Chapter Title: Kajee
Series Title: Unlikely Brothers
Ages in this chapter: River (6), Tanner (30), Dashen (36)
Chapter Summary: River spends his first night away from his brothers, at the estate of Colton and Nyssa.
Kajee. River liked the word. He liked the person who said the word.
That person was Nyssa Kor. Tall, muscle-thick, light blue skin, dark blue-black hair. Eyes somewhere in between. She was one of two main women in River's life. The other being the healer Fen Kaveri.
The only other woman ever to be in River's life prior was his mother. But she'd sold him into slavery at the age of four. He was six now - not far from seven - and his life was no longer one of slavery and abuse. No, his life now was filled with love and family unrelated by blood.
And part of being in that non-blood family was to have nicknames instilled upon you.
Dashen called him Pup. Tannerlin would shorten his name to Riv. Colton called him young one. Fen usually called him River, but would toss in something affectionate if in the moment.
Nyssa had monikered him as Kajee. In her native language it meant a child that was loved. It fit and River nuzzled up to it even before he even knew what it meant.
River sat at the huge bar that was Colton's massive kitchen in his estate house. His legs swinging happily as he munched on an extra large piece of bantha bacon - his favorite breakfast food. It was fresh from the roaster and especially delicious.
"Nyssa, what's a kajee?" The boy asked curiously between bites. He was comfortable with Nyssa. Despite her blueness and imposing figure, there was something about her that River easily gravitated to. It helped of course that his brothers trusted her with their lives. If she was on their trust list, she would be on his.
Setting another piece of bacon on his plate alongside several slices of brightly colored munje fruit, she pointed to the yellow pieces. "Eat the munje fruit. Your brothers will kill me if I only feed you bacon."
With a quick hand, he popped one of the slices into his mouth, face puckering at the sour-sweetness. Three slices would have go down before Nyssa would answer his question, he knew. So… three slices went down.
"Kajee means a young child that is well loved."
"That's me!" He said proudly with his shaggy dark brown bangs not quite to eye level, but hanging messy over his temple. Bedhead hair was quite adorable on the child, Nyssa thought watching his joy at learning the definition of the word.
"Indeed that is you, River."
"I like that." Was his confident reply.
She set three more slices of fruit on his plate. "Eat up."
"Nyssa, I like you."
"I like you as well, Kajee. You are a misfit as the rest of us are."
"What's a misfit?"
Nyssa remembered from her conversations with Dashen and Tannerlin that the boy was a question-asker. He was also behind others his age in knowledge and learning - having spent two key years of his youngest life in the hands of slavers. There were words and things he may not understand even if a normal six year old might.
River sought knowledge and understanding. He also sought confirmation in knowing it was okay to ask and be part of things.
"A misfit is someone who doesn't belong to a normal group. They don't fit here or there. Like your brothers."
River thought about it. How his brothers might be these misfit things. Face crunching up as he rolled any ideas over and over in his mind. It's what Tanner had taught him when he came on something he wasn't sure of. Always think hard about it first. Then ask the question.
So he thought and thought and when he thought he had it, he said, "Dashen lost his baby brother and then got really really sad. No one loved him. So he was a misfit, right? And Tannerlin, his um… Jedi friends all died and he was all alone. So, he was a misfit too, right?"
Another piece of bacon landed in front of his eager hands.
"Excellent, Kajee. You thought it through. That is correct. All of Colton's team, they're all misfits in their own way. As you get to know them, you'll see. You will learn their stories. You will understand why it's all right to be a misfit. There are others like you, you just have to find them. You were fortunate to find us. Or perhaps it's more appropriate to say that your brothers found you."
"I'm glad to be a misfit, like you and my brothers. It makes me happy to be like them."
Eyes twinkled. Both River's bright blue and Nyssa's slightly darker. Nyssa didn't have children of her own. Dedicated to work that kept her constantly on the move and in sometimes dangerous places, there was never time or safety for that type of dedicated family. Now that she had finally settled down - in part - she was past the age of child bearing for her kind. There was no regret, but having this boy so suddenly entering their lives… if there were motherly instincts inside of her, they were quickly becoming known.
