“Are we certain on the names we chose?” I asked my mate.
“Yes.”
I turned to my mom and introduced her to the baby in Quinn’s arms, “Alright then. Mom, meet your grandson, Xane.”
“After your father?” My mother gasped, delighted.
“Yes,” Qiuin replied. “Only with the Xolian spelling with the X.”
“And this is Saphira,” I said kissing the blond hair. My daughter looked grumpy and hungry just like daddy was starting to feel.
My mother clapped her hands. “My middle name! Oh I love it! Maybe you’ll have more children soon and use Grymm and Wryth as names.”
“Oh Mom! How about giving me time to enjoy these two first?”
Mom snorted, “I don’t know… think one of your kids could be named Freelyn?”
Quinn shook his head much to my mom’s amusement. He told her, “We’ll get a dog from New Earth, name that after him.”
Doctor Freelyn barked a laugh startling Xane to awaken and fuss. Freelyn took ahold of my mom’s arm trying to kiss her as he said, “Or you could have another child, Mila.”
“What? No way, Free,” She half shouted at him. “Even if I could, absolutely not! We are far too old to be parents! Why don’t we just leave all the baby making to these two?”
“We could still try!” The doctor remarked. “Trying is the fun part anyway!”
They walked off bickering lightly.
----------
I slept. I’m pretty sure it was mom that wrapped the babies into two blanketed bundles and put them side by side into the incubator. Quinn whispered to me that he was going to go tell the crew and his fathers the exciting news. I nodded and was out like a light.
But a whimpering cry awoke me.
My eyes snapped open immediately and I caught Quinn as he was leaning over the incubator, peeking in. “What are you doing, Quinn?”
“I just want to look at them sleeping,” He said. The biggest, dopiest smile was plastered on his face. “I’m so happy you had them on the Narada Marant. It’s special in a way, isn’t it?”
“This is our home, Quinn. It is special.” I pulled him to my side. Sitting on the side of the bed, he stroked my arm and kissed me so passionately it took my breath away.
Quinn drew back and pinned me with that serious Charon look to his green eyes. He told me, “I want to stay on the ship, Del. Raise the babies here, at least until my father abdicates the throne. That shouldn’t be for several more years.”
Smiling, I laid back on the pillows. “Sounds good to me. Now you just have to tell your fathers.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Quinn:
I couldn’t stop peeking in at the babies as they slept. Even though I was as quiet as I could possibly be, Del awoke each time and the last time he had threatened to kill me with a spoon. He obviously needed sleep.
I found myself pacing around the bridge, checking on everyone’s work and trying to keep my mind occupied. Stopping by the Security Chief’s area I observed his weapon was not secured properly to his belt. I pointed it out, “That’s dangerous, Kasen. A child could knock it from its holster.”
Smirking, he replied, “Captain, the babies are barely two hours old, not even walking yet.”
“We need to secure the ship right now, not later. Security is your job, see to it!” I grumbled. I stalked towards my chair and dropped into it.
I tried to settle, perhaps get a few reports finished and signed before we arrived on Xolia. Unfortunately my doctor had other plans. Over my chair comlink he asked to see me right away. I leapt up, sprinted to the door so quickly that I nearly ran right over Rue who was bringing me a soothing hot drink. He sidestepped me just in time to avoid the collision.
It was the longest trip I had ever made in my life to get to Medical Bay. When I sprang inside expecting to see chaos of an emergency I found quite the opposite. Mila was rocking a baby in her arms while Del was grimacing in pain with a baby snacking hungrily at his breast. I was so startled I halted in the doorway, standing dumbfounded as though trapped in a force field.
“Come through the door, Quinn,” My mate said. He didn’t even look up at me but rather stared down into the face of our golden haired princess. “First father is silly, Saphira. Yes, he is.”
“How’s it going with the breast feeding, Del? Hurts?” I asked him. Saphira was making the cutest sucking noises that I couldn’t look away. Her nose was perfect and one of her tiny delicate hands rested on Del’s neck. “She’s beautiful, Del.” I told him.
