Chapter 7: My family and other animals.
On an otherwise event-less morning, the residents of the small village of Marcase were convulsed by the appearance of three harassed-looking Sebaceans in black leather. The two men were marching along, their stride as long as possible without causing serious injury to themselves. The woman, just showing signs of a pregnancy, was trying to follow suit. However, being rather shorter than the others, she was having to walk twice as fast to keep up. Before they left the village she grabbed the arms of both men and forced them to slow down. The two men slowed, but within ten microts had returned to their former pace, much to the woman's annoyance. Their conversation was loud enough to be heard by everyone in the village.
"I do not see how you could be unaware that your daughter was recreating with a Peacekeeper officer!"
"I was trying to do my job so I could stay alive! Anyway, it's not my fault that she takes after you!"
"And *what*, exactly, is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh come on Bialar, I bet you recreated with half the Peacekeeper fleet."
"I most certainly did not!"
"Crais, she's paying you a compliment."
"No, I'm not. I'm accusing him of having more libido than common sense, something which it seems Raylani has inherited."
"Ah, not a compliment."
"I have always exercised common sense in my choices."
"Yeah, that's why you picked Aeryn."
"WHAT?!"
"Later, Crichton."
***
"Mum," Raylani whispered, worn out after more than twenty arns in pain.
"Hi honey," Carma said softly, sitting down beside her. "How's it going?"
"Mum, I have to explain...."
"Later," Carma said, shaking her head, "we can talk about it later."
Raylani dropped her eyes and noticed Carma's stomach. "Mum, you're...."
Carma put a hand to her stomach, self-consciously. "Yeah, I am. But we'll talk about that later as well. Right now, we have a new life to bring into the world."
***
Crais and Crichton were sitting, side-by-side, waiting. The whole situation seemed rather surreal to Crais. He'd been a father for two cycles and, in a few short arns, he'd be a grandfather. That was bizarre. But just now he was in a kind of limbo, waiting for the damn to burst, waiting for Crichton to kill him. He didn't have long to wait.
"You recreated with Aeryn?"
"Yes." There was no point in denying it.
"When?"
"A few monens ago, when we believed that both you and Carma were dead."
"Why?"
Crais sighed. "Intoxicants, misery and convenience."
"More than once?"
"Yes."
"Good?"
"I do not remember."
Crichton nodded, strangely calm. They sat there for another few microts in silence.
Then Crichton launched himself at Crais. The two men crashed to the floor, Crichton's hands wrapped firmly around Crais' neck. Straddling Crais, Crichton began to rhythmically thump Crais' head against the floor, as Crais struggled to get free...not to mention breathe. Taking advantage of his superior training, Crais managed to prevent death coming immediately, but Crichton was not to be put off.
"You know," Carma said, watching them in amusement from the doorway, "where I come from, you two would have to get married now."
Crichton turned in the direction of her voice and Crais took the opportunity to escape his grasp. They both looked up at her.
It was then they realised that she held a small bundle in her arms.
"Can you behave long enough to say hello?" Carma asked, grinning.
Crais and Crichton scrambled to their feet, both feeling like they were about twelve again. Crais shot a nervous glance at Crichton, he wasn't exactly sure whether or not Crichton had finished with him.
Carma approached them and gently placed the bundle into Crais' arms. "Isn't he beautiful?" she said, her eyes glowing with happiness and pride at their grandson. Crais looked down at the tiny creature he was holding. His grandson looked back up at him through clear blue eyes and Crais was forced to admit that this was one of the most lovely things he had ever seen. Although thoroughly un-Crais-like.
"How is Raylani?" he asked, realising that he had still not met his daughter, even though he held her son in his arms.
"She's fine," Carma said. "Tired, but fine. I thought we should leave the big introductions until tomorrow, but Raylani wants to see both of you now. If you can behave yourself, that is," she said, giving both of them dirty looks.
"We'll be good," Crichton promised, somewhat sheepishly.
The three of them entered Raylani's bedroom. Alainya looked up as they came in. Crais noticed her and found a lump in his throat. "Mother," he croaked.
Crichton shifted uncomfortably. "You know, I think I'll leave you lot alone to get on with the family reunion." He kissed Raylani on the forehead. "He's gorgeous," he said. She smiled at him. Crichton gave a quick smile back and left.
Five Craises regarded each other. Crais himself didn't know what to do first - reunite with his mother, meet his daughter or introduce his wife.
"What do you think of him?" Raylani asked, breaking the silence.
Crais looked down again at the child in his arms, then handed him back to Raylani. He cleared his throat. "An excellent addition to our family," he said, sounding calmer than he felt.
Alainya cleared her own throat. "It...looks like there will be another," she said, glancing at Carma.
