DISCLAIMER: Je ne sui le author de les Animorphs! Je sui Birdie num num, le
pervy Andalite fancier! Oh la la!
Dedications-
All of you who like it!
Tobias's POV
Man, I was so glad when she showed up the next day.
She'd found Estrid!
(Did you talk to her?!) I was in Andalite form. We were seated in the control room, talking in thoughtspeak, though we weren't even looking at eachother.
Menderash was showing me and Ax some damaged wires. Ax was looking more tired than ever. Menderash and Ax jabbered on and on and on about Z-space and other technical wiz Andalite crap and I tried to have a conversation with L'Aini, while she pretended to be going through her medical records on her little computer.
(Of course not!) She replied. (I don't even know her! I'm not going to show up at somebody's scoop that I don't even know! Besides, what would I talk to her about?!)
I shrugged. (I don't know! I just figured maybe you popped by to check on her or something.)
She laughed. (You make it sound like she's one of my patients!)
(So tell me about her.)
I watched her with one eyestalk. She actually winced.
(WEll. Honestly? She was married.)
I was shocked. I dropped the circuit board I was holding. It fell to the floor with a loud, metallic clatter, surprising both Ax and Menderash. They asked me if I was alright. I distractedly said 'Fine'.
(Well THAT'S a piece of news! Why didn't you tell me that when you first got in here?!)
She sighed. (Well...I didn't know how to break the news so...)
(Oh really? Was that it? Well you certainly weren't subtle about it just now! 'She was married.') I mocked her in my head. (Hey! Wait a minute! What did you mean by 'She WAS married?!')
I saw her eyes glare at me.
(I'm not going to tell you now!)
(What?! Hey wait! Look, I'm sorry okay? Pleeeeeaaaase tell me?!) I added in a sing song thoughtspeak voice that made her laugh (I'll make your life a black hole if you doooon't!)
(Very well.) Her smiles and laughter faded. (Her husband died in battle.)
(Ah.)
(Like mine...) She pondered softly.
(Whoa! Hold on! You were married?!) I bucked, and Ax and Menderash stared at me, until I insisted I was fine.
(Well...yes...)
(Oh...)
Silence.
(What happened?) I said gently.
I saw her eyes shut tight, like she was pained. Then they opened and were full of resolve.
(I don't want to talk about it.)
(Okay. That's fine.) I said softly, instantly changing the subject. (So are we going to go see her?)
(We? What do you mean we?)
(Well you are my 'partner in crime' now aren't you?)
(What?)
(My accomplice!) I said. (My partner.)
(Ah. Well. Yes...but-)
(Good! So we go see her today, right?)
(Today?! That's a bit soon!)
(What's wrong? Got something better to do this afternoon?)
She smiled. (Well. I don't know. Not really.)
(So is there anything else I should know about Estrid?)
She sighed.
(Oh. No.) I said, groaning inside.
(It's not that bad.) She said. (It's just...)
(What? What?! What is it?!)
(She has a...child. From her first marriage.)
(Oh.) I remained silent for a long time.
(Tobias?)
(Hmm?)
(Are you reconsidering going?)
I thought a moment. (Mmmmm. Eeeeeh...) I resolved my mind. (Naaaah! We're going! That's that! End of discussion!)
She smiled. (Good.)
(So. This, child. What is it?)
(A little male.)
I smiled. So Ax might get a step son.
(This little guy have a name?)
(What?) She said, confused.
I sighed, rolling my andalite eyes. Ax sent me another curious look, and Menderash just rolled his eyes.
Of course, she didn't understand slang or Earth lingo. So I went Andalite vocab for her.
(Does this 'little male' have a name?)
(Of course!) She laughed rather condescendingly.
(I know that! I meant, what IS the child's name?!)
She glared at me. Then slowly a smile formed on her face.
(Guess.)
(What?!)
(Guess!)
I sighed. Girls and their games, I swear...
(Uhhh...ummm...Drode?) I said, jokingly, smirking a little at my own silliness and stupidity.
(No!) She said and laughed. Her laugh surprised me. I kept forgetting that she knew who the Drode was now. Rock awesome. Oh goody, I had another person to talk to about the Prune guy. Great. Just great.
(Uh...Prince Jake?)
She smirked. (No!)
(Well what is it?!)
