Chapter Twenty- Four:
Four weeks later, the crew had a routine set. Aikera would watch all four children in the observation deck every morning after breakfast. After lunch was eaten, Tyr and Beka would spend time with Tamerlane, Rev or Trance would watch Luna, while Harper would take one or both of the twins so Aikera could rest for a couple of hours. Star was beginning to come into her own aviator skin and was able to do supply runs with any of the crew. Aikera estimated Beka to be about eight weeks pregnant. She would not do an ultrasound for two more weeks.
"Tyr, I will not do an ultra sound, and Trance is under strict orders not to do one either." Aikera said as they walked towards command one afternoon. All four children were currently napping in Beka's quarters. Beka was also taking a short nap.
"But I want to see my child." Tyr countered.
"I will not have her miscarry Tyr, so leave me alone." Aikera said entering command. Dylan looked up from his console and stopped mid sentence of his conversation with Rommie.
"Tyr, why are you pissing her off again?" Dylan asked. Rommie looked at her captain oddly. "Don't give me that look Rommie."
"What look would that be Captain?" she asked politely. Aikera snorted a laugh as Dylan sighed heavily.
"Aikera, you're a bad influence on my crew." Dylan said as his console beeped. Andromeda appeared on the screen.
"We're being hailed Captain." She said.
"Whose it from?" Dylan asked.
Andromeda looked at Aikera and said, "King Darien."
Aikera rolled her eyes and did her two places at once act. Her double showed up in machine shop and scared the pants off Harper.
"What is it babe?" He asked.
"My dad is hailing us now, if you wanna come see what he wants." Then she was gone. He sighed knowing he was never going to get use to that trick.
Back in command, the hail was brought up and King Darien looked at his daughter strangely. She cocked her head to the side but said nothing.
"I see she is still with you. Has it really been a year since you left here?" He said.
"Has it?" Aikera asked back politely.
"It has, I just wished to inform you that you are no longer the heir to the thrown. I have remarried and my wife has produced a male heir for me." He said.
"Yes!!" Aikera said doing a small happy dance. Dylan looked at her strangely. Tyr chuckled to himself.
"I thought you would be unhappy about that?" He said. Aikera looked at her father and laughed.
"Your highness, if you are happy then I am happy. You have an heir that can be raised to be a good king. I cannot argue over the heir to the throne. I always knew one day you would have the heir you always wanted. I was not that child nor will I ever be the Queen you would have wanted me to be." Aikera said standing up straight as the doors opened revealing Harper, Beka, Luna, Tamerlane, Atrayu and Amkima. Tamerlane went to his father. Luna ran to Aikera and tugged on her shirt. Aikera bent down to her level.
"Who is that?"
"That's my father, he just had a baby boy."
"Does that mean you're not gonna be a Queen?" Luna asked. Aikera nodded. Luna shrugged and went over to Tyr. She held her hands up to him and he picked her up.
"Who is that daughter?" Darien asked.
"My adopted daughter if you must know and no you cannot know her name." Aikera said with a growl.
"Wouldn't dream of prying into your business. I see you no longer wear the family crest." Darien said.
"Aww yes, they got a bit small for me when I got pregnant. Of course, you wouldn't of known about that though would you. Besides, I have no need to wear them now that I'm not going to be queen. I have a new family now father, one who loves me for me." Aikera said as Harper and Beka came to stand next to her. Aikera took Amkima from Beka, who then went and stood next to Tyr.
"And would these be your children?" Darien asked his daughter. Aikera just nodded. "I have said my part, I must go now. Duty calls after all." The channel was cut.