Chapter LXII

It was quite a little entourage that crossed into the infirmary a few minutes later.  Eden went to the arm she’d built to Arianna’s specifications, while Arianna walked to Jacob’s bedside. Eli and Luke went directly to Naomi, intent on releasing her from stasis with the hope that she would recover consciousness quickly.  While they were busy checking her over, Arianna was talking quietly to Jacob.

“Hey, Jake ~ it’s Az.  I just wanted to thank you,” curling her hand over his remaining good one.  “What you did…. Gods, Jake.  I never would have had something like this happen to you for the world, but you will never know how thankful I am that you were willing to make such a sacrifice to bring her home to me.  I would never have survived having her taken from me… especially by that asshat.  Thank you for being willing to follow my leadership, despite the fact that it put you into so much danger.  I’ll never be able to repay the debt I owe you.”

“He’ll never see it as a debt, Az.  You know that,” Eden said softly as she brought the arm over to his bedside.  “He would have gone regardless of whether you’d sent him or not.  That’s just who he is.”

Arianna smiled weakly.  “I suppose you’re right.  I just feel so bad that….”

“Don’t,” came the firm command.  “For one thing, he gets to be the hero of this story, and you know how much he loves that kind of thing.  For another, he’s gonna come out of this with an awesome new arm - he may even be stronger than me, though I’m gonna do everything in my power to keep that from happening,” giving a little smile.  “I like being on top, you know.”

Arianna rolled her eyes and made a face.  “Too much information, Eden.  Nobody needed to know that.”

Eden laughed lightly.  “Nah… too much information would be to tell you that he likes me on top as well.”

Arianna clapped her hands over her ears.  “Overshare!  Overshare!!” glaring in Eden’s direction.

Eden snorted.  “You know that he would tell you the same just to watch your reaction… whether it was true or not.”

Arianna hiccoughed, not knowing if it was from laughter or tears, but knowing Eden’s words for the truth.  “I just want him to get better.”

Eden put an arm around Arianna’s shoulders and wrapped her in a tight hug.  “He will.  You designed a great replacement, and we both know Eli won’t accept anything less than a full recovery from him.  And we know he’ll be showing off with it soon enough.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

“All right, you two.  We’ve got work to do here, and I don’t think either of you really want to assist.”

“Are you sure you don’t need…?”

“Yes,” Eli affirmed.  “Luke will be here, as will Isaac.  As our top mechanical engineer, he would be the best asset to utilize for this.”

“Sorry I’m late, Doc,” Isaac proffered as he stepped into the room.  “I just got word you needed me here.”

“It’s fine, Isaac.  Are you certain you’re up for this after working a full shift?”

“I think so,” he replied honestly.  “It’s not like I’m actually doing the surgery,” turning away from her when he caught sight of the prosthesis.  “Is this Jake’s new arm?” lifting it carefully from from the table on which it rested, and looking it over with enthusiasm.  “This is fantastic!  Who…??”

“Az designed it, and I built it,” Eden replied.  “You really think…?”

“Can I see the specs?” He asked even as Arianna passed him her Pad that had the original design blueprints.  He scanned through it quickly, sliding back and forth as he studied the intricacies of the work, nodding his head in approval.  “This is great, Az!  Nice work!”  She smiled at his praise, even as she accepted her Pad back.  Isaac returned his attention to the arm he had placed back on the table, running his fingers lightly over the appendage as he studied it more thoroughly.  “Fantastic work, Eden.  Jake will be thrilled.”

“Hope so,” she muttered.

“He will be - trust me.  It may take him a little while to adjust, but he’ll be showing it off in no time.”

“Meanwhile, we need to get started,” Luke said.  “If you ladies will excuse us….” leading Isaac back to the purification area where Eli was already.  Arianna and Eden exchanged glances, then exited the infirmary without another word.  Eli watched them go, then blew out a nervous breath.  As much as she knew she could do this, she wasn’t looking forward to facing Jacob when this was over and telling him the truth about his arm.  Because she knew, no matter what kind of improvement the new appendage was over the old, they were still removing something that was quintessentially Jake and replacing it with a mechanical substitute.  She could only hope he wouldn’t bear a grudge for too long.

When the sterilization process was finished, she walked back over to his biobed, and waited for the other two to join her.  This was going to take a while.

************

It was several hours later before they were completely done, and they were all more than a little tuckered out by the time Eli had sewn the last suture and knotted the final thread.  She sucked in a deep breath - she’d never had a procedure quite so involved before… especially one that relied as much on her skill as it did the instruments she wielded.  She stepped back from the biobed and removed the gloves that Tom had included as part of their supplies, once more giving thanks for his foresight.

“You okay, Doc?” Isaac asked.

“Little tired,” she responded shortly, garnering her a sheepish smile and a chuckle.  She shook her head. “Sorry, Isaac.  You’re probably more tired than I am after pulling a double shift.”  He shrugged his shoulders.

“Nothing we haven’t all done before.  Besides, my part in this surgery was easy.  I just had to make sure the bits were working like they were built to.  You had to actually make them work with the nerves and all.”  He looked back at Jacob, whose skin was slowly returning to its normal shade.  “I wouldn’t have had this happen to him for anything, you know, but I’m proud you trusted me to help make it right.”

“You saved our lives, Isaac.”

He shrugged again as he flushed bright red.  “You’d have done the same for me, Doc.  You did the same for all of us… just like I would.  It’s what makes us family.”

She smiled and clapped him on the arm.  “It’s a pretty good family to belong to.  Go get some sleep.  I’ll push the schedule back on your next shift so you can get the rest you need.”

“Thanks, Eli.  Call me if you need anything.”

She nodded, but let him walk away without comment.  Luke came up beside her.  “Would you like me to sit with them?” motioning toward Naomi and Jacob. 

Eli shook her head.  “Go on.  I know you’ve got other things to take care of - things you’ve had to let slide because you’ve had to run sick bay.  I’ve got this.  I let you know if something comes up.”

Luke studied her for a long moment, then nodded his head in agreement.  “Thanks, Boss,” he said quietly and slipped from the room. 

She was left alone in the silence, and she looked around slowly, appreciating that fact.  She knew Eden and Arianna would wait until she called them back to the infirmary before they returned, and she allowed herself a moment to simply be, acknowledging an exhaustion she felt in her bones - one she was fairly confident the rest of her team felt as well.  It had already been a long few months, and they still had a ways to go before they could even begin to say they were settling in.

After a moment, she notified Eden and Arianna of the completion of Jacob’s surgery.  The computer informed her of Eden’s sleep status and Arianna acknowledged the news with a happy squeal, then reminded her that she would be on duty in engineering for several more hours before she could get away.

A noise from one side of the room instantly captured her attention, and she turned to see Naomi slowly blinking her eyes open.  She crossed the room quickly, and caught Naomi’s eyes before she could panic over her inability to move.

“Lights dim to half,” she called out softly, and waited for them darken before she met Naomi’s eyes.  “It’s okay, Mimi.  You can open your eyes now.  I promise it won’t hurt so much this time, okay?”  A slow nod.  “Good.  Now open your eyes and look at me - nowhere else.  Just look at me, all right?” waiting for Naomi to nod again and slowly allow her eyes to peek open.  Eli smiled.  “Better?” getting another tiny nod.  “Good.  I’ll keep them dim for now - in a little while we’ll see if we can start adjusting them up a little bit at a time for you.  Now, let me bring you up to speed on what you missed while you were resting, all right?  I’ll loosen your bindings - you’ll understand why we put them there when I tell you the whole story.”

Naomi lay completely still as Eli wove a tale as wild as any she had ever heard as a child.  Gradually the lights became slightly brighter and Eli had her sitting up at enough of an angle that she could sip on a cup of water without fear of choking to death or dribbling it all over herself.  Eli careful cleaned away the rest of the old blood that had been trapped in stasis with her, checking her vitals discreetly as she did so.  Finally, Naomi felt almost humanoid again, and she cleared her throat hoarsely, trying not to start a coughing fit she was pretty sure would hurt parts that were still healing and sore, and heaven forbid if the coughing became protracted.

“So business as usual?” she asked with a hint of levity in her voice.  Eli offered her a droll smile.

“Mostly,” she replied.  “Though, on the plus side, we appear to have rid ourselves of our chief nemesis.  My biggest issue with that school of thought is that he wasn’t working alone, and we have no idea what kind of directives he gave to those that he left behind.”

Naomi looked thoughtful.  “I can’t imagine, given his ego, he would have allowed himself to think he wouldn’t come out the victor in all this.  If he gave them any kind of orders, I’d think it would have been for them to be at the Nebula to watch his denouement.  I mean, how better to make history than to have witnesses?”

Eli blew out a breath.  “You know what that means if you’re right, don’t you?”  Naomi tilted her head.  “It means we’re headed right back into the thick of things.  They’re liable to be at the Nebula waiting for us.”

“Not possible,” Naomi countered, and this time, Eli cocked her head in question.  Naomi took a deep, slow breath.  “Given what you told me, they didn’t have time to reach the Nebula before the explosion, correct?” waiting for Eli to nod.  “We both know that wormhole collapsed as soon as the Nebula and Storm Surge blew to smithereens - that’s just the laws of physics.  It could not possibly have survived a detonation of that magnitude that close to its origin.”  Eli nodded again, and Naomi had to wonder what she had really missed that Eli was unable to connect the dots on her own.  Another slow breath, not wanting to get winded, but needing to relieve the burden Eli carried.  “No wormhole means no short cut, and they don’t have fuission reactors to travel to the Nebula at any sort of enhanced speed.  The Alliance Military won’t have fuission for months, if not years now - depending on whether or not what happened with Storm Surge causes their implementation to be pushed back.”  She gave Eli a look - “You know how those government types get,” reminding both of the process they had endured to become part of the Alpha Team.  “Even if they stay on track, the first ships won’t be fitted out and tested for months.  There is no way a bunch of mercenary ships are going to be able to build, install, test and operate a fuission reactor any time in the near future… even if they can get their hands on the designs.  By the time they have even an inkling of what they might need to do to make one work, our great-grandchildren will be having grandkids of their own.  So at the very least, that means they’ll have to travel to the Nebula at standard speed, and we’ll be long, long gone before they reach there - even our trail will be cold.  And honestly, I’m betting on Mary and her team to find those asshats well before then,” ending with a grin and a waggle of her eyebrows.

Her ridiculous expression, coupled with the realization of the truth of her words made Eli suddenly dizzy, and she laughed in sheer relief as she felt a bit of the weight on her shoulders simply slide off and disappear.  Naomi didn’t laugh, but she held the hands that gripped hers tightly, and smiled when Eli leaned forward and brushed a kiss over her forehead.  “Thank you, Mimi.”

“For?” asked with a slight frown.  “All I did was point out the obvious… what you already knew.”

“What I knew, perhaps, but what I couldn’t see because it was right in front of me.  You can’t know how much better I feel.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

“So much.  You really have no idea.”

“Good.  Then maybe you can tell me when I might be able to get something to eat around here.  I’m starving!”

Eli chuckled again.  “I’m pretty sure I can rustle up something for you… even if it’s just one of those military meals we’re all so fond of,” making a face.

Naomi smirked, but refused to snort or laugh.  “At this point, I’d even eat the wrapper, I’m so hungry.”

Eli made a face.  “Ew… no.  Let me see what I can find for you that might actually taste all right and  be mild enough for you to handle after the few days you’ve had of nothing but liquid.  We need to get some solid nutrients into you, but I don’t want to risk you sending it all back up. That would hurt more than coughing, and I know you’ve been trying to avoid that.”

“Completely,” Naomi agreed.  “I’m still pretty sore all over, if you want to know the truth.  Even my hair hurts.”

“I’ll get you something for that as well.”

“Not the good stuff?”

Eli shook her head.  “Not unless you really want it.  You got the good stuff when we put you in stasis.  I think you might be okay with something not quite as strong.  It will probably help keep you from becoming nauseated as well.”

Naomi nodded slowly.  “Let’s try it, though I reserve the right to ask for the good stuff later if this doesn’t work.”

“Fair enough.  Let me go see what I can do for you.  Be right back.”

Eli disappeared into her office, and Naomi let her attention ramble around the rest of sick bay, stopping when her eyes reached Jacob’s stasis chamber.  She could see his new arm from where she was and was impressed by how well it matched his natural one.  Eli returned to her side with a hypo-spray that she immediately pushed into Naomi’s neck, feeling her relax as the medicine quickly spread throughout her system.  Naomi closed her eyes and let the feeling wash over her, glad to have a respite from the pain that was making her body ache and her stomach roil just the slightest bit.

“Better?” Eli asked softly.  Naomi nodded.

“Much.  Is it stupid that I feel like I’ve run a race through mud?”

“No.  You kind of have - at least as far as your body is concerned.  You need to understand, Mimi… at one point we weren’t sure you were going to pull through,” clasping her hand when Naomi’s eyes widened.  “Your recovery?  That’s all due to your stubbornness.  There wasn’t much we could do once you were stabilized.”  She patted the arm closest to her.  “I, for one, am glad you decided to stay around.”

“Me too,” said with a tremulous smile.  “I’d have missed you guys… a lot.”

“We’d have missed you - even Eden, though you don’t get to tell her I told you that.”

Naomi smiled and zipped her lips closed.  “Not a word from me,” she promised.  “How’s Jake?  His arm looks amazing.”

“We just finished surgery not long before you woke up, so we’re waiting on him to wake up as well.  But Arianna did a great job with the concept drawing and Eden built it, so even Isaac was impressed with the workmanship.  I just hope….”

“You just hope what?”

“I don’t want him to resent me for this,” Eli confessed quietly.

Naomi shook her head.  “I don’t think he will.  He might need a few minutes to come to terms with the fact he can probably take Eden in an arm wrestling match now, but he’s never going to resent you for letting him be the hero.  None of us get to do that very often, you know.  We’re always thought of as the ones to protect, because of our intelligence,” rolling her eyes a little as the words cross her lips.  “I think people forget sometimes we can be capable of heroism too - physical and otherwise.”

Eli blinked.  “Does it bother you… always being protected?”

Naomi huffed.  “I don’t know if I’d say it bothered me as much as it frustrated the crap out of me.  I get it - I do.  But sometimes I wondered if we… and this project… were ever worth the risk of so many others.  Then I look at Jake and realize we would have done the same if positions were reversed.”

“Mary told me once that some are just born protectors, and there is no shame in needing protection, even when you’re a warrior.”

“Then maybe you should listen and let Jake feel what he feels.  He may be angry for a little while, but he’ll get past the anger, because he was able to protect his family.  He’ll forgive you, if you need him to, but no one except Mischief was to blame here.  Don’t put that on anyone else, and don’t take Jake’s choice from him.”

“Listen to her, Boss,” Jacob wheezed from his bed.  “I’d do it again… even knowing the outcome.”

Eli rose and Naomi nodded her support.  Then she crossed the infirmary to take her place at Jacob’s side.  They had a few things to talk about.

Chapter LXIII

“How ya doin’, Boss?” Jacob asked with a raspy voice.  Immediately, Eli stepped to one side to gather up a cup of ice chips.  Jacob nodded slowly when she held it up to him, and she gingerly shifted his biobed until he was sitting up just enough to accept the spoonful she offered without fear of them sliding down his windpipe.  Eli set the cup on the nearby table and - despite the state-of-the-art monitoring equipment above the bed that gave constant readings - placed one hand on his forehead while the other lightly grasped his wrist to check his vitals the way her mother had taught her.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that, Jake?  After all, you’re the one who just had major surgery,” she said, not quite meeting his eyes.

“Eli?  Look at me.”  When she hesitated, his voice grew firmer.  “Look at me,” he commanded.  “You owe me that much.”

Green skin paled to a light mint at the fierce words, and hazel eyes snapped up to meet green, finding not anger and hatred, but compassion and understanding.  He clasped her hand gently with his human one, not trusting his ability to control his, as yet, unknown strength in his new, mechanical arm.  Then he watched as Eli shifted her hand from his forehead to curl around the top of the new hand, grasping it gently and trusting him not to hurt her when the mechanical hand twitched reflexively.  He smiled to hide the wince that formed when he tried to move to twine their hands together - he obviously wasn’t quite ready for that just yet.  He sucked in a deep breath and began to speak  “I want you to understand something here and now, and I don’t ever want to have to say this again, all right?”  He waited for her to nod even as she held his gaze.  “All right.  I’m not going to lie and say that I’m not a little thrown by all this, and I absolutely reserve the right to be angry about it at a later date.  And you’re going to have to let me be angry - let me work through any number of things and the emotions  I have about those things, I’m sure.  But even then - even when I’m cursing and angry at you… at me… at the world in general because I’m having a bad day or some kind of pity party - even then, I want you to remember that I would do it again a hundred times over. Not to be the hero or because I’m some kind of hot shot thrill seeker, but because that’s what families do. You got it?”

Eli kept her eyes on his and she nodded.  Jacob smiled, but shook his head. 

“Uh uh, Princess.  You gotta say the words, and you gotta make me believe you.  Make me believe that you believe me.”

She held his eyes for a long moment, studying his eyes with a countenance that belied the turmoil roiling in her gut.  He returned her gaze steadfastly, never wavering from her intense consideration.  Finally she nodded her head the slightest bit and offered him a tiny smile.  “I got it, Jake.  Thank you.”

“Anytime, Boss,” he said, dropping back gracelessly onto the pillow and wincing at the jarring motion.  “Now that we have that settled, do you think I could get something for the pain?  This thing is killing me.”

“Yes… absolutely,” easing his mechanical arm back over to the pillow it had been resting on.  “You want the good stuff?”

Green eyes widened.  “Is it that bad??” voice pitched a little higher than normal.  Eli arched her eyebrow at him. 

“Depends on how bad you think the pain is; it was major surgery.  But you need to rest.  Can you do that if I just give you a strong dose of the regular stuff?”

Jacob considered her words for a long moment.  The good stuff offered oblivion for a little while, and there was a part of him that craved that.  The rest of him, however - the places that housed his  pride and his strength and his intellect - refused to give any quarter to what they perceived as weakness.  “I think,” he replied resolutely, “that I would like to try the normal stuff.  If it doesn’t work, and I can’t sleep, we’ll revisit this scenario.  But right now, I’m honestly convinced it wouldn’t take much for me to sleep for a week.  I’m exhausted.”

Eli nodded her head.  “Your body’s been through a pretty intense trauma.  It may take a little while before you start feeling like yourself again.  And even then, unless you’ve got Eden’s powers of recovery, you’re probably going to tire easily for a little time after that… because your rehab is going to be as much mental as it is physical.”  She moved off to retrieve the hypo spray and he watched her in silence until she put the shot in his neck.  Then she tilted her head in question, and he had to smile at the familiarity of that motion, but he waited until the first euphoria of pain relief passed through his body before he spoke.

“I want to talk about this,” jerking his chin towards his new arm, “and about what I missed while I was in stasis.  Because I'm pretty sure I missed a lot.  But I think I’m gonna take a nap first.  It feels like it’s been forever since I slept.”

Eli smiled sadly.  “Close your eyes, Jake, and let your body begin to heal and repair itself.  I’ll be around, and I’ll answer whatever questions I can for you.  And who knows… maybe Eden will be here when you wake up again.  I sent her to go get some sleep, you know.. Otherwise she’d have stayed by your side until she dropped from exhaustion herself.”

Jacob closed his eyes and gave her a dreamy smile.  “Thanks for taking care of my best girl, Boss.  Don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“Let’s agree to never find out,” Eli muttered, knowing Jacob would never hear her as he’d already slid into a deep sleep.

She looked around the infirmary again, noting Naomi had followed Jacob’s example and settled into sleep herself.  So she moved back into what had been their impromptu surgery suite, intent on cleaning and purging the room to have it ready for the next emergency… just in case.  When she was done cleaning, she would look toward making the room a permanent fixture in sickbay.  Obviously, they were not going to always be able to rely on standard modern medicine - some things were going to have to be handled the old-fashioned way.

When she was satisfied with the cleanliness and sterility of the new surgical suite, Eli moved back into the main infirmary to check on the well-being of her patients.  They were both still sleeping soundly, and a check of their vitals showed them both strong and healing.  With a sigh of relief, she walked into her office and took a seat, finally allowing herself to relax as she slid into her chair.  She closed her eyes for a moment, rubbing them forcefully to try and eliminate the burning sensation she felt.  When she opened them, she almost wasn’t surprised to find Aphrodite looking back at her.  Her brows rose into her hairline in question.

“Aphrodite?”  The goddess blinked slowly and tilted her head.  Eli started to rise from her seat, but a shake of the blonde head across from her held her in place. Instead, she spoke again.   “Aphrodite?  Is everything all right?”

Aphrodite blinked again, and this time allowed her gaze to focus on Eli’s eyes.  She smiled gently.  “I came down to check on you.”

Now it was Eli’s turn to blink slowly.  “Um… okay.  Not that I don’t appreciate it, but, um… why?”

“A number of reasons,” Aphrodite confessed.  “But mostly because I figured you probably had like, a buttload of questions - you know… about your heritage and stuff.”

Eli’s eyes widened.  “I might… I mean I probably will when I have the chance to decompress and think about it for a little while.  But truthfully, I haven’t had a moment’s peace to think about anything except what I was doing since Deb shared her findings with us,” glancing towards the infirmary.

Aphrodite twisted her head around briefly to catch Naomi and Jacob in her periphery.  Then she swiveled back to face Eli.  “How’re they doing?”

Eli smiled.  “Very well.  I expect full recoveries from both of them.  Naomi should be out of here in a day or two - perhaps even as early as tomorrow.  Jake’s gonna be a few days, but I don’t expect to keep him here for very long - he’s too headstrong to allow himself to let something like this keep him from… well, pretty much anything.”

“Make sure you remember that,” Aphrodite cautioned.  “When he pushes you, remember he’s pushing himself.  Great motivation - hard to contain.”

“Personal experience?”

“More than once,” offered wryly.  She rose from the chair she was sitting in.  “Well, if you don’t have any questions, I’m gonna go lay my gnarly self down for a little snooze fest.  This being human thing is  radically harder than it looks.”

Eli snorted.  “Welcome to our world,” added with a smirk.  Aphrodite rolled her eyes and headed to the door.  Just as she reached the threshold, Eli called out.  “Aphrodite?”  She turned and put her hands on her hips, cocking an eyebrow, but otherwise remaining silent.  “Thanks,” Eli said quietly.

Aphrodite’s brow furrowed.  “For?”

“Caring.  I know this hasn’t been fun for any of you.  I mean, we changed your entire life… your whole world.”

The smile Aphrodite offered was small and a little sad, but it was a genuine as any Eli had seen her wear.  “You did.  But not before we changed yours first.  Besides,” she confided, “we outlived our usefulness a long time ago.  I’m pretty sure the rest of the family feels like Cupie and I do - immortality is way overrated.  It’s time we let it go and die out.”

Eli leaned back in her chair when Aphrodite escaped sick bay.  She had a lot to think about.

************

Arianna found Eli in much the same place when she entered the infirmary some time later.  She spent a few minutes checking on Jacob, and then Naomi, who was awake if not completely alert.  After exchanging a few words, she went in search of Eli, knowing she had to be nearby.  She was a little surprised to find her sitting at her desk, staring off into the distance.  A hand on her shoulder brought hazel green eyes up to meet hers, and immediately Eli’s face creased into a smile.

“Hey, Gorgeous,” she greeted.  “What are you doing here?” reaching her arms around Arianna’s waist and pulling her down into her lap.

Arianna leaned down and captured Eli’s lips for a long moment before she leaned up and kissed her nose.  “Well,” she drawled slowly.  “I got off shift and went to our quarters, only to find them barren and empty,” sighing dramatically.  “So I decided to go hunting for you, and look… here you are!”

“Here I am,” Eli agreed with a smile.  “I’m waiting for Kai to come in for his shift here, so there’s someone to keep an eye on my patients while I get a little rest.  And speaking of,” tapping Arianna’s hip so she slid off her lap.  “I need to do a last check-up on them before I go.”

“Yeah, I was kind of surprised not to find you with them, but daydreaming at your desk instead.  Was it a good one?” rolling her eyes at Eli’s flummoxed expression.  “Your daydream?  Was it a good one?  I know you were totally engrossed in it - you didn’t even hear me come in.”

“Oh… I wasn’t daydreaming; I was thinking about something Aphrodite asked me about a short time ago.”  She passed into the main part of the infirmary to look in on Jacob and Naomi.  Jacob was sleeping soundly, and she checked his vitals before easing his blanket up to his shoulders and nodding in satisfaction.  Naomi was awake, and they spent a few minutes talking while Eli checked her vital signs.  She set things up so there was water and juice within reach and brought another meal that Naomi could eat when she felt hungry again.  Then she moved back to her office where Mordecai was talking to Arianna.

“Hey, Doc,” he said as she approached.  “Sorry I’m late.  I forgot to set the alarm.”

“You’re not, Kai - not really.  I just need someone to keep an eye on things until Luke comes in for duty in a few hours, and I expect Eden will be here any minute to check on Jake, even if she can’t stay.  If anything comes up….”

“If anything comes up, I’ll let Luke know.  He’s due in next.”

“Yes, but if anything comes up - especially with Jake - you let me know first regardless,” Eli commanded seriously, holding his gaze.  “I need to be there, Kai.  Until Jake has time to adjust to everything, it’s my responsibility.  Am I clear?”  He hesitated and she reached out and placed a hand on his arm.  “This is important, Kai.  Do you understand?”

He sighed.  “I may not agree with you, but I do understand.  I’ll let you know first, but I’ll also let Luke know.  You can’t do it all on your own - that’s not how this works.”

Eli shook her head, but she couldn’t hide her smile or the tears in her eyes.  “Thanks, Kai,” was all she said, squeezing his arm before releasing it and turning to Arianna.  “You ready?  I need a nap.”

“You need real food and real sleep.  The sleep part we can do.  The food…?  Well, we’ll make do.  Night, Kai,” waving at him as them slipped out of the infirmary and headed to their quarters.

************

Their quarters were softly lit when they slipped inside, courtesy of Arianna’s early visit.  Eli stopped just inside the doorway, her senses taking in the myriad of changes Arianna had effected since their leave taking from their rooms at the beginning of their day.  There were candles scattered around the perimeter, adding a delightfully soothing scent as well as ambient lighting to their entire quarters.  There were bright snatches of color on the floor in a path leading to and on their bed, and Eli realized that Arianna had utilized some of the petals from the flowers they had growing in the conservatory.  She recognized the bottle by the bedside as one both she and Arianna favored.  She turned and met Arianna’s dark eyes, brow lifted in question, though her eyes were sparkling with delight.  Arianna shrugged and offered a shy smile.

“We haven’t had much time together lately and….”  Here she shrugged again.  “I’ve missed you.  I know our level of communication during the whole Mischief debacle was enhanced by Aphrodite and Cupid, but it feels like we lost all the progress we made as well when that bond was broken.”  She shook her head.  “I know we haven’t,” even as Eli caught her hand and brought it to her heart, letting Arianna feel its strong, rapid beat.  “Lost all our progress, I mean, though needing Gay to help me understand was….  She shook her head.  “I can still feel you… understand what you’re feeling,” clenching her hand into a fist over Eli’s chest.  “And I know you still feel some of the residual burning left from your transformation.  It just… I just miss you, and I thought….”

Eli grinned and eased her hand into Arianna’s fist until she was holding it within her own.  She rubbed her thumb over smooth knuckles, and brought the hand to her lips, ghosting a kiss across them while holding brown eyes intently with her own.  She felt Arianna relax under her ministrations and regard, and smiled beatifically. She tugged gently on their joined hands until they were standing beside the bed, and she used her free hand to begin slowly undressing Arianna.

“I have missed you as well, Beloved,” easing the top from Arianna’s body and watching it pool at her feet on the floor.  She chuckled softly.  “I have to say - I never pictured any part of our married life going quite like ours has so far, but if it meant being here with you, I would do it all again… even the hard parts.”  She leaned down and brushed her lips over Arianna’s, smiling when Arianna followed her to deepen it.  She allowed the kiss to go on for a few more minutes - until they were both breathless - before pulling away and focusing her attention along the length of Arianna’s neck.

Arianna reached up to return the favor, struggling to remove Eli’s shirt with one hand.  Eli smiled into her neck and shook her head, even as she clasped Arianna’s other hand in her free one.  Arianna whimpered in frustration and tried to pull away, causing Eli to tighten her grip enough for Arianna to recognize she was serious about not letting go.  “Amado,” she whined.

Eli leaned away from her just enough to catch her eyes, blown to the point of becoming almost completely black.  “Nono,” she chastised gently.  “This is about my need for you - and right now, I need for you to beg,” feeling Arianna suck in a sharp breath, “and scream,” a shudder, “and come apart in my arms.”  She let their joined hands begin to trace patterns over naked skin, smiling at the goosebumps and tremors that followed in their wake.

Arianna shivered at the sensation of touching herself while Eli was touching her.  It felt amazing and raw and her back arched when Eli tweaked her nipples almost painfully hard.  She bit her lip to keep any sound from escaping and Eli shook her head as she coaxed the lip from between her teeth with their thumbs.

“I meant what I said, Angel,” the words whispered into her ear.  “I need to hear you; I want to feel what I do to you,” biting down on the juncture of her neck and shoulder hard enough to not only draw blood, but also a moan of her name.  Eli shuddered in delight and laved the spot lightly with her tongue before she released Arianna’s hands and scooped her up into her arms.  With the barest of movement, she had Arianna on the bed, spread eagle and loosely tied to the four corners.

“Are you comfortable?” Eli asked solicitously, checking that her knots were secure without being too constrictive.

“Yes, Amado.”

“Would you like to watch or would you prefer to be blindfolded?”

“I would like to watch.”

“Very well,” Eli replied with a predatory smile.  Then she moved to kneel between Arianna’s legs, allowing her fingers to trace every inch of skin with only the lightest of touches.  Goosebumps followed in her wake, and Arianna was trembling long before Eli made it down the length of her legs.

“Please, Querida… please….”

“Please, what?” Eli asked with a wicked smile, fingers capturing both nipples and teasing with both flicks and light pinches until Arianna was writhing and shifting under her looking for a firmer touch.  She lowered her head to take a nipple between her teeth, biting steadily and licking furiously, and feeling liquid heat gush between them.  She raised her head, and realized Arianna had closed her eyes and was breathing shallowly from her mouth, though she was still tightly wound as if she had not just experienced a release.  “Open your eyes, Beloved.  I want you to watch me make love to you.”

Arianna blinked slowly, forcing her eyes open and meeting green eyes.  Eli drew herself up to Arianna’s mouth, kissing her with abandon and plundering her mouth for all its hidden secrets.  Arianna moaned into the kiss, pulling on her restraints in an effort to reach Eli.  She growled in frustration, causing Eli to chuckle.  Then Eli began tracing her body in earnest, using her fingers, lips, tongue and occasionally teeth to heighten the sensory experience.  She marked the side of one breast and gnawed gently down her rib cage, eliciting chuckles and a whimper when she followed the motion by licking up the same path.  She tickled Arianna’s bellybutton, and licked up the crease of her thigh, then she moved further down to nibble behind the back of her knee and kiss her toes.  By now, Arianna was squirming and moaning constantly, begging for some relief from the intense buildup Eli continued to visit upon her without actually touching her in the one place she was desperate for contact.  Finally, when she thought she couldn’t bear another minute,  she felt a thumb circle her clit just as Eli plunged three fingers deep inside her. Arianna screamed in relief.

“Oh God, Eli,” she gasped on an intake of breath, then arched up as her orgasm swept through her.  Before she could recover and come down from the high of her climax, Eli thrust harder, pushing her into a second, stronger one.  “Eliiiiiiiiii!!!” Arianna screamed in rapture, the delight in her tone causing Eli’s wings to emerge and unfold until they had encompassed both of them in their embrace.

Eli slowly worked Arianna down into a post-orgasmic state, the bliss on her face enough to make Eli smile in response.  She parted her wings enough to enable her to reach around and untie the silks that had held Arianna in place.  Then she adjusted herself until she could curl around Arianna and snuggle their bodies together beneath the weight of her wings.

After a few minutes, Arianna tilted her head back and rested it against Eli’s shoulder.  “Hi,” she mumbled softly, drawing yet another smile from Eli’s countenance.

“Hello, Beautiful One,” her smile becoming a grin at the blush that followed her words.  “Are you all right?” Arianna raised a hand and traced Eli’s lips with her thumb.

“I’m perfect,” she replied with a lazy smile.  “You’re amazing, you know that?” watching green eyes begin to glow at her words.  “Let me love you?”

Eli bent her head down and caught Arianna’s full lips.  “Always,” Eli whispered, then shifted until her wings were put away and she was laying on her back.  Arianna grinned devilishly and slid on top of her, letting her hands wander.  Eli couldn’t wait to see what was in store for her.

Chapter LXIV

Arianna allowed her gaze to roam her lover’s body as her hands traced their own path over the skin and muscle that held hidden strength.  She was firm but gentle in her touch, knowing that though Eli’s dragon needed to dominate and possess after being challenged, the woman needed to be treasured and cherished.  It was the best way she had of reassuring Eli of her acceptance of her feral half.

So now she caressed the skin beneath her fingertips, smiling as goosebumps skittered their way across green skin in the wake of her touch.  She lowered herself from her kneeling position, until her heat and wetness were bathing Eli’s abs of their own accord.  She grinned when she felt Eli shudder, gasping slightly at the effect it had on her still sensitive body.

“You make me crazy; you know that?” she asked in a whisper, as her hands continued to map Eli’s body inch by inch.  “All you have to do is look at me sometimes, and I just want to….”  She paused, then snorted.  “Well, it depends on the day, really, but rest assured, we’d be a public spectacle.”

Eli laughed, then moaned when Arianna began to seriously tease both nipples in a completely random pattern.  “Only sometimes??  Gods,” she hissed.  “Jake would probably love that, but I don’t share well, remember?  Arianna,” she moaned again when one breast was covered by wet warmth, and a frantic tongue started flicking it rapidly.

“Only sometimes,” Arianna replied, pulling back enough to blow cold air across the turgid nipple.  “I do actually focus on my work when I’m down in engineering, you know.  Not really a place to lose my focus… especially considering the trip we’ve had so far.”

“Umm,” Eli agreed, tugging at the ends of Arianna’s dark hair until she could slide her hands into its full body and wind the strands between her fingers.  “Less talk… more action,” urging Arianna down into her until their lips met again. She growled when Arianna pulled away… until she realized her intent.  Then she closed her eyes and let herself be swept along for the ride, though her hands never stopped their movement along every bit of Arianna’s body that she could reach.

Arianna brushed her lips along and around Eli’s torso, nipping occasionally and delighting in the moans and shivers she elicited.  But it wasn’t until she settled herself between Eli’s legs that Eli began chanting her name - a chant that ended with a full-blown scream when a flick of her tongue pushed Eli over the edge and into release. Without pausing, Arianna slid her fingers through the copious wetness and heat… causing Eli to shudder and bow as a second, more powerful orgasm washed through her.  Arianna pulled her fingers from Eli’s warmth and leaned down, but before she could reach her target, she felt a sharp tug on her hair where Eli’s hands were still wrapped. She glared, then frowned when she saw Eli shaking her head.

“You don’t get to say no.  It’s still my turn,” glaring harder when Eli tugged again, though with much less force.

“It can still be your turn while I have my turn, you know.  Turn around and come up here.  I want to taste you too,” loosening her hands and crooking a finger at Arianna, offering her a wicked smile.

Arianna just laughed aloud and moved to hover over Eli.  It promised to be a long, gratifying night.

************

Aphrodite smiled as she felt the slightest thrill skitter along her spine.  She might not be a goddess any longer. nor an immortal, but she could still tell when love was in the air.  And by the feel of things, it was going to be a pretty good night on that front.

She climbed into the bed and shut off the light, closing her eyes and letting a smile slide across her features.  Despite everything, she was glad to have met the kids on this ship.  They had been a joy to get to know, and she was grateful to them for many reasons.  She only hoped the rest of her family had survived the blast that sent them tumbling.  She wasn’t sure what she would do if they hadn’t. 

Putting those maudlin thoughts firmly out of her mind, she deliberately turned her back to the door and let her mind focus on the warmth she could feel emanating from all over the ship.  And she let those thoughts and feelings lull her to sleep.

************

Eden crossed the threshold into the infirmary and hesitated, noting that both Naomi and Jacob appeared to be sleeping soundly.  She stood in the entrance for several moments, unable to leave, but unwilling to disturb the rest the two so sorely needed.  Before she could escape unnoticed, Mordecai motioned her into the room and over to the corner where he sat monitoring both patients.

She frowned at him.  “What are you doing out here, Kai?  Eli has a perfectly good office….”

“Yes, and it’s *Eli’s* office.  We tend not to go in there unless we absolutely have to… even Luke.  That’s kind of like her personal space, ya know?”  He shrugged.  “I feel better being out here anyway - like I can actually do something if I’m needed.”

Eden nodded.  “I can respect that.”  She jerked her head towards the occupied beds.  “How are they?”

“Surprisingly well.  Mimi should be able to go back to her quarters tomorrow, and to limited duty in another day or so.  Jake’s already been awake briefly a couple times.  He’s coherent, though in considerable pain, and he’s already laid down the law to Eli.”

Dark brows flew into an equally dark hairline.  “Seriously?” chuckling at his nod.  “Wish I’d seen that.”

“Apparently it was pretty spectacular.  He was quite keen to brag about it to me when he woke up earlier.  Speaking of… I need to go check on him again,” looking at his chronometer.  “It’s about time for another dose of painkillers.”

“She got him on the good stuff?”

“No.  He asked for the regular - with the understanding that he was eligible for the good stuff if the pain got beyond his ability to cope.”

Eden snorted.  “He’ll never admit to that.”

Mordecai offered a crooked smile.  “Maybe, but Doc’s pretty good about reading those things.  You know that.  You want to come with me… in case he wakes up?”

“I’m going to check on Naomi first.  If he wakes up, let him know I’m here.”

“You got it.”  Then he stepped away and began to run the checklist Eli had left with him.

Eden walked to the other side of the room, doing a visual examination of Naomi before stepping closer.  As if she sensed her presence, Naomi’s eyes blinked open slowly, then widened perceptibly when she realized who was standing next to her bed.  She managed to control her reaction otherwise, and kept her mouth shut, waiting for Eden to speak.  Eden cleared her throat awkwardly as she slid right up next to the bed, hand reaching out tentatively to cover Naomi’s.

“How’re ya feeling?”

Naomi blinked again and cleared her throat, causing Eden to reach for the water.  She eased Naomi into a more seated position and let her drink for a long moment, before a movement from her signaled Naomi’s satisfaction.  She released a slow breath.  “Thanks,” she replied.  “Um… better, I think.  The pain is mostly gone - for now anyway.  I’m just really tired… like I ran a race across through swamp grass and knee deep mud in my bare feet,” smiling when Eden wrinkled her nose in disgust.  “Yeah, that’s about the way I feel too.  I will be so happy to get out of here and go to my quarters.  Pretty sure that sonic shower is going to be the closest I’ve been to heaven in a while.”

Eden chuckled.  “Probably.  I remember how I felt after Eli fixed me up in the mountain compound, and it wasn’t even that long - less than a day.  I can’t imagine how you feel at this point.”

“Itchy,” Naomi replied without hesitation.  “Very itchy.  But also exhausted.”

“I’m sure.  You lost a lot of blood.  You’re going to need to take it easy for a little while longer.”

Naomi’s eyes widened, though she couldn’t help the twinkle of mischief nor the gleam of tears that shone from her eyes.  “Why, Eden… is that concern I hear in your voice??” her smile belying her nervousness.

“No!” Eden barked, though quietly enough that she didn’t draw Mordecai’s attention from Jacob.  “And if you tell anyone you thought so, I’ll have to do something drastic!  Got me??”

Naomi met the black eyes that gazed at her with nothing but fondness and disquiet.  “I got you, Eden.  No one will hear a word from me.”

“Good,” Eden nodded in complacency.  “I do have a reputation to uphold, you know.”  She squeezed the hand she still covered.  “I’m glad you’re gonna be all right, Mimi.”

Naomi swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded slowly.  “Thanks, Eden.  Me too.”  She cleared her throat again, and Eden reached for the water cup.  Naomi just shook her head.  “No, I’m fine, thank you.  I was just wondering how Jake is doing.”

