“Forgot?”
“Forgot that he wouldn’t be with me—with us.” Dark eyes filled with tears again. “I don’t wanna leave him.”
Abby’s heart ached. “Don’t you want to go home?”
TeShawna scoffed. “What home? Staying with you’s the only home that ever meant anything to me. Do we have to go back?”
“You don’t think you’d be better off back on Earth than living in an alien spaceship?” She tried for a light tone, but the words rang hollow in her own ears. Wouldn’t she rather be with Hrebec than back on Earth?
“No,” TeShawna said baldly. She pursed her lips and a hint of her usual brashness appeared. “Maybe I’ll decide to stay.”
The words echoed in Abby’s head. “You would really do that?”
“I don’t know. I don’t wanna be the only human, but… I don’t wanna leave Mekoi either.”
“Don’t decide just yet, okay? Let me talk to Hrebec.”
“Yeah, all right.” Her defiant lower lip trembled. “Mekoi probably don’t want me now, anyway.”
“I sincerely doubt that. Why don’t you go find him? I’ll watch Vanessa.”
“I don’t like chasing after no man.”
Abby patted her hand. “In this case, I think you owe him an apology, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I reckon.” A smile brightened her face for the first time that day. “I do like to kiss and make up.”
“Well, go on then,” Abby said with a laugh.
After that conversation, she wasn’t really surprised when Elaina sought her out a short time later. She was much more direct than TeShawna had been.
“Jedan wants us to stay with him—and I want to stay,” she said.
“What are the two of you going to do? Live on the ship? Bring up the babies there?”
“Maybe. At least for a while. But Jedan was thinkin’ of settling down somewhere. Maybe buyin’ a farm.”
“A farm?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with that?” Elaina’s lips twisted into a reminiscent smile. “I started off on one. It wasn’t until times got hard and we had to sell and move to the city that things got bad with my dad. He wasn’t happy anymore. That’s when he started drinking.”
“Aren’t you concerned about being the only human out here?”
“Nah, not as long as I have Jedan, Mikie, and Ginger.” She hesitated. “I do worry about the kids some, but it will be all they ever know, so I think they’ll be fine.”
“Has Jedan talked to Hrebec?”
“Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first. Do you think I’m doin’ the right thing?”
“To be perfectly honest, I don’t know,” Abby said slowly. “I understand why you want to stay, but you have to think of the future as well.”
Before she could continue, Cassie came rushing in. “Molly’s in labor!”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
After a quick apology to Elaina and an assurance from Cassie that they’d take care of the girls, Abby went running.
When she arrived, the change in Molly’s appearance shocked her. No longer pale and drawn, delicate color flushed her cheeks. The bed had been rearranged into a type of birthing chair and she was sitting up on her own. Ribel, on the other hand, looked like he’d lost twenty pounds overnight, but his voice was calm and certain as he urged Molly to breathe. Abby took Molly’s other hand, and the girl squeezed it.
Molly glanced up at her. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad I am too. Now, let’s get this baby born.”
“Fine with me,” Molly said, clutching her hand as another contraction rolled through her.
Her labor seemed to last forever, although Abby knew that was just an illusion. Molly grew paler, while Ribel looked like only sheer force of will kept him going, although his voice never faltered. At long last, there was a gasping cry, and Molly’s daughter was born. Ribel took one look at her before he collapsed.
“Ribel!” Molly cried.
L’chong had the bed extended once again. Once Ribel was lying next to Molly again, more silver ribbons wrapped around his wrists and ankles.
“He’ll be fine,” the medic assured them. “But he will need to rest for some time. As will you.”
“But I have to take care of my daughter. Isn’t she beautiful, Miss Abby?”
“Gorgeous, honey,” Abby assured her. “And we’ll help with her, just like we have with all of the others. What are you going to call her?”
“I thought maybe Riba. I think Ribel would like that.”
“I’m sure he would.”
Abby helped Molly nurse Riba, slipping away when mother and child drifted into an exhausted sleep. A Trevelorian nurse stayed to watch over them while L’chong accompanied her out of the room.
“Is a mating bond always like that?” she asked. “It was like she actually drained him.”
“No,” he said. “Naturally, each partner draws strength from each other, but not to that extent. I encouraged the transfer of energy, but he also urged it on. As I warned you, they are more deeply bound now than ever before.”
“She isn’t going to want to leave him, is she?”
“No.” He sighed. “But then again, I suspect she never did.”
“She’s so young…”
“Yes, but she will get older. As do we all.”
Abby smiled ruefully at L’chong, and they parted ways, but as she returned to their suite, his words echoed in her thoughts. She wasn’t getting any younger, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly happy. Three of her girls already wanted to stay with the Cires—although where they would stay was still up for debate. Would they need her more than the other two? But she couldn’t just send them back to Earth without her.
When she returned to the room, everyone had left except Cassie and Inzen.
“Lucie had lunch and now she’s taking a nap,” Cassie said. “I wrapped Tiana in some of your clothes and managed to get her to take a bottle as well, although she wasn’t happy about it.”
