Cal turned down a familiar long dirt driveway, listening to the rumble of loose rocks as the car passed orchards of fruit trees. His family owned a considerably large property with many different crops and animals on it, they managed to keep it a family business by utilizing automation wherever possible. Most of it was surrounded by fences, and they had to check the property frequently to make sure that wild animals hadn't gotten in.
He drove past a field of grain and cattle pasture, eventually spotting the farmhouse in the distance. Large silos poked out behind the house, standing tall and proud in the sun. Judging by the time of year, and the appearance of the crops he passed, it was almost time for harvesting. The drones would go out and harvest the crops, depositing them in their proper storage depots on the farm to be purchased wholesale. The Bardeen family sold to both small and large businesses, but they always offered a discount to the local community.
He rolled to a stop off the side of the road, looking towards the farmhouse while tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. He drew out a long sigh, purging the nostalgic memories from his mind as he prepared himself for the barrage of emotions and questions he was about to be faced with. He exited the vehicle and quietly closed the door, approaching the front door of the farmhouse and knocking firmly.
The door creaked open to reveal the face of his mother, Cathleen Bardeen, eyes widening in shock at the sight of Cal. She gasped; voice shaky. "Cal… You're home?!"
Cal gave an awkward smile, replying in a steady voice. "Yeah, I'm back-"
He was immediately interrupted by his mother wrapping her arms around him, teary-eyed with joy. "Oh, my boy… You're home! We've barely heard from you at all, and the military wouldn't tell us anything! We've been so worried."
Cal coughed, returning the hug with a pat on the back. "Yeah, yeah, I'm ok mom. I'll tell you guys everything, just uh, having a bit of trouble breathing here." He finished with a laugh.
His father, Devin Bardeen, emerged from deeper in the house to investigate the commission. He spoke with surprise, a bit of confusion in his voice. "Cal, son is that you?" To which Cal responded with a nod.
He walked over and wrapped his arms around both mother and son, gripping them tightly with a smile for a moment. He released them, smiling with joy. "It's hard to believe that you're back. Cal, we've heard so little from you that we started to lose hope that we'd ever see you again. God, you look so much older…"
Cal reached over and rubbed both his parents' shoulders, giving them a reassuring grin. "Well, I'm back now, and I fully intend on explaining everything. I owe you guys a lot of that, so may we go inside? I feel that this is a conversation best had sitting down."
They hastily agreed and led him inside. Cal looked around at the familiar house, feeling like it had been a lifetime since he had last been there. Photos on the wall of relatives, dead and alive, most he couldn't remember the names of. Light-colored hardwood floor, polished sheen worn off from years of use. Soft carpets and comfortable furniture, most of which were home or locally-made. They walked into the living room and Cal looked over at a large rustic fireplace, the taxidermied head of a large cat-like predator displayed above it. They only ever used the fireplace recreationally, as there was little utility to actually using it, but it would always remain a staple of home. Such things were rare, as fireplaces like these had easily gone out of use hundreds of years ago, but his dad built it himself out of a love of classic history.
Cal smiled as he plopped down on a familiar loveseat, sinking into the soft cushion with a sigh. His parents sat across from him, and waited for a moment, letting him get settled in.
After a minute, his mother began speaking quietly in a concerned tone. "Cal, in all this time that you've been gone we had no idea what was happening. News reaches the colony worlds from Earth so slowly, and when we heard Earth was attacked, we-" She chokes up, fighting back a tear. "We didn't think you made it, and then when we asked the UNSC they refused to tell us anything… They didn't say you were dead, or missing, or- or anything. They just said… Nothing." She swallowed hard, seeming a bit overwhelmed. "When we finally heard from you over video we were overjoyed, but you barely told us anything! Nobody could tell us anything about you, and you were so reserved. Cal, what happened?"
Cal breathed out, fully expecting this. He gave them a reassuring smile, speaking quietly. "I'm sorry, I- I really did want to tell you guys everything. But at the time I couldn't, I wasn't allowed to, but I never lied to you guys. What I was doing was important, the most important thing I've done in my life." He placed his fingers together, tapping them quietly. "It's a long story, and I'll try and explain everything from the beginning."
Cal took a deep breath, recalling back to the very beginning. "It was the day of the invasion, and me and my team were sent into the heart of New Mombasa, the ground zero of the Covenant invasion. My squad, I-" He paused, holding his breath for a moment, seeing flashes of gore and screams in his mind. "-I'll save that part for another time. But I was cut off, stranded alone…"
Cal explained his entire story from memory while his parents watched in silence, expressions changing drastically as he spoke. From being stranded alone in a war-torn city, to being chased by an alien Brute. How another alien with brutal injuries saved his life from the Brute, and how he ended up saving said alien's life in return. He spoke of her grief, and how she lost a sibling. How they went from a baseline trust to a deeper friendship and their travels throughout the city.
He then went on to talk about their eventual meet-up with the UNSC, and how the alien risked her life to support them and ensure they could be evacuated. He then explained how ONI took a special interest in him, and how he ended up working for them for a few months.
He concluded his story by removing his ONI access card from his pocket and loosely holding it out as proof of his claims, he let out a weak humorless laugh. "And that's my bizarre story, start to finish. It's why I couldn't talk to you guys about it, they are absolutely crazy about keeping things locked tight."
He looked at his parents' faces, still looking like they were having a hard time processing and even believing what he just said. After a moment his father looked at him, sadness in his eyes. "Jesus, Cal. I could see it on your face when you arrived, but son, you've been through hell."
The family sat in silence again, Cal quietly fidgeting with his card as he waited. His mother gave an odd look, seeming to finally decide on a question to ask. "You… befriended, an alien? You said it's… her… name was Sen, right? What- what happened to her?"
Cal blinked, realizing he hadn't quite explained the whole situation yet. "She was pardoned and given limited citizenship, allowed to walk free, so to speak. Although, with a- ah, particular clause."
His father raised an eyebrow. "Being?"
Cal let out a breath of air nervously, glancing down at the ground. "That uh, I continue to act as her caretaker."
Deafening silence filled the room.
Cal winced at his parents' blank, disbelieving stare. His mother spoke after a moment, seeming completely dazed. "Cal, you can't be serious."
Cal breathed in, speaking after a moment's pause. "I am being completely serious."
His father placed a hand on his brow, rubbing his temples with a sigh. "Where is this alien now?"
