Smiling, he went back down the long hallway and paused at the door to the den. He heard Heidi's distinctive laugh and smiled. Opening the door a crack, he smiled, seeing most of the others that he hadn't located in his early morning search.

Looking inside, he smiled wider and stepped in. The two couches on opposite ends of the den were occupied. Heidi, Becky, and Rachel were snuggled up on one, mid-conversation with Dana, Paul, and Derrek on the other couch.

"Hey there handsome," Heidi said, smiling as she and the other four looked up.

"Hey Dunc," Derrek said, cocking his head upwards in greeting.

"Morning gang," he said....