by L M Lacee
Peyton exclaimed in triumph. ‘See!’
Kardan pointed out. ‘I think Karen means with everyone.’
She wailed. ‘But it will all go.’
Darby asked. ‘Was that whining?’
Melody murmured. ‘So greedy.’
Peyton’s eyes narrowed as she stared at her. ‘I have not forgotten you stole… all of you stole my chocolate.’
‘You have chocolate too?’ Asked another voice from the lounge.
‘Well not now, they stole it.’
Nina sighed. ‘The drama of it.’
An outraged Peyton cried. ‘But it was mine!’
An equally outraged Melody just stopped herself from yelling as she said. ‘Which you hoarded.’
Peyton shook her head as she asked. ‘I don’t know what that has to do with it. It was my chocolate.’
Melody shrugged one shoulder and said. ‘Well, I can’t explain it to you, if you can’t figure it out for yourself.’
Nina scolded. ‘Enough!’
No one was more surprised than the members of the Haffee family, at how quickly both females agreed to Nina’s order, as they both said. ‘Yes Nina.’
Berra asked. ‘So was that a yes then about the coffee and chocolate.’
Nina nodded, monitoring both Peyton and Melody. ‘Yes, we should be ready for harvesting in a yenta, the same for the coffee, but we have stocks of coffee we can trade now. We have hybrid chocolate and coffee plants which we hope to harvest earlier.’
‘This choocoolate is something we need as well?’ Waidon asked of his daughters.
‘Yes, most definitely we need cho-co-late.’ Vina pronounced for him.
He smiled as he repeated. ‘Chocolate.’
‘Yes and very good, Papa.’
Nina glared at Peyton’s scowl and said. ‘Coffee is a minor item to trade. I like leather, say you don’t?’
Hawk asked Peyton. ‘I thought you shared?’
‘Why are you picking on me?’
Karen chortled. ‘Sure she does.’
Peyton gasped. ‘Why are you mad at me, you are with child? You can’t even smell it, let alone drink it?’
‘I won’t be forever Missy.’
‘Sure you won’t, the way you two go at it, my coffee is safe.’
Karen exploded. ‘I cannot believe you went there, take it back right this min.’
Peyton looked around. ‘What for, it is not like everyone doesn’t know already.’
Hawk looked on with a satisfied smile until Karen noticed and snarled. ‘What the hayda are you smiling about?’
The smile disappeared and mystified on why she was annoyed with him, he asked. ‘How am I in trouble?’
Karen continued to give him the evil eye as Peyton offered to explain it to him. ‘I can tell you, it is because…’
Kardan hurriedly assured her. ‘No Peyton, I think my brother should work it out for himself.’
‘Oh, are you sure?’
Kardan smiled as he told her. ‘That way he will understand it better.’
Peyton frowned as she agreed. ‘Okay, that makes sense, I suppose, although I could explain it to him quickly.’
The Haffee males looked confused at the relieved expressions of the people sitting around the table. Until they heard Netta ask. ‘Can you though, I have never heard you explain anything quick ever!’
Understanding the sighs now, Waidon hurriedly stated. ‘Warriors, as I tell my sons, accept it and move on.’
‘Or end up on the couch.’ Reeve grumbled with a quick look at Darby, who sniffed back a laugh at his expression.
Waidon shrugged. ‘Well, that can happen.’
Kardan said. ‘I have not been sent to the couch.’
Reeve muttered. ‘Give it time.’
Waidon asked the males. ‘I do not understand, you have older males in relationships here.’
All the Warriors looked at each other, then Hawk answered. ‘We do, yes.’
‘You need to ask for advice then.’
‘I have told them that many times as have my sons.’ Cemeru asserted.
Klune advised them. ‘Marlo and Larson and others ask for advice all the time. I do not understand why you do not.’
Waidon nodded and advised. ‘When mated, it can be hard trying to understand each other. Especially when you are newly mated or have no experience beforehand of relationships. To be mated to another species, I know from my son is an added complication.’
