Housewarming at the Orchard

by Nalini Singh

  This story takes place soon after the end of Shield of Winter and before Shards of Hope.

  Housewarming at the Orchard

  By Nalini Singh

  Ivy placed the centerpiece in the middle of the large wooden table that occupied her and Vasic's new dining area. Her small cabin had been enlarged to a sprawling five bedroom house in record time, thanks to the combined efforts of her community and a squad of Arrows. The Arrows had done the majority of the physical work, the more experienced builders who lived nearby drawing up the plans and sharing their knowledge and experience.

  Ivy had made sure the extension included large communal spaces. This dining area flowed off from a spacious kitchen filled with light courtesy of all the windows that looked out over Ivy's kitchen garden, the vegetable plots bordered by flowers. Between the dining area and the kitchen was a comfortable arrangement of sofas and chairs set around a low table.

  Nothing but a counter separated the kitchen from that informal seating area.

  She'd had to convince Vasic on the usefulness of such an area. He hadn't been certain his fellow Arrows would be comfortable in such a casual environment, not when they were used to rules and straight lines. Relaxation was a foreign concept.

  Ivy had prevailed when she pointed out that even if adult Arrows didn't like that space, the children might. So far, the squad hadn't permitted any children here, concerned with being able to ensure their security, which Ivy understood. But with her own security now ramped up, she knew the situation was changing at a rapid pace.

  One day soon, children would run across these smooth wooden floors, tumble to play on the soft but hardwearing rug she'd placed in the center of the informal area, only part of which was covered by the coffee table. They'd laugh and ask what she was cooking, and she'd sneak them a treat now and then. And one day, those children would have eyes of a wintry gray that to her held the universe.

  The idea made her heart grow big inside her chest, almost too big to contain.

  Swallowing the lump of emotion, she smoothed her hands over the wooden table built by her Arrow and his best friend. They'd buffed and polished it to a smooth finish but they'd made no attempt to hide or erase the flaws in the raw material: the dips and valleys, the crack that exposed the dark heart of the honey-colored wood, the slight warping on one edge.

  It was Ivy's favorite piece of furniture.

  Her centerpiece was nothing overdone, just a cluster of wildflowers she'd picked and placed in a small glass jar that had once held preserves. It served no purpose but to be a joyful splash of color. Ivy could do such things openly now. She no longer had to hide her instincts and inclinations, no longer had to live in fear, her mind painfully chained. She was an E, an empath, and she found joy in taking care of those around her, in ensuring they were happy and content, in creating a home that held unconditional welcome.

  "Ivy."

  Turning, she smiled at the man she'd sensed the instant he walked in the door. "How was your walk with Rabbit?" Their small white dog still had a tendency to follow Vasic around every time Vasic stepped outside, as if their pet well knew how close they'd come to losing this man who was Ivy's heart. The first few times Vasic had teleported out without warning, Rabbit had barked for several minutes in aggrieved irritation, then ignored Vasic for at least an hour after he returned--though even then, Rabbit never went far.

  Later, he'd started walking even closer to Vasic, as if trying to sneak into the teleport. These days, Vasic just took him along except when the situation might be a dangerous one. Their pet was probably the most well-traveled pup in the entire world.

  "He's resting under the apple tree with the scarred trunk," Vasic said. "I threw sticks for him to chase and he tired himself out." He curled his arm around her when she walked to wrap her own around him.

  His scent surrounded her, familiar and beloved.

  "Nothing feels as good as being in your embrace," she said, rubbing her cheek against his chest before tilting her head back to look into the eyes in which she'd once seen winter and now saw a love that defined her.

  Phantom fingers brushing back her unbound hair, her telekinetic lover caressing her in a way only he could. "Don't be sad if they don't come."

  He was no empath but Vasic could read her like an open book. Part of it was the psychic bond that linked them heart to heart, but the rest of it was just Vasic. He watched, he listened, and he surprised her by doing things like building the dining table with Aden when, having decided the men had worked hard enough on the house, she hadn't so much as hinted at her desire for one.

