Chapter 1

"Ok, hot tea coming through! Excuse me ladies. And Andrew."

Zarabeth hoisted the heavy tray level to her shoulders as she made her way through the maze of small children, the group giggling and squealing in glee around her legs.

The four Doppler children followed her every step from the kitchen to the living room adjoining it, eagerly crawling back into their seats around the coffee table as they waited to be served.

"Alright, we've got cream and sugar for the princess, another for the teacher, just sugar for the hairdresser, and one plain tea for the pirate."

The four children took their designated cups from Zara, the girls giving their brother funny looks as they watched him take a sip of his.

The blond, Susan, who'd dressed up as a princess for the occasion, giggled quietly as Andrew's face scrunched up a little at the taste of his drink. "Andy, you won't like it without sugar."

The little dog-boy hurriedly shook his head as he rearranged the plumed hat on his little head. "Pirates don't put stuff in their tea. They like it black. No sugar for me."

Zara laughed quietly as she sat on the couch beside her nephew, teasingly lowering the small plate she was holding. "So is that a 'no' to a cookie?"

The little boy's eyes widened as he looked hungrily at the stack of decorated sweets, an almost guilty smile crossing his small mouth as he took the one closest to him. "Who said anything about cookies?"

Amelia Doppler sat beside her daughter Alexandra, watching in satisfaction as her children played with Zarabeth. It made her happy to see them get along so well, a certain thought always seeming to cross her mind whenever she saw how lovingly the girl took care of her nieces and nephew. "When is James to return home?"

"Sometime later tonight or early tomorrow." Zara was distracted from her reply for a moment as she tucked Elizabeth's hair behind one of her feline ears, hoping to keep it out of her tea. "It just depends on how long it takes for them to finish up with all the paperwork and such."

"How well I understand."

"Where's Morph?"

"Yeah, I wanna play with Morphy."

Tickling one of Andrew's ears, Zara was quick to point out that the little pink shape-shifter wasn't there. "He'll come home with Jim."

Taking a moment to sip at the tea balanced in her hand, a small smile crossed Amelia's lips as she looked over her cup towards the girl. "James will be home for your anniversary then?"

"Thankfully, yes. He's not scheduled to fly for another three weeks. Oh Lizzy, dear, you're going to get frosting in your hair. Here, let's just tie it back for now." Pulling the ribbon out from her own hair, Zara was quick to secure the girl's brunette locks behind her.

"Zarabeth, darling, tell me. When do you and James plan on starting your own family?" Amelia couldn't hide the twinkle of amusement in her eyes as she saw the surprise in Zara's look, the question having the effect she was hoping for.

"Well, uh-"

Zarabeth's fumbled attempt at a reply was cut short as she felt a tiny hand laid against her stomach, glancing down to see Elizabeth looking up in excitement. "Aunty has a baby?"

"Let me feel!" Susan scrambled out of her chair to join her sister, the two quickly joined by their other sister as she left Amelia's side to join in on the discovery.

"No, girls. I'm not having a baby." It was impossible for Zara to keep from laughing at her nieces' reactions, looking from them to their mother as she finally managed to reply.

"Of course Jim and I want children, someday, we just haven't really discussed it yet."

"I want a cousin!"

"Me too!"

"Oh make it a girl! Please, please!"

"No, it should be a boy! I don't want to be the only one." Andrew finally joined in the conversation, his eyes pleading almost as he looked at his aunt. "I'll give you everything in my piggy bank to make it a boy."

"How about this." Pulling the children up to all sit around her, Zarabeth looked from one little excited face to the next. "I'll tell Uncle Jim what you all think and we'll go from there. You'll be the first to know if I'm going to have a baby. Alright?"

"You promise?"

"I promise."

The children satisfied with that, their mother's reluctant words brought on a chorus of disappointed reactions.

"Gather your things, my darlings, it's time we were headed out. No, stop your fussing. We promised to meet your father in town, and we're late as it is. Make sure to thank Aunt Zarabeth for letting you come and play."

Zara was smothered by the four children eager to hug and kiss her goodbye, walking out to help load them into the carriage before waving goodbye.

Hugging her before joining her children, Amelia held Zarabeth at arm's length as she smiled warmly. "Tell James hello from us, and please stop by sometime next week. We have a little something to give you for your anniversary."

