Hunting Cari (First Wave) (18 page)

“But as we
felt your loneliness with Scaden gone, we wanted to help make you happy again
until Scaden found a place where we could be safe.” Tessa sounded so sincere.
The pain and sadness the girls felt at her reaction to them finally began to
break through Cari’s fear, and she slowly calmed down a little.

“What do
you mean, where
we
could be safe?”

The girls
looked at each other as if in silent communication, which they verified when
Tessa scowled at Amia and Amia smiled as if she had won that particular round
with her sister.

“When they
took Scaden away, and you locked yourself in your room; they didn’t know that
you had become pregnant. They didn’t find that out until recently when they
made Scaden wake up. When we became aware enough to sense what was going on, we
couldn’t bear his pain and yours, and took you away to places where you could
be happy and together again.” Amia said as if Cari was supposed to understand.
She was more confused than ever.

“We
inherited our abilities from our mother, but they were somehow changed because
of our father. We are very confused about what all that means, but Amia says
she’ll figure it all out one day.” Tessa said proudly, as if she had no doubt
her sister would. Right now, Cari just wished she could understand what they
were talking about.

She
remembered her and Scaden making love on the ship and waking up to Randor, Amun
and Gracus taking Scaden away because they hadn’t received the Ator-ma. She
looked at her arm just to make sure she still hadn’t received it. She then
figured out how to use the comm to lock them all out of her room…

She
remembered brief flashes of lying in the shower with a blanket, where she knew
Scaden was laying on the other side of the wall. Sleeping as much as possible
in order to be with him in her dreams…

“It’s all
real. They weren’t dreams. We took you to where you wanted to be so you could
be together and safe.” Tessa said softly.

Cari sat
herself down abruptly on the floor, her mind racing as she tried to remember
everything that had happened. The strange feelings and power she had begun to
feel recently, the way she had known there was something different about the dreams,
how she and Scaden had even talked about it here, in this house.

“We knew
that the others where you were, had been trying to think of a way to help. To
make sure you could be together somewhere safe. This is why we didn’t fight
them when they took Scaden and made him wake up. We knew they were going to
make sure we could stay together. We kept you here and happy until we knew for
sure that Scaden had found that safe place for you. But it went too far.” Amia
said that with such sadness in her voice, Cari had to look at her to make sure
she really was that upset.

Little
tears were rolling down the girls face, and every instinct in Cari told her to
get up and try to comfort her. However, she was still so confused. She was
trying very hard to piece it all together and couldn’t seem to figure it out
just yet. The sadness of the little girls began to eat at her.

“We knew
when you would be safe. But we were selfish and just wanted to spend more time
with you.” Tessa said through the tears coming down her cheeks as well.

Not able to
take it anymore, Cari got up and pulled them both into her arms and tried to
comfort them. Whatever was going on she couldn’t let them feel this kind of
sadness; it was breaking her heart. She rocked them gently while they cried and
started to calm down.

“Mommy,
we’re sorry. We should have let you go back when Daddy found a safe place for
us. Please don’t be mad.” Amia choked out between little hiccups.

Cari’s mind
shut down. There was no other way to explain it. She couldn’t think anymore.
She just sat there holding the girls for long minutes in total silence. Then
everything suddenly came at her in a rush.

The way
their hair looked just like Scaden’s and their eyes as piercing blue, with
swirls of hazel in them like her eyes. The way they had her gifts, but a much
more powerful and unique version. The way she had felt connected to them right
away and how quickly she had fallen in love with them. She struggled to find
her voice and ask.

“Yes, we’re
in your tummy right now at a place Uncle Randor calls a ranch in Montana.
Daddy’s there with him. They’ve been hoping you’d wake up for days now, but
we’ve kept you here with us instead. We’re sorry, Mommy.” Tessa cried even
harder after telling her that and Amia followed suit, t little bodies shaking
with their grief and sadness.

Cari tried
desperately to process her feelings without making the girls any sadder than
they already were. She was going to be a mother? Scaden and Randor escaped with
her? She could go be with Scaden again, and they would be safe from the reach
of the council? These two children were her daughters?

She was
stunned, but so happy. She squeezed the girls tightly.

“Is this
how you will really look? I mean after you’re born?”

She smiled
gently as Amia picked her head up from her shoulder.

“We looked
at each other in your tummy, and this is how we look now, only more wrinkly and
stuff.” She said it with such a look of disgust on her face; Cari couldn’t help
but burst out laughing.

“Honey,
babies are supposed to be all wrinkly and stuff until they get older. I bet you
are as beautiful as babies as you are now.” She wiped the tears from Amia’s
face, and smiled at her.

