Potential

[vicioussweetie]

Selena was expected home any time now. Not that Ali has said a word on the subject. She hasn't had to. The fridge is full of Sel's favorite treats, and her room has been set to rights (fresh sheets, clean laundry, and a vase of flowers are waiting). A serviceable and inconspicuous, if aging, car sits in the garage, a potential gift. It is all

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[oh_what_a_story]

"Air and Gravity" would be a great name for a band, as Sel would readily point out if A: she were there and, B: Ali had said that bit out loud.

As it is, she'll have to settle for coming home, a return that is heralded first by the distant, tinny melody of "The Entertainers." Most know it better as the ice cream truck music, and with good reason: it's what she's driving. She parks a block down from Ali's home, pausing to sell a few frozen treats to people wandering up from the Common before locking up, gathering her bags, and carrying everything she's bringing with her on that last short leg of the voyage home.

"Ha-llo-oooooo~!" she sings, coming up the stairs. "I'm ho~ome!"

[vicioussweetie]

She might be coming up the stairs, but she's not going to make it! Not without running the Gauntlet of Goslings, all of whom hear their favoritest auntie coming home and are ready to pounce! Not really pounce, of course, they might fall down the stairs then and that would be bad. But they metaphorically pounce, clamoring to give Sel hugs and welcome her home and help her carry her bags (especially the presents!).

It might be a whole ten minutes before she gets upstairs to where Ali is waiting. "Welcome home."

[oh_what_a_story]

Sel is beaming when she reaches the summit, thanking the Goslings for helping with some of her bags, preferring to keep certain others herself--presents and the gallon-tub of raspberry-custard-gelato-stuff they can take, but a bard trusts her instruments to no hands but her own. And there are, of course, many hugs to give now, and many presents to give later.

And Ali, too, gets hugs when Sel reaches her. "No place like!" she answers, clicking her heels together. "You're looking wonderful, Ali, how are you and the kids?"

[vicioussweetie]

Yay presents! The goslings hope that the carrying of presents also infers a right to the opening of presents? (But they are responsible children, waiting until Sel's had a chance to sit down before they ask this; also, the frozen stuff is put away in the freezer.)

Ali grins at Sel's antics and returns the hugs warmly before shooing her into the living room. "Thank you. We've been managing to enjoy ourselves, now that summer vacation has started.