Quaranteam - 808 State

Hey folks, my profound apologies for the long delay between chapters. Mahalo nui loa to everyone who reached out — your encouragement and kind words truly helped, particularly when I was struggling and feeling low; it was good to be able to see that people appreciated my writing and wanted more.

Mahalo to Devin McTaggert for letting me haʻi moʻolelo (tell stories) in his Quaranteam universe. And mahalo to the other spinoff authors and readers!

Chapter 18

July 13, 2020 – early evening

Mal was preparing dinner for his now-almost doubled

ʻohana

— after a quick poll,

pad kra pao

had been agreed upon — but only after Mal promised to remove the basil leaves and bunches from Kat's serving.

"You know, Kat, I think... Without the basil, I think it's just, uh,

pad

." Mal had told his daughter. "So, Aunties and I are gonna

kaukau

full on

pad kra pao

, but for you, I'm gonna take out the basil, and you just have

pad

, yeah? K-den, Kat. You no make

habuts

later!"

Mal was slicing the slightly thawed, but still firm, frozen chicken breast into thin strips. Stainless prep bowls of roughly cut purple yardlong beans, shallots, and red Thai holy basil sat on the counter. A much smaller bowl with seeded and diced Hawaiian chili peppers was carefully placed well away from the counter edge and stovetop.

Kat, who had been playing in the studio after helping her dad and newly-acquired Aunties gather the ingredients for dinner from the garden — that is, all of the vegetables used — called from the other room, "Daddy, can you read me the 'genie-sis' story tonight?"

Evelyn, who had just turned the rice pot to "Cook", and was leaning against the counter as she watched Mal slice the chicken with a small smile crinkling the corners of her mouth, reacted — suddenly jerking upright, while shooting a glare at Kirsten. "Sorry, Kat-honey, what did you say again?" she called out.

"The genie-sis story. I saw it on one of Mommy's papers on her table — I think they forgot a letter, and it was mashed together, but I think I recognized 'genie' from my

Aladdin

storybook. Is 'genie-sis' about when the Genie gets a sister? Cause I want Daddy to read me that story tonight! Come on, I'll show you!" Kat came through the doorway and started pulling at Mal's shirt.

"Hold on, Kat, I need to wash my hands first."

The little girl waited impatiently, tapping her foot. As soon as Mal released the drying towel, she grabbed his hand and tugged her father toward the studio.

Mal allowed himself to be pulled along. "We'll take a look, sweetie, but if you saw it in Mommy's papers, I'm not sure it's a story you'll be interested in..."

"Here, Daddy! This one!" The little girl lifted several sheets of paper — neatly stapled together — from the stack on Gwen's desk, and showed it to Mal. "See, Daddy? Genie-sis. Right there at the top!"

Mal looked at the paper, and after a moment, took it from Kat. It appeared to be a printout of a pharmaceutical research paper. The title read,

Genesis of anaphrodisiac precursor compounds (isothiocyanates) in Tropaeolum tuberosum (common name mashua)

. He frowned.

*Anaphrodisiac? Like 'not-aphrodisiac'? Gwen's researching how to

make

libido suppressants?*

Mal sighed.

*Not like I shouldn't expect this, after what she said while we were, uh. Fucking, Mal, it was fucking. Yeah. Fuck. Just... sucks actually seeing it. But... Gwen was smiling. She liked it, I know she enjoyed us having sex! Godsdamn it. Okay, Mal, just... One day at a time.*

"Oh, kitty-Kat, I'm so sorry, but this isn't a story at all, kiddo." Mal knelt down by his daughter and pointed to the first word. "I know that word kinda looks a little like Genie, but look, it's missing the 'i'. That changes the word — this word is 'genesis' which means 'making'. Can you say 'jen-knee-sis'?"

Kat's face fell. "Oh. So... It's NOT about the Genie from Aladdin? Aww. I was hoping Mommy found a story where the Genie got a sister! They could play in the woods together and build Legos together and go on carpet and camel rides... Oh. Well." The little girl's eyes started to brim with tears.

"Daddy! How come I don't have a sister? Someone

I

can play with? It's not fair! My friends from preschool had brothers and sisters, but not me!" Kat burst out crying, and Mal dropped the printout and hugged his daughter tightly.

"Oh, Kat, I'm sorry, honey, I know. I wish you had a brother or sister, kitty-Kat, I really do, but Mommy and Daddy are so happy and lucky that we have you — for so long we didn't know if we'd ever have any little girl or little boy! And one day, you'll have a little brother or sister, I promise you, honey!"

Evelyn and Kirsten, who had followed and had been watching from the doorway came into the studio and wrapped themselves around Kat as well.