Cal leaned back. "A safehouse here on New Carthage, we both are. A temporary accommodation, until I can find something more permanent."
Devin breathed out hard, looking flabbergasted. "Cal, this is… This is crazy, you're talking about a soldier of the Covenant. I don't think that-"
Cal snorted angrily, clenching a fist as he cut him off. "She saved my LIFE dad, many times over. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her! She's not a soldier of the Covenant anymore, she's my friend, and she's nothing like them! She-" He sucked a breath in, letting it out shakily as he whispered. "She means a lot to me."
Both his parents fell dead silent, and seemed to grow a shade paler with eyes wide open as the meaning of his words sunk in. His mother quietly whispered under her breath. "O-oh…"
They sat like that for a moment, Cal leveling his breathing as he calmed down, feeling a bit of a flush on his skin at what he had just revealed. "I- I'm sorry, I know this has been a lot. The past few months have been an insane mess, and I've been trying my best to stay grounded, but it's hard ya know?"
His father spoke softly, having composed himself. "It's alright Cal, you've been through so much. It's still hard to process the fact that you are home, let alone everything else you've told us. We love you and want to support you, but we just need some time to process all of this."
Cal nodded, reaching across, and taking both his parents' hands in his own. "I fully understand, I honestly don't think I will ever process it all myself." He looked back and forth, into both of their eyes. "But please, just consider it. She's lost so much, give her a chance like I did."
Afterward, the questions mostly moved on to more minor things, and goings-on at home while Cal had been gone. Cal respected that his parents needed to process things for a bit, so he let them ask questions and give measured responses. After a while, the three of them fell into silence, simply sitting in each other's company.
After a while of quiet, his dad let out a quiet sigh. Their eyes met, and he gave a small smile. "I just want to let you know, Cal. The things you've told us have been… a bit of a shock to be sure. But your mother and I are just happy your home, I- we couldn't bear to lose you." He gave a bit more of a humorous grin, chuckling between his teeth. "And maybe tomorrow you can bring your lady friend, she sounds exotic!"
Cal flushed furiously, hissing air between his teeth with embarrassment. "Dad…"
Cathleen slapped his arm, giving him a scolding glare. "Devin!"
Devin chortled heartily, giving his wife a teasing look. "What? Is it a crime for a dad to want to meet his potential daughter-in-law?"
Cal breathed a sigh, feeling embarrassed, but a bit relieved at his father's humor. He could tell that he was still conflicted about the situation, but was putting on humor to better warm himself up to the idea. Cal had come to understand that that's just how his dad reacted to situations like this.
His mother sunk back into the cushion, speaking with an uncertain voice. "I mean… I don't know, it's all a bit much, but I suppose it couldn't hurt."
Cal tapped his fingers on the armrest with a sigh, speaking with reassurance. "I won't try to force anyone to do anything they're uncomfortable with, I understand if-"
Cathleen cut him off, voice gaining a bit of determination as she made up her mind. "No, no that wouldn't be right of me. From what you've said, we owe Sen a great deal. Of course it's alright, it's just… this is all so unexpected."
Cal smiled, letting out a quiet breath of relief. "Thank you, both of you. This means a lot to me."
He stayed with them a bit after that, having a bite to eat and a cup of tea before finally deciding to head back to the safehouse, wanting to be back before dark. He waved farewell as he went out the door, reassuring them that he would be back tomorrow. He hoped that Sen would come with him then, but he'd need to make sure she was comfortable with it first.
He got back in his car and drove back, making no extra stops. He checked the map a few times, but for the most part, had no difficulty finding his way. He recognized the town signs as he went, thinking back and remembering the names of places he'd been before joining the UNSC.
Soon, he arrived back at the safehouse and drove past the big metal gate, parking the car where it had been when he arrived. He pushed open the armored door, looking up at the house when he exited. He hoped that Sen had been alright since he left, considering that this was the first time he left her alone since she had a breakdown.
He unlocked the door and walked inside, feeling a bit anxious about the idea that something might have happened when he was gone. He felt a feeling of relief inside as he walked into the living room, seeing her relaxing on the sofa. She turned her head around and looked at him, letting out a happy trill at the sight of him, he smiled and walked over to her while speaking in a happy tone. "Hey Sen, I'm back."
He reached out and stroked her head, feeling a bit of surprise at the fact that she was wet. He squinted his eyes and asked in a confused tone. "Did you uh… take another bath?"
She tilted her head to the side and squinted her eyes at the ceiling, something she does when she tries to figure out how to explain something, before getting up and grabbing his hand. She took him over to the back door and opened it, before bending down and picking up an object. Cal leaned over and was utterly shocked to see that it was a fresh animal hide, and he recognized it from one of the grazing herbivores native to New Carthage. Sen held it up for him and gestured away towards the tree line, looking proud of herself, she rasped out with delight. "Hungry, got f-ood. Messy." She turned back towards him, a quiet chuckle coming out of her throat.
Cal wanted to groan and slap himself in the face when he realized; he never showed Sen how to open the cans, and she got hungry over the day. It made sense why the highly trained warrior would go looking for her own food when she got hungry, with or without a weapon. He shook himself back to reality, giving Sen a big grin. "Well, looks like you had a good time! I used to go out hunting these with my father before I joined the military, great cuts, you chose well." He scratched the back of his head, letting out a nervous chuckle. "I'm sorry for forgetting to show you how to prepare the food that's here, I was so preoccupied that I completely forgot that you wouldn't know."
Sen blinked at him, setting down the hide and clasping his hand in both of hers. "It is ok, Cal. You were busy, can take care of mysel-f."
He frowned, letting out a small sigh. "I know, but still. I need to do a better job at considering your needs, not just my own."
He saw her feathers puff up slightly, eyes widening slightly in an expression of mild shock, seeming surprised at his words. Cal wondered why she looked so stunned before it dawned on him. He looked her in the face intently, speaking to her questioningly. "Sen, before you met me, did anyone ever try to help you? Or just… be nice to you?"
Sen's feathers flattened; her gaze moved to the floor as she fidgeted. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh, speaking with a quiet voice. "Long time ago, on T'vao. Chicks taught to rely on none, only sel-f. Want something? F-ight. Covenant same, all mistrust. There was one trust, but…" She trailed off, gazing into the distance.
Cal felt sorrow in his heart, not being able to stand imagining how much mistreatment and coldness she had faced. He stepped closer to her and reached out, wrapping his arms around her, and holding her in a gentle embrace. She let out a gasp, freezing up. She croaked out quietly. "Cal…?"