River didn't ask for much, but he needed parental figures in his life. Most children did. Dashen and Tannerlin filled multiple roles of much older brothers and father-types. Colton filed an almost grandfatherly roll, though he and River hadn't quite formed the secure bond that would eventually come. Nyssa, as well as Fen the healer, they gave him a female presence, demonstrating that a mother-type didn't have to be one that sold their child to the highest bidder.
"Do you have studies that Tannerlin assigned?"
"Yes. He said I should do some after breakfast and some after lunch, like they do in real school. I can't go to real school yet. I have to read better and learn better first."
"I'm sure it won't take you long, Kajee. You are quite the student with your brother as your teacher. He's a very good teacher."
River nodded enthusiastically, legs still swinging.
"Tanner's the best teacher ever!"
A smile melted across Nyssa's face seeing how easily this child had opened himself to her. How joyful he was at certain things, especially his brothers. Those two, known well for their sometimes-a-bit-too-codependent brother relationship were more than welcome to allow the boy into their lives. They knew the trouble of a challenging childhood all too well. The differences were vast, but the emotional trauma accompanying it was much the same.
Truth - River could not have ever fallen into better hands.
"And he loves teaching you. He told me that himself."
"He did?" River's eyes were wide at the thought that such a great brother and teacher like Tanner would say that about him.
Nyssa confirmed as she nudged River to hop off the stool and clean his dirty dish. "He did. Can you reach the sink?"
"Mmm, not really. You can lift me up."
She laughed but decided against it. "You just hand me your plate. You'll grow taller eventually."
"Colton has really tall stuff."
"He's a really tall guy."
"Yeah, he is. I like him too. He's grumbly though. Maybe he doesn't like me very much."
As expected, Colton had been giving off the wrong vibes with the boy. In fairness, the man never had a child of such a young age under his care. It was a new experience. When Dashen and Tannerlin had come to him years ago, they'd been fifteen and nine. A six year old boy was a whole other thing.
"You don't worry on that. He's a good man and you and he will soon feel like family. I agree, he is grumbly though."
She grinned. He giggled.
"Go wash up, make your bed and then get your morning studies."
"I sit at the big desk over there, right?" He pointed to the corner beyond the large lounge-room couch.
"That's correct."
"Okay."
Nyssa figured he'd need a little help making the bed. The blankets were heavy and he was very small. His effort was there though, the bed making wasn't the worst attempt ever. She'd seen worse from his adult brothers. Well, Dashen mostly.
When River appeared from the bathroom, his dark hair was combed and he was dressed in relaxed clothing and fresh socks from his kitbag.
"M'ready, Nyssa." He said, sitting on the big chair at the giant desk in the spacious room. So tiny, she made a mental note to get a smaller desk for the bedroom. Odds were, the boy wouldn't spend a ton of time here, but on days when his brothers were working and Fen couldn't take him or other circumstances, Colton and Nyssa had agreed it was a good idea to set up shop for him in the estate. A room formally occupied as a compact office-space transformed nicely into a bedroom for him. River didn't need a lot of area. Even then, the bedroom was twice the size of the one he had at home with his brothers. But here… yes there was plenty of space to fit an appropriately sized desk so that he would be more comfortable.
Nyssa set up his data pad with his pointer-pen, and poured him a cup of water. She marked the first three lessons.
"You let me know if you need help, but remember your brother's rules about thinking hard, okay?"
"I will. M'gonna do good for Tanner and Dashen. They'll be so proud of me."
"Kajee, they are already proud of you." Nyssa whispered to him, setting a kiss on the top of his head. New to the whole touch-means-comfort-and-family thing (rather than torture and abuse), River had only just recently started allowing touch as a form of affection from his brothers and from Fen. That he accepted the gentle kiss so easily from Nyssa meant he was turning a corner.
Given charge of the boy today via volunteer is how she came to be spending the day with him. Dashen was working the diner. Tannerlin at his teaching job. On a normal day, Fen the healer would have taken him to work with her and he'd spend his day watching and observing. At six, he was far too young to be alone, especially being an ex-slave child. Slavers seemed to have knack for sensing escaped captives no matter the time or planet. There'd be none of that here. River would always be in protected company until he was able to attend a full day at school, and that was still many months away.
