The next two weeks passed in a busy blur of training days, preparation for departure and long nights of nausea. While Illya was out training with the men, it was up to her to get Helen and Terrence ready to board while also getting the ship prepared for the 2 month journey back to Pyrta. It was easy to plot their course, though she had to take into account that the Pithian ship could not go as long or as far without refueling. It was not a Kaerelean design nor did it operate partially on solar sails. If they were to caravan together, they would need to make more stops along the way to allow their partners to refuel. There were a few that she knew were safer than others, and it would be best for them to be quick about their stop, only allowing enough time to refuel, walk the animals and restock before departing again. It wasn't the best in the world, but it was better than being caught by the Federation.

Getting the flight plan together and giving it to the intended pilot of the other ship was the easy part. She still had to get their ship ready for deep space which was made all the slower given she felt nauseated in the mornings and exhausted by the time afternoon rolled around. Making sure their ship was in top order was a priority though, not simply because it was Kaerelean point of pride, but because it would be the only thing that stood between them and death in space. Calysta made herself a schedule devised by the difficulty of the task over the time that it needed to be done the closer they neared to take off. Making sure Helen had the things she needed for her green house space was easier, but de-icing the offboard cameras, ensuring the weapons and guidance systems were properly working were harder tasks. De-icing the exhaust and conducting the 300 point inspects from bow to stern, including a dry run of the jump engines to assess their running statistics. Most of the time, it took a fair bit of climbing or crawling, not a terrible bit of work until she felt the urge to puke. Then she was scuttling out of whatever crawl space she was in to toss her lunch over the ice.

What did help was Illya coming home at night to cook dinner with the kids, allowing her to rest for a little bit, no matter how much she insisted she was fine. Why was she having morning sickness? Her pregnancy with Cypher and Lohgan didn't produce a shred of morning sickness at all, and other than the low blood pressure issue she had hardly known she was pregnant in the beginning stages. Now, she had nausea combined with the dizziness of low blood pressure along with two children to look after. Maybe it was because of the medicine? Because she'd had a green eyed baby? That was one fear that nibbled in the back of her mind. What if this was a fluke, and she wouldn't carry this baby to term like every other woman who had a green-eyed Chip before her? The odds were against her and she knew that. Not only was she a half breed with complicated pregnancies to begin with, but the advent of Lohgan had probably significantly lowered her chances of a successful pregnancy. It was worry she had to put to the side for now. Whatever happened, she had to deal with it and do the best she could while making sure Illya was alright. He'd had a few absence seizures over the course of the two weeks, and the most she could guess was that part of the issue was stress. He was pushing the Pithian's harder than ever with drills every day and then coming home to help her at night. The wear and tear was starting to show on his body, particularly in his prosthetic leg which aching most nights from all of the skiing in the cold weather. She would rub his knee at night with clove oil before putting on a warm compress in the hopes of loosening the muscles around the joint, something he didn't argue about when she offered to do it.

The day of departure arrived and there seemed to be endless tasks. Calysta was met by Terrance and Helen early in the morning with sleds covered in protective tarps against the cold. Inside were her plants waiting for a new, warm home inside the ship that had to be moved quickly. They set to work hauling aboard the sleds and placing each plant in the makeshift racks which were secured by wood and wired with an irrigation system she had rigged to the waters supply with tubing. Each plant had to be placed with a species of plant that it could get along with and watered in a certain way.

As she gently placed a balmy succulent in a space of its own, Illya was beside her putting an orchid next to a snapdragon, both needing completely different styles of care. "There's a little grid," she said, "Succulents and the plants who need sparse water go here...and the ones that need more water go below to get the heavier runoff." Quickly, she pulled a sheet from her pocket and showed him how each plant was labeled with a color for its proper section and a row number placed on each pot. "Like this."

He grumbled a bit but started referring to the chart as he helped put away the plants. While he helped finish up the planets and got their 'crew' settled, Calysta went about getting their pre-flight checks done. It was natural to check the readouts of each idling engine, keeping a close eye on any deviations while they warmed up. She was also in constant communication with the Pithian ship, trying to keep them on schedule for the most part. For some of the places they would be visiting, the timing would be essential.

By the time everyone was confirmed ready it was dinner time, each ship left their engines idling to feed themselves before take off. Calysta could smell the delicious scent of bacon wafting through the ship....and the horrible smell of eggs to go with it. The salty, savory bacon was making her stomach growl with a ferocity, but coupled with the downright rubbery smell of the scrambled eggs, she wasn't sure she could stomach breakfast for dinner. Did she dare go into the galley? Walking with careful steps down the corridor from the bridge, she let her nose decide. Bacon? Or avoidance of eggs? It was a hard choice, but eventually, she stepped into the galley where she found Illya breaking apart a healthy sized strip of bacon for Lohgan's outstretched hands over his shoulder. She'd already gotten on to him once about feeding pieces too big to her, but that was a month or so ago and now she had a pair of pearly teeth to break apart the meat. Beyond that thought was the overwhelming urge to join them in their stolen bacon.

Returning Illya's cautious grin with a more devious one, Calysta stole her own piece of bacon and chomped it down greedily. The salty treat was exactly what she wanted. Words couldn't describe how delicious that singular piece of bacon was rolling around her mouth before her eyes settled on another slice. "I was hungry too," she hummed in satisfaction, before handing a slice off to Cypher.

Take off was something she was looking forward to the most. They'd had a decent time on the Pithian planet, but the stars were waiting for them along with a few new ports and Kaereal. Despite her reservations about how they would be received coming home and out of exile to some, with a gaggle of Pithians, it was hard not to be happy about being in the air again. Home was anywhere with her family and a ship to carry her with them. With a stomach full of bacon, Calysta settled into her captain's chair and placed her hands on the controls. Illya joined her in the co pilot's chair, giving the go-ahead from the navigation on their end through the comm system. Things always felt better The same verification came from their sister ship, The Accord, and Calysta smiled. "This is Silver Mountain, clearing for simultaneous take off in..3...2...1.."

The Silver Mountain responded to her touch with ease as they lifted off into the air with the impulse thrusters without so much as a shudder. The only sound that could be heard was the gentle hum of the engines shifting and the landing gear folding into its compartment. As they lifted as they broke through the atmosphere, the force increased only slightly before abating and the artificial gravity took over automatically. "Keep standard flank distance," she said over the comms to the Accord's captain. A single shudder signaled their successful break into space, and that was about the time, she caught Illya looking at her. He did that more often these days and she liked catching him at it, a bit of a flattering sport. This time, he decided to comment on being caught and tell her what he was thinking, making the moment that much better. He remembered the Gylcryn, the small scout ship she had crashed on Qouti with. A broad grin came over her lips, brushing at her pale grey eyes at the mention of her old ship, and better yet, the fact he remembered being her co-pilot.

"Aye, I think if I'm to fly until I die, I need the co-pilot I signed on some time ago," she mused back, "He's one of a kind, and no other will do for the Little Bird in her Silver Mountain."

It was hard to explain why she was so pleased when he said things like that. Whenever he mentioned something that for so long had only been an event real in her mind, it was made her feel that much more connects. As if she were living the way they were supposed to have been for once. The feeling felt right. Once they were through the final magnetosphere, Calysta gave Illya the word that it was safe to get up and move. "Alright, the kids should be good to move around again now," she smiled. Her Chip went off to make sure the kids were tucked into bed, while she coordinated their timed jump with the Accord. If they were to arrive at any port at the same time, their jumps had to initiate at the same millisecond or there would be an accumulated slippage over their week's travel, making them arrive an hour shy of each other. "Jump...in 5...4...3...2...1." As soon as she hit the one mark, Calysta pushed their whirring jump drive to work, setting them at the top speed their accompanying ship could reach. The Accord jumped with them, and other than text signals, comms went dark. Once she received the successful text transmission, affirming that they were successful in a jump and on course, she set the autopilot. It would be an entire week before they exited their jump.

When she found Illya, he was tucking Lohgan into bed with her soft pink blanket. Unable to resist him, she came to stand beside him over her daughter's crib and rubbed at his back between his shoulders lightly. "Mmm...we are on our way," she hummed, "My co-pilot did well in his calculations." He had gotten so much more flirty with her in recent days, and while she wasn't always feeling up to doing much more than cuddle back with him, tonight she felt alright. "I think he's earned a long shower." With that, she trailed her fingers down his arm and slipped toward the bathroom where a warm shower waited for them both.

**********************************************


Calysta leaned over the bed and threw up for the fourth time that morning. There was nothing in her stomach left to vomit, but her body reacted as if she were a bottomless pit. "Ugh," she groaned wiping her mouth. Illya had probably woken up again next to her and she stole a glance at him. Yep. His eyes were peeled open and slightly blood shot, making her feel slightly guilty. "Maybe it would be better if I slept in the chair," she sighed, flopping back to the pillows, "At least one of us might sleep." Of course that was met by a grumbling "No."

Smacking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, she rolled to get up slowly. "I can just go check on the kids." If she couldn't sleep, she could do something useful and give him the chance to snooze. That comment only spurred him to jumping out of the bed before her and saying she should rest.

"But..."

Any reason she made, he combatted until she actually grew tired enough to lay back down. "Alright....I'll lay back down."

Calysta returned to the bed and curled up on her side facing the bucket, just in case, while Illya hustled about with getting ready to tackle the day. It wasn't long before he was bringing her a cup of the spicy stomach soothing tea. "Thank you, love," she mumbled, rubbing at her eyes as she took the cup.

He said something about lunch and she nodded vaguely. It was lunch time already? What happened to the morning? She must have fallen asleep at some point. Sipping on her tea, she slowly woke up and managed to sit up without wanting to hurl hurt guts. Her mind wandered over how far they were into their trip and all the things she needed to be doing. Did Lohgan have her socks on? It was colder in space and wandering without socks would bother her. Was Cypher behaving at his lessons? Did Illya need help in the kitchen? What was Rose writing? She'd seen her pouring over her pad and giggling the other day. A sinking sense of loneliness set in which she solved by checking on their course and the engine out puts from her bed. Everything was running perfectly smooth, offering no excuse she could use to justify leaving her room for.

Calysta tossed and turned in their bed, first pushing off the covers before deciding she was chilled and pulling them back up again. If she lay on he right side, the burning bile seemed to rise up so much easier, but the left side felt odd and she wasn't used sleeping on it. Poking at her pillow a few more times, she decided her body might be tired but her mind wasn't. There were a million things she needed to do, and could be helping with. However, she knew poking her head out of the door would earn her a fussing from Illya about resting and the effort didn't seem worth the rise in blood pressure for either of them at the moment. She couldn't have him seizing and she couldn't do much of anything while going through the morning sickness either, which was strike then abate before catching her off guard again. She laid there for a long moment, playing at the ends of her hair until her eyes settled on the little box on her shelf which contained her jewelry...and the hologram coin given to her by Asha. Illya was bound to be occupied for at least an hour with the kids and animals so there was time to watch more. She could handle more now. Rising from the bed took some effort, moving in small increments until she was on her feet, and across the room retrieving the coin. When she was back in bed with the coin, Calysta laid back and checked for sounds at the door before putting the volume on the coin at its lowest, almost impossible to hear setting, and hit play.

Even after months of recovery time Illya was barely recognizable due to the swelling in his face. Isla sat in the kitchen staring blankly at the table. Tear dropped slowly at first and then more rapidly. Every now and then she'd glance toward the doorway to their bedroom and then she'd look away again. There wasn't anymore medicine and she could hear him struggling for every breath. His voice wasn't the same anymore. Whenever he breathed in, or out there was a harsh rasp to it. If he could manage to get his voice above a whisper his voice had a thick gravel in it now. It sounded horrible and unnatural to her. As time went on she just started to look tired instead. Isla got up and went out to the docks. There weren't any ships like usual and she went home to the same thing as she had for the last several months. This time she went into the room and combed some of his curls out of his face. Illya winced when her fingers tugged slightly on some of his hair. The scars on his scalp still hurt. Then she started to run a hand behind his shoulders and pulled. "Owe..." Even if Illya had tried he could barely get the hoarse whisper out of his mouth and tears sprung to his eyes with the motion. Isla kept on pulling him up until he was sitting. "I need some help. You're going to sit with your back against the wall for now and I'm going to work your hand. You won't be any good to me if you can't help in every way you can." Illya was sweating with even the effort of having to try and sit up. He winced and hissed with every single movement, but she still persisted.

Isla had started to lose the sparkle in her eyes. The woman got up from the little bed that used to belong to Lahna and she shuffled over into her and Illya's room where he was laying on the bed with a frown on his face. He was still sleeping and she knew that, but it was time to get him up before she went out. Kneeling next to the bed she gently rubbed his shoulder and whispered to him, "Illya it's time to get up. I have a list of things for you to do on the table." She knew very well he couldn't walk, but she had braces for him a cane and a wheelchair that sat in the main room. First thing in the mornings he moved slowly and he needed a little help. Isla helped him sit up and she grabbed his braces and moved them over to the edge of the bed. Moving his right leg enough to get the brace on it was excruciating and Illya winced the whole way through the process while Isla strapped the brace on. "Ugh..." Illya gingerly laid himself back on the bed for a moment after his leg was strapped up in the brace. "What's on meh list?" Isla got up and sat on the edge of the bed. Leaning over him she gave Illya a kiss. "You'll have to get up to find out. I've got a surprise at the end of the list if you feel up to it. I'll be checking to see if it was all done too." Heading out the door of the bedroom she blew a kiss and then left. Illya sat up again with a deep frown etched on his face. He wanted to know what was on the list, but it also hurt to sit, walk, or do anything. Since he couldn't very well walk on his own he grabbed the cane she left him and growled. It was the same most mornings. His back flared with even the attempt to stand and he collapsed on the bed again. Instead of staying on the bed half rolled off the bed and crawled on his stomach to the wheelchair. It was almost 10 minutes of struggling before he had himself in the wheelchair with sweat pouring down his face. By the time he got to the table he was clenching one fist and panting. His right hand was still somewhat crippled, but he was determined to do something.

Calysta kept watching the scene carefully, seeing how Isla got up every morning and got him up, even if it hurt, she did it. She vaguely wondered if that's what her father looked like during her treatments which left her exhausted, nearly dead to the world. She made Illya get up, which was good, but she wished Isla would have stayed to help. Maybe it was too hard to watch him crawl to the living room, to struggle to grasp with his hand. More than anything she wanted to reach back through time and help. Reaching up, her pale fingers brushed at the holographic Illya, his face distorting slightly. She wondered what was on the list as his shaking form looked down to the paper on the table. Isla had been trying her best to keep him active it seemed, now that she had chosen to stand by him...chosen to accept what it was. In a certain way, she respected Isla for that particular decision. Love was not always beautiful or kind. Sometimes it was a struggling task beyond the happy days, something taught by Kaerelean tradition, but not always followed. Taking a sip of her tea to clear the taste from her mouth, Calysta continued watching.

In the early afternoon Isla stopped by the house long enough to bring a few flower and set them on the table. "Got some flowers for you to put on the table for tonight." Since she was home she made a quick lunch and sat down with Illya to eat. By the time she left Illya was already exhausted. He could barely concentrate or move without some kind of pain flaring up. Looking at his list he growled to himself and crumpled it up. She wanted him to fold the little basket of clean laundry and she knew it hurt to move that much. She wanted him to get a vase out of the top cupboard and she knew it hurt for him to stand and then she wanted him to get outside and harvest a few little herbs and chop them for dinner. So far he'd only accomplished half the folding and he was already hurting. With a vicious snarl he hit the table with his left fist. There wasn't anything else to do and he felt horrible. Gritting his teeth he took himself over to the counter and pulled himself up to stand. Illya cringed with the effort and he struggled to straighten himself enough to grab the vase, putting water in it was difficult. He had to use his right hand and it hurt. Uncurling his hand he wrapped his trembling fingers over the vase and then did his best to pour some water into the vase with his left hand. There was a little mess, but he got it sloppily mopped up. Once the flowers were on the table and ready he wheeled himself outside to grab the few herbs. To his frustration he saw the ones she wanted were not in a raised bed and he had to get out of the wheelchair. By the time he was finished getting the herbs, chopping them and then folding the rest of the clean laundry Illya had started to look a little pale. Wheeling himself back to the main part of the house he half tumbled out of the chair and then drug himself back into the room. Illya had to use the bed frame to haul himself up and then he half fell into the bed. He was sleeping when Isla came home and she quietly took care of the small mess on the counter and made their dinner before serving a large plate for Illya and one for herself. Taking the food into the bedroom she woke him up again and this time helped him sit up again. This time she set a pillow behind his back to help ease the discomfort. "You got it all done today." With a little smile she leaned in to kiss him between bites. "Maybe if you have the energy we could sleep together tonight." She had been trying to slowly get him more functional and she purposefully chose tasks and left him most of the day because if she didn't he wouldn't get up at all. Illya nodded slowly when she mentioned sleeping together and Isla reached over with one hand and rested it on his chest. "I'll come lay with you after I finish cleaning the dishes then."

All day, she watched him struggle to do the simple tasks he has been given. His hands shook and just moving from the chair to the garden and back was a near impossible challenge for him. But he did it. By the time they were eating dinner he was paling, and sick with the pain. She had seen that look on him before and it broke her heart. How many times had he been in that much pain over the years? At Isla's offer to sleep in the same bed, she wanted to close the hologram for a moment. The feeling of being unable or afraid to be in the same bed with him was familiar and she didn't have the desire to see Isla in bed with him. She hoped it wouldn't show any of that, and yet she wanted to make sure even the Illya of the past wasn't one. Carefully, she shifted on the bed and grabbed Illya's pillow before the scene continued.

In time Illya's hand started to look a little healthier and he was moving and using his arm with less pain. There was still a level of stiffness to his arm, back and his leg, but he seemed to be improving. There were little blips of him getting himself up. Illya would wince when the bed shifted and Isla would get up. It still hurt if she moved much, but they were sharing the bed again and he would start getting himself up. It all seemed to be going fine until he got the cough bad enough that it started a fever and an inflammation in his bones. Isla stayed at home and she made teas and tried her best to rub soothing creams on his chest to ease the cough. He was alternating between seizures and shaking like a leaf under the mounds of blankets. The fever didn't seem to improve and Isla got into the bed with him after a while and tried to warm him up by being close and rubbing along his back where it wasn't quite as tender. "Maybe I'll make a fire and light it right under the bed." Illya shot her a look and then grinned despite the fever. He was still struggling to breath, but it was a good joke and he choked out a few chuckles. "You would if you weren't worried about burning the mattress." Groaning a little he shifted to get closer to her. "Its too bad. I'd like a little fire." Isla met his gaze and she gave him a sad smile. "That's the man I wanted to agree with. You've got a sense of humor. Maybe enough you might survive if you keep on laughing at death."

Calysta kept her eyes trained on the hologram, relieved she didnt see Isla in bed with him perse and also relieved his hand seemed to be improving with the rest of him. That was until the fever struck. It looked to be the chip cough, but given the way his bones swelled and the rest of the symptoms she had to wonder if part of it was infection from metal that he had implanted years ago at this point. He shook all over and seized every now and then, undoubtedly from the fever. It reminded her slightly of when his arm has been broken and he seized due to the infection from his bones. Watching them together as more husband and wife was difficult, but not in the way she thought it would be. In some ways, it was easier that they knew each other and could rely on each other that way. Up until recently she had not had that feeling. Not their trials were particularly comparable when it came to Illya, but Isla had won him back slowly, just as she had. It was painful, horrifying even, yet they had both made it. "He still laughs at death," Calysta sighed to the holographic Isla, "Still stubborn and wiley...not the man he was with you in all things...but those are the same." In fact he could do with not so many opportunities to laugh at death.

There were many years that ran together. Times of improvement and then lapses with the fevers and infections. The one thing that changed was that Isla had begun to get ill in time. Illya drilled with the men a little and he came home frequently to check on Isla. They'd tried for many times for more children and each failed until they quit trying. As the years passed Illya started to do more cooking and he would peer into the room when Isla laid down for her afternoon naps. One afternoon he limped into the room and he laid down on the bed with her. Carefully he laid a hand on her waist. "You feel better today?" Speaking to her quietly in Quoti he waited for her to open her eyes and then he presented her with a little braid of desert flowers. It was semi painful to do such detailed and small work with his hand, but he had done it for her because she liked the orange desert flowers. "You like some snake for dinner too?" Leaning over her he carefully kissed her and started to limp his way to the kitchen. It was obvious that he was tired out, but he didn't want to leave her to do the work when she was ill. That evening Isla curled close to him and she shivered most of the night. The next morning Illya let her get up and he got tea for her and then fought with the mattress to move it from their room out into the main room. He set it near the fire so she could be warmer at night and then made sure to carefully fold all the blankets in half so they were all on her side of the bed.

Watching Illya's rise paralleled with Isla's decline was a sad affair. The woman had struggled, certainly and it would not be a happy end to her life. She knew that much, yet Illya was doing his best with bringing her little tokens. Small treasures she would like. Did Isla wonder what her life would be like without Illya? If she had never chosen him? Calysta wondered sometimes and it always looked bleak, a dull grey amid a sea of endless traveling. He was tender with her when she grew worse and it was obvious the end for her was cutting closer and closer. He would be heartbroken when she died...but it was an inevitable thing. It become obvious that whatever her struggles in the past were, and there were many, that they didnt compare at all to this surely. The hologram feed kept going, displaying Illya's broad shoulders by the fire light next to his beautiful wife, and Calysta watched on.

As Isla grew steadily worse Illya worked harder and harder to try and make her comfortable. Some nights he barely slept because of the cold and the ache in his bones. Each morning he would get up and he would check on her and help her brush her hair. With time she refused food because it was making her ill and Illya stopped drilling almost entirely. He barely left the house except to get what he needed to help take care of Isla. One day when she was particularly sick she gripped his arm a little tighter when he went to get up and she met his gaze. "Just hold me for a while." Illya held onto her until she fell asleep again and then he got up to put a lunch together for them. She could at least try sipping at a broth. When he came back she was barely breathing and he tried to rouse her, but she didn't move. Instead his face scrunched with worry and he held her while whispering to her about their younger lives, when they were happier. About some of the things he remembered from when they were still children. Briefly her eyes opened and she smiled a little, but it was the last time her eyes opened and Illya sat with her on the mattress until the sun went down and her last breath left her body. Even if he knew the time had been coming it didn't change the grief. Tears ran down his face and he held her for a long time more before he got up and went outside to check for the direction of the wind.

Isla only grew worse, and while it didn't surprise her, it didn't make the inevitable any easier to endure. He stayed by Isla's side the entire time, holding her close even if it would be easier for him not to. He did it because he had loved Isla fiercely from the second he met her, really. While tears trickled down Illya's face, her own welled in her eyes. She wasn't much of a crier except when it came to Illya. He'd always had that ability to work his way into her heart like that, even when she was desperate not to let him get that close. Wiping at her eyes, she sniffled and waited to see if there was more to the hologram.

After she died Illya left the mattress on the floor. It was the same place he had left it when Kalizda had come to the house. Nothing in the house changed. He left the rooms empty and did his best to train and move on with life. Some nights he slept with the blankets and other nights he would be alone, but there was nothing different that he could see in his future and so Illya kept on with his life in his own quiet way until he saw the ship come crashing to the planet. That was when he decided that it was time to try something different.

Calysta closed the hologram coin and wiped at her eyes. In some ways, it was strange to be morning her predecessor and yet here she was, sniffling not just because her passing had hurt Illya, but because the woman had a life that was difficult. Did Isla wonder what her life would be like without Illya? She had thought of it and all she had seen was some grey landscape of endless traveling, devoid of warmth. It part she was angry for such suffering all because of the Federation. They had caused pain beyond measure but if it hadn't been for them, she would never have met Illya at all. Calysta rose from their bed slowly and made her way over to the jewelry box once more to keep the coin safe. Would she ever watch it again? Probably not. Illya might need it one day though and she would keep it protected anyways. About the time she closed the lid, the door handle jiggled before the door swung open revealing her Chip carrying a plate of food and Cypher wrapped around his good leg. Their son begged to keep going as he laughed wildly with each step forward. Calysta grinned and chuckled as she crossed the room to help Illya with the plate. "I think you found a wild munster on your leg," she said, kissing his cheek, "Have my boys come to keep me company for lunch?"

Lunch was finally ready. It wasn't the most glorious offering, but it was something. Illya half shoved the door open as he made his way into the room and he met a misty eyed Kalizda, but she was giggling at the same time. She was quite odd when she was pregnant. There was no telling what was going through her mind. With a grin he made his way to the bed. Handed her the tray and then sat down on the bed before leaning back and lifting his leg up and up until he had Cypher hovering and giggling over the bed. "Aye, today et's boy lunch wit Kalizda and tomorrow et will be lunch wit dah girls." Illya was going to do his best to make sure she got time with the kids. That was important after all.

Calysta took the tray and walked over to the bed to settle next to her boys. Cypher held to his fathers leg only so long as his mother was standing and once she sat down, he let go, flopping down with a heavy thud before diving into her lap. "Easy, easy," she chuckled, helping him into her lap and holding the tray steady at the same time. Once he was sitting on her lap, his back to her front, Calysta leaned over and took up Illya's right hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "That sounds good. I love to have lunch with my babies and my agreed too."

In a way she was more quiet. A sort of quiet that Illya hadn't heard from her very often. There was many different kinds of silences and this was one he was familiar with in too many ways. "Yes, et es good." Studying her face for a long moment he finally asked what he'd been wondering. "Are yah alright? Yah seem upset."

She played with Cypher's hair, plucking at the curls and feeling Illya's eyes roam over face. When he asked if she was alright, her eyes slowly went to his and she leaned into him. "Aye, I'm alright. I'm not upset, just...thinking how lucky I am. I have a smart, strong son who takes after his Dah. I have a wonderful husband too." Her head came to rest on his shoulder slightly as she let out a long breath and then mustered a genuine smile. "My agreed spoils me more than he knows sometimes," she chuckled, "I might get used to having lunch with him every day and stealing kisses when I can."

Feeling her head rest against his shoulder was good. Illya let her and he picked up one of the sandwiches he had on the platter. "Hmm." He was hungry and he wasn't going to wait forever to eat. Little Cypher followed suit and grabbed a sandwich. He was trying to be like his Dah and he took as big a bite as he could. The boy's big blue eyes drifted up to his parents and he beamed at them. He liked to have time with just them. Illya looked from Cypher and then to Kalizda again. "I tink I could get used tah having lunch wit yah every day and letting yah steal dose kisses. Et es good life. eh?"

Calysta reached for a sandwich, one of her favorite kinds with bacon and crispy greens, before meeting Illya's eyes again. "Aye, this is the good life right here with you and our children. And the stolen kisses too." Taking a bite of her sandwich, she shifted in closer and stole a kiss. She would steal a few more before the day was done just because she could.


***************************************

They were nearing their first stop, having just come out of the jump alongside the Accord, when a message both recorded and text. Calysta's brow furrowed as she sat in the captain's chair and listened to the message.

"A state of emergency has been declared for Haza Porte due to an outbreak of Kioza Virus. The entire sector is in quarantine and the port is closed to all incoming or out bound ships. Do not enter the atmosphere."

"We can't land here," she said to Illya, "Kioza Virus attacks the brain stem...its not treatable." She shook her head as they entered a stable orbit around the closed down port. Already the Accord captain was hailing them on a close frequency, most likely trying to tell them what she knew. They needed fuel before the next jump or they would never make it to the next scheduled stop. Biting at her lip, she closed her eyes thinking for a moment. The Accord was a Starlight class vessel, not too unlike a Terran design with a 27 galactic square tank which would give them 8 days of jump at maximum speed for the vessel, assuming it was operating on optimum levels. It had been 7 days and 16 hours, giving them 8 hours of jump remaining or 32 hour of impulse which would do well if they intended simply to stay in orbit above the quarantine zone. Not an option. She needed a place for them to refuel that was within 7 hours and 30 minutes of a jump from where they were. There was only one place that came to mind and it wasn't the most pleasant of options. "Illya, can you run the numbers and tell me how far away we are from these coordinates: 14.5 , 63.3, 0.07, 44.93."

As he ran the math, she answered the call from the Pithian pilots in the other ship. "Aye, I know. We're working on a solution now. Stay in orbit and stand by."

When Illya's answer came and the flight was feasible, Calysta wasted no time in sending the coordinates off to the Accord. "We're going to Junkrat's Station," she sighed, rubbing at her temple, "I've never been, but I've heard plenty about it. If you can imagine it, good or bad, it's happened there on that space station. It's probably seedier than G'koe by a country mile so we'll have to be on our guard, but fuel is cheap there, assuming they haven't been swept up by the Kioza Virus too. We get in and we get out. That's our best bet." With that said, Calysta started to coordinate the simultaneous jump with their caravaning ship.

On the way to the infamous station, Calysta settled into the kitchen feeling tired already. It would be a long 8 hours and even then, they had no backup plan if Junkrat's was quarantined too besides abandoning the Accord and placing all 30 Pithians on board the Silver Mountain. That would turn a 2-month long trip into a 3-month long one due to the need to stop for water and supplies along the way in an overloaded luxury liner. Helen came into the room aiming for the tea pot with Lohgan rolling on her heels, and Calysta gave her a small nod. "I checked on the plants earlier and they seem to be doing well," she commented, "Hopefully they'll all make it to Pyrta and if they don't we'll make sure they're replaced for you."

The woman commented back and Calysta nodded again. There was something she had been wanting to ask Helen since finding out about her past. Something that had been bothering more now that she had finished the holograms displaying the terrible things that the Federation had done, but they hadn't had the chance alone to really talk. "Helen, if I can ask...you don't have to answer...but do you happen to know where you were stationed during your time with the Federation?"

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Within the correct time frame, the space station came into view and its name befit the look. Random sections of cargo holds and ships, along with collected sections of other spacecraft from every known era of space travel sat like a spinning tin can in the orbit of a large gas giant. Ship of all kinds bustled in and out of the docking bays, bursting into jumps far too close to other ships while hot rodding while others puttered along in obvious need of repair. Welders in space suits floated along with their tethers and masks, repairing sections here and there along the space station hull. The most noticeable feature was the bright signs blaring into space, reading of all sorts of available debauchery. There were ones advertising alcohol in neon letters, poker chips, and beast racings. There was even a bright neon woman with long legs kicking out, offering a XXX Gentleman's show. The ladies were not to be left out, however, and there was a man helicoptering his goods for all to see when they pulsed around the corner. Already Calysta's cheeks were bright turning pink at thought of having to bring a diplomatic envoy of sorts here. Still, at least they weren't quarantined and they had fuel.

"Let's dock and get this done," she said into the coms, her voice cracking at the first word.
 
Days on the ship had blended together. Illya made sure the kids got equal time with himself and Kalizda. All of them took turns when it came to lunch. Even if Rose wouldn't admit it outright, the girl relished the time that she got with Kalizda and Wolf all to herself. She liked getting a chance to tell them about her newest ideas and thoughts and then some of the things she was hoping to do when they got home.

There was one thing that was becoming abundantly clear to Illya. Their little girl was growing up. She was close to her 17th birthday and it was showing. Already she was talking about possibly getting her own home when they got back home. Whatever the reason was behind that thought he didn't know, but it was reasonable even if he found it a bit sad. If she needed help building or fixing her home he would do what he could to help her. Illya wanted his little girl to live well and comfortably. Her plan to pay for everything was to publish her many books that she had written by now. She had a careful little documentary of the planets they visited as well as her fables that she wrote. They were all things that she was sure she could sell. The fables would easily sell to the Chippequoti as well as the documentary type pieces she'd written. Many of the Chippequoti considered her the same as one of them. She'd been raised with them and they would want to see work by one of their widely distributed.

Aside from the fact that Helen and Terrence were riding in the same ship Illya found that he enjoyed the quiet of space. Just himself and the family. It was welcome in a way. Helen was a bit of a constant irritation though. The woman stared constantly at him and the kids. She seemed to take particular interest in Cypher and that was a bit disturbing in itself. Naturally, Cypher was completely oblivious to the sort of attention he got and he would keep on playing cheerfully. Lohgan was all to pleased with her little ship and she zipped around on it. At least once a day she would run into Illya to get his attention and then raise her little hands in the air to ask him to pick her up.

It was the fourth time that Lohgan had run into Illya's leg and he felt a little impatient, but he knew she was feeling needy. The girl was starting to get some growing pains and she wanted to be held again. Illya leaned over and picked her up. "Let's get yah blanket eh?" Lohgan nodded to her dad and she sucked on her thumb for a brief moment before she decided that hurt too. "Guess when et's time for nap yah want tah nap wit meh and yah mum?" Again the girl nodded and Illya sighed. "Alright, nap es soon. We have lunch first eh?" Just as he promised a little bit after lunch he picked the girl up and he put Cypher down to nap and then took Lohgan to the room with him and Kalizda. Normally he and Kalizda had the time together, but it wasn't going to be today.

Lohgan happily nestled into her blanket and laid on Illya's chest. The girl liked that he was warm when her little bones were growing and sore. It probably wasn't going to be long before Cypher hit another growing spurt and then Illya would be sleeping with the boy in their bedroom too. Since Lohgan was still trying to get warmer Illya pulled his heated blanket up and let it rest over the girl and himself.

For the afternoon nap he just chatted with Kalizda and took a few more notes on things he could check while they were in flight. He really needed to learn more about the ship. Lohgan slept with one of her little ears pressed to his chest and listening to his heart and the deep rumble of her dad's voice. "Kalizda, yah have hologram of time we get agreed? I mean dah first time?" Illya was a bit curious about it. He had a few memories of it and some pieces he wasn't sure if he was remembering them right, or not. "Maybe, I jes test meh memory eh?"

While Illya, Kalizda, and the girls were all resting peacefully Cypher was laying wide awake in his bed. Most of the baby monster's had run away, but he had a few left and he decided it was a great time to set up a race. Making small mountains and little obstacles with Terrence's bed and blankets the boy set the monsters on the man's pillow and started them in the race by chasing them with a little ruler he had. No matter which spider won he cheered because a monster won. The only problem he had after the many races he ran with them was that he couldn't find 2 of them. They would come back. Cypher was sure of it.

********************************

They were preparing to land and Illya stepped into the bay section. He wasn't going to let Kalizda put out the big ramp. It was too much of a risk and so he decided to use the man hole. Helen stood by and watched. It was good that he was the only one going out. As much as she knew Kalizda hated to admit it, it was far safer if only person was out on the docks and her agreed was the most able. Catching Kalizda's stare she listened to the question and then shook her head. "I don't know where I was stationed."

Before he left the ship Illya grabbed a pair of gloves. He would need something before he touched the ships. They were hot after coming out of space like that. Once he had the gloves on Illya had Kalizda lower the ladder out the manhole and he stepped down and then pressed the button to raise the ladder. The first ship he set to fuel was their own and then he was going to work on the Pithian ship.

Illya started to poke around the Pithian ship. He just wanted to get it fueled and he was trying to describe what he was seeing so Kalizda could direct him to the correct tank. Nobody wanted to be bathing in fuel and running the ship off water. "Eh...ets jes big, Dere es heat coming off metal after flight. I see uh...." Staring at the ship for a long moment he finally let out a long breath. "Ets jes a big damn ship. I dun know what I'm looking for." He only knew what he was looking for when he was dealing with the Silver Mountain and that was because he took care of the fueling due to the height. This was a bit different. The ship was a totally different kind of ship and he kicked at the rock on the ground. "Maybe yah jes send picture to meh pad showing what dah gas outlet looks like eh?" Glancing around himself he noticed a few people staring at him and he glared right back. "Move on yah filty shets." They were mostly Terran and he couldn't help himself. He was already riding high on stress and the last thing he wanted was a bunch of Terrans hanging around while he was helping Pithians.

Calysta was on the bridge listening through the comms as Illya tried to refuel the Accord properly. She could hear the irritation in his voice as she directed him. "There should be an outlet two locking mechanisms...."That was standard on any ship, even if it wasn't a design she was as familiar with. The reply she got was less than encouraging and she tried not to let out of tired sigh as he grumbled, cursing over the speakers. Cypher was playing in the door way at the moment he sat straight up at the word his father used. Mam always got onto him for saying the bad words and now Dah was going to be in trouble too. "Dah said shets!" Calysta winced and pointed down the hall. "Go show Terrence how to play with Monster, and don't say that word." He deflated a little bit and dragged his toy into the Hall stocking off to find Terrence. How was it that he got in trouble when Dad said the word? Calysta went back to work, and started trying to find the specs on the ship to send to him, but it was taking a minute as her fingers flew over the keys. "Hold on, I'm looking. ..I can always come out there if I need to."

"No, I dun need yah out here tah draw more attention." Illya already felt a little on edge. The whole docks felt like they were watching him as if they were waiting for the chance to rush the ship and rob them all. It was fairly likely. Perhaps he was paranoid? Illya had been told that before, but it was only natural to be paranoid after so many years of being chased, hunted, and forced to fight. After a long couple of minutes he finally found the spot. "I got et." Putting the gloves on he grabbed the cap and twisted it off. He didn't usually need the tool used to open the tanks. His hands were strong enough. Once he had it set to fuel it would be around an hour more on the docks. Standing between the ships he watched one of the neon adds and then rolled his eyes. "Dis es what happens when yah let dah...." Catching himself short he clenched his jaw. He was going to say Terrans, but decided to leave their name out of it for now. "Ets what happens when yah have no good scum gater and den dey only tink of filt. I hate dis dock. Always trouble here."

