[Frances]

Mommy and Daddy had been gone for so long. Tyra enjoyed playing with her Auntie Elohanna, she liked the little baby Coreth, but she missed her parents. They had been gone before, usually her Daddy more than Mommy, but now they were both gone, and it had been a looong time.

Suddenly, Tyra heard the voices she loved more than any in the world. She jumped to her feet and ran to find them. Finding her Daddy first, she gave him a flying hug. Shiff picked her up, laughing and swinging her around. Her Mommy joined them, squeezing Tyra in between her parents, all of them smiling and laughing together.

They walked home, Tyra in her father's arms, not quite willing to let him go. When they got to her home, Tyra squirmed out of her Daddy's arms, running to her toys she left. But something was wrong; there were two strange men in her home, seated by the fireplace. One of them stood carefully, smiling at the family. Tyra ran and hid behind her mother's skirts, peeking out carefully. Val picked her up, turning to face the men. "This is your Grandpa, sweetie. Tell him hi". Tyra turned her face into her mother's shoulder, then carefully turned one eye to look at the man who had walked shakily over toward them. Tyra eventually deigned to say "Hi Gwampa", before turning her face back to her mother's shoulder.

"Give her a little time, Dad, she'll warm up to you." Her mother was right; within an hour, she was gracing her grandfather and her uncle Sammack with smiles, and by the end of the day, she was playing with them a little. They seemed tired though, and couldn't play the way Mommy and Daddy did, and Tyra could tell they hurt.

With a week, Tyra had accepted Gwampa and Unca Sam as family. Mommy loved them, and Tyra began to trust them. They were getting stronger, and Tyra loved to play with them, but Mommy and Daddy were still more fun.

Then, one day when Daddy was away, Mommy took her to see Auntie El. "I just have to go check on something. I'll be back in a little while. You'll be fine here, and Grandpa and Uncle Sam will be by to visit." To Auntie El she said, "I'd leave her with my dad and brother, but they're not quite strong enough yet to handle her. I think they'll be fine by themselves, but if you could look in on them, I'd appreciate it." Auntie El nodded to Mommy, and Tyra squirmed down so she could go play. Mommy told her, "I'll be back soon, I promise", then turned to go, giving her a smile as she was walking out the door. Tyra smiled back, saying, "Wuv you Mommy". Tyra knew her Mommy would be back soon, and Daddy. She'd play until they got back. It wouldn't be long...