  "I will be sad," she admitted with a scowl. "I sent out specific invitations to ten of the squad." Not a general invitation, but rather a directed one, on the theory that Arrows were used to making specific plans and would be more likely to turn up to her first attempt at a group event.

  So many had come to her and Vasic's wedding but that had been for a deeply symbolic and very important reason. This was for no reason but to have a social gathering. She hoped the success of this small dinner would lead to a deeper sense of comfort among the attendees, which would then spill over onto the rest of the squad.

  "This house," she said to her personal Arrow, "it's so new that I still find the occasional curl of wood we missed somewhere. It smells new, smells like possibility and hope."

  "I wasn't aware emotions had a scent."

  Scrunching up her nose at the man she adored beyond life, Ivy rose on tiptoe to kiss him. Just because he was hers and he was teasing her and she loved touching him. He returned the kiss in full measure... and halfway through, she realized he'd used his telekinetic abilities to lift her several inches off the floor.

  Laughing into the kiss, she telepathed, Tired of bending down to kiss me?

  For your kiss, Ivy, I'd go anywhere... but this is more efficient.

  Her shoulders shook and she couldn't hold the kiss. Some of her friends thought Vasic was too serious, too quiet; they'd learn better when they got to know him more. He knew how to smile, her lover, though his lips rarely curved. "I can't argue with that." Hooking her legs around his hips, she leaned into the kiss, her fingers deep in the cool silk of his hair.

  She made no attempt to hold herself up, trusting Vasic to keep her safe.

  He always did.

  His taste sank into her bones, his warmth and strength as familiar a caress as the kiss that melted her. Nuzzling at him when they finally broke the kiss, she said, "I'll be sad, but I'll keep trying. I want them to understand that we're family now, that they're welcome always."

  Vasic slid his hand over her curves as she hopped down to the ground. "No one I know is as stubborn as a certain empath."

  "Don't you forget it." She stroked his jaw before turning to walk over to the kitchen counter on which she'd placed a tray full of whole fruits she planned to cut once their guests started arriving. With Vasic as her expert consultant, she'd chosen fruit that had a milder flavor, less sweetness or tartness.

  Arrows were used to tasteless nutrition bars like most of the Psy race; she'd have to ease them into other foodstuffs. She'd also made a light stew and a soft flatbread her friend Jaya had shown her how to prepare. Neither had an intense taste.

  Checking to ensure the stew was bubbling on the cooker, she turned to Vasic. "I'll share this with my parents and the others who live here if the squad members fail to show."

  "Aden will come." Vasic leaned down to pet Rabbit when their dog ran into the room, Rabbit's nails making familiar scratching sounds on the floor.

  Ivy had clipped those nails recently, after sitting Rabbit on her lap. From the first, he'd always sat quietly while she did that, as if he knew she was only trying to make him more comfortable. "He
llo, you," she said as he came over to her, his tail wagging wildly. "All rested up?" Kneeling down, she scratched him behind the ears as she knew he liked.

  Steps sounded on the wooden floor while she was laughing at Rabbit's tongue-lolling ecstasy. She knew that tread. "Hello, Aden."

  "Ivy."

  Rubbing Rabbit's belly when he flopped onto his back with his legs up in the air, she listened to Vasic and Aden talk about a current operation with the ease of men who'd known each other since childhood.

  They were connected by inseparable bonds, her Arrow and his best friend. It was Aden who'd kept Vasic alive and sane long enough that Ivy had been able to find him. And it was Aden who'd turned up day after day to help Vasic figure out his physical balance after Samuel Rain had to take Vasic's arm in order to save his life.

  She'd sat with Rabbit on the stoop of her old cabin, which was now incorporated into this house as her and Vasic's bedroom, and watched the two men as they moved with lethal grace. Even with his balance off directly after the operation, Vasic had lost none of that grace.

  Highly trained as he was, however, it hadn't taken him long to find a new balance. Of course, Samuel was determined to build him an integrated prosthetic. The scientist was brilliant enough that he might just find a way to bypass the systems in Vasic's body that had been permanently damaged by the experimental gauntlet that had almost stolen him from Ivy.

