"Give it back!"
"I can't believe you're reading this to her."
"I said give it back!" Rhade continued to hold the holo-novel out of Beka's reach, "There's nothing wrong with it!"
"Explain it to me."
"How about you explain it to me? What's your problem with Dirk?"
"I have heard nothing but complaints about this book from my brothers."
"You're going on their words?"
"Their wives ignore them."
Beka rolled her eyes. According to Rhade's brothers, their wives ignoring them was a sure sign of the apocalypse. And ignoring them in favour of a book, well, that was a sure sign of possession by the Abyss.
Nietzscheans.
They were hopeless.
"I curl up with my daughter and a good book, I don't ignore you!"
Rhade cleared his throat.
"I curl up with our daughter," corrected Beka. "You think I ignore you?"
"No, but you know what they say about early prevention."
"If I did then Cassandra wouldn't be here. You didn't replace my birth control that one time did you?"
Rhade ignored her question and waved the novel in front of her face, "All the women in my family read this."
"So what's one more? I've been reading them since I was thirteen."
"And you're starting Cassandra on them at three?"
"She likes them."
"Until she falls asleep."
"...As you said she's three. But it's understandable! In a comfortable place like the Maru, on my lap, as I read to her."
"Security, comfort, the sound of your voice and heartbeat," Rhade nodded.
"Kinda like us when you tried reading me your boring books."
"Would you have prefer nursery rhymes?"
"Hey! At least I gave you your books back!"
"But Beka…nursery rhymes?"
"It was four years ago Telemachus, let it go. At least Dirk's not boring! He's interesting! And there's detective work."
"And a new woman ever book...reminds me of Dylan..."
Beka hit his shoulder, "Don't ruin it for me! And he does not have a new woman every book! He's all about the...detecting."
"Detecting women's..."
"Dammit if you just read it!"
He smirked as she made another attempt to grab her novel. "You know this isn't fair, right? Nietzschean male vs. human female"
"Nietzscheans don't believe in fair play."
"I thought you told me Tarazed Nietzscheans were different?"
"Only in certain aspects, during a friendly game we'll play fair if we feel like it, though winning is still preferable by any means; but in a battle situation, one should use every advantage they have against the enemy."
"And this is a 'battle situation' how?"
"You want your book, I don't want you to have it so I'm going to use every advantage I have against you."
Beka sighed and looked at the ceiling, "Now he tells me...fine, but if you're going to keep it you might as well read it, but just to let you know, your daughter is going to be very disappointed."
>>>
A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! They're so great and uplifting to read while I procrastinate my eight page Philosophy essay.
Vana Telcontar: Thanks for all the reviews. In accordance to chapter 6: Ah the angsty pregnancy freakout it's probably the most common reaction I've read in fics. You're OC was doing it too huh? Chapter 9: Cass is half-Nietzschean after all, and the race is described as being self absorbed. She's also the only squirt on the Andromedathus far and doted on by everyone. You can sure bet that Uncle Harper and Uncle Dylan will be spoiling her where her parents won't;)
Jade Rhade: Thanks and I'm glad you like her name (prin69 I think you commented on that too). She was originally an 'Aislinn' but I decided I liked 'Cassandra' better. Oh and...never say never...