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[oom: Shufti has a difficult conversation with Jack.]

It's been a tough day, and with Jack shutting himself in his room all evening, Shufti isn't quite sure what to do. Mumsnet didn't have a section on what to do if your child's biological father lives in another universe.

Still, there are things that need doing, so the first thing she does when she gets back, after her usual 'In/out' notice with Bar, is to leave a note on the board in the office. Then she gets a decaf tea and sits at the bar, pinning on her Security badge, and keeping an eye on the place.

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"Greetings," Teja says, walking up to her. He has a mug of tea, and seems quite relaxed.

"Hello Teja." Shufti nods at him.

"I have not seen you in a while," Teja says. "How are you faring?"

"Have you seen my note in the office?"

"I did," Teja says. "Congratulations!"

Grin. "Thanks. I'm not very far gone so I haven't told many people yet. But I'm doing okay, bit of morning sickness but not too bad."

"I know not much of it, and never shall," Teja says. "But one assumes that is good, and quite usual?"

Shufti smirks. "It's usual, probably more 'normal' than good really."

Slight sigh. "I told the kids tonight. Jack didn't take it that well."

"He does not wish for yet another sibling?" Teja says.

"He asked a load of questions about his biological dad." Shufti says. "I thought he knew, we'd told him when he was small, but I guess he forgot."

"It is important for him, as he is old enough to define himself, not merely by what he is told," Teja says.

"He is nine now. Time goes fast." Shufti nods. "CJ has always been his Dad but it's natural to ask questions."

"Rarely does a child grow up on a world not his own," Teja says, "and knowing it. So yes of course he would ask questions; and one day, he might wish to go to the Disc."

"He has already asked... I think the chances of us finding his father would be very low, and perhaps we should wait until he is older. It would be a very long journey and there's no guarantee Johnny is still alive."

"But he might at least see the world that he hails from," Teja points out.

"I have no problem with that." Shufti admits. "I always planned to take him, and Leah too, when they were older. Finding Johnny would be an entirely different matter."

"Do you think he would wish to be found?" Teja says.

"The last time I saw him he wanted custody so Jack could be his heir." Shufti says. "He even tried to snatch him once. When that didn't work, he tried to pretend an orphan was his until he found the child's parents."

"Might that still be a problem?" Teja says.

"Depends whether time is moving on the Disc." Shufti says. "Nobody would believe that the nine year old Jack is the son of the twenty year old Johnny."

"Indeed," Teja says. "Nor would he himself."

"Well he's going to notice I'm not seventeen any more."

"Indeed," Teja says, "if time has stopped there, then you are older now than he is."

"On the other hand, if time has been moving, which I hope it has, he could well be dead."

"He might," Teja says. "You would not know unless you go there. You shall not get there unless you open your door."

"I know. Well, usually my door opens to my current world, but we experimented with this a bit before CJ stopped coming here - if I take off my wedding ring I can get back to the Disc."

"Then, most likely, you may be able to go there with your son, if you so wish," Teja says.

"Is it wrong that I still want to shield him from that a bit longer?"

"Inevitable," Teja says. "But one day, it must be faced, unless you would estrange your son from you."

"You think he would leave me permanently?" Shufti asks, somewhat startled. "More than simply leaving home?"

"He might leave you out of his heart, while still returning home for holidays," Teja says. "Such things happen."

This was not perhaps the best line to use on someone massively full of hormones, but Shufti manages to not actually burst into tears. Admittedly, it's a bit close.

"Why would anyone do that?" she almost whispers. "They do not know how lucky they are. All my ancestors and siblings are dead."

"One that does not treasure what he has," Teja says. "My parents doed when I was but a child, also: - I know."

"I thought they would be happy to have a new brother or sister." Shufti says. "Leah was indifferent, providing she didn't have to share a room, and Jack seems to think of the unborn child as a rival. I hope they will be more convinced nearer the time."

"Or once they see his or her face," Teja says. "They will learn to love their sibling, one hopes."

"Leah is too young to understand, I suppose." Shufti says. "Jack is the opposite, the age gap is wide and he would have a different relationship with a child nearly ten years younger."

"He need not have too much of one with a little one if he truly does not like it," Teja says.

"I won't be making him change nappies, but we're a family and we should stick together, even if he's technically a half brother."

"Taking him to the Disc, so he may see you are willing to not withhold his roots from him, might be a helpful start," Teja says.

"I will think about it." Shufti says. "It would be better when he is older, even if we were to come out in Lancre."

"It will depends on how tenacious he is," Teja says. "If you make him wait too long, the quest for his roots would take on, maybe, even too much, too deep a meaning for him."

"What does tenacious mean?" Shufti asks.

"Stubborn, hanging on to one's goal and getting it," Teja says.

"Oh, well he may lose interest in a few weeks." Shufti says. "Like the time he wanted to be a baseball star. I don't want to keep his world from him, I just don't know if he's ready."

"See how long he persists, and when he does so for a month more, take him," Teja suggests.

"Fair enough." Shufti nods.

"So you need not worry again before a month is past," Teja says, conclusively.

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