Line chosen - Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four?

The small convoy of vehicles crawled to a halt on the road in front of the sprawling ranch style bungalow. From out of the house, an elderly couple paused partway down the walkway as the occupants all clumped together, hugging and shaking hands before acknowledging their hosts.

Inside, hats and coats were removed to the bedroom and the guests all settled in the comfortable living room. Helen Dandridge moved her walker beside her chair and sat with a soft grunt, smiling apologetically at her husband Malcolm.

"You okay, Hon?" He sat beside her and took her hand.

"Fine. Really. Just tired legs from the drive."

"Hey you two, no private conversations today, this is all for one, one for all time." Major General Hank Ashton, retired, commanded from his nest on the sofa, a liver spotted finger pointing authoritatively.

"This will loosen up those stiff joints, Helen." David Ortega moved through the room with a tray, delivering glasses of champagne.

When everyone was served, David held up a hand and called for attention. Lily came from the kitchen and stood beside him, accepting his arm about her waist.

"My good friends," he began, "to celebrate Lily's milestone birthday with all who were there at the beginning of our relationship means the world to me." He raised his glass, "To Lily Ortega, my wife, my love, my best friend."

A cheer went up as champagne was consumed, and Lily was officially accepted into her fiftieth year.

"Where's your daughter, Lily? She should be here." Victoria asked.

"We had a family celebration. This one was strictly for this group." David spoke for her.

"Yes," Lily smiled, hugging David, "he already promised to need me, and promised to feed me until I'm at least sixty-four."

"Is that some kind of deadline?" Hank growled.

"That's when his pension kicks in," she teased. "There won't be enough for two after that."

"Okay, okay." David grinned. "This isn't about me. This is about all of you and our long association, and the fact that we all met Lily at the same time. And seeing you all here . . . still taking up space . . ." There was a moment of faux grumbles and soft laughter, "and a few, amazingly, still upright--"

"Now hold on there," Gordon Weller grinned. "That strand of hair you artistically swirl about your shiny dome doesn't scream flaming youth." Victoria Staines slapped his leg, and blushed prettily.

The laughter broke up the room, and compliments and teasing insults were passed around with good humour.

"Okay, let's just say we've all changed a bit," He lifted his glass, "I was intending to say, to all of you, thank you for giving us the opportunity to enjoy this moment, and hopefully many more." A chorus of agreement was followed by the chinking of glasses.

"And on that note," Lily bubbled, "dinner is ready, so if you will all repair to the dining room and find your little place cards."

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Tall and short tales regaled the diners, all contributing outrageously exaggerated memories of days and years gone past. The dinner was toasted several times, and the proof was visible in the cleaned plates. At the end, the table was cleared and coffee was served to sighs, and compliments to the hosts. Victoria and Esther helped Lily in the kitchen, while the others tidied up the dining room and got comfortable again in the living room.

The door chime silenced the conversation, and David went to answer. His surprise was in the form of a call for Lily.

"Cerridwen? Airmed?" Lily hesitated, staring at the two eldery women. "Come in, come in." She took Airmed's arm and drew them into the room. "What are you doing here? Never mind, come meet our guests."

David led the way, stopping in front of the others. "We have quite a surprise. You'll recall when Lily was whisked away by the mystery ladies from her school, all those years ago. Well it appears they have come to see Lily on this special occasion." He turned to Lily, nodding.

"I'd like you all to meet Cerridwen and Airmed, my teachers from school, and lifelong friends." She smiled and added, "They know all of you so, no need to introduce yourselves."

Gordon stood, offering a small bow. "Ladies, I speak for everyone here when I say thank you. Thank you for returning Lily to us all those years ago. And I guess David would definitely agree."

"We are grateful we were able to bring that about." Cerridwen spoke softly.

"So, how did you know about our celebration?"

"We didn't. We came to see Lily for another reason. Interrupting your party was not our intention."

"What was it you wanted?" Lily touched the older woman's arm.

"We have some serious things to discuss."

Puzzled looks were exchanged as the room fell silent.

"Please come and sit." They all went back to the dining room table.

"Thank you, Lily." Cerridwen folded her hands in front of her. "I'm sure you all remember that last encounter with the person named Pipaluk, and Lily's taxing ordeal in expelling the danger we all faced. Those of us at the school at the time, also expended an abnormal amount of energy doing our part.