Cal spoke with a whisper, deep emotion in his voice. "I'm sorry, Sen. God, I'm so sorry. You've had to go through so much, and you deserved none of it."
Sen didn't seem to know how to respond, rasping back with a confused tone. "I… Cal, why sorry? Took care sel-f, survived, how things are?"
Cal pushed his head into her feathers, feeling her shiver slightly. "That doesn't make it ok, not ever. Sen, if you ever need anything, please, come to me. You're not alone anymore, ok?"
Sen returned the hug, letting out a quiet whimper. Cal felt her rest her beak on his neck, soft breath dancing across his skin. She held the position for a moment before releasing the pressure, sliding her claws down his arms to grasp his hands as she backed up. She blinked at him, looking at a loss for words. Cal gave her an innocent smile as he gently held her hands. "How about I show you how to open a can?" To which Sen simply nodded in agreement.
Cal led Sen into the kitchen and got out one of the metal cans. He got out a can opener and demonstrated using it for a moment before having Sen use it the rest of the way. Afterward, he showed her how to heat the contents, splitting it between the two of them. Cal noted that Sen very intently watched the whole process, and he gathered that she likely never had to prepare food for herself her entire life. He noted that he should be sure to keep her involved with day-to-day things like that since he had no idea how many, if any, normal life skills she possessed.
He walked to the sink to wash their bowls, and as he was finishing up, he heard the doorbell ring. He froze up, seeing a million thoughts go through his head. Someone at the door? Out here? There was no way it was someone random, meaning that it was either ONI, insurrectionists, or a lowly criminal, and he didn't know which of the three was worse.
He rounded the corner of the kitchen and slowly approached the door, inspecting the entryway. He noticed some kind of control panel off to the right and approached it, watching it light up to a view outside. The front door was clear, and he could see fresh dust rising into the air down the driveway, but the oddest thing of all is that there were now two large crates in front of the door.
Cal slowly opened the door and looked back and forth, seeing only the containers. He looked behind him to see Sen following close behind, holding low to the ground like a loaded spring and feathers bristling. He waved his hand to beckon her forward, speaking reassuringly. "It's alright Sen, no danger."
She relaxed visibly, standing up straighter and blinking at him.
Cal turned his attention to the boxes outside. He took a step outside, walking alongside it slowly. He inspected it, noting text on the side that read 'To: Cal Bardeen, NC SAFEHOUSE 13A.' Looking at the other, he was surprised to see that it was the same, only it was addressed to Sen rather than him.
He turned back to the other crate, lifting the latch and slowly opening the lid. Inside he was surprised to see his old marine uniform and armor, as well as his equipment, neatly folded and stored within. Alongside it was two smaller boxes; peeking into the first one, he noticed that it contained a data pad similar to the one Sen had used previously. He closed the box and checked the other, pausing when he saw a glimmer inside. Slowly lifted the lid, realizing that it was a shiny silver plaque, with the UNSC eagle emblazed on it. The text below read; 'Awarded in honor of service to Earth and her colonies in the events of the invasion of Earth in October of 2552.' His name was engraved in big print underneath, followed by engraved signatures of the President of the UEG and Chairman of the UNSC.
Cal closed the box and carefully put it back where it was. He noticed that Sen had moved beside him and was peering into the box, so pretending to fidget with the gear inside, he carefully tilted his helmet inside, so the scarred side wasn't visible. He realized that these crates must be for their personal belongings, which he was told would be arriving at some point. He pondered on what exactly they sent Sen, as she didn't exactly have that much with her when she arrived aside from her armor and pendant.
He gestured towards the second crate, smiling at Sen. "Hey Sen, this one's for you!"
She hummed, tilting her head to the side as she seemed a bit confused. She then shrugged, and pulled on the latches awkwardly, trying to mimic what he did. She quickly gets a grip on it and pops it open, lifting the lid. She looks straight down into the box, freezing up. Her feathers sank to her body, but Cal wasn't able to understand her emotions until she reached into the box and lifted an object out.
Immediately he recognized the dirty gold-yellow sheen as Sen lifted her old Skirmisher helmet from the box, the distinctive wings along the back and the chops on the cheeks distinguished it as Champion armor. She held it up facing her, staring into the eyepieces head-on. Cal immediately knew why Sen reacted the way she did, she hadn't seen that armor since she had been placed in ONI custody.
Cal reached out and gently laid a hand on her shoulder, stirring her from her momentary trance. He looked at her with concern, speaking with a quiet voice as she turned her eyes towards him. "Sen, are you ok?"
She blinked at him before glancing back at the helmet in her hands, carefully placing it back in the box as she responded with a rasp. "It's ok, I'm ok." She said, letting out a small sigh. She looked up at him and continued speaking. "Does not bother me, but…" She trailed off, narrowing her eyes as she thought for a moment. "Covenant bad to humans, hurt. Wear and hurt humans, memories. Don't want to-" She broke off, suddenly clenching her beak and looking at the ground.
Cal realized that she was probably guilting herself again, so he reached a hand under her beak and tipped her head back up towards him, giving her a grin. "You know Sen, I actually think you look really cute in your armor."
Her feathers fluffed up, eyes widening in surprise. She let out a small croak, as she instantly snapped out of her guilt. Cal continued, motioning with a hand in the air. "I heard that the Elites colored their armor and ships green when they allied with humanity, so maybe we could do something like that, eh? We could get you in some real marine greens, we'd match!"
He reached forward and stroked her neck feathers near her cheek, her eyes perking up into a smile as he heard a small chuckle in her throat. He dropped his arm and motioned back towards the box, causing her to turn her attention back with renewed focus. She reached in and lifted one of the boxes, opening it to reveal a similar shiny plaque to the one Cal was given. He could see her eyes widen, seeming mesmerized by the shiny plate. She reached forward and followed the words inscribed with a claw, careful not to scratch the delicate surface. Cal reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling her coarse skin under his hand. He spoke with a twinge of pride in his voice. "They are right, you know. I know you've faced a lot Sen, and still are, but remember that what you did on Earth was no small thing." She turned to look at him, feathers ruffling as he continued. "The things you did, and said, saved lives. You're a hero Sen, beyond just what I think of you."
