Iason pushed away from the terminal where he had been going over hundreds of new reports on recent imports and exports, as well as complaints and issues within the organizations. He had not even been gone for a week and once again people tried to avoid paying their monthly dues or tried importing forbidden items without the required 'omission tax' to bring it into Amoï. There were few items that were actually forbidden here, most were simply deemed illegal.

That was why they had a Black Market and why he was the head of it. Everything could be purchased for a price, and as long as the buyer was willing to pay his price, he would look the other way to allow the goods through. It had been almost two decades now that one of the Syndicate's off world business associates had complained about how the black market on their planet was taking over their goods and services contracts. So much illegal contraband was flowing into their docks that they simply didn't have the manpower to stop it.

Iason had never heard of such a thing, for if an item was forbidden on Amoï there was absolutely no way to smuggle it in, not only because of their tight security but because no one would dare think of going against the Syndicate rules. Or so he believed. However, after some checking Iason found that there were a few people that had managed to bring in off planet goods and he was astonished that they had even tried; for being caught with such goods carried a very severe sentence.

Instead of eliminating the small team of smugglers, he studied them and learned that there was a rather large market for illegal items, even if only a few of them managed to find their way through Amoï's security protocols. It was not only Humans that were attempting to smuggle things either, but even some of his own kind. It made sense to him that such a market could be better utilized than just shutting the smugglers down and imprisoning them, he would take advantage of their greed. This way he would also maintain control over what products were coming in and he would have a record of who had what items, in case there was an incident. Controlled Chaos was, after all, the best way to deal with management of a species.

Thus, when he had found Katze breaking into the computer files in his office, he knew that he had found the perfect person to help him create this new, hidden level in the Syndicate. Katze quickly developed a talent for the procurement and resale of illegal goods and was very good at keeping his business off the radar, thus proving that Iason's choice of using him as a front man was ideal. Katze was no longer registered as Furniture. He had been released from service, or so the records showed, and most assumed that he was resentful of his former Master, because that was just how Katze played it. In reality he still belonged to and continued to work for Iason, and they had a solid and trusting relationship. Iason knew that Katze would never betray him and considering the people that Iason worked and interacted with daily, that trust was very rare and valuable to the Blondie.

Occasionally Katze would visit Iason, but most assumed that the former Funriture was simply using Iason to glean information on the goods he desired. No one suspected that Iason Mink, the head of the Syndicate, was also the one behind Katze and the black market, and this also helped to strengthen Katze's reputation. Anyone who could put one over on a Blondie had to be good.

The only people who knew of their current connection was Jupiter, who had agreed with his scheme, Raoul because Iason trusted him, and Riki, because he had worked with Katze at one time. On the surface, Katze was simply a businessman, in charge of specialized importing and exporting, and while Iason knew that a few of his kind suspected Katze of trading illegally they could never find any proof of it. Katze was too good at hiding his tracks, and even while he gained a reputation for procuring hard to find items, no one ever connected him to illegal trades.

Katze did most of his transactions online, and used a software that changed his voice and appearance while broadcasting. After the deal was made, all communications were overwritten or deleted from the system. If traders insisted on a meet in person to exchange product, he had a handful of people who would go on his behalf and drop the items at a predetermined location, which would then be picked up by someone else. But even these people did not know who he really was or what he looked like.

A few people, perhaps irritated that Katze had denied their requests, had tried to come to Iason about it, but again without proof, Iason refused to believe it. After all, Katze had once been his Furniture and how dare they speak in such a way about one of his previous Furnitures. That was a deliberate insult to his own intelligence and judge of character.

He smiled at the devious intricacies of it all. There were still some things that even Katze knew better that to try for. Certain types of literature, video files and music were forbidden because it was a concern that such things might have an adverse affect on the Human population of Amoï, especially those in Ceres. Anything that might instigate a revolution, or educate the Humans against the type of Dystopian life that was their fate.