Abby winced guiltily. “Hrebec isn’t back? Since no one brought Tiana to me, I thought he must have taken care of her.”
“Nah, he’s not back. I would have brought her to you if I couldn’t get her to take the bottle. How’s Molly?”
“She and the baby are fine. They were sleeping peacefully when I left.”
“And young Ribel?” Inzen asked.
“Drained. Whatever L’chong did seemed to take his strength and pass it on to Molly. I hope he’s going to be okay.”
“I’m sure he will be fine,” Inzen said, “but he would have willingly made any sacrifice to assist his mate.”
Cassie looked at him, then took a deep breath. “Miss Abby, TeShawna told me that she’s thinking about staying. I am too.”
“You?” Abby stared at her in shock. She hadn’t expected this from the practical Cassie. Unless… “You mean… you and Inzen are mates?”
“No,” they both said at the same time.
“Cassie is like a daughter to me,” Inzen assured her. “But as a father, I am concerned for her safety and her happiness. She has not been treated well on this Earth of yours.”
She couldn’t argue with that. “And this is what you want, Cassie?”
“Yes.” The girl’s face softened. “I feel—I feel like I’ve found a family, and I don’t want to lose that.”
Abby sighed. “I understand. That’s four of you.”
“Four?”
“Elaina intends to stay with Jedan, and while I haven’t discussed it with Molly, I’m quite certain she won’t want to leave Ribel.”
“We could talk Amber into staying,” Cassie said eagerly.
“No. I don’t want you to even try. This has to be her decision.”
“And what about you, Abigail?” Inzen asked. “Do you want to stay?”
“I have to think about Lucie,” she said, knowing she was avoiding the question.
“You come from a place that has produced five pregnant fe
males without family support. Is that what you want for your daughter?”
“Not everyone ends up in that position,” she protested, even though over the past four years, she had seen all too much of it.
He inclined his head. “You would know, of course.”
“Are you proposing that everyone stay on the ship?” she asked. “That doesn’t seem fair to the babies or the girls.”
“You are correct.” Inzen hesitated. “I haven’t yet discussed this with Hrebec, but—”
“Discussed what?” Hrebec asked from the doorway.
“My intention to resign,” Inzen finished calmly.
Chapter Thirty
When Hrebec awoke the morning after the battle, he found himself obsessing about the Cire colony that L’chong had revealed. He needed to see for himself what type of society they had developed. After feeding Tiana, he went to speak to L’chong. He didn’t tell Abigail where he was going for reasons he didn’t want to examine too closely. The efficient medic had already arranged for transportation, and a small personal flyer with the route programmed into its system awaited him.
As he flew towards his destination, he admired the landscape. He passed over several small cities, but the planet was predominantly rural with farms interspersed with large natural areas. The natural beauty was a welcome change from both Ciresia’s devastation and the familiar but confined surroundings on the Defiance.
The flyer finally landed in a small clearing at the top of a hill. From here, he could look down at the village. A large central market square was surrounded by a cluster of buildings that followed the Trevelorian tradition of bright colors and thatched roofs. None of the buildings were large, and he saw no signs of industry. Fields stretched from the village down to the river and he could see people working in them. The path leading down from the landing site was surrounded by orchards.
Despite the peaceful, idyllic scene, his heart sank. While he hadn’t allowed himself to consciously consider the matter, he had thought that perhaps this could be a solution for himself and Abigail. While it was no doubt attractive, how could he ask her to live in a remote village under such primitive conditions? She had mentioned Lucie’s education several times, and he doubted that the opportunities available here would rise beyond a tiny school and an inexperienced teacher.
At the bottom of the hill, he was met by an older Cire, perhaps his father’s age, who studied him closely. “Hrebec? Son of Charen?”
Hrebec stared at him. “How did you know?”
“You resemble him closely.” He extended his hand, and Hrebec automatically clasped his wrist briefly before the other man continued. “I am Dirigen. You were too young to remember, but I was friends with your parents. I’m sorry about your mother. She was a lovely woman. When she died, it triggered my own decision to leave. I could see the way the authorities were heading, and I wanted out before it was too late.” He turned to lead the way deeper into the village. “What brings you here? L’chong has assured me that you do not intend to report on our existence to Ciresia.”
“No, I won’t do that.”
As they reached the market square, he looked around in amazement. There were a number of Cires present, mostly male, but he saw two females. At least four other species mingled with the crowd. Several children were darting around, all bearing signs of mixed heritage.
Dirigen laughed. “The High Council would most definitely not approve.” He waved a hand, and Hrebec realized that he was referring to the number of different species in the small village.
“Have you been here ever since you left Ciresia?” he asked.
“No. We traveled for several years, tried a stint on Darchan, and finally ended up here.”
Dirigen seemed satisfied, but Hrebec had his doubts. “Isn’t it a very… simple life? Our ancestors lived like this.”
“It may appear that way, but I assure you we are not missing any modern conveniences. Except for indoor sanitary facilities, of course.” Dirigen burst into laughter at Hrebec’s appalled silence. “You should see your face. I promise you that our sanitary systems are quite up to date.”
