"Relationships among paranormal are strange, what is even stranger is when it's a clash of cultures and values. The strangest is that some people think they get an opinion on the matter." – Professor of paranormal culture at Notre Dame university.

Kurt watched as Val drove off with Kristi in the passenger seat. She did not look as excited to be the passenger as Val did to be driving, but at this point, she was already committed.

Walking inside, he fished around for the garage opener for that second bay door in the drawer at the end of the counter. The one drawer that every Midwest family has somewhere in their house that was lovingly referred to as the junk drawer. After a few seconds of searching, he found it and set it on the counter with a note.

He then considered what he would do with the rest of his day. It was already time for lunch, and he was briefly considering trying to be productive. He just couldn't be bothered to actually go work on anything after the conversation with Jay and the upcoming weekend. His only firm decision was to find something for lunch.

After rooting around in the fridge, Kurt had pulled out some leftovers that had been missed by the girls and warmed them up. It was one of his pasta dishes so, while it was better fresh, it still reheated nicely. While he ate, his mind wandered back to the earlier conversation, and he quickly changed his mind on something.

He finished up his lunch and went downstairs after grabbing a notebook that was filled with sheets of graph paper rather than standard lined paper. He walked into the unfinished room after grabbing a measuring tape and began measuring out the dimensions.

He went to the far side of each wall, making sure to include the area with utilities since he wanted to account for that in his floor plan. The drawing he made thankfully worked out to fit on the page with each square representing half a foot. This was also something he could transfer to his computer if he wanted, but it wasn't needed fight now.

The current utility room was really just a nook that ran along the exterior wall and terminated by the foundation on one side and stud wall on the other. Kurt frowned as he looked at the layout and then moved to the other side of the wall and sketched the stairs into the blueprint.

Once everything was drawn out, he cut a few strips of paper that he had colored black, so they stood out. He used these to put in walls that he could shuffle around as needed until he found where they looked neat.

It took a few attempts of going back and forth, laying out the measuring tape where he had placed each wall on the drawing but eventually, he found the balance. He stepped back and imagined the way the room would look.

He was going to use the under stairs nook as a doorway with a pocket door since he was running a six-inch ledger board, he could afford the extra width and wanted the convenience. Then that would leave him with a roughly six-foot-wide hallway that let him access the water system while keeping some storage space.

That would leave a fourteen by twenty room on the other side which would be plenty of room for him to put in a closet on the wall that separated the room from the living room. The window for the fire escape was still accessible so that made the room a 'legal' bedroom.

After taking stock of everything they would need to finish out the room, such as floors, paint and electrical, Kurt had time to think. It was a rare thing that he had alone time lately, having one of the girls around him almost constantly. His mind naturally went to Kristi since he had been working on her own gaming room.

Kurt was really getting to know her a bit better now that she was sharing more and being more open about her feelings and past. She was rapidly becoming someone he could depend on and also someone he wanted to have around.

He ignored the little bundle of instincts in his mind that was telling him she was pack and that was all that mattered. Those instincts were right, but he wanted more, he wanted his higher functioning brain to work through the problem.

"How would I feel if she left?" He asked himself. "How would I feel if either of them left?"

Putting it into words that he spoke aloud seemed to help and he realized how he would feel. Empty. Empty was the right word.

The thought of them leaving or something happening caused his chest to tighten and his heart raced a little at the idea. He knew then that he loved them both. He loved them more than he had originally thought and that they had made his life better just for being there.

His original concerns about having more than one lover in his life were instantly squashed, made insignificant. He had worried that he would have favorites or that one would be a proverbial third wheel, but it wasn't the case. Sure, they had some places they could improve or grow into, but there wasn't any favoritism.

"I'll just have to talk to Val about it. I know she was first and all but now I rely on her insight." Kurt muttered to himself. "Plus, she kinda dragged us into this." He chuckled a little.

Val, his little vixen. Val, his first real love. She was both of those things and more.