Sen reached up and touched the hand on her shoulder silently before carefully closing the box back up and setting it down. She then picked up the second box and opened it too, almost causing a few documents to spill out. Cal carefully caught them and pulled them off, revealing another data pad underneath, minor scratches on the surface indicating that it was the same one she previously used. Sen ignored the documents in Cal's hands and immediately grabbed the handheld computer, making a happy purring noise as she held it in her hands.
Cal flipped the documents over while Sen fawned over the device, and had to hold in a gasp at what he saw. The small collection of papers was legal documentation, but the one that stuck out the most to him was the pocket-sized passport booklet with the UEG emblem emblazed on the front. He carefully peeled it open to see Sen's information and photograph printed, declaring her a legal citizen of the UEG. Cal felt relief staring at the papers, glancing over the rest to see that they were various other forms including Sen's medical and service records. He felt happiness wash over him, along with relief. He had been shown this before, but holding the papers now was a whole new thing. Sen was a legal citizen, holding the same rights as anyone else. She was free.
Flipping through the pages, he felt a hard flat object shoved between some of them. Curiously, he reached in and pulled it out, feeling a twinge of shock. It was an ONI identification card, just like his, only this one had Sen's name on it. He carefully read the text on it, 'Sen Reea, Xenopsycology Division, Kig-Yar Specialist.' He snorted, 'Kig-Yar Specialist,' it seems ONI wasn't quite done with her yet.
He held the papers out to Sen, distracting her from her device. She took them from him and stared at them, reading them closely with squinted eyes. Cal pointed to the UEG passport with a grin, nudging her arm. "Hey, check it out, you're official now!"
Sen opened the book and her beak dropped open, seeming completely unprepared for what was inside. She looked up at Cal wide-eyed, a quiet questioning rumble emerging from her throat. Cal chuckled and leaned towards her, teasingly lifting a finger up and pressing on the tip of the beak. "Yeah Sen, you're just like me now."
Sen looked back down at the papers wide-eyed, before suddenly lunging into Cal and wrapping her arms around him, almost knocking him over. He stumbled backward, feeling her shiver slightly as she embraced him. He let out a small cough from the pressure, returning the hug with a smile. He heard her rumbling voice quietly in his ear, almost a whisper. "-thank you."
Cal leaned his head into her, feeling her soft feathers on his forehead as they sat in peace for a moment.
Shortly after, they decided to move the crates into the back of the car. Cal took Sen's documents and tucked them away into his personal bag, deciding that it would be best to have them on hand just in case.
Sen was delighted to have her data pad back, considering that in some cases she vastly preferred typing to talking due to some of her physiological difficulties with human speech. However, they were both surprised to find that it seemed as though the tablets that both were given had been connected to some kind of secure UNSC network, allowing them to communicate with each other virtually anywhere on the planet. It also provided secure Waypoint access, meaning that Cal could now contact his family remotely.
Cal breathed out a sigh as he sat down on one of the loveseats, looking to his right, Sen was sitting on the one adjacent to him. She was happily intent on something on her data pad, likely taking advantage of the lack of restrictions on the connection. Cal lifted up his own tablet and turned it on, finding Sen's contact and opening messages. He pressed the message box and typed a simple message into the onscreen keyboard.
'Hey'
He glanced back towards her, seeing her momentarily pause at the message. She then turned her head towards him, curiously looking at him. Cal leaned against the armrest towards her, resting his chin on his hand as he spoke in a subdued manner. "So, as you know I went and talked to my parents today. I told them about you, and…" He paused for a moment, "us." He took a breath in, voice gaining strength. "They of course were surprised, and a bit awkward, but they said that they wanted to meet you. If I talk to them tonight and they agree on it, how do you feel about meeting them tomorrow?"
Sen quietly looked at the ground, seeming to think for a moment, before picking up her data pad and typing on it briefly. A moment later, Cal saw a message go through to him.
'I am fine with that, so long as my presence doesn't make anyone too uncomfortable.'
Cal gave her a reassuring smile. "They're good folks. I'm sure that when they meet you, they'll see just how great you are."
Sen puffed her feathers, looking a bit flustered again. Cal glanced down at her data pad, speaking with a questioning tone. "Is typing on that data pad much easier than talking?"
Sen's expression became a bit downcast, blinking slowly as she typed another message.
'Talking's not bad, but hard. Long words and complex sentences are hard to speak with how I am, sorry.'
Cal gave her a sympathetic look, reaching across and touching her hand as he spoke softly to her. "Don't be sorry, it's fine. Express yourself in whatever is the most comfortable way for you."
Sen looked away for a moment, thinking. After a moment, her feathers fluffed a bit and her beak stretched open in a subconscious yawn as her eyes drooped a little. Suddenly, she snapped her beak shut and opened her eyes, giving Cal a sideways glance.
Cal laughed, giving Sen an understanding glance. "Tired?"
Sen looked bashful, looking away slightly as she rasped out uncertainly. "-No."
Cal poked her on the shoulder. "Hey, you're not in the military anymore. There's no shame in being tired, you've done a lot today."
Sen let out a quiet protesting grumble, but Cal could see her eyes drooping again. She then let out a rumbling sigh from her throat, speaking with quiet dejection. "Yeah, tired."
Cal reached out and took her hand, massaging it softly. "Go ahead and get ready for bed, I'll reach out to my family and confirm everything with them."
Sen nodded at him, setting her data pad down and getting up with a long stretch. She looked down at Cal and clicked her beak, feathers fluffing happily up for a moment before she turned and walked down the hall. Cal looked back down at his own tablet, looking through the interface. He thought hard for a second, remembering his family's home local number. He typed it in and held his breath for a moment, before feeling relief that it came up as the 'Bardeen family farm' in the directory. He typed a quick message.
'Hey you guys, it's Cal! Sen says that so long as you two are comfortable with it, she wants to meet tomorrow. How are you feeling about this?'
He waited anxiously, biting his lip when he saw a message come through.
'We talked it over, and we would be happy to meet tomorrow. Should we expect you in the afternoon?'
Cal let out a breath of relief, typing a response.
'Probably early afternoon if that works for you. Just so you know, she might use a data pad to type messages sometimes because she occasionally has trouble with spoken English.'
After another pause, he got another reply.
'We understand. We just wanted to say that we're sorry if we came off poorly about it today, this whole thing has been a bit overwhelming for us. Just know that we love you, and will try to be as open-minded as possible. We're just happy you are home, and will do what we can to make sure you're happy.'