Reengineering the Human's genetics so that most females would only give birth to boys had been one way to weed out possible aggression and future revolt; for it had been proven in Human history that the female was always an instigator of change, or the one thing men fought for. While they could not do away with all females, limiting the number born every year was an alternative to complete annihilation of the species. And if a female was born, once she became of age she was always placed with a high ranking official, far away from the other mongrels in Ceres.

A buzz caught his attention and he glanced up to see Gideon through his glass door. His jaw hardened but he rose and waved him inside. "Yes, Gideon?"

The Blondie stepped through. "I am not even to be offered a drink?"

"Would you like a drink?"

"No thank you."

Iason blinked, Gideon was such a strange Blondie, a constant contradiction and jokester sometimes and other times as cold and hard as any of them could be. "What can I do for you?"

"I wish to discuss he who cannot be named in your presence."

The amusement in Gideon's voice was apparent and Iason found himself annoyed by it. "What of him?"

"Raoul has completed the Phashing, as you requested."

"Fine." Iason moved to pour himself a cup of tea. "Anything else?"

"I am here to speak on his behalf, Iason, and this is not easy for me as you know I dislike bowing to anyone, especially another Blondie."

Iason returned to his desk, sat down and sipped his tea. "You've come to bow to me, Gideon?"

"I've come to ask you to forgive Issac for his error in judgement. Raoul did a good job with the mind wipe, he's removed most of Issac's memories, but now…"

"Now?"

Gideon dropped into the chair in front of Iason's desk. "He is like a newborn again, Iason, and he is not responding well to stimulation. We have all tried to take part in his recovery, but he will do nothing beyond some automated functions."

"Why come to me with this? Raoul did the wipe, discuss it with him…"

"Raoul does not have a reason for why this is happening!" Gideon slammed his hand on Iason's desk. "He claims that the wipe should not have interfered with his regular functions and brain activities. He should have been able to recover to normal parameters within a couple of days, but he has not."

"I am still unclear as to why this is my problem."

"Issac always responded better to you, Iason. Will it kill you to help him now, at least until he is on a more even keel? We cannot even get him to eat!"

"As Elites, we do not need to eat."

"It is part of our programing, to assimilate the traits of Humans and enjoy the same pleasures that they do. Eating, working and sleeping are all part of that and he cannot do any of it."

Iason deliberately set his tea cup on his desk, then turned back to his terminal. "Then shut him down."

Gideon stared at him, hard, then slowly rose. "You have always been a cold bastard, Iason, more so than the rest of us, but this is Issac we're talking about, your own brother!"

"Orphe was also my brother, and you saw what happened to him when he betrayed me."

Gideon actually took a step back, before moving forward again in recovery. "Issac has only ever been devoted to you, Iason, and for his devotion you have robbed him of his memories of you and the rest of us. You have stolen his family from him!"

"Why Gideon, you've been spending too much time with those Humans you employ, you're beginning to sound like them."

Gideon slammed his hands on Iason's desk in a rage, for there was no bigger insult than to compare an Elite to a Human. "You dare?"

"Issac will grow to know each of his brothers once again and all will be as it was. I'm surprised that you are trying to force the issue, and more, that you are attempting to blame me for what has been done. Have you forgotten that Issac was directly responsible for the blatant failure in our security?

"I have not forgotten. His actions were foolish, regardless of what motivated them, but now he has paid your price. Why can you not forgive him?"

"Forgive him?" Because of Issac, Iason had almost lost Riki. If Carrie had not been there during their abduction Riki would have been lost to him forever. No, he would never forgive Issac, even though admitting unsettled him. "Why is this so important to you?"

"Because it is Issac!"

Iason stared at Gideon for a long, hard moment. "What will you give me in return if I help Issac to recover?"

Gideon's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

"You know what I want. Will you do it?"

"What is your obsession with this damn law? What difference can it possibly make?"

"Will you do it or not?"

"I cannot speak for the others, we have been over this!"

"You are very persuasive, Gideon," Iason returned. "I need only two more votes. If you get them for me I will help Issac."

"You will go see him? Your word on it?"