Cemeru added. ‘It is not weakness to ask for help.’
Kardan stared off into the distance before he looked at the males around the table. ‘None of the Warriors have ever been mated or in relationships before. We need to take advantage of the resources that are at our disposal.’
Waidon agreed. ‘That is exactly what we are saying.’
Kardan asked Peyton. ‘Do you have guidance?’
‘Sure, we have Esther, Brenda and Helen as well, the older ladies. Most of them have been in relationships. Also we are fortunate enough to have Kenera, Suna, Rata and Rita now.’
Kardan asked. ‘Cemeru and Klune, if you are willing to become the male’s relationship guidance counselors, we would gratefully accept your help?’
Klune said. ‘We will gladly help all we can. There are a few others we can tap for advice. Henri, Harm and Waseo are three I can think of.’
Waidon offered. ‘Please include myself.’
‘Us as well!’ Bendrix and Jerthem added their voices to the mix. ‘We too understand the complexities of relationships.’
Mezor asked Hawk. ‘Perhaps, you can help with our mates. You are the first males we have met who are mated to humans… sorry Terrans, who are willing to speak with us.’
Peyton smiled. ‘Of course we will. You can comm Penny, who will... where is Penny?’
‘I am right here.’ Penny said from two seats away. Everyone other than Kerol looked startled when she spoke.
Peyton huffed out a breath of air as she said. ‘Okay, that is just not right. Heather look at her, she is fading. Something is off with her.’
Penny yelped. ‘I am not fading, that is just wrong.’
Peyton sighed as she said seriously. ‘Yeah hon, you are. I think you are carrying a Falear.’
‘Is that possible?’ Kerol asked as he held Penny’s hand.
Peyton closed her eyes for a minute, when she opened them again they were black. ‘Why not? All things are possible, it is of no concern. It means we adjust and take precautions, but we need to find out, so we can prepare. Also shall I tell you something exciting?’
‘What?’ Asked a fearful Penny. She had known, ever since Peyton mentioned it a few days ago, that something was wrong. But had not wanted to admit it to herself or Kerol.
Peyton smiled and told them. ‘You are carrying twins.’
Penny looked shocked as she argued. ‘I am not?’
Peyton’s eyes return to normal as she snarled. ‘Why would I lie female?’
‘That is what happens when you have an Omperea in your world.’ Esther related quietly. Kenera agreed as she smiled at Esther and held her hand in comfort.
Rata said. ‘It is what an Omperea does, she sees a void and fills it. If that means multiples where there were never any before, so be it. Never forget Esther, we are fortunate to have you in our lives.’
Esther smiled and relaxed her shoulders. ‘I will not.’
Heather stood and smiled. ‘Let’s go Penny and see what is going on?’
With a nod to everyone and a stunned look on both their faces, the couple left with Heather.
‘Will they be able to help her, I am guessing Falears are something unique?’ Waidon asked as he watched the couple leave the room.
Peyton eyed him as she thought. Trust was such a tricky thing, but she felt that with the Haffee’s it was worth taking that leap of faith.
‘Falears are a special type of Warrior who can fade at will. We had some difficulties when we first came to Maikonia. But our Fox who is also unique
helped Heather and the researches work out a solution. Now the Falears do not fade away completely and can have normal lives.’
Matt said. ‘Madam, made that possible for us.’
Peyton inclined her head in acknowledgement of the compliment. ‘It was really Heather and Fox, but you and your units are the genuine heroes. We lost far too many. Now we are fortunate, Penny and Kerol babies will have Matt and the others to help guide and protect them. We will not lose any more.’
Matt stilled in the process of reaching for his drink and asked huskily. ‘You think Kerol would allow us to help with his young?’
‘Who else?’ Kardan asked. ‘Would be better suited to the task.’
Matt shook his head. ‘I do not know what to say.’
Marlo advised. ‘Say nothing, let us find out first.’
Matt grinned, relaxing back in his chair, a pleased expression on his normally somber face. ‘Yes, let us do that.’
