body.
Geor was delighted, having a family was one of his deepest desires, and now that it was happening, his good humour was boundless.
He rolled out in a surge of muscle and lithe grace that made her want to strangle him. Her grace was a thing of the past.
“Come along, beauty. Let’s get you ready for your audience.” Geor smiled at her and helped her to her feet.
Her pregnancy was thankfully a combination of Terran and High Nalu. She was going to suffer five more months of swollen belly and out of whack balance. It was just her luck that the High Nalu showed early.
“This is going to be an only child. You know that, don’t you? I am not a big fan of being huge and sticking out in a crowd.”
He helped her into the shower and started to scrub her back. “We will see. I will be there with you every step of the way.”
She wanted to punch him, but he meant well.
After the shower, he dressed her and slipped her shoes on, tying them securely in place.
His formal clothing took minutes to get into, and when he was ready, he extended his hand to her, and they left their rooms, heading for the front of the temple.
A crowd filled the courtyard in front of the temple.
Geor pulled her next to him and stood with one arm loosely around her waist. Crixox took over and spoke the words of greeting that he had said every year on this day since he had first taken Geor as his Avatar.
This year he added, “And so, Geor and Sinder have begun to expand our family. Kema and I are delighted beyond words, and when this child of two worlds and two planets is born, it will show a new age for our people and their future. Life has won over the fear and panic of the past, and as these two Avatars begin their steps into being a family, I ask that you offer them help, support and comfort when needed.”
Sinder smiled and asked Kema, Did you know he was going to do this?
Well, darling Sinder, you are acting a little hormonal lately, and I can’t tinker with it, because I have no idea what normal is for one of your kind. A request for understanding is definitely not a bad idea.
This is embarrassing.
No, when you grabbed the Nalu Ambassador and hung him upside down by his feet for daring to say that you looked lovely in your pregnancy, that was embarrassing. When you wanted to get to the head of the line in the teashop and you struck everyone with confusion, that was embarrassing.
Fine. Valid point. How is baby doing today?
Good, strong and developing ahead of High Nalu standards.
Fabulous.
She blinked as she came out of her mind and back into her body. She reached out and patted her belly lightly, and the small gesture caused a wave of applause and a few howls of approval from the crowd.
Since she had arrived, the birthrate had doubled, and gender lines were evening out in the new generation. She suspected that it was Kema’s effect on Crixox, but no one was listening.
When the ceremony was over, they joined the others for the festivities in the courtyard.
Tish and the other survivors were singing and telling stories to the young children at one side of the open space. There were now no women on Crixox who suffered from Kema madness. The power of the stone had kept them young, and several of them were accepting suitors, but others, like Tish, were taking their regained minds and becoming teachers. They had seen another planet, and it was appropriate to share all knowledge that they could absorb.
Whenever Sinder looked at them, a soft smile came over her face. Out of madness, came the first full-time librarians and teachers of the High Nalu.
Geor kept hold of her hand as they wandered, tasted and laughed with the population. She may have an independent streak, but he was there to keep her balanced.
All in all, perhaps crashing a wedding wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened to her. It brought her a man, the mind of an alien being lodged in her own, a new group of friends, a new family and an occupation that she had
Geor was delighted, having a family was one of his deepest desires, and now that it was happening, his good humour was boundless.
He rolled out in a surge of muscle and lithe grace that made her want to strangle him. Her grace was a thing of the past.
“Come along, beauty. Let’s get you ready for your audience.” Geor smiled at her and helped her to her feet.
Her pregnancy was thankfully a combination of Terran and High Nalu. She was going to suffer five more months of swollen belly and out of whack balance. It was just her luck that the High Nalu showed early.
“This is going to be an only child. You know that, don’t you? I am not a big fan of being huge and sticking out in a crowd.”
He helped her into the shower and started to scrub her back. “We will see. I will be there with you every step of the way.”
She wanted to punch him, but he meant well.
After the shower, he dressed her and slipped her shoes on, tying them securely in place.
His formal clothing took minutes to get into, and when he was ready, he extended his hand to her, and they left their rooms, heading for the front of the temple.
A crowd filled the courtyard in front of the temple.
Geor pulled her next to him and stood with one arm loosely around her waist. Crixox took over and spoke the words of greeting that he had said every year on this day since he had first taken Geor as his Avatar.
This year he added, “And so, Geor and Sinder have begun to expand our family. Kema and I are delighted beyond words, and when this child of two worlds and two planets is born, it will show a new age for our people and their future. Life has won over the fear and panic of the past, and as these two Avatars begin their steps into being a family, I ask that you offer them help, support and comfort when needed.”
Sinder smiled and asked Kema, Did you know he was going to do this?
Well, darling Sinder, you are acting a little hormonal lately, and I can’t tinker with it, because I have no idea what normal is for one of your kind. A request for understanding is definitely not a bad idea.
This is embarrassing.
No, when you grabbed the Nalu Ambassador and hung him upside down by his feet for daring to say that you looked lovely in your pregnancy, that was embarrassing. When you wanted to get to the head of the line in the teashop and you struck everyone with confusion, that was embarrassing.
Fine. Valid point. How is baby doing today?
Good, strong and developing ahead of High Nalu standards.
Fabulous.
She blinked as she came out of her mind and back into her body. She reached out and patted her belly lightly, and the small gesture caused a wave of applause and a few howls of approval from the crowd.
Since she had arrived, the birthrate had doubled, and gender lines were evening out in the new generation. She suspected that it was Kema’s effect on Crixox, but no one was listening.
When the ceremony was over, they joined the others for the festivities in the courtyard.
Tish and the other survivors were singing and telling stories to the young children at one side of the open space. There were now no women on Crixox who suffered from Kema madness. The power of the stone had kept them young, and several of them were accepting suitors, but others, like Tish, were taking their regained minds and becoming teachers. They had seen another planet, and it was appropriate to share all knowledge that they could absorb.
Whenever Sinder looked at them, a soft smile came over her face. Out of madness, came the first full-time librarians and teachers of the High Nalu.
Geor kept hold of her hand as they wandered, tasted and laughed with the population. She may have an independent streak, but he was there to keep her balanced.
All in all, perhaps crashing a wedding wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened to her. It brought her a man, the mind of an alien being lodged in her own, a new group of friends, a new family and an occupation that she had
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