Evelyn spoke, her voice thick with emotion, "Oh, Kat-honey! I remember how lonely I got at home sometimes when I was a little girl like you — I didn't have any brothers or sisters growing up, and my cousins were a lot younger than I was. And your Auntie Kirs too — she was an only child growing up. But you know what was awesome? I got to spend so much time with my daddy, and he taught me so much! Just like your Daddy does with you!" Evelyn kissed Kat on her tear-streaked cheek.

Kirsten chimed in, "And like your Daddy said, Kat, you'll be a big sister one day! Then you'll get to teach your little sisters and brothers how to build Legos, and read books and grow things in the garden with you and Daddy! And... Maybe even teach them to ride horses."

Kat hiccuped. "I'm gonna be a big sister? When?"

The young women both flushed. They both started to speak, then stopped. Kirsten looked at Evelyn, and while Mal couldn't decipher it, he KNEW that the mysterious female communication protocol was humming between the two.

Evelyn resumed speaking. "Oh, Kat-honey, we don't know WHEN you'll be a big sister, but I'm sure it'll happen soon. But it'll be a little while before your little sisters or brothers will be able to play with you, yeah? They'll be babies for a while, and they need to learn to crawl, then walk — do you know how long it took you to learn to walk after you were born?"

"Daddy?!" Kat, eyes still bleary from crying, looked at her father.

"Uh. You started walking just before you turned one, kiddo. But it took a while before you were as good at it as you are now. So, I'm sorry, Kat, but you gotta be patient. And while you're waiting, you gotta try and learn everything you want to teach, yeah?"

Kat snuffled, and wiped her arm across her nose, leaving a smear of

hanabata

across her face. "Okay, Daddy, I'll be a patient." The little girl motioned toward the tissue box, and Mal raised his eyebrows.

"Kat, is there something you want?"

His daughter nodded. And motioned again.

"Sweetie, we've talked about this. You need to

ask

for something if you want people to know what you want."

Kat blew out an exasperated breath and grumbled, "Tissue. Please."

*****

Dinner was greedily enjoyed by all — save for a brief complaint from Kat when she encountered a basil leaf that Mal had missed in her food. Mal grabbed it with his chopsticks and popped it in his mouth before she'd even finished her initial expression of displeasure.

After dinner, Evelyn leaned back in her chair and said, "Mal, you just secured your position on the Team. You feed me like that regularly,

kuʻu ipo

, and I'll-" Evelyn recalled that there were little ears present, and revised what she was going to say. "Uh. I'll eat every bit that you dish up for me, Mal!"

Mal cocked an eyebrow at her. "I've only

now

secured a spot on the Team? Got it. Sounds like I need to be sure to keep 'the Evelyn' well fed, so I don't jeopardize my standing!"

The young woman giggled. "No, I- Shoot. Yeah, that didn't come out how I meant it to, Mal, I was trying to tell you that was one of the best dinners I've ever had made for me by a guy. But, uh. I had to change what I was gonna say."

"Did you forget the word you wanted, Auntie Evvy? I do that too. But you did really good, I didn't even know you'd messed up!" Kat fiddled with her fork. "I get scoldings, sometimes, cause I'm not supposed to get all

irraz

or make

habuteru

when I can't remember a word."

Mal leaned over and put his arm around Kat's tiny shoulders. "Oh, kiddo. I know it's hard sometimes. Daddy has trouble bringing the right word to mind sometimes too. And you know what? Your Grandma Cora, Daddy's mom, also sometimes had the same problem. It's one of those weird family things, and while it can be very frustrating, it also reminds me of your Grandma, and makes me feel connected to her, whenever it happens, sweetie." He kissed the top of her head.

"Try not to get frustrated, sweetie, think about the word you want, and if you really no can remember, 'da kine' um."

Kat giggled. "Okay, Daddy. I'll tell Mommy you told me to 'da kine um', next time I forget."

"Oh! Sharper than a serpent's tooth!" Mal clutched at his chest and rocked back in his chair

"You're silly, Daddy!" Kat looked across the table at Evelyn and Kirsten, who were nodding solemnly in agreement with the little girl's assessment.

Mal started to gather the plates. Kirsten grabbed them from him. "What. Are.

You,

doing?"

Evelyn scowled at Mal. "Yeah, seriously, Mal. You think we're going to make you clean the dishes after you made us that delicious dinner? Anyway, doesn't Kat need her bath? I'm pretty sure the schedule that Gwen gave me had bath right after dinner."

Mal suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, settling for squeezing them shut as he said, "Okay, speaking as the parent who has been taking care of Kat alone for the past several months, I would very much like to see this schedule."