Cal smiled, feeling warmth inside at his parent's words. He typed a response.
'I can't tell you two how much this means to me, I love you so much. Have a good night.'
Before he switched off his data pad, he saw their final message.
'Good night son, we love you!'
He got up out of the seat and walked to the bathroom, he quickly brushed his teeth and changed into sleepwear. He then walked to the bedroom to see Sen sitting on the edge of the bed seeming to be waiting for him. She looked up at him expectantly, a quiet questioning rumble coming from her throat. Cal looked at her happily and spoke with reassurance. "They said yes, and that they're happy to meet you. They're a bit overwhelmed by everything, but they're welcoming folks. I'm sure they'll come around fine."
Sen looked a bit content, but Cal could tell that she was still a bit anxious about meeting them. He walked over and sat on the bed next to her, reaching his hand around her back and holding her shoulder, giving her a light hug. He spoke softly. "Everything will be fine, just be yourself. I'm here to support you, ok?"
She looked down into his eyes, looking more relaxed. She hummed, speaking quietly. "Thank you."
Cal looked down at the bed, then back up to Sen who was visibly getting sleepier. He gestured to the covers and patted her on the shoulder. "You should really get some sleep; you'll need it for tomorrow." He yawned, letting out a laugh. "I do too, I guess." Cal awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit sheepish. "Well- uh… I'm ok with sleeping on the sofa, you can take the bed."
Sen looked at him incredulously, before her feathers fluffed up in amusement and a laugh came from her beak. She reached over and firmly grabbed his hand, gently shaking her head at him. Her raspy voice had a hint of teasing in it as she spoke. "No Cal, stay."
Cal flushed, stammering a bit as he spoke. "I- I'm not sure-"
Sen bent down and pressed her beak into his cheek, breath touching his skin as she spoke with a whisper. "Please."
Cal let out a sigh of defeat, unable to protest. Sen let out a trill of happiness and pulled him under the covers, wrapping her arms around his torso and nesting his head in the crook of her neck. He felt her breath soften as she closed her eyes, and her muscles relaxed as she slipped into sleep. At first, Cal felt uncomfortable, as he had never done anything like this before, let alone with someone so much bigger and stronger than him. But after a bit, he started to feel relaxed. Her gentle breaths and soft feathers pressing on his body, as well as the warm presence at his side, brought an unexplainable sense of peace and comfort.
Soon, sitting comfortably in Sen's gentle embrace, Cal drifted off to sleep.
Sen clenched her beak and fist shut with pain and fear, tears streaming from her eyes as she jammed a bundled cloth into her brother's wounded side. Sticky hot blood covered her hands as she tried to ignore the jagged metal shrapnel that dug into her body, voice ragged with desperation. "Raq… no! Wake up… please, wake up!"
His eyes slowly blinked open, meandering around before slowly focusing on her. There wasn't a hint of pain in his expression. He spoke slowly, in a tired manner. "Sen... I- I can't feel my legs. What… what's going on?"
Sen grabbed his hand tightly, voice quavering with barely disguised shock and fear. "Raq, just focus on me, ok? Stay with me, don't go back to sleep, please!"
His eyes flickered, unfocusing and refocusing again. Smoke and fire blazed behind them, illuminating his face in the darkness. When he spoke his tone was blunt and quiet, like a child asking an innocent question. "Sen… Am I dying?"
Sen was tired of reliving this moment, tired of remembering. The day of the attack, the deaths. She and Raq were nothing more than hatchlings then, barely old enough to live on their own. They never stood a chance, never did. Her clan was a dying breed, and the pirate queens that ruled kig-kar space wanted nothing more than to kill the last of them.
Sen relived the memory many times in sleep, it never left her alone, especially after Raq died. She still bore the scars from the shrapnel when the bomb went off, scars on both her body and soul.
She was tired, so tired.
Sen let out a choking sob, cradling Raq's head as she held herself against him. She ignored her own wounds as she continued to cry. "No, no! You're not dying, help me put pressure on this, you'll be fine!"
Raq reached up and touched her on the shoulder, giving her a weak reassuring croon. "It's gonna be ok, Sen."
Suddenly, the scene disappeared. Sen sat dumbfounded as her pain disappeared, and Raq's words floated in her mind.
She realized that he never said that. In the attack, he never told her that.
Suddenly, she felt a presence at her side. She tried to turn but found that she couldn't. She stared ahead with tear-stained eyes as she felt a familiar hand touch her shoulder, and a voice speaks softly into her ear. "It's ok, Sen."
Sen opened her eyes sleepily, slowly blinking her vision clear. She felt pressure and warmth against her body and arms, feeling a flutter in her chest memories of the previous night came back. Cal was sleeping soundly in her arms, quiet rhythmic breaths making his chest rise and fall under her. She let out a joyful croon, remembering what had happened last night. She had wanted to share a nest with Cal for a long time, and now it was finally a reality.
She let out a yawn, looking down at the sleeping form lovingly. After a moment, she awkwardly realized that since one of her arms was under him, if she were to get up, she would most definitely wake him.
Sen released a small sigh. Not wanting to wake him, she put her head back down on the Human pillow, simply enjoying his company. She didn't mind the bed, though it was a bit small for her. It was no nest, but with Cal there it made it even better than one.
After a short while, Sen felt Cal stir from sleep, shifting himself in her arms. His eyes blinked open slowly, groggily looking around as he processed where he was. He turned his head around toward Sen and appeared confused, squinting his eyes at her for a moment before he seemed to remember, speaking groggily. "Hey there Sen, did you sleep well?"
Sen bent her head down and pressed her beak into his cheek, letting out a soft purr from her throat. She spoke with warmth in her voice. "With you here, much so."
Cal chuckled, giving her a smile as he spoke with a hint of awkwardness. "Yeah… I guess I could say the same, I haven't slept that well in a while."
Cal sat up and looked out the window, stretching as he exclaimed. "Damn, it's pretty close to noon. I expected to be up earlier, but I guess I was more tired than I thought!"
Sen felt anxiety gnaw at her, remembering what she had to do today. Cal did a lot to reassure her that it would go fine, but she still couldn't help but feel a massive weight on her shoulders. This was the family of the person she loved, people who had plenty of reason to hate her kind. Yet she had to convince them why they shouldn't hate her, and why they should approve of them being together.
