United

Radittsu growled as he came, then slumped over his bondmate's body, panting. Zha'haabron nuzzled the Saiyan's mane, kissing his temple.
      **Zkai'da...**
      Wet season had arrived early again, although it was less severe than last year, the rain almost warm on the skin. Not that the zn'hre enjoyed it any better, but at least they hadn't needed the heavy bodysuits. Yet, at any rate.
      Radittsu sighed and rolled them onto their sides, stroking vivid emerald hair back from the beloved face. They had far too little time to themselves these days; the preparations for the Karilun campaign were extensive, intensive, and time consuming for everyone.
      *There are times I wish for peace.* The big Saiyan ruefully remembered Merica's request. He'd never thought he could feel the same, but now, with the start of the campaign less than half a year away - Vejiita had stepped up operations: the defensive guard on Zaisan reported increased activity from the Karilun's central systems - he wanted the whole matter dealt with. Wanted time to spend with his bondmate, with the family. He kissed the claim mark on the king's neck, and Zha'haabron nestled a little closer.
      **At least this time we will be together**
      Yes, and Radittsu wasn't exactly happy about it. But the king brushed aside all objections. As he'd pointed out, he was powerful, could help in the battle, wasn't really needed here any more - and simply couldn't bear to go through another however-long-it-took worrying himself ragged about his bondmate. He'd rather be there, sharing the danger.
      Vejiita had been pleased: the family appalled: Radittsu horrified. But nothing would change Zha'haabron's mind.
      So the family was more tightly-knit than usual at the moment, spending as much time as they could with the royal pair - just in case...
      In some ways this was beneficial. Ti'aasaan was forcing himself to participate in family life again, and Zo'rien was much the better for it, now interacting with his zhi'ma'a, although he was still silent, unspeaking. Zha'haarak had wondered if there was some physiological reason, and had insisted on accompanying the little zn'hre and hostling to Vinas for a thorough check-up - but there was nothing wrong: the hostling simply wouldn't respond by word or *thought*. Vinas was of the opinion that it was nothing to worry about, yet, and Zo'rien would eventually decide to communicate: until then everyone should behave as normal.

Somewhat to everyone's surprise, Ti'aasaan took to spending some of his nights with Mahrayne. Everyone's except Zha'haabron, that is. The king understood that on some instinctive level the little zn'hre felt a kinship with the Hassinan, shared memories, shared possession. They'd even made love a number of times, though it was subdued on Ti'aasaan's part, more from habit than desire.
Then, several days into the wet season...

Kelapa snapped awake, alerted by something off in the scent of one of her bedmates. The warrior lifted her head from the pillow she was sharing with her mate to see Ti'aasaan's pale form crouched behind Mahrayne. Kel blinked, it was the little 'un she was scenting. Frowning, she followed the line of his thin arm where it curved over the sleeping Hassinan's flank, down to his hand resting lightly over Mahrayne's abdomen.
       "I'm sorry, Kel-chan," the zn'hre whispered, luminous eyes wide and worried in the pre-dawn light, "I didn't think this could happen."
      Kelapa groaned silently, catching his meaning at once. Oh fucking wonderful.
       "She'll be ecstatic," the female grumbled, quietly, "she's wanted another brat since Korena was weaned." She shot him a narrow-eyed look. "It is just one, isn't it?"
       Ti'aasaan nodded, not looking any more reassured.
       "Heh," Kelapa half-smirked, "it's not a problem, Tia-chan, I'd rather it was you than anyone - " She stopped, tail twitching, then groaned audibly.
      "Kel?" The little zn'hre was anxious.
       "I'm going to have to put up with the fucking mood swings again!"
       Ti'aasaan managed a relieved smile.
       "Oh, is that all – "
      "Sinameh?" Mahrayne was stretching herself awake. She stilled, gazing up at the odd pair flanking her. "What?"
      "You're pregnant, baka." Kelapa could see no point in mincing words.
       The Hassinan held her breath.
       "Are you sure?"
       "He is," the warrior snorted, nodding at the zn'hre.
       Mahrayne pinned Ti'aasaan with glowing, golden-bronze eyes, reflexively clasping her hands over her belly.
      "Is it true?"
      "Yes, zvi'ch, it's true."
      "Thank you!" It came out as a sob as the Hassinan struggled upright then flung her arms around the zn'hre's neck, hugging him tightly, burying her face in the cool silk of his hair. "Thank you."
      Ti'aasaan's arms tightened around her waist.
      "You're welcome, 'rayne." There was the tiniest catch in his voice and Mahrayne pulled back a little. Ti'aasaan was smiling but there were tears shimmering in his beautiful eyes: he was thinking about Zorun, she knew, the pain of their shattered bond was never far from the surface.
      "Please, sinam, I would like you to be part of this, yes?"
       Ti'aasaan nodded and hugged her again.
       "I'd be delighted," he murmured, brushing a kiss over her forehead before relaxing his grip. The little zn'hre slid off the sleeping platform and reached for his bodysuit.
       "You're leaving?" Kelapa was cuddling her mate from behind, her long tail coiled possessively, protectively, around the Hassinan's hips. "It's not light yet."
       Ti'aasaan smiled faintly.
       "I think you two should have some time alone to get used to the idea of another hostling." Dressed now, he leant forwards again to kiss Mahrayne and briefly ruffle the fur of Kel's tail. "No doubt Vinas will want to see you as soon as practical."
       The Hassinan wrinkled her nose in distaste.
       "Yes, I suppose so." She leant back into her Saiyan with a happy grin. "Later though - much later."
      Ti'aasaan nodded and turned to leave.
       "I'll see you soon, zvi'ch, Kel-chan..."

