"I see." For a moment Melissa seemed to be at a loss, and she returned Valkyrie's hug almost automatically. Then her gaze dropped over Val's shoulder and she said conversationally to Gabe, "Were you aware you're not wearing any shoes?"
"Yes, ma'am," Gabe said with a solemn nod, just barely managing to keep the grin off his face but not out of his eyes. "Best way to feel the earth under your feet, no shoes."
"It is, isn't it," Melissa agreed. She laughed and abruptly squeezed Valkyrie tight, running a hand over the girl's hair. "And we were worried you didn't have any friends, when all this time you were developing a harem," she teased, the good will and humour covering any concern she might have had for the fact that all the members of that harem were significantly older than the girl in question. Apparently Skul and Gabe's charm was having its effect.
"Well, why don't you all come in. Just excuse the guard-dog. He's getting on in years, and he's lazy, but he's very protective of Steph. His name's Des." She raised her voice. "Des? Steph brought home guests!"
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"Yes, ma'am," Gabe said with a solemn nod, just barely managing to keep the grin off his face but not out of his eyes. "Best way to feel the earth under your feet, no shoes."
"It is, isn't it," Melissa agreed. She laughed and abruptly squeezed Valkyrie tight, running a hand over the girl's hair. "And we were worried you didn't have any friends, when all this time you were developing a harem," she teased, the good will and humour covering any concern she might have had for the fact that all the members of that harem were significantly older than the girl in question. Apparently Skul and Gabe's charm was having its effect.
"Well, why don't you all come in. Just excuse the guard-dog. He's getting on in years, and he's lazy, but he's very protective of Steph. His name's Des." She raised her voice. "Des? Steph brought home guests!"