by L M Lacee
‘Huh, it was touch and go, especially when they gave me pink wine, it was awful. I ask you, no tea and no coffee, what kind of morn tea is that?’
‘One that was supposed to remind the Star Daughter who was in charge.’ Darby told her.
‘Well, they found out, did they not?’ Esther said with a decided snap to her voice.
‘Yes, they did. I need coffee.’ Peyton moaned as they entered the suite where her children waited with Dana.
‘Mama!’ Yelled Rayvan when he saw her. Keylan when she saw her mother cried and made grabbing motions. Peyton scooped her from the floor.
‘Greetings, my sweet babies.’ She sat on the couch as they piled on and around her, the kits rolled on the floor.
‘I love coming home.’ She told Kardan, as Draykin and then Rayvan ran to hug Darby, who agreed. ‘Me too.’
Then the smell of coffee floated to her. ‘Okay enough, I love you all, but Mama needs her caffeine.’
They all scrambled away as Hope walked in with Maya. ‘Greetings Mama.’
She hugged Hope as she said. ‘Greetings, to you too, my Hope. Greetings little Maya.’
Greetings Mama Star.
‘Hope, how has your morn been?’
‘It has been interesting.’
‘Well come and tell me about it and I will tell you about mine.’
‘I have missed you Mama.’
‘I have missed you as well. We have not spent much time together since we got here, have we?’
‘No Mama, I have been busy, shopping and going to the dressmakers with Guardian Dana and the twins.’
Peyton sighed. ‘I wish I could go with you.’
‘We could go to the shops today?’ Hope asked shyly.
At Peyton’s pained look, Helen suggested. ‘Or we could go swimming?’
‘Oh, that would be good. I would really like that. Papa, you want to come too?’ Hope asked Kardan.
‘That sounds interesting, brothers what say you?’ Kardan asked his brothers knowing like him, they had work to do. But one look at sweet Hope’s radiant face, and they all mentally shifted their day around.
Wolf said, ‘That sounds like fun.’ As he entered with Avana and Gunner.
‘Yea!’ Cheered Rayvan and Draykin. Peyton hugged the males, then Avana. ‘You are back. You missed a great morn tea.’
‘She lies!’ Netta contradicted her as she entered with Bendrix.
Helen said. ‘Seeing as everyone’s here, how about we have a picnic swim party?’
Hope asked. ‘What is that?’
Brenda spent the next few minutes explaining what it was to the children and the non-Terrans. Finally, they all agreed it was what they would do.
Peyton asked Avana when she got her alone. ‘Where are Carrick and Kate?’
‘They took a suite in a Hutell on the other side of town. I think Kate wanted some alone time.’
Peyton screwed her face up in confusion. ‘Didn’t they have that on the moon?’
‘Not really, we were all there.’
‘Huh! Don’t really see the difference, but whatever.’
A very happy Avana laughed as she hugged Peyton. ‘That is what I said!’
TWENTY-SEVEN:
Eve-meal was at 18:00, they arrived at 17:00 and caught a young female standing in the middle of the lounge. Her feet were bare and her hair was tied in a ponytail. She looked innocent, if not a little ruffled. With her were two naked boys, a grumbling baby, and no one else in sight.
They had been shown to the door by a young, handsome male named Fox. Waidon thought that was the name he mentioned, he had made his son’s spouses smile and his son’s growl. Which is probably why the young male had pointed to the doors and disappeared into the lift, with a grin on his narrow face.
Hence they had let themselves into what would at any other time have been a beautiful suite. Waidon smiled as he recalled how worried he had been by his dearle Oleena’s account of the morn tea. His new daughters had been most impressed with the flaming Star Daughter. And later at the council meeting he had been amazed that so few Governors had deemed it unnecessary to attend a meeting. Even after learning the port was now closed.
The consensus of the ones who had attended was the Star Daughter had overstepped her rights by trampling on theirs. Although no one was brave enough to come and tell her so. He had left in disgust when it got down to name calling.
