(X-Holiday) Atlantis...Part 15

Sam did jump a tiny bit when Genn gave him a hug. He wasn't used to all the close affection everyone else was feeling and showing. His dad was one of those guys who didn't hug a lot when Sam was a kid, so he was never totally sure how to react at first when any guy hugged him.

"Hey, it's all good! I know how it feels to be sort of out of the picture frame, too," Sam chimed in as he gave Genn a friendly hug back. "And we can have fun and be on an adventure and do the important work, too. It's always too easy to get stuck in some 'what is going to befall us now?' sort of thing. I ought to know. I perfected it. I'm hoping being on this team, with all of you, I can change that and change the world for people who really need the hand up. Look at all of us. We've all had that hand reached out to us, and we have also had chances to extend our hands back. I'm proud to be a part of this. I really am."

Sam also grabbed a mimosa and then looked at Lockheed. "Buddy, you want this? I can get another one?" he then waved at Bumblebee to come join them. "Bee, I'm sure the kids out there will be OK if you come in here." Bee beeped and then came walking back into the dome area, making sure not to hit any overhanging decorations along the way. "Genn, how long did it take you to train with your sword? Any chance I might be able to learn how not to cut myself if I try to use one?"

     

"Oh no! Kari and Mum..." Mal started to say and thought for a moment. "OK, Kari and our mother, Kennis, get along well enough. Most of the time. Kari will likely be fighting against our grandmum. Let me try to explain this and not sound like some drunken, addle-brained loon."

Mal took a deep breath and looked over at the many, many members of his clan who were milling about before the wedding.

"This is Kennis, our mother," Mal said as he waved his hand and made a sort of light construct of Kennis. "And this is my grandmother, my father's mother, Siofra, the one who wants to send Apocalypse to the next life," he said as he made another light construct of her. "They are the ones who fight like cats and dogs. Siofra is the one who struck the deal with The Morrigan to have Kari as her avatar. Kennis is the one who prayed to Danu to give her a daughter who was a healer and empath, two traits The Morrigan likely would not want in an avatar."

Mal took another sip of his coffee and then continued. "Well, the bargain stuck anyway, and my mother Kennis sort of splits her allegiance between The Morrigan and Danu, just to make sure things stay sane. Danu was the one who graced her with the huge family of children you see here. And apparently in return, Danu now claims Hayley as an avatar. That one is new to me. It also scares me. Hayley didn't react all that well the one time The Morrigan used her as an avatar when we all thought Kari died before that stint in San Francisco. I have not seen her wield the powers of Danu. I pray none of us will any time soon."

Mal thought about what Illyana said about Kari. "My sister has always spoken highly of you as well. I have a funny feeling we will all be working more closely going forward, and not because of new interpersonal relationships."