She finally found the right spec's, or at least she was fairly sure, and sent the picture for him to follow. With that taken care of he found the lock-in hose and started fueling finally, starting the count down to their departure. Illya's sentiment was one she shared this time, this dock and most of its inhabitants had a very slimy quality to them as if they had been rolling in their own filth, and their eyes looked at everything with varying degrees of lust. When he mentioned hating the place, Calysta perked up a little and tilted her head as the question immediately left her lips. "You've been here before?"

There were a great number of things that Kalizda didn't know and more that he didn't care for her to know. "Aye, dere was times I was here." Grumbling into the intercom he decided to check their ship. It was going to be a while and the ships couldn't seem to fill fast enough. "Dis place was here long time even when I was young. Et es place dey sell many slaves." A deeper frown came to his face when he saw a few men had started to slowly gather to stare at the ship. "I tink we have trouble now. Dere are curious ones and I tink I make dem less curious ef dey get closer." One of the men raised a gun and Illya figured now was not the time to waste any moment. Lunging forward he went straight for the man with the gun. A sharp pain hit his left hand, but he kept right on going and he plowed into the smaller figure and threw him against a wall of a building. When the man hit the ground limp the others attacked him while one ran for the ship. "Kalizda yah make sure ets locked and yah turn on dah shield." It would kill one or two if they didn't stop before they hit it, but it would keep the rest of them away.

Calysta kept her eyes shifting to the various off board camera, taking in every angle of the ship as she listened to Illya. Junkrats was infamous for slaves, auctions,and fighting pits for gambling, and the idea that Illya could have ever been here as as slave or otherwise made her slightly sick at her stomach on top of the usual nausea. "Aye, that they do," she swallowed. She was about to mention the icy planet of C23 where they had been to a fight put together but she was stopped by the mention of trouble, making her eyes flick to the cameras. A few men had gathered closer to the ship, looking at it with envy and Calysta shifted anxiously in her chair. A few groups had come by before like this, scouting of course, but this time it was more. The flash of a gun sprang her into action more so than the orders from Illya. She already had the doors locked as a standard protocol here, but the shields weren't up and she quickly raised them to life, surrounding the hull, even though it effectively locked Illya out. "It's up!" Next she turned to the untested weapons systems and turned on the cannons from the starboard side where the fight was happening, training the scope on the one running at them. A large read dot the size of his stomach landed on him and he froze in place, seeing as he would be one large whole in the ground if the ship fired.

A few of the men tried to jump on Illya's back. One of them was actually successful and they threw their arms around his neck to try and strangle him. Illya threw himself on his back and he heard the man grunt and a few ribs crunch. That would do it, from there he kicked the knee caps out on one man and then went after those remaining that hadn't got far enough away not be considered a threat anymore. With the fight over in just a few minutes he worked his way around to the groaning figures on the ground and pulled them to their feet. "Get up yah shet. Go get some help from doctor eh?" Finally, he worked his way over to the one that had shot him and he shook the man a few times and then he yelled. "Hey, yah get up!" It was making him nervous. "Bastard, ef yah try someting stupid I jes cut yah dick off and den yah tink before yah take job tah kill someone next time. Bad business yah get into." Perhaps they were trying to be sneaky and stab him through, or slit his throat if he got close enough. There was one thing that a man couldn't fake and that was how a good sharp kick to balls felt.

Even after the kick the figure didn't move and Illya moved a bit closer. This time he listened for a heartbeat or breath and he didn't hear anything. "Damn et." Instead he was glad he was wearing gloves and he picked the body up and carried it into the alley and then dumped it in a garbage bin. Stepping back out of the alley Illya made his way over to the ships again. By now any of the people that witnessed the fight gave him a wide girth and he waited for Kalizda to lower the shield again so he could check the progress on the fueling. It seemed to take so long and he was feeling a little bit irritated with how long it took.

The fueling was taking a lot longer than he thought and after a while Illya decided he had to go pee. Since he was reluctant to leave the ships unattended he simply unzipped his pants and did his business right there on the spot. Nobody around here would care anyway. It wasn't a place concerned with decency and it wasn't indecent to need the bathroom. He knew Kalizda would argue that point, but Illya still didn't care if he used the back yard, or not. She was just a girl about that sort of thing. As soon as he was finished he put everything away and zipped his pants back up. The Silver Mountain was done fueling a while ago and now the Pithian ship was just about done.

By the time Illya got back onto the Silver Mountain he found the glove was stuck to his left hand. Most of the blood had dried and it made the hand very sore feeling when he started to peel the glove off. It wasn't even an armor piercing round. Whoever it was that tried to kill him didn't know what they were doing. Instead, the bullet had only hit his hand and flattened against one of the bones. It was barely enough to make him bleed and cause some bruising. There wasn't significant swelling either. Illya checked that, because he was wearing the ring on that hand and he could still move it around comfortably. That ring was one gift he actually enjoyed the sentimental value of. It meant that she had claimed him as her man and she made it clear to all the other women. Hopefully it would keep them away too.

Illya picked at the bullet till it fell out and clinked onto the floor. Taking himself into the ship he went for the kitchen sink. It was the biggest an nearest. While he was washing his hands he looked over at Kalizda and grinned. "I'm fine, jes little spot on meh hand. I tink maybe et will be scab and fall off en one, or two weeks." That was about all the longer he figured it would be around.

Once he was washed up and had a small dressing over his hand he kissed Kalizda. "Let's go eh? We get two more stops and den we're home?" He didn't know how many stops they would have to make with the other ship, but he was hoping it wouldn't be too many. Even if he said his hand would fine it did hurt a little. Taking himself back to the co-pilot seat he made out the calculations for their next jump. "Ok, we're ready."
 
Calysta watched the cameras as her fingers went to work retrieving her gun and securing the clip the expert hands. Illya was cursing and fighting against the two while the other was scrambling away from the ship. He made short work of them, though the one wouldn't get up even after being kicked. Illya hauled him up as the others scattered, disappearing from view for a moment before coming back empty handed. Unconcious and in the way, or dead? Calysta wasn't sure, but she didn't want to know at this point. Her stomach was churning as she lowered the shields for him to continue fueling with shaking hands. Was he alright?

The answer to that question came in short order when he went about fueling up again, then decided he was a little full himself. Without hesitation he whipped out and started to pee, creating a spattered puddle next to the ship while he worked. A few of the night worker women stopped to openly stare before their pimp yelled at them and threw a drink at them to force them back to work on other customers. Why did he always pee out side like that? Sure, he fit in here, but people could still see him. Women were looking....

Grumbling to herself, she waited until he was done, then got him aboard before putting up she shield. He made a beeline for the kitchen as soon as he was safely in the corridor. Calysta deconstructed her weapon and stowed the clip in her pocket, before marching down the hall to check on him.

The water was running red in the sink but it looked like he had all of his fingers, much to her relief. He had a grin on his face as he turned to dry off his hand and began fumbling with the first aid kit usually kept in the kitchen for quick fixes. Once his hand was wrapped up, he gave her a quick peck on the lips and seemed glad to be on the way. "Two plus two more stops for the Accord," she replied, her hands resting on his arms. They were slightly plumped up from where he had been twisting the nozzles by hand, which was somewhat nice to feel while she was checking him over. Satisfied he wasn't hurt too severely, Calysta took a calming breath and they returned to the bridge.

She settled back into her chair and didn't even bother with double checking Illya's calculations. They were always spot on. With the coordinates laid out it was time to lift off again and she worked with accord to send them into another simultaneous jump. This time it would be another week before their next break, hopefully one they could let the kids out on too. This place was no good for even the animals to escape on.

Lifted from the space dock, Calysta brought them into the jump and leaned back in her chair for a moment fighting a wave of dizziness. The world seemed to go up and down on a strangely circular wobble until she managed to make herself focus. "Let me see now," she nodded to Illya, "I can make a few things for pain if it hurts, yeah?" Her tiny fingers brushed over the bandage gingerly before she leaned over and kissed his cheek, simply glad it has been nothing more serious.

***************************

The week and next week passed in similar orders. Calysta would toss and turn in her sleep trying not to wake Illya up but it would inevitably lead to him waking up early too.

It was a strange thing for her to feel both hungry and horribly nauseated at the same time. She would start out sick from the early hours of the morning, starting with indigestion and then into full blown gagging. Sometimes she would get out of the bed to use the bathroom in the middle ot the night, either to pee or vomit, sometimes both. And she would take the occasion to see on the chair for a moment to let Illya sleep. It didnt seem he did much sleeping though. Often times he rolled over and over, taking the covers with him. His hands would search the warm spot she left behind. The first time she saw it, she thought it was kind of sweet to see hm pawing at thrle bed. After that, she grew curious and anytime she stayed out of bed for any length of time, she took the opportuntiy to experiment. Would he know it was her just by feel? She put a pen down for his hand to discover, which it did and simply brushed it to the side. Another time she put a pillow in her place and he still searched for her, ignoring the soft replacement. The third time, she used Aymos as a arm place holder, but each time Illya still looked for her and was only satisfied when she would hold out her hand.

In the morning, Illya would hold her hair and bring her tea which kept the bile at bay long enough for her to sleep until lunch when she woke up tired, yet not throwing up.

The best parts of the day were getting to eat with her babies. Well, Rose wasn't so little anymore. She was nearing 16 or so and already talking about her plans which grew more exciting each day. Cypher grabbed on and on about all of his monsters and mentioned missing two of them. "Mam yah good at finding dem," he said, "Will yah help me?"

He was giving her such a wide eyed and sweet look it was hardly possible for her to leap for you that these suspect 'baby monsters ' might be dead. Exchanging a look with Illya, she smoothed down her boys hair and nodded. "We'll see what we can do, yeah?"

Lohgan was simply a joy, giggling and laughing but when her first real growth spurt hit, Calysta felt bad for her baby girl. She was miserable and sore, fussing about wanting to be held and then crying when ahe wasn't held just right. It was bound to happen sooner or later. At least her father managed to keep her comfortable on some days.

It was until they were at the 3rd port that any real issue arose. The kids and the animals both were eager to get out, but there was only a slight problem.

Calysta stood in her bedroom, a pair of jeans shimmied up to her hips and frowning. Her jeans had gotten snug. After a moment of fumbling with the button and her inflated belly, she opted to lay down and try to fasten them that way. She flopped out on the bed tried to stretch the two sides together, pimching herself to get them on. They were buckled after much grunting and sliding, she got them buttoned but the tightness wa pressing on her bladder more than before. Now, she had to get out of them to use the toilet. Dashing off, Calysta passed Illya on the way to the bathroom. "Be right back!"

Stripping off the Terran jeans was immediate relief and when she was done, Calysta pokes her head out of the bathroom door."Would you find a pair of leggings for me?: she said sheepishly, "And....I think I need new clothes." She had given all of her maternity clothing away under the impression she would never need it again. "Come into town with me for some maternity wear? And maybe we should pick up some onions and pickles on the way." That combination sounded delicious and she hoped Illya would want to go with.
 
There were restless nights on end and Illya couldn't help feeling a little wore out. He was still having regular absences, but it wasn't so bad. At most he'd only seized badly once shortly after their second stop and it was only going to be a few days till Kalizda and he got home. They were within a week and he couldn't help feeling a bit anxious to be getting home.

Helen had ruined the raw meat eating frenzy while Kalizda was resting with her pregnancy. The woman had gone and told Kalizda that he probably would get worms from it and in time he would, but he really liked the taste of raw meat. Then he had to do a cleanse that lasted about 2 weeks and it wasn't that fun either. In fact there were a few days that he almost had a competition with Kalizda for their bathroom. None of the events had led to anymore rest. In fact, most of it only made the sleeping worse. Having Pithians on his ship was even worse.

As if it couldn't have gotten anymore strange he was having dreams that Kalizda kept running away. Where she would go if she did run away he didn't know and he knew she wouldn't, but it was still strange. Busily the Chip scrubbed at the kitchen floor. He didn't need the kitchen to be filthy when they landed. In fact it would be nice in a way to be back to their house and then they wouldn't be so crowded. Even though the Silver Mountain was plenty large, it still was a bit crowded to be living on it with the animals for months on end. In fact, it was a little over half a year now that he thought about it. It was amazing to think he'd been gone working for that long. Flopping the rag over the edge of the scrub bucket Illya slowly got to his feet. He could already hear Cypher coming running with his little broom. The boy wanted to sweep again. There was no stopping him with the broom after Cypher discovered the broom would scrape all the chunks of food into a pile that he could then pick through and eat.

"No, yah dun need tah sweep. I wash dah floor." Almost as soon as he finished saying it Cypher's little face dropped and he looked so somber. Illya almost felt guilty and so he decided to do something about it. "Ok, den I get yah snack, but I need yah tah make sure dat yah bed es made and yah Monster es put in her box eh?" With that his son was dashing away to put the spider back. Wherever it was Illya was sure it wouldn't be welcome until it was put away.

Even while he was standing near the edge of the kitchen another baby spider had started to crawl across the floor and he took the spare moment to smash it. Quickly Illya snatched the rag from the edge of the bucket and wiped the remains of the spider up and then started to carry the bucket toward the bathroom to dump it into the heavy water recycling. They didn't need it down the sink with only minimal water recycling. There were a few tricks to space travel that he had learned. For reasons of efficiency, cleanliness and health it was quite important how you managed the waste water.

Just a few moments after he finished dumping the bucket Illya stepped out of the bathroom and got part way into the hall before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. There was a loud bang as he hit the wall and then fell to the side seizing. The noise was so loud and sudden that Cypher stopped in the middle of making his bed to open his door and see what happened. At first he brought one fat little hand in front of his mouth and gnawed on his fingers while he watched. He wasn't sure what Dah was doing. Then he decided to come out and get a closer look. "Dah?" Whatever it was wasn't normal and he could tell something was wrong. Anxiously Cypher started to pat Illya's shoulder harder and harder each time while yelling at him. "Dah! Dah!" Tears welled up in the boy's, blue eyes. Even though Helen was already in the hall the boy didn't see his Mam and he felt scared. Then Illya's hand moved in a jerky motion and it pushed Cypher over. Crawling out of the way Cypher got to his feet and then pushed his mam and dah's door open. "Mam help!"

By the time Cypher had Kalizda out in the hallway with him Illya had stopped seizing and Helen was trying to tell him to get up. Illya felt tired and he grumbled and cursed in Quoti as he stumbled to his feet and weaved his way into his room. Flopping onto the bed it groaned with the sudden heavy weight, but he didn't really notice. Within a few minutes he was snoring loudly and his breathing was uneven, but deep enough he was getting adequate oxygen. Cypher followed Illya back into the room and he refused to move. Instead, the boy sat right between his parents and sucked his thumb while he watched his Dah sleep. "Mam is Dah gonna die?"

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It was the end of another long day and Illya had just finished tucking the kids in bed. Even though it was the day for lunch with Cypher, he had noticed that Kalizda seemed to be a little less cheerful than usual. She wasn't terribly grumpy, just a little down. They were only a few days from home and she was quite large for how far along she was. He didn't know what that meant and neither did she, but he could try to comfort her. When he closed the bedroom door he winked at her and started to get ready for bed. "I tink I have maybe little question for yah when I get under covers wit yah." Before he could actually relax she made sure he took the muscle relaxant and the nighttime seizure medication. After he swallowed the medicine Illya settled into the bed on his left side and set his right hand on her hip. She was facing him and he held his left hand up so they could both see the ring. "I tink maybe dis means dat I'm yah man, but den I have oter toughts about et. Do yah mean wit dis ring dat yah want meh tah stand by yah and be wit yah in all times?"

Calysta scooted along in the bed, trying to move along with her big belly and watch Illya take his medicine at the same time. Once she was sure he had swallowed down the seizure medication and taken his lozenge, she relaxed back against the pile of pillows which kept her slightly upright to reduce the indigestion at night. “A question?” She couldn’t imagine what he might ask, and knowing Illya it could be something wild. He slipped into the covers with her and Calysta rolled over to face him with a tired smile. “What did you want to ask?” To her surprise, her Chip lifted his hand and showed of his ring, asking about what it meant beyond just claiming him. Titling her head, she slipped a hand up to meet his, letting her finger tips play at the golden band. “Aye,” she replied, “It may be a Terran tradition, but it means together for better or worse…in sickness and in health…for as long as we live. Standing by in all times, yeah?”

Nodding a little bit he listened to her answer and yet there was still one more thing about it that he wanted to know. "I jes ask yah one more ting about dis. Et es good for Chippequoti tah know what dey wear and why. So dis ring means dat yah ask meh trust yah too? Like when I ask yah tah trust meh wit dah necklace eh?"

Calysta's eyes flickered to her necklace, which stayed around her neck either under her shirt or over it when it was safe to display. It was something had never once removed unless they were going out dressed up or she had surgery. Capturing Illya's gaze again, she realized that he was trying to equate the Terran tradition with his own, and while she wasn't entirely sure there was a direct translation, she was positive that it would have been included in the Terran vows too. He wanted to trust her entirely and the thought that he was asking something like that made her smile. "Aye, it means I trust you with everything, just like with the necklace. You're my agreed, and my most trusted." She put a hand over her bumped up belly and chuckled slightly. "Our most trusted."

Somehow she had misunderstood, but he was going to translate this one approximately as he saw fit. "I like et. Dah ring es a good tradition and I wear et wit pride because I do trust meh Kalizda and choose tah stand wit her." Scooting a little bit closer he felt her belly and he grinned. "Et es privilege tah be able tah take care of meh agreed and new baby. Dis es nut someting dat every Chippequoti gets tah do." With a careful motion he pushed himself up on elbow and craned his neck so he could kiss her on the lips. "I am very happy. Meh agreed es beautiful woman and she es smart."

He was talking about her as if it were the best thing in the galaxy that the got to stand with her. That he chose to do it and believed she was beautiful and smart. Calysta felt his warm hand on her belly, something she found soothing when her skin felt tight, and she turned slightly so he could reach her better with his kisses. She felt big, and furthest thing from beautiful on the days she was swollen and bent over the toilet hurling up her stomach, but some how he still thought she was pretty. He still wanted her and was happy with his ring. Happy with her. Hearing that made a broad smile come to her lips as she leaned up and kissed him again. “You’re happy…I am too...even if our little one has me running to the bathroom every ten minutes. I wouldn’t want anyone at my side but you. You’re my agreed and I’m proud to be the one you trust.” Leaning up she kissed him again, and while she didn’t feel particularly beautiful or sexy, Illya thought she was and that was enough. Particularly when he was looking at her with that gleam of pride in his eyes.

*********************************

They were finally landing and Illya suddenly felt nervous. This was the first time back on Pytra since the exile and he wasn't sure what things would look like. Would his people be safe, well, or even pleased to see them? He hoped for all those things, but there was no telling. With the kind of thing they had done they all knew what they deserved and he probably didn't deserve much better.

Kalizda was huge for how few of months she was along and that made him worry even more. "I take yah to dah Ehaui right away eh?" Illya said as he glanced at her, "Den we can finish dah unpacking." If there was one thing he could get done in the time it would take for Thomas to get the little jumper ready to fly to the Ehaui it was Illya making sure the animals all got put into the places in his yard. The only one that would possibly have to stay on the ship for a few hours more would be Quroz. The bird was a bit of trouble at times. Pacing the main ramp for a the last few seconds before they let it down was one way to try and pretend that he wasn't so nervous as he felt. They were just waiting for the response from Kirit's unit to arrive and scan the ship.

Incoming should all be scanned and yet Illya couldn't help being stressed. Then of course they were bringing Pithians with them too and the Pithians would be a group that anyone except the Chippequoti would likely find acceptable. Finally, he received the order to let the ramp down and Illya stood near the doorway in a solid stance, his hands at his side, and face blank. As each soldier started up the ramp to do their scan he would eye them with suspicion. It didn't matter if it was his home, or soldiers that he'd personally overseen a part of their training. This was his family and he didn't like them to be submitted to this sort of thing. One of the men stared at Kalizda a little longer than Illya was comfortable with and he caught the man's gaze and then narrowed his eyes. It was enough of an indication to leave her alone and just finish the job.

Kirit was waiting outside and Illya nearly walked right into him before he saw him. "I talk wit yah later. I need tah get Kalizda to dah Ehaui." Without a single word more he kept right on straight for the house. He'd already forgot all his other plans and he was going to get the skimmer first and bring it back to the docks for Kalizda so she wouldn't have to walk as far.
 
Calysta had just settled down for nap number two for the day. That seemed to be how life went right now. Eat breakfast Nap. Help a little around the ship. Eat lunch. Then it was right back to napping because she was often simply too tired or a bit sick at her stomach after lunch to do much else until she could help with dinner. Fluffing up her pillow, she rolled on to her side and sighed as she closed her eyes. A small wave of nausea built up and began to bubble up through her belly to her throat, culminating in a stinging belch. It was the return of chicken and rice for lunch and she grimaced against the half-digested taste. "Uhg..." Sitting up, she reached for her glass of milk, which seemed to be the only thing that helped, and guzzled a few cooling mouthfuls. "Ah..." That might come back to haunt her later, but at least the bathroom was close by and unoccupied now. A week ago and four weeks into their trip Helen had discovered Illya was eating copious amounts of raw food when he was cooking and put him on a cleanse that had them sharing the toilet in shifts. Luckily, this time it seemed her milk was going to soothe her stomach rather than curdle on it and sat back in relief, closing her eyes once more. If she could get an hour nap in, then she could sit up for a bit and look over the latest reports from their next stop to ensure it was safe. The more they knew the better......

"Mam help!"

The cry from her son wrenched her from sleep like nothing ever could. Calysta bolted up as Cypher came barrelling into the room and collided with the bed with his heavy fits grabbing at her arm. There were tears in his eyes decorating the look of horror on his face as he tried to tug her out of bed. "What is it?" For a moment she expected him to say something was wrong with his Monsters but that was not at all what came out of her little boy's mouth. "Et's Dah!" That was all she needed to hear. Tossing off the covers, she was up and moving dizzy or not so she could get to Illya. What had happened? Her heart was in her throat by the time she was out of the door with Cypher in tow along with Aymos who went with her wherever, especially now that he seemed to know there wasn't just her but the baby to guard.

Stumbling out into the hallway she found Illya in the floor, grumbling to himself and looking groggy. It was the same hung overexpression he always had after a seizure and if he was coming out of the floor, it must have been more than an absence seizure, severe enough to scare their son. He wobbled up to his feet and managed a curse in Qouti before flopping out in their bed without further issue. Within minutes he was asleep, snoring with heavy, but steady breaths and Calysta eased down on the mattress. Was the medicine failing? Or was he too stressed having been trying to do too much around the ship? Worry gripped her as she watched his chest rise and fall. T Their son clambered like an awkward baby bear to the bed, plopping down between the two of them. His question nearly made her want to cry....even if she knew part of e it was hormones pushing her emotions. "Oh no, no," she assured him as she wrapped an arm around him, "Dah is not going to die. He just doesn't feel good." Scooting him over toward her, she laid a kiss on top of his head. "And when he doesn't feel good sometimes he sleeps like this. It helps him feel better when we watch out for him. Want to stay with me and help me watch?" That earned her a fervent head nod and Calysta leaned back, taking Cypher with her with sigh. He would be alright...but it worried her. Would they make it to the Ehaui before the medicine failed again? A million questions ran through her mind, all of which she tried to push to the side, to sit with her boy and tell him a story while he waited for his Dah to be okay.

************************

They were fairly close to arrival on Pyrta and Calysta had already sent her credentials to the fleet tower and the local Pyrtan tower requesting permission to land. The fleet had no problem honoring her codes but the Pyrta docks were acting a bit strange. They triplicate checked and ran a voice test over the comms before requesting she land in dock 4, the furthest from town. Sure, they had been gone for a while, but not so long that her codes would be too old and the Accord had newly approved codes as well, giving them clearance to land. Had something else happened to make them more cautious? Kirit would have told her that surely.

Once they were on the ground, Calysta let the ship's engines power down properly, set the moorings and began the process for an indefinite rest for their faithful craft. The Accord managed to land alongside them without much issue. However, when the ramps came down for debarkation, a host of the Kaerelean force boarded asking for her name and scanning her for any signs of Tannas gas. "Calysta Marie Monroe...birthdate 78th Cycle Kaerelean, 400th Galactic year." The soldiers lingered over her slightly, one of them looking a bit confused at her belly and she raised a brow. "Is there a problem Captain? You've never seen a pregnant woman before?" Her feet were puffy and she was starting to feel tight from standing up, making her slightly irritable. "No-er...yes...Yes ma'am. This is standard." He stumbled through his answer and finished up, before scanning over the children and then granting them access to the shore.

Illya was cleared first and he ushered off down the ramp, obviously anxious to be done and to the Ehaui. "Mam! I don't want tah leave Monster!" Cypher was tugging on her hand and giving her a look of absolute horror that the spider...or the dog....she couldn't tell which...was going to be left on the ship for just a little while. She took her boy's hand with a small sigh. "Aye, but they will be fine and if you help Papa with your sisters they will be with you sooner, yeah?" That seemed to spur him into action, and Cypher gave her a smile then ran off top speed to get his grandfather. It made perfect since, the faster they got home the faster he could have his Monsters back.

Calysta walked down the ramp to see Kirit waiting. He had a concerned look on his face as if something was terribly wrong while he spoke with Illya. It wasn't until she appeared at the hatch that the young Reylian's eyes shifted before growing wide with understanding. A distinct 'oh' could be seen passing over his lips followed by a smile and he said something to Illya. "Ye have ye hands full. I have a skimmer here and they can take ye t' the Ehaui." The gruffness of the greeting was understandable when he saw the very large state the man's wife was in and he wondered how far along for a brief moment. She looked well into the term by his count. Before the other skimmer could even be brought around, Illya was gone to his own house to retrieve his own.

Rather than letting Calysta come down the ramp on her own, Kirit walked over and offered a hand to help her. "Ye come back with extra," he said, smiling at the woman. "Aye," she replied, managing a smile as she shuffled along, "One extra for the flight, yeah? We will need to talk later, but for now, I think I'm overdue for a check up." He nodded along hoping not to stress the woman out any more than necessary. Both of them wanted to talk to him, and that was far overdue too. There were things they needed to speak about that weren't safe for even the coded channels. "There are two guests aboard our ship and I want to make sure they are taken care of Make sure they are allowed quarters in the diplomatic complex and anything else they might need." She hadn't mentioned these two simply because of the nature of who they were and knew that there wouldn't be room enough in the house to be comfortable. Kirit nodded and guided her down to wait for the skimmer, which came along surprisingly fast considering how far their home was. Illya must have really been concerned, and the General of the Alliance wasn't about to stand in the way of a man whose agreed was in need.

**************

The doctor held the wand over the council woman's big belly and looked at screen, assessing the image carefully and occasionally passing a glance to her. The agreed was sitting in the chair beside her looking sweatier than usual and anxious glint in his green eyes. The two had thought there was something amiss, and in a way they werent wrong. Grabbing the screen, he turned it around so they could see the image. "Councilwoman, I suspect you don't know this but if you look here, you will see your babies. You're having twins, which explains your size. An average size for one carrying two children and if you look here, you will see heartbeat 1 and heartbeat 2." He pointed to Tiny flickering objects on the screen amid strange blobs.

It seemed that the Ehaui doctor was taking far longer than usual. He kept waving the little wand over her stomach time and and again. Illya shifted in the chair several times while he waited for some kind of answer. Even he was trying to focus on Kalizda and try to be tough for her he couldn't help his eyes from wandering to the waving of the medical scanner over her stomach. Finally, the doctor looked like he was going to give some sort of answer and Illya scooted to the edge of his seat. It was so close to the edge that the chair started to tip forward and he had to readjust himself. Then he said the one thing Illya wouldn't have thought of in a hundred years. "Twins!" Yelling the word loud enough for the entire ward to hear he jumped to his feet. "Kalizda ets two!"

Two. It was two? Even after Illya left her ears ringing exclamation That echoed through the entire Ward, she still had trouble believing it, but there it was on display. Two heart beats pattering a way in her belly! How had they even manage that!? Even after all of her reasoning she never would have guessed two babies. It was nearly impossible for half-breeds to carry one child much less become pregnant with two and do so successfully. An utter look of trepidation flickered over her face before she started to laugh. They were going to have two new babies at once ...with 2 other children under the age of 6. Still, it was amazing and the look of joy on her husband's face was entirely priceless. "Two," she laughed, "We have two!" The doctor gave the moment to let the news sink in before he moved on with the second part of what he needed to say. " Of course, given the difficulties you have and your previous pregnancies, we will need to do a cerclage immediately and limit your activity to reduce your chances of miscarrying. This is particularly important considering you are now carrying twins rather than a single baby. We will also be increasing the number of check-ups you have in the stages of your pregnancy and a C-section is the only option for birth."

Illya had almost forgotten that he was here with Kalizda and he started to walk away, but he remembered it shortly after when he heard her laugh. Promptly he seated himself again and then he waited for the doctor to tell them more. Even if he nodded as if he understood his eyes were glazed over. After it had fallen silent for several moments he looked at the doctor. "Does she need dat ting again and den bed rest?"

The doctor repeated himself promptly for the Chip who had obviously not heard a word that had been said. " We will get her into a room for the cerclage soon which should take only a few hours. After which she can have 30 minutes of walking a day between the bed rest, no lifting heavy objects at all. We dont want any strain on your muscles that area needing force."

Nodding a little more Illya just stared into Kalizda's eyes. "Can yah send meh a list of tings I need tah watch for." He wasn't even sure what the doctor just said, but he knew he could read the list later. Right now he was focused on Kalizda and the fact that they were going to have two babies. "I tink we need a party."

Why was it Chips could never pay attention to the important things? His head was somewhere in the clouds talking about parties and his wife had gone right along with him. "Aye, doctor, we'll make sure we follow what you send. If its the same as when we had Lohgan there wont be a problem," Calysta grinned, though her eyes were sparkling at her husband that she spoke. "Twins...yes we do need a party I think. Do you think everyone would come?"

"Mhmmm. Dey would all come." Illya leaned and he kissed Kalizda gently on the lips. "Den yah will have many tings for dah new babies. Chippequoti dun have twins very much." He was curious if they were boys or girls, or both and suddenly he remembered they were in the doctor's office. "Do yah know ef dah twins are boys or girls yet?"

"Its too early to tell yet," the doctor replied, "She's nearing the end of her first trimester and in about two weeks time we should be able to tell." Calysta kissed Illya and squeezed his hand with excitement even if she was a bit nervous. "Twins are lucky on Kaereal too," she replied, "Two babies..." Thinking on how Cypher and Lohgan would like siblings, she wondered if they would be like their father with more chip features when she remembered Illya's seizures. "Illya we should get your Chip seen about before any parties."

It sounded like the party would be big. Perhaps too big for their house. Unless he did it Chip style and had a whole week of party. That would be fun. Then he heard her use the dreaded the phrase. She wanted him to get looked at. Almost immediately the Ehaui raised an eyebrow. "His implant. What about it?"

Calysta's eyes shifted from the quickly falling face if her husband to the doctor. "It shifted after a blow to the head and had to be removed. He hasn't had one in 3 months but he has been taking herb supplements provided by a healer named Helen. They've reduced his grand mal seizures by a fair margin without the implant." She knew he would probably be grumpy about having anything said about the implant but it would make her feel better in the long run if he was taken care of too. Especially while she had just a little Mobility left.

The doctor nodded along and he started to type into the pad a few things. However the Chip had managed to knock the implant loose he would never know. It would have to be a pretty hard hit. "I'll have another bed in the room in just a few minutes." About time he finished saying that a nurse came rolling into the room with a second bed and a gown for Illya to change into. The Ehaui didn't like to mess with problems like this. "I'll step out while he changes and then you two can talk about when, if he needs surgery that should be done." If the majority of the bad seizures were being kept to a limit then it couldn't be quite so bad. Illya looked at Kalizda and he rolled his eyes. "I tink I know dah answer. Ef I need surgery yah want et done today."

Calysta listened to the doctor, nodding as he spoke, and glad they were willing to do something about it immediately. As soon as they left she looked over at her husband just in time to see the eye roll he was giving her. He may not have understood in some ways how important it was for him to be healthy but this wasn't something she wanted to budge on. Her brow pinched together in a look of concern and she nodded. "Aye, that way its done and you'll feel better just in time for me to get big...well...bigger. It worries me that you dont have it."

There wasn't much point in arguing and Illya got himself changed and then slipped onto his bed and pulled the covers up. "I know dat yah worry. Dere was lot of time for meh tah tink about ef dah medicine from Helen failed and den I worry about et too. Yah dun see all dah little absences. Dey happen many times each week." Illya stopped talking as soon as the doctor came in and the man that usually dealt with his brain started to hook him up to several sensors. After a few minutes of being on the sensors the doctor frowned and looked at Illya. "Do you feel alright?" Illya met the doctors gaze and shrugged. "I feel fine." That only made the doctor frown a little deeper. "You should be in a full blown seizure right now. Your brain is still running in dangerous patterns. Whatever the medicine is, it is something I want you to keep taking and we'll have to see this woman, but you need the implant. Continued brain activity like that will get worse with time and then the medicine won't work for you. If we put in an implant that will minimize the activity the medicine could help to reduce what is left and you may possibly be as close to seizure free as you'll ever get. If it works perfectly you might never have another seizure again except with fevers. Maybe only a few year." Illya met the doctors gaze this time and he blinked almost stunned with the news. "Den we do dah surgery right now." He wanted to be done with the seizures and if it was possibly limited to only a few seizures in a year instead of once every few weeks he would do it. They had gotten better, but he wanted to be done if he could be.

Everything was happening so fast that Calysta felt sluggish. Not only was she having twins but the doctor believed that once Illya had his chip in place that when combined with the medicine it would make her nearly seizure free. Both of these pieces of news were entirely overwhelming and she couldn't help smiling giddily as Illya changed and climbed into the bed. He hadn't even put up much of a fuss when he had the prospect of drastically reduced seizures. When the doctor left, she changed into the child sized pink gown and rolled back onto the hospital bed, looking to her agreed. He looked so excited and determined to have brain surgery for his seizure chip along with news of the twins. There was a spark in his bright eyes that he'd had when they were first married and she had lost when he was shot. Slowly it had come back and now it sat like a dazzling star in his eyes. Her small hands reached out, spanning the gap between the two beds and curling over his broad fingers. "I'll see you when we wake up, yeah?" she beamed up at him.


A few days in the hospital to watch Illya's progress for his brain chip and two days of observation for her cerclage left them both sleeping most of the time. Whenever they were both awake, she would roll slowly to her side and talk to him, even half in a daze. His face was a bit swollen, with a black eye on the left side, but it wasn't nearly so bad as when they had removed the chip through his nose. "Hey, there handsome," she teased sleepily from her bed. She wasn't supposed to be moving and he wasn't supposed to be doing too much either, but a naughty little idea came to her mind after their dinner had been taken away. The lights were dim and all was quiet in the hallway, indicating the doctors wouldn't be back for awhile. She rolled over, holding her belly slightly and trying to be sneaky despite the fact the movement made her ache a little. It would be worth it in the end. Padding ever so slowly from the bed, Calysta shifted to Illya's own mattress and prodded him to scoot over just a little. Not only did she sleep better when he was close, but for once she was gleeful to be the naughty one. What were they going to do? She was pregnant and big as a bowling ball at that point, and she felt more than happy let someone fuss if they were discovered. Laying back, she tucked under his arm to grace his lips with a peck. "Shh...let's see how long they'll let us stay like this," she giggled."


**********************

Going home was a sore affair for both of them, but once they were home, it was a relief to see between her father, Priscilla and Rose had gotten every one settled in. She sat down on the couch without much energy to go further, ready to greet the onslaught of children and animals. Cypher was the first to her side, climbing over her while he squealed happily. "Mam! Dah! I missed yah! Papa took me tah see deh bird yesterday and we fed him!" She shifted her arm around her son and kissed the top of his head before her eye shifted to her father. Sure enough there were a few bandages on his arms where he had apparently tried to get the animal off the ship only to have it rebel. The professor had left the creature in its place, going by only to feed it and ensure it was alive while the rest of the animals were given their proper place. All of the dogs had loved the backyard, while the cat and bear went to their old dens as if they had never left. Even the chickens were settled into their roost. Aymos had pined for her though, waiting at her door for her and once she was settled on the couch began licking her leg as if to say he were glad to have her home. "Oh is that so, well, you'll have to help Dah with taking care of the animal, yeah?" Cypher nodded and settled in next to her, simply soaking in the attention from his mother. "Sister didn't want tah leave dah ship and she cried all night. I tell her she es okay, but she bite meh." He made the offense sound as if he was more serious than it was. Lohgan didn't have any real teeth to speak of yet, and she was probably in a foul mood because her bones were growing. Calysta had opted to let her sleep when they came in rather than waking her up to make her a grumpy tyrei. Illya settled down next to her other side looking a bit tired, and she leaned against him slightly. "Maybe we'll just take a nap, yeah," she mused, as she smoothed down her son's hair.

It took little time for her to fall asleep, but when she woke up it was to Lohgan fussing and her father nudging at her hand. Blinking a few times, Calysta cleared her vision of sleep before sitting up. "What's wrong dad? Lohgan? I can get her." He shook his head, looking worried and nodded to Illya who was sleeping still. The expression he had was making her nervous, so Calysta put a hand on Illya's shoulder, rocking him slightly to wake him up. Once his eyes were open, Thomas swallowed. "I can't find Cypher. He was here taking a nap with you and then he went out into the yard with the dogs. Now, I can't find him anywhere in the house or his dog. We've looked all over the block too."
 