She beamed, and from the look of that smile on her face, I knew I was going to like the name.
(She named it, Aximili.)
***
Tobias's POV
We went to see Estrid that afternoon.
I felt nervous, twitching my andalite tail as we approached her scoop.
(Are you absolutely, freaking sure, that this is her scoop?) I asked for what had to be the three billionth time today.
(YES!) She snapped, irritated.
(Okay okay! Just checking...sheesh...)
(You've already 'just checked' more times than I can count! We've talked to all the other andalites around here, and they all said, 'Estrid lives over in THAT scoop, in THAT direction. They pointed with their tails, and their hands. If you're having doubts about this, you really, really shouldn't have come along!)
(Oh, so I'm the one coming along. Excuse you, if I hadn't mentioned this, we wouldn't even be heading here. You are coming along with me, remember?)
(Well, now I'm coming along out of curiousity...)
I couldn't help but smile at her. She smiled back sheepishly, and stumbled a little.
It had definitely, gotten weird.
We'd spent the whole day together, watching over Ax. Finally that afternoon, he just went into his quarters and shut the door; right in our faces. We took the hint. Poor Ax, we had been following him around all day. He needed some privacy time. I imagined he was in there in human morph, eating cinnamon buns and generally having a great old time.
We arrived at a small scoop. It was near the beach. The opening of the scoop faced the ocean. It was cozy looking, tucked just above the dunes, near the long grass.
I smiled, no, I grinned, as I saw a little andalite boy running around near the opening of the scoop. He had a remote control in one hand, and a small toy domeship was hovering in the air above him. He was giggling happily in a little munchkin thoughtspeak voice and making it crash into the side of the scoop over and over again.
The Doctor and I stopped and watched as a young female andalite, an adult, came out of the ship. She appeared to be angry, telling the little male to stop. He looked down, hugged her forelegs affectionately, and she smiled and relented. She turned to go back inside. She stopped as she saw us.
I looked at her face.
Yes, that was Estrid.
Suddenly I was back, years ago, in the Yeerk pool on Earth, dracon beams everywhere, I was in the ship with Gonrod the Cowardly Lion, and we were picking up the animorphs. Ax pushed Estrid onto the ship, then jumped on himself. I remembered seeing them embrace for a few moments.
I smiled now.
I noticed that behind her, the little Andalite began to make the ship bounce furiously off the scoop over and over, again. His open thoughtspeak giggle rose up to greet us all.
She peered at me, as though she couldn't quite remember. Then her eyes went wide, and she blushed furiously.
Wait...how could she recognize me?
Then I felt like slapping myself with my tail.
Duh! I had acquired Ax, and I was using his body! She thought I was him! Oh no. It would have been better for me to have just come in human morph. Or my hawk morph.
Praying to God that she wouldn't run away, I stepped toward her. She stepped back a little. Then she seemed to notice L'Aini and calmed down a little. She looked at me, and stared at me, breathless.
I couldn't help but gaze at her. She had wide, almond shaped eyes, a small nose, and was very petite and thin, but curvy. She. Was. Cute. End of story.
Yep. She was going to be reunited with Ax. I had to do it for him now.
Oh yeah, she would brighten anyone's day.
(Aximili?) She spoke very softly. (I-is that you?) I felt stunned. She had a voice like an upper class little girl's, but when I looked in her eyes, I could see and incredible look of sadness in them. And fear.
(N-no. I...It's me.) I felt stupid. Me? She had no idea who me was.
I almost laughed at the expression she gave. One eye brow raised skeptically.
(Who's me?) That little childlike voice cooed.
(Uh...) I blushed now. L'Aini was looking at me and shaking her head, smiling.
(Tobias.) I said. Man, talking to her was like talking to some foreign supermodel that had been in a perfume add in some magazine. If andalites had had modeling, she would have been one.
(Oh!) A smile spread across her features. So cute...so pleasant. Like a little elf...
Man, did I really want her as my AUNT?
(Well...) She seemed speechless. She looked at L'Aini and giggled a little. She pointed at her.
(And I suppose that's Rachel? Right? You can both demorph now!)
(N-no...) I felt my heart ache. Another person. Another person who didn't know Rachel was dead. Another person I would have to tell.
(Rachel's dead.) I said flatly.
