CHAPTER 6:
All About Leitjin
"Ani-De, where the hell is my mate?!" Iliana screamed at him. The medic sighed and hoped her child would be delivered soon.
Pregnant females are dangerous, even if bedridden, he thought.
"He said he'd be right back, don't worry" he assured while hoping in his mind that he would be right. "Just relax until it's time, Iliana."
"I have contractions shooting through my body and a hybrid waiting to claw its way out" she said, grimly. "He better be here."
"Iliana, children do not 'claw' their way out" Ani-De said, pointing his finger at her. She rolled her eyes at him. "You know the procedure for birthing."
"It doesn't mean I have to love it" she grumbled and felt another contraction shoot through her body. "Yep, definitely not."
"I could give you some painkillers" Ani-De said, sympathetically.
"I told you no!" she said, quickly. Pointing at him, she snapped in aggravation, "I want to have some rage within me for when Kantra returns. He missed Kahet's birth, he will not be late for Leitjin's!"
"You named him already?" Ani-De asked, surprised. Then raised an eyebrow, "Kantra wants to see the child born?"
"It's a human tradition" she explained to him. "Most fathers see their children when they're being born and since he wasn't here last time, he promised he'd be here and he better!"
"Or he's sleeping on the couch?" he suggested knowingly.
"No, he'll be on diaper duty for a month!" she said, raising her fist in determination. "That should teach him a lesson."
"Iliana, you must remember that Kantra isn't ooman and he may not know what is expected of him in some situations" Ani-De said, sympathizing with his brother. "Males in our society rarely accompany the female during childbirth."
Iliana knew he was right and nodded but still. . .he'd promised. She knew there were some things in her culture that surprised him and some from his that simply puzzled her as well but they had learned to make an attempt at it. Otherwise, their relationship would've gone to dust within weeks. She sighed and relaxed against the medical bed and got ready for boring hours with painful contractions.
Might as well find something to keep me entertained, she thought.
"Ani-De, are you the only one looking after me today?" she asked him. He looked up from her chart and nodded.
"Everyone else is still asleep and besides, I'm the only one who knows about your ooman anatomy than most" he explained to her.
"Kantra hates it, he wants to know everything about humans" she said, smiling at her mate's interest and his complaints about it. "I wish I could teach him everything like he's doing to me."
"It'll take time but it can happen" he said, chuckling. "Tell my brother that unless he wants to be a doctor, it will not be necessary. I'll be here to look over you, Iliana."
I love having a doctor in the family, she thought.
"Thanks, I'll always appreciate that" she said, smiling gratefully. "I try to make it easy since I'm a complete alien to you but I thank you for it. You didn't have to agree to help me when I was pregnant with Kahet but you did. I know you don't like it when I keep complimenting you but you deserve it. I don't know where my kids would be if-"
"Enough, Iliana" he said, raising his hand to stop her. "You have no need to say what I already know. You're my sister and I will always be here to aid you, whether our people like it or not."
"I know" she smiled softly and looked down at her stomach to run her fingertips over it. "Despite my being human, I think all my babies will end up looking yautja."
"Who knows? I've never studied about ooman/yautja hybrids so no one really knows" he grinned at her and walked over to pat her hair in a brotherly way. "If at all, I'm surprised the scientists onboard haven't come with all kinds of questions about it."
"They did at first with Kahet, then Nak-De and Kantra scared them away" she chuckled making him join her.
Hearing a crash outside, Ani-De went quickly to the doorway defensively but calmed down at the sight. Kantra lay on the floor with medical carts around him were tipped over on their sides and their contents spilled onto the floor. Shaking his head in annoyance, he watched his brother get up and wipe off any medical bandages.
Annoying contraptions, Kantra thought while throwing off any offending materials.
"You're going to pay for those" Ani-De hissed. Kantra hissed back.
"Why the hell are there carts everywhere?!" he said angrily.
"Because it's the med bay" his brother said, matter-of-factly. "And you're the one plowing into them."
"I'd rather do that than face Iliana's wrath" Kantra said quickly and waved him off. In a lighter tone, he asked, "How is she?"
"She's fine, grouchy, but fine" he informed him. "You may go in, she's expecting you."
Kantra nodded and took in a deep breath while hoping that he wouldn't have anything thrown at him. Walking inside, he saw his mate smile but point a finger at him.
I better say something before she starts, he thought instantly.
