Chapter 14
Both Tristan and Rhade looked up when Beka and Rev returned to the room. His keen senses did a quick assessment to make sure that she was alright.. Satisfied, he got up, stepping towards them.
"We should return to the Andromeda," he suggested. "We left in a hurry. The crew must be very concerned."
"I thought you said Dylan gave us some time off," Beka asked, turning to Rev. "Are you coming back with us?"
"Thank you, but no," Telemachus didn't realize he held his breath when she passed the question. Rev, apparently, had. He smiled at him before returning his attention to Beka. "I'm afraid the Andromeda has become too much for me. I rather enjoy the simplicity here. But you are welcome to stay as guests of the monastery, of course, for the duration of your stay on the drift."
Beka looked at Rhade, who immediately felt guilty for rushing her. This particular Magog was no threat, at least not in the immediate future. Besides, he had every intention to keep an eye on him.
"I'll contact Dylan and tell him where we are and that we'll be back later," he promised.
"Thanks," he was almost at the door when Beka called back to him. "Tel?"
"Yes?" Rhade stopped, turning his head back toward her.
"I..." she hesitated, but having already made up her mind, tried again. "I want to talk to you when you get back."
Telemachus' expression didn't changed save for the slight raise of his brow, but he had a pretty good idea what it was she wanted to talk about. He nodded and retired to the hallway. Beka watched him go and took a deep breath. She was apprehensive about the upcoming conversation, but not because she thought Rhade would be unhappy about it. She knew he'd be thrilled at the thought of another child. He was a Nietzschean after all, and he adored Tristan. However, being bound to her by a child of his own blood would change things, and Beka wasn't entirely sure she was ready for it.
But she couldn't think about that now. Over the past three hours, she had learned that she was pregnant, lost Tristan, and found him again. In that time, Beka never once allowed herself to relax, but now that she did she felt all the events of the past few hours way down on her. Beka stifled a yawn with the back of her hand.
"Sorry," she muttered. "All this running around finally caught up with me. Which reminds me," she gave Tristan a stern look, "you're not off the hook for this by a long shot, young man. No leaving the Andromeda without adult supervision, got that?"
"I'm sorry, mom," Tristan looked down in shame. "I didn't mean to."
"I know," Beka nodded, "but either your dad or I should always know where you are. Otherwise we'll worry, and if Divine forbid something happened, we wouldn't know where to find you, understand?"
"Yes," he nodded apologetically, but Beka tipped his chin up, smiling at her son.
"It's okay, baby. I'm just glad you're okay."
"I hate to interrupt," Rev stepped forward, "but perhaps you should rest, Beka." The look he pointed look he gave her told Beka that Rev suspected her fatigue caused by more than just the accumulated stress of the day. She would have preferred to stay awake, at least until Telemachus returned to speak to him, but her body had other ideas.
"Do you mind?" she asked Tristan, "I'll just take a little nap."
"Sure," Tristan smiled, happy to be off the hook. "I'll just... hang out with Rev."
"Thanks," Beka yawned again. "I'll try not to be too long."
"We'll be back soon," Telemachus promised Dylan. "Perhaps by tomorrow."
"Good," the captain didn't sound entirely happy to have his two senior officers off the ship sanctimoniously, but he did understand. "The senator is furious."
"I can barely contain my surprise," Rhade's voice seeped with sarcasm. "I'm sorry for the trouble, Dylan."
"Don't worry about it, Rhade," Dylan. replied. "See you whenever you get back." The line was cut.
When he approached the room, Telemachus notices Rev and Tristan sitting outside, engaged in conversation, probably about the book. He frowned at them. "Where's Beka?"
"Inside," Rev said calmly, gesturing at the room. "She said she felt tiered, but I do not believe she's asleep yet. Perhaps you should go see her?"
"Perhaps I will," the Nietzschean slowly pushed the heavy door open, squeezing through the crack before closing it behind him. Beka was resting on the bed, curled on her side but still facing him. Her eyes were closed, heart rate steady and regular, but Telemachus wasn't entirely sure if she was asleep or not. Slowly lowering himself to the edge of the bed, Telemachus reached forward, resting his open palm against her abdomen. He expected, or rather hoped, to feel the vibrations of the child's heartbeat but was surprised when Beka's hand covered his. Her blue eyes opened, and she turned her head towards him.
"You know," it wasn't a question, and he didn't see any point in lying to her.
"Yes," Telemachus admitted, "though not until last night. I thought..."
"You thought that if Trance broke the news to me, I'd be mad at her and not you," Beka smirked. "Well, nice try, but you don't get off the hook that easily."
"No!" it was only a half-truth because in all honestly the thought had crossed his mind. "I thought if I told you, you wouldn't believe me."
Beka thought for a moment but had to agree. With everything that was going on, if anyone other than a trained medic told her that she was pregnant, she would have probably laughed in his face. Even though she knew it was true, the thought of the child within her still didn't feel real.
"So," she shifted on the bed, allowing him to lay down by her side. They were lying in such close proximity on the small bed that that Beka had to intertwine her legs in his. "What now?"
"Now?" Rhade smiled, brushing a stray blond strand that hung loose in front of her eyes. "We go home and share the good news with our friends and crewmates."
The image that entered Beka's mind at his words was amusing to say the least. Rommie, Trance, and Susan were sure to insist on taking her maternity shopping as soon as they got back to Terazed, which of course meant that there was a good chance Rhade's sisters would want to tag along. Harper, after getting over the initial shock, would no doubt come up with endless quips and comments, especially when she began to show. Beka already cringed at the thought of Harper, or anyone else, giving into the urge to touch her stomach, even though she knew it was bound to happen. And Dylan...
"I'm not leaving," she said firmly, more to herself than to Rhade.
"Humm?" he looked at her curiously. "Not leaving what?"
"The Andromeda," Beka clarified. "How much do you want to bet that as soon as Dylan gets word of this, he'll have me on early maternity leave?"
"Susan remained with us up until her seventh month," Rhade shrugged.
"She's a medic," Beka waved her hand dismissively.
"You're implying that surgery is simpler than slip piloting?" Telemachus sounded amused.
"No, I'm saying... Oh, I don't know what I'm saying," she rolled her eyes at him. "I'm just wanted to make it clear that no one is to treat me like an invalid. I'm pregnant, not incompasitated."
"I don't think anyone would accuse you of that," he laughed. "We'll cross that slip rout when we come to it." He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Rest now. We can discus everything later."