Waidon was concerned that Rupart Interkinn and Uthar Jenerika had not been at the council meeting, and no one had seen them since second-meal. His informer had told him when Rupart had arrived home and been informed of the morns happenings and the closure of the port. Rupart and his wifen had screamed at each other for the entire two hours he was there. From there Rupart had gone to his lover’s apartment but had now disappeared. If he did not turn up soon, he would send his people out to look for him.
Oleena murmured. ‘Waidon, that young female is the Star Daughter.’
Waidon stood with his Oleena and family watching the female who was the feared Star Daughter and raised his eyebrows at his smiling spouse and whispered. ‘Are you sure?’
She nodded with a twinkle in her eyes. He stared at the female as she tried to dress a squirming boy while another half-naked boy ran around in circles, with his arms outstretched. Making broom… broom sounds. Several, he assumed they were Turquall kits, were running behind him. Although he had never seen kits like these before. His attention was arrested when a sweet musical voice said. ‘Listen Rayvan, you have to wear this, it is nice and soft.’
The boy pouted and crossed his arms, saying. ‘No.’
‘Honey, it is good for your skin, Auntie Heather said so.’
‘No.’
‘Look son, Mama is not playing here. You will wear this shirt.’ She said this a little less sweetly and with more annoyance in her tone as she drew the shirt over his head and down his body.
He promptly threw himself from the couch he had been standing on to the floor. Where he started squirming and rolling around as he pulled the shirt off and yelled loudly.
The Star Daughter stood with her mouth open, looking delightfully confused as the young boy’s yells turned to squeals, and he rubbed his body in circles. While the kits swarmed him in play.
Absolutely adorable! Waidon laughed softly as Oleena grinned at the bemused female.
That was until a seven foot tall giant of a male arrived with a giggling girl child over his shoulder and two other males following him.
He demanded to know of the female. ‘Why are you making him make that noise? Is it not enough you cause the females to make the screeching sound. Now you have my brother’s son doing the same, stop it now!’
Peyton scowled at Reeve and said. ‘Listen here, giant male, don’t yell at me.’
Reeve held his hand up as he dropped a by now, laughing Hope onto her feet. ‘Do not even sister, Kardan stop her now.’
A male looked up from the naked boy and said. ‘We have company.’
Peyton whipped around and saw the family standing just inside the door. ‘Oh my, how’s it hanging?’
Everyone looked at her as she hurriedly explained. ‘It seemed like the thing to say.’ She scratched her cheek as the large male who she had called giant asked with a confused expression marring his face. ‘Why would you want to know how the male’s bits are hanging?’
She yelped as she whirled around to look at him. ‘I don’t.’
‘Then why did you ask about them?’
‘It is an expression.’ A small woman said, as she stooped and placed a blue baby on the floor beside the now quiet one.
Reeve looked doubtfully at Hawk, who said. ‘It is possible, they have many.’ He returned his attention to Peyton and asked. ‘Why are the boys unclothed?’
‘What do you mean, why?’ Peyton asked him as Reeve said. ‘It just seems we have guests, they should be wearing clothes.’
‘Are you sure?’ Peyton asked in a tone that said she was more than annoyed.
/> Esther arrived. ‘What is going on?’
‘Rayvan won’t put his shirt on.’ Peyton told her, just as Rayvan said. ‘No like.’
Kardan said. ‘You heard him, he doesn’t like it.’
Peyton snapped. ‘Oh well then, you tell Heather. She said he has to wear it, his skin is dry and this will help.’
Heather and Harm entered with their twin girls, who squealed when they saw Hope who squealed just as loudly back. It was as though they had not seen each other forever. This caused Reeve to yell at Peyton as though it was her fault. ‘Make them cease that noise, why female do you allow it!?’
‘To annoy you, why else?’ Peyton yelled back.
Heather when she saw a naked Rayvan said. ‘Warrior boy, put your shirt on please.’
‘Kay Auntie Heather.’
‘Such a good boy, was that so hard?’ She asked Peyton.
‘Really!’ Screeched Peyton.
‘No, just no!’ Reeve ordered as he placed his large hand over her face. ‘Stop now!’
Peyton battered at the hand to remove it from her face to no avail, while Darby finished dressing Rayvan and then did the same for Draykin. As Hope and the twins studied the new arrivals.
