Family Ties
[After the events of 'The Peacekeeper Wars']
''...This is my father, Barbarossa Anasazi, out of Francine by Tamogen." The woman smiled at his father and Tyr was instantly jealous. The rest of his pride backed away from the Berserker in fear. But Tammy cuddled closer, patting her three-month pregnant belly. They'd found his homeworld after the peace was made.
"You would have made your mother proud, boy," an older version of her husband said distantly.
"Thank you," Tyr said neutrally. "This is my family. My firstborn, Isaiah Kenshin Elijah Anasazi, out of Tamika by Tyr." he indicated the oldest, who was clinging to his mother's leg. "And my daughter, Ivy Zhann Anasazi out of Tamika by Tyr."
"Hello, Grandpop," the five-year-old said, grabbing his hand and shaking it. The older man looked taken aback. "I Isaiah."
"'I am', baby," Tammy corrected kindly. "'I am Isaiah'."
"Sowry Mama."
"It's okay, baby boy," she smiled, opening her arms to him. He ran to her, about to leap in her arms. But Tyr caught him mid-leap and tickled him. The boy shrieked with laughter, accepting the change in his parents. Tammy rubbed the boy's head fondly, accepting the silent reprimand from her husband.
"Hey, yo, bony prominences! My name is John Crighton, Me and the wife thought we'd accompany the Anasazis to Papa Bear's home planet. Tammy was looking for some family on this side of the Milky Way."
"'Family' means something very different in Nietzschean culture. We will teach you. Come." The old man frowned at the loving display, leaving them behind.
… …
The next few days were the same. Kodiak pride was cold, she found, but her research into Nietzscheans had proven that fact. What did surprise her was her father-in-law's reaction to her and her family. The man seemed determined to keep them all at arm's length. He would barely look at her or his grandson. He seemed to take pleasure in making the young mother worry about him.
"Why do you keep trying to impress my father?"
"Um, because he's my father-in-law? I'm meant to earn his approval or die trying."
"Tamika, you well may die trying. 'Family' is a word used lightly here compared to yours. We are distant to those that aren't of immediate blood because at any moment, they could betray us."
"Then why did you bring us here?" the woman asked in annoyance, sad that her vision for family was being shattered so completely. All she'd wanted was a replacement for her family that she'd lost. Now it seemed that dream was to be denied.
"You insisted on it," he said simply. "I'm not saying we can't make a life here, but you're not going to find the warmth and shelter you had at home among my people. We just aren't built that way."
She nodded, trying to hide her tears. Her husband didn't miss much, though, and pulled her into a hug automatically. "I miss them so much. It's amazing to me; four years and hardly a tear. Now I can't seem to stop thinking about them!"
"It's alright," he soothed her, rubbing her belly as his son kicked. "I'm still here for you. Your family was something rare and precious; they deserve to be mourned. But what you did saved them from slavery and worse. Earth isn't ready to be among other species; it's too angry, too intolerant. Isolating them from the rest of the universe was the only way to save them."
"I know," she mumbled into his powerful bicep. "I just wish it wasn't so hard to accept. I just… I miss them. Even Jerome, and he tried to have me killed." The two stayed that way for a while, Tyr rubbing her stomach and offering comfort to his wife while she cried on him.
"Dinner is ready," Barbarossa broke into their comfortable bubble, an air of disapproval about him as usual. Tammy stirred and wiped her tears away, struggling to her feet until Tyr helped her up.
"Emotion is death around here," the older man said sternly as Tammy passed.
"Emotion has kept me alive and gotten me far in this life of mine," she snapped back at him. He blinked in shock, then frowned.
"Mind yourself, woman. Tyr may approve of your antics, but-"
"That's right, he does. So maybe we should just leave. I don't plan to change everything about myself just to win your approval." The two glared at each other until Tyr cleared his throat.
"Dinner? My mate is hungry." Her three-month pregnant stomach growled at that, causing the woman to look down in embarrassment.