“Well, Kai seems to think he’s holding his own pretty well right now.  He’s not taking the good stuff, which says something - although that may just prove his hardheadedness,” smirking when Naomi broke off a chuckle with a slight groan.  “Sorry,” she muttered.  “I’m actually waiting for Kai to finish up with whatever checkup type stuff he needed to do.  With a little luck, Jake will be awake for a few minutes so I can talk to him myself.”

“I’m glad he’s going to be all right.  You two are a cute couple.”

Eden chuckled wryly.  “We’re something all right,” seeing Mordecai motion her over to Jacob’s bedside.  “Get some rest, Mimi.  The more you rest, the better you’ll feel.. Trust me - been there, done that.”

“Night, Eden,” was Naomi’s response, and she closed her eyes even as Eden walked away without a backwards glance.  Mordecai met her halfway across the room.

“He’s awake and in a bit of pain.  I just gave him his next dose of meds, so you’ve got a few minutes to talk to him before they start making him sleepy and incoherent again.”

She squeezed his hand.  “Thanks, Kai.”  He squeezed back before releasing her hand, walking around her to get back to his corner to make the notations necessary in Jacob’s chart.  He expected Luke to be in shortly, and he wanted everything in the records before he turned them over.

Eden moved slowly towards Jacob’s bed, smiling slightly when he reached out his unencumbered hand toward her.  She placed her hand in his and let him tug on her gently, walking forward as though by his
strength.  He gave her a silly grin, and she cupped his face with her free hand.

“How ya feeling, Stud?”

“Not very studly,” he replied with a grin.  “I feel like I was on the losing side in a fight with a dragon.”

“Well, you’ll be thrilled to know you weren’t on the losing side, nor were you in a fight with a dragon.  A flagship star cruiser, on the other hand…”

“Damn - if I wasn’t on the losing side, I’d almost hate to think how that sorry bastard feels… ‘cause this thing is killing me,” flexing it just slightly and wincing in reflex.

“Pretty sure that asshat is burning in the depths of hohonu hahana ahi.  And the souls he took with him?” she smiled evilly.  “I imagine they will only add to the flames of his torment.”

“I have to say - I get a little bit of pleasure thinking about that.”

“Yeah, we all do.”  She clutched his hand tightly and met his eyes squarely.  “How are you doing, Jake… really?”

He sighed.  He knew Eden, more than anyone else, would call him on his bullshit.  “I’m sore and I’m tired and I hurt.  And I’m angry and sad and frustrated.  But I’m also thrilled I could be a hero and help someone who has unfailingly helped all of us.  And I’m intrigued and fascinated about this new tech I’m wearing.  There’s a lot going on in here right now,” raising both of their hands to motion around his head, “and I’m really not sure what to do with most of it.  Like I told Eli, she’s gonna have to let me feel the things I feel and work through them.  Pretty sure there’s gonna be some serious anger directed at her and myself in the next few days; there’s liable to be some pity parties too.  I’ll get through them, but I have to be allowed to feel these things for a little while.  I’m sure when I get accustomed to the fact that I can almost give you a run for your money in the strength department - at least as far as that one arm is concerned - we’ll have some fun with it.  But right now?  I’m exhausted and in quite a bit of pain.”

“Would you do it again… even if Az didn’t ask?”

“In a freaking heartbeat.  This is family - it’s what you do for family - and I’m proud beyond words that she asked… that she trusted me enough to know I could do this.  I just… I don’t think I’m just going to be able to smile and act like everything is all right… not at first.”  He gave her a crooked smile.  “Of course, I could surprise myself and everyone else.”

“Remind me tomorrow to get you the specs on your new arm.  Maybe seeing what it’s capable of will help make things more bearable.”

Jacob frowned, eyes half closed.  “Why tomorrow?” he asked, starting to slur.  Eden just smiled.

“Pretty sure you wouldn’t be able to read the fine print at this point.”  She lifted their hands to her lips and brushed a kiss over the back of his knuckles.  “Go to sleep, Jake.  I’ll stop back by when my shift is over.”

“Night, Babe.”

“Sweet dreams, Lover.”  She waited until his breathing slowed and deepened, then she loosened his hold on her hand.  Then she offered Mordecai a tiny wave, and walked out of the infirmary.

************

Jake didn’t see the specs the next day, nor even the day after that.  He’d had to break down and ask for the good stuff, as the reality of losing a limb came home to him in a very tangible way.  There was phantom pain despite the fact that he had a new arm, and it was excruciating.  That alone was nearly unbearable, but the fact that he was weak enough to need to ask for the good stuff was just fuel to the fire of his anger.  He was taking it out on everyone that came near him - including Eden, but most especially Eli, because she was usually the one closest to him, and she simply let him have his head.  She more than most understood where he was coming from and how he felt, but it didn’t lessen the impact of the words and vitriol he hurled in her direction.

This day - three days after his surgery - had been the worst of all, and her only saving grace was she alone had been present to hear the anger and hatred directed at her as he reminded her she was the freak Isaac claimed she was, and accused her of deliberately causing his injury to make him less than her.  The words had hurt, but Eli had stood there stoically, remembering his words about needing to process his emotions in his own way and time.  She chanced to wonder, however, how much of what he was spewing in the heat of the moment was based in what he believed was truth and not the desire to hurt her like he was currently hurting.  That thought made his words even worse.

She wouldn’t get the chance to ask, though.  Arianna had seen and felt what this was doing to her, and she was going to put a stop to it… one way or another.

************

“So, do you feel like a big man now, Jake?” she asked without prelude as she stepped through the door an making a beeline for him before Eli could interfere..  “Does it make you feel better to take out your anger and frustration on the one person who truly doesn’t deserve your attitude??”

“Stay out of this, Az.  She did this to me.”

“No,” glaring at him before he could interrupt.  “No, I’m not staying out of this and no, she didn’t do this to you.  She is my mate, and it is my right and my privilege to stand up for her… especially when she won’t stand up for herself because she thinks you deserve the right to vent no matter how much you’re hurting her.  Also, if anyone did this to you, *I* did.  I’m the one who sent you out after her when Mischief managed to knock her for a loop.  So if you’re going to blame anyone, you better start with me.”

“Because you could have made me go?” he snorted.

“Because I sent you, and you went without hesitation.  She didn’t do anything but try to protect us all.  She would have died for us, Jake.”  She grasped his face in her hands so she could look directly into his eyes.  “But you’re killing her with what you’re doing to her now.”

He teared up then, and turned away.  “I don’t… I’m not….  It hurts so much, Az.  And even when I touch this one - even when I can feel it with the same nerve endings I could with my real arm - I can still feel my real arm like it was still there.  And the good stuff - it’s giving me nightmares.  I see her coming after me instead of going after Mischief.  I see her causing the destruction of this ship instead of the Storm Surge.  I hear his laughter and I see her face….”  He shook his head.  “It’s all messed up and twisted and I can’t even tell what’s real anymore.”

“Then you need to talk to someone.  If not Eli, then Luke or Eden or even me.  But you need to let us help you, or you’re going to destroy us all.  We’re going to come apart at the seams.”  She turned his head towards her again, and wiped his tears.  “It’s okay to feel, Jake.  It’s okay to be angry.  But you can’t keep taking it out on Eli or anyone else.  You need to channel that focus into getting better.”

“Listen to her, Dude,” Aphrodite said from the doorway.  “That kind of hatred is what poisoned Ares, and what allowed Mischief to become what he did.  You don’t want that; you don’t need that kind of crap in your life.  I might not be able to fix things, but I guarantee I’m a great listener, and you need that right now.”

Jacob nodded slowly.  “Maybe I do,” he agreed.  “But first, I need to get off this medicine, and I owe Eli some kind of an apology.”  He looked around.  “Where is she anyway?  I’m surprised she didn’t come out here the minute you walked in.  She has every other time someone’s shown up.”

Arianna grinned. “Isaac was kind enough to have a minor emergency, and fortunately, Luke was up to his eyeballs in an experiment.”

Jacob’s eyebrows went into his hairline.  “You tricked her?” asked with a smirk.

“Only a little.”

“Only a little what?” Eli asked as she stepped back into the room, giving him a hard look trying to determine what was really going on.  She turned to Arianna, satisfied that whatever it was, Jacob had been smart enough to leave her alone.  “Is there a problem?”

“I want to take a look at his arm.  I think it needs some adjustment.  That might help with his pain levels, and I think if we can get that straightened out, a lot of the rest will solve itself.”

Eli stared at her for a moment longer, then nodded briskly.  “Do what you have to.  I’ll be in my office if you need me.  Aphrodite, could I speak to you a moment?” suddenly realizing she was there, though not as surprised by it as she should have been.  Aphrodite nodded, and reached Jacob’s hand.

“You let me know when, and I’ll make myself available, all right?”

“All right,” he agreed softly before she walked off into Eli’s office.  “Doc?” he spoke before Eli could turn away to follow her.  “Could we get me off the good stuff and back onto the regular meds?  It’s giving me nightmares and hallucinations, and I’m having a real hard time figuring out what’s real and what’s not.”  She nodded shortly, and move to swiftly change his pain meds back to something that wouldn’t erase the pain, but would make it manageable.  Before she could disappear, he clutched at her arm and she froze.  “I’m sorry, Eli.  I know that’s not nearly enough considering what I’ve put you through the last few days, but maybe it could be a start.  And maybe we could talk when you’re done with Aphrodite.”

Eli stared at him a moment to gauge his sincerity, then she said quietly.  “All right, Jake.”  And without a word she walked back to her office.  Jacob laid back, and let Arianna start to work on his new arm.

Chapter LXV

“I asked you all here,” Jacob started quietly, motioning around sick bay with his undamaged hand while not actually meeting anyone’s eyes, “so you can all hear the apologies I have to offer.  I have no excuse for the things I said.  Yes, I was in pain, and yes, I was having nightmares and hallucinations, but the fact was, I could have said something.  I could have talked to Eli or Luke or hell… any of you, and we could have fixed the situation before it got so out of hand.  Instead, I let my pride get in the way, and I hurt every single one of you in some way.  I said horrible things, knowing I could hurt you with them, and taking some sort of twisted delight in watching you squirm… because then at least I wasn’t alone in my pain.  And all of you took it at first, trying to understand, but eventually, each of you but one called me out on it, and you stopped coming by.  Well, all but three of you quit coming by, but I’m fairly certain Luke was only here because of his schedule, and to give Eli a break.  Otherwise, I doubt he would have been here either.  Eden… Eden I expected to be here, though I have to give her credit - she was a lot more patient with me than I would have been - but even she told me off… right before Az came in and read me the riot act.  Eli’s the only one who took every mean remark… every cruel jab… every hateful and hurtful word I uttered and continued to not only treat me as her patient, but also as her friend.  She never once showed I was getting to her at all, and that just made me want to hit harder and more painfully.  I knew it was her guilt over what had happened that kept her from reacting, and I took advantage of that.”

Jacob sat quietly with his head bowed, concentrating on his breathing.  Eli reached a hand over and covered his wrist, jumping in surprise when his mechanical hand lightly covered her own.  She stilled, and for a long moment, he didn’t move either.  Then he raised his head to meet her eyes.  “I’m sorry, Eli.  I know it doesn’t fix anything or make anything better or right.  But I am really, truly sorry - for what I did; for what I said; for general asshattery and dickishness.  I have no excuse.”  He looked down and cleared his throat, then brought his eyes back up to meet hers.  “Aphrodite and I have been talking a lot in the past couple days, and I know I have a lot to make up for.  Apologies are just so many words, and nothing is going to make it better until I’ve got some actions to back them up.  But for now, I’m offering you the most sincerest apology I know how to give.  And I promise, I will do everything I know to do to win back your trust… and your forgiveness.”

Eli dropped her eyes to their hands and bit her lip.  The truth was, she was more than a little angry and hurt.  She was furious, and part of her ached with utter sadness from Jacob’s spiteful words.  But the rest of her - it knew that they were going to have to get around this.  They were family and teammates, and they were stuck with one another.  The only way they were going to be successful was if they got past this and learned to trust each other again.  She sighed.

“I’m not going to lie, Jake.  Some of the things you said….”  She trailed off for a moment and closed her eyes before opening them again as she caught his.  “They hurt… a lot. But the fact of the matter is, they were just words.  They were mean, spiteful words, but they were still only words.  And you were under the influence of something beyond your control.”  She sighed.  “I wished you’d said something - about the pain and the nightmares.  Maybe we could have avoided all this.  But the truth is, we’ve faced a lot worse than this together and come through all right.  We’ll get through this too.  We have to.  We can’t afford to let something like this come between us.  We need each other.”

Jacob clasped her hand gently between both of his and brought it to his forehead.  “Thank you… thank you, Eli. You don’t know what this means to me.”

She lifted her free hand to his head and stroked his hair lightly.  “Yes, I do, Jake.  I’ve been where you are, and I was given a second chance as well.  Besides, what kind of leader would it make me if I expected us all to be perfect… especially when I know perfectly well I’m not?  I think you need to talk to everyone one-on-one and sort your things out with them first.  I know none of what you said is truly significant, but that’s how big issues start - little ones left untended.  Take care of Eden; apologize to Arianna.  When you’re done and you feel up to it, come to me and we’ll talk.  Who knows - maybe all this will make us stronger together.”

“I think it will,” Arianna piped up.  “Because we are too damned fool stubborn to let it beat us,” drawing a laugh from the rest.

“Besides,” Isaac chimed in, “if I can be forgiven, you sure can.  You just said some words.  I tried to separate Az and the Doc - almost physically.  Pretty sure mine was way worse.”

“Either way, it’s gonna have to wait, Cap’n,” Paul said as he looked up from his Pad where he’d been monitoring the bridge.  “We’re within range of the Nebula, and it looks like we’re not alone.”

At his words, the rest scattered to their posts, though Arianna gave Eli a lingering hand clasp before she exited the infirmary.  Eli closed her eyes for a moment and centered herself, focusing until she felt Arianna settle.  She smiled.  It was good to have that bond back in place, even though they were back to the much more natural progression they’d experienced before the whole god-thing had interfered and ramped things up beyond reason.  A light touch on her hand brought her back to her current reality, satisfied that Arianna would be able to feel her at least.

“Sorry,” she apologized to Paul even as she patted Jacob’s mechanical arm as a way of saying thank you.  “Got caught up thinking.  What have we got, Paulie?” extending her hand for his Pad.  He handed it to her without hesitation, and she frowned at what was on the screen.  Jacob tapped her shoulder.

“May I?” holding his hand out.  She hesitated only briefly before she passed him the Pad, the Captain winning out over the Doctor.  Jacob’s brows crawled into his hairline as frown deepened.  He turned to Paul.  “Can you out this up on a bigger screen… or maybe the wall?”

Paul took the Pad back from him and with a few adjustments had the picture on the wall screen that Eli normally used for explaining diagnoses to them.  “Better?”

Jacob continued to frown, but nodded, sitting up and starting to slide from the bed.  A hand on his chest stopped him.  “What are you…?”

“I need to get closer,” he told Eli.  “I think I know….  Can you help me, please?  I need a better look.”  Without a word, Paul went to one side while Eli held up the other, and together they got Jacob on his feet and slowly shuffling towards the screen.  Jacob studied them for a moment, letting his hand trace the outline of the two ships he could see.  “Those are Alliance ships - Black Ops, if I’m not mistaken.  There is every chance they are there for Mary, but if they’re not….”  He looked at them both, met their eyes squarely.  “If they’re not, it might be prudent to have a couple planet killers ready and waiting… just in case.”

Paul let his eye slide to Eli who gave him the barest nod of her head.  He immediately moved away from them to contact Arianna and Isaac, letting them know to put the emergency measures in place.  Meanwhile, Eli turned back to Jacob, whose focus had returned to the screen in front of him.

“What are you thinking, Jake?  What does your gut tell you?”

Jacob sighed in relief, realizing with those words that Eli still trusted him, and feeling a burden roll from his shoulders with her faith in him.  “My gut says they are probably out here at Mary’s behest.  After all, we’re not anywhere near where they expected us to be by this point, and we haven’t been in contact with them at all since we left.  Common sense says if we ran into trouble, the Nebula would likely be the cause, given its history with spacecraft, so I’m guessing she’s hedging her bets trying to find us… or at least trying to find out what happened to us.  She knows, knowing our final destination, that this phenomenon is on our most likely trajectory, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some scientific person somewhere is monitoring the Nebula and witnessed the explosion that took place.  She’d be one of the few with the resources and knowledge to have ships come looking for us… if only for her peace of mind, and that she could offer to our parents.”  He looked up and noticed the grimace on Eli’s face.  “What’s the look for?”

“If she’s looking for us, and she knows about the explosion, we’re going to be in a lot of trouble when she gets over her relief of knowing we’re all right.”

“Oh shit,” he mumbled as Paul came back toward them.

“Everything’s set, Boss,” he announced without noticing their unease.  “I need to get to the bridge.”

“Help me get Jake back into bed, please, and then….”

“If you can set me up a small station or let me stay close to this screen, I can help monitor things from here.  I can’t do much else, but I need to do something to contribute.  Please, Eli.”

Eli met his eyes, and after a moment, gave a reluctant nod.  She knew how frustrating it was to feel useless, and another pair of eyes - especially as sharp as Jacob’s - couldn’t hurt.  “Help me get him into bed, Paulie.  Then I’ll get him set up and join you on the bridge.”

Paul nodded, and in just a moment, Jacob was ensconced once more in his bed, wide-eyed and excited for the first time in days.  He didn’t even ask for pain meds; instead, he impatiently waited for his Pad  to be handed to him, smiling in something akin to relief when it was in his hands once more.  He was still extremely careful with his mechanical hand… mostly because he was unused to the strength of it, though he already had far greater control than he’d expected, thanks to Arianna’s adjustments.  Still, he didn’t want to destroy the opportunity he had to get back to work by crushing his own Pad, so for now he kept it mostly on the table Eli had brought over for his use.

“I’ll be on the bridge,” Eli reminded him as she placed a couple food packets and some water on the table beside him.  “And everyone else is at their emergency duty stations.  Someone can be here in minutes if you need….”

“Eli, I’m fine.  I promise.  And if I really need help that badly, I’m sure someone who is in one of the labs down here will be able to give me a quick hand.  Go do your Captain thing, Cap’n.  We can’t go home until we finish up with this, and to be honest?  I’m ready to go home.”

Eli gave him a crooked, little smile.  “Yeah… I think we all are.”

“Good.  Now go assure Mary’s little minion’s that we’re all all right, and let’s get the hell outta Dodge.”

Eli didn’t even question his euphemism, but simply nodded her agreement and headed to the bridge.

************

“So the good news is we’re all in much better shape than we had any right to expect to be.  Given what we’re seeing of the Nebula… or what was once the Nebula,” Matt corrected, “we should have been blown to kingdom come.  As it is, we suspect - and Gray and her scientists agree - that we were protected by the Nebula itself.  It put some kind of force field in place that kept our engines from overloading and exploding in the aftermath of whatever happened here.”

“And you don’t know what happened?” Mary asked, shifting uncomfortably with a wince.  Eve made a move to help, but she shook her head minutely.  They could worry about the pain she was in when this transmission was over.  She didn’t want to chance any distractions when she finally had two of the three captains she’d had looking for the Alpha Team face-to-face in real time.

“With eyewitness certainty?” Grayson asked.  “No. We’re still having a bit of difficulty cleaning up the interference all the activity caused in the buoys we left.  But I feel pretty confident saying the Nebula protected us when it took the Storm Surge out, and the subsequent explosion helped form the new solar system we’re seeing now.”

“We agree over here, Chief,” Matt confirmed.  “The only thing we can’t explain are the life signs on the planet down there.”

Mary sighed.  “Well, it stands to reason that if the Nebula could protect you three and hopefully those kids, it certainly could have protected whatever life forms it had kept hidden within its folds for however long.  Are you certain the kids got away?  And where is Hank?”

“We both saw some sort of bright flash - like engines engaging - just before everything else went to hell.  And apparently, Hank got thrown further out than either of us did.  We expect him here in the next couple days at his present speed.”

Mary nodded and pinched the bridge of her nose.  “All right.  I think you two need to check out that new system and whatever life is there. We all know that the Council is going to want as much pertinent, first-hand information it can obtain, and since you’re already right there….”

“How are you going to explain that, Chief… if they ask, I mean?”

Mary grinned.  “I’m pretty confident they won’t ask,” her words causing Eve and Caleb to chuckle in the background.  Matt and Grayson exchanged amused glances over their viewscreens.  “They’re learning that sometimes, it best just to accept the providence that God provides and move on.  Too many questions usually bring answers they don’t want or can’t handle.”

This time there was outright guffawing from both sides of the screen, before Caleb patiently wiped his eyes and shook his head.  “Ah, Chief… your mastery for understatement is truly unmatched.”

“Gotta concur, Chief,” Grayson said, even as Matt nodded vigorously. “However, I’m not one of those people.  Are you all right?  I mean, no offense, but you look like… <ahem> let’s just say the last few months seem to have taken a worse toll than normal… even for a screwed up mission cluster like this one has been.”

Mary smirked a little.  “Ah, Gray - still as blunt as always, hmm?  The truth is, this assignment has been more than a little harsh for me.  There were some… complications from the wound I suffered when we were trying to get those kids out of the mountain several months ago.  The good news is that Eve here seems to be on top of things, and they think they’ve got me all straightened out now.  I just need a little more time for rest and recovery.”

“Wow, I don’t envy her or anyone else assigned to that particular task.  We love you, Chief, but you’ve never been good at that whole ‘resting’ thing.”

“Still not, but I am trying.  I’ve got too much living left to do to allow something like this take me out.  Besides, I’m as anxious as the rest of you to find out about those kids.  And that reminds me - did we hear you all say something about seeing a dragon?” feeling Eve’s gaze snap up and over her, but keeping her focus on the two captains in front of her.

“We did,” Matt confirmed.  “It was… we’re still not positive where it came from - whether it was from the Storm Surge or if it was part of the Nebula or….”

“I got the impression it was from the Outreach, though I don’t recall seeing anything like that in the specs we saw.  I suppose it could have been one of those things that those kids came up with as an unorthodox means of defense.  I’ll admit it scared the crap out of me when I first saw it… mostly because it was completely unexpected.”

“Why do you think it was connected to the Outreach?”

Grayson shrugged.  “Mostly because the Nebula seemed intent on protecting it.  It actually knocked it back towards the Outreach shortly before everything blew.”  She shrugged again.  “It was just a little bizarre, because there seemed to be a concerted effort on the part of the Nebula to ensure that the dragon was safe along with the kids.”

“This dragon,” Eve cut in, stepping into the frame.  “Can you describe it?”

“It was beautiful - iridescent green skin and scales that tapered into blue, then purple, then black.  The wings were black feathered.  I couldn’t see the eyes very clearly, but they appeared to be golden from a distance.  I know it has some kind of fire power; that was what jumpstarted the engines on the Storm Surge.  Pretty sure that’s what caused the explosion, actually.”

Eve covered her mouth with her hand in an attempt to keep her reaction to herself.  Mary reached out and caught her free hand, and she squeezed tightly.  “You’re sure the dragon got away?” Mary asked.

“As much as we can be sure of anything,” Grayson replied.  “The Nebula seemed intent on protecting everything but the Storm Surge.”

“Do we know the reason behind that?”

“Other than the ship seemed intent on destroying everything in this region?  Not a clue.”

“All right.  You two stay in the area for a little while - do some surveys; study the life forms, and make contact if you feel it’s prudent.  Gather as much information as you can on the new solar system as a whole.  A week… maybe two, unless it seems like you need more time to find some answers.  Otherwise, collect your data and send it on.  Then you can go back to your regular patrols.”

“What about those kids?”

“Don’t wait for them.  If they were blasted safely away, they should be on their way to their new home, and they won’t be returning to the Nebula.  If they didn’t, there’s nothing left to wait for.  Either way, we should know eventually… because either they will show up at their new home base or they won’t.”

“And your gut feeling?  C’mon, Chief… you’ve gotta have some idea of what you expect to happen.”

“I expect they’ll be settling on that moon soon enough.  Both of you are insistent that they got away, and I’m inclined to believe you.  Besides, a little positive thinking won’t hurt anything,” watching them nod their agreement.  “I want this channel kept live and open while you are doing your investigations.  I want to know everything that’s going on.  I’ll expect reports at regular intervals - say every four hours - and of course immediately if something of interest happens.  There’ll be someone monitoring here constantly, and I can be reached in minutes.”

“Will do, Chief.  How long do you want us to stay here?”

Mary sighed.  “Give it a week, and we’ll revisit this topic.  You’ll probably have all the information we need then, but just in case….”

“You got it, Chief.  Meanwhile, let Caleb and the Doc there take care of you.  You’re looking a little rough around the edges and if it can be fixed with some rest….”

Mary laughed aloud.  “Gray, only you would be ballsy enough to say that out loud.  None of the boys would dare.”

“Because we like how we live just fine, Chief.  No man with sense would ever say that to a woman.  Another woman, however….”  Matt chuckled as he shrugged.  “There’s a reason I’ve been happily married as long as I have.  However, we’ve got work to do.  We’ll talk to you in a few Chief.”

“Later, guys,” Mary said as she signed off.  Then she leaned back and closed her eyes.  She needed just a minute before she had to face Eve.

Chapter LXVI

Caleb met Mary’s eyes, and cleared his throat.  “Um… Chief?  If you don’t have anything else for me, I’ve got a couple pressing issues I need to take care of.  Gideon needs to be informed to set his team up for round-the-clock monitoring of the open channel with the black ops ships, and Adam and Ben both need to be brought up to speed on what’s going on.  Plus, they’re due to report in on Beta and Gamma Teams.”

Mary reached out her free hand and squeezed lightly.  “Go.  I’ll be here when you get done and you can catch me up then.”

Caleb nodded as he returned her clasp before releasing her hand.  “Is there anything else you need from me?”

Mary turned to Eve.  “Do you need Noah?” watching her shake her head.  “We’re good for now… except, can you make sure everyone’s gotten home safely?  I’m sure I would have heard if there were delays in them leaving, but.…”

“Will do, chief.  Be back in a bit.”

The two women waited until he exited the room and closed the door behind him before Eve tugged gently on the hand still holding hers.  This time Mary let go - knowing with her strength, Eve could easily have forced the issue before - and allowed Eve to walk away.  She didn’t go far - only as far as the door to make certain it was closed, and locking it to keep things private.  Mary leaned back against the pillows propped against the headboard, and crossed her arms, waiting for Eve to speak.  When she did, it was almost exactly the deflection Mary expected.

“How are you feeling, Mary?  I saw you wince; I know there’s still a lot of pain… more than there should be.”

“There’s pain - I’ll deal.  I’m not going to take something that’s going to put me out of my mind.  And you’re deflecting.”

Eve shrugged.  “Maybe a little.  But the fact is, I’m a healer first… especially right now.”

“No… you’re a mama first - that’s only natural… especially right now.  So, what’s going on with you?”  She winced again as she tried shifting her leg without thought.  “We’ll take care of this in a bit, I promise, but I need to know what’s going on with you.  Why did you react so strongly to my guys seeing what they thought was a dragon?  Does it have something to do with Eli?”

Eve clasped her hands together and brought them to her lips, pacing in front of the door until Mary grew impatient, and slapped the bed.  Then she grimaced.  Eve moved swiftly to her side.  “This is why I’m concerned,” pulling the blankets away from Mary’s lower body.  “The slightest little movement or touch shouldn’t feel so… debilitating.”  She ran her fingers over the massive scar with the lightest touch she could manage, and still Mary flinched before she grasped her hands.

“It’s not debilitating.  It’s just pain.  In fairness, it’s more pain than I expected to have.  I think I’d gotten used to the pain I had, and I was able to block a lot of it.  But this is new and different and it’s all over, because the surgery affected my entire body in one way or another.  It’ll get better, though to be honest, I’d love the chance to sit and soak in a steaming hot tub for a couple hours.”

Eve looked thoughtful.  “We might be able to manage that… if you don’t mind company.  I’m not sure leaving you alone would be the wisest course of action,” holding up a hand before Mary could speak.  “If you fell asleep, I’m not sure your body is strong enough to hold you up yet.”

“Yeah, I’m going to go ahead and say no.”

Eve chuckled.  “At least we’re both on the same page.  I’ll tell you what - let me get Aurora down here to help me, and we’ll see about getting you into the tub for a while.  It can’t hurt, and it might help you relax a little.”

“And then you’ll share about the dragon?”

“As long as you give me an update on what’s going on with you and Caleb.  Something’s changed.”

“Deal,” Mary agreed after a moment’s hesitation.  “We’re family after all, right?”

“Right, Chief!” Eve replied, earning her a glare.  She just laughed and went to find Aurora.

************

“Okay,” Mary said after releasing a deeply held breath.  “That was about as much work as I can manage for a while,” grimacing as she leaned back against the tub wall.  She sighed again.  “On the other hand, this feels mighty good.  Thank you, ladies.  I feel like I might actually get clean for the first time in ages.”

“Thank you for allowing us to help,” Aurora said quietly.  “I have to admit - I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite as prideful… or stubborn… as you are, Mary.  And given who I am and who I know, that is truly saying something.”  Her comment brought a snort from Mary and full-fledged laughter from Eve.  Aurora smiled in sympathy.  “Your boys insisted on airing out your room and changing the linens while you’re in the bath - something about getting rid of the sick smell.”

Mary smiled.  “Yes.  It’s a ritual left over from when they were kids.  Whenever anyone was sick, the first thing I did when they started feeling better was air out the room and change the sheets.  That was how they knew they were on the road to recovery… even if we did it more than once.”

“At least it’s warm now.  I can’t imagine airing out anything in the dead of winter.”

“Oh, it can be done.  It’s just a little more complicated.”

“I’ll bet,” Aurora countered.  “I’m glad it’s warmer though.”  She turned to Eve.  “I don’t know how you survive in cold climates.”

Eve shrugged.  “I think it’s all in what you’re used to.  If it gets much warmer here, I’m going to have to find a way to stay cool.”

“So this steamy bathroom?” Mary asked, motioning around them.

“Not the most pleasant, but not the worst I’ve experienced… especially since I know it is very temporary.  Is it helping?”

“It seems to be,” Mary replied as she sank further into the warmth.  “I feel much more relaxed.”

“Good.  So, tell us about you and Caleb.”

Aurora’s eyes widened and she sat up straighter.  “Really?” Looking between Mary and Eve.  “Is there something to tell finally?”

“Yes.”
“No.”

Eve met Mary’s eyes, and Mary shook her head.  “No, there is nothing to tell.  Not until I hear about this dragon.”

“Dragon??” Aurora repeated, though she was subtly ignored.

“Always the Chief, Mary?” Eve sighed in defeat.

“Always.  Remember that stubborn pride thing Aurora mentioned?  Yeah… it’s what makes me good at what I do.  Pretty sure it’s also kept me alive a time or two.”

“Dragon??” Aurora repeated again.

“Pretty sure you’re right… especially this last time.”

“Excuse me?!?”  Aurora finally interrupted loudly enough to be heard.  “What. Dragon???”

Eve sighed again.   “Sit back, and I’ll tell you,” waiting for Aurora to relax back against the wall she’d been leaning against.  “My people have a legend about our origins, as I’m sure both of yours do as well,” waiting for them to nod.  When they did, she stood and walked to the door, before taking a stance in front of it.  “Our legend says when the gods dropped us on our planet, each god took a clan and blessed it with something unique - a trait that would make each clan stand out from the others.  And at first, we were pitted against one another as part of their games and wagers.  Eventually, though, as time passed, the clans cross-married and intermingled, so our gifts became more like a lottery; it depended on your genetics as well as the whims of the gods.  But every child was granted a gift - extraordinary sight; exceptional hearing; super speed; flight; a mind that could compute faster than a machine or that was strong enough to physically move things - a single gift that they could utilize as a warrior.  You get the idea.”  She sighed.  “Once in a while, and only very, very rarely, a child would be born with every gift, and that child also had the ability to transform itself into another creature entirely - sometimes a gryphon or a unicorn, or occasionally a phoenix, but the strongest and most powerful would transform into a dragon.  It’s said to be more than a little dangerous, especially for the one doing the transformation, because everything becomes about feeling and emotion, and much of the reactions it has are dependent on instinct.  It takes time and practice to be able to control what otherwise could be a wild, untamed personality, and they are exempt from service because they are so rare.  They’re almost revered as gods themselves.”

When Eve fell silent and remained so, Mary cleared her throat softly.  “When was the last time one such gifted appeared to your people?”

“Recorded history puts our last одаренный as some time around one hundred cycles ago.  Our last dragon, however, has not been seen in over three hundred.”

“And you believe Eli is the dragon my ships’ captains saw?”

“I cannot come up with another viable explanation.  But I should have known about this.  If this is her, she put herself in so much danger by not telling me… by not getting the training that she needed to learn control.  Why would she risk it?? Why wouldn’t she tell me??”

“You answered your own question earlier,” Aurora replied softly.  “You yourself said she would have been made to stay on your planet - to not serve or participate in anything like any other normal member of your society.  Just from the little I know of Eli, and the bits my mija shared with me in the missive she wrote me before they left, Eli was too strong a person and personality to allow herself to be worshipped.  She would have withered and died.”

“But…?”

“By not telling you, she eliminated any chance of you being put into an untenable position.  As her mother, your heart would have gladly sent her on her way… to be part of the Alpha Team.  That’s what you did, after all - you gave her your blessing and let her go, knowing it was what was best for her.  But as a Shamaness, and as the leader of your people, you would have been required to tie her to a destiny she didn’t want, and that would have broken her sooner rather than later.  In not telling you, she spared you that choice.”

Eve blinked.  “That’s quite some insight.”

Aurora smiled bashfully.  “I’ve had much time to think about a great many things in recent months.”

“Speaking of….” Mary spoke up from the bathtub where she was reclined with her eyes closed.  “Why are you still here?  Not that you’re not welcome - like Eve and Noah, you’re family now, and family is always welcome.  Eve is still here, despite my protests otherwise, because she is apparently my primary physician thanks to Eli.  But I know you both have responsibilities elsewhere.”

“I was wondering when you were going to bring this up again.”

“Chief,” Mary responded succinctly.  “It’s my job to hold all the reins and make sure everyone and everything is taken care of.”  She looked between the two women.  “So?”

Aurora sighed.  “With everything that’s been going on - with Fernando’s incarceration and Arianna’s departure for what amounts to the rest of her life, I have put things in motion to change our method of government.  I have been staying away to allow the people to choose what they want without feeling like I am hawking over them like some sort of powerful spectre demanding they go one way or another.”

“And how’s that working out for you?” Eve asked.

“Surprisingly well, actually.  It looks like they are going to vote for a democratic monarchy.  So I will still be the Queen, but there will be a democratic electorate in place to allow the people to participate in the direction of the government.  I think it will be a good thing for my planet… and my people.”

“So until a decision is made, you’re at loose ends?”

“Somewhat, I suppose, but not really,” Aurora agreed gently.  “This has given me ample reason to step back and take stock of many things, and to connect with those who are now my family.  I am hoping to have more time and opportunity to spend here,” looking at Mary, “because we have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Yes,” Eve agreed, “and I plan to be part of that.”  She held up a hand.  “I know I am the leader and Head Shamaness of my people, but it is past time I started training an apprentice to follow in my footsteps.  Besides, we have a number of healers on my planet, and there are many things I can handle from a distance… at least for a little while.  I am hoping eventually to get you all to visit my home for a little while; to let me introduce you to everyone and everything there.”

“I wouldn’t be adverse to that,” Mary said.

“Good,” from Aurora.  “Me either.  But first I want to hear all about you and Caleb.”  She looked between Mary and Eve.  “What have I missed?”

“Same thing I did,” Eve commented.  “I only know something changed… and recently too.”  She turned back to Mary.  “So what happened?”

Mary closed her eyes and sighed, but couldn’t contain the blush that covered her cheeks.  “You remember a few days ago when Nathaniel came to me about Joseph and the Storm Surge?  Well, we had a good long talk - Nathaniel and I did, after the rest of you left for the evening.”  She met both sets of eyes fiercely.  “What I say here, stays here… between us,” watching eyes widen even as heads nodded.  “We talked about him and Joseph - about their lives together and their plans for the future.  And then he asked me to give Caleb a chance… a real chance to be more than just my friend and confidante.  He said, ‘Mama, if Caleb finds out I said this to you, I’m all kinds of a dead man.  But the fact is, that man loves you like crazy, and you’d be a damn fool not to see that… not to return that kind of love and devotion.  I know what you and Dad had was real and wonderful and amazing.  But you’ve got a second chance to have something like that again.  Why wouldn’t you jump on an opportunity like that??  Let me tell you something - if Dad was here right now… not like returned to life, but able to speak to you from beyond the grave… he’d tell you to choose Caleb and be happy.’ When I asked him how he knew, he told me to talk to Ian; he’d said enough.  So I talked to Ian.  He told me Edward had sat them down when they got into high school; reminded them that they were the men of the family when he was gone, and that it was their responsibility to keep an eye on their sister and me… but mostly me, because I was already taking care of them and their sister.  And he apparently told them flat out that if the day ever came when he was gone, and I had the opportunity to find happiness again, they needed to make sure I took the chance I was offered… especially if Caleb was the one who offered it to me.”  She sighed.  “Apparently Edward knew how Caleb felt about me, but he also knew he was too honorable to do anything about his feelings as long as Edward was alive.”

“Did they say how he knew… about Caleb, I mean?”

“No. But I wouldn’t be at all surprised to know that Edward and Caleb actually talked about it - you know, in that abbreviated way men talk about anything that resembles feelings among themselves. Maybe one day I’ll ask Caleb… if we ever get to that point.”

“So you’re not there yet?”

“Um… no.  Not yet.  I’m not quite sure where we are at the moment… because things are a little complicated.”

“Of course they are,” Eve commented.  “How else would they be with you?”

Mary stuck out her tongue, and the other two laughed.

“So your boys essentially gave you Edward’s blessing from the grave?” Aurora asked, trying to bring the conversation back around to Mary and Caleb.

“Something like that, yes.  Still, I wasn’t going to be the one to make the first move.  I just… I couldn’t - beyond giving him an opportunity to be heard.”

“I take he did… finally make his move, I mean?”

Mary smiled softly.  “He did.  I had told him before - right after we met with the Council and I was exonerated; when things were all crazy and we were trying to confirm everything going on in the Nebula and the fact the kids were alive out there somewhere… when we got the first garbled transmission from the buoys Grayson and the boys had left behind - I had told him that maybe we needed to talk.  Of course, things kind of took the fast track to hell in a hand basket, and then I collapsed.  And we’ve been pretty busy since then… especially with me out of it for way too long.  But he came to me last night and….”

“Mama?” Joy called out from the bedroom, even as she knocked on the door.  “Can I come in?”

Mary nodded at Eve, who still stood in front of the door.  “Come on in, Baby Girl,” turning her head to meet Joy’s eyes as she crossed the threshold.  Eve ushered her in quickly and closed the door behind her swiftly.

“Sorry,” she apologized.  “I’m trying to keep the heat in.”

“Despite your own misery?” Joy asked with the hint of a smile.

“I’ll live.  It’s only for a little while, and I can’t have Mary catching a chill.  So was there a reason I let you into the sauna we’ve created here or…?”

“Oh!  Yes!”  Joy turned back to where Mary was lounging in the tub. “Mama, Caleb sent me to find you.  Matt just contacted us.  The Outreach just arrived back at the Nebula or the….”  She shrugged, then rushed to help Mary stand when she realized what she was struggling to accomplish.  She helped her to stand and kept her from wavering too badly.  “Whatever it is now.  He figured you’d want to be there.”  She was eased out of the way by Eve’s gentle hands.

“Grab her robe.  Aurora,” accepting the towel the other woman held out to her.  “Thank you.  Mary, let me lift you from the tub.  Aurora will help you maintain your balance while we get you dried off and into your robe.  Then we’ll go see what all the excitement is about.  Don’t think you’re getting out of finishing that story though - we’ll come back to that conversation later.”

Mary nodded.  It was taking all of her fortitude to remain upright, but she was determined to push through the weakness she felt.  It was time to start healing… from so many things.

Chapter LXVII

They did stop long enough to dress Mary in something other than her robe.  Despite the heat of summer, and the fact that the window in her room was wide open to let in the sunshine and the warmth, she still tended to chill quickly.  And Eve wasn’t about to let anything happen that could setback the slow healing she could actually perceive.  So a pair of comfortable pants and a long-sleeved top were added to a thick pair of socks before Mary was comfortably resettled in her bed.  She gave a sigh of exhaustion and relief.