"Kahet kept me a bit, he clung to me like a face hugger!" he justified and placed his hands up peacefully. Iliana sighed and patted the side of her bed so he could sit. "My mother was able to use her iron grip hugs to keep him in place while I left."
I wonder if he's scared without us there, she thought.
"Was he crying?" she asked, intertwining her small pinkish fingers with his larger green ones. He nodded slowly. "Do you think he'll be okay?"
"My mother will know how to calm him" he assured her nervousness. "All I want you to focus on is birthing our son safely."
"You're nervous too?" she chuckled and rested her forehead against his shoulder. "That doesn't make me feel better."
"Hunters are never nervous" he objected quickly. She rolled her eyes at his pride. "I always worry for you, I know these pregnancies are not easy on ooman bodies."
"Ani-De's here, everything will be fine" she said, softly. "I'm just worried about Kahet. I don't want him to think we abandoned him overnight. What if it traumatizes him?"
"He's at my mother's, not a stranger's" he pointed out and smiled, "He's probably too sleepy to wonder. I bet he's cuddled up in a warm pelt after drinking some warm milk."
"And if he's not?" she asked, raising a brow.
"My mother will find something, she hasn't raised seven of us to know nothing about children" Kantra shrugged and nuzzled her face with his. "I will take care of everything."
"My babies couldn't have a better father than you" she smiled and kissed him. "I can't even scold you for being late, you crazy hunter."
"I'm that good, huh?" he chuckled and wrapped his arms around her frame. "Just relax, Ana."
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It was now near the mid-morning and Kahet had barely slept. His father had brought him to his grandmother's along with an overnight bag his mother had prepared for him. He'd then seen his father leave while he tried with all his might to cling to him but his grandmother unfortunately caught him off guard with a treat and her usual dosage of a hug. Bai'Kar had calmed him somewhat by rocking him and giving him some milk but she could not get him to sleep. Anytime she'd come close, he snapped himself awake. Nak'Aru had to admire his grandson's determination and instead of trying to get him to sleep, he'd wrapped him up warmly and regaled him with stories of his old hunts. His mate did not find it suitable for a half-sleepy child to hear it but he ignored it and continued.
Eventually, Kahet came to understand that he was not leaving soon and had fallen asleep for a quick nap. Sali'ah had then come in half an hour later with her twins which caused him to wake. Bai'Kar tried to shoo them out quietly but once the twins saw their cousin, the two had jumped onto his sleeping place happily. The twins cuddled up to Kahet and after a lot of purring and clicks, the three pups had fallen asleep together. Bai'Kar stared at the trio underneath the brown pelt and sighed in relief.
Maybe now he'll sleep for a bit, she thought.
"Next time I'm leaving him with you" she told her daughter. "I tried everything to put him to sleep and nothing worked. Only your father's stories."
"And they didn't give him nightmares?" Sali'ah asked, surprised.
"He's tough, he'll be a good hunter" Nak'Aru stated to his daughter.
"He really needed some companionship" she said, looking at her sons. "Once the twins heard he was here, they wanted to see him. They're inseparable sometimes."
"Especially since you let them establish their little 'Hunter's Society with No Girls Allowed" her father said, dryly.
"I choose to let them run free, it'll make them independent" she snorted and shrugged. "Like you said, good hunters."
"Your mate will probably make them into Arbitrators" he said, simply.
"As long as they kick ass, I don't care" she grinned cheekily at her father. He always tried to down talk her mate but she never went for it, which annoyed him more.
"All right, let them sleep" Bai'Kar interrupted and led the two outside the room. "Kahet needs it."
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Iliana screamed bloody murder as she gave her last push and felt her child exit her body. Taking a deep breath and uttering a painful cry, she relaxed against the bed and closed her eyes. She released Kantra's hand from hers making him sigh in glorious relief. Her steel grip throughout the entire birth was surprisingly strong for a human body and he stared at his injured hand gingerly.
Sometimes I wonder if she's fully ooman, he thought.
"I'll be back in a minute" Ani-De said while two of his assistants exited with the newborn boy.
Iliana opened her mouth to speak but the remaining nursing staff began the afterbirth procedures on her. Her lower body was numb but she still felt the sensation of the tissue removal and sutures. Kantra wiped her forehead while she groaned and breathed raggedly against his hand. Opening her heavy lids, she gave him a soft smile in which he purred softly at her.
