TOMMY - ONE WEEK LATER

I cannot believe that Zedd's out mowing the lawn with an actual lawn mower, nor can I say I'm overly thrilled about the rather open and heated staring coming from our female neighbors. Apparently once Zedd had ventured outside nearly every woman, married or not had decided this was the perfect time to go work in their own yards. However I do use the term 'work' very loosely as despite having gardening tools on their lawns, most seem to be too focused on my shirtless mate to recall how to use them. Still, far be it for me to stop him from keeping himself calm by helping out with things around the house, especially after I finally broke down and told him what was upsetting me when he got back.

The day after he got home from his trip he found out that the mower had broken the day he left. He took it to get fixed, but in the middle of the night he used his magic to cut the grass. I went ballistic when I found out. Of course after everything else he'd done that day, he had no business exhausting himself like that.

I shake my head, remembering how I had to physically restrain him from leaving the house after I told him about some of what went wrong while he was gone. I'd gotten a phone call from the main contractor on the house. Some of the materials were going to be delayed - again - and at this rate the house was never going to be done by the deadline we'd agreed to. I went down to the site to look things over and to demand that they find another way to get the materials - either another source or another shipping method and I really didn't care which at that point as I just wanted it done.

The boss wasn't on site when I got there, but the foreman was and he tried to intimidate me, towering over me. He said that they didn't have to listen to the 'freaky faggot' and they'd get it done when they felt like it. Much to my credit I'd managed to keep my temper in check as I'd pointed out that the way the contract was written that there'd be a penalty for every day past the deadline that the house wasn't done, inspected and ready for habitation - not to mention that they'd all lose the bonuses that Zedd promised them if it was done on time, something I'm actually looking into finding a loophole for now as like hell if any of them are getting anything beyond base pay. They didn't know that Zedd and I had also discussed even bigger bonuses if it was done early, though again not that it matters now.

At the mention of the lost bonus though, the foreman got angry and told me that I'd better be a good little wife and tell my 'richer than he was smart husband' to pay them their bonus or else I'd have to explain why I was bruised up. At that point, he took a swing at me and I was glad that I'd dropped Mara Jane off with Jason and Hayley. Even in my advanced pregnant state, it wasn't much of a challenge to grab his arm and twist it behind his back so far I almost broke it.

The boss spoke up just then, none of us having realized that he'd come back just as the foreman started the confrontation. He pulled me aside after I finally released the jackass – though not without a good bit of coaxing not to break any bones - and explained that he was already looking into other ways to get the job done. He clarified the situation as well. There was still plenty of work that they could do toward getting the house done even with some of the materials being delayed.

He said that what it came down to was I had to make a choice. Either he could fire the crew and get a new one that would actually do the job without all the attitude and insults or he could keep the crew that he had and be fairly sure that the job would be done on time as promised. But I'd learned too much working in Zedd's business to believe that those were the only two options. And suddenly, I knew what to do.

I pointed out that the contract didn't lock anybody into a specific crew, only by specific dates and requirements. I told him that if the project wasn't done on time and as specified in the contract, he'd have to pay the penalty. I didn't really care who did the work as long as everything was up to code, passed inspection and was done on time, though I did leave him with the fair warning that as easily as I could have broken the asshole's arm, he didn't dare want to see what Zedd would do if made aware of the confrontation.

When I got back to Jason's, I sat in the driveway for a long time and cried. I didn't tell Zedd about that or how Jason went off in a rage after I told him what had happened, as dealing with my mate's own fury was almost too much for me to handle already. However, Jason wasn't much better as he wanted to either go over there and wave his badge around or call the Distress Reds and have them go beat the hell out of every one of them. I barely managed to talk him out of both those options before I took Mara Jane and went home. On top of that, I ran out of gas on the way home, dropped dinner on the floor (and the counters, cabinets, walls and ceiling) and whacked my head on the counter. And that was just the first day he was gone!

Since I wouldn't let him leave the house, instead he made some calls. Some were threats (like sending the entire crew to Antarctica), some were to try and get things sped up – with of course more threats mostly - and some were to other contacts. After that, he moved into caregiver mode, insisting that I sit down and rest for a bit and he and Mara Jane would take care of things for the day. I'd refused, telling him that I had way too much I needed to get done. He informed me that I had one week to get things done and then I was to take one whole day off - bare minimum - and relax and unwind.

