Consequences pt 4

Alida and Mahrayne danced blissfully together in a place out of time, their golden lights melding, becoming brighter and swirling about the twins as they perfectly mirrored each others movements. Eddying around them were hundreds and hundreds of tiny, glowing spheres, silver and gold, little points of soft warmth that brushed lovingly over their skin...

Mahrayne opened her eyes to look directly into her twin's face.
      *Was that a dream, heart's-light?*
      *I don't know,* Alida smiled, *but it was lovely.*
       Behind Mahrayne, Kelapa stirred with that half-irritable grumble that always preceeded her waking up. The Saiyan's arm tightened possessively around Mahrayne's waist and she sleepily nuzzled the nape of her lover's neck.
      "Is it time to wake up, takibi?"
      "No, tahnan," the Hassinan murmured with a smile, turning over to face the female and snuggle into her embrace. Kel grunted, placing a kiss on Mahrayne's forehead as she dropped back in to sleep.
      *Get some more rest, precious.* Alida's presence was ethereal but comforting behind Mahrayne as the Hassinan, for once, did as she was told.

Later that morning Mahrayne was at the medical centre for a scheduled check-up; Kelapa had dropped her off before heading out to her posting.
"I'll pick you up from the library at midday, takibi," Kel's smile was warm and loving as she stroked the Hassinan's cheek with the back of her fingers. The female glanced at Ayva. "Make sure she gets there safely."
"Of course, warrior." The medic inclined her head then politely busied herself setting up the monitor, allowing the females a little privacy as they said goodbye.

Mahrayne kissed her lover, caressing the Saiyan's rounded abdomen, feeling the child move under her hand.
      "Don't encourage the brat," Kel growled.
      Kelapa was half-way through her pregnancy. The cub was large and very, very active; he – Mahrayne had secretly thrown the stones to find out the child's sex – was driving his mother to distraction.
      "I'll see you later." Kel smirked at the Hassinan, kissing her one last time before prowling out of the examination room.

"How is she?" Ayva asked quietly once the warrior had left.
      Mahrayne sighed.
      "All right, I think. She's mostly ignoring it all."
       Kel had refused to come in for a check-up saying – snarling – that there was nothing fucking wrong with her. Mahrayne thought her lover was probably right. Saiyan females seemed to have few problems with their pregnancies, the only reason Leteetza had suffered to be examined was because she was carrying the Saiya-jin-no-Ou's heir and Vejiita had insisted. The Hassinan hadn't pressed the issue, well aware that her principle reason for getting Kel into the med centre was so that she could see her lover's cub on the monitor.
      Ayva positioned the scanner over the just noticeable firming of Mahrayne's abdomen and smiled.
      "Ah, a clear image at last. Heh, looks like we've got a female this time."
      Mahrayne only smiled, she could've told Ayva that days ago after she'd thrown the stones for herself, but Saiyans tended to be sceptical of things they couldn't see.
       "Ayva," Mahrayne's smile faded. "Is it possible to record the images from the scanner reading?"
       "I can, why?" the Saiyan was puzzled but her patient's averted eyes gave her the answer. "So Zorun can watch it later?" she asked gently.
      Mahrayne nodded unhappily.
      "He was there for every stage of Kinu's development," she whispered, "It's not fair that he miss out with this one."
      "I'll record it," Ayva, smiling, reached for the control pad, "and I'll make sure he knows it's here if he wants to see it."

Compared with the readings from Kinu at about the same stage, Mahrayne's daughter appeared to be somewhat smaller than her brother had been. Ayva said it wasn't a matter for concern, each child was different after all, and the cub was otherwise healthy. Mahrayne was glad of the reassurance, she'd already noticed the differences in this pregnancy. She was hungry all the time, constantly snacking and drinking beaker after beaker of the meaty glop, unlike when she'd been carrying Kinu and her appetite had dropped considerably. Mahrayne's moods seemed to be settling down faster this time too – though Kel might disagree, having to bear the brunt of them on her own – but worryingly, the Hassinan found she was tiring quickly already. Mahrayne sighed, 'tiisaan hadn't said anything but the hostling's disappointment was palpable when his teacher had to cut short her dancing with him.
Mahrayne hated disappointing people.

