A/N: You gotta love national holidays. It's Thanks Giving break, which means lots of free time to write.
"Mom." The light tug on her pant leg caused Elizabeth to look down at her son. The two were in the market place shopping.
Smiling Elizabeth knelt down in front of the boy, absently rubbing at a smudge on his face. "What, Lucas?"
"I saw one of the strangers again." Lucas whispered in his mother's ear. Instantly Elizabeth scanned the nearby crowd with her eyes. "The ones I told you about, the ones that have been following us."
Sighing Elizabeth stood back up taking the boy's hand in her own, "Let's finish up and get back." These 'strangers' were beginning to worry Elizabeth. The settlement wasn't very big and it was rare for there to be anyone she or Lucas didn't recognize.
Following the ever present guards the two began the trek back to Koyla's home. Before long the small group entered the compound and were approached by another guard.
"Commander Koyla wishes to see you." The guard met them, his gaze roaming freely up and down Elizabeth's body.
Ignoring the guard's appraisal Elizabeth handed her bags to Lucas, managing a slight smile a reassurance when the boy drew back from the guards, "Take these to the kitchen staff."
"Yeah I know what to do mom." Lucas took the bags, then pinned his mother with a concerned stare, "Will you be-"
"I'll be fine. Now go on, straight to the kitchen then back to our room." Ruffling a hand through Lucas' hair, Elizabeth turned to follow the guard.
'So much like his father in both looks and personality.' Elizabeth thought absently about her son as she approached Koyla's office, nervously racking her brain trying to think of anything she or Lucas may have done to result in a summons - not that a reason was needed.
Elizabeth had learned early on and the hard way that while her valuable skills offered her protection from the more unpleasant aspects of being a female slave, they didn't keep Koyla from occasionally venting his frustrations out on her. Entering the office Elizabeth dropped her gaze to the floor, stopping in front of Koyla's desk, "You wanted to see me?" She tried to keep her hatred for the man in front of her out of her voice.
Koyla stood up, moving around the desk, "Still defiant in your own way, even after all this time." He touched Elizabeth's cheek with a soft caress before striking her sending her falling to the floor."Trade negotiations between the Genii and the Caldarians have stalled, Cowen has requested your services."
Carefully masking her emotions Elizabeth stood up, with a nod and followed the guard back out of the room. When the door closed behind her Elizabeth took a moment to compose herself. Reaching a hand up to touch her cheek Elizabeth swore softly when it came away with blood on it. Getting impatient the guard prodded Elizabeth to get moving.
Several long hours later Elizabeth wearily returned to the two small rooms she and Lucas lived in. "Lucas?" Elizabeth called, shuffling into the main living area.
"You're back finally..." Lucas' voice trailed off as he came from the bed room. His face hardened at the site of the jagged cut on his mother's cheek, blood now dry and crusted around the wound. "He hit you again." Furry blazing in his eyes Lucas quickly grabbed Elizabeth's hand pulling her down onto the small wooden chair in the room. Dampening a cloth he started gently washing the wound.
"I'm fine." Elizabeth held an arm out, "Come here." Silently obeying Lucas wrapped his arms around Elizabeth's neck, letting her hold him close.
"One day when I'm bigger and strong just like dad, I'll make sure Koyla never hurts you or anyone else ever again." Lucas whispered softly, his voice bitter. "Tell me about my father again." Lucas pulled back just enough to turn himself so that he could sit on Elizabeth's lap.
"Your father," Elizabeth, wrapping her arms around Lucas' waist, closed her eyes a slight smile touching her lips, "Is a strong, brave, and caring man..." Elizabeth stopped fighting back tears that threatened to fall.
"Mommy?" Lucas spoke when Elizabeth remained silent. This got Elizabeth's attention, Lucas only ever called her mommy when he was either frightened, hurt, or worried.
"I'm sorry, it's been a long day." Elizabeth apologized, brushing away the solitary tear that had managed to escape. "I think it's time for us to go to bed."
"But you haven't eaten." Lucas frowned at his mother, eliciting a soft laugh from Elizabeth.
"Between your constant nagging that I eat and that hair of your's there's no doubting that you're your father's son." Elizabeth ruffled Lucas' unruly hair fondly. After a moment she spoke again, "I'm too tired to be hungry right now."
Knowing this wasn't one of those times to argue Lucas sighed, slipping out of his mother's arms. Giving her one last worried look Lucas took his mother's hand and started for the bedroom.
"I'm fine, I promise." Elizabeth kissed the top of Lucas' head as they laid down on the single bed they were forced to share. Before long both drifted off to sleep.