Evelyn pulled a folded sheet of paper from her back pocket and handed it to Mal. He unfolded it and looked at Gwen's neat handwriting. A small sigh escaped him.

"Well, it looks like Gwen got everything, except for dinner clean-up, but since this is a schedule for Kat, I guess that's fair. And, to be honest, aside from putting the food in for leftovers, I clean the cookware and dishes either after Kat's bath, or once she's asleep, anyway."

Kirsten came back from taking the dishes to the kitchen. "Uh, I don't think there's any leftovers, Mal. Is that okay? Sorry, it was so yummy, I should have thought about saving some for Gwen!"

Mal shook his head. "No worries, lass. I need to adjust my cooking to feed all of us, me, Gwen, you two beautiful ladies... And this ravenous little creature here!"

"Daa-ddy! I'm a little

girl

!"

"Oh, right, right, honey. Girl, creature. Don't know why I keep getting them mixed up! Okay, little crea-

girl

, time to

bocha

!" Mal looked at the clock. "And then, kiddo, it's brushing teeth, and straight to bed."

"Stories." Kat made her opening bid.

"Story."

Evelyn and Kirsten were watching the interplay between father and daughter intently.

"Two stories?"

Evelyn grabbed Kirsten's hand and let out a soft, "D'ahh," at Kat's question.

"One, slightly longish, then bed."

Kat thought for a moment, biting the corner of her lip, as she eyed the three adults. "One story... From Auntie Evvy."

Evelyn let out a squeak, as she clutched her hand to her heart. "Yes, absolutely, Kat! Oh, sorry Mal, if it's okay with you, that is. If your Daddy says yes, Kat, that's what I meant to say!"

Mal chuckled. "You're committed now. Hope you're good at voices."

"Daddy!"

*****

Mal bathed Kat while the ladies washed the cookware. Fortunately, as it was not a hair-washing night, and Mal's pre-bath brushing inspection of Kat's hair found no remaining bits of moss, the bath was quickly completed, and in short order, the little girl was dressed in her Belle nightgown (with a pair of pajama pants under to guard against the cool night air), and was brushing her teeth as her father supervised.

Kirsten and Evelyn were hovering at the bathroom doorway. Kat spat out her toothpaste foam and said, "Daddy, you need to move. I think Aunties need to make

shishi

."

Kirsten burst out laughing. "Oh, sorry, Kat, no! We're just watching — your Daddy does such a good job taking care of you, and now that we're your Aunties, we're hoping sometimes maybe we'll get to help. So we can learn for your siblings."

Kat paused, the toothbrush back in her mouth. "Si-ings?"

"Kat, don't speak when there's something in your mouth, honey," Mal gently admonished the little girl.

Kat pulled the toothbrush out and spat into the sink. "Sorry Daddy. Auntie Kirs, what are siblings?"

"Brothers and sisters, Kat. Now that we're part of your

ʻohana

, Auntie Evvy and I want to be as awesome as your Mommy, and be mommies to adorable little girls like you! And also little boys, who we hope will grow up to be just like your Daddy." Kirsten leaned in and stroked Mal's cheek, her eyes shining with affection.

"Oh. Okay. Auntie Kirsten, you get to read me a story tomorrow night." Kat racked her toothbrush in the holder and hopped down from the stool. "Come on, Auntie Evvy, let's go choose my story. Daddy, no easepopping."

"'Eavesdropping', Kat. Auntie Kirsten and I will be in the living room." Mal looked at Evelyn, "Holler if you need rescuing. Little miss will probably try and cajole a second story out of you. One, then bed, okay, Kat?"

"Yes, Daddy. I'll be good. One story, then I go

moe moe

. I promise. Hug?"

Mal crouched down and hugged his daughter, kissing her cheek. "Of course, honey! I wouldn't be able to go to sleep if I didn't get my goodnight hug!"

Kat giggled, then grabbed Kirsten's legs, looking up at the tall woman. "Hug, Auntie Kirs?" Feeling Kirsten's legs shift, Kat released her hold. Kirsten dropped to her knees — Mal winced, thinking about how his joints no longer had that easy flexibility, as the

haole

woman enfolded the little girl in her arms.

"Anytime, Kat. All the hugs you want, little miss. You are so precious!" Kirsten turned Kat loose and stood back up, taking Mal's hand. As soon as Kat slipped out of the bathroom, grabbing Evelyn's hand along the way, Kirsten yanked Mal to her, wrapping her arms around him, placing her lips next to his ear.

The blue haired woman murmured in his ear, "You're gonna knock me up soon, right Mal? Please? I wanna have your babies, I wanna be a mommy. Watching you dad makes me so fucking broody." Hearing Kat's door close, Kirsten started rubbing herself against Mal, grinding her crotch against his. "I want you, Mal, want you in me."

