Valkyrie tuned back into the conversation just in time to hear her dad excitedly saying: "And once we have our own, we would have a reason to hold dinner parties. We'd be the envy of the neighborhood. Everyone would come just to hear us talk."

She groaned. "Why are we holding dinner parties now?"

"Dragons," Fletcher told her, as if that explained anything. Valkyrie gave him a Look, but he'd already turned back to Gabe, and Des was looking at the Archangel with a funny sort of respect, and a grin that was nothing short of manic.

"Stephanie," he decided, startling her, "you have an excellent taste in friends. I wholeheartedly approve."

With so many conflicting emotions tugging at her - worry over Guild's phone call, excitement over the prospect of a baby sister and/or brother, and general giddiness at how surprisingly well this meeting was going - Valkyrie illogically panicked for a moment. Did they give something away? Did Gabe reveal himself for some reason? Was she going to have to explain everything now? "Why?" she blurted before she could stop herself. "I mean, I do. But... why specifically now?"

"Anybody who can make Lord of the Rings references in polite conversation is welcome in this house," Des told her with another smile at Gabe. "Such people just cannot be boring. There's a law somewhere. I'm sure of it."

Amidst her relief, Valkyrie stared at Gabriel. It made sense, she supposed, but... when had an Archangel watched Lord of the Rings? When did an Archangel have time?