"I will help Issac, I do not need to see him to do so."

"Iason!"

"Take the deal or get out of my office and don't bother me with it again."

"Fine!" Gideon snapped. "I will hold you to your end of the bargain, Iason. If Issac does not improve, I will be very disappointed. Do not disappoint me."

Most of the Blondies believed Gideon to be just a light hearted, albeit selfish Elite who rarely had time for anything or anyone that did not directly pertain to his own interests. However, Iason knew that behind Gideon's easy-going façade lurked a mind that was darker, and deadlier than even Iason could admit to. Making an enemy of Orphe had been a risk, and both he and Riki had nearly lost their lives from it. An enemy like Gideon would allow for no escape, but Iason was still head of the Syndicate and so could not show that the threat bothered him.

He started typing on his keyboard, then glanced up at Gideon with ice in his eyes. "You may go." Iason turned back to his terminal and heard the quiet click of his office door as Gideon left, impressed that the Blondie hadn't slammed it.

He rose and walked to his transparent wall to look out over Eos. Gideon was wrong, it wasn't easy for him to refuse to help Issac, but he had to maintain his distance. He had made his decision and if he went back on it now his enemies would perceive it as a weakness.

Returning to his desk, he remained standing as he picked up his tea and gave a voice command to display the Hospice wing and the room where Issac was staying. A moment later his monitor showed the Blondie sitting in a chair by the window as one of the attendants attempted to get his attention. Issac never reacted, no matter what the attendant did.

"Increase view of patient's face by thirty percent."

The monitor complied and Iason studied the Blondie before him. Gideon said that all of Issac's memories had not been removed, so he should still be fully functional, just with a significant gap in his memory. Even at a full reset, Blondies had the ability to speak, eat, walk, talk and all of the normal components from the moment they were activated. Issac should be able to do that and more, so why wasn't he?

He noticed that when the attendant finally left there was a flicker of movement in Issac's eyes and the response seemed very similar to what Iason would term sorrow. Did some component of his memory remain? Was the Blondie being deliberately unresponsive? He couldn't go to see Issac, that was certain, but perhaps there was someone else who could? Someone else who might inspire the Blondie back on the road to recovery. It would have to be someone strong willed, and stubborn, but someone who also understood the respect that a Blondie required. Someone creative and persistent and willing to get their hands dirty. Someone a Blondie wouldn't expect.

Very slowly he smiled, but before he could take action his wrist communicator beeped. His smile widened as he accepted the call and Riki's handsome face came into view. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. Did you talk to Jupiter?"

"I am sorry, Riki, I have been swamped all morning. I will put a request in right now…"

"No, that's okay. I'll figure it out." Riki paused for a minute, as if reluctant to continue. "So, did you still want to have lunch?"

It surprised him that Riki actually remembered, more so that his beloved was willing to actually come to him so they could dine together, without being forced. Yes indeed, things were changing for them. "Actually, I can't get away right now, but I was wondering if you might do me a favour?"

Riki's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What kind of favour?"

That was the Riki he knew and loved, Iason thought, amused. "Where are you right now?"

"Cal and I are shopping."

Iason scowled. "Shopping for what?" He had wanted to take Riki shopping! He had wanted them to go together!

"Dinner ingredients. Cal said he'll cook something really cool."

"Ah, well, that is something to look forward to then." Iason was still irritated that Riki would so easily go shopping with Cal and not him. He'd have to have a very long talk with his pet…consort, he corrected and a smile slowly spread across his face.

"What are you so happy about?" Riki demanded then glanced behind him, screwed up his face and shook his head. Iason heard Cal make a comment about nutrients and Riki's response was "I don't care, I'm not eating green slugs!"

"They're Arati, not slugs! It's a completely different species!"

"They look like slugs, and I ain't eating it!" Riki turned his attention back to Iason. "Would you eat green slugs?"

"Certainly not!" Iason returned, playing along.

"There, see?" Riki said to Cal. "Even Iason says it's disgusting!"