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The surgery was coming up so fast that Illya didn't even feel like he had time to be ready. A nurse came into the room and helped wipe down his head and shave a little spot for the surgery. By the time he was ready Kalizda was already in a little pink gown and she was reaching out to hold his hand. Illya put his hand out and gave hers a little squeeze before they were wheeled in different directions. There was nothing quite like brain surgery to make him feel nervous. He didn't remember any of the ones he had so far. The first one as a kid all he remembered about it was having headaches. Then when he got shot in the head he didn't remember anything at all about it except for the mission and coming home. His last encounter had been when he was seizing almost constantly and he couldn't seem to stop. That wasn't anything that he remembered either and Kalizda said they pulled the chip out of his nose.

As his bed got further down the hall and he got closer and closer to the surgery room he could feel his heart rate start to rise. His face wasn't showing the concern, but he was certainly getting nervous. The nurse glanced at him and didn't say a word. By the time they reached the surgery room and the doctor had him shift slightly on the bed he could barely breath. It was all panic and he knew it.

A little flashback hit and he could remember the doctors talking about taking his leg. The mask was getting closer and even if he knew it wasn't like it was when he got blown up, or after Kinte he was still feeling panciked. At the last second he started to shift his head and he put an arm out to stop the doctor. "Mmnoooo." One of the nurses held his head still and even while he was fighting the mask the doctor held it close enough that he started to get drowsy and then it all went dark. Gradually he became aware of the constant beeping and the feeling of something on his head. At first Illya tried to sit up, but his head felt like someone just slammed a slab of rock into it. Somehow it felt like he was falling and falling even when he'd only managed to lift his head a few inches from the pillow before dropping back down.

His head hurt and he wondered if the surgery even worked. So far the only thing he had to show for it was a headache that rivaled any bone ache in the body. Naturally there was some bone ache since they'd had to cut his skull open. With only a few minutes of being awake he drifted off to sleep again. There wasn't much to remember over the next few hours, or overnight.

However, there was an evening when he woke up to feel someone poking his side with their little fingers. It felt like Kalizda. Peeling his eyes open he saw her holding her stomach and motioning for him to move over. Illya moved over until he was pressed against the railing of his bed and he felt Kalizda slip into the covers with him. It felt good to have her under his arm and Illya grinned lazily when she kissed him. "Mm I..." She was hushing him and he just grunted in agreement for the time. Whatever prescriptions they'd given him had certainly done a trick. He didn't have much will power and he didn't feel like doing anything either. Illya really wanted to to want to have sex, but he just couldn't make himself even want to do that. After several minutes he was able to recall through the mostly foggy thoughts that it was good he didn't want sex anyway. There was going to be a bit of a wait to do that.

**************************

Getting home wasn't quite as easy as Illya had thought it would be. Somehow he figured that if he could make it up the stairs with a leg missing and hollowed out bones he could make it up the stairs with a brain surgery. Instead he was more than happy to stay with Kalizda in one of the guest rooms. The bed wasn't quite as comfortable and Thomas had to bring all his medicine down stairs so he could get to it. Though it was more likely that Kalizda wanted to know that he was taking it.

It took several days before Kalizda felt up to moving herself to the upstairs and by then he was more than ready to get upstairs and have a little less noise. She must have been feeling a bit better because she was talking more. Talking was something he was still trying to avoid for the time. Kalizda was leaning close to him and whispering even though he had his eyes closed and Illya eventually sighed, "Kalizda, meh head hurts. Please I jes want tah sleep." Normally he wouldn't have said anything, but it was getting to be a bit more painful than he thought it would be.

Even if he felt badly for saying what he did, he knew Kalizda would understand he wasn't trying to be mean. Over the next day or so she was a little more quiet and he finally glanced at her on the fourth morning and winked at her as best he could. "I tink meh head dun hurt so bad dat I can't talk." Shifting a bit he grunted with the effort and then leaned over her only to wince. He couldn't even get close enough to kiss her. "Maybe yah jes have tah come to meh for now." His entire head was throbbing so badly he held a hand up to it and grimaced to himself. The two of them got up for a little bit that afternoon and Thomas was taking care of the kids and meals with Priscilla. It was actually somewhat nice to have someone there to take care of things. Illya was never so glad for naps as he was after lunch. It didn't take much to wear him out right now.

Laying down for his nap with Kalizda he winked at her. "I will make big party for yah when I heal enough tah use meh pad and make invitations." He was going to need to start planning as early as possible for this party. While he was busy thinking about the party for Kalizda and the twins he fell asleep.

Kalizda's hand was resting on his shoulder and Illya moaned a little before he opened his eyes. She didn't usually wake him up when he was sleeping. His head hurt and it took a few seconds for him to focus. When he caught the look on her face he sat up a little too quickly. Thomas said that Cypher was missing and one of the first thoughts that came to his mind was which animal had gone missing with him. If it was just his dog he was sure he could call it back and then have it take him to find Cypher. They'd played hide and seek. "Et's only Monster wit him? Yah sure dat Cin and all dah oter animals are in dah back yard still?" If Cin had gone with Illya was sure the bear wouldn't let him wander too far.

Thomas shook his head. He wouldn't have been waking them up if he was stumped on where to find them and Kaereal was not the kind of place you wanted to have your kid roaming around for the sheer fact that some kids wandered too close to the Edge of their continents sometimes. "No, it's only the dog he's gone with. All the other animals are here and I didn't know of any other place I could have looked. Did you two show him a place he liked, or would go to?" Calysta's jaw worked with worry as she started to get up. There were any number of places their son could be. "He might be out in the fields, or fallen into one of the caverns...he knows not to go near the Edge, but its getting dark now and he might not see some the places where the grass ends."

It wasn't good to be up for a long time and certainly not wandering around a bunch, but this was serious. Illya looked at Kalizda. "Yah stay here and keep radio wit yah. I go out looking. Remember, we used tah play hide and seek wit Monster. I call his dog and den I send it tah find him and call et back. Den I will take Cin and Elijah wit meh. I can put Cypher on Cin for walk home and I can balance on bear ef I get dizzy." That was his plan anyway. "Thomas yah get Ahvah, Asha, Riyan, Edgar and all dah Dark Chippequoti looking for him. We bot hear Kalizda, et's almost dark and he needs tah be home."

Calysta bit at her lip and nodded. She wouldn't be any use walking around because she was slower than a dysn bird bum with her belly and someone needed to be home if he came back. She got up the rest of the way and walked into her fairly vacant office to grab radio set. One unit she gave to Illya, the other to her father, and the third she kept for her. "I'm on tac one at the civilian frequency. They're fully charged." Thomas took his and lit out the door with Lady and on his heels to go rouse the other dark Chippeqouti, he would head out to Asha's first, then go to Ahvah's house which was the same as Pyra's. The two of them had words between them before over Calysta, but over the years Pyra had softened from what he could tell. Taking off he went door to door explaining that Cypher was missing. Calysta gave Illya a quick peck on the cheek and nodded as he turned to go. "Please be careful." He was just coming out of his surgery and he wasn't supposed to be running around the continent.

When Illya reached the bottom of the stairs he felt a little headachy, but he wasn't going to let their boy stay out there and possibly fall over the edge. Taking his radio from Kalizda he nodded and clipped it to the collar on his shirt. He just didn't want to have to look down. Anything where he tilted his head down was painful and he only did it when he had to. "Eh, I be careful. We bring him back to yah tahnight even ef et takes till almost sunrise. We find him before daylight." Even if he had to dig into a trench to get his boy out he would bring him back before the sun came up. As soon as he was out the door he started to tell Elijah to find Cypher. The dog ran around in circles whining and trying to find some sort of path. Illya called for Monster to see if the dog would come to him, if it was close enough to hear him. He hoped it wouldn't take too long.

Elijah circled several more times, having been told to look for Cypher but unable to find a scent or sound of him. After a few whines, he stopped in his tracks and his ears perked up. It wasn't the boy he heard, but something else over the fields. Suddenly, he took off running down the street toward the wide expanse of barren fields which were still muddy from that mornings constant rains. Elijah was singular in focus, his paws splashed through the mud and tongue lapping at the side of his mouth as he passed the Asha and Riyan helping to comb the fields. He reached the center of one field only to pause, his ears flicking and then taking off again toward the south side. The further he went, the closer to the edge they came until the sound of barking could be heard in a far flung field that was hardly tended any more. A dog sat by a scraggly dead tree perched on the edge, his tail was wagging in a playful way but his barks were the insistent kind. A warning. The canine was staring a small figure stuck high in the branches sitting over the open air.

All the fruitless efforts were making Illya nervous. Why had Cypher just wandered off like that. Cin was dumbly wandering around and completely content to be outside and walking around on his home planet again. Then after a few moments Elijah's ears perked and he started to run through the fields. Illya winced a little and he jogged after his dog. Every jarring motion made his head hurt more, but he could tell the further they went the closer they were getting to the edge. At first all he saw was Monster barking at the edge and his heart started to crawl right up the back of his throat and claw at his tongue. It felt like his whole throat was locking up. If Cypher went over the edge? There wouldn't be anything to find. Then he saw the boy sitting on the precarious little limb of the tree and he ran faster. Seconds might count at this point.

Cypher sat with his feet dangling over the Edge. It had been a perfectly good plan. He had followed the tiny birds from their backyard to their nest and wanted to play with them, but they were too high in the tree. So he had climbed like the billy goats at the zoo to reach them. Even if he had gone close to the edge, would his Mam mind so much if he brought her home a baby bird to show? What he hadn't counted on was the branch below him breaking off when he climbed to the next one, leaving him invariably stuck over what was a bottomless drop. Now, he was to scared to climb down and he couldn't go any further up either. His Monster dog sat below him whining and barking. He was scared too. Suddenly, the barking was joined by another sound, a bark that was just a little different. Elijah! The dog jetted into view and began barking up the tree too . What was even better was that Dah was running toward him too. Tall, warm Dah. "Dah!" he yelled, waving a plump hand, "I'm stuck!" Of course, when he let go with one hand, he sank along the trunk slightly causing the whole tree to wobble.

Watching the boy wave and the tree start to tip made Illya even more nervous and he would have run faster, but he couldn't quite get himself to do that. He was mentally cursing his surgery at this point, but he was determined to get his boy off that tree. When he got close enough he yelled to Cypher. "Yah hold onto dah really big part of dah tree and I'm going tah come get yah." By the time Illya reached the tree his head was pounding and he felt like he was going to puke. He was probably going to ask Kalizda to send a skimmer. Reaching the tree he nodded to Cypher. "Yah hold still and yah let meh pull yah off dah tree." With one foot he stepped on one of the roots of the tree and then he grabbed onto one of Cypher's legs and with the next hand he reached under his son's arms and pulled him off the tree. Once the boy was safely back in his arms he walked away from the edge and set Cypher on the bear's back. "Yah dun ever go close to dah edge. Ef yah fall off yah never come home. Dere are animals down dere. Dat's why I have one fake leg and dat's how yah uncle Maks died. Never go to dah edge alone."

Cypher clung to his Dah for a long moment before he was put on the bears back where it was nice and warm. He was glad to be away from the edge out of the tree, but he did give the birds nest a somewhat longing view before his father began to scold him for going so close. He had known it wasn't good to go, his Mam had told him so, and he had done it anyways. Now, Dah was telling him off, saying he wouldn't get to go home if he fell into the fog because there were animals down there that would eat him. They had eaten Dah's leg and Uncle Maks too. Suddenly his decision to go near the edge scared him worse and he looked up to his Dah with tears in his eyes, partially because he was being corrected and also for being scared to fall now more than ever before. "I'm sorry, Dah. I nut go alone to dah edge anymore."

"Dat's good." Illya groaned the words and he pressed the communication button on the radio for Kalizda and Thomas to hear. "I got Cypher and he's fine, but I tink I need a skimmer." His head was about ready to burst with the pressure. He only walked a few more feet with the bear, dogs and Cypher when he had to stop and sit down. "Et's fine Cypher, yah jes stay on dah bear and yah wave when someone wit a skimmer gets close."

It felt like they waited for a long time, but Cypher listened. The boy glanced at his father with worried eyes. His worry only grew when he saw his dad's nose start to bleed. He almost never saw his dad bleed and when he did it was bad. Even mom got upset when Dah was bleeding. Frantically he waved his little arms until the ship stopped and he refused to sit anywhere, but his father's lap for the short ride home.

By the time Illya got to the house he was sick. Stumbling inside he went to the bathroom first and dry heaved a few times while more blood ran out his nose. It hurt to look down, but he didn't need to puke all over the place either. After just a few dry heaves he almost passed out and he could hear someone knocking on the bathroom door. "Ugh...no." Gingerly pulling himself off the floor he used the toilet for balance and had to use practically half the roll of toilet paper to clean the blood off his face and limit what bleeding was still flowing out his nose.

************

The Ehaui finished a scan over Illya's head for the second time in the hour at the house. He had been called and he monitored Illya carefully. "It looks like he's fine, but go ahead and run a scan over his head every few hours for the next day. If the results are all clear I'll come get the equipment and if they look like they're getting worse I'll send an emergency ship for him. You don't have to worry about trying to decipher the readings." Nodding encouragingly the doctor made sure that Kalizda and Thomas both knew how to use the scanner and then he left.

Illya took another couple of days to improve enough that he could sit up and move around again. It had almost felt like he came straight out of surgery after he ran and pushed himself like that. There was a delicious scent of snake and he pushed the covers back on the bed and gingerly held onto his head with one hand as he wobbled his way down the stairs. "Es et snake?" Kalizda was up and using her precious time to make food. "Et smells good." Walking over behind her Illya gently rested each hand on either side of her growing stomach and then kissed her on the side of her cheek. It hurt to tilt his head like that, but it was certainly better than it was a few days ago. "Yah dun have tah use yah time like dis."

During lunch he told her about where he found Cypher at and he grumbled a little. "I tink I jes go out dere in a few weeks and take dah nest out of tree and den trow dah tree over dah edge." He figured it was a dangerous little temptation that didn't need to be there. It was only a matter of time before some unfortunate child actually tried to crawl up into the tree. Oddly enough Kalizda seemed all to eager to agree with the plan and he looked at her for a long moment. "Why?"

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Now that Kalizda and Illya were home Ehud decided to come for a visit. He'd also heard that they were going to be having twins. Heading over toward the house with his son, Sien he met a Terran woman outside the house and he froze. She was pretty and he'd never recalled seeing her before. Even if it wasn't his most gracious introduction he tried. "I uh...I came to congratulate the councilwoman, uh Kalizda. Um..." Licking his lips a bit nervously he finally held his hand out to shake hers. "You're new around here? Neighbor, or you uh...friend of theirs?" Ehud could only think of so many semi normal reasons that someone would be standing outside their house and looking as if they were about to enter without knocking.
 
She was never more relieved than the moment she heard that Illya had found their son and was requesting a skimmer to come pick them up. He didn't sound as if Cypher were hurt though his voice revealed a tiredness over the radio. "I'll have one on the way," she replied before letting out an audible sigh of relief. It only took a moment for her to radio her father to tell the rest Cypher had been found and thank the others for helping to look for him. Priscilla didn't hesitate to step up and volunteer to go pick up the boys, insisting that Calysta not move around. The woman had been a wonderful friend, particularly when she had learned about the pregnancy, and had made extra efforts to pitch in. "I'll go get them, it will count as hours towards my skimmer license anyways," she said, trying to alleviate some of the tension from the room as she passed Lohgan off to her mother, "I'm sure they're fine."

"Aye," Calysta nodded, taking her girl into her arms. That stopped the fussing immediately and Lohgan buried her nose into her mother's chest trying to find the warmth to ease her achy bones. "Thank you, Pris. They're in the south side, near the river end."

Priscilla assured her friend she would find them and flew out to the spot without delay, finding Illya with the 2 dogs along with the bear and Cypher on top. She knew the man had just come from brain surgery and his nose bleeding was not a good sign, but there was little she could do about it other than hand him a towel from the trunk and load them all into the skimmer. "Here, hun. Take this. Hopefully, it will stop soon." She had The bear had to pile into the back hatch while the two dogs road in the second row of seats facing one another. Illya took the copilot's seat with Cypher who refused to sit anywhere else, nearly pitching a fit when she suggested otherwise. "Alright, alright. Sit with your Dah. He needs you, yeah?" she told him gently as he climbed in all on his own. It was slightly amazing how fast children seemed to grow.

By the time she managed to get them home, Illya's shirt was dribbled with blood and he made a beeline for the bathroom without even stopping to tell his wife anything. Calysta hugged her son close, and sat him down in the chair to inspect him. He didn't look hurt. There wasn't even a scrape on him. On the other hand, her husband's nose was bleeding profusely. Had he damaged the chip? Bust open his skull? Calysta winced as she heard her Chip dry wretching through the door. "Illya, are you alright?" A groaning sort of 'no' came through the door and she rubbed her temples slightly. He must have gotten himself worked up with too much activity and his head wasn't doing well. A spark of nervousness flared as she waddled back to the living room to get her pad. There was no way she was going to take a chance on something being more seriously wrong when he had just come out of such a surgery.

While the Ehaui were on their way, she turned her attention to her son who was sitting on the chair staring at the upstairs bathroom with a guilty sort of look. She loved her son, but this was a situation where she couldn't help feeling a spot of irritation with him. Shuffling over to the couch, she eased herself down and gazed at Cypher. "Are you hurt Cypher?" Though he started to shake his head, those big blue eyes were welling with more tears. Dah didn't feel good and it was all his fault because he had gone to the Edge where he could have fallen and gotten eaten. "Why did you go out that far, Cypher? You could have gotten hurt." His mother's questions made him sniffle and he slid off the chair before flopping on to the couch, aiming for her lap. Calysta could never deny her boy and she wrapped an arm around his tiny shoulders hugging him close. It could have been so much worse. They would never have found her boy, a body or otherwise, if he had fallen off into the Wilds. That thought made her hold him all the tighter as she bit her own lip against impending tears of relief. "Don't you know how much you scared your Mam? I don't want anything to happen to you. I love you." His only response was to look sullen as he nodded with great sniffles in between. "I'm sorry. I wont go to deh edge anymore."

Calysta held him close and let him sniffle into her shoulder until the Ehaui arrived to help Illya at which point she sent her son along with his puppy to bed. "Aunt Priscilla will be checking to make sure you brush your teeth," she told him as he reluctantly climbed up the stairs. They were lucky the Ehaui doctor found no permanent issue with Illya's head and left a scanner for her to check him every few hours. If it was one thing she had missed while they were gone, it was having the well-trained doctors to help with her Chip. No one knew the Chippeqouti anatomy like an Ehaui doctor, and having his specialist there was an absolute comfort because she could get the best for him if needed. "Aye, I'll set a few alarms and send the scans over," she told them, "Thank you."

As promised, she set alarms for every for hours barring any other major event and scanned Illya's head whether he was awake or asleep. Most of the time he was asleep, almost like he had done when he'd been shot in the head. It was a bit disconcerting to think of it that way, but she knew if he was sleeping that he was healing. Cypher checked on his father every now and then, sometimes choosing to nap alongside him with his heated blanket. Lohgan's own constant sleeping was the result of a growth spurt which left her in need of new clothes.

On the third afternoon, Calysta stood at the stove and stirred up one of Illya's favorites to see if he was feeling good enough to stomach some snake stew. Priscilla was helping her with the children, keeping an eye on both Cypher and Lohgan who was currently running around the floor in nothing but a diaper. As she checked on the flatbread in the oven the familiar thump of feet across the floor alerted her before a pair of hands slipped around her stomach. "I wanted you to have something you liked and to feel useful," she smiled against the kiss on her cheek, " I thought we can have lunch together if you were feeling up to it." It was hard to disguise the fact that she had missed him in her voice. He seemed to like that idea and they doled out lunch to the kids before settling into the kitchen table to eat with each other.

While they ate, Illya told her where exactly it was they found Cypher when he disappeared. Calysta abandoned her fork in her bowl, staring at the half-eaten stew with the bread. The thought of him being anywhere near that tree was enough to send her stomach churning. With a sip of her mint tea, she listened as he continued talking and at the suggestion of tearing it down, she was quick to agree. "Aye, that would be best. We should do it as soon as we're feeling up to pushing it over. It's not like anyone will miss it anyway."

Whatever question came next, she certainly never expected the one that came out of his mouth. Calysta inwardly cringed when he had to ask why she wanted the tree down and a heat crept to her cheeks. She hadn't thought he would ask, just that he would agree. What was she supposed to say? Her eyes drifted away from his for a long moment, that feeling of guilt returning. What would it matter if he knew now? She knew a little bit about him now, after all. A long moment passed she worked up the courage meet his eyes again, trying to look casual despite the uneasiness she felt rolling around in her stomach at the mere mention of the tree. "Do you really want to know?"

Somehow it seemed like a bad question to ask and Illya frowned. "Eh, I jes ask because yah look so eager. I never see yah eager tah let me do someting like dat before. Usually yah tell meh tah be careful. So uh...yes I want to know." Illya didn't know why she would find his reasoning so odd on something like that. Perhaps she didn't see it the same way he did.

She thought he might rethink it or change his mind if she asked that. Before he regained his memory, he might not have asked it at all, and just done it without asking why she was eager, but he wanted to know. Taking a sip of her minty tea, she gathered her thoughts and decided not to mention her trip the the tree a little under a year ago. Instead, she decided simply to tell him why she hated it. "I used to go there when I was a kid," she said quietly, "When I was chased...or when I managed to get away from a beating that I wasnt quite strong enough to fight back against yet. I would climb the tree and sit on the branch over the Edge and sit for a long time. Nobody wanted to get that close to the edge and they would leave me alone to whatever might happen. I hate that that tree."

For a moment it looked like she wasn't going to say anything and then she finally told her part. Illya nodded a little and then he met her gaze. "Well den. I suppose dat ets a good ting dah tree stayed sturdy enough nut tah drop yah."

A smile graced her lips and she slipped her fingers over his, giving them a small squeeze. He didnt need to know that sometimes she wished it hadnt in the past, only that she was glad now, more than anything, that it never had. "Me too," she replied, "And now there is no more running for me or our children. I want Pyrta to be rid of it altogether, yeah?"

Illya grinned back at her. "Probably best. Dun need anyone tah fall off dah edge. Nut all of us are so good at flying." Somehow he knew that she was a bit more serious about the tree than what she let on, but she didn't really seem to want to say much more. Illya let out a long breath, "Ets ok tah say whatever yah need. Yah know dat I love yah anyway."

She chuckled a little at his joke and marveled at him a bit some how he always managed to make smile and was often times more than what she felt like she deserved. Even though it was old habit probably, she couldnt help but feel incredibly lucky to hear him say such a thing. She had someone who she could trust and loved her no matter what. "It's because you love me that I am glad the tree never did break all those days I climbed and wished it would have." That was a succint and truthful as she could put it without sounding morose or giving him the impression she was crazy.

"Eh, we all have dose kind of days. I jes hope I dun give yah reason tah feel dat way." Illya let one arm sneak around her shoulders. "Do dey make ice cream on Pytra?" It was perhaps random, but he had found it was one cold food he liked and it sounded really good right now. Besides, she was having odd cravings lately with the pregnancy and it was a great time to bring up one of his own. He could always blame it on having sympathy cravings.

They all had those kinds of days? She thought he might say that she was crazy for thinking it, or even wanting it back then. Sure, he had a rough life...more than rough...on his own and she was sure he had wished it too. But to have an understanding of such a weakness when she was supposed to be nothing but a picture of strength after so long? It was relieving. In fact, it struck a chord in her that she wasn't sure she knew what to do with just yet because not even her father knew about the tree. The only thing that got her was when he mentioned himself giving her a reason to feel that way. Calysta leaned into his warm arm a little and gazed up at him with a smile. "No. Never again, " she replied, kissing his cheek. At the thought of ice cream she grinned and nodded. That sounded absolutely delicious even if it might cause her some heart burn later on. "Aye, something similar. It's cold custard, a little bit thicker than ice cream, but still good along the same lines. They don't make it chocolate flavored, its been a bit rare since Terra was closed down, but the sweet cream flavor is just as good."

These sort of subjects were uncomfortable and Illya was glad that Kalizda was as eager for the change as he was. "Oh, yah like dah sweet cream flavor. I tink I go get some. Maybe I get a lot of et and I bring two spoons for us tah share one tub and den I have more for yah dad, Priscilla and dah kids, but we get share a tub togeter. I get fat and yah feed dah babies. Teach dem how tah eat good."

She let out a small laugh and gave him a more playful look this time. "Oh, I think if they are anything like their father, the appetite will come naturally and they'll like sweet creams just as he does. All the same it's best to introduce them early, yeah? It's a good idea." As he started to get up, she beamed up at him and her eyes caught on his and rather the nervous or fear they were sparked with something else entirely. "I love you...even enough to share a tub of sweet cream." The first part was serious, as was the second part, though only one half of it was meant as a joke.

"Oh...so I move up in dah world. First yah love meh den yah agree tah share sweet cream wit meh." Chuckling a little he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the lips. "I be back wit dah cream in a little bit."

Calysta grinned and kissed him in return before he gathered up his wallet and his raincoat to go get the icecream. She wouldn't tell him that his leaving Pyrta after her mistake had lead to her final visit to the tree. It wasn't something that mattered anymore and it would only serve to hurt him possibly if he knew. Instead, she took comfort in knowing that no matter what happened, he did love her. It was a fact that somehow always left her smiling. Giddy. A feeling that she knew would never fade no matter how old they got. Leaning back in the chair, she picked up her pad and sent a few messages out while Illya was gone. It was best to do these things while he wasn't around so she could spend more time with him when he was there.

First, she sent a message to Helen and Terrence, the contents of which was a general check-in. Were they adjusting well? Did they need anything and were the other Pithian's comfortable in their diplomatic quarters until more could be arranged? She wanted to continue her studies with the herbs and offered to make a time, perhaps around lunch for Helen to come over on regular days for it. The next one went to Edgar, and it was slightly more personal but also encompassed the need to talk about the Pithian's arrival. The last was to Kirit and it was of particular importance. "General Kirit, this a confidential order. Former General Illya will not be returning to active duty at this time or fieldwork. It is imperative that you find another suitable position for him when he is ready to return to payroll. Thank you. PS: I hope you and Tabit are doing well with the boys." She still intended on having Illya go through therapy and he wasn't going to see a battlefield if she had anything to say about it.

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Priscilla stood in the front yard with a small spade in one hand and a flower pot in other. The rainy season was almost at an end but having been gone for over half a year had wreaked havoc on her flower beds. If it was one thing her mother had taught her, it was the value of ambiance one someone's mood and in Japan nature was a prize. Having her little planters had been the first things she did after coming out of her room to get her mind off of Harry. Now, she was starting from scratch after the rains had drowned her beautiful annuals and in a way, it felt better. She had already removed the soggy, dead flowers and purchased new Kaerelean plants from the hardware store. These were hearty with thick roots and would last through the rainy season, blooming all year rain or shine.

As Priscilla picked up the next flower, ready to place the roots into their new home, two shadows fell across the walkway and she glanced up in surprise. One of the shadows belonged to small boy with fair hair and blue eyes. His demeanor was a bit shy, but his gaze was slightly curious. The other shadow belonged to that of a strong-jawed man similarly complected as the boy, with bright blue eyes and the same blonde hair. He wore typical civilian clothes, but his shoulders had the mark of a military man, sitting square and strong. Altogether a handsome man and belonging to a lucky wife.

She smiled and rose from her knees, shirking off her gloves as she met his gaze. He stuttered through some random questions, stating his purpose before suddenly asking her why she was there. How was the best way to explain that? Some people knew who she was, like the Terran forces on Pyrta, while to other's she was a mere mystery woman. Still, the smile stayed on her painted lips, her poise as First Lady coming in handy once more. "Oh, I'm Priscilla...Kato," she said, her last name fumbling from her mouth a bit. It had been awhile since she had used it and whether or not she would make the connection, she didn't know. "I'm a friend of the Monroe's. They've been kind enough to let me stay here." Offering her hand to shake, she thought to ask what his name was. "It's a pleasure to meet you General Ehud and who is this?" Her attention turned to Sien who had been stone quiet through the whole exchange. His name came out as a soft but solid reply, and Priscilla smiled. "It's nice to meet you too. I think Calysta and Illya were setting up for dinner soon. Would you like to join us? Cypher would love someone to play with while we're cooking." As soon as she said the words, she realized that she had simply invited them without really asking them. Surely, they wouldn't mind? She knew Calysta wouldn't as she was fairly inclusive, but as to the rest she didn't know. It was too late to take it back now. Priscilla's cheeks tinged a slight pink as she tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and beckoned them to come inside.
 
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Illya came home with about 10 tubs of ice cream. He didn't want anyone to be shorted and he wasn't sure that 1 tub would be enough for himself and Kalizda. Eventually they were going to be needing to eat another one. When he had cravings and she had cravings that matched it was a food that they were bound to eat plenty of. Taking two spoons out of the kitchen drawer Illya stuffed them into his back pocket and then started up the stairs. When he reached the room he pulled the lid off and then presented Kalizda with one spoon. "Dere es one for yah. Meh agreed gets dah first pleasure of taste." It wasn't anything big, but it was one way to show that he cared about her. Allowing her the first bite was entirely an act of consideration for her.

Watching her scoop up a moderate bite of the creamy dessert he waited until she'd had her chance the savor the bite and then start for the net one. "Hmm...Et es good eh?" Taking the last spoon out of his pocket, Illya used it run along the edge of his side of the bucket. The soft ice cream curled into a little tunnel of sorts on his spoon and he took it all in one bite. It was a little bit of fun to share the bucket of ice cream especially when it came to the part where he could tease her. When it looked like he'd eaten more on his side of the bucket he shifted it around so he could eat from her side. Illya only took a few modest bites and then he let her have her side back. Then when she was busy still eating her ice cream he would accidentally slip and knock the ice cream off her spoon and watch it fall back into the bucket. "Oh, meh hand shakes bad. I dun know why." A grin came to his face when he looked at her and then he winked. If she tried again he was going to let her have the scoop, but the next one he'd bump too just for fun. It was something they always told the kids not to do. It was too messy when the kids played with food, but it was entertaining when it was with Kalizda.

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The way the woman talked about dinner and her name Ehud was able to gather that she was the widow. She must have been the one that was living with Illya and there were a few rumors about the mystery woman living with Illya and Kalizda. It wasn't likely that any of the rumors were true since most people would admit that they didn't actually know anything, but he did at least know that she was a widow. The mention of food was one thing he wouldn't turn down and Ehud was looking forward to being able to relax a little bit. Sien needed someone to play with and he knew Illya wouldn't mind. "I uh...I think that would be nice. Haven't had a chance to make any dinner yet. Just picked Sien up from his cousins."

As the woman pushed the door open Ehud could smell the food. It must have been snake because it smelled like home. At least how it smelled when he was a kid and in a way that was a comforting thing. He didn't have much time, or energy to cook like that anymore. Without Haza things had been quite difficult. "Hello?" Tilting his head to the side Ehud peered around the corner of the kitchen. He'd expected to see Kalizda there, but she wasn't. Instead it was Illya busily chopping the herbs to put in the frying pan with the snake. Ehud could see the skins from the snakes still sitting aside with the heads and tails of the creatures. Cypher had already spotted Sien and the two boys didn't waste anytime heading off to the living room for some playtime.

Hearing the 'hello' Illya turned slightly and then set the knife down he'd been chopping herbs with. "Ehud." With a big grin he took a few long strides over to the man and the two of them gave each other big bear hugs. Once the brief, rough hug was over with Illya motioned to the pan. "I got extra if yah have time."

Ehud grinned a little at the offer. "Matter of fact I do and uh..Priscilla beat you to the punch. Already been invited." Noting look of surprise on Illya's face he chuckled. "And there wasn't anything you could have done about it. Soon as I smelled the snake I was going to stay." Both of the men laughed a little and Illya pushed a bowl with mixed grains and flour to be mixed in with water for the flat bread. Ehud knew what to do, but he had to wash his hands first. Walking over to the sink he washed his hands and then sat down at the table to start working the bread. Glancing to Priscilla he smiled carefully. "You live here long?"

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The list had been made and Illya had the entire Dark Chippequoti people set to attend the party, he had Kirit and Tabit and family was automatically included, but he knew that Kalizda may want to have a few more people added to the list. There were already too many for the house and he was thinking that perhaps they could hold the party in the Chip hall, but if she invited very many of her own people then they would have to consider using a field for the party. "Kalizda, yah have more den dis dat yah like tah come?" Handing her the list he let her look it over. Ehvan was on the list and Illya wasn't sure how she would feel about that, but Illya knew that his old friend was still alive and he wanted to see him. A party was a better way to meet and it would be easier in many ways to make amends through a party than if he simply went to go see him on a regular day when he was more focused on hardships.

Kalizda didn't add quite as many as Illya had on the list, but he knew more people and some of them were coming because he knew they would be horribly upset to miss the party especially if they were having twins. As his final order of the day Illya decided to go see Asha and ask if she would be willing to take the part of the mother for Kalizda and make sure she knew the traditions. Some things he didn't know and others were better performed by a woman.

Once Kalizda was done adding to her list Illya leaned over in the bed and gave her a kiss before he gathered their dishes from lunch. "I go tah talk with Asha. Dere are some important tings for dah paty." Kalizda didn't seem to mind that he was going and that was just as well. Taking the dishes with himself down the stairs he saw Thomas was busy with the kids and he paused for a moment. "I can take dah kids ef yah like. I jes go for small walk and I take dah bear wit meh and Quroz."

Cypher seemed to be especially thrilled with the idea of the walk with Dah's big animals and he immediately ran to the closet by the front door to find his shoes. They were both outside in only a matter of minutes and Cypher kept pointing excitedly toward Quorz. He never forgot how his dah rode the bird and he wanted to try too. "Let me ride, Dah." Fearlessly he marched himself over to the bird and he gave his attempt at mounting it. Quroz simply turned his head and plucked the boy off his back and dropped him on the ground. Illya grinned and he picked Cypher up. "Only if yah wear dah belt." With such an offer Cypher wasn't about to disagree and he let his dah fix the belt to him and then help him onto the riding saddle that was strapped to the bird. Then Illya got on the bird behind him and the two of them crouched forward slightly as the bird pushed off the ground with it's great paws and they slowly lifted over the gate and then went higher and higher.

The fly to see Asha was short, but Illya knew that Cypher wouldn't be able to think about anything, but flying after this. So, he'd have to make the trip fast. Almost as soon as he knocked on the door to the house Asha pulled the door open and gave her brother a hug. It wasn't quite right that she should cry when others could see it if they cared to snoop, but she didn't care. "I was worried."

"No need to worry. I'm here now and you should see the bird." Illya was pretty sure that he had tied the tether to the post near Asha's home, but he wondered if that was the case when he saw the look on her face. Turning around he saw that the bird was not there and neither was Cypher. "Oh..." It was a good thing he'd tied his son to the saddle, but he didn't think the boy would untie the bird and go on a solo flight, but there was the bird flying free and high in the air. Asha gazed at the sky with him and she recognized the little figure up there with his hands thrown up in the air and loving every second. "Well, I guess that as long as Kalizda doesn't hear about this it will be fine." Illya knew it could be a while before the bird came back down, so he let it be. Instead he and Asha talked about the party and she seemed to be excited to take the part of mother for Kalizda with the ceremony.

Illya didn't really think much of the air traffic regulations, or the fact that he'd be getting a little visit from the local authorities regarding the unauthorized and unlicensed flight that his son took on a bird. After about half an hour Illya called the bird back and it came down with a smooth landing. The creature didn't seem to mind Cypher after he was on it's back. Getting onto the bird behind Cypher he grinned at Asha. "When you come next time. You'll ride Quroz eh?"

It was impossible not to smile when she saw her brother with his oldest son. The boy looked just like he did at that age, with the exception that Cypher was a lighter shade of tan than his father. "Oh yes, I'll ride it." Responding in Quoti she gave a little wave and watched the two of them fly off toward the other side of the island. Obviously they were not flying home yet. It was going to be a little bit of fun. In the mean time she was going to make sure she got out the box of little things for the preparation for the party. It would be soon and she wanted to be sure that she had everything she needed to prepare Kalizda for the big day with the celebration for the twins. Word had traveled fast that her brother and his agreed were having twins, but she still managed to have acted surprised and she had somewhat expected him to come anytime after he recovered from the surgery. It was still nice to know that she was the first one he officially invited and asked to take part of the ceremony and to help Kalizda get ready. This sort of thing was an honor. She was already excited thinking about the party and pulling out all the necessary items for the ceremony.

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It didn't take Illya long after he got home to get Cypher into the house and have Quroz back on his kennel. After the long flight the bird was more than happy to rest for a while. Illya barely got into the house and he heard a knock at the door. He wasn't sure who was there so he decided the answer the door by himself. "Cypher yah go upstairs wit yah mum." The boy nodded and ran up the stairs. It would be a good chance to tell her all about flying the bird with dah and then himself too. Once Illya was sure that the boy was safely out of the way he answered the door. There standing outside was an officer and Illya narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why yah here?"
 
