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"What should I cook for dinner that a water dragon would like?" Jenny asked as Nodrog played with Harley out in the living room one evening. Mianth had sent her a little note asking if she had some time they could go to Amber's store.

"Mianth eats the same kind of things you and Alice do. She is an omnivore, though I cannot recall her eating really spicy things." Nodrog smiled as Harley tried to write his name on the paper she was mostly scribbling on. "She usually goes for sweeter things or a bit vinegary."

"So maybe like a sweet barbeque chicken with pineapple and a salad." Jenny pulled out a cook book and started thumbing thru it.

Nodrog wrote Harley's name on the sheet, his penmanship was much easier for her to read than Jenny's, much to Jenny's ire. "I am sure she would like something like that. You don't have to get any special ingredients either, as dragons can eat pretty much anything that counts as food."

"That is actually really helpful. I might have to find a couple pricklypiples for Alice, I bet they would be awesome grilled with barbecue sauce on them. Dallarth had some with a more Asian sauce grilled at the field ball game after party." Jenny's stomach rumbled a little at the thought. "I had forgotten about them until now, I know Alice would have loved them."

Jenny walked over to plop down on the couch. "Does Mianth's love of sweet go to desserts?"

"Of course. Tunrog says she really loves chocolate cheese cake, tries to get a slice every time she comes to this world." Nodrog and Jenny smiled as Harley pointed to each name and said it.

"Good job Harley. Did you just ask him for me?" Jenny could only identify the scribbled people by the name under each but the scribbled names were slowly getting easier to read.

"No, he had actually been inquiring about monetary exchange rates, and wanted to know how much Roslyn's dress cost. So Mianth would know roughly how much she should bring with her." Nodrog needed to practice a little more with his own art, though he could tell his sketch of Harley was good enough, Jenny was a bit jealous.

"Roslyn's was close to six hundred. Our wedding dresses were much less, I think a little over one hundred each. Material cost almost affects price more than style." Jenny had not told him or Roslyn how much she had spent on that dress until now, because she didn't want Roslyn to throw a fit about Jenny spending so much money on her.

"He appreciates it, and we won't tell Roslyn, because she would get upset about it. Mianth has seen a few of your wedding photos and Roslyn in the lovely dress you got for her, so that will give her a good price range I would think." Nodrog returned Harley's hug after her gave her the picture of her he had sketched out.

"You did remind her it is winter and isn't supposed to be above freezing the weekend she will be in town?" Jenny asked.

"Tunrog will be sure to pass that along as well." Nodrog chuckled. "We earth elementals don't think about those things."

"That is why I reminded you about it. And you are sure you don't mind watching Harley a couple days next week?" Jenny asked.

"I only have a couple of things to do, and she can come with me on all of those. I have to watch Victoria on two of those days so I have already planned ahead." Nodrog smiled. "Plus Amber is in town and I am sure she won't mind helping me watch them at a band practice."

Jenny crossed her arms. "I have a hard time believing they like having kids that young in the club."

Nodrog got up on the couch and put his arm around Jenny. "Don't be silly; Harley and Victoria are better behaved than you most of the time. And it only bothers Winston because his mother wants more cute grandbabies."

"I should be upset about what you just said, but it is partly true. And Amber does love Victoria and Harley." Jenny helped Harley climb up into her lap. "You know with all the... scary stuff I've seen, when I see you with the kids it makes me forget about the monster."

Nodrog gave her a kiss on the cheek before getting up to head for his apartment. "They help me forget that too."

Amber's visit was as busy as always, as she tried to spend time with everyone she could. Of course watching the two young girls at a practice was no trouble at all, as Victoria and Harley were always well behaved for grandma white wolf. Sherman had told his mother about how Harley did not have grandparents on Jenny's side of the family, so Amber decided she could be a stand in grandma for Harley. The two girls were also happy to get lunch one day with Amber and Lucy, as not much could be any better than two grandmas.