“Mommy, do
you hate us now?” Tessa asked with such sadness, it almost made Cari cry.

“I could
never hate you. Do you hear me? Never! You know I love you. I just didn’t
understand, but I do now. And I can’t wait until you’re older, and we can play
and be together the way we have this week. Until then, I’m going to enjoy being
able to hold your tiny selves in my arms, and every moment of watching you grow
up.” She couldn’t back the few tears, or her feelings. She truly was looking
forward to it.

“I wish I
could have seen the look on your father’s face when he found out he was going
to be a Daddy to two little girls!” Cari laughed, trying to imagine the shock
on his face. He probably ran his hand through his hair so many times; he's
close to bald. The thought made her laugh harder.

“Before he
knew you were pregnant he put his hand on your tummy and felt us moving; he
thought we were some kind of creatures attacking you, and he freaked out.” Amia
blushed and giggled when she said it. Tessa giggled with her.

Cari could
just imagine the look on his face when he thought she was infected with
something. He had probably started ordering everyone to kill whatever it was
before they had a chance to explain to him that they were his children! She
laughed even harder.

The
laughter and closeness allowed them all to calm down. Cari led them from the
floor to one of the couches and sat between them with her arms around them
both.

“What about
your names? Do you want to be called Tessa and Amia when you’re born?”

The girls
looked at each other and had one of those silent communication moments again.
Cari smiled and figured she’d better get used to it because they would probably
do that often.

“Can we
Mommy?” Tessa asked hesitantly, as if afraid Cari would say no. Cari didn’t
even have to think twice about it, and hugged them tighter.

“I think
they are very beautiful names and are perfect for such beautiful girls. I think
your father is going to love them as much as he loves you.”

“How about
we get a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow we can talk about getting me back to
your Daddy, so we can get things ready for when you’re born?”

They looked
so sad when she said that, she was almost ready to take it back.

“When you
go to sleep and can we be together again in your dreams if we promise to let
you wake up when you’re supposed to and not keep you?” Amia kept her head down,
sadness swamping her as she asked.

“I would be
pretty upset if you didn’t. We can come back here and visit with Gibly, and
I’ll be happy to show you places on Earth too since it will be our new home. If
you think, the food on Daddy’s planet is good, wait until you try ice cream! Oh
I can’t wait to have some again! And I’ll ask Daddy if he wants to come too.”

When their
smiles brightened and the sadness had left them, she knew she’d made the right
decision. And she didn’t regret it. She had an opportunity most parents would
die for… to know what their children would be like before they were even born.
What a rare and precious gift.

She stood
up and led her daughters to the bedroom and helped them get ready for bed. She
was excited to see Scaden again, and her uncle Randor. However, she was just as
happy that she would still be able to spend time with her daughters like this.

Chapter Fifteen

The belly
was certainly something she was going to have to get used to; she thought with
a smile as she rubbed herself gently. The girls seemed pretty content and happy
right now. Nevertheless, they were all starving.

Grabbing a
robe laid out on a chair in the room where she had awakened, she put it on and
set off to find a kitchen and some food and water. She knew Scaden, and Uncle
Randor were close by; she could feel the fear in them for her and the girls…
and hope.

She
descended the stairs and took a few wrong turns before she finally found the
kitchen. Scaden was at the stove, and it looked like he was cooking. It
certainly smelled that way, and her stomach growled loudly.

“Damn
Randor how can you be that hungry already? Don’t worry it’s almost done, and I
didn’t burn it at all this time.” Scaden said absently thinking Randor’s
stomach had been the one growling.

Uncle
Randor just sat at a table staring at her as if she were a ghost. She could
feel the warring emotions in him, especially over his part in the council
keeping her and Scaden apart.

She smiled
broadly and held her arms out to him, knowing he’d gladly take her into his
arms after everything they had been through. He got up so fast the chair fell
backwards on the floor, and then she was in his arms. She loved him so much and
made sure he could feel every bit of it as she hugged him. He squeezed her a
little too tight, and she grunted a little.

“Honey, I’m
sorry, did I hurt you?” He was inspecting her and her belly before she could
even answer. She laughed at him.

“I’m more
than fine. Just getting my sea legs back again is all.”

The sound
of something hitting the floor had both of them turning to the sound. Scaden
stood there staring at her; the spatula he must have been holding was lying on
the floor. She tried and failed to discern his emotions, but there were so many
in the room that she couldn’t.

She put her
hands protectively over her girls and stood there unsure, of whether or not he
was happy to see her… happy about the children.