"Yes," Crais replied, unable to believe that it was his mother here with him. "My wife and I are expecting another child."
"Your wife?" Alainya asked, hopefully.
"His wife," Carma confirmed. "It's only been a weeken," she said, a little shyly, "but better late than never."
Alainya rose and moved round the bed so she could embrace her new daughter-in-law. When she released her, she stood in front of her son. There were tears glistening in her eyes as she realised that it had been almost ninety cycles since she had last held him in her arms. And then he'd been a child, now he was a grown man. She wrapped her arms tight around him and leant her head against his chest as she held him, realising with amazement that the scrawny little boy was now as tall and broad as his father. She turned her head to look up at him, her eyes tracing the outlines of his face, taking in the dark eyes and the beard. She felt like breaking down in tears. Half from happiness that he was home again, half from sadness at all the cycles she had missed.
All eyes turned to Raylani then and they realised that she had fallen asleep with baby Marlin in her arms. Alainya gently picked up her great-grandson and placed him in the small basket ready by the bed.
"I think we should let her get some rest," she whispered.
They tiptoed out of the door. As soon as it was closed behind them, Crais turned to Alainya. "Where is my father?" he asked.
***
Valen Crais was exactly where Alainya had said he would be. Climbing the small hill that bordered his father's farm was more of a strain than he remembered it being when he was young and he wondered if he'd allowed himself to get out of condition. He'd begin to rectify that as soon as they returned to Talyn. He found his father standing at the top, arms folded behind his back, back ram-rod straight, looking down on his lands.
"You're home."
"Yes," Crais answered, coming to stand beside his father.
"I take it that my great-grandchild has arrived."
"He has."
"Is your...partner...with you?"
"My wife."
His father inclined his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "I am pleased to know that you have finally seen sense."
Crais sighed. "Father, in the world I inhabit bonding ceremonies cannot take top priority."
"They should when there is a child involved."
Crais couldn't help smiling to himself. Some things never changed. Valen Crais was the same man he remembered, except now he didn't seem quite so tall. It was a shock seeing him from the perspective of a grown man, when all these cycles his memories had been those of a child.
"Do you intend to meet your great-grandson?" Crais asked, looking out at the view below him.
He was surprised when his father reached out and took his hand.
"Take me to him," he said quietly. Then, gruffly. "I am glad that you are home...my son."
***
Much later that night, leaving Carma asleep in their bed, Crais slipped quietly into Raylani's room. She was asleep, which gave him a chance to study her properly for the first time. She looked almost exactly like Carma, except for her dark eyes and wavy hair - things she'd inherited from him. He tried hard to make himself understand that she was his daughter. He remembered only the tiny baby girl he'd held so briefly in his arms and found it impossible to connect the two. And now he was a grandfather.
His grandson began to wake up. A little awkwardly, Crais bent down and picked him up, trying to comfort him. It quickly became obvious that he needed more than a cuddle. Raylani stirred and woke up as her son began to whimper and wail. Sleepily, surprised at Crais being there, she took Marlin from him and brought him to her breast. Crais felt ridiculously embarrassed and wondered if he should leave. He started to get up, but Raylani shook her head.
"I want to talk to you," she said. "Although...I don't really know what to say."
"Nor do I," Crais answered, sitting down again and focusing his eyes on her face. "I am finding it...difficult...to think of you as my daughter."
Raylani smiled sadly. "I guess we missed the bonding stage."
Crais cleared his throat. "I am...very proud of you. Because of you I have a...very fine grandson." He paused a moment. "Why will you not tell us who the father is?"
Raylani sighed. "It's really better for everyone that I don't. He'll never be a part of Marlin's life, so it's not necessary to know."
"Am I acquainted with him then?"
"Yes...I believe you have met, that's why I think it's better that you don't know. It would be...unsettling."
Crais looked down at his grandson. He did look strangely familiar, but he couldn't think who he resembled.
"Very well," he said, still curious. "If that is your decision."
They regarded each other in silence for a few microts. Raylani cleared her throat. "Can I...can we come back to Talyn with you?"
"Of course," Crais answered, pushing aside the practical considerations that wanted to crowd his mind. "You are both...my family."
***
The general impression Braca had was that it could have been a lot worse. Aeryn had made him sweat for a while before she gave her punishment but, reluctantly deciding that nothing that had happened to Moya's crew had actually been his fault, she had decided not to do him any serious damage. Instead the crew had actually begun to enjoy having him there, because they were making him do everything that they didn't want to do.
Which, at this precise moment, was the laundry. Braca's captain's coat was in a corner keeping dry and he was clad in his sleeveless black T-shirt, up to his elbows in Moya's amnexus fluid. If Crichton had been there, he would have been killing himself laughing.
But Moya meant Talyn, which meant Crais, which (probably) meant Raylani. It was only a matter of time.
