"You're doing great!" Kantra cheered. She sat on one of the benches and had a baby carrier at her feet. She leaned forward and rocked it by the handle to coax Kayana into taking a nap. She beamed with pride and adoration as her mate and son ran up and down the assault course. To her great delight the recreation hall had been filled with family fun day activities. It reminded her so much of similar events at the Hunter's Rest and Bathhouse she'd teared up as she saw it. There were play gyms, laser shooting lanes, ball pools, climbing ropes, and of course the centre piece. The assault course.

Metal rings hovered above the ground for each contestant to step into. Then there were zigzag bars that swayed a few inches closer and then apart from each other. Then there was a wooden cylinder ramp to climb up to become level with three floating platforms. They also moved left and right slowly. This led to a single pole to traverse by either walking across it like a type rope, or swing from one hand to the next along the level pole. At the end of the pole there were two metal walls with no foot or hand hols in them. As a test of core strength and agility the contestant had to press their hands and feet to either side of the wall and carefully guide their body down to the bottom. Either end of the course there was a timer button so you could see how quickly you completed the course.

Kantra chuckled as she saw the look on Cetanu's face when he saw it. Courses such as these had to be supervised by a parent if the child was under the age of 12.

"Dresk isn't here yet. Why don't you take Kantanu to play? That assault course looks fun."

They had both looked at the course and watched as Tochel ran along the parent lane along side Bakkub as he struggled to shimmy up the wooden ramp. From their bench they could hear the words of encouragement and the way they both celebrated when Bakkub made it to the top.

Cetanu and Kantanu looked at each other, and both craved that familial connection.

"Oh I don't know if it will be fair to the other children to watch my son defeat their times so easily."Cetanu had chuckled with pride, and Kantanu jumped with excitement.

"I'll be the fastest Daddy! I will!"

Kantra chuckled again as she watched them in the queue. Two people from the front and they seemed to be in deep discussion as to tactics. Cetanu was gesturing with his hands and pointed at various parts of the course. Kantanu dutifully listened and looked to each activity as his father motioned to them.

Kantra also had to smile to her left when she saw on another bench Naxa and little Paya. They had waved to her in greeting but didn't come over to join her like Kantra had expected. It seems it wasn't just 'the boys' who were having bonding time. Naxa had given Paya a present and was being inundated with gratitude and questions. The little Yautja held a wooden bow, quiver, and was now being taught how to widdle her own arrows.

It was rather clever of Naxa, Kantra thought, to present the gift to Paya. She would never be as big or as strong as her fellow female Yautja, but if she became a long distance hunter then she could have just as much honour and glory.

"I wonder what weapons you will favour my little princess?" Kantra beamed a smile down at her sleeping babe. Even though she was tuskless she knew that her daughter would be just as fearsome as her father one day. She looked forward to raising and training both her children, but she was secretly very excited by the prospect of sharing similar moments with Kayana that she had with her mother. Things only mothers and daughters shared. Helping her discover her preferred style of dress? Experimenting with how she'll wear her dreads? Accessorising? Oh the possibilities. "Just don't be growing up too quickly and getting into boys. I imagine your Daddy will struggle to find anyone worthy enough for his little princess."

"Does he call her that?"

Kantra instinctively flung her hand to the flame dagger on her right hip and looked towards the intruder. She faltered when she realised Dresk was stood over her. "I didn't mean to startle you." Kantra relaxed and looked towards Cetanu and Kantanu. They were next in the queue and hadn't noticed the Arbitrator yet.

"Can you wait until they've done the course? They were both so looking forward to it." She turned to plead with him, only to have to drop her green eyes. Dresk sat next to her, uninvited, and watched as Cetanu and Kantanu took their places. The parent lane was on the side of the course closest to the common area, so Cetanu had his back to them and thus shielded Dresk's presence from them both.

"I wouldn't dream of interrupting. Besides, this is an observed session. I don't intend to stop Kantanu from doing anything. I will simply watch."

Kantra regarded the older Yautja carefully. Last night she had spoken to Cetanu at length about what Dresk had said during the last session. Her mate maintained that Dresk was being cunning, and said what he did to manipulate Kantanu and influence them. After all, the Arbitrator knew that he was being recorded. Kantra however…wasn't as convinced. "…she sleeps so soundly? Even though there is so much noise?" Kantra blinked, and realised that she was being addressed. Dresk was smiling down at Kayana in her black baby carrier.