Scaden
stared at her, not willing to hope that this wasn’t another dream, and he would
wake and she’d still be in a coma. She looked so beautiful standing there,
swollen with his daughters and that shy smile on her face. The hard slap Randor
gave to his back brought him right out of his thoughts.

“She really
is standing there, boy, don’t just stand there looking like an idiot.”

He glared
at Randor and walked toward Cari until he was standing inches from her. He
could smell that scent that was unique only to her; see the beautiful swirls of
color in her eyes. And then she was in his arms again.

“I have
missed you so much! Why did it take you so long to wake up? We have so much to
tell you! I love you,
Amalaya
.” Scaden couldn’t seem to stop the rush of
words any more than he could let her go right now.

“I love you
so much, and I’ve missed you! I have so much to tell you as well!” She hugged him
tightly to her, feeling his warmth and almost wishing she was dressed in
something other than a nightgown, so she could wrap her legs around him and get
closer to him.

He carried
her to one of the chairs at the kitchen table and sat down with her. Placing
her sideways on his lap so as not to put too much pressure on her stomach, he
cuddled her close. He would never be apart from her again. Ever. They sat there
just holding one another until the smell of something burning reached their
nostrils.

“Damn boy,
you burned it again!” Randor said as he ran to the stove and removed a pan.

“If it
isn’t too bad I’ll eat it anyway!” She was starving and really, really needed
to eat something soon.

Honey,
these are black. I’ll make you something really quick. You just sit there for
now.”

“Thank you,
Uncle Randor. I’m so hungry I feel like I could eat a whole cow.” She quickly
blushed in embarrassment.

“Well, none
of us but you are eating for three, but I can relate to being that hungry a
couple of times in my life.” Randor told her trying to make sure she didn’t
feel embarrassed about it.

“I’ve been
there myself a few times as well during training. Like Randor said, you are
carrying two precious little girls who need food also."  Scaden spoke with
such pride and love; she was overwhelmed by it. If she had any doubts about how
he felt about the children they were gone now. She hugged him even closer.

“You have
no idea how precocious they are! Tessa is the more outspoken and quick to say
something, and Amia is so quiet and thoughtful about everything. They are very
beautiful Scaden. We made such perfect little ones.”

She stopped
and looked at her uncle and Scaden, both of whom just stared at her like she’d
lost her mind. She realized they didn’t know what she was talking about and
started to tell them all about where she’d been and who she’d been with after
Scaden had awakened.

When Randor
had also burned the eggs, they agreed to heat some leftover chicken and
vegetables from the night before, and piled that and fresh fruit in front of
her to eat while she told them about the babies and her time with them.

“So Tessa
will have the little beauty mark at the corner of her right eye?” Scaden
interrupted at one point. He had to know there would be a way to tell his
children apart. It scared him to think he wouldn’t be able to know. As a
father, he should, and he didn’t want to let either of his girls think he
didn’t care enough to tell them apart.

“Yes, she
will. But trust me, it’s not the only way that you’ll be able to tell them
apart. Their personalities are so different that it will be obvious, even after
they are born. And don’t worry; they don’t plan on trying to tease anyone by
pretending to be each other.” She honestly hadn’t even considered that they
would until the night before she came back they had made the promise to her.
She thought it was sweet of them to even think of it.

At one
point even Randor interrupted her as well, a look of pure disbelief on his
face.

“A Sibiox?
You and the little ones
spoke
to a Sibiox? Small cat-like creature, with
large eyes, and looks a lot like an Earth feline predator?”

“Yes! That
was him exactly! I likened him more to a smaller version of a black panther
though. He had a beautiful black coat of fur. He was so charming and amazed
that we could speak to him in our minds that way. And he seemed thoroughly
charmed by the children as well.”

“He even
laughed with me as the girls tried hard to pronounce his name and couldn’t.
When they started to get upset and frustrated by it, he readily agreed to let
them call him Gibly instead. He was such a sweet creature, the girls and I hope
to visit him again when I go to sleep tonight. We’re sure he’ll be there. He’s
far too curious not to be.”

Uncle
Randor and Scaden exchanged some interesting looks for a few minutes. She
laughed as it reminded her of the girls when they did it.

“Ok, what
are you two thinking?”

She waited
while they continued their stare down and finally, Scaden cleared his throat.

“
Amalaya
,
the Sibiox is considered one of the most dangerous creatures on Valendra. We do
not ever randomly kill any creature on the planet, but there have been times
when they have had to be killed. And I can’t remember hearing that one of them
has ever attacked a Valendran.” Scaden stopped and shook his head.