Ayva walked with Mahrayne to the library after her check-up, surprised that the Hassinan had declined the offer to be flown.
"I need to exercise while I can," Mahrayne smiled at the medic. It was pleasant too, chatting to Ayva outside of the medical centre about something other than her or her child's health. The Saiyan had a child, a son – Mahrayne discovered – fifteen years old and training with the military. He was first class like his mother and neither of them had seen his father since Ayva got pregnant. Not that Ayva was bothered by being left to raise a brat on her own, Maydanoz's sire had been immature and unreliable and they'd both been better off without him.
This bit of information had come as a surprise to Mahrayne, she'd been under the impression that Saiyan females were routinely claimed when they got pregnant. Maybe the rules weren't as implacable as she'd thought?

"Ah, Mahrayne, thought I'd find you here!"
      The Hassinan looked up from the translation she'd been wrestling into some semblance of comprehensiveness, and smiled warmly at the Thinker.
      "Hello, Ubi."
      "I need to talk to you about Kinu. Oh it's nothing bad - " the elder female hastened to reassure the Hassinan, "the brat's adapted well to the routine of the lessons and he's a delight to teach. No I wanted to talk to you about him receiving specialised language tuition."
      Mahrayne frowned slightly.
      "Why?"
      "Because, as you've probably noticed," Ubi smirked at the Hassinan, "he has your facility with languages and I think it'll be useful to encourage him in it."
      Mahrayne nodded.
      "I agree. Very well, do you have someone in mind to take the classes?"
      "I do, as a matter of fact." Ubi smirked. "You."

The Thinker proposed the lessons for not only Kinu, but some of the older brats as well, notably Kobis and 'haabron as an addition to their studies in Statecraft. Ubi also suggested Ti'ani and 'leesaan might be interested as well, 'leesaan because of his stated intention to be a Thinker and 'ani because Kinu had been teaching the hybrid Hassinan, and 'ani was picking it up very quickly.
      Mahrayne had been hesitant to say 'yes' to the idea - after withdrawing from the family and teaching for so long she was absurdly reluctant to move closer again - but the lure of spending more time with her son made the decision for her.
      Kinu was still as loving and affectionate as ever with her and Kelapa, but he rarely stayed overnight anymore. Even when she had him for a few hours during the day, by the end of the time he was distracted, obviously wanting to go back to Zha'haarak.
      No, not Zha'haarak – Mahrayne reminded herself – Za'jau.
      It didn't stop her feeling like her cub was moving out of her reach though. Mahrayne stroked her hand pensively over her abdomen, wondering if she'd lose her daughter so soon as well.

It was late afternoon and Mahrayne watched Kel restlessly pacing in their suite, her long tail snapping behind her.
       "What's wrong, tahnan?"
       "Nothing!" the warrior snapped, then she smirked wryly at her lover's look of disbelief. Kelapa grimaced. "I'm just..." She absently rubbed her mounded belly, an action that delighted Mahrayne but which she never drew attention to, knowing that Kel would stop it immediately. The Hassinan stifled a sigh; why couldn't Kelapa just relax and enjoy her pregnancy?
       "Let's go to the beach, yes?" Mahrayne suggested. "We haven't been in a long time."
       "Fucking good idea."
       Kelapa smirked and scooped her up in strong arms.

Naked, comfortably full with the fish Kelapa had caught, the females lounged together on a grassy patch beneath a stand of the twisted coastal trees. It was easy to ignore the elite Guards that had accompanied them. Mahrayne was resigned to their presence now; since the attack on the palace, no one was allowed to be away without protection, let alone the females carrying the King's Guard's brats.
      Mahrayne waited patiently for her lover to speak; she knew Kel had something on her mind. After several minutes of silence, Mahrayne chuckled, wriggling to lie full length against the Saiyan. She nuzzled Kel's neck and tickled fingertips over the simple pattern of beads under the warrior's collar bones.
       "Are you going to tell me what's wrong, sinam? And don't think to tell me it's nothing."
       Kel smirked ruefully and kissed Mahrayne's forehead.
       "For a fucking non-'pathic alien you always seem to know what's going on in my head."
       Mahrayne laughed, Kel truly had no idea how easy her face was to read.
       "So. Tell me. I'm here to listen."
       Kelapa scowled.
       "It's – I've been having problems..." she began reluctantly.
       "What sort of problems?" Mahrayne's fingers moved from the beads to toy with the Saiyan's nipples.
       "Well, maybe not problems, " Kelapa frowned, "maybe it's just me. Fuck, I don't know!" Mahrayne stayed silent and waited. "I'm being given the shittiest, most boring assignments. It's not just because of this – " She glanced down at her abdomen, "It's - no one talks to me, takibi." Kel said at last. "Even Kyuri is distant, like I'm just another fucking warrior, not someone she's known for years."
       "Do you think it's because - ?"
       "I claimed you? Fuck yes."
       "I'm sorry, " Mahrayne whispered.
      "I'm not!" Kelapa growled, flipping on to her side and pulling the Hassinan into a fierce hug. "I don't care about them, you're the most important thing in my life!"
       Mahrayne clung to her lover, inundated with a welter of emotions; guilt, regret, anger on Kel's behalf, but dominating the lot of them was the central core of love/need for Kelapa that blotted everything else out.
       *Mine.* Mahrayne heard Kel say.
      *Yours.* she replied...