"It's done, you'll be fine" he soothed and gripped her hand into his. "Just rest now."
"Childbirth does not get easier" she groaned from exhaustion. Looking into his eyes, she said, "Kantra, go check on the baby."
"Ani-De said-" he began but she cut him off.
"I think something's wrong, Ani-De never left when Kahet was born" she whispered in worry. Taking another deep breath, she said, "I barely heard Leitjin cry. Please go and see him."
Kantra nodded immediately to her request and stood up quickly to leave. Looking back, he saw his mate's face sadden and began to worry himself. He didn't want anything to happen to their newborn son and it would devastate Iliana as well if it did. Opening the door, he walked out to the colder outside and looked around the empty hallway.
"Ani-De!" Kantra roared, causing the metal walls to resonate. "Come here now!"
A few seconds later, Ani-De came out from one of the nurseries with an annoyed look on his face. Stomping up to his brother irritated, he hissed but Kantra growled back in a challenge.
"You're lucky that nursery is soundproof" Ani-De snapped quickly. "Don't ever do that near my newborns!"
"What about my newborn?" Kantra hissed protectively. "Where is he?"
"He's fine as of now but I have him undergoing a treatment" his brother sighed and tried to explain carefully. Kantra stared at him angrily and did not like the word 'treatment' instantly. In a calm tone, Ani-De stated, "During the delivery, the suckling absorbed liquid into his lungs and we quickly cleared them before damage could be done. As a precaution, however, I want him to get treatment for his lung development for a few days and I will be observing his progress."
Iliana was right to worry then, Kantra thought. Damn it.
"Will he be all right?" he asked, worried. He didn't want anything to happen to his little one, especially minutes after being born. "Don't lie to me, Ani-De."
"Yes but I am monitoring him just in case of anything" his brother said, gripping his shoulder. "I won't let anything happen to him, brother. Trust me."
"I do, I'm just worried about him" he sighed and ran his hand down his face. "Iliana sensed something but I'm glad it's not anything worse. I don't think my mate could handle losing a child after birthing it."
"Hybrids are a delicate birth" Ani-De nodded to him. "Go back to her and explain. You will be able to see him once his treatment is finished."
"Will she be able to hold him?" he asked, carefully. "Ooman mothers have a need to physically connect with their child in order to feel stable that their children will be safe."
"I'll make sure of it" he said and left to return to the nursery.
Kantra stood in the hallway and took a deep breath. He prayed silently to his gods to watch over his little one and let him heal properly. His mate was right when their suckling cried weakly, it had to be the liquid that was going into his lungs.
I'm grateful that he didn't drown between the birth, he thought. All I can do is hope that my brother does everything right. I hate feeling helpless in situations where I can't protect my loved ones.
Sighing at his dark thoughts, he walked back to Iliana's room and entered quietly. The assistants had finished with their work and had left her to rest until she was ready to feed her child. Once he entered, however, her eyes opened instantly and her face expression demanded an answer.
"Why isn't my baby here?" she whispered dangerously. "Where is he?"
"Iliana-" Kantra began and raised a hand to calm her.
"What happened?! Is he okay? Is he. .Is he gone?" she asked fearfully and assumed the worst. Her eyes instantly watered causing him to run to her quickly. "Kantra-"
"No!" he cried out and soothed her shaking hands. She stared at him with a heartrending look and he embraced her firmly. "He's fine but there was a problem during the birth."
"What problem? Tell me!" she cried desperately.
I want him in my arms, she thought. I want to see my son!
"His lungs took in some water so they had to perform a procedure to fix it" he explained and soothed her back gently. In her current state, however, it made her start crying. "My brother is going to keep him for more treatments so no more problems arise. Once this treatment is done, we can see him."
She began to sob in his arms and he cursed in his mind. There was no way to avoid the situation and he had to bear it. He hated that his son was in pain and his mate's distress made him feel worse. He sighed and ran his fingers through her sweaty hair while she cried.
"He'll be fine, Iliana" he assured her softly. "I won't let anything happen to our little one so please don't cry. This pains me and I don't want you in anguish as well after giving birth. Please, calm down and relax before your health complicates too."
"I don't want my baby in pain when I'm not there" she sobbed quietly against his neck. "I want to be next to him so he knows he's not alone in there. He's just a baby, he deserves to be asleep in a warm blanket and in our arms where he's safe from harm."