Calysta was nearly asleep when Illya returned carrying a near mountain of iced custard treat for the entire family and she couldn’t help but laugh when he carried the big tubs in his arms. Not only was it funny that a Chip could love a frozen treat so much, but it reminded her of their undercover trip to Terra where he’d brought back every chocolate treat imaginable along with a corset of all things. When he came over with a large tub and present her with a spoon, she chuckled at the offer of ‘pleasure of first taste before digging it. Pregnancy cravings varied here and there, but sweet things were always satisfying. The cold cream helped settle her stomach too. Of course, with Illya in such a good mood since finding out she wasn’t one but two babies he was always playful and she rose to the challenge when his spoon knocked hers into the diminishing tub of cream. He made his little excuse with a big grin and she retrieved her spoon to scoop up her bite, giggling as she savored it. On the next attempt he knocked her spoon down again. “Oh, is that the way of it?” she chuckled, “I might just have to find a new spoon…oh look…this one already has a bite on it.” Taking up his hand which held his spoon firm, she guided it up to her lips and stole his bite as she laughed. “Mmmm….tasty….pleasure of the stolen bite.” Grinning, she helped him finish off the tub, stealing occasional bites from his spoon which eventually turned to gentle, icecream flavored kisses.

Later in the afternoon, Calysta worked on her pad trying to ascertain what the Pithian’s would be needing on the exact opposite side of town from the Chippeqouti. There were already some grumblings on both sides stirring and she wasn’t about to have a race war on the continent. She may have been pregnant, but she was going to put her foot down on that one. Most of the Pithian’s seemed content with her offer of a secluded mountainous continent called Gyrvn. It was a cooler climate like they were used to, but also had one of the biggest forests on Kaereal along with several lakes where fish were raised for export. With plenty of land and a decent port there, the Pithians might like to call it their new home in the Alliance now that all had been approved through their background checks. Her only caveat was that Helen remained here along with Terrance if he liked in the diplomats quarters. It was safer here for her and the hospital was growing along with the population of the continent. Calysta made sure to put the woman in contact with the Ehaui research team so she could begin her work when she was ready.

She was also working on a few other ideas. There had been a few complaints about the alliance loyal Tannas, Clark’s group, joining the rest of them on Pyrta, but nothing serious other than a bit of mistrust. It would iron out in time, even if she felt a little odd having Clark on the continent too. If she was honest, the man gave her a feeling of unease, but he had also been responsible for digging up the information on Helen and seemed loyal so far. A bit of trust had been gained, and now that Helen was actually here there would be a fair amount of trust to be earned too.

As she was typing out the report, Illya was working on something completely separate. The Chippeqouti had already been planning a celebration for their return to Pyrta not being met by death threats, which she was sure was a novelty for them, and had been working hard to arrange some things. With twins on the way there would be an additional celebration. She was excited for both, and in a certain way, she was nervous. There had been very little contact with the returned Chips in the last week since their arrival, though their ‘exile’ had been lifted. She wondered how they would react to their return. Edgar seemed pleased, but both of them weren’t in the best of shape to go visit one another. Only messages had been exchanged.

Illya passed the pad over to her asking if there was anyone she wanted to invite to the party that wasn’t already on there and she scanned over the page. A long list of Chippeqouti was capped off by her father, Priscilla, Tabit and Kirit along with their boys, and Ehud with his boy Sien. Rose would be attending this one as an adult as well. She invited Helen and Terrence too, consider she wouldn’t be pregnant without them, and then she noticed there was one other person she wondered about. There was apparently a special role for mothers in this and her own mother. Kirit had been keeping up with her as promised, and it seemed she had been living in one of the empty houses left by the Chippeqouti by herself. She was working here and there as a tech, but the woman was becoming more unstable as time went on. Her attitude was brisk at best and riotous at worse if something went wrong. Occasionally, she would talk of things she shouldn’t. Would it have been different if Calysta had tried to become closer to her?

She put the thought aside and shook her head. Her mother would be safe to bring even if she wanted to and it was best if she stayed away from the children. They didn’t need to know about their grandmother. The ceremony would just have to be conducted without that part. “I think that’s everyone,” she smiled to Illya, passing over the pad and sneaking a kiss in while she was at it. He was going to see Asha about some party details along with Cypher and she nodded. “Aye, tell her I said hello.” It would be the first time he could see his sister after their exile and it was a moment they needed together without distraction.

While he was gone, she occupied herself with Lohgan. Her little girl was bright eyes and bushy tailed today, having finished her growth spurt for the moment. They had ordered her new clothes to fit her along with a new little dress for the party. Lohgan sat in her lap, what real estate was available of it anyways considering the size of her stomach, and played patty cake. She held Lohgan’s fat fists in her hands and guided her through the motions. “Patty cake…patty cake….bakerman…roll up the dough and put it in the pan.” At the end of the jaunty rhyme, she would tickle her girl’s round belly illiciting a roll of giggles before beginning the next round. When that got boring it was a game of peek-a-boo instead. Calysta pulled a burp cloth over Lohgan’s head and laughed while she giggled. “Where did she go? Where did my Lohgan go?” Lohgan would grab a fistful of the cloth, tossing it off to the side with her hands in the air. “There she is!” Calysta cried before nibbling on her chubby cheeks. The game was a favorite of hers and it was easy to play with out much walking around.

The playtime was interrupted by a pointed knock at the door and Calysta frowned as she thought about how to get off the couch without so much effort. Setting Lohgan to the ground, she took a few jump starts to roll up to her puffy feet and then waddled over to their..solidly built…front door. A peep out of the peep hole told her that it was an air traffic officer of Pyrta. That couldn’t be good. “Is there something I can help you with officer?” she asked as she opened the door.

“Council woman,” he nodded, “I have reports of an unidentified craft disrupting airspace and we think it belongs to you and your husband.” He offered over a slightly blurred camera shot of a very distinct looking bird with a very familiar looking face. Cypher alone on their bird’s back looking entirely thrilled with the wind in his hair. A spot of fear struck her and she glanced up to the officer. “Aye, both of them belong to me, though my husband was supposed to be with the,” she said, “Do you know if they’ve landed?” He seemed to think they had and that was a relief. When he got home she would be explaining few things. “You can wait for them right here and if there is a ticket involved talk it over with him.” Then she went back inside to let him wait, too tired to stay with him.

When they arrived looking pleased with themselves, the officer explained to the former general what happened as Cypher ran inside. “Sir, we have reports and pictures to show that you have an unsupervised minor disrupting airspace with an unidentified crafted. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an experienced flyer in all crafts, including traditional ones like….” he paused, unsure of what to call the strange creature they were riding. It wasn’t a falcon but it was an animal and still fell under the rule. “That one. I am here to give a warning and that’s all, but we had to reroute several scheduled training flights and next time it will be a fine.” He handed over a warning ticket and gave the Chip a respectful nod before going on his way.

Calysta met her son inside with a great flurry of excitement on his part. His hair was a ruffled mess and and his cheeks were pink from the wind as he piled into the bed with her. “Mam! Mam! I rode dah bird all by mehself! It was fun! Can I do et again?” She smiled and smoothed down his hair as Illya appeared in the door way. She gave her a good look that let him know she wasn’t thrilled that Cypher had managed to go off on his own. “Not by yourself again. It’s not quite safe to do that here with so much air traffic. You don’t want to get the bird hurt, yeah? Plus, I wouldn’t want you to fall off or fly over the Wilds either. Quoraz might want to land there and it would make you both very sick.”

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Later in the afternoon Ehud arrived and Calysta was more than happy to see him. He still didn’t look quite like he used to when Haza was alive and Sien had grown only a little since she had last seen him, but the look on Illya’s face when they hugged was more than happy. As old friends, she was glad to see them both get some time together. Sien and Cypher went off to play in the living room almost immediately, leaving the adults to cook and talk. Even from her spot on the couch, Calysta could see Ehud talking with Priscilla as he worked.

The terran woman added a touch more flower to Ehud’s bowl and then went to work stirring up some juice for the kids to drink while he worked. He had a measured smile but kind blue eyes, the kind that always looked like they could see a bit more. She wasn’t so sure how she felt about that look given he was married. “Not for too long,” she replied as she stirred in the fruit, “I’ve been traveling, but I think of this more as home now. What about you and your family? Did you move with the rest of the Chippeqouti to Kaereal?” Nodding at the answer, she smiled and began pouring the mix of juices into sip cups for the kids.

During dinner, she noticed the visitor catching her eyes now and then as they tall talked. Not wanting to make things awkward, she returned the looks with polite smiles until after they had eat and she could ask the councilwoman about him while the men talked in the yard. Calysta raised a brow at the woman’s question and a sly smile followed. “Aye, he is a Chippeqouti General,” she replied, “You probably didn’t seem him out much since it’s just him and Sien. His wife died some years back in the attack on Kinte. He could use some help if you want to walk with him and Cypher after dinner.”

Priscilla wasn’t sure how to take such news. It all felt very complicated in some ways, but she knew the boys would like the chance to play more and a walk would get the energy out, so she agreed to ask. As late evening rolled around, she walked over to Ehud and gestured toward the gate. “Calysta suggested the boys might like a walk before bed and she’s somewhat housebound. If you don’t mind the company, I’d walk with you and Cypher home and back again.”
 
After dinner was done Ehud helped Illya get the kitchen cleaned up and then the two of them stepped outside with Thomas to chat for a bit. While Thomas was outside with them the two spoke in Trader's Tongue. It was only polite. Ehud had made the mistake of leaning against the door and that was quickly corrected when Cypher and Sien both ran into the door full force. At first the door opened a little, slammed into Ehud and then it wouldn't go any further. Cypher grunted and growled as he pushed on the door and he was quickly joined by Sien.

For the moment it seemed like fun and Ehud remained standing where he was with a smirk on his face. "Wanna catch a hologram?" Illya chuckled and walked over. Of course as soon as Cypher saw him he gave a little wail of frustration. "Daaah!" Both the Chippequoti men laughed and Illya pulled Ehud out of the way. "Et wasn't meh. Et was yah cousin, Ehud." Of course that earned a little growl from Cypher as he passed and his little eyebrows were pulled down into a sharp frown. He had given Ehud his greatest expression of disapproval and then passed on. Sien was quite a bit more calm and he simply grinned now that they'd been successful and ran past Cypher. Both the boys were going so fast that during the pass their little legs got tangled and they tumbled right off the deck together.

For a moment it appeared that Thomas might go help the boys up, but both fathers shook their heads. It wasn't that far of a drop. "Dey'll be fine." Illya smirked and pushed the chairs on the deck a little closer. Once the men were settled onto the deck chairs they set their feet up on the railing of the deck and fell silent. There was something good about having a friend that you felt comfortable being silent with. It was a special sort of quality that was sometimes hard to find.

Thomas got up to leave for a few minutes at one point and Ehud figured it was as good a time as any to ask one question he'd been thinking of for a while. Switching to Quoti for a little privacy he started, "I miss Haza and I don't know if it would be fair to agree again." His eyes dropped slightly, "Doesn't mean I wouldn't want the company of another woman. I just..." It was a difficult concept to put in words and he was hoping that Illya knew what he was talking about. His friend had already lost his first family and this was the second family. Everything appeared to be fine on the surface, but you never knew what happened at home.

"Well," Illya began, "That's something you have to decide." He wasn't about to tell Ehud that he was ready. It took a while for Illya to feel ready and when he didn't know Kalizda and he didn't know that Isla was dead for himself it was very difficult. He'd never struggled so much with having another woman in his life.

"I don't want an answer. I just want to know if you still miss Isla." Ehud wasn't sure if it was a good question, but he wanted to know. Was it right? Did it even work to have a relationship with someone else when you still missed the first agreed?

There was a tinge of irritation in Ehud's voice and Illya knew it was only because it hurt. Still the question was a distasteful one and Illya didn't like it. "You know I don't talk about that." Meeting his friend's gaze the two of them stared at each other for a few long moments and then Illya decided to answer the question. "Yes, I miss her. She was my first and you never forget the first woman. Kalizda is different than Isla and I like that. I think the trick is remembering that you're not replacing the woman you lost. There is no replacement for Haza, but you can have a new life with a new woman. You have to want it and you can't compare whoever you choose with Haza." Ending it there Illya let Ehud think about it as he would. Not everyone could get over losing a woman and Illya knew that it wasn't easy.

In a way it sounded strange and a bit disconnected. To Ehud it almost sounded like Illya was telling him to just start a new life and simply let the past be considered something like a different life. "Maybe it worked that way for you. You didn't have a kid to raise when Isla died."

"No, because that Terran killed Lahna. If you can't do it then just go talk to someone that manages to live alone. Besides, Sien doesn't remember his mother, you're the one that remembers her. Plan on raising your boy in a family, or do you plan on letting his cousins raise him?" They both knew it was true and they'd gotten a little snippy with each other. It was a sore topic and neither one of them had noticed they had company on the deck with them.

Cin had lumbered up to the deck and he sniffed the air. He could smell that his mother was distressed. Illya didn't seem to be in trouble, but it was better to make sure. With a surprising amount of speed Cin ran toward Illya. In the process of getting there he plowed over Ehud and then promptly leaped onto Illya. The added weight broke the chair and there was a bit of a sting to his back when the wood snapped. It was right in the lower back region. "Cin!" Yelling at his bear Illya pushed on the bear as best he could with his legs, but with what was left intact of the chair it was limiting his movement.

Pulling himself up off the ground Ehud was still slightly stunned. He hadn't expected to be thrown from his chair and if he hadn't seen the dumb bear tackling Illya he might have though his friend decided to wrestle out the irritation. Instead all he saw was a giant lumbering bear chortling and pawing at Illya while the seat of the chair remained under Illya and kept his legs sticking up like a dead beetle. It was a comical sight to see the legs moving about and hear the muffled yells from Illya underneath his bear. Somehow it seemed that Illya deserved this sort of pet.

The night ended with both men and the boys wrestling the bear and laughing about it. Illya had a few scratches from the bear, a few slivers from the chair, and plenty of dirt in his hair and stuck to his clothing. All the boys and the men smelled like a mixture of bear, oils, grass, dirt, and bear slobber. It was getting late and Illya put both the boys just inside the house and he offered a hand to Ehud.

It wasn't necessarily good that they were ending with a handshake, but Ehud figured that they were going to have to get over the bit of irritation at some point. Taking Illya's hand he felt himself suddenly get jerked into a hug and the guys both slapped each other good and hard on the back and then pushed away from each other. "Get out of here." Illya gave Ehud a playful sort of shove and the two of them tumbled through the house to the front door. The front door rumbled a bit as the men arm wrestled each other. Even if the house shook a little, the front door could with stand their weight. When Illya got the front door open he laughed a little and said good night to Ehud and turned around to find Sien.

Perhaps it wasn't a great thing for the boys to see because Cypher and Sien were trying to duplicate the ritual. Each of them squeaking and squawking at the other while Cypher tried to push Sien out of the house. Both the boys were yelling, "Get out of here," the whole way to the door. Since it seemed like a good idea Illya shoved both the boys out the door together. "Dat's right. Get out of here."

Cypher's eyes widened and he sputtered in protest. Both Illya and Ehud started to laugh. Illya would have taken Cypher right back inside, but it looked like Priscilla was going to walk with Ehud back to his house. She offered to take Cypher with and Illya nodded. "Aye, jes take dah bear wit yah." Cin would keep them safe and he would walk with Cypher nicely.

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Ehud nodded carefully. "It would be good to have some company." For most of the walk home he was quiet and he glanced over at Priscilla a few times. There was quite a bit to process from the little chat with Illya. In a way it made sense, but it would be a bit to tackle at the same time. The best way to do this was to simply try it out. Illya was right about one thing. Sien didn't remember his mother and perhaps that would make it a bit easier. When they reached his house Ehud paused outside the door. "I um...I'd like to see you again. Uh..." He grinned a little. "Well, I mean I don't have a woman and Sien is mine, but its not that I left her. She uh, she died. So, I'm just thinking maybe it would be nice to uh...Do you know what I mean?"

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The day of the party had finally come and Edgar was at the house helping finish up making the bread and his agreed watched the children with some of the other women. Asha entered the house a few minutes later than she'd intended, but she had her boxes of things and she was glowing with obvious pride to have been asked to take the part of the mother. She didn't know that Illya hadn't said anything to Kalizda, but she knew he had asked her to do this.

Heading over to Illya she asked where to find Kalizda and took herself up the stairs to her brother and his agreed's room. At first she almost walked right in, but she remembered the part about knocking and waited for an answer before stepping in. Kalizda was dressed in a soft pink and it would look lovely with the Chippequoti traditional hair pieces for a mother of twins. Asha set the boxes down on the edge of the dresser and sat on the edge of the bed with Kalizda. "I'm here. Illya asked me to do the honors of a mother for you." It didn't seem that Kalizda would object and so she carefully stood. "I need your brush and comb. A mother of twins has special ornaments for her hair. It is very special for twins to be born. The four winds have stopped fighting for a time. Two people joined together and then twins means there are four and the winds approve. This is a very good omen."

Taking the brush that Kalizda pointed out to her Asha started to carefully brush her hair. "Your hair is beautiful like Chippequoti and you are a good Chippequoti woman. " Separating Kalizda's hair into four separate pieces she put a thin ribbon of gold in one, red in another, green and then purple in the last. The four strand were then braided together. Asha only braided the top part of Kalizda's hair and when she was done with it she grabbed the next box. Inside the box were dozens of little gold bells. They bore the Quoti symbols for the winds. "These will ring when you walk. It is a symbol that the winds walk with you."

While she explained the customs and the reasons for the hair pieces she couldn't help smiling. "All the Chippequoti know that you are favored by the gods. You have a green eyed baby and then you have twins." Asha finished off with the last bell and she looked at Kalizda for a long moment. "I am very glad that you agreed with my brother. I have never seen him so happy." Offering one of her hands to Kalizda she smiled. "I'll help you up and then he can carry you down to the skimmer. We'll be meeting in the large diplomatic hall of Pytra." There were a great number of guests invited and they didn't have anywhere else to meet indoors. It had to be indoors, or in a tent so they could have the ribbons of the four winds hanging. Illya had opted for something inside instead of a tent because he wanted Kalizda to be comfortable.

With Kalizda standing she leaned in and gave Kalizda a careful hug. "Thank you for the honor to do this for you." Pulling away from Kalizda she walked with her to the doorway and pushed it open. The family had already gathered in the living room. They were all waiting for her and Illya stood up the instant he saw the door open. Edgar and his agreed turned their heads and nodded with gentle smiles when they saw Kalizda.

Illya raced up the stairs and scooped Kalizda into his arms. A small round of applause went up and the entire family walked outside behind them with big smiles. There were already a number of the Chippequoti standing outside the house waiting to give their first congratulations to Kalizda as a mother of twins. Asha as the mother for the ceremony joined them in the ship. When they arrived at the building there were dozens of Chippequoti already there and still more arriving. Illya carried Kalizda to the couch that he had for her to relax on. No one would request her to do anything, except eat, drink and accept the many items that the Chippequoti would bring for the children. It was custom and not considered a gift as they were needs. Asha decided that while it was still quiet that it was a good time to explain. "They will bring many items for the children. These are not gifts. We provide for them because they cannot build a house, feed, clothe, or do anything for themselves. You and Illya provide house, food, and all these things. When the four winds agree and twins are born all the Chippequoti celebrate because it means there will be peace soon. All of them will want to show the four winds they will provide for peace and they will bring many things that the twins will need."
 
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Dinner passed pleasantly enough for everyone. Cypher was busy trying to show Sien how to stick blueberries on the points of his pearly teeth halfway through and Rose wolfed down her stew before scurrying up the stairs pad in hand to go giggling into the screen some more. Calysta had her suspicions about what she might be doing, but until the girl was ready to share, she would let her be. What was more interesting were the looks being passed between Priscilla and Ehud. Whenever one wasn't looking, the other was stealing glances until they both caught on each other long enough to notice.

Once dinner was over, Calysta sat at the kitchen table alongside Priscilla who had become a near mute since she had made her suggestion about Ehud. There was tentative interest in her eyes, and yet she could understand the woman's hesitation. It had been about a year since Harry's passing, an anniversary that was quickly approaching, and it wasn't something she could forget so easily. Despite this, Priscilla could be seen stealing glances outside as they worked together fixing up Cypher's snake toy. "You can always ask another time. I'm sure he will be around a bit more," Calysta commented as she stuffed the white fluffy bits back into the snake's head. The Terran woman bit at her lip and diverted her gaze to the table in a silent response. As they worked, the only thing that broke the silence was her father bumping through the screened door from the backyard and the conversation passing back and forth in Qouti between Illya and Ehud on the porch. It was impossible not to overhear it and Calysta was all too aware of it.

The first part wasn't so shocking. Ehud was having trouble moving on and it was no wonder. He had known Haza for decades and Sien looked so much like her in some ways. What Illya's reply that gave her mixed feelings. Her fingers paused in their work as she listened carefully to hear her agreed say he didn't expect her to be Isla. That was relieving to hear him saying to someone else and not just her. Calysta had never expected to try to replace the woman, and certainly could never be like her in most aspects. She wasn't about to try either. He loved her for her she was and made that abundantly clear even if he did miss Isla. The next part of what he admitted to did surprise her. It had been a Terran that poisoned Lahna? That news sent a jolt through her. She hadn't thought the Terrans were so actively involved with the Federation on the Fringe. His hatred of them went far past the time he spent there as a slave and understandably so. Leaning back in her chair, she sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. Why didn't Illya ever say these things? In light of that knowledge, it made her mistake with the Terran Evacuation look like a slap in the face to him, having to go save Terrans, which she knew in his mind were probably one of the top evils of the galaxy. Illya had still gone to help them though, and that spoke to his character more than anything.

"Are you okay, Calysta?"

Priscilla was standing up and giving the council woman a concerned look. Calysta came out of her own mind and blinked up at her friend before giving her a nod. "Aye, just tired I think. You should ask Ehud for that walk before it gets too dark to see or another rain shower pops up, yeah?"

"Good idea," she replied, "I'll have Cypher back before dark."

*****************************

Priscilla found the walk to be pleasant in the silence between them. She wasn't expected to talk or entertain anyone on a venture like this and it was hard enough to simply stuff all the strange feeling to the back of her mind. The path was misty ahead of them and she sighed, trying to clear her head enough to focus on the moment rather than where it wanted to wander. When they finally came up to a small, but well-kept house near the Chippeqouti district border and she looked the residence over, noting the empty flower bed and vacant bird house. It certainly did lack a woman's touch. Not even a lover seemed to frequent the house which was encouraging. Catching that thought, she stiffened slightly and but at her lip. Why was she even thinking such an improper thought like that. So much before being Lady. Harry was hardly in his grave yet and she was thinking of another man's house.

"I um...I'd like to see you again. Uh..." He grinned a little. "Well, I mean I don't have a woman and Sien is mine, but its not that I left her. She uh, she died. So, I'm just thinking maybe it would be nice to uh...Do you know what I mean?"

Priscilla blinked at Ehud's sudden break in the easy silence and her eyes trailed away from Cypher's back up to meet his. He was smiling a bit awkwardly, the corner of his lip a little higher than the other side, and a tinge of pink on his cheeks. It was a genuine gaze and that struck her as familiar for a moment. Where had she seen such a look? Harry gazing up at her happily came to her mind and she swallowed against her heart trying to crawl up her throat. Some moments were easier than others and this one was making her pulse hammer in her pale neck. It was too late now though. Hadn't she been the one to start this by asking to walk and showing interest? What if this meant she really wasn't ready. "I...I think I know what you mean..I.." Her usual poise faltered for a moment and her mouth twitched back into a smile. "Yes...I mean...I think it would be nice. I haven't seen very much of Kaereal even though I have been here for awhile. Maybe it would be good to go to Kinte? See a movie?" Had that just come out of her mouth? She hadn't dated in forever, much less asked someone out since college.

Seeing a movie on Kinte seemed to be a bit bold. Ehud gaped with his mouth wide open for a long minute before he said anything else. "Eh, that would be alright. I mean, it would be nice. Um...I would need to make sure someone could watch Sien during the movie."

Watching his mouth fly open, she thought she would have said 'let's go get hitched'. Was a movie that bold on Kaereal? On Terra it was something simple with no obligation or need to get close. Merely a talking point for later or afterward. Sensing his uneasiness, despite his answer that it was alright, she shifted her eyes from his. "Oh, yes...of course. Well, if a movie would cause issues, maybe we could just go for a walk around Pyrta again. It's nice and quiet here. Sien could come too." She dared to catch a glimpse of him, feeling increasingly foolish in asking about a movie. "I've never really been off Terra before, not like this anyways, so I admit to being a little lost on custom sometimes."

Ehud felt bad after the lady seemed to recognize that he was a little apprehensive. "No, no, I really don't mind." A nervous chuckle sounded and he cleared his throat. "After you spend enough time with the Chippequoti and all, well you sort of fall back to some old customs. I know a movie is a good sort of way to hang out on Terra. I just have to try and remember those kind of things." Ehud peered back into his house for a moment to be sure that Sien was fine and then looked to Priscilla again. "Tell you what. I go to a movie with you and you plan on a walk or two with me and we'll call it even."

Priscilla could feel him glancing ahead at the house and then back hers, their eyes catching on one another. His deal didn't sound so bad, and perhaps it would make it easier for her to get in the idea of dating again too. As strange as it felt. Her smile returned to a less guarded one and she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear with a nod before chancing at a small joke. "You drive a hard bargain, but I'm willing to take you up on it," she teased, "A movie for some long tours of Pyrta sound good."

"Then I'll see you for the movie on?" Ehud wanted to be sure he knew which day she was thinking of. They had never determined that part and he sort of needed to say goodnight even if he was enjoying the company.

"Saturday...or...um...the 6th day," she offered, trying to specify which calendar she should go by. When had making dates become an intergalactic timing issue? "That would be after Calysta's party."

The sixth day sounded fine and Ehud nodded. "I can do that. Uh, I need to say goodnight now. Sien needs to get to bed and he's going to be up in the morning." Ehud had to be up in the morning too, but Sien didn't happen to be much of a morning person.

"Oh...of course." She stepped back gave Sien a small wave, meant both to say goodbye and encourage Cypher to separate from his friend with the bear. "Have a good night, Ehud. You too Sien. I'm glad I got the chance to meet you both tonight." With that, she gave another small nod along with a measured smile to the handsome General and turned to go feeling somewhat understanding and somewhat dismissed at the same time. He was a general after all and a single father, he had better things to be doing than chatting up her. "Let's go Cypher," she waved him over, "It's close to your bedtime too and your Mom will want to tuck you in."

By the time she returned to her own home, Priscilla was too deep in her own thoughts over what had just occurred. She hardly noticed Kalizda calling out her name and asking if she enjoyed herself. "Huh? Oh...yes. I have a date for Saturday night." Already there were tears welling in her eyes and she wrapped her arms around herself trying not to cry. At least Illya wasn't in the room to see her acting as if the world were crashing down, though that's what it felt like. How could she even think of another man? She had Harry had talked about what would happen if one of them died. He's said she should go on and be happy. She had been kidding about it! How was she supposed to know that he would become president and she would have to face a life without him? It felt so wrong to be without him and going out with someone else. Nobody would remember Harry like she did. Was it selfish to want to remember him and live too?

A sob wracked her and suddenly she found herself being hugged. The councilwoman wasn't particularly physical when it came to other people besides her family, and Priscilla might have taken the moment to appreciate what the sudden show of a affection from her meant except for the fact she dropped her face and began to cry outright in the woman's embrace. "I'm sorry," she mumbled into Calysta's lower shoulder, "I didn't think it would be this hard. Harry...oh Harry...I feel so wrong for thinking about moving on when it's only been a year. I was the only family he had left. If I don't remember him like he was then who will? And I was the one asking it...I shouldn't have...he was so strange about it....and it's no wonder...me moving on so fast...."

Priscilla continued to sob into Calysta's arms and she had no idea what to say to offer any comfort. What did she know about losing a spouse? Only a little similarity came to mind, and it wasn't enough to make her comfortable in offering advice on the subject. In a way, she felt bad for having encouraged anything. "I'm sure he's just nervous too. He lost someone too, yeah?" Calysta assured her as she let go long enough to offer the woman a tissue. Priscilla remained unconvinced and wiped at her eyes with the papery napkin, soaking up some of the running eyeliner. "I don't know...maybe it just isn't a good idea." Her dog sensed her distress and padded over to her from the bedroom, giving her hand a gentle lick. "Yujin...good boy..." Priscilla patted her faithful dogs head before separating from Calysta and her big belly looking apologetic. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have cried like that. I just...sometimes it's hard. Anyways, goodnight."

"It's alright, Pris," Calysta replied as the woman retreated to her bedroom. In truth, the outburst had left Calysta with some things she hadn't thought of before. Had Illya felt this way when they met? When he asked to marry her? Had it been that painful? The thought of it bothered her and she eased back onto the couch waiting for him to come back down as she considered that her agreed probably felt that same exact way at some point. There were things she knew about his past because she had watched them through hologram like an outsider staring down into the life before her that he rarely spoke about. Why didn't he say these things when they came up? He had never mentioned Lahna to her of his own accord. Was his marriage to her still a source of guilt for him? Eventually, Illya came down the stairs to help her to bed and she took on the stairs in silence at his side.

Calysta waited for Illya to come to bed and shifted, trying to get comfortable and simply finding herself unable. Especially after speaking with Priscilla. She smoothed down the sheets, watching him come over to the bed in his silk boxers and climb in beside her. He gave her a gentle kiss and she hummed, returning it fully before resting her head against his shoulder. His skin was warm against her temple, a nice feeling and she sought out more by wiggling her fingers under his. "You had a good visit with Ehud tonight, yeah?"

It was a little hard to go to bed every night and not have any kind of work. Illya knew he had to do it for the health of Kalizda and the babies. One way to make it a little easier was to wear his boxers again and he did. When he got into the bed Illya could feel it was already warm because of his blankets and he liked that. Leaning over Kalizda slightly he kissed her before settling in next to her. She asked about his chat with Ehud and Illya grunted. "Eh, nut all of et was good. He es still lonely."

"Aye," she nodded, "I imagine he is. It has been a long time since Haza passed. He's been all alone raising Sien and he looks like his mother. It would be hard to move on from what happened. It was hard for you." She tilted her head up to meet his gaze. "I overheard some of what happened while I was in the kitchen helping Cypher with something."

It all seemed fine and Illya let Kalizda talk, but she started to get a little personal with it. Of course she'd head what they said, but he didn't expect that anyone would be listening. "Et was hard sometimes." Shifting in the bed a little bit he draped his right arm over her. "I dun want yah be Isla anymore and I dun expect yah tah do everyting dah same."

Calysta nestled into his arm slightly and played her tiny fingers over the lines in the palm of his hand. "I know," she replied, kissing his cheek, " I used to worry about that, but I dont anymore...I just..I didnt know about some other things. You dont like to talk about the past and I try not to ask. I just didn't know about your daughter and the Terran. I.." her voice trailed off as her hand squeezed his.

To Illya's amazement Kalizda took the bit of information pretty easily. He knew she used to get upset by it and even seem a bit insecure, but this was different. What wasn't different was the way it felt when she said something about his past and asked in a round about fashion about his first daughter. Involuntarily Illya's throat tightened some. "Her name was Lahna. Et was poison candy dat kill her." He figured she'd be able to piece it together well enough, but then it occurred to him that maybe she wouldn't. "Terran gave her dah candy. He was prisoner wit many oters dat I killed." Even if he had tried not to choke up his voice started to waiver and Illya's grip tightened on Kalizda just slightly.

Hearing him admit Lahna existed on his own without pushing her away was a feat on its own. She felt his grip tighten over her hand and she nodded. Things much made much more sense now of course, and this is what she wanted. Not to hear him get up set or to hurt him in anyway. Just to hear that he trusted her with this too. "I bet she was beautiful and you would have made a good father to her. You already make a good father you know."

For a little while after he'd said anything and after she'd said anything Illya remained quiet. He didn't really think he could say anything else without choking up and it was a difficult thing. Isla was dead and that was one thing. For a child to die from poisoning like that was another. "Sometimes dis es why I get worried about meh family." Illya was sure that it didn't always make sense to her, but somehow in his mind it did.

Calysta watched his jaw tighten and his throat struggle to swallow as they lapped into silence for a long while. When he finally broke it again she nodded quietly, her head resting on his shoulder still. "I've never had that kind of loss...I never let anyone get close enough until Jaiyme and then...you." Calysta bit her lip some trying not to cry because she hurt when he did. "Did choosing me...did it ever make you feel guilty, Illya?"

A part of Illya hoped that she wouldn't ask anymore questions, but she opened her mouth and inwardly he cringed. The question she asked was hard to explain. There were a lot of reasons he felt guilty when he asked her to wait. Taking a deep breath he nodded. "At first et made meh feel guilty. I...I jes dun tink I deserve anoter chance and den I feel guilty when I get hurt bad and yah worry dat I might die. Den I feel guilty after meh brain injury because I can't remember Isla dying and et feels wrong tah be wit yah, but I wanted yah so bad. Sometimes et es hard because I know dat yah still worry and yah have many tings dat are more difficult because of meh."

She listened carefully and for a long while remained quiet, thinking over what he said. The past years had been hard on both of them but his guilt was not the same as Priscilla's. No. It was very much a different kind of guilt. Sniffling, she wiped at her eyes and slipped a hand up to his chest where she could feel his heart beating in his chest. "I do worry. I dont want to lose you like I did before or in any other way. But never once have I thought you werent worth waiting for. Hoping for and loving for." It was an admittance she meant sincerely and she would never want him to otherwise. In a way it sounded like Kalizda was saying the same thing he always tried to tell himself. She was the one that agreed and she knew it wouldn't always be easy. Illya kissed her gently and he held her gaze, "I work hard tah stay wit yah. I dun like losing yah in meh memory."

She kissed him though her vision was a bit blurry from tears she didnt fully understand. Maybe it was pregnancy making her a mess or maybe it waa something more. She held his gaze and a smiled some, as much as her chin trembled. She could see his sadness reflected back in his own eyes. "I know you worked hard to stay with me. It hurt very much when you couldnt remember me. I was so glad you lived though, even if having to start again was the cost." Her hands around him tightened. "I was lonely like Ehud in some ways, but not all. I still had a chance even if it made me feel guilty for pushing you some days." She got quiet for a long moment and sniffled a little more before brushing her fingers over his cheek. "We're both just too stubborn to give up, yeah?"

Illya knew that she struggled with the memory thing, but it was a slightly different perspective. In a way, it would have been like starting over and he knew he was different the way he acted. It was almost like he died. Since his left are was draped over Kalizda he rubbed her back gently and then gave her a little mischievous grin. "See? I know dat someday yah like meh stubborn part."

"Is that so?" She smiled tentatively at his mischievous grin. His other arm wrapped around went to rubbing her back and it felt good. Relaxing against him, she chuckled slightly as she thought about so many times his will had driven her crazy and also carried them through. "Aye, I suppose I do, even when it drives me crazy sometimes." She gave him a gentle kiss, then relaxed back down with him chuckling into his chest.

Halfway through the night, her stomach stirred and she rolled over with an itch on the back of her tongue. The itch was no ordinary craving for food this time. She was wanting something terribly specific and she couldn't get it out of her mind. No matter how much she tossed and turned, or drank water from her cup by the bedstand, her mind was consumed with the hunger for olives. Olives. The salty, blackened fruits from Terra. She'd even had a dream with she was eating them, sucking out all of the brine before swallowing them nearly whole. Unable to get her mind off of anything but Terran olives, she rolled over with a long sigh and gently rubbed at Illya's chest until his green eye popped open. She met him with sleepy and sheepish smile, hopeful he might not mind a midnight run to the fridge. "I'm sorry, love. I can't sleep. All I can think about are olives...I think there is a jar in the fridge. I'll split them with you if don't mind going to get them."

***************

Calysta was more than ready when the day of the party arrived. This had been building up for a couple weeks and she had ordered a traditional pink tunic made of flowing material and the white silk belt to match. Not only would it be a celebration for the pregnancy, but it seemed to be serving as an opportunity to bring them together with the Chippeqouti again. There hadn't been much contact between them other than by message and that fact made her slightly apprehensive. She continuously assured herself that this was home and they would be happy to see her beyond tradition. Wouldnt they? The answer to that question, at least in regard to her in-laws, came when Asha suddenly appeared in the doorway of her bedroom beaming with pride. Her broad grin was infectious and whatever doubts she had were swept away as the woman came in and started mentioning attending to her as a mother. She had wanted to come. "It's good to see you Asha," she smiled, "I'd be honored if you would be my mother for this." That was all that needed to be said in reconciliation between the two of them it seemed. Calysta didn't hesitate to retrieve the combs and allow the Chip woman to do as she pleased. All while Asha worked she explained the importance of the bells along with the ribbons and their significance in the advent of carrying twins. Sure, she didn't believe in the Four Winds, but they did and she would respect that. Not to mention, whether by luck or design, she did feel blessed to be sitting there with Asha carrying her agreed's twins and to know that he was the happiest he had ever been. "I love him," she smiled, "And I'm happy too." When her hair was done, Calysta turned her head to each side in the mirror so she could admire the plait, causing the bells to chime with a light sound. "This is beautiful, thank you." If she was honest, she hadn't thought Asha was particularly girly to know how to do such an intricate braid but apparently, she was a woman of secret talents.

Illya swooped in not long after her hair was done, picking her up as if she weighed nothing to take her outside where there were Chips already waiting. Some of them he recognized from the family reunion and she gave a wave to them with a broad grin. Her eyes settled on Edgar and his wife whom she held out hand for. "I'm glad you came," she smiled to her grandfather- in-law. Though she wasn't entirely sure what other traditions this party entailed, felt like nothing at all had changed in the last year when they gave her such happy smiles in return. With all of her children and her father already loaded into the skimmer, she settled in beside Asha and Illya comfortable to have them so close. Cypher looked smart in his tiny dress tunic and Lohgan cute as a button in her dress. Rose had chosen her most mature look yet and sat beside Priscilla wearing her Christmas necklace and her ring with pride.