“Well, I feel a lot better than I did,” she commented, “but damnation if I’m not weak as a newborn kitten.  I feel like I could sleep for a week.”

“Maybe you should,” Eve offered, but was cut off by the shaking of Mary’s head before she could finish her thought.

“No,” Mary replied forcefully.  “Absolutely not.”  And in that moment, everyone in the room offered up a prayer of thanksgiving and a sigh of relief.  No matter what else, they were confident now that Mary would recover, because she had that old spark and fire in her eyes and voice, and her posture was as ramrod as she could make it.  “My responsibility,” she informed them, even as she let her body sag again in an effort to be as comfortable as could be managed.  She expected to be in one position for quite a little while once this started - might as well begin not in total misery.  She looked at Joy.  “Go fetch Caleb and Noah to me please, then come back and bring your brothers with you,” watching Joy beam before she raced out the door.  Mary looked at the two women still with her.  “Could one of you hand me my Pad, please?” gesturing to the dresser where it had been placed during the room cleaning.  “Then you might want to find a place up here to sit,” patting the mattress gently.  “It’ll be the best way for you to see.”

“Will you be comfortable?” Eve asked.

Mary rolled her eyes.  “Probably not.  But I wouldn’t deny either of you the possibility of speaking to your child, and it’s time to quit babying me and this damned leg.  Things to do; life to live; et cetera….  It’s time I was a little more proactive, and what better reason than this?”

Eve motioned Aurora to take Mary’s good side and waited until she eased down before she moved around to the other side of the bed.  “This is going to hurt a little, and I apologize, but I’ll be as gentle as I can,” wincing in tandem with Mary as she slid into place.  “You let me know if it gets to be too much.  We’ll figure something else out.”  Mary nodded and blew out a breath.

“Chief?” Caleb asked as he stuck his head in the open door.

“C’mon in, Caleb,” she beckoned a little breathlessly.  The pain was there, but not unbearable, and she relaxed a little more.  “Is Matt still onscreen?” booting the satellite connection to her Pad.

Caleb nodded.  “He and Grayson both.  We’ve got the screen split so you can see both of them as well as the Outreach just coming into the outer edges of the system.”

Mary frowned.  “What’s taking them so long?  Why are they moving so slowly?”  She expanded up her Pad until the viewscreen was decent sized and even Aurora and Eve could see everything clearly. 

“We think it’s because they’re not completely certain about Grayson and Matt.  They haven’t responded to any communications yet, but they may not be monitoring the same channels that we normally utilize.” 

“Chief, we’ve started running the gambit of frequencies, hoping to reach out to them before they start arming,” Matt spoke up.  Mary acknowledged his words with a nod, then turned to Caleb.

“Have Gideon try.  He should have the frequencies Joseph was using to establish long-range contact with that moon.”

“You got it, Chief.”

“Mama?” Ian greeted tentatively as he and his siblings entered the room.  She beckoned them in further.

“I thought you might want the chance to see your sister and her friends,” indicating the Pad and the image of the Outreach, just as the bottom half of the screen opened up to the bridge of the Outreach, and Eli’s surprised countenance.

“How did you…?”

“Chief?”
“Mama?”
“Daughter?”
“MaTb?”
“Mija?”

Mary whistled shrilly and Joy started laughing.  “Well, now that we’re all introduced to one another again….”

Eli held up her hand, and silence fell on all sides of the monitors.  She stood up and approached the viewscreen, concern and confusion etched on her face.  “Mary?  Are you all right?” noting the haggardness and exhaustion that seemed to hover around Mary’s person.  “Is there…?”

“I’m fine, Captain,” Mary responded with a small smile.  “My recovery is slow, but I promise you, I am recovering,” assuring Eli of her well-being while reminding her that, for now, there were official topics to address. 

“Understood, Chief,” shifting to greet Mary first in the most official way she knew how.  “Um… so what’s going on?  How can we help you?”

“First of all, how are things there?  Is everyone all right?”

A number of emotions flickered across Eli’s countenance before she nodded curtly.  “All things considered given the adventures we’ve had up to this point?  Yes.  A lot has happened since we saw you last, Chief.”

Mary nodded.  “I’m sure it has.  Is there a short version you can share?”

Eli turned and looked around the bridge before turning her back on the viewscreen and returning to her seat.  She dropped into the Captain’s chair and the screen widened to take a broader view of the bridge and those currently manning it, including Aphrodite.  “We had a run-in with some gods - one of which tried to eliminate us - and that caused the destruction of the Storm Surge and the Nebula, and the creation of the solar system you see now.  We don’t have any other details yet.”

Mary’s eyes widened and she swallowed hard, recognizing that so much of the story was being left unsaid.  She wondered how bad the truth really was.  “Well, at least part of that concurs with the things we already knew.  And everyone’s okay there?” feeling the women sitting on either side of her squirm with impatience.  She placed a hand on either leg to still them.

Eli blinked, her eyes hooded.  “As well as can be expected at the moment.”  She glanced to her right, and then looked back at Mary.  “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the two ships out here facing us, would you?”

Mary smiled again.  “I would indeed.  They are friends of mine; they’ve been searching for you for quite some time.  They actually found you just before everything blew to hell.  They’re the reason we know at least some of what happened.  They should be trying to reach you on the proper channel now.  If you’ll let them through, I’ll introduce you.”

Eli turned and nodded to Arianna, who sat at the comm station, and in moments, Matt and Grayson were on the screen beside Mary.  She introduced them to the Alpha Team and then added, “They are going to remain in the area for the next several days.  There are life signs on at least one planet they want to investigate, and this will give you all a chance to talk to your folks once more before you head out into the vast unknown again.”

“We’re not going to be here that long, Chief… just long enough to drop off Cupid and Aphrodite.  It’s their family that’s down on the planet.  That’s why we came back.”

“I can’t wait to hear that story; and your families aren’t that far away.  They only left out of here earlier this morning, and Caleb has already notified them of their need to return,” watching him nod his agreement.  “Matt and Grayson - and Hank, when he gets here - will keep an eye out on things.”  She tilted her head slightly, wondering at Eli’s reticence at remaining any longer than was necessary… especially given the opportunity to speak to her family and allow the rest of her team to do the same.  Then it dawned on her.  “Captain, may I speak with you privately?”

Eli studied Mary’s expression for a long moment before nodding brusquely.  “I’ll be in my office in a moment,” rising from her chair and exiting the bridge.  Mary turned to look around her room at the myriad of people surrounding her.

“All right… all of you - everybody out.  EH!” she commanded with a hand up before the protesting could start.  “I will call you all back in when I am done speaking to Eli, but for now, I need to talk to her alone.  That’s what privately means.”

“You heard the Chief - everybody out,” Caleb said, as he helped a reluctant Eve and Aurora climb gently from the bed.  “She’ll call us back in as soon as she can, but for now we’ll be across the hall in the living room,” ushering them out the door ahead of him to Mary’s grateful wave.  She turned back to her screen where Grayson and Matt still patiently waited.

“I’ll let you two get back to what you were doing.  Someone will contact you as soon as Eli and I are done talking.”

“You got it, Chief.  You know how to find us.”

“Yes, and it’s a lot easier now that the interference from the Nebula is gone.  We’ll talk again in a bit.”  With that, she disconnected her Pad from them and returned her gaze to Eli, who had just seated herself in the small office next to the bridge.  Mary smiled.  “Hello, Eli.”

“Hello, Ma-ma,” Eli replied with a tender smile.  “How are you… really?  And please don’t tell me you’re fine.  I am a healer - I know what fine looks like, and this,” gesturing towards Mary, “isn’t it.”

Mary sighed.  “If I tell you about this,” motioning to herself with a deprecating wave, “will you talk to me?  Tell me what’s going on and how you all are really doing?  And why you’re so determined to leave?”

Eli sat back in her chair.  “Yes.  But you first.”

“Very well,” Mary agreed, and began a rundown of what had happened since the Alpha Team had departed the space station, ending with the departure of the Alpha Teams’ parents earlier that morning.

“So, all the families - including those of the Beta and Gamma Teams - came to stand with you when you went in front of the Council again?  That’s incredible, and it must have made quite the impact with the Council as well.”

“I think they were a little surprised that the Beta and Gamma Teams’ families showed up this time, but they were expecting the Alpha Team.  They already had seats in the gallery prepared for them,” her expression causing Eli to chuckle.  “However, I do think their support went a long way in the Council finding favorably for me.”

“I’m inclined to agree… especially since I can’t see them allowing you to return to work in your condition.”

“Your mother has given permission for me to start resuming my duties,” Mary replied with a hint of asperity.  “She thinks it will help me to heal, and I’m inclined to agree.  Pretty sure it was work that kept me from dying in the first place - I didn’t have time to think or worry about it.”

Eli hung her head.  “I’m sorry, Mary.  I should have….”

“You did, Eli,” Mary cut in.  “You saved my life.  You had no way of knowing about the poison they introduced into my body.  Besides, it was my own stubbornness and pride that kept me from telling anyone of my suspicions… or the pain I was in.  That’s on me.  Even Abigail’s family couldn’t get a good read on me apparently,” added with a hint of derision in her tone, but it still didn’t bring Eli’s head up.  Mary sighed.  “Eli?  Eli, look at me,” watching the head come up slowly and only enough to allow hazel eyes to peer through dark lashes.  “This is my fault, all right?  I didn’t get you guys out of the mountain quickly enough; I didn’t tell anyone about the pain I was in; I didn’t share my suspicions that it was killing me.  Trust me - I’ve gotten lectures from every quarter about this.  So, you don’t get to feel guilty.  You did everything you could with what you knew.”

“Is that why MaTb is there now?”

“Yes.  Just after the Council meeting, I collapsed.  She and Tom and Giselle - a parent of one of the Gamma Team members - spent hours in surgery on me.  Your mother has been by my side almost constantly since that time.  Tom looks after me in the evenings, but your mother has assumed primary responsibility for my care.  It’s one reason I’m so desperate to get better - she has other responsibilities that need to come first.”

Eli shook her head and chuckled lightly.  “You should know better - she will decide when you don’t need her attention and care any longer.”

“Yeah, I got that.  She did finally insist to the Alpha Teams’ folks that I was on my way to recovery.  It’s the reason they decided it was time to go home.”

“Then why bring them back?  It will only be a few minutes at most in the grand scheme of things.  Why the insistence that they talk to us again?  We already said our goodbyes - we’re not coming back.”

Mary’s brow furrowed.  “Why are you so adamantly against letting your team talk to their families?  What possible difference could it make?”

“Do you ever get tired of being in charge?  Tired of being responsible for everyone and everything around you?”

Mary smiled.  “If you had asked me this even a week ago, I would have said yes, absolutely.  I mean, I do get tired, and sometimes the responsibility can seem overwhelming, but that’s why I have the team in place that I do.  I know I can count on them to do their jobs, which makes mine easier.  And having had the responsibility removed from me - being unable to do the things I need to do to accomplish the things I need to accomplish?  Yeah, that doesn’t work for me… At. All.”

Eli smiled tiredly and scrubbed her face with her hands.  “I’m exhausted, Mary - we’re all tired.  Not that we didn’t expect to be, but not like this.  This is exhaustion down to the very marrow of my bones. We should have already been to the moon by now, building our new home and settling in - tired from establishing a new colony.  Not beaten down and worn out by some idiot with delusions of grandeur that was trying to destroy us because of some bet that was made millennia before we were even born!” never raising her voice, but giving the implication of screaming nonetheless.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Mary calmed, raising her hands to remind Eli she wasn’t a threat.  “How about you start at the beginning?  Let’s work through this together.  I know I can’t do anything from here, but I can listen, and maybe even offer some suggestions that might help.  But even if I can’t, you’ll feel better talking it out with someone who understands.” She laughed and rolled her eyes at the knowing little smirk Eli offered her.  “I know… I know - pot and kettle.  But I’m learning,” ducking her head shyly as she blushed.

Eli sat up straight and leaned forward with a predatory smile.  “Oh??  Do tell!”

“Uh uh,” Mary denied.  “Not until you talk to me and tell me what’s going on.  We had a deal.”

“And a deal is a promise,” repeating the refrain Elijah had always thrown at her when she was trying to protect him despite his desire otherwise.  “All right.  Get comfortable, Ma… ma.  This is going to take a little while.”

************

Mary blinked slowly as Eli finished her narrative, leaving out only the most personal parts and those dealing specifically with Cupid as Joseph.  “Oh… wow,” she muttered.  “No wonder you’re so tired.  But Naomi’s okay?  And Jacob?”

“They’re both fine,” waving Mary’s concern away.  “Naomi more than Jake at the moment, but she’s had more time to recover with less of a physical reminder.  And Jake is getting better - he’s already pushing to get back to work.”

“So, your hesitation isn’t because of them.  Is this about the dragon then?  Are you afraid of talking to your MaTb?” cutting right to the heart of the matter.

Eli’s eyes widened, even as her skin paled to an almost gray color.  “You know about the dragon?”

“We do.  The ships were there when the Storm Surge appeared through the wormhole.  They saw you - they reported to me.”

“And you told MaTb?”

“Not directly, and I didn’t out you intentionally.  I had no idea your species was capable of such a feat, and I certainly had no idea your MaTb wasn’t aware of your capabilities.  I would have asked her to leave the room otherwise.  I’m pretty good at keeping a secret, you know.”

Eli smiled - her first fully genuine smile that didn’t involve Arianna in some way since long before they had been chosen for the Alpha Team.  The thought made Mary frown, but before she could follow up on it, Eli was speaking.  “I know.  I just….”  She shrugged.

“You’re afraid everyone is going to be disappointed in you - hold you responsible for the delays and the injuries and deaths.  Let me tell you straight up that would be a NO.  I guarantee you - those kids will tell their folks what happened, and no one is going to blame anything other than the gods you spoke of, that Mischief person, a little weird karma and a touch of bad luck.  They will be more interested in talking to their kids again - an unexpected blessing.  Eventually, we’ll all sit down and compare stories and go looking for the things that tie us - and you guys - together across time and space and galaxies.  And don’t worry about your MaTb.  Arianna’s Madre already set things straight for her.  She just wants to know that you’re all right.”

By this point, Eli’s shoulders had lost their stiffness and there was a tear rolling down her face.  Without warning, the door to the office flew open and Arianna was rushing in.  She scooped Eli into her arms, sliding underneath her in a move so smooth and slick, Mary wasn’t actually sure how it happened.  But she was taken a little aback by the searing look she was receiving when Arianna looked up from comforting Eli, and asked with a heated glare, “What did you do to her, Mama?” feeling the relief at the moniker.  “I could feel her distress!”  Before she could respond, Eli eased out of her curled up position, and leaned her forehead against Arianna’s.

“She did nothing, Angel, except remind me I’m not alone, and that all the responsibility for what happens to us is ours, not mine.  I tend to forget that, you know.”

Arianna rolled her eyes.  “Yes,” she replied drolly.  “I know.”  She turned to Mary.  “How are you doing, Mama?  You look a little….” petering out when she realized there was no polite way to finish her thought.  Mary chuckled.

“I’ve been better, but I’ve certainly been worse.  Eli can tell you all about it later.  I’m pretty sure I’ve got a couple of anxious mamas here who are chomping at the bit to talk to the two of you.”  She held up a hand to keep Eli from interrupting.  “I know I still owe you a story, but they deserve to talk to you first.  Besides… I owe them the same story.  I’d just as soon tell it only once.”

“All right, Mama,” Eli conceded as she rose to her feet.  “Give me a couple minutes to get cleaned up, and speak to the team.  Then we’ll be back to talk to MaTb and Madre.  Will you stay?” 

Mary smiled and nodded, though her eyes were suspiciously bright.  “I’d be honored.”

“We’ll be right back,” Eli assured, and grabbed Arianna by the hand and led her from the room.  Mary simply called out for Caleb, knowing he was waiting right outside her door.

Chapter LXVIII

Arianna pulled Eli to a stop the moment they exited the office, and leaned their foreheads together.  Two sets of eyes closed automatically, and Arianna whispered softly, “Are you all right, Amado?”

“I don’t know, Angel.  I don’t think so. But I don’t know what is wrong.  It’s like….”

“It’s like everything’s hit you all at once - the responsibilities you carry; what happened to Mimi and Jake, especially; Jake’s meanness; becoming your dragon and the destruction of the Storm Surge.  And that’s without considering the everyday pressure and incidences you deal with on a daily basis.  A lot has happened to us in a relatively short time.”

“Yes, but I’m not sure what I can do about it… especially right now.  Besides, I don’t see anyone else falling apart.”

“First of all, you’re not falling apart - you’re having a crisis of faith in yourself.  We all have that  happen occasionally.  Secondly, none of the rest of us have the responsibility of all of us in the way that you do, and honestly, you’re harder on yourself than anyone else ever will be.  Talking to your MaTb will probably help.  She’s always been your greatest supporter and counselor.”

Eli clenched her eyes tighter and shook her head in an effort to keep from breaking down.  “Maybe,” she agreed, though she clearly didn’t believe that.  “I never told MaTb about my dragon.” 

“And you think that’s going to be a problem for you.”

She shrugged and took a deep breath.  “Maybe,” she acknowledged.  “But first, I need to speak to the rest of the team,” leaning down to steal a kiss that Arianna instantly deepened, and held onto until she felt Eli relax into her embrace.  Only then did she pull back.

“Better?” smiling when Eli nodded dreamily at her.  “ Go get ‘em, Baby! The team is waiting for you, and remember… we’re all on your side.”

Eli sighed.  “I hope so.”

“I know so.”

Eli nodded and turned to Eden, who was still occupying the Captain’s chair and, along with every other member of the bridge crew, studiously trying to avoid listening in.  “Eden, will you open a channel throughout the ship, please?” waiting until her second nodded before turning back to her mate.  “And no, Beloved - YOU are my greatest supporter and counselor, though MaTb is close, but only because she’s known me my whole life.”

Arianna blushed and smiled prettily as her eyes dropped to the ground.  “I will always be your best cheerleader and supporter.”

Eli chuckled, feeling more responsibility slide from her shoulders with Arianna’s pronouncement.  “Good to know,” she replied, leaning forward and placing a kiss on Arianna’s forehead.  Then she turned back to Eden who smirked, but nodded her head.

“Whenever you’re ready, Captain.”

“Attention, my friends - if I could have your attention, just for a moment.  I just spoke with the Chief, and it seems like the ships off our bow are friendlies.  They were looking for us when the Nebula sent us reeling, and are here now at Mary’s behest to study the newly formed solar system and make contact with the people currently living here.  I don’t know what that means for them, exactly, but for us it means an opportunity to speak to our families again,” smiling as she heard the cheers ring out across the ship.  “The ships will maintain a vigilant watch over us for the next few days, allowing your folks to return to Earth where Mary is and has already established a connection with us. As they arrive, I will set up a private connection for each of you and allow you time off to talk.  Please be mindful - this won’t be an extended visit by any means.  Your parents have already been on the planet for at least fourteen daily cycles to support and care for Mary.  They were all - with two notable exceptions - on their way home when we arrived here, and they need to return as soon as they can.  That being said, I will do my best to ensure you each get as much time as is possible.  For now, stay where you are and keep doing what you’re doing.  I will try to write a new schedule that will help us get back on track to what we had originally agreed upon.  That way, we’ll be ready when the time comes.  Now if you’ll excuse me and Arianna, our parents are the ones who remained, and I’ve got some explaining to do to my MaTb.  Thank you,” giving Eden the universal ‘cut’ sign.

Eden nodded and turned back to Eli.  “Go on, Boss.  We’ve got this.  And remember, she only wants what’s best for you.”

“I know,” Eli responded with a sad smile.  “That’s part of what makes this so hard.”  She looked back at Aphrodite.  “I know you were supposed to go back to the planet as soon as we arrived here.  If you would like to do that, I’ll get Titus to shuttle you and Cupid down.  Otherwise, I will take you myself when I am done speaking with my MaTb and OeTu.”

“We’ll wait,” Aphrodite said firmly.  “I would still like to talk to you about your heritage before we part.”

Eli nodded shortly.  “Very well,” grabbing Arianna’s hand, and turning back toward her office.  A word from Aphrodite stopped them short, and they halted on the threshold with the door open.

“Eli?”

“Yes?” she answered with no inflection as she turned, though Arianna could feel her shoulders slump without any actually movement.

“Do you think…?  Is there a way we could contact the people on the planet?  Some of them were in a pretty bad way when we left, and I need to know…. I’d like to find out if….”

“If they have equipment we can connect to, sure.  Eden, can you try and see if you can get a response? If you don’t, call Esther and Deb up here to work on that, please.  They’d be best suited to find a way to make it work.”

“I’m on it, Boss.  Any idea which frequencies we should try?”

“Let Aphrodite help you.  She’s liable to know how their scrying bowls and monitoring stations worked.  You might be able to tie into those, since they are what allowed them watch the world before.”

“Got it.  Now, go talk to your makuahine.  You’ll feel better once you do, and we’ll all feel better about that,” frowning when Eli didn’t immediately start moving.  “Why are you still standing here??  Go on - shoo!”

Arianna couldn’t stop the snort and Eden smirked even as her eyes twinkled in mischief.  Eli merely narrowed her eyes.

“Look at you,” she snarked.  “Trying to be funny.”

“Succeeding, you mean.  Now, will you get out of here??  Some of us have real work to do.”

Eli rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop the laughter from peeking out of her eyes.  “I’m going.  Call me if….”

“GoodBYE, Eli.”

The door slid shut on her mutterings and Arianna’s laughter.

************

Caleb stepped into the room as soon as Mary started calling for him, confirming her belief that he was literally right outside her door, even though she knew he could have heard her from half a block away if necessary.  She arched an eyebrow at him, and he had the grace to blush, though he never dropped her gaze.  “You called, Chief?”

She smirked at him.  “I did.  I need you to bring Aurora, Eve and Noah back in here, please.  Tell my children they will have to wait until the parents get an opportunity to talk to their kids, and that it might be a while.”  She sighed.  “Apparently, Eve only just learned about Eli’s dragon, and Eli is actually concerned about her reaction to finding out now.”  She shook her head.  “Also,” she added, clearing her throat, “they want the skinny… about us, I mean.  So, if you’d like to be here….”

Caleb’s eyes widened and he colored again.  “Um… okay?  Mary - you, more than anyone else, know how much I want there to be an us, but is there one really?”

She reached out her hand, which he accepted with alacrity, and urged him to move closer to the bed.  When he was beside her, she tugged gently, and he delicately eased himself to the very edge of the bed, careful not to jar her in some way.  She noted how he refused to meet her eyes and raised her other hand to cup his cheek.  “Caleb?” She implored softly.  “Will you look at me, please?”  He sighed a moment, then raised his eyes to her, uncertainty and trepidation swirling in their depths.  Mary shook her head and dropped her own eyes to steel her courage before bringing her eyes back up to meet his with determination.  “I have been so unfair to you, my friend,” feeling him flinch, and tightening her hand in response.  “And I’m sorry.  I’ve had you in my life for so long, I honestly wouldn’t know how to live without you.  And I want - how I want - to try to be more than just friends with you,” smiling when the hope started to grow in his entire countenance.  “You have been so patient and kind and loving with me, and I want to learn to treat you… love you… as well and beautifully as you love me - as you have for so very long.  But it’s going to be a learning process for me.  I’m going to have to ask you to be patient with me for just a little longer; to help me learn to show you how I feel and treat you like the man I love and not just someone I care for deeply.”

He turned his face into her palm and brushed a kiss across it, delighting in the shiver that skittered over her skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.  He lifted his head until their eyes met again, and he smiled.  “I have waited a long time for you to love me, Mary.  I can be patient a little while longer, especially knowing there is an ‘us’ and that one day, you will be mine to love and be loved by.  However, in fairness, I’m warning you that when you’re ready, I’m going to pursue you aggressively and with due haste.  I have been patient, but once you give me permission to go ahead, I’m not going to be patient any longer,” smiling at Mary’s widened eyes and heightened color.  “I love you, Mary, and have for a long time.  I will be proud to shout it from the mountain tops to the world as soon as you’re ready.”

“Kiss me,” she whispered, causing his jaw to drop at her audacity.  But he lost no time complying with her request and covered her lips with his.  It was chaste, and only lasted a moment, and Mary smiled as Caleb pulled away.  “You are so very dear to me, Caleb, and I do love you.”

He kissed her again, hard and fast, before pulling away and standing.  “And we will talk more about this soon… and at length,” he said with a smile that was almost a leer.  “But first we need to let in those parents so they can talk to their kids.  Are you staying?”

Mary nodded.  “Eli asked me to.  I’d like you to stay with me.  If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right from the first.  Will you bring your Pad and ask Gideon to do a split screen between yours and mine?  That way Eve and Aurora and Noah can share yours and we can share mine.  I don’t think trying to pile all five of us on this bed is a good idea.”  She smiled wryly.  “I don’t think I could tolerate the aggravation it would cause my leg.  Besides, I prefer you beside me and all that would be, would be one big dog pile.”

Caleb snorted.  “That would be something of a statement - one I’m not sure any of us want to make.  I’ll be right back, Chief.  I’ll get the parents, then contact Gideon.  I shouldn’t be but a minute or two at the most.”

“Thank you, Caleb.  Please ask Noah to bring in a chair or two when he comes.  We want everyone to be comfortable.”

“Will do.  Be right back.”

Mary leaned back and closed her eyes, thankful for the peace of the moment, knowing it wouldn’t last.  Not a minute later, Aurora was opening the door, followed by Eve backing in carrying one end of the short sofa with Noah holding the other.  Mary’s eyebrows flew into her hairline, but she didn’t comment.  In only another moment, the two were setting the divan down and situating perfectly so it was facing her bed, and Noah plopped on one end with a contented sigh.  Eve rolled her eyes with an indulgent smile as she turned to face Mary.  “We thought this might be better.”  She turned and gave Noah a mock glare.  “Aurora and I will share the couch and Noah can stand behind us,” arching an eyebrow when he started to whine good-naturedly with a bright smile.  She looked back at Mary.  “I love how he thought he was actually going to sit with us.”

“Hey!” he exclaimed indignantly, even as Mary laughed aloud.  “I helped carry it in here.  I should… absolutely give up my place to Aurora,” he acknowledged sheepishly even as he stood up.  He leaned over and kissed Eve briefly, seating both her and Aurora before moving to stand behind them.  He leaned over and poked his head between them.  “How else can I end up between two beautiful women while talking to my дочь and her mate?” laughing when Eve pushed his face back hard enough to cause him to stumble and nearly fall.  Eve rolled her eyes at his antics; Aurora giggled, while Mary and Noah continued to laugh.  It was to this scene that Eli and Arianna came into as they sat together at Eli’s desk.  They looked at one another and then back to the screen, smiling as they watched Caleb come in and take a casual seat on Mary’s bed as though it was his natural place.  That action caused the rest to settle down with plenty of questions.  Mary patently ignored them, and turned her attention to the two young women waiting patiently.

“Hey, you two,” she greeted, offering them a genuine smile, and gratified to have it returned by them both.  “Your folks are here.  Can you see them?”

Eli and Arianna nodded and shifted their gazes to another part of their screen.  “Hello, MaTb… OeTu.  It’s good to see you again,” Eli offered quietly.

“Hi, Madre,” Arianna said.

“Hello, Mija.  How are you?  How have your travels been?  Tell me about your adventures!” Aurora greeted with enthusiasm.  Eve and Noah remained quiet.

“We’re good… really good.  Our travels,” Arianna chuckled, “well, they have been an epic story unto themselves.  I’m hoping, once we get to our new home and settled in a little bit, to have the chance to write them down for posterity.  If you’d like, once we get dependable signal and I actually get it recorded, I’ll send you a copy.”

“I’d like very much.  Given what little we already know, it promises to be quite a tale.”

Arianna chuckled.  “Oh, I’d say that was an understatement.”

“I’d be interested in reading it as well,” Eve said, drawing their attention to her.  “I imagine it will answer any number of questions I have.”

“MaTb,” Eli pled softly.  Eve turned her gaze to focus solely on her daughter and her fierceness softened.

“No, дочь - I understand why you did what you did, and I can’t even really disagree with why you did it.    That doesn’t lessen my fear of what could have been - what could have happened to you because you didn’t have the support and guidance you deserved to have.  I realize it is done and gone, and you not only survived on your own, but you thrived.  You’re still going to have to allow me this anger and fear for a little while.”  She watched Eli nod, even as a tear rolled from her eyes, then continued to watch as Arianna shifted to take Eli in her arms to offer comfort.  She smiled when Arianna glared at her before turning back to whisper in Eli’s ear, causing Eli to smile and chuckle despite her tears.  “Eli… дочь… look at me,” waiting for Eli to sniff and wipe her eyes before turning back to the Pad.  “I want you to understand and remember one thing, if you never remember anything else I’ve ever said to you.  “I love you, дочь, and I am so far beyond proud of you and the amazing woman you’ve become.  Nothing… nothing will ever change those two things.  Do you understand?” Waiting for Eli to nod.  “Do you believe me?” A second of hesitation before Eli nodded again made Eve frown.  “Elizabeth… do you believe me?” asked sternly.

Eli’s eyes widened at the address and she swallowed hard before nodding vigorously.  “Yes, MaTb,” she replied immediately.

“Good,” she replied crisply.  “Now… tell us of your adventures so far.  I realize you can’t share everything, but at least give us the highlights.”  So the two began to share the numerous adventures they and their teammates had shared so far.  The parents were humored, horrified and proud by turn, and when Eli reached the part about replacing Jacob’s arm, Eve finally cut in.  “I would very much like to see your design, Arianna.  There might be some nuances within your engineering that we could utilize on a much smaller, less complicated scale.”

Arianna nodded.  “I’ll see what I can do, MaTb.  It shouldn’t be too difficult.  I’ll need to check with Eden and see what adjustments she had to make as she built it, but I should be able to get the schematics to you before we leave.”

“Thank you, Daughter.  I appreciate it.”

“You know what I would appreciate,” she replied with a cunning expression on her face.  “I would appreciate hearing about what is going on with Mama… and with Mama and Caleb,” grinning wickedly when they both blushed to the roots of their hair.  “I think they’ve got some explaining to do and some stories to share.  Also, I’d like to talk to my brothers and sister as well.”

Mary gave a nod to Caleb, who rose without a word and made his way out the door.  At the same time, Noah clapped his hands together and bowed in Arianna’s direction.  “Thank you, Daughter of my Heart.  I have been dying to know too, but I was forbidden to ask,” giving Eve a dark look before grinning.

“Given your penchant for bad timing and speaking out of turn….”

“That was once!”

“Recently,” Eve countered.  “We both know it has happened on multiple occasions, and generally gets you into trouble.”

“I like to be in trouble with you,” he leered, causing her to roll her eyes as she chuckled, even as Eli shivered in distaste and covered her face with her hands.

“Please stop,” she groaned between her fingers.  “I do not need to hear these things about my родители,” causing the entire room to burst into laughter.  Even Arianna was hard pressed not to laugh out loud.  It was into this mayhem that Caleb and Mary’s children stepped.  Caleb resumed his place at Mary’s side, casually taking her hand in his to show everyone his subtle claim.  Ian, Nathaniel and Joy exchanged wide smiles and nods, while the others did the same.  After another moment, the raucousness settled, and Ian expanded his Pad so he and his siblings could take part in the conversation.  Then Eli met Mary’s eyes squarely.  “All right, Mama,” she coaxed.  “It’s time for you to share that story you promised all of us.”

Mary sighed and nodded, then smiled when Caleb clasped her hand more firmly.  “Take a seat, children,” she said to her three.  “This is going to take a little while.”

Chapter LXIX

To everyone’s surprise, except of course Mary’s, Caleb was the one to start speaking.  “I want you to understand that this story goes back more years than I’m actually going to admit to, but suffice it to say at least a decade or three.  The first time I saw Mary was when Eddie brought her to the pick up point after they’d met.  I didn’t think much about it, honestly, except that it was something I’d never known him to do before. Still, beyond a passing comment about the cute chick, I didn’t give the encounter much thought, and Eddie didn’t really share much about her either.  It wasn’t until later….  I’m getting ahead of myself.

I learned more about Mary because of Eddie - she was still young and unsure, and he’d already decided he wanted her for his wife.  So, I listened as he talked about her for hours.  And the more he talked, the more I fell.  Not that I allowed it to become more than a distant dream.  I knew how he felt, and I was pretty sure about her as well, and there was no way I was going to come between them.

I stood with Eddie at their wedding, and they included me as part of their family often - probably much more than was a good idea, because it reminded me of what I wanted but couldn’t have.  Still, I never crossed that line - Mary would have refused me, and I would have lost Eddie’s trust and friendship.  It just wasn’t worth it for me to even try.

On my last mission before I retired, Eddie and I went out scouting, and he told me frankly he knew how I felt about Mary. ‘Not that I blame you,’ he’d joked.  ‘After all, I’ve been kind of gone on her myself for years’.  He reminded me that he’d trusted my honor for years and would continue to do so, and he’d asked me to look out for her when he was unable to.  We finished up that mission, and I came home to work with Mary while Eddie continued to lead missions across the galaxy.

I never said a word to her about my feelings or my discussion with Eddie, and she never gave me any indication she was aware of them.  She was always the ‘Chief’ except very rarely, and always in those instances Eddie was with us, and we were not in a job setting.  Otherwise, I only saw her on the job.  I had other obligations, for one thing - like mentoring my nieces and nephews; I had an elderly mother that needed some care - but mostly it was for my peace of mind.  I wouldn’t betray myself nor the faith Eddie had in me - it would have cost me everything, and I knew that.”

He stopped and took a deep breath, smiling as he accepted the glass of water Mary passed to him.  He took several deep swallows before setting it half-empty on the table beside him.  “Wow,” he muttered, “I don’t think I’ve talked this much since I had to defend my thesis dissertation.”  He wiggled his jaw.  “I think I prefer to be the strong, silent type.”

“Just a little more,” Mary encouraged.

He nodded his head, and turned back to the screen.  “Right.  Eventually, I became her right hand, and Eddie and I talked again.”  He frowned.  “I thought it unusual at the time - after all, we weren’t the types to talk about our feelings.  And we had settled this… at least I thought we had.”  He turned to look Mary in the eye, and she nodded, giving him permission to share with the rest what he had told her the previous evening.  He closed his eyes and let his mind drift back to that encounter. 

“He’d invited me over for dinner a few nights before he was scheduled to go out on his next mission.  I was a little surprised - the boys were away at their academies and Joy had her own place here in the city.  Not this one,” he said with a grin.  “Her first place was much smaller, and closer to the dance center.  But I was still a little surprised when he’d issued the invitation - he and Mary had always coveted their time together before, and with him leaving in only a couple days, I didn’t expect to see him until he was ready to leave.  After dinner, Mary excused herself to do something - I don’t even remember what now - and we went into the kitchen to clean up.

He reminded me of his knowledge of my feelings and said, ‘Like you, I’ve always loved Mary to the marrow of my bones - I was just the one lucky enough to spend a lifetime with her.  I’ve always wondered if I was fair to her, though - spending so much of my time away from home… away from her and the children.’

I wasn’t sure what to say, or if he even expected me to say anything, so I remained quiet.  After a minute or two of silence, he handed me the last clean dish to put away, which I did with ease as I knew their place as well as I knew my own.  He motioned me towards the balcony and I stepped outside, even as he stopped to fix us a couple whiskeys.  I accepted mine gratefully and sipped with pleasure, looking out at the vista and waiting for him to finish whatever it was he brought me here to say.  When he was down to the last swallow, he turned and met my eyes.

‘Caleb,’ he said, ‘you’re a good man… one of the best I’ve ever known, and the one I am privileged to call best friend.  You have been nothing but forthright and honest and honorable, and you’ve looked after Mary and my kids when I couldn’t be here to do so.  When… *if* something happens to me, I want you to take your chance with Mary.  I couldn’t ask for someone better suited for her than you are, and you deserve your chance at happiness with her too.’  I finished my whiskey and headed home, knowing Eddie and Mary deserved whatever time together they could get.”

He opened his eyes and turned back to Mary, forgetting about the others in the room with them.  “I always wondered if he knew something… if he expected to die on that next mission.  But I didn’t say anything then.  And he came home safely from that mission, and the one after that, and the one after that, and honestly, I kind of put everything he said in the back of my mind.  He had six or seven more missions before the one that he didn’t come home from.  Mary was devastated, and there was no way I was going to impinge on her grief for my own selfishness.  So, I put my feelings aside and did the only thing I knew how to do - be her best friend.”

“So, what changed, Caleb?” Eli asked quietly into the silence of the room when it started to drag out too long.

“Nathaniel lost Joseph, and he reminded me that we aren’t promised more than the breath we just took, and that I was wasting time I could be happy on some incidental nostalgia.  He reminded me of Eddie’s feelings on the matter, and assured me that I had the blessing of all three of Mary’s children that were present.  So last night, I presented my case to Mary, but before I could get a response, she was in tears and unable to do much more than weep.”  He turned to look at her again, and brushed a kiss over her forehead.  “Kind of like she is doing now, actually,” offering her a smile and tenderly wiping her tears away with his thumb as she returned it.  “The difference now is, we’ve had time to talk a little more.”

“And??” all five kids demanded almost instantly.  The three on the floor turned around and glared at Mary and Caleb simultaneously, then resumed their place at their mother’s signal.  Eve arched an eyebrow and looked impressed. 

“I need to learn that trick,” causing Mary to waggle her brows briefly.  “But the children are correct - we do need to know the ending to this story.”

“It’s not an ending so much as it is a beginning,” Mary confessed.  “We had another talk before the rest of you came in here, and we’ve decided - I’ve decided - to give us a chance to be together,” watching everyone cheering and congratulating and calling over one another on the monitor as she laid her head on Caleb’s shoulder and simply laughed.  He wrapped his arm around her and held on, leaning his head on hers and chuckling.

Eventually, the noise died down and everyone’s attention went back to Mary.  She blew out a breath and sat up, though she did manage to scoot closer to him in the process.  The rest exchanged charmed looks and then waited for Mary to speak.

“All right.  Eli, I will get a list of incoming ships, so you can make up your work and visitation schedule.  Rest assured that the ships that are there will assume a security role as long as you are in the area, so you can dedicate whatever time you need for your teammates and crew to have the opportunity to talk with their folks.  Any resources you need to cover can be culled from those ships.”

“Thank you, Mary.”  She turned to her parents and Aurora.  “Will you be available as well?” smiling when all three heads nodded vigorously.  “And what of the rest of you?” addressing Mary as well as her children, and smiling brightly at the affirmative answers she received.  “Excellent.  I will be in touch with you all soon, as we’d like to speak to all of you a little more privately before we leave.  Mar… Mama?  I’m pretty sure the team would also like to talk to you as a group as well.  I know they’re going to want to hear about you and Caleb, as well as how you’ve been doing since we left.  It’s been on more than one mind here.”

“You let us know, Eli, and we’ll be available to you as needed.  Nathaniel is on bereavement leave until after the memorial service, and Ian and Joy can be here with minimal notice.”

“Nat?” Arianna called out, causing a wistful smile to cross Nathaniel’s face.  “May we attend the memorial?”

“I’d be honored, Little Sister, and so would Joseph.  He thought a lot of you, you know - all of you.”

“We thought a lot of him too,” she replied.  “Let us know when and where.”  She looked at Mary.  “Can you ask Gideon…?”

“I’ll make sure he knows,” Caleb assured her without missing a beat.  Arianna nodded her acceptance. 

Mary looked around her room, crowded with most of her family.  “All right, everyone.  I think that’s enough for now.  For one thing, I have got to get up and move a little bit, and for another, everyone here - on both sides of the comm system - have other things to do.  There will be time to talk again.  Those ships aren’t going anywhere, and I think we can all take a little while to just rest and breathe,” looking directly at Eli who subtly nodded her head.  “All right then.  Eli, someone will be monitoring on this side at all times.  Someone there should do the same, though you might want to pull a crewman  or two from one of the other ships to do so none of your crew is stuck doing it during this unexpected bout of R&R.  They can just dock a shuttle and stay aboard it when not working.”

“I’ll give it some thought.  I need to make a schedule, then I promised Aphrodite to give her and Cupid a ride back down to their planet.  Seems like the least I can do after all they’ve done for us.”

“You do what seems best, Captain.  We’ll be in touch soon.”

With a nod, the screen went black, and Caleb quickly but gingerly emerged from the bed.  “I’ll go talk to Gideon, Chief, then Joy and I will see about getting together some dinner.  I’ll bring you a plate?”

