Ilya didn't have an animalistic mutation, so Rachel figured he didn't need to worry about it. Nor would he have to worry about tactically slobbering either.

"It's okay. Old, ingrained habits are hard to let go. I'll become more concerned if they don't fade in awhile."

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. It could be, but she has people she's helping. Life and fire to help along. I can still talk to her. When things get completely horrible, I still call on her. She comes back to Earth to check on her kids every once in awhile.

Rachel's family was a big, extended tangle. Just the immediate family was hard enough without going into aunts, uncles, and cousins. She kept her thoughts more on her mother now to keep the simpler of relations at her own mental fore.