It didn't take them long to arrive at the meeting hall and Calysta found herself on a soft couch without her feet ever having to touch the floor. Chips were pouring in carrying any number of things from food trays to drinks and baskets of items didn't recognize. This party was turning into a much bigger thing than she ever imagined and as Asha leaned over to explain further it started to make sense why. Yes, she had a green-eyed baby and then somehow managed to get pregnant again. It was due to Helen's medicine more than anything but they seemed to take it as a token of good fortune from their gods. A sign of incoming peace. While she could have insisted she had nothing to do with the luck of getting knocked up with twins, it was in better taste to let them party. From what little she had seen of the Chips who had returned, they were in low spirits, not wanting to make eye contact or avoiding situations altogether. This was a moment for them to look forward to the future again and she wouldn't take that away. In a way, she still did feel blessed and there would be peace some day. One way or another. That was an idea they needed to hold on to so they could enjoy the good moments between the bad ones. Turning to look at Asha, she nodded respectfully. "Then we'll drink and enjoy with the prospect of peace someday. I didn't think I would get to be here with any of you again and now I am. Maybe that's the start, yeah?"

Plates of food were passed around, which she enjoyed, and her cup was always full of juice since she wasn't allowed to drink the alcohol everyone else was. Illya sat with her with a cup in his hand and his smile growing steadily slackened. She could tell simply by the way he was leaning to the left and laughing opening as he joked in Qouti that he was getting toward tipsy. That was alright. He was happy to be back with his people again and she wasn't about to dampen his spirits. Though, she had no problem with trying to slow them down just a bit. Every now and then she would give him a cup of water, placing it in his hand as she kissed his lips. "Drink a little for me?" She rubbed his back and gratefully accepted each gift presented to her which included blankets in every color, including blue, baby food, clothing, bottles and toys. Perhaps the best of them was the copious amount of diapers. After seeing the mountain of biodegradables Cypher and Lohgan went through separately, she couldn't imagine the amount combined. They were going to need every single bit of those.

Edgar came over and Calysta offered him a seat across from her. He was looking older from the last time they had seen each other, but no less willing to sit and talk for a while. "I don't know if they are boys or girls yet," she told his agreed when asked, "We're going to the Ehaui next week to find out. I have a feeling there is at least one boy though. Nobody could start this much trouble in my stomach like one of Illya's boys could." At her little joke she nudged Illya playfully as the party continued on in good fashion. After a while her tea started to sink lower in her belly and then the pressure of both baby's decided to make the urge to use the bathroom an immediate need. "Oooh," she winced, "I'll be right back. Just to the bathroom. I've got it." Rolling out of her seat, she shuffled across the party floor having to stop on occasion when someone wanted to talk. "Oh, that's great Alex I'm sure your agreed will like it...I'm sure yours did too Asher...yes thank you for the gift again it was wonderful..." Slowly she made her way to the Calysta was half dancing by the time she hit the toilet seat to relieve herself. There were two pleasures men would never understand in the world and that was taking off a bra at the end of the day and making it to the bathroom in time with a baby bouncing on their bladder. "Ahhh... so much better..." She took a little extra time to make sure she was totally done then cleaned up before making her way out to the party again.

This time when she emerged into the party room there was a very different scene playing. Rose was standing near the center holding up a very familiar looking hairy object in one hand in triumph as she giggled. "Aha! I found the little Munster!" She had found Cypher's tarantula loose in the party, though he had been instructed not to take it anywhere on Pyrta for fear it might be permanently lost. Now, she held the critter aloft in her metal palm with no fear as she stumbled forward trying to walk it over to Illya. She plopped down next her father and offered him the scrabbling spider, whose legs made grotesque tapping sounds against her false hand. "I need...I need you to take the Munster...Wolf...it's downright ugly butCypher will look for it and it can't bite your leg or my arm...I'm using my arm at the moment. I always knew this thing was good for something." Snickering, she placed the spider onto Illya's lap and kissed his cheek before teetering off into the crowd to find a game to join.
 
There wasn't any special explanation for why his back hurt more than usual, but the one lozenge wasn't quite enough. Illya laid awake in the bed for a while and with some effort he managed to go to sleep. It didn't last long and he woke up only a few hours later. Rolling over in the bed he winced some and reached into his nightstand. Normally he would only take the extra muscle relaxant, but he decided that he would use the muscle relaxant mixed with the pain medication again. He wasn't supposed to use 2 of them in one night, but his back hurt. It was especially sore and a muscle relaxant wasn't going to fix the fact that his actual spine felt like it was being crushed, he needed a little more pain killer.

Stuffing the extra lozenge with the painkiller in the side of his cheek he laid very still for a few minutes. He could hear Kalizda starting to move around in the bed and he slowly rolled back around to hold her again. She was probably waking up because he wasn't holding her. At leas that was his logic. It took a while for his back to stop having severe spasms and the pain to fade. Gradually he started to drift off to sleep and it wasn't his best rest. He was finding himself wandering through a series of unrelated events.

Some of it made his stomach feel like it was being thrown around like a ball. In fact he saw kids playing with a ball and it looked like balloon of sorts. It kind of reminded him of what a stomach looked like. Then he remembered the Tyrei and and it clamped down on his back. At least he was immune to the wilds now and he started to think of the best way to get out of this. If he used his sword...The dreams varied and he took several turns and places, none of them were unfamiliar, but they had that strange sort of twist that told him he was sick. Somehow in the back of his mind he knew he was sick, but he couldn't seem to wake up either.

Gradually he started to sweat more in his sleep and he felt horrible, but he kept telling himself in his dreams that he would be fine. If he could get past the obstacle course then he could go home and lay down. Then he would have snake stew and things would be just fine. Finally, whatever it was passed and Illya started to sleep a little better. It was a deep sleep. Even if he was only partially aware of himself he could feel Kalizda was tucked under one arm and things were fine. Having her there was nice and it was a sort of comfort to have her in bed. As long as she was with him and comfortable it was safe.

The deep sleep only seemed to last a few minutes and Illya let out a long breath as he stirred. He was in the middle of a dream and it wasn't so bad, but he could feel Kalizda petting at his chest. Opening his eyes he looked at her for a long moment and gave a reply. "Mhhmm. I don't think you love olives, but I can get a jar from the bear." He was talking in Quoti because it was the language that came the easiest. Slowly sitting up he leaned over and kissed Kalizda before starting to peel the blankets back.

He finally started to stir and she felt bad partially for waking him up, but also felt the goal coming close. Olives. Her tongue smacked on the roof of her mouth in anticipation until he replied. Olives from the...bear? She raised a brow at him as she received a gentle kiss on the lips. He had to be still asleep for something like that to come out of his mouth. "Oh, I do like olives...but I love you more," she replied, feeling a little devilish, "Remember to get a good price from the bear for them in the fridge."

"I always make a good deal." With a slightly indignant tone he got up and stumbled over to the chair where he'd draped his pants earlier in the evening and slipped into them before grabbing the closest shirt and sliding it over his head inside out. "Should be back in an hour." Wandering to their bedroom door he opened it, stepped out, closed it and then clumped down the stairs. Illya went straight to the fridge and grabbed the mustard and olives before going back up toward their room. When he arrived at the door he stood there with the jar in one hand and mustard in the other. "Damn Pithians, they just think they're so smart. Shut the door...huh." Setting the jar of olives on the floor he started to hum a Chip song to himself and fumble with the latch on the door before he opened it up and took the mustard to Kalizda.

He was grumpy at the suggestion, but she couldn't help watching in a mixture of guilt and utter bemusement as he put on pants and announced he'd be back in an hour. An hour? If he was gone more than 10 minutes she'd go looking for him to make sure he hadn't wandered off. When he left, she listened carefully to the sound of the thumps, indicating his retreat down the stairs and then paid even closer attention to make sure he didn't go out any of the doors. A few minutes later, he came tromping back up the stairs, pausing at their closed bedroom door to mutter about Pithians. She started to get up in order to investigate why he wasn't actually walking though the door when he fumbled with the handle and then came through holding...a jar of mustard. Mustard. She grimaced a bit at the mere thought of mustard, plucking the jar from his hands. He really was out of it and it was a shameful bit of fun up until the point that the olives weren't there. She wanted them so bad, but he was half asleep and it wasn't so much his fault as hers for waking him. "Love, this is a jar of mustard...did you find the olives in the fridge door?"

Illya sighed, "Yes, I left them outside where they belong. If you want them in here and they make a mess it's your fault." Wandering back over to the bedroom door that was still open he plucked the jar of olives off the floor and shut the bedroom door. Handing the olives to her, he grinned. "Never thought you'd do something so naughty." Crawling back into the bed he pulled the covers over himself. "If you don't need anymore cream I'm going to sleep."

Whatever was going on in his sleepy mind was a muddle of strange. He went from warning her a bit sternly to grinning at her with a wiley smile about her being extra naughty. What in the Wilds was he talking about being naughty? Now, she was curious and there was only one way to find out. Setting the mustard to the side, she took the jar of olives as he promptly told her he was going back to bed. It took only on good tug to get the jar of olives open and for her to take the first succulent bite with a hum of delight. That was what she wanted. Scooping up another one, she leaned close to Illya as he tried to get comfortable again and offered to feed him one. "Would you like to try one?"

"Mmmhmmm." Illya nuzzled deeper into his pillow till he felt something cool and wet touching his lips. Instead of accepting whatever it was he pulled his lips in and stuck his chin out. "Elijah, get down."

Calysta let out a quiet giggle as he refused the olive, fussing at Elijah instead. The dog's head popped up over the end of the bed at the sound of his name and she waved him back down before popping the offered olive into her mouth. She should have let him sleep. "He's down. Don't worry," she assured her sleep gripped agreed. Leaning over, she kissed his cheek and pulled the blankets higher over his shoulder. "The twins say good night and I say thank you."

At least Elijah got down and Illya felt the blankets rise higher on his shoulders. It felt good and he gave a little groan of satisfaction. Nodding his head in agreement with Kalizda he smirked. "You know if they would have done what I said I wouldn't have had to pull their asses out of this mess."

He was smirking at her so confidently for being half asleep and answering her. "Oh? And what did you tell them to do?" she asked with a quiet chuckle. It was funny to think that phrase might be said about the twins in the distant future but there was no telling what he'd say, and that was part of the humor.

"That's above your clearance. Who taught you ranks and clearances?" Illya's voice raised as he gave his order. It wasn't terribly loud, but it was enough that even with his face mostly buried in the pillow it came through good and clear.

His voice raised slightly through the pillow, barking about ranks and clearances. Her first instinct was to tell him that he had in fact taught her ranks and clearances, yet she knew if he was sounding like that it wouldn't be a good idea to keep pushing. She didn't want to get his mind into being in war while he slept. "Aye, alright. Just checking...good night, Illya."

Illya gave a deep frown and burrowed in deeper into his blankets. All the while he murmured under his breath about new recruits and grumbled to himself before he settled in more comfortably and reached with his hands poised as if he was going to grab something. His wandering hand hit the jar of olives and he recoiled almost instantly. Rubbing the cool damp sensation on his hand he wrinkled his nose, "Ew."

With his head buried in the pillow, his hand started to wander around, looking for something and finding nothing but open air before smacking the jar in her hands and causing a splash of olive juice to spatter over him "Easy there," she said as she quickly scooted away from him. Whatever he was looking for she had no idea, but she grabbed a tissue and wiped down his hand before guiding his arm back down to his side to tuck it under the covers. "You found what you were looking for," she assured him between bites, "And I'm right here."

Giving a contented grunt Illya buried his head under the covers. It was stiflingly hot and he loved it that way. There was nothing better than sweating all night long. It was a great way to sleep. He personally hated to be cold and especially at night. By the time morning rolled around Illya felt groggy, but he didn't have that horrible swinging stomach sensation anymore. Slowly he started to emerge from the blanket. First the top of his head poked out and then he shoved one hand over the edge of the blanket and pulled it down to his shoulders. Kalizda looked like she was already awake and she was watching him with a smirk on her face. She looked like she knew something he didn't and frowned a little as he sat up and started to look around the room. The only thing out of place was the fact that there was an empty jar of olives on her night stand and the jar of mustard.

Seeing the food in the room his eyebrows raised slightly, but he didn't say anything. That was an odd craving she must have had early in the morning, or last night. How she got it he didn't know. Maybe she'd wandered downstairs when she should have woke him up to go get them. Lohgan wasn't quite awake yet and Illya intended on getting a few things done, like having a little time to love on Kalizda before the kids were awake and needed breakfast. Laying back down in the bed Illya gently pulled Kalizda a little closer and kissed her. "Yah know I would have got yah olives and mustard ef yah asked."

***************************

The party was going well. Edgar and his agreed had stopped to talk for a long while, Asha stayed with them and smiled broadly through most of the party. All the Chippequoti understood that a party like this was not a time to think about the war. There was plenty of time to think about the war, but there were few chances to truly celebrate something wonderful. What Illya couldn't resist at a party and when he wasn't on duty was a good drink.

Time and again the mead was passed along and Illya would take another refill. Kalizda was drinking the juice that was provided for her and the little ones. Once in a while Kalizda would give Illya a water and push the mead aside for the moment. With a grin he took the water and took a sip. "Jes for yah." Chuckling a little he leaned closer to Kalizda and kissed her. When he finished the water he returned to drinking the mead and laughing. At the beginning of the night there was a wide gap between the Chippequoti and where Helen and Terrence sat, but the gap got to be less as the Chippequoti got curious, mainly due to being drunk. Terrence hadn't lasted much more than 2 drinks and he was feeling less cautious and he felt a bit curious about the Chippequoti. By the way Helen had talked about the Chippequoti society he would have thought they were a special sort of people.

At some point Rose came over with the spider and set it on Illya. The spider immediately started to crawl toward his chest. Leaning back against the sofa Illya slouched into it and watched as the spider crawled all over him. "Ef et had stronger legs et would give a good massage." Almost immediately he busted out laughing at his own absurd statement and leaned forward to grab another drink. Somehow he'd swayed off to the side and fell completely off the couch instead. The sudden rude jolt surprised him when he hit the ground and he patted the floor carefully and then started laughing again. In the middle of the laughing he started into a bad coughing fit. Eventually he got himself back on the couch, but it was just so he could cuddle Kalizda and go to sleep.

When the party was over Asha helped collect the kids and got the spider to Cypher before she got Illya up and half hauled him to the ship. He got into his seat, but not without some effort and then Asha went back to get Kalizda and take the family home.

***********************************

Illya watched the calendar with some anticipation as Kalizda's next doctor appointment was today. He noticed that she'd added an alert on his calendar saying that he had appointments too and the last several days he had orders not to take any of his prescribed lozenges. That was the worst of it. His back hurt every day, all night and he wasn't getting much sleep. In fact he only slept about 3-4 hours and then he was up again. It was better to get something done then to lay awake in bed and just be miserable. He didn't really like to see the doctor for an appointment, just to do a check up. If there wasn't anything wrong then he didn't need to see the doctor. Still, he knew there wasn't any arguing with her and he really wanted to get back on the lozenges.

The kids already had their lunch, Kalizda was making her hair and when she was done they would be ready to go. "Dis es dah appointment we find out ef et es boys, girls, or boy and girl eh?" He didn't really know. Even if this whole thing had been explained to him, he still had no idea where they were at in the process, but Kalizda was pretty big. She looked like she had with Lohgan and they weren't even ready to be having the babies born yet. Carefully he put a hand on her stomach and waited for that little kicking feel. Instead of a kick he felt one of the kids roll and the other kick as they both tried to get to the big warm hand. "Oooh, dere yah are. I feel yah bot." The babies started to move with a fervor and Illya grinned. He liked to think it was because the kids liked him talking to them, but Kalizda got that look on her face and he moved his hand so she could go to the bathroom. "Sorry, I forget dat dey like tah kick yah bladder."

By the time they got to the Ehaui they were a few minutes late. Illya wasn't usually late for anything and the Ehaui were already waiting for them. The nurse smiled a little at Kalizda. "We thought with twins and all that it might take a few extra to get ready." She knew from the party not so long ago how fascinated and excited the Chippequoti were over having twins. If the entire community had that big of a party she could only imagine what it was like living with one of the Chippequoti as their agreed and bearing the twins. It was likely a bit overwhelming sometimes.

"So, I can have both of you get your blood tests done at the same time and do a few other little things at the same time. Then we'll wait on the ultrasound till both of you are ready." The Ehaui already knew the preference was that Illya would get his appointment done in the same room as Kalizda. They both seemed to be more at ease and Kalizda liked to hear exactly what was going on with her agreed. In a way the specialist that dealt with Illya liked that too. She made sure he took medicine and didn't refuse changes to his routine. It had helped dramatically over time and he had a few newer developments that he wanted to have the Chip use. Some things that he was sure would aid in the process of greater healing, even if it wasn't what Illya liked to consider.

All of the blood tests came back looking normal and the doctor was pleased with that. He couldn't say that he had expected less. It was also a good way to tell what was going on with the ones. If the blood was off, then he would know to take a bone sample and check the deeper cause. Chippequoti were sometimes straightforward to treat and other times quite complex. "Well, your blood looks good. No bone sample today, but I do want to do that prescription evaluation. We'll have to do a little test to see the approximate scale of pain you've had in your back." The doctor knew better than to ask if there had been pain. Naturally there had been. "How's your upper back for pain?"

Illya grumbled when they mentioned the test. He hated this test. "Meh upper back es fine. Only pain es some scars."

The doctor nodded and started to apply little electrodes. "This is the only way to accurately gauge the level of pain in your lower back and I want you to be honest. We may need to change the lozenge we give you. I will keep adjusting the electrodes to emit more power until you tell me to stop. You'll tell me to stop when the pain in the upper back is equal to the pain in your lower back." With the first whole level of notches there was nothing and the Ehaui cranked the little machine up some more. The second level they were were almost done and he could see the Chip was frowning more deeply. They were starting into the third notch and the Chip finally tapped the table and then said stop. "Ok," the doctor sighed and scratched a few more notes on his pad. "You're done now. I'll come back after the ultra sound with some updated medication."

When the ultrasound was over the Ehaui returned as promised and he had a larger bottle of the lozenges and a strange looking inhalation tube. "I can still hear some disruption in your lungs and I know it's because of the scar tissue and damage. This is an inhaler that I want you take every night before bed. It isn't permanent. Maybe 2-3 years and maybe as much as 7, but it should help reverse some of the damage and you shouldn't be as prone to the cough when the treatment is done. Might help get rid of the constant cough you have too." He was more than aware of the cough as he'd heard it on more than one occasion. "And," the doctor continued "I have new lozenges for you. These ones have a short release pain killer in them and a longer lasting one. You only take one at night and you can take one during the day if you need it. It has some muscle relaxant in it too. I didn't change the dose of muscle relaxant, just the formulation for the pain. The last thing is a little tub from Helen. She said that it helped with the scars on your back. We'll prescribe one now and another in six months. We just don't want you to over do it. There could be some negative side effects from using too much of it long term. This little tub should last about 2 weeks."

Setting the small stack of things for Illya on Kalizda's bed he nodded to her. "Now, you'll have a much healthier and happier Chip." Stepping out the door he nodded to the next doctor and Kalizda's doctor stepped in to do the ultrasound.

Illya was already back in his shirt and he moved out of the doctor's way and moved over to stand next to Kalizda. They were going to see the babies again and he was anxious to see them this time. They should look more like babies and less like little blobs. Taking one of her hands into his big brown one he squeezed her fingers carefully and grinned at her. When the image finally came up on the screen he grinned. "Dere dey are. Bot of dem." Even if he wanted to he couldn't have hidden his pride and joy. However, this was not something to be shy about and Illya grinned broadly without holding back. He just wanted Kalizda to be ok and he made sure the doctor had been thorough before they left and he memorized the instructions for further care to be sure that she was as comfortable as possible. This was a difficult pregnancy and he hadn't thought they would ever get another chance. Part of him was worried because of Lohgan's green eyes, but normally the babies would have died by now if they were going to. It still didn't mean that they were out of danger and he wanted to be sure that he did everything he could to make sure the babies survived and Kalizda remained healthy.

When he was carrying her outside to the ship again he kissed her once, or twice, maybe more. "Yah beautiful and I tink when yah get home dat I make some dinner. Maybe yah sit on dah couch and I move et so yah be closer to dah kitchen and we can talk while I make dinner eh?"
 
The next morning Illya woke next to her looking groggy and his bleary eyes wandered over her, then to the night stand as he tried to get up. She had been up for awhile, reading a novel on her pad, a mystery book, and glanced away as he sat up. It was obvious by the way he was moving that his back was hurting him this morning. Sometimes that happened. He made a comment on the food, making her smile as he wrapped her up into a kiss. Apparently, he really had forgotten or been asleep for the entire olive adventure last night. The pad slipped to the side as she slipped an arm around his waist, trying to draw him closer, though her belly was very much in the way at this point. It made showing him some affection difficult. Still, he was worried about her having gotten up in the night and she wasn't going to worry him much more over it. "Aye, I know you would," she chuckled, "I know you would."

*************

Calysta watched as her husband slowly descended into the happy sort of drunk. She knew he made it to that point when he was laughing at Cypher's spider crawling up his chest. How in the Wilds her son managed to sneak it in, she had no idea. There were no pockets in his dress clothes. She had made sure to sew them up to avoid nasty surprises that would sit in any available pockets until the next time he needed to wear them. Somehow he had still managed to get the spider there. Suddenly, Illya pitched off to the side, sending Monster the spider flying to the table where he landed in someone's plate with a heavy plop. Gravy covered his hairy legs alike a thick paint and this time even the poor spider looked bewildered, unsure of which way to turn as its pincers clicked in fear.

While Illya was hauling himself up, Calysta scooped up the spider in her hand and tried not to grimace at the feeling of slimy hair all over her palm. She was going to have to have another talk with Cypher about disobeying what she asked him to do, or not to do in this case. The spider was happy to find itself washed off with an ice cube and in a warm home in the bottom of an unused mug where it could hide until it made the trek home. Illya was getting all snuggly by the time she was done. He scooted closer, leaning against her slightly so he could hug her with the intent on going to sleep. "Ooh until we get home," she chuckled in Qouti, "C'mon and drink some water, yeah?" The best she got was a sloppy kiss on the lips an attempt to burrow back down into her shoulder.

Illya wasnt' the only one who was in need of water. Rose's face was bright pink and her smile a bit too saggy to be normal as she plopped down beside her. "Did you see how I won the quarters game? Just like you showed me. Your belly is so big," she giggled, "I wrote about it and I can't wait to see the babies." She peered into Monster's hiding cup and shook her head. "Wilds, I just hope neither of them like spiders." Her cup sloshed precariously in her real hand as she leaned over with a smile to Asha. "Hey, Aunt Asha. Glad you're here too. Kalizda is a bit too big to move and I can't seem to stop moving." The words came out a slur of Kaerelean, Terran and Qouti as she swayed and Calysta shook her head before plucking the cup from her hands. "Ah, I think that's enough for you." She swapped it with a cup of juice and Rose went on happily drinking that until she leaned back against the couch and began tapping at her pad with intermittent giggled.

At one point, Calysta made it a point to speak to Helen and Terrence who were still looking quiet in comparison to the rowdy Chip groups scattered through the room. "I'm glad you could come," Calysta smiled, "Pyrta is your home now and you're always welcome in mine."

The party started to dwindle and many had duties of some sort the next day which meant they couldn't party like they normally would in Chippeqouti fashion. Asha helped her gather up the kids and Illya two, racing back between the skimmer and the hall to capture up her giggling son who had just found his spider. He waved good bye to Sien over his Aunt's shoulder with the other fat fist clutching the cup with Monster inside with the other. On the way home Calysta glanced to Asha and smiled. The woman had been more than good to her and putting the type of feeling she had into words was difficult. It always had been until Illya. "Thank you for helping me today, Asha. You've given me more than you know." She left it at that, unsure of how else to say that her own mother hadn't wanted her and between Yvonne and Asha she felt like she had two mothers now.

***************

They had finally come to the appointment where the doctor would be able to tell them if their babies were boys or girls and she was more than excited. While Illya had his check-up, she had hers which included blood work, blood pressure and more. "You blood pressure is on the low side again, but you know the rules for that. No sitting or standing quickly and 30 mintues of activity only for the clerclage. You still have under 5 more months to go and we want to make sure you make it to full term."

She agreed with the doctor more or less, but what she was really waiting for was Illya to come in from his appointment so they could find out together what their babies would be. When he came into the room, it wasn't alone. He had a few bottles and a strange inhaler with him along with an instruction sheet, which served as a small distraction. Illya didn't seem bothered by it for now, though and sat down before placing his hand on her belly. Immediately both babies started rolling around, bumping and pushing at his touch. "Ooh. There they go. Always happy to see Dah," she giggled, "This is the appointment when we find out if they are boys or girls. Or both...right after I use the bathroom." She slid off the bed and made a waddling bee-line for the toilet in sudden need. Everytime Illya touched her stomach, which was often it set them off like ping-pong balls in her belly and hit just right to make her nearly wet herself. In some cases it even had. Yet, she couldn't deny him touching her belly like that. It felt nice and the look on his face when they moved was priceless.

When she returned waited patiently as she could while the doctor waved his wand over her belly, and began reading the images on the other screen. His brown eyes bounces back and forth, taking in whatever he was seeing with great detail as the same image appeared on the other screen beside them. Illya was so proud and nothing displayed it more than the broad grin on his face and his hand squeezing hers. Her eyes traveled from the screen where her two babies wiggled to her husband's face. There was just something wonderful about that look. Absolute joy twinkled behind those green eyes and she knew Asha was right. He was the happiest he'd possibly ever been and probably the happiest man on Kaereal at that moment. The doctor finished his assessment, then looked up to the two of them with a measured smile. "You are having two boys," he said, pointing to the screen, "And they look very healthy so far. What you're doing at home, eating plenty and resting appears to be working well."

For a moment Illya held his breath. He was waiting for that moment when the doctor would finally tell them about the babies. Surely they would know something more by now. Finally, the doctor turned around and he had good news. Vigorously Illya nodded. He could keep up the pace. It was only a few months more and he knew Kalizda would need all the rest and food she could get. There were two babies this time and that meant she would need more food than the last time. "I can make sure dat she eats plenty and she rests. She dun walk anywhere, but to dah batroom." Puffing up a little with pride he continued, "Little bird has meh tah carry her where she needs tah go. Dere es benefit tah agreeing wit Chip eh?" A knowing smirk came to his face and he noticed the Ehaui was grinning with amusement. Illya just wanted to see if he could get a reaction out of Kalizda. It was true what he'd said and he did mean it, but sometimes it was fun to brag a little about how well he was taking care of her.

Boys! That explained a few space wars in her in stomach when they got to kicking. When she thought about it, Cypher and Lohgan would rabble and roll too, whether they were girl or boy. Illya seemed pleased too and was more than happy to rattle off about how her feet didnt touch the ground unless she went to the bathroom. It did have benefits to having a chip man for a husband. He had good strong arms and could lift her despite the fact she worried slightly about his back throwing out. There was no use of mentioning that however, he was proud to be able to do those types of things it seemed, even if it did make her sound a little lazy. It was absolutely true and she was glad that he was there this time. Really there and they were enjoying the surprise together. A shy and somewhat knowing grin came to her face as she squeezed her husband's hand. "Yes there is. He takes care of me more than I could ask for. He even grabs things hidden on the top shelf," she chuckled lightly. It was meant as a joke but it was also very much true. The doctor grinned and nodded. "Thats good. We don't want you moving around too much and your 30 minutes a day is quite enough given your condition. You said that the morning sickness had faded out quite a bit and now that you're able to keep some food down we want you to start taking some prenatal vitamins and supplements to ensure both babies are getting plenty as well. We're sure that you're getting well-rounded meals but more never hurts when you're growing. We also want to make sure that there are no other developmental issues that occur during the next few weeks so you will have another appointment scheduled for 2 weeks from now and will run some more tests to ensure those babies are healthy and one isn't overcrowding the other."

It sounded like Kalizda was going to be getting some medicine too and Illya listened carefully. He was trying to read each bottle as the doctor explained them and he set them on the bed next to Kalizda with the stuff the doctor gave to him too. By the end of this they were going to need a bag to carry all the stuff they were supposed to take. Illya's eyebrows raised when the doctor said they had to come back in 2 weeks and he let out a long breath. "Yah would tink dat we're getting old and sick or someting."

"I don't plan on getting old just yet," Calysta said with a smile, "It's only temporary, at least for some of it. Besides, you want to be in the best shape you can for your son...well..." Her and squeezed as she let out an excited giggle. "All three of your sons and your daughters too." The doctor nodded as he thumbed through the appointment book. "Yes, and sometimes one twin fares better than the other. We want to make sure that both children are doing well on a consistent basis. In the meantime, plenty of nutritionally balanced food and rest will be the best thing alongside the prenatal vitamins we are giving you. If there are any reactions to the medication, for either of you give us a call."

Illya winked at Kalizda and then he turned toward the doctor. Why did the man keep emphasizing nutritionally balanced? "Chippequoti food es good diet. I feed her snake, fried desert grass and seeds and flat bread. Et es good for her and she eats et at least two times each week and den oter times I make her tings." He wasn't sure what every meal was he made her, but he did know he made some good snake dishes every week.

The doctor blinked at Illya, his eyes shifting to Calysta where he received a look of curiosity, almost as if she were waiting to see if he would pursue the comment. "Chippeqouti food is like all food. Good in moderation. You both need a meals with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains with lean meats. Snake is a good, lean meat which is fine so long as it's cooked to a proper temperature." Calysta nodded and glanced to Illya reassuring him that he had done well so far. "We'll just make sure to eat some more fruits and vegetables along with if that will help, yeah?"

Fruits and vegetables were something that Illya wasn't as good at preparing. He didn't really know what to do with them besides rinse and chop them. "Eh, she will have tah sit on couch and watch meh cook den. Make sure I make balanced meal wit some more fruit and vegetable when we have snake." Illya liked to think he was doing near perfect, but he didn't know all that much about pregnancies and so there was room for improvement.

Satisfied at the somewhat deflated answer from the Chip, the doctor signed off on his paper work and then looked to the mountain of medications that sat on the bed stand. "I'll have the nurse bring you a bag for those. See you both in two weeks unless there are issues before hand. " With that, he departed and was replaced shortly by a nurse carrying a plastic bag with cardboard handles. Calysta thanked her as she rolled up to her puffy feet, taking Illya's hand more for balance than actual comfort this time around. "They're healthy," she grinned happily. It was a relief every time a doctor said they were healthy babies because at some moments she worried about them aborting like babies tended to do after a green eyes Chips were birthed from mothers. As the pregnancy had gone on, her worry had faded some but every now and then it lingered. Now, she could really start trusting that they were safe. "We'll have to start thinking of some names."

Since they were just about ready to go Illya helped Kalizda get up off the bed and he packed all the bottles and medicines into the bag and then handed it to her. "Yah carry dah bag and I carry yah. Dat way we share dah work, eh?" Chuckling a little he swooped her into his arms and met her gaze. "I tink of some good names already." Illya had spent some time thinking about names and he had at least one, or two names that he liked. "One should be Toma and dah oter should be Duncan."

She took the bag and hardly had a moment to reply before Illya was bending down to sweep her knees out from under her. Captured up firmly in his arms, she felt a sigh of relief escape her. It was hard to admit it, but being carried was nice when she was this big. Sure, people stared because she was a tiny woman with an enormous beach-ball belly being carried by an even larger man with a shining grin on his face, yet it saved her feet a fair amount of pain. When they weren't elevated for a bit they got fat, swollen with circulation since she couldn't move as much as a normal person could and her body was supporting more weight than it ever should. It made walking a slow and painful process sometimes. Holding the bag tightly, she rested her head against Illya's shoulder as her sausage sized toes hung from the opposite side of him. His answer to the names surprised her. "Toma, I like," she said, "It sounds like the word for strong in Kaerelean...but you want to name the other Duncan?"

This time Illya felt successful with the name idea. Kalizda liked the first name and he was pleased with that. It was the one name he was sure she would object to, but instead she objected to the second name and he narrowed his eyes slightly. "Eh, yes I want tah name dah oter Duncan. Et es a good name."

"It is a good name," she said, catching the look from Illya, "I just didn't think...well...I wasn't sure if you liked the name itself or you were naming him after Duncan in the Kaerelean style is all." She was fairly sure Chippeqouti didn't name their children after family or people they were closer to but the question was still a valid one.

What yah mean Kaerelean style?" Illya wasn't sure what she was talking about. Some of her ideas were strange and it was hard to tell if she was thinking of a specific tradition. Even if he lived here for some time he really didn't have any idea what the majority of the customs were and why people even attempted to follow them.

She found it hard to talk about, given that when they had named Cypher they were in a very and painful point in their marriage together. He hadn't reacted well to Cypher's middle name being Markus and now she was confused as to how he might feel about what she was suggesting over the name Duncan. "Well, Kaereleans and Terrans sometimes name their children after people they were close to that have died. Its an honor of sorts to do that, and I didn't know if you just liked the name or you were intending to honor Duncan with it after what happened this past year.

Illya frowned a little at the mention of him naming one of their sons after someone. "No, dat es nut why I would want tah name meh son Duncan. I tink dah name Duncan es good strong name. Et means dark warrior and et es name dat I tink will be fitting." If he was going to name one of his sons after someone it would have been Maks, but he knew Kalizda would feel strangely about that and he would to.

It was obvious she struck a nerve with a her question, but she had to know if that was the intent or not. She still wasn't so sure she liked the name, but he thought the name would be fitting. It wasn't so much traditional in Kaerelean nor highly popular on Terra. Not to mention,some things from Chippeqouti culture were good to pass on to their children. Leaning up, she kissed his cheek and smiled. "I liked the name either way. Toma and Duncan it is. Our little strong one and our dark warrior." As much as she knew those were quite big names to live up to, she hoped that her children, any and all of them, didn't aim for the military in their adulthood even if their name suggested it.

That seemed to bring him around a bit and he grinned, offering to cook dinner and move the couch where she could see him while he did. "That sounds good," she replied, "As long as we make it well balanced." The latter part she said in a joking manner just to get a rise out of him and then winked. He was good as his word and she sat on the couch with Lohgan reading aloud her mystery novel to him, then when that got...too risque...she blushed and put the book down to simply talk with him. "Skycorp asked if I would come do a seminar on Chippeqouti relations," she mentioned, "I said I would think about it. Not to after I've had the twins of course." She talked on about one of the books she was reading on the side and some things she would like to do with the kids. It was good to talk with him like this, though a part of her had the desire to stand up and help him. It wasn't long before she decided to use 15 of her minutes to stand at his side and help served the plates. "Its only 15 minutes. I still have 15 left," she grinned.

After dinner, he carried her upstairs and they need to get a shower, but her feet were puff after sitting at the dining room chair for an hour or so. Biting her lip, she eyed the tub then glanced at Illya, before looking to the big, wonderful garden sized tub again. In a streak of boldness, she stripped off her tunic along with her leggings and sat back on the edge of the tub, turning on the tap. She didn't feel particularly sexy, naked and with her big belly but if it worked she could help his back and her feet by persuading him into a bath with her. Putting on her most sultry look, which consisted of a half smile and legs poised in just the right position over the edge of the bath. "Hey there," she smiled to him, "Join me for a soak?"

***********************

Rose was nervous. Beyond nervous. She was outright lost on what to do and it showed as she wandered into the living room and sat down next to Kalizda. She stayed quiet for a long moment while Priscilla compared outfits up to herself, wanting Kalizda's opinion. "I like the summer dress. That one with the gold and turqouise." Priscilla brought it back up to her shoulders and turned from side to side. The woman had lovely tan skin naturally and her bright blonde hair would make the outfit look wonderful. Her make up and hair were already done, with modest eyeshadow and lipstick along with platinum curls framing her face. She was more than nervous too. This would be the first time she had really seen Ehud outside of their awkward walk and a few conversations at Kalizda's baby shower, even then there had been too much noise to really talk. Would she have the guts to do this and hold it together? "What do you think, Rose?"

"Uhuh? Oh..yes..I like that one best too." Rose hardly heard the question as she bounced her pad on her knee.

"Turqouise it is," Priscilla smiled thinly before scuttling off to her bedroom to change, "Thanks, Calysta. Rose."

While Priscilla was changing clothes, Calysta looked to Rose and noticed how odd she seemed. Almost on edge and unfocused which wasn't like her at all. Frowning, she looked to her daughter. "Are you okay, Rose?"

"I-I-I have a problem," she said too quickly.

Calysta sat up straighter and put a hand over Rose's knee to stop the bouncing. "We you can tell us. What's the matter?"

Rose bit her lip and seemed to melt in front of her mother out of worry or relief. It was difficult to tell which. "The day of your baby shower I got really tipsy and I asked out someone and the date is tonight. He wants to take me for custard in town. I didn't know what else to do, because I like him and his name is Sam, but he's also..." Her voice got lower and she leaned in closer to Kalizda. "A Pithian." Rose had seen her father's dislike for them and she didn't want to cause issues, but she didn't want him say no either.

At that moment the doorbell rang signaling Ehud's arrival and Illya came to answer the door. As soon as he entered, Rose looked to Kalizda in a cringe of panic which clearly asked for help on the matter. To her surprise, Kalizda nodded and patted the bouncing knee before waiting until Priscilla emerged in her sun dress, a smile on her painted lips."Are you ready?" The question was directed at Ehud who smiled back and the two were off to the Kinte, not to be expected home for at least the next 7 hours.