“And one for yourself.  It’s the closest I can offer to a dinner date for a little while longer yet.”

“It’s time spent together.  That makes it a win for me.”

Noah groaned.  “You two are going to be that couple, aren’t you?  The ones that nauseate the rest of us with your sappiness… constantly.”

Eve arched an eyebrow and Mary bit her lip, having a very good idea what was coming.  “If you want to remain in my bed, you better learn to be like that kind of couple quickly.”

Noah made a face and whined, “But возлюбленная….”

Eve gave him a stern look, though the twinkle in her eyes belied her countenance.  “We will discuss it later.  For now….” She turned to Mary’s sons. “If one of you would be kind enough to assist Noah with removing the small lounger back to the living area, I need to check on my patient.”

The boys brushed Noah out of the way and picked up either end.  “If you’ll guide us, Noah - we’re used to doing this.”  He opened the door and started giving directions.  Joy leaned over and gave Mary’s cheek a kiss.

“I’m so happy for you, Mama.  He’s a good man.”

“He is… and so is his nephew.”

“I know, and as soon as Ephraim and I can be in the same place at the same time for more than twenty minutes in a row, I might actually get to experience that on a more personal level.  Meanwhile, I’m going to go start dinner.  Then maybe we could talk before bed?”

“I’ll have Caleb come and fetch you.”

“I’ll go with Joy,” Aurora announced.  “I’m sure she can find something for me to do that won’t cause me to burn down the house or anything else untoward like that.”

Joy just laughed and caught Aurora’s hand, pulling her out of the room and closing the door behind them.  Eve stepped closer to the bed and placed a hand on her wrist.  “How are you doing, Mary?  Do you really need to get up or was that just a ruse to get everyone out of your room?”

Mary smiled tiredly.  “A little of both, actually.  I think I need to shift a little, and maybe take a bio break before settling down again. Pretty sure that’s going to be more than a little painful, and the less exposed to that, the better.”  A knock on the door sounded, and Eve and Mary exchanged glances before Eve walked to the door and cracked it - then opened it wider to admit Tom.

“What wonderful timing,” she commented.  “It’s time to get Mary up and moving.”

“How ya doing, Chief?”

Mary gave him a wry look.  “Little tired of that question, honestly, but I’ve certainly been much worse than I am at the moment.  I’m uncomfortable and in a little bit of pain - it will pass.  But I need to get up and use the bathroom, so if you would be so kind?” extending a hand.

Tom accepted her hand and Eve scrambled to get on her other side, and slowly and with much heavy breathing, Mary finally made it to the bathroom.  They got her to the toilet before she shooed them out, citing that she could manage this part on her own.  “If you hear me scream, of course, come running.  But otherwise, I’ve got this.  I have to start doing things on my own or I’m never going to be able to do anything.  And that’s just not acceptable.” 

They nodded and moved to stand just outside the door, quietly discussing her progress and ideas for therapy in an effort to give her as much privacy as possible without moving too far away.  In a few minutes, they heard her shuffling around, but they waited until she called out for them before stepping back into the bathroom.

She was pale and sweating, but she had managed to stand on her own.  She held out a shaking hand.  “I thought about trying to walk - that lasted right up until I put the least little bit of weight on this damned leg without using the other one.”  She blew out a raspberry.  “We need to see about getting some strength exercises started.”

“Tom and I were just discussing that very thing,” Eve assured her.  “We’ll give you some you can do on your own to start with, and we’ll teach Caleb and your kids and even Noah and Aurora how to help with the more complicated ones.  The more help you have, the quicker your recovery.”

Mary nodded and blew out a breath.  “As long as they’re willing.  I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable.”

Eve smirked.  “Noah will be thrilled to help just for the chance to gossip with you.  Despite his earlier teasing, he is extremely excited about you and Caleb as a couple.”

Mary remained quiet as she hobbled the rest of the way to the bed, but once she was settled - lying on her stomach - she blew out a breath and looked at Eve quizzically.  “Why?”

Eve looked up distractedly from the gentle massage she was applying to Mary’s leg and hip, even as Tom worked on her lower back.  They didn’t need her seizing after what, for her, had been a major undertaking.  Eve frowned.  “Why what?” She asked, having lost her train off thought in an effort to keep Mary’s muscles loose.  “You know, you’ve got great musculature, but it’s kind of working against you at the moment.  It’s so tense, it’s like working a titanium band - not a whole lot of give to it.”

“Yes, but I’d rather have the muscle than not.  I have a feeling the rest of me may have a lot more muscle before this is all over.  Now, why is Noah excited about Caleb and I becoming a couple?  I mean I’m glad he is, but why is he?”

“Because you almost ruined his record, and then he almost did the same thing by opening his mouth.”

“Excuse me??” Mary hissed, flinching as Tom hit an especially tender spot on her back.  “Easy, Tom.  My whole body is still pretty sore.”

“I see that.  There’s a lot of tension.  Relax, Chief.  The more you relax, the quicker we can work the soreness and stiffness out.  It’ll help a lot.”

Mary released a slow, deep breath and turned her attention back toward Eve.  “So?”

Eve smiled.  “My Noah is… sensitive.  That is to say, he can recognize when two people are a couple…. Or they should be.  I could see Eli imprinting on Arianna because she is my child, and I could even see a bit of Arianna’s imprinting on Eli for the same reason.  But that usually only happens with very close family members.  Noah is able to perceive a link between those he knows well enough to call friend as well as family.  So, he could see there was something between you and Caleb when we first came here, because even then you were being drawn together because of Eli and Arianna, but also because we were becoming friends ourselves.  And then, of course, he almost gave everything away when he teased Caleb about it so matter-of-factly.  So, while he’s happy for you both in finding your own happiness, he’s also glad you’re getting together so his record remains untarnished.”

Mary snorted.  “Glad we could accommodate him.”

“Me too.  I never would have heard the end of it if he’d been wrong, though I personally would never have said a word about it.”  She patted Mary’s hip.  “How do you feel?”

“A little sleepy,” she confessed.

“Good.  That means you’re relaxed.  You go ahead and sleep.  Tom will let Caleb know when you’re awake.  You can eat then.”

“… mmkay,” Mary mumbled as her breathing evened out.  Tom nodded at Eve.

“Best thing for her.”

“Yes.  I think we’re ready to stop the round-the-clock care.  She’s doing much better, and as she has pointed out on many occasions, we both have other jobs and responsibilities to take care of.  I think she would do better without our hovering.”

“I’m inclined to agree, though I would like to leave a monitor nearby and an active comm unit so she can call for help if she needs it.  Obviously getting around is still a little bit of a challenge for her.”

Eve nodded.  “We can do that.”  She looked around and found Mary’s wrist unit that had been placed on the dresser while she was bathing.  She wrapped it around Mary’s arm without ever waking her, then stepped back and nodded.  “That should suffice for now.  We will talk to her about what else she needs once she awakens.  I’m a little hesitant to leave a monitor… simply because of the invasion of privacy it entails.”

“That’s fine.  We can work out any details later.”  Tom took Eve by the elbow and led her to the door.  “For now, I want to hear all about this new development with Caleb.  Sounds like something we’ve all been hoping for… for years.  Do tell, my dear.”

Eve chuckled and pulled the door closed behind her as she led the way down the stairs.  Mary smiled in her sleep.

Chapter LXX

“Hey, Boss?” Eden asked as they stepped from the tiny bridge office.  “You got a minute?”

Eli and Arianna exchanged glances, before Eli nodded her head.  “Go on, Beloved.  I’ll meet you in the mess hall for dinner?”

Arianna smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss Eli quickly.  “You’ve got yourself a date, Amado.  Let me know if you’re running late.”

Eli kissed her again.  “I will,” patting her on the ass gently and watching her out of sight before she turned back to Eden who was regarding her with an amused smirk.  “What can I do for you, Eden?” ignoring the blush that turned her skin a deep, rich green.

“You all right?” her expression becoming serious almost immediately.

Eli frowned.  “Why do you ask?” not answering the question.

“You’re avoiding the question, for one thing,” Eden pointed out.  “For another, I recognize the signs of a meltdown.  Then there was your unwillingness to stay here long enough to let anyone talk to our folks, and then your sudden reversal.  So, what’s going on?  Are you all right?”

Eli sighed.  She loved Eden - loved the fact that she was perceptive enough to stop a lot of issues before they grew into genuine problems.  But right now, that keen insight was working against her in a serious way.  Still, she couldn’t begrudge her second her concern, and she took Eden by the elbow and drew her back into the office.  “Have a seat,” she gestured as she walked around to the other side of the desk.  “It won’t take long to explain, but it will take more than a minute or two.”

Eden sat down and reclined back in the chair before giving Eli and expectant look.  “So?”

Eli leaned forward and placed her clasped hands on the desk in front of her.  “I’m all right, Eden - mostly, anyway.  I’m tired… exhausted really, and I really didn’t want to talk to my MaTb.”  She blew out a breath.  “She didn’t know about my dragon, and in my culture…. If she had known, I would have been made to stay home.  I couldn’t risk that, so I didn’t tell her.”

“And you were afraid she would… what?  Be angry?  Upset?  Disappointed?”

“Yes.  And I just couldn’t….  I’ve had enough of that thrown at me in recent days.  I didn’t want to see or hear that from my MaTb.  Her opinion has always counted so much where I’m concerned.”

“Eli, we both know your makuahine thinks the sun rises and sets with you, and besides, there’s nothing she can do to you at this point.  You’re in the program, and we’re so many light years away from home, it would take months for her to even be in a position to smack you.  So what else is going on, because I know something else is weighing on you.”  She paused.  “Are you still cooking… steaming….  Crap!  What’s the expression I’m looking for?” She muttered to herself.  She bit her lip, and Eli simply waited.  She wasn’t sure what the word was, though she got the connotation Eden was going for.  “Stewing!!” Eden exclaimed out of nowhere, causing Eli to jump a bit in surprise.  “Are you still stewing over what Jake said?”

Eli shrugged.  “Maybe a little?”  She glanced down at her desk.  “It’s a little difficult not to take it personally.  I know he was under the influence of pain and medication, but that just means there were no barriers in place to keep what he truly thought in.  He was saying what he really, truly thought about me.”

“No,” Eden insisted vehemently.  “He was saying what he knew would hurt, because you were there.  One craptastic thing about all this close living we’ve been doing is knowing where to hit and how to hurt each other because we’re in one another’s space every minute of every day.  I think it’s safe to say we’re all beyond tired and ready to be home.”

Eli nodded and offered a weary smile.  “Pretty sure you’re right.”

“Then remember I’m right about Jake too.  He said some pretty crappy things to me too.  The difference is, I didn’t stand there and take it like you did.  I let him have it with both barrels,” frowning, but continuing on.  “He backed off and apologized damn fast after that.”  She sighed when she realized Eli’s attention had returned to her desk top.  “So what made you decide to let us talk to our folks?”

“Mary,” Eli replied succinctly.  “She reminded me it wouldn’t be a hardship, and it would be unfair of me not to put the opportunity out there.”

“Chief’s a pretty smart brownie.”

“Yes, and having my MaTb not respond harshly to my news didn’t hurt either.”  She smiled slightly and let her eyes meet Eden’s.  “It was really nice to talk to them all again.  I told Mary to expect to sit down with us as a group before we left.”  She leaned forward and waited for Eden to do the same.  “She and Caleb have come to an understanding.”

Eden’s black eyes widened.  “No kidding??”

“No kidding.  It’s still really new - like it happened today, new - but apparently, she’s given him the go ahead for them to become more than friends.”  She leaned back and finally relaxed into the chair.  “I’m very happy for them.  I think they make a great couple.”

“Oh yeah… they made a great couple when they were just the Chief and Caleb, because he had her down to a science, practically.  I’m glad Mary finally got her head on straight and said yes to him.”

“If what I saw was any indication, everyone feels that way.”

Eden nodded as she stood up.  “You feeling any better now?” waiting for Eli’s answer before she continued.  “All righty then, I’ll let you get back to….”  She waved her arms around vaguely.  “Whatever it is you need to get done.  I can stay on the bridge for a bit if you want… especially if Az headed back down to engineering.”

“Please.  I need to make up that tentative schedule so I can move things around as soon as Mary gets me the order of incoming ships, and I promised Aphrodite I would shuttle her and Cupid home.  She wanted to talk - to share about our joint history.  I owe them that much.”

“Well, I don’t know about all that, but if you promised them….”

“Yes, I’m inclined to let the whole thing alone, because it’s not going to change anything for us at this point.  It’s over and done.  But she seems to think it’s important, so I’ll listen to what she has to say.  They deserve whatever peace they can find - I don’t think they’ve ever had much of that in their millennia of lifetimes.”  She paused.  “Was Aphrodite able to reach out to her family?”

Eden shook her head.  “I don’t know what their communication situation was down there before the Nebula did its thing and all, but we couldn’t find any kind of signal to latch onto.  I put Deb and Es on it like you said, but so far, I haven’t heard anything from them.”

Eli slipped on her glasses and pulled up her Pad, an air of determination settling around her.  “Do me a favor?  Reach out to the other ships, and let them know that I will be taking a shuttle to the planet’s surface shortly if they would like to accompany us.  However, make it clear that this is not a hostile situation, and I expect them to behave as though it was a diplomatic mission instead,” not seeing Eden’s eyes widen at her tone.  Whatever crisis of faith Eli had been having seemed to have passed - or at least been put aside for the moment - and Eden couldn’t help but smile at her fierce return.  Seeing Eli flustered and out-of-sorts was disconcerting, to say the least.  “Also,” Eli continued without pause, and Eden swung her focus back to the Boss addressing her, “we’re going to need two or three volunteers to come over from those ships with a shuttle to monitor the comm unit.  Chief’s orders so we can have the time with our folks.”

“You got it, Captain.  Anything else?”

“Yes.  Please let Aphrodite and Cupid know to be ready.  I know they are both anxious to go home.”

“Kinda like us, then?”

Eli smiled.  “Kinda like us,” before turning to study the schedule in front of her with a frown.

“I’m on it, Boss.  Let me know if you need anything else.”

Eli waved her out to acknowledge her words, but otherwise didn’t lift her attention from the work in front of her.  Eden just shook her head with a knowing smirk, and made her way back to the bridge.  There was still work to do.

************

Eli was just finishing up her final draft of the schedule from the list Mary had forwarded far quicker than she’d expected, when a timid knock sounded at her door.  She bit her lip as she plugged in the last of her changes, then looked up as she removed the glasses from her face.  “Come in.”  She was a little surprised to find a nervous Aphrodite standing just outside the room, and she rose as she motioned her in.  “Aphrodite… please, come in.  Have a seat.”  She waited until the other woman was sitting until she resumed her seat.  She watched Aphrodite look around the tiny, cramped room, smiling when she wrinkled her nose in distaste.  “What can I do for you?  Did Eden let you know about…?” stopping when Aphrodite waved her hand and nodded her head.

“She did.  That’s one reason I came to talk to you.  If it’s not any trouble, do you think Arianna could join us on our trip down to the planet?”

Eli frowned, but nodded her head slowly.  “I don’t see why not.  Is there a particular reason, or do you simply want her company?”

Aphrodite smiled sadly.  “While we do enjoy her company, I believe she should be along to hear about your history firsthand.”

“Okay,” Eli drawled.  “May I ask why you want Arianna and me to hear it, but not the rest of the team?”

Aphrodite sighed.  “Frankly?” seeing Eli nod, her confusion clear.  “Even though your souls were always in one another’s orbits until you and Arianna blasted everything to like, freaking kingdom come, your friends have always been supporting players on the stage of your life.  And none of them are related directly to us like you and Arianna are.”  She clasped her hands tightly together in her lap, and glanced down at them.  “I think you deserve to know a little about your family, then you can decide what and how much to share with your friends.”  She sighed.  “Besides, it was pretty… messy, and a little hectic when we left.  I’m not sure - well, I doubt we’d be able to be quite as hospitable this time around.”

“All right.  Why don’t you go get Cupid and meet us in the shuttle bay?  I’ll go gather Arianna and we’ll head out now?  I know you were anxious to find out what happened to your family.”

“Yes, and I do appreciate you trying,” unable to hide the shaking of her hands when she unclasped them to rise from her seat.  “I know you’ve got a hundred other things on your mind that are probably more important than this,” exiting the door smoothly when Eli motioned her ahead.

“This is important to you; I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do better.”

Aphrodite shook her head.  “Don’t be.”  She sighed again.  “As anxious as I am to know what’s going on with the fam, the fact is that there’s nothing I can do to change whatever’s happened while we’ve been gone.  I know you’ve got other responsibilities to handle, and things have been more than a little rough for you too lately.”  She held up her hands to ward off any comeback Eli might have made.  “I’m just saying I get it, ‘kay?  I’m not mad or anything… just tired.  This being human thing kind of sucks.”

“Some days more than others,” Eli commented, wrapping an arm around Aphrodite’s shoulders and brushing a kiss onto her forehead when she hugged back.  “There is usually good to counterbalance it, though; I just need to remember that.”

“Pretty sure we all do,” Aphrodite said as she straightened up.  “Let me go grab Cupie.  It’s time for us to go home, so you kids can do the same.”

“Sounds good.  We’ll meet you in about five standard.”  Aphrodite nodded and headed toward the room she and Cupid had shared briefly.  Eli moved toward engineering, hoping her mate was ready to go.

************

Eli crossed the threshold into the engine room and immediately brought things to a standstill as the three young men currently occupying space turned to look at her.  She waved them off.  “Just looking for my mate, gentlemen,” she replied to their questioning glances.  All three instantly pointed towards the shielded area of the bay, and she nodded her thanks.  But before she could take a step, Arianna emerged from behind the shield with her head buried in whatever data was up on her Pad.

“Danny, can you ping the subatomic particle emitter from your Pad, please?  I’d like to see if….” trailing off as she lifted her head at the complete stillness in the room.  A glance at Danny garnered a slight tip of his head, and she followed it as a matter of course… only to find Eli smiling back at her.  Arianna’s face creased into a grin.  “Amado! What are you doing here??  It’s only….” Checking the time when Eli raised an eyebrow at her and widening her eyes at how late it actually was.  “Oh, <ahem>, I didn’t realize….”

“I figured as much when I stopped by the mess hall and you weren’t there, especially since there are three other people working in engineering right now,” motioning to the guys who had already moved back to their own stations.

Arianna frowned.  “How did I miss that?  I’m pretty sure one of them should be off right now.”

Eli chuckled.  “You do tend to become immersed, Angel,” holding up her hands when Arianna cocked an eyebrow at her and put her hands on her hips defiantly.  “I know because I tend to do the same.  However, right now, we’ve got other places to be. Goodnight, guys,” waving to them as she took Arianna’s hand in hers.

“Dinner?” Arianna asked as she tucked her Pad into her pocket and waved absentmindedly as they exited the room.

“Um… no.  It’s time to return Cupid and Aphrodite to the planet, and they’ve asked that you accompany them as well.”

“Really?  Why is that?”

“Truly.  And because they want you to hear our history firsthand.  I suspect it may be more than that,” Eli confessed, “but that was the only reason she mentioned to me.”

“All right,” Arianna shrugged.  “Let’s go take our friends home.  Maybe they will be able to find some peace then.”  Eli nodded, but she didn’t reply, and in just another moment, they were entering the shuttle bay to find Cupid and Aphrodite waiting patiently for them.  Arianna walked right up to them before taking Aphrodite in her arms.  “Thank you,” she whispered, “for what you did for her… for what you did for us.  We will tell your story to our children and their children, so you will never be forgotten.”

Aphrodite kissed her cheek as they withdrew from one another, wiping a tear as it slid down her face.  “Maybe you should let me tell you the rest of the story before you decide if you want to share,” she said with a sad smile.

Arianna didn’t speak, but nodded her head in acknowledgement.  Then she turned to Cupid.  “I’m going to miss you - as Joseph and as Cupid,” feeling his arms tighten around her exponentially.  “You have been a wonderful friend and brother, and I will never forget you.”

“Nor I, you,” he promised as he caressed her cheek.  “But may I ask why you are telling me this now?  It’s not like we’re saying goodbye just yet.”

“Except we are.  When we leave here, we’ll be taking you home.  And we’re not going to take away from your homecoming by saying goodbye and adding sadness and tears to the proceedings.  We’ll do that here, because, despite everything, this is a little sad for all of us… for multiple reasons.  But your homecoming should be a matter of joy and delight - for you and your family.”

Aphrodite looked at Eli.  “She’s a totally smart li’l cookie.  You might want to hang onto her.”

“For the rest of my life,” Eli promised, only to find Arianna shaking her head.

“No,” she said distinctly.  “This is a forever kind of thing.  Remember?”

“I do,” she vowed, and reached out a hand to pull Arianna toward her.  She squeezed it lightly as she released it, easing Arianna toward Aphrodite.  “Why don’t you two go inside and get settled? I need to speak to Cupid for a moment.”  Arianna nodded and took Aphrodite by the hand.  When they disappeared inside, Eli turned back to Cupid.  “I’m not really sure what to say to you.  I’m going to miss you so much, despite the fact that I’ve missed you half of forever, and only just met you.”  She shook her head.  “It’s all a little confusing.”

Cupid smirked.  “You should try living it,” said with a hint of humor.  “Though to be honest,” he added with a genuine smile, “I wouldn’t trade it.  Being your brother was… amazing for me.  One of the most honest human experiences I ever had.  Meeting you again as Joseph was simply surreal.”

Eli chuckled.  “Knowing how I feel, I can only imagine.”  She paused and sucked in a deep breath.  Cupid waited, knowing she was gathering her courage to speak.  “Thank you,” she finally whispered.  “I know I was angry at you… at Elijah… but honestly, I’m grateful for all you did for him and for us.  Without you - without what you did for my brother - I doubt I would be here right now, even if I had survived being born without my twin.  I am happy, and I have you to thank for it.  I hope you find the same when you are finally home again.”

He smiled as he remembered the feel of Psyche in his arms.  “I think I might,” he assured her.  “But come.  We need to get home, and so do you.  This has already taken a lot longer than anyone imagined.”

“Yes, but at least we’ll have stories upon stories to tell our children.”

“And your parents.”

“And our parents,” Eli agreed with an eye roll.  “Though I imagine a few things will get edited for both groups.  No one needs to know everything.”

“Truth!” Cupid replied as he stepped into the shuttle and offered her his hand.  “Shall we?”

“Let’s!”

Chapter LXXI

They were all quiet as Eli went through the process of firing up the engine, waiting for each of them to strap in before she closed the shuttle doors and opened the bay.  She spun the shuttle gently so they were facing out, then turned to her passengers.  “Is everyone locked in and ready?” She asked, meeting each pair of eyes and waiting for an affirmative answer before moving to the next.  When she was satisfied, she turned her countenance back to the viewscreen and slowly lifted off from the platform.  In only a moment, they were beyond the bay doors, and she closed them behind her before inputting the coordinates for the planet below.  She knew, due to Eden’s voice in her ear, that two other shuttles - one from each ship - had joined their excursion, but they would be of little consequence to her until they landed.  For now, they had a little time to talk before their arrival.  Eli tapped her comm unit.

“Eden, I’m putting you on mute for now.  I will still be able to hear you, and if anything untoward happens, I will reinstate your ability to hear us immediately.  But Aphrodite has asked to speak to us privately.”

“You do what you need to do, Boss.  We’ll be keeping an eye out here regardless.”

“Thanks, Eden.  I….”

“Go on, Boss.  We’ve all got work to do.”

Eli smiled, knowing it was Eden’s gruff way of expressing her understanding.  Then she flipped the comm to mute and turned her attention to Aphrodite.  “You have our attention, Aphrodite.  Can you share your story with us now?”

Aphrodite nodded and clasped her hands together, straightening her posture and clearing her throat as seriousness washed over her.  “You already know the bare outline of this totally rad story.  But this story… the full story… started long before that.  Still millennia ago, but further back.  It’s true that Zeus was a total prick, and embarrassed by the fact that the soulbond he coveted turned him down without a second thought.  But the truth is - he was jealous.  He was so freaking jealous of what they had.”  She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as her brows furrowed.

“Okay, so… the Olympians - our immediate family - were not the first of our ilk.  Before us were the Titans, and before them were Chronos and Rhea.  But the oldest among us was Gaia.  She was my great grandmother, and in her time, darkness and light were separate from one another.  However, while she was the guardian, darkness crossed into light and brought Chaos into the human realm.  When that happened, she and my great-grandfather stepped back from a position of power, to allow the Titans to rule.  But before she walked away, she put the human soulbonds together - physically joined them - in an attempt to keep what happened before from happening again.”

“What happened?”

“One of the light soulbonds was coveted by a member of the darkness.  She crossed into the light in an effort to bring the one she desired to the darkness.  When she did so, she brought Chaos to the world.”

“Did she succeed in obtaining the soulbond she wanted?”

“Not even vaguely.  But unfortunately, her actions did not allow them to be joined like the rest, though they were able to stay together in the animal forms they had been cursed to,” waving away their questions.  “Things went along for a time - the Titans ruled the Earth and they were… they were much more primitive than either those that came before or those that followed.  The important thing is they didn’t care about the soulbonds; they were much too busy enjoying the mayhem and destruction they could cause.  It’s one reason Zeus defeated them so easily.  But Zeus’ defeat of them brought the soulbonds into his purview, and that’s when things started getting messy.”

“He split us up?”

She shook her head.  “Sorta.  It wasn’t until I came on the scene that he was successful.”  She held up her hands in contrition, pleading for mercy without saying a word.  “I was only trying to help!  I didn’t know….  I had no idea….”  She took a deep breath and released it slowly before she resumed speaking.

“You were the first of the soulbonds that caught his attention, but once he discovered you, it brought the rest into his purview.  But there was something about the two of you that he craved.  He struggled to find a way to separate you, because even as animals, you had something… beyond, and he wanted that.  It was something we had never had, and couldn’t seem to access on our own.  He didn’t think it was fair that mere mortals… lowly little humans… had something so amazing, and yet the gods didn’t….  I don’t know.”  She shook her head.  “It was a mess, and he was angry, and jealous, and downright hateful about it.  Most of us were kids at the time, and we had our own stuff to worry about, so we steered clear of him and his machinations as much as possible.”

“What happened?” Arianna asked gently, feeling Aphrodite’s distress like her own.

“I was reading through our histories, and I found out about the two that had been cursed to be together forever, yet always separated from each other except for a singular night each year.  I found a way to resolve the issue keeping the original soulbonds apart, by reversing the curse so that they could be together all but one night a year in their human form.  On that one night, they would revert to their animal forms and would consummate their love at midnight when the veil was at its thinnest.  Only then would they be human again.”

Eli pinched the bridge of her nose, grateful for the autopilot program currently guiding them slowly towards the planet.  “This is beginning to be painful.”

Aphrodite snorted, though there was little humor in her tone.  “No kidding.  You have to remember that these two were never one, but they were the original soulmates, and my fixing the curse they had been under brought them to Zeus’ attention.  When you turned him down, he went crazy.  That was when he separated the soulmates.”

“Including us.”

“Especially you.  It solved the issue of the curse - still not sure how - but it also served to separate you as completely as the others… which was actually worse for you, because you had never been apart before.  Even cursed, you had always been together in one form or another, and now suddenly, you were separated by time and distance and life itself.”

“I can’t imagine that worked out well for anyone,” Arianna commented softly.

Aphrodite grinned wryly.  “Oh, Sweetheart - that’s like the understatement of the millennium.  It was one reason….” She held up her hands.  “Let me back up a bit.  Once you were separated, there was the very devil to pay, because you went tearing through the afterlife - all of it - looking for each other.  When you were forced back into the Circle from the Well of Souls, your anger and heartbreak got exponentially worse.  We feared you would destroy us and yourselves if things continued in the same vein.  Hence the bet.  That would ensure you regular trips into the Circle and would mostly guaranteed you would encounter one another at the very least.  To help that along, Athena and Artemis decided to be a little more, um… proactive.”

“They sired us, you mean,” Eli pointed out.

“Well… yes.  By this point we had all learned about soulmates, we all kinda wanted our own as well.  But we also knew we had to diffuse your anger as much as possible, before you destroyed realms with your fury… because nothing would have survived it.”

“So you lied to Eden about us?”

Aphrodite scratched the back of her neck.  “Not exactly.  I was simply… judicious… with my use of facts.”  She sighed.  “What I told Eden was absolutely true.  What I told you both about the bet and how things got to where they were was also true.  I just didn’t, like, fill in all the blanks for everyone.  I’m trying to do that now,” said with a huff.

Eli frowned.  “I am obviously missing something very important - like why you felt the need to lie.  Or why you didn’t feel you could share the whole truth with the teammates we call family now.”  She watched in confusion as Aphrodite gripped her hair in her hands and tightened them with a groan.  She looked between Arianna and Cupid.  “What am I missing?”

Cupid sighed and rested a hand on his mother’s arm, gently coaxing her to release the stranglehold she had on her hair. As she began to relax, he met Eli’s eyes.  “I think you’re missing a couple things, actually.  Like the timeline involved here.  And the fact that your friends weren’t even part of your lives for millennia.  It was thousands of years between the time you two were in your original incarnation - the one that forced you to become a panther, and her,” motioning to Arianna, “a fox - before Mom was able to alter that curse to allow you both to be more human.  It was another century or two before you were forced from the Well of Souls once Zeus had separated all the soulmates into single beings.  It wasn’t until Artemis and Athena got involved….”

“Why did they? What was so important that they felt the need to interfere?”

Aphrodite patted the hand still resting on her arm, and offered Cupid a tired smile.  “Let me tell this part, Cue.  I was there.”  He nodded and backed off slightly, but still remained close enough for her to feel his support.  “You remember I told you all about how your anger was growing exponentially worse the longer you were separated from one another?  It was really, really bad.  Our prevailing thought was if we could coax you both from the Well of Souls together, there would be a much higher chance you would be able to find one another and spend that lifetime together, which we hoped would mean you’d get and stay on the same cycle.  We believed it would give you a higher chance to defeat Ares and the bet.  We were only trying to help.”

Eli sighed.  “Yes.  That seems to be the prevailing theme here.”  She sighed again, and scratched her forehead, trying to rid herself of the wrinkles she could feel forming furrows on her face.  “So, what happened?”

“In your case, Athena went to your mother when your father was away at war.  She just accepted the fact that he was given some time off to come home for a few days.”

“And he never thought to question the fact that a child was born to her despite his having been away?”

“He did actually come home for a few days a couple weeks later.”  Aphrodite shrugged.  “Close enough.”

“Uh… huh,” Eli drawled.  “And Arianna?”

“Oh… well, in her case, Artemis simply touched her mother.  Her old man was shooting blanks.”

“Didn’t need to know that,” Eli muttered.

“Hey!  You asked.”

“And what was the benefit to you… the gods, I mean?” Arianna asked with a frown.  “I get what you said - that you only wanted to help, although obviously it was a stop-gap measure at best given what eventually happened.  But you also told us that the gods were selfish individuals… with your own agenda.  So what else did you get - or expect to get - from trying to help?”

Aphrodite looked between Arianna and Eli, trying to determine their mindset, but she couldn’t find a hint of accusation… only curiosity.  She sighed and looked down at her hands before she replied in an almost whisper.  “We didn’t actually… we were hoping that by bree… by crossing our lineage with that of true soulmates, we might finally have an actual chance to have soulmates ourselves.”

“It didn’t work,” Eli stated flatly.

“Not even remotely.  When the two of you were born, well, you know that Ares stepped in to claim your soul,” nodding at Eli.  “But even without that, once your paths crossed, there was no one else - not hero; not demi-god; not full god.  Even before you became lovers, neither of you allowed anyone or anything to come between you… not to the point of separation, at any rate.  And once you were lovers,” Aphrodite fanned herself rapidly and chuckled, “it was all over but the shouting.  Our reclaiming you was a formality at that point - partly due to the bet that had been made, of course, but partly because of who you were.  You would have been reborn regardless, of course, but I believe, despite everything, we helped keep the warrior and the bard together because of our… interference.  It is very likely - given the nature of the bet, and the vested interest both Hades and Zeus had at the time - that you would have been born out of sync with one another from the beginning and thus unable to live any significant amount of time together.”

“You don’t think we would have ended up together had you and your sisters not… involved yourself in our lives and trips through the Circle?”

Aphrodite shook her head.  “Given the levels of treachery Ares was capable of in those days?  I think the odds would have been stacked against you… especially since we were powerful for a long time.  You might not have been able to blow everything to kingdom come and gone like you did had your fury erupted before it did.  Remember… by the time you managed that little feat, we were long since out of favor with humanity, and any power we had by that point was residual to what was happening in the world around us.”

Aphrodite stopped speaking, exhausted by not only the telling, but also by the effort to remain stoic and serious throughout.  Cupid reached an arm across and wrapped it around her shoulders, drawing her to him and kissing her head.  She let herself sink into his strong embrace, glad circumstances had given her back this long missing piece of her family if nothing else.  She released a shaky breath.  She wasn’t sure what she was going to do if they were the only two left.  She and her family might not want to be immortal beings any more, but that didn’t mean she was ready to give up her life or the lives of those she knew best.  She’d like a few years to adjust, at least, before she had to start giving them up one by one.

She blinked when a warm, green hand covered one of hers, followed by a cooler, tanned one.  She looked up to find concerned brown and hazel eyes focused on her.  It caused tears to well, and she tipped her head back to keep them from falling.  Arianna squeezed the hand she held lightly.

“Hey… you okay?”

Aphrodite smiled, but couldn’t keep the tears from falling.  “I’m better than okay, among a hundred other emotions,” she answered.  “There’s just so much… and I’m overwhelmed… and tired, and….  How do you guys do this all the freaking time??  Be human, I mean.”

“Practice,” Eli said drolly.  “Lots and lots of practice.”

Aphrodite gave her a watery smile and reached up to wipe her eyes.  “Well, here’s hoping I have some time to practice.  This could take a while.”

Cupid chuckled.  “It never stops,” earning him a glare from his mother.

“Not helping, Cue,” she replied, though she snuggled a little deeper into the hug he still had her in.

“Hey, Cap?” Eden called across Eli’s comm, causing both her and Arianna to straighten automatically. 

She tilted her head as she exchanged glances with Arianna, who shook her head and shrugged.  “What’s up, Eden?”

“You should be aware that the shuttle captains are trying to contact you for instructions.  You’re about five minutes out from landing on the planet.”

“Thanks, Eden.  I’m putting us back on comms, so you’ll be able to hear and monitor what’s going on.”  Before Eden could respond, Eli turned her attention back to the readout in front of her, then addressed the two shuttle captains.  “This is Eli of the Outreach.  Whom am I addressing?”

“This is Lieutenant Baker from the Onyx.”
“Lieutenant Tennant from the Racer.”

Eli blinked.  She hadn’t expected the stereo reply.  After a breath, she spoke again.  “Very well, Lieutenants.  I will look forward to meeting you both when we land.  For now, if you will follow me in, please.  I’ll guide you both to a landing area we discovered that appears to be just out from the populated area of the planet.  I would request that you land one on each side and slightly behind me, and please remember to treat this as a diplomatic mission.  We have already met with the people who reside here - they are of little to no danger to us.”

“Captain,” Baker’s voice started.

“Lieutenant, I’m sure you have safety protocols to follow for first contact missions.”  They didn’t - that wasn’t the kind of work these people did… ever. They did, however, have instructions from their own captains on protocols to keep the Alpha Team members safe from unknowns.  “However,” Eli’s voice cut through the thoughts running through the heads of both security teams, “this is not a first contact mission.  We have already met with these people several times; shared a several meals; stood beside one another in combat.  So you will follow my lead and my directives.  Understood?”

The fierceness and authority in her tone was something none of them could ignore.  With a sigh, they exchanged glances around each shuttle, and the shuttle commanders nodded subtly to each other across the viewscreens they had open between them.

“Aye, ma’am.”
“Yes, ma’am.”

The answers came simultaneously, and Eli had to wonder if she should have demanded viewscreen access when she’d answered their hails.  Too late now, she thought wryly, then turned her attention back to her instruments.  It was time to hand her visitors back over to their families, so her family could begin the final leg of their journey home.  At last.

Chapter LXXII

The shuttle landed gently on the thick grass and Eli gave a sigh of relief.  Even though she, like the rest of her team, had qualified to fly as part of their training, it was always a little more difficult for her to have to think about all the little details she just naturally did when she flew as a dragon.  It was always a bit jarring for it not to be second nature.  She smiled when Arianna’s hand came up to cover hers, knowing her mate could feel her unease and nervousness.  She turned to glance into brown eyes, and let her own twinkle in response.  Arianna squeezed the hand she held in acknowledgment, and in another moment, they were shutting the systems down.  Not that they expected to be here very long, but it was part of the protocol they were used to following.  In tandem, they turned to their guests, who were eyeing them with a hint of curiosity.

“Come,” Eli almost commanded as she stood and helped Arianna to her feet.  “I need to meet the shuttle crews and I want to check on your people and introduce them all before we leave.  They’re going to be here for at least a little while, and I’d like to know that things start out on the right foot.”

Aphrodite jumped up and engulfed Eli in a hug.  “Thank you!” she whispered.

Though she was surprised, Eli returned the embrace fervently.  “Thank you,” she replied.  After a moment, she pulled back and brushed a kiss over Aphrodite’s temple.  “Now, let’s go see how the family is doing, all right?”

Aphrodite nodded her head and wiped another tear from her eye.  Cupid just rolled his and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, moving them slightly out of the way so Eli and Arianna could pass by to exit first.  A push of a button, and the ramp started lowering.  When it touched down, Eli stepped out of the shuttle, pulling Arianna to stand beside her as they surveyed the new planet.  Before they could move further, both shuttle crews came around opposite corners to stand in front of them.  Eli studied them for a moment before she headed down the ramp.

“Lieutenants?”

“I’m Baker, ma’am,” the young man stated.

“And I’m Tennant, ma’am,” the young woman said immediately afterward.

“And the rest?” Eli asked looking around and motioning to the crew that stood back at a respectful distance, waiting for orders.

“Otto, Ford, and Williams,” Tennant answered, pointing out each member of her team.

“Rothrock, Smitty, and Jackson,” Baker said, doing the same.

Eli nodded.  “It’s nice to meet you, ladies and gentlemen,” silently applauding when no one flinched at her address of them.  “I’m Eli; this is my mate, Arianna,” gently pulling her wife to stand beside her.  “And these,” motioning as the two former gods moved into the doorway, “are Aphrodite and Cupid.  They will be remaining here with their families.  We are simply here to return them to their home.”

Before she could add more, there was movement at the edge of the trees that surrounded the meadow.  Instantly, the eight crew members stiffened and dropped to defensive positions to protect them.  Eli facepalmed and raised a hand to prevent the visitors from moving closer.  She sighed.  “Ladies and gentlemen, stand down, please,” frowning when they didn’t react immediately.  “NOW!” she barked, loudly and harshly enough that they reacted on instinct, lowering their weapons if not putting them away.  “These are the people you are here to meet.  There’s no one here but friends.  Please don’t make me report you to Mary,” swallowing a laugh at the look of horror on their paling faces.  “Come - let me introduce you.  Once we have gotten past the initial greetings, I think you’ll be able to relax a little bit, and you’ll be able to make a favorable report to your captains.”

Baker and Tennant exchanged looks, then nodded and turned to Eli. Eli smiled and started down the ramp holding Arianna’s hand.  They stepped through the military teams to stand in front of them, then Eli motioned those waiting at the tree line forward.  As they moved forward, Aphrodite broke free of Cupid’s embrace, and rushed through the crew members and past Eli and Arianna to fall at Athena’s feet.  She wrapped her arms around Athena’s middle, dropping her head onto her stomach and letting the tears flow in relief.  Athena wrapped a shaking hand in blonde curls, and just let her cry.  A smile touched her lips as her own eyes welled.  She, more than most, understood the myriad of emotions running through Aphrodite.

Those surrounding them smiled and walked beyond, leaving her and Aphrodite in their own little bubble for just a little while.  Later, they would do their own catching up, but for now there were other things requiring their attention, and Aphrodite and Athena deserved a few minutes of privacy to reassure themselves of the other’s reality.  They had come too close to losing each other, and that adjustment was something that they were all going to have to get used to - although hopefully on a  much gentler curve and not such a steep angle.

Cupid remained behind with Eli and Arianna, allowing his mother and Athena their own private reunion.  Then Psyche broke through those surrounding her at a run, and he braced himself for the impact, barely letting out a breath when she jumped into his arms.  This, he thought to himself.  Finally, I’m home.  He closed his eyes and absorbed the feeling of right and completeness that flowed through him.  No matter what he had gained and lost in his lifetime, this was home.

