In This Life I Was Loved by You – 9

At first the fact that Lindsay and Melanie weren’t around went unnoticed by Brian. It wasn’t like he really cared to talk to either of them. It was only when he noticed Zuni and her friends running in and out of the makeshift tents the girls had constructed, did he realize the women weren’t around. 

Life had become almost boring for Brian, that is if being on a strange planet and learning about another culture could be considered boring. He’d spent long hours with the Gloinzen Chief discussing whether he was prepared emotionally to raise a child. There was no question about the logistics of actually creating said child. They were the Gloinzen after all.  It all served to keep Brian occupied and sane while Justin and his friends tried to find him. 

“Zuni, how long have the women been gone?” Brian asked, coming in to the lean to. There was very little there of any personal nature. He poked into a couple of their storage trunks only to find them empty. “Zuni, I want an answer.”

“The ladies left a long time ago.” Zuni said, not looking at Brian. “Did they not say goodbye?” she looked up at him, her violet eyes shaded by her thick lashes. 

Brian glared at her and then asked Reggi. “Spill, you damn female ship com, where are our passengers?” 

“Boss, why do you just assume I know what they’re up to. I mean I spend all my time in this damn bag, even though I’ve told you it wouldn’t hurt to let me back on the ship. There’s things I need to do there. But no, you have to keep me locked up. It’s enough to make a girl slightly pissed off.” 

“The fact that you’d let the passengers disappear without telling me is enough to make me seriously consider recycling you into a sewing machine.” Brian growled. “Now tell me what’s happening.” 

“Well….” Reggi began. “I don’t know all the details, after all I do have better things to do then baby sit those two bitches, but your friends the Noorn, talked them into a visit.” Reggi added a snicker for effect. 

“Reggi.” Brian cautioned. He looked back at Zuni who was being uncharacteristically quiet. “Zuni, you might as well tell me. I know the Gloinzen have their fingers in everything that happens on Tilak. What’s up?”

“Lindsay and Melanie like the Noorn. They like the things the Noorn can do for them.” And then she blushed. “They like that all Noorn are women and very, very friendly.” 

“Zuni, you know they aren’t all women.” But as the words left his mouth, Brian realized just what the Noorn had done to ensure the two lesbians would feel right at home. He could only imagine the fun and games they’d all gotten up to.  “Please tell me they haven’t let themselves be impregnated.” 

“That was the deal Brian.” Reggie cautioned. “Don’t be surprised. You agreed to it.”

“I never agreed to anything. I’m here thinking about it.” Brian grumbled. “Now I suppose I’d better get my ass to the Noorn village again and see if I can make something positive out of this.”

“Uh, Brian, you do know that the Noorn have a shorter gestation time than earth humans.” Reggi snickered again. 

“You make that noise again and you are not even going to be a sewing machine, you’ll just be parts for a public toilet system.” He turned to Zuni. “Out with it, what’s she talking about?” 

“Earth humans take 10 lunar months to gestate their young. Gloinzen take the equivalent of 3 earth months and Noorn, aboutthesame.” She rushed the words together. 

Brian sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please don’t tell me this.” He muttered. 

“Sorry.” Zuni’s voice was as small as she was. 

“How long have they been with the Noorn, Reggi?” Brian didn’t really want to know the answer. He was very afraid that it was too long.

“In earth time?” Reggi asked, evading the question or at least prolonging her answer. 

“Just answer the question.” Brian was already striding across the sand heading to his hut. He’d need a few supplies if he was going to the Noorn village. 

“Oh, I’d say it’s been..”  Reggi sighed dramatically “Two months, sixteen days, four hours and seven minutes.” 

Brian said nothing, just reached behind him and turned Reggi off. He wasn’t in the mood to talk to her. 

He hadn’t gone far along the path toward the Noorn village when the Gloinzen Chief appeared. “Captain Brian.” He said and bowed low. “You are walking with a purpose.” 

“Chief.” Brian returned the greeting. “I thought it was a good day for a stroll.” He continued to walk. 

“There are things… you should know.” 

“I don’t want to know anything.” Brian grumbled. “I think I can let my imagination tell me what’s happened.” 

“There’s more than what you can have imagined. Please, your long legs, they’re hard to keep up with. Perhaps we can sit for a moment. I brought a flask of berry wine.” 

Brian stopped. It wasn’t often that the Gloinzen were willing to give up some of the berry wine they produced each year. It had unusual affects on the human brain, Brian thought it was a lot like LSD, but he hadn’t had enough of it over the months he’d been there to prove the theory. 

