Once again, many thanks to KS – I could not do this without your input.
This story took a very different path than I had originally intended. My outline told the story in two chapters. Once the writing began, it quickly became obvious two did not fully convey the story. I hope you enjoy this journey.
Recovery is a funny thing. It takes time and sometimes longer than we anticipate and filled with back steps, side steps, and diagonal steps. And sometimes a bit of magic.
Keith shifted in his seat, the turtle suit Tsuyo and Darrell had created felt odd. He had never gone scuba diving, but he imagined a similar feeling of constriction. He welcomed the sensation as he and Black flew, just enjoying the view and the quiet. Black steadfastly refused to go supersonic and put any amount of pressure on Keith's brittle bones, even with the protection of the suit. The lion flat refused to take any chances with his main person. The new pilot for Black had arrived several months before, but he could not bond with the new pilot.
The rest of the force continued to look for a replacement, but it proved more difficult than initially thought. Cady would not come of age for another decade, and none of the current crop of trainees had the right "feeling" according to Black.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Keith let himself fall into the moment, and enjoy flying. Nothing could compare to the feeling of flight or the rush a burst of speed could bring. He felt, more than heard, Black's exasperated sigh. Nothing would induce the lion to do the aerial tricks he and Keith usually enjoyed.
The man lost track of the time he and Black simply flew. Eventually he felt his back start to ache from sitting. The lion banked gently and within a few minutes came to a gentle landing in a field near a dwelling. With a fond caress on the control panel, Keith carefully levered himself to a standing position, pausing to let his back relax and stretch a moment before heading toward the exit. He moved awkwardly, the turtle suit restricting his freedom of movement. By the time he maneuvered to the door, Tsuyo had arrived to help him out of the suit.
Neither man spoke, but the Yellow Pilot noticed that his friend just looked more relaxed. Some of the tenseness had left his frame, and he moved with more looseness in his muscles. He did not hold himself readied for pain or a spasm to strike at any moment. Tsuyo smiled inwardly. Just putting Keith back in the air had done more good than a week of massage, drugs, and therapy. He startled as he felt a vibration under his feet.
The young king laughed at the look on his friend's face, "Black is just expressing his approval for your plan."
Tsuyo reached out to pat the wall near the door panel. "Not just another pretty face, I know. 'Course, with a mug like mine. . ."
He and Darrell had fashioned the turtle suit to come off in pieces, just like ancient plate mail armor. Keith could not put it on himself, but the design prevented any undue pressure on Keith's fragile bones, and allowed for easier modification as it became necessary. "How did the first run go?"
"Wonderfully well. My back started to bug me, but that is most likely just from sitting for, hmmm, how long did we fly?"
"Huh. Maybe we can put in some low back supports to help offset that, or adjust the chair. Oh, about six hours or so." Tsuyo kept muttering under his breath as he dismantled the suit, checking each piece as he removed it.
The Black Pilot just remained silent, used to Tsuyo's absent minded answers. Six hours? No wonder my back started protesting. No wonder I feel better. He felt Black's agreement in the back of his mind. They had just needed the time together. Time for Black to work his magic; literally.
Ten minutes later, the two men rode down the elevator to the ground. On the way, Keith saw his daughter literally bouncing on her toes, waiting for them to descend. "Why didn't you come up?" Keith called down to her.
"Oh, I just came and Black told me by the time I came up, it would be time to come down, so I just waited." She piped back.
When the elevator stopped, Keith carefully knelt down and opened his arms to give his daughter a big hug. He nearly came to tears as he realized for the first time since he woke in the hospital, he did not have to repress a wince as she gave him a big squeeze. His ribs did not hurt; his arms did not hurt. In fact, other than the small pinching in his back from sitting too long in one position, he felt no pain. The man could hardly remember what it felt like to not feel pain constantly. He relaxed even further into his impromptu cuddle with his daughter. Black felt like a reassuring presence in the back of his mind, and he sent wordless gratitude and love back.