Kardan walked over to the family and held his arm out to the older male. ‘I am Kardan Roeah, mate to Peyton. Welcome to the Embassy of the Star Daughter.’
‘I am Waidon Haffee, thank you. We are pleased to have been invited. I am sorry we are early.’
They released arms as Kardan sighed and said. ‘Please don’t be.’
He turned from Waidon and stared at the people who made up his family. Peyton was by now swinging from Reeve’s arm while he laughed. Darby and Heather were picking up toys while the kit’s play fought in the middle of the room. Esther dipped down to reach for Keylan, who was tearful again as Harm was cuddling Koana, and talked to Hope and the twins.
With a sigh of contentment he said. ‘It would have made absolutely no difference when you arrived, if not this, it would have been something else.’
‘This is true.’ Marlo agreed as he walked in with Brenda.
Kardan introduced them and Brenda said. ‘Let us move to the lounge.’
They all heard Peyton say. ‘Why do I have to change, they have already seen me?’
Darby snarled back. ‘Because you are the friggin Star Daughter and ripped jeans and old hockey jerseys are not polite, now change!’
Outraged at her clothes being dismissed so easily after she had spent hours researching this style. Peyton growled in return. ‘They are not ripped, it is a friggin style, female who has no taste in clothes.’
The rest was lost as she stomped off to what they all assumed was a bedroom followed by both females. They heard her saying as she left the room. ‘Fine, but I am changing just the top. Yeah... yeah, jeans and footwear, so bossy.’
Waidon and Oleena had come to a stop as they watched them leave, while the younger members of the Haffee family laughed and smiled.
Oleena sighed in delight. ‘I think we just fell in love.’
Esther, with Keylan in her arms and Rayvan and Hope walking behind her, moved to where they had stopped. She passed Keylan to Kardan as she said. ‘That happens a lot around her. So these delightful little ones are the Star Daughter’s and Amahka Elite’s children.’
Kardan introduced them as they bowed. ‘This is our daughter Hope, and this is our son Rayvan. This little one is Keylan.’ She looked up at him when he said her name, then smiled coyly and snuggled into his chest.
He explained. ‘She is tearful at the moment as she is getting teeth.’
Waidon sympathized. ‘Ahh, I remember, it is a long process.’
Esther explained. ‘Normally it is so, but she is Draygon, they apparently get a row at a time.’
Vina grimaced. ‘Good stars, really?’
‘We also were surprised.’ Kardan told them. ‘Keylan show Papa your teeth.’
She obliged by opening her mouth so they could all see the perfect row of bottom teeth and the lumpy top row.
‘Oh my, that is amazing, what a clever little girl you are.’ Oleena cooed to her.
Keylan fluttered her eyelashes in return. Esther moved aside as Harm passed her Koana.
Oleena asked. ‘Now, who do we have here?’
Esther made the introductions. ‘This is Commander Harm, he is mated to Heather, the tall female who left with Peyton, and these are their girls Enara and Enuru.’
Harm reached out and clasped each of the male’s arms as the girls greeted them. Next Esther indicated Koana. ‘This little one is our Sevna Avana and her mate Commander Gunner’s baby Koana. They have recently mated and we have all been babysitting. You met her grandmother Kenera this morn, she will be along with her mate Cemeru shortly.’
Reeve moved quietly to where they stood. ‘I am Reeve mated to Darby, this is our son Draykin.’ He held the boy in his arms.
Draykin proudly announced. ‘I am Draygon.’
‘Really, you have no wings.’ One of the females said.
Reeve told them. ‘As are Hope and Keylan.’
Hope said. ‘We get our wings when we are adults like Zen and Lucca.’
Kardan interjected. ‘Zen is Zenerra and Lucca is Lucerra. They were at the morn tea.’
‘Ahh yes.’ Waidon nodded. ‘My Oleena told me about the guards. I hope we may speak to your Warmaster.’
Kardan assured him. ‘Of course, he and his mate Tivna Melody will be here soon. As you can see Koana is Butariean, she has just started to crawl. I am told you know Lady Esther.’
‘We do.’ Oleena smiled at Esther as Waidon apologized. ‘Please excuse my manners.’