"Thank you, Amelia. We'll be sure to do that."

Left alone standing in front of the house, Zara waved until the carriage had made its way onto the main road, the girl content to stand in the warm afternoon light for a moment, smiling to herself.

Everything was quiet. Too quiet. She could even hear the breeze as it drifted lazily through the leaves of the single tree growing on the north side of the house.

She couldn't wait for Jim to come home. Having Amelia and the children over was one of the only ways that Zara could stay content for the stretches of time while he was gone.

Slowly making her way back inside, she decided the best way to make the time go by would be to distract herself in the kitchen. Unsure of what to do, she opened up one of the cupboards above the stove to retrieve the cookbook the Dopllers had given them on her and Jim's wedding the year before. Flipping mindlessly through the pages, waiting for a picture or recipe title to jump out at her, Zara's mind began to wander as she thought about Jim.

How did the year fly by so quickly? Next week would mark their first year of marriage, the first of many promised to come. In that short year, Jim had been made Captain of the R.L.S. Aberdeen, he and his crew gone about every other couple of weeks on assignments. Zarabeth was relieved that they were mostly sent out to accompany and protect merchant vessels or ships transporting important political figures, nothing too dangerous, yet interesting enough to keep Jim from feeling bored. He loved his crew and the officer working under him. He was able to hire the same crew more often than not, giving him the opportunity to know them more personally and, in turn, feel secure in trusting them. Jim felt that that bond of trust was more important than anything, his ultimate goal being to keep from having a repeat of the events aboard the Legacy.

The girl's mind returned to the present as she settled on a chocolate cake recipe she knew was one of Jim's favorites. It'd be a surprise for when he got home.

It didn't take long for her to finish the batter, giving it a few more rigorous stirs before dipping her finger into the chocolate to taste it. Zarabeth closed her eyes in satisfaction as she smiled. "Perfect."

"Chocolate huh?"

Zara jumped in complete surprise as a voice spoke low to her ear, hurriedly turning around in the arms that now held her as she laughed at her own relief. "Jim! Etherium's sake, you scared me."

Too happy to see him to be mad, she hugged him tight as he buried his face against her shoulder, pickering her up a little as he swung her around so that he was standing where she had been.

Pulling away just enough to see Zara's face, the look on his own was so full of love and contentment, his crystal eyes sparkled like the stars as he leaned in to give the girl a gentle kiss. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." Smiling into the kiss, Zara wrapped her arms even more securely around him, afraid that he was only a figment, sure to disappear if she let go.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but why are you back so early? I thought you weren't supposed to be home till tonight."

Chuckling quietly as he continued to shower small kisses on her cheeks and forehead, Jim was unable to keep from smiling as he replied in a joking tone. "Can't a man come home early to be with his beautiful wife?"

Though smiling back at him, her brows where raised in genuine curiosity, getting the boy to answer her without another word of encouragement.

"We managed to dock early. Dodged in front of a couple of freighters to do it, but we did. And as far as the reports and stuff, Felix told me to just get home, he'd take care of it."

Moving her arms to wrap around his neck, Zara stretched upward to leave another gentle kiss against his lips, her voice hushed as she took a moment to admire Jim in his uniform. "I'll have to thank him when I meet him, whenever that may be. What would you do without him?"

"Not much, I can tell ya that."

Felix Estrada was Jim's first officer, and his biggest help in the transition of becoming captain. Felix had been the first officer aboard the Aberdeen for the previous captain, more than willing to help Jim ease into his new role of authority. Zarabeth had yet to meet Felix, but she'd heard nothing but praise, making her thankful enough for them both that he was looking out for Jim in the last year.

The boy donned a mischievous smile as he reached his hand behind him, pulling it back up to taste the batter on his finger before smiling. "Mmm. Couldn't have asked for a better welcoming party."

"Jim, if you keep eating it, there won't be enough for the cake."

"Who says you have to bake it?" Releasing his hold on Zara, he reached for two spoons before handing one to her in a theatrical manner. "The batter's the best part."

"I guess I have to agree with you there." Laughing quietly as she accepted the silverware with a mock curtsy, she leaned in to get a spoonful with a quiet laugh. "Welcome home, Mr. Hawkins."

"It's good to be back, Mrs. Hawkins."