Kinu loved the language lessons, and he loved that it was his maazi taking them. The little hybrid was always enthusiastic and eager to begin each lesson, crawling into his maazi's lap to happily study there until Mahrayne's advancing pregnancy left no room for him. When that happened, Kinu sat beside his maazi, cuddled into her warm softness as he learnt.
       Mahrayne enjoyed taking the classes. It was wonderful being with her son, of course, but her other students were definitely worth the effort. Ti'ani was a quick study and he worked hard, 'leesan was much the same and the young hostling had a passion for learning. 'haabron and Kobis weren't as interested in the subjects as the others - they were there mainly as an adjunct to their other lessons in statecraft – but they were both attentive and diligent.
       At the beginning of the third lesson, Mahrayne ushered her students into the small classroom set aside for their use, startled to find a scowling, vaguely defensive Buahan waiting there as well.
       "Welcome, your highness," she greeted the princess politely, curious as to why the young female was there. While Buahan was studious and hard-working, languages weren't something Mahrayne had thought she was interested in. The princess didn't enlighten the Hassinan but she set to with all the determination Mahrayne knew she was capable of.

Time passed and the language lessons were soon settled in to the children's routine. While Mahrayne never expected Kel or herself to be forgiven for what they'd done, the Hassinan dared to hope that Buahan's gradually relaxing attitude towards her was an indication that things might eventually settle down.