"Life isn't perfect and we must cope with it" he told her gently. "We must remain optimistic. Our Leitjin will be fine and you will see him soon, all right?"
She nodded and managed to reduce her sobs into sniffles. Out of all the situations, she didn't want this for her newborn. As a mother, her children came first and if she could take their pain, she would. If any complications arose during birth, she wanted to suffer them, not have her little one take it in her stead. Taking in an unsteady breath, she prayed to any higher being that existed to protect her son.
Please, keep him safe, she thought. Don't let him suffer.
"I can't move anywhere to see him but you can" she said, looking up at her mate. "Check in on him every half hour, Kantra. Don't let him out of your sight. I don't care if you have to be outside the room or threaten someone to take you there, but be near him. Don't let anything happen to our baby."
"I promise, our son will be fine" he nodded and rested his cheek against her forehead. "He will be in your arms by the end of the day, my dearest."
She nodded gingerly and rested against his body. He held her and purred to her softly until her eyes closed from exhaustion and she fell asleep. He lay her body down gently against the bed and watched her breathe steadily in her sleep. Nodding to himself, he stood up and walked quietly towards the door.
I will not let my Iliana suffer nor let our son endure his pain alone, he thought.
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"When is father coming back?" Kahet demanded in a sulky mood. He paid his snack no attention and looked up to his grandmother.
"Soon but I must go see your mother" Bai'Kar said and patted his head with a smile.
"I want to go!" he said, clinging to her skirt instantly. She chuckled and soothed his small hands until he let go.
"You must stay here, your father is coming soon" she said, softly. "Your mother needs a grownup for right now, but afterwards, you can see her and the suckling."
"She probably loves him more" he pouted and returned to his seat to eat his meal stubbornly.
"Of course not, how could she not love you? You're her little Kahet" she grinned and tickled his cheek.
"Not anymore" he muttered and chewed his food. "They left me alone."
"Because your brother needs to arrive, your mother can't have him in the house" Sali'ah spoke up and brought in her twins. Kahet frowned towards his food. "Your father will be here soon so Mother, you can go."
"We can handle the little pup, anyway" Aru'Kar said, coming in with his soon-to-be two year old son, Aru'Dre.
"All right, Kantra will be here soon so behave" Bai'Kar warned and pointed to her two children. Aru'Kar gave her a confused look while Sali'ah snorted.
"Mother, we're adults, we can behave" she assured without laughing. "We're the ones who have to straighten out this new generation."
Their mother nodded and left quickly from the dining area. Sali'ah sighed and prepared three dishes for the remaining children, then placed them on the table. Sri'shan happily hopped onto the chair to eat while Sau'Nak quietly sat down and sipped on a drink he held. Aru'Dre pointed to the food on the table and his father placed him into a chair.
"Has your mate visited Iliana? I'm sure seeing another ooman would help her" Sali'ah asked her older brother. She handed him a plate of food as well and he nodded in thanks.
"Yes, but it seems Iliana seeks solitude and her child more than anything right now" he sighed and looked at his son gobble his food down gleefully.
Aru'Kar had been to Earth a few years prior for a monthly hunt. Once there, he realized that the hunting ground was not worthy of anything anymore and had gotten ready to leave with his crew. Curiosity got the better of him since Kantra had liked this planet for some reason, and he decided to appease his increased interest. Eventually, he met his mate after rescuing her from a violent riot in her town and no matter how much he tried to avoid her, she managed to track him down out of curiosity. Then Aru'Kar, being more of a reserved warrior, engaged her in conversation unlike Iliana's and Kantra's first dangerous encounter. Once it came time to leave, Zia asked if she could leave her crime ridden town and join him. He agreed since she was a practicing anthropologist for the outside city near her town and thought it would lead her to a new journey for knowledge. Once she came onboard the Ade'k'ra, Iliana met the older female happily and introduced her to the yautja society. In the end, he asked her to be his mate and years later, they now have the current suckling that was throwing food at Sau'Nak.
"Keep your own food to yourself" he hissed and tried to wipe his face clean.
"No!" Aru'Dre said defiantly and pointed to his older cousin. The suckling had his father's skin tinting and yellow eyes entirely with no signs of human traits, like Kahet. He wore a long beige tunic with his loincloth underneath with black sandals.