He also knew that everything wasn't as perfect as it seemed with her. They all had a past that they had kept hidden after all. But he knew that with time, she would share, just as he would with them. With how they had been raised and the nature of being a half-breed, they all had some things they would rather not think about.

While thinking of Val, Kurt wondered if there was something that he could do for her. He felt a little bad about being so sweet on Kristi while Val hadn't received as much of his attention lately. It was easy of him to just assume that she was content since she had always been so honest with him.

Then it hit him, he knew exactly what he could do for her and even had all the materials to do it. Standing back up, Kurt went into his workshop and began pulling out supplies to make some jewelry. These wouldn't be tools or weapons like his other charms and items. What he was setting out to make would be complete vanity items that had no purpose other than being a gift.

*****

Val sat on the stone bench and stared over the water below. She breathed deep of the damp, fall air and picked up the faint scent of decay on the breeze as it came off the water and through the trees. The hilltop park was empty except for them, likely due to the prospect of rain later that day.

"It really is a beautiful area." Kristi said from her left. She was also sitting on the bench and staring out to the lake. "I like how varied the land is."

Reaching out, Val grabbed her hand. "Is that the only thing you like about being here?"

Kristi huffed but didn't pull away. "No, if anything it's a fringe benefit." She turned to look at Val. "I-I really like being with you and Kurt."

"Oh? Why is that?" She pivoted, bringing one leg up to sit across the bench as she faced the dragoness.

"Because I feel… I don't know how to describe it." Kristi began but had to stop and consider her position. "I want to say it's a sense of belonging but that's not right and it's not exactly a family thing."

"Pack." Val said with a sage nod.

"Sure, let's go with that." Kristi shrugged.

Val stared at her for a few more seconds. "Is that all?"

Kristi bit at her lip a moment before responding. "No, it's also Kurt. I didn't know how much having a-a… I don't know what to call it."

Once more, Val came to the rescue. "A mate would probably be an apt description."

"A mate… I-I think I like that." Kristi whispered.

"Is that all you like? Having Kurt as a mate?

Shaking her head, Kristi took a breath and closed her eyes, trying to remember the technique she had done with Kurt on their first night together. "I-I like you too, Val."

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Val raised an eyebrow at the sight of Kristi sitting there with her eyes closed but didn't comment on it, instead pressing her a little more. "As a friend?" She almost felt bad when she saw her flinch.

"No." Came the whisper that was nearly lost on the wind. "I thi-think more than that." Kristi gripped Val's hand a little harder and turned to face her. "I just… I could hardly begin to hope for a man to be with, let alone to have a girlfriend too."

Kristi pushed on while Val just sat quietly. "I didn't know I felt that way about women. It's umm… not normal for my people. But lately it's been something I think about." She was beginning to blush, her cheeks starting to show a hint of pink.

"Is it something you want to explore?" Val was more than a little interested in the idea. "Not saying we have to get it on right now but maybe baby steps."

"Tha-that would… umm…" Kristi looked away and began to chew on her lip.

"Hey, hey." Val scooted a little closer "It's ok. If it's new to you then we can take it slow." She was holding Kristi's hand with both of her own now. "Can I tell you something?"

"S-sure."

"I didn't really feel that way before you came to live with us. Its new to me too." Val admitted. It was the truth, which also helped calm Kristi.

"Really?" Kristi immediately looked back to her. "But you seemed so confident."

"That's just the way I am I guess." Val said with a smile and a head tilt. "It was only after Kurt and I had been left alone that my instincts were actually pushing me toward him. Something about him is magnetic to my kitsune half."

Kristi thought for a little longer. "And when I came along?"

"It seemed like the logical thing to do. I already loved you as a friend but with us living together and knowing your interest in him, I kind of made a decision to bring us all together." Val paused and considered before speaking again.

"I didn't think I could at first, be with a woman I mean, but over these couple weeks, I seem to be more comfortable." Val admitted.

"Me too." Kristi was glad to hear that Val had a similar situation to her own. "I was always a little curious about you. Then after Kurt invited me to live with you, it just became something I found myself thinking about."