She looked sorrowful. Embarrassed. (Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry. ) She looked down at the ground, obviously ashamed. For some reason I just wanted to go and comfort her. Cuddle her and hold her and tell her everything would be alright.
(I know how that feels.) She said softly.
I began to cry right then and there in my andalite hearts. I felt like I'd just connected with someone.
Not like I was going to run over and snog her. Just that I felt connected to her now.
I looked to my right side and saw L'Aini's eyes closed, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked like she was crying. She understood.
(I...I guess we all know.) I said softly.
Estrid looked up at L'Aini. (What's your name?) She said in a curiously sad way.
(I am Doctor...doctor...doctor L'Ainishikaa-) She broke down.
Estrid rushed to her. I felt stunned. No, she didn't run. She almost seemed to glide. She was standing two yards away from us one minute, and in the next, she was placing caring hands on L'Aini's shoulders.
(Oh, are you alright. Shhh. Who did you lose?) She said, very softly.
(My...my husband...and my little son...)
Estrid's face seemed full of pain. (Oh...oh my...Here, come inside. Let's get out of the wind.) She looked to me and smiled. (You too, Tobias.)
She led us inside the scoop.
It was basically built behind a dune, so you dropped down into it. It was warm, and surprisingly large enough for us all, and snug, and sheltered from the wind.
(Well!) L'Aini laughed a little, seeming embarrassed now. (This is certainly a nice little place you have!) We looked admiringly around the scoop.
She beamed. (Yes. It is nice.) The little male andalite came sliding down into the scoop. He had a whee! look on his face as he did. The little dome ship fell in and slid down inside as well. He threw the control down carelessly. He stood. He smiled politely at L'Aini. His eyes got big as he noticed me. He ran to his mother, who was now seated and snuggled close to her.
She smiled. (Aximili, this is Tobias.) His eyes got wider. (Remember I told you about Tobias?)
I looked at the little guy. He was skinny, and his eyes looked surprisingly old for a child his age. He smiled softly, then the smile disappeared. He looked very haggard.
She pulled him close. She seemed to be consoling him, in his head. He looked like he was listening. Then he looked at me and slowly smiled a little more, shyly.
I loved him instantly.
He was going to be my little cousin.
I smiled at him. Then I turned to L'Aini. (I've got to demorph.) She bobbed her eyestalks, then, to my surprise, nodded.
I demorphed. She and Estrid began to talk softly as I did; polite, open conversation.
I reached hawk, and saw one of Estrid's eyestalks watching me. She smiled as I reached hawk. They continued talking. I noticed the little male andalite looking at me; fascinated, curious.
I looked up at him. I hopped towards him. He stepped back surprised. Then, slowly, he moved towards me. He smiled. I let him get close to me.
He got down on his stomach and sat, with his legs tucked under him, looking at me. Gazing admiringly at my wings; somewhat envious.
(Wow!) He breathed. (You can fly?)
I nearly laughed. (Yeah.) Man! He reminded me of...well...me! As a little kid.
(Neat!) He said. He hesitated, then shrugged it off, smiled and said. (W- would you like to see my domeship?)
I felt that to refuse this little boy would break his heart. Or hearts. He asked so hopefully. So pleadingly, that I felt compelled to say yes. So I did.
(Okay. Sure!)
He beamed and ran up out of the scoop. I followed him, hopping up. I looked to L'Aini.
(Aximili's going to show me his domeship.) I said. She beamed and nodded. Estrid watched happily as I allowed the little boy to show me his domeship.
He held the control and made the ship smash into the scoop over and over again.
He giggled. (See?!)
(Yeah!) I said. (That's really cool!) And I meant it. I had certainly never had a toy like that when I was a kid!
I slowly morphed to human. He looked up at me, surprised, and stepped back, fearfully, a little.
I smiled. "It's okay." Probably not a good idea. I had showed him teeth. The poor little guy looked like he was about to scream.
"Here." I said. "Let me see that."
He reached up and handed me the controls. I felt confused for a moment. There were no buttons.
(You have to move it around.) He explained. (If you move the control down, the ship goes down. If you move it up, the ship goes up. The same with side to side, and diagonal.)
I smiled. He said it so matter of factly, but not at all condescendingly. She had done a good job raising him, so far.
