“Chitter chitter!”
“And Drop,” Neema said.
Phillip said, “And Thunderdrop. It’s my job to keep everyone well.”
“Being sick is bad,” Neema said with little girl wisdom.
Phillip nodded.
Neema gave Terre, Violet, and me smug looks because we were in trouble, and she wasn’t. “One time, Fip. One time, Mommy’s hair was sick,” she said with wide eyes.
“That is exactly what I intend to prevent,” he said in all seriousness. “No one should have sick hair. Let’s check your hair.”
“Chirp?” Thunderdrop nervously crawled closer to them.
She held perfectly still while he first scanned her and then scanned Thunderdrop. “I am pleased to say that both of you are in excellent health.”
“We good?” She cocked her head at him.
Kissing her cheek, he said, “Yep.”
“Whew.” She left him for a pink stuffed animal which she promptly began trying to stuff inside of a toy transport. Its legs and face spilled out of the windows.
Phillip turned pathetically sad eyes to Terre. As their eyes met, the iciness of his, at which Neema had already begun chipping away, and the heat of Terre’s nullified each other.
Softly, she said, “You’re ridiculous.”
Phillip interpreted her words as a declaration of undying love and returned to her side with a small smile on his face. She allowed him to hold her hand and kiss her knuckles.
Dario walked from the front cabin and opened the door. We had returned to the Empress. Quaid offered me his arm and walked me out.
“Teagan, I’m going out,” Yukihyo said. He whispered in my ear, “I’ll get you everything you want, and I’ll store it where he’ll never find it.”
I gave Yukihyo a kiss.
Pierce and Lorca took the children, with Thunderdrop following behind them, up to take their naps. Phillip ushered Terre from the transport. The others moved off in different directions. However, none of it held much interest for me now that I had my hands on my gallant Galaxic Militia Commander. As soon as the lift doors opened, the two of us hurried into my room and secured the door.
Our hands became blurs of movement as we freed ourselves from the clothing which had become nothing but annoying barriers between our flesh. Finally, after weeks of uncertainty as to whether we would ever see each other again, his warm skin was beneath my palms. I sighed in contentment as my naked breasts pressed against the soft, springy blonde hair of Quaid’s chest, and as his large, strong hands covered my back. His arms were around me, exactly where they were supposed to be.
“Oh, Quaid.”
No other words were required. He knew all of the worry and fear I had felt in his absence. His lips found my neck. Then, he lifted me from my feet and placed me on the bed. Pushing the covers back, I got between them and pulled Quaid down to join me. He banished from my mind thoughts of the moon base where he had been during our calls, comets, probes, and mysterious spies. Only thoughts of him remained. Without breaking eye contact, he touched his chin to my chest and dragged it slowly down my body as he moved back. Then, he gave me a sexy smile as he lifted my thighs to his shoulders. Quaid’s pink, wet tongue left his gorgeous mouth. Its tip touched the delicate nub at my center and circled. His gaze became impossible to hold, and I clutched at the sheets as he began drizzling pleasure into me through his tongue.
An indeterminate amount of time later, and after a nap and shared shower, we joined those who had remained aboard in the sitting room. A silent communication ensued.
Zared said, “Sparrow, Xavier, and Jazon have launched the probes from a stealth ship and monitor their readings.”
Izaac said, “I sense no alien minds.”
After I had taken a seat on the couch, Zared handed me a cup of coffee.
Nico said, “You seem more settled.” The words, vocalized so that my ears heard them, startled me.
“I am. I only wish that I could convince Quaid to remain with us always.”
“If you were to reside on Arachne or Epopeus, we would see each other more often,” Quaid countered.
“I do intend to spend more time on Arachne. However, your home world is too bright for our eyes and skin.” The suns of Epopeus could be dangerous to visitors.
“I would build you a shade of a thousand umbrellas,” Quaid vowed.
Fitz said, “A protective plasti-glass hover plate might be more practical.”
“Like a large, floating sunglass lens?” Quaid asked.
“Precisely,” Fitz agreed.
I laughed at the image they had created in my imagination.
