Ok new chapter, strange how this one was hard to write. Even though everything been building to it. Hope you all enjoy

Planting the Seeds of Family.

Chapter 10

At the same time this was happening several decks up little Peter was sitting on the floor in Yondu's office next to the bridge and was happily drawing pictures while his daddy Kraglin was doing his essential counting, and smiling to himself.

Peter knew this meant his daddies had worked very hard at their jobs and all the crew would be happy, which would typically mean a new toy in his box. Even though he knew he wasn't allowed to be spoiled and his daddies were the one to decide when and if he would get something new.

"Result", Kraglin laughed out load stretching his arms out in success. "We'll dine like kings" he stated, impressed at how much the jewels were worth,

Kraglin looked down at his toddler son, His little face screwed up in concentration as he added more colours to the paper.

"What you drawing Peter", he asked since away from the monitors there were several artworks in Yondu's office by their son.

"I'm making Omevic's family", Peter said simply adding more yellow to the sun in the sky. A comment which confused but intrigued Kraglin, and he said as gently as he could.

"Peter, Omevic isn't like us, he hadn't got a family". A comment which Peter disagreed with immediately.

"Yes, he has daddy, he does have a family" Peter insisted, and Kraglin just sighed to himself trying to explain this. Ok, why don't you show me his family".

Peter got to his feet carrying his essential piece of paper and scrambled into Kraglin's lap to show him the very important thing. At the age of three, his drawing wasn't exact, but he loved colours and could draw all his favourite people, and happily, he explained the squiggles and smudges

"See daddy, Omevic has a nice house and big garden, a really big garden with lots of flowers and trees, and they have a house in the trees. That's his daddy, and his other daddy who is a lady so a lady daddy, and he had three brothers, and they're all bigger than him".

Peter pointed to each one, proudly. "I thought he had more bothers, but I draw a black flower with blue instead". Peter said as Kraglin studied the picture, not mentioning that "Lady daddy" was a mother since this could give Peter the initiative to ask about his or the lack of and that was a conversation they never wanted to have for a few more years. "

So, this is Omevic's family", Kraglin concluded, "Yep, and all his family have yellow hair, and there're really tall. The big brother". Peter pointed to one of them "He's going away soon far away for a long time, and they all work in the big garden, and all love each other. They're Omevic's family". Peter insisted, and Kraglin's eyes caught on the side of the paper away from the family was a strange flower, "And what's this?" he asked his toddler son who was happy to oblige.

"That's a special flower, and all the sides are different colours, there's purple yellow red and blue, and it's an important flower". Peter finished as Kraglin just blinked at his son's sudden jump in vocabulary, and the fact that this came out of nowhere.

"It's a very good picture", was all Kraglin could say as a chime came over his communicator. Proctom was more stable, so Iztel was leaving him for a while, and did Peter need lunch?

As soon as Peter heard that, he just nodded and grinned and Kraglin answered in the affirmative. A moment later Peter after not putting his paper and crayons away, and happily skipped out of the room and Kraglin just looked the picture, leaned back in his seat and exhaled, and wondering if parenting was just a code word for "Picking up your kids dropped shit all the time."

Kraglin tried to put everything out of his mind and went back to work he had received a message from Iztel that Peter had happily eaten lunch and down for a nap with no complaints when he looked at the clock and sent a message to his current employee with information.

Kraglin watched as Tyorells face appeared in view and his natural smile just grew wider, when Kraglin just held up the jewels. "Oh, for the love of Gods Kraglin, I still can't believe you found them…was the mission difficult?"

"Nothing that we couldn't handle", said Kraglin smugly, deciding not to mention easy it was. "What's the big deal about them anyway?".

"There was part of Lizxona's family for generations, but they were stolen a hundred years ago. They're part of the imperial jewels, but are also religious artefacts and each wife wore them on their coronation. When they were stolen, the people believed his family were cursed in some way. Trust me, the Religious Pontiffs will be thrilled to get them back, and will finally ease up on various issues."

Tyorells just shrugged, while Kraglin tried to understand all of that. He knew Tyorells had gone from guard to dealing the petty bureaucracy of a planet and that was something he didn't envy, as Tyorells pulled out his pad.

"Right so payment now, otherwise it gets a bit awkward you now, we hiring you and your coming tomorrow to see us, our boys are finally going to spend some time together," he said immediately transferring the units into Kraglin's account and it as an impressive amount. But Kraglin tried not to show his glee even if the Warlord could afford it, and instead talked more about their children.

"Are you sure it's ok to teach Peter how to swim", Kraglin queried since this had been in their calendar for a month.

"Oh definitely, the weathers great, Seroul needs to learn, and trust me I could do with a day of nothing right now".

Kraglin identified with this instantly, in truth a day off would be fun, just a day to forget the shit which was occurring on the Elector.

"So, it's all settled, you rendezvous in the morning…". Tyorells adjusted in his seat, and as his head moved Kraglin's eyes fell on the small table behind Tyorells, then darted back to the drawing his son and made, then back again. It was a split-second decision, but Kraglin said the words before he even realised it.

"Tyorells, what are those?"

Tyorells look confused for a moment and spun his head around before he realised what Kraglin was gesturing at, and rose from his seat.

"Oh those", he said, placing the vase he had picked up from the small table next to him "They're amazing aren't they. They're called louloúdi's, they were Seroul's mothers' favourite. They were actually created for Lizxona's mother years ago, the same family planted these too. So there pretty unique aren't they"

Tyorells shifted in his seat and addressed the First Mate of the Ravagers again, "You know Kraglin, I didn't know you were into plants and flowers…don't mind me saying. It's a bit difficult to get things to grow in space. Are you trying to put a garden together?".