Nodrog noticed the children did always seem to be on better behavior when they were just with him. He thought it might be to the little magic tricks he entertained them with or ignoring their parent's orders to not feed them certain food. Or it could be that whole dragon made of metal thing that always knew what they were doing even when out of visual sight. Amber and Lucy figured it was the whole uncle thing.

All of the women who attended important meetings and Dmitri found it odd just how well behaved the children were with the two imposing men. It did make the meeting slightly more entertaining as Harley sat on the table next to Marko and held up random sheets of paper. It aggravated Tabatha to no end to have the sheets out of order, but Marko didn't care in the slightest. Victoria was content to nap on Nodrog's tail never making so much as a peep the entire time.

Sherman and Jenny had other meetings to attend and were unsure what to think as they found Marko and Nodrog walking with other company heads, while Victoria rode on Nodrog's tail and Harley sat on one of Marko's shoulders. However one of the Velopian CEO's had a child with her, and she looked a little jealous of Victoria. That was part of the reason Nodrog had the girls with him at the meeting, so the Velopian woman would feel less uncomfortable about having her own daughter with her. As the babysitter had an emergency of her own and couldn't make the trip to Earth.

"Down peas." Harley said with a smile and giggled most of the nearly seven foot trip from shoulder to the floor. She ran over to Jenny to be picked up again in a hug.

Victoria sort of wobbled over to her father and just reached up with her hands. "I didn't expect them to go with you to a meeting."

Marko smiled. "It was fine, as Ms. Forestkeeper had her own daughter with her today."

"All three of them perfect little angles." Nodrog smiled. "Though Victoria napped thru most of it."

"Almost like her dad." Jenny teased and waved to the little Velopian girl. "I like your bows, green is my favorite color."

The small girl blushed and made some gestures with her hands. Before her mother could say what she had signed Jenny responded and her eyes widened that someone knew sign language.

"You are welcome." Jenny pointed to her collar. "Magic translator even works with sign language."

Ms. Forestkeeper smiled. "I did not know the collars could translate sign languages. That is quite interesting, is there any it does not translate?"

"It does not work for draconic, but it seems to handle everything else well." Jenny carried Harley as they walked across the grounds to the off world living quarters.

"None of the magic translators seem to work with dragon, I do not suppose you know why that is Nodrog?" Ms. Forestkeeper asked.

"I do, and that was Glados' decision a long time ago. They also do not translate High Realm or Daemon Lord, for the same reason. Gods and devils prefer to keep their secrets." Nodrog offered no more past that, and was proud of the fact Jenny didn't hesitate to lie about what her collar could do.

Jenny spotted Mianth walking over to them. She was not as bundled up as much as the rest of them were. The cute elemental had on a navy blue baret with a matching navy blue peacoat with polished brass buttons that went down to her knees and black knee high leather boots. She had a lighter blue scarf around her neck and was all smiles as she talked with Ambassador Sharn as the two groups met.

Mianth's smile grew as Harley tried to say her name. "Almost got it that time."

"I had thought you were more of a tropical water dragon, and would be freezing." Sherman chuckled as Victoria pointed to Sharn's antlers in awe.

"Elemental magic, I hate being too bundled up." Mianth giggled and took Harley from Jenny at Harley's insistence. "Such pretty eyes."

The group did not stay outside for long before they headed inside while Jenny, Mianth and Harley hopped on a trolley to head downtown. Harley insisted on walking, though was in awe as Mianth just made snow piles move out of their way without more than a simple hand gesture. Snow was just frozen water after all as Mianth explained to the young girl.

They did a little window shopping as now down town the wind was not quite as cold. Jenny and Mianth were holding one of Harley's hands. "Did you have a particular style in mind or are we just kind of seeing what catches your eye?"

"There is a little formal event Tunrog and I are attending later, so I am looking for something a bit more on the formal side. Though a couple simple dresses like your wedding dress would be nice for just going out with friends or on a date would also be nice." Mianth put a finger up to her cheek thoughtfully. "Your flower maiden, was just so cute."