Finally, he let go and stood, marveling at the ease at which he could. Cady took the hand he held out and the two of them started walking toward the house. Keith and Tsuyo listened as Cady started relaying the tale of their journey and their mini-adventures of setting up the house. Everyone felt hungry, so Nanny Magda had whipped up a really amazing meal and it waited for Keith to come so they could all eat together as a family. Plus, they had dessert. Cady could not remember what Nanny called it, but it looked really delicious. It had fruit with a sugary crumble on the top, oh and could she please stay up a little later because she had fallen asleep in the transport on the way, which meant she missed seeing some of the cool sights. And did her Dad know about the lake behind the house which had fish in it? Uncle Tsuyo said they could go fishing and then bake the fish in the coals of a fire, and then they could roast marshmallows and catch the evening lightening bugs as they danced in the sky.
As Cady continued to prattle on, Tsuyo and Keith exchanged a smile over her head. Tsuyo had told Keith how quiet Cady had grown and he and Saria had worried a bit. It looked like not just the young King had needed time away.
Cady let go of her Dad's hand to run ahead to the house to tell Nanny Magda that her dad had finally arrived and could they please have some dinner so they could have some dessert? Plus her Dad had given her the BIGGEST hug in months and months so it must mean her Dad felt better. Could they play a game after dinner or maybe go for a walk and look for lightening bugs?
Tsuyo gestured Keith toward the dining room as they walked into the house, while he turned to the work room where he had set up a charging station and dressmaker's dummy for the turtle suit.
"And no tinkering before dinner, Tsuyo!"
The yellow pilot laughed as his wife's voice floated down the hallway. She knew him all too well. "No tinkering, Sar, promise!"
Quickly setting the suit on the dummy, he walked to the dining room where he saw Keith sitting with a glass of Lara's drink in one hand while Cady leaned against his knee and he stroked her hair with his other. Magda and Saria came in from the kitchen with two dishes and Tsuyo stole a kiss from his lovely lady as she came near him.
"Sit, sit, Tsuyo, these are the last of the dishes."
The big man complied and the two ladies joined them at the table. After a brief pause to let Saria and Magda acknowledge the Goddess and God Above, the five dug in with gusto into Magda's offerings. The conversation flowed, and much laughter floated above the table. The five people took the time to really appreciate Magda's cooking and the company. At the end of the meal, Keith, Tsuyo, and Cady took care of the clean-up, since Magda and Saria had taken care of the cooking and setting up the kitchen for the next month. When they finished, the two men and little girl joined the ladies on the front porch, where refills of Lara's drink waited for the adults and hot chocolate for Cady. The adults watched as Cady ran around trying to catch the lightening bugs, enjoying the quiet, with only occasional bursts of conversation.
Keith rocked in the chair, head back, letting the atmosphere relax him further. Tsuyo had it correct, again. He needed this more than anything else. No one asked anything of him. No decisions. Just enjoying his daughter, his bond-mate, and friends, and Magda. He looked at the woman who had become, not a mother, but something more than just a friend. She looked out for him when he needed it, gave advise, but only when he asked, and generally kept the team functioning and healthy. Her knitting needles occasionally caught the light, flashing like a lightening bug themselves. Keith could see the tension draining out of her as well. They both had a tendency to work too hard and take on too much. Well, that should change for the both of them when they returned to the castle. Black sent a burst of approval and a feeling of irony. The lion had tried for years to encourage Keith to slow down and delegate more. Although, even Black had to admit the lack of trained personnel together with the lack of support from Garrison had made that prospect difficult. With the Arusian military academy graduating students, Garrison finally sending help, a restructuring of the military and Keith's duties could happen.
The young monarch pushed those thoughts aside. He just wanted to enjoy the quiet and NOT think about duty.
Cady finally stopped chasing after the lightening bugs, and wandered over to climb on Keith's lap. She turned sideways so her head could rest against his chest, but she could still see the other three. Keith wrapped his arms around her and let his eyes close. Nothing could come close to the absolute joy he found in his daughter.
Saria began to weave a story around an Arusian legend. Only half listening as he rocked his daughter, Keith let his thoughts wander. Although he had never expected to marry again, or under such, for an off-worlder, strange circumstances, he felt not only peaceful about the decision, but hopeful and excited. Perhaps he did not love Allura in the way sagas depicted great loves, but he did love her. How could he not? Outward beauty aside, she adored his, no, their daughter. Her strength of character, and all the virtues Coran and Magda instilled in her, made her shine with an inner light, which Keith could bask beside.