Kahet poked at his food unhappily and remained oblivious to the fight starting around him. All he could keep his mind on was his father's return and what his new life would be with baby Leitjin hogging all the attention. He knew it was bad to think those thoughts but he couldn't stop them, he had the aggression of a yautja and the jealousy of a human which wasn't a good combination at all. He sighed and chewed another piece of his roasted meat.
"Still upset, Kahet?" his uncle asked and sat next to him while struggling with his toddler who didn't want to give up his eating utensil to his father. "Aru'Dre!"
"Yes, I want my father back" he said gloomily and felt a wet substance hit his left eye. Reaching up to wipe off the food that his cousin had thrown, he went back to eating his own.
"Aru'Dre, eat your food!" Aru'Kar said firmly and his son nodded grumpily. He then grabbed a cloth to wipe Kahet's food covered face.
"Hah, your father yelled at you" Sri'shan taunted in a giggle.
"Did not" his cousin shot back. Then to his father, Aru'Dre pouted, "I want mama!"
"She's busy, eat your food" Aru'Kar sighed and pointed to the food. His son grumbled and listened.
"How do you cope with that little one?" Sali'ah smirked at him and sat across them. "The terrible two's is coming, you know. Luckily, my twins were calm."
"Probably got it from Sau-Trul's mood" he teased causing her to growl.
The group heard footsteps enter the kitchen and the three sparring children perked up.
"Uncle Kantra!" they greeted.
"What a nice reception" he chuckled and walked over to where Kahet sat. Kneeling down on one leg, he looked at his toddler who was trying to ignore him but failing miserably. "And how's my son doing?"
"Why don't you go ask your new one" he said, sadly.
He's still upset, Kantra thought.
"Kahet, the med bay is no place for children right now" he explained carefully.
"Don't make him terrified now, Ani-De will chase you with a surgical tool" Aru'Kar teased in which his brother smacked him away. "Ow!"
"And you wonder why your little one acts the way he does" Sali'ah grinned making him growl. "That's for the Sau-Trul slur."
"Anyway!" Kantra said, raising his voice to get the attention back. He grabbed his son's reluctant hand into his own and squeezed it. "Kahet, your mother and I love you and nothing will change that. There is nothing for you to feel sad or jealous about. I would never leave you alone unless it was necessary."
Kahet listened to his father and understood his father but there was something in his little mind that still poked at him. Putting on an angry face, he said, "So if I'm in the hospital, would you leave Leitjin too?"
"Kahet, that's impossible, he's just a suckling" he pointed out firmly. "He needs proper care."
"It's not fair, that means you'll always leave me!" he cried and his eyes watered. Kantra sighed and waited for his outburst. "I'll be last from now on and every baby after me will get attention except me!"
"That's not true, I will always love each of my children the same way" he said in a serious 'no nonsense' parenting tone. "You are not and never will be in competition for my attention or affection, Kahet. Now, you will go with me and meet your new brother who I'm sure seeks your love as well. Understood?"
It's still not fair, Kahet thought.
Grudgingly, he nodded and left quietly to grab his things. Kantra sighed and sat down on the chair to relax for a minute. He'd been on edge the whole day from checking in on his suckling and comforting his mate, and now his pup was upset over the new child. He wished things were better but knew it was impossible unless he took it into his own hands.
"How's Iliana?" Sali'ah asked, softly.
"She's worried and upset" he said, sullenly. "She won't feel any better until she sees the child."
"When will that be?" his brother asked, curious. "I'm sure Ani-De won't keep him that long. She gave birth in the late morning and it's almost near dinnertime."
"She's going to see him right now, I just needed to bring Kahet" he said, resting his head back against the chair. "I really hope he behaves."
"Maybe he'll be taken in by the suckling's cuteness" Sali'ah gently joked.
"Can we see the baby?" Sri'shan asked, grabbing her wrist for attention. She shook her head negatively. He groaned making his red eyes look brighter, "Aww, but the baby!"
"Maybe in the following days" she promised him. He nodded quietly and went back to his meal.
"I bet I'll see 'im first" Aru'Dre grinned at the twins. They both glared back in unison.
"No! We will!" Sau'Nak defended quickly. Sri'shan nodded. "We're older."
"And cuter!" Sri'shan added happily.
"Papa! They called me ugly!" Aru'Dre complained to his father.
Parenthood is not easy!, his father thought. Kantra's curse came back to bite me!
"Well, their father's ugly" he said, dismissively. The toddler smiled cheekily at the disheveled twins.