The biotech didn't even blink when Mahrayne told him her news.
       "You're not surprised, Vinas-sama," she regarded him thoughtfully.
       "Not surprised, no, given Ti'aasaan-sama's proven ability to cross-breed with non-zn'hre..." The Feeodoreean studied the read-out from the hand-held monitor. "Your blood chemistry is already altered, my lady... " he rattled off a set of incomprehensible figures. "As this is the first zn'hre/Hassinan hybrid I'd like to monitor you closely. I'll see you once a day for at least ten days, and naturally if you have any concerns you'll come into the med-centre immediately."
       Mahrayne nodded acquiescence, feeling a little apprehensive. In the exhilaration of discovering she was pregnant she'd forgotten the unique circumstances. There was no guarantee this hybrid would be viable... She firmly shunted the distressing thought aside – what would be, would be. Kelapa's warmth behind her was reassuring, as was the gentle, loving *brush* over her mind from her mate.
       Vinas took his leave, perfunctorily but courteous.
       "He's really quite excited, you know."
       Ayva, who'd attended the consultation at Mahrayne's request, smirked hugely.
       "How the fuck can you tell?" Kelapa growled.
       "You work with him as long as I have and you get to recognise the signs." The Saiyan medtech grinned. "Congratulations, by the way."
      "Thank you," Mahrayne beamed. Ayva didn't get within touching distance, though, the Hassinan couldn't help but notice – that might have had something to do with the possessive glower she could all too easily imagine had settled on Kel's face...
       "Right then, we'll see you tomorrow." Ayva confirmed the appointment with a smile. "It's probably too early to be giving any sort of advice but it won't hurt for you to rest."
       "She will." Kelapa growled softly.
      Ayva grinned again and ushered the bonded females out of the room...

Radittsu had been bemused, but not really angry, not when the idea seemed to have made the little zn'hre happier. And one hostling more wouldn't make a lot of difference. Zha'haabron had been pleased more than anything: it was something else to distract the little zn'hre from the pain he would never cease to feel. And Zha'haarak was delighted...

Time moved relentlessly onwards. 'tiisaan danced at the winter performance in a bodysuit made of a new Feeodoreean-designed material, one which retained heat far longer than any so far developed. Ry, 'raadiin and Kiraz became a formidable fighting team - more so than before now that 'fallon had been ordered to remain on R'ren'nkh'ia. The mates missed each other, but rather less than they'd thought they would, 'raadiin being caught up with his military career and 'fallon with another five hostlings to tend. Hijau and Zha'haarak tried for another child, and were successful on the second attempt - twins, to Vinas' dismay. But all was proceeding well by the time the military left for Karilun.

It was a sombre send off despite the hot sunny weather, and the suite felt empty after Radittsu and Zha'haabron had left - so much so that everyone moved elsewhere for the duration - Ti'aasaan and Zo'rien into the Academy, Zha'haarak and Hijau into the Captain's quarters at Guard HQ, and it was from there that Zha'haarak monitored the course of the campaign, sitting quietly in the control room and *passing on* the information received to the rest of the family. The gentle zn'hre watched, lips a thin line, with grim satisfaction as Radittsu's special squad destroyed the Warui-jin homeworld, the offworld military then moving on to Grcklt, then Hafrit, then Sslyne, subjugating everything in its path.
And at High Summer the Saiya-jin Empire conquered the Karilun homeworlds in a battle that raged ceaselessly for five days and nights and left the Karilun and their cohorts decimated.
Overnight, almost, the Saiyan Empire expanded threefold as the Karilun-dominated worlds swore fealty to the invaders. Zyelenyi assembled the corps and took the new diplomatic corps starship - the Hyou-jin had named it Bright Brand-Bearer - out towards the new member worlds, bracing himself for a protracted mission...

But the best news was that none of their loved ones had died. There were injuries, yes, there always were, but they were coming home - all of them.

