“Just on time.” Everything about Gabriel’s returns brought out the very best smiles on his family’s faces. Jack was always in smiles, Ginny was a little more serious at times, but the moment Gabriel came into view, or better still, pressed in closely, it was as if all of the holidays had come at once. Jack took in a deep breath, as he was always wont to do, and placed a hand at the small of his bondmate’s back. Jim sniffed the air as well and Jack took a moment to point back towards the lab. “Sentient toast,” was all he said, and though Jack didn’t think Ginny knew what ‘sentient’ meant since she was only just started on solid foods, she giggled all the same.

Jack transferred the girl to her mother as Jim wandered off, not even asking questions. It was so much better not to, he’d found. It would only hurt his head more than it shoulder.

Jack lightly nipped and then licked at Gabriel’s ear, a hello and a happy to see you all at one time, before he turned back to the artifact and lightly picked it up. “Come with me to the Archives? I need to check on that cursed toaster Mitchell and Henry brought back last week.