Frequent conferences with Airen, and a few with Ayla, had firmed up some specific plans, and developed ideas for other improvements, if these came to fruition. (Wow! It does sound like this is "home" and I plan to be here for awhile. I love this old place...and its people, be they flesh or circuitry.)

Taking the Mayor up on his invitation for a visit, Lane made an appointment for a two-hour visit. Having Airen provide him with a car, he turned himself out in his "Sunday best," (In other words, Airen selected the proper wardrobe and accessories [silver cuff links and tasseled loafers] and laid them out for him in his dressing room.) and presented himself at City Hall exactly on time.

The Mayor (...Towers toadie that he was...) was downright obsequious to the "heir apparent", but Lane didn't mind. (He still hadn't ascertained exactly what that "heir apparent" designation meant.) He did have a specific agenda in mind and was willing to play along, if it would serve him (and the Towers) well. The Mayor served him coffee and seated him in a special visitors' sitting room with comfortable and expensive furnishings, "the better for a meeting of the minds," as the Mayor pronounced.

As the morning progressed, Lane had ascertained a series of construction licenses for improvements he wanted to make at the Towers, all of which would require that he hire local labor. The Mayor was delighted with that turn of events. Lane worked out approval for recruiting.

He also wanted to guarantee permission to negotiate discounts for materiel. That also gave the Mayor the idea to have the Towers order more basic supplies from the town rather than grow their own. That plan would require more than Lane's approval. Some contracts had been in place for decades and were inviolate.

Following up on the "deals" he wanted to make, he dived into the Towers records archives. During his research on the Towers Covenants for plans, blueprints, property purchases, and land sales, he found documents describing births, deaths, and marriages. He first sorted the documents into types and like functions, i.e births only; then by people of whom he was aware, i.e Granddad; and finally folks he didn't recognize.

Just for curiosity's sake, he had started building a Family Tree and noticed some somewhat surprising data. Airen had a similar chart, but it was woefully incomplete, (...Lane euphemistically decided that it was because it was configured by a Towers male who probably had a vested interest in the details not being entirely accurate...) and that Airen's programming didn't include keeping it updated. He was most disturbed to find heretofore unknown Towers kin.

A rather pleasant discovery allowed him to acknowledge the new-found cousins, Marie and Alan. The daughter of Great Granddad's sister-in-law (twice removed) was the mother of the two youngsters. The line of progression was a tad distant, but they were Towers's of a sort, and he wanted to invite them to live at Towers on the Crest if they so desired. He reminded himself that he needs to talk with Ayla about several "family" things.

Major among them: it seems after Grandma died, Granddad had kept company with a lovely woman in town who eventually bore him a son. She refused to marry just because she was pregnant, and Granddad passed before he could formally adopt the boy. It seems that no one else in the family wanted to sully the line of succession. (...In other words, knock themselves or their progeny further down the line...) That young man married and had a son. That son married and had two children, twins, a boy and a girl. The young couple died in a car wreck, orphaning the children. (...whom Lane determined were currently living in a Crestfield group home for wards of the court...) They were direct Towers descendants, and would be immediately in line to inherit behind Ayla! (...He also discovered that Ayla inherited because her brother and both parents died in a mysterious fire on what was now the Daynon property...)

The Towers liked being independent, or always had been in the past. Lane made note to talk to Ayla about that family meeting to arrange the fostering and eventual adoption of these two. He'd have to have some kind of executive power to make these kinds of changes. He decided to ask if he could have a family meeting or whatever was required. He wouldn't get a vote, but thought he could influence a couple of the others.

A few mornings after Lisa's party, (...Nobody was ready to even crawl out of bed at all the morning after...) the family gathered downstairs in the old kitchen for breakfast. Lane decided that this would be a good time to bring up his proposals. He asked if he could have time for some Towers business after the meal. Everyone said "sure."

He waited until everybody had had their second cup of coffee. (...or tea, as Uncle Wright always preferred...) To begin with what he thought were the easier changes, he introduced the Mayor's request to have the Towers order more basic supplies in town. For this issue, he let everybody know that he would be pretty impartial and would just present the case and let them decide. After all, his opinion carried no weight anyway.

Wright raised his hands in a "stop right there gesture." "Whoa, son! That isn't so. We all respect your work and know who it is that really loves this old place." Lane humbly lowered his head. Ayla reached over and took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Uncle Wright continued, "Whatever you recommend will be considered a "yea" vote."

Ayla caught his eye and mouthed, "Go ahead, darling."

