Here we go, new chapter. Which was meant to be the last, but of course it wasn't

Planting the Seeds of Family

Chapter 14

Emau Ridel was content to sit forever holding the boy in her arms, already an experienced mother of three boys as they had gotten older, she had missed them needing her as much, but she looked up as he husband came into the room.

Together they managed to pull a long t-shirt over Omevic's head who was too exhausted to stir and between them, managed to lay him down on the floor admits the blankets, and arranged them like they were tucking him in.

Emau planted a kiss on his forehead, the first maternal act of love he had ever received and Omevic just smiled in his dreams, while Emau just looked at the pathetic child, with her heart and mind already made up. Leaving the room, but with the light on a low dim, they went back down the stairs to see all three of their biological sons sitting on the sofa.

Leedi had his arms wrapped around his body, while his brothers comforted him, but they scooted over when their mum came in.

Without even saying anything, Leedi gripped his mother tightly the same way Omevic had hugged her.

"Those scars, all over his body". Leedi had been crying, being only ten his parents had managed to shied him from the brutality of the galaxy, and he had never seen anything like that.

"I know baby I know. People have hurt him all his life until the Ravagers rescued him".

"We're keeping him, aren't we?" Paigton asked his parents, and everyone caught the note of desperation in his voice as the parents shared a glance.

"Look, we want him to stay, but this will change our family, in a lot of ways. You'll have a new brother who's never been loved, he will need a lot of help… but we can't make this decision without…"

"Mum, we discussed it, we know…but we want him to stay" Vymoa insisted and not for the first time the parents saw a glimpse of the man their son would soon become as he set out of his Trials, and Emau nodded.

"Ok, look we have to talk to Lord Lizxona, and the Captain of the Ravagers, but we'll see what we can do". Was all Antoni could say after Vymoa agreed that he would keep an eye on the sleeping Xandarian in the Darbian household, Emau and Antoni left the comfort of their home, but not before the boys agreed to set up a few things and to call them if Omevic woke up, and woke up confused.

The sun was a hazy orange glow, and the air was warm as they tracked through the familiar lands, up to the large manor house, and both of them were trying to process this day, with Antoni reaching for his wife's hand.

After all these years together, they didn't even need to verbalise how much they wanted their family to expand, as they got closer to the house and to the Lady's Arboretum, and even on approach and with everything that was going on, Emau's heart sank at the sight of it. The forage she had planted was in runs, it looked still alive, but overgrown, as she remembered it being full of life. Her children playing and helping while Lady Leshara was doing important business and she still had time to put down her important document to play with her boys. After her death, Emau had been ordered to leave it alone and had done just that. But remembering how it once was, didn't help with her emotions at all.

In the centre of the Arboretum was the group she knew, some for longer and some for only two days, as Yondu Udonta finally met the family who hopefully would take Omevic off his hands, and pleasantries were exchanged. Since Lizxona was in charge of, well everything, he was leading the conversation with the authority his position allowed.

There was also the rest of the Ravagers trying to it seemed to blend in with the background and the doctor and therapist who had been with the family that morning, who had been observing the group and how Omevic interacted with everyone. While Antoni filled everyone in, that dinner didn't go as well, but he had managed to have a bath, was rested, and he seemed more settled.

"So, what we fly off tomorrow morning and that's it, he's yours" Yondu declared, with authority which once again came off harsh. It wasn't intentional, but he was Captain and not used to being dictated too, but the Shrink, whose name was Jaitei just shook his head.

"That will be perfect, but it's not as easy as that", the Doctor, her name being Pailra shook her head, and Jaitei filled in the rest.

"Omevic's dangerously underweight, there is a possibility of him needing some surgery in the future. Hels underdeveloped in both brain and body. And he's mentally and physically traumatised…he had no idea what affection in or how to respond to it".

"He's been a slave since the day he was born, that's life for all of us", Yarovesky spoke up, and Antoni noticed the dark look which crossed the two Ravagers faces, especially the one who was pale with a scar across his head.

"Yes, but fortunately, we can do things for him. We can work on his diet, arrange therapy. He can speak Darbian, but he is more likely illiterate. This is not something that will be fixed in a matter of days. I can tell you know, that it's unlikely he'll ever be able to enter the school system, so will require a tutor" said the therapist and Lizxona spike up

"Well everything you say I can provide, that boy will have the best care I can afford…and I can, by the way," the Warlord asserted his authority over the group once more

"His presence will most likely have an effect on your entire family, which means your sons, will be available for them to also undergo counselling."