  But that was Samuel's goal, not Ivy's.

  What mattered to her was that the gauntlet damage was localized, had no impact on Vasic's overall health. She'd be forever grateful to Samuel and his surgical team for ensuring Vasic came out of the surgery suite alive.

  Squeezing her eyes shut, she breathed slow and deep.

  Ivy.

  I'm okay, she said to her Arrow. Just happy.

  Vasic gave her a measuring look when she stood up, his eyes intent. Then he held out his arm. Walking over to tuck herself against him, she reached out a hand to Aden. He'd sat with her during the agonizing hours of the surgery, told her about his and Vasic's childhood, kept her from breaking apart. She would never forget that.

  Today he allowed her to curl her fingers around his palm in welcome before they separated. "Thank you for coming, Aden."

  Sensing another presence right then, Ivy made an inarticulate sound and broke away from Vasic. Her friend Jaya laughed at the impact of Ivy's hug, the other E having teleported in with blue-eyed Abbot.

  "I didn't know you were coming!" Ivy hadn't invited Abbot and Jaya, not because she didn't want them to attend, but because she knew they were busy setting up an empathic training school in Jaya's region.

  Jaya hugged her back just as enthusiastically before they separated. The taller woman's elegantly lovely face was lit with sparkling warmth. "I heard you were having a party and I didn't want to feel left out." She added a telepathic postscript. I also thought you could do with a little backup.

  Thank you. Ivy glanced over her shoulder to see that Abbot had joined Vasic and Aden. Turning back to her friend, she continued to speak on the telepathic level. How are you and your Arrow doing?

  Jaya's eyes shone wet. I have no words, Ivy. He loves me with a depth that steals my breath. She pressed a fisted hand against her heart, rubbed. When I'm with him, I feel more. Bigger. Better. Stronger.

  Love does that. Ivy was about to ask after a young empath in Jaya's family when another female form appeared in the doorway. "Zaira!" Of all the people she'd invited, the Venetian commander was the one she'd least expected to show. "Come in!"

  Walking inside, the hard-eyed commander held up a small box wrapped in silver paper and tied with a ribbon of the same color. It had a professional touch, as if done in a store. "My research tells me that as a guest to a housewarming, I am expected to bring a gift."

  Ivy's eyes widened. Never would she have thought Zaira would do this. Then again, the commander had been living in Venice for years...and though she pretended not to understand the concept of "domestic companion animals", Ivy had seen Zaira petting Rabbit during the rebuild, though only when the Arrow thought no one was watching.

  "Thank you." She accepted the gift with a smile. "I'm so glad you came."

  Zaira gave a curt nod just as Rabbit got up from his seated position and made a beeline for the Venetian commander. Tail wagging, he woofed excitedly at her.

  Zaira's response was a cool, "I don't speak canine."

  Ivy bit the inside of her cheek.

  Jaya telepathed her at the same time. Is she making a joke? I'm sure she is.

  It's highly possible. Arrows weren't always predictable. "Would you like a drink?" Ivy placed Zaira's gift carefully on the counter. "I made fruit water--basically water with a little fresh fruit juice." Pure fruit juice was far too rich a taste for Psy raised on nutrient drinks.

  Zaira paused.

  Aden walked over while his fellow Arrow was still thinking over Ivy's offer. "How is Venice?"

  "Stable." The commander glanced at Aden. "Ivy is offering fruit flavored water."

  "We should try it."

  Ivy had the feeling Aden was telepathing Zaira at the same time as he spoke the words aloud. Whatever their silent discussion, they turned as one to her and nodded in acceptance of her offer.

  Behind her, Jaya was already ladling out the water into the glasses Ivy had set out. Taking them from her friend, Ivy handed the drinks out not just to Aden and Zaira, but also to Abbot.

  Vasic shook his head at her silent question when she raised a glass toward him. He'd been her guinea pig, had already drunk two glasses while she tested out different combinations. Now, her Arrow touched his hand to her lower back. Enough guests for a satisfactory housewarming?

