Betty was sound asleep.

.

I leaned on the door.

"Shit."

Just my luck.

.

There was a very gentle knock on the door.

.

I opened the door and was about to get mad, but it was Nicky.

She was in her alien form.

I forced a smile.

.

She put her hand on my arm.

"Nick and I will keep the others occupied and away from upstairs. You spend some time with your beautiful girlfriend. You both deserve it."

.

Now the smile was genuine. I actually liked our new alien friends.

"Thank you Nicky."

.

She stood on her tip toes and kissed my cheek.

She winked and walked away.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," she whispered.

.

I closed the door, smiling and walked to the veranda doors, closing them gently and pulling the curtains across.

I walked back to the bed and lay next to Betty, pulling the blanket, at the foot of the bed, up and over us.

I leaned across her, kissed her on the cheek and lay on my back, staring at the ceiling.

I could hear Betty breathing quietly besides me.

.

I listened carefully for a few minutes, half expecting at any time, to see Calvin flying through the wall or Russell shitting on the floor.

Or hear the Baron calling for his Hummingbird.

Or Harold yelling, 'boobies'.

Or Chief Shitting Crow, bitching about something.

Or even General Bob, accidentally shooting himself in the foot, or worst, someone else in the foot.

.

In spite of all that was constantly happening around me, I had to smile.

.

Three months ago, I was living in a basement apartment, with no windows, trying to find friends on the internet.

I was a loner, an outcast.

No friends. Hell, even the people I worked with, didn't even know me. And I had been there for years.

I didn't even know that the crazy lady that lived above me, my landlady, was actually my mother.

I wonder if she knew?

Of course she did.

But why wouldn't she let me know?

Was she protecting me?

And if she was, from who?

.

I remembered the text I got from her.

The Baron was right.

We had to find Ethel Sueann.

I had to find my mother and get to the bottom of this whole shit storm that was all around me.

And I had to get the whole story of the Baron and my mother.

.

I heard the sound of a crow in the distance.

I smiled again, thinking of Russell.

He was an asshole, but I did love the crazy bird, even if he did shit all over the place.

And he was a freaking alien.

Who would have thought that crows and rats were actually dumbass aliens?

Actually, it would answer a lot of questions. And pose a whole shit-load of new questions.

.

I laughed quietly to myself.

.

And Harold and Calvin.

They drive me absolutely bonkers, but shit, they make my life so interesting.

It would actually be boring without them around. A lot quieter, but a lot more boring.

Even if they do ruin iPads and keep doing crazy shit that drives me insane.

At least we know now that Harold was not responsible for Calvin's death. Or at least, it was not intentional. It was actually the light from a spaceship that blinded him.

.

And Nick and Nicky.

They will certainly be an interesting addition to our family.

And God only knows what shit they are going to be in for dumping the Volkswagen in the lake.

.

And the Chief and his totally messed up family.

There had to be stories in there somewhere.

And I was sure they would be forced on me at some point in time.

.

I laughed again.

Family?

.

I looked over at Betty.

As I did, she rolled over, putting her arm around me.

I slid my arm gently under her neck, pulling her gently.

She snuggled in closer, putting her head on my chest.

.

Family?

.

I think I finally know what love is.

I kissed the top of Betty's head.

I kissed my true love.

.

Family?

.

I looked around my bedroom.

This was my home.

Our home.

Mine and Betty's and all the rest of the crazies that live here.

.

A tear came to my eye.

They were my family.

I actually have a real family.

.

Now the tears were flowing down my cheeks.

I sniffled and wiped my eyes.

.

"Are you crying?"

.

I looked down at Betty.

"You're awake?"

.

She lifted her head and looked at me.

"I wasn't asleep. I was just thinking."

.

I smiled .

"Me too."

.

She reached up and kissed me.

"I love you, Krall."

.

I nodded.

"You know I love you more than life itself."

.

She smiled.

"Can I move in here? I kinda like it here."

.

I pulled her on top of me and kissed her long and gentle.

"I thought you already had."

.

"Well. I still have to get my things out of my car."

.

"You brought them with you?"

.

She smiled.

"Just in case."

.

"Are you sure? I mean, you see what it can be like around here."

.

Betty laughed.

I loved her laugh.

"This is home, Krall. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a real home."

.

She was thinking like me.

"Like you have a real family?" I added.

.

She smiled.

"That is it, exactly. That is what I was thinking."

.

"Me too," I whispered through tears.

.

Betty was crying too.

She nodded.

"They all drive me crazy, but I can't imagine my life without them anymore. I know it has only been a couple days, but it feels like so much longer."

.

"Well, around here, you never know. Remember, I lost a month, somewhere along the way."

.

We both laughed.

.

I loved it ...

well you know.

.

Betty kissed me gently.

"I do love you."

.

"I love you."

I really do.

.

She grinned a devilish grin.

"And you know what else?"

.

"What?"

.

"We are alone."

.

~~~~~

.

Hours later, I was standing on the veranda, off our bedroom.

The sun was lowering in the sky.

It was a beautiful night.

.

"Krall?"

.

I turned to the bed.

Betty was holding up the blankets.

I could see her beautiful naked body.

"Come back to bed, baby."

.

The world was as it should be.