Many of those have moved on - some passing on - we," she pointed at Airmed, "are almost the last of those original teachers that were involved." She paused and took a breath, wrinkled hands folded together. "You are the only other people still living that were also involved."

Eyes danced around the table taking in the thinning hair, age wrinkles, and gravity's effect on posture.

"What are you saying? What has this to with Pipaluk?" Malcolm asked, a deep frown shaping his face.

Airmed took out a phone turned it on, and placed it on the table. There was a few moments of static then a sound. The intake of breath from the guests was heard instantly, as the sound continued.

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"When did this come?"

"Three days ago. It was followed by a telepathic message. We had to press some of our members into service blindly, to absorb the signals. They had no idea what it was about. The message was an angry vow to see that we, the people of earth, suffered through the loss of our children. Pipaluk swore they would not be denied again, the water they coveted."

"But I thought we- you- that he was destroyed" Victoria gripped Gordon's hand.

"As did we. Apparently we did incapacitate him for some time, but the threat is back."

David turned to Lily. "Nadia?"

"We'll have to inform her and Xander, and begin preparations for Nadia."

"Are you sure, you said you didn't want her following--?"

"I didn't, but we have to think of everyone, David." Her attention travelled about the room to the other parents and grandparents. "We all have a stake in this, and not just this group here."

"What did you mean by preparing Nadia?" Esther Ashton asked.

Cerridwen raised a palm. "We'll be taking her with us to the school and begin her training. As an adult she'll have to work harder at the lessons, but with Lily's encouragement and assistance, we expect success in the abbreviated time window."

"Time window? Do we know when this is happening?" Gordon gulped aloud.

"Not precisely, but we cannot take any chances. At some point Pipaluk's presence will be seen or felt, and we must be ready to react."

"You mean you're going to be getting her ready to combat this Pipaluk?" Malcolm's wife, Helen, blurted.

"It's necessary, Helen," Lily smiled sadly. "She isn't the only young woman who will be called upon, but she is the only one who knows the history of what happened and what she might expect. I'm sure if your children had the necessary abilities, you'd see the rationale."

"As a mother, I don't know if I could be that brave."

Gordon immediately asked what the rest of them could do to help, and was reminded that retirement didn't allow for much in the way of official assistance.

"Malcolm still has pull at the lab." He insisted, looking to his old boss for support. "We still have our scientific marbles," his voice grew angry, "there's plenty we can offer."

"Perhaps some consulting," David said, "but convincing new people about what we did at the time? Remember, we kept the whole thing quiet, they'd think those marbles you mentioned had rolled away."

"But it was happening around the world. Surely some other scientist or someone--"

"We buried it, Gordon, for the good of all - or so we thought." Malcolm said, his forehead puckering. "Those who knew anything, or thought they did, are in the same boat as us - out of the game . . . too old."

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A warm glow from the afternoon sun poured through the dining room's casement windows. Nadia and Xander sat together on one side of the table facing her mother and father. There was a plate with shortbread biscuits and a large floral teapot with matching cream and sugar to one side. They each had a cup and saucer.

"Nadia, these past few months have told me that in spite of trying to avoid having you follow in my steps when you were a child, you seem to have auspiciously acquired a natural talent. Even my teachers have expressed amazement at how easily and successfully you absorbed the training. You even surpassed my own grades." Lily reached across and touched her daughter's hand.

"I found it all so awesome!" Nadia beamed. "Why wouldn't you want me to know these things?"
David coughed and shot a glance at his wife.

"Because, darling, along with the awesome, comes a huge responsibility, and I simply wanted you to live your life on your own terms, at your own pace."

Xander folded his hands on the table. "I would like to know just what this all means regarding this- this Pikapik person. I've been without a partner for some time, and now that she's back I'm uncertain as to our status."

Lily smiled. "That hasn't changed, Xander. The difference is, Nadia may be called upon to help stop Pipaluk should the necessity arise. Nothing has been reported, and there has been no further contact since our anniversary dinner, so you just carry on as you would have."

"But should something happen, what would she have to do? How dangerous is it?"

"We don't know, Xander. Nobody does. But whatever it is, she won't be alone."

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