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Chapter 14 - Realizations

Samuel had been furious and knew he had to get his temper under control. So, he did what he always had done in the past. He went to the ship to work out until he was so exhausted, he didn't even have the energy to be cross any longer.

He then returned to his and Karen's island flat. He pat his sweaty body with a towel as he walked through the kitchen to the bedroom where he and Karen were staying with the baby.

He quietly opened the door to come in. Karen lay on her side, facing the small baby on the bed. Both of them seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

Samuel smiled and forgot all about the fight with Tony Tyler. All that mattered was his family. This small family that slept without a care in the world.

After a quick shower, he was proper exhausted. He pulled on a pair of his jammy jam trousers, climbed into the bed, and kissed Halley's soft head as she slept.

Karen opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi, Daddy."

He caressed her face. "Hi, Mummy."

She giggled and repeated. "Mummy."

He glanced back at Halley. "She's really sleeping."

"She just nursed. Maybe an hour ago." Karen told him quietly.

Samuel yawned, "Are you alright? Sore anywhere? Breasts?"

She smiled, "I'm fine. I feel really good."

He closed his eyes. "Let me know if anything hurts, Karen. I don't want you to be in pain. Anything. Even if it's small."

"I always imagined it would hurt….down there."

He grinned and didn't open his eyes. "I sorted that right after she was born. There's no reason it has to heal slowly. But, you still need to rest. Your body has been through a lot."

She smiled, "I'm grateful. I really don't remember a lot."

He rubbed his eyes, "It all happened so fast. I just…had to catch her."

They both laughed quietly. Halley started to stir. Both of them quickly shhh'ed her and Samuel began to rub her back. It was no use. She was awake and crying.

Samuel stood up and took her in his arms.

Karen sat up. "You just went to bed."

He yawned, "I'm fine. You sleep-"

"Samuel-"

Halley stopped crying as soon as she was in Samuel's arms. "She's fine."

"You're making her feel better." Karen realized.

He held her to his bare chest. She wore a pink sleeper and her hair was sticking up all over her head.

He carefully lay back on the bed with her on his chest. He mumbled, "And the best thing for you, is to be skin to skin with someone. So, Daddy is going to take off this sleeper."

Karen watched as he carefully took the sleeper off of Halley and kissed the top of her head. She fussed a bit, but as soon as she was lying on his chest, she put her fingers in her mouth and started to go back to sleep.

He carefully pulled the duvet over them. "And that's it. Daddy has you. Shhh…."

Halley slurped her fingers.

Karen propped her head on her fist and took in the scene in front of her. She told him quietly, "When I thought I couldn't love you more."

He smiled without opening his eyes. "I had the same thoughts about you last night about this time."

She giggled. "You have never looked more handsome to me."

He opened his eyes, turned his head to be able to see her. "I love you, too."

She moved closer to them and draped her arm across his stomach as she laid her head on his shoulder. Her fingertips teased his hair below his belly button that led into his trousers. The pleasurable sensation began and seemed to radiate throughout his body.

He kissed her head and sighed. "I hit Tony."

"Tonight?"

"Yeah. I completely lost my temper and I think I broke his nose."

"Why?"

"He said something. I swear. Something about him just….makes me mental. I just want to…" He grit his teeth.

"Samuel. You can't lose your temper. We don't know what would happen-"

"I know. I can't always remain level headed, either. Oh, this is so frightening. I simply dreamed Halley was ready to be born last night, and now she's here."

Karen kissed the side of Samuel's head. "Samuel. This is frightening. But, we're figuring it out. Together."

"The first thing I thought when he said that was how much I wanted to just….hurt him."

"Samuel, you have to be careful."

He rubbed his eyes. "I know. He's just….ugh, he drives me completely to the edge. He always does."

She continued to run her fingertips across his stomach. "What did he say?"

"It's not worth repeating."

She ran her fingertips down Halley's back. The baby slurped her fingers again.

They both laughed quietly.

Samuel held his lips to Halley's head. "Oh, Daddy loves you so much."