I wondered about Estrid's past, as I made the ship do flight tricks; loops in the air, and twists and turns and upside down and all kinds of things. I make it skim over the ocean, allowing one wing to stroke the water. I grinned as I saw little Aximili jump up and down and heard him squeal and shout with excitement.
(Whoa! That's incredible! I've never done THAT with it before!)
I made it act drunk; wobbling through the air. Aximili nearly fell to the floor, holding his sides, helpless with giggles. I made it run into the scoop. Then it got up, swirled through the air in crazy loops, then made it land smoothly and perfectly on top of the scoop's roof.
(YAY!) He screamed. He looked up at me. (WOW! That was INCREDIBLE!)
I grinned and made a small bow. "Thank you. Thank you. I'll be here all week!"
(REALLY?!) He said, sounding hopeful.
"N-no." I laughed a little. "It's just an expression."
(Oh...) He said sadly. He sounded so disappointed! I felt like my heart would break.
He looked up at me, sadness in his eyes. (You're leaving and going back to Earth?) He soundled like he was about to cry.
"No." I said, earnestly. "I'll be here for a while, really."
(REALLY?!) He said, happy again.
"Yeah." I laughed at his joy. He did a little leap in the air. (Yay!) Then he was apprehensive again. (For how long?)
"Oh. Well. It'll...take some time to repair my ship-"
(YOU HAVE A SHIP? I mean, A REAL SHIP?!)
I laughed. "Yes. Well, it's not really my ship. It's also my friends' ship too."
(The Animorphs.) He said, smiling confidently.
I grinned. "Yeah. The Animorphs." Estrid had obviously kept this little guy well informed.
Estrid and L'Aini came out, still talking raptly. I hadn't noticed how the time had gone by. I actually had been having fun with the little guy out here! I smiled. For the first time in a long while, I had really, really had fun. It had been a while since I could just forget about Rachel, even for a short while.
And now...as I remembered her...something very strange occurred to me!
It no longer hurt as much as it used to to think about her!
I nearly gasped.
"Wow." I said softly. Then I felt sad. I almost wanted it to hurt.
But it didn't. It was almost like Rachel had reached into my heart, and knocked the grief out of it herself. I grinned with that image in my head.
"Thanks Rache." I whispered, smiling. "I still miss you though." I said, feeling my smile slide away, now feeling sad. But there was still a joy, a warmth I hadn't known in a long time in my heart.
Little Ax man was jumping around asking Estrid. (Mother can I please, pleeeaaase, PLEASE go see their ship?! Please, Mathi, PLEEEEAAAAASE?!) He whined.
She laughed. (No no Aximili! They've got to go now. Some other day. Maybe later.)
He stood and crossed his little arms and pouted. I couldn't help but laugh a little; chuckle.
He was so cool.
L'Aini and Estrid actually gave eachother a small, light hug with delicate Andalite arms.
(Well. I'm glad you came. Both of you. ) She said, and smiled at me too. I tried not to start blubbering right then and there.
"My pleasure!" I managed to squeak out. I demorphed to hawk. Then I went Andalite again.
I smiled as I reached Andalite. Here we stood.
Big Ax and Little Ax. Well...almost...
Big Ax was going to be very, very happy. I hoped, anyway.
L'Aini and I left, our eyestalks watching as Estrid stood watching us leave, her hands on her little son's shoulders, him standing next to her, waving goodbye to us with both arms. I waved my hand back as we left, nearly causing myself to collide with L'Aini. Andalite bodies aren't meant to turn around.
I turned to L'Aini as we slowly, lazily galloped away; back to the Rachel.
(You know what?) She said.
(What?) I replied, really, genuinely curious as to what she had to say.
(I'm glad we came.) She said simply. I laughed at myself. I had thought she was going to start telling me secret confessions about Estrid's life previously. But I realized, it wasn't really any of my business, and it didn't really concern me anyway. Besides, if she wanted me to know, she would tell me. And I had the rest of my life to find out.
The rest of my life.
I had never really thought of that phrase before now. If I had, it had been in a negative context.
But now...now it held so much promise...
I smiled. (Me too.)
***
Hope you guys liked that! I'm tired now, it's late, I'm gonna eat, take a shower, and go to sleep.
Nighty nightkins! Or good morning, or good-whatever-time-of-day it is where you are!