Quaid asked, “Are you interested in doing some fishing?”
“Indeed. The ladies have already consumed every single lobster and scallop which we brought with us from Thalassa.”
I blushed. The five of us had been eating a lot of food. In our defense, I said, “We are eating for eleven.”
Fitz walked over to me and kissed my forehead. He whispered, “Don’t worry about Phillip. When he isn’t looking, I’ll sneak you anything you want. Blatantly defying him would only upset Lady Terre and cause arguments between them.”
“You’re right. Sometimes, it’s better for everyone involved to keep things secret. I don’t like seeing them fight.” My words meant one thing to Fitz, who looked at me with big brown eyes that were full of love, and another to the telepaths aboard who had continued their private conversation.
It amazed me how Quaid could continue speaking to Fitz about fishing on Epopeus while carrying on a completely different conversation telepathically. I sipped my coffee to avoid speaking.
Silently, he said, “The probes will discover nothing new in this sector. We have searched parsecs of space around Aurilius, Epopeus, Carmanor, Leucon, Nephele, and Sinope. Cursory searches of Chione’s space have been completed, but I have a strong gut instinct telling me the answer lies in that direction.”
From somewhere in a stealth ship, Xavier said, “I trust your instincts. How do we convince the others to change our course for Chione? Knowledge of our mission must remain secret. Otherwise, for including you, we risk execution.”
I knew he was right. Where war, treason, and insubordination were concerned, my Papa and his men showed no leniency. My memories showed me Inquisitor Flavian, my new father-in-law, kneeling in our presence, beaten almost past recognition and with his arm missing, about to be executed by Lucius for refusing to give the name of his torturer because he refused to hurt me again in any way. Hot anger, disgust, shame, and bile rose up within me and brought my hands up, too. In helpless anger, I whacked Quaid repeatedly. Fitz, Dario, and Nico looked at me as though I had lost my mind. I didn’t care. Tears streamed down my face as I imagined Flavian’s screams in my ears, the coppery smell of his blood in my nose, and the sight of pools of blood surrounding him as Quaid hurt him, again, and again.
“How could you? How could you?” I yelled as I slapped his arms and thighs.
Quaid held still, allowing me to feel the sting in my own palms, to hear the sounds of my hands striking his flesh, to see the marks an errant slap left on his cheek, and to smell the salt of my own tears.
Quietly, he said, “Just like that.”
To a far lesser extent, I had just taken physical revenge against Quaid, as he had taken it against Cory. Covering my face, I sobbed. Quaid’s strong arms encircled me. He held me and comforted me while I cried. I cried harder. I had just attacked Quaid. He should be the one getting comforted. Instead, he was affectionate and kind to his abuser. I felt a sharp twinge along my left side just as Quaid stood. He was going to leave me, and I deserved it. I had been hateful to him and had embarrassed him in front of everyone. I was about to slide from the couch and to my knees to beg him not to leave and ask for his forgiveness. However, he surprised me by picking me up and carefully carrying me into the lift. He pressed the command for Deck Three.
“Quaid….”
“Teagan, there is no need. I
know your mind and have no need of words.”
“How badly have I hurt you?” Fresh tears fell from my eyes.
I waited for his words, but his mouth twitched as he fought a smile. Into my mind, he shared with me how my slap to his cheek had felt. It was comparable to how hard he might have slapped at a biting insect on his own face. He laughed as he carried me into the Infirmary. I felt guilty and slightly offended.
“How may I be of assistance?” Dr. Savelli asked. My Chief Medical Officer was in his early forties, had brown hair, a muscular physique, and kind, gold-flecked brown eyes. His medical uniform was in pristine condition.
“I caused my wife an emotional upset, and she pulled something along her left side while admonishing me for it.” Quaid gently placed me on the exam bed. He acted as though my violent attack had been nothing more than an eyebrow I had raised at him in derision.
My brow was furrowed in annoyance, but as I watched, all signs of my aggression faded from his skin, and Quaid continued to fight his grin. “Teagan, imagine an angry butterfly attacking you with its wings and damaging one of them in the process. It is how I view your display of temper. Your discomfort is the most troubling aspect of it for me.”
