Twenty Four
He let his wife rest, she slept fitfully, even more as their child grew, and as much as he looked forward to the coming months he dreaded them. She was nearing the end and he could already see it. As their son grew Alicia would be even more tired and sore. She held fast to the plan that she would keep working until the day the baby came.
It was a good thing the season was changing, he knew the heat of the hot months had been hard on everyone, and the storms they had seen marked a break from the heat. It would be another few months before the cool weather came and the season settled, it had been like that each year they had been here, it wouldn't be soon enough for some of them.
The cooler wet season would be good, it would be time to prepare the fields for the next harvest, to fortify their supply routes for the outposts and to the better fishing holes. Though the Seagoing camp was happy to supply them with fish in exchange for medical care and protection it was good to have their own plan as well.
They had learned a great deal from their neighbors and it was good to have their loyalty. He knew it was a point of tension between the Sixers but where they had opposed the colony the Seagoers showed nothing but loyalty and willingness to work with them. And many had become trusted friends with his wife.
Nathaniel rose later and got a plex to work on, he needed Alicia to rest for and there was work to be done. He wanted her to work from home, but being pregnant and recovering from the procedure she needed all the rest she could get.
He sifted through the requests from the various divisions all had requests and plans for the future, science, medical, construction and the vendors all had different goals. Some were out of reach, others possible and a few ridiculous, but all wanted their opinions heard ahead of the division meeting tomorrow. Nathaniel knew he didn't usually see all of these, Alicia filtered them before she left the stack for him to deal with.
She wasn't happy being at home but he had called in a trick or two and had her occupied. Between Storme and Acadia's visits daily, teaching her skills she seemed interested in; and that kept her at least sitting down. Zoe's excitement filled much more, at least she was busy.
He turned away from the paperwork and headed for the pods; Mira might be up to talking again. She and her people had healed, they had plans to rebuild their camp closer to the colony and been vaccinated. Now almost everyone in the colony had, except the babies to young for it and the few who flat out refused it.
They were stronger for it, they had fewer children in the infirmary now and fewer workers taking iso's just to get through the work day out in the open air. Alicia had been right, it had been worth it, just as it had been right to extend kindness to their neighbors who chose to live in peace.
But as long as Carter and the Phoenix were lurking on this side of the badlands there was a threat to that. If they left the colony alone he wouldn't much care what they were doing but given that didn't seem to be something they were interested in.
From what Mira had said so far Carter had raided their camp for people willing to continue with the original plan; harvest this place for gain. Only now it was for themselves, not their bosses. The remaining Phoenix had joined Carter as survival was much harder than anticipated. Mira's group had not been keen on the proposal and those who hadn't escaped had been caught and forced; he had caught two of them.
Mira had a nasty new scar, an arrow had gone through her arm, Alicia and Skye had done a job of patching her up and bringing her back here; the group looked rougher than when they had arrived her after the badlands. Mira had held her ground against Carter, at a price. As long as they left the Seagoers alone their camp would be across the river, within the outer patrol route run twice a day.
He met the woman and they walked down the bank, one of the Seagoers paddled them across in a low canoe. The camp would be in the tree tops, to help protect them from predators; construction on the tree houses had already began.
With the wall finished constructions crews turned to maintenance, one had been assigned to help them build. Already they roped up into a network of shells; nearly thirty families would live here. And Nathaniel was satisfied that family and a life were what these people wanted. He had statements from his wife and Shannon as to how Carter had left them; some hadn't made it.
He walked through the new construction with Mira, the woman eyed it carefully. "Thanks Taylor."
"When Carter shows his hand you're with us." The woman knew the man as well as anyone did, she had worked with him for years and he may not have liked it but he had taken orders from her.
"Yes." And whether Nathaniel had liked it or not she had served her mission well when she opposed the colony, it was still a long road to trust. "But Taylor I truly don't know what he is up to."
"We'll find out." He murmured as they walked back to the colony. He nodded to Jones as he fell in step with them, he had been working on the hydro system down river.
"Mira." The man acknowledged the Sixer walking with him.
"How's they hydro project coming?" He asked as they sat in the low canoe, Mira and Jones held the sides as they rode; a lot of colonists did not enjoy river travel.
"Good, we're just about done." Jones commented, waiting until the boat was pulled to the shore before climbing out. "I heard that Regan Brown came back with your group Mira."
"He did." The Sixer leader eyed his lead construction man.
"Used to be a transit engineer right?"
"Still is, he helped up us build both camps." Mira was still guarded with them, and protective with her people.
"Think I could pick his brain about building a bridge across this?" As Jones waited for Mira's answer he bit back a smirk and headed home; the bridge had been one of the construction proposals he had reviewed this morning. It would be approved simply because of the amount of travel across the river.
At the unit he sat with Alicia and sorted through the remaining requests and notes for the next morning, they worked late reviewing and discussing everything for the divisional meeting. Alicia seemed uncomfortable, fidgeting and rubbing her side and back. Nathaniel wanted to reach for her, and hold her but Ayani's irritation with him came to mind and she had not been nearly as far along as Alicia was.
And he was fully aware of the fact she was irritated with him, she didn't want to talk about it and he knew it was best to leave it alone. They worked well together and it was that background that made their marriage work, they knew when to step back and let things be. This was something he didn't want to step back from.
"Come here." He eased his chair back and reached for her, pulling her onto his knee and using his hands to rub her back.
"You couldn't have decided this was a good idea a month or two ago could you." Alicia groaned, her head rolling forward as his hands worked. Satisfied to see her relax in his hands.
"I don't need to make you more uncomfortable." Nathaniel knew she didn't like having her activity limited, but it didn't limit her place in command or her authority. He didn't always balance that so well.
"I'd rather you touch me and reach for me whether I am uncomfortable or not. I am not a breakable doll just because I carry your child." She was leaning back into him and her hand caught his, pulling it smooth around her. Smoothing his palm over her belly; swollen because of his child.
He couldn't deny a certain swell of pride at that, and as he smoothed his palm over her belly, his other still pressed against her back. "It's going to be soon."
"A month or so, but he could come early; he is really active now." Alicia leaned back against him and he watched over her shoulder. He thought he could actually see her belly moving a bit as he felt his son kick under his hand.
"I should finish that nursery." He murmured, in a month or less their son would be in their arms; it didn't seem that long ago she had just told him she was pregnant.
"Storme says it could be a long birth because he is my first." He sighed at her words, feeling her shift a bit in his arms.
"I thought we were going to talk about this again." Alicia was determined to have a natural birth, the way the Seagoers still did, but the risks made him nervous; especially when they had a much safer alternative.
"We did. I haven't changed my mind, I want to try to deliver our son. If there are complications you get to send for Elisabeth." Her hand took his and held it tight, her tone was firm. "And you are going to be with me."
"Is that an order?" He smiled and kissed her neck gently, he always enjoyed watching her give orders; but when they were directed at him it was sometimes amusing.
"Consider it one, if you want to share nighttime diapers and feeding. If you don't you can do it yourself." She rose from his lap, brown eyes with mischief.
"I'll be there." He wouldn't miss it, not if she wanted him there.