So, here we are a week later. Zedd's out mowing the lawn with the newly repaired mower and Mara Jane is out 'helping' him. They're adorable together, as I'm certain even our overly horny neighbors would agree, but it's not really helping my mood much. Bad enough that my screw up is forcing Zedd to live on a planet that he hates, but it's also going to cost Mara Jane the start of school. Never mind that she didn't even know what school was until we came here, but once she knew what it was, she's wanted to go, just like Jimmy.

Watching as she suddenly pauses in her efforts to help Zedd, attention now on a squirrel she's spotted on a nearby tree, I can't help but smile a bit as she quickly gets her Papa's attention pointing happily to the animal before retrieving it with little trouble. Certain the neighbors are loving that, I however can't fault her for wanting to make friends with every creature she meets, having picked up her love for them and skill with handling them from myself and Pina. Taking the surprisingly calm critter back to Zedd, she shows him in delight before he no doubt explains what it is and instructs her to let it go back to its home in the tree.

Watching her do as told, happily, I again feel my own mood take another dive as she and Zedd return to the task at hand. Why can't I be happy that - except for that idiotic construction crew - Zedd seems to have settled in well and both he and our daughter are happy? Why does their happiness make me feel worse?

I know the answer to the question but I've been shying away from it, not liking what I see. What it comes down to is that I've captured two beautiful, wild creatures who have learned to make the best of it and be as happy as they can in their cages and for that I feel guilty - not to mention more than a little selfish. Even if this is only a temporary situation, it's one neither of them should have to endure, not to mention our son won't even be able to really live in his actual home until he's at the very least near Mara Jane's age. What am I denying him by starting his life out on this damn planet? He won't have the constant interaction with Pina, Dar, and Kira that his sister did growing up. He won't have the space or freedom to run around in either that she'd had and they both still need. Fuck, why, why did I have to do this to them? If I'd just triggered my cuff sooner, or even morphed, Mara Jane wouldn't have lost control of herself and gotten essentially blacklisted by the majority of the parents on Eltar, we'd still be able to offer her what she needs at home, and none of them would have to put their lives on hold because of my stupidity.

Suddenly pulled out of my self-loathing, I see Zedd's head snap up and his gaze lock on the window I'm looking out of and I know that he's caught some of my mood. Before I can do more than smile at him weakly, the computer alerts me that I have an incoming call. I settle in my chair and answer it. "Go ahead."

"Where's Zedd?" Oh hell, definitely not what I needed to deal with today.

"Hello to you too, Essa. He's outside. What do you want?"

"To talk to him about a job. What's it to you?"

I give her a bored look. "Look, I'm just going to lay it out for you here, Essa, he's a little busy right now and I'm in no mood to deal with you. I can have him call you later, but that's the best you're getting from me from right now."

"You're ruining him, you know."

"I - what?" Pausing as I had been about to disconnect the call, I momentarily curse myself for letting her catch me off guard. "Woman I already told you I'm in no mood-"

"Is that what you say to keep him in line?" Seriously? This is seriously what we're doing now? "He's losing his edge because of you. I've been hearing whispers in this sector, mutt, about how he's no longer dangerous."

I'm a little shaken at this information. "He's just as dangerous as he ever was, Essa. He just chooses to control himself better these days. Mostly for our daughter."

"And believe me, that's not helping his image much these days either, how he ran away from Eltar because his kid beat the hell out of somebody."

"What now?"

And she's enjoying my upset far too much. "Oh, yes, didn't you know? Word is that he's so whipped that he grabbed his kid and pet and ran for it so that they wouldn't retaliate when she just went crazy."

Knowing she's baiting me, but unable to help myself, I hear my protest come before I take a moment to consider it. "That's not even close to what happened."

"Still, that's what they're saying."

"So because he's more businessman that conqueror these days-"

"Businessman?" Barking out a laugh, she shakes her head. "Oh lord, there would have been a day he would have torn out the throat of anyone who ever dared call him such a thing." Gaze suddenly relocking with mine, she continues in a much more serious tone. "Not now though, I suppose. Not since you managed to break his spirit."