“I’m doing okay, I guess. It doesn’t hurt really just sort of aches. Mom had to show me how to get her set up right, I thought I’d know it instinctively or something,” Del answered.
His mother approached with my son who was fighting his need to sleep. As soon as she handed him to me his eyes popped open and he squalled. I tried to hand him right back but she was having none of it. She argued, “He’s your son, Quinn. Tuck his head at your elbow and support his body. Good, you got this.”
“What if I drop him?” Frantically I tightened up on the little guy. “Or what if he needs something?”
She chuckled. “I don’t suggest you drop him and if he needs anything you can figure it out. Is he hungry? Sleepy? Hurting? Cold? Wet? You sort of think it through, Quinn. You’ll be fine. He just woke up so I imagine he’s hungry.”
I glared at my mate, “I thought Del was breast feeding them both?”
Del stared at me grumpily and told me, “I am breast feeding them both. But we are doing one at a time for a few days to make sure both are latching on and suckling correctly. Here take Saphira and give me Xane.”
We traded babies, a little awkwardly but we managed. Mila maneuvered my daughter to my shoulder and showed me how to pat her back. After a long belch from the tiny delicate baby I remembered the burping cloth a little too late. “That’s okay, Saphira, new father syndrome. I forgot the cloth,” I whispered to her.
Mila giggled and handed me one to wipe my uniform with. “You two daddies are doing great. Don’t give up on them yet. Oh and Quinn gets to do the first wet diaper.”
That brought a smile to my mate’s face.
With both babies wrangled, washed and diapered, Del and I finally were able to tuck them into the incubator side by side again. We beamed down at two babies in matching blankets and little hats. I hoped they would stay asleep long enough to cuddle with Del and get a little rest myself. Quietly, Mila tidied the area then left us alone in the darkened space. Slipping into bed I had to rearrange a few pillows to fit but Del didn’t protest too much.
I asked him, “How are you doing, Del? Really?”
“I’m wired,” he replied with a yawn. “So tired but I can’t sleep. You?”
I hugged him close, kissing his cheek gently. I said softly, “I’m so proud of you, Del. You did an amazing job. I don’t know how you did it.” I started to add something further but I caught his faint snore. Good idea. So much for us directing things, lesson learned. Always sleep when your babies do.
----------
The comlink awoke me. “This is the Captain,” I half-whispered glancing over at the babies. All clear, nobody awake.
“Sir, we’ve entered Xolia’s orbit. There’s a government vehicle to take your family to the King’s residence,” Duron replied.
Next to me Del had stirred and was watching me silently. I knew he was waiting to see what I might say. Knowing that my mate’s heart was set on living on the ship I told my communication’s officer, “No, Duron. Tell them we are going to my house in the forest instead. We can see them in a few days. We need some alone time with our babies.”
After I ended the conversation Del grinned and inquired, “You think he’ll tell your fathers that?”
“No, he won’t say all that to my fathers but he will tell my driver,” I replied. I rolled out of bed and lifted up my daughter. Taking a sniff of her lower region I handed her right away to my mate. “Here take your stinky daughter,�
� I said as I picked up Xane.
Del sniffed her too and made a face, snorting. “I see, I get the first poopy?”
“Unless you can trick your mother,” I explained reasonably. “And don’t make that face. Saphira may take offense.”
“You called her stinky, Quinn,” Del said. The moment he laid her down and opened up her diaper he gagged and called out loudly, “MOM!”
----------
Later on the planet’s surface I wrestled with baby restraints and cursed under my breath. The way these devices were designed a father seemed to be strapping them in place permanently. My mate watched with a critical eye, gave unneeded advice and ended up redoing the entire procedure to his satisfaction.
I turned to the driver as Del completed his task. “My fathers understand that we are headed to my home? We can visit the King’s Residence tomorrow.”
