After Chapter 41, "The Fire..."

Jakuelynn closed her suitcase, clicking the locks on it just as Rufas woke up, whining for attention. She smiled, scooping him up in her arms and holding him close, humming a clear melody from an otherwise unclear memory, rocking him until he settled again, breathing peacefully as his head rested against her shoulder. For the first time in thirteen months, she had slept deeply and peacefully the previous night, untroubled by nightmares. She had barely heard Rufas cry as she slept. That had to be a good sign, as Jak had mentioned how the little boy hardly settled when she wasn't here.

"Morning, Nel,"

Speak of the Devil. The warrioress looked up and smiled. "Hey, Jak," she said softly, keeping her tone low so as to not wake her son.

"You two off already?"

"Yeah. I mean, the Dark Eco cloud's no longer a threat. And Rhogan twisted my arm into starting my maternity leave..." She trailed off, realising what he meant. "I'm...we're...only going to Spargus. Catch up with Sig and all. I owe him a lot. You're welcome to come with us..."

Jak flapped a hand. "I'm good, Nel. 'Sides, what if the city falls into danger again?" A glint in his eyes. "Anyway, what time are you guys going?"

"I got my second-in-command to cover for me, remember?" She stuck her tongue out cheekily. "What time? Soon as he's fed and I'm fed, really,"

"Funny you should say that...Tess is cooking breakfast right now. Anything in particular you want?"

Jakuelynn's stomach conveniently chose to rumble at that point. "Double fry-up as usual, please. Precursors, I've missed Tess' fry-ups. Legendary."

Her father laughed. "Double fry-up it is."

~x~

Some hours later in Spargus, Sig was suddenly startled when the lift directly in front of him began to move and raised quickly to reveal somebody – or somebodies – he hadn't seen for a week and a half.

The taller somebody gave a crooked smile. "Hey, Uncle Sig,"

"Hey, Firecracker! You okay there?"

"I'm good," the blonde said as she approached the throne, clutching her son. "I've got ten months off now, so I'm spending five of them in Spargus, if that's okay with you?"

Sig raised his hands. "Sure thing. It's your land by right,"

"Actually, it's Jak's..."

"Yeah, but he abdicated for your brother years ago. You didn't know?"

Jakuelynn frowned, years ago. "Mmm. I guess I did. But things got complicated when Damas – Damascus, to use the name he so hates – supposedly died." She reached the highest steps of the throne room and sat on them, her tone softening. "Things are always complicated with our family..."

"You don't have to tell me that, Nelly," Sig agreed, sitting beside her on the top step. "I've known you since you were knee-high to a Metal-Saur and you're complicated on your own,"

The warrioress laughed. "No I'm not. Just...multi-faceted, I guess. Warrioress, daughter, sister, aunt, traitor, heroine, princess, wife...and now..." She ran her fingers lightly over her baby son's dark head, following the patterns of his hair. "I'm a mother now. And...it feels better than I thought it would be. Like...if anyone touches my son, I'd break every bone in that person's body. Like I have...I have something to live for." Her tone diminished, becoming almost a whisper.

"Becoming a parent changes your world in ways you didn't even think," Sig replied softly.

Jakuelynn listened to Rufas' breathing, feeling a calm settle within her. "Sig...can I ask something personal? Y-you don't have to answer if it's too...much."

The Wastelander looked at her, calmness in his bright green eye. "Go ahead,"

"Did...did you ever have a family of your own?" The warrioress asked this tentatively, watching him, unsure of how he'd react.

The sixty-odd-year old's face wore many emotions over his face before drawing a deep, shaky breath. "Yes. I did. A long time ago..."

Jakuelynn shifted, twisting her body towards him, willing him to continue.

"When I was in Haven, keeping a close eye on you for your father. I had a wife...had a daughter. A little girl, not much older than you. She would have..." Clenching his jaw, the King swallowed. "She would be turning twenty-eight now."

"Would be?" Jakuelynn echoed softly. "What happened?"

Sig gave her a dark look. "Roah Praxis happened when she found out who I was and why I was so close to you...She did everything she could to stop you knowin' who you really were."

Jakuelynn nodded, looking away. "So that's why you left when I was thirteen." Shit. I understand completely.

"Yeah. Went back to Spargus knowin' that I'd failed Jak,"

"But you didn't," Jakuelynn countered, a hand on his arm. She was surprised when he didn't flinch. Sig was not the world's biggest fan of physical contact, unless it was fighting. "Not as such. You...you essentially stopped her from killing me as a child." She swallowed. "Is that why you treated me...as...as if...I was your own daughter? 'Cause that's how I felt." Her face turned fiery red, feeling as if she'd misjudged him.

"You got good feelin' there, Firecracker," the King replied. "T'me you were my second daughter, although you were Zainen's and Jak's little girl,"

Jakuelynn smiled. "Not so little now. But...to me...you were always my badass Uncle Sig. Still are, actually."

The Wastelander uttered a deep, rich chuckle, squeezing the Amazonian warrioress' shoulders. "Eh, Firecracker, you gettin' me all soft,"

"Must be the time, it is twenty-two hours after all." Jakuelynn gave a friendly shrug. "I've got a little one to bed down for the night. I presume it's the usual room...?"

"Uh huh," the King replied. "With a cot for the little one. See, my memory hasn't completely gone...unlike your father's,"

The blonde/ green-haired woman laughed lightly. "Neither has Jak's. Goodnight, Sig,"

"'Night, Nel. Sleep well." You earned it big time, he thought, watching the casually dressed woman and her baby son venture to his left. Stretching out a hand, she touched a hidden panel on the wall. A hidden door instantly slid open and she walked in, disappearing from view as it shut behind her.

The old King smiled reflectively, the only sounds ringing in his ears the omnipresent trickles and flows of water in the large Throne Room. She was happy. The world was once again safe.

For that, he was glad he was alive to see.