Even though this was a true statement, both of the Ridel's bristled slightly "Our sons have agreed to this…"

"And I appreciate that, but their needs have to be considered too. This is going to be a massive change to your family, your eldest is about to start his trials, which does bring a change in family dynamics and everyone's needs must be met" interjected the therapist, and the Ridel's just remained silent, since they knew it was correct.

Proctom who, had just been observing and feeling sicker than he would ever admit, just muttered to Iztel "It's weird that so many people give a damn about Omevic, no one ever cared about us before". To this all Iztel could do was squeeze the twenty-year-old Ravers shoulder, unable at how to reply to this.

"There is also, the issue of him staying. In his life no one has ever given him any type of choice, in his mind, he is a slave, and he can't break out of that mentality on a whim."

"Meaning", Kraglin usually more emotional than Yondu, didn't like how his voice sounded at that moment while the doctor cleared her throat

"Omevic has been a slave all his life, one day will not be enough to break him out of that. There is still the possibility that Omevic will not want to stay here".

The words travelled through the group, with everyone feeling the same emotion, but to everyone surprise, it was Yondu who uttered "You have got to be fucking kidding me."

With respect, Pailra didn't mince her words. "I really wish I was, but since no one in his life has ever given him a choice. If you just leave tomorrow, he'll think he was ordered to stay with the Ridel's. Which overall will be detrimental to his mental state, he's been a slave too long to just break out of it."

"So, what if Omevic doesn't want to stay, what then?". This came from Yarovesky, and everyone just caught the hint of desperation in his voice, and Jaitei just sighed. "Then all we can do is monitor him, and do what we can emotional. But it's not advisable for the Ravagers to reject him, but if he does want to stay with them, it means it will have a detrimental effect on Proctom".

All eyes turned to the young Ravager, and even with his pounding headache and the focus on him, almost on cue, he keeled forward slightly. Instantly Pailra, was at his side while he was aided by Iztel.

"Ok, it looks like, your mind is exhausted, and you just need to rest, I want to monitor you in case you seize."

All Proctom could do was nod blankly, now unable to understand what was going on, his face was ashen, and he looked on the verge of throwing up

"I take him back, and keep an eye on him, Yarovesky fill me in on what I'm missing later, would ya". With that Iztel drabbed his arm, and with a determined strength for a man with failing vision and one arm, managed to pull Proctom away.

The rest of the group watched them go across the horizon before everyone just signed, and Kraglin just run his hands across his face.

"So, basically you're saying both Proctom and Omevic are fucked if that eight-year-old wants to stay with us?" Kraglin wasn't in the mood to mince words, and to his credit, Pailra didn't either.

"That's exactly it, Proctom's mind is in a terrible state, having Omevic around won't help, so if Omevic goes, it looks like Proctom, and by proxy, his father will also have to stay here".

Everyone took in this statement, while Yondu instantly denied it.

"They're not related, Iztel is our cook, and Proctom is one of our Ravagers", and even with that statement, Pailra didn't look convinced of this.

"Yeah of course they are, most cooks don't become someone next of kin on official documentation for the fun or it…they're a family, even if that Ravager doesn't know about it".

With the final declaration, which it appeared managed to stir something in the Ridel's who from observing this.

"So are you telling us, that our job tomorrow is to make sure Omevic stays with us, without putting any pressure on him. Oh shit" was all Antoni, could say, while Emau looked thoughtful, and addressed the people in the vicinity.

"Speaking of families, there is something we need to know about Omevic, does he have a family out…"

"There isn't a family, there's no one". Said Yarovesky sharply, and everyone picked up on the sudden change in emotions and tension from the group.

"Ok, I understand", Emau said while everyone else noticed how uncomfortable and isolated Yarovesky looked and the Ravager just looked away, clearly wishing he was elsewhere.

"Right so the plan is tomorrow, for the Ridel's to convince Omevic to stay permanently, with no interaction from the Ravagers, or anyone else. Well if anyone can do it, I know you can" he gestured to the Ridel's, the pair of you are fantastic parents, I know you can figure it out".

The Ridel's were pleased that the Lord of the lands were confident in their abilities as parents, and with that, Lizxona dismissed them all.

With everyone going their separate ways, the Ridel's came over to Yarovesky who with nowhere to go, just leaned against a tree staring at the ground.

"Yarovesky, right…can you come with us, we'd like to ask you a few questions" Emau asked, and the Ravager, navigator, ex-slave knew precisely where this was headed and followed after them.

To be concluded, yes, I know I keep saying that. I had an idea about the "slave" members of the Elector crew, who are Proctom, Gunnsen, Jamsean and Yarovesky, which is going to make sense later on. I also wanted to make it a running joke that Proctom has been "adopted" by Iztel, but no one bothered to tell him of that. But everyone knows.

Please review. xx