She could almost laugh at the predicament she was in. She survived the brutal Covenant, ruthless battles that left millions dead, and even being interrogated by this Human 'ONI' group. Yet, she had never been more terrified than now, going to simply talk to two Humans.
The battles of before were straightforward because they only required her to think about survival, but the battle ahead wasn't about survival, it was about happiness. And that, that was something new, something she hadn't needed to consider before.
It didn't take long for them to get ready to go, and soon they were off. Sen sat in the passenger seat, watching the scenery go by through the window. Sitting in the vehicle wasn't very comfortable, as it had clearly not been designed with her kind in mind, but it was far from the worst she ever experienced.
Soon they drove into a settlement, Cal slowly coming to a stop behind another Human vehicle. She glanced out the window and saw Humans around, even children. Some were in vehicles, others just walking. One thing was very clear to her, and that was a feeling of disconnection. She had been around Humans for a while now, but this felt different, like she didn't belong here.
In the Covenant, she wasn't afraid of the perceptions of others towards her. The races of the Covenant held a great deal of contempt for each other, she was used to being ostracized. But here, she felt afraid. Not of any physical danger, but of the judgment of these people. This was their home, their world. One of the last left, and now she was here. The Covenant races disliked each other mostly due to superiority complexes, with each race wanting to have something above the other for the sake of proving something. But these Humans had nothing to prove to her, and she had nothing to prove to them. She was an invader here, encroaching on their land. She was afraid of their judgment not because of danger, but because their words would cut deeper than any blade.
Sen wanted to shrink into the seat, to hide herself from their view even though she knew that the darkened windows of the vehicle would make her nearly impossible to see from the outside.
Soon, the vehicle in front started moving again and they kept going. Sen felt relief as they passed the fence indicating the end of the settlement, opening out to wide open fields. Cal must have sensed her tension, as he reached over and touched her hand, talking softly while keeping his vision on the road. "Everything will be alright Sen; you'll be just fine. We're in this together."
Sen released anxiously held breath, feeling herself calm a bit. Glancing over at Cal, she reminded herself why she was here. This wasn't just for her, but for him too. She was doing this for his sake, he wanted her to be here. She wasn't here for selfishness or greed, but because she wanted to support the person she loves.
With that in mind, she reinforced her will. Reminding herself over and over to build confidence.
She would do this for him.
Cal put the car into park, taking a deep breath as he looked at the familiar farmhouse once again. It was unchanged from yesterday; bland and rustic, not much different than other frontier residences on this world, home.
But this time, he almost felt a sense of dread approaching the door. There was excitement, yes, but also fear. His family were good folks, but he couldn't help but conjure a million of the worst scenarios imaginable in his head.
He shook the thoughts from his mind, exhaling sharply and glancing towards Sen. She had her data pad clutched to her chest, she was looking at the house in front of them with uncertainty, but underneath it, he could see a steely will in her eyes. She was more nervous than him, but he could tell that she was determined to make a good impression.
He patted her on the arm and silently motioned towards the house, setting off towards the front door with Sen in tow. He stopped in front of the door and reached up a hand to knock; glancing to his right at Sen who was lingering over his shoulder. She looked down at him and gave a stiff nod, indicating that she was ready. He tapped the door with three firm knocks, before dropping his hand and waiting with bated breath.
After a moment, the door cracked open to reveal both his parents standing in the entryway, clearly having anticipated his arrival. He could see them immediately balk at the sight of Sen lingering over his shoulder, staring with wide eyes at the strange alien.
After a momentary silence, his mother is the first to compose herself. Letting out a quiet cough to clear her throat, she speaks with surprise and a twinge of uncertainty. "Ah, welcome back Cal! This… this must be Sen, right?"
Sen nodded enthusiastically, reaching out her right hand toward Cathleen in a friendly manner. She spoke as softly as possible, rasp still very much apparent. "Sen Reea, Cal's mother?"
Cathleen held back, looking at Sen's extended claw with a twinge of unease. Cal cleared his throat with a pointed glance toward her and then at Sen, causing Cathleen to reach out and accept the gesture. Their hands met and carefully grasped each other, firmly shaking while Sen made sure to keep her sharp talons clear.
Cathleen clearly felt eased at the gentleness of Sen's touch, smiling at her and speaking in a warm, but still slightly unsteady, voice. "Yes, I'm Cathleen Bardeen, Cal's mother. He has said much about you."
At that, his father also approached and offered his hand. He spoke with a bit more ease than Cathleen, but Cal could tell that he was equally as awkward about the situation. "I'm Cal's father, Devin Bardeen. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sen."
Sen responded by taking his hand and shaking it as well, giving him a subtle nod of respectful agreement. They held the pose for a moment before releasing each other, both parties once again uneasily separated on either side of the threshold.
After a moment of silence, his mother spoke again with more certainty in her voice. "Please, come in. It would be rude of us to not offer you two a comfortable place to sit while we talk."
Devin nodded in response, opening the door wider and beckoning the unusual pair inside. Cal stepped inside with Sen in tow, his parents moving off to the side to give Sen some space. Their eyes were wide as they both looked the large alien up and down, having a hard time keeping their jaws from dropping as they stared at her strange physiology. Sen stopped and gave them a deep respectful bow, holding herself a bit lower when she pulled herself back up to not tower over the nervous Humans. She spoke quietly again, keeping her voice as calm and passive as possible. "Thank you, appreciate it."
Cal followed his parents into the living room, sitting down across from them once again. Sen sat herself down to his left, adjusting herself to accommodate her long legs before seeming to find a comfortable pose. Externally she appeared confident, but Cal could tell by the way that she was pressing herself against him that she was anxious.
She took her data pad from under her arm and set it on her lap, taking a moment to type something on it while Cal's parents watched from across, still looking shell-shocked by the fact that there was an alien in their living room.
After a moment of quiet tapping, Sen held up the device to show the message.
'Thank you, I am grateful to be here. If it's ok, I might answer some questions this way. Certain Human words are difficult for me, I apologize.'
His parents squinted at the screen for a moment before nodding in agreement, his father speaking quietly. "Quite all right, Cal told us that would likely be the case."
Sen nodded and brought the data pad back, typing another message before showing it again.
'I know my presence here brings discomfort; I am sorry. If you wish for me to leave, I will go.'
Cal's mother seemed a bit taken aback, still seeming unsure how to talk to Sen, but speaking in a reassuring tone. "I- that's not necessary, it's fine really! It's just…"
Sen's eyes averted from the pair; she rasped quietly with a flatness. "I know what I am."
