TOMMY - THREE DAYS LATER
I wake up to find the bed empty. Disappointed, I can't help but wonder where Zedd went off to so early this morning. We aren't going back to work for another day or two - well, they're going back to work, I'm getting started on some more languages as well as working a few contacts for them. Nothing overly exciting, but it is nice to be able to bring something to the table so to speak. I head into the bathroom as my thoughts wander to my new job.
Zedd had suggested that I not worry about joining the company just yet and focus on any researching that I wanted to do. While that does sound like fun, I really don't have any particular projects that I'm looking to dive into right now. Besides, many of the things that I did want to work on are not short term things and Dar's right - I need to start earning my keep. I know he said it jokingly, but the money I brought from Earth - once converted to credits - isn't going to hold me forever. Not to mention, I'm sure that Earth money probably isn't worth very much on the intergalactic scale - especially since there's not a unified currency on Earth.
It feels weird - knowing that I have the house on Earth, but it's not home anymore. I mean, I know that if something happened I could go back and Hayley wouldn't say much about it. The only reason that I didn't sign it over to her outright is that someday I'll have to go back, empty out and properly seal off the lair before it can be sold. Right now, I'm just not ready to do all that yet. Besides, what if a new team of Rangers needs it before then? Granted, each new Red Ranger automatically becomes one of the distress Reds so someone could contact me if it's needed, but still…
At least the raptors have a new home. Much to my surprise, Dulcea said that they could live with her on the temple grounds and Andros volunteered to transport them for me. I snicker to myself as I climb back into bed. Bet he's regretting that little offer by now. I'm almost comfortable when the door eases open and Zedd peeks in. "There you are," I greet him.
"Oh good. You're awake" he smiles. He pushes the door open fully and comes in bearing a tray. "I made you breakfast." Looking at him warily as I recall his attempt to make me breakfast our first morning back and how thankfully Dar had gotten up in time to refuse to let me eat it – I still have no idea how he got the scrambled eggs purple – I can only hope whatever my mate has concocted this time is no more complex than cereal. Almost sensing my worry it seems Zedd is thankfully quick to amend his statement slightly. "Okay well I didn't make it, but I put it on the tray and brought it upstairs after Dar made it, so you can stop looking as if you're contemplating jumping out the window."
"I wouldn't jump out the window…maybe throw it out the window, but still. Besides I already told you, you don't have to make me breakfast and you certainly don't have to bring it up to me, it's a really nice gesture, but seriously, it's okay. Plus I miss eating with you guys."
"I know, but I wanted to bring it up to you so you could eat in bed." I was afraid of that.
Instantly, I'm suspicious. "Zedd, I told you I'm not staying in bed all day again. I'm over that stupid flu and I really need to get up and do something."
"No, I know and you aren't. We have things to do today." Oh really now? And now I'm even more suspicious and I can feel my eyes narrow as I try and figure out what he's up to.
"Like what?" I ask as I sit up in bed, adjusting so that he can set the tray down.
"Oh, I might have a surprise or two for you" he says casually, but I can feel his excitement through the bond.
"Zedd-"
My warning tone cut off as he gives me a pleading look, he says, "I promise you'll like the surprises, Thomas. Just give me a chance, okay?"
I sigh. "All right, but it better be nothing expensive or elaborate."
"It's not. Not really." Oh god, what has he done now? "Go ahead and eat, Thomas. I'll get some clothes out for you."
I'm still a little wary, but I'll play along for now. Not to mention that I have no desire to destroy his excited good mood. My own natural curiosity kicks in and I want to know what he's done. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed though.
Once done with breakfast, he's practically dancing with impatience. "Before you get dressed, love, here." He hands me a small wrapped package.
"Couldn't wait any more?" I tease him. Well on the plus size it's at least small.
"Actually, I've had this for you since you saved me from Annwyl," he admits. "There just hasn't really been an opportunity to give it to you - or at least not one that felt right."
I stop and look at him. "Zedd, mate, you don't have to give me anything for that."
"I know I don't, but I want to. Please open it."
Slowly, I open the package, feeling awkward as I do. I shouldn't be rewarded for helping my lover. Finally the paper falls open and I stare at the object inside. I pick it up carefully, turning it over in my hands. "What is it?"
"With your field of study, I'd think you'd recognize a fossil when you see one" he teases lightly, but I can hear the edge of anxiety in his voice.
I shoot him an exasperated look. "I know it's a fossil, Zedd. I meant what is it a fossil of?"
He shrugs. "I don't know. I was fascinated with it as a child, but not enough to do the research to find out what it is. Or was. Whatever. I much preferred to use my imagination, creating fantastic creatures from that small thing."
"So when I do find out, you don't want to know?" I tease back.
He pauses as he considers this. "You know, I don't think I do."
I give him a lingering kiss. "Thank you, kalleimat. I love it, even if your reason for giving it to me was entirely unnecessary."
"Really?"
"Really" I confirm. I look at it again, noting similarities to fossils from Earth and already getting an idea of what sort of creature it was. Before I can get too lost in it, Zedd gets my attention again.
"Then, if you don't mind too much, can you study it later?" Seriously? Give me something that is in my original field of research and interest and then ask me to play with it later?