Not to say that she did not have faults, or habits that drove him up a wall, but those miniscule items did not compare. They would have to find a way to reconcile some of their differing habits, but what couple did not? More than that, he could finally admit to the longing he had for more children. Allura wanted a large family, and tradition dictated they have at least two, but they would cross that bridge later. The image of a child with Allura's eyes shot a jolt straight to his heart. He adored his daughter with all his heart and soul, but he already anticipated holding another child in his arms. His thoughts continued to meander hither and yon with Saria's voice winding through them.
Keith startled awake as someone lifted Cady from his arms.
"Shhh. Tis only me, Saria. Both ye and Cady fell asleep, so I am just tucking her in bed."
"Oh," came the reply with rapidly blinking eyes. A hand appeared in front of his face.
"Up go you, Cap."
For a moment, Keith only looked at the hand in confusion, then put his hand in it and let his friend pull him to his feet. He winced slightly, as muscles protested the long ride in Black and falling asleep with his daughter on his lap. He shook his arms as tingles from sitting in one position ran up and down to his fingers.
"Eh, Saria," Tsuyo called.
"Have him strip down and I will work his muscles so they do not tense up overnight. Look in the cupboard on the right of the cooler, second shelf, box marked 'Relax.' Brew up a tea and steep it 6 minutes. Then bring it in."
"Yes, ma'am." He turned to his friend. "We have our marching orders."
The young king only nodded, flexing his hands open and shut, trying to work out the tingles. He moved slowly and stiffly toward the house.
"Down the hall, first room on the left. Room we set up for everything else is across the hall."
Bemused, Keith listened to the hushed adult voices and the sleepy voice of his daughter as they put her to bed. Shuffling a bit, he went to the room as directed and found himself in a relaxing atmosphere. Three cucumber green walls with one sand colored wall gave the room a garden glen feel. Pictures of waterfalls and pictures of the night sky hung strategically to delighted the eye while relax the mind. The thick carpet cushioned his steps, as he walked into the room. A king sized bed covered with a dark green quilt dominated the room. A set of drawers sat against the wall closest to the door and a small wardrobe sat against the far wall next to the window, while a door directly to the left on the other side of the drawers looked like it led to a bathroom. A comfortable looking chair with a reading light and small round table balanced out the bed.
The wardrobe provided a soft bathrobe when he opened the doors to wear after refreshing himself in the small bathroom. He walked across the hall to find what had once housed a bedroom transformed into a combination workout/therapy/massage room. Heaters along the walls had started to warm up the room where Keith would feel comfortable without heavy clothes, and the lights dimmed. A pleasant smell of mint floated through the air, and soft sounds of nature drifted through the air.
Saria came through with a steaming cup in her hands. "Perfect. I would like you to sit on the massage chair to start. That way I can work on the muscles in your back, while you drink this tea."
At Keith's skeptical look, she laughed.
"I promise, no medication in the tea. Just some natural herbs that help induce relaxation and sleep. Mikko and I had a long talk, and he wants to wean you off the muscle relaxants. He thinks part of the problem is a feedback loop, since we know you do not always react to meds the way we would expect. I consulted with an herbalist, and she gave me lists and boxes. I simply follow what she says. Tonight you will need to take a dose of the muscle relaxants, but starting tomorrow morning, we will wean you off of them. For a time, I am going to supplement with the teas and tisanes. The hope is within a week or three to have you off of most assistants."
Keith took a huge breath and let it out. "Thank you. It is exactly what Mikko and I discussed, but could not seem to implement successfully."
Saria only nodded and handed him the pills and the drink. "It should be cool enough to drink now." She waited until he had taken the pills and drank half of the drink before turning her back. "You know the drill."
The young man removed the robe and after a moment's thought stripped down to only a towel. "Ready."
Saria turned around, and looked at him thoughtfully, "Change of plan. Drink the rest of this and then lay face down on my table."
Keith complied, sighing in contentment as he realized the table had a heating element. He could feel himself relaxing against the warmth of the room and the heat radiating upward. He heard Saria bustling around for a moment, then felt her hands start to work in the muscles in his neck. The oil she used had nearly no scent, and he closed his eyes to give himself up to the moment.