Summer 2166

"Are you sure this is alright?" Thane asked, peering down at the sleeping babe cradled in Irikah's arms, the very picture of worry. This was the third time he'd asked since Irikah suggested they go on their first official outing as a family: a stroll around the neighborhood. It was the first time the three of them were left alone since the child had come into the world little more than a week ago and Thane was understandably concerned.

He'd never been in close quarters with a pregnant woman or a small child, and no matter how stalwart a face he tried to put on, it was clear that the idea more terrified him. Irikah though the whole thing was adorable.

He kept his distance from them even now, seemingly afraid that his very presence would deprive the child of much needed oxygen. He hadn't said it aloud, but Irkiah had a feeling, just like she always did when it came to him. Irikah stood and offered the child to him. Other than in the hospital, he had declined holding the baby, but she wouldn't let him run away from it now. His back smacked against a sand colored wall, and Irikah was upon him. She positioned his arms just so and eased the baby into them. The baby, to his credit, remained asleep.

"Drell women have been getting pregnant for thousands of years," she whispered, stepping back to take them in fully. Through his eyes, Thane silently pleaded with her, but Irkiah ignored him. He needed to get used to holding his own son, considering he'd be small for a good long while. "Which I'm sure you know, and they didn't all become recluses because of it. An afternoon out won't kill us. It's perfectly safe." Thane opened his mouth, ready to counter her argument, and she quickly amended, "Relatively safe."

The last thing she needed was for him to launch into another of his dissertations on the perils that lay just out of sight all around them. He could go on for hours, and they'd burn precious sunlight like that. For him, danger lurked around every corner, in every bit of shadow, and now in every upturned root and every stray stone.

They'd move out of the city once they'd found out Irikah was pregnant, at Thane's urging. She'd hoped that it would ease his paranoia, but as her belly grew, he'd only gotten worse. This experience was new for both of them, but he was wholly unprepared. The one thing his training hadn't prepared him for was being part of a family, but she would help him.

"Everything will be fine, my love, after all, I'll have you with me." He didn't outright protest, but rather twisted his lips in a rather disagreeable way. It wasn't an argument against going out, and Irikah would take it.

They bundled up poor Kolyat until only a small patch of his face was visible, carefully loaded him into the stroller, and headed out.

The first child was supposed to be the one that sets young mother's on edge, yet Irikah was oddly relaxed. Between the two of them, someone had to be, and Thane worried enough for them both.

/*/*/*/*/

The day was beautiful: There was a small break in the clouds, and the sun attempted to bless them with its warmth, a fresh breeze wafted through the small town they now called home. It was an almost perfect day, but with the stroller carrying his newborn son under his control, Thane was anything but relaxed.

He'd thought Irikah a miraculous being before, but those feelings were mounted tenfold. She'd given him a family.

Eighteen months ago, he wouldn't have thought such a thing was possible. It all felt so surreal. That at any moment, he'd wake up to find that this was all a dream.

Honored Messenger had seemed like he'd expected Thane's resignation he went to visit the hanar. He'd already had the necessary paperwork prepared.

Guilt soured Thane's stomach. Despite Shrimaanharkaara's complaisance, Thane felt his resignation smacked of betrayal. Nirrin hadn't been gone a month before he decided to follow suit.

"Seres Krios and Luco are far from the first to leave their station, and they won't be the last." The hanar fell silent as it regarded Thane quietly. "This one thanks you for your service. May the Enkindlers guide your journey." The hanar bowed low to Thane, and had responded in kind.

"Mind the bump," Irikah yawned, bringing her husband back to the present. She nodded towards a few cracks in the sidewalk where the root of a tree had broken through.

With more concentration than he knew the task required, Thane circumnavigated the pitfall, careful not to wake the sleeping child. Irikah watched on, clearly amused by the whole thing.

The park finally in sight, Thane allowed himself to relax, if only just a fraction. Nearly two years living as a civilian, and it was still a concept that, for the most part, escaped him.

There hadn't been much to occupy his time, save for reading and watching Irkiah work, and the days seemed to stretch on forever in that way. The hanar had given him a generous stipend as a departing gift, and it would last into the foreseeable future while he pondered what he should do in his civilian life. Protecting the house was paramount for the time being, and while that was Irikah was a paragon of patience, but he was certain his need to investigate every noise was starting to wear on her.

His sense of awareness had been honed to the point that he could see the end of a chain of events long before the participants could. It wasn't something that was simply shut off, but he was trying, as much for his family's sake as his own.

Swift movement to their right, made Thane pull up short, putting himself in between the unknown and Irikah. His wife gave him a questioning look, just as a small boy darted in front of the stroller, in pursuit of a ball. His mother was hot on his heels.

"Amal Luco, you come back here!" she called after him, but there was no malice in her tone. She paused briefly to bow to the three of them, a shy smile warming her features. It was then that Thane recognized her.

She was Ja'nera, Nirrin's wife, meaning the boy must have been their child.

As quickly as she'd crossed their path, Ja'nera darted off, chasing after her son.

A few moments later, Nirrin brought up the rear, unconcealed amusement lighting his eyes. He seemed to have adapted well to civilian living, but then again, he'd been at it longer than Thane had. His gait was loose and casual, not at all hinting at the life he'd left behind. He seemed at ease with the fact that his family was so far away from him. Thane wouldn't say he envied Nirrin's transformation, but he wondered if maybe there was a trick to it, or if it was just Nirrin being Nirrin.

He glanced into the stroller before letting his gaze linger on Thane, too long to indicate mere causal curiosity.

Nirrin offered Thane and Irikah an apologetic shrug. "Wait until yours starts walking," he offered with a grin.

"What's his name?"

"Kolyat," Irikah chimed in. Nirrin nodded.

"That's a good name." And with a curt bow he trotted off to assist Ja'nera in the capture of their son.

They headed towards a shady spot beneath a tree and spread out the blanket. As soon as it was suitably straightened and smoothed out, Irikah threw herself on it, stretching languidly.

"That was a little odd… Do you know him?" She tried for casual, but she'd picked up a bit of Thane's apprehension along the way.

"I did," Thane began hesitantly, "but that was a long time ago."

The sounds of Kolyat stirring drove Irikah beside the stroller, sparing Thane the need to go on. It was a story, for another day.

[fin]