"I thought so as well. Here we are, doesn't look too busy at the moment." Jenny pulled open the door and the three of them hurried inside.

Amber leaned out from behind a display. "Hello Jenny, just have to get a few things hung up and I'll be with you and your friend. Brie is in the back if Harley wants to go play."

Jenny was taking Harley's coat and boots off. "I'll send her back that way. Amber this is my friend Mianth."

Amber had ducked back behind the display. "It is a pleasure to meet you Mianth. There should be a couple catalogs on the counter in the middle."

Marcus had opened the child gate for Harley as he headed out to the front. "Always good to see you Jenny, and who is your lovely friend, and where did she get that wonderful coat?"

"This is Mianth, as for the coat she would have to tell you that." Jenny pulled her own coat off and waited for Mianth to pull hers off. "Marcus helps design and sew, but primarily he is a photographer."

"Nice to meet you both, I am a little familiar with your work since I have seen some of Jenny's wedding photos and the dress you made her friend Roslyn." Mianth had spotted a few cute or pretty things already and headed to the counter to look at the catalog. "The coat I picked up at a Velopian department store."

Amber made her way to the counter and now noticed Mianth's horns and tail. "You are one of the first dragons I have had come in, a few of the Velopians have been in. So what are you looking for?"

Mianth told them she was looking for something a bit formal and maybe one or two cute things for just going out with friends or a date. Budget she was still not sure on, as while Tunrog had explained the exchange rate, Mianth had not actually understood it at all. However Nodrog assured her, he could cover any costs and she could just pay him back later if she spent more than she had brought.

Mianth's style was simple and a bit tropical as she loved more vibrant colors and flowing fabrics. She did not have a lot of curve or bust to be showing off or try and emphasize as other women had, though her thicker tail did tend to need a little most custom tailoring than other dragons. Something she was sure Amber could handle given the quality of everything she saw in the store.

Amber took Mianth's measurements and she tried a few things on, and both took a little liking to the blushing Jenny did when asked her opinion on things. Mianth did like the style of Roslyn's evening gown, but didn't want a copy. So she asked for a lace up back, to help keep the dress snug around her tail and a little shorter hem line. It would also have to be a lighter shade, and Mianth was astounded by the color selection Amber had on hand.

Mianth narrowed it down to a few and Jenny pointed out she kept going back to a color that was a bit teal and aquamarine, the color was called Tropicana Cabana. Which Mianth picked partly due to its actual color and partly because it was fun to say. She already had a clutch that would go with the color nicely, and had some slip on canvas shoes that would also go with it, unless she went barefoot which was more likely.

While they had talked length and other design elements Marcus had pulled another dress off a hanger with a back style Mianth was kind of thinking about. Jenny had also found a cute dress while Amber and Mianth finished out the details and how much it would cost. Along with taking a measurement around Mianth's tail where the dress would wrap, all of her other measurements were rather standard of a slimmer woman.

"I usually try and do at least one fitting before I finish the dress. How often do you come to our world?" Amber asked as Marcus figured a rough estimate on cost. They liked to get at least half down.

"If you called Jenny, she can get a hold of me easily and I can drop in just about any time." Mianth did not notice Amber's confusion.

Jenny giggled. "Mianth, like all dragons can teleport anywhere in the universe. She is actually one of the ship navigators and it is her magic that makes the ship travel from world to world."

"I thought the ships were all technology based?" Marcus set down his calculator and handed the paper to Amber to look over. "I did not think magic was so powerful."

"Some of the ships are all tech and science. A few races distrust magic and use their science instead. The Velopians rely more on magic."

Amber glanced over the list and laid it out so Mianth and Jenny could look it over. "I think my sister told me a bit about it... like car stuff she loses me in the technical stuff quickly. This is the cost break down: material and supplies, and of course time."

