Perfectly Logical

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Post-Wolf 359 Part II

"What?"

That came from Moira. The entire room's attention was focused on Tasha now. Only Tom had gotten beyond shock and was now running over Eva's story in his head, clearly finding the places where Tasha's story lined up with Eva's daughter - starting with the name connection no one else would have been aware of.

"Doctor, could you excuse us for a moment?" Owen asked. Then he turned to Tasha. "I hope you're prepared to explain that."

"I am. I'm not completely positive that it's so, but there are a lot of coincidences."

"Such as?" Kathleen asked.

"My mother's name was Eva, and my father's was Matthew. He was involved in the government of the colony we lived on. I'm ten months older than Tom. When I was four, while my mother was pregnant, the colony we lived in collapsed on itself, and no one could enter or leave."

"You were born on the colony on Turkana?" Julia asked softly. She usually avoided saying the name of the cursed planet.

Tasha nodded quietly.

"Tali said you looked like Eva," Julia continued. "If you are Eva's daughter, that would explain it. Tasha - is that short for Natasha?"

"Yes. That was her name, wasn't it? Eva's daughter?"

Julia nodded, blinking back tears. "The chances of all this being a coincidence have to be a million to one."

"The doctor can confirm it," Owen said, still sounding shocked. "Why don't I call him back in here?"

xxxxxxxxx

An hour later it was confirmed. Tasha was indeed the daughter of Eva Paris, Owen's cousin.

"Can you -" Julia's voice was choked. "What happened to her?"

"I was five when she died. She and my dad were shot down in the street."

"Oh, you poor child." Julia hugged her tightly. "What about the baby?"

"My sister Ishara. She joined up with one of the power groups on the planet and refused to leave when given the chance."

"But you left." Kathleen's tone was a little sharp.

"Those groups were responsible for my parents' deaths. And not being affiliated with them meant a life of hardship. I saw my chance for something better and I took it. I tried to bring her, I really did."

"It's okay." Tom gently squeezed her shoulder. "I know you did." He shot a look in his sister's direction.

"Can I see her?" Tasha asked softly.

"Who?"

"My grandmother."

"I'll go talk to her first," Owen offered, "prepare her for the surprise."

Two minutes later he brought Tasha to the old woman's room. She walked in slowly and drew a deep breath. "Ma'am?"

"So it's true? You are Eva's daughter?"

She nodded mutely.

"Come here. Let me look at you." She examined Tasha for a long moment. "You really do look like her."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, no. As her daughter, you have every right to look like her."

Tasha couldn't help smiling.

"She really is -"

"I'm sorry."

"Come here." She reached out her hand, and Tasha placed hers in it.

"You are her legacy, Natasha. As long as you're alive, she's alive too. In you, and in your children. Your duty to your mother is to keep that line alive."

"I can't," she blurted out instinctively.

"You can't?"

"I can't have children. Doctors say I never will."

"Of course you can. It's not about your body bearing children, it's about your heart loving them. You can do that, can't you?"

"Are you saying I should adopt?"

"Blood isn't as important as love. If you call them your children, they're your children. It's that simple."

"I've always thought so. But a lot of people don't agree with me." Of course, the fact of exactly who she called her child had probably led people who would normally support adoption to make an exception.

"But I do, Natasha. Come here."

She hugged Tasha tightly. "I've been waiting a long time for this."

xxxxxxxxx

"What's this?" Tasha asked as Julia handed her a large box.

"I kept everything Eva sent me - all the letters and pictures and everything else - in a similar box. After we learned that you were her daughter, I made copies of all of it. It will give you a chance to get to know her."

"Thank you."

Everything was organized perfectly, with her letters in chronological order. Tasha carefully withdrew the first one as if it might shatter.

Dear Julia

Mother was livid. I got her letter this morning, and I could almost hear her shouting right off the screen. Well, I wouldn't have done it if she'd been willing to let me get married in the first place! Oh, well. She'll get over it.

