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7:44 pm EST

Hours of intense discussion had finally been interrupted by the arrival of their dinner.  DK and Jack had been full of questions, which John and Aeryn had tried to answer as best as they could.  Even though John had needed to repeat everything she said, Aeryn felt fully included in the conversation. She couldn't ever remember having been accepted so readily.  It was a good feeling, she decided.

They moved from the living room to the kitchen.  DK paid the delivery boy, then entered the kitchen and dropped a flat box on the table.  Amazing smells emanated from the container, and Aeryn inhaled appreciatively. Placing an armful of metal cylinders next to the box, John sat down across from DK and motioned for Aeryn to sit next to him.  Jack passed everyone a thin plate, then sat at the head of the table.  Aeryn watched John grab a silver cylinder and manipulate a lever on the top.  An explosive pop followed, startling her.  He grinned and handed it to her.  "Here.  It's beer.  Remember?  You liked it.  Besides, it goes great with pizza."

She remembered, but she wasn't sure about this odd container.  John had told her that it was made of staoin, so the idea of drinking from it seemed odd. Experimentally sniffing the 'beer', Aeryn wrinkled her nose and thrust the cylinder back into John's hands.  "Ugh, Crichton, it smells like dren!"

DK and Jack laughed, not needing a translation to understand her reaction. John just stared at her, confused.  She had liked it before; even compared it to Fellip Nectar.  Then it dawned on him.  It had probably been Fellip Nectar.  He had expected it to taste like beer, so it had.  But Aeryn had no perception of what 'beer' tasted like, so she had tasted the liquid for what it really was.  Intrigued by his discovery, he reached over and grabbed another cylinder, this one red.  "All right then, try this.  Soda.  It's a bit more... tame than beer."

This one smelled better, so Aeryn took a hesitant sip, then a larger one. The sweet liquid made her nose tickle.  "Okay?"  John asked.  She nodded appreciatively and turned her attention to the box as DK finally opened it. He pulled out multi-colored wedges of something that looked rather... slimy. Her apprehensiveness about its appearance was immediately outweighed by the wonderful smell.

John closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.  "Oh God, pizza," he groaned. Opening one eye, he looked pointedly at Aeryn.  "Sausage pizza."  Having absolutely no idea what he was talking about, she simply smiled and took another drink.

The pizza tasted as good as it smelled.  John drained his beer, then switched to soda.  Aeryn was quietly savoring the new tastes and smells when DK suddenly raised his cylinder.  "A toast."

John and his father nodded and raised their drinks to touch DK's.  John turned to explain to Aeryn, but she merely raised an eyebrow and followed along.

DK cleared his throat.  "To John, who certainly knows something about making the best of a bad situation."

Everyone laughed, and DK looked across the table to John, who suddenly became very serious.  "To home.  Wherever it may be."

Jack nodded knowingly.  "To family.  Whoever they may be." His gaze rested on DK for a moment, then he turned to Aeryn, a small smile softening the harsh lines of his face.  "And to Aeryn, for gracing this household with beauty it hasn't seen in a long, long time."

DK whooped in agreement, gulping down the remainder of his beer.  John softly seconded DK's response, then glanced at Aeryn.  Catching her eye, he winked, then reached out and traded drinks with her.  DK and Jack exchanged a curious look, but Aeryn and John just laughed as he tilted her can to his mouth.

Aeryn took a long drink of John's soda as DK turned to her.  "So, Aeryn, what's the food like in space?"  A funny feeling rumbled through her chest as she opened her mouth to respond.

BRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAPPPPPP

John choked on the soda.  Aeryn clapped her hand over her mouth, mortified. Hezmana, that was worse than Rygel!  After a second of silence, DK started to roar.  He doubled over with laughter, finally rolling out of his chair to collapse on the floor.  John's father swallowed a bite of pizza, wiped his lips with a napkin, then smiled gently at Aeryn.  "Well, my dear, that one certainly came from your toes."

Aeryn glared accusingly at John, whose eyes glinted with amusement.  He recognized that look and hid his mouth with his napkin, knowing better than to let her see him laughing.  DK could get away with it, but she'd probably kill him for it - she definitely knew how...  Trying to regain his composure, he cleared his throat, then explained, "It's the soda.  It's carbonated.  Don't worry, it happens to everyone.  Really.  We just say 'excuse me' and it's fine."

Aeryn dropped her hand and looked suspiciously at him.  "I say 'excuse me.' And then it's fine."

John risked a grin.  "Yeah, that's it."  She muttered something under her breath that he couldn't quite catch as DK pulled himself back up to the table.

Jack smiled at Aeryn again and told her, "It's all right, Aeryn.  I imagine this is all rather new to you."

Wiping his eyes with his sleeve, DK finally recovered some self-control. "Wow.  Impressive.  What a - OW!"  He reached down to rub his shin and glared at John, who looked back innocently.  DK's mouth quirked into a devilish grin.  "Sorry, but you're the first woman John's ever brought home who wasn't too snotty to drink soda out of a can, much less show her appreciation for the meal."

Now it was John's turn to glare.  Aeryn looked questioningly at him. "There's that word again.  Surely it can't mean..."

John quickly interrupted her.  "It's a good thing.  Really."  He glared at DK again, who just smirked back - but not before quickly shifting his legs to the side.  Giving up, John finally had to laugh.


Part four or bust
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