The rest continued to catch up, stopping just a few feet from where Eli and Arianna remained.  Zeus studied their impassive faces - neither cold nor welcoming - and reached out a tentative hand in greeting.  Eli didn’t hesitate to accept it - she had something to prove to the military members standing at her back, after all - but Zeus was old enough to sense the not-quite friendliness she exuded.

“Welcome back,” he offered softly.  “Thank you for bringing our family home.”

Eli’s gaze softened, though it never quite reached a smile.  “It was our honor and privilege to do so - they… you all… did everything for us to ensure our survival.  We couldn’t not give them a chance to come home to their family.”

“Well, whatever the reason, we’re glad to have them home.  So thank you.”

Eli nodded.  “I would like to introduce you to the folks waiting at the shuttle.  They are emissaries from the two ships currently rotating above the planet.  They are interested in learning about you and perhaps establishing some sort of relationship with all of you.”

“Why?” Zeus asked confused.  “I mean we’ve been here for… well, a very long time, and no one has taken much interest in us before now.”

“That’s not true,” Arianna interposed.  “Think back to the number of scientific ships that came to study the Nebula.  They tried to reach you - to connect in some way, but the interference from the Nebula made contact nearly impossible, and invariably caused their destruction.  It’s one reason the Nebula was marked as a ‘no entry’ zone to all but the sturdiest science ships, and why most of those even stayed on the fringes of the Nebula’s boundaries.”

Zeus nodded slowly.  “That’s understandable, I suppose.  Just don’t understand why the sudden interest now.”

“Because they can,” Eli assured him shortly.  “It’s up to you all, of course, but I think it might be mutually beneficial.  It would give you some access to the world beyond your own, and it would allow humanity to learn a little about their history and culture.  Though you might want to be a little judicious with what exactly you share with them in regards to the roles you actually played.”

Zeus’ eyes widened, as did those of the rest of his contingent.  “She told you….”

“Everything,” Eli confirmed.

“That explains the change in attitude.”

“I’m trying very hard not to be angry and resentful,” she commented.  “Since it did work out in our favor in the end.  But at the moment, I’m still trying to process all the selfish interference you all perpetuated upon us.  Not really happy about that.”

“I understand,” Zeus replied contritely.  “I’ve had millennia to think and process and try to make peace with myself over some of the selfish and dumbass things I did when I was King of the Gods.”  He looked down and moment, then back up to meet their eyes.  “There are many things I did that I am ashamed of now, and if I could change it I would.  That being said, there’s no way from here but forward, as you both reminded me when we defeated Mischief together.  The best I can offer is a sincere apology.”

Eli nodded sharply, but said nothing, other than, “Come.  Let me introduce you.”

Zeus and a few of the others stepped forward towards the shuttles and the military people who waited there.  Eli hesitated when Artemis placed a hand on Ariana’s arm and drew her to a halt.  “Can we talk?” she asked in a hesitant whisper.  Arianna squeezed the hand she held before releasing it, drawing Eli’s attention back to her as she watched the former gods stop and wait for her to join them. 

“Go on, Amado.  I’ll be all right.  And you can join us when you get finished with the whole diplomacy leadership thing.”

“Are you sure?”

She offered Eli a small smile and shrugged.  “I think we owe her and Athena a chance to speak.”

Eli nodded slowly, straightening her posture and assuming the mantle of command once more.  “Very well,” she responded.  “I’ll find you as soon as I’m done here.”

“Don’t rush on my account, Lover.  I’ll be fine - you do what needs to be done to make this work, okay?”

Eli nodded, but didn’t reply.  She simply moved to stand at the front of the planet delegation, leading the way to where the military members were watching them a little warily.  The lieutenants stepped up and stood at attention, the rest following their example.  When Eli made introductions, they extended a hand which was accepted with alacrity and enthusiasm, and they endeavored to convey the same as this was not normally their function.  They had been sent by their captains to protect the Alpha Team assets; they were doing the meet-and-greet because Eli had directed them to do so.  Zeus sensed their unease, and cocked his head at them in question.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, sir,” Tennant answered immediately.  “This is just something we don’t normally… do.  We were sent as a security detail for Eli and Arianna.”

“You think they need defending against us?”

“I don’t think anything, sir.  I am simply following the orders of my captain.  Our first duty is to protect the members of the Alpha Team.  Our secondary mission is to scout out the planet.  We want to ensure we do as little damage to the planet and the people living here as possible, and that they will do no harm to us.”

Zeus’ shaggy eyebrows flew into his hairline, eyes wide at the blunt honesty spilling from Tennant’s lips.  “Well, in that case, would you and your party like to join us in our village?  You can see where and how we live, and perhaps convince your captain to visit.  I think we might have something to offer one another to make this a delightful venture for all of us.”

Tennant and Baker looked to Eli, who stood stoically to one side allowing them to interact without interference.  She nodded slightly, and they turned to each other for a moment before facing Zeus and his contingent.  “We’d like that, sir,” Baker said.

“Excellent!” he exclaimed, clapping his hands together before extending her arm in a sweeping motion.  “Please… this way.  It’s a very short walk.” 

Baker and Tennant walked to either side of him and allowed him to lead the way.  The rest fell back a step or two, a little surprised when the other members of the Greek delegation spread out to walk among them.  They looked to Eli for instruction.

“At ease, ladies and gentlemen,” watching them relax at her directive.  “They just want to talk to you - to get to know you and the worlds you come from.  You are the first to visit them - outside the Alpha Team - in a very long time.”

They each nodded a bit stiltedly, but walked forward without much hesitation or flinching when they were surrounded by curious ex-gods.  Eli smiled quietly to herself.  This was shaping up to be quite the mission.

************

Arianna followed Artemis back towards the village, pausing briefly to touch Aphrodite’s shoulder and Athena’s arm before stepping out of reach.  She knew they’d come find her as soon as their emotions settled.  When they walked out of the tree line, Arianna stopped in wonder.  Gone was the destruction that had been left after their fight with Mischief.  In its place stood tall, white marble buildings she had only ever seen in the history and culture studies she’d been required to learn as part of her royal training.  Her eyes bugged out and her mouth dropped a little as she struggled to take in the changed reality… and a familiarity she couldn’t quite place.  Artemis reached over and gently shut her mouth with an audible click.

“Careful,” she said, with a hint of amusement in her tone.  “You don’t want to attract bugs.”  Arianna blinked and turned her attention back to Artemis, whose lips and eyes creased with her amusement.  “This wasn’t us,” she said with a soft smile as she gestured around at the newly restored city.  “Gaia did that when she reformed the Nebula into this place… this planet.”

“How did you all survive?  By rights….”

“We should have been blown back to Olympus?  Yeah, we figured the same thing.  It was… I don’t know how to explain it exactly.  It was like we were swaddled in cotton and clouds… or something.  I wasn’t really cognizant - none of us were.  It was like we fell asleep and woke up to this.”

“Not a bad thing to wake up to,” Arianna commented.  “It reminds me of things I studied.”

“I’m sure,” Artemis said with a wry smile.  “This is much how our home looked at the height of our influence and power.  It’s comforting and depressing at the same time - so much like the home we knew and yet a reminder of what we had and lost.”

Arianna nodded, but she didn’t reply.  She was busy cataloguing everything she saw while processing the many questions she wanted to ask the woman who was ultimately her abuela many times removed.  She turned a speculative gaze toward Artemis, whose smile turned sad.

“Ask your questions, child.  You’ve certainly earned the right.”

“Why?  And why not tell us?  I don’t think Aphrodite would have shared had Deb not gotten the truth wrong after putting so much effort into working out our histories.”

Artemis sighed.  “I’m sure Dite told you why - we were trying to give you your best chance against Ares… to win the bet.  If you’re asking why me and Athena, well, that’s a little more complicated,” watching with the tiniest smirk as Arianna crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows.  “I’m guessing you have the time you need for me to tell you, huh?”  She took Arianna by the arm.  “Come… we might as well be comfortable and Aphrodite and Athena should really be here if I’m going to share the whole story.”

Arianna snorted and smirked.  “Given what I saw when we stepped from the shuttle, we may be waiting for them a while.”  Her eyes sobered.  “Not that I blame them.  I can’t imagine….”

“But then, you really don’t have to, do you?  You know how they feel… even if it isn’t the same.”

Arianna frowned.  “You know, that kind of thinking is what started all this mess in the first place,” shaking her head in frustration when Artemis looked at her uncomprehendingly.  “Artemis, you… all of you… keep dismissing the love and care you feel for each other like it’s not enough.  Everyone may not be soulmates like Eli and I are, but it doesn’t make the love and emotion you feel any less important.  It just means you have to work a little harder sometimes to connect. Don’t dismiss it like it’s not everything.  Love is love, no matter who shares it, and it’s always important.  Otherwise, everything - everything - becomes worthless.”

The breath was knocked from her lungs as she found herself wrapped from behind in Aphrodite’s arms.  Her face was still wet and her smile bright with unshed tears, but her smile was blinding in its intensity.  “Oh, babe!  Have I told you what a totally gnarly and awesome human being I think you are??  That was… that was amazing,” letting her eyes drift to Athena who stood looking at her adoringly.  She gave Arianna a final squeeze before moving back to wrap an arm around Athena’s waist.  “C’mon.  Eli should be done with her introductions and whatever responsible type stuff she’s got to do, then Cue and Psyche will bring her to our rooms.”

They walked slowly down the massive boulevard, with Artemis or Athena casually pointing out something of interest.  It only took a few minutes, however, before they turned off the main thoroughfare and onto a smaller side road that allowed them to enter a large building through a small, almost unnoticeable door tucked into a cranny.  Artemis went ahead and opened the door to let the others pass in front of her before she hid the door from outside eyes.  She knew Psyche would bring Cupid and Eli in through the grandeur of the front entrance.

Arianna looked around curiously as they led her to what she assumed was a common room.  Aphrodite seated Athena, then curled up beside her, sighing in contentment.  Artemis just rolled her eyes playfully.  “Oh… I see how it is.”  She moved over to the bar, fixing drinks and bringing them over to where the others were congregated.  She placed the tray on the table and wagged her finger at Aphrodite and Athena.  “Don’t think this is going to become a regular thing.”

“Thank you, Artie,” Athena said sincerely.  “I don’t know what I would have done without you recently.”

“How’s about we agree not to find out?  Not for a very long time, at least,” Aphrodite proposed.  “I’ve had enough of that whole side of being human to last more lifetimes than we have left to live.  And yes - thank you, Artemis.  What you did was….”

“Mutually beneficial, I assure you.  And I promise we’ll get you and Cupid all caught up on what’s changed and all, but for now, maybe we should finish telling our story so Arianna and Eli can get on with their lives.  It’s time to put this behind us once and for all.”

“Shouldn’t Eli be here for this?”

“I am,” said as she stepped through the massive double doors that served as an entrance to the room.  “Zeus and the rest took the crew members to the Great Hall?” looking between Athena and Artemis, and waited for them to nod their understanding.  “I contacted the captains of Mary’s ships to let them know what was going on and invite them down to begin whatever talks they feel are necessary.  It’s not right for them to put that responsibility on junior members of their crew.”

“And how did that go over, Amado?”

Eli shrugged.  “I didn’t stay on the line long enough to find out, Angel.  I figure it’s up to them now - not my business.”

“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?” Psyche asked, wincing back when Eli turned bright golden eyes to her.  “Or not.”

“Or not,” Eli agree with a sharp jerk of her head.  “I won’t be here after today to mediate and go between them.  Best that they start taking care of things right from the start.  Less chance for hurt feelings or misunderstandings between them, and only themselves to blame if things don’t work.”  She closed her eyes and breathed out a slow, deep breath.  “I apologize if I sound harsh.  It’s just….”

“It’s just the truth,” Athena cut in with a soft voice.  “You get that from me.”

“And that’s our cue,” Cupid said, taking Psyche by the hand.  “We’ll catch up with you when you’re done here.  We have our own catching up to do,” he added with a smile, grinning when Psyche blushed at his words.  “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”  He offered a light-hearted wave and took Psyche’s hand.  She waved bashfully, and they slipped out the door.

The five women watched them out of sight, then turned back to one another.  “Well,” Athena said as she cleared her throat delicately.  “Maybe we should get started.  It’s quite a story to tell.”  With that, all eyes turned her way, and the rest sat back and waited for her to speak.

Chapter LXXIII

“I’m sure you both know the whole sordid tale by heart - of how you and your souls ended up in a bet with the trifecta of dickishness,” smiling when both Eli and Arianna covered their mouths to keep from laughing out loud.  “It’s all right - you can laugh, you know.  There’s not a whole lot of happy or funny in this story; you should take it where you can find it.”

“Do they know you call them that?” Arianna asked with a chuckle.

“Oh yes,” Artemis cut in.  “Athena called them that to their faces when all of this started.  They never lost the moniker… especially once we were blown here.”  She snorted.  “Everyone started calling them that then.”  She sobered.  “There was a lot of hatred and name-calling and back biting when we first got here, and they were an easy target, because so many of us were already angry at them for one reason or another.  It took a while for things to settle down into something resembling civilized behavior.”

Aphrodite snickered.  “Even that wasn’t always able to withstand the anger that floated around here a lot of days.”  She turned to Eli and Arianna.  “We like to pretend we’re a lot more civilized than we really are, but trust me… even on our best days we can be brutal.  Imagine what it’s like if we deliberately target one another.”  She shook her head.  “The fireworks can be spectacularly rad.”

“All this to say that we started out with the best of intentions.  But I’m sure you’ve both heard some form of that old saying,” waiting for them to nod.  “Right.  So when we discovered that they were gonna to try to stack the deck - that is to say, make sure that your souls would pass one another, barely meeting or interacting - we decided to step in and bend the rules to suit us.  We had to be careful though.  We didn’t want them crying foul and trying to claim victory.  So we decided to help.”

“Can I ask how you came up with the idea to… sire… us?”

Athena smiled.  “That was the best of the many options we had.”

“And you hoped it might spawn soulmates of your own.”

All three goddesses had the grace to look down in embarrassment.  Athena cleared her throat, though she couldn’t hide the bright red flush on her cheeks.  “That was our hope, yes,” she admitted.  “But it was secondary to trying to keep you in the same circle.  We could already feel your anger and rage, and the building of the same with the other soulbonds still existing in the Well of Souls.  We didn’t know what kind of destruction you could bring, but we felt it might be enough to destroy us, and we were selfish enough to not want that.”

Eli and Arianna glanced at each other, and Eli gestured for Arianna to continue her questioning.  Given the fury she could feel rolling off Eli in waves, Arianna reached over and clasped one fisted hand, waiting until she felt the hand relax beneath her hold.  Only then did she turn back to the goddesses who were watching with undisguised fascination.

“So, again - why sire us?  Why not simply move our souls back into the Circle?”

“It wasn’t that easy.  The trifecta was watching as well, though not with nearly the same level of attention.  And remember, there was ten years between you, even with our interference.”

“Why?  Why was there ten years between us?”

Athena smiled. “Have you met the two of you?  Part of that is strictly on you.”  She looked at Arianna.  “Surprisingly, you were more stubborn than your warrior,” chuckling lightly as the brown eyes widened comically.  “But part of it was for your protection.  It would have drawn attention if you had left the Well of Souls together.  So we had to ease you back into the Circle, and the best way to do that was without notice was have you be born.  By our siring you, it was supposed to make it easier for us to claim you as Chosen.”

“Which still didn’t work,” Eli commented with a growl.

“Not like we wanted it to, no,” Athena confessed with a hint of fire.  “We did the best we could.”

Eli stood, hands clenched into fists again.  Athena stood as well, defiant in her stance.  Before either Artemis or Aphrodite could move, Arianna was standing between the two antagonists, back to Eli as she faced Athena.  “Sit. Down.”  Athena was startled.  She had never expected such fierceness from one other than her Chosen.  She blinked and refocused her attention on Arianna, then abruptly reached backward for the chair she’d risen from.  Slowly, she sank into it, her eyes never leaving Arianna’s, especially when she found a spark of compassion reflected back at her.

When Arianna was satisfied that Athena was not going to interrupt, she turned her back to the goddesses and faced Eli.  Eli closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Arianna’s, breathing in deeply in an effort to settle her anger.  Arianna took the clenched fists in her hands and rubbed them gently with the thumb, until she felt them relax again beneath her touch.  When they opened, Arianna moved the open hands to rest on her hips, then she took Eli’s face in her hands.

“Are you all right, Amado?” letting their lips brush as she whispered her question.  Eli released a slow sigh and nodded.

“I think so,” she replied.  “I just… it makes me… So. ANGRY,” gritting her teeth together.

Arianna brushed their lips together and Eli’s hands tightened against her waist.  “Beloved, it’s done.  It’s over.  It happened a long, long time ago.  They were tricked; they made mistakes.  We got angry and let it grow.  There’s a lot of blame to go around… even some for us.  We have to move forward, and we need to let them finish their story.  We have a right to know, and I think they need to share,” sighing when Eli’s breath huffed against her lips.  “I know, Amado.  But it doesn’t hurt us to be kind to them.  They can’t hurt us anymore.” She smiled gently and leaned back to meet enough to make hazel eyes cross as they met hers.  She chuckled.  “Are you okay now?  Ready to continue?”

“I think so,” Eli whispered, closing her eyes briefly before nodding her head sharply and opening her eyes as she stepped back.

“May I speak?” Aphrodite asked as they resumed their seats across from the goddesses.  She met Eli’s eyes staunchly.  Eli studied her a moment, then nodded her head, motioning for her to begin.  Aphrodite nodded and took a deep breath.  “Nothing we say here is going to make all this right or okay or better for you or for us, and I know the fact that we did our best or had the best intentions, you know, or whatever, doesn’t change the fact that the whole thing was just an epic cluster for everyone… but especially the two of you.  But you should know that you were amazing.  Eli, you were a warrior of incredible skill and talent.  The only one that ever truly defeated you was your half.  She is the reason Athena was able to reclaim you as her Chosen.  Arianna, you were a legendary Amazon Queen.”  The three goddess exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

“What?” Arianna demanded, though she couldn’t help smiling at their uncontained mirth.

Artemis took a deep breath and shook her head.  “You were legendary for several reasons - you were a brilliant storyteller; you brought peace to the Amazons, and helped relocate them when it became clear they could no longer survive and thrive in man’s world; you were even a widely heralded cook within the Nation… something the Amazons were able to truly appreciate once your warrior shared your secret and you shared your recipes.  But more than anything else, you were legendary for your ability to get into trouble; though in fairness, it was usually no direct fault of your own.  Still, it did make you legend in your own time, and as far as the Amazons are concerned - or were when we were blasted here - you always will be.”

“There is no way for us to tell you the whole story without sounding like we’re making excuses,” Athena said softly.  She hung her head.  “Partly because I guess we are.  It doesn’t matter what our intentions were or weren’t - the fact is we helped create an intolerable situation.  I’m sorry.  We all are.”

Eli blinked.  Whatever she had expected, those words hadn’t even been on her list of possibilities.  Before she could recover enough to reply, Arianna spoke up.  “Do you…?  I don’t suppose there’s…?  Hmm,” she broke off softly, trying to organize her thoughts in a cohesive manner.  “You mentioned I was a storyteller.  Do you have copies of any of these stories?” her smile dazzling when Artemis nodded her head.  “Could we…?  Do you think we could have copies of them?  It would be wonderful to be able to read them and to add them to our histories.”

“I think something could be arranged,” Artemis said as she rose from her chair.  “It might take me a few minutes, though, so if you’ll excuse me?” not waiting for an answer but walking out of the common room and towards her private suite.

“I’m sorry this reunion didn’t turn out to be what anyone expected or hoped for,” Athena said quietly. “I had hoped….  I wanted you to know your story - to know that we were on your side and trying to do our best for you.  I see now that it was as much about easing latent guilt as anything else, and you both deserve better than that.”

Eli looked at her for another long moment before leaning forward across the table, reaching out to Athena and covering her hands.  The goddess was so startled by the action that she froze in place, though her eyes snapped up to meet Eli’s.  Her mouth dropped open a little at the fierceness and hurt reflected back at her, but also at the compassion and understanding she could see clearly beneath.

“Perhaps,” Eli agreed slowly, “but as my mate reminded me, this is all in the past.  Nothing you can do or say can make it better or give us a different outcome.”  She shrugged and leaned back slightly,  releasing another slow breath, though she didn’t remove her clasp on Athena’s hands.  “That said, my anger is not going to change anything either… except make us all more uncomfortable.”  She chewed her lip and sighed again.  “To that end, I have some questions.”

“Of course,” Athena acknowledged, waiting patiently for Eli to formulate her queries.

Eli blew out an impatient breath and Arianna moved a hand to rest on her thigh.  She relaxed imperceptibly at the touch, but when the hand started to knead just slightly, she almost sagged in relief.  Hazel eyes closed for a long minute, then opened to meet Athena’s squarely.  “So, if we were demigods, how are we not immortal?  I mean… we died.”

Athena huffed.  Leave it to Eli to start with the hardest first.  “You did, but we kind of helped that along.  That is…. when you did something that would have killed a mortal and made them stay dead, we took your soul and returned it to the Well.”  She smirked.  “That was much easier than trying to take your soul from it.  No one watches when the souls return.  For the record, it took us several tries to catch your soul long enough to return it.”  She looked between them, smiling at the picture they presented.  “You were determined not to be separated, and you fought tooth and nail to stay together.  You defeated death several times, and at least once there was other divine intervention.”  She frowned.  “That was….”

Aphrodite snorted, though it wasn’t a happy sound.  “That was a totally fucked cluster,” she stated bluntly.  “That almost caused more problems than the trifecta of dickishness.  I know that Abba guy had radically good intentions, but man!”

At their confusion, Athena smiled gently.  “Trust me.  It will all make much more sense when you have read all the stories.”

“We’ve remembered some.  I mean, not whole lifetimes or anything, but we’ve had snippets.”

“At least the stories will give you better context.  And they may help you discover some latent, hidden abilities.  After all, there are still traces of gods’ blood in your veins; it’s one reason you have some of the gifts you do… like transformation.”  She cleared her throat and turned to Eli.  “May I ask…?” waiting for Eli to nod her agreement.  “Your anger - I know it has always been a part of you, but it seems… greater? quicker, maybe?  I mean,” she sighed again.  “You didn’t seem to be so… touchy?  sensitive? when we last talked.  Did we do something else to upset you?”

Eli blew out a breath.  She knew it was a legitimate question.  After all, she hadn’t been short with them since they’d blasted Mischief into the Void.  Before she could respond, Aphrodite cleared her throat, drawing all eyes to her.  Eli cocked a blonde brow in Aphrodite’s direction, and she blushed delicately before moving her gaze around the room.  In a moment, she returned her eyes to Eli’s expectantly waiting face.

“I think… remember this didn’t start until just recently - like when we returned to the planet.  I wonder if has something to do with your difficulty in transitioning back from your dragon self.  There’s a lot of gnarly emotion flowing while you’re that bodacious creature, and I wonder if maybe there’s some holdover from that, because you feel so much more and were kinda stuck there for a while.  Besides, you’ve been hit with a lot of crap here recently.  And you and your radical babe here were sharing a depth of communication during all that craptastickness that usually takes years to develop.  And if I’m not mistaken, you lost a lot of it once Cupie and I became mortal, because we… we helped strengthen it.  We knew you needed her - needed her support and love, and now it’s just gone… or at least it’s not like it was, and it’s going to take time and work to get back to that.”

“We’re getting there, Amado,” Arianna whispered, leaning into Eli’s body.  She smiled when strong arms came up as a matter of course and wrapped her in a tight embrace.  “And we’ll get there again, and this time it will be just us.  We can do this.”

“I know we can, Beloved.  We’ve already moved so far beyond where we were… where we should be at this point.  I’m just so tired.”  She smiled briefly and kissed the side of Arianna’s head.  “I think we should have considered utilizing those cryo-units we talked about.” She sighed.  “It would have saved  us so much grief and exhaustion.  Jake would still have his arm; Mimi wouldn’t be trying to recover her stamina; Hannah wouldn’t have lost her hearing and Gay wouldn’t have experienced the loneliness of utter silence.”

“Maybe,” Arianna agreed.  “But Isaac would still be struggling with some lingering confusion; we’d have never seen our team stand together for us; Deb wouldn’t have grown into such an amazing researcher;  Jake would never have been the hero he’s always wanted to be; you and Luke wouldn’t have found a cure for Eden in time.”  She looked into hazel-gold eyes for a long moment.  “We wouldn’t have experienced each other so intimately or had any idea what we are destined for together.  I know there have been some bad things happen on our journey so far, but we’ve had a lot of incredible things happen as well.  Don’t lose sight of the good.”

Eli let her forehead drop onto Arianna’s shoulder.  “Keep reminding me.”

Arianna brushed a kiss over the top of blonde hair.  “That’s one reason I’m here, Amado.  And we’ll keep working on the rest.”

“Aww,” Aphrodite cooed, fanning her hands in front of her face, successfully breaking the moment.  Arianna and Eli turned to look at her, and she had the decency to blush.  “Sorry,” she muttered.  “It’s just… the two of you are so radically cute together. It totally makes my heart pitter-patter with happiness,” her smile blinding even as she wiped a tear from one eye.  “I have so missed this.”

“This?”

“The feeling that comes with a successful, happy match.  Even when I didn’t have anything to do with the match happening - like with the two of you - it was always majorly gratifying to watch you come together and be everything you were destined for.”

“And at least you know that you’re together forever now - there’s no separating you now,” Athena added with a smile.  “I’m really glad we got to witness that.  It’s comforting to know that despite everything - the bet; our interference; your anger - despite everything, you’re together.  I’ll be honest - it’s likely not going to be all moonlight and roses,” she commented, knowing they had many, many obstacles ahead, because that was, you know, LIFE.  “But I have faith in the two of you and what you share.  It will carry you through anything you come up against, and will make you successful at whatever you choose to do after this.”

“All we want to do is get to the moon we’ve chosen as our new home, and settle down into our life there.  I will never complain about boring or mundane ever again,” Eli swore.

Arianna chuckled.  “Yes, you will.  But at least there, we’ll be able to do more to offset it.  And in the beginning, we’re going to be crazy busy, I think was how Eden described it.  And that’s without considering the things we’ve already got going on.”

“Here you go,” Artemis announced as she strode back into the room, eyes on her overly full hands to ensure she didn’t have to juggle anything to keep from dropping it.  “Sorry it took so long.  I didn’t realize there was quite as much in the archive as there was.  I don’t know what kind of information chips you kids are using, but I put it on the most state-of-the-art technology we have.  Not sure how up-to-date Gaia was able to produce when she created this place.”  She looked around.  “Did I miss something?”

“Not really,” Aphrodite assured her as she jumped up to help with the load just before it slid out of her grip, setting them down on the table between them.  “Just a little chatting.  But here… let me get something to put all this in, and we’ll get you on your way.”  She stepped over to a cabinet and removed a small bag.  She slid something into it as she handed it over, and cleared her throat awkwardly as Artemis concentrated on filling the bag with the stories and histories she had collected for them.  Eli tilted her head at Aphrodite in question.

“What is it?’ she asked kindly.

“I was just wondering - do you think, maybe… once you get settled, I mean….  Do you think maybe we could keep in touch with one another?”

Eli considered her request for a long moment, and Arianna remained still, not wanting to disturb Eli’s thought process.  Finally, “I don’t see why not,” she replied, noting the instant relaxation of all three bodies across from her and even moreso that of the one she was curled into.  “I’ll have Jake look into it when we get settled.  As long as you have the equipment and technology to communicate over long distances, I’m sure we can manage something.”

“Maybe we should go talk to Zeus and the people from the other ships.  They should be able to help with that.”

Eli gently untangled herself from Arianna and rose with grace, offering a hand to help Arianna stand.  “I think that’s our cue.  We need to get back to the ship, and you all need to begin establishing the relationships you want to cultivate with the rest of the Universe.”  The goddesses stood and came around to hug Eli and Arianna.  When that was accomplished, they moved towards the door as one.

“I’ll go let Cupid know it’s time to say goodbye,” Artemis offered, knowing Aphrodite and Athena were nowhere close to allowing the other out of her sight.  It only took a moment for not only Cupid, but the remainder of the Pantheon, to make its way to the front door of the residence.  It was quite the parade that made its way back to the shuttle.  After another round of hugs - which put Eli and even Arianna on edge, the former gods and goddesses stood back to allow Eli to speak to the humans remaining behind. 

“Remember, Lieutenants - do your best to establish good relations with these people.  I think you have a lot to learn from each other, and it could be mutually beneficial if you let it.  Bring your captains into the process in a day or two… after you’ve got some of the initial discussion out of the way.  I’m pretty sure Mary will be more than a little interested in what happens here in the next few days.”

“No pressure there,” Baker muttered. 

Eli laughed.  “It will be good for everyone involved.  Trust me.”  She glanced back out to the crowd still watching them.  “Goodbye, my friends… and good luck.”  Then without another word, she took Arianna’s hand and walked into the shuttle, closing the door behind them without a backward glance.

Chapter LXXIV

They were part way back to the Outreach when Arianna reached over and clasped Eli’s hand.  “How are you feeling, Amado?”

Eli took a deep breath and sighed.  “Better.  I think Aphrodite might have been right about my emotions.  They feel… stronger… more intense.  And I’m obviously having more difficulty getting them under control again.”  She blew out another forceful breath and frowned.  “I’m not sure…. I’ve never had this issue before - not being able to get my reactions… my passion… under control.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t try to control it.  Maybe you would be better served to allow it full range.”

Eli jerked her head in Arianna’s direction, looking for indications that her mate was making a joke to alleviate the tension she could surely feel running through Eli’s body.  What she found was Arianna gazing at her with compassion.  She tilted her head in question.  “How do you mean?  Angel, you’ve seen what happens when I get angry.  Can you imagine giving that emotion full range?  The consequences could be… dire.”

Now Ariana offered her a small, fond smile.  “You’re being a bit too literal.  What if we channel your anger… your passion… into something else.  Something more productive,” tilting her head and slightly waggling her eyebrows.

Eli’s eyes widened and her brows flew into her hairline.  “You mean like sex?”

Surprisingly, Arianna blushed to the roots of her hair.   “Ahem… while that wasn’t the direction I was going with this, I would certainly never turn that down as an option with you.  But I was thinking more along the lines of letting this help us strengthen our bond.  Your anger - your emotions as a general rule, when you’re a dragon - are far stronger than they are when you are humanoid.  But anger is the most volatile and the one we have to work with right now.  Why not use it to our advantage?  This is something you can project and I can feel.”

Eli shook her head viciously before Arianna could finish.  “No!  I don’t want you to feel like this!  I don’t…!”  The hand still holding hers tightened and she looked down to see Arianna tangling their fingers together before she looked up to meet serious brown eyes.  She held up their joined hands until the simple gold band resting on her ring finger was in front of hazel eyes.

“Do you remember what Mama told us when we were trying to decide what symbol to use to declare our vows and commitment to one another?  Your culture had a bracelet that was fastened by the priest or priestess that presided over the service,” waiting for Eli to nod slowly through her confusion.  “Mine had a necklace that was secured by the parents of the higher ranking household - so my parents in this case, regardless of whom I wed.  But on Mama’s planet - the two being joined exchanged rings made of a precious metal and forged into a single, solid piece of jewelry.  That’s what we chose, because it was the most like us.”  She stopped speaking and waited again, smiling softly at Eli’s frown as she looked away and focused on something outside the shuttle.  She was a remarkably brilliant woman, but sometimes, she was almost deliberately obtuse.  Arianna grabbed Eli’s chin gently, and turned her face until their eyes met again.  “Lover, this means we share… everything.  The good and the bad - it’s how we work.  That way neither of us has to bear any burden alone.  It’s called being a couple.  It’s what soulmates do.”

Hazel eyes glazed over with tears, though Eli blinked furiously in an effort to keep them from falling.  “I’ve never had anyone….  How did I ever…??  What would I do without you?”

Arianna chuckled, as she swallowed her own tears.  She leaned their foreheads together and brushed a kiss over Eli lips, allowing her to chase and catch her for a long moment.  When they separated, her smile was blinding.  “Fortunately for you, you’ll never have to find out.  We won, and we’re forever.  Now, do you think we can try channel your feelings into strengthening our bond together?  Oh,” she exclaimed, “not right now,” before Eli could interrupt.  “We should probably get back to the ship safely first.  But maybe once we check in and check on everyone?  We deserve a little down time, given how infernally long this day has already been.”

Eli bit her lip and nodded shyly.  “I think I’d like that.” She looked up and met brown eyes with a seriousness that caused Arianna to catch her breath.  “But you have to promise me that when… if… it gets too difficult, you’ll tell me.  We can’t force this, Beloved, no matter how badly you want to help.  It will only make things harder, and could….”  Her breath shuddered and she closed her eyes a moment.  “It could destroy us if we’re not careful.”

Arianna nodded slowly.  “All right, Amado.  I’ll tell you if it starts to become too much.”

Eli sucked in a deep breath.  “All right.  I think I need to contact the ship and let them know we’ll be there shortly.  Do you think I should contact Deb?  Let her know what they gave us to add to the data base?” indicating the bag still sitting in Arianna’s lap.

Arianna looked down and opened it slowly.  “Maybe we could see what it is first?  After all, they shared because they were our stories… my stories.  I’d kind of like to know what they are first.”  She paused.  “I expect to add them to our library, like we told Artemis, but I’m curious - and selfish - enough to want to read through them first.”

Eli chuckled.  “I think that’s fair.”  She arched her neck over, focusing her eyes on the bag.  “How many chips are there?”

“Hmm? Oh,” Arianna replied as Eli’s question settled in her ears.  She opened the bag and pulled out a handful of chips and….  “Hmm.  Well, that explains why it seemed to weigh so much more than I expected it would.  She held up a thick, parchment scroll, rolled precisely and tied off with a strip of leather. 

“What the… what is it?” reaching for it, but never actually touching it.  She rolled her eyes.  “I can see it’s a scroll, but I’ve never actually….  I didn’t know they still existed.”

“Neither did I,” Arianna whispered as she rubbed her thumb across the smooth surface.  “I think maybe we should start with this.  Maybe this is an index or something.”

Eli smiled.  “Why don’t you open it?” motioning to the parchment, “and see what it actually is.  I need to call the ship and let them know we’re coming in.”

Arianna nodded even as she gently tugged on the leather, placing it on the dash in front of her as she carefully unrolled the scroll.  Meanwhile, Eli tapped her comm unit and waited for a response from her team.

“This is Outreach.  What’s up, Girlfriend?”

Eli laughed.  Leave it to Esther to bring informality to their communications, though in fairness, she knew exactly whom she was addressing when she answered the hail, and it wasn’t like they were actually military with stringent rules to follow.

“Just checking in, Es.  How are things there?  And how did you end up in the hot seat?”

Now it was Esther’s turn to chuckle.  “Everything’s quiet here right now, which is why I volunteered to take the watch.  Eden had some things she needed to take care of before talking to her parents, and Jake asked for her help with some strength training exercises.”

Eli frowned.  “Why is he doing strength training… or exercises of any sort, for that matter.  He’s not ready for that - he’s still healing.”

Esther shrugged and met Eli’s gaze.  “Asking the wrong person, Girlfriend.  Though I think the exercises are for his humanoid arm - he said something about not wanting it to be significantly weaker than the new one.  Also, Eden muttered something about teaching him how to turn down the strength in the new arm so he doesn’t destroy or crush things until he learns how to maintain control on his own.”  She shook her head.  “Not really sure, but I figure she’ll talk to you about it.”

“Probably,” Eli nodded with a frown still on her face.  “Anything else?”

“Not much you don’t already know… OH!  Except the captains of Mary’s ships would like to talk to you at some point in the near future… preferably as soon as you get back to the ship.”

“No,” Arianna said from her seat, though it took her another moment to look up and meet Esther’s eyes.  “Hey, Es!  Have you spoken to your folks yet?”

“You know it, Girlfriend.  It was one reason I volunteered.  Most of the rest haven’t yet.  And what do you mean, no?”

“We’ll contact the ships when we finish talking to you here, but we’re going to need to take a little time off when we get back.  We have some things to go through before we leave the protection of those ships, and none of us want to be here any longer than we have to.”

“Preach, Girlfriend.  Everyone here is ready to be done and home.  I think that might be one reason Jake is pushing himself so hard.”

“I think I may be having a word with him when we get back.”

Esther bit her lip to keep her comments to herself, then she drew a deep breath.  “Is there anything we should be doing right now?”

Eli shook her head.  “I don’t think so.  Everyone is getting some down time, right?”

“Yes.  I know the boys were in the engine room earlier - I think they were just double checking that everything is perfect and ready to go again when we leave here.  Hannah and Kai were in the conservatory doing much the same.  Not sure about everyone else.  They’ve been quiet or tucked away in their quarters since I got up here.”

“All right.  Let me go contact the ships and see what they need.  We should be in the docking bay shortly.”

“We’ll keep the light on, Boss.  We’ll see you in a few.”

“Sounds good.”  She cut the connection and sighed.  She really didn’t want to deal with this right now, though she supposed that sooner started, sooner finished.  She smiled and turned when Arianna rested a hand on hers.  “Beloved?”

“It’s a letter… from Athena,” holding up the parchment.  “She wrote our story - her story - in detail.      She said she knew she might not be able to tell us in person.”  She shrugged.  “But on the off chance we returned, she wanted us to have this in writing to be included in our history.  It’s… it’s amazing.  And it makes sense.  I mean, it’s a little… there’s a lot of self-serving….”  She huffed.  “I think we should read this together when we get back.  It explains… well, a lot more than they managed to share with us.”

“It’s that important?”

“I think so, yes.”

“All right, then.  We’ll do that first when we get back.  But right now, I need to call Mary’s captains and find out what they need.”

“You think it’s important?”

“I think there’s no reason to antagonize them, and they obviously feel it’s important.  It’s not a problem for me, so why not?”

Arianna smiled.  “I love you.”

Eli’s eyes widened and her ears tipped pink.  While she knew, of course, how Arianna felt about her, usually such declarations came when they were intimate - whether that be their conversations; their bonding; or their love making.  But it rarely came up arbitrarily, so it was always a surprise to hear it outside of their private space.  She smiled shyly.

“I love you too, but what brought that on?”

“I can’t just tell you I love you?”

“Of course you can; it’s just… unusual for you to do so….”

“… publicly?” smiling at the bashful smile she got in return.  She grinned.  “But we’re alone, Amado.  It’s just us here.”

Before Eli could respond, her comm unit chimed, and she looked up to find Esther pinging her. She tapped the device and threw Esther’s visage onto the viewscreen again.  “Es?” with a frown on her face and confusion in her voice.

“Sorry to bother you, Boss.  But Mary is on the comm and asking to speak to you and her captains together.  She asked me to relay the signal to you.”

Eli shook her head, but said, “Go ahead.  I was just about to contact them anyway.”  She barely had the words out of her mouth when Mary’s face appeared, followed quickly by those of - not two, but three - ships’ captains.  Hazel eyes widened, but she made no comment beyond, “Hello, Chief,” causing a twinkle of laughter to shine out of Mary’s eyes.

“Hello, Captain,” she replied.  “I believe you’ve met Grayson and Matt,” watching them nod to each other before she continued.  “The new gentleman is Hank.  He was actually patrolling in the area you’re heading out to soon.  Now, it’s been a little while, but… well, I’ll let him tell you.  Hank?”

“Thanks, Boss.  Captain.  As the Chief said, we were patrolling out your way.  That area of space isn’t vastly populated, but you won’t be completely alone either.  There are a few civilizations nearby your target planet, but none of them are close to being advanced enough for space travel.  We estimate that is still a few hundred years off for even the most advanced among them.  Otherwise, there is very little activity in that sector of space, so you and your team should remain undisturbed for at least a few generations.”

Eli blinked.  That was far more advanced knowledge than she’d had any reasonable hope of acquiring.  Suddenly everything seemed more real… and a lot closer to fruition than she had imagined.  She cleared her throat.  “Thank you, Captain.  You can’t know what a relief it is to know….” She scrubbed the back of her neck with her free hand; her other clutching tightly to the hand she still held.  Arianna kept from wincing, but she did lift her free hand to rub along the back of Eli’s, subconsciously making her relax and drawing a deep breath as the hold loosened just slightly.