"I never said…" Iason began but the two began to argue and he settled in his chair to wait it out. He was beyond pleased that Riki seemed to have resurrected a piece of the old Cal, perhaps the boy was finally on the mend. He glanced at the time and interrupted. "Riki. Riki!"

"What?" Riki snapped looking at Iason finally.

"About the favour I need you to do?"

"Oh, yeah. As long as it doesn't involve green slugs…"

"Arati!" Cal insisted from off camera and Iason watched Riki smirk. The mongrel was obviously provoking the younger boy on purpose.

"Whatever!" Riki turned his attention to Iason. "Okay, what do you want?"

What a loaded question, Iason thought amused, then quickly explained.

Riki made his way through the market place, passed the usual places where he purchased cigarettes, books and sweets, and wound his way through the multiple stalls. He ignored the calls from the other vendors promising fantastic, unbelievable wares. In his hands he carried a heated, hard cover sack.

No one stopped him on the way there, no one glared at him, or made a snide comment, and quite frankly it was making him nervous. A couple of security officers caught sight of him at one point, and started to make their way towards him, no doubt to harass him again, but they appeared to receive a communication over their wrist units at exactly the same time. He watched them review the message, readied himself to face them but instead saw shock and surprise in their eyes; then a flash of anger as they glared at him. They both turned away and he scratched his head, perplexed.

He finally made it to Carrie's stall, now in a prime location thanks to Iason's connections, and hopped over the counter before she could even say hello. "Lunch." he offered as he settled on her stool and started taking the food out of the bag. "I didn't think I'd ever get here, the smell was driving me crazy!"

Carrie grinned, pulled out a second stool, that she has purchased because Riki was always using hers, and settled next to him as he set the still steaming containers on her back table along with two cold drinks. "Smells good." She accepted the utensils he offered her. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I was hungry and in the area," he returned, then glanced around her stall. "Anything new?"

"Not since our adventure away. I've ordered some new stock, should be in tomorrow."

"I'll come back tomorrow then."

She pulled the lids off the containers to see detectable, juicy meats, mouthwatering vegetables and fluffy rice awaited them. "I heard you were sick?"

"Yeah, some kind of virus. I'm okay now." He decided not to mention the spots which were underneath his clothes; luckily, they had stayed away from his neck and face and his jeans and jacket covered the rest. He stuffed some rice into his mouth, chewed quickly then reached for his drink.

"Hey! Slow down! If you choke to death Iason will skin me."

"But you have such nice skin, especially when it's covered in fur."

"Hair!" she snarled. "I do not have fur!"

He laughed and drank down half of his soda. "Actually, Iason wants you to come to dinner tonight."

Carrie's toes curled in her shoes in pleasure. It was so lovely to hear Riki laugh, and see him smile. It was also a thrill to feel as though she were part of a family again. Being the only one left of her kind became very lonesome.

"I really don't know, I have a very full schedule..."

"Bullshit, you're coming." He finished off his food and rose to drop the empty container in the trash bin next to her stall. "Cal's cooking so it will be amazing, and you'll hurt his feeling if you don't show."

"Now, I call bullshit. Cal doesn't seem to be the type to get his feelings hurt so easily, don't try and guilt me kid, I invented guilt."

"You can't say no to Iason Mink."

"You can't say no" She shrugged and shoved a mouthful of rice into her mouth. "I can say it all I like."

Riki stared her down until she grinned and reached up to pat his cheek. "You're so cute when you're trying to get your way."

"I am not cute!"

"Hey!" Carrie caught his arm as he finished off his soda and dropped that as well into the bin. "Don't you dare try to eat and run, pal. Sit." She pulled him down until he was beside her again. "Now, tell me the truth. How are you, really?"

"I'm fine…"

"Riki! I put my life on the line to help you a very short time ago."

Riki shifted uncomfortably. "I know, and I appreciate…"

"You owe me," she reminded, using his own code against him.

"I know I do."

"Then be honest with me. Talk to me. A lot happened to you lately, and you can't just be fine with it."