This day, Fen's schedule was packed tight and she could not keep the boy with her. It's when Nyssa stepped in. After all, she'd been wanting to know the child better. They'd shared a few dinners and evenings with his brothers and Colton. It's was time to truly become part of the child's life.
The call had come in mid-day from both Dashen and Tannerlin that unexpectedly they'd be doing double duty in their jobs that day. Dashen needing to work the nightshift unexpectedly and Tannerlin needing to spend extra time with a few students who were struggling. They'd both be home very late. That left the boy in limbo after the original intent to have him spend just the core hours of today with Nyssa.
"I can bring him with me to the diner and stash him in the back office, but the overnight clientele can be a bit annoying." That was Dashen on the comm. It was clear from the tone in his voice, he was anxious just at the thought of having River there with him in the mix of certain patrons. "And Tanner is gonna be swamped with helping some troubled kids. I know we're asking the stars, Ny, and I'd never put this on you…"
She had read where the ask was going and cut Dashen off. "I can readjust a few things, Dashen. Nothing upcoming in the next day requires my physical presence. I'll keep the boy. He and I have become quite bonded today anyway. It's been nice."
A sigh of relief came through the comm. "Ny, you are… we owe you one. Hell, more than one. More than we can ever repay. I say that a lot, don't I? He doing okay?"
"He's fine, Dashen. Filled him full of bantha bacon and munje fruit for breakfast and then he finished his morning studies and assignments. Even let me kiss his head without pulling away."
"Really? He's come a long way. Wasn't a month or so ago, he still was anxious about too much touch. I think he really likes you, Ny."
"Oh, he does. Already told me. He's got a knack for saying what he feels. Not that unlike Tannerlin. Anyway, my schedule this week is flexible. Not completely free, but I can make tonight and part of tomorrow without issue. You may want to be the one to let him know however. He's not slept here a full night, just those few hours this morning when Tannerlin dropped him off."
"He might feel a little scared, I get it. Can you put him on?"
With long strides, Nyssa moved from the kitchen to where where the boy sat in the lounge room playing a game on his data-pad while munching contentedly on a mid-day snack.
"Kajee, it's Dashen on the comm, press the vid button to see him."
With a smile as big as a starship, River beamed as he took the device from Nyssa's large blue hand and he saw his oldest brother there on the vid-comm.
"Hi Dash! I'm at Nyssa's house and she's helping me. And she calls me kajee too, and that means somethin' 'bout a boy who is loved a whole lot. I really like it. I miss you though."
"Miss you too, Pup. How are studies going?"
"I did all of 'em for the morning. Now I get a break, then m'gonna do all the afternoon ones. I think three? Tanner made me a list so I remember which one first. That's good, right?"
"That's amazing, River. I'm very proud of you. Hey, listen. I need to ask you a question okay? Do you think you'd be all right sleeping in your room there at Colton and Nyssa's house tonight? Tanner and me need to work really late and Fen is busy with patients. We don't want you to be by yourself."
From the few feet distance, Nyssa could see the boy's body language change, going from upright and ready to slouched and unsure. Not unexpected, but she was certain Dashen would notice the change through the vid-comm.
"It's okay, Pup. You have a bedroom there and comfortable blankets and Tanner and me, we'll see you tomorrow. I'll be off shift by mid-day. You think you can do it?"
"Um… I think so. But um, what if I get scared? Maybe it's dark or too quiet. Dashen…"
"Don't worry about being scared. All of us get scared. Nyssa will be there. Colton too. They'll protect you. And there are lights in the room and you can play some music when you sleep. Do your breathing exercises that Tanner taught you. And you can comm me before bedtime."
"I can?"
"You can."
"Tanner too?"
"Well, I'm not sure of his exact schedule, but maybe just send him a message in case he's busy."
"Okay. I should do my afternoon studies now, right?"
"Once you finish with your free time, yes. Always make sure you take your free time to have a little fun or do your hobbies. Like your drawing."
With the inclusion of the book series into his life about a kid and a magic Fathier, River had gotten inclination to draw pictures of the characters from the books. He also thought about stories, more adventures that they could go on. He wasn't very good with writing just yet - mostly he was just making letters - though his reading was improving. For now he stuck with drawing. Dashen thought he was decent for a kid with literally no background in any type of learning situation. No reading, spelling, or writing abilities when they'd found him. His sketches weren't worthy of much in the grand scheme of galaxy; enjoyment was the only true goal.