On an otherwise event-less morning, the residents of the small village of Marcase were convulsed by the appearance of three harassed-looking Sebaceans in black leather. The two men were marching along, their stride as long as possible without causing serious injury to themselves. The woman, just showing signs of a pregnancy, was trying to follow suit. However, being rather shorter than the others, she was having to walk twice as fast to keep up. Before they left the village she grabbed the arms of both men and forced them to slow down. The two men slowed, but within ten microts had returned to their former pace, much to the woman's annoyance. Their conversation was loud enough to be heard by everyone in the village.
"I do not see how you could be unaware that your daughter was recreating with a Peacekeeper officer!"
"I was trying to do my job so I could stay alive! Anyway, it's not my fault that she takes after you!"
"And *what*, exactly, is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh come on Bialar, I bet you recreated with half the Peacekeeper fleet."
"I most certainly did not!"
"Crais, she's paying you a compliment."
"No, I'm not. I'm accusing him of having more libido than common sense, something which it seems Raylani has inherited."
"Ah, not a compliment."
"I have always exercised common sense in my choices."
"Yeah, that's why you picked Aeryn."
"WHAT?!"
"Later, Crichton."
***
"Mum," Raylani whispered, worn out after more than twenty arns in pain.
"Hi honey," Carma said softly, sitting down beside her. "How's it going?"
"Mum, I have to explain...."
"Later," Carma said, shaking her head, "we can talk about it later."
Raylani dropped her eyes and noticed Carma's stomach. "Mum, you're...."
Carma put a hand to her stomach, self-consciously. "Yeah, I am. But we'll talk about that later as well. Right now, we have a new life to bring into the world."
***
Crais and Crichton were sitting, side-by-side, waiting. The whole situation seemed rather surreal to Crais. He'd been a father for two cycles and, in a few short arns, he'd be a grandfather. That was bizarre. But just now he was in a kind of limbo, waiting for the damn to burst, waiting for Crichton to kill him. He didn't have long to wait.
"You recreated with Aeryn?"
"Yes." There was no point in denying it.
"When?"
"A few monens ago, when we believed that both you and Carma were dead."
"Why?"
Crais sighed. "Intoxicants, misery and convenience."
"More than once?"
"Yes."
"Good?"
"I do not remember."
Crichton nodded, strangely calm. They sat there for another few microts in silence.
Then Crichton launched himself at Crais. The two men crashed to the floor, Crichton's hands wrapped firmly around Crais' neck. Straddling Crais, Crichton began to rhythmically thump Crais' head against the floor, as Crais struggled to get free...not to mention breathe. Taking advantage of his superior training, Crais managed to prevent death coming immediately, but Crichton was not to be put off.
"You know," Carma said, watching them in amusement from the doorway, "where I come from, you two would have to get married now."
Crichton turned in the direction of her voice and Crais took the opportunity to escape his grasp. They both looked up at her.
It was then they realised that she held a small bundle in her arms.
"Can you behave long enough to say hello?" Carma asked, grinning.
Crais and Crichton scrambled to their feet, both feeling like they were about twelve again. Crais shot a nervous glance at Crichton, he wasn't exactly sure whether or not Crichton had finished with him.
Carma approached them and gently placed the bundle into Crais' arms. "Isn't he beautiful?" she said, her eyes glowing with happiness and pride at their grandson. Crais looked down at the tiny creature he was holding. His grandson looked back up at him through clear blue eyes and Crais was forced to admit that this was one of the most lovely things he had ever seen. Although thoroughly un-Crais-like.
"How is Raylani?" he asked, realising that he had still not met his daughter, even though he held her son in his arms.
"She's fine," Carma said. "Tired, but fine. I thought we should leave the big introductions until tomorrow, but Raylani wants to see both of you now. If you can behave yourself, that is," she said, giving both of them dirty looks.
"We'll be good," Crichton promised, somewhat sheepishly.
The three of them entered Raylani's bedroom. Alainya looked up as they came in. Crais noticed her and found a lump in his throat. "Mother," he croaked.
Crichton shifted uncomfortably. "You know, I think I'll leave you lot alone to get on with the family reunion." He kissed Raylani on the forehead. "He's gorgeous," he said. She smiled at him. Crichton gave a quick smile back and left.
Five Craises regarded each other. Crais himself didn't know what to do first - reunite with his mother, meet his daughter or introduce his wife.
"What do you think of him?" Raylani asked, breaking the silence.
Crais looked down again at the child in his arms, then handed him back to Raylani. He cleared his throat. "An excellent addition to our family," he said, sounding calmer than he felt.
Alainya cleared her own throat. "It...looks like there will be another," she said, glancing at Carma.
"Yes," Crais replied, unable to believe that it was his mother here with him. "My wife and I are expecting another child."