Hank took mercy on her and smiled brightly.  “I do indeed understand, Captain.  I’m just glad we were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.  Oh!  And we deployed some discreet satellites  around the perimeter of the planet and system.  I know Joseph was working on something to help keep you in contact with the Chief; we just thought we’d do our part to help speed things along.”

Eli flushed, but returned his smile ten-fold.  “Thank you, Captain.  And I’m certain I can speak for the parents of the Alpha Team when I tell you how thrilled they’re going to be when they hear this.”

He tilted his head at her in question.  “But not you?”

She blew out a breath, causing her bangs to flutter on her forehead before meeting his eyes sheepishly.  “Captain, have you ever had to utilize a double-edged broadsword in combat?”

Hank blinked at the abrupt change of subject, then scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully for a moment before shaking his head.  “No.  We’ve all trained with one, and a few actually became proficient, but mostly it’s considered a ceremonial blade.”

“Do you understand the axiom regarding a two-edged blade?” waiting for his agreement.  She nodded.  “That’s a lot what this is like for us.  Is it good that you and your compatriots patrol that sector of space?  Yes.  Is it good that we will be able to keep Mary - and by extension, everyone else - appraised of our progress and the development of our society?  Yes.  Is it good that our parents will have real-time access to us?  Probably not.  Don’t get me wrong - I love my MaTb and OTeU, but part of the appeal of this project was the ability to do this on our own.  I don’t think that will be possible if they know we are just a call away.”

“And why would they know that?” Mary broke in reasonably.  “I’m not going to tell them - that would be a security breach of such epic proportions, there wouldn’t be enough of me left to fill a test tube.  They don’t know Hank or Matt or Grayson, and I’m confident in saying that neither they nor their crews would ever go looking for them.  Even if something happened, they would come to me first.  None of your team is here, so they’re not even aware this is a possibility at the moment.  So unless you plan to share it with your folks, or Arianna does so with her mother, none of them will know.”

Mary sat smirking smugly as Eli tried to regain her balance.  She didn’t know what she had expected, but this surely had not been it.  She swallowed hard and shook her head, unable to formulate the words she needed to speak. Mary took pity on her.

“We’re here to look out for you, Eli.  That’s our job - it’s what we do.  And the decision to tell your parents or not?  That’s your call.  The only reason we’re talking right now is because of Joseph and circumstances beyond anyone’s control.  Even the Council won’t know you were here by the time all is said and done.”

Arianna frowned.  “How, Mama?  Everyone on that planet knows we were here.”

“We’ll make sure it’s taken care of,” Grayson interjected.  “As far as they’re concerned, we’re the ones establishing a first contact with the planet.  It’s in everyone’s best interests to keep your secret… in large part due to the destruction of the Storm Surge.  No one wants the Council to dig too deeply into the events surrounding its eradication.”

“Given how fantastic the story sounds, you mean?”

“Exactly.  And the truth is far stranger than blaming it on those folks down on the planet… even if they don’t show any propensity towards violence or have the type of weaponry and science to accomplish such a task.  They’d be made into a scapegoat to make a viable excuse for the Storm Surge’s disappearance… especially since no one wants it to be the fuission technology.”

Arianna frowned.  “It wasn’t the fuission technology.  That’s sound.”

“Yes, but what else are they going to blame an explosion so massive on?”  Mary shook her head.  “No.  The story is going to be that the Storm Surge blasted its way into a fluctuating wormhole, destabilizing it to the point that it self-destructed it and took the ship with it.  The resulting blast absorbed the Nebula - which was on the other end of the wormhole - that had been protecting the planet and the people living there.”

Eli and Arianna blinked slowly before turning to one another.  It took a minute, but finally they turned back to Mary and the silently waiting captains.  “How do you explain the survival of the population?  Surely they should have been destroyed in the resulting blast.”

Mary smiled.  She’d told her team to expect this question, and demanded they find a solution accordingly.  Caleb had actually been the one to point out the most obvious answer.  “Remember that the Nebula has always been something of an anomaly - not quite like any other phenomenon we’ve experienced.  It’s always posed a threat and a danger to any who ventured too closely to it - as though it was a living entity.  With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that it was guarding… protecting something.  Therefore, having it sacrifice itself to ensure the life of the planet and whatever life existed there makes sense.”

“All right,” Eli agreed slowly after clearing her throat. “That’s actually a pretty good cover.”

Mary chuckled.  “I’ll tell Caleb you said so.  It was his idea.  For now, I’m sure you need to get back to your ship.  I’ll be in touch in the next forty-eight standard; that should give the rest of your team plenty of time to catch up with their folks.”

“All right, Mama.  We’ll be in touch soon.”

“And we’ll be in touch with each of you as soon as we have an opportunity to eat and rest,” Eli said, with a pointed look at the three captains.  “There are a few things you need to be aware of before we leave.”

“We’ll be available whenever you’re ready,” Grayson promised.  And in another minute, the comm units went dark, and they were landing in the shuttle bay.

Chapter LXXV

Eli powered down the shuttle immediately and turned to Arianna.  “Shall we stop in the mess hall and pick out something for dinner before we go to our quarters?  I don’t know about you, Beloved, but I’m hungry and tired.  I’d like nothing better than to curl up with you and sleep for a little while after we have some nourishment.”

Arianna stared at Eli for a long moment, noting the drawn features and exhaustion clearly reflected in hazel eyes.  She smiled gently.  “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.  Anything we need to work on can wait until tomorrow.  We both know we’ll be working on things together for a lifetime.”

“A lifetime won’t be long enough, but I do love the sound of working together,” Eli confessed.  She stood and offered Arianna her hand. “Come.  I think we’ve earned an opportunity to rest.”

Arianna accepted her hand and rose, collecting the bag and scroll in her free hand.  “And then maybe we can read some of our stories together.”

Eli grinned.  “I’m looking forward to that.  I have a feeling it was quite the adventure.”

“As has been every lifetime we’ve had together, I’m sure.”

“Probably… given what we can remember.”  She pressed the button and the shuttle door slid open, but they stopped short when they saw Jacob waiting for them.  He sat stiffly in the hover chair, something he’d disdained as a weakness up to this point.  The expression on his face was a mixture of chagrin, embarrassment, and sorrow.  Arianna felt rather than saw Eli sigh in exhaustion, but before she could comment, Eli took her hand and they moved together down the ramp.  When they reached him, Eli knelt to bring them to more equal footing, but kept her hands wrapped around her propped knee.  “Is everything all right, Jake?”

He flushed slightly and dropped his eyes to her hands, scratching the back of his neck in an effort to alleviate his discomfort.  “I’m fine, Boss, and I’m sorry.  If I had known you were… I wouldn’t have….”

Eli frowned and ran a hand through her hair, and Jacob almost had to smile.  “Why don’t you start over and use full sentences this time?” giving him a smirk.  “I’ll probably understand better that way.”

He rubbed a hand over hair that was in desperate need of a good cut, and huffed out a breath.  “Okay, so I got to talk to my Pop earlier.  Pretty sure he talked to Eden before he talked me, because he knew things….” shaking his head.  “Anyway, he spent the first part of our time together laying down the law - reminding me of a lot of things I had forgotten.  And I know I apologized, but God, Eli… I am so, SO sorry.  I never should have….”

“Jake, we’ve been over this.  You apologized, and I forgave you.  You can’t keep feeling guilt about this.  We’ll never get past it if you do.”

“Same goes, Boss.  You don’t get to feel guilt from what happened either,” smiling when she sat stunned at his words, not realizing it was still so apparent to anyone other than Arianna.  He leaned forward and covered her hands.  “I’m actually pretty observant for a muscle head, Boss.  It’s part of how I stay ahead of the curve. And you’re always going to be my hero,” causing her to blink in shock.  “I couldn’t do less than you would, and you were willing to die to save everyone.”  He shrugged.  “Like Pop reminded me - you can’t change it, but you can build on it.  And that’s one reason I’m waiting here in this ridiculous chair.  I’m actually kind of wiped after talking to him, but I promised I would bring you by to talk to him as soon as I could.  And I’m sorry - I didn’t realize until you stepped out of the shuttle just how long you and Az have been going non-stop.  I’ll tell him….”

“No,” clasping the hands that covered hers.  “I can take a minute or two to speak to him.  Then we’re going to our quarters, and I’m hoping not to be disturbed for about twenty-four standard.”

“I’ll make sure the team knows.  It’s not like we’ve got much going on aside from talking to our folks.  Those ships Mary sent seemed to have things under control at the moment.”

Arianna glowered at him, and he shrank back a little at the fierceness in her eyes.  “I’m glad you added that caveat, Jake.  That’s as close as I want to come to tempting those sprites.”

His brows furrowed as he tried to figure out who she meant.  Then his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open just slightly.  “You mean the Fates??  Oh, God… no!  No one wants to tempt the Fates.  I will be perfectly happy for them to simply ignore our existence for the rest of forever.  I think we’ve had excitement enough to last all of our lifetimes combined.”

Eli chuckled and squeezed his hands again.  “It’s all right, Jake.  Pretty sure we all feel that way at this point.”  She released her hold and waited for him to recover his hands before she slowly rose to her feet.  “Come.  Take me to talk to your… Pop… and then Arianna and I are going to take a little time to ourselves.”

Jacob nodded and swiveled the chair until he could lead the way back to his quarters.

************

Eli sighed in relief when they crossed the threshold into their own quarters some time later.  Jacob’s father had been engaging and comforting and kind, and they had spent a little longer talking to him than Eli had anticipated.  Still, it had been worth the time and effort to not only understand Jacob a little more, but to know from where his spirit was derived.  Never in a million lifetimes would Eli have ever guessed the truth.

Peter leaned back in his chair as soon as Jacob had introduced them and moved to sit behind the two women.  He studied them intently for a moment, and Eli allowed the perusal, returning the intensity with a heavy gaze of her own.  Arianna simply sat still and maintained a physical connection with Eli.  After a long moment, he broke into a gentle smile.  “It’s nice to see you both again, though I apologize for taking you away from what is obviously a well-deserved rest.”  He waved a hand before they could protest.  “I was an Army training sergeant for many years.  I know what exhausted looks like - I used to be the one causing exactly that look.”

Eli gave him a tired smile.  “I won’t deny it,” she confessed.  “What can I do for you, sir?”

He snorted.  “First, drop the sir.  I still work for a living.  Secondly, I want to share something with you - something that will help you understand Jake. You wouldn’t know it to look at him now, but Jake started off life all wrong.  See… he was born way too early.  Now I know premature births are relatively non-existent anymore, but they do still occur on rare occasions under what are generally dire circumstances, and he was born twenty-seven weeks into a forty week gestation period.  But my boy’s a fighter, and he fought to live and he won.  But it wasn’t easy - not for a long time.  And I don’t think he ever quite got over losing his mama.

You see, Jake’s ma… she was a rescue medical technician.  It was her job to go out after people who got lost or hurt - people who needed immediate care.  This was before transport technology was as common as it has become.  It was early days… I mean, it still is early days, relatively speaking, but this was before we were able to move people without causing damage… when hypotheticals were practicals and the theories around it were nascent.

Anyway, there were several times when she had to travel to render aid at the site of accidents - usually somewhere pretty inaccessible by anything other than foot traffic - and this time, well… a lot of things went wrong at the same time.  It wound up killing her,” said with a hitch in his breathing and pain in his eyes, “but it wasn’t immediate.  She tried… so… so hard to hold on - to keep Jake inside her body and give him his best chance, but the damage was too great. They had to take him real early, and she passed on not too long after he was delivered.”

“Why would she risk it?” Ariana asked quietly.  “What was so important she couldn’t let someone else do her job for a while?”

Peter wiped his eyes and shook his head.  “That’s the other thing you need to understand.  Jake comes from a long line of heroes - people who put others before themselves, reaching back hundreds of years on both sides of his family.  All his life, he heard stories of family members who were honored for their bravery, wit, and cunning; those who saved the lives of others; those who stood up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves; those who battled tyranny and hatred and injustice.”  He waved his arms, as though dismissing his own words.  “The whys don’t really matter, I guess, because there were many, MANY reasons why they did what they did.  The point is, is that at least one ancestor from every generation stood up to be counted among the heroes of their time, and Jake and his mama, they heard about these people all their growing up life.  She couldn’t just stand aside and let others go into danger for her… and neither could he.”

Peter released a deep sigh.  “None of this - the storytelling, I mean - was done maliciously, or to make him feel inferior.  It was done to challenge him… to remind him that he came from strong, sturdy stock that had risen up and not just beaten the odds, but defeated them soundly. I wanted him to understand his heritage and his mama’s choice… to know that even though he started behind, he never had to stay there - that he could stand up and be counted among the best no matter what life circumstances threw at him.”

He glanced at Jacob, who was sitting solemn and quiet behind Eli and Arianna, then returned his attention to the two women, and smiled.  “When he got into the Program… God, I can’t tell you how proud we were of him.  He had worked so hard to be recognized as the best in his field, and when he was chosen for the Alpha Team….”  Peter smiled, and wiped his eyes.  “Well, you know how you felt, and how you were celebrated by your home world.  He was our hero.  I didn’t realize he didn’t count that achievement as heroism; after all, the entire planet counted him as a hero.  And more than anything, except becoming part of the Alpha Team, my boy wanted to be a hero like his mama… and all those that had come before her.”

“So you’re saying…?” Eli queried, not quite sure where Peter was going with this.

Peter smiled again.  “Even though he had forgotten that there is always a price that must be paid for any act of heroism, my son was destined to be a hero, Eli.  It’s in his very nature… in his blood.  He would have stepped up to rescue you even if you hadn’t already been his hero by doing the same for the entire Alpha Team.  So thank you - for giving him an opportunity to fulfill his destiny, and for allowing him to adjust to that price without condemning him for the anger and frustration they wrought in him, but for also being his hero.  Not only for what you did for the Team, but for what you’ve done for him.  I’ll never forget.”

Eli sat stunned, not certain how to respond.  She didn’t even jump when Jacob’s mechanical hand came over her shoulder and clasped the hand not held by Arianna.  “Neither will I,” he admitted softly.  “Not any of it.”

She smiled now, and covered their hands with hers and Arianna. “One family,” she reminded him. 

He snorted.  “Dysfunctional as we may be some days,” he agreed.  He turned back to the screen to find his father’s eyes watching them indulgently.  “Satisfied now, Pop?”

Peter chuckled and nodded. “On so many levels about a number of things.”

“Good.  I’m gonna get these two off to bed, then.  They’ve been going way too long, and need some sleep.  And maybe some food… such as it as,” added with a wrinkled nose.

Peter laughed out loud.  “I remember those days… without any fondness at all,” sticking out his tongue as though he could still taste the military food he had consumed in his lifetime, causing the other three to laugh along with him.  “Go,” he instructed with a shooing motion.  “All of you.  And know that you are loved and appreciated and thought of every day.  God speed you on your journey.”

“Love you, Pop.”

“Love you too, Boy.  Good night.”  And without another word, he disconnected the feed and the screen went dark.  Jacob kept his eyes on the monitor a moment longer, then turned to Eli and Arianna, who were observing him with understanding eyes. 

“C’mon,” he coaxed, offering them each a hand as soon as Eli relinquished her grip. He helped them stand, then released his hold, allowing them to clasp one another’s hands again.  “You two go on to your quarters, and I’ll drop by enough rations for two or three meals at least.  Me or Eden will come wake you when Mary’s ready to talk to us, if you’re not already up by then.”

Ariana nodded, feeling Eli’s exhaustion as though it was her own by this point.  “We’d appreciate it, Jake.  Thank you.”

He nodded and headed to the mess hall, while they turned in the opposite direction and went straight to their rooms.  It had been an extraordinarily lengthy day.

Eli came back to her surroundings as the door chime sounded.  The shower was relaxing, though she would have much preferred to have Arianna sharing it with her.  Still, she understood why her mate had literally pushed her into the space and told her to go ahead while she waited for Jake.  Eli was practically dead on her feet, and though Arianna wasn’t far behind, she still didn’t bear the responsibility Eli did every single day.  It was one small way Arianna tried to take care of her, and Eli loved her even more for the selfless gesture.

In another moment, she felt Arianna’s slender body join her, and in only minutes, they were stepping out of the shower feeling clean and refreshed in a way neither had expected.  It gave them impetus enough to plow through a couple of the freeze-dried meals, then tumble into bed together.  It was finally time for a rest well-deserved.

************

The chime sounded long and loud, but it only served as an irritation that caused both people in the bed to snuggle deeper into the covers that surround them. It was only when the ring turned into pounding that a tousled blonde head peeked from beneath the mound of blankets and glared at the door.

“C’mon, Boss!  I know you’re in there.  And I’m pretty sure you’re awake now too.  I can all but feel the force of that glare you’ve got going, you know. Please don’t make me override the locking mechanism on this thing - there are some things I really don’t want to be exposed to.  Besides, I’m not explaining to your makuahine why you can’t come talk to her before Mary meets with all of us.  You don’t want to know some of the suggestions she made for getting you both out of bed.  Honestly, the woman has an evil streak at least a kilometer wide - I guess I should be grateful you aren’t more like her.”  Eden pounded on the door again.  “Eli!!  Are you gonna come out here or….”

About that time, the door slid open, and Eden was faced with a less-than-amused Arianna.  She shifted her raised arm to nonchalantly scratch the side of her face.  “Oh... hey, Az,” said with a forced smile.  “What’s up?”

Arianna rolled her eyes, then smirked as she beckoned Eden into the room.  “Be grateful I’m the one that came to the door.  You don’t know how close she was to morphing just so she could light your ass on fire.”

Black eyes widened.  “Maybe she’s got more of her makuahine in her than I thought,” she muttered.  “And why is it I’m always the one who gets the short shaft when it comes to assignments like this?”

Arianna tittered.  “Because, Eden - you’re the only one brave enough to face the dragon in her den.  And besides… you’re her second.  Everyone knows she’d never put you out of commission for too long.  Who would look out for her if she did?”

“Point.  But the two of you need to step it up a little.  Both of your makuahines are waiting to talk to you before we all sit down with Mary one last time.”

“What’s the hurry?  Did we miss something important or...?”

“No.  I think they wanted to talk to you before the memorial service; we’ve all been invited to attend, and everyone has indicated a desire to do so, so....”. She shrugged.  “We didn’t really know Joseph, but he was important to you and to the Chief.  We figured the least we could do was show our respect for the two of you.”

Without warning, Eden found herself with an arm full of Arianna, clutching her tightly and murmuring into her neck.  She held on briefly, not wanting to upset her, but growing increasingly uncomfortable by the second.  She patted her back awkwardly and eased away carefully, so Arianna wouldn’t feel abandoned, but she could still escape the embrace.

“Hey,” Eden muttered quietly.  “It’s all right, Az. We don’t have to come if....”

Arianna shook her head rapidly and lunged back into Eden’s body.  Eden’s expression was one of confusion bordering on distaste, but she held on, unsure of how, exactly, she’d managed to upset Arianna so badly in the space of the two minutes she’d been in the room.  They’d thought they were doing something nice, but given Arianna’s reaction, it was highly likely they had grossly miscalculated.

Before she could inquire further, Eli stepped from the en suite, the smile on her face swiftly dissolving into upset and anger.  She cocked an eyebrow in Eden’s direction, withholding her anger until she had a better understanding of what had happened.

Eden shrugged, even as Arianna clung tighter.  “I dunno, Boss.  I just mentioned the crew was planning to come to Joseph’s memorial.  But we don’t have to if it’s going to upset the banana boat....”

A smile broke across Eli’s face, even as she swept in and took Arianna in her arms.  She curled into Eli naturally, and Eli brushed a kiss over her hair and she turned hazel eyes to meet black.  “It’s okay, Eden.  It actually amazingly good.  Remember, this is the woman that once upon a time had no friends to speak of.  And sometimes, it still overwhelms her that not only does she have friends, but family that cares about her and the things she cares about.”

“Okay, Boss.  I got it.  But you both still need to shake a tree if you’re gonna have plenty of time to talk to your makuahines.”

“Plenty being the optional word, of course,” Arianna said with a watery smile as she lifted her head from where it had been tucked into Eli’s neck.  “I think we all know they wouldn’t truly be satisfied unless they were living right next door.”

Both Eli and Eden shuddered.  “Yeah,” Eden agreed with a grimace.  “Pretty sure none of us really want that... At. All.”

“I concur.  If you’ll go let them know we’ll be ready in five standard, it will give Arianna a chance to wash her face.  Then we’ll be along directly.”

“You got it, Boss.  See you in a few.”

They waited until the door closed behind Eden before Eli looked down and met Arianna’s eyes, while cupping her cheek gently.  “You all right?”

Arianna smiled.  “I am... and in many ways, even better than.  Let me go clean up, and we’ll got talk to the Mamas in our lives.”

“And after the memorial service, we’ll talk to Mary, then I want to check in with the Captains of those ships one more time before we leave.”

“You know,” Arianna spoke as she slid from Eli’s grip and into the bathing room, “even more than when we left orbit and headed out here - even more than when we slipped from the belly of the Storm Surge and began our journey on our own power and alone - it feels like, now... we’re closer than ever to really, truly starting our journey home.”

“It shouldn’t be long now, Angel... I hope.”

Chapter LXXVI

The four women - two on either side of the screen - wiped at their eyes even as the chuckles died down again.  It had been an emotional time as they sat and shared stories and memories, and there had been as much laughter as there had been tears.  Most of what they had shared had been good, and the few less-than-good had been concerns that had been allayed as best as could be done.  There would always be worry, of course, on both sides of the galaxy... because that was just what families did for one another, especially when they were worlds apart.  But for now, at least, they were all satisfied that life was good for each of them, and they were where they were meant to be doing the things they were meant to be doing.  Then Eve’s countenance took on a serious expression, and Eli straightened, expecting the worst.  Arianna responded by taking her hand and waiting for Eli to relax before turning to Eve and nodding their readiness for her to speak.

Eve took a deep breath.  “I know why you didn’t share your ability to transform - I don’t blame you, really.  I’m confident I would have chosen the same have the choice been mine to make.  But the truth is, you risked a lot when you chose to keep that information to yourself.  There are a number of things you need to be aware of - things that can affect not only you, but also your mate... some of which I imagine you have already discovered.”

Eli sat pale and quiet for a very long moment, letting her mind focus on what her MaTb had shared.  She believed Eve had her best interests at heart, but she had the feeling that this could become embarrassing for her, given the look in the green eyes staring back at her.  She cleared her throat awkwardly and glanced down at the hand she held, smiling slightly when Arianna squeezed it briefly.  Then she looked back at Eve, who was waiting patiently, and cleared her throat again.  “Things like what?” asked softly, though clearly enough to be heard.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed your ability to connect as soulmates do, but I imagine it’s been deeper and faster than you expected it was possible,” waiting for Eli’s slow nod of agreement.  “And tradition… custom says that you spend a few hours strengthening that bond every weekly cycle, yes? That’s what you’ve witnessed from all those around you since your growing up days, isn’t it?  You remember the teachings, and you know your OeTU and I set aside several standards once each weekly cycle where we would close ourselves off to you and your siblings so we could meditate together.”

“Yes, MaTb,” Eli agreed impatiently.  “And that’s what we’ve been doing.. or tried to do, at any rate.  It hasn’t always been easy, or even possible, to find time to be together.  Is there a point here somewhere?” pulling impatiently at her hair, making it stand almost straight up.

“Your tone,” Eve cautioned, seeing Eli flinch at hers.  It wasn’t often she’d ever had to take it with this particular child, but that didn’t make it any less effective when she did.  She watched as Arianna turned and whispered something in Eli’s ear, just before Eli curled into her slightly and tucked her face into the warm brown neck of her mate.  Then Arianna looked back at Eve with a frown, brows furrowed and confusion in her gaze.

“MaTb, I don’t mean to seem ungrateful for your concern, but I know I’m not the only one confused here.  What are we missing?  Why is this so important… especially if we have been following the mandates of your culture?”

“Let me ask you, Daughter,” directing her formidable gaze toward Arianna, “how long has your mate been acting thus?”  Seeing Arianna’s frown grow deeper, Eve sighed and elaborated.  “How long as she been off-balance emotionally?”

Arianna sighed.  “She’s had difficulty since her transformation after the showdown with Mischief.  She had trouble returning to her human form, and since then….  I’m not truly certain how to describe it - whether she’s off-balance, or simply more sensitive to everything going on around her.  And there have been a number of other factors that could be playing into her emotional state as well.”

“Please don’t talk about me as if I’m not sitting right here,” Eli whined, face still tucked thoroughly into Arianna’s neck, and causing her to laugh at the ticklish sensations those soft lips caused.  She sighed, and patted Arianna’s belly in apology.  She sighed once more, then turned her face so she could see the screen, and consequently Eve, in her periphery.  “What are we doing wrong, MaTb?”

“It is imperative, an absolute must, that you carve out one standard hour minimum to spend meditating with one another every single day.  More would be better, of course, but given the constraints on your time, you will have to settle for the minimum for now.  That time should be spent simply connecting with each other.  You don’t need to pursue a deeper emotional attachment - that will come naturally as you practice and meditate.  But for your emotional and mental stability, Elizabeth, you must take that time every day.  Let Arianna be your strength.”  She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them, Eli was sitting up, meeting her eyes directly with her mouth open and ready to speak.  Eve held up a hand.  “It would be a little different if your mate was of our race because much of what is necessary, she would already know.  She will learn, of that I have no doubt, but for now, she needs to be your rock and stability until you have more practice utilizing and harnessing the strength and emotions your dragon brings out in you.  When you have a sufficient hold upon the control you need, you will find that Arianna will understand much more of your bond.  Things from there will be much easier for you both to control and manage… and even enjoy.”

“Yes, MaTb,” Eli said softly.  Arianna just tilted her head and waited.  Eve smiled.

“Something you’d like to ask, Daughter?”

Eli frowned, until she realized Eve was addressing her mate and not her.  She glanced at Aurora, and was glad to note she wasn’t the only one who had seemingly missed something.  Arianna just smiled and nodded at Eve, waiting until she motioned for her to go ahead.

“What else?  Not that I don’t think this was important, but you haven’t shared everything, have you?”

Eve chuckled, though she couldn’t contain the bright green blush that flooded her countenance. Eli immediately squirmed at the sight and turned an even deeper shade of green.  “Oh, MaTb… no, please.  We already had this talk, and I am a grown, joined woman, for the gods’ sakes.  I know how this,” motioning disjointedly around her, “works.”

Before Eve could respond, Arianna chimed in.  “Trust me, MaTb, my Amado is well-versed in the ways of love and pleasure.  Even though we are still learning one another, she makes me happy in the ways we love each other, and is open to learning more.”

Aurora looked between Eve and Eli, wondering if spontaneous combustion was possible among their people, because at the moment, she couldn’t fathom them being able to survive that much rushing of  the blood to the outer reaches of their skin.  It was a wonder they hadn’t toppled over from dizziness, really.  But before she could remind her mija that not everyone was comfortable being so open about sex and sexual practices, Eve cleared her throat, willing the bright green into something a little more tempered and normal.

“<Ahem>… yes, well, that was a little more knowledge than I ever expected to have or need.  But we do need to talk about this, no matter the discomfort level that accompanies it.  The truth is, things will be a bit different for both of you in this realm due to Elizabeth’s ability to transform… especially since her transformation is into the strongest and fiercest of creatures known to our people.  It only proves her uniqueness and giftedness amongst our species, but it is also one that needs special attention to develop and nurture.”

“In what way?” Arianna inquired seriously.  She kept a firm grip on Eli’s hand, grounding her as well as preventing her escape.

“I only have myths and legends to go on - a dragon is the most rare of gifts, and one has not been spotted on our world in centuries.  And even then, its mate was of our home and opposite of it sexually.  So there were concerns of procreation and such that I do not believe you will need to concern yourself with… especially considering the mandates that have been laid out for your team about that very subject.”

Eli rolled her eyes.  She wasn’t the only, but she had been one of the louder detractors of the rules governing their procreation and the populating of the colony.  She’d asserted they were brilliant enough to understand not only the need for expanding the gene pool, but also the need to grow it slowly so as not to overtax their resources until they were more secure in their world building.  Unfortunately, she had been overruled by the powers that be somewhere well above her pay grade.  Still, as Mary had reminded her, they need no longer abide quite so strictly by the rules and regulations that had been laid out for them.  They were the ones building the brave new world many light years from the Committee and the Council - they could decide for themselves how and when and the litany of other directives they’d had placed upon them.

Arianna scratched her nose.  “Yeah, we’re looking at those as more like suggestions instead of hard and fast rules… or even guidelines.”

Eve’s eyes widened in bewilderment.  Eli had never been much of a rule breaker.  Aurora, on the other hand, just chuckled and shook her head.  “You were always looking for ways to do things on your own terms, Mija.  I cannot say I am much surprised by this revelation.”

“Well, truly, Madre, part of the point of this project was for us to survive on our own.  You really didn’t think we’d allow anyone else to tell us how and when we could have children, did you?  We will certainly ensure we create a broad base for our burgeoning population, but it will be on our terms, and no one else’s.”

“I would expect nothing less, Daughter.  But perhaps it would be wise to allow Eve to counsel you about some of this, at least.  Obviously, she has some viable concerns.”

Arianna had the grace to look chagrined.  “I’m sorry, MaTb.  I didn’t mean to belittle your concerns.”

Eve smiled gently.  “It’s all right, Daughter.  I just want you to be prepared… to understand the risks and possibilities that come from being with a changling.  She will always love and protect you fiercely, but when she first transforms from her dragon self, that is when she is her most vulnerable.  It is also when she is the most dangerous to you.”  Arianna’s brows furrowed in a tight frown, but Eve held up a hand to dissuade her from speaking.  “She wouldn’t hurt you… never intentionally, but remember, she is all about emotion when she is in her dragon state.  Until she is fully humanoid again, she is subject to those emotions.  I am simply asking that you be aware… for both your sakes.”

“I understand, MaTb.”

“Good.  As I said, I don’t think you will need to be concerned with the procreation aspect, but that was actually a significant consideration for the last soulmates who dealt with this issue.  According to the legend, the male partner impregnated his female mate directly after each of his transformations, and the pregnancies she endured were… violent.”  Eve paused and shook her head, trying to clear her eyes of the tears that suddenly formed.  “She didn’t survive the last, and it killed him.”

Arianna’s hand flew to her mouth as she whimpered, and Eli was quick to change their positions and cradle her mate in her arms.  She turned and glared at Eve, who met her eyes staunchly.  Eve didn’t shrink from Eli’s gaze, and Eli could feel the rage building at her seeming lack of care.  “Are you satisfied, MaTb?  Do you feel better…?”

“No, Elizabeth.  I didn’t share that to hurt you… either of you.  But you both deserve to know, so you can take whatever measures you deem necessary to avoid a repeat of their history.  I love you both, and I want you to have a long happy life together,” Eve explained, feeling Eli’s ire cool with her earnest words.  “Besides,” she added impishly, “I am still waiting on grandchildren from the two of you.”

Eli’s skin flushed green again.  “MaTb!!”

Arianna laughed through her tears.  “Thank you, MaTb.  I will care for her in the best way I know how - with my whole heart - and we’ll work on that whole baby thing too.”

“Angel!!” Eli exclaimed, turning even darker in her embarrassment.  Aurora finally couldn’t hold it together any longer, and simply howled in laughter, causing Noah to rush in the door to find out what was happening and ensuring everyone was all right.

Noah had waited, wanting his girls to have this time together, knowing Eve and Eli needed to resolve things between them to give them the peace they deserved and needed to have.  He knew he would get a few minutes at the end to make certain everything was as it should be, and that would give him the peace he needed to sleep at night.

“OTeU… save me!” she pled, causing more laughter to ripple around the room.  Noah just scratched his head in confusion and shrugged his shoulders, then smiled sheepishly when the laughter increased.  He had no idea what was going on… or what had caused their laughter, but he could see they were all genuinely happy - even Eli - and that made his heart glad beyond words.

“What am I saving you from, дочь?”

Eli jutted out her lower lip in a pout, though she never released her hold on Arianna.  “I am being colluded against.”

Noah covered his mouth to hide his smile, but he couldn’t control the burble of laughter that slid from his lips.  “I am sorry, дочь, but I am not certain I should be the one you ask help from… considering I am in that position more often than not.”

Eli huffed, though her begrudging grin was good natured, and she hugged Arianna a little closer to her.  “Point taken,” she agreed.  She turned back to Eve.  “Thank you, MaTb,” she said softly.  “Believe it or not, I’m going to miss our talks… almost as much as I will miss you.  All of you.”

“We will miss you as well,” Aurora answered before either Eve or Noah could reply.  “I know I am new to the family - and new to being the kind of Madre my mija deserves - but I am grateful to be included as family.  I hope one day to be worthy of that.”

“Oh, Madre….” Arianna said through her tears.

“Take care of one another,” Eli instructed.  “And we will do the same.  Until we meet again?” holding up a hand in farewell.  The rest followed her example.

“Until we meet again,” they intoned, and in another moment the screen went black.

Noah was the first to drop his hand, and he looked at the two women still looking at the darkened screen.  “Come, ladies,” he said, proffering an elbow to each of them.  “We need to go and get ready for Joseph’s memorial.”

“What goes on at one of these things?” Aurora asked as she rose to her feet.  “I mean, state funerals have always been long, drawn out dismal affairs.  There are mourners and dirges and general unpleasantness intended to make everyone unhappy.”

Eve chuckled.  “Ours are a little better than that,” tucking her hand into the crook of Noah’s elbow.  “We build a pyre and sing a dirge to pass the soul from one life to the next, but then we sit around and share stories of the one who is gone.  I think it is something like that.”  She wrinkled her brow thoughtfully.  “At least, I hope it is.”

Noah sighed as he stepped forward and opened the door before motioning both women out of the room ahead of him.  “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.  I think we have just time enough to clean up a little before we’re expected in the living room.”

Aurora frowned, even as she crossed in front of him and started up the stairs to her room.  “Will that be large enough to accommodate all of us?  I believe everyone here has plans to attend.”

“Do Mary and Joy know this?” Eve questioned as she stopped in front of the door to the room she shared with Noah.

“I hope so,” Aurora commented, then stepped into her room and closed the door.  She didn’t have a lot of time to prepare.

************

In the end, it was more of a celebration than anything else.  Gideon had rigged a giant viewscreen in the massive entry area to link those on the planet with the Alpha Team.  Each of the Team members had shared a memory they had of Joseph… even if it was simply adding details to one another’s experiences.  Arianna, of course, had the best stories - relating how Joseph had welcomed her into the family and been such a good friend in the short time she had known him.

Ian and Joy took great pleasure in retelling some of the more embarrassing memories they had… especially when it involved Nathaniel.  And even though his eyes remained sad, he couldn’t help but smile and blush at the stories they shared.

Ephraim had requested to go last - before Nathaniel spoke, of course - and he cleared his throat nervously before standing before the room full of people.  “I don’t know most of you, but like many of you, I was an outsider to this family that was welcomed as a brother and son.”  He flushed slightly and turned his gaze down to look at his hands a moment, then drew a deep breath.  “I had met the Chief’s kids, including Joey, when I was first assigned to security for the Alpha Team.  But it wasn’t until everything went sideways that I actually got a real chance to know him.  He was one of the first to notice my interest in Joy, and he gave me some advice that I will always remember.  He said, ‘Eph, if she is important to you, treat her family better than you would treat your own.  We look out for one another vehemently, and it will be important to her that you are willing to do the same.  Oh… and don’t forget she is Mary’s daughter.  She has a mind of her own. Respect that.’  I thought about those words for a few days after he said them to me - before I ever entertained the thought of talking to the Chief or the boys or especially Joy.  And I realized Joey was the kind of man I wanted to aspire to be like - someone who sees and advises and loves with all that he is.”

Ephraim turned to Nathaniel.  “You were a very lucky man, sir, to have called such a loving individual your husband.  And we were all very blessed to have known him.”

Nathaniel stood and took Ephraim in his arms for long moments, whispered words between them low enough that no one save Caleb and Hannah had the ability to hear, and out of courtesy, they deliberately tuned them out.  Eventually, Nathaniel pulled back and faced the room, and true smile lighting his face and his watery eyes.

“Thank you, everyone.  Jo… <ahem> Joey would have been thrilled by the outpouring of love you’ve shared with me and each other today.  Please join me in raising a glass to a life well lived, and a soul we will always remember.  To Joey!”

“To Joey!” they all repeated before drinking.  Then laughter and applause broke out, and conversations broke out around the room and across the screen.  Eli watched as Ian and Joy came up on either side of Nathaniel, then turned to Naomi who was sitting at the comm station. 

“Did we get all that?”

“We did, Boss.”

Eli nodded.  “Good.  Can you jump that to a crystal for me?  I need to make a quick trip to the planet and talk to the captains on the surface.  As soon as I get back, we’ll sit down and talk to Mary. Then one more good night of sleep, and I think we can get out of here and go home.”

“Best idea I’ve heard in a while, Chief,” Naomi said with a look of stark relief visible on her face.

“Best idea we’ve all heard,” Eden concurred.  “Go do your thing, Boss.  We’ve got you covered.”

Eli nodded and stepped from the bridge.

Chapter LXXVII

Arianna followed Eli off the bridge as a matter of course, but it wasn’t until they were in the passageway of the living quarters that she spoke.  “Amado?”

Eli jumped in surprise, having been aware of Arianna’s presence on a visceral level, but somewhat oblivious of her physically until the soft touch landed on her arm.  She blinked as she whirled in place, concern overriding her other thoughts as she took both of Arianna’s hands in her own.  “Beloved?  Is something wrong?”

Dark brows shifted high on her forehead, but Arianna shook her head in response.  “No… no, Querida.  Everything is all right… other than the fact that you seem to be completely unmindful of everything around you at the moment.  Are you all right?”

Eli turned her focus inward and shook her head as if to clear it.  “I think so?  I was mostly lost in thought… trying to plan the last few things I need to take care of here before we leave tomorrow.”

“Do you need my help?  Would you like me to accompany you to the surface?”

Eli smiled indulgently and shook her head.  “No, Angel.. I don’t expect it to take very long.  I want to speak to the captains and see for myself that negotiations are proceeding as they should be, and I am hoping to get the data crystal to Cupid.  I think he deserves that much peace for what he did for us.”

“Do you think he will watch it?”

Eli shrugged.  “I don’t know, but at least it will be his choice.”

“Fair enough.  Are you sure you don’t want me along for company?” asked with a roguish grin.

“I’m certain, but only because I know that MaTb has likely sent you the histories, myths and legends of our people, and whatever else she thinks you need to be aware of to keep us safe and protected.  I imagine there will be enough reading to keep you busy at least until we reach the moon… if not longer.”  She chuckled.  “MaTb is nothing if not thorough.”

“Do you really think it is necessary?  That we know ‘myths and legends’?  They aren’t facts, Amado.  Can they really help us?”

Eli cupped Arianna’s cheek in her hand and dipped her head to brush a kiss over soft lips.  “I think we have nothing to lose by reading them… by learning about whatever experiences they saw fit to share.”  She sighed and leaned their foreheads together.  “My people are very private… especially about intimacy.  For them to have written anything down gives credence to its importance.  I think we have nothing to lose by reading whatever MaTb sent and trying to utilize  and learn from it.  We both know I’ve been struggling since I had difficulty transforming back.  It’s not fair for you to continue to have to suffer through my mood swings and lack of focus.”

Arianna snickered slightly, trying to lighten the mood as mischief danced in her eyes.  “Oh I don’t know.  I figured it was good practice for the day when you would be carrying our child.”

Eli was eternally grateful that she hadn’t been drinking anything.  As it was, she nearly choked on her own spit.  She glared at Arianna, but there was laughter in her gaze.  “Really, Angel?  You too?”

Arianna laughed out loud.  “No, not really, although….”

Eli cocked an eyebrow.  “Although what?”

“It is something we’ll need to talk about… eventually.”

“One day,” Eli agreed with a nod of her head.  “But not today.”

“Not today.  Even if the look on your face was priceless.”

Eli held her scrutiny for a long moment before she snorted and shook her head.  “Go, Beloved.  Go rest… relax.  I will join you as soon as I return.  Then perhaps we can read together.”

Arianna nodded slowly before drawing her in for a kiss.  Eli melted into the embrace, lazily enjoying the love and affection she could feel enveloping her before Arianna flicked her tongue across her lips and the caress became more than a little passionate.  Eli allowed her hands to roam briefly before settling on Arianna’s hips, whimpering just a little at the slight tug she felt at the base of her skull when Arianna pulled on her hair.

