Only made worse when Lucas howled – like a wild animal. They ran away from her, growling and hissing and whistling at each other. They didn't even make it back through their door before they were wrestling and barking. Grace sighed, not even bothering to stop them. If she tried to stop every fight they started, she’d never get anything done. As long as there was no blood drawn, there was no foul and they were good to tire themselves out.
“Sorry, my Grace,” Sway said, wrapping his arms around her from the side, pulling her against his chest. “I’ll be sure to ask next time if they’ve asked you first.”
She let out a long sigh, her head dropping against this chest. “No, you know what. It’s fine. Spoil them while you can. You’re never getting another hatchling out of me. And you can thank those little demons for it too.”
Sway only laughed, kissing her head. “You’re tense.”
“Would I be sentenced to Rik-Vane for strangling my kids? Asking for me.”
“Maybe not, but they would hit you with those eyes of theirs and you’d never be able to finish.”
“That’s you,” she frowned, letting out a long breath.
“Tell you what, why don’t I call and book some time at the spa for yourself tomorrow. You can go, relax, be pampered. I’ll watch the feral children.”
“They’ll run right over you and be hyped up on sugar and probably some kind of animal sacrifice by the time I get back.”
Sway laughed. “I’ll take them out with the others. Let them all play together and wear each other out. I’ll make sure they’re in bed by the time you get back, and then,” he turned her in his arms so he could embrace her properly, “I’ll do a little pampering myself. How’s that sound?”
She couldn’t stop a smile from tugging at her lips. That sounded really nice, actually.
The two of them hadn’t had a moment’s peace since they arrived on Holotulle. Alred was getting this big award and it came with an equally big banquet and party. It was one huge vacation that was all expenses paid for them and all their younglings. This big hotel suite had been provided, free, with a room for them and another for their boys.
But their boys had slept with them last night, and they’d been following them around the last two days, and the night before Grace and Sway had been tired from their arrival and their boys combined and hadn’t wanted to do anything but sleep.
Tonight, all the younglings were going to be watched by the caretakers – also provided free of charge. But Grace was afraid that they’d throw in the towel and comm at some point to beg them to take their heathens back. Though, after the party, Grace probably still wouldn’t want to do anything but sleep again.
But if she had a whole day at the spa to rest and relax first…
“If you’re not too tired after dealing with all the kids,” she smiled, running her hand down Sway’s chest, “I think we could-”
A loud crash from the boys’ room cut her off and made her wince. She didn't know what that was, but it sounded expensive. And the sudden, eerie silence from both boys did not bode well.
“I’ll check on them,” Sway laughed, kissing her head.
“How are you always so calm?” Grace asked as he separated from her. “I swear, nothing those boys do ever riles you up.”
He took her chin in hand and brought her eyes back to him. He smiled at her, and there was such joy in his face, it washed over her like a soothing balm.
“You three are my peace,” he said, tracing her lip with his thumb. He leaned down to kiss her, once, so sweet and tender, before letting go.
Grace stood there, smiling at his back as he disappeared into the room. She heard his stern voice as he chastised them over whatever they broke. She could just imagine Lucas and Teelgiving him those puppy dog eyes already, so she knew it wouldn’t last long.
But really, though she huffed and puffed, she didn't actually mind.
Because if they were Sway’s peace, then they wereherjoy. And her life, finally, felt like she had everything she needed. She had enough.
After Story – Present Day…
Alred
Life support systems operating optimally. Air filter life at ninety-nine percent. Small glitch in second deck atmosphere circulator – restarting.
Alred was watching Goldie. Something he found himself doing a great deal. Even when she was just sitting there, she was fascinating. He sometimes found himself calculating the curve of her spine when she was hunched over, focused on studying. Or finding the index of refraction from the light shining off her eyes. So beautiful. So entrancing. He couldn’t be hypnotized. His brain was a computer, after all. But this was the closest he could get.
Goldie was in the medical bay. She was sitting on the stool she’d brought over to the mediring console, her eyes moving over the instructions for how to imprint knowledge directly into the brain. Their mediscanner had the capability, but she was trying to learn the rules and instructions for how to do it. And that included all the possible side effects or adverse reactions and how to treat them. It was information that Alred had fetchedfor her, providing her with lessons that she was reading over so carefully.
Scheduled hull scan commencing. Nano repair bots on standby. Previous hull compromise – thirty-five percent.