You'll have to come visit sometime. It's like paradise. It's perfectly warm all year round and we're only a quarter mile from the beach. Between that and Matt, I think I've died and gone to heaven. I keep wondering when I'm going to wake up and discover this was all a dream.

There are lots of families with kids here. It would be the perfect place to have a family. Not yet though! I'm not quite ready for that yet! There's way too much fun to be had here by a childless couple. It's like a permanent honeymoon.

Matt and I are working on picking out a home. So far, we haven't found anything and we're getting sick of the apartment. I'll write again as soon as we find a place.

Love,
Eva

Tasha blinked back tears. She had vague memories of the paradise before it had turned into a hell. Her mother could have had no idea what her heaven would become.

She skimmed through quite a few letters, detailing their home and daily happenings, congratulating Julia on the birth of Kathleen and Moira. Then the letter telling Julia she was pregnant, and another one, seven months later, including a fancy document.

Matthew Yar and Eva Paris Yar
Are proud to announce the birth of their daughter
Natasha Mariah Yar
On the date of June 29th, 2337

More tears sprang to her eyes. It had never really occurred to her how much her parents had loved her.

The next dozen or so letters were full of baby anecdotes. Several of them mentioned letters Julia had written. It almost looked like she and Julia were in a friendly competition over whose baby could have the craziest moment. Then there was an abrupt change of tone.

Dear Julia

I'm scared. Don't tell Mom, I don't want her to worry, but I was on the beach with my family today and someone was shot. I knew there was unrest but I didn't know how bad. Now I'm worried. Not really about me so much, but about her. I don't want anything to happen to her, but Matthew won't leave, he says it's not that bad, and I'm not breaking up my family over one incident, however terrifying.

The rest of the letter continued with forced lightheartedness, telling Julia more of the things that had happened with Tasha. The next few letters were mostly the same, a mix of joy and fear. Then another memorable paragraph caught her eye.

Dear Julia

I have something to tell you. I'm pregnant again. Yes, really. I'm not as excited this time, though. I'm scared. Do I have the right to bring a child into a world like this? I'm already worried about raising Natasha in this place if it doesn't shape up. Matt says I worry too much.

She barely skimmed the rest of that one. There was only one left after this one, and she knew what it would say. This one even skipped the greeting, and it was short, just a few sentences.

Julia, I've had enough. People are getting shot just walking down the street. I want to get out of here. I can't raise my kids in a place like this. Even Matthew agrees with me. But all the evacuations have stopped. Julia, talk to Owen, please, get a ship out here to get me. I'm scared for my babies. Please, Julia. Help me.

Tasha knew that had been her mother's last letter. Tears she could no longer control streamed down her face. She jumped at the sound of a footstep.

"You've been up here for five hours." Tom's voice rang through the space. "Mom thought you might be hungry." He got a closer look at her. "Hey, you okay?" He carefully took the letter from her hand and glanced over it. "Her last?"

Tasha nodded and found herself in a painfully tight hug. "Did you know about her before today?" she asked.

"Not in so much detail, no. My mom told me when I was really little, so the whole thing was edited for a five-year-old's level of understanding and attention span. And then I never asked when I was older, because I felt like I knew-"

"So you never got the detailed version."

"Right. I probably would have been able to put two and two together eventually if I had, maybe not as fast as you did, but eventually."

"So what does this make us?" she asked softly.

"I didn't think of that. We're cousins now, aren't we?"

"It's not like anything will really change."

"No, I suppose you're right. But it means a lot to me. It means I have a family now."

And two and a half months later, as she wept over the body of her last Turkana relative, it meant even more to her.

Wasn't quite sure how to conclude this one. I hope this worked. I love that I surprised everyone last chapter. Good to know I'm still unpredictable.

I gave Tasha my best friend's name as a middle name and my own birthday.

Please review. I know I have way more than four readers, but I never seem to get more than four reviews!