She didn't know the half of it, she had no idea about his recent designation change. Riki felt a surge of discomfort and guilt. What did she expect from him? He wasn't used to talking about his problems, not to anyone. He'd been sort of forced to do it with Jupiter, and they was only because he couldn't keep Her out of his head.

"You know you can trust me," she said softly.

"Yeah. I know. I mean, I do. Trust you."

"Then talk to me."

He rose again and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. "What's the point of talking? Talking doesn't change things."

"That is not true. If we hadn't started talking we never would have become friends. If we hadn't been friends, I never would have tried to help you and Iason when you were abducted. If I hadn't tried to help you, you'd probably still be on Avalon in that awful tights and tunic and that horrific crotch cloth!"

Riki's lips twitched. "So, what you're saying is you rescued us single handedly?"

"I played my part as did everyone else and that was why you were able to return home. Because all the parts were in play to resolve the issue." She rose and dropped her hand on his shoulder. "I know talking isn't your strong point, with your vocabulary I'm not surprised."

"Shut up," he retorted but he knew she was just teasing him. He'd missed that kind of derisive taunting that he'd had with his gang. They insulted each other daily, but it was never in a mean way. He turned to her. "I know you're trying to help, but honesty, Carrie, I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about all of it."

"Okay." She nodded and stepped back, that was a start at least. "I completely understand that. I'm not trying to pressure you, I just want you to know that I'm here if you need me. Sometimes just talking to another person, hearing yourself say the problems out loud can make a huge difference in finding a resolution to them."

"Well, I'm good. Really." Riki looked at the floor of the stall, scuffed his boot along one of the many worn scratches and cracks. He could probably fix that for her, it wouldn't take much to buff out the scratches and seal the gaps, as he and Guy often had to do with that flat of his because there were no maintenance codes or droids in Ceres. Once a building started to deteriorate it was just left to do so.

"See, you're doing it for me now."

He glanced up at her startled. "Huh?"

"Ah, there's that amazing vocabulary again." Before he could respond she continued. "You're thinking of a way to fix my booth floor, aren't you?"

"It's a bit of a mess," he admitted looking down again. "I could…"

"No."

He raised his gaze again. "No what?"

"No, don't fix it."

"Why not? It would only take…"

She waved her hand and settled back her stool to resume eating. "I'll do it myself."

"Do you know how to do it? Do you know what materials to use and…?"

"I'll figure it out."

"But, I can do it for you!"

She turned to him suddenly. "Why would you do that?"

"Because the floor is shit and needs to be fixed!"

"I'm the only one who sees it, so it's fine."

"It's not fine! If the cracks get bigger your foot might get caught, or the whole thing could collapse which would throw off the angles of your displays and…"

"Then why should you do it?"

"Because I can…"

She turned away again. "I'll hire someone, don't worry about it."

"Why would you hire someone when I can do it?"

"Why should you do it when I can hire someone?"

"Because I want it done right!"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want your stall to collapse on top of you!"

"So what of it does?"

"It can't!"

She rose and faced him again. "Why not?"

"Because you have to safe!"

"It's not your responsibility to make sure I'm safe."

"It is!"

"Why?"

"Because I…" Riki's mouth snapped shut as he realized what he had been about to reveal. Angry at being played he turned away and put a hand on the front counter to jump back to the other side, but Carrie caught him from behind and hugged him, hard.

"I love you too."

Riki could feel the heat start from his toes and rise all the way up to his ears and the sudden, fierce pounding against his ribcage. "I never said that! I can't…Iason…I belong to him and…"

"I don't mean sexually, Riki. There are many types of love in this world and you should never, ever be ashamed to admit to even one of them."

"W…why?" he asked, timidly. She still hadn't released him, and his arms remained stiffly by his sides as he waited for an Elite or security or some other pet to see him being embraced and cause trouble for them both. "Please let go."

Carrie stepped back. "Riki, Iason understands how I feel about you. He won't get angry."