Dashen himself never had much in the way of hobbies. On his own, he'd been raising little brothers and working full time since the age of eleven. No time for downtime and anything resembling fun. Of course, because of that, he encouraged it in River. Life is short, make sure to filter in things that you love to do.
So far for River, those things were adventure stories and drawing.
"I was playin' some vid-games on my data-pad. I don't have my drawing stuff with me."
"Well," Dashen smiled, "Vid-games are a good time waster. We can get you a smaller set of drawing tools for your travel kitbag. Maybe we'll see what Dec has in his shop."
"I would really like that, Dashen."
"Good. Something to look forward to. I know you and Tanner love visiting Dec'lan, we'll do that soon. Hang on…"
River waited patiently while Dashen spoke to someone near him. There was no other person on the vid-screen, but additional voices where present.
"Hey, Pup, sorry. Gotta go. Got customers lining up for food. You call me before bed and trust Nyssa. I'll see you soon. Love you, littl…oops, gotta run."
The vid cut out before River could repeat the words back to his oldest brother. Nyssa sensed the sudden sadness and quickly moved in.
"Kajee, you'll see him tomorrow. Sometimes work is like that. When you get older, it will make more sense. How about you get your afternoon lessons ready?"
Small hands pressed the power button on the vid-comm and the screen went dark. With a finger, River traced the spot where he'd last seen Dashen's face. Separation was difficult, he'd been with his brothers almost non-stop since they'd saved him. When not with them, he was with Fen, but he'd not ever been away from them for a full day. And not being with them…
With a deep breath, like Tanner showed him, River handed the comm back to Nyssa and powered up his data-pad.
"It's hard to be without my brothers. Does not being with Colton make you sad?" He asked honestly while waiting for the screen to bring up his next lesson.
Nyssa sat in the extra chair near the desk. "Sometimes. But he and I have been friends or a long time. We enjoy our time together, but we also need time apart. To do our own things, to refresh. It's healthy to have your own time. You'll get used to being away from your brothers. It'll happen more often than you know, but you will also get plenty of time with them. Don't you worry on that, Kajee. They're working hard so that they can pay for things they need to give you the best life. And trust me, once you get to be a teenager, having your brothers be all over your business will be quite the annoying thing. It's just how teenagers are."
With a wink, she motioned toward the first of the afternoon lessons on the screen. Tanner had set it up so that each day the assignments came up automatically. No searching and figuring involved. Once River had the knack of it all, Tanner would let him get more into it. For now, the simpler the better.
"Do you think I'll be a teen…ager?"
"All kids become teenagers when they grow up. It happens when you are thirteen standard years. That's not too many years away."
She left it there, thinking he might try and calculate how many years that actually was.
"Um… m'not very good with counting yet. Tanner said I would get better. But… maybe I'll be thirteen in six years?"
"Just about right. Okay now, do your studies. I have some work to do in my office."
"Nyssa, can I have music?"
With a quick motion, she stood and flicked on the music station that seemed most appropriate for a studying six year old. It was relaxing, but bright. And sure enough, River start bouncing his head in time with the beat.
—-
Studies done, River flaked out in his bedroom for a time. Nyssa tucked a blanket over him. The assignments were simple enough, but challenging too. Tanner wanting to encourage him to do well while also forcing him to develop cognitive skills. That, and the internal worry of being without his brothers for the night… it was tiring for one so young. She let him sleep.
By the time he woke, Colton had returned and had gotten the update on the River situation.
"One child after another comes through this house. Troubled. Traumatized. I must be a magnet for the type."
The blonde man set his sizable frame to lean on doorway to the bedroom, eyeing the small waking child before glancing back into the lounge room and the expansive desk where he had spent the majority of his day.
Nyssa was right.
"I'll have Sy get a more compact work space for the room." Colton said after some thought.
Arm tucked into his, a quick kiss and Nyssa agreed.
"He'll be more comfortable, Virgil. And perhaps you
are a magnet for these troubled young ones. You're an immovable rock where they can hold purchase long enough to get their feet. This one though, with your boys being grown, he's less your concern. Still, he'll have time with us and a home here when needed."
She motioned into the bedroom after taking in another (longer) kiss that Colton clung to passionately.
