by L M Lacee
‘I am tutoring the girls in botany. I have no idea when we will be returning.’
Peyton grinned at the snotty reply which she was used to now. Suna had wanted to be Peyton’s housekeeper, why no one knew, it seemed out of character for the Assaen. Even Henri could give no explanation when asked as to why she wanted to take up the position.
When Helen, Brenda and Esther looked like they would not leave Peyton’s home willingly. Suna had remained on Prime for a few luneras. Then she had flown off to Terra with Harm’s sisters. Supposedly to teach the girls about plants, but everyone knew she was sulking.
Harm when he heard Peyton was going to Terra informed her, he had given Suna enough time to sort out her issues. He asked Peyton to explain to her she was welcome to remain on Terra, but his sisters were wanted at home.
TWENTY-EIGHT:
Suddenly she was surrounded and being hugged by the twins. When Heather had mated Harm, she had become the girl’s aunt. They had tried explaining the concept of sister- in-laws to the two girls but had given up after the second tantrum. It was not worth the upset, so she became their aunt and she was as happy as the girls were about it.
‘Auntie Peyton… Auntie Peyton. We have missed you.’
‘I missed you as well, I am sorry Nicolas had to leave, but he has things to do before he leaves on his mission.’
Enara said. ‘We understand.’
Enuru asked. ‘Did you see we did the name thing?’
Peyton laughed. ‘I did and how horrified he was.’
They giggled together. ‘It was the best.’
Peyton smiled as she said. ‘I brought your cousin for you to meet.’
‘That is not Rayvan.’ Enara said, cousins was a concept they could understand.
‘No, this is Keylan, she is almost four luneras old, and she has an older sister, her name is Hope who is your age. I am hoping you will meet her and help her adjust to life on Prime. Unfortunately, Hope has had a very hard life until recently and is very quiet, which truthfully neither of you are.’
They giggled, then Enuru asked. ‘You want us to be her friend Auntie Peyton?’
‘I would like you to want to be her friend because you like her. Not because of me.’
Enuru nodded as Enara asked. ‘Do Rayvan and Draykin like her?’
‘They adore her.’
‘We will too, Auntie Peyton.’
‘I am so proud of you both.’
They beamed at her praise, then Enara said. ‘We are still doing studies, so we cannot meet her.’
‘Oh, I think you have learned all you came to learn on Terra. I am sure you know Harm and Heather miss you very much, they are quite lonely without you.’
Enara said wistfully. ‘We miss everyone, especially Heather and Harm, Auntie Peyton.’
‘Well then, it is time for you to return home, before Harm and Sedeen storm over here and carry you both back.’
They both laughed at the pic she drew, Suna raised a beautifully sculptured eyebrow at her words, knowing she could not contradict Peyton. It appeared Harmara had allowed her enough leeway and decided to pull her in. Suna was an experienced Assaen she knew when to push and when not to and now was not a time to push. She did the skirt thing again and said. ‘Girls second-meal is ready.’ She kissed Keylan’s neck, saying. ‘I am sure this delightful little draygon is hungry as well.’
Keylan giggle and babble as Suna and the girls carried her away with them. Peyton watched as Willian grinned and followed them into the Hex that housed the communal eating complex for Terra. Peyton smiled at the thought of Esther, Suna, and the twins coming home.
Avana and Netta eyed her worriedly as Jarrod looked off into the distance. It was hard for him not to pry, but on occasion Peyton would unconsciously broadcast her thoughts, as she was doing now.
Peyton looked around happily, seeing that the five Warriors had taken themselves off to explore the planet which was amazing.
Avana said. ‘What you are doing is annoying. Jarrod, is she being annoying?’
‘Yes and loud.’
Instantly Peyton’s thoughts stopped. He breathed a sigh of relief. Her thoughts were overwhelming, even with his personal shields up.
Netta asked. ‘What is she doing?’
‘Gloating and congratulating herself.’ Avana replied.
‘Oh, you get used to it.’ Netta told her as she wandered into the house.
‘That is just rude Netta, I do not gloat.’
‘You so do.’ Came from just inside the doorway.
‘How can you say that?’ She yelled back.
Netta popped her head out the door to ask. ‘Do you or do you not glow?’
‘Oh my Stars, that is not gloating.’
Knife bounded over to Netta. Mama, Mama Netta. Grammie Esta and Gammie Lott arsa comin’ look... look!
Netta crouched down and rubbed his ears. ‘I see them Knife.’ Seeing the smiles on the other’s faces, she said. ‘Lott, and he connected on the way home.’
Peyton said as she walked over with Avana and Jarrod. ‘It’s time for them to come home.’ Passing Netta, she entered the Hex and called back. ‘Still not gloating!’
Avana and Jarrod laughed, as did Netta. She looked at Knife and asked. ‘Should we go meet Grammie Lott and Grammie Esther?’
He just bounced in place and then like a bullet ran in the direction he had come from. ‘I am guessing that is a yes.’ She said as she started to jog after him. ‘Knife baby, wait for me.’
Jarrod and Avana stood watching them disappear around the Hex. Avana asked him.
‘Did you ever think that we would be here with these wonderful people, living a life as normal as we are?’