‘Thank you Madam.’ Waidon said, and he was thanking her for much more than the definition.
Tyden asked. ‘May I ask, Lady Esther, are you an Omperea?’
‘I am Omperea.’ Esther said and held her breath. This was a big occasion for her it was the first time she acknowledged who and what she was to outsiders. She was unprepared for the respect they showed by bowing their heads. She looked at Peyton, who smiled gently at her and inclined her head a little.
Esther copied the gesture and smiled when Waidon murmured. ‘We are truly blessed to be in such esteem company. To think we thought to come and meet with the Star Daughter and we have met so many gifted people. We are overflowing in bounty.’
Sally asked for the other females. ‘We heard Madam introduce Lady Esther as Omperea this morn. What does an Omperea do?’
Waidon said. ‘We will explain who and what she is later.’ Because just then his lovely Oleena walked in, dressed in black jeans, and his attention was all for her. ‘Oleena, this is a very good look for you.’ He huskily assured her, erasing the worried expression from her face.
She turned slowly in a circle with her eyes locked on her mates and was rewarded when a gleam of lust entered his gaze.
Waidon said. ‘Enric, we will definitely trade for denim. Jeans, jackets, whatever they make. I want it all and especially more of those your Matar is wearing.’
Oleena came forward and sat next to him. ‘We all want denim.’
The girls agreed as they left their tablets and she stood again as they admired how she looked. Berra murmured. ‘Turn around, Matar.’
Oleena slowly turned again as Vina praised her. ‘Wow, Matar, you look good.’
Oleena said with a joyous laugh. ‘Brenda said my butt looked good in these?’
Sally agreed. ‘She was right.’
‘Butt?’ Reth asked Peyton.
‘It means bum.’
Confused, he asked. ‘Her what?’
Darby explained. ‘Her posterior.’
‘That is what I said.’
‘They don’t call it bum or butt.’
‘But it is what it is.’
‘And yet those terms are not used here.’
Reth stated. ‘I do not want to discuss my mother’s butt ever.’
‘Well okay, but you called it butt!’ At his look Peyton shrugged. ‘Just saying!’
Waidon laughed at his son’s expressions, as they tried to stare at anything other than their mother’s posterior. At Waidon’s urging, Rose and Enric quickly left to go to her office to work out a trade agreement.
THIRTY-ONE:
The four Haffee females sat with Darby, Melody and Netta so they could add to the lists they had already created. Everyone else drank tea and coffee or something stronger as they discussed life and living in this Universe.
Eventually they made their way to the viewing lounge where more discussions continued and friendships were solidified. The night drew to a close and when Peyton found herself alone with Waidon; she looked up at him and asked.
‘Are you intending to go to the Grand Meeting?’
Waidon gave her a long look before answering, already knowing she said little without a reason, even when she was teasing her family.
‘I and my family will attend.’
‘Please don’t come, leave beforehand. I will re-open the port.’
‘You wish us not to be there?’
‘I wish you not to be there.’ Peyton replied as she looked into his silver eyes.
‘Why, may I ask?’
Peyton dropped her eyes from his intense stare and concentrated on swirling the tiny amount of coffee in the bottom of her cup. Just when he thought she was not going to answer, she finally said, still without looking at him. ‘I may have to do and say some things that could change your mind about me and my family. I like you and your family and I don’t want you to think badly of us… of me.’
By now the room had become silent, waiting for his reply. ‘No Madam, we will attend. We have the right and for your information, we like you and your family as well. Our ties are formed tonight, they will strengthen in time. Please understand, we must be part of what happens at the meeting, because it will affect us all. In fact, regardless of everything, everyone in this world should witness what happens.’
Peyton acknowledged that with a nod. ‘I can make that happen.’
‘I urge you to do so, you are our Star Daughter and that means something. I know I am not telling you anything you do not already know. You are not what we have been taught our Star Daughter would be like, and I do not mean just physically.’ He smiled as he said. ‘I mean in every way possible, you are warm, humorous and have a heart that understands love. Which as far as I know has never been an attribute of the Star Child’s arm of justice. In saying that, we should all know what happens when the Star Daughter is displeased and is tasked with bringing Justice to the Universe.’