"I…maybe but…"

Suddenly feeling shaky and winded, either from surprise or his rapidly beating heart, he dropped down on her stool again. He wasn't used to anyone other than Iason touching him like that anymore, and it surprised him how much it had frightened him. He and Guy had hugged, occasionally the other members of Bison allowed a friendly, brotherly hug and back slap in greeting, but this embrace felt different. He didn't become aroused from it, more like he leaned into it. Not like he did with Iason, which caused fire and passion, this was more warmth and something…something else that he couldn't define. Something that made him feel inexplicably safe.

Carrie settled back on her spare stool and faced him. "I'm sorry if I upset you." She hadn't meant to push him so hard.

"I…Carrie, you know I can't…" Riki chewed on his lower lip then finally lifted his gaze. "I'm not used to this. I'm not used to having…"

"Friends?"

"No, I've had friends before, back in Ceres." But they never talked about their feelings or any real issues that troubled them. Talking about how shit your life was or how you felt about it was a sign of weakness. It was just expending air and making others pity you, and it never changed anything. "Talking, like that, isn't easy for me. I don't see the point. I know you're trying to help, but…"

"I get it." She patted the fist that his hand had curled into on his leg. "I won't do it again. You can fix my floor and my stall and anything else you want to."

He stared at the floor again, then back up at her as something dawned on him. This was a familiar feeling. It was one he'd had before, a long, long time ago, and a piece of it had come back to him when he had been on Avalon and holding the Queen. "I don't dislike the way you talk to me, Carrie, the way you treat me. I'm just not sure how to react to it. I think…I think maybe I'm confused about my feelings about the Queen and…and all of that and maybe I'm…what's the word…transferring some of that confusion onto you." He ran his hand through his hair. "Sorry, that doesn't make any sense."

Carrie's eyes grew moist and she had to blink several times as she discerned his meaning, even if he was not fully aware of what he'd just admitted to. "Do you know that when Iason and I were being held captive, and I helped him to escape, he asked me why I had tried to help you when you were being abducted."

"Makes sense, I still don't know either. What did you tell him?"

"I told him that one of the traditions of my people was to create a Pride. Most times that included your family, mother, father, siblings if there were any, but when my people started to be hunted, families became a luxury that few of us shared and so our Pride became people who helped us, who supported us…" She reached up and patted his cheek. "Who loves us and who we loved in return."

"Um…okay."

"I told Iason that you and he were both part of my Pride now, and that bond can never be broken. Not by you or me, not by the authorities of Amoï, not even by a Blondie."

Riki's eyes widened. "Really? Did he get mad."

"No. He accepted it and thanked me for taking you both in."

"What? Why?"

"Because, Riki, I think even Iason has finally realized that keeping you all to himself will not make you happy. You need to have friends, and people that you can count on. You need a family."

"Is that what a Pride is? A family?"

"Yes, in a way."

"So, you're saying you're my family and that Iason has accepted this?"

"Don't misunderstand," she said, seeing the flash of indignation in his dark eyes. "The people on Avalon that claim to be your real family forced that truth on you before you were ready for it. I am not forcing anything on you, I'm letting you know that in my eyes, you are someone I will always care for, always protect and can always turn to. You do not have to return those feelings, and nothing is expected of you."

"Carrie, I…I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. I just wanted you to realize, in my rough and tumble way, that if you want to talk, I'm here. If you just want to fix my floor and haggle over my wares, I'm here. If you want to bring me lunch or forget you ever met me, I'll still be here if you decide to come back to me."

"So, I can accept it, or refuse it and walk away? And you won't be mad?"

"No. I may be sad to see you go, but it's your choice and I would respect it. I can't make you feel something that you don't want to, or aren't ready to feel any more than I can change the way I feel about you. The point is, whatever your decision, you would still be part of my Pride, in my heart and in my soul, and I will still be here for you."

"Even if we never saw each other again?" he asked, quietly and felt his heart lurch at the thought, which also surprised him. He had never been one to tie himself to anyone, with the exception of Bison, and even then it had been ridiculously easy for him to walk away from all of them, including Guy, to search for a better life. People came in and out of his life and he accepted that without a second thought.

