-Anara...?- Kes asked.

-Yes?- Anara answered, her thoughts soft and full of adoration for her, despite their shared undercurrent of worry.

-The story you told, about the first majs?-

-What about it?- Anara asked.

-Just... if that, or something like it, really happened, then... how did it all go wrong for them? For your people?- Kes asked.

-I don't know if the story is true either, or even partly true, but... it is an accepted fact of our history that a line of majs who, at least, claimed linage with Rokin and Cajel from the legend ruled our united people for many generations...- Anara began thoughtfully, now playing the storyteller again as she so often had. Kes snuggled just a small bit closer to her and kissed the skin of her neck lightly, encouraging her to continue.

-At one point, their line came to be ruled by a maj named Umral, who was... a reformer. He claimed that the Eight spoke to him and commanded him to build great cities in their names, either new cities or rejuvenated and renamed versions of preexisting ones. He conscripted or compelled in some way many, if not most, of our people to build these cities for him. He worked them too hard though, it seemed, for they all rose up against him in the end and slew him and his family in one night of blood and death. It also hadn't helped him that he hadn't had a wife, or even a husband; as you know, my people are superstitious about such things. And, for one of his age and position, it was... very unusual.- She went on. -In any case, as you might guess, that was the day the sects began to rise with us. Many argued that they should be the next maj, and, in time, factions gathered together and, when a peace could not be found between them, the first great war in our history began... Kaze emerged from that war a broken world, with far too many dead and eleven nations standing where once was only one.

-My mother told me that this was the great breaking point when we lost balance with the Eight, with our world... She told me that she thought Umral wrong to have worked his people so hard, and that he broke faith with the Eight in his own right to not marry, but that what the people had done in response was much, much worse. They ravaged the lands in their wars... It was from the seeds of that first great war that the dark times came many generations later. Our world no longer green and kind, no longer in any sort of balance, the Eight having abandoned us for our foolishness and cruelty. An then, as you're aware, the Trabe came, and we were... lost to them.

-In the end though, if the Trabe had truly wished to keep us at their mercy, then they would have been better served to learn our history, for they made Umral's mistake - they made worse than his mistake. And they paid his price, as my people again rose up and slew their tormentors in a night of blood and death.- Anara spoke. -But, of course, as my mother said, we are making Umral's usurpers' mistake all over again unto this very day... I have no doubt, if my people continue down that road as they have been, then Kazeron's warning may well come true one day... and we will all be lost in darkness, a dead race, even as we seek to visit that very fate upon the Trabe for their crimes against us.- Anara finished, having lost herself a little in her emotions.

Kes was silent for a time. -...There's hope though.- She finally said. -For all of Kazeron's darkness, isn't it always matched by Kazerel's light? And, even though Kazeron... he told them that he saw that horrible future for them, but he still wanted to change it. If... your people really do come from them, from Kazerel and Kazeron, and the other Six that came after them, then how can the Kazon be as bad as it seems?- Kes asked. -When I lay here with you, safe and loved, having found a place to belong at last, and someone to belong with... how can I believe that a people you came from are so terrible as that? ... Kazerel's faith in you hasn't died, not as long as you live, Anara... it can't have...- Kes told her with soft sincerity and total faith that her words had to be true.

Anara had no words to reply with, but Kes was more than happy to be rolled over onto her back and kissed as thoroughly as Anara was kissing her. They kissed for long, timeless minutes, pleasantly absent of much thought at all, simply enjoying each other and the love they'd come to share, not taking it any further than that this time.

After a time, their fervor for one another again faded and they settled back together, Anara snuggled above Kes this time in a reverse of their previous positions. -Thank you.- Anara told Kes softly at one point. -Your words meant so much to me...-

Kes merely kissed her skin again in response and told her in something less and yet more than words how she felt.

Soon, Tresit came back in and they both knew they had to get up to share the day's last meal with their children. Kes had eaten something after she'd brought Tresit back that morning, and been given water when she'd returned, but that's all she'd had all day. She hadn't realized it so much when she'd been laying with her wife in bed, but now that she wasn't in Anara's arms anymore, she realized she really did want a meal and she was grateful that they were going to eat soon.

Once she and Anara had helped each other dress again, Kes sat on the floor with her new family and they ate together. They talked about light subjects, Tresit thankfully not bringing up the morning's events, and Lanam strangely quiet. So quiet, that Kes was actually a little concerned, and she knew that Anara was too.

When they'd got back, Lanam had hugged her brother and not let go for a long time. She'd also treated Kes as though she was even more her hero than she had been before. Lanam had asked questions later of course, and they'd told her what had happened... though, they'd still left out the part about little Vastu. Kes wasn't sure that was the right thing anymore, and she turned to Anara and asked her silently through their bond if they should tell her.

Anara was conflicted, but, in the end, she didn't want to tell Lanam and then have it turn out that she'd never be able to see Vastu at all. Kes understood that of course, and agreed it was the best thing... though she was still less than sure, just like Anara was.

They were finishing up their still less than completely filling meal, Tresit volunteering to put things away, when Lanam got up and went back to her and Tresit's bed. Kes followed after her and knelt down beside her bed, feeling helpless to do anything but that. She reached out and touched her daughter's face and hair a little. "You're... so quiet, Lanam... Daughter, is something wrong?" She asked.