“Yes, Prince Quinn but they were not happy about it. Your Second Father told me to tell you that he had to align his Na again. Luckily, the King was able to calm him down or I think he would have driven out to your home tonight,” the driver said.
“My fathers miss me,” I told Del as I slid into the vehicle behind the driver with our twins buckled in between us. I raised a brow at my mate when he barked a laugh. “What?”
“They don’t miss you, Quinn, at least not as much as you seem to think. They want to see the babies,” He explained.
----------
“Drive more slowly,” I barked at the driver. “Why did you take this route, this way is bumpier.”
“I’m sorry, Prince Quinn.”
Del beamed in amusement and mouthed ‘Prince Quinn’ at me in an exaggerated manner. He did it every time we visited Xolia. I patted his knee and was about to remind him that I could spank him again now that he wasn’t pregnant when the vehicle braked and came to a full stop.
“What the high hell, be more careful! There are babies!” I snarled.
The driver, a young Elon about the age of my navigators, gulped but pointed to the travelway ahead of us and explained. “Sorry, my prince, a tree is crossing the road.”
Del squeezed my hand excitedly. “Oh I’ve heard about this. Can we get out and watch, Quinn? Can we show the babies?”
Sighing, I agreed. It took trees a long time to move from one side of the path to the other so we certainly were in no hurry. It was a rare and special treat so I helped him getting the babies out of their restraints and stepped out of the vehicle.
A tall thin sapling was inching across, waving its branches like tentacles to keep its balance. A few leaves fell off in the process but other than that it rippled along smoothly. One wriggling root sought the next safe place to pull the trunk before resting a moment as the young tree tested for sunlight quality. When it shivered in delight in the middle of our path the driver groaned. The tree had chosen that open spot to live and would have to be coerced to move by workers with the travelway Department. It would take them a considerable amount of time to come all the way out, assess the situation and get the sapling to vacate the sunny spot.
I had a better idea. I patted the driver on the shoulder and said, “It’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Del, here, hold Xane.”
Del looked alarmed, “Aren’t the wild trees dangerous, Quinn?”
“They can be but trust me, I know a few tricks,” I explained. I walked up to the young tree and knelt down to appear smaller, less of a threat. “Just watch, Del. I’ll get it to move.”
“Just watch, kids, as First Father gets eaten by a tree,” Del joked.
I murmured in Xolian, ”Time to move along, little one. You can’t stay here. Go on, move.”
“Not much happening, Tree Whisperer,” Del called out.
I tried again. “This place isn’t safe. Move just a bit more.”
In my mind I pictured the travelway and the vehicles that would come. It was the way Xolians had to communicate with plants. We had to visualize in terms the intelligent life form could decipher. I showed it we meant no harm but that the travelway had to remain clear for us to pass. It could settle down, push roots into the ground and be safe not too far from this spot. Stubbornly the tree sent an image to my mind of teeth and fire. Laughing gently, I replied, “You don’t have either of those things, young one. Now move, please.”
The branches drooped a moment then slowly the sapling finished crossing our path, found a suitable location and perked up, reaching for the sunlight overhead. I made sure the tree was secure then rejoined my family. I found the driver staring in awe and Del smirking, seemingly unimpressed.
“So you boss the trees around too,” Del said as we entered the vehicle and he strapped the belts over our twins.
I snorted. “That’s what Charons do. We boss things around.”
“Hope you can do that with your fathers,” Del said.
“Mmm, we’ll see,” I remarked. “They are much harder to convince than a mere sapling.”
----------
As it turned out, my fathers were much more difficult. The moment we arrived, walked in and set down our bags, the driver, who had helped carry the children’s numerous items in, pointed out that there was a message on our comlink system. Del frowned, inclining his head. “Going to get that?” he asked.
Shaking my head, I replied, “Just my fathers trying to exert pressure on me to conform, I’m sure. Let’s unpack a few things, feed the babies and get settled first. I’ll find out what they want later.”