"This way," Barbarossa said grumpily, leading the couple to the food.
… …
Barbarossa pushed the five-year-old away from him, disgusted by his weakness. "Attack me as if I wasn't your grandfather," he said angrily, embarrassed to have to say such a thing out loud. A Nietzschean child would do it automatically, instinctively knowing not to hold back. But little Isaiah was treating this sparring lesson as if it were a game. And in front of his pride! The families were whispering, likely at his expense! His temper flared at that and he flipped the child harshly.
"Take it easy, Grandpa," the infernal voice of that temptress Tyr had married called in concern. Damn her! She and her weak ways were getting in the way. The boy stood up gamely, and he had to admire his persistence. Just not enough to spare the little half-breed. He assumed a fighting stance again, feinting left and striking the boy across the face with his bone blades. That would teach the little halfbreed!
"That's enough," Tammy growled. She hadn't been too thrilled with the idea of a five-year-old sparring with a grown man, but seeing the shallow cuts on her beautiful boy's face made her blood boil. She entered the ring, pushing through to get at her boy. Her father-in-law pulled her away from the boy. She grabbed his arm and he backhanded her, surprised when she spun around and took out his legs with more agility than a pregnant woman should have. Barbarossa jumped up and attacked her, and she suddenly was fighting as if she weren't having a baby. She could feel the baby's distress when he landed a punch to her stomach but fought through it. She'd rather lose her baby here and now than let the brute harm her oldest.
"What's going on here?" Tyr's voice was suddenly behind her. She didn't let him distract her, however. It was a good thing too, just then Barbarossa tried to skewer her on his bone blades and she barely dodged the attack due to her bulk. Tyr growled and came between the two, holding Tammy's shoulders. The girl was shaking from her exertion and sweating heavily. He could tell by her trembling that she was dangerously close to losing their baby.
"My wife is upset," the man growled angrily, glaring at his father. Unlike Tammy's mother, Barbarossa was not immune to his son's wrath. He shivered but refused to be cowed in front of his people.
"You have been lenient with your child, Tyr," he said loudly. "You have coddled him in his training. I was simply trying to correct that error, and your wife interrupted."
"My son's training is mine to correct, not yours." The Berserker stood with authority, still holding his wife back. "And a pregnant woman is not for fighting."
"P-perhaps you are right," the older man said after the silence had lasted too long. "I was only thinking about the boy's well-being in our Pride. Here. Let us shake on it."
Tammy immediately became agitated, trying to get at her father-in-law through her husband. She was growling furiously and out of that anger an image emerged in the minds of all those assembled. An image of the great Barbarossa shaking hands with his grandson and breaking his arm like the coward he was. Isaiah backed away immediately, making his way to his freaked out mother.
"And what did you think would happen then?" Tyr said quietly, though everyone heard him. "You hurt my child, MY blood, and what did you think to do next? Run away? Did you think you could outrun my wrath?"
Barbarossa stood tall, trying not to faint under the full effect of his son's ire. "I… I was only…"
"You threaten my wife and child, my unborn child… And expect me to-" A hand on his shoulder stayed him.
"Please… Let's just leave this awful place," Tammy said quietly. Tyr looked over his family, seeing no fear of him as usual. Under her fierce protectiveness, he could tell that she was deathly exhausted. And beyond that, she'd just unlocked another Pa'u level if that image he'd seen was any indication. She was doing her best to appear strong, but she needed rest, somewhere she felt safe. Her pregnancy was what mattered at this point, and now that they'd reached month five, she needed a safe place to deliver.
"We will be leaving this place when Moya arrives. Do not disturb us at all until then." With that ominous statement, the Berserker gathered the pregnant woman in his arms and gestured to his son to follow him to Ivy's room. She was put on strict bedrest and went into labor just as Moya arrived to pick them up.
Series over, but life goes on, right? We'll see what the last chapter has in store for us, eh? See you all next week when I'll wrap this one up! :D