Once they were gone, Calysta told Rose to go upstairs to get ready for her own date, then reached out to Illya's hand pulling him toward the couch with a gentle smile. "Rose would like to go out tonight as well. She has a friend named Sam who will be coming to pick her up so they can go to the custard shop in town. It's local and one of the boys we've met before. They've had her back on time in the past with no problems, so I don't see any problems with it so long as you don't, yeah?"
 
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They had such good news from the doctor that Illya didn't mind Kalizda's joke too much. He only raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I make good balanced Chip food. Wit yah favorite flat bread." He knew there was one with the herbs mixed in that she especially liked and he was going to make it for her. On the side he wanted to make the special soft nut cream that Chippequoti made only for special celebrations. There were some nuts he found at the market a few days ago.

It was pleasing to find that the shell was hard, it meant that the dish would be especially tasty. If the shell was too soft it meant that it was picked too early and the nut would have a pungent taste instead of a mild sweet flavor. While he was working Kalizda read one of her books aloud for him. Gradually the action of the book started to taper off into some sort of strange mix of swapped insults before kissing started. He had no idea why insults were exchanged as a sign of love before engaging in some mutual hard work. That whole idea made absolutely no sense. Suddenly Kalizda stopped mid sentence and she started to talk.

At first Illya wondered why she would stop reading and then it occurred to him that the writer must have tried to describe how the characters 'worked' together. That was a terribly indecent thing to do. Illya nodded along as he focused on cracking the last nutshell open and then grinding the soft seeds into a thick creamy paste. Sprinkling a few little herbs in it he dipped one finger in to be sure it tasted right and then set it aside. The nut paste would go well on any of the bread or even on the meat. It was such a good food and it would provide quite a bit of protein with some much needed natural oil for Kalizda. Towards the end of what she was saying she mentioned the Skycorp asking her to teach a class on Chippequoti relations and a big grin came to Illya's face. "I tink dat yah should do dat." Stopping what he was doing for a moment he turned around to look at her. "I tink yah dah most qualified person tah talk about et." She had the most experience of anyone that started out not knowing anything about the Chippequoti and now she was one of them.

Kalizda started to get up and he was about to protest, but she reminded him that she had a little time and she wanted to use a bit of her up time to help him. "Ok, I like et when yah help cook." Leaning closer to her Illya planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Maybe yah take the bread and set et on dah pan?" That was a little part of the meal that would be easy to do and light. His mind kept wandering back to the class that they wanted Kalizda to teach and Illya felt a bit of pride and some curiosity. Why would Skycorp want to teach their students more about the Chippequoti? They all lived right in the middle of the Alliance. It wasn't so difficult to go talk with one and Illya considered his people to be quite easy to understand. A relations class seemed to insinuate that the Chippequoti were hard to understand.

With a slightly confused grin he looked at Kalizda again. "Yah tink dat Chippequoti are hard tah understand dah first time yah meet dem?" She would know because she happened to be someone that had a first time meeting the Chippequoti and she understood them now. Nodding to her answer he grinned. "Den maybe et es important dat yah teach class on dis eh? I will take care of dah kids when yah teach." Illya didn't know how to feel about all of it, but he did feel pretty good about the fact that the Alliance found them important enough to understand. This was going to be the first time that anyone had attempted to make a broader scale of understanding the Chippequoti.

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After they were up in their room Kalizda seemed to think that it was a good idea to take a bath. Illya figured it was because she didn't have much time to stand and her feet had been swelling pretty badly in the last few days. He tried to massage them at night for her, but it wasn't always as helpful as it could be. When she turned the water on he started back for the main part of the room. In a way he was a little disappointed that she didn't want to shower. Not that he'd said anything, but he knew she wanted to get washed up and he kinda hoped they would be showering. Instead she was going for the tub. No sooner had he turned to leave and get a towel so he could shower alone then he heard her ask the most daring thing yet. A soak? Illya turned around with wide eyes and he stared at her like a dummy. "Eh...." Her legs did look good and he couldn't say no to that, but soaking was a bit of a risk. "Yah know dat I dun stay above water." As soon as he said it he knew it sounded dumb. That was the point of soaking in shallow water, but he'd never dared to try anything like that before.

She thought he might be more interested in the idea of settling into the tub with her. It was the closest they could really get right now and her feet were aching something fierce, as his back sure was for having to haul her rotund self around the house on some days. Tilting her head at his reply, she chuckled a little and offered her hand out to him. "Aye, you do, but the tub is only 3ft deep, you'll long settle on the bottom before your head comes close to the water. There are nice jets in here too made for relaxing muscles and bones too. I thought it might be good for your back and my feet." All the had to do was light a few candles and pouring a little relaxing oil to make a nice time of it together. It wasn't really so bad.

Illya nodded dumbly and pulled his shirt off, but he still peered over the edge of the tub from a distance. "Dat's a lot of water jes for relaxing." He really didn't know if he could relax in water that deep and he was starting to feel a bit more nervous as he fumbled with the buckle on his pants. He didn't even remember that he still had his boots on until he couldn't get his pants off and then he sat down on the bathroom floor with his pants around his ankles and fighting to untie the laces on his boots. Still, it gave a great view of Kalizda and her legs. He would try it.

She smiled when he seemed willing to try and slid over slightly on the edge of the tub to make room for him. For whatever reason he seems slightly nervous, forgetting about his boots as he went to unbuckle his pants first and getting ensnared between the two. When he was done fumbling with his clothes, she offered to let him get in first as he was the bigger of them and it would be easier for her to fit around him then the other way around. To check the temperature of the water just before to make sure it was nice and warm. it felt a little on the hot side, but it would cool off of eventually and feel nice with the bubbles. "Slide in and put your back against the angled side right there. That way you can feel the Jets against your back. I'll slide in right behind you, yeah?"

When he'd finally got himself untangled from all his clothing Illya gingerly made his way to the tub. He gave Kalizda a bit of a skeptical look when she wanted him to get in first, but he did. Even as big as he was, he felt terrified that somehow the tub would just swallow him up. It was completely illogical and he was a bit irritated with himself over that one, but he couldn't help the way he felt either. Slowly Illya sunk into the water and he angled himself against the one side, His knees stuck above the water and he tried hard to relax. It got a little easier when he realized it would be next to impossible for him to drown in this tub, it was a bit too small for him to sink in it. Finally, Kalizda wormed her way into the tub with him and she was just about as close as they'd been able to get since her pregnancy. That was a bit of an exciting though as it was. Bringing a little water up he cupped his hands and let it run over her shoulders. "Maybe I jes give yah gentle massage on yah back eh?" She had to be getting sore with the twins and it would perhaps be relaxing for her if he could work on her shoulders and back some.

He seemed unsure of himself as he slipped into the tub but she didn't mention it as she climbed in between his knees and sank back with him. Despite the fact she was large as a Terran whale it felt nice to be this close and his hands rubbing at her shoulders. They were always warm and relaxing against her skin with a gentle touch which never ceased to surprise her. "Mmm...it does feel good." She leaned forward, allowing better access. She wanted to treat him too and the best way she could think of to do it was to turn on the jets for a gentle cycle. A quick click on the tub side turned down the lights, except the soft blue ones on the bathtub and the jets purred to life. "How does that feel?" She asked curiously. They had never tried this before but already she was liking it.

Kalizda leaned forward to let him reach more of her back and Illya grinned. He knew she'd like that. Rubbing a little more of the softly scented oil water over her back he tried to focus on her and not the amount of water they were sitting in. After a few seconds he felt something on his back and he momentarily stiffened. It sounded like Kalizda knew what was going on and he relaxed again and chuckled. "I guess dat was supposed to happen. Et feels good now dat I know et's normal."

Her hand rested slightly on his knee as he rubbed and she could feel him stiffen slightly when the jets came on. For a moment, she thought it was from pain, but when he said it was just unexpected, she relaxed again. He was liking it and it brought a smile to her lips. "It is supposed to happen. You know, they have tubs like this on Ewen. For long soaks with jets and steam rooms. Its common there and I think you would like it too. Maybe when I can travel again we can go?"

"Steam room?" Illya liked the sound of that. He had never heard of such a thing and he wondered if it would be private, or public. It sounded like it was public. "Dere are oter people at dese rooms too?"

She could tell by his voice he liked the sound of the steam room and she chuckled as she leaned into his hands. He was hitting a tender spot and it both felt good and hurt at the same time. "Some are public and others are private. Ewenians have a small continent so there are nice secluded spots you can go to. Nice resort style rooms with the steam rooms and soaking tubs. Their water is supposed to have minerals in it good for your skin too."

With the water hitting his back Illya shifted a little and he grunted with satisfaction. It felt really good. "I tink we go like yah want. Maybe I want now too." A grin came to his face and he rubbed along to the next spot on her back. After a moment he had a wild thought. "What ef yah turn around in dah tub and lean on oter little water spouts wit yah back and let meh massage yah feet?"

Calysta nodded in approval. "Oh I think after the twins are born maybe we'll go just the two of us." They would both need it after a few months of twin juggling and they would need sometime together. At his suggestion she leaned back and planted a kiss on his jaw. "I think I like that idea too." Shifting around, she sloshed some of the water out by accident but that was alright. They could clean it up later, right now the jets against her back felt too nice and Illya's hands encircled her puffy feet felt even better. He liked her legs and she wouldnt deny him after having to wait so long. She hummed slightly as he worked, and smiled. "I like having you here with me." It was a sudden admittance that left her lips before she really thought about how it sounded.

It took a little adjusting for Kalizda to be turned around to face him, but he didn't mind. Her swollen toes almost floated to the surface before he caught them and started to gently work her feet. Illya was going to try very hard to pay attention to only her feet for the first while, but her legs were tempting as always. Looking up at Kalizda he noticed she looked especially content and then she made a funny comment. "I hope dat yah like meh here wit yah." Snorting a little grinned at her, "Et would be very strange tah share dis tub ef yah didn't."

His reply made her laugh and she wiggled her plump toes up at him playfully. "Aye that it would. I'm lucky to have my Chip here in the tub and everywhere else with me too." She felt his hand shift up her ankle some and she sighed in relief. "Ooh I think my toes are starting to de-puff." Leaning her head back, her fingers wandered over to the edge of the tub, dabbing at the water playfully until her movements slowed. Her breath grew steady and she started to slip off to sleep.

Illya was more than enjoying himself just being able to slip a hand part way up her ankle every now and then. While he was still working on her feet and ankles he noticed that she'd drifted off to sleep and the water was starting to get to be a little less warm. Carefully he got out of the tub and then tried to pull her out without waking her. He was mostly successful. Kalizda stirred a little, but she didn't seem to be fully awake and so he carefully wrapped her towel around her and dried her off before taking her to the bed. Once she was settled in he got himself dried off and then slipped into the covers next to Kalizda. Like usual he draped one arm over her and pulled gently to get her closer to himself. He was almost asleep when he remembered that he needed to take the lozenge. As for the inhaler he wasn't quite so interested.

Whatever the Ehaui had put into the new lozenge was amazing. Illya could tell his back pain was far less that night when he was sleeping. There wasn't any waking up in the middle of the night and he even slept a bit past his usual time in the morning. When he woke up Kalizda was already sitting up next to him in the bed. At first he lazily blinked and then he saw the time. The kids were probably hungry and she was probably hungry. "Ooh, damn et. I slept too much."

Like usual Kalizda didn't seem too worried about it. Instead he found that there was a plate of breakfast on his night stand. It sounded like Thomas and the kids had made breakfast and it looked like Cypher was the one that brought his breakfast to him. There were a few little finger swipes in the cream and Illya smirked. "I tink I know who brings dis for meh." Sitting up in the bed he kept the covers pulled up at least to his waist while he moved lean against the head board. His back gave a small twinge, but that was to be expected since it was only the first night in quite some time that he had a lozenge that worked so well for the back pain. It would just take a few nights to get his back feeling like it should.

When he finished his breakfast Illya slipped out of the bed and barely pulled his boxers on when Cypher came buzzing in at full speed. The boy had something he wanted to say and it was clear he wasn't about to stop till he said it. "Dah! The bear came in." Cypher's voice lowered some and he widened his eyes in every attempt to make the truth seem more believable. "He ate all of the jelly on the table and he ate my berries!" With an indignant squeak Cypher held up one little hand and showed where he had a bandaid on it. "Papa had to put a bandaid on it. I took some berries back and Cin scratched me."

"Who let the bear in?" Illya knew that Cin didn't usually come into the house without an invitation. Almost instantly Cypher lowered his gaze and he pushed a lower lip out. "I did." With a weak little voice he responded. Somehow he had thought that Dah would be mad at the bear and he wouldn't find out he let Cin in the house first. "Es Cin still in dah house?" Illya queried and his son nodded again. Glancing at Kalizda he grinned and then grabbed a pair of pants and a shirt. It sounded like an exciting start to the day.

No sooner had Illya stepped out into the hallway of the upstairs and he could hear Thomas grouching at the bear and some grunting, but apparently the bear wasn't going to do what he wanted. Quickening his pace Illya decided to get down the stairs before the bear would see that was where he had been at. Last thing he needed was for the bear to think that it could come into the house and share his bed. Just as he reached the part of the stairs that overlooked the living room the bear spotted him and came running. Bears were remarkably fast and the railing was not quite wide enough. It didn't stop Cin. He kept right on going and when he reached Illya he gave a gleeful leap at his mother. He'd finally found her special den.

With a crash the railing was not only loosened, but it was tore off the steps and Illya went over the edge with a little more momentum than the railing. He and the bear flew just far enough that Illya landed on the couch haphazardly. His head hit the coffee table and broke it in half, his legs were sticking almost straight up and butt and lower back were in the couch with the bear draped over him with a bewildered cock to his ears. The whole house shook and there was a loud crack that sounded through the house. Illya groaned a little and he tried to move. "Oh I hope dat was dah couch and not meh." He was sure he'd be a little sore, but so far he didn't feel much. That could be good or bad. Within seconds of moving and pushing at the bear he found that his nerves were working just fine. His legs hurt and his left one had been twisted a bit oddly. Then of course his back was a little out after that, but his head felt fine. It wasn't a very sturdy coffee table anyway.

All the while Cypher stood near the top of the stairs and yelled. "Get dat naughty bear!!!"

By the time Illya had the bear to the kitchen Cin knew he was in trouble and he raced for the doorway without waiting for the door to even get opened. Instead the bear ripped the door of the hings, broke the frame and trundled right out into the yard. Lohgan sat in the kitchen and giggled and clapped her hands. It was so exciting to watch Dah do that. While she was clapping Illya heard another crash and thud before wailing started. Cypher had fallen off the stairs and hit the floor.

Heading into the living room Illya picked his son up and checked him over. "Yah jes fine." Setting Cypher back down he decided to try walking up the stairs and found his left leg was a little weak feeling. Reaching out for the railing to catch his balance he fell off the stairs too and his metal leg knocked a hole in the wall to Thomas' bedroom. "Ugh..." Staring at the stairs he worked his jaw a little. This had turned into one very big project and once he got started he knew there would be a host of changes that Kalizda would love to have done while he was already working on the house.

Toddling over to his father Cypher looked at him through his teary eyes and offered a hand up. Once Illya was sitting up he got his face close to his Dah's and studied him for a long moment before patting down Illya's arms and slapping his legs. Since Dah didn't seem to jump or cry he gave his official prognosis, "Yah fine."

***********************************

Ehud arrived at the house a few minutes early he straightened his shirt a little and gave it one more tuck before checking to be sure that his belt buckle was on straight and it looked neat. Smoothing his hair one last time he took a deep breath and he about knocked on the door when he heard a kid behind him snicker. Of course it was a Pithian boy that thought he looked smooth. Rolling his eyes he simply turned back to the door and knocked. He knew all that snickering would end when the boy saw whose house this was he thought he was going to prank, or visit.

Like usual Illya answered the door, but there was an interesting sort of arrangement in the house. It looked like they'd started some sort of construction in it. Without saying anything he simply stepped in and waited for Priscilla to arrive. As soon as she stepped out of her room he swallowed almost too loudly for comfort. "Uh...You look nice." That was a pathetic sort of phrase, but he was a bit at a loss for this sort of thing. Sien flashed a grin at the lady and he held out a little flower. "Dad said you're supposed to give flowers to girls you like." Ehud turned bright red. He didn't think Sien would remember that little conversation at this exact moment and it put him to shame. His son just gave the woman a limp flower and it made him look bad. In an embarrassed sort of defense he nodded. "Mmhmm and you need to go play now."

The display was funny and Illya couldn't help laughing even if it only made Ehud turn a little redder. "Yah two get out of here before someting worse happens. Maybe dah bear will come in and kiss her before yah get dah chance."

As if taking the challenge Ehud offered Priscilla his arm and started for the door. Once they were outside he gave her a quizzical look. "What happened to the house?"

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Almost as soon as Ehud and Priscilla were out the door Kalizda started to talk to Illya about a local boy that had taken interest in Rose. If it was just a local boy he didn't mind too much. There were a few that he thought were nicely mannered. Most of them were still not quite what he would have in mind, but they were better than a Terran, or Pithian. From the sounds of it this boy had been seeing her before now and he was decent about things. "Alright den, I dun mind. Tell her dat she can go wit dah boy." Kalizda gave Illya a look and he got up. "I guess I go tell her den." Wandering over to her bedroom he knocked gently and waited for her to open the door. "Yah got meh permission tah go wit dis boy. Jes make sure he treat yah right. Ef he get handsy yah know dat yah prosthetic es harder den his head." With a nod he figured he'd done his fatherly duty and then the doorbell rang.

Turning right back around he went to the front door and opened it. To his surprise it was a Pithian boy. Both of them stared at each other for a long moment and then Illya narrowed his eyes. "Yah dah boy dat tinks he gonna take meh Rose out for date. I tink yah treat her good. Ef yah dun I tink yah know et will nut go well for yah. Hurt her and I hurt yah." With a growl he let the boy inside and waited as silently as he could manage until Rose was out the door with the boy. Looking to Kalizda he took a deep breath. "Did yah know dis boy was Pitian?"
 
Calysta woke in the bed with gradual with no memory of having been put there after the bath. She had been warm while Illya had been there being gentle and she must have fallen asleep at some point. His hand was still rested on her waist slack but curled against her back as he snored softly in her ear. It was obvious by the way he was breathing that he was still asleep. However, that small rattle he had in his chest from time to time seemed diminished. There was no wheezing sound that she could hear. Maybe the inhaler had done its job.

Rather than waking Illya, she shimmied further into his arms where it was always blessedly warm and picked up her pad to finish reading the mystery novel she had left of with abruptly. He wouldn't have to know she read the steamier bits here and there. They held little appeal to the real thing and were actually somewhat funny. If the main character had said any of the things he stated in the books to her in bed, she would have been laughing. "The night is cold, but here in your eyes, and in your lips it is oh-so-warm." Calysta snickered the line out from under her breath, but her free hand inched over to Illya's as she read on past that point and into the climax of the novel before finding out the killer was who she suspected all along. "You'll have to do better than that, Yevarn. You made it too obvious." She would have to wait an entire year before the next book came out. After a while, she pulled on her robe when her father along with came upstairs with two plates piled with eggs, bacon, and biscuits with butter.

Cypher put the plate he was carrying onto Illya's bedside table before piling into his mother's lap. "Mam, I helped cook deh breakfast." His attempt at whispering was more akin to a dull roar and Calysta put a finger on his lips. "Shhh...don't wake Dah." Once she got him to talk even quieter, she smiled at him and pulled him higher onto her lap. "Oh is that so. Mmm...It looks good."

Cypher smiled and prodded her belly with a fat finger. "Will meh brothers like et? Dey eat what you eat."

She chuckled and took a bite. "Oh, I'm sure they will. You did a good job."

That made him smile all the more as he watched her eat several more bites just to make sure that it really was good. "She likes et Papa," he informed his grandfather proudly. Thomas nodded as he set up Illya's teacup beside the plate. "Aye. I told you she would." Every now and then he would steal a glimpse of his daugther. He could tell simply by looking that she was happy. Not just any sort of happy, but the contentment that came with peace of mind. It was something that she hadn't really had before and her happiness shone through this morning. "That's good sweetheart," he nodded, "How are my grandsons?" She said they were feeling good and he grinned a wide smile framed by his greying beard. Seeing Calysta healthy and happy like this brought him a particular sort of joy that he'd experienced with his other three grandchildren. There had been a small thrill when he found out he was going to be the grandfather of twins. Half-breeds often had trouble with their pregnancies and twins were exceptionally rare among them, though his side of the family often managed to produce twins. His little brother, Alvin, had been a twin. "There's more food downstairs if you want more, just message me on my pad," he told her before gracing the top of her head with a kiss and leading Cypher out of the room with the promise to play out side.

Calysta ate her food faster than was probably appropriate and sat the plate to the side with a long breath of satisfaction before she started to doze off. The only thing that pulled her out of her slowly sinking state was the sound of Illya stirring close to mid-day. "Good morning sleepy," she said. It was all too easy to slide further down in the bed with him and let her toes seek out his warmer leg. He mentioned sleeping too late and she slid her cold foot over his ankle. "Oh, it's alright. It's quiet today and you slept well, I think." Calysta let him eat his breakfast and simply enjoyed the morning with him. Loving on him with sweet words was not something she was still particularly good at and yet she still tried to make him feel special as she rubbed his back.

There quiet morning came to an abrupt halt when Cypher came flying into the room, waving around his finger and talking about the bear. Calysta's eyes widened the more her son talked. Illya immediately jumped up to go down stairs and round up Cin. He was gone far faster than she could move, leaving her with their guilty looking son for just a moment."Why did you let the bear in Cypher?" His bottom lip poked out further and he gazed squarely down at his feet for a moment before meeting her gaze."I wanted him tah play inside. He is a good bear but he stole my berries instead!"

Suddenly a large crash sounded from downstairs followed by several solid thumps. Calysta stared at Cypher and he stared back, both of them in surprise before scuttling to the stairwell. Her son could take the stairs by twos but she had to take them slowly one hand on her belly and the other holding tight to the rail. Going downstairs was difficult when you couldn't see what you were stepping on. After several more crashing sounds, Cypher's yelling then crying, the sound of her father cursing, and a thunderous sound towards the back of the house, Calysta redoubled her efforts to move faster until she came to the second-floor landing.

"What in the Wilds."

That was all she could say for a moment. The entire railing to the first staircase was gone, torn right from the nails out of its placeholders while there were scratches along the walls, tears from bear claws in the floor which lead up to the stairs where a sizeable hole in the wall sat. The couch looked as if someone tried to fold it in half like a taco, having succeeded in bending the frame until it broke before flattening it out and the coffee table was, in essence, a pile of splinters over the rug. The glass cup that had been on the coffee table had been reduced to glittery bits thrown in the mix. On the staircase sat Illya with wood splinters stuck all over his hair and a sharpened grimace on his face while Cypher stood over him with wet eyes and he sniffled. "Yah fine." At this point, everyone in the house was coming out of their rooms. Thomas opened his door, but couldn't exit because of Illya plopped in the stairs, while Rose poked her head out with wide eyes. Priscilla appeared out of her first-floor hallway with her hand over her mouth and Lohgan on her hip. All of the dogs were in an uproar outside where the bear had escaped.

Nobody knew quite what to do at such a scene. Their living room looked like a warzone where the only winner had been the bookshelf, which had somehow survived the chaos. Sighing, Calysta began trudging down the stairs, using the wall as a handrail instead of the banister which was scattered in pieces around the living room. Moving like this made her belly tug in uncomfortable places but she ignored it and eventually made it to the stair above where Illya was sitting in a daze. With a decided plop she sat on the stair above him and put a hand on his shoulder. Already her mind was gathering up what to do.

"Cypher," she said evenly, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he nodded in reply.

She met his eyes firmly. He was going to have to learn responsibility for his actions. "Did you know that the bear wasn't suppose to come inside?" At his affirmative answer, she continued. "There bear is not allowed inside because he gets excited and he's big." And none too bright. "He makes a mess and sometimes gets scared too. Dah is going to show you how to take care of the animals from now on, but you are not allowed to bring any of the animals inside besides the dogs or your spider anymore. Do you understand?" Her son looked a bit forlorn at the pronouncement and he dropped his head with a singular nod. "You are also going to help clean this up, but for now, go wait in the kitchen in your chair." Cypher tromped down the stairs with heavy foot falls and made his way into the kitchen. Once he was there, Calysta glanced down to Illya and looked him over. "I'll make you some of the pain tea, yeah?"

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Calysta shifted on the couch so she could watch Rose and Sam leave off the front porch. Their daughter looked beautiful and the smile on her face could put

Sunsets to shame. When they disappeared along with Priscilla and Ehud, she sat back and let out a small sigh. Her little girl was going on her first day. In some ways it was exciting but there was a part of her which was begging for Rose to shink back to the little girl they had found on Nuen. Her thoughts were broken by Illya's question and she blinked herself back to reality. "Mmm...oh. I think so? She's been talking with him for awhile and he seems nice. Did you see her smile?"

"Mmm yah jes tink so." Illya grumbled a little and he limped over to the couch to sit on one of the ends that were less broken feeling. It wasn't his best day. All he could see was a million little projects jeering at him and Kalizda hadn't told him this boy was Pithian when she knew darn well how he felt about them. "Yah should have told meh. Yah know how I feel about dah Pitians.'

"I do know how you feel about them," she said calmly as he grumbled, "but he treats Rose nicely and she was very excited to be going out with him. They've been talking all of this time and they seem to really like each other. I think that's important, dont you?" She knew he was peeved about it but it wouldn't make much difference now that the boy had come to pick her up and they were gone. If it came down to it she would rather have Illya fuss at her about the Pithian than to tell Rose off about it. He wasnt so friendly about his feelings towards them and their daughter knew it. Patting the couch beside her she invited him to come sit.

Of course she'd withheld the information purposefully and that rankled Illya a bit. Still he understood why she would have done that. Reluctantly he sat next to her and sighed. "Yah jes keep et secret. Why would yah do dat to meh?" Illya didn't like the fact that she'd kept something hidden from him. "Ef yah worry about meh getting upset yah should have told meh before dis and den I would nut tink dat yah keep dis secret because yah dun trust meh. Kalizda, dis es Rose. She es nut safe ef yah keep secrets. Ef someting happened I would nut know what I needed to."

"I didnt keep it secret. I knew you would know when he arrived and, with the information given to me our daughter I wasnt quite sure it was that important. Whether he was Pithian, Chippeqouti, Kaerelean or even Tannas," she replied earnestly, "I wasnt worried you would get upset. I trust you, Illya. However, Rose was upset. She didn't want to tell you because she sees and knows how you feel about them. She waa worried you would be angry with her and she had made a mistake. So, I wanted to assure our daughter that you wouldn't be upset."

"Why dun yah tell meh dis before." Illya still felt upset, but he knew they couldn't change it now. "Maybe yah tell meh before from now on eh?" He knew that his daughter had probably witnessed his dislike and it was a bit disconcerting to know she wanted to keep this a secret too. Leaning back into the couch he let out a long sigh. Part of this made him wonder if he had done a terrible thing with his children if they knew how much he hated certain people groups.

She could tell it hurt him and she frowned as he sighed. "I didnt have to much time, the boy was already on his way when Rose said something and she was nervous as it was. She wanted to make a good impression for this boy and I think its a good thing. She didnt want to up set you and neither did I." She inched closer to him and put a hand over his gently. "She didn't want to hurt your feelings by only coming to me either. But if you want, I'll come to you about it next time too." A gentle kiss came across his cheek and she sat back feeling guilty for not telling him and somehow he ended up hurt in the end anyways.

Illya sat and stared at the mess of a living room for a long while and then he started to chuckle. "Ugh...dat stupid bear."

Calysta wondered at his silence if he was angry with her and sat back feeling worse for having tried to help Rose in this way. She knew he wanted to protect them, but on the other hand, it didnt matter what Sam or anyone dating their children were. If she though like that, she never would have married Illya. After a while he broke the silence and she grinned at his comment and covered her mouth with her hand as she started to laugh. "I never thought someone could destroy a house more than two Chips wrestling but Cin won I think."

Rolling his eyes Illya lulled his head to the side and looked at her. "All at railing on dah stairs jes pop off. Now I tink I will be fexing dah house for a long time." He was sure that she was about to mention a few other things she wanted fixed while he was at it.

"I can help a little," she chuckled, her eyes roving the room before settling on his with a smile, "We can work together, yeah? Besides if we are going to remodel the living room...what if we took the wall down between the living room and the kitchen? Made it one big space where we can cook and see the kids? Oh and we can make the living room bigger for everyone? It would be good." Her grin grew broader as she envisioned her idea in the house. "I never this many people would fill up the house." It was a point of joy and it shone through every word she said to him.

There it all came. It wasn't just fixing the living room, and putting the railing back on. She turned this into a remodeling project and it included taking a wall out. That meant they would have to do the floor all over again because the wall didn't have finished flooring underneath it. More than likely that mean that while they were at it she'd like a new paint job too and perhaps to rearrange the kitchen. Illya almost cringed with the ideas that he was sure would be coming to her mind as they went. "Mmhmmm. I could take dah wall out." Saying he could didn't mean he wanted to, but she looked so happy while she was talking about it. Illya didn't have the heart to tell her no.

"I have a friend who could get us a nice Wilds wood beam to hold up the supports on either side and we can repaint so the kitchen will look nice with the living room. I think I could even build a bar island given enough time to plan. That way we can have all the children together there for breakfast and make lunches. It will be much more space I think." She was so excited now that he seemed willing to go a bit further in the fixing. Her fingers tightened over his and she smiled, leaning back her head. "I think it will be good. And as soon as I can after the babies are born I'll be with you." He stayed quiet for a moment and she wondered if he thought it was too much. "Unless you think it will be too big of a project with the twins?"

It was approximately what Illya had feared and he shuddered inwardly. This was only the first night. Who knew what else she'd think of with time. "Oh et will be too much when dey're born. I tink I will be very busy before dey come." There were a few reasons for that. He wanted to get her ideas done with before she had too much more time to think about it and change her mind. Grinning a bit he squeezed her hand back gently. "Maybe yah jes get tah watch for while when I work eh? I distract yah wit meh arms ef I leave meh shirt off when I work."

He seemed fine with the work being done before the twins, even if she couldnt help and she grinned until he made a naughty little suggestion. "Maybe... I'll just have to watch..." the words were selected to sound confident but her cheeks were aflame within an instant. How did always know how to do that? She gave him a sheepish look, but her eyes lingered over his arms leading down to his hand longer than she should have. Knowing she was caught, she shook her head and diverted her gaze. "Ooh..you naughty Chip, you."

They passed the rest of the evening together in relative quiet. Priscilla wasn't there, nor was Rose, so after a dinner of nyte beast roast Thomas emerged from the storage closet with an old Terran projector and set it up to play 2d movies on the same wall that would soon be demolished. The couch was entirely uncomfortable to sit on with the frame shattered and Calysta smiled as she set up the cushions in the floor. "I used to do this during the rainy season," she told Cypher and Sien as they bounced on a couch cushion, "We set up a fort just like this and watch a movie." With Cypher and Illya's help, they had a clean sheet hanging from the bookshelf to the back of the furniture, making a perfectly good blanket fort with piles of pillows and two heated blankets underneath.

Once the movie was set to play, Calysta inched along the floor and folded her legs together as best she could before drawing Lohgan into her lap. The girl gave a happy squeak and tugged on her shirt. She hadn't been able to spend as much time in Mam's arms because of her new, big belly. Content to chew on her teething ring, Lohgan watched the projector with no real awareness of what was happening other than she was happy to be with her Dah and Mam. Unlike his sister, Cypher watched the wild western movie in rapt attention, whooping when all of the cowboys set up to catch the bad guy on their horses. At one point, Calysta caught Illya's eye and winked at him. Their living room had been entirely destroyed by her son and an excited bear, but that was alright. Anywhere was home when they were together.



*********************************

Priscilla found Ehud in the living room with his son and she could tell by the look on his face that he was nervous when she entered. Beyond the nervousness, he was handsome and his boy was sweet as he held up a scraggly looking moon flower, undoubtedly picked from the beds outside. "Oh thank you both," she said with a genuine smile, "I get compliments and a pretty flower, it sounds like you boys know exactly how to treat a lady."Ehud was staring at her and she stared back awkwardly. Now what? Did she take his hand? Make a move? He'd nearly lost his eyes to the floor when she suggested the movie and she had no idea how he would react to such a move. As the moment dragged on, Illya intervened with a comment about the bear kissing her if she stayed. It wasn't exactly the best way to spur either of them into moving but it seemed to work, prompting Ehud to take her arm and lead her out of the door.

Once they were outside some of the pressure seemed to dissipate though she had blush peppered across her cheeks from Illya's comment. Steeling a glance at the man on her arm, she averted her gaze quickly to the small flyer ahead of them. "Cypher let the bear into the house this afternoon and things got a little wild. Everyone is fine but we...'bearly' have a living room now." The moment she said that pun, she regretted it. That was a terrible joke, even by her standards, but she was nervous and it had popped right out of her mouth without much thought behind it. Her blush deepened as he opened the hatch for her to slip inside. How on earth was she going to survive this date if they were both taut as bowstrings? The flight to Kinte was relatively quiet in the flyer but in her own head, Priscilla bounced back and forth from working up the nerve to talk and feeling slightly guilty for being on a date. A break in the tension came when they ran into a small thunderstorm, pitching the flyer to the side with the turbulence and buffeting against the engines the rest of the way to the continent.

She had been to Kinte only once and that was with Harry two years prior. It was well maintained with clean streets and a substantial intergalactic arts area. There hardly seemed to be a trace of the attack three years ago and the people there had recovered quickly despite losing a piece of their land mass. The theatre itself was stylized after the old, grand theatres of the early 19th century on Terra and run by ex-patriot Terrans so all of the newest movies were available for the most part, though it was small and only offered 2-3 movies depending on demand. As the came up to the ticket booth it became obvious there was only one movie being played on the screens. The smell of popcorn and the sound of the marquee playing the trailer for Wild Ways 2: Alien's Revenge. Simply being at the queue line of the theatre made her relax a little. This was familiar and it felt like home.

That same feeling only continued when she settled into a seat next to Ehud right as the movie began. Exchanging glances with him, she smiled and offered him some of their shared bucket of popcorn. "I haven't done this since-" She stopped her words, remembering that she probably shouldn't mention Harry. "Since I left Terra anyways." In truth, it had been much longer. They hadn't been able to go out unaccompanied when Harry became president and this was the first time she had done so with the ability to relax.

The lights began to fade and the movie started to roll, picking up nearly where the previous one left off. This time the actress for Robin had been changed to someone more glamorous than before with sweeping black hair and perfect make up as she was swept up into Ira's arms. Their ship was set upon by pirates and caused them to crash on a desert planet where the people there helped Robin nurse the injured Ira back to health. "Oh Ira!" The tough alien man in all of his corded muscles could miraculously walk again thanks to the mysterious healing ritual of the people they found themselves with. There was a pleasant, almost puppy sort of quality to one of the locals whom they had befriended, named Kaseet. He was a loveable warrior who had much to learn from Ira in the ways of fighting and did so with excitement.

Upon leaving the planet, a rather risque love scene played, much bolder than the previous movie, and Priscilla sank a little lower in the chair at that point, refusing to even glance at Ehud who was next to her. Thankfully, that scene didn't last long and they were off into the stars again, finally making it to a planet entirely covered in water with only a few floating islands where Robin's true people lived. The final battle took place on one of these tiny islands where Ira battled a creature that looked like a cross between a cat and a minotaur, tower over him as he grappled bravely to save Robin along with her people. Everyone knew the man couldn't swim and as the bull-creature shoved him closer to the edge, his heels sliding gravel off of the cliff side. Suddenly, the creature gave a mighty shove of his horns and thrust Illya over the side, plunging him into the waters below along with the creature...only for him to discover that while he sank to the bottom of the ocean that he could breathe underwater. Walking from the bottom of the ocean to the shore, a soaking wet Ira met Robin in a passionate kiss. "Oh, I thought I had lost you," Robin cried between the kisses. "Don't you know I'd always come for yah?" he replied with a deep, sensual voice.

As the movie came to an end, Priscilla applauded with the rest of the audience and grinned to Ehud. "It was better than the last one I think," she said, "And it went right along with the book. Have you read them?" Nodding at his answer, she took his hand to walk out of the theatre, all abuzz with the excitement of the movie. It was pouring down rain when they emerged with cracklings of thunder overhead. "It looks like the thunderstorm caught up with us," she said, blinking up to the dark sky. He seemed eager to get to the flyer. Was it because he worried about his son, or had he not liked the date? She wasn't sure, but they made a run for it through the rain to the dock nearby where she slid into the hatch and began turning on the heaters before Ehud even got inside. When he climbed inside, sending dripping water in all directions, Priscilla laughed a little and offered him the handkerchief from her purse. "Here, this might help." He took it with what looked to be a grateful nod and wiped his face before starting up the flyer or trying to. The engines rumbled before sputtering and then dying out altogether. Priscilla glanced to Ehud with a raised brow as the rain poured over the glass cockpit of the flyer. "That didn't sound good."
 