Kardan smiled in dismissal of his worries. ‘Do not apologize, you hardly entered a calm oasis where manners would make a difference.’
‘The normal life of our family, no matter when you enter, is a chaotic one.’ Melody stated as she entered with Coraan, catching the last of what Kardan said. ‘I am never sure if that is a good thing or not.’
Coraan shrugged. ‘It is just home.’
Melody and Esther agreed. Kardan made the introductions. ‘Tivna Melody and Warmaster Coraan.’
Both Melody and Coraan said. ‘Greetings.’ ‘Seriously!’ Melody yelped as five kits dashed pass her, followed by the twins Enara and Enuru. Hope ran after them as Draykin wiggled to get down to join Rayvan, who was all set to make his escape. Once his feet touched the floor, both boys grabbed a hand each of the two Haffee boys and all four chased after the kits.
One of their sons said. ‘I will get them.’
Esther said with a smile in her voice. ‘They will be well, guaranteed they go to Madam.’
Just then Netta and Bendrix entered, and she called. ‘No running.’
‘Yes Auntie Netta.’ They yelled back as they ran from the room.
Kardan introduced her and Bendrix. Together, they said. ‘Greetings.’
‘I heard running!’ Yelled Peyton from her suite. The young, as predicted, had all made a dash for her.
Seconds later they heard. ‘Get off my bed, I swear… Hey there are more of you, do I know you two? Oh I see, well, what are your names... Yes, you can play... No, not on my bed.’ They heard her wail. ‘This is my bedroom!’
‘That’s what you think?’ A mixture of girl’s and boy’s voices yelled back.
‘Go and see your father.’
‘He is with the guests.’
Silence met this statement. All the adults in the lounge looked at Kardan, who shrugged. ‘Do not look at me, I am new and I do not know. Hawk.’
‘Yes, brother.’
Kardan pointed to where Peyton was and the deafening silence. Hawk looked over at the door and said. ‘She just remembered we had guests.’
Melody sighed as she backed up Hawk’s observation. ‘I would like to say that was not true, but unfortunately it will be.’
Before anyone could comment, they heard Darby say. ‘Oh my stars, you forgot we invited the Haffee family to e
ve-meal, didn’t you?’
‘Quiet, smaller than me, female. I would have remembered.’
Heather chipped in. ‘Eventually.’
‘You know, just because you are carrying the next generation of Solverea’s.’
‘Good Stars female, can you not just say pregnant?’ Yelled Darby in exasperation.
‘See, so excitable.’
‘Get out... get out now.’
‘This is my bedroom.’
‘NOW!’ Darby screeched.
‘Oh my stars, has the giant knocked you up?’
‘Shut up… Just. Shut. Up!’
Reeve took one stumbling step toward the suite and roared. ‘Darby my heart, are you with young?’
Silence met his bellow as everyone in and out of the bedroom came to a halt. Then they heard Darby hiss. ‘I hate you so much right now.’
‘Oops, who knew he was listening?’
‘It’s Reeve he has giant ears.’ Heather told her helpfully.
‘Hey, I resent that,’ Darby groused, ‘he has nice ears. I like his ears.’
Reeve grinned as he rubbed his ear.
Peyton said. ‘Well, we didn’t say his ears weren’t nice, I mean maybe they are as nice as his kisses.’
They once more heard Darby yell. ‘Is nothing sacred?’
‘No.’ Heather replied. ‘We are a family, therefore nothing is off limits. I thought you knew that already.’
Reeve still grinning at his brothers and should have heeded Hawk’s softly worded advice. ‘My brother, leave well enough alone.’
But he did not and called. ‘Darby, my heart, come we will visit Dinas.’
Darby called back. ‘I don’t need to, Heather is here.’
‘Heather, is my Darby with young?’
‘No, she isn’t.’
‘Are you sure?’
A few seconds of silence followed his question, and then Heather walked out with raised eyebrows. ‘I am sorry, are you questioning me? Maikonia’s chief medical officer. Healer to the Warriors and Star Daughter, healer to your child.’ Her voice rose an octave as she said. ‘Every friggin one, on and off our worlds.’