"Your wife?" Alainya asked, hopefully.
"His wife," Carma confirmed. "It's only been a weeken," she said, a little shyly, "but better late than never."
Alainya rose and moved round the bed so she could embrace her new daughter-in-law. When she released her, she stood in front of her son. There were tears glistening in her eyes as she realised that it had been almost ninety cycles since she had last held him in her arms. And then he'd been a child, now he was a grown man. She wrapped her arms tight around him and leant her head against his chest as she held him, realising with amazement that the scrawny little boy was now as tall and broad as his father. She turned her head to look up at him, her eyes tracing the outlines of his face, taking in the dark eyes and the beard. She felt like breaking down in tears. Half from happiness that he was home again, half from sadness at all the cycles she had missed.
All eyes turned to Raylani then and they realised that she had fallen asleep with baby Marlin in her arms. Alainya gently picked up her great-grandson and placed him in the small basket ready by the bed.
"I think we should let her get some rest," she whispered.
They tiptoed out of the door. As soon as it was closed behind them, Crais turned to Alainya. "Where is my father?" he asked.
***
Valen Crais was exactly where Alainya had said he would be. Climbing the small hill that bordered his father's farm was more of a strain than he remembered it being when he was young and he wondered if he'd allowed himself to get out of condition. He'd begin to rectify that as soon as they returned to Talyn. He found his father standing at the top, arms folded behind his back, back ram-rod straight, looking down on his lands.
"You're home."
"Yes," Crais answered, coming to stand beside his father.
"I take it that my great-grandchild has arrived."
"He has."
"Is your...partner...with you?"
"My wife."
His father inclined his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "I am pleased to know that you have finally seen sense."
Crais sighed. "Father, in the world I inhabit bonding ceremonies cannot take top priority."
"They should when there is a child involved."
Crais couldn't help smiling to himself. Some things never changed. Valen Crais was the same man he remembered, except now he didn't seem quite so tall. It was a shock seeing him from the perspective of a grown man, when all these cycles his memories had been those of a child.
"Do you intend to meet your great-grandson?" Crais asked, looking out at the view below him.
He was surprised when his father reached out and took his hand.
"Take me to him," he said quietly. Then, gruffly. "I am glad that you are home...my son."
***
Much later that night, leaving Carma asleep in their bed, Crais slipped quietly into Raylani's room. She was asleep, which gave him a chance to study her properly for the first time. She looked almost exactly like Carma, except for her dark eyes and wavy hair - things she'd inherited from him. He tried hard to make himself understand that she was his daughter. He remembered only the tiny baby girl he'd held so briefly in his arms and found it impossible to connect the two. And now he was a grandfather.
His grandson began to wake up. A little awkwardly, Crais bent down and picked him up, trying to comfort him. It quickly became obvious that he needed more than a cuddle. Raylani stirred and woke up as her son began to whimper and wail. Sleepily, surprised at Crais being there, she took Marlin from him and brought him to her breast. Crais felt ridiculously embarrassed and wondered if he should leave. He started to get up, but Raylani shook her head.
"I want to talk to you," she said. "Although...I don't really know what to say."
"Nor do I," Crais answered, sitting down again and focusing his eyes on her face. "I am finding it...difficult...to think of you as my daughter."
Raylani smiled sadly. "I guess we missed the bonding stage."
Crais cleared his throat. "I am...very proud of you. Because of you I have a...very fine grandson." He paused a moment. "Why will you not tell us who the father is?"
Raylani sighed. "It's really better for everyone that I don't. He'll never be a part of Marlin's life, so it's not necessary to know."
"Am I acquainted with him then?"
"Yes...I believe you have met, that's why I think it's better that you don't know. It would be...unsettling."
Crais looked down at his grandson. He did look strangely familiar, but he couldn't think who he resembled.
"Very well," he said, still curious. "If that is your decision."
They regarded each other in silence for a few microts. Raylani cleared her throat. "Can I...can we come back to Talyn with you?"
"Of course," Crais answered, pushing aside the practical considerations that wanted to crowd his mind. "You are both...my family."
***
The general impression Braca had was that it could have been a lot worse. Aeryn had made him sweat for a while before she gave her punishment but, reluctantly deciding that nothing that had happened to Moya's crew had actually been his fault, she had decided not to do him any serious damage. Instead the crew had actually begun to enjoy having him there, because they were making him do everything that they didn't want to do.
Which, at this precise moment, was the laundry. Braca's captain's coat was in a corner keeping dry and he was clad in his sleeveless black T-shirt, up to his elbows in Moya's amnexus fluid. If Crichton had been there, he would have been killing himself laughing.
But Moya meant Talyn, which meant Crais, which (probably) meant Raylani. It was only a matter of time.