Nolan Home for Wayward Refugees, 33 Apocalypse, Saturday Morning

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan knew full well what day it was. In fact, he'd made sure to get up early and start cooking, just in case. Hey, if he didn't have any kids show up, he could always share the food with kids of people who had.

Anyone walking by 33 Apocalypse on Saturday morning, though, would see a new sign affixed near the front door:

Nolan Home for Wayward Refugees

Scrawled underneath was:

and Temporally Displaced Children
All Welcome

Anyone hungry? There's bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, fried potatoes, fried tomatoes, and waffles. Lots and lots of waffles. And, with the open door, the scent was probably drifting out into the street.

[Open for Ronan's kids, visitors, other people's kids, and anyone else who wants some breakfast.]

Comments

[herculeankids.livejournal.com]

Pandora couldn't help but roll her eyes. She simpy elbowed her sister in the arm and shook her head. Not many would dare to do so, but Pandora knew her sister better than anyone.

"Look, we had plans for this sort of thing for a reason," she said. "Daddy and dad knew exactly how likely this was. Just because my dad is easier to find doesn't mean our mutual father isn't here. You are such a daddy's girl it is ridic--"

"Shut up!" Betty cut off her sister. "I am not, and you know it. Look, just because your dad is..." She pointed to the sign. "Look, just because he's all super up on things doesn't mean he's better than--"

"Oh, here we go again," Pandora said with a sigh. "I don't know why you insist on having this stupid argument all the time."

"Don't call me stupid!" Betty shouted.

"I didn't," Pandora pointed out, looking half-amused and only a little annoyed. "You know I didn't. I called your argument stupid, which it is. Nothing about you."

[not_in_the_book]

... Yeah, that was definitely one of his. Although Ronan was more than a little confused at the 'Doctor Flame' -- he couldn't think of any particular future that would involve him returning to anything like the superhero codename he'd used with Jenny, way back when.

"So which one of you is mine?" he asked, smiling softly, as he opened the door. "Although you're both more than welcome to come in and have some breakfast."

[Agh, I totally fell asleep for, like, two hours. Maybe three. Something.]

[herculeankids.livejournal.com]

"Please, you wish I was your kid," Betty said, crossing her arms over her chest and looking away like she didn't care. She had an attitude problem, this was true.

"I am," Pandora said, perking up a bit at the sight of her father. "Don't mind Betty, she's just... she's Betty. She warms up to people around after lunch, usually."

"I do not," Betty argued.

"You do too," Pandora said. "I suppose I have to tell you who I am, don't I?"

[not_in_the_book]

"It would be helpful," Ronan agreed. "I hope that doesn't give you a complex, your father not knowing who you are. You just haven't happened to me yet."

... Or, well, probably ever. Pandora's was an outlier reality, really.

[herculeankids.livejournal.com]

"Pandora Aoife Nolan," she explained, not deterred at all. "I knew you wouldn't know me, you did give us a pretty clear explanation of most of all this. After all, you and other father did meet on the island after all."

"Other father," Betty repeated, rolling her eyes. "It's not like they're some sort of real couple, you know that."

"Hush," Pandora said, elbowing her sister again.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan raised an eyebrow at Betty. "Whether or not we're together," he said, "I'm sure your other father and I love you very much, Pandora."

No, he didn't think Pandora terribly needed to hear it, but he thought it made a point at Betty.

"May I ask, who is your other father?"

[herculeankids.livejournal.com]

"He doesn't even know?" Betty said, her tone incredulous but giving way to mirth. She laughed and shook her head.

"Hercules loves many people very much, that's how Betty got to be," Pandora said, her own imp-like smile on her face.

Betty's laugh stopped.

[not_in_the_book]

... Wait. Hercules?

Ronan managed not to break out laughing, but it was a very difficult prospect. "That's... not anyone I would have expected," Ronan admitted. "But I can agree, Hercules is definitely a very loving man."

He had a lot to give! ... As it were.

"So, breakfast?" he reiterated, waving at the table.

[herculeankids.livejournal.com]

"Well, I would like some," Pandora said sweetly. "Whether or not the mini-Hulk wants some is up to her."

"I told you not to call me that," Betty grumbled.

"I only do it when you act like it," Pandora pointed out, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Okay fine," Betty said, folding her arms and letting out a huff. "But you can call my dad and let him know I'm here. He can come to me, then."

"Good," Pandora said, heading towards the table.