Tears escaped Lanam's eyes and she all but threw herself forward, Kes taking her up and setting her down in her lap as Anara came over to sit next to her. "Momma..." Lanam said to her as Kes held her close and felt like she might cry too any moment. Anara wrapped her arms around them from behind and lay her head on Kes's shoulder.

"It'll be alright, my asasha... we'll be alright." Kes told her softly. 'Asasha' was a Kazon word for 'treasured and beloved daughter'.

Tresit came over and sat on the edge of the bed, looking worried but unsure of what he could do or say to help. His and Kes's eyes met and Kes could see the guilt hiding there - he thought this was his fault. Whether it was because what he'd done was wrong or not, he was the reason why Lanam was upset and they both knew that was true. Still, she offered him an encouraging look as she softly repeated "We'll be alright, I promise."

He looked grateful to her for having said it, and Kes offered him a small smile in response.

Lanam seemed to slowly calm down and move back from clinging to her to dry her tears. Kes touched her hair and cupped her chin lightly, Lanam nuzzling her hand a little and closing her eyes. "Lanam, what's wrong? Please, will you tell me?" Kes asked softly.

"I don't know..." Lanam replied in a small voice.

"...Are you scared?" Kes asked, making a guess from the jumble of feelings she couldn't help but vaguely sensing from her. "Maybe, um... maybe about going to sleep and Tresit not being there when you wake up? Are you worried it could happen again?" She asked, meeting Tresit's eyes again and seeing the renewed guilt there.

"Maybe, I guess." Lanam admitted, sounding a little embarrassed to admit to it. "I thought... I thought maybe he'd go away, like father, that you'd go away too..."

"I'll always try very hard to make sure that doesn't ever happen. I promise." Kes told her gently.

Lanam didn't say anything, she just hugged her again. "...I love you, momma." Lanam told her softly at last.

"...I love you too, asasha. We all do, so much." Kes told her.

Lanam sniffed and sat back again, realizing she couldn't stay where she was forever. Kes handed her over to Anara then. "Momma." Lanam said again, snuggling up to Anara for another hug and sounding in much improved spirits. Anara soon got up with their daughter in her arms and sat on her and Tresit's cot, starting to sing one of her people's songs in a soft but so beautiful voice.

Anara reached out and took Tresit's hand, and Kes took Tresit's other hand as Tresit started to sing the song too. Kes joined in too and lay her head against Anara's thigh on the cot.

They sang two more songs until Lanam was fading fast and nearly asleep. "We are always here for you, we are family and we love you with all our hearts, asasha." Anara cooed to her in a very soft voice, handing Lanam over to her brother who took her in his arms and hugged her as Anara left the cot and sat down on the floor with Kes, reaching out to hold her hand.

Tresit and Anara helped Lanam out of her outer clothing, Tresit getting undressed too, and then putting her to bed. He sat up then and looked to Kes, knowing, of course, that eye contact would mean nothing to Anara who wouldn't know he was doing it, and he spoke. "Mother, mother... I... I am ashamed to have frightened her. I promise, I'll try very hard never to do it again."

"We accept your word, beloved elshyash." Anara replied, touching his cheek fondly. His and Kes's eyes met and Kes nodded to him to signal that she agreed with Anara too.

He swallowed and nodded, looking unsure of himself but gratified to have their faith. "...um, good night then." He told them softly.

"Goodnight, elshyash." Kes replied.

He got under the blanket and let Lanam snuggle up to him like she usually did. She and Anara lingered there a moment, Anara squeezing Kes's hand and leaning against her shoulder. After a few moments passed, Kes nudged her wife and they got up together and went to their own cot, helping each other undress and then getting into bed together.

-You were so wonderful with them...- Anara told her, wrapping Kes in her arms as she snuggled in for sleep together.

-...before I'd met you, I'd never really thought about having a family... I'd never let myself see that far into what my future might be. Some... some female couples among my people do have children. They make bargains with male couples to accomplish it. For instance, agreeing that the child would be given to the male couple if male, or the female couple if female - or whatever other bargain the couple in question want to agree to. I found that out when Lona took me to visit with some of them one day on the outskirts of the city in the area they've gathered and made their home. Lona'd been sad that I wouldn't be able to have children like she could, so she'd investigated it. She was so happy for me when she'd found that my attraction to females instead of males didn't have to mean I would be childless. But, by that time, I was too scared that Tae would reject me that I didn't... I pretended to be happy for Lona's sake, but, really, I didn't let myself think about it...

-What I mean to say is... I like it. I like... being a mother. It makes me so happy that I can share it with you, Anara.- Kes finished.

-...I love being able to share it with you too...- Anara told her back softly. -When Lanam hugged you just now, I can't... I can't even describe how good that felt... and to feel through our link how much you care for her, for both of them... and for me... I've... I've had to take care of them alone for so long... It's so much better in every way to have you with me. Life seems... so perfect, just because you're with me... Even with the problems we face, it's perfect...-

Kes kissed her neck then -For... for me too...- Kes told her softly, nearly overwhelmed with emotion from what Anara had told her.

They didn't say anything else to one another that night, they just held each other close and fell off to sleep, only to find themselves on that cliff in the Ocampa city again, holding hands and looking out over the water. In the dream, Kes met her wife's eyes and saw Anara smile to her. In their dreams, after all, Anara could see her perfectly.

to be continued

and I'm always happy to get comments (even really short ones)