**Only another two hours**
      The now heavily-pregnant Zha'haarak hugged Ti'aasaan. They'd moved back into the family suite and were eagerly awaiting the homecoming - though Zha'haarak was a little confused. Zha'haabron had been strangely reticent about their exploits, and the gentle zn'hre was sure there was something - not wrong exactly, but unspoken, something his sibling wanted to say but couldn't... He smiled at the little zn'hre.
      **Yes. It will be so good to have them home**
      Ti'aasaan nodded sadly, then forced himself to smile, cuddling Zo'rien to him. The hostling looked up into his face...
      ... suddenly smiling brilliantly...
      **Papa**
      Ti'aasaan nearly dropped him.
      **Zk'vis?**
      Zo'rien grabbed hold of his host's plaits and laughed, a quiet, startling sound. Zha'haarak was staring, lips parted. He glanced at Ti'aasaan.
      **... what...?**
      The hostling eyed them both sombrely, then pointed vaguely upwards.
      **Papa**
      Tears trickled down the little zn'hre's suddenly anguished face, and Zha'haarak held him closely. Cruel providence, that the first word the hostling *spoke* was one that broke his host's heart anew. He kissed Ti'aasaan's brow, trying to distract him.
      **Come. We should head off to the spaceport - we want to be in plenty of time...**

It looked rather as though the rest of the population of Vejiitamachi had had the same idea: without the onworld Guard to escort them through the packed crowd the zn'hre would have had a hard time making their way to the reception party without flying, which was hard for Zha'haarak at the moment. But once there they had only a short time to wait before the first of the shuttles dropped down from the massive ships in orbit far overhead.
      Radittsu and Zha'haabron exited first, to wild applause from those of the crowd who'd actually been able to force their way into the port. The Saiya-jin-no-Ou greeted them, then Zha'haabron beckoned to the waiting zn'hre. Glancing at each other, Ti'aasaan and Zha'haarak joined their Ssii'iin: Zha'haabron looked exhausted and had been hurt, but he was smiling. He laid a hand on Ti'aasaan's shoulder.
      **We have a surprise for you**
      The little zn'hre gazed at him for a moment.
      **It is enough to have you home, Ssii'iin. Both of you**
      The king inclined his head, then took Ti'aasaan's hand, pulling him gently towards the now-emptied shuttle: the little zn'hre followed unprotestingly, puzzled. Inside the entrance the king paused and turned to kiss him.
      "We are happy for you."
      Bewildered, Ti'aasaan gazed down the passageway for a moment. Then his breath caught as a familiar figure limped from a stateroom, closely followed by another almost equally as familiar carrying a red-maned baby. But it was the first person that held the little zn'hre's attention.
      Zorun?
      He couldn't move, not even to swipe at the tears streaming down his face. Shocked, disbelieving, desperately hoping he wasn't dreaming, Ti'aasaan stared at the tall, powerful Saiyan. There were streaks of white in his shaggy mane and tail, new scars over his arms and face, and he looked haggard, but...
      Zo'rien wriggled in his host's arms.
      **See? Papa**
      The little zn'hre didn't remember moving, but the next heartbeat he was in familiar arms, sobbing, a year and half's worth of pain and despair washing from him as Zorun murmured soothingly, his bondmate trembling as he resisted the urge to crush the frail form to him...

Radittsu smirked at the scene on the sleeping platform. Zorun lay back on a mound of pillows, Ti'aasaan practically melded to him, Zo'rien bright-eyed and fascinated, gazing up at his sire as the Saiyan eyed him fondly. They had a lot of time to make up.
      Earlier Hijau had scowled as the group arrived, glaring at the figure lagging behind the rest.
      Cendawan.
      He'd growled, and would have 'escorted' her briskly from the building, but Zha'haabron raised a hand.
      "She helped Zorun to escape the Karilun. I consider her crime expunged, and I shall intercede on her behalf."
      Blinking, Hijau eyed the cringing figure. Exile hadn't been kind to the female... Perhaps she had suffered enough. He glanced at the baby she carried, eyes widening as he saw its resemblance to Zorun. Zha'haabron nodded.
      "It would appear Cendawan came into season during their escape..."
      The Captain sighed silently. Ah well. As long as Ti'aasaan wasn't worried about it...

*Wonderful, isn't it?*
      Zha'haabron gazed around the sleeping family, smiling tenderly. Radittsu's gift of understatement again.
      **Oh yes**
      He nestled back into his bondmate's embrace. Indeed it was wonderful. The family was reunited, safe from harm, whole again. The relief was soul-deep, almost overwhelming.
      And they were all safe, all of Vejiitamachi and the worlds beyond. Of course there would be altogether far too much to do over the next few years, consolidating the newly-expanded Empire - but they were secure, now, safer than they had been since the beginning. They had the navigation jewels, access to the zhaneer database, and a fleet of the new Hyoujin starships.
      Now the real work of the Empire could begin...