Her whole body seemed to droop a little, her feathers pressing to her body and her head sinking. She reached a claw up and rubbed one of her eyes, trying to hide a tear. She choked suddenly, speaking in an unsteady quiet voice. "…Sorry."
Cal reached a hand out and gently rubbed her shoulder, looking over at his parents' mortified faces, clearly having no idea how to react to the situation at hand. After a minute, Sen lifted her head back up. There was a sad, tired look in her eyes as she typed another message.
'I can't sit here pretending, I won't be able to live with myself unless I say. Whatever judgement you deem fit, I am deserving of.'
Cal felt dread, knowing exactly what she wanted to tell them. Cal had specifically not told his parents that Sen had been the one who shot him, and didn't intend on telling them. Sen's eyes were on the floor, not daring to meet the eyes of his parents as she spoke. Her voice was a broken croak, full of self-hate. "I- I was Covenant, on Earth. On sniper duty, watching a… street." She states uncertainly. "Going badly, Covenant losing. I saw a human, and I- I…" She clutches a fist to her forehead, forcefully closing her eyes and clenching her beak shut at the memory. The last words are whispered, broken. "Shot Cal…"
She sits motionless, huddled in a vulnerable pose. Cal looks over at his parents whose faces are pale, staring in disbelief. His father places a hand on his forehead and rubs his temples, while his mother whispers under her breath in disbelief. "Oh my god."
Devin looks up at him and speaks pointedly, his voice laced with disbelief. "Cal is this true?"
Cal holds Sen's shoulder firmly and leans towards her protectively, begging desperately. "Yes, but please, it's complicated! I can explain, just give me a moment."
His father got up from his seat slowly, approaching the pair. Sen didn't move an inch, simply awaiting whatever judgment she was about to get. Cal looked desperately at his mother, who was simply staring at him with a look of confused horror.
Devin crouched in front of Sen's hunched form until he was level with her head, gazing across her face and crimson feathers. Sen dropped her hand down and opened her eyes, staring at Devin sadly. All sense of uneasiness and caution was gone from him, as he stared into her searchingly.
Suddenly, Cal's father let out a breath from his nose, speaking firmly but quietly. "He told us that he had been hit in the helmet, but not by you."
Sen dropped her gaze, letting out a shameful whine.
Devin continued, asking with a questioning stare. "Tell me, what happened after that?"
Sen's beak opened slightly in surprise, eyes darting up to him before dropping them again. Cal opened his mouth to speak on her behalf, only for Devin to quickly shush him. "I want to hear it from her, Cal."
Sen met his gaze again, building up the will to speak. Her voice was still unsteady, but less so. "He… escaped. Things go bad for Covenant, very bad." He could see the pain in her eyes as she continued. "Start killing each other, Covenant races hate. Jira- Brute, attacks me. Brother…" She starts tearing up again, sobbing softly. "Saves me. Kills Brute, but then…"
She clenches her fist, a single tear dripping down her cheek. Devin's hard expression drops for a moment, recognizing her grief, before quickly going back to questioning mode. He speaks again, slightly softer this time. "So, what then? How did you meet Cal?"
Sen sniffed, wiping a tear from her face before speaking with a steadier voice. "Hurt bad, f-ound building. Wait for Brute killer, want to avenge…" She trails off for a moment, thinking. "Hear Brute, chasing. Set ambush, and I see… human, Cal." She pauses again. "I shoot, kill Brute. I thought… human kill me, but no, spared me." She turns and looks Cal in the eyes with a wistful look.
Devin looks thoughtfully at her, seeming to have made a conclusion. He asks with a knowing tone. "So you saved him from that Brute, right? And after that, he helped you bury your kin."
Sen looked back at Devin with a blank stare, before nodding in agreement.
He then continued, speaking in the same tone. "And then you protected him from more of the Covenant, your own kind, because he spared your life?"
Another nod.
"You really love him a lot, don't you?"
Sen froze, staring at him in surprise as her feathers puffed up. She nodded again, speaking with a quiet rasp. "Yes, I love him."
Devin reached up and took her claw in both his hands, cupping it carefully as he looked into her eyes. "Thank you, Sen."
Sen's beak dropped open in confusion, tears still glittering under her eyes as she stared at Cal's father in disbelief. She let out a confused sound, asking in almost a begging manner. "W-why?"
He looked her in the eyes, speaking with conviction. "Our son would not be alive if you hadn't been there, you brought him home. I forgive you, and thank you for what you've done for us."
Cathleen, who had been silent the entire time, was looking at the three people across from her back and forth. After a moment she breathed a sigh, seeming to understand what her husband was saying, and approached Sen as well. She kneeled down next to Devin and placed a hand on top of his. Her voice was uncertain, but gained strength as she spoke. "I… have a hard time saying I forgive you. You almost robbed me of my son, my last son. But I see you for who you are, I see your scars." She swallowed hard before continuing. "I can see how much pain your past actions cause you, how much you regret them. The bond between you and my Cal is something I will never be able to understand, but I see the length that he loves you, and you love him." She looked up, meeting Sen's bewildered gaze. "I forgive you, Sen."
Cal didn't understand how to process what was going on. He was ready to leap to Sen's defense in an instant, yet here his parents were kneeling in front of her, offering their forgiveness for what she did. He looked up at Sen, seeing a fresh tear form. She reached up and wiped it off, only for more tears to start to flow. She let out a quiet whimper and sniffed, trying to suppress the tears with her claws only for them to flow around them.
Cal wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him, she was practically limp as he gently pressed her head into his chest, tears leaking through his shirt. He felt her shaking under his arms as he gently stroked her head feathers, quietly reassuring her.
He glanced up at his parents who were now awkwardly standing next to him, seeming to have no idea what to say about the bizarre scene in front of them. He let out a pent-up breath, nodding to them with appreciation as he spoke quietly. "Thank you, both of you." He motioned towards the direction they entered the room from, asking softly. "Could we please have a moment?"
Cathleen and Devin looked at each other for a moment before turning around and exiting the room. Leaving Cal alone, gently cradling Sen in his arms.
Cal soon feels Sen calm down, breathing slowing significantly. He takes one of her claws in his hand and strokes her head feathers with the other. She lays nearly motionless for a bit, squeezing his hand in response before letting out a quiet sigh. She whispers under her breath, a melancholic tone clear. "Sorry, Cal."