Dr. Savelli said, “As I assume you already know, it is best for expectant mothers to remain calm.”
Quaid said, “Yes, doctor. For the remainder of Teagan’s pregnancy, I will do my best to keep it secret from her should I be forced to hunt down and exact revenge upon anyone who hurts her.”
“That would be best,” Dr. Savelli said as he ran a scanner over my side. Then, he used another medical tool to ease the strain in my muscle. Activating another scanner, he checked my babies.
Heat filled my cheeks. I hadn’t been thinking of my sweet, innocent babies during my fit of anger. I hid my face behind my hands and cried.
Quaid rubbed my shoulders and whispered, “Please, don’t cry.”
Dr. Savelli said, “I know what will cheer your spirits.”
“Nothing can cheer me up. I’m horrible and selfish.”
Quaid said, “Teagan, that is far from the truth.”
Dr. Savelli said, “Oh, I think I can put a smile on your face. Your little ones’ sexes are clear to me.”
Sniffling, I removed my hands from my face and stared intently at the monitor. “You know what they are?” My babies’ images made nothing clear to me.
“Would you like to know?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure if Fitz and Dario want to know.”
Dr. Savelli called them and asked.
A minute later, they had joined us. Each of the strong males exuded an eager nervousness. As they approached me, the things about them which intimidated other males, their intellect and power, were replaced with all of the gentleness and softness they each possessed. I had relaxed against the bed to watch in fascination the tiny movements my babies made within me.
After identifying for us the paternity of each baby, Dr. Savelli asked, “Do you wish to know the sexes?”
Fitz covered his eyes with one hand, while holding my left hand with the other. It took him a moment to control himself. Dario held my other hand. Quaid smiled knowingly at the screen. He had already read Dr. Savelli’s mind.
“I want to know. Do the two of you want to know?” I asked them.
Fitz removed his hand from his eyes. They had gone red in his attempts not to cry. He nodded, unable to speak.
Dario said, “Yes, even though this seems like a dream, and I expect to wake up at any moment.”
Dr. Savelli said, “Princess Teagan and Lord Jiri, you are having a daughter.”
Joy filled my heart.
“A girl!” Fitz exclaimed. He lost his battle with his tears. “A little girl.” He held my head to his chest and kissed the top of my head.
Dr. Savelli said, “Congratulations. Daughters are a blessing.” Daughters were a powerful political tool in the Empire as I had learned from personal experience. Dario’s hand was damp and trembled in my own. “Princess Teagan and Vice Admiral Galerius, you are having a daughter.”
“Yes!” I said. Visions of pink dresses and lacy socks consumed my thoughts. Dolls, bows, tea parties, and playing dress up swirled around in my head. “Mommy is getting two little princesses! Oh, the fun we will have!” I said to my stomach.
“My own precious daughter. You are giving me a baby girl. There is nothing other than your love that I have ever wanted more,” Dario said in a broken whisper. He stared at our daughters on the monitor while large tears rolled down his cheeks.
Unlike in the Laconian Sector where sons were prized, families of the Empire longed for daughters because male births far exceeded the births of females.
Dario said, “I hope she looks just like her mother.”
Fitz wore a grin from ear to ear. “Wouldn’t that be something? Can you picture it? Our daughters will have the adoration of the entire Empire.”
“Can we get a double pink stroller? I want everything to be pink,” I declared.
“You will have all that you wish,” Dario promised.
“Your families are going to flip,” I said to them both.
Fitz said, “This is the first Jiri daughter in two generations. My aunts are through marriage.”
“Our daughter will be Mother’s first granddaughter. We have lots of boys. She is going to be so spoiled.”
I giggled happily. “It’s a good thing you are both so strong because when we go shopping, I’m going to need two of everything. I’m dressing them exactly alike. They are going to be so cute!” Visions of pink, bloomer-covered diapers danced through my head.
While Fitz and Dario moved closer to the monitor, Dr. Savelli came to my side. Quietly, he said, “Should you have need of it, I have olives, pickles, and fudge hidden in the supply closet for you. However, I wouldn’t recommend letting Phillip know about it.” He winked at me.