"Time for us together tomorrow, my love." Nyssa said as she released the kiss. "For now, have Sy grab us some dinner, I'm not cooking, it's been a long day. I'll get River moving."
She helped River off the tall bed. Everything in this house was too tall, too big, too large for him in some way. Nyssa made another mental note; to bring in a small stepping stool.
A gentle hand, she tried to fix his pillow-head hair. "It's just sticking up all over the place."
There was a giggle as River reached up to try and help her calm it. Laughing until they gave up, Nyssa moved him to the nearby bathroom.
"It looks funny." River said, giggling again as they tried again - unsuccessfully - at taming the dark shaggy mop on his head.
A dab of water here and a spray of water there, Nyssa was eventually successful in making the boy look less a mess. "Sydenious is getting dinner. It'll be a surprise. You up for something different?" That wasn't saying much, everything in the child's life in the last almost-year had been different. "You can't live your entire life on bantha bacon, no matter what Dashen says." Her tone was in jest and River felt it. Another giggle.
"Bantha bacon is delicious, but m'gonna try different stuff a lot, 'cause m'only six."
"That's a good attitude. Come on, let's go see what Colton is up to."
—-
"Good evening, young one." The towering blond man sat relaxed on his expansive couch. Less intimidating for the boy, River.
"Hi Mister Colton!"
"Ah, no mister. Just Colton. Remember?"
River's face blushed lightly. "Oh yeah, I remember. Colton. Sometimes I forget. I know a lot of people now that I never knew before."
"Indeed you do. Sydenious will be here soon with our meal. Sit down with me. How was your day with Nyssa?"
With only a slight bit of hesitation, River sat a foot away from Colton. His brothers trusted the man with their very lives, he would trust him too even if there was some trepidation. Many of the abusers working for River's slaver were big men, like Colton. So, there was some expected unease of which Colton was most aware.
"It was really good. Nyssa calls me kajee. I like that. Makes me feel good. I didn't get to feel very good before Dashen and Tanner found me."
Colton flinched a touch at the comment. There was his own history as a criminal of course, but Virgil Colton was not anything approaching a slaver. Abusing and torturing children (or anyone) for a living… it made him sick in the gut just thinking about it and what this child had been put through in those two years. Two years after being sold to the slaver by the very people who gave him life. River's anxieties and uncertainties were not lost on the people who were in his life now.
"You know what kajee means then." He said to River.
"It means a boy like me who is loved."
"Indeed it does. You've been adopted by the right people, I can tell you that. Your brothers will love you like no other."
A sound in the other room, Sydenious was back with food, setting it on the bar. He kept a distance from the boy. There had been a tendril of fear in the boy's eyes the first time he'd met River. To be fair, Sydenious Greyer was the most imposing of Colton's crew. Dark, brooding, massive in every way, there would be no reason for
River to feel immediately at ease with such a being. Accordingly, Colton had asked his most trusted to not push. In time and at his own pace, River would make his way to trusting Colton's team, Sydenious included.
"From the diner, boss. Lesedi set in something extra for the boy. I'm off the night. Full duty tomorrow."
Looking back toward the kitchen, Colton said, "Thank you old friend. Tomorrow."
Also from the couch, River waved at the exceedingly tall and dark-skinned man. "Thank you for the dinner, Mister Sydenious."
"Certainly." Sy, always a man of few words, offered a slight nod and departed for the evening. River hurried over to see what Dashen had put into the container for him.
"Kajee, hop up on your stool and sit," Nyssa said, slowing him down. "I'll get your plate and drink."
Big blue eyes, River opened the smallest of the three containers, an enormous little boy smile stretching the length of his face. "It's a sweet cake! Dashen packed me a sweet cake! I can eat it, right?"
"After you finish your dinner."
The meal itself was sandwiches. Easy and filling. Dashen had his cook make River's sandwich special with all of the flavors he liked best including a strip of bantha bacon to top it off. The adults in the room grinned. This boy… he may have started out his life in hell, but now? Now he was one damned lucky kid. Dashen didn't go half in on the whole big brother thing. He went full force.
The trio enjoyed their dinner. River eating most of his sandwich and the accompanying bean-root vegetable. Nyssa gave him the okay to dive into the sweet cake which he polished off in about four bites leaving him with powder-sugar splayed over his face and a goofy grin to top it off.
