Chapter Thirteen

A short while later, Peter after Aleta and Stakar let him pick out a few small wheeled vehicles, and some new crayons and paper when Peter stopped and pointed to the small colourful craft set. "Can I have those…please".

Out of all the things Stakar loomed over at the set, and in truth, they looked like they were for older children, and from the design on the box looked feminine. Then again, he didn't know if Yondu and Kraglin cared about gendered toys, and Peter was a smart boy after all. He was about to say no, but Peter was insistent. "I won't ask for anything else, can I have them please".

And the end the Ravager Captain found himself reaching for his units, whilst everything was being tallied up, and when he saw the bill, almost bulked at the price, wondering how the hell did Yondu and Kraglin afford this, what was the secret, or how loaded were the pair?

Stakar decided to ask, since as most Ravagers he was notoriously tight with money, even though his chef was gushing about the food he was going to try. Which was beginning to wet the appetites of the Ravagers in the vicinity, whilst Peter was just happy to play with his new toys. But there was Aleta, known for her stoicism, also beginning to soften around the boy she was in charge of.

There was more of a relaxed air on the ship, the Captain and First Mate noted, as Peter, went straight to work in the kitchen following Iztel's recipes, which Actveia had studied to the letter. Soon there was an unfamiliar air that was lingering through the entire ship, which made them long for their meal.

Dinner that night, was a fresh fish strew, followed by a cerise cobbler, Peter helped make, and Stakar noted how much more relaxed and happier his crew was. As he looked over at the little boy, who was commanding attention, and not because he had almost blown the place up the day before, which felt like years ago.

However, in the end, Peter was sitting there with his empty plate since he wasn't going to wash up that night because he was a "guest" when he asked in a clear voice what drew a lot of attention, from all the Ravagers present

"Where are your, babies?"

The area grew silent, as the couple seemed to freeze on the spot since Stakar was meant to be "He who knows" but Iztel's work was running through his head and he didn't know how to answer this. Especially to a child who was half Celestial and ignorant about it, Aleta stated "Well, don't have children" to be met with a resounding.

"Why",

It was a personal question, but Peter was only four and needed an honest answer, but Aleta again said "Well we're Ravagers, Ravagers, don't have children".

Pete's face seemed to screw up, in thought, before he said truthfully.

"But my daddies are Ravagers, and they have me", whilst Stakar found his answer, which the boy accepted.

"Your daddies are independent Ravagers, which means the rules are different, we're not". And Peter finished this with a smile.

"Yep, which means Ravagers can get married, and do lots of kissing". Since the rules had been explored to him in a rudimentary fashion, which made it clear that being independent was the best option for everyone.

But everyone saw the look across Aleta's face as if she had been slapped. "Yeah, that's it" she finally managed to say, and that was good enough for Peter, who began to yawn. Since he had a productive day, with all the time in the markets, and his new toys.

So didn't even protest too much as Stakar picked him up, with Peter saying goodnight to everyone which they returned. Which was uncharacteristic for them, but Peter seemed to be rubbing more on them.

Back in the Osgood's quarters, Peter was washed and dressed, with the only protest of jumping g on the bed until they managed to calm him down when he demanded a story.

Bedtimes and stories were a foreign concept to the Ravagers until Peter went through his pad and found one of his favourites, and in a clear Xandarian voice, Stakar lowered his tone, to almost a gentle whisper.

Peter snuggled up to Aleta with Fang and Smelly Meg in between and listened to the mouth which didn't move right, and his eyelids fluttered. Until he was sound asleep, and both of the temporary guardians, sent each other a look of congratulations.

The day of doing it right, since they knew Yondu and Kraglin would still not be happy, they slipped from the room after a few minutes. Stakar resolved to check on him later, since everything that could injure the child had been moved away, and he was just sleeping in the half-light.

They could have stayed, and kept more of an eye on him, but it was obvious now that Peter's powers only manifested when he was panicked and, or scared. How his parents managed to do it, really was a mystery.

Kraglin's words that Yondu being a better Captain than Stakar, was running through Aleta's head, which the child had unintentionally backed up, by stating how good being independent was.

It was an uncomfortable reminder of how she had screwed up and was feeling very disconcerted. Later on, after her husband had finished his shift earlier, she returned to their quarters to see Peter cuddled into Stakar's chest. Which looked like a father protecting their child and it was another stab into her heart, and she was getting used to Peter's presence, but deep down wanted him off the ship as soon as possible.

The next morning, with a happy and dressed Peter, going to the mess hall, and enjoying porridge with the crew with no jam he noted. He was about to leave when Actveia called out, "Peter, yesterday you didn't do your lessons, you have to do them today",

Not adding that he had the feeling that Iztel would have a go at him if he didn't since the Elector chef had placed this into his hands, and he was curious and wanted to spend more time with Peter.

Immediately Peter began to grumble, but his face perked up when he was informed that if he did them all, there would be jam-making. Such a simple task but this was music to Peter's ears and he agreed to stay. To show them all how it was done.

The Osgood's were pleased by this. Since they had work of their own to do, and Actveia made some of Peter's dish, following the recipe very carefully, whilst Peter went over all his letters and his counting, in both Xandarian and Darbian proving that he was a very intelligent little boy.

They cleared off all the area and got to work with the jam-making, whilst he filled Actveia in on what his life was like on the Elector, and all the fine food they all made together. The content mentions of Proctom the assistant, while Actveia started to wish for an assistant since doing this all from scratch was a nightmare, and because of this missed Peter's little eyes flash for a moment.

However, on the rest of the ship, with the smells filtering through which were unfamiliar to the crew being sweet and hot, and everything else in between, it grew the anticipation for dinner. Even Martinex grew curious, even if it was something he couldn't eat.

There Peter and Actveia stood, chopping the fruit, adding the sauger and mixing it in huge vats, carefully spooning the jam into the glass jars when it was cooled enough. Little Peter was now on a total sugar high, which Actveia had to do something about because Peter could have easily hurt himself, and patched a call to the Osgood's, to take care of the child.

He actually had stuff to do and he defiantly wasn't Iztel, after all, and what no one knew was that some of the crew had been in discussion, and they were tired of waiting any longer. If Aleta was going to pretend it never happened, fine. But those who were there were tired of the deception.

To be continued.