With a sigh, she slowly eased back the intensity, leaving passion behind and replacing it with affection.   With a few last pecks, their lips disconnected, though they remained loosely in one another’s embrace.  “I should go before Eden decides she needs to separate us.”

“Too late,” said a voice from the end of the hallway.  Eli and Arianna turned to find Eden leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest and a smirk on her face.  “You weren’t responding to my hails, so I came to check on you.  Imagine my surprise to find you playing tongue twister with each other.”  She pushed off the wall and walked toward them.  “I got in touch with the captains on the surface.  They will be waiting for you near the shuttle landing area.  They will try to bring Cupid with them… to save you from having to go into the city.”

Arianna felt Eli relax in her hold and she turned her attention back to her. Eli closed her eyes briefly, then looked at Eden.  “Thank you, my friend.”

Eden shrugged nonchalantly, though her eyes told a much different story.  “It’s why they pay me the big deer,” she joked.  “Don’t take too long, Boss.  We’ve done all we can do here, and you need the rest as much as any of us do.  We’ll be listening out for you, so let us know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Eden,” said sincerely.  Eden merely turned and waved as she walked away.  Eli brought her gaze back to Arianna who was watching her closely.  “I love you.”

“I know, Amado, as I love you.  Come back to me quickly and safely.”

Eli smiled.  “Will do.”  Then she was gone, headed down the hallway toward the shuttle bay.

************

Eli set the shuttle down carefully, mindful of the four people standing patiently to one side waiting for her to emerge.  She stood and straightened her clothing, aware of who and what she represented.  The shuttle door slid open slowly, and she stood still, surveying the land around her for a minute before heading down the short ramp with firm strides.  She motioned to the captains, who stepped back immediately to offer her and Cupid a modicum of privacy.  When he realized her intention, Cupid moved forward and opened his arms, hoping Eli would remember her regard of him instead of the anger she felt for the whole of the Pantheon.  She stepped into his embrace briefly and absorbed the feeling of having her brother with her once more, before she withdrew and patted his arms.  Cupid smiled sadly and tilted his head at her.

“What brings you here, Eli?  We truthfully never expected to see you again.”

“Needs must,” she replied, gesturing to the captains waiting patiently for her to conclude her business with them so they could return to their duty.  “But I wanted to see you first,” she said, holding up the crystal between them.  “I don’t know if you will want to watch this, but I wanted you to have it… just in case.”  She sucked in a deep breath.  “It’s the memorial service Nathaniel just held for Joseph.”  She placed it in his palm and curled their fingers closed around it.  “Either way, it’s your choice to make, but at least you have the choice.”

Cupid kept his head bowed and his fist clenched tightly, and Eli let him remain thus until she finally felt him take a deep breath and bring his eyes back up to meet hers.  “Thank you, Ellie.  I wouldn’t have….  I never expected….”  He shook his head and swiped at his eyes.  “Being Joseph - being Nat’s husband and part of Mama’s family - it was probably one of the best human experiences I was fortunate enough to be part of.  But I will always, always be proudest of the fact that, for a little while anyway, you were my sister and best friend,” smiling when he saw the tears well in her eyes.  “You’re a remarkable individual, Ellie - never forget that.  You and Arianna take care of each other and love one another long and well.  Because what you have deserves everything you can give it.”

Eli stood on her tiptoes and kissed Cupid’s forehead in benediction.  When she removed her lips and stepped back, he nodded at her one final time, then turned and left without a backwards glance.

The captains remained where they were, giving Eli a chance to recover her equilibrium.  Aside from the courtesy, it was simply part of their training to wait until called for by a superior officer.  And despite the fact that Eli was neither officer nor their superior, they each recognized the fact that she was in charge.  So they waited calmly at parade rest until she motioned them forward.  Only then did they move to greet her.

“Captain?” Matt said as he stepped forward with his hand outstretched.

“Just Eli,” she corrected with a slight smile, accepting his handshake before doing the same with the other two.  “I just wanted to touch base with you.  We are leaving tomorrow; I thought one more decent nights’ sleep might do us all good before we head off into what I sincerely hope is the final leg of our journey home.  The Team and I will be talking to the Chief when I return, so if there are any messages or concerns I should pass on…?”

The three captains exchanged glances before turning back to Eli.  “I think we’re all right, Eli,” Matt said.  “Talks here are going pretty well.  The Lieutenants followed your advice, and the folks here seem anxious to be reunited with civilization again.  I imagine there is going to be quite a bit of interest in establishing a larger colony here at some point… especially as it would make an excellent stopping point for any travel or trade that might take place with your new home.”

“Speaking of,” Hank broke in, “we will be back to patrolling and monitoring in your region in the next few months, but that’s still going to leave you on your own for a little while at least.  So if you could try and stay out of trouble….” smiling rakishly to let her know he was teasing, though she didn’t doubt the seriousness of his words.  She gave him a wicked grin.

“Believe me, Captain, nothing would make me or the Team happier than to have a little monotony in our lives for a while.  We might be able to get somethings done and start the work we were sent out here to do.”

“We’ll look forward to seeing your progress when we’re back in that sector again,” extending his hand again, then stepping back to allow the others to speak.

“Godspeed your journey, Eli.  Know we’ll be listening for you if you need us, but we can’t wait to see what you can accomplish on your own.”

“Thank you, Captain,” grasping Grayson’s hand briefly.  “We’re excited too.  Will you be out our way as well?”

Grayson smiled and cut her eyes at Hank.  “That’s usually his patrol area,” jerking a thumb in his direction.  “But I bet we could work something out between us so we could each have the opportunity to stop by at some point in the future.”

“We’ll look forward to it then,” releasing Grayson’s hand and turning to Matt.  “Captain?”

“Sleep well tonight, Eli.  We have the watch.”

“The watch is yours, sir.  Til we meet again.”

“Godspeed.”

With that, Eli turned and walked steadily back into the shuttle.  The captains watched until the door was closed and the engines were readying for takeoff.  Then they moved as one back toward the city center.  There was still work to be done here.

************

The entirety of the Alpha Team was crammed into the shuttle bay command room as the doors closed around the shuttle, and as soon as the pressure stabilized, they emerged into the bay itself.  They stood around in a semi-circle, waiting for Eli to exit the shuttle, which she did with a frown on her face.  “Did I miss a memo?” she asked, looking around the room in concern.  “Am I in trouble for something?” eyes landing on Arianna, who regarded her with a tender smile.

“No, Amado.  You didn’t miss a memo, and you’re not in trouble.  We just wanted to welcome you home.”

“Yeah, Boss,” Isaac cut in.  “You’ve done so much for us on your own, we just figured….”  He shrugged.

Jacob punched him lightly in the gut, though Isaac made a big show about how strong his still human arm was.  Jacob rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t stop the chuckle that rolled from his lips at Isaac’s goofiness, and Eli felt a wave of giddiness roll over her - something she hadn’t realized she’d missed until it was suddenly back in her life and heart again.

“What we figured,” glaring at Eden when she poked him… only to hold his hands up in surrender when she glared back at him.  At Eli’s snort of laughter, he turned and offered her a sheepish expression and the slightest shrug.  “Sorry, Cap.”

Eli shook her head, though she didn’t stop laughing for another moment.  “Don’t be sorry on my account,” she said, still chuckling.  She sucked in a deep breath in an effort to contain her mirth.  “Please, continue.”

“Well, we figured this was kinda like a final goodbye and new beginning all in one for us, so we thought we’d meet up with you and have our talk with Mary here where there’s plenty of space for us to stretch out a little,” gesturing around the bay.  “We brought food,” making a face as he held up the military rations they were so very not-at-all fond of, causing her to snort again, and the rest to titter around her. “And some blankets so we could kinda treat this like a picnic while we talk to the Chief.  Then tomorrow, we’ll get up and head out.”  He sighed and turned a little more serious.  “This has been a lot different and more dangerous than I think any of expected it to be… especially considering we’re still just starting out and haven’t actually begun our real work yet.  And you’ve borne the brunt of a lot of what’s happened regardless of where the responsibility fell, and we know it’s kinda messed with you.  So, this is our effort towards starting over.  Maybe it will help get us all back to a place where we’re more like a family of crazy cousins instead of ex-lovers and evil step people.”

This time when Eli laughed, there were tears in her eyes as well, and Jacob was the first to open his arms.  Without hesitation she stepped into his embrace, and then suddenly, there were hugs all around for everyone, and it reminded them greatly of their reunion in the mountain… just before all the lunacy had started.

“Well,” Luke said as he clapped his hands together.  “What say we spread out the blankets and get this party started?”

“I second that,” Esther commented as she picked up a blanket and shook it out.  “Luke, if you’ll take the other end of this, maybe Danny and Paul could help with the other?”

“Hey,” Naomi called.  “I’ve got some padding to go down first to help make things a little more comfortable.”  Titus stepped up beside her and they, alone with Mordecai and Hannah, laid out the padding so the blankets could be placed on top.  Eden, Isaac, and Jacob grabbed the food kits they had and began passing them around.  Deborah moved over to a control panel, dimming the lights slightly and increasing the temperature to account for the lack of anything beyond themselves that might provide warmth in the sterile room.  With another switch, a large screen dropped down from the ceiling, though it was still black.

“I think we have a few minutes before Mary will be online.  Would anyone like some music?” Abigail asked from her spot.

Cheers went up around the room, and in another minute, she had music playing softly around the bay, adding its own warmth to the ambience they were creating.  Each of them selected a meal with only the slightest of grimaces, then sat back to enjoy the conversation, laughter and company while they ate.

************

Mary sighed as she looked around the room.  She was embarrassed by the fact that she was sitting in bed instead of behind her desk in her office, but as Caleb, and Eve, had reminded her - there were much worse places she could be.  And much worse conditions she could be in besides, sore and tried and drained.  Truly, she had much to be thankful for, and she knew it.  It didn’t make her restlessness any better, but it did give her a better attitude about it.

And knowing Caleb was only a call away didn’t hurt anything either.

She shifted once more to assure herself the most comfort she could manage.  Then she expanded her Pad and tapped her comm unit.  “Okay, Gideon. I’m ready whenever you’re able to make the connection.”

“Working on it now, Chief.  Shouldn’t be more than a minute or two.”

True to his word, her screen flashed briefly within about sixty seconds, and she could hear the murmur and laughter of conversation, though her visual was completely lacking.  She tapped her comm again.  “Gideon, I’ve got sound, but no visual.”

She could hear him frown as he spoke.  “Let me check that, Chief.  You should have both.”

“Oh… that’s probably my fault,” came a voice from the other side of the screen.  “Let me just….”  The voice trailed off, but without warning, bright light flashed across Mary’s screen before settling into something resembling normal lighting. It was a little dimmer than she expected, but at least she could see a room (cargo bay?) full of smiling faces, and she smiled in reflex.

“It’s okay, Gideon.  I’ve got them now.”

“All right, Chief.  I’ll keep an eye on the signal, to ensure you stay connected, but that’s all I’ll be monitoring.  You’re secure.”

“Thank you, Gideon.  I’ll let you know when we’re done.”

“You got it, Chief.  I’m out.”

Mary waited another moment to establish their privacy, and then she turned back to the room full of expectant faces.  “Hello, Alpha Team,” she greeted.  “It’s nice to see you again.”  Then she leaned back against her headboard and waited for the conversation to start.

Chapter LXXVIII

They greeted her with cheers and affection and Mary smiled at their joy and enthusiasm.  It was wonderful to see them return to the kids she had seen during the selection process.  She kept a special eye on Eli, who had shown the most exhaustion of all her former charges.  Having heard the stories, she could understand - responsibility could do that to a person - but it didn’t make her worry less.  However, she could see the difference in her already, and it warmed her heart.  It was clear that Arianna had a huge part in that healing, but it was also apparent that the entire Alpha Team was rallying from the events that had tried to fracture them.  And she knew then, that no matter whatever else life threw at them, they would be all right.  The Committee had chosen well despite themselves, and these kids were going to do more than succeed.  They were going to blow expectations out of the water.  She didn’t realize she’d fallen into a brown study until Arianna’s eyes filled her screen, and she jumped back involuntarily.

She had to laugh as she watched Arianna tilt her head from side to side studying her before she stepped back far enough to allow her whole face to be seen.  She cleared her throat in an effort to bring her laughter under control, especially when greeted by Arianna’s smiling lips and sparkling eyes.  “Arianna… Daughter?  Are you all right?”

“I was going to ask the same, Mama. Because you just kind of stopped talking and froze.”

“I’m fine.  I was just understanding how amazing you all and how much I’m truly going to miss working with all of you.”

“Well, since the galaxy seems to be shrinking by the minute - what with a new colony coming to the new planet in what used to be the Nusnaigewron Nebula and all - I’m pretty sure we’ll all be expecting a visit from you in the not too distant future,” Eden snarked, though she couldn’t hide her grin.  “Like maybe for your honeymoon,” waggling her eyebrows and garnering applause around the room.

Mary smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.  “Perhaps.  We’ll have to see how things are going by that point.”

“So tell us about you and Caleb, Mary.  Please,” Abigail asked, knowing better than the rest that something significant was bothering Mary and wanting her to relax.

Now Mary gave a genuine smile.  “I’ll tell you what - I’ll tell you about me and Caleb… I’ll even bring him in here to talk with you as well… after I hear about each of you and your adventures so far.  I’ve gotten bits and pieces, of course, but I’d like to have the whole story.  And naturally, anything you say here will be kept between us.”

“Just like old times, Chief?” Eli asked with a slight smile.

Mary nodded.  “Just like old times.”

So they sat around and shared the adventures they had endured since leaving the belly of the Storm Surge.  It was the first time they’d done this as a group since they’d started their journey, and each of them slowly recognized how important it was going to be going forward that they continue the practice.  Not only were they learning a lot of details they had each missed, but it gave them all a feeling of family and camaraderie that they had let slip due to their time and attention being focused on other things.

Somewhere past the two hour mark, Mary started coughing, her throat more than a little dry from all the laughing and talking she had been engaged in.  Before any of the kids could inquire as to her health, the door to her bedroom opened and Caleb stepped through off screen.

“Mary?” he asked quietly, though loud enough for the Team to hear him and become silent.  “Are you all right?  Can I get you something?”

She shook her head and held up a hand as she continued to cough for a moment longer.  Without missing a bit, he grabbed her empty glass from the bedside table and went into the bathroom to fill it.  Only a moment later, he walked back out and carefully placed the glass in her hand, rubbing her back as she slowly drank several swallows worth.

“Better?” he asked with a smile as she took a deep breath and smiled up at him.

She cleared her throat.  “Much,” she assured him, taking his hand from where it rested on her shoulder and drawing it into her own with a firm grip.  “You’re probably gonna want to sit down, though.  These kids want to hear all about us.”

Caleb colored, though he dutifully took a seat beside her, never relinquishing his hold on her hand.  “They do, huh?  Their lives have been so boring lately that they need to hear about our burgeoning romance?” he teased.  Mary blushed.  The kids hooted and cheered.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been boring,” Eden snarked, “nor that your romance is burgeoning.  We’ve been waiting a long time for this to happen.  I can’t imagine what your kids feel like,” turning her attention to Mary, who chuckled at the upraised brow.

“My children feel much the same as the rest of you, though, believe it or not, to an even greater degree.  Remember, they have known Caleb their whole lives.  And my boys, at least, had talked to their father about this possibility a long time ago.”

“Wow,” Naomi cut in.  “Seriously?”

“As a heart attack,” Mary confirmed.  “It’s a very long and complicated story, but let’s just say I was the only one out of the loop for a long time.  Some by my own choice, I’ll admit, but some due to the machinations of others.”

Caleb squeezed the hand he held and waited for Mary to meet his gaze.  “It all worked out like it was supposed to.  I’ll not begrudge anything that brought you to me.”

“Even if…?”

He placed a finger over her lips.  “No regrets, Mary.  Edward was my best friend, and I never would have had anything happen to him for the world.  But since he is gone, and nothing we do can bring him back, I’m going to do what he asked - what I’ve wanted for so long, and what your children have given their blessing to.  The only one who can stop that is you.”

Mary cradled his face with one hand and looked deep into his eyes.  She shook her head.  “No, Caleb.  I want this.  I want this with you.”

“Kiss her already,” Jacob yelled across the screen, getting him an elbow in the belly from Eden, and causing all kinds of raucous cheering to erupt from the Teammates surrounding him.  Mary and Caleb blushed in tandem, though he raised an eyebrow at her in question.  She nodded slightly, then his lips met hers and their eyes closed.

It was chaste as far as kisses go, and it didn’t last very long, but the roar of approval from the other side of the galaxy was enough to bring several people running into the room at once. 

Mary blinked open her eyes at the intrusion, then narrowed her gaze as her children, Eve, and Tom stood in the doorway staring blankly at the couple sitting sedately on the bed.  Noah came strolling in after a moment, and started herding everyone back toward the doorway.

“All right, boys and girls… nothing to see here,” he advised, shooing them out the door.  Eve stiffened, and Noah cocked his head and arched an eyebrow at her.  She glared at him a moment, then softened, cupping his face in her hands and touching their foreheads together.  Then she took his hand and led him out of the room, allowing him to pull the door closed behind them.

Mary and Caleb watched bemusedly, waving at Noah as he saluted them before the door was shut completely.  Then they turned their attention back to the kids on the screen who were still celebrating the news Mary and Caleb had shared.  Only Abigail remained a bit subdued, but not enough to give anything away.  After all she didn’t actually know anything - it was just a feeling… right?

“So tell us, Girlfriend - when’s the wedding?”

Mary and Caleb both blushed at the question, causing even more noise as they looked at one another and shook their heads.

“Cart before the horse,” Caleb answered without batting an eyelash.  “I should probably at least take her out on a proper date or two before we go and do something rash.  However, I promise it won’t take too long, either.  Perhaps by the time you kids are settled on your new home, there might be something to celebrate.”

“By settled, I hope you mean landed, and not actually settled.  Pretty sure we’re looking at years for that to be true, and none of us want to wait that long to celebrate with you.”

“Why?”

Caleb’s question threw Deborah off her stride for a moment, not having expected that kind of comeback.  Then she arched a brow at him.  “Really?” waiting for him to nod.  She sighed.  “Because if this project has taught us anything at all, it’s the value of family - those you make yourself as well as those you’re born to.  Like it or not, old man, you’re family… by choice as well as by marriage, eventually.  Therefore, we expect to be included for any celebrations as well as any mourning that’s possible for us to be a part of.  Capiche?”

Caleb looked back at her wide-eyed, noting the various signs of agreement coming from around the cargo bay.  He felt Mary squeeze his hand, and he looked down into her eyes to find her nodding and smiling at him.  He shook his head and chuckled.  “Yeah,” he commented.  “Yeah, I got it.”

“Wonderful,” she drawled, though she couldn’t hide her smile.  “Make sure you don’t forget it.”  She turned to Eli.  “Is there anything we’ve forgotten, Boss?”

Eli stood and looked around the room, taking her time to give each of her team a chance to speak up; when all was silent, she glanced back at Mary.  “I don’t think we’ve got anything else for you, Chief.  Do you have anything else for us?”

Mary glanced around the cargo bay where the team was lounging, her eyes bright and her smile large.  “I don’t think so.  Despite everything, you’ve already far surpassed any expectations I could ever have had for you.  I’m so proud of each of you… and all of you together, and I look forward to all the great and amazing things you’re going to do together.  Go with my blessing and do miraculous things.  I can’t wait to say ‘I knew you all when’.”

Eli offered her hand to Arianna, pulling her up and into her body, wrapping an arm around her waist and smiling when Arianna reciprocated the gesture.  Without prompting, the rest stood and gathered around them.  Then they each raised a hand in farewell, and departed one by one until only Eli and Arianna were left.  They regarded each other across the screen, as though millions of kilometers didn’t separate their realities.  Then Eli lifted her hand.

“It’s been an honor, Mama.  Until we meet again?”

“Until we meet again, Daughters of my Heart.  Godspeed.”  And she watched as they turned away and exited through the cargo bay doors before she let her screen go dark.  “Gideon?” she called into her comm unit.

“I’m here, Chief.  What’s up?”

“You can sever the connection.  We’re done here.”

“You got it, Chief.  You have a good night.  We’ll keep an eye on things down here.”

“Thank you, Gideon.  Goodnight.”  She turned to Caleb and rested her head on his shoulder.  “That was wonderful,” she confessed, “but I’m exhausted.”

“I feel a little of that myself,” he declared.  “I wouldn’t have missed it though.  Those kids look really good, and it did a lot for you to be able to see them all together. I can tell.”

“Can you now?” she questioned.  “How?”

He shifted them until he could look her directly in the eyes and smiled as he brushed a bit of hair back from her face.  “There’s color in your cheeks; sparkles in your eyes; and I’m pretty sure I haven’t heard you laugh like that in a good, long time.” 

She chuckled and clasped the wrist of the hand currently cupping her cheek.  “Anybody ever tell you       you’re one smart cookie?”

He grinned.  “Oh… I may have heard it a time or two before, but nothing is as flattering as when the words are falling from your lips.”

Mary snorted and shook her head.  “That was a little cheesy, you know.”

“Yeah, I know.  But it was worth it for the look on your face.  Besides, it was true.  Now,” he said, kissing her forehead before standing from the bed and pulling the covers up to her chin.  “Is there anything I can get you?  Anything you need before I leave you to get some sleep?”

Mary gazed at him a long moment, reveling in the love and affection so apparent in his open expression..  She tilted her head and beckoned him forward with a crook of her finger.  “Yes,” she replied when he was close enough for her to wrap her arms around.  “Come back down here and give me a proper kiss before you leave me here alone for the night.”

Something flared in Caleb’s eyes at her words, and before she could consider changing them, he swooped down and wrapped her in his arms, kissing her with years of pent-up love and passions, sucking the very air out of her lungs.  When they pulled back from one another with nips and pecks, Caleb grinned mischievously at her.

“Proper enough for you, Chief?” said with a hint of breathlessness.

“Uh huh,” she mumbled.  He laughed.

“Goodnight, Mary.”

“Good night, Caleb.  Happy dreams.”

He smiled rakishly, though his eyes held a hint of wistfulness.  “That’s a guarantee for me; you’ll be in them.”  Then he slipped out the door and down the hallway before Mary could begin to think of a comeback.  Finally she dropped back onto the pillows stacked behind her head and released a slow breath as she tucked her hands beneath her neck.  Then she smiled goofily as she stared up at the ceiling.

“That man’s gonna be the death of me, but what a way to go!”

************

Eli was a little pensive on their walk back to their quarters, but Arianna remained quiet, letting Eli process whatever was troubling her.  Only when they were behind locked doors did she wrap Eli in her arms and pull her in for kiss.  Almost immediately, Eli smiled into it, and Arianna felt the happiness flow through her even as Eli deepened it.  She couldn’t help but smile back, and soon the two were giggling as much as they were kissing.  Eli let her hands slide from the middle of Arianna’s back to the firm globes of her ass, squeezing lightly and getting the squeal she expected in return.  But before Arianna could jokingly admonish her, she tightened her embrace and sighed when Arianna did the same.

“You all right?” murmured into her neck and tickling just a little bit.

“Doing better now,” she replied honestly.  “Still a little off balance, and I”m worried about Mary.”

Arianna pulled back far enough to look into her face with a frown.  “Why?  She seemed so happy and content with Caleb.  What did I miss?”

Eli smiled tenderly, pushing the loose hair from her face before leaning in to steal another kiss.  She eased back after a moment and said, “Oh, I think she is.  She and Caleb have been a couple for a while, even if she is just starting to realize and accept that fact.  I’m more concerned with her health.  I don’t think. she’s doing as well as she wants to be.”

Arianna slid her arms from Eli’s shoulders, and reached over to cup her face.  Brown eyes stared into hazel until she could see the green begin to darken in their intensity. “Oh, Amado… that big, beautiful, caring heart.  You can’t solve everything, though I love you so much for wanting to try.  This, however, is beyond your scope simply because of the distance involved.  Be happy that Mama is finding happiness again, and trust that those there will do their very best for her to be with us as long as she can.”

“But….”

Arianna placed a finger over her lips, and Eli kissed it in reflex.  Arianna smiled and shook her head.  “No buts.  You did your best, and they are doing theirs.  You’re just going to have to trust that things will work out like they’re supposed to.  After all… we did, and so did Mama and Caleb.  That right there proves anything is possible.”  She ran her hands around to Eli’s back and scratched between her shoulder blades, causing her to arch in pleasure.  “Now what do you say to you and me utilizing that nice big bed for something other than sleeping?”

Eli’s grin was big and bright, and she scooped Arianna up into her arms with a shriek.  Only a few steps had them tripping into bed, giggling as they fell.  It was a long time before sleep was an option.

************

Down the hallway, Abigail smiled.  Even with her walls up, she could feel the joy they radiated.  It was like a breath of fresh air after the pall of anger and confusion Eli especially had been struggling with recently.  She could feel her body relaxing, though there was still a niggling of worry at the core of her being.  She reread the email she had written for Mary, hoping the other woman would understand and forgive her concern.  She bit her lip in hesitation, rereading it before hitting send.  Then she shut down her Pad and made her own preparations for bed.  If they were only promised one more night of good, solid sleep, she was absolutely going to take advantage of it.  Given everything that had happened up to this point she knew better than to squander an opportunity.

She crawled into her bed, sighing in relief as she stretched out.  She opened her walls the slightest bit, to check on the status of the entire crew and allow the joy and satisfaction she felt from them to flow through her.  Then she turned out the lights, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

Tomorrow’s challenges would come soon enough.

Chapter LXXIX

Isaac stretched slowly as he blinked his eyes open.  A hand crept up his chest and he tilted his head down to find sparkling brown eyes looking back at him. “Good morning,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her body, smiling when she snuggled even closer.

“It certainly is,” Esther agreed, scratching absently at his chest where her hand rested.  She tucked her head back under his chin.  “No regrets?” asked hesitantly as if afraid of the answer.

Isaac rolled them over just enough to be able to look her in the eyes, stroking her cheek gently and waiting for her eyes to open again.  After a moment, his patience was rewarded, and he wasn’t exactly surprised to see a sheen of tears in her eyes.  “Hey,” he said, cradling her face in his hand.  “No regrets.  You’re not my second choice, Es,” smiling slightly when her eyes widened at his words.

“How…?”

He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose.  “Really?  C’mon, Es.  After all that palaver with Arianna?  Anyone would wonder.  But remember, Arianna wasn’t my choice… not really.  She was someone else’s choice for me to cause trouble between her and Eli.  You’re my choice - my first choice… for so many reasons.”

“Like what?” she asked, glancing down as she absently curled his chest hair with her fingers.

This time his laughter was loud, and he kissed her breathless before she could protest.  “Fishing?” he teased, feeling the heat flush her dark skin.  “That’s okay,” he assured her.  “I don’t mind telling you how beautiful I think you are; how much I like your wit and humor; how I admire the way your mind works; and how much it means that you’ve always been nice to me and not treated me as anything other than who I am.”  He rolled back onto is back and tucked his hands behind his head, feeling her follow until she was leaning over him, touching along their naked lengths.  “That’s always been a problem for me,” he confided.  “People see big and think stupid… especially since I’m not really good with people.  Machines have always made a lot more sense.”

Esther chuckled.  “I hear ya.  I can’t tell you the times I’ve wanted to stay in my lab and be left alone with my work.  No one bothers me there.”  She cocked her head.  “Though… at least here, when someone interrupts, they generally understand what I’m doing and don’t get offended if I don’t open the door.”

“That’s true,” turning onto his side so they were face to face.  “So you think anyone would miss us if we were late for breakfast?” running his hand along her side and smiling when her breath caught.

“I’m willing to risk the gossip if you are,” said with a smile as she treaded her hand into his hair and tugged him to her lips.  His answer wasn’t in words, despite how vocal he was.  Esther just chuckled and pulled the sheet back over them.

************

“I could get used to this,” Danny commented as he and Luke separated from their good morning kiss.  “I kinda like you being here when I wake up,” he confessed with a blush that left him an almost eggplant color.

Luke placed a kiss on the underside of his chin, then another on his neck before settling down with an ear over Danny’s heart.  He smiled, causing Danny to squirm from the tickling feeling Luke was causing.  “I kinda like being here so we can wake up together.  Maybe we can make it a more regular thing.”

“I’d be open to something like that, though I’ll be honest.  I don’t want to move in together… at least not right now.  I’d like to spend a little time getting to really know you… getting to see what makes us tick as a couple beyond great sex.  It just seems like we’ve jumped from crisis to crisis and we haven’t really had time to….”  Danny’s eyes widened when Luke covered his mouth with his hand.

“Shh,” Luke commanded.  “I get it - I do.  I feel the same way.  I just meant maybe we could make a more concerted effort to spend time together - have a regular date night or something.”

He felt Danny grin beneath his fingertips, and he responded automatically, removing his hand and bending down to kiss the full lips still curled into a smile.  It was quick, and when he eased back, Danny laced their hands together.  “I’d really like that,” standing and tugging Luke up with him.  “Now come on.  We need to get to breakfast and we need a shower first.”

Luke laughed out loud.  “Best offer I’ve had today,” he joked, laughing harder at the expression on Danny’s face.

“Better be the only offer you’ve had today,” he growled, then crossed into the ensuite and stepped into the shower.  The rest of the argument was lost behind closed doors.

************

Mordecai tapped lightly on Hannah’s door, knowing she’d be able to hear him even if she was in her bathing chamber.  She wasn’t, however, and a moment later, her door opened to admit him.  She smiled and beckoned him inside, and he followed, glad to see her happy again.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, gently cupping her face and looking her over very carefully.  “Everything back to how it should be?”

“Mostly, I think,” she replied, motioning him to a seat at the kitchen counter.  “How about you?  How’s the back?”

“Better than ever, actually,” he offered with a smile.  “Between whatever Doc and Luke did, and the exercise regimen they put me on, I could probably keep up with Jake… for a little while anyway.”

Hannah chuckled.  “I’m sure he’d relish the challenge.”  She handed him a cup of what passed for coffee in this time and place.  “C’mon.  Let’s get to the mess hall and pick out a scrumptious meal from all the great choices we have.”

He rolled his eyes.  “Because somebody’s gonna fight you for powdered eggs.”

She snorted.  “Maybe I’ll get lucky and they’ll have French toast for a change.”

Brown eyes lit up.  “I’d fight you for that.  Race you there!” called as he escaped through the door….

… only to find himself tangled with Titus, Paul and Deborah, who had been just about to knock on Abigail’s door.  Hannah heard the commotion and rushed to the doorway, to stop short as soon as she saw the dog pile in front of her.  There was a lot of mumbling and cursing coming from several different parts of the pile, and she covered her mouth to hide her grin.

About that time, Abigail opened the door to her room to find out what all the noise was.  Blue eyes widened comically, and she looked up to meet Hannah’s, biting her lips to contain her laughter.  In another moment, the four on the ground had managed to detangle themselves from one another, and Hannah and Abigail stepped forward to help them regain their footing.

They stood brushing themselves off, then as one, Titus, Paul and Deborah turned to Mordecai and gave him the stink eye.  He moved away and hid behind Hannah, causing Abigail to hide her smile this time.

“What?” he asked innocently, ducking his tall frame behind Hannah and peeking out from around her head.  Deborah crossed her arms over her chest and glared.

“Do you wanna tell us where in the bloody blazes of hell and damnation you were running off to in such a hurry??  It’s a small ship, Kai.  You don’t need to run much of anywhere to go from one end to another in under a minute or so.  So unless we’re under an attack that none of the rest of us are aware of, you’d better have a good explanation of why you ran us over like a cargo transport.”

He chuckled nervously, but remained behind Hannah.  “Well, you see, Hannah and I were just heading out to the mess hall.  And she mentioned something about French toast, and well… French toast is my favorite, so I was going to race her, only….”

“… only the three of us were in the middle of the hallway and you ran into us instead,” Paul supplied helpfully, watching as Mordecai swallowed hard as he nodded.  He couldn’t blame Deborah for being miffed.  His head was killing him now, and it was clear Deborah was going to have a shiner of epic proportions… probably the result of someone’s elbow to her eye.  On the other hand, it wasn’t like Mordecai meant to mow them down, and it would be easily fixed by whoever had sick bay duty this morning.  He exchanged glances with Titus, who shrugged and winced at the same time, blood trickling out of his nose at a steady pace.

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Wow,” Naomi said as she poked her head out of her room.  “What war did I miss?”

Deborah snorted.  “No war,” jerking her thumb at Mordecai, who was still conveniently hidden behind Hannah.  “Himmicane Mordecai swept through the hallway without warning and blew us all away.”

“Well, he certainly left all kinds of collateral damage behind.  C’mon.  We’ll see if we can take care of this without bothering Eli or Luke.  After all, we’ve all got emergency responder training, right?  We should be able to fix you right up.”

“What about breakfast?” Mordecai whined.

“Breakfast can wait until we’re back at a hundred percent, Hotshot.  That seems reasonable to me… don’t you think?”  Mordecai nodded so quickly, it was a wonder his head didn’t simply pop off from his body.  Deborah patted the top of his head.  “Good boy,” she commented.  “Now why don’t you lead the way to sick bay so we can all get repaired?”

“What a great idea!” he replied with faux enthusiasm.  Then he led the way, with the rest falling into line behind him like little chicks.  Hannah and Abigail watched them go for the longest moment before looking at one another and bursting into laughter.

“We shouldn’t laugh,” Hannah said.  “But it really was pretty funny.”

Abigail nodded.  “I think even Deb will see the humor… once her eye stops hurting so badly.”

“Agreed.”  She paused, and looked around the now silent passageway.  “Should we go help them?”

“Possibly, though Naomi might take it as a personal slight if we show up to check on her.  I think the prudent thing to do would be to go ahead to the mess hall.”

Hannah grinned, and tucked her hand into the crook of Abigail’s elbow.  “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.  Shall we?”

“We shall,” Abigail responded, before leading them down the hall.

************

“What does it feel like?” Eden asked as she trailed her fingertips up and down the length of Jacob’s mechanical arm.  Black eyes met green.  “To you, I mean.”

Jacob tucked his free arm under his head and studied her intent look as she returned her gaze to the arm beneath her touch.  She looked beautiful, sitting there unashamed of her nakedness as she straddled his hips.  He felt himself twitch, and tilted his head in question.  “What does it feel like to you?”

“Cool… sleek… strong.  It’s a lot like your old one, but….  I think it’s the temperature that stands out the most.  We could probably adjust it when we put the skin on it, but right now….  I don’t know.  It’s different.”  She met his eyes again.  “So?”

He glanced down at his hand and flexed his fingers, watching his fist close and open before turning his attention back to Eden.  “It’s a little weird.  When the settings are too high, I can feel everything - like the ridges of your fingertips and the pores in your skin.  I’m gradually adjusting them down, so it feels more normal, ya know?  But I’m afraid to dial it back too fast for fear of actually hurting someone, or destroying something we might really need to have on hand.  Eli assures me as I slowly learn control, it’ll be easier.  But for now it’s better for everyone, and for my peace of mind, for it to be extremely sensitive.”

“Well, that explains why your touch was so feather-light last night.  I don’t think you’ve ever been quite so gentle, and it’s not like we play rough very often.”

“Was it bad?”

Eden twined her fingers with his and lifted his hands above his head while she stretched her length along his, tangling their legs together.  He sucked a breath, and she relished her awareness of how much she affected him by touch alone.  Then he shifted beneath her and her eyes widened.  He chuckled.  “Guess it works both ways, huh?”

She pressed her lips to his.  “I guess.  And to answer your question, it wasn’t bad at all.  It was just different.”  She cocked an eyebrow at him.  “How about if I show you?”

“Do we have time?”

Eden smirked.  “Do you really care?” rubbing against him like a cat.  He shook his head rapidly and she grinned rakishly as she leaned down to touch her lips to his again.  “Good boy,” she murmured, then captured his lips gently.  His whimper was the first of many sounds she heard for the next little while.

************

“We might should have gotten some sleep,” Arianna whispered from her spot between Eli’s legs.  Her head rested contentedly on the firm, flat belly beneath her, while her fingertips drew lazy, little patterns on Eli’s sides and hips.  She nearly purred when Eli moved her scratching from her scalp to the back of her neck, feeling herself relax even further into the strong body with whom she was tangled up, and she lifted her eyes just enough to see hazel eyes twinkling back at her.

“Maybe,” Eli confessed, “though I’ll never begrudge any time spent loving you… even with a loss of sleep.  Besides,” sighing heavily as though her next words pained her to say out loud, “MaTb was right.  Even with the tiny amount of meditation we shared last night, I already feel better than I have in weeks.  Connecting with you like that… it’s almost more intimate than our physical love,” chuckling at the raised eyebrow that got her.  “Only almost, Angel.  Nothing will ever be quite as intimate as our lovemaking, I don’t think,” she trailed off, her expression thoughtful.  “Although….”

“Although what?”

“Although it is entirely possible meditation will eventually enhance our physical experience.”

Arianna snorted, and laid her head back on Eli’s stomach, reveling in the warmth and scents that surrounded her.  “I’m not sure we’d survive that, Amado.”

Eli chuckled.  “At least we’ll have time to grow into it, instead of forcing it where it’s not ready to go yet.”  She looked down at Arianna and frowned.  “Why are you so far away from me?  I can’t kiss you when you’re all the way down there,” she said petulantly.

“But I like it down here,” Arianna replied with a wicked grin and a kiss to her bellybutton, letting her tongue rim around the outside before swirling into it briefly.  She tightened her hold on Eli’s hips as a tremor ran through her, and shifted her body slightly downward.  “It smells like us here,” kissing a little lower, and feeling Eli’s body jerk when she sucked at her hip bones.  “And I can still kiss you,” pressing another kiss to the top of her mound, and wincing when Eli’s hands curled hard into her hair.  She reached up and gently removed the vice grip, tangling their hands together as she slid lower.  “See how well it works out for me?”

“Both of us,” Eli ground out, and Arianna smiled as she buried her face, humming delightedly as she set herself to the task at hand - making Eli scream her name loud and often.  Eli tightened her grip around Arianna’s hands and settled herself in for the ride.

************

The mess hall was noisy when they entered, and they both acknowledged the cheers that greeted their arrival, noting they weren’t the last to arrive.  Danny and Luke had come in just ahead of them, and Jacob and Eden had pushed in right behind them.  They each grabbed a breakfast meal, then made their way to empty places at the table, shaking their heads in amusement at the argument still going on among the others.

“It doesn’t matter, Kai,” Titus said dryly.  “You were racing in here for a meal that doesn’t even exist.  I mean, don’t you think we’d have already ferreted out French toast if that was actually a thing?”

“Maybe,” he answered gruffly, never taking his eyes off his pouch.  “It still would have been worth it.”

“Not saying it wouldn’t have been… IF there had actually been French toast.  But there isn’t, so it wasn’t,” Deborah said with a tone of finality that caused Mordecai to pout, but not continue his argument.  With a sigh of relief, she turned to Eli.  “So what’s on tap for today, Boss?”

Eli smiled.  “Aside from getting out of here, you mean?” laughing at the enthusiastic nods she got in response.  “I figure that will be a good start.  I will rework the schedules so we can get back to something that allows us plenty of time to do what we need to, and still allows us time to not only rest, but to come together to socialize - play games or dance or even just talk.  I think we’ve all seen how much better we are when we include that.”

“That’d be awesome,” Jacob chimed in.  “I’ve missed gaming, and I’m pretty sure you and Kai owe me a rematch.”

“And I’d love to get back to having a few dance parties,” Abigail commented.  “I kinda miss those.”

“Oooh, yeah… and what about….” several voices spoke at once and Eli looked around in satisfaction at the excitement filling her Team once more.  It was gratifying to see the people she had learned to love and call family returning to the crazy that resembled normal for them.  She had missed it, and apparently, so had they.

She glanced at Arianna, and found her trembling with exhilaration, but before she could pull her attention away, Isaac and Esther stepped into the room holding hands.  The room went completely still, and they flushed under the regard.  But before it could become awkward, Jacob gave a catcall, and Mordecai whistled, and the room broke into pandemonium.  Finally, Eden stood up and circled them slowly, and everyone grew quiet again.

“Well, well, well,” turning her black eyes to gaze at Eli, the twinkling in them giving away her mischief in a heartbeat.  “Hey, Boss… I think we may have the makings of a new couple here… and a pretty serious one at that.  I mean,” lifting their joined hands.  “They’re holding hands and everything.”

“Shut up, Eden,” Isaac growled, though he couldn’t hide his smile or his blush.