"That was very yummy."
Yummy. Now there was a word neither Colton nor Nyssa had heard in… forever. Was this what it was like to have a child of their own? Neither had ever wanted that. Neither had ever had time for it. They hadn't regretted those decisions. Now though? Experiencing a taste of it, even at their past-the-prime age, it felt nice.
"Colton, do you like sweet cakes?" River asked while he wiped his face clean with a hand towel.
"I do not, but that just means there are more for you."
"I would eat them all! But probably it would make me sick, right?"
"Indeed it would."
—-
Dinner was cleaned up and River retreated to the bedroom, pulled an object from his kitbag, then climbed onto the couch with that object in hand. It was one of his paper books about the magic Fathier. The pages opened and he studied the words and the sketches, running his finger over each letter as he tried to form out the words and then tracing the accompanying drawing with that same finger.
Colton motioned to Nyssa. "Thought he couldn't read?"
"Not quite, but he's learning. Tannerlin told me that he likes to look at the all the artwork, that it inspires his
own drawings. He draws to fill time and keep from remembering bad things in the past. Apparently, it's helped him with some nightmares too. When he wakes, he'll sometimes draw to focus elsewhere. His brothers read to him for now, but Tannerlin works with him in the process to learn how to read."
"Is that you telling me that I am required to read to the boy tonight?"
Nyssa laughed at her husband. "No, Love. I'm on duty and to be honest, it's been an enjoyable day - if a bit tiring. He's not a problem and is determined to do what his brothers expect of him. He should sleep well. I will sleep well. But let him be for a time. Tannerlin wants him to have moments to himself, to busy his mind and thoughts. I have a few work tasks to finish up anyway."
She moved to the desk and farmed out her vid-com for business purposes. River, curious, but at a distance, watched her set up at the huge desk where he'd been earlier for his studies. Glancing back, he saw Colton still at the bar seemingly in a world of his own. A momentary chew on the lip and the boy stood, taking his book over to the big man.
"Colton, I need help. This word," he pointed to a section on a page of the book. "Can you tell me what the word is? M'not very good with big words yet."
Arms lifted River back onto the barstool where his legs dangled far off the floor. He scratched at his messy brown hair that had never really settled from his earlier nap. Then he pointed the problem word.
"That one there. Exp…"
"Experimentation."
"Expmrenaton!"
"Close," Colton said, shuffling a half smile. "Take it one piece at a time. Ex."
"Ex."
"Peri."
"Peri."
"Men."
"Men."
"Tation."
"Tation."
"Experimentation."
"Expramention!" River exclaimed again.
The smile couldn't be contained this time. "Very close, young one. It's a big word."
"It's huge! What does it mean?"
"It means to experiment with something. And experiment means to test or try something. Like trying new foods. You experiment to see which foods you like best."
"Hmm. I like bantha bacon."
This time, Colton had no choice but to laugh out loud.
"River, you humor an old man with your innocence."
"I dunno know what that word means either."
"No, you don't. You're six and you're not expected to know big words. But now you know experimentation."
"Expramention!" Came the emphatic response one last time.
Colton appreciated the effort. "You'll get there."
"Yeah. Readin' is hard. Will I be good at it one day?"
"Young one, I expect that one day you will be the best reader in the family."
—-
By the time Nyssa wrapped her work calls and turned back to the family, she found the most unexpected of sights. River, nudged into the space under Colton's arm, listening intently as Virgil Colton (of all people) read to the boy from the old paper book.
It was so unexpected in fact, that she snuck in a quick holo of the scene, forwarding it to Dashen and Tannerlin before anyone caught her. They'd get a kick out of it - that the big man had finally officially connected with the child.
The room was quiet save for Colton's tenor voice carefully navigating the pages of the Ridge Ember and His Magic Fathier, book one. Nyssa closed her eyes, falling into the rhythm that her love had set in moving from page to page. Doing voices. Animating himself. A sight she'd never seen. A sight that warmed her heart.
And she left it there, not interrupting or intruding on their shared time. River was enthralled… or perhaps mesmerized was the better term. His eyes bright and eager, anticipating every turn of the page. She was certain the brothers had read through this book already with him more than once. That didn't seem to matter. Colton brought something new to the adventure.