Cal looked down at her, giving her a small smile as he asks tenderly. "Why?"
Sen turns her head up to look at him, still pressed against his chest. Her voice is small and quiet. "Messed it up."
Cal gently massaged the feathers around the back of her cheek, speaking quietly with warmth and reassurance. "No, you didn't. You did just fine Sen, it went well."
Sen's feathers fluffed in contentment at the rubbing, letting out a quiet rolling warble. She then sighs, looking up at Cal with a weary look as she quietly rasps. "Emotions are hard."
Cal nodded, giving her an understanding look, and speaking reassuringly. "I know."
They held that position for a minute longer before Sen pulled herself back up, tugging on her clothing to fix it before straightening her feathers. She cleaned the screen of her data pad off with the hem of her robe, taking a deep breath. She held herself up a bit straighter than before, having got a heavy burden off her chest, carrying herself with new resolve.
Cal rose from his seat, gesturing outside of the room and speaking in a calm voice. "I'll go and get them again, be right back."
He then turned away and walked out of the living room and into the kitchen. He spotted his parents at the far end of the room, talking to each other intently in hushed voices. They stopped talking as he walked in, attention snapping to him.
Cal walked over to them, giving a courteous nod as he stopped in front of them. He spoke in a hushed tone, a hint of questioning concern in his voice. "How are you guys holding up?"
His father sighed with weariness, a tinge of discomfort in his voice. "I most certainly didn't expect today to be like this." He looked up at Cal, guilt in his eyes. "I- ah, I'm sorry for making her cry, Cal. I may have been more intense than I should have."
Cal placed a hand on his shoulder reassuringly, smiling at him. "No, no, you're fine. She's been blaming herself about a lot, and I think what you said helped a great deal." He looked over towards his mother with a similar look. "You too mom, I appreciate what both of you said."
Cathleen was biting her lip, looking very conflicted. "I still can't say how I feel about all this… But I'm also your mother." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, releasing it long and slowly before opening her eyes again. "It's not my job to force my beliefs on you, you're not a child anymore. I can see the bond between you two, and how much both of you would put on the line for the sake of the other. So if acceptance is what it takes for my boy to be happy, so be it."
Cal hugged both his parents, wrapping one arm around each as he felt tears of his own form. He sniffed quietly, emotion evident in his voice. "This really means a lot to me, really. I've been trying to stay strong, do the right things, but it's hard."
His father patted him on the back, speaking with empathy. "I know, I know. You've been through things I can't imagine, and I'm so sorry."
His mother did the same, speaking in a similar tone. "Don't blame yourself either, nothing that happened is your fault. We're here for you, we want to support you through this."
Cal brought his parents back to the living room, taking his seat next to Sen again. The atmosphere in the room still had an air of uncertainty, though a lot of the previous tension had dissipated. Sen glanced at Devin and Cathleen, seeming a bit hesitant at first before looking back at her data pad and typing another message.
'I am truly not sure what to say, but your words mean much to me. I lived most of my life under shadows of doubt, uncertain if I would live to see another day.'
She turned it back around and typed a new message, turning it back around with an expression Cal could tell was a smile.
'But I digress, is there anything you'd like to know about me?'
Sen had answered questions before, but she had never felt this much anxiety before, not even when she was held in a cage by ONI. In her kind's society, a female had the ultimate say when it came to mating. Hatchlings were cared for by a clan mother, with interaction with their biological parents slim to none. But yet, here she was trying to prove herself worthy of acceptance by her mate's parents, her Human mate's parents.
The questions were slow coming, with the pair mulling over topics for a while before pressing for an answer. At first, they were pressing, seeming suspicious of her nature, but after a while, they steadily changed from analytical skepticism to curiosity. And as the nature of questions calmed, so did Sen's nerves.
Eventually, Sen found herself asking her own questions. The atmosphere changed from that of an interview to more of a casual conversation, with all four of them simply chatting amongst each other. And then Sen felt… relaxed.
It was another new sensation, one she only started experiencing after she met Cal. Her life prior had only ever been action, even on leave from her ship, her thoughts were only on moving forward. Life's meaning came from pushing forward, and if she stopped, she would die. But now, she saw a side to life that hadn't existed before. One that she almost destroyed.
Cathleen gestured curiously towards Sen's body, indicating her attire. "Did you make that? It's lovely."
Sen tilted her head in the air, giving Cal a sideways look before patting the cloth fondly. She spoke truthfully, a tinge of humor in her raspy voice. "I did little, Cal made it." She elbowed Cal in the ribs, giving him a sideways smile with an eye and chuckling teasingly through her closed beak.
Cal coughed, averting his eyes, and speaking unconvincingly. "Ahem, I uh, I dunno about that. Sewing's not really…"
Devin laughed loudly, pointing at Cal with a grin. "You doofus! I knew it, you can sew! And maybe, just maybe you like it too?"
Cal looked dejected and embarrassed, crossing his arms. "No, I don't! The UNSC made me learn it again in boot camp, with drill instructors and everything." He huffed and looked away. "Ok, and maybe they didn't yell at me that much because I did a good job. But I didn't like it! I'm just… good at it."
Cathleen smiled at Cal, speaking in a happy and nostalgic tone. "I remember when you were little, you sewed a bunch of little green army men. You were so proud of them!"
Cal sighed, throwing his hands in the air with a look of defeat. "Wow, you're all against me here. Even you Sen?" He sighed and leaned back, putting a hand on his forehead.
Sen leaned across and plopped the side of her head onto his shoulder, she closed her eyes and let out a quiet coo. Cal exhaled, reaching a hand up to stroke her feathers. He laughed, fake defeat in his voice. "Alright, maybe it isn't so bad. I… suppose I can enjoy it on occasion."
His father smirked and pointed at Cal; tone thick with mock triumph. "Ha! I knew it. Cal's greatest shame revealed; he likes sewing!"
After a moment of over-dramatic staring around the room, everyone erupted with mirthful laughter, and to Sen's surprise, she was laughing too. It was genuine laughter, joyful laughter. It was a strange experience. Among her own kind and in the Covenant, emotion was seldom shown, and when it was it was never positive. Yet Humans showed their emotions plain, both joys and pains.
And here she was, joining them in a moment of life, sharing that experience with them. It was like she had finally realized a part of her that was missing, something she never knew she desired.
She had found something beyond her pains and fears, a place to belong.