"She is a delight really. Our medical scans say that she's only 4 months old. So it's understandable that she still sleeps a lot. She has lungs a'plenty don't you worry. When Kayana wakes up she will carry on like she's never been fed." Kantra chuckled and patted the satchel to her side with a smile. "I've come well prepared, however." Dresk looked to her with surprise. This was the first time Kantra hadn't glared or snapped at him. She was actually being plesant…and he didn't know if he was more or less wary of her as she smiled at him. "Perhaps when she wakes you'd like to hold her whilst I get her bottle ready?" He blinked and then nodded at her eagerly.

"Yes I should like that."

"So as you will know me and Cetanu watch the interview sessions." Kantra still smiled and rocked the baby carrier to keep Kayana asleep. She got his immediate attention and he turned on the bench to face her. "Kantanu has a cousin?"

"He does. Six years of age."

"Can I assume that you are K'tan senior are close?" Kantra didn't stare at Dresk as she spoke. Instead she smiled and watched as Kantanu pressed the starter button and launched forward. On all fours he sprang his hands and feet in and out of the floating rings. All the while Cetanu jogged along side him. Cheering him on. "Cetanu won't ask you this, so I will do so in his place and fill him in later. What happened to K'tan when he left?"

"…he joined another clan. Clan A'nok." Dresk regarded her curiously. There was no reservations coming off this woman. She basked in her family's enjoyment and yet her mind was sharp to the task of dealing with the Arbitrator. She also didn't appear to worry about what Cetanu thought of her doing so. She was that confident that she knew what her mate needed to know, even if he didn't want to ask the questions himself. "He worked hard to raise through the ranks. He is currently an Elite class hunter."

"And his mate?"

"Bhatha is a scout class hunter. She has brought her clan much honour in locating new hunting grounds and assessing what challenges await there."

"Ah yes. One of the more exciting roles." Kantra chuckled. Kantanu had easily scaled the wooden ramp, but he currently dangled from the first hovering platform. His tail and legs dangled comically. The only thing that was funnier was how Cetanu stood beneath him with his arms out ready to catch him. Kantanu was having none of it though. He was hissing with determination to pull himself back up. Kantra darted her eyes to her right and saw that Dresk was also watching them with a smile on his face. "And are the happy?"

"Hmm? Oh yes very much. K'tan adores his mate. She openly tells anyone who will hear how she dragged his sorry ass out of his broody ire to go on their Clan's elite trail. They were victorious and if the story is to be believed she declared that she was so impressed with K'tan that he was to be her mate."

"Oh did she?" Kantra chuckled scandalously. "Just how public was this declaration?"

"To the entire clan during the awarding ceremony." Dresk sniggered with amusement. "I was present. It was rather funny. I'd never seen the boy turn that shade of green before." Dresk leaned back against the table of the bench with his elbows. He was very relaxed around Kantra. She was not as prickly as he first thought she was. "I was sent for a week later to meet his new mate, and for some reason K'tan couldn't understand why I wasn't at all surprised by the development."

"That sounds familiar." Kantra giggled behind one hand. "Cetanu declared openly to over 200 staff members at the Bathhouse where I grew up, my mother, and all the Cor'ja clan in attendance that I was his mate."

"Yes that did surprise me." Dresk didn't bother to hide the knowledge he had thanks to Kantanu. Kantra had already said she'd watched the session. "Cetanu was always such a quiet boy. He never asked for anything, but completed any task given to him like his life depended on it. Everything he did had to be perfection. And he would have sooner hid than been around a crowd of more then 5 people. He saw no point in anything but dedicating himself to his training. For the life of me I couldn't get that boy to make a damn friend. 'K'tan is all I need, father' he'd say. Not that I could get anyone to want to be in his company. They were all so terrified of him. He would snarl at anyone who even looked at him in passing. And yet." Dresk watched as Cetanu cheered loudly when his son finally managed to pull himself back up to the hovering platform. Tochel and Bakkub were at either side of him, hooting encouragement at Kantanu for not giving up. Tochel even had a hand on Cetanu's back! "The man I see now is so very different."

"He must be. I don't recognise the man you describe." Kantra looked down at Kayana. She was making some very tell tale signs of stirring. "He can still go to dark places, but everyone gives him space and he comes round." In fact Kantra realised that Cetanu had changed even from the man she first met. He was happier now, and it was having an impact on how the rest of the clan saw him. How they treated him.

She still remembered the way Cetanu back handed and shoved hunters out of his way when he chased her in the Bath house. Now they felt comfortable enough to walk up to him in the mess hall and greet him. Put their hand on his shoulder and shake it. Hell, they'd been inundated with congratulation cards and gifts from the moment the news broke that Cetanu had become a father. It didn't seem to matter to anyone how that feat was achieved. "He is happy."