To Mianth it was just numbers with no meaning behind them, thankfully Jenny had explained everything was fairly standard for this kind of quality and labor. Actually Jenny thought Amber and Marcus might have given Mianth a bit of a discount. If Mianth came back tomorrow she could take one of the already made dresses home with her as the alteration would not take long.

With that taken care of Mianth paid them half and they headed back to the apartment for dinner and dessert. Alice had texted Jenny that she had remembered to pick up the decadent creation from one of their favorite bakeries on her way home from the shop.

"I did not know, Nodrog could draw." Mianth mused as she noticed the artwork hanging on the fridge. She was sitting at the bar watching Jenny prepare dinner; though she had offered to help, even if it was to cut things up for the salad.

Jenny glanced at the drawing. "I did not know that either, it's the first thing I have seen him do artistically that was not music."

"Actually it should not be a surprise to me, as earth elementals of any kind are artistically gifted. They have more patience then the rest of us I suppose, and are some of the most well known; artificers, jewelers, sculptures and artists in the universe." Mianth gave it a little more thought. "Generally their art tends to be stationary unless it is intricate clockwork. The other elementals are better known for their performing art."

Jenny poured some Worchester sauce in the blender with her other spices and ingredients for her barbeque sauce. "Now that I think about it, that does make sense given that earth does not tend to move, and all other elements do. This won't be spicy as Alice and my daughter do not care for spicy."

"I just don't like heat for the sake of just making something hot. A little heat for flavor is okay. If you like spicy, Tunrog or Dallarth would be happy to go eat spicy just for spicy. They like stuff that makes my eyes water just smelling it." Mianth smiled and laughed as Jenny wrote that down.

"Roslyn loves spicy as much as I do; we frequent a noodle place that has some dishes for fire eaters. I'll have to tell them how to get there if I can't go with them." Jenny pulled out the chicken to prep it now that the sauce was ready.

"I think you should just be an off world tour guide, you really know where to go for any kind of thing. Cirrus and the others had mentioned how well you knew the area." Mianth really just liked everything about Jenny; every interaction has always been enjoyable. Actually she could say the same about Alice as the mouse came out from the bedroom after giving Harley a bath.

Alice put Harley in a highchair so she could watch from the counter as well. "That is not the first time I have heard that. Did you have any luck finding a dress today?"

"I found a couple actually. I will certainly be making that one of my stops on longer layovers, as I am sure some of the other ladies I work with would want to go." Mianth turned to Alice. "So Alice, Lorain was wondering if you would be competing in the desert race next year. And she also wanted to know what you really thought of this year's race."

Alice smiled. "You can tell her I will be there and I will have one meaning looking four wheel drive. Also I loved this year's race, I figured her or Sidney would beat me first."

"Out of all the worlds I have been to, the Velopian and Salak worlds are my favorites." Jenny poured the sauce into the cooker and then added the chicken and pineapple before locking the lid on and selecting the cook temperature and time. "Now we wait for the cooker to do its thing."

"Do you have a favorite world Mianth?" Alice asked as she freed Harley from the highchair and they went to the living room.

"I enjoy the culture and life outlook of the Velopians the most. However, the Amazon's home world is just so beautiful with so many beautiful places to swim." Mianth sat on the couch in Nodrog's usual spot.

Jenny sat on the floor near the coffee table to draw with Harley. "I agree with both of those. But for space aliens, the Salak's world is what I always thought of when thinking about futuristic space going alien people. All those robots and cyborgs, self driving vehicles and technology everywhere."

"I am curious as to Mianth's home world. Is it one we have been to or is it more magical in everything like the council world?" Alice asked.

"My home world is Ketref, which is kind of like here, if here didn't have so much land. Its nearly ninety percent water, with volcanic islands dotted along the equator, in fact the three largest cities are all under water with most inhabitants being water elemental or merfolk." Mianth had been keeping in touch with letters.

"I kind of want to go, but I don't think I could leave any of the islands long enough to go see the underwater cities." Jenny shivered at the thought of all of the jelly fish that must live on such a world.