Love yaz! Now go and review, please!!!
Dedications-
All of you who like it!
Tobias's POV
Man, I was so glad when she showed up the next day.
She'd found Estrid!
(Did you talk to her?!) I was in Andalite form. We were seated in the control room, talking in thoughtspeak, though we weren't even looking at eachother.
Menderash was showing me and Ax some damaged wires. Ax was looking more tired than ever. Menderash and Ax jabbered on and on and on about Z-space and other technical wiz Andalite crap and I tried to have a conversation with L'Aini, while she pretended to be going through her medical records on her little computer.
(Of course not!) She replied. (I don't even know her! I'm not going to show up at somebody's scoop that I don't even know! Besides, what would I talk to her about?!)
I shrugged. (I don't know! I just figured maybe you popped by to check on her or something.)
She laughed. (You make it sound like she's one of my patients!)
(So tell me about her.)
I watched her with one eyestalk. She actually winced.
(WEll. Honestly? She was married.)
I was shocked. I dropped the circuit board I was holding. It fell to the floor with a loud, metallic clatter, surprising both Ax and Menderash. They asked me if I was alright. I distractedly said 'Fine'.
(Well THAT'S a piece of news! Why didn't you tell me that when you first got in here?!)
She sighed. (Well...I didn't know how to break the news so...)
(Oh really? Was that it? Well you certainly weren't subtle about it just now! 'She was married.') I mocked her in my head. (Hey! Wait a minute! What did you mean by 'She WAS married?!')
I saw her eyes glare at me.
(I'm not going to tell you now!)
(What?! Hey wait! Look, I'm sorry okay? Pleeeeeaaaase tell me?!) I added in a sing song thoughtspeak voice that made her laugh (I'll make your life a black hole if you doooon't!)
(Very well.) Her smiles and laughter faded. (Her husband died in battle.)
(Ah.)
(Like mine...) She pondered softly.
(Whoa! Hold on! You were married?!) I bucked, and Ax and Menderash stared at me, until I insisted I was fine.
(Well...yes...)
(Oh...)
Silence.
(What happened?) I said gently.
I saw her eyes shut tight, like she was pained. Then they opened and were full of resolve.
(I don't want to talk about it.)
(Okay. That's fine.) I said softly, instantly changing the subject. (So are we going to go see her?)
(We? What do you mean we?)
(Well you are my 'partner in crime' now aren't you?)
(What?)
(My accomplice!) I said. (My partner.)
(Ah. Well. Yes...but-)
(Good! So we go see her today, right?)
(Today?! That's a bit soon!)
(What's wrong? Got something better to do this afternoon?)
She smiled. (Well. I don't know. Not really.)
(So is there anything else I should know about Estrid?)
She sighed.
(Oh. No.) I said, groaning inside.
(It's not that bad.) She said. (It's just...)
(What? What?! What is it?!)
(She has a...child. From her first marriage.)
(Oh.) I remained silent for a long time.
(Tobias?)
(Hmm?)
(Are you reconsidering going?)
I thought a moment. (Mmmmm. Eeeeeh...) I resolved my mind. (Naaaah! We're going! That's that! End of discussion!)
She smiled. (Good.)
(So. This, child. What is it?)
(A little male.)
I smiled. So Ax might get a step son.
(This little guy have a name?)
(What?) She said, confused.
I sighed, rolling my andalite eyes. Ax sent me another curious look, and Menderash just rolled his eyes.
Of course, she didn't understand slang or Earth lingo. So I went Andalite vocab for her.
(Does this 'little male' have a name?)
(Of course!) She laughed rather condescendingly.
(I know that! I meant, what IS the child's name?!)
She glared at me. Then slowly a smile formed on her face.
(Guess.)
(What?!)
(Guess!)
I sighed. Girls and their games, I swear...
(Uhhh...ummm...Drode?) I said, jokingly, smirking a little at my own silliness and stupidity.
(No!) She said and laughed. Her laugh surprised me. I kept forgetting that she knew who the Drode was now. Rock awesome. Oh goody, I had another person to talk to about the Prune guy. Great. Just great.
(Uh...Prince Jake?)
She smirked. (No!)
(Well what is it?!)
She beamed, and from the look of that smile on her face, I knew I was going to like the name.