Sitting up straight and taking a deep breath, Lane proceeded to explain the existing contracts and such and further explained the changes in the overall situation since they were put in place. When the inhabitants of the Towers numbered in the dozens, it made sense to grow their own produce and keep a shooting range, and stock the lake, but right now, it didn't make economic sense. They bought nearly everything in town now anyway, why not negotiate a better rate? In future, when the population at the Towers grows, we can look at it again. (...He noticed that no one questioned the increase in the number of Towers' inhabitants...) He proposed they visit City Hall and revisit the issue. The proposal passed unanimously.

"I admit that these next two proposals are close to my heart. (...He had not mentioned the two situations to Ayla, hoping to get an honest reaction today, rather than have her just defer to him. If she agreed just because she loved him, it wouldn't be fair to her or to the kids...) He advised the group, "I have not made prior arrangements with Ayla, so her vote will be as objective as any of the rest of you. This most affects her...and perhaps me, but all of you will be affected somewhat." He paused to let these declarations sink in.

He continued,"Just for curiosity's sake, I built a Family Tree. Airen's is incomplete and has not been updated in decades." He described the documents listing births, deaths, marriages, etc. "I'm really pleased to announce that the new-found cousins are indeed family, although somewhat distant. I am not happy to announce that they are living in near poverty. I want to invite them to come live at the Towers as "family."

There was a stunned silence, but finally Lisa spoke up. "Lane, you have such a good heart. There is absolutely no reason that these sweet kids can't be Towers." Ayla was sitting with one hand over her mouth and rapidly moistening eyes. (...Her Lane is the most wonderful, generous, loving man. He has enough love in his heart for all of us and these two literal strangers...)

Though her throat was thick with emotion, Ayla said, "I vote 'yea' also." She beamed a proud smile at Lane.

The two guys just nodded. It wouldn't affect any of them, and they certainly had room. Lisa suggested that they get with Airen to arrange accommodations and such. She asked Lane if she could accompany him to retrieve the kids. He smiled his sweetest smile at her and responded, "Of course. Thank you." He addressed the group at large, "So it's settled?" There were nods all around."Thanks, guys. I appreciate it."

He shuffled a couple papers before going forward with his final (...and most important...) item. He had brought all the proper documents to back up his assertions. "Okay. I insist I am impartial and can have no opinion on this one. Some of you will think I do. "He looked pointedly at Ayla with a gentle and loving smile.

He jumped right in. "After Grandma died, Granddad loved a young widow. She bore him a son, but wouldn't marry a Towers just because she was pregnant. Granddad wanted to adopt the boy, but passed away before he could. That young man married and also had a son. That son married and had two children, twins, a boy and a girl. The twins' parents were killed in a car wreck. The kids live in a group home in Crestfield. They're direct descendants, and would be in line to inherit behind Ayla, should she not have any progeny." He glanced at Ayla who sat blank-faced and very still.

He turned his attention to Ted. "They would precede you in line of succession, Ted. I would not blame you for refusing what I propose."

Ted snickered, "You've got to be kidding. I've never had any pretensions to the throne. The way you two 'rabbit around' around here, it never occurred to me that in a couple years we wouldn't be knee-deep in children."

Lane blinked and laughed out loud. He glanced at Ayla, who though still somewhat subdued and blushing furiously, was hiding an amused smile. (...Well, Sweetheart, we're evidently not as discreet as we would have hoped...) He cocked his head to let her know that he got the joke.

"Nevertheless, I propose we foster the kids until Ayla can adopt them." (...And hopefully, someday I'll be their father...) He turned and looked directly into her eyes, the question tantamount in his gaze. "If Ayla has children of her own, they would supersede the twins." He turned his attention back to the table at large. "What say you?" He paused again. "I understand that this may require some thought. I suggest we adjourn, think or talk it over, and get back together on it."

"Lane?"

"Yes, Sweetheart."

"I don't need to think it over. I say 'yea'." She reached over and took his hand.

"This is what I was afraid of, Baby. Don't do this just for me. Do this because it's what you want."

They became oblivious to the others. The family noticed the intimate undertones of this discussion and found something else to look at or talk about or whatever. Having already decided that the vote was a non-issue, they unobtrusively left the room one at a time, until only Ayla and Lane remained. Not realizing that the vote was settled and that they were alone, they continued the non-discussion.

"It's what I want, darling. Had I known about them, I might already have rescued the little tykes."

"I know. That's why I waited to present it this way. I know my sweetheart and her big heart."

"My big heart?" She shook her head. "You don't even realize how good you are, do you?" Lane blinked. "My wonderful darling, I think we need to go back upstairs and discuss this."

Lane smirked. "Bunny hop?" She grinned, and they jumped up to race up the stairs. Uncle Wright saw them laughing and running. Shaking his head, he sought out Airen to find the appropriate legal help to start the fostering proceedings. Oh, and to arrange housing for all four children.