Karen's fingertips returned to play with the hair on his stomach. He moaned, "Oh, keep it there and keep doing that. It's making me calmer."

"How do you feel about Arles still being Papa?"

He kissed Halley's head again. "Oh, I don't know. Him being my 'One' will automatically make Halley heir until he has a child of his own."

"Then, what's the difference?"

"The difference is, as Papa, he can name her heir. Force her to do it. He would have every right as a natural father. Even declare it now for the stability of the kingdom. And any child that is born to him, will simply have to stand in line behind her."

"What about the baby Arles?"

"Papa may have him in the line, as well. But, if Halley is there, she would be ahead of him in the line of succession. Plus, he simply may not want to do it."

"He wants to do it now."

"Yeah, but he's not the same Arles. And he is. And it really depends on what happens to our Arles. If it's a public death, then we can't very well put someone that looks exactly like him-"

"Oh, please. I don't even want to think about this."

"Neither do I, but it's….a concern. Especially, if he's our child's Papa."

"That makes no sense. Lewis if your Papa, and you're older than Arles…"

"But, he wasn't declared my Papa until after Arles was born. See? I'm off the hook."

"He's your Dad's, 'One'…"

"No. Mum and Dad have a traditional marriage from Terra. Well, and a….marriage from where Dad is from. But, Dad is Papa's 'One'."

"And you're not heir-"

"Because, he has Arles. Halley would possibility be heir on a technically with him as our 'One'. They usually don't insist, but if there is no heir. If it is a sudden thing that needs an heir….you know."

"No, I don't know. Samuel. It doesn't sound different to me at all."

"And technically, we don't have a Quauhtin marriage. We did an Andromedan Promise to a Child. Thus, this entire 'One' thing, is rather void-"

Karen sat up and immediately protested. "Oh, that's bull."

He rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Karen. It's true. Arles is my brother. I know I can trust him with anything. But, especially with what is most dear to me. You and Halley."

She sighed, "So, this is just a SNAFU. A Royal SNAFU."

He rose his eyebrow. "What is that?"

"A Navy term."

"Probably an acronym."

She nodded. "It is. It means, 'Situation Normal. All fucked up'."

He laughed. "The older I get, the more truth I find in that phase. How did you say it?"

"SNAFU. Rhymes with….ummm. Boo."

He kissed Halley's head again and laughed. "Mad Navy family of mine. I love it."

She lay back on his shoulder and began to tease the hair on his stomach. The sensation began again and moved through his body.

"Your Dad would be so proud of this one."

Karen smiled at Halley who was still sucking on her fingers. "He would be. Gosh, I've thought about him all day."

"We should have figured out a way to work his name into hers."

Karen laughed under her breath. "Doesn't quite work for a little girl. Maybe we'll have a boy one day."

Samuel turned his head and smiled at her. "You already want another one?"

She giggled, "Not tonight, Samuel. Let me be clear."

"Good. We both need some sleep. But, if you want-"

"Not tonight. Samuel. I'm serious."

He kissed her lips and snuggled with her and Halley.

After a few minutes, Karen spoke. "Samuel."

He hummed.

"I want to know what you think about it, but I still want Arles as Papa. We didn't plan for this baby, and it's almost like she was meant for something important. What if this is it? I don't want to mess this up for her."

He opened his eyes and looked back at Karen. "Are you sure?"

"You know more about this than I do, but….it's okay. I don't want to deny Arles and you, of something you have wanted for so long. I feel like it would….it would work out. It feels right."

Samuel relaxed, "I'm going to sleep on it."

She snuggled into him again. "Good plan. Good night."

He didn't open his eyes. "Night, sweetheart."

A few minutes later, Halley slurped her fingers loudly.

Both Samuel and Karen laughed.

Samuel kissed the baby's head again. "Karen."

She didn't open her eyes. "Yes, Samuel?"

"My brother is going to be the King of the Quauhtin people."

Karen sat up and grinned at him. "Are you just realizing this?"

He looked shocked. "Arles? The pot head?"

Karen laughed and lay back down. "Go to sleep."

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