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The tea that Kalizda made was good and strong. Illya watched her make it with a mostly blank expression. He was trying hard not think about how his back felt. He didn't really want to sit, or stand, but standing was better than sitting while he waited for the tea. Carefully he leaned against the fridge and waited for Kalizda to finish with the tea before she took herself to sit down. Slowly sipping at the tea he savored the taste. More than likely by now it was an acquired taste. The tea wasn't particularly tasty, but he found that he enjoyed it after years of drinking it. After a few sips he winked at Kalizda. "I tink maybe I jes be lazy today. Only clean up a little."

Somehow it was easier to flirt than it was to admit that his back was hurting that badly after getting knocked off the stairs and slamming into the couch with the bear on top of him. Kalizda waited till he was finished with his tea to tell him about the glass in his hair and he frowned. Illya was feeling too tired to have glass in his hair, but he knew he would have to get it out. "Eh, I shake et out in dah garbage and den later I shower ta get dah rest out." He wanted to add a part about having a bath too, but maybe he would wait. She liked having her feet massaged and perhaps he could get her to join him in the tub if he wouldn't be leaving little chunks of debris from the house all over in it. He could only assume that it would not be good for the water jets to circulate water with stuff in it.

At least a tiny bit of cleaning had to happen and Illya could tough it out and just work through the pain, but the more he thought about it the more he didn't want to do that. She would probably let him be lazy for a few hours. If he was lazy for a few hours Illya decided that he would take one of the lozenges and then there would be time for the painkillers in it to start working. Gradually his plans got a little more elaborate. It would feel good to have some of the numbing cream on his back too and it would be kinda nice if Kalizda pampered him for just a few minutes. Didn't need to make her worry, but he would like some extra attention. Heading back up to their bedroom he figured he may as well get started on at least getting the glass and other stuff out of his hair. No need to make more work for himself while he cleaned a little bit later on. Kalizda was following him up the stairs and when he got to the room he started to sit on the edge of the bed to take his shoes off and almost bounced right back up. It hurt to try sitting. His back gave a horrible spasm and he couldn't very well bend over either. Making a face he tried to find a way to lay down on the bed first without having to sit and he ended half falling onto the bed.

The entire bed creaked loudly and shuddered under his weight. Once he was laying on the bed he brought his right knee almost to his chest and started to work on untying the boot. Catching a look from Kalizda he grumbled, "Meh back hurts." It was a bit awkward, but he knew how to do a lot of little things without having to sit down. Sitting for a long period of time still hurt, even on good days. When he had his shoes untied Illya dropped them over the edge and rolled off the bed onto the floor with a thump. From there he gingerly got up and shuffled into the bathroom for a shower.

After the shower Illya felt a little better, but he still felt too lazy to actually do any cleaning. Illya took the tub of cream for pain relief to the bed and laid down next to Kalizda. "Put a lot of it on my lower back." He didn't need anyone to overhear, or understand too much of what he said. Cypher was starting to know more Quoti, but the boy wouldn't know the details of this comment and he wanted to keep it that way. These were childhood mistakes and it wasn't with malicious intent.

Even if Kalizda was gentle the first touch gained a sharp intake of breath and tightening muscles. Stuffing his head in his pillow Illya groaned. For the time Kalizda stopped and then he lifted his face out of the pillow. "You have to rub it in a little." He was surprised she'd stopped. With a little encouragement he got her to finish rubbing in the first layer. It as numbing part of his back and he needed there to be more so he would feel less. By the time Kalizda was done working the cream into his back he was sweating and his stomach churned, but at least he was closer to feeling better. Since the Ehaui said that he could have one lozenge in the day if he needed it Illya took one and stuffed it into the side of his cheek.

Gingerly Illya shifted from his stomach to his back and he winced the whole way. When he was finally laying on his back he let out a puff of air. "Maybe I jes rest a little bit eh?" He'd just got up, but he wasn't sure he would be walking around and cooking for Kalizda by evening or tomorrow if he didn't rest a little bit now. With a deep frown he laid on top his heated blanket and turned it up as hot as it could get. Gradually the more severe pain subsided and the muscles in his back started to loosen up again. Illya could feel himself getting more and more tired as the pain faded. Every now and then he'd close his eyes for a long moment and then he'd slowly open them again to see Kalizda was watching him. She looked a little bit worried. Flashing her a tired grin he beckoned her a little closer. "Yah know what would make meh feel better?" It looked like Kalizda was all ears and eager to get whatever it was. "Jes a little kiss. I tink dat would help."

The first kiss was more than satisfying and he was thinking a second was in order. "Maybe I jes need anoter kiss." A sly grin came to his face and he kissed her a little longer this time. "I know yah can hold yah breat longer den dat. Lets see how long we can make dah kiss last." Illya expected she would turn red, but he was pretty sure she'd try it too.

The tone he used was a wily one when he mentioned what would make him feel better and she glanced over to see him grinning. "Hmm? What would make you feel better?" A kiss? That was an easy thing to accommodate and she chuckled before leaning over to give him a nice long kiss on the lips while her fingers played absently in his hair. Of course, a singular kiss didn't seem to be quite enough and she gave him another one, this time letting herself get more into the act. Kissing on him like this made him so very hard to resist and she had to be careful not to get either of them too worked up or the next few hours would be frustrating. He challenged her to go a little longer after the second one and she blinked at him. Surely he know exactly what he did to her when he asked something like that with such a wiley grin. It got her all stirred up and nothing showed it more than the pink on her cheeks. Should she? What was wrong with another little kiss? He might as well join her in the play now. "Oh, aye. I can hold my breath much longer than that. I wonder if you can keep up with me." Despite her pink cheeks, she smirked a little and leaned down to give him the kiss of his life.

Even if she turned pink in the cheeks she was going for it. Illya was all for it and he was keeping up with the kiss just fine, til he felt that odd sensation. Was that drool? They had held the kiss longer than they'd ever tried before and it was getting messy, messy enough that he was sure she just drooled down his throat by accident. He knew she had to be feeling it to. This was not one of his brighter ideas, but it would make a great laugh later on.

He managed to keep up with her for a good 5 minutes and into the 6th without breaking apart. A part of her was pushing to go as long as possible simply to give him a real challenge as she continued the embrace. It was starting to get uncomfortably messy however with their spit mixing together in a larger quantity than normal. Still, she wasn't going to stop until he put an end to it. He may have had strong bones, muscles, and an incredibly powerful immune system, but she had the lung capacity of a Kaerelean. She felt like using it to the full extent this time to impress him and enjoy the feeling of getting a little wild again too.

The kiss was long enough that Illya started to actually feel like she might beat him. When the kiss ended he took a deep breath and then wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. "Uhhh...I tink dat maybe dis was nut meh best idea." Still he was grinning from ear to ear. If he was going to end up swapping drool with someone it was going to be with Kalizda and it was exciting even if it wasn't exactly what he'd envisioned. "Maybe we jes settle for normal kisses."

Calysta grinned when he finally gave in and ended the kiss and wiped at the corners of her mouth with her thumb. It had devolved into one the messiest kisses she had ever given or received but it had been fun to meet the challenge. When he mentioned it not being his best idea she laughed and her head tilted down to meet his chest while she snickered. "Normal kisses are good too. They seem to have a good curing effect," she replied. A little kiss was placed on his chest, then she leaned up and kissed his slightly puffed lips with a lighter peck. "Feeling better?"

"Ooh..." Illya never protested more kisses, but he was going to have to stop if he didn't want to be riled up. "Yah gonna make meh feel too good ef yah keep dat up." Taking the last kiss she offered he did nibble on her lower lip a little. "Maybe we jes take a little nap now and den I'll get up and clean."

Calysta smiled as he nibbled and slipped an arm around his waist to get just a little more comfortable. The movement caused one of he boys to kick in protest at her belly and she grunted slightly before nodded. "Just rest and don't worry about it. We'll get it cleaned up, yeah?"

"Yah dun do dat. Jes stay here. Yah shouldn't be up and doing dose tings." Illya despite his efforts at staying awake was fading quickly and he caught himself drifting off. Startling slightly he opened his eyes again and checked to be sure she was in the room before he actually fell asleep.

She shook her head, noting how sleepy he was sounding and smoothed down his hair before relaxing with him. "I'll just go down stairs is all," she assured him. His eyes fluttered shut after a few minutes and as he drifted off, he jolted himself awake with a strange look then held her a little closer. What he had been thinking about she didn't know, but if he rested better with her close she would stay with him.

*********************************

After a short nap Illya felt like he could actually get up and work a little bit around the house. Getting out of the bed was a bit slow and he moved around somewhat stiffly. He was determined to get the house as least livable until his back felt better. The little bit of a limp added because of twisting his left leg made Illya look more like he was teetering along and getting down the stairs was hazardous at best. By the time he got down to the lower level he noticed that Thomas had cleaned up the glass and the immediate dangers that the wreckage posed.

Since the hardest part was done Illya walked slowly into the kitchen and got a mop to clean up the kitchen floor. He stood perfectly straight and it made for a few awkward moments, but it currently hurt to move his back much. With one arm he pushed the mop around the floor and had Cypher pick up chunks of wood and other bits of debris when it was too big for the mop to handle it. Part way through mopping Illya realized that he actually hadn't swept the floor and that was why things were so dirty.

Since he was feeling pretty tired and sore Illya decided to have an unbalanced meal of something ordered. Every now and then he knew that Kalizda liked Terran food and he ordered something they called spaghetti. He had heard that it was next to impossible to mess spaghetti up and he was sure he'd had it before. The sauce looked good if nothing else.

Of course Sien arrived to stay for the evening meal and some fun with Cypher shortly before dinner and Illya had planned on that. After dinner he watched the boys play for a bit and then Kalizda had the idea to set up a little tent for them to play in and watch an old Terran movie. It was a bit difficult to get himself underneath the blanket and on the cushions with the rest of them, but Illya made it and laid on his back. He wasn't going to be watching the film. Laying on his stomach hurt too much when his lower back was having problems. Illya was relaxing just fine until he heard a wild a little whoop and Cypher landed on his stomach. "Huh!" With the wind knocked out of him Illya pushed his son off his stomach and grimaced. "What ef I jump on yah stomach?" The boy laughed and shook his head, but he didn't jump on Illya for at least a couple more minutes.

*****************************************

Ehud settled in to watch the movie. It had been a long time since he'd done anything like this. In fact it had been years. Since before he and Haza moved to Nuen. "I haven't watched anything in a while either." When the film started and he saw the male actor he could have sworn they chose someone that looked a bit like Illya. He hadn't thought that Illya was considered that fine of a specimen when it came to looks. Then again all he saw was another guy. Ehud did notice that the female character in the film was pretty. Blondes were still better. Hearing the popcorn shuffle around in the box he glanced over to see that Priscilla was offering some and he took a few kernels without thinking much of it.

The snack was tasty and he had a few more pieces before he realized what he was eating. Ehud still had a little popcorn in his one hand and he knew he couldn't really put it back so he shoved it in his mouth and finished it off while getting this sinking feeling in his gut. They might not even make it home before the first gut attack happened. That was one hell of a way to spend a first date.

Even if Ehud was a little nervous after eating the corn he was determined to enjoy the show. After all, the further they got into it the more he was sure they were basing the characters off Illya and Kalizda. What kind of friend would he be if he didn't get a chance to watch a movie about them and then bug them about it later on. He'd been so nervous about the date that he'd forgot to talk to her on the way here, then he ate popcorn and now his mouth was starting to feel dry and he really needed a drink. When the steamy scene came up in the movie he leaned over to Priscilla. "I'll get some drinks." Watching a sex scene on a first date was a bit awkward. Maybe if he had something to drink it would make things a little better.

Out at the concessions he got a fruit soda for Priscilla and a water for himself. He knew better than to trust the soda labels or workers. People would always tell him their drink didn't have corn because they didn't seem to know that high fructose corn syrup was still corn. The last thing he needed was to consume more corn. Returning to his seat next to Priscilla he grinned and handed her the drink she'd asked for. Gradually the film drew to an end, but it wasn't quite fast enough in Ehud's mind. He could already feel his guts rumbling and his stomach was churning. No sooner had he started toward the doors of the theater than he remembered that there was a storm outside and the ship had problems just getting here. His flyer wasn't in best condition, but he didn't think it was that bad either. More than likely it had just been the storm that made it seem so rough on the handling.

"What you say we make a run for it?" He was more than eager to be on his way home after having that corn. Ehud let her run on the flatter ground and he charged through the puddles and whatever else. So long as he could get that ship in the air and get home before things were really bad. By the time they were to the ship they were both soaked and he was flicking one switch on after another. Priscilla sweetly offered him her handkerchief and for a moment it reminded him of when he met Haza. Blinking a few times he finally took it and wiped his face off before returning it to her with a gentle "Thank you." Of course as soon as he tried to start the ship it started to flash with errors and he had a momentary panic. He was not going to stay on board this ship overnight and occupy the restroom with those horrible sounds he knew would come while she was in hearing range all night long. Fixing the ship would take long enough he was sure he'd be spending most of the trip home in the restroom too and he thought that would be a lousy way to spend the last of the date.

A big sheepish grin came to his face and Ehud started to turn beet red. "Fixing this in the rain isn't quite optimal. I uh....Well I never cleaned the closet out on the ship and I still have some of Haza's clothing in there. We're adults and maybe we ought to go to a nice hotel with a restaurant in it. I'll get us each our own room. Then we can change and look acceptable for dinner. We'll plan on having dinner in an hour?" Ehud really hoped his guts would hold out long enough to get through dinner. It should only be another 2 hours and he was sure he could make it that long. Providing they were served dinner shortly after they ordered it.

With that he called a cab to come get them so that the clothing they each had picked out for the night wouldn't get soaked and defeat the purpose of having time to change and then he helped Priscilla out of the car and into the hotel where he booked two rooms. After they parted ways in the hall to their rooms he darted into his and immediately called Illya's pad. "I need you to watch Sien for the night. My ship is having problems and uh....I forgot and ate some popcorn at the movie. So, I'm in a hotel with Priscilla."

******************************

By the next morning Illya didn't feel a whole lot better so he took himself to the Ehuai. Kalizda packed up to go with him because they were going together to help get the ship fixed for Ehud and Priscilla. The doctor came into the room clacking his stylus against the pad and then made a quick scan of Illya's back. "Well, it looks like a few stress fractures. Nothing bad. You'll just wear a back brace for a few weeks, I'll prescribe morphine suckers and you'll be fine. Oh one more thing, make sure you have a decent bed. If you've been sleeping on some of those Kaerelean beds I'd say it probably makes things worse. Recently had one of my other patients come in here complaining of back pain and they don't even have your history, but they got a bad bed."

Illya nodded to the doctor and put the brace on and shoved a sucker into the side of his cheek before he got up and headed out the door with Kalizda. He wasn't restricted in anything, just told to get some good rest and change the bed out. He'd probably order one on the way to get Ehud. A grin plastered itself to his face when he thought about that date. "Yah know he had corn last night. Dat was half his reason for nut flying home, or trying tah fex his ship." Chuckling a little he strapped Sien, Cypher, and Lohgan into their seats.
 
Their flyer sputtered and died again as Ehud tried one last attempt to restart it. His next suggestion surprised her. Stay over night and wear some of his former wife's clothes? He didn't seem like he was going to try to fix the issue, and given the weather she didn't blame him. Staying on Kinte wouldn't be bad, but using his other wife's clothes just felt off putting. She could find something else hopefully or just be wet.

Managing a smile, she agreed and wandered back to the bedroom where she found things to be as if a wife had been absent for only a little while. Dust sat on both beside tables, one of which had pair of earrings sitting in the open as if a woman had simply been sleeping there the night before. The closet revealed mostly women's clothing with a few of Ehud's pants and shirts combines. She felt like a mistress standing there, wrecking someones home.

Ehud knocked on the door, asking if she had found something that fit and she smoothed her damp hair down quickly before sniffling a bit and answering the door. "I'm afraid not. Haza was taller and we don't have quite the same dimensions." A small lie, was better than the truth wasn't It? "I will pick up something

Ehud seemed to accept the answer and offered a towel instead, which she took gratefully on her way to the bathroom to allow him to change. On look in the mirror showed her hair had lost its bounce and her make up needed touching up. The makeup was easy and it took little time to make her presentable but the hair was a lost cause. A quick comb of her fingers was all she could do.

A skimmer arrived for them, whisking them to one of the nicer hotels on Kinte and Ehud paid for two rooms. She was glad he hasn't asked to share which would have been horribly awkward. With her keycard in hand, she nodded to him. "I'm going to check out the gift shop here and I will meet you down here for dinner." They seperated for awhile, long enough for her to go shopping and purchase a nice little black dress with lace at the top. At least he wouldn't have to worry about showing off too much. Her mind turned to the date as she walked down to meet Ehud. Sure, this date could have gone better, but it wasn't so bad. He was guarded and she couldn't blame him. So was she. Yet, she wanted to try.

Priscilla smoothed her dress down in the back before taking her seat at the small table. The candle flickered slightly in the draft as she settled in and pulled her napkin into her lap with expert grace, then stole a glance out the window. The storm was still raging outside withlightning flashes and rolling thunder peals in a constant downpour of rain. A hard thunder crack echoed and she pulled her eyes away from the window to Ehud who was sitting across from her with a smile. "It storms like this where I used to live in Japan during the summer," she commented, "Maybe it was a good thing your flyer decided not to start. We would have run right into another storm." A waiter came around and offered them a selection of wines and also asked if they would like any of the chef recommended appetizers. To her surprise, they had some Terran items and her eyes lit up. "Would you like to try the house-made salsa and corn chips?" Priscilla asked him.

When Priscilla came into the room Ehud couldn't help notice how much of her legs were showing. He understood that in her culture that was acceptable, but he was still a bit surprised. That was a lot of leg to be showing off and he had to work very hard at not looking at her legs. Instead he chose to look at her face. The thunder outside made shift a little. It thankfully was covering the sound of his unhappy guts. "Probably best we didn't fly tonight." Giving her a half smile he pulled the menu up to look for something decent to eat. After a short while the waiter asked about appetizers and Priscilla immediately mentioned the salsa and corn chips. "Ooh, I'd like the salsa, but uh...is there a side of another kind of chip. Something that's not corn?"

He seemed short worded again for the second time and she tilted her head at him. Maybe he was worried about his son? Illya was good with children and that was something she knew for a fact, and if they had been friends for so long, Ehud would know his son was in good hands. Then again, he probably wasn't used to being away from him. The next comment about the change in chips regarding the salsa made things seemed all the stranger. "We have root crisps which would be usable as chips," the waiter replied, not batting an eye a the request. When Ehud's decision was made, the waiter gave a small nod, then went to go retrieve their appetizers and drinks. Priscilla had chosen water for the simple fact that wine hadn't seemed like a good idea at the time, and now she was beginning to regret not having some. To ask for it now might come off as odd too. Picking at the corner of her napkin she managed a smile, determined to try. "I'm sure Sien is having a good time too. Illya and Kalizda are good with children and Cypher enjoys the company," she blurted out. Feeling even more awkward, she tucked a strand of her now bone straight blonde hair away from her face and bit at her lip. "I didn't know you weren't a fan of corn either. Is it just corn chips you don't like?" That had to be the case, considering he ate the popcorn just fine in the theatre an hour or two before.

Ehud thought it was going pretty smooth until she mentioned Sien. Had he really done that bad of a job of being a date. He was terribly out of practice. Haza always told him he was charming. Maybe he lost that touch when she died and perhaps she was the only one that thought he was charming. "Oh uh...Yeah I haven't worried about him being good with kids for a while. Even uh...well even when uh....well when he got his brains blown out and he came back he was still good with the kids even if he didn't remember them. I used to be worried he wouldn't like kids after what happened uh..." Ehud realized he was rambling and he was nervous and he did that sometimes when he got nervous. "Anyway, I uh..." Thankfully the waiter returned with the food and he could have a small break from his rambling and panicked mind. Then when he took the first root chip he heard Priscilla's question and Ehud cocked one eyebrow. "All Chippequoti are allergic to corn. You probably never eat anything corn at Illya and Kalizda's. I used to spend a little time around Terra and uh...well I sometimes forget that corn is uh a staple food of sorts in the Terra diet."

Priscilla watched as Ehud stumbled through what she thought was supposed to be an explanation, though it raised multiple questions as it answered only two. She reached across the table and plucked up a root chip, trying to sort through it all before deciding he was just horribly nervous about being there with her no matter what she did. Steeling herself she bit into the chip with the salsa and looked to Ehud again trying to remain calm about the fact that she had fed him something he was allergic to. This was turning into a disaster. "I didn't know that...um...any of that, I'm sorry," she said quickly, "You don't need an epi-pen or something? Did you eat enough to make you react?" Sure he would have been puffy and swollen by now if he had eaten enough and they would likely be sitting in an emergency room instead.

"No, no. Chippequotidon't usually die from something they eat. Well, there are some things that would probably kill us if we at them, but corn isn't like that. Usually its just other symptoms." Ehud didn't really want to explain those and he cleared his throat. "Sorry, I just get nervous. Umm...I might need some practice on the charm side." Dipping his chip in the salsa he grinned at her. "You know even if I spent a lot of time in other places I still find myself a little surprised. Used to think I didn't rely so much on Chip culture to interpret things and...Sometimes I find out that even if I know about a lot more than just Chippequoti tradition that it doesn't always work like I thought. Do you know what I mean?" He was trying to get away from the more awkward blunders he'd made. Perhaps she liked talking about something more applicable to life. Things like culture and then she could tell him more about Terra or the struggles she'd run into.

Other symptoms? She looked him over but whatever these effects were they didn't seem to be life-threatening. Somewhat of a relief. Finally, he came out with a more put together response and grinned at her. Truly smiled at her in a way that didn't seem so forced or like an afterthought, and she mirrored expression some. "I know what you mean. I grew up on Terra on an orchard. We grew pecans and every year at the harvest time we had so many it would take until the next spring to eat what wasn't bought. My dad would pick one up and say 'now there's a good nut' and my mother would reply 'there's one holding it too.' It would be considered an outlandish thing to say here but when I see nuts like that I say it out of habit because it happened so often." She chuckled and plucked up another chip, dipping into the bowl. "I don't think our culture defines us entirely, but it doesn't leave us altogether either."

It seemed that this was a little bit of an easier topic for her and Ehud was glad. "I'd agree with that. Probably been a bit hard living somewhere your culture isn't quite represented fairly. Well...I mean it isn't represented in a decent portion and possibly not entirely accurate." Ehud knew there was a lot of dislike of Terrans among some of the Chippequoti and he certainly knew that what was representative of Terra was not usually that accurate. "I think one of my favorite things about Terra when I was there happened to be the carnivals. I liked that cotton candy. Just fluffy pure sugar. Nothing like a ride in the dark and all those lights and looking over the grounds. Sometimes if you picked the right ride you could look over the edge and see the exhibit with the tigers and bears." Ehud smirked a little. "The circus was nice too. I met Haza there. She was a trapeze."

Priscilla smiled a little and took a bit of her chip. "It's not so bad when you find yourself among friends." The waiter came by refill their water glasses and she thanked him with a silent nod as Ehud spoke about the carnivals. When he mentioned it, her eyes lit and met his with obvious excitement despite the fact that he had mentioned his wife. "Carnivals are some of my favorite things to do. We used to have big fairs where I grew up with the rides lit up and fried foods. Cotton candy too, though the candied apples were always my favorite. I broke a tooth once when I was thirteen or so trying to eat one." Chuckling she reached for her water and took a long sip, but her focus remained on Ehud. "I didn't know you had spent time on Terra or met your wife there. She must have truly been amazing to be in the circus. Trapeze artists work hard and look so graceful."

Taking a deep breath Ehud nodded. "Terra was a hiding place for a few Light Chippequoti. We look pretty much like any other Terran." Working his jaw a little he stared at the salsa for a long moment and then took another bite. When he finished swallowing it he took a sip of water before continuing. "I uh...worked undercover for a long time. That's how I ended on Terra for a while. Learned a few things when I was there. I know how to make some good friend chicken. Maybe I can get some chicken and then you can come to my house and i"ll fry it up fresh with some crispy breading and you can get a real bit of Terran food. It's something hard to forget after you've been there."

He seemed like he was starting to relax more, which in turn, made her own panic diminish considerably. She had no idea he had worked undercover, but given he was a general and it seemed to be the sort of thing that Illya did as such, it made sense. The prospect of fresh fried chicken sounded wonderful and she grinned. "I have to admit that would be great. I didn't know you could cook," she replied, "I'll bring something over as well. What about salad and corn-" She cut herself off from the word corn-muffin and gave him a slightly apologetic look. "How about rolls instead?" The food arrived and she looked at her nyte beast fillet with a hunger she hadn't realized she had before. "What are some things Sien would like? I'll make sure to bring something for him too."

Ehud turned a little red and he smirked. "I had to learn to cook and I think I'm good at it. Sien will eat it." He wasn't sure how picky his son was. "When I was younger I was a good cook. Kinda hoping I'm still a good cook." Ofcourse she offered to bring some food too and Ehud couldn't help letting his smile get bigger. "Salad and rolls would be good. We'll have to get you out more often and get some friends for you that can eat all the corn they want with you." It was hard not to poke a little fun at it. "Anyway, I don't think you'll have to worry about anything special for Sien. I don't know what he likes to eat anymore. He lives mostly with cousins, but I'm thinking about asking if Illya and Kalizda would take care of him while I'm working."

Priscilla chuckled and slid a knife into her steak as he teased her a little then said something curious. "Oh, I think its like riding a bicycle. You never truly forget how to do things like that. And perhaps I will go out on Pyrta. I might need some gal pals to tell about the handsome general I had the pleasure of dining with." At his comment regarding Sien, she tilted her head. How did a father not know what his son ate? "Cousins are good to spend time with for a boy and I'm sure Kalizda and Illya would love to have him over. You dont spend much time at home?"

The smile on his face got a little bigger and he cut into his dish of meatloaf with gravy and potatoes. "Just don't tell all the girls too much. They get wild sometimes." He didn't know if that was a good joke with girls or not, but it sure worked when he was with guys. They always thought that sort of thing was funny. Then Priscilla had to ask the question that he thought the answer for was obvious. "No, not much time at home with Sien. He's not much of a morning guy. I get up make something to eat and pack his breakfast for him and take him to stay with cousins. Then I work all day and I go home, clean dishes from breakfast and get dinner started and then go get Sien. We eat dinner and I clean and he plays in the house or looks at his books. I take him out for a little walk and we come back and he gets ready for bed and that's the end of his day. Sometimes he's already had supper with his cousins by the time I get off work. Get a few nights that I get home in time to take a walk with him and get him in bed." Ehud shrugged a little. "He's a good kid. Just figured he'd like living with Kalizda and Illya better. Cypher's close to his age and those two used to play together as babies. Always were good friends."

"Oh they can get pretty wild, I'll leave the best details for me," she chuckled, taking a bite of her steak. It was perfectly tender and juicy, with no effort to chew at all. Listening to Ehud describe his routine with his son did strike her as sad and she paused, meeting her blue eyes against him with an honest look. "I've never been a parent, Ehud and perhaps that leaves me at a disadvantage here, but I think I disagree. A boy should always be with his father and I think you are a good one. Days atKalizda's are one thing, but going home to your father is imporant."

"Disagree all you like, but there's not much I can do about the situation. He comes home to stay with me at night, but someone else is going to have to raise my son. I'd rather he was living with Illya and Kalizda during the day. I'm not saying I'll stop taking him home at night. Just saying there isn't a whole lot else I can do with where I'm at. I've got him during my days off, but I don't know a whole lot about what he does during the week and what he likes. Sien's a quiet boy and he doesn't say much." There were some things he didn't even know how to explain. "I'm not upset. I've just heard the same thing before and I don't know how to fix it."

The reply was sharper than she expected and strangely cold. It didn't seem like that was really what he was like, at least not naturally. He claimed not to be upset but the words he spoke sounded more like a general than anything else. "He's quiet perhaps because his father is in some ways," Priscilla said, "I suppose it isnt my place to say. I wouldn't know much about children. Harry and I weren't able to have them. So, I am sorry for prying." Her eyes dropped from his and met her steak where it sat growing cold.

It was a bit odd the way the woman pried and Ehud wasn't really sure what to tell her. He struggled with coming home some nights and that was why his son didn't know him and he didn't know his son. Part of this was beyond his control and other parts were things that he contributed to. "No need to apologize. If we're going to see each other a little more often those are fair questions." Ehud took a deep breath. He wasn't sure how Illya could get away with saying the things he did. Maybe it was because Illya smiled more readily. "Besides, I'd be willing to bet you know almost as much as I do. You've been living with Kalizda and Illya for long enough you've had to end up in some contact with the kids."

A small, measured smile came to her lips, at the mention of the children in Illya's home but she didn't look up just yet. "Cypher is a good boy. Spitting image of his father and Rose is smart as a whip. Lohgan is the happiest baby I've ever seen. They are part of the reason I found things...bearable...when I first came here. I didn't think I would be good with them, but I am. Surprisingly. There's nothing warmer than coming home to something like what they have." Sawing another bite of her steak, she stole a glance at him again. "You know, those fair questions work in both directions."

Somehow this lady had a little spark to her and Ehud wasn't always sure what to do with it. "Uhhh....Well those fair questions I thought did go both ways. Wasn't it considered fair enough when I implied you knew more about kids then what you said?"

Priscilla raised a brow at Ehud her eyes carrying glimmer theyhadnt held in quite some time. Then she smiled with a light chuckle at the man before her. "I suppose you did, I only meant that you could be more direct," she replied, taking a sip of her water, "And I think the same applies to you. You're smarter and a bit more charming than you profess." This time she wasnt sure what it was, maybe it was the small sparring they were having between them or it was the fact that she felt so conflicted going on the date that she needed relief. She started to giggle and met his eyes, unable to hide herself. "Look at the pair of us." It just struck her as funny to be doing this again and it was better to laugh than do other things. "It could be worse. We could be Robin and Ira."

While there was still time Ehud ate a few more large bites of his food. He could feel his stomach was starting to make that horrible rumbling again. It was acting as a warning and he knew he only had about halfhour to go. Priscilla was just starting to relax too and he wasn't sure how she'd take a rather abrupt end to their night. "I think being Robin and Ira would definitely be worse." Smirking a little he gobbled down the rest of the food on his plate and then sipped a little more politely on his beverage. A few minutes later his guts rumbled again and he frowned. "Ooh, I might be close to calling this a night."

She managed to get a smile out of him before he vaccumed his food from his plate with the speed on an on-call military man...or Cypher and a bowl of berries...and then sat back some sipping on his water while she took her meal at a normal pace. Was he in a hurry? The frown on his face said so and then he flat out said he was close to call it a night. Priscilla blinked at him a few times and then put down her fork. What was with this man? One minute interested, then next wanting to leave as if he couldn't get away fast enough. How was she supposed to respond to that? "I see," she said, politely, "Well I wouldn't want to keep you up. I'll-" Her words stopped when his stomach gave a hellacious growl. "Was that...you?"

From the feel of his guts twisting on themselves and the sensation of food crawling through his intestines Ehud figured he had about 10 minutes or less. Perhaps not as much time as he'd thought. Maybe it was the speed at which he ate his food and maybe it wasn't. There was never any telling, but he knew the corn was a sure doom to their night. Mentally he was still kicking himself for eating it. The poor woman looked so confused and then she seemed to understand a bit more when she heard the grumbling of his guts. Ehud shifted on a chair with a wince, 'Uuh...yep. That's the corn. Think I'll go pay for the ticket and see if I feel any better after that.

It took a series of connections for her to realize that he didn't look 'puffy' after eating corn because that wasn't exactly where the allergy arose. When that realization hit, she felt another wave of guilt and for having not known about this. "I can handle this....why don't you just go and you can pay next time?" She didn't want him to stand there in intestinal distress simply because of the popcorn mistake they had made. "Go on," she nodded, "I will...um...see you tomorrow?"

Ehud shook his head. "No no, I'll get the ticket and then I'll just head up to my room after that." He was determined to pay and he nodded to her. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that he headed for the counter to pay the tab.

He made a quick departure and Priscilla sat finishing her meal in the quiet. When the waiter came around asking if she wanted a refill on her water she shook her head. "No, but I think I will take a glass of wine on a seperate tab."

*******

Calysta knew once Illya said his back was hurting that he truly meant it and it took little convincing to get him to the Ehaui the next morning. Ehud had called late last night about his flyer and they would have to go get him after the doctor's appointment. The only blessing was that Sien and Cypher had tuckered one another out for most of the night playing cowboys and Indians after the movie for hours on end. Both of them slept through the doctor's appointment which was just as well.

The doctor revealed less than good news about Illya's back. Stress fracture were not something he needed nor was the morphine suckers that went with it. She would be keeping a close watch on him with those, given how easily he could grow attached to them.

As they piled into the flyer to go get Ehud and Priscilla, Illya mentioned about his friend eating corn on the date and she automatically cringed. "Oh wild, no wonder. How did he do that?" He knew more of the things to avoid than Illya did too.

On the 3 hour flight out, Sien and Cypher woke and immediately went back to playing after a small fuss about who would be cow boy and who would be Indian. Finally, after Cypher screamed waking up his sister with a good scare Calysta stepped in. "Cypher scream again and it's the corner for you and no time playing. You were Indian last time and it's not your turn." That was me with sniffled and pouts but the look in his man's eye told him she meant it.

By the time they arrived, Ehud and Priscilla were outside the flyer looking a little awkward but smiling nonetheless. Calysta rolled out of the flyer with great effort. Her big belly made simple things take a great amount of effort and she was already getting a bit tired, but they had work to do. Since Illya wasn't in any shape to really help, it was up to Ehud to help with the mechanical portions while Calysta instructed.

She quickly discovered he knew little about his craft. "You have a singular solar engine, did any of the lights flicker when you tried ignition? No? Okay, plenty of power from the panels...can you check the power out put?" He read the numbers off and Calysta frowned. "That's not right. Those secondaries are far too high. It's choking out the engines with too much . It usually means you need a new regulator."

While Calysta talked it over with Ehud, Priscilla helped keep track of the kids and waited with Illya who was moving more stiffly than usual and with good reason. After some casual chit chat, she glanced at Ehud. "He is your friend and you have known him longest, right? You must have known his wife too, Haza? I think he misses her terribly and I feel a bit strange. They seemed to love each other the moment they met at the circus on Terra." She gave Illya a small smile as the others walked over.

"Well," Calysta said, "Ehud needs a new regulator and I can help get it installed when we get one. It might take most of the afternoon though. Maybe you and Pris could take the kids out for lunch and we can get the part?"
 
Sliding into the co-pilot seat Illya winced a bit. He hated having to sit down for the take off. Even with the thick back support on he could feel every shake and shudder from the ship. At least it was a luxury cruiser and there was barely any motion with take off, but it still felt like plenty with some back problems. Once they were in the air Illya stood up and he went into the kitchen to make some breakfast for the kids. Mostly he could move around without too much trouble. As long as he didn't twist or try to move in a twisting fashion. The back support inhibited almost any motion that wasn't directly facing forward.

Reaching into one of the cabinets Illya pulled his tea out first and made some of that while he whipped up a few eggs from the chickens and got them ready to scramble and pulled some cheese out to sprinkle over them. The kids liked cheesy eggs and so did Kalizda. He was moving a little slower than usual and he got breakfast on the table about 20 minutes after the kids were up. Cypher and Sien were both obviously hungry by the way they made sure to play near the kitchen and wander through periodically. By the time breakfast came around Illya went to tell Kalizda and he was almost done with the sucker that was stuffed in the side of his cheek. He liked to make them last as long as possible and he hoped that the tea would help make it feel like it lasted longer.

Illya sat down to eat breakfast with Kalizda and the kids, but only because he knew Kalizda didn't want to start a habit with Cyher wanting to stand and run around the house when he was eating. After the meal Illya cleaned up and then laid down in their room and pulled up an ordering sheet on his pad. He needed to get a new bed and he wondered if it really would make any difference at all.

It appeared that some of the Chippequoti had started to make and sell their beds along with some good sturdy frames. He couldn't help notice that the one was an especially beautiful headboard. It was on sale because not many of the Chippequoti liked the cream with the gold. Most of the red and gold headboards were far more, but Illya knew that Kalizda wouldn't like that. So, he got the bed that was on sale. it would look great in their room. It had been a long time since he had a Chip sized bed and he was feeling a little bit excited. Along with the order he paid for family that made the beds to install it in the house and dispose of the old bed and frame. They would probably need some new linens and Illya figured he would order one red set, a black set, and then some lavender, white, and gold sheets. Those were all good colors. He remembered that she didn't like blue, but he was confident that she would like the surprise when they got home. Not something she would even have to worry about.

********************************

When they landed Illya got up out of his co-pilot seat and got the kids unloaded from their little seats so they could play on the docks. They had taken the dock next to Ehud and at least it minimized the distance that Kalizda would end up covering to help Ehud figure out what happened. While Kalizda was looking over the ship Priscilla did most of the racing after the boys if they seemed to be getting to far out of hand, but if they weren't minding her Illya would say something and Cypher would instantly get quiet and pretend he was innocent. At one point the woman looked to Illya and said something a bit odd about Ehud. That was irritating enough to add to everything else and Illya nodded to her carefully without revealing that Ehud had lied to her. "I tink he maybe has hard time still. Et can take long time tah get over losing an agreed." That was all he planned to say for now and then Ehud and Kalizda stepped over.

Kalizda seemed to think that she would be going with Ehud to get the parts and Illya shook his head. "No, yah rest here wit Priscilla. Send meh a picture of what we need wit part numbers. Ehud and I will get dose and some food tah bring back to dah ship. Den Ehud and I will put dah parts back on."