"I did no such thing!"

"Yes, you did. He's become weak, everyone knows it, and it's your fault." Oh god. This is the kind of thing I was afraid of. Now we're going to have people coming to challenge us every other day and I can't really fight and I'm going to fail my husband and daughter again. "You have brought him down from the heights he attained. Now he's just like everyone else - weak and useless." The soft hiss works deep into my brain. "You are destroying him, his reputation and his business. And when he dies in an attack, that'll be your fault too."

Now I'm shaking in pure terror and jump badly at the sharp voice of my mate. "Essa! That's enough! You have no idea what you're talking about! And woman I warn you, you keep it up and you will see how damn 'weak' I am."

For once facing off with my mate instead of backing down, I'm rather surprised when no apology is comes and she instead only seems further worked up by his anger. "Oh come on, Zedd. You know as well as I do that the little incident on Eltar has destroyed your reputation."

Zedd responds through his teeth. "Actually, you're wrong, if anything it's only enhanced it and given my child just as much of a reputation. And furthermore I don't appreciate you upsetting my mate every damn time you call, however I will be damned if I'll let you do it while he's pregnant with our child."

Now she just looks furious and - for some reason - hurt. "You can do better than him, Zedd. If all you need is someone to carry your offspring, there are a thousand pets that could do the job for you."

"Not that it's any of your business, but that's not-"

I interrupt him. "Like you?" I say softly.

"I'm no pet, human! However I'd make a better mate than you!" Realization of what her problem is, or at least what some of it has been over the years comes crashing down on Zedd, I can see his momentary struggle with his temper, before he manages to get it under some form of control.

"Essa, enough. I don't want to lose you as a contact, but the kind of relationship you want won't happen. Until you get your head on straight, any jobs you get from us will come from Goldar or Scorpina. Call them, not us." He leans across me and disconnects the call before wrapping his arms around my still shaking form. "She's lying, love."

"But she's right to a point and that means that you and Mara Jane are in danger and it's my fault and -"

A soft sob from the doorway cuts me off and has both Zedd and I spinning around. "It's my fault, Daddy. I'm sorry. You told me not to fight, but-"

"Oh, baby, no. Come here." Once she's settled in the little bit of a lap that I have left, I hold her tightly. "It's not your fault. Daddy should have seen him sooner or called for help sooner or something. You did the right thing. I told you that."

"But the lady said-"

"She's wrong" Zedd says firmly. "She said a lot of things that were untrue, Mara Jane."

"But why?"

"She doesn't like me, sweetheart, so she says things to upset me and hurt my feelings and scare me." And I am scared, no doubt about it.

Zedd steps in again. "Do you remember how Daddy talked to you about lying? That's what she's doing - lying - and she's only doing it to be mean." I stare at him incredulously. He's not serious, is he? Zedd crouches next to the chair and looks at both of us seriously. "What happened that day in the park - only one person is to blame for any of it and that's the bad man that chased you."

"Zedd-"

"Papa-"

"No! That's enough. You both are blaming yourselves for a situation that you couldn't control. Thomas, what happened that day was no different from when Calan attacked you in the kitchen or what was done to you at that wretched 'hospital'. It was beyond your control, love, neither of us could have known it was going to happen and it was handled the best it could have been given the situation."

"And because I, as the adult, didn't handle it correctly, you both have to suffer." And why are they looking at me all puzzled and confused? "Zedd, kalleimat, because I handled things badly, Mara Jane was forced into a position that no seven year old should have to be in, you're being forced to live a mundane life on a planet you hate. How you don't resent me more than anything right now is beyond me."

Zedd sighs softly, seeming to understand finally what's been bothering me these last few months. "Is that what this is about, love? Thomas, do you remember why I came to this planet in the first place all those years ago? At that point in my life, I hated it because I was sent to clean up someone else's mess - again - and people were fighting me at every turn. No joke intended, mind you. Then you add in a bunch of children doing what adults of more advanced species on other worlds couldn't, such as defeat my creatures, and I was a little pissed off."

"That's an understatement." At his questioning look, I give him a slight smile. "You threw me off a cliff."