(She named it, Aximili.)
***
Tobias's POV
We went to see Estrid that afternoon.
I felt nervous, twitching my andalite tail as we approached her scoop.
(Are you absolutely, freaking sure, that this is her scoop?) I asked for what had to be the three billionth time today.
(YES!) She snapped, irritated.
(Okay okay! Just checking...sheesh...)
(You've already 'just checked' more times than I can count! We've talked to all the other andalites around here, and they all said, 'Estrid lives over in THAT scoop, in THAT direction. They pointed with their tails, and their hands. If you're having doubts about this, you really, really shouldn't have come along!)
(Oh, so I'm the one coming along. Excuse you, if I hadn't mentioned this, we wouldn't even be heading here. You are coming along with me, remember?)
(Well, now I'm coming along out of curiousity...)
I couldn't help but smile at her. She smiled back sheepishly, and stumbled a little.
It had definitely, gotten weird.
We'd spent the whole day together, watching over Ax. Finally that afternoon, he just went into his quarters and shut the door; right in our faces. We took the hint. Poor Ax, we had been following him around all day. He needed some privacy time. I imagined he was in there in human morph, eating cinnamon buns and generally having a great old time.
We arrived at a small scoop. It was near the beach. The opening of the scoop faced the ocean. It was cozy looking, tucked just above the dunes, near the long grass.
I smiled, no, I grinned, as I saw a little andalite boy running around near the opening of the scoop. He had a remote control in one hand, and a small toy domeship was hovering in the air above him. He was giggling happily in a little munchkin thoughtspeak voice and making it crash into the side of the scoop over and over again.
The Doctor and I stopped and watched as a young female andalite, an adult, came out of the ship. She appeared to be angry, telling the little male to stop. He looked down, hugged her forelegs affectionately, and she smiled and relented. She turned to go back inside. She stopped as she saw us.
I looked at her face.
Yes, that was Estrid.
Suddenly I was back, years ago, in the Yeerk pool on Earth, dracon beams everywhere, I was in the ship with Gonrod the Cowardly Lion, and we were picking up the animorphs. Ax pushed Estrid onto the ship, then jumped on himself. I remembered seeing them embrace for a few moments.
I smiled now.
I noticed that behind her, the little Andalite began to make the ship bounce furiously off the scoop over and over, again. His open thoughtspeak giggle rose up to greet us all.
She peered at me, as though she couldn't quite remember. Then her eyes went wide, and she blushed furiously.
Wait...how could she recognize me?
Then I felt like slapping myself with my tail.
Duh! I had acquired Ax, and I was using his body! She thought I was him! Oh no. It would have been better for me to have just come in human morph. Or my hawk morph.
Praying to God that she wouldn't run away, I stepped toward her. She stepped back a little. Then she seemed to notice L'Aini and calmed down a little. She looked at me, and stared at me, breathless.
I couldn't help but gaze at her. She had wide, almond shaped eyes, a small nose, and was very petite and thin, but curvy. She. Was. Cute. End of story.
Yep. She was going to be reunited with Ax. I had to do it for him now.
Oh yeah, she would brighten anyone's day.
(Aximili?) She spoke very softly. (I-is that you?) I felt stunned. She had a voice like an upper class little girl's, but when I looked in her eyes, I could see and incredible look of sadness in them. And fear.
(N-no. I...It's me.) I felt stupid. Me? She had no idea who me was.
I almost laughed at the expression she gave. One eye brow raised skeptically.
(Who's me?) That little childlike voice cooed.
(Uh...) I blushed now. L'Aini was looking at me and shaking her head, smiling.
(Tobias.) I said. Man, talking to her was like talking to some foreign supermodel that had been in a perfume add in some magazine. If andalites had had modeling, she would have been one.
(Oh!) A smile spread across her features. So cute...so pleasant. Like a little elf...
Man, did I really want her as my AUNT?
(Well...) She seemed speechless. She looked at L'Aini and giggled a little. She pointed at her.
(And I suppose that's Rachel? Right? You can both demorph now!)
(N-no...) I felt my heart ache. Another person. Another person who didn't know Rachel was dead. Another person I would have to tell.
(Rachel's dead.) I said flatly.