"Even if we never saw each other again, my feelings would still be the same. If we went a hundred years apart and you walked up to me one day, I would welcome you as my friend and as my Pride, without a second's hesitation."

"Even though I'm a pet of a Blondie? A mongrel of Ceres?"

"Who you are to someone else, who you were to others makes no difference. My choice is based on who you are to me, and to me you have always been a kind, and considerate young man who is very good, too good sometimes, at bargaining and extremely talented at fixing what I need fixed."

Her simple confession was so alarmingly different, Riki realized, to the way the King and Queen and everyone had shoved their truth onto him. They had not hidden their revulsion at what he was, even as they badgered him with tales of who they claimed he should be. They had insisted that his old life meant nothing, that such a distasteful and awful life should just be forgotten. That who he was should just be forgotten, but he couldn't because he had survived that life. He had become the person he was by living that life and they deemed the sacrifices he had made, the pain and torture and emotional turmoil that he had gone through to survive such a life as insignificant and worthless. That had been what had angered him the most, their complete ignorance and dismissal of his life on Amoï. To them, he was a Prince, and nothing else mattered. They didn't care who he was, only what they expected him to be.

Carrie wasn't demanding he be anyone else, and she wasn't asking anything from him. She didn't care that he was a pet or a mongrel, but nor did she begrudge him for it. There was no deceit or subtle attempts to convert him into someone he wasn't. All she was offering was friendship, support and the freedom to accept it or refuse it.

"I don't like her."

Carrie blinked. "Who?"

"The Queen. Everyone says she's my mother, and I do remember certain things about her." More feelings and scents than actual memories he realized. "But I don't want to be her son."

"Why?" Carrie inquired softly. "Because you're angry with her for not accepting you for who you are? Or perhaps, for losing you?"

Riki's lower lip trembled at how close to the truth Carrie was. "Losing me?"

"She's your mother, and a mother is supposed to protect you. She should have looked harder for you. She should have somehow sensed that you were in danger. She should have saved you."

"No. I mean, I know it's not her fault, not really. They couldn't have expected those things to attack us, to abduct me and kill the King."

"Shouldn't she have?"

Riki felt his eyes well up and lowered them, appalled. "That doesn't make sense. How could she? How could anyone…?"

"It doesn't have to make sense, Riki." Carrie caught both of his hands and linked them with hers. "Emotions, strong ones like love and hate and fear almost never make sense."

"But I barely even remember her! How can I blame her when I don't really know her?"

"You know she is your mother," Carrie said. "Memories aside, you can feel that part of the story is true."

"But I don't remember ever having a mother! It makes no sense to be mad when I never even considered having one."

"Riki, everyone wants a mother. Everyone wants to know where they came from and who created them. Once you acknowledged her as your mother, of course all the other emotions were going to come out too."

He stared at her, felt his emotions getting closer and closer to the surface and his ability to control them faltering. He lowered his gaze to their joined hands and found it difficult to compose himself. Because of this, he started speaking from his heart and could not seem to stop it. "I wish I'd never met her. I wish I'd never learned anything about her or the King or Avalon or any of it. I wish…" He lifted his gaze suddenly. "I wish you had been my mother."

That did it, the tears that Carrie had been holding back flowed over and down her cheeks. "Oh sweetie." It took her a moment to get the rest out. That was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her. "I'm not your mother, but I am your friend, and I am someone you can talk to about anything, I promise."

Riki nodded and allowed himself to be pulled into the second embrace. "I know. I do know that, Carrie." His arms tightened around her. "I'm so glad I met you."

"Me too." She allowed the hug to continue for another few seconds, then pulled back as people were starting to stare. Quickly wiping the moisture from her face, she smiled at him. "Even if I did almost shit myself in front of your master."

Riki almost smiled, but he pulled it back in as he remembered that technically, Iason was no longer his master. "About that," he began. "Maybe there is something I could get your advice on."

"Anything."

Riki nodded and revealed his new designation.