"The Robogoat threw you off a cliff, I just felt mild satisfaction over it until you got up and called your Zord while still bleeding internally. Then I was just more pissed off. At Zordon. However, that's not my life anymore and truthfully I'm happy it's not."

"Me too."

"So that being said, there's no reason that we shouldn't have a house here as well as on Eltar and the castle. Love, your families are here - Sam and the other Rangers. Hell, as often as we were visiting, I'd thought about a house here before now. There's a lot I can learn about Earth that will help me deal with more primitive societies, not to mention that the children need to learn about humans by actually interacting with them, instead of getting their heads filled with the screwed up views that many other worlds seem to have of this planet and its people. First hand experience will show them humans in a way that they'd never be able to learn without time here."

He's not serious, is he? Oh my god, he is. Mara Jane is looking back and forth between us. "But, Zedd-"

His voice softens. "Thomas, do you really think that anyone - even you - could truly force me to do something I'm not willing to do?"

"I-"

"Do you think that I've become that weak?"

"Of course not!"

"My existence is not mundane, my love. It's not fighting off death exciting, but I'm okay with that, the same as I think you are. You and Mara Jane keep my life from being mundane. A hundred years ago, I'd never have believed that I'd be as happy as I am now." Lightly, he strokes my stomach. "And before I know it, I'll be even happier and my life just a little more exciting. I love all three of you very much and giving up my old life is a very, very small price to pay for it."

He gathers me and our daughter up in his arms, holding us tightly. "I'm sorry, Zedd. I didn't mean to imply that you were weak. I just…I feel like I've taken something from you that I don't know how the hell to give back."

"I know you didn't, and again, you didn't take anything, you've given me more than I ever could have thought to even ask for. I think the only one who has really been feeling trapped is you, but that conversation can wait for another time. For now, I still have some yard work to finish before lunch. I'd like it very much, Thomas, if you'd just go lie down for the rest of the morning. No answering the communications lines, no answering the phones, no housework - just rest and relax. Mara Jane can stay with me."

I still don't feel right about all this, but I'm less stressed. "I guess so."

"You go lie down and we'll be in in a minute. I need to call Dar and Pina and let them know what's going on."

My eyes narrow. "You can just call them from here, mate."

He agrees easily, making me feel a bit bad. For one minute, I almost thought that he was going to say something behind my back. He quickly initiates the call and in a minute, Dar picks up. "Well, there's the happy family." He pauses and looks a little closer. "Or not so happy. What's happened?"

Zedd gives him a brief rundown of what Essa said. "So I told her that any work she does for the business from now on will have to go through you or Pina. I'm sorry, Dar, but -"

"That lying bitch" Dar spits out. "You know when Pina hears about this, she's going to want to put that female's head on a pike, don't you?"

"Without a doubt" Zedd agrees. "After all, I remember what she wanted to do to Becky when we were at the Ranger reunion."

"Things have already settled down on Eltar and you can return whenever you want."

"What?" I ask, astonished. "How?"

"Apparently, those parents that told us what was going on the day after the Calan incident have taken it upon themselves to talk to many of the other parents that were there that day. Most of them saw Calan follow you but not him attack you. They thought that Mara Jane attacked for no reason and being that she's Zedd's daughter-"

"It never occurred to them that she was protecting, not attacking."

Dar sounds amused. "Oh, she was attacking, all right, but she wasn't attacking unprovoked as they thought. Lots of them are still a bit leery, but I very seriously doubt that you or she will be subjected to the same behavior as before."

"So - we don't have to stay here if we don't want to?"

"No."

Realizing that we are, in fact, free to go wherever we want to helps me relax considerably. "Well, we do have a lot going here right now, never mind coming home for the baby to be born. We'll think about that later."

It's not all that long that Zedd wraps up the call and he and Mara Jane get me settled into bed with a drink and a snack and the television turned on before they head outside. I look around the room. This room is considerably smaller than our bedroom at the palace. Before it felt tight and constricting, but now it feels less like it's trying to contain me and more - cozy, I guess. Knowing that the bedroom in the new house will be larger than this but smaller than the one at the castle, makes me feel a little better. Maybe - maybe we can make this work after all.