“Awww, c’mon, Ike,” patting his shoulder since she couldn’t actually reach his face.  “I think it’s cute.”  She turned to Esther.  “You sure you want this big lug?” winking at Isaac, knowing he’d recognize her gentle teasing.

“I’m sure.  He chose me, and that makes me happier than I can express.”

“Oooh… does that mean another joining is in our near future?”

“Shut up, Eden,” Isaac growled again.  “We only just got together.  You think maybe we can have a minute to enjoy that first before you start planning our grandkids’ futures??”

“Joining?”
“Grandkids?!”
“Future??”

“Well, I guess everybody got the salient points of that whole conversation,” Eli stepped in as questions came from all corners - including Esther - before things got too heated.  “Either way, we’re happy for you both… no matter how you decide you’d like for this to work for you.”

“Yeah,” Eden said.  “I think you make a great couple. I wouldn’t tease otherwise.”

“Yes,” Arianna reminded them with a long-suffering sigh.  “Remember how she is with Eli and me,” causing chuckles and chortles from around the room.

Eden rolled her eyes.  “That’s because I’m always the one sent to break you guys up when you’re together and we need you not to be quite so together.  Or at least not alone together.”  She heaved her own sigh.  “It’s a wonder I haven’t lost my eyesight… or my life.”

Eli rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t stop the bright green flush that swept through her body.  “Whatever.”  She turned to Jacob.  “What do you say you and I go to the bridge and get us out of here and headed home?”

“I think,” he answered as he slowly stood and stretched out his body, “that sounds like an amazing idea, Cap’n.  Let’s do this.”  And in mere moments, the mess hall was cleaned up and cleared out, and the entirety of the Outreach crew was on the bridge, watching them leave the newly formed planet without a backward glance, and looking forward to the future.

Chapter LXXX

The next few weeks that passed could have been considered mundane - even boring - though neither of those words crossed anyone’s lips.  They had all learned the hard way to never, ever tempt fate so daringly - only bad things came from that sort of recklessness.  Instead, they focused on all the things they could accomplish on the last leg of their trip.

Every inch of the ship was cleaned to within an inch of its life.  It hadn’t seen clean like it before - not with all the haste and hurry that marked its departure.  It had never seen such scrubbing and cleanliness as it received, and every team member stood a little prouder and taller as the ship began to sparkle and shine.

All the damage it had gotten in the fight with Mischief; all the nicks and bumps that had been caused by their tumble through space; all the mess that had accumulated in their haste to fix and repair were picked up and patched up and cleaned, and suddenly, the Outreach was spiffy and sparkling and better than brand-spanking new again.

Mordecai and Hannah had particularly focused on the Botany bay and the Conservatory, tending to the plants and insects already there and adding all the new species Cupid had sent them as they were cleared.  They weren’t entirely certain what some of them were, but they intended to make the most of his generosity and add them to their repertoire as they could.  After all, much of their colony would depend on the living things they had brought with them; there was no reason to dismiss any possibility unless it proved necessary to do so.

Everyone, however, took time to walk through both areas at least every few days.  Aside from the pleasantness of being among living, organic flora, it was exciting to watch the new growth; to study the new species they had garnered; and to breathe deeply of the many lovely smells inhabiting the space. 

Eli and Arianna had resumed their daily evening walks, and someone was always in the Conservatory, anxious to show them something new.  Eli listened patiently and with a smile, glad in her heart to see renewed enthusiasm in her team.  It helped greatly that she could feel herself returning to normalcy.  She hadn’t realized how far removed from it she’d become until she and Arianna had started their meditation sessions together.  Enough had been shared with Eden that she ensured their undisturbed privacy for at least an hour every day. The rest smirked and chuckled a little bit, assuming it was a newlywed thing, but no one begrudged them that time and Eden never saw fit to explain further.

And so they travelled without incident toward the moon that would soon become their home.

************

“Cap?” Jacob called down to sick bay where Eli was currently treating Titus for a broken foot.  He and Paul had once again been playing basketball against Isaac... only this time he zigged when he should have zagged, and his foot had been pinned back hard when Isaac tripped and fell directly on top of it with his knee.  It was a clean break, and Isaac had gathered him up immediately and rushed him to the infirmary while calling out for Eli and Luke.  Eli happened to have already been in the infirmary checking over some tests results she and Luke had been running on several of the new plants with which Cupid have gifted them, and she looked up with widened eyes as Isaac carried Titus through the door, followed by an anxious looking Paul.

“Gentlemen?” motioning them to the nearest bio bed.  Isaac carefully placed Titus down while Paul explained what had happened.  She had already numbed the area and realigned the bones when Jacob’s call came from the bridge.  Eli picked up the handheld regen unit and began running it over the area, nodding in satisfaction at the result she was getting.  She looked in the direction of the ceiling when she heard Jacob’s voice.

“Jake?”

“Hey, Cap - just wanted to let you know we’re getting life signs from a number of the planets nearby.  Nothing significant, like Hank indicated.  I’m not sure any of them can even see us.”

“Yeah, Girlfriend.  Everything we’re getting up here shows them to be pretty primitive.  I’m not even sure they have satellite capabilities yet.”

“All right,” pushing on Titus’ shoulder to get him to lay down, and settling his leg under the larger regeneration unit now that she was satisfied with the bone alignment.  “I don’t see a reason to alert them to our presence.  I think we’re going to do some serious studying of the planets and their cultures and such before we go introducing ourselves to anyone.”

“Yep... sounds good, Cap.  We’ll let you know if anything changes up here.”

“Excellent.  Do we have an ETA yet?”

“Current speed? Another day... maybe a little less.  I expect to have to slow a bit more though as we approach.  I don’t want to fly by and have to do a U-turn.”

Eli scrunched up her face at the descriptor, though she recognized what it meant almost immediately.  She shook her head and wondered if she’d ever get all of Jacob’s colloquialisms.  She snorted.  “Understandable,” she commented.  “Keep me posted.  I’ve got a little more work to do in sick bay, then I’m off for the next few hours.”

“Enjoy, Boss.  We’re out.”

She turned her attention back to Titus.  “How are you feeling?”

He smiled.  “I don’t even need the not-as-good stuff, Doc.  That numbing agent was great,” causing her to chuckle.

“Yes, it’s good at what it does, though you may have some residual soreness for a couple days... even once you’re healed.  Make sure you let me know immediately if it becomes unbearable or if something doesn’t feel right.  I know what I see, but only you know what you feel.”

“You got it, Doc.”

“All right,” she said, patting his shoulder as she returned her eyes to the monitor at the end of the bio bed.  “Everything looks good so far.  You’re going to need about another hour in here under the regen unit.  I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”  Titus nodded and closed his eyes.  Eli moved her glance to the two young men still waiting by his bedside.  “As for you two,” gesturing them away from Titus and toward the door.  “You’re free to go... back to what you were doing or to your duty stations or whatever is next on your agenda.”  She looked at them frankly, though her eyes twinkled with hints of mischief and gaiety.  “You might want to consider showering first, though.  Just saying.”

They both blushed, and Eli chuckled, causing them to give her reluctant grins.  Paul gave her a muttered thanks before slipping by and out the doors.  Isaac reached out and placed a big hand on Eli’s shoulder, gratified when she didn’t even flinch.  “Thank you,” he said quietly.  “I know this is your job and all,” gesturing to the infirmary.  “But you didn’t accuse or place blame.  You didn’t make me feel like any more of an idiot for being a klutz... and I appreciate that more than you can know.”

“While I would just as soon never have to utilize this particular skill set, the truth is that accidents are going to happen.  I’m just glad I can help make things right again.  Now... go get a shower before my eyes start watering,” she teased.  “Even Esther won’t forgive you for smelling like a locker room for too long.”

“Does Az?” he asked with a smile.

“Yes... as she’s pushing me into the shower,” Eli laughed.  “Love will forgive a lot, but....”

“But no one likes stinky.  Got it.  Thanks, Eli.”

She waved a hand at him as he exited the room, and she turned to check on Titus before crossing back into her office and settling down behind her desk.

************

It could have been a minute - it could have been an hour.  Eli couldn’t have honestly said how much time had passed when she was alerted to Titus calling for her.  She moved swiftly into the med bay and over to his bed.  He gazed back at her with sleepy eyes.  “Titus?  Are you all right?”

“I’m good, Doc.  Just... I’ve been here over an hour and I’d kinda like to go get a shower.  All the sweat’s dried, and I’m itchy.”

She chuckled.  “I’ll bet.  Let me take a look,” removing the regen unit from where it had been placed over his foot, and running a scanner over it.  In another moment, she was skating her fingertips over his skin, jerking back when he jumped away from her.  She looked at him with concern.  “Did I hurt you?”

“No,” he assured her with a grin.  “But your touch tickles.”

“Sorry,” she said with a half-smirk.  “Do you think you can stand a firmer touch?”

“I think I’m less likely to pull away if you’re not tickling me.”

“Fair.  Let me know if I hurt you.”  She ran her hands over his foot and toes, up and around his ankle.  She checked the lower part of his shin before refocusing on his foot.  “How does it feel?”

Titus flexed his toes.  “Better than new,” he replied.  “Pretty sure you fixed the toe I jammed a couple weeks ago,” eyes widening when she gave him a look.  “It was nothing, really.  I got up in the pitch dark on the middle of the night and ran into the door when it didn’t open fast enough.  I didn’t break it, so I didn’t see a reason to tell you.  I figured it was the price I paid for being a doofus.  It would have healed on its own... eventually.”

“Maybe,” she concurred, “But there’s also no reason for you to have to suffer if you don’t have to. Next time, come see me.”

“You betcha, Doc,” agreeing as he stood.  “Thanks!”

She nodded and waved.  “Go on - get out of here.  I have a little more work to finish up, then I’m headed out myself.”

She had no more than seated herself behind her desk once more when she heard the door slide open.  She closed her eyes briefly; she really wanted to finish up here so she could go home and be with her mate for a bit.  A touch in her hair, and she smiled, leaning over until her head touched Arianna’s belly.  Short nails started scratching her scalp, and she purred, feeling Arianna chuckle at her.

“Tired, Amado?”

“Little bit,” she mumbled.  “Busy day.  We’ve cleared several more of the plants Cupid shared.  It looks like we may be able to use most of them anyway.  A couple are a little bit questionable, but mostly they seem highly compatible.”

“What of the insects?”

“Those are a little trickier, but we’re making good progress.  I don’t think we’ll be done before we land, but we’ve made some great strides.”

“So you can come with me now?” tugging on the nape hairs she held, smiling when she felt Eli whimper against her.  She tugged again, then resumed her gentle scratching.  “Come, Querida.  I think we’re having vegetable fettuccine for dinner tonight, and then we’re going to meditate for a while.”

“And after that?”

“It’s up for negotiation.”

Eli smiled and butted her head into Arianna’s belly.  “I think I’d like that... a lot.  I can feel myself returning to normal, but more than that, I can feel us growing together.  Like we were before everything, but better.  Does that make sense?”

“Um hmm.  I think part of that comes from talking to MaTb about it.  You may be a grown, independent woman, Amado, but the fact is, her approval has always been important to you.  When she gave her understanding and her blessing, it was like shedding a burden you never knew was there.  It gave you a measure of peace that has transferred into everything else in your life... including us.”

Eli crooked her neck up just enough to allow her to glance into sparkling brown eyes, and met the wide smile with one of her own.  “When did you get so smart?”

Arianna shrugged.  “Smart was easy.  Learning you is a ‘rest of my life’ kind of thing for me.”

Eli leaned back then so she could stand, and took Arianna’s hand in her own.  “Good thing we’ve got forever, huh?” she asked with a smile as she tugged Arianna into her body.  “Come, Beloved.  I think we have some serious negotiating to do.”

Arianna switched hands with Eli to allow her to scratch between her shoulder blades and chuckling when her back arched instantly and her purring resumed.  “As long as it involves your wings, I think we can come to an equitable arrangement.”

Gold eyes met brown, and Eli’s smile was almost feral.  “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Laughter followed them all the way down the hallway.

************

“We’re coming within visual range, Cap’n,” Jacob remarked from pilot’s station. 

“Put it up on the screen, Deb,” Eli commanded quietly from her chair, and a moment later, there was a picture of an enormous planet and several small moons.  They gazed at the view silently for a moment, then Eli spoke again.  “Can we get a better look at the moon?”

“I think so.  Hang on a sec,” Jake said.  “Deb, can you...?”

She nodded and let her fingers fly over the console, nodding to herself in satisfaction when the screen flickered and returned with a much closer view.  “That’s the outer range of our visual, Cap’n.  It’ll be a bit before we can get closer without pixelating the image.”

“Can you put it on the screens throughout the ship?”

“Already done.”

“What do the scans show?”

“About what we expected,” Danny replied.  “A lot of rock....” trailing off as he leaned forward to get closer to the readings.

Eli raised her eyebrow and waited, but when he didn’t follow up, she prompted him.  “Danny?”

“Huh?  Wha...?” swiveling around to meet questioning golden eyes.  She cocked her head at him and waited, and he cleared his throat and looked back at his readings as he flushed a bright purple.  “Oh... umm... it um... it looks like there might be water of some kind in pockets around the planet.  We’ll have to do some more surveying and some experiments of course, but we may not be starting out quite as close to the very beginning of things as we first believed we would.”

“All right.  Jake, does that information change our original landing choice?”

With a nod of acknowledgement to Jacob’s unspoken request, Danny threw the newly mapped readings onto the main screen and Jacob squinted at it even as he moved to overlay his own charts on top.  He left them for a moment, silent as he studied the graphics in front of him.  Finally, he shook his head and turned his attention back to Eli.  “I don’t think so, Cap.  If I’m reading this right, we’ll be close to a couple of those pockets without actually being on top of them.”

“Boss, if I may?” Eden called from the engine room, changing the viewscreen to show her visage.  “It might be in our best interests to orbit for a few days - get a good look at what’s down there.  We can do scans and studies up here, or even take a shuttle down for a quick look around.  If things look good, we can land and get started on setting up our colony.”

“We all concur down here, Amado,” Arianna confirmed, as she and the rest of the engineering crew stepped up around Eden.  “A few extra days of caution would be much preferred to getting things halfway complete and discovering it was all for naught for one reason or the other.”

Without asking, Eli found herself looking at the rest of her crew when Deborah brought them all up on the main viewscreen.  She met each pair of eyes slowly, giving everyone a chance to speak and offer an opinion.  When she finished, she nodded her head succinctly.  “Very well,” she said.  “We will begin an orbit in the northern hemisphere, and we will map our new home as we slowly move south.  I will expect everyone’s participation, and we’ll need to be as thorough and exact as we possibly can.”

“You write up a schedule, Boss, and we’ll follow it,” Paul said.  “And maybe we can draw some grids so we can overlap our work.  That way we’ll miss less.”

“Maybe we could work in pairs,” Luke chimed in, and suddenly there was a lot of excited chatter going on.  Eli just smiled.

************

She was sitting in the mess hall working on a mapping schedule when Paul and Titus stumbled into the room together, nearly tripping one another in their haste and enthusiasm.  She schooled her smile and finished the time slot in front of her before glancing up at them with a serious expression.  “Gentlemen?” wondering what they were up to that had them nearly vibrating with excitement.

“Um... we just thought... since I mentioned....” Paul looked down at the Pad in his hand before turning a pleading glance toward Titus, who rolled his eyes and snatched the Pad from Paul unceremoniously. 

“For freak’s sakes, Paulie.  The boss doesn’t bite... unless your name is Arianna, I’m guessing.  Either way... not us,” shrugging his shoulders and turning back to Eli.  “Sorry, Boss.  Me and Paulie... we just thought since he suggested it and all, we’d go ahead and draw up those grids for you - save you a step or two if we could,” offering her the Pad.

Eli took it and studied it, nodding in approval as she allowed a smile to grace her features.  “Nice job, gentlemen.  Thank you; I appreciate it.”  A sparkle entered her eyes.  “And Paul... Titus is right.  I don’t bite unless your name is Arianna and you ask really nicely.”

Paul flushed a bright red, but couldn’t stop the tiny smile that crossed his lips.  “I know that... really.  I just... I just didn’t want to overstep.”

“You didn’t.  There’s nothing wrong with showing a little initiative.  Eventually, we’re going to stop working under a command structure, and everyone will have a lot more personal responsibility.”

“I know.  Thanks, Eli.”

“Thank you both... for drawing this up for me.  It means I can put the numbers in and have this ready to go by the time we reach the planet and start our initial orbit.”

“Glad we could help.  Does this mean we could have a Team picnic in the conservatory next meal?”

Eli smiled and propped her head on her hand as she began working on the schedule again.  “I don’t see why not.  I should be done in the next standard hour, if you two want to gauge interest in your idea.”

Paul smiled.  “You’re the last we had to ask.  We’re just gonna start gathering our supplies.  Don’t be surprised if the rest come wandering in soon.  Jake’s gonna put the ship on auto, and Ike will take over when we’re done.”

“Sounds like a plan, gentlemen.  Now get your things and get out of here, so I can get done and join you.”  She smiled at them, and they grinned in returned.  It was shaping up to be a great night.

Chapter LXXXI

They took their time - carefully mapping the entirety of the moon, and discovering a number of things about the place they had chosen to call home… some good, and a few, not-so-much.  But eventually, they picked the best spot they could find, and decided it was time to land the Outreach, and begin their real work.

“How’s it looking, Jake?” Eli asked from her seat behind him.  Everyone was gathered on the bridge to witness this historic moment, and he could feel the responsibility that rested on his shoulders.  Still, he was overwhelmed with the level of trust he could feel emanating from the team that surrounded him, but mostly from the woman he called Captain.  So he squared his shoulders and turned to meet her eyes briefly, giving her a nod before returning his eyes to his instruments.

“Looking good, Cap.  We should have touchdown in two point four standard.”

“Steady as she goes then, Jake. We’re in your capable hands.”

Jacob nodded again, though he didn’t take his eyes away from his readings again.  “Down fifteen kilometers… ten… nine… reverse thrusters engaged… six… landing gear extended… three… two….”  There was the slightest bump, then Jacob announced, “Touchdown.  We have reached the planet’s surface.  Systems are green across the board.” He turned back and met Eli’s eyes, and grinned when she smiled at him with her entire countenance.

“Nicely done, Jake.  Very nicely done.”  She looked around the room, feeling the happiness and excitement in the air, and seeing it clearly verified in the expressions surrounding her.  She motioned to the viewscreen, currently showing little beyond the rock that was now their home.  “Well, ladies and gentlemen, it doesn’t look like much, but welcome to our new home.”

“It doesn’t look like much yet,” Eden corrected with a smile.  “Pretty sure we’re gonna change that little situation.”

“The sooner, the better, Girlfriend.  That,” pointing at the viewscreen, “leaves a lot to be desired on the personality scale,” the disgust in her voice causing chuckles to ripple around the room.

“Well, then,” Luke interjected as he clapped his hands together.  “I say it’s time to get to work.”

“I hate to agree with the peacekeeper,” Eden said with a smirk and a wink in Luke’s direction, causing him to roll his eyes and grin, “but I think he’s right.”

“Well, we’ve all got our assignments,” Eli stated.  “Let’s get to work.”

With those words, they broke into smaller teams, with the largest contingent going with Jacob to begin construction on the expansion of the new colony.  It was time to begin their life’s work.

************

They spent months digging and creating and building, slowly expanding their home to encompass more than simply the ship they resided in.  They had begun forming more family units as well.  There was Eli and Arianna, naturally, and Isaac and Esther had recently welcomed the first baby born into the colony.  Hannah and Mordecai had just publicly pledged themselves to one another, but that was the end of ‘traditional’ couples as far as it went.  Luke and Danny were a couple, but they weren’t exclusive by any means; Luke was expecting a child with Naomi within two months - though they weren’t any kind of actual couple either.  Eden and Jacob had added Abigail to their relationship, which seemed to work out well for all parties involved.  Only Titus, Paul and Deborah remained completely unattached to anyone particularly, though they had on occasion been seen together with one another or Naomi, or Luke and Danny.  It was all a little complicated, but it was working for them as a community, so no one really questioned it, or made much ado about it.  And then, life happened… again.

************

Eli was in the med bay - the only actual science area still remaining on the grounded ship.  She and Luke were slowly expanding its labs as the other sciences took their places in the new construction areas.  Her head was bent over some research when Abigail was marched in the door, with Eden guiding her by the elbow.  Eli looked up curiously, removing her glasses as she stood.  Before either woman could speak, she was crossing the room, and urging Abigail onto a bed, reaching for her scanner, before a touch on her arm halted her progress.  She looked up into tearful blue eyes, and covered the hand resting on her arm with her own.

“Gay?”

She shook her head and the tears fell, reaching for Eli, and dropping her head onto the strong shoulder.  Eli looked at Eden in alarm, but she just shook her head, black eyes burning with a mixture of sadness and fury.  Eli reached out a hand that Eden immediately clasped, but no words were spoken, so Eli simply held on to Abigail and let her cry herself out.  After a few minutes, Abigail sucked in a deep breath and wiped her eyes as she raised her head.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.  “I just… it’s not… I… I….”  She glanced at Eden forlornly, reaching out a hand and sighing in relief when it was accepted without hesitation.  “Mor is going to kill me.”

“She’s pregnant,” Eden stated succinctly. Eli’s eyes widened, but otherwise her reaction was impossible to see.  Abigail felt it, as Eli was still holding her, but outwardly, she didn’t give anything away.  Abigail let the love and acceptance flow through her as she tucked her head back into the crook of Eli’s neck and held on tightly.  Hazel eyes met black, demanding an explanation without saying a word, as she continued to offer silent comfort to the woman clinging to her.  Eden sighed.

“It wasn’t… this wasn’t supposed to happen.  It shouldn’t have….”  She sighed.  “I’m fairly certain the baby is gonna be mine.  Jake has never actually… you know, penetrated her.”

“And you have, I take it?”

“Not like that, no.  We talked about it… all of us when Jake and I first approached her - before we did anything together.  We knew what the limits were; we wanted to respect Gay’s culture, but having her be alone… staying alone for years on end because of some religious mandate seemed cruel, and we were both interested in expanding our relationship horizons.”

“And I really wanted this… with both of them,” Abigail added softly.  “They love me and take care of me so beautifully, and to watch them together is just magical.  I was thrilled when they asked me to join them and be a part of what they share.”

“Okay,” Eli nodded slowly.  “So what happened?”

“Eden and I were alone together.  I mean, Jake was there… watching, but she and I were making love without him this time.  And when she came, I felt her warmth mingle with mine… inside me.”  She sighed and shook her head.  “I know that sounds crazy, but I don’t know how else to explain it.”

“It doesn’t sound crazy… not with what I know of her people and physiology.  All right now,” Eli said, meeting Abigail’s deep blue eyes.  “We’re going to do this by the book.  Lay back for me - let’s confirm the pregnancy first.  Then we’ll discuss your options.”

Abigail lay back, but shook her head.  “There are no options,” she stated firmly.  “If we are pregnant, then we’ll be having a baby.”  She blew out a nervous breath.  “I am certain of that much.”

“All right,” Eli agreed again, without hesitation.  “Let me check you over.  Do you want Eden to be here with you, or…?”

Abigail clutched Eden’s hand tighter, and pulled her right to the edge of the bed.  “If I am pregnant, she will be one of three parents.  She has the right to be here.”  Before Eli could formulate her next question, Jake came barreling in the door, mechanical arm almost ripping off part of the wall in his endeavor to keep himself from literally flying into the room at top speed.  Abigail smiled, and Jacob responded automatically, despite the concern in his eyes.  He looked around at the three women, hoping for answers, but all Abigail said was, “And so does Jake.”

“And so does Jake, what?” he asked, accepting the hand she held out and coming to stand beside her.  What’s going on?”

“Well,” Eli drawled as she looked at her scanner.  “The three of you are going to be parents.  And given  the standard cycle of Gay’s people, you should have a new baby within four standard months.”

“Four months??”
“Parents?!  Baby??”

Eden barely had time to reach across Abigail’s body to catch Jacob as his knees gave out.  He clutched at her gently with his strong arm, while she held him up by the collar of his shirt.  After a moment, he eased his grip and nodded at her slowly.  He blinked his eyes and shook his head as she released her grip, then turned to face Eli.

“Did I hear you right?  We’re having a baby?”

Eli smiled.  “You are.  But the next time you need to sit, please use a chair,” eyes twinkling with mirth.  Jacob chuckled, but couldn’t hide his blush behind his sheepish expression.

“I’ll try to plan for it in advance, Boss.”

“You do that.”  She turned back to her patient.  “Gay, I need to do a thorough work up on you, so we can figure out exactly where you are in your pregnancy, and prescribe a course for you that will take the best care of you and your baby.  But first, I need you to relax.  Despite everything, your Mor will be happy for you.  She couldn’t possibly expect you to remain alone for years to satisfy a religious calling that doesn’t even have a place in this society.”  She grinned impishly when doubtful blue eyes turned her way.  “Besides,” she added, “MaTb and Mama can always help her understand.”

Abigail couldn’t stop the laughter that burst forth.  “Oh my… I would almost like to be there to see that.”

Eli laughed.  “Me too.”  But her words had served their purpose, and Abigail laid back and closed her eyes, and let Eli do her work.

************

“So what happened today?” Arianna asked as they sat together in their tub, soaking away any number of residual aches.  Her day had been spent helping Jacob with the next addition of their community… until he’d gotten a call and run off like he was on fire.  She’d been glad that Isaac and Deborah especially had been there, to help finish up the wall they had been working on, because even with machinery doing the heavy lifting, there was still a lot of physical effort involved in the work.

Eli cocked a brow, and waited until Arianna shifted enough to see it. Arianna snorted.  “Don’t even try.  I was there when Jacob ran off without a word of explanation, and I felt any number of things from you today, but most especially, happiness. So what happened?”

“Jake and Eden are expecting a baby… with Gay.”

Arianna’s eyes widened appreciably, but all she said was, “Okay.”  A beat.  “Is Gay the one who’s pregnant?” waiting for Eli to nod the affirmation.  “Is she all right with it?  I mean… with her religion and all?  Her madre….”

“She’s excited… now.  She was a little worried about the other - until I reminded her that her mor couldn’t possibly expect her to remain alone for the next five years, to say nothing of the rest of her life… because I can’t see us abandoning this place unless we fail spectacularly.  Mama and MaTb will help her understand if they need to, and I suspect she’ll be thrilled enough about having a grand that her only complaint will be about the distance between them that won’t allow her to spoil properly.”

Arianna nodded and grew introspective; Eli just waited until she was ready, and she wasn’t particularly surprised by the question when it came.  “Have you thought about it?  About us having a baby?  Becoming parents?”

Eli sighed and shrugged.  “Sometimes,” she admitted.  “I mean, I know we will have to - it’s part of what we all agreed to when we took this assignment.  Part of our responsibility is to begin populating this colony, and to create a strong gene pool to allow for a good foundation.  I know that.”

“But…?” Ariana asked when the silence dragged on, easily picking up on Eli’s hesitation.

“But I like having time with you, and right now, there’s not a whole lot of that - not nearly as much as I want, anyway.  I like it being just us, and having time to do the things we want to do, and that has become even more true as we’ve learned to sense one another and feel things together.”  She shrugged again and dropped her eyes to the droplets of water that rested on their skin.  “I’m just not in any hurry to change that,” she confessed.  “Does that make me a horrible person?” The water sloshed dangerously close to the edge of the tub, and tanned hands fell on green cheeks when Arianna cupped her face gently.  Hazel eyes met deep brown at her urging, and Eli instantly relaxed at the look of love and contentment shining back at her.

“No, and it doesn’t make you selfish either,” Arianna assured her.  “It does kind of make you romantic, though,” smiling at the alarm she saw reflected back at her, even as she could feel the shock and joy rolling through Eli’s body.  “I promise not to tell,” she whispered, though no one was around to hear her.  She leaned forward, until their fronts were melding, so she could put her lips to Eli’s ear.  “Can I tell you a secret?” she asked in a voice so soft, Eli felt the words more than she heard them.  She nodded, and Arianna smiled.  “I’m not in any real hurry to have children either.  We really do have so little time together right now, and if it wasn’t for Eden and her insistence to the rest of the team that we have one standard hour a day for our meditation, we’d have even less - because we both know there is always going to be something that needs your attention.  So yeah - I don’t think we need to rush into this any time soon.”

“Even if we’re never going to hear the end of it from MaTb, Mama, and your Madre?”

“Even if.  MaTb already has a grands from Elijah, and the possibility of more from your other siblings; Mama has Ian and Prue, and soon she’ll have Joy and Ephraim, to give her grands close to home.  And one day Nat may have another partner and give her kids as well.  Besides, she’s still settling into life as a newlywed with Caleb.  That should keep her busy and occupied for a little while at least.”  She sighed.  “As for Madre, she will be far less likely to push.  I think she is happy enough that she and I are reaching a place where we are comfortable with each other and able to talk like Mother and Daughter as well as adults, instead of strangers who have little more in common than blood.  Not that she won’t be thrilled when we finally decide to go forward with expanding our family, but for now, I think she’s just happy to be considered part of us.”

“So it doesn’t bother you that we may be among the last of the Team to have children… even though we were the first couple?”

Arianna chuckled.  “Not remotely.  I just hope our friends don’t expect us to watch their children… at least not all at the same time.  That might actually convince me to never have children… contract or no.  Because we already have three that are going to be close in age.”

“And eventually, we’re going to have to see what happens with different pairings - just to give us that broad base,” frowning when Arianna grew sober and looked away.  “Angel?”

“I’m not sure I agree with that idea anymore,” covering Eli’s mouth when her lips parted to speak.  “I get it - I do.  And I know I agreed to it initially and during the interview process.”  She shook her head.  “The first was before we met and the second was when I believed I had no chance of a future with you.  I figured that was as close as I was going to get to sharing with you something as intimate as having a child together… even if it was only our cells joined in a lab and grown in an incubator.  But now… I don’t know.  I’m not sure how I feel about having to share that part of you - or me, for that matter - with everyone else.  And who is going to raise all those children anyway?  And what about…?”

She stopped speaking when Eli covered her mouth.  She glared, but it was lost in the smile she could feel beneath her own hand, and she tilted her head in question.  Eli grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm before removing it from her lips.  But before she could respond, a pounding was faintly heard coming from their front door, and in another moment, Eden’s voice was ringing clear across the comm unit in the main room.

“All right, you two!  I don’t want to know what kind of nasty things you’re doing to each other in there!  I’ll probably need brain bleach to wash my mouth out for even having to mention that out loud.  Blech!”  They could almost hear her shaking her head to clear it, and traded amused glances as they waited for her to continue.  “Anyway,” she shouted a little louder, “I need you to stop doing whatever it is you’re doing that’s keeping you from responding to hails and comm units and knocking on your damn front door.  Your scheduled meditation hour is over, and we’re having a party!  So finish up your little soiree and get dressed.  Everyone’s waiting for the two of you to join us.”  A beat.  “Hurry up and come on!  It’s not every day I get to celebrate becoming a makuahine!”

They waited for a long minute, but when they didn’t hear anything else, they turned to one another and burst into laughter.  It rang out for a few minutes, mostly because every time they started to settle down, they would exchange glances again and the giggles would begin once more.

Finally, after several minutes of sputtering laughter, they were both holding onto their sides, busy trying to catch their breath.  Eli looked at Arianna and smiled, then rose from the tub with admirable grace.  Arianna didn’t see the hand extended toward her - too busy admiring the water sheeting off her mate’s body.  Eli smiled indulgently, and cupped her face with her still-extended hand, waiting for brown eyes to blink away the lust and desire that shone so brightly from them.

Arianna did blink, though her expression only mellowed, and her smile turned slightly more predatory.  “What can I do for you, Amado?” she asked softly, allowing her hands to tease up the back of Eli’s legs until she could palm the firm globes of her behind.

Eli growled, and her eyes flashed golden.  “Not what you’re suggesting at the moment… not right now anyway.  Maybe when we return….” letting the thought trail off.  “I know we still have much to talk about - about us and about the colony.  But it will wait.  No amount of discussion is going to change anything for us tonight - not for us as a couple, nor for the colony as a whole.  We’ll talk about it, and we’ll meet with the team and discuss our concerns about the rest of it.  But for now….”

“For now, we’re going to go and celebrate the creation of the new life our friends have made from their love for one another.  And we’re going to laugh at Eden when she realizes she has to tell her makuahine that she’s going to be a grand.”

Eli covered her mouth to keep her laughter from escaping.  “I shouldn’t laugh - we’re all going to have to do that with our families eventually.”

“Yes, but by the time we have news like that to share, our families will be so thrilled by the news, they won’t care.  Except….”  Arianna stopped speaking and chewed her bottom lip.  Eli looked at her in concern, smoothing her lip from between her teeth and wrapping her up in a warm towel before she could catch a chill.

“Except…?”

She blinked and snuggled into Eli’s warmth, sighing in contentment for a moment.  “Let’s be honest - the moment we tell them anything about even a hint of a possibility of children, Mama will flag down a ship and bring the whole of them all out here to visit.”  Arianna snorted and shook her head, raising it to meet Eli’s gaze directly.  “Maybe we should wait until they’re grown.”

Eli laughed again.  “Or we are. But if we don’t get out of here soon, Eden’s going to come looking again….”

“And nobody wants that.  C’mon.  We don’t want to miss this party.  We’ve got a lot to celebrate, and isn’t that nice for a change?”  She glared at Eli when a hand clapped over her mouth, and turned to find hazel eyes. staring back at her seriously.  She frowned, then her eyes widened when she realized what she had said.  “I didn’t mean….” she whispered.

“I know,” Eli whispered back. “Let’s go, before the cosmos decides to take you up on that invitation.”  And in another minute, they were dressed and out the door, to be met with cheers of welcome when they reached their friends.  Today would be a day of celebration, and tomorrow?  Well, they’d take care of tomorrow when it came… just like they always did.

Epilogue

They were all there, waving goodbye and calling out their farewells as they exited Eli and Arianna’s home.  Everyone had at least one child, and some had one in each arm.  It was obvious that they were all happy and doing well, and Mary smiled as every kid waved goodbye to her… even if that waving was aided by a parent because the child was a baby too young to understand what was really happening.  Jacob, Eden, and Abigail were the last.

“It was good to see you, Mary,” Jacob offered as he scooped one dark-headed baby from Eden’s arms, and extended his free hand to the tow-haired little girl that was growing up too fast.  Eden shifted the remaining baby, and clutched the girl’s other hand. 

“Yeah… thanks, Chief.”

Mary’s brow furrowed.  “For what?” honestly confused.  She hadn’t been Chief in a long time.  She kept up with the kids involved in the terraforming projects because they had become her extended family.  The responsibility for them had long since been their own.

“For being right about me,” glancing between Jacob and Abigail.  Light dawned in Mary’s eyes, as she remembered the conversation she and Eden had shared a lifetime ago in that mountain cavern hideaway.  She smiled.

“You’re welcome.  I’m so happy it worked out for you.”

“Me too, Chief,” lifting up the little girl’s hand and waving goodbye for both of them.  “We’ll be seeing you.”

Mary lifted her hand in farewell, but didn’t respond otherwise.  Abigail followed closely behind them, cradling her rounded belly, but she paused before she crossed the threshold.  There was sadness in her gaze, and brought her fingertips to her lips.

“It’s been a pleasure, Mary,” she whispered, though Mary heard her clearly. She nodded her head and smiled as she raised her hand once more.  Then Abigail stepped out and closed the door solidly behind her.  Mary turned her attention back to the two women she called daughter, not surprised to find Eli wrapped around Arianna and both their hands covering the barely there bump that was Arianna’s stomach.  She chuckled briefly, just barely staving off a coughing fit before it shattered her composure.

“Finally?!?” she asked with a wide grin.

Eli laughed, even as Arianna flushed bright red.  “I told you she’d know,” catching the hands slapping at her, and kissing Arianna soundly.  “You’re the first to know, Mama.  We haven’t told anyone - not the team, and not our parents.  We thought you should be the first.”

Tears welled in Mary’s eyes, but her smile was bright.  “I’m honored… and thrilled for you both.  Do you know…?”

“It’s a girl,” sending her the womb pictures they had taken, and smiling when Mary reached out a shaking hand to trace the baby’s features.  “And we expect her to deliver sometime….”  Eli slipped on her glasses and looked at the calendars they had made every year since making their home on the planet.  One marked their time on the colony; the others were for the worlds they called home.  It helped them remember when things were happening and what was being celebrated.  “According to this,” motioning to the display, “sometime in the next six months.”

“That’s wonderful,” Mary commented, allowing a tear to slide down her face as she smiled.  “You know your folks are going to want to be there for the birth.”

“Yeah… no.  Maybe we’ll set up a live feed for them or something,” Eli muttered, patently ignoring the glare Arianna was sending her way.

“Maybe you can sleep on the couch for the next six months,” Arianna responded loud enough for both Mary and Eli to hear.  Hazel eyes widened.  Mary shook her head.

“And on that note, I think I should go.  It sounds like you two have things to work out still.  Be good to one another, and give that beautiful little girl a kiss for me, all right?  Love you both.”

“We love you, Mama.  We’ll talk to you soon, so be thinking of what names you’d like to contribute, “ Eli said with the slightest hitch in her voice, “since we know full well both MaTb and Madre started their lists before we left.”

Mary grinned, but remained silent.  And in another moment, the screen went dark.  Arianna turned in Eli’s arms, and let the sadness she felt from Eli resonate through her.  She closed her eyes as she recognized the truth.  “You’re sure?” she whispered.  Eli nodded and closed her eyes, tilting her head until her forehead met Arianna’s, and they let their tears flow together.

************

“Are you happy now, Chief?  Are you satisfied?” Caleb asked tenderly as Mary leaned back, exhausted.  She clasped his hand with her own frailer one.  Her hair was snow white, and her face was wrinkled, but her eyes twinkled brightly as she smiled up at him.

“You haven’t called me that in a long time, Caleb.”  She snorted. “I haven’t been that in a long time.”

He shrugged as he gave her a bright grin, though his eyes held a hint of sadness.  “Maybe.  But they still call you that, and it always seems appropriate when you talk to those kids, no matter how much time has passed.  And let’s be honest,” he continued, “they’ll always be kids to you no matter how old they are or how many kids and grandkids they have themselves.”

She chuckled, but it turned to a cough almost immediately, and Caleb wrapped her up tightly until the spell passed and she patted his arm.  “I’m all right,” she assured him, though they both knew it for the lie it was.  “I know better.”

He laid her back against her pillows.  “Not that it’s ever stopped you before.”

“Probably never will, either,” she conceded.  “But to answer your questions, yes, I’m happy.  It does my  tired heart good to see how successful they’ve been, and how happy they are… all of them.”

“But especially the two you consider family.”

“They are family, Caleb,” she growled, watching the smirk blossom across his face.  She released the hand she’d been holding, and crossed her arms over her chest.  “You’re baiting me.  Why?” narrowing her eyes at him.

“Because I can,” he admitted, smiling when she continued to glare at him.  He tugged at her arms until she relaxed, and gathered her hands in his once more.  “You did good, Mary…. real good.  You’re leaving quite a legacy.  Your kids here are happy and successful, with kids of their own that are well on their way to becoming amazing adults.  Your kids that are light-years away are equally as happy and successful, and one day soon, they will be parents to a beautiful little girl.”

She glowered.  “I wish they hadn’t waited so long.  I’m going to miss watching her grow up.”

“I know,” he agreed, as he shifted to wrap her in his embrace, and hide his tears from her.  “But you and Eddie will be able to watch over them, and me and the rest will keep an eye on things here, just like you taught us.”

She leaned her scant weight back into him, and patted his hands until she could slip hers between his.  “I know you will.  You’ve always cared as much as I have.”  She sank back into him further, and he tightened his grip carefully.  “I’m so tired.”

“I know you are, Love.  Close your eyes.  Eddie’s waiting for you.”

“What about you, Sweetheart?” mumbled, even as her breathing began to slow.

“I’ll miss you,” he admitted.  “I’ll miss you something fierce.  But I’ll be along shortly.  Keep my place warm, all right?”

“I love you,” she whispered.

“Love you too, Beloved.  Go on now - he’s waiting for you.”  Then he counted her breaths until they were no more, and still he sat silently.  There were people that would need to know of her passing, and he’d notify them eventually, but for now, he was going to sit with her and remember the favors that fortune had showered upon her... and them... in a lifetime that was lived to its fullest.

THE END
05/13-07/18

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