Peyton sighed and sucked on her bottom lip, still not looking at him. Waidon worried he had offended her, then she said. ‘Alright, but I hope you won’t think too badly of me?’
‘Peyton.’ He quietly said, not using her title as he placed his fingers under her chin. When her eyes finally met his, he saw for the first time the young female behind the power, and it was he who sighed this time. ‘I see a young female with a lot of power and a great responsibility, surrounded by her spouse, her children and a loving family with many devoted friends. I can never feel anything other than admiration for someone who can generate that much loyalty. Or someone who can bring together such a diverse group of people and make it work. I know my family and I hope to be counted in the devoted friends group.’
She smiled, lightening her entire face as she threw her arms around him in a hug, taking him by surprise. ‘Done!’
Kardan sighed. ‘Always hugging.’
Briark said. Get used to it, Amahka.
We have. Leiark grumbled as they sat either side of him looking at their bondmate.
Kardan grinned as he saw Hawk looking his way. ‘Kay!’
Which made Hawk roar with unexpected laughter.
THIRTY-TWO:
In the following days after the dinner with the Haffee family. People shopped and visited galleries and museums, some even attended music concerts.
Sadly, Peyton could not attend any of the performances. When she had asked if anyone would be interested in trying to negotiate for the artists to go to Maikonia. Karen and Cemeru had put their hands up for the task, and Karen found she had an aptitude for negotiating with artists, or at least their representatives.
With Teelu’s help, Cemeru and Karen secured contracts from the managers for the artists to perform at Prime within the yenta. Karen told Peyton all they had to do was design and build a place to hold a concert.
When Peyton had asked if she knew what kind of building was required. Karen responded the data stream would provide an answer and then she demanded to know what Peyton had against concerts. The discussion degenerated into an argument that made no sense to Karen or Peyton an
d anyone else who was in the room. Hawk told Kardan he felt it was Karen’s pregnancy that made her unusually argumentative. Netta had shaken her head and stated it was just Peyton.
Trina and all the females who were pregnant or anyone who did not want to shop at the Capital. Made use of the in-house spa and shopping boutique. It seemed like hourly agents and designers arrived with new products for them to purchase from exotic perfumes and jewelry to clothes and footwear. All overseen by the Bellpone sisters.
Peyton spent time, when she was not working, with Kardan and their children making use of the swimming pools and just being together as a family.
Other times she and Kardan met up with Hawk, Bendrix and Jerthem, and together they drew up ideas for setting up Embassies and establishing a chain of command. Together they produced a design for the Embassies, and sent it to Kolin, for him to find architects who could incorporate their fortress design into something uniquely Maikonian.
Kardan, Klune and Harm spent time with the Wolf and Waseo. Hammering out parameters for their individual missions. And deciding on where they would start their searches.
This morn Peyton sat behind her desk in her office and sighed in pleasure. It was nice to be alone with only Penny and nothing urgent to see too. They had discussed Penny’s babies; it seemed, after some investigation. Heather and Dinas had discovered the babies were Falears and were drawing energy from Penny to keep themselves from fading away.
So Peyton was right when she said Penny was becoming invisible. With no data on the genetic development of the Falears, the healers were at a lost to know what to do to help Penny and her babies. Finally, after hours of consultation with Darby, Matt and Jax. Heather and Dinas decided on a course of action. Bendrix donated blood filled with Nanites, and then Darby and Jax altered them.
Penny underwent a minor procedure by Dinas to install the modified Nanites into the babies, which would ensure the twins would no longer draw from their mother. The prognosis looked good for both mother and babies. Since then, Penny and Kerol had talked with Matt and the other Falears, who had been delighted when asked to help with the babies. Peyton thought that Penny and Kerol’s children were going to be very fortunate to have the Falears as uncles.
