Chapter 3

Amelia and Gruff

The next day, Delbert made his way back to their bedroom. He entered, saw his wife, and said, "Amelia, dear…are you awake?"

"Doctor, kindly go away, and leave me alone," she said quite succinctly, turning away from him.

"Come now, Amelia…don't say that you still are angry with, are you? "he said, patiently, taking a seat opposite from her.

She rolled back over, looking angrily at him. She didn't say a thing to him, ignoring him entirely. She then got up, threw on a robe, and went to her desk. She took up her pencils and began to draw pictures of herself and the Legacy.

Delbert didn't feel offended by his wife's somewhat rude behavior. He knew that when his Amelia began to draw and sulk, it meant that she was feeling sad and depressed. Her drawing was her way of coping with those feelings. Nodding his head in sympathy, he decided it best to leave her alone for the moment.

He had just closed the door and taken one step when he almost fell to the floor. The cause of his near fall was his only son (who was escaping his sisters) who had run straight into the back of his knees. "Good heavens! Gruff…what is the meaning of this?" he demanded quietly, not wanting to disturb Amelia.

Delbert then saw his three darling daughters scurry up the hallway…obviously in pursuit of their brother. When the girls saw their father, they gasped aloud, and turned around and went the other way.

"Thanks, Dad," said Gruff, with obvious relief. "Oh…sorry about almost knocking you over."

"You're welcome, son,' said Delbert. "Your sisters were wanting to play with you again, weren't they?"

"Well, yeah, I guess," Gruff replied. He didn't like to tattle on his sisters…so he didn't tell his father they had wanted to make him wear a dress and play tea with them. The boy then frowned, confused.

"Say, Dad…where's Mom? he said. "I haven't seen her all day…"

"Oh, well, she's in our bedroom,' Delbert said honestly. "I believe that she's drawing at the moment, and most likely won't want to be disturbed."

Gruff looked up at his father, his young face thoughtful. He then asked, "Is Mom sad? What did you do, Dad?"

Delbert drew himself up indignantly. "Why…whatever is that supposed to mean, young---?" But, Delbert knew his son knew his parents only too well. He abruptly deflated, sighing. "Well, son, you see…I don't want your mother to travel to leave us and head off to fight some bad people." Gruff was a bright, responsible young lad, but he was careful to not give his son too many disturbing details.

"Well, Dad…want me to talk to her?" said Gruff. Gruff was (as was his father) very clever, and knew just what to say and when to say it.

"Hmm," mused Delbert, rubbing his chin thoughtfully with his index finger. "Well, it certainly can't hurt. You may speak with your mother, Gruff. Just as long as she invites you to, you understand."

Gruff nodded in a very adult like manner. He mad his way to the door and knocked softly. "Mom?" he called, "it's me, Gruff."

"Yes? What is it, dear?" Amelia's voice came through the door.

"Uh, can I come in and talk with you?" Gruff asked in his child-like innocent voice.

After a moment, Amelia said, "Of course. Do come in, dear…but make sure you shut the door." Gruff did as he was bid, and came in, being careful to close the door.

Amelia paused a moment from what she was doing, turning her head to look at her son, then began to draw once more. Gruff padded silently to the right of where his mother sat, drawing. The picture she was working on was that of herself in her Captain's uniform aboard the Legacy, shouting orders to everyone.

"You're good, Mom," Gruff said honestly, proud of his Mom, who was good at everything.

"Why, thank you, Gruff," she said. She smiled down at her only son, then asked, "Would you like Mommy to draw a picture for you?"

"Yeah!" Gruff replied eagerly, cuddling close to his mother, pressing himself next to her. His mom always made him feel good. She was calm, she was confident, and she smelled nice too. He watched in excitement and not a little awe, as his mother's hand moved, sketching a new picture. She started on a new drawing of their family, clustered around herself: Delbert and her four children.

"Hey, I think you messed up Dad's face. I'm sure his nose isn't that big," observed Gruff to his mother. Amelia looked down at her son, frowned, and then began to erase the comically large nose she'd given her husband. Gruff looked up as his mother erased. "Mom?"

"Yes, Gruff dear?" Amelia asked, beginning to draw Delbert again, correctly this time.

"Are you mad at Dad?" Gruff asked in the direct questions that children are famous for.

Amelia blinked, startled by her son's obvious observation of her anger at her husband. She sighed a moment, then closed her eyes. She then looked down at her son once more. "No. Not really. I'm just…well, disappointed is all. And, I'm afraid I've been taking it out on your poor father, I suppose…"

"Figured," Gruff said with a knowing nod, that caused Amelia to chuckle. Gruff looked up at his mother, and smiled brightly. He then sobered, and asked, "You didn't like it when he thought you shouldn't go…you know, and fight, and everything. Right?"

Amelia was taken aback by her young son's most astute observations. "Well, yes…I suppose I was at that."

Gruff sighed, putting his arms about her, saying, "Mom, I know that you want to go help fight with your friends in the Navy. And Uncle Jim too. But, you're our Mom. What would me and my sisters---even Dad---do without you?"

Again, Amelia was taken aback by this frank discussion with her young son. She looked at him, her green eyes troubled.

Gruff continued, "Um…we are kind of like your crew, right? And, you're our Captain, Mom. You know, to make rules so everyone can be happy. I love Dad, but you know he wouldn't make a very good Captain, Mom. You know it. He knows it, and all of us kids know it."

Amelia made a small sound in her throat, dropped her pencil with a clatter, and hugged her son to her tightly. She kissed his head, and sniffed back a tear. She hugged him one more time, then wiped her eyes, composing herself. "Gruff, go to your father. Tell him that I will be done here momentarily," she said. Gruff smiled at his mother, then with shining green eyes of adoration, told his mother quietly, "I love you, Mom."

Amelia smiled at her son, putting her cheek down to receive a kiss from him. "And, I love you too, Gruff dear. Now…run along and tell your father I'll be along once I've dressed. Now, scoot!" She said, giving him a playful swat to his bottom. Gruff giggled, and ran out the door.

Gruff didn't have to go very far, as Delbert stood not more twenty outside the bedroom door. He smiled when his son appeared, and felt a flutter of hope in his happy facial expression.

"Not to worry, Dad. I used the old 'we are your crew, and you are Captain' ploy on her. Works every time," Gruff explained in a very adult-like manner for a lad his age. Delbert could only chuckle at his son's antics, and fondly ruffle the boy's hair.

"That's my boy," he told him proudly, which caused Gruff to beam back at his father.

That night, Amelia stood before the window in the living room---as she had before nights ago---looking up at the bright light of the spaceport.

"I must be the luckiest woman in the galaxy," she said quietly, with a contented sigh. "I have four healthy adorable children, a husband who loves me, and great friends. Life could not get any better…"