  Oh yes. Ivy was thrilled to have so many people here when she'd truly expected only Aden. Shall we--

  She paused mid-sentence after becoming aware of another new presence...more than one. Vasic glanced at the door at the same time.

  Axl and Amin appeared with Nerida.

  Ivy had barely welcomed in the senior Arrows when four other members of the squad arrived.

  Then five more.

  I didn't invite this many people! Ivy telepathed Vasic, delight bubbling in her bloodstream. Did you?

  No. But I did ask Aden to let it be known that we were having a housewarming event and all Arrows were welcome. No one was ordered to come--Aden was very careful to couch it as an open invitation our squadmates were free to accept or decline.

  Ivy looked up at him. You didn't tell me that.

  His expression didn't change but she felt a ripple along their bond and that ripple, it tasted of Vasic, of winter, of home. I didn't want you to be disappointed if no one took up the invitation.

  Her heart swelled again. Rising on tiptoe, she cupped his clean-shaven jaw in her hands, kissed him. I love you.

  Vasic's response was to touch his fingers to her own cheek.

  As Ivy soaked in the caress, she was aware of the other Arrows watching. That was all right. They needed to see love, needed to see affection, needed to know this future could be theirs, too.

  We have more guests.

  Turning, she found a group of ten young Arrows who told her they'd come in via a light plane they'd landed at a strip on the other side of the closest township. After that, they'd jumped into the back of a truck driven by one of the locals who'd been happy to bring them to the orchard. He'd asked them to "chip in" just enough to cover the charge his old vehicle would need for the return trip.

  "The negotiation was simple once we made it clear we had no Arrow business in their town," one of the Arrows told Abbot. "I offered a larger fee but the farmer refused it on the justification that it was a 'neighborly' thing to do. He requested that if we had the opportunity, he'd appreciate it if we could pick up a difficult-to-find part for a farm vehicle, bring it along the next time we were in the area."

  Ivy bit back a smile. She wondered what the locals were making of this influx of black-clad soldiers. A little fear wasn't unexpected, but th
e townsfolk were also rural men and women used to adapting to what life threw at them--including it seemed, Arrows needing a lift.

  The influx didn't stop.

  Her table overflowed. Arrows sat on the couches, gathered in small groups in the open spaces. Someone had brought in Tamar, a civilian specialist who worked with the squad, and she hit it off with Jaya, Tamar's Silence having always been questionable at best.

  The Arrows were watchful and quiet for the most part, but they tasted her drink, her food. It was too much sensation for many of them and they reverted to nutrition drinks and bars, but they didn't leave. The conversation, when she caught pockets of it, was mostly about missions and tactics. However now and then, she'd discover something different.

  Jaya was talking about her family, about a child empath she was helping to train. "It turns out the reason so many of my cousins were depressed and not particularly successful at holding down jobs," she said, "was because they'd been stifling their empathic skills." Her tone turned dry. "Or that's what they're telling their parents."

  The other empath leaned companionably into Ivy as Ivy came up beside her. "I have to admit all of them are excelling in their E studies--I've never seen them so excited."

  "I can understand." Ivy would never forget the agony that had been her shields coming apart as her brain fought the conditioning that told it to strangle an integral aspect of her nature.

  A small, furry body wiggled between her and Jaya at that instant, Rabbit looking up with his eyes shining. Tamar immediately went down to her knees. "Hello, Rabbit."

  Bouncing over to her, Rabbit wallowed in her enthusiastic petting. "He keeps me company when Vasic brings him to the compound," Tamar shared. "I had Vasic buy special treats that I keep for him."

  "He's got you right where he wants you." Ivy shook her head at her shameless pet, her lips tugging up at the corners.

  Leaving Tamar and Jaya to talk, she walked around, ensuring all her guests were happy--or at least comfortable. But for Vasic, the Arrows hadn't truly embraced emotion yet.

  However they were here and they were staying despite the fact the house was full and arms were brushing, shoulders bumping. At some point, she realized they were swapping in and out, some going on shift or on assignment while others came off.

  Vasic disappeared every so often as he was asked for a teleport, the majority of those who needed a 'port in or out going to him because they knew the 'porting didn't sap his strength.