After Yao Tan left them, Anna turned and asked Alecia "Otherwise how did you find the school?"

"It was interesting. Being a school that goes through all school levels before university was challenging.  Here that is three different schools plus kindergarten.  However, as Hannah and Pippa also attend the school, I saw a friendly face when I arrived and at the end of the day.  After a couple of weeks, I was starting to be accepted by some of my cla.s.smates.  To them as a new girl, and a foreigner I challenged a lot of perceptions.  What made it even more difficult was being accompanied by the bodyguards, who intimidated most of them.  Making those friends, made things easier with the rest of the cla.s.s and adapting to the education system."

"James' placement s.h.i.+fts in the first few weeks were such that he could not drop me off or pick me up.  The first time he did, it caused a real scene.  The school required me, during the school day, to wear my rings on a necklace under my uniform.  As soon as school ended, I would always quickly take them off the necklace and put them back on my finger as I always felt lost without them on."

"My female cla.s.smates were only paying attention to James, not me so they did not observe my actions.  The comment, as he walked over and gave me a hug, from one cla.s.smate was that I had a handsome boyfriend, but as he grabbed my hand and gave it a kiss someone noticed the wedding band on his hand."

"That caused some screams from those nearby and the parents noticed this.  As we were leaving, as James tells me, my smarta*se comment was 'who said he was my boyfriend,' The following day at school I found out that one concerned parent called the police and reported James for potential child abuse.  That lead to the school and I having to explain everything, as well as dragging the emba.s.sy in."

"After dealing with that, in the common room, James and I were the focus of discussions with a number of girls.  I had to explain that James was my husband, and that made me popular with several them in the cla.s.s.  James explained to me," James simply nodded at this, "Their issue is that they figured our place would be great to party and drink at. That popularity did not last, as we made it clear that it was not going to happen.  Some though kept working on me to change our minds."

"Overall, a couple of the girls I studied with, I would say have become close friends.  They helped me adapt to the differences in the education system.  The fun thing however was dancing.  I had given up studying it here, as I found it boring, but falling back into it with Hannah and Pippa made it fun again.  The only reason it happened was that they had a rehearsal for the dance tour, and no one could take them, so it fell to me, their favourite Aunt."

"That day, one of the older girls had fallen, badly sprained her ankle and was unable to continue the rehearsal.  While the teacher was dealing with that, I was helping Hannah and Pippa correct their steps and someone spotted it.  The rest became history and given what happened they did not have to cancel the tour.  That involvement was fun, but as much as I like dancing it is not something I want to do in the future."

"So, would you do it again?"

"Go with James, absolutely. I love him so much and being with him is what I want and know will be my life. I know whatever we decide will be the right thing for us. Into a different education system without any preparation, no way. While it was an experience it is one, I do not want to repeat."

Before anyone could say anything, there was a callout "Girlfriend, long time no see." Anna and Hou Yi turned and realised Sally was coming into the room ahead of Junior and Ton.

Alecia squealed "Sally, what are you doing here? Where are the others?"

Ton walked up and said "Those witches to a family tea. No way would that happen Alecia."

"Then why is Sally here, if this is a family tea?"

Junior looked at Ton and Sally, not wanting to have to deal with the fact that he was the only single person there. He observed the so sweet look pa.s.sing between Ton and Sally that wanted to make him vomit. Before either of them could say anything, Amanda walked into the room, and said "Alecia I told you this was a family tea, and so it is."

Alecia and James looked at everyone puzzled as to how a family tea could have a friend of hers there. That made no sense.

Ton enjoying seeing the so smart Alecia trying to figure out what was meant, had to reveal in it for a few seconds, before deciding to take pity on Alecia. "Sally is my girlfriend, so it is family only." With that Ton took Sally's hand and walked in finding a s.p.a.ce where the two of them could sit together while waiting for Yao Tan.

Ten minutes of chatter later, Yao Tan finally returned to the lounge, and they headed to the dining room for dinner relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

Towards the end of the night Anna looked around the table and realised that in the just over six months since she and Hou Yi had married, her life had taken turns for the better. Here she was with good friends and family, expecting a baby with the love of her life, and she could see that her baby brother was blissfully happy with Alecia. Anna just hoped that the future continued in the same vein that it had been for months.