Calysta looked up to Illya, squinting into the sun and wiped at her brow. He thought she was just going to rest here? Her feet were puffing up, slowly getting to the size of painful and she had to pee something fierce, but those were all normal things these days along with her lower back hurting. She didn't need him hurting his back worse though and she sighed. "You're not supposed to be doing too much either," she replied to Illya, her brow pinched in concern, "I can go if I have to. It might even be a little faster."

Of course she was going to try and be like that. "Yah can't work too hard. Yah already do more den yah should, besides et es better ef I walk or stand instead of sitting." They both knew that was true. His back was aching a little. He was about 15 minutes till his next sucker dose and he somewhat felt the need for it. "I jes take one of dah suckers dah doctor prescribe and den I can get ready tah go wit Ehud." Illya knew he put the suckers in his locking night stand in the ship bedroom for now. At least the kids didn't get it that way. "I let Ehud do most dah work. I jes do little when he needs help."

He was mother-henning right back and doing a better job of it for once. She still worried about him hurt himself further and those suckers made her even more concerned. Calysta's eyes flicked down to her slim watch where she was trying to keep track of herself and Illya's medicine too. It was nearly time for him to have another sucker if he needed it and she didn't want him in pain either. "Alright...alright...I will send you the specs of what you need and go inside to get the medicine. I have to use the bathroom anyways. Just be careful, yeah?"

Illya walked with Kalizda back into their ship and he let her head to the bathroom and he unlocked his side table drawer and pulled out one sucker. Illya set his key for his side table back in the top drawer of his main dresser again. That was where he kept his key and Kalizda knew it. Even if they hadn't talked about these sort of things he figured it was best if they didn't keep secrets and he made sure all of his things were easy to access and find if she wanted. Only when he was the General did he hide certain things with passwords and that was only on his pad. The closest he could think of telling her that she had free reign of his things too was when they were first agreed and he told her to look wherever she wanted if she needed something. He'd shown her the money a few times too and told her if she needed any it was her money and she could take it as she needed. She almost never touched his stuff anyway and it was fine. Most of it she didn't have much business digging around in.

Pushing the sucker into the side of his cheek Illya waited on the bed for a moment. He figured he should let Kalizda give him an idea of what she wanted to eat before he went out to get parts and food. After a few moments he heard the bathroom door open and Kalizda came shuffling out of the bathroom. She looked tired and sore. For the time he felt badly. If he hadn't bummed his back out he could have carried her to the bed and let her rest more. She had to walk up and down the stairs at home too because he couldn't really carry her. However, that gave him an idea. While they were changing things around he could always make a little pulley system with a rope and a soft chair to guide Kalizda up and down the stairs. He was going to get the tools for that too while he and Ehud were getting parts.

Once Kalizda laid down on the bed with him Illya fought to get himself sitting up in the bed. Leaning over her as carefully as he could without falling on top of her he grinned. "I get yah whatever yah like for lunch. Den I have little idea tah help at home while meh back es healing eh?" He actually felt pretty good about that idea and he wanted to keep it a surprise. Pulling the sucker out of his mouth for a few moments he kissed her gently. "Be back in a bit." She had already told him what she wanted and she even knew of the particular place she wanted it from. That took all the debate out of where to find it at and made things easier.

With the sucker back in his mouth and on his way out the door Illya winked at Kalizda. "Maybe we take dah boys wit us. Dey need tah learn tah be men." He figured that the boys would want to come anyway and then Kalizda could actually rest without having to worry about where Cypher was and what he was doing. Sien wasn't so much a concern, but he knew that together they would get into plenty of trouble.

*********************

The boys eyed the little toy section in the part store. Every part store had a few racks of toy ships and such. "Yah only get one. Remember dat. So yah make sure et es dah one yah like eh?" Illya knew that would be enough to keep the boys occupied and then he went to the counter with Ehud to order the parts. The man at the counter frowned as he typed in the parts to his pad and waited for it to generate the order. It was already starting to activate the shelf droids and he started toward the back to grab the box when the order was marked as complete.

While the man was gone and they were alone in the front Illya looked at Ehud and shook his head. "Why would you lie to her?" Like usual if he had something serious to say he spoke in Quoti.

"What you talking about?" Ehud stared at Illya for a long moment and he couldn't think of what Illya was talking about. He didn't lie to anyone about anything and especially not recently.

"Priscilla." Illya grumbled. "You told her that you met Haza at the circus." Holding his friend's gaze he waited for some kind of response he knew that Ehud had been under cover and there were different struggles with having lived as he did, but it didn't make sense that he was lying to a woman that he had shown some interest in getting to know a little more. "She should know the truth if you want to be with her."

"Like Kalizda knows about you?" Ehud snapped back at Illya. "Does she know about Lahna and Isla? What about the prisoners you killed? You tell her about that? You think she'd want you if she knew what you did?"

Letting his friend mouth off Illya just nodded at the end. "Mmhmm. She knows all that. Didn't tell her everything right away, but I didn't lie to her either. If you want to tell Priscilla something you should at least be honest with her." For a long moment the both of them just stared at each other and then Ehud nodded with a big sigh. About time the discussion was over both the boys had come up behind them and held up their little ships. Cypher and Sien knew that first the ship had to be paid for and then they could have them.

Since the conversation was over and the boys seemed to be occupied Illya walked through the store to find the pulley and ropes that he wanted along with a few extra hooks and studs to ensure it would be a sturdy set up. The regular merchandise that was less spendy and less likely to be stolen was out on the shelves and about time he finished finding his purchase Ehud had his box of parts paid for along with the toys. Illya slowly made his way to the front of the store and paid for his little pulley and rope system along with the double feed for the rope on one end and a clamp to give one end control of how fast the rope would feed itself.

The next stop was to get some lunch and Illya got the fried noodles with fried nyte beast and vegetables in a peanut sauce. She wanted that and it seemed like an odd choice, but if that was what Kalizda wanted then she would get it. Once he got lunch for everyone else Illya met up with Ehud again and had the boys help him carry the lunch to the ships.

**********************

After lunch it was easy clean up and Illya threw the disposable dishes away and then got to work pointing out the parts that Kalizda was talking about to him on the pad. Ehud did most of the work and occasionally Illya would reach up and put a hand on a heavy piece to help hold it in place while Ehud tightened some bolts. At the end of the project Illya shoved his pad back into one of the cargo pockets on his pants and he nodded to Ehud. "Maybe you tell the truth and you let Sien ride back with you and Priscilla." Illya wasn't going to force anything, but he knew that Sien would love to go flying with his father and Priscilla deserved to have a man that was honest with her. It wasn't Illya's place to tell her what happened in Ehud's life, but Illya could tell her that Ehud was not a good match if Ehud couldn't shape up.

On his way into the ship Illya sent Sien toward Ehud and then he stopped briefly to say something to Priscilla. "Ef he asks yah tah fly back wit him I tink et would be a good idea. Might be a smooter ride den dah last one. His ship es fexed now."

*******************************

Ehud had Sien all strapped into his little seat and the boy was busily playing with his little ship he got. Somehow he had thought that Sien would rather go with Illya and Kalizda because then he could play with Cypher, but the boy seemed to be pleased to ride here. In fact Sien had been almost giddy to ride in the ship with him. A tinge of guilt pulled at Ehud's heart. How could he be a decent father if he didn't even know his own son wanted to ride with him? Illya had spent even less time with Sien than he had and yet Illya knew what Sien wanted.

They were almost an hour into the flight and Sien had fallen asleep in his little seat for a small nap. Ehud didn't know how he should even say this, but he did want to see Priscilla more. When he'd finally built up the courage Ehud looked at her and opened his mouth, then paused and gaped for a few seconds more before he closed his mouth and then tried again. "I need to apologize. I met Haza before the first war. We were agreed when she turned 17. We had to split for a while because of some things that happened during the war and when it was safe again I met with her at the circus where she worked as a trapeze." That was about all the more he figured he could really say at this point. "I uh...I'd still like to see you and maybe if you want to be with me there will be time to talk more about the past. For now I don't know if its a good thing to talk about."

******************************************

As soon as they were home Illya started to pull out the pulleys and the rope along with the lever that he got to go with it. Feeding the rope through the lever he made sure that the one side could squeeze the rope tightly enough to stop the rope from sliding if need be and then he set to fasting the pulleys upstairs and one from the ceiling downstairs. For each one Illya put in extra studs and he worked from the ladder only when he had to. About half an hour after he could have his sucker he could feel his back start to twinge and he went up the stair to get his suckers. Instead they were gone and he frowned a little before looking at Kalizda. "Where are dah suckers?" She had them and she looked at her watch and then opened her side table drawer to give him one. Illya stuffed it in his cheek and then winked at her. "Soon I'll have yah come out and see dis surprise I keep hiding from yah all day. Ooh and how do yah like dah new bed? Ets nice eh?"

It took about another hour to make sure all the pulleys were attached and safe for even his weight. If he could safely dangle from this thing then there was no doubt that Kalizda and the babies would be fine. For the last step he fastened a padded seat with a small back rest on it to the rope and then decided to try riding the pulley system down the stairs. The seat was at least comfortable and it rocked a little, but it wasn't bad if you held onto the ropes and the lever ensured that he could press in on the rope and keep it from going to fast. However, he wouldn't make her do that if he was already down stairs. Illya was going to control the speed going up and down from the tail of the rope down stairs and then Kalizda could just sit on the seat and he would let her down slowly, or pull and she would go up. It would put most of the strain on his arms and it wouldn't be enough to actually bother his back.

Once he was satisfied with the construction of the new project Illya pulled himself to the top of the stairs and then tossed the tail of the rope down toward the bottom, so he could take care of it when she got up. "Kalizda..." Illya stepped into their room and saw her laying on their new bed. "Yah come to dah top of dah stairs and see what I make for yah." While she was busily waddling her way to the stairs he gimped ahead of her and got himself to the downstairs to control the rope. "See dat little seat? I make et for yah tah sit on and den I can bring yah up and down dah stairs as yah like. Umm..Dah lever es so yah can go slower ef yah tink I make et too fast, or ef dere es time yah need to go down stairs and I'm not here."

Waiting until she was seated he grinned and then watched for her signal to show that she was ready to try out the pulley. Illya made it slow and even as he brought her down until just her toes touched the floor. "Dis es good yes?"
 
Calysta kissed Illya and watched him take the boys along with Ehud out into the main island to get the part needed. When the boys were gone, she sat down on their couch accompanied by Priscilla and Lohgan. Illya would probably preferred the bed but her feet were hurting and her belly was pulling too much to really make her motivation last that far. Both boys were being so active in her stomach, pushing and rolling. The sensation was singular and indescribable to any one who wasn't pregnant or ever would be. Holding her belly, she braced one hand on the arm of the couch to help slowly lower herself down until she was an inch from the seat. Her knees folded quickly after that and she rolled her hum onto the cushion puffing out a sigh of relief. "Oh I think it's you Duncan," she said with a tired chuckle, "You're the one who got so excited about flyer parts, huh?" A hand or may be a foot pushed against her belly, making bulge against her skin and she rubbed a hand over the spot as a bead of sweat dripped down her brow. "You're wearing your Mam out too quick already boys. Easy there."

Priscilla brought the ottoman over and helped to elevate them before bringing her a glass of water from the kitchen. "Thank you," Calysta said as she took the nice cool glass of water, "You've helped me all this time with the kids and now You're helping me again."

Priscilla sat down next to Calysta and chuckled. "You did come all the way out here to fix the flyer and get us home while nearly 6 months pregnant and you have been taking care of me too. I think we are beyond tit-for-tat at this point."

Calysta sucked down the water, careful to pace herself, then smiled. "Aye, I suppose we are. Was it at least a good time?"

The Terran woman thought for a moment as Lohgan made cooing noises in her tiny rocket ship. "I think so" she replied, " I expected some moments to be awkward and they were but it wasn't so bad even if things did go awry when I poisoned him with corn."

Calysta looked to Priscilla with a raised brow. "I was talking about the movie."

The Terran woman's mouth open and shut for a.minute before she gave Calysta an uncertain look causing her to break out into laughter. "I'm kidding," Calysta finally laughed,"I wanted to know how it went and besides I'm sure the movie was...different...anyways."

Priscilla rolled her eyes, having been caught, and giggled. "It was good. They both were, I think. But...can I... ask you something? In confidence?"

Calysta took another sip of water and nodded. Normally, she didn't pry too much but with Priscilla it was never being nosey really. "Aye. Of course."

She struggled for words for a moment, trying to sort out how she wanted to ask her question until she nodded and started to speak. "Ehud...Ehud has his son Sien who is very sweet by all accounts I have seen and loved his former wife very much. That's his only real family and he doesn't get to spend time with him like he wants. What right do I have taking scarce attention if this continues?"

Priscilla was hardly an intensely serious person all of the time, but the time she struck upon a question that was something she was taking to heart. Calysta could see the look in her friends eyes, a mixture of deep confusion and a little bit of hurt. This needed a careful answer. After a long minute, she sat up and put a hand over Priscilla's. "Before I met Illya, the only family I had was my father. My mother never wanted kids and sent me to live with him after I was born. I grew up that way. Just me and my father against a world that only offered unequal opportunity and purists. We had each other and that was enough. I never needed anyone else besides my dad and after a while I even stopped looking for my mother." Shifting slightly, she met Priscilla's eyes. "When I met Illya things changed and it took me a while to understand that. His parents, Yvonne and Markus, treated me like I was family. Eventually, so did his sister and his grandparents. We passed the same treatment on to Rose and General Kirit. Before I knew it I had grandparents, not just one but two mother's, two fathers, and cousins too along with my own children. My children even have an Aunt named Priscilla."

Calysta squeezed the woman's hand. " It took ages, but I did understand it finally. The idea of family was so much bigger than I understood it to be. I say the same applies to Ehud and Sien. They might be father and son, but that doesn't mean you can't be family too."

She knew that Illya had taken her in and she had become part of their lives. Was it possible for Ehud to feel the same way? Could she be added without taking away from Sien who she felt so desperately needed the attention of his father? Calysta seemed to think it was possible. But it was a good thing for her to try. "Thank you, Calysta," she nodded, feeling more confident.

Calysta smiled yet didn't let go of the woman's hand. " of course. I'm not sure how helpful it was. It's just the way I see it. Though if you really insist on thanking me I do have one request."

"It was helpful, I assure you," she insisted, "And sure, whatever you need."

With an apologetic look etched on her face, Calysta glanced at the hallway. "Would you mind helping me up? That water went right through me and I need to pee again."

Priscilla giggled and started to help her friend up off the couch. "Ooh don't laugh, it makes me need to pee more." Calysta chortled. Once she was on her feet, she used her fastest wobble walk toward the bathroom trying not to laugh openly which would only make the impending leak worse.

*************

It wasn't terribly long before Illya came back with everything they needed in tow. The boys were the first to come barrelling through the door with new toy flyers held aloft in their hands. Their game of 'cowboys and Indians' had turned to an epic space chase complete with sound effects of rumbling engines. To make their flyers zoom all the faster, Cypher took off running around the halls calling after Sien in a mixture of Qouti and Kaerelean, urging the boy to keep up. Calysta had dozed off on the couch with her hands folded over her stomach and Lohgan curled up next to her when the boys burst in with their game. "Hmm?" She started from her sleep and rubbed her eyes before realize it was her son storming through. Luckily his sister slept through the cacophony and Illya stepped through carrying lunch for everyone along with the part. "Hey there," she smiled up at him sleepily, "You made it back fast. Did you get the part?" It sounded as if they had success and she nodded. "Good. We can work on installing it after lunch, yeah?" Her stomach had long decided she was hungry, but the walk to the kitchen was far and a nap had quelled the urge to nibble for the time being.

The walk to the kitchen took some effort. She felt out of breath as she waddled into the galley entirely ready for the meal of crispy night beast. It was something Kinte did best. "I used to eat this all of the time when I lived on the Skycorp base here," she told Illya, "It's a bit of a staple among the Skycorp and University students." She plucked at her meal, savoring each deep-fried bite. "Mmm..." The food was good enough she had to be careful not to scarf it down and give herself heartburn in the process. Eating fast would only make her stomach rebel.

When that was done, it was time to work on Ehud's ship and Calysta was glad the light Chip was taking over some of the heavier lifting unless he was needed. "Yes, you need to attach the blue wire to that. That's your sensor connection to the main computer. Now, tighten the wire...perfect." She walked them through bit by bit and It didn't take long to get the new regulator put in. However before she could ask for them to send the readouts over to check the engine, Illya shoved his pad into his pocket ending their call. She grumbled at the screen for a minute for being cut off and then sat her pad to the side waiting for them to return. It was harder to let them do things sometimes when she knew she could help more when she didn't feel tired so often. This time she let it go, opting to putter her way down the hall toward their bedroom where the bed was waiting this time. She felt the size of a moon and out of breath on top of it. Being this out of shape wasn't something she was used to and once the twins were born she would have to work harder at getting herself back in order. Rolling out on the bed, she stretched out her sore feet and laid back on the pillows. Illya could get the ship up into the air with the auto function easily enough without her for now. She trusted him to get them home while she took a nap in their cool, dark bedroom.

*****************

Once the ship was fixed and they were on their way back to Pyrta, Priscilla found herself sitting much more relaxed next to the Chip General. Perhaps Calysta was right? All he needed was a little time to get to know her and the chance to realize there was family with him to help when he got overwhelmed. She stole a glance at Sien snoozing in the seat behind them and smiled. His little blond head was cranked over to the side and his toy fighter ship was still clutched in his hand. Without thinking about it much, she reached under her seat and removed the tiny travel pillow, tucking it under his neck so he wouldn't wake up achy then plucked the toy from his fingers, laying it to the side. It would be a shame if it dropped from his limp and broke.

Things were quiet between them for the most part until Ehud broke the silence with a confession she never saw coming. He lied? About such a simple thing too. Why on earth would he lie about something like that? Priscilla stayed quiet for a long moment and stared out the window of the flyer though there wasn't much to see besides clouds. Not even the continent was visible and she had a moment of hate for Kaereal. There were so few places to run. How did people live like this? She swallowed and kept herself calm, trying to sort out what she felt about his sudden confession. Her silence deepened further when she realized..she was angry. With shaking hands, she gripped them over one another. "Why did you lie."

Telling her that he lied was one of the most difficult things and Ehud wasn't even sure if he could answer her question. "I don't know. Maybe its just some of the past and..." He'd just finished telling her that perhaps the past should stay where it was, but he felt like it was necessary to explain a few things too. "Priscilla, I'm trying to make this right. I lived on earth and it was dangerous for about 100 years. During that time the Federation was hunting the Chippequoti and I made a cover and Haza had a cover and we split for a while. Couldn't pretend that we even knew each other. It was just till it was safe to be together again. We told the same story and the same lie for all that time. Its just something I got used to saying to whoever asked. It was too risky to say anything else."

She sat in silence a bit longer digesting his explanation. It made sense in some ways. How many times had she said to Harry she was fine, when it wasn't the truth, until she believed it? Her grip tightened more on her hands till her knuckles turned white. "Alright," she said, her eyes still trained out the window, "But I was under the impression you might be interested in me as more than just someone. At the very least someone who deserves the truth. I'm..I'm not entirely sure that's what you want Ehud." This time angry tears she couldnt hold back were in her eyes and she felt very lonely. She missed having Harry to confide in. "Excuse me." She unclipped her belt and walked to the back of the ship into the bathroom and shut the door.

Somehow if there was a way for this to go worse it did. Ehud had thought that he explained it nicely and he corrected himself in a quick fashion. Perhaps it wasn't really going to work out. "I..." the woman was already unbuckling and she took herself to the bathroom. He couldn't really follow her there, but he wanted to tell her that he did want to know her better and that was why he corrected himself. Wasn't much chance when she was hiding from him. Shaking his head he glanced at his son and then flopped onto the couch in the small sitting area of his ship to wait for her to come back out.

Priscilla braced her hands on the sink and bit her lip, unwilling to let out a sound. It was a moment alone she needed and though she knew it wasn't much, all she could do was calm herself down. Did he think that this had been easy for her? That she had just went on a date with the first man who looked interested? What was more is that he knew he had lied and had been willing to build a relationship on that at first, even if it was easier because it was habit. Then again, he didn't wait until he was caught. He had tried to correct himself beforehand hadn't he? He still didn't seem like he knew what he wanted and she had tried to be confident and strong but it felt disrespectful and hurtful all at once. How could she trust him? Wiping at her eyes, she remembered Sien was still out there and would think something was amiss. Silently, she made herself presentable and went back to the cabin where Ehud was waiting.

By the time Priscilla came out Ehud was sure she wasn't even going to look at him. He felt ashamed and for good reason. It was going to take a lot to work up the courage to tell her some things. Even if Illya had been able to tell Kalizda some of the things that came up in his life Ehud wasn't so sure he could do that. It was a different sort of courage and one that Ehud had lost a long time ago. Ehud kept his eyes lowered for a long moment before he dared to raise them and look at Priscilla. He felt even more ashamed of himself now than he did before. "I wanted to tell you earlier that I..I do, I mean I am interested in getting to know you. Priscilla, I don't want to want to act like I'm still hunted when I'm around you. If you want I'd still like to try to get to know you more. The first night we met I wanted to go out with you, but I wasn't sure if it would be right. I'm trying to take some advice I got. I was told sometimes the best way to move on was to be able to admit that I miss Haza, she was my first wife and learning to love another isn't wrong. I just need to love whoever the other woman is for herself. I don't know what you feel, but maybe you would understand since you lost your first husband."

She hadn't said anything or moved other than to smooth down her skirt and sit down. This seemed to prompt Ehud into saying something to her, further explaining himself. At first, she wasn't sure what to say and remained quiet, staring deep into his blue eyes. She knew hers looked red and she rubbed a thumb under her cheek. When he mentioned Harry and stiffened slightly and bit her lip, tasting the tang of blood. Why was this so hard? "First husband, second fiance," she said quietly, "My first was named Capheus and he died in a car accident. Now we're even, Ehud. If I trust you with some things, please trust me. "

She shifted a little closer in her chair, her eyes, scanning his. "The past is difficult and painful for both of us and I do miss Harry very much. But it shouldn't prevent us from trying to be happy. To not be alone. I don't have to know everything, nor should I. Those were days with you and your wife for a very long time and I'm not her just like you are not Harry." She closed her eyes again and took a small breath, the exhale shaking slightly. "I just want us to be honest with one another, and if we can do that, then I will know that this wasn't a mistake. That it was good to walk out here to try again."

It seemed that the second attempt was better. Ehud wasn't sure if he could say that it was much better, but at least he got a response from the woman. "I can be honest with you. Giving you a cover won't happen again and if it does I'll try to fix it fast as I can." Ehud hated to admit that it may not be the last time that he would make that kind of mistake. "Maybe, we'll both be able to find a little happiness."

They seemed to have reached an accord and Priscilla nodded, though she still kept her expression guarded for the moment. "Good, because I want to know you, not the invention of you," she replied evenly, "Now, I think I saw some icecream in that little fridge of yours and something like this calls for it. Care to join me, Ehud?"

**********************

Scaling the stairs with the twins kicking at her stomach and unable to see her own toes was one of the most exhaustive things she had ever done. By the time she made it to the first landing her breath came in short spurts and sweat was dripping from her scalp to her face again. How was it that she was this out of shape? Illya helped her the best he could though he couldn't lift or bend to her. "It's okay," she huffed, "I just need a minute or two here. Then we can take on the second set." The second flight of stairs was worse then the first and when she reached their master bedroom, she was more the ready to crash out on her bed.

One solid look around the room, however, alerted her to a large white and gold change. In fact, it was so large the ornate golden headboard took up most of the back wall in a striking contrast against the purple paint. "Where did our bed go?" she blinked. He seemed proud of the fact that he had selected a new Chip made bed which would be better for his back. The look in his eye told her that he was hoping she would like it too. Calysta waddled up to the monstrosity and ran a hand over the silky sheets with no small amount of trepidation. The mattress came up to her waist in height and the silk sheets would probably stick to Illya's sweaty form like no other in the middle of the night. How was she supposed to scale this? "It's...uh...it will be much better for your back, yeah? Then it's just what we needed." Those words made her inwardly cringe even if they were true. "I'm going to freshen up then I'll try it out."

He seemed to agree with the idea and went to go work downstairs for a bit while she stood next to the bed pondering on just how to get on it. There was no possible way she could climb it right now and shimmying up seemed work intensive. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for an idea until she settled on a decorative crate which held their gear. Bending down, Calysta dumped the contents of the crate into the bottom of their closet to be sorted later and flipped it upside down to use as a sort of step stool. That did the trick nicely, though the top bowed under her weight some as she lifted up into the bed with a heavy grunt. When she finally made it into the bed, Calysta paused to consider how it felt. The top was soft and contoured to her nicely, even as big as she was. It may have been ugly, but it was comfortable and in the end comfort won over looks. She had no qualms about sitting back on the mounds of soft pillows and going to sleep for a bit.

Calysta woke to the sound of Illya asking where she had put the suckers. Yawning she checked the time and pointed to her beside table. "You can have one, they are in the drawer." She watched him carefully as he took only one then gave her a wink. A surprise? The last surprise had been their new bed and she gave him a quizzical look. What in the Wilds could be surprising her with? She didn't know but visions of a green painted living room with a gold embossed stair railing came to mind and she shook her head. Hopefully, it wasn't any more design choices. "The bed is comfortable," she admitted with a chuckle, "And now you've got me curious. If the bed wasn't so nice I might be sneaky down to take a peak at what you're working on." That got him heading toward the door to finish before she could come see it.

After awhile, he came into the bedroom and announced that his project was complete. Luckily, getting off the bed was easier than getting on to it and she merely slid her feet over the side before slipping down to the ground, using the silky sheets to her advantage. When she made it to the hallway, she found a strange contraption rigged from the down stairs ceiling and leading up to the second floor. A pulley system with a little seat that guided along the stair path. He had made a lift? Illya explained how it worked, having made it simple and comfortable enough for her to try out. She could even use it on her own if he wasn't there to pull or help out. This was something she was eager to try out. Not only did it look for more appealing than scaling the stairs with her feet but it actually looked like fun.

Calysta smiled and settled into the seat, making sure to put her butt all the way to the back of the seat before giving him the signal. He began guiding her down the stairs with much more ease on both of them than if he was to carry her. The ride was a little jolting at first as the rope stretched, taking up the slack, then she floated down to meet Illya on the first floor. Her toes touched the scratched hard wood floor and she wobbled to her feet, beaming up at her Chip. "It's perfect," she said, "Now you wont have to carry me all of the time and it's not so tiring for either of us." Leaning up on her toes, she kissed him softly and chuckled. "The only thing I might miss is getting to be close to you." Calysta kissed him again for good measure and then pointed toward the kitchen. "Ready to make some dinner?"

************

The new pully system worked well and after dinner along with several more test runs, Calysta climbed into bed with Illya using her crate step up. "It's tall," she puffed tiredly, "But it's comfortable and I won't be pregnant in a few months. Climbing up will be easier, yeah?" Her Chip was hurting as she settled in and she checked the time. "You can have the lozenge, but not another sucker until tomorrow morning. If it gets really bad tonight, I will make you some tea. Now that I can get down stairs." Saying that made her smile and she wiggled closer to her him so she could love on him a little. "Thank you, love. For thinking of me like that." It still amazed her how he always thought of things like that for her. She whispered to him while they relaxed together, telling him all about their babies and how she loved him. "They'll love you too," she said sleepily. Eventually, she talked herself to sleep laying under the crook of his arm, her eyes slowly drifting shut.

Some time in the night she felt the need to pee again, which didn't come as a surprise. That was the new norm. What was a surprise was that the bed felt damp. Had she seriously wet the bed? Embarrassment took over for a moment and she debated on whether or not to wake Illya or simply try to deal with it on her own. It had been an accident of course, but she hadn't even felt the urge until she woke up. She didn't want him sleeping in filth though, and she sighed before reaching over to slip on the light. "Illya?" He was out like a light and snoring in a deep sleep. Maybe she would just clean up and then wake him up with most of the mess gone. Calysta pulled back the covers and immediately froze when the color red caught her eye in the lamp light. A shock of fear ran through her when she saw that blood was staining the sheets rather than wetness from having peed. All ability to think properly left for a brief moment as she thought of what was wrong. A miscarriage?

"Illya...Illya...wake up!" She shook his shoulders frantically. They needed the Ehaui, her pad was across the room, and she was too scared to move.
 
After dinner Illya felt sore, but he knew that he wouldn't get anymore suckers. When he got up the stairs with Kalizda he let her get settled and then he loosened the back brace a little bit. He wasn't supposed to actually take it off for the night, but it felt too tight when he laid down. Almost as soon as he opened his mouth Kalizda was telling him no more suckers and to take a lozenge instead. "I know." Grumbling under his breath he reached into his side table drawer and opened his bottle of lozenges. Sticking one in the side of his cheek he settled back into the bed and let out a sigh. "When you have the twins then we'll be busy." It was nice to be able to talk to someone in Quoti in the house. Every now and then it felt lonely. There were so many things that used to be part of life for the Chippequoti that were already changing. He heard less and less of the language wherever he went and it felt foreign. Everyone spoke Trader's Tongue and some of the children didn't speak Quoti nearly as well as they should at their age.

Illya slid his left hand over till he could feel Kalizda's little fingers and then he let his hand gently curl over hers. He didn't really want to lay on his side tonight, but he figured that at least he could still touch her hand. Gradually he started to breath slower and deeper until he felt her nudge him and he jolted awake. "What?" She was reminding him to take his inhaler. The one treatment that was easy to forget. Sitting up he took the inhaler and then got himself settled in the bed again.

Though he'd been asleep for several hours Illya felt like he didn't get any rest at all. Suddenly Kalizda was shaking him and her voice had a panicked tone to it. Bolting upright in the bed he immediately scanned the room to see if there was any reason for her alarm and then he saw the blood. Without saying a word he started to tighten his back brace and he slipped a shirt on and started to scramble into a pair of pants. Darting back to his side of the bed he gave her his pad and scooped her off the bed as carefully as he could. "Call the Ehaui." There wasn't time to try and translate all this. It was just easier to say it in Quoti and he didn't want to say anything wrong. They needed to get her to the doctor immediately.

Calysta had blood on her hands and looked around for something to wipe it off with as panic gripped her, almost making it hard to breath. Did she dare try to climb down? She wasn't in pain as far as she could tell, but she was afraid to move. What if her cerclage had failed and her babies were dying? Now, she felt nauseated and she swallowed down a large lump in her throat. Did she move or stay put? Illya didn't give her a choice this time and wordlessly picked her up out of the bed, tucking her close even if she smeared with blood and handed her is pad. "Okay..." Her voice wavered as she tried to collect herself and began the call. As soon as someone answered she told them the problem though her traders tongue was flying from her mouth in a garble when she first started. The call was handed to the emergency doctor on call who asked a series of questions. "No, I'm not in pain. I just feel short of breath," she admitted. It could have been fear of course, but it might have been noteworthy, "There was a bit of blood. But I don't know how much." He asked if she had any contractions and she answered quickly. "No, none at all." A long silence followed as the doctor seemed to be thinking and finally he ordered them to come in through the emergency wing where a crew would be waiting. As Illya worked his way down the stairs she held on to him tightly trying to keep him from jostling so much with his back.

There was a momentary debate in Illya's mind if he should set her on the bench, but he knew that she wouldn't be high enough if he did that and then he couldn't bend over to pick her up so well and he risked hurting her. Instead he started a slow and deliberate walk down the stairs and then out the doors. He knew where the emergency room was and he took Kalizda outside and walked her to the emergency room. It was just as fast for him to do that as it was for him to take her to the ship, get it started and then fly her to the Ehaui. Just as they were promised there was already staff waiting for them and Illya took Kalizda in and set her on the bed that the nurse wheeled closer to them. With his brow pulled into a deep frown he held Kalizda's gaze steady and he set one of his big hands over her little ones. "I'm here."

There was a certain relief that came with coming to the emergency wing and find the Ehaui waiting as promised. The nurse gave her a small look of reassurance as Illya settled her onto the hospital bed and placed his large, warm hand over hers as his eyes met hers. With a small nod her fingers shifted to squeeze his gently in return. If she spoke she was certain she would cry and that would only worry him more, something she didn't want to do any more than she had already. The nurse wheeled them into a private emergency room and it wasn't a minute later before the doctor came in snapping rubber gloves over his broad hands. "Any other symptoms besides the blood and shortness of breath?" he asked immediately. "No," was all she could manage to say. The doctor ignored any protests from Illya and went to work pull up her shirt and pressing over her belly looking for any outward signs of trauma as the nurse took her vitals with a sensor. Finding nothing, the doctor turned to his wand and began an image scan of her belly. All the while Calysta kept quiet with one of her hands curled under Illya's for comfort more than anything. Her throat kept tightening up against her will and she didn't know what she would do if they told her their babies were in danger or going to die. The doctor took his time examining the images on his own screen, using his fingers to blow up certain portions as he looked even closer. "The twins have a heart beat and are alive, but there is a problem." Turning the screen around he displayed a picture of what, to Calysta, looked to be squiggly lines. "Your twins share their amniotic sac, which we knew from the start, but in some cases, blood vessels develop between the two babies causing one to take blood flow an nutrients from the other. The result is that one child grows larger and produces much more fluid than it should. This is beginnings of that process and given your previous difficulties, it's putting too much pressure on the cerclage causing the bleeding along with the shortness of breath you've been having." He looked to the both and stripped off his gloves. "There is a surgery that can correct the problem immediately. If we don't it's not likely one of your twins will live or develop properly if it doesn't cause you to deliver early."

Illya's frown got deeper when the doctor started to pull at Kalizda's clothing. He just about lost his temper and hit the man, but he felt Kalizda's little fingers pull on his hand insistently and he looked at her instead. Even if the doctor was here it didn't seem like he was doing anything and Illya started to get more and more irritated. They had to do something. Finally, the doctor mentioned a surgery and Illya looked from Kalizda to the Ehaui. "What kind of surgery? Will et be good for Kalizda and dah babies?" He didn't want to have Kalizda die because of the twins. Perhaps it was wrong, but he would rather have her. It was almost impossible to imagine what he would do now if she died.

The doctor looked to Illya and kept a calm, even tone as he spoke. "It would consists of two small incisions and an ablation. We would go in and burn the blood vessels connecting the twins and also drain some of the extra amniotic fluid which will take pressure off the cerclage. There has been a high rate of success with the surgery in full blooded mothers and there should not be any difference when someone of mixed origin has multiple children. With the surgery she has an 85% chance of keeping both children without further complications. Without surgery there is a 15% survival chance for both babies, as one will inevitably cause the other to fail. The dangers of not doing the surgery far outweigh any danger to the mother and both babies if the surgery is done." Calysta's eyes shifted to Illya, and she nodded. "I want to do it. I want both of my babies." Her voice was shaking but she managed to say it clearly enough.

As terrible as it was for her to do a surgery with the babies it was the best and healthiest option. Illya blinked a few times and nodded. He didn't dare try to speak. He was afraid that he would end up half crying at this point. It was a lot of stress and he knew that babies could be hard on her, but he hated for it to get so bad that she had to get a surgery. "I jes stay here." The Ehaui knew better than to have Illya come in for the surgery. So, they allowed him to stay with Kalizda during the preparation for the operation and then they wheeled her away.

After Kalizda passed through the doors to the operating room, Illya started to pace. He couldn't focus on much else besides the horrors of what might happen. He didn't really know what the surgery was about, but it made him nervous anyway. Looking toward the surgical room he glanced to the nurse nearby as the woman prepared a room for them both to stay for the night. The woman sighed, "You checked just about..." Glancing to her watch she rolled her eyes. "Thirty seconds ago. I already told you, the surgery will take a little while. Not long, but obviously long enough for you."

Sometimes the Ehaui didn't understand and it was frustrating to Illya. "Dat's meh agreed. She es supposed to be wit meh till we get old and die."

Clearly the man was stressed out and the nurse felt a little bit badly for him. She was usually involved more with women's health, but she had seen him here almost every single time his 'agreed' was here too. If there was a guy that she could believe honestly wanted to be with the same woman till he died it was this one. Most of the Dark Chippequoti were that way, but she had seen the way he looked at the council woman. It was more than duty. He loved her. "It'll be about half an hour."

Half an hour felt like forever to wait and Illya paced the hall a few more times before he couldn't stand the wait any longer and he took himself outside for a short walk. When he came back to the hospital the doctors were just wheeling Kalizda into the room after the surgery. Illya followed them in and set his bag of food he bought on his bed that the nurse had set up. It was nice that he didn't even have to ask. Glancing around the room he spotted the woman standing quietly by and he nodded his thanks to her. There wasn't really time for them to be talking since the doctor was trying to concentrate on making sure he had the right orders for the nurse to follow. Once the chart was completed the doctor started out the door and the nurse stepped out with him.

Illya was tired, but he couldn't sleep. Instead he stood near her bed and watched her for a long time. After a while he started to get hungry and he set his bag of food and treats on the bed next to her and opened up the cupcakes first. Quietly he stood by her bed and munched on cupcakes, donuts, little cookies and plenty of canned cream. As he grew more tired he would gaze off into the blackness of the room while he mindlessly grabbed for another little cookie, or maybe a cracker. Eventually the sun started to come up and he was chewing more and more slowly, but he'd kept a constant flow of snacks. Suddenly a little voice startled him and he glanced at Kalizda. "Yah want a snack too?" He was sure she asked for one, but it wouldn't hurt to double check.
 
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