"The showers probably have something to do with that." Val said with a smirk.

"Haha, probably." Kristi smiled at her. "Just can we, maybe start slow?"

"Do you want to do things with Kurt or on our own?"

Kristi thought for a minute. "I don't know. Maybe if we just try like… holding hands or cuddling?

"Ooo, some uncensored hand holding." Val bounced her eyebrows. "We can keep it PG thirteen for now. It's just weird that we are all in this relationship together and we share a bed to sleep but not for sex. I mean, I get it, that is a big step and kinda weird without all of us doing it."

"Yeah that would be weird, just one of us sitting there watching."

"Kinda hot though. Right?" Val offered, hoping to create some dialogue about how sex would work. She wasn't exactly fond of their current arrangement, she wished it happened more naturally. With how they would split up for some sex with Kurt then rejoin after to sleep was uncomfortable for her.

Kristi raised her eyebrows at that. "Umm, not really?"

Val deflated a little. "Oh, sorry, misread that one."

"It's ok, we just need to figure this out. Just like you said, we are all new to this." Kristi reassured her friend and soon to be lover.

"Yeah, you're right." Val said with a little smile. "Think we should head back and see what Kurt has gotten up to?"

"Yeah, tha…" Kristi was interrupted when Val darted in for a kiss.

The hand that had been idly playing with the hem of her shirt snaked its way up Kristi's arm to the back of her neck and pulled her head down as Val pressed her lips to Kristi's. The kiss was passionate, but not to the point that they needed to deepen it or involve tongue.

The kiss lasted for a few more seconds, they slowly ran their hands over each other as they scooted a little closer on the bench. "Mmmm." Val moaned a little into Kristi's mouth as they made out. The noise seemed to pull them back to reality and they broke the kiss, pulling away slowly.

"Th-that was n-nice." Kristi said as she caught her breath. "I think I can handle a little more like that."

Val smiled at her and stood, pulling Kristi up with her. "Good, cause' I really liked that. Come on, let's get back to Kurt and see what sort of trouble he got into."

"Fine but at least pretend speed limits are a thing this time."

*****

"I told you that you need to wait." Kurt said before putting his fork full of sweet potato into his mouth.

"And I told you that I'm done." Val huffed from the other side of the table.

"Listen, babe…"

"Don't babe me. You can't just do shit like this and expect to get away with it!" Val was now standing and leaning over the table, trying to glare down at him.

Kurt sighed heavily before setting down his fork and looking to Kristi who just shrugged and kept eating. "Val, sweetheart, my lover and partner…" he clasped his hands together and looked at her. "…When I said I have a surprise for you after dinner, I meant after all of us were done eating."

He couldn't believe he was having this conversation. Kurt had met the girls in the kitchen, prepping some sweet potato slices for baking after coating them with oil, salt and garlic powder. They had asked about his day, and he shared what he had done with the plans for the extra room in the basement, showing Kristi his drawing.

Then, while he was putting the pork chops on the grill, they had asked if that was all. Naturally he said he had a surprise for them after dinner and left it at that. He should have noticed the way Val's eyes narrowed, while she began lingering around him a little closer than normal. That had led him to the current conversation after Val had nearly inhaled her dinner.

"Yes, well, you didn't specify after whose dinner." Val said.

"Dinner is an event. A race isn't over just because the first person crosses the finish line, they still keep going until everyone has placed." Kurt said, loading a fork with porkchop, green beans and potato before taking another bite.

"But first place gets to go off and celebrate their victo…I mean finishing." Protested the kitsune.

Kristi unwisely chose this moment to weigh in with her opinion. "Just be thankful he doesn't count desert in with part of dinner. And technically, tomorrow morning is after dinner. Oh, and he didn't specify which…."

"Kristi, I love you, but shut the hell up before he gets any more funny ideas about what qualifies as 'after dinner'." Val growled.

"Would you feel better if I gave you your gift while we finish?" Kurt asked. It was almost too easy for him, as her ears perked back up and her tail flickered back and forth.