Mahrayne snapped awake - it was deep night and something was wrong.
      It only took her a second to realise that Kelapa, whose back she was snuggled into - this being their customary sleeping position since Kel had grown too big for anything else to be comfortable - was groaning as she struggled up out of a deep sleep. Under Mahrayne's hand, a ripple passed over the Saiyan's distended belly and the Hassinan grinned, eyes shining - Kel's cub was on his way!
       Kel opened her eyes, closing them again quickly and gritting her teeth as another contraction passed through her. When it was passed, she prised open her eyelids and twisted to look at the Hassinan; Mahrayne thought she could see the barest touch of panic in her lover's eyes.
       "Shh, I'm here, tahnan," Mahrayne helped Kelapa off the bed, "it'll be over soon."
       "Promise?" the warrior was only half-joking as she gripped Mahrayne's hand. The Hassinan chuckled and rubbed Kel's back.
       "I've seen how fast you Saiya-jin can pop out your children. Trust me it won't be long."
       And it didn't take long at all. Maybe an hour, Mahrayne estimated with a touch of envy, from the time Kel woke to pace around the suite, swearing and grumbling with each contraction to when she suddenly dropped into a squat and the swearing stopped to be replaced with grunting and straining as the Saiyan bore down. Mahrayne gritted her teeth with every spasm of Kel's, not in sympathy but because the Saiyan had a death grip on her hands. It was fortunate the birthing wasn't going for very long, Mahrayne grimaced, or Kelapa would end up breaking bones for sure.
      Mahrayne managed to free one of her hands so she could check on the baby's progress. She reached between Kel's thighs, grinning when she felt the soft, wet mane under her fingertips.
       "He's almost here, tahnan," Mahrayne kissed her lover's cheek, "two more pushes should do it."
       "'bout fucking time." Kel snarled, gathering her energy to push, fresh sweat popping out on her forehead to run into rivulets down her face. The Saiyan's tail whipped tightly around Mahrayne's upper arm as Kel gave a low, keening moan. Mahrayne was ready, supporting the baby's head as he began to slip from his mother's body, expertly catching him as Kel gave one last push. The cub wailed in outrage as the cool night air hit his wet skin and Mahrayne chuckled, dragging a sheet off the bed to wrap him in.
       "Well there's nothing wrong with his lungs."
      Kel smirked wearily. She'd collapsed back against the bed, her legs stretched out in front of her.
       "Well?" her gruffness had a fragile quality to it, "Is the brat all right?"
       "See for yourself." Mahrayne smiled and handed the Saiyan the sheet-wrapped bundle, gently placing the baby in his mother's arms then peeling back the cloth. His mane was black and looked to be about Zorun's length - though nothing was certain until he'd been washed - and Mahrayne fancied he'd have Kel's creamy skin. His eyes though, were his own, wide and dark, not quite the black of his father's, nor the warm red-brown of his mothers, but something lustrous in between. Mahrayne quietly cleaned up while Kelapa hesitantly explored her child with her fingertips, moving gently over his still damp skin, counting fingers and toes and stroking the sturdy black tail that wound around her wrist.
       "He's beautiful." Mahrayne whispered, stroking the baby's face. "What do you want to call him?"
      "Eh?" Kelapa had the absorbed, wondering, rather stunned look of a new mother that Mahrayne was familiar with. The warrior clumsily shifted the child around in her arms, lifting him away from the sheet so she could nuzzle his neck. She breathed in deeply, scenting him, giving him the chance to memorise her scent. Mahrayne saw, but didn't mention, the tears that squeezed out from beneath Kelapa's eyelids.
       "Kuri," Kel whispered hoarsely, "let's call him Kuri."
       "Kuri," Mahrayne smiled, wiping away her own tears with one hand, while stroking the baby's mane with her other. Kel swallowed and gingerly held out her child to Mahrayne who, with a deal more efficiency from lots of practice, cuddled him to her, humming softly and smiling as he snuffled about in her hair.
       "His father's outside." Kel said abruptly. "Better show him the brat."
      Mahrayne nodded, standing gracefully though her heart was pounding, and took Kuri to his sire.
       It hadn't occurred to Mahrayne that she was naked until she stepped out onto the balcony to see some strong, warm emotion momentarily flare in the waiting male's eyes. It was fleeting though, quickly masked with his usual impassiveness. Zorun's dark gaze shifted from her face to the child she was carrying.
       "She'd like to call him Kuri," Mahrayne said softly, holding the cub out to him. Zorun took the baby, cuddling him close to his broad chest as he used to do with Kinu when he was small, his eyes closing as he scented his son. Mahrayne's heart contracted painfully - she did still love the big male and desperately regretted the hurt she'd caused him. She strove to keep her voice and expression as warmly neutral as possible, but she couldn't help her scent. Zorun, fortunately, seemed absorbed in his new son, even smiling a little as the baby wriggled in his arms.
       "Kuri," he nodded approval, then reluctantly handed the child back to Mahrayne.
       "You'll come and see him?" The Hassinan asked softly.
       "He's my son." Zorun's expression was unreadable. "I will not abandon him."
       Mahrayne almost turned to go back inside but she noticed the Guard's gaze drop to her own rounding belly. His hands were clenched into fists at his side - Mahrayne swallowed - as if he was preventing himself from touching something.
       "Don't think of it as touching me, dherr - Zorun," Mahrayne said quietly, not taking her eyes from the big male's face, "you'll be communicating with your daughter…"
      Zorun held himself rigid for a few seconds, troubled perhaps that she'd guessed what he wanted; then he took a decisive step closer and reached out to lay his palm gently over her abdomen. Mahrayne tried to keep her eyes averted, tried to keep an emotional distance, as if it was purely accidental her body was between him and his cub. It almost worked, but her heart leapt painfully again when she couldn't stop herself peeping at his strong, handsome face, his eyes closed in concentration as he *spoke* to their daughter. Mahrayne hastily averted her gaze as he stepped back from her.
       "Thank you." The Guard's tone was formal, polite and then he was gone into the night, ki-trail glowing pale purple behind him.
      Kuri squirmed fretfully in Mahrayne's arms, forcing the Hassinan's attention away from her mate. She smiled down at the cub through tears.
       "Hungry, yes?" Mahrayne brushed a loving kiss over his forehead, "Let's get you back to your mother…"