Mal hugged the young woman. "Kirsten, as weird as I feel about all this that's going on, I want you too, but hold up for a bit. We need to be available if Evvy needs rescuing. Don't worry, beautiful, I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. Although, I'm wondering, did you hear anything from Shannon yet on your Oracle results?"

Kirsten gave one last wriggle against Mal, then released him. "Shoot, I was supposed to check my email. Hold on." The blue-haired woman pulled out her phone and fiddled with it for a moment, before looking at Mal, her eyes excited.

She put the phone down on the sink counter, then seized Mal's face and mashed her lips to his. "Mmrph-murt mrrment!"

Kirsten broke the kiss. "Ninety-eight percent Mal! Actually, almost ninety-nine! Hmm. Now I gotta figure out what that missing one-point-three is. You wanna fuck me in the ass? No, wait, that's not it,

I

want that. Unless you don't? No, that's silly, you're a guy, all guys want that. Okay, think Kirsten, think."

Mal started laughing. "Kirsten, stop. Don't worry about it, beautiful. It doesn't matter. Seriously. Ninety-eight percent, really?"

"Ninety-eight point seven with you, Mal. I was fucking

made

for you, lover. Fuck. Almost wish I still believed in a divinity to thank for this. Mal, I wanna fuck. I wanna fuck you. I want to feel you filling me — oh snap- Evvy said you were gonna make me wriggle with your tongue — Mal, I want you to tongue-fuck me. Right now, Mal, lick my cunt until I'm blind!" Kirsten dropped her hands to waist-level and started fumbling at her jeans button.

Mal grabbed her hands. "Cool your jets, Kirsten. I want to spend some time with you — obviously, I've known Gwen for years,"

*62 percent*

Mal closed his eyes briefly, before continuing, "And even though I didn't know Evelyn super well before we bonded, I'd at least spent some time over a few days with her, so it wasn't like we were strangers — not that you are, Kirs, but, I still don't really know who Kirsten is."

He led the young woman out of the bathroom, still holding both of her hands as he led her over to the living-room sofa. "Come on, sit with me, Kirs, I want to get to know the woman," Mal blushed, as he guided her to sit facing him in the sofa, angled, with their knees touching.

"Uh, gods above and below. The second woman who sucked my cock today." He shook his head. "Just so we're clear, Kirsten, that is NOT how I am typically. I've never moved that fast in any relationship. Hell, not even as fast as Evelyn and I went — not that ANY of her and my interactions before we bonded could be considered dates, but even if they were... Shit, not even in university would things have moved that fast.

"I'm astonished, amazed, and flattered, Kirsten, and," Mal leaned forward and kissed her briefly, "and I want to do all sorts of things with you, but I'm also a little overwhelmed by how fast all of this has been!"

Kirsten looked at Mal, a slight smile twitching her lips. "You're worried I'm going to think... What, you're a player? A man-slut? The guy who poured his worries out to me earlier? The guy who told me," Kirsten glanced over at the hallway leading to the bedrooms, "told me that he's got a long, hard, geek dick for me to ride on? That guy's worried I'm going to judge him for wanting to tumble into bed with

me

?"

The

haole

woman pushed Mal so he was leaning back against the sofa, then turned and curled herself up against him, wrapping his arms around her, lacing the fingers of her left hand through those of his right. She looked back over her shoulder at him, and brought her free hand up to his cheek.

"I'm never going to judge you like that, Mal. Like you, I don't jump into bed quickly. Hell, I sorta figured even if the 'side-chick' thing happened, we'd date for a bit before we got to you splashing sperm off my cervix. Or tonsils. Or, even, for that matter, before I let you play with Cupid's kettle drums."

Mal twitched and she explained, "Mah bewbs, Mal. My lovely lady lumps. Letting a guy get to second base doesn't just happen right away with me. Although you..." Kirsten slid her hand up from where she'd been caressing Mal's cheek, into his hair, and pulled his other hand down toward the bottom of her shirt. "I told you, Mal, last Friday, I

felt

like there was some connection between us. And now, I

know

there was. A connection that Oracle puts at 98.7 percent.

"

You

, my lover, the father of my future babies, the

only

man I'm ever going to fuck again,

you

make me throw everything out the window." She pulled her fingers from between Mal's, and guided his hand up under her t-shirt.

Kirsten arched her back as Mal's hand traveled up her belly until he reached her bra. Mal's fingers identified it as possibly a sports bra, no underwire, no front closure. He started to slide his fingers under the lower edge, then paused.