—-
The rest of the evening consisted of more reading until River's young eyes began to fade. There came a soft inhale and exhale of breath as sleep claimed him.
"Virgil Colton. That was something I never thought I'd see. My love and a young boy sharing the reading of a child's book. I suppose that equates you to grandfather status. After so many years… you, my love, continue to surprise me."
If Colton could look embarrassed, he did. A slight flushing to his checks gave Nyssa another individual moment she'd never expected. He recovered quickly however.
"Perhaps we should get him into his bed."
She nodded and reached down to take the boy in her arms. Weighing nothing, seemingly skin and bones (though he'd definitely gained weight in this past year), he was easy to move. In his sleepy state, the idea of a bath was no longer an idea, as she carefully set him into his bed. The only worry was that River was expecting to hear from his brothers (or at least Dashen) before bed. She'd comm Lesedi to advise if she should wake him.
As if on queue, her comm chirped with return message from both brothers in response to the holo-pic she'd sent. She followed up with Dashen about the bedtime goodnight situation.
Just let him sleep, he'd told her. His comm would be nearby should River wake. But he suspected the evening had been so exciting for him after the connection with Colton, that the young boy would sleep through the night.
Which he did.
And when he woke in a slight panic once he'd realized he had missed saying goodnight to his brothers, the feelings were immediately calmed when he saw the two comm messages waiting for him. Both were from late last night and both told him that they loved him and would see
him soon. River smiled some and with a few breathing exercises, he settled his worried mind, yawned, stretched and snuggled back into the warm bed blankets.
—-
Breakfast was a repeat of the day prior. Except it was leftover (not freshly cooked) bantha bacon and a newly ripened munje fruit. A spiced tea was added to the meal, one of Nyssa's favorites, only found on one of the outer rim planets. River made a face on first taste, before a few more sips found it not so disgusting.
"Dashen and Tanner are coming to get me after breakfast, right?" He asked, not out of worry, but just to be certain.
"They are. You'll be glad to see them."
"Yeah, I forgot to tell them goodnight, but they left me messages on my comm that they loved me. They didn't forget about me." A piece of fruit made it's way into his mouth, he chewed thoughtfully.
"Trust me, young one," Colton began, "Those brothers of yours will never forget about you."
A smile that only a six year old could pull off crossed the youthful face, creasing at the eyes and stretching from ear to ear. "M'lucky, right?"
"In the strangest of ways, yes."
"Come then, Kajee" Nyssa urged him, "Finish up your bacon and get changed. Shoes on. Make sure you have everything packed, including your book."
River inhaled the remainder of the bacon before leaping off the stool, taking his plate to as close to the tall sink as he could reach before vanishing into his bedroom.
"Oh, Virg. Being found by your boys, he truly is the luckiest child."
No arguing there. In fact, the reunion after their brief separation was enough for Nyssa to add, "Maybe the most fortunate child of them all."
—-
River heard the door open and then ran full tilt at the first brother to step into the house. "Dashen!" With a substantial thud, he landed against Dashen's chest and hugged as hard as he could, hands gripping tight to Dashen's coat. "I missed you so much!"
Another presence came through the door. Shorter and more compact than the tall and lanky Dashen. "Tanner!" River squealed, releasing one brother and thumping against the other. "I missed you too so much!"
Once he released Tanner, he grabbed them both by the hand and dragged them toward the couch. "I have to tell you all about my visit with Nyssa and Colton! Nyssa called me kajee and I had bantha bacon and munje fruit and really weird tea and Colton helped me with big words, and he read my book to me and it was really nice and comfy, he's like a big giant pillow! And I did my studies at the huge desk over there and played my vid-games and spent some time by myself and ate all my dinner and breakfast and I have my own bedroom and I even helped clean the dishes, but m'very short and could only reach a little bit, but Nyssa says when m'taller then I can help all the time! Can I come back to visit them again?"
The brothers exchanged a look and laughed.
Dashen said, "Wow, Pup, that was a lot of words. You are excited. I'm sure you can visit more, but we'll figure that out later. Colton and Nyssa have work for today. You have their comm codes, right? You can keep in touch that way until it's time to visit again."