"Not when I'm around." Dresk sneered bitterly.

"I think he's just afraid you're going to take happiness from him." Dresk snapped his blue eyes to look at her. Kantra had spoken frankly and shrugged up at him. "Surely you can see that?"

"I didn't come to take away his happiness." Dresk ground through his mandibles quietly, as to not disturb the other families around them. "In fact I'm pleased that he is so happy."

"Telling him that would go a long way."

"A long way to what?" Dresk laughed without any joy. "A cease fire?"

"Reconciliation?" Kantra raised a brow at him. "That's why you're really here isn't it? To reconnect with Cetanu and get to know your grandkids?"

Dresk folded his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes on the redhead.

"You are more formidable that you appear, aren't you?"

"Cetanu is always telling me I have weapons you can't see." Kantra chuckled and turned to unzip her day bag. "So if that's your plan, what are you going to do next? You can't evaluate Kantanu forever."

"…I know. In truth I've already finished." He sighed. Dresk had intended to keep that ace to himself, but Kantra was right. He wouldn't be able to stall forever. And if gaining her trust would make her an ally then he'd have to risk it. "I hadn't anticipated how much he would hate me still. 20 years and he looks at me like it was yesterday."

They both looked out to the assault course. Kantanu was near the end. He was walking along the pole like a cat on all fours and looked nervously at the spider wall. It wasn't the most adhesive of walls, despite it's namesake, and it was a long way to fall down. Cetanu must have sensed his fear. He moved to kneel at the bottom and looked up at his son. His arms were out and he made it very clear that if Kantanu fell he would do so into his arms.

"Perhaps you should start with how sorry you are?"

"I'm not the guilty party here."

"Aren't you?" Kantra countered and reached down into the baby carrier. Kayana was just opening her green eyes. With deft fingers she freed the babe from her carrier and lifted her up, pink swaddle and all, into her arms. "Hello princess. Who's my beautiful little girl? Are you hungry?" Kayana began whimpering, her stubby little mandibles wobbling and her eyes watering. Kantra turned carefully and looked to Dresk. "Do you still want to-"

"Yes." Dresk sat upright and offered his arms to Kantra. "Please may I?"

"Alright. But if you run off with her or hurt her I'll skin you." Kantra was smiling…but he didn't doubt her intent for a moment. "Ok. Over to Grandpa." Kayana was still whimpering, but started up in fascination at the new face. Dresk was overcome with joy as he looked down at her.

"She's so beautiful." He cradled her to his chest with his left arm and stroked her face with his right index finger. One of her tiny little hands reached out of the swaddle and took hold of it. "And quite the grip for such a young pup." He chuckled and looked up to Kantra.

Cetanu wouldn't have allowed this in a million years with the current state of their relationship. But Kantra appeared to be more reasonable. She was someone he could work with. "Thank you."

"If you really want to be Cetanu's father again, and a grandfather to my babies, then I'll help you." Dresk felt his heart soar. "But you need to come to terms with the shitty thing you did. No bullshit excuses either. I'm sure you have your own grievances to work out with Cetanu, but you aren't innocent in this. You need to own your mistake and apologise. Otherwise you can kiss your chance to be part of this family goodbye."

"…you don't mince your words do you?" Dresk had to chuckle. "I don't think anyone has ever dared to speak to me in such a way. Not even when I was the leader of this clan."

"I was raised to speak my mind. I've very stubborn and direct. Something Cetanu responds well to." Kantra was shaking a bottle of formula. The bottle had rings around it for grip and also to heat the bottle to temperature, so she just had to mix the power into the water. "Be direct with him. Tell him you want to make amends. Tell how you feel. Let him do the same. Apologise, he might do the same. And move the hell on." Kantra offered him the bottle. "Here. Before she pulls your finger into her mouth and starts biting it." Dresk nodded, more than happy to take the bottle and offer the teat to his granddaughter.

"Wow she doesn't waist any time." Dresk chuckled and was totally captured by her. The way her cheeks massaged the sides of the bottle teat base as she suckled the milk into her mouth.

"Yeah Kayana knows how to knock back a bottle." Kantra giggled with pride.

"I never got to do this." Dresk sighed with content. "I was away for the first year of K'tan's life. I was on assignment in deep space plotting out new sectors. By the time I returned K'tan wasn't on milk anymore. And Cetanu was ten."

"What about K'tan junior? Didn't you bottle feed him?"

"Oh no." Dresk chuckled. "That boy wouldn't let anyone but his mother feed him. Or put him to bed. A mama's boy if I ever did see one."

"I see." Kantra smiled, actually enjoying his moment with her father in law.