"Are you implying I have bad taste?" Sali'ah demanded in a challenging voice.
Great, now both the parent and children are fighting, Kantra thought.
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Kantra walked into the nursery with an unhappy Kahet holding onto his hand. He spotted Iliana holding her covered newborn in her arms while smiling contentedly yet her eyes still held a sad look. Walking over to her quietly, he purred to her softly and she turned to look at him. Kissing his cheek, she let him view their newest addition who had now opened his hazel eyes. His uncovered arms showed his brownish skin tone that held darker mottles here and there that would develop as he aged while his chest held a softer beige tone. His hair was the same shade as Kantra's, unlike Kahet's brunette.
"He looks like me and your mother, doesn't he?" Iliana said softly and ran her cheek over Leitjin's. His face turned towards his mother and he reached out his unsteady hand.
Kantra placed his finger under it and felt his son's soft grip while purring softly to him. He knew purring helped calm a suckling and had used it on Kahet when he cried as a newborn years ago. Leitjin breathed in gently and his eyes became droopy again.
"How has he been?" he asked, quietly. His chest felt compressed whenever he thought his suckling was in pain but Ani-De had assured him that the young one would be fine.
His breathing seems perfect so far so I have to believe he's right, he thought.
"His breathing is normal, all of the liquid is gone from his lungs" she said a little relieved but still rattled. "I'm trying not to make him move much. I just want him to rest while he heals."
"What's wrong with him?" Kahet spoke up in a hushed tone.
He'd kept himself in the background while his parents gushed over the baby. He had felt alone and left out while they talked but he picked up some of their words. When his parents spoke privately, they usually used broken English and Yautja together. Luckily for him, his mother had taught him the English language so far and he'd start on Spanish once he mastered the first. Staring at his parents, he saw their worried glances and for once, his curiosity turned towards his brother.
"Is he sick?" he asked, clutching his things tighter against his chest.
"He had a problem while being born but he's gotten a lot better" Iliana smiled at him gently. Kahet walked over to his mother and she lowered Leitjin so he could see him. Kahet watched his brother sleep while his chest rose steadily against his blanket. "Your uncle's going to keep him under watch just to be sure."
"So he'll be okay?" he asked, worriedly.
I don't want anything bad to happen to him, he thought. He's just a baby. I know I've been mean but I don't want this.
He whined softly in which his mother caressed his cheek and he leaned into her touch gratefully. He hadn't felt his mother's touch in a day and he was happy just to be near her. He may have felt like a big pup but he still loved being coddled by her. He rested his head on her lap and purred happily making her smile.
"I missed you, mama" he whimpered softly as his eyes watered and wet his mother's gown.
Iliana handed Leitjin to Kantra as gently as possible to not disturb him and wrapped her arms around her oldest son. Her eyes filled with fresh tears despite they were red from crying the whole morning, but her son's feelings over the recent weeks had made her feel guilty over the new changes. She couldn't change them but she would not prove his accusations right by leaving him to wallow in his own sadness.
Don't let him resent us because of this, she thought. I want both of my babies happy with each other.
"I love you and I'm sorry you had to be alone today" she said, squeezing him firmly to assure him. "You have to understand that your brother needs us too now. You both will share our attention so don't think you're alone in this world, okay? I'll always be your mother and no one will take that from you."
Her little one nodded and she wiped his tear streaked face with her robe gently. He hiccupped and hugged her tightly before she could finish drying his face. Stroking his head soothingly, she held him while he kept crying softly. Kantra watched the two reconnect their feelings and looked down at his suckling. He was off in his own dreamland and that suited his father fine. After a few minutes, Kahet stopped his crying and backed away from his mother feeling lighter with the situation.
"When can we bring him home?" Kahet asked his mother.
"In a few days, then he'll be ready to move in with all of us" she smiled tenderly and smoothed his hair back into its ruffled ponytail.
"Good, he shouldn't be in a scary place like this" Kahet nodded firmly. His mother smiled and traced her palm over his cheek in agreement.
"You're absolutely right, son" Iliana smiled and looked at Kantra who nodded back at his son's statement.
I think there's hope for my babies to get along, she thought.
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End of Chapter 6. Thanks to all of my reviewers and thanks for reading. Hope this chapter wasn't too depressing for you but I like working with the shifting moods, especially with different changing roles over the years for the characters like in these recent chapters.