"Sounds like you had a nice time, Riv." Tanner chimed in.
"I was scared. And I missed you both. But I did my breathing and Nyssa helped me so much. I did good, right?"
Always looking for confirmation. Previously, Healer Fen diagnosed that the majority of that need stemmed from the boy's past. River had admitted to she and his brothers that his birth parents selling him into slavery hurt him because it meant that he didn't do good enough to stay with them. That of course was absolute crap, Dashen knew, but he understood the feelings of inadequacy - even in one so young. Crap or not, for River, it caused him to seek confirmation so knew he was doing the right thing.
Dashen ruffled his hair. "You did really good, Pup."
"You sure did, River. Nyssa told us so herself." Tanner added.
"She's like I wish my momma was." The boy said in all his youthful honesty. It was a statement that send a dagger of pain into the heart of all four adults in the room. River, knowing how a mother should be, understanding that his birth mother was not that, but that Nyssa (a woman he'd hardly known in this first almost-year)… that she was.
"It's how all momma's should be." Dashen said warmly, then adding, "Why don't you say your goodbyes, okay?"
River bounced up and waved toward Nyssa and Colton stationed near the kitchen bar. "Thank you for lettin' me visit and for takin' care of me and reading with me."
"You, Kajee, are always welcome." Nyssa Kor held her arms out, River ran to them. No hesitation for someone who was not his brothers. Another member of the family firmly set in place. Tiny boy, tall woman, gigantic hug.
Colton stepped forward to set an hand on the boy's shoulder. Careful not to trounce on the trust that he'd recently gained with the little one. "We look forward to your next visit. I even plan to get you a desk more your size for your studies."
"I would really like that. Thank you, Colton." River made no push to hug the big man and that was fine. Steps
had been made to cement their relationship even if 'grandfatherly' wasn't exactly the term Colton was looking for, no doubt Nyssa and his boys would crown it onto him. Perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing.
"M'ready now. I got all my stuff in my kitbag. I didn't forget anything."
"All set then," Tanner said holding an arm out for River to follow. Dashen stayed back a moment. His green eyes caching those of his dear friends. His dear family.
"I'm glad he did well. We want so much for you two to be a major part of his life. You both always did right by Tanner and me and maybe we never deserved a lot of that. This kid though, he deserves the entire galaxy and we'll give him all we can. But we need our family there. So, thanks for letting him in and showing him that he can trust and love you both. Seriously." He tapped a flat palm to his heart. "It mean the stars to Tanner and me."
"You're raising a good boy there, kid."
Dashen flushed briefly at the moniker of kid. Colton used it often when Dashen was younger. It continued even into full-blown adulthood. Always made him feel good.
"We learned from one of the best." A genuine Dashen smile. "Thanks, Colt. Nyssa. For everything. Oh and Ny, he's not gonna get over that kajee nickname ever. I think you made his year. We'll see you soon."
The older pair watched Dashen hurry from the room to catch up with his brothers. Grabbing River from behind and hurling him into his arms to carry him high then threatening to toss him at Tanner while River feigned a scream. Then they piled into the ground car Colton had sent for them and disappeared into the morning.
Colton turned back to his wife. "The future is a bright one for him. Kajee is the perfect destination for that one. But you knew that the moment you found out that my boys would be adopting him."
"Of course I did, Love. Long ago you reached out to that then-boy, Dashen. You made a gesture of kindness when no one else bothered to care. They did the same with River. No doubt in part because of the influence from that big blonde softie they respect and love so much. And now here we are. You never wanted a formal family, yet you were a father to those two and now a grandfather to their boy."
Colton shrugged. "Perhaps I should stop resisting so much."
"Or," Nyssa said ardently. "You and I should enjoy now what we missed last night. Yes, Love?"
"If you insist, my lady."
The pair vanished into their bedroom at the end of the hall to enjoy each other's company.
Later that evening, after time dedicated to themselves and to work, they received goodnight comms from young River. The words were simple, but concise. That he missed them and that he loved them.
"We love you too, Kajee," Nyssa had chimed back.
"Sleep well, young one." Colton added.
A smile ended the day for all. Nyssa and Colton warmed to the heart, while River beamed at having two more people in his life that he could love and who would love him back.
It was a good day. It would be a good life.
END