Sighing, I reluctantly set it on the nightstand, get up and start dressing in the clothes he's chosen for me. I realize that these are the sort of clothes that I'd normally work out in. "So have you decided that I'm well enough to exercise now?" I tease once again.
"Actually, Pina has 'informed' me that you should be allowed if you feel up to it and that mating, while good, isn't quite enough" he teases in his turn.
"Yeah, next thing you know, I'll get fat and flabby."
"I doubt seriously that you'd allow that to happen, but I promise I'll love you anyway if it does."
"Thanks, I think" I answer dryly.
"Besides, you'd still love me if I gained a good bit of weight, right?"
Raising a brow at his suddenly wary look, I give a nod. "Yeah, I'd still love you, why? You planning on going on a binge diet or something?"
"No, but…" Shrugging and busying himself straightening up the bed, I know there's something he's not saying, but what it is I have no clue.
"But what?"
"Nothing, it's just…you know if I am the one to carry our first offspring that the scar from the surgery aside, I'll still gain some weight as the child will end up stealing a good bit of the nutrients I take in and I'll have to eat a good bit more to accomidate it."
Thinking this over I give a nod. "Right, I'm pretty sure that's how all pregnancies go, Zedd. I mean I hardly expected you to be housing a child inside your body and not end up a good bit bigger then you are now. Besides I- wait, first offspring?"
"Well I thought maybe if it wouldn't hurt you you'd maybe want to carry the next one." Quickly holding his hands up at my silence, and I'm sure misunderstanding the reason for it, he's quick to reassure me. "Not that you have to, I'd never make you do such a thing if you didn't wish to, or it posed a risk to your health, I just thought maybe if you could, you'd want to carry one of them."
"Zedd, how many children do you think we're having exactly?"
Shrugging his answer while casual is anything but what I'd expect. "I don't know, how many do you want?"
Raising a brow at him I shake my head. "How many do you want?"
"Well…less than nine. I'm not certain how Serena deals with that many running around at one time, though I guess considering they do have a good gap in ages the older ones could be of some help with the younger." Okay, and clearly he's lost his mind.
"Zedd we are not having nine kids."
"So, what, like, five?"
"You're messing with me, right?" At his confused look, I realize very quickly that he apparently is not. "Zedd, we cannot- okay, Zedd, mate, five children is a lot. Especially considering neither of us is genetically geared to naturally carry even one."
"So, four?"
Sighing and giving him a bit of a look, I can see this is something we're definitely going to have to sit down and discuss when the time comes. "Zedd, maybe we should just table the child issue for now, you know until we're actually ready to have one. Then we can discuss how many we can and should have, okay?"
"All right, but just so you know I don't want them gong to any snobby boarding school."
Rolling my eyes I give a nod. "Fine home schooling it is."
We leave the bedroom and he leads me to the kitchen, where he drops off the tray and beckons the other couple to follow us. He stops in front of a door I've never seen before and addresses us. "Now, this is for all of us. We've not really worried about staying battle ready, so to speak, since we left the evil life, but Thomas has shown us how important it really is what with all that's happened since he's been here." Glancing at the other pair, he says hastily, "Had you two even been able to find me after Annwyl took me, I know you would have gotten me out, but how many injuries would you have suffered? It's a chance I'd rather not take again with my family, so-"
He opens the door and steps aside, allowing us to go through. Exchanging a quick look between the three of us, we head in. We all gasp at the newest addition to the castle. It's an enormous workout room. There are weight machines very similar to the ones I have - had - on Earth, a large area for sparring, another one for weapons work, practice dummies and weapons lining the walls. Pina speaks first. "Zedd, you didn't have to do this. We're perfectly content to workout outside."
"You know as well as I do that bad weather is coming, Pina. Days where going outside is actually dangerous, never mind impractical."
I swallow hard around the lump in my throat. Okay, the workout area indoors makes sense with his comment about the weather, but there's no doubt in my mind that the equipment was inspired by my own use of the machines while we were gone. Dar says gruffly, "Well, now that it's here we might as well use it. What did this cost, Zedd? I'll need to account for it in the ledgers."
My mate grins widely. "The building cost me nothing. I called in a few favors that were owed to me - ones that I had almost forgotten about. I got a hell of a deal on the rest of the equipment." He names a figure. I'm not sure what the conversion rate is, but Dar's low whistle tells me that he's telling the truth.
I move further into the room, still stunned but taking everything in. When Zedd speaks again, he sounds a little nervous. "Thomas, do you like it?"
I swallow hard. "Zedd, did you - did you talk to Jason about this?"
"No, why? Should I have? Is something wrong?"
I shake my head. "No, it's just - when we were younger we used to talk about maybe having a gym or a dojo and what we'd want in it. Of course, there were other special things to accommodate the other Rangers' preferences, but-" I look around again. "You seem to have hit all the high points of what I'd have wanted for me. There are things that aren't here, but since this is part of the castle, we wouldn't need them either."
I turn and see his concerned and confused look. "Like what?"
"Well, if it were a business, or even just for all the Rangers, it would need to have changing rooms and showers and that sort of thing. We talked about having a refrigerator to keep stocked with drinks. Things, like I said, that we really don't need to worry about here."
"So - you do like it?"
I shake my head, but allow my smile to erupt. "No, I love it. This is great, Zedd. And I'm sure that we'll all get a lot of use out of it."
"And we might as well start now" Dar adds.