"No, not that" though that said, perhaps that would be an idea, but now wasn't the time to discuss it. "So those flowers, you can't get them anywhere else".

"No each flower is unique and there grown in greenhouses, Seroul's at the point where he's asking questions about his mother…is Peter at that stage yet" Kraglin just shook his head, not liking where the conversation was heading, but Tyorells persisted "Kraglin is there something wrong?"

Tyorells face was full of concern and Kraglin thought for a moment, over the year their sons, and both families had met in father unique circumstances, a sort of friendship had developed though Kraglin was always mindful that this friendship was on a tentative edge since Tyorells family were his warlord mate and son.

Yondu and Kraglin were pretending that Peter was Xandarian and biologically Kraglin's child, the lie was exhausting, but at the same time. Both Kraglin and Tyorells were first-time fathers, and Xandarians married to powerful men, there were times where this was limited and confining and after they discussed missions, or when Kraglin needed some fatherly advice, they just talked.

Both of them knew that their words would never be repeated outside the pair, and Kraglin always felt more relieved, and his belief in being a father renewed after their conversations. An idea of friendship outside of the Ravagers where they were meant to be feared band of space pirates with a reputation for crime and killing was a strange one, but also a nice one too.

Kraglin mused once more over the question, and then made he later relayed one of the most important decisions of his life.

"Ok, something happened recently…"

It took a while, explaining everything and Kraglin had to stop and tell the reason why Proctom was having seizures when he mentioned that occurrence, which led to everything else. The tension with the crew, the child who just couldn't settle and how everyone was clueless at how to proceed. After everything, it was good to just talk and unwind, and Kraglin was grateful to have someone who just sat there and listen like Tyorells was doing.

A while later, as Kraglin brought him up to date with everything, Tyorells just exhaled and leaned back in his seat.

"Right, that's something else, and to think sometimes I envy you Kraglin". With that Tyorells leaned forward in his seat and looked thoughtful.

"But if Proctom is as bad as your saying, then our medics will be happy to see him, bring him tomorrow for an in-depth assessment, and of course your chef as well. Sounds like he needs to be in the loop".

"Are you sure about that? I mean he's a Ravager, and do you want to be involved in all of this" Queried Kraglin.

"True, but he did according to you he did save Peter's life and suffered serious injuries which are threatening his life, then he needs to be treated right. He's only twenty as you said, and everything has been shitty in his life up to now, then we'll see what we can do to make it right".

Kraglin just exhaled, generosity like this was so rare, and Kraglin has a hard time dealing with it, while Tyorells seemed to be thinking to himself, and at that moment, Yondu walked through the door carrying a sleeping Peter in his arms.

"Iztel went back to take care of Proctom, so I said I'd bring Peter here, but he'll be up soon. Oh, and Omevic stole a plant, turns out there his thing!" Yondu explained, not noticing that Kraglin was talking to Tyorells while he placed their toddler down in the box they kept in the office.

"Seriously a plant" Kraglin blinked, trying to digest this information, then realised that Tyorells, held a thoughtful look in his eye, while Yondu slid into the empty seat next to his mate.

"Yeah right. The kid finally says more than one sentence, and it's about gardens. Bloody typical, the one thing we don't have" remarked Yondu more to himself than the rest, while Tyorells many light years away just thought more to himself.

"You know if this eight-year-old is into plants and needs a place to go…I guess I could speak to our head gardener".

Both Yondu and Kraglin leaned forward in their seats, while Yondu noticed Peter's drawing still on the table.

"You have a gardener", Yondu asked even he knew it was a stupid question. Lizxona and his family were rulers of most the planet, of course, they had their own gardeners, their own team of gardeners and Tyorells just nodded.

"Yeah, been working for the family for years, he was the one who made the flowers for Seroul. Nice family, three boys, I know the youngest is ten, and the eldest is starting his trials soon, so he's sixteen. He and his wife are botanists…or something like that. It's a long shot, but I'll see what I can do".

"But, why would they want to take in Omevic", asked Kraglin, and Tyorells explained. "Back when Lizxona's bastard of a father was in control, hell years before this. The previous Warlord was constantly concerned about population control. The peasants could rise up and revolt, so every time a marriage happened, the couple were asked how many children would they have, and stick to that. To compensate the Warlord, for this the couple had to give half their salaries for each year of each child they wanted. I'm one of three and my parents, had to do it too. Total bullshit system and we abolished it years ago. But they paid for four children, four years and only had three. I know this because we compensated them after we took over."

Neither Yondu and Kraglin really understood the crap the couple had to get through, reforming the land and didn't envy that aspect of it. "So, if they've always wanted four children, they might take Omevic on."

"You really don't mind doing that?" Asked Yondu and Tyorells to his credit just shook his head.

"It's an idea, and the kid needs a home. Let me speak with them, and I'll be back in a few hours, and I'll see you laters"

With that, the screen flicked off, and Yondu and Kraglin just stared at each other trying to take Tyorells words in. "Do you really think Omevic…"

Yondu never got the change to finish the sentence as they were both alerted by a shuffling sound and both looked up to see Peter standing up in his box, unable to understand his parents' words, but he had the biggest grin if his face and his green eyes just flashed.

To be concluded

And please review, it encourages me x