Chris moved close to Mary and put his arms around her. She flinched, clearly fighting back the urge to do him serious harm. He found it absolutely electrifying, and felt his canines lengthening with the thrill surging through his veins. He took a few seconds to regain his composure- the last thing he needed was a pair of hysterical parents.

Chris: "Just one of the many things I love about you."

There was a loud crash from downstairs. Mary took the opening, pulling harshly away from Chris. From the corner of her eye she thought she saw Andy stifling a slight laugh.

Caroline: "My goodness, what was that?"

Markus shouted up to them from downstairs-
Markus: "Sorry! I dropped a plate!"

Joseph: "Must have been a big plate."

The serving platter Markus broke over the head of one of the zombies exploded with a dramatic crash, but otherwise had no affect on it whatsoever. Tristan gave him a harsh look and motioned up the stairs.

Tristan: "Shhhh! Try killing them more quietly!"

Markus looked up toward the top of the stairs-
Markus: "Sorry! I dropped a plate!"

Tristan: "James? You still alive under there?"
James: "Mmb bmmm mmmph!"

Markus: "This is hopeless! We're doing something wrong!"
James: "Gaaammmmph!"
Abigail: "In the name of Bondyè, be gone!"

The zombies suddenly began pulling away from James, then made their way out the door with a lurching gate. Markus, Tristan, and James turned and stared gape-mouthed at the woman standing in the hallway, her fierce stance making her seem taller than her 5 foot frame.

Abigail: "Markus, didn't your mother teach you not to go around touching antiquities and talking about zombies?"

Her voice was thick with a Caribbean accent.

Markus: "Grandma?"
James: "Abigail?"

Tristan sat down heavily on the bench in the hallway, half-wishing he had some popcorn for the show playing out in front of him.

Markus: "Abigail?!"
James: "Grandma?!"

Abigail: "Markus, don't you have a hug for your grandma?"

Markus shook off the shock of the situation and grabbed his grandmother up in a big hug.

James: "That was amazing timing, Abby."

Markus: "What are you doing here, Nana?"
Abigail: "I go where I'm called. And, no, Markus- James is not your grandfather."

James: "I can't believe you remember me after all these years!"
Abigail: "James, you're not one who's easily forgotten."