“You rebel,” Del said. Carrying a baby in each arm he headed towards the sleeping quarters. A moment later he called out, “Hey, they gave us two proper basinets so these two monkeys don’t have to sleep in the travel crib.”
I brought our bags in and set them inside the closet, remarking, “Two basinets, huh? The twins might not like that. They sleep holding hands.”
“Mmm, yeah. Good point,” Del answered. Balancing a baby carefully he pointed to a corner of the room, “Guess we should set up the travel crib over there for them.”
As I started to unpack the unwieldy thing I said aloud, “I hope we are not spoiling them, Del. Perhaps they should learn to sleep separately.”
Del tilted his head. “You sure you’re not just saying that because you can’t get that thing put together?”
Chuckling I threw the empty carry bag at him and replied, “You caught me. Now come help me. I feel like I’m wrestling Kai.”
We both grew quiet a moment before my mate remarked, “Wonder how they’re doing.”
“Yes, me also but I’m sure they are settling in just fine. We can call them later or send a message alright?” I told him.
“Yes, I’d like that,” Del said setting the babies temporarily side by side squished into a small basinet. “Now where are the instructions for that thing?”
“Instructions?” I jested. “Are you implying I don’t know what I’m doing, First Officer Del Foster?”
He looked dramatically around the room then answered, “Seeing that there are no airlocks in this room, Captain Quinn I feel safe in telling you this finally. You are an idiot. Get out of my way so I can do it.”
He tried to duck away as I attacked but I managed to grab him and toss him lightly to the bed. Whacking my arm as I dove in after him, trying to steal a kiss from his delightful human lips, he pointed out, “Quinn. The driver is still in the sitting area.”
I rose quickly, popping my head out of the doorway the moment it swished open for me. “You can go now, Pryn. Pick us up in the morning.”
I didn’t even wait for his answer. I had stripped off my uniform top and rejoined my mate’s side before the door had even shut all the way.
----------
Later on in the evening after the babies were fed, cuddled, kissed far too many times, bathed and placed in their crib Del and I had a leisurely meal. It was sometime later as we snuggled in the sitting area, both of us trying to read from the same book, that I remembered the comlink message. Del sighed when I got up to play it.
“We’re going to see them tomorrow morning, Quinn. Can’t it wait?”
I pushed the button. “No, it could be important. I should have listened to it before it got so late.”
“Quinn, Del, welcome home, ” My First Father’s voice announced.
In the background my Second Father retorted, “You should have come here first, Quinn. We want to see those babies.”
“Ha! Told you so,” Del remarked. I silently play snarled at him.
The message continued as First Father said, “Son, I know you two need some time to rest but I need you to call me as soon as you get this message. It’s important.”
I checked my chronometer. It was late in the evening but my First Father would expect me to obey him no matter the time. Hopefully he had turned in already and I could speak with him in the morning as planned.
As the comlink on his side buzzed over our speaker, Del joined me. He lay his head against my shoulder and said softly, “You know they’ll ask again if we’ll stay on Xolia.”
“I know, Del. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
My First Father answered, “Quinn! You know how late it is? I was about to send a security detail to check on you? Why didn’t you return my message earlier?”
“Sorry, Sire,” Del answered. “My fault. I couldn’t get the babies fed, bathed and to bed without his help.”
I stroked his back gratefully. I added, “And then we were so tired from the trip we fell asleep.”
It was partially true. We had gone to bed. A few times in fact. But my father didn’t need to know that. Thankfully he seemed to accept our apologies and moved on. “Quinn, in the locked wall cabinet in the sitting room is a document I need you to sign. Go fetch it so that you can read it over. Call me if you have questions.”
After the conversation ended I retrieved the document in question on its data pad and scrolled through it with a flick of my finger. It started with the royal crest, a quarter moon reposed underneath a tree on a field of midnight blue flanked by three stars in silver. It ended with a place for my signature next to the king’s. I reread it more carefully while Del waited anxiously next to me.
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