“You’re the best.”
His fingers flew over his vid-screen as he updated my records. “Phillip tends to be over-protective of you. However, with Terre, I think he would place her into a protective bubble if he thought he could get away with it.”
I moved from side to side trying to see the monitor, but my husbands were blocking my view, staring sappily at our babies. “Terre will straighten him out. She can’t stand being managed.”
Quaid said, “He loves her and the babe and wants to do his best as a husband and father.”
“Then, he needs to relax and let her enjoy it,” I suggested.
Dario turned to me. “I intend to take your advice and put it to good use. What would you like? Name it.”
The perfect opportunity had just landed in my lap, and I intended to take it. “Honestly, I want our stores of wild game meats replenished. Perhaps, it is an instinctual need. Our goal is Chione. However, I know Tracy wants to spend time with her family. A day or two won’t be enough. Sparrow wants to enjoy a lengthy visit with Grampa Gary. So, I don’t really know what to do, other than wait.”
Quaid laughed. “Grampa Gary or Grandpa Gary? Both of them have a certain ring to them.”
Fitz asked, “Should we ask if they would prefer to stay here while we travel to Chione? Leaving them with an armed stealth ship should be sufficient for their needs.”
Quaid said, “The Hadrian will remain docked on Aurilius for a week.” Into my thoughts, he said, “Excellent idea.”
Telepathically, Zared said, “This evening at dinner, if you were to have an emotional outburst over the lack of ice bear, it would be all we would need to gain their unwitting cooperation.”
My thoughts to them both were clear. Becoming emotional wouldn’t be a problem. As it was, I was an emotional mess, and my cravings kept me ravenous.
Jazon’s voice was clear in our minds. My hybrid brothers had been listening. “Tracy and I will remain here with her family. Leave a stealth ship and one of the probes with me. I’ll collect as much data as I can. There is still a chance something could appear.”
; I made a show of yawning to cover for my involvement in the silent meeting. Fitz and Dario watched me as though they wanted to place me inside of a protective chamber.
“Are you tired, baby?” Dario asked.
“I could use a backrub and a snack.” I poured all of the sweet helplessness into it that I could. “If we were on a planet with better fashions, I’d be tempted to go shopping for baby clothes. Oh, well. Yukihyo is out buying all of our favorite delicacies. I trust him to do a good job.”
Dario bent down and carefully picked me up. Quaid and Fitz followed us into the lift. In my room, I removed my dress and got into bed while Dario and Fitz changed into pajama bottoms. When they joined me, they made no moves to seduce me into private husband and wife time. Instead, each of them picked areas to massage. I dozed off while on my side as Dario’s fingers worked magic on my lower back and sore muscles, and Fitz used the pressure of his thumbs to work up and down my ankles.
I woke up in a nest of male perfection, feeling safe, warm, and rested. “You’re awake,” Dario said quietly.
“I am. Have I made your arm go numb?”
Cuddling me closer, he kissed the top of my head. “No, my heart is too full for any part of me to lose feeling.” He moved his hand between us and rested his palm over my stomach. It gave a mighty growl and made both Dario and Fitz laugh.
I kissed each of their cheeks and then crawled out of bed.
“Do you not want anything from us?” Fitz asked. He was making the blankets poke up with his manly appendage.
Apologetically, I told the truth. “I want bite-sized chunks of steak simmered in brown gravy on top of a mound of fluffy potatoes,” I said dreamily as I disappeared into the bathroom.
They were dressed by the time I made it into my closet. When I joined them, I wore pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. Dario hurried off to tell Chef what I wanted. Yukihyo was in the sitting room. I went to him and sat on his lap.
“Would you like to sample my merchandise?” he asked.
I glanced around. Phillip was nowhere to be seen. “Yes, I would. Where is everyone? It’s so quiet.”
“Kaoti and Violet took the children to visit a zoo. Pierce, Lorca, Zared, Rozz, Jezzie, Izaac, and Zam are with them providing assistance and security.”
Materfamilias Page 22