“Sit Brian.” The Chief indicated a large rock in a small clearing near where they stood. Brian was sure he’d never seen the clearing before, but the promise of berry wine drove him to the rock where he sat down and sighed.

“It is lunch I suppose.” He agreed to save face with the Chief. He watched while the Chief waved his hand, not surprised to see some of the Chief’s staff appear with Brian’s own mug they’d fashioned when he’d first arrived. The heady aroma of berry wine filled the clearing. 

Brian took his drink and waited for the Chief to have his served to him. 

“I’ll make a toast my friend.” The Chief said, standing up, his cup in the air. “To new beginnings, the end of searching, long life, and true love.” 

Brian smiled and saluted with his own mug. “To new beginnings, the end of searching, long life and true love.” He answered before taking a deep swallow of the wine. 

The mug had barely left his lips when his body was infused with peace and tranquility. His legs felt heavy, almost as if they were asleep and slowly the feeling crept up until his entire body, drifted lightly in the air. “I seem to be floating.” Brian said, amused at the result the wine had on him. It was always slightly different.

“Yes, you do seem to be floating. Stretch yourself out long and comfortable my friend.” The Chief said while making hand signals to his followers. 

Brian smiled as his mind drifted, remembering Justin, not knowing or caring that he was being steered like a large human floating boat back to his hut, where he was carefully allowed to drift down to his bed. 

“I’m sorry friend, but it is necessary that you sleep while your children grow. Noorn mothers require complete silence for the gestation of their young. Complete silence. I know you would never forgive yourself if your children were unable to be born. Or the children of your friends Lindsay and Melanie.  For now my friend, you sleep and dream of your husband. He is close, closer than either of you realize.”

The Chief assigned a group of Gloinzen to care for Brian. He had mixed emotions about what he’d done. It wasn’t Gloinzen policy to so blatantly interfere in another’s life. What bothered him the most was that he’d had to make sure Reggi was turned off. He knew the computer had a close tie to Brian, it happened with computers more often then humans wanted to know. He didn’t want to risk Reggi to not approve of what he was doing and wake Brian prematurely. 

In the small Noorn village, Melanie and Lindsay lay basking in the sun. Protruding bellies moved occasionally while they enjoyed the warmth and peace. “I don’t understand why the other women have to be secluded.” Lindsay began for the thousandth time. 

Melanie was beginning to understand the need for solitude, but she just reached over and patted Lindsay’s hand. “It’s their tradition.”

“You have to admit shortening nine months to three is great evolutionary progress.” Lindsay patted her wiggling belly. “But it would have been nice to talk to the other mothers. Don’t you think it’s weird that everyone is female? I mean talk about the planet Lesbos.”

“This whole year has been weird, what’s one more thing.” Melanie sighed. “I almost wish we didn’t have to go home. I mean if there was anywhere in the universe I’d want to live, it would be here.”

“I have to agree.” Lindsay looked thoughtful. “I know I’m being paranoid, maybe because we’re pregnant. But do you think daddy really did want me… well, gone.”

“I don’t think you’re being paranoid.” Melanie said, her voice quiet. “I’ve always thought Brian was right. I saw the manifests and I saw what was sold as top grade. It was crap. I’m surprised we didn’t crash sooner.”

“I wonder if Brian even notices we’re gone?” Lindsay asked, her voice wistful. 

“I’m sure he’s noticed by now.” 

“I wonder why he hasn’t found us.” 

“Now that I don’t know. It’s not like there is a lot of choices around here. I suppose he’s just glad to get rid of us.” Melanie smiled. “He’ll be surprised when we bring him our babies.”  

“I’m not so sure he’ll be surprised. He knew we wanted children.” Lindsay rubbed her belly. “I’m worried about our babies. How will they be treated on earth when it becomes known they’re, well, half breeds of a sort.” 

“No one is going to know that.” Melanie scoffed, but she too offered assurance to her unborn child by placing her hand on her belly. But deep inside she knew that it could very well be true. The world had changed and evolved over the years. The mixing of the various human races had been thorough and complete. With no exceptions, there was no one who could be said to be of <i>pure</i> racial blood. At the time this had become common knowledge and purity of Clan had become foremost in everyone’s mind. It was a status zealously guarded and when violated, it was only done with either great ceremony as in the case of Kyllo and Kitwanga. Or in disgrace as occasionally happened. Melanie suspected this would be a case of disgrace. She couldn’t be sure that their children wouldn’t somehow take on the characteristics of the Noorn. 

“We could stay.” Melanie ventured. “I mean there isn’t a lot for either of us back on earth.”