She looked sorrowful. Embarrassed. (Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry. ) She looked down at the ground, obviously ashamed. For some reason I just wanted to go and comfort her. Cuddle her and hold her and tell her everything would be alright.
(I know how that feels.) She said softly.
I began to cry right then and there in my andalite hearts. I felt like I'd just connected with someone.
Not like I was going to run over and snog her. Just that I felt connected to her now.
I looked to my right side and saw L'Aini's eyes closed, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked like she was crying. She understood.
(I...I guess we all know.) I said softly.
Estrid looked up at L'Aini. (What's your name?) She said in a curiously sad way.
(I am Doctor...doctor...doctor L'Ainishikaa-) She broke down.
Estrid rushed to her. I felt stunned. No, she didn't run. She almost seemed to glide. She was standing two yards away from us one minute, and in the next, she was placing caring hands on L'Aini's shoulders.
(Oh, are you alright. Shhh. Who did you lose?) She said, very softly.
(My...my husband...and my little son...)
Estrid's face seemed full of pain. (Oh...oh my...Here, come inside. Let's get out of the wind.) She looked to me and smiled. (You too, Tobias.)
She led us inside the scoop.
It was basically built behind a dune, so you dropped down into it. It was warm, and surprisingly large enough for us all, and snug, and sheltered from the wind.
(Well!) L'Aini laughed a little, seeming embarrassed now. (This is certainly a nice little place you have!) We looked admiringly around the scoop.
She beamed. (Yes. It is nice.) The little male andalite came sliding down into the scoop. He had a whee! look on his face as he did. The little dome ship fell in and slid down inside as well. He threw the control down carelessly. He stood. He smiled politely at L'Aini. His eyes got big as he noticed me. He ran to his mother, who was now seated and snuggled close to her.
She smiled. (Aximili, this is Tobias.) His eyes got wider. (Remember I told you about Tobias?)
I looked at the little guy. He was skinny, and his eyes looked surprisingly old for a child his age. He smiled softly, then the smile disappeared. He looked very haggard.
She pulled him close. She seemed to be consoling him, in his head. He looked like he was listening. Then he looked at me and slowly smiled a little more, shyly.
I loved him instantly.
He was going to be my little cousin.
I smiled at him. Then I turned to L'Aini. (I've got to demorph.) She bobbed her eyestalks, then, to my surprise, nodded.
I demorphed. She and Estrid began to talk softly as I did; polite, open conversation.
I reached hawk, and saw one of Estrid's eyestalks watching me. She smiled as I reached hawk. They continued talking. I noticed the little male andalite looking at me; fascinated, curious.
I looked up at him. I hopped towards him. He stepped back surprised. Then, slowly, he moved towards me. He smiled. I let him get close to me.
He got down on his stomach and sat, with his legs tucked under him, looking at me. Gazing admiringly at my wings; somewhat envious.
(Wow!) He breathed. (You can fly?)
I nearly laughed. (Yeah.) Man! He reminded me of...well...me! As a little kid.
(Neat!) He said. He hesitated, then shrugged it off, smiled and said. (W- would you like to see my domeship?)
I felt that to refuse this little boy would break his heart. Or hearts. He asked so hopefully. So pleadingly, that I felt compelled to say yes. So I did.
(Okay. Sure!)
He beamed and ran up out of the scoop. I followed him, hopping up. I looked to L'Aini.
(Aximili's going to show me his domeship.) I said. She beamed and nodded. Estrid watched happily as I allowed the little boy to show me his domeship.
He held the control and made the ship smash into the scoop over and over again.
He giggled. (See?!)
(Yeah!) I said. (That's really cool!) And I meant it. I had certainly never had a toy like that when I was a kid!
I slowly morphed to human. He looked up at me, surprised, and stepped back, fearfully, a little.
I smiled. "It's okay." Probably not a good idea. I had showed him teeth. The poor little guy looked like he was about to scream.
"Here." I said. "Let me see that."
He reached up and handed me the controls. I felt confused for a moment. There were no buttons.
(You have to move it around.) He explained. (If you move the control down, the ship goes down. If you move it up, the ship goes up. The same with side to side, and diagonal.)
I smiled. He said it so matter of factly, but not at all condescendingly. She had done a good job raising him, so far.