“We have
scoured many worlds and universes looking for sentient life on other planets,
and all this time we had no idea that we had sentient beings on our own planet
that we were overlooking.”

“We had
seen their fierceness in the wild while hunting and the way they protected
their young and just assumed that was their nature. It’s too bad we can’t tell
the council, so they can protect the creatures and try to find other ways to
communicate with them.” Randor shook his head while Scaden ran his fingers through
his hair. She could feel the sadness in them that they tried to hide.

“I really
am very sorry. I was so happy that the five of us could be together that I
didn’t think about how hard this must be for the two of you.” She looked down
as a tear ran down her face, ashamed that she hadn’t even considered everything
they were giving up for her.

Randor had
just found his parents again after all these years and when he was so close to
seeing them, he couldn’t now. And Scaden, to be so young by Valendran standards
and never seeing his planet or his family again… it had to have been the
hardest decision of his life. She felt terrible for being so selfish.

“
Amalaya
,
don’t you dare feel sad for one second! They made their decision to lose us
when they made decisions without knowing any of the facts. They knew we were
facing situations that we could have never expected, and yet they still spoke
from the past and not our future.”

“I have no
regrets about the decisions I have made. And I never will. You… and my daughters
are the greatest gift I have ever known, and I would give up everything for
you, even my life, without any regret. I love you, and I love them. You are my
future, my life.” Scaden kissed her gently and hugged her close. 

“Honey, the
greatest happiness and pride I have ever felt in my life, was raising you and
being your father. There is no place I would rather be than waiting with you
for my great-daughters to be born. And helping you and Scaden raise them.”

“When my
family turned their backs on your happiness, they turned their backs on me as
well. Like Scaden, I have no regrets. But I would have loved to have met this
Gibly! I bet there is much to learn from such interesting creatures.” Randor
said the last with a laugh, trying his best to cheer her up. Which gave her an
idea… she turned to Scaden.

“Would you
like to meet Gibly too? And our daughters of course! They are very excited at
the thought of meeting their Daddy tonight when we sleep.” She knew he was
pretty floored when his mouth just kept opening and closing, but no words would
come out.

“You do
realize that they can pull you back in the way they did before? They don’t want
to scare you though and wanted me to ask you first before they did.” Randor
looked at Scaden like he was a fool for not answering right away.

If he had
been offered a chance to meet his great-daughters and have a conversation with
the most dangerous creature on his home planet, he’d have answered before she
could finish the question.

Just to see
the suns, mountains and forests again, would be a beautiful gift. Being able to
do so while staying here and protecting his child and great-children would be a
dream come true.

He knew
Cari had picked up on his emotions when she said the one thing that made him
look as shocked as Scaden.

“Uncle
Randor, would you like to come with us? The girls would love to meet you, a I
think they would love to show off their new friend Gibly to you.”

“Can they
really do that? Pull all three of us there? It won’t hurt them in any way?”
Scaden had to make sure that using that kind of power wouldn’t hurt them. As
much as he wanted to see them and meet the Sibiox, he didn’t want to harm his
children in any way.

With Randor
still looking stupefied, Cari turned to her worrying mate.

“Wait until
you see just how powerful they are, my love. Our little ones could do much more
than that if they wanted to. Besides, they exert a small amount of energy while
we’d be together, and they promised they would rest and sleep throughout the
whole time we were awake and getting things ready for them.”

“Can they
really bring me too? Is that even possible? I’m not technically
family
in the way you and Scaden are.” He couldn’t hide his hope from Cari; it was so
strong she knew even her daughters could feel it in their slumber.

“They have
felt every loving moment you have been with me, taking care of me. And they
know the love I have for you. They don’t care that you don’t share our DNA or
cell structure; the know you as their great-father and will never think of you
in any other way.” Cari reached across the table and squeezed his hand, pouring
her confidence and love into him. When he broke out into a bright smile, she
knew he’d come.

“I would be
honored to meet my great-daughters, and Gibly as well.”

“There’s no
way that I would miss a chance to hold my girls right now; all three of my
girls.” Scaden said as he hugged her close with one arm and placed his other
hand on her stomach.

She smiled
to herself as it dawned on her just how spoiled and loved their little ones already
were.

*****

The months
passed quickly for all of them, the constant activity keeping them all busy.
They had decorated the girl’s room in the colors they had wanted; a pretty mint
green for Amia, and medium blue for Tessa.

Cari and
Scott
,
had been to town many times to do shopping in order to make sure if anyone
happened to see her or the children it wouldn’t come as a shock to them or
warrant bringing the authorities over in curiosity.