Somewhere. We just have to find her. At least we know she works at Z-Corp. Between me and Arcady, we should be able to narrow it down.

Right, and she drew a dragon on the card, and I don t know if that is for me or for her.

Tirra grinned. We will be able to narrow it down and do interviews after the holidays.

Leska slumped. Oh.

Tirra laughed. We will try to get what information we can before then. Consider it a bonus present if I can pull this off. Do you know why she would hide?

She might not be working legally? She might have been used as a weapon. If she were lab-grown, she never had a family. If she was adopted, she might not want to upset them by seeking out more family.

Whatever her motivations, she s opened the door and let us know she s behind it. Now we get to find her.

Leska sniffled and said, I just wonder how she knew who I was?

Tirra blinked. She has access to testing. That is a fairly narrow margin. Oh, Gorith is going to have to get his own dinner tonight. I haven t gotten to have this much excitement in months.

Leska smiled as Vinul arrived to take her home. Okay, my ride s here. Let me know if you find anything.

I will. Get some rest .

Leska nodded and ended the call. She gestured to the present. Can you carry that as well, Vinul?

He grinned, his stripes looking extra dashing. I can. What is it?

A present. From my sister. Not Tirra.

He started scenting the air. Was she here?

No. She had it delivered. But she s nearby.

Vinul grinned. You want to find her.

I do. Right fucking now, but I will wait. In the meantime, she gave me some nice stuff. She smiled. Soft stuff. Omega stuff. All beautiful.

Vinul touched her cheek. Are you ready to go home?

Yes. Is Sarel here?

Of course. I can t guard both of you at once if I am not with you. He s talking with Heraina. Aluhara wants us all at the Stronghold for at least one day during the holidays.

Is she planning on inviting all her children again?

Yes.

That was a helluva first meeting.

Vinul sighed. We know, but you have so many nieces now it isn t even funny.

True, which added to my shopping list, just in case they and their children show up. She grinned. Right. Let s go find our omega and be on our way.

Nelith called. She wants us to make our way to Xeva s island.

I thought that island belonged to Revakka.

Well, you know that it was Xeva s the moment she was brought there. Ysma is coming as well.

And as we are another island, we may as well join in.

She got up and looked down at her stomach. One month to go, and I feel like a fucking island.

He put the basket down, moved behind her, and carefully lifted the weight of her belly. She groaned gratefully and rubbed her palms over his arms. Thanks, that does wonders for my back.

I know. We can t carry it for you, but I am glad we can at least occasionally take the weight.

She sighed, he purred, and that is how Sarel found them when he came in to see what the holdup was. Vinul had nearly purred her into a nap and was holding her belly and rocking her from side to side.

Sarel said softly, Come on, precious. He can do that at home. Is that your present?

It is. She muttered, From my sister. She was in the next cell, but I thought they killed her after they cut off her wings. She always smelled like chocolate and honey.

You remember her?

Leska nodded. We were very small, but she would rock me to keep me from crying so they wouldn t get angry. They took her away when I started to walk.

Sarel asked softly, You said they cut her wings off.

They did. They brought them back in, and they flapped like they were still on her. They never stopped. She frowned as she was rocked from side to side.

Why can you remember now?

Feel good, relaxed, can smell her. Her skin was black, and it shone with rainbows. She was beautiful. She could feel her voice getting dreamy as she was slowly rocked.

Does she have a name?

No. We didn t have names. She smiled slightly. I gave myself a name based on my lab-handing designation. Less care is to be taken with this subject. Leska. I thought it was clever.

Sarel caressed her cheek. That makes me sad, but let s get you home, and we will shower you with all the care you can stand.

Sounds good. Bring the presents.

He chuckled and carried the present; Vinul walked her out with her abdomen supported.

The staff wished her well, and when they headed into the elevator, she caught chocolate and honey. It was strong.

Vinul said, Yes, we can smell it. She was here.

Leska smiled, and happy tears trickled down her cheeks. She s here. She made it out.

Sarel wiped her cheeks, and they did their slow march to many grinning gazes until they were out of the building. She waved like a parade float, and Vinul let her walk out under her own steam, if supported.

On the walk outside, Sarel wrapped his free arm around her, and they went home.

* * * *

H ever paid off the security guard with a wink. Thanks. Secret presents are so freaking hard around here.

He laughed and took the hot packs that would keep him warm on his ski holiday. Is this tech cleared to leave the building?

Private stash, so yes, it is. They are all registered under my exit code.

She left the security office and walked back to Research and Development.

Hever was smiling as she entered her department and attached her null cuffs. The space was organized clutter and a lovely collection of body suits and armoured panels. She talked to the feet sticking out under a rover that had broken an axel. Desmond, did they get back to us about our party?

Nope. I think they missed us in the budgeting. Everybody else went to Klauz s.

Hever sniggered. Figures. We do all the practical work, and they get the party.

We can figure out something. A nice dinner out? I tried to make reservations at Klauz s, but they are fully booked until next summer. Sorry, I don t have the pull.

No problem. I am more of a burger-and-shake kind of girl anyway. She chuckled. How about we just go to one of the live ranges and make an attempt to kill each other. Then we can go for hot wings or something. She grinned. Or I can cook, and you can have your family over.

I think that would be nice. Very lowkey.

Full holiday meal? Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables, fresh bread, and dessert?

That is a lot of work.

You know I like to keep busy. I already have the groceries in my cart. One push and we can be feasting on Saturday.

He grinned. Are you sure you want us all there?

Yup. All six of you and the portable one.

He laughed. Right.

Hever smiled at the fellow Uraddan. The actives had been seeping out of the country for years before the fall or the Whore War.

Now, any Uraddan who had managed to get citizenship had done it the long way round. They were parents, scientists, and defenders. Technically, there was no way for them to gain citizenship, and yet, here she was. Mind you, she had cheated. Her adoptive mother had done all the hard work.

Being forgotten was her primary skill. It had come in handy after her escape and until she was able to make herself more socially acceptable.

She was sad that Desmond was caught in the wake of forgetfulness, but she always made sure that his payroll was correct and his amazing contributions to the company were acknowledged.

She had a niece on the way, and her spare time was occupied with creating toys and little armoured suits so the child wouldn t be injured when she fell. Falling hurt. Hever had done a lot of it.