I wondered about Estrid's past, as I made the ship do flight tricks; loops in the air, and twists and turns and upside down and all kinds of things. I make it skim over the ocean, allowing one wing to stroke the water. I grinned as I saw little Aximili jump up and down and heard him squeal and shout with excitement.
(Whoa! That's incredible! I've never done THAT with it before!)
I made it act drunk; wobbling through the air. Aximili nearly fell to the floor, holding his sides, helpless with giggles. I made it run into the scoop. Then it got up, swirled through the air in crazy loops, then made it land smoothly and perfectly on top of the scoop's roof.
(YAY!) He screamed. He looked up at me. (WOW! That was INCREDIBLE!)
I grinned and made a small bow. "Thank you. Thank you. I'll be here all week!"
(REALLY?!) He said, sounding hopeful.
"N-no." I laughed a little. "It's just an expression."
(Oh...) He said sadly. He sounded so disappointed! I felt like my heart would break.
He looked up at me, sadness in his eyes. (You're leaving and going back to Earth?) He soundled like he was about to cry.
"No." I said, earnestly. "I'll be here for a while, really."
(REALLY?!) He said, happy again.
"Yeah." I laughed at his joy. He did a little leap in the air. (Yay!) Then he was apprehensive again. (For how long?)
"Oh. Well. It'll...take some time to repair my ship-"
(YOU HAVE A SHIP? I mean, A REAL SHIP?!)
I laughed. "Yes. Well, it's not really my ship. It's also my friends' ship too."
(The Animorphs.) He said, smiling confidently.
I grinned. "Yeah. The Animorphs." Estrid had obviously kept this little guy well informed.
Estrid and L'Aini came out, still talking raptly. I hadn't noticed how the time had gone by. I actually had been having fun with the little guy out here! I smiled. For the first time in a long while, I had really, really had fun. It had been a while since I could just forget about Rachel, even for a short while.
And now...as I remembered her...something very strange occurred to me!
It no longer hurt as much as it used to to think about her!
I nearly gasped.
"Wow." I said softly. Then I felt sad. I almost wanted it to hurt.
But it didn't. It was almost like Rachel had reached into my heart, and knocked the grief out of it herself. I grinned with that image in my head.
"Thanks Rache." I whispered, smiling. "I still miss you though." I said, feeling my smile slide away, now feeling sad. But there was still a joy, a warmth I hadn't known in a long time in my heart.
Little Ax man was jumping around asking Estrid. (Mother can I please, pleeeaaase, PLEASE go see their ship?! Please, Mathi, PLEEEEAAAAASE?!) He whined.
She laughed. (No no Aximili! They've got to go now. Some other day. Maybe later.)
He stood and crossed his little arms and pouted. I couldn't help but laugh a little; chuckle.
He was so cool.
L'Aini and Estrid actually gave eachother a small, light hug with delicate Andalite arms.
(Well. I'm glad you came. Both of you. ) She said, and smiled at me too. I tried not to start blubbering right then and there.
"My pleasure!" I managed to squeak out. I demorphed to hawk. Then I went Andalite again.
I smiled as I reached Andalite. Here we stood.
Big Ax and Little Ax. Well...almost...
Big Ax was going to be very, very happy. I hoped, anyway.
L'Aini and I left, our eyestalks watching as Estrid stood watching us leave, her hands on her little son's shoulders, him standing next to her, waving goodbye to us with both arms. I waved my hand back as we left, nearly causing myself to collide with L'Aini. Andalite bodies aren't meant to turn around.
I turned to L'Aini as we slowly, lazily galloped away; back to the Rachel.
(You know what?) She said.
(What?) I replied, really, genuinely curious as to what she had to say.
(I'm glad we came.) She said simply. I laughed at myself. I had thought she was going to start telling me secret confessions about Estrid's life previously. But I realized, it wasn't really any of my business, and it didn't really concern me anyway. Besides, if she wanted me to know, she would tell me. And I had the rest of my life to find out.
The rest of my life.
I had never really thought of that phrase before now. If I had, it had been in a negative context.
But now...now it held so much promise...
I smiled. (Me too.)
***
Hope you guys liked that! I'm tired now, it's late, I'm gonna eat, take a shower, and go to sleep.
Nighty nightkins! Or good morning, or good-whatever-time-of-day it is where you are!
Love yaz! Now go and review, please!!!