“Our families…” Lindsay began.

“They think we’re dead. I’m sure the world knows of the disappearance of Brian’s ship. When all is said and done, we’re dead to our families. It would only cause problems if we were to return now.”

“We don’t have to decide now do we? I mean it’s not like Brian is firing up the ship. It can’t even move.” 

“Later, we’ll decide later.” Melanie agreed, taking Lindsay’s hand.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A month later found the Siddhartha close to Tilak, not that the ship com realized it was close. The Gloinzen kept the planet cloaked.

Justin and Keisha had been restless for almost a week. It was driving Justin crazy that the only time he saw Brian was in the man’s dreams. And each time he used a precious moment of time with Mysterious Marilyn’s watch, Brian was sleeping. It made no sense. The law of averages would have had Brian awake at least part of the time. But for the past week, Justin couldn’t see Brian even in the man’s dreams. And he didn’t dare risk the few moments in time he had left unless it was an emergency. The hour of time had been a blessing, now it was a curse, reeling him in until he could barely focus on anything else.  

The trail Brian’s ship had left was coming to an end. Justin could feel it. But there was a grouping of five planets nearby and the Siddhartha only had enough power left to land once. To leave again, they would need to find some fuel. It was a bone of contention between Michael and Justin, the fact that they had gone past the point of return. 

“Michael I told you, we don’t have to go far to find a planet with fuel.” Ben patiently explained. “If the Federation finds us at that time it won’t really matter. We’ll have Brian and Justin together with his passengers. I’m sure Lindsay Peterson’s father will give us some kind of reward. He can’t let the Federation discover he really planned on her being dead.”

“My mother didn’t plan on me disappearing either.” Michael’s voice was bitter. “I can’t believe you let that little shit convince you to go this far without refueling.”

“We would never have left the fueling dock. You forget we’re wanted, though for god knows what. I can’t imagine the trumped up charges the Federations put together.” Now it was Ben’s turn to sound bitter. He hated being a renegade. It went against his nature. 

The high pitched beeping of an emergency notice from the ship’s com interrupted their conversation. “Now what?” Michael asked, running to his post on the ship’s bridge. 

“We have a hull breech.” Ben said, teeth together. “This isn’t good.” An understatement, he was going to have to land the ship on one of the nearby planets and there was going to only be one chance to pick the closest one without necessarily being the one Brian was on. Ben spoke into the ship com “Justin, can you come to the bridge immediately please.” 

“Keisha, this is it. I can feel it.” Justin said, getting up from his bed where he’d been resting with his furry friend. “I just hope it comes out right.” 

Keisha butted her head against Justin in an effort to comfort before leading the way to the bridge.

“What’s up?” Justin asked, knowing already that it wasn’t good.

“There’s been a hull breech. No doubt from a faulty repair or even sabotage on earth. I guess we’re lucky it lasted as long as it did.” Ben said without looking at Justin, he was too busy working with the ship com to take his eyes off the console. 

“So we have to land.” The words were fatalistic. 

“I think we can make it to either of these planets. I need you to do your damndest and muster all your mojo – this is a one time shot. And Justin, unless there’s a repair depot, we may not be leaving until another ship comes along.” 

“I’ll do what I can.” Justin’s voice shook. So much depended on him. He hoped that his connection to Brian was enough because he could read the vibrations in the ship’s deck, they may not even make their destination as a good landing, but rather it would result in a crash. He didn’t dare say anything, suspecting that Ben might already know this and not needing the drama Michael would give them all if he knew. 

He took a seat near Ben, he needed to be close to the directional pull of the two planets. Keisha came to him and sat with her head on his knee. Closing his eyes for focus, though he could still see through Keisha’s eyes had he wanted to. Justin began the chant to ask for his grandfather’s help. He chanted in the ancient tongue of the Kyllo, not caring what Michael or Ben might think. It was more important to find Brian and make the right decision than to worry about the niceties of speaking in a language other than English. 

He didn’t see the look of astonishment on the faces of the two men who watched him when he rose a foot or more from the chair he sat in, automatically crossing his legs tailor fashion for stability. Justin knew when his grandfather appeared by the change in Keisha’s purr and by the comfort he felt from the old man. 

“Grandfather, I have a request to make of you and our ancestors.” Justin began in his Kyllo tongue. 

“I know young one.” His grandfather smiled, ignoring the looks the other men gave him. It was unusual to appear before those who weren’t Kyllo. “Let your heart open, your mate will find you and you will find him.” His grandfather’s hand touched Justin’s shirt where the wedding amulet lay beneath the soft folds. “Let what is part of the both of you bring you together.” 