Jarrod placed his arm around her. This was something else his Trina and the females of Maikonia had taught them. Touching said way more than thoughts and words ever could. When Avana laid her head on his chest, he realized they were right.
‘Never in a million yentas. They find humor in just about everything and make you laugh with them.’ He sounded truly puzzled when he said. ‘She is the most powerful person in the Universe and she finds the strangest things to amuse herself with.’
‘And loves, my word that female can love.’ Avana mused.
He squeezed her tighter in his embrace as he said. ‘Thank the Higher Powers for that.’
‘Yes.’ Avana answered, then softly said. ‘Do not tell her there are Higher Powers.’
‘Why?’
‘Jarrod, brother of mine, she will want you to introduce her to them.’
‘Dearle Stars, I had not thought of that.’
‘I thought you may not have.’
Together they walked into the house just as Grathum, Rion and Tunera rounded the corner of the building. They stopped and watched the Mystics walk inside.
Rion said what they were all thinking. ‘I believe keeping ourselves separate has not done what we thought it would do. What say you?’
Grathum and Tunera nodded, and Grathum said for them both. ‘I think we agree it has not.’
Tunera said. ‘I think it is time to be brave, like the females, and embrace this new world we find ourselves in.’
They both turned to Grathum, who nodded, looking into the distance as he said thoughtfully. ‘You are both right. Every day they are determinedly brave, I see it in their faces. I did not realize what it was until now.’
Rion said slowly. ‘They belong to a new world, in a new Universe and yet they do not hide, like we have been.’
Tunera stated. ‘I am sad we did. I feel we have missed many experiences, like Chef Helen’s food. Willian made that sound very good.’
Rion agreed. ‘They touch, they laugh and they understand us. Some of them are logical, some not. Some are tough and some seem soft and yet are not.’ He looked at his brothers to see them nodding their heads in agreement.
Tunera stated. ‘They are so very different from each other, and yet they will talk to everyone. I wish to stop hiding.’
Grathum said. ‘I wish to stay on Prime. I do not want to leave and go on missions.’
Rion asked. ‘Do you think they will let us?’
Grathum answered. ‘I do not know. I hope they will, we will ask, it is not forbidden to ask questions. We will ask Commander Netta, she called us friend.’ He sounded as amazed as the others felt that she had done so.
Hesitating, Rion said, his eyes on Grathum waiting for his response. ‘I think Leota and Fenthic wish to leave Prime to leave the squad.’
Grathum instinctively wanted to deny that the males should leave, he wanted to demand they stay together like they always had. Then he remembered listening to Commander Marlo talking to Commander Larson while he trained about the new Armee that they had now. How it was all changed and how squads were a thing of the past. It was time he said for everyone to embrace the new Armee. Grathum knew he and his brothers must as well, so he said. ‘If this is what they wish for, I will be happy for them.’ As he said the words, he realized he meant them and smiled.
Relieved, Rion and Tunera grinned in return.
TWENTY-NINE:
As the brothers stood basking in the sunlight, and their newfound contentment. Grathum felt something touching his legs and looked down into the upturned face of a small girl child. Something inside him assured him she was indeed a female. Perhaps it had something to do with the curly blonde hair or the bluest eyes he had ever seen.
Regardless, as he looked down at her, he was positive he heard a heartbeat sound within his needar. Instinct as old as the Universe warned him his life was going to be different from now on, and it was all this small girl child’s fault.
As he studied her, he saw she was tiny and not well balanced; she wobbled alarmingly on her feet as she pulled herself up, using his legs as support.
‘Muamuamu,’ she said while she drooled with a smile which consisted of her mouth opening wide and overtaking her entire face. ‘Muamuamua.’
‘What is she saying?’ Rion asked him as he too looked down at the child.
Grathum raised an eyebrow as he looked over at his squad brother. ‘Why would you think I would know?’
‘She has picked you to touch.’
‘And this tells you I should know what she is saying?’
The other two nodded enthusiastically, sighing at their logic. He leaned down and picked the little girl up by the back of her overalls. She swung gently from side to side with her arms and legs flailing in the air.
He lifted her higher, bringing her face inches from his, and asked. ‘What are you saying little female?’
‘Muamuamua.’
Tunera asked. ‘Is it a language we do not have?’
‘Search for languages.’ Rion advised and within seconds each of them were searching the languages they had been given in the download. Just then Peyton came outside to make sure they were aware to come inside for second-meal and halted. Whatever she was going to say remained unsaid on seeing the three large Warriors standing together with baby Dilly held in mid-air.
Tunera offered. ‘Maybe Specialist Darby did not know about this language?’
Grathum grunted. ‘Unlikely, she is a most efficient female.’
The baby hung there swinging slightly, babbling and smiling, her chubby little arms and legs moving in imaginary water. Grathum felt himself softening as her wide blue eyes stared into his. Rion took the young girl in his arms and instantly, Dilly’s bottom lip quivered as she looked up at him. Then she opened her mouth and the most horrifying noise escaped.
‘You damaged her!’ Grathum growled as Rion shoved the little girl back into his arms. He cradled her protectively against his heart as she snuggled close to him, her cries dying away.