"What about Kantanu?" Dresk lifted his gaze up to look at Kantra. The Ooman glowed with motherhood. "Is he a mama's boy?"

"No I think he's attached to both of us equally." Kantra leaned with one elbow causally on the bench table. She rested her head on her hand and smiled. "Although he preffers my singing, and his father's rough housing. I can't crawl after him on the ceiling, after all." Dresk leaned forward, about to ask if that looked as funny as it sounded, when he was cast shadow.

"Why are you holding my daughter?"

"Because I asked him to." Kantra didn't bat an eye or sound concerned by the menacing presence of her mate. "My arms are still aching from training this morning so I thought I'd make use of Dresk whilst he kept me company."

"Whilst he kept you-what?" Cetanu snapped his red eyes to Kantra and looked to her with confused anger. "Then why didn't you call me over to hold her?"

"Because you and Kantanu were having so much fun. Dresk thought you were very impressive." Kantra directed at Kantanu, who was peering out from behind his father's leg.

"He did?"

"Oh yes. Especially when you got back up onto the platform." Dresk leapt on Kantra's lead. "You appeared to be having a wonderful moment, the two of you. I remember the first time I took your father fishing. K'tan was ill so it was just the two of us. The way you were together then reminded me of…"

Cetanu leaned down slowly and inserted both hands between Dresk's arm and Kayana. She was lifted up and held high up against her father's chest. Dresk still held the bottle and looked so dejected.

"Bottle." Cetanu commanded and held his hand open to receive it.

Dresk swallowed deeply. He sighed and handed it over.

"I shall take my leave then." Dresk stood, and flinched when his shoulder was taken. Kantra pushed the Arbitrator back to his seat and baffled them all.

"So you are undermining me then?" Kantra put her hands on her hips and narrowed her big green eyes on Cetanu. Her mate blinked suddenly and he clicked nervously at her.

"What? No I-"

"Because I clearly remembered saying that I asked Dresk to hold her for me. Do you have a problem with how I care for our daughter?"

"N-no Kantra of course not."

"Mummy's wearing her scary face." Kantanu hid more behind his father. Cetanu certainly agreed with him.

"Then what the hell do you think you are doing?" She kept her voice down to keep her displeasure contained to their group, but anyone who was looking could see their fearless leader looking rather afraid of his mate. "Don't you trust my judgement?"

"Yes of course I-"

"Clearly not." Kantra angrily took the bottle from him and used it to point up at Kayana, who was crying. "Stopping her mid feed just to sate your own anger? You know better than that. You know she gets hungry when she wakes up and if she doesn't get at least 9 ounces then she cries blue murder! Look at her? She thinks she's not getting fed now." Kantra shoved her satchel over her shoulder. If anything Kayana began to prove her mother right by screaming. Her tail tore through the bottom of the swaddle and failed with her little arms in protest. Everyone in the hall looked their way to the source of the noise. "Give her to me."

"Yes of course." Cetanu eagerly transferred her into Kantra's arms.

"There there little girl. Mummy's got you. Come on now here's your bottle. There's a good girl. Shhhhh."

After a few hisses and screams Kayana allowed the bottle back into her mouth and resumed feeding with the odd sniffle here and there. Kantra kissed her forehead, and then glared up at Cetanu.

Dresk couldn't believe it. Cetanu was submissively waiting for Kantra to give him attention and looked very nervous. Just like when Cetanu was a boy. "You and your father need to sort out your differences. I will not have your spat interfere with our children. This whole thing isn't even about Kantanu, and from now on we are staying out of it." She hissed quietly. "Both of you are to go somewhere private and don't you dare leave until you've fixed this." She aimed more at Desk than her mate. "It isn't fair to the children. Kantanu? We are going home."

"Yes my queen." He leapt on all fours away from his father and lifted himself up to stand beside her. He held onto the strap of her satchel to be attached to her.

"And you?" She barked at Cetanu, making him flinch. "Just…listen to him. Have your turn. Trust me. Don't come home until it's fixed." She spoke softly at last and saw Cetanu lean towards her. Kantra sighed and lifted her head up. Cetanu eagerly leaned down to bring their foreheads together. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes my Queen."

"Then go, and I'll see you later." Kantra leaned back and he pinned from the loss of her touch. "Don't screw this up. One chance. Got it?"

Dresk realised he'd been addressed and nodded in response. "Good. Let's go home sweetie."

Kantra marched, head high, Kayana still feeding in her arms and Kantanu clinging to her satchel to be close to her side. Once they left the hall Dresk turned to look up at Cetanu.

"So...weapons you can't see huh?"

"…indeed."