Mianth looked at Jenny; she did not expect the cat girl to be afraid of swimming. "Why is that? You look like you are a good swimmer."

"Jenny had a bad experience with the ocean when she was younger that makes it hard for her to get into open water. Swimming pools she is fine, and is a great swimmer, took state once at least." Alice smiled at Jenny.

Mianth smiled at Jenny. "Nothing to be ashamed of, that is not the first time I have heard of someone being afraid of open water."

"Maybe if it was a different world you would be okay, I doubt all oceans have jellyfish. And you did seem a little jealous of the dive conditions out west." Alice thought maybe it would be a chance for Jenny to get over her fear.

"You have fish made out of jelly? Like the jelly you put on toast jelly?" Mianth could not imagine how such a thing could be.

Jenny and Alice laughed, Harley did too but she didn't get the joke. The two of them tried to describe the critter, but had to look them up on a phone to find a picture as descriptions did not convey what a jellyfish was.

"Oh, sting blobs. I know what those are some of them are pretty good on toast actually. Though a few can be really dangerous, so I can understand why you would be afraid." Mianth gave it some thought. "The worst ones are on the Amazon world; their poison can even harm large mammals and even some dragons."

"That is terrifying; I shall not even get on a boat on the Amazon world now." Jenny would probably have nightmares about them now.

"The ones on my home world are pretty tame, none could harm a child as they are just filters basically and only can feed off things that have died. They don't taste good though." Mianth laughed.

"Okay that doesn't sound so bad." Jenny's mind had gone more to thinking of Mianth in a cute bikini than actually swimming. The two of them were pretty similar in body type, slim and athletic. Jenny was a little more tan than Mianth, but they were the same cup size. Mianth's smile and laugh had hooked the cat girl like catnip.

Dinner did not take long and Harley was happy that Mianth would sit next to her at the table. Jenny had grilled the couple of pricklypiples on an electric grill as she figured the pressure cooker would have turned them to mush. The barbeque sauce had some sweet and a little vinegar bite in it which Mianth loved on both the chicken and the pineapple. She also really enjoyed the Caesar style dressing on the salad as canned anchovies were also one of her favorite little treats.

Alice absolutely loved the pricklypiples and pineapple, and even though the dressing did have fish in it, she liked Caesar salad. Jenny had gotten some day old bread from the cafeteria and made her own croutons which Alice loved. But most of the afternoon Alice's mind was more thinking about cheesecake and not much else. As they had splurged a little and gotten a larger one than they really needed even counting Mianth.

"Oh my goddesses, I have not seen one like this before." Mianth's tail swayed happily behind her as she watched Jenny set the delightful dark decadence down on the table. It was far taller and beautifully decorated with chocolate shavings and butter cream flowers. Honestly she was a bit glad for her draconic metabolism, as she wanted a large piece of this and it looked like the kind of dessert that went straight to one's hips.

"We might have spoiled ourselves with this one a bit." Alice admitted as Jenny carefully cut into the cake.

"I usually bake our sweets myself, but with all the other things I had to do the last few days. I thought it better to order something instead." Jenny was careful in how she cut the cake and pulled the first slice from the whole and lay it on a plate. This much sweet might but them all in a food coma.

With a fair bit of restraint Mianth and Alice both waited for Jenny to get her own piece before they dug into theirs. Harley did not and wasted little time in scarfing down her small slice quickly. Failing to appreciate the delicate flavors and subtle hints of different chocolates in the different parts of the cake, but she wasn't really old enough to appreciate them.

For the three ladies, it was sinfully delightful, and worth savoring every rich chocolate bite. Indeed a slice of heaven to indulge in without worrying about calories or exercise, though they would work off the calories a little later. As Mianth would need to pay Tunrog a little visit later this evening and Jenny would quietly wait for Harley to be put to bed so she and Alice could have a little adult entertainment in their bedroom.