"OH, YES PLEASE!" She howled, making grabby hands and sitting back in her seat.

Kurt summoned the necklace out of his storage ring and placed it in her palm. "There you go. I made this for you."

He handed her the necklace he had made that afternoon. The chain was actually a braid of silver and gold wire that wrapped and coiled like flattened rope and would always lay nicely around the neck due to the enchantment. From a separate loop hung an oval, silver pendant an inch across and two inches long, with gold inlayed into the runes that circled a small section of crystal from their second rift.

Val looked at the necklace. "It's beautiful!" She said while holding it up and looking at it from every angle, trying to read the runes that were carved into it. "What is the enchantment?"

Kurt looked up to her, feigning surprise. "Oh. You just get the necklace now. I will tell you what it does after dinner." He then ducked and extended his hand to catch the water glass she had thrown at him.

"Tsk, tsk. Temper, Val." Kristi said while speeding up her eating a little. "He just did what you asked. If you wanted more, you should have been more specific."

"Th-that… Fine. We can do this your way." Huffed Val as she sat heavily in her chair. After about thirty seconds of fidgeting, she looked back to the necklace. "It really is beautiful, by the way."

"Well, thank you." Kurt said and shared a little look with Kristi.

The more patient members of the trio finished their meals, studiously ignoring the occasionally twitching Val. They talked about their day and what they hoped to get done the next day before they went out for their first session of D&D. Eventually, they had cleared their plates and Kurt figured it was time to get on with the show.

"Kristi, this one is for you." He said and handed one nearly identical necklace to Kristi before he summoned a third. He opened the clasp on his and gestured for the girls to follow. "Alright ladies, on they go."

They all looped the chains around their necks and hooked the clasp together before letting the necklace hang naturally. "And a little mana…" Kurt said, touching his pendant with his finger and pushing a little energy into it.

The girls followed suit and all three necklaces shrunk and seemed to turn transparent, like they weren't even there. Val looked curiously at the other two while Kurt sat smugly.

"Umm. What do they do?" She asked, causing Kristi to look up from where her new necklace was brushing her first necklace.

Kurt gestured with his finger to the pendant. "Now that they are activated, focus on the pendant." Val did just that, closing her eyes to help her focus. She immediately felt what the enchantment was supposed to do and gasped.

When she focused on the enchantment, Val instantly felt the two other presences that were around her. They appeared in her mind as little flames that seemed to glow in their own colors. Kurt was a bright amber flame that was almost blinding with its intensity. Kristi's was a scintillating emerald, green that shimmered and danced in her mind's eye.

Just knowing where they were seemed to be an after effect after first inspection. As Val continued to focus, she noticed a certain instinct in her mind that told her the feelings of each flame. Kurt's amber flame was filled with amusement and adoration that was directed at her along with a passionate warmth that seemed to radiate outward to both her Kristi.

The dragoness had a flame that was filled with nervousness and confidence that seemed to war with each other as her attention shifted around. Both of the flames emitted a feeling of love that washed out and over her own blue sparking flame.

"I-I can feel you. I can feel your thoughts." Val said.

"No, not thoughts, emotions." Kurt corrected. "I know how much you desire closeness and familiarity, so I made something that would remove any doubt about how we all feel toward each other. There will still be a need to explain some things with real words since all you feel is the base emotion, but this should help."

He continued to explain. "It's a complete vanity item in the enchanting world known as 'The lover's truth' but I thought it fit the bill for something to share with you."

Val opened her eyes to see Kurt smiling at her from his seat while Kristi clasped his hand and wiped a tear from her eye. She didn't know what to say, or how to even begin to express her feelings over the gift. She stood up and walked around the table to Kurt's open arms.

She flung herself into them and he hugged her tight. "Thank you." Was all she could say between sniffles. He just stroked her hair and rubbed her back before pulling Kristi up to join in the group hug.

They stayed like that for several minutes before deciding that they needed to have some cuddle time on the couch before bed. Val spent the entire night marveling at the gift and how it had exactly addressed her concerns over their relationship.

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