Peyton moved to stand in front of the three Warriors and ignored the stiffening of their bodies. Inwardly she sighed, but her voice betrayed nothing. ‘So Warriors, you have met one of the little ones that are awaiting parents.’
Grathum felt his arms instinctively tighten around the baby. ‘She is for guardioan?’
‘Oh yes.’
Rion took a chance and asked. ‘What was that noise she made?’
They collectively held their breaths, waiting to see what would become of Rion for questioning her.
Peyton smiled gently at the male, knowing what it took for him to ask. ‘She was upset, that was crying, babies do it often. You took her from Grathum and she seems to have attached herself to him.’
Grathum looked down into the dribbling face of his future and raised an eyebrow. ‘She is leaking?’
Peyton was saved from answering when Nina came out from the huge communal kitchen and eating Hex. ‘Oh good, I wondered where she had gotten too!’
She reached for the baby when Grathum twisted away from her hands and growled. ‘Who was watching her? She is small, she could have been damaged and would have made that noise.’
Nina looked to Peyton for an explanation. ‘She cried, it made them worried. Dilly seems to have adopted Grathum.’
‘Oh my.’ Nina said as she looked at the huge and he was huge, well-muscled Warrior who protectively held tiny Dilly in his arms. He was bracketed by the other two Warriors, in a triad of protection. It appeared little Dilly was home.
Nina hid her smile and adopted her best Commander’s expression as she said. ‘I see, well what say you, Madam Peyton?’
‘I say it is a done deal.’
‘Congratulations Warrior Grathum.’ Nina said. ‘You have just become a papa and you two Warriors are now uncles. Hurrah for Dilly. I will do the paper work.’
‘We have paper work now?’ Peyton asked her, Nina grinned. ‘Nah, sounded good though. I just record the names in the register for Brenda.’
‘Oh yeah, it did. How are my coffee and chocolate plants?’
‘Growing.’ They walked off, absorbed in their usual argument.
Bewildered, Grathum and his brothers stood uncertainly as little Dilly mumbled and started to suck on her fist. Back with an excited Knife and a pleased Esther and Lott. Netta had volunteered to find the three Warriors for second-meal.
She had waited for Peyton and Nina to finish speaking and walk away. She knew the two females would become engrossed in their normal argument and forget they had just stunned all three Warriors.
Addressing the three males, she said. ‘Come this way my friends. Dilly needs her food and I am sure she won’t let anyone else feed her. Also, I am thinking you have a few decisions to make.’
Agreeing, the three of them followed Netta into the eating Hex and came to a stop. Nina had the entire first floor remolded to resemble a shipteen. The three Warriors felt themselves relaxing on seeing something they understood. Netta led them to a table that had a highchair waiting.
She showed Grathum how to place Dilly in her chair, alongside Koana, who was being fussed over by Suna and Esther. Keylan was in Esther’s arms, soaking up the attention her grandmother was showing her.
The three males took seats apprehensively by Dilly as they watched the older females, while Netta and another female went to retrieve them and Dilly food. The look of stunned surprise on their faces when the females waited on them was a memory Peyton would never forget.
Hurrying into the room, she quickly took a seat at a table. Not wanting to miss witnessing these wonderful males taking their first steps back into life as they learned to interact with Dilly and the females.
Coffee was wafted under her nose as Avana placed a cup along with a plate of food on the table in front of her. Surprised that Peyton did not immediately grab for the cup, as was her normal response.
She and Jarrod looked around to discover what held Peyton’s attention, and saw Netta and a female place food in front of the Warriors. While several other females with children deposited their trays on the table and took a seat near them.
Esther was giving them a tutorial on feeding a nine lunera old baby girl. Peyton’s heart softened as she watched Grathum lift the small spoon in his hand as Dilly opened her mouth and he fed
her the food. She munched happily on the mouthful as the other two Warriors congratulated him on a job well done. Esther and Netta grinned as the males all took turns feeding the two babies. Peyton wasn’t the only one taking pics.
Jarrod laughed softly. ‘That is a sight you do not see all the time.’
Peyton sighed, she had found the key to the heart and needars of her Warriors. ‘True, so what did you find out?’
Avana quietly answered. ‘They are a match, Leota Spanster and Sandra Miller. She wishes to study astronomy, he is hungry for knowledge. They make a good pairing.’
Peyton smiled. ‘Good, I will plan for them to go to Scholaach. He can study and command their outpost. What about Fenthic?’
Jarrod nodded to the Warrior as he and Willian walked into the room with a female, carrying a container each of vegetables. He was smudged and for the first time since they had left Oraintarre, she saw an open look on the male’s face, rather than the closed one he habitually wore. He was attentively listening to Carol, another of the older females who had elected to live on Terra.
Willian was talking to Julope, she nodded and got a tablet out and started tapping away. Peyton grinned it appeared as though Willian was ordering flowers for Peneria, funny she didn’t think Peneria was the flower type, but who knew what others liked. Mates that’s who, she thought and sighed softly, making sure to keep her thoughts tight, so they did not leak. Sometimes the loneliness she felt scratched at her heart.