A reluctant grin crossed Hrebec’s face. “I am relieved to know that.”
“I’m sure you are. But again, why are you here?”
Hrebec sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“Then come inside. We’ll have a drink while you tell me.”
Dirigen led the way through a small but comfortable house. Hrebec caught enough of a glimpse of both the kitchen and bathroom areas to realize that they were quite modern. They ended up on a back porch overlooking the river. Dirigen poured them each a glass of wine while Hrebec told his tale.
“A female Cire infant.” Dirigen said, when Hrebec was finished. “I wonder why L’chong did not send her to us.” His brow ridges crinkled. “Is that why you’re here? To see if we’ll take her?”
“No,” he said immediately. “She’s ours.”
Dirigen’s lips quirked. “Ours?”
“She is the daughter of my mate and myself.”
“Your human mate,” Dirigen said thoughtfully.
The sound of laughter floated over to their position and Hrebec turned to see a couple walking up the path from the river. The man was Cire and the female was Trevelorian, but they were walking hand in hand, his tail wrapped protectively around her feathered shoulders, and they were quite obviously in love.
“Do you have a problem with humans?” he asked, turning back to Dirigen.
“How could I? I’ve never met one. I was referring more to the fact that you said she wished to return to her planet.”
Hrebec looked at the other man and admitted, “I thought—I thought that perhaps this would be an alternative. But how can I ask her to live in a place like this when she is accustomed to a different lifestyle? Her planet may not have space flight, but their technology seems relatively sophisticated.”
Dirigen shrugged. “We have all the technology we need. We travel regularly to Wiang and are quite aware of what is happening in the Confederation.”
“She is also concerned about the education of our daughters.”
“My granddaughter just graduated from the university in Wiang.” Dirigen’s eyes narrowed. “But these are simply excuses. The question is—will you let her go back to her planet?”
“I cannot stop her,” he said, his chest aching as he spoke.
“Perhaps not. But you can decide what you are willing to give up to have her stay.”
“Everything.” There was no hesitation in his response. The thought of his ship and his crew flitted through his mind, but they were insignificant compared to Abigail and his family.
“Then you have your answer. Offer her everything you have, and hope that it is enough.”
“What if it’s not?”
“What if it is? My mate was willing to give up Ciresia and travel with me on an unknown quest. You cannot know unless you ask.”
Hrebec bowed his head in acknowledgment and Dirigen let the subject drop. They finished their wine, and then the older man gave him a tour of the village. There was a larger variety of commerce than he had anticipated, and he found himself wondering where he could fit in. At least part of the answer came when they entered a building and found an elderly Trevelorian making furniture.
“These are beautiful,” Hrebec said, noticing the way the lines of each piece brought out the subtle colors in the wood.
Dirigen laughed. “I’m not surprised you appreciate them. Your father was a talented furniture maker at one time.”
“He was? I only remember him rushing off to the lab every morning.”
“That was after your mother died. He was so determined to prevent others from suffering her fate. Did he get rid of everything he made?”
“No,” he said slowly, remembering some of the beautiful pieces that had graced his home up until the time they had moved because the labs were consolidated. The desk currently on his ship was the only one of them to survive the move
.
Fascinated, he wandered over to the owner and was soon deeply engrossed in conversation. Dirigen eventually had to politely, but firmly, suggest that they be on their way. Their last stop was the school. Rather than one massive building, the school was comprised of small pods connected by a trellised loggia. Dirigen introduced him to the principal, a no-nonsense Trevelorian with a kind face and an air of competency. She willingly discussed the curriculum and he found himself reluctantly impressed.
Finally, Dirigen walked with him back to the flyer. “So what do you think?”
“I believe that I misjudged the village.”
The other man laughed. “I agree, and I hope you will consider joining us. You would be most welcome. But Hrebec, this isn’t the only solution. No matter what you were taught on Ciresia, you do not have to be surrounded by other Cires. If your mate would prefer city living, stay in the city. If she doesn’t like Trevelor, find another planet. In the end, what really matters is that she is with you.”
Dirigen’s parting words had stayed with him during the flight home. Anxious to discuss them with Abigail, he didn’t expect to walk in and hear his chief engineer announcing his retirement.
Chapter Thirty-One
“What did you say?” Hrebec asked.
Inzen bowed his head. “I said that I intend to resign. Cassie does not wish to return to Earth, and I intend to build a family with her.”
Shocked, he darted his gaze between the pair. “You are mates?”
Inzen shook his head. “No, although everyone seems to be making that assumption. I feel as a father would.”
“You haven’t heard the rest of it,” Abigail said dryly. “Elaina, TeShawna, and Molly don’t want to return either. We were just discussing possible alternatives to having them spend the rest of their lives on the ship.”
“I may have one,” he said slowly. “Does that mean that you would stay also?”
Abigail bit her lip, but before she could respond, Inzen cleared his throat. “We will leave you to discuss this matter.” He and Cassie picked up the two infants and left.
Mama and the Alien Warrior Page 18