“Will you add your strength to mine?” Justin asked.

“I am always with you grandson as are our ancestors. We are with you and your sons and your husband from now and for all eternity. For you have fulfilled the Kyllo prophesy in your heart and your life.” 

“We thank you grandfather.” Justin’s head bowed to honor his grandfather, his mind was reeling with the words <i>your sons</i>. Brian, even in his dreams had said nothing. 

Justin felt his grandfather’s hand on his forehead in blessing before the man disappeared into the stars. Not hesitating, Justin placed his left hand on his marriage amulet, his right hand on the computer console, where he allowed his fingers to code in the directions for their landing. 

He barely heard Michael’s protests and Ben’s orders to buckle up, before the heavy ship lurched and began its turn to the planet Justin had coded in. With each second that passed, Justin knew he’d made the right decision, for Brian’s life force became stronger the closer they got. 

Ben and Michael both, had no time for protests as they both struggled with their control consoles, doing their best to monitor the direction of the ship. “I think we’re going to fucking crash.” Were the only words that were heard and those were from the ship com, a rather staid and modern version of Reggi.

What happened next happened quickly, Justin buckled Keisha into the seat next to him and managed through strong G forces to get himself strapped in before gravity took over and they spiraled downward. The ship leveled out…Leveling out just as they hit the atmosphere of the planet, which allowed Ben to bring the ship down in thunder of noise deep in a thick forest of trees. 

Silence filled the air around them as each person and one large cougar took stock of any injuries, while breathing deeply to confirm they were alive.  “Ben, are you okay?” Michael was the first to speak.

“I think so.” Ben answered, shaking his left arm. It had been caught by something falling. “Justin?” 

But Justin wasn’t in the ship and neither was Keisha. Just before the ship crashed, milliseconds before it hit, Justin and Keisha were pulled from the ship to land gently beside a sleeping Brian in his hut. 

“Brian?” Justin asked as he saw the man he loved through Keisha’s eyes. Justin leaned over and kissed his sleeping beauty. 

Brian’s eyes fluttered and then opened to find himself staring into sky blue eyes filled with love and concern. “Justin, is it you or am I dreaming?” he whispered., his voice hoarse from lack of use. He’d been sleeping a long time.

Rather than answer, Justin leaned forward and kissed Brian again, only this time he put all the passion he’d saved for so long into the kiss. Soon both of them were breathless. Justin moved so that he lay on top of Brian. “You need to eat more, I can feel your ribs.” Justin’s hand caressed down Brian’s torso. 

Keilsha moved so that she was tight to Brian’s side, stretching out full length like a large furry and vibrating body pillow. “What’s with the kitty?” Brian asked with a chuckle.

“She’s happy to be here and she obviously likes you. It’s what she does when she wants to make sure I’m safe.” 

“I’m holding you, you’re safe.” Brian said, breathing deeply of the other man’s scent. “Fuck I feel as weak as a kitten, a house kitten.” His hand combed through Keisha’s thick fur. 

“Captain Brian.”  It was the Gloinzen Chief. 

Brian turned and looked at the small man. “Yes?” 

“I must apologize. It was necessary to that you sleep. It was important for the development of your passenger’s children.” 

“Pardon me?” Brian struggled to sit up and it was a struggle considering he was tangled up in blond and cougar. “You’ve kept me sleeping?” He knew now why he felt so weak. “I could have died.”

“No, you wouldn’t have died. You were well looked after, fed the proper nutrients and passively exercised. We respect you too much to do you any real harm.” 

Brian’s face was red and Justin didn’t need to read the other man’s mind to know how angry he was. He placed his hand on Brian’s arm, grounding him. “Brian, we need to ask why you were kept sleeping.” 

Justin’s voice was quiet, Brian had to strain to hear him, which calmed him slightly. “Why did you do it?” he barked, though he was more calm in his demeanor.

“Your passengers wanted children. They have done so aiding the Noorn and themselves. But because the Noorn gestation period is so short compared to that of an earth human., it is important that they have complete rest. The Noorn take it a step further and require silence as well as rest.” The Chief bent his hand and made a gesture to his staff. “We wanted you and your husband to have what you’d never otherwise have. But a Brian Kinney awake threatened this gift.”

Brian remembered how he’d been ready to storm the Noorn village, flushing with the memory. 

“Your children” the Chief announced. Two of his wives entered, each one carrying a child swaddled in soft white cotton. The babies seemed ridiculously large in the arms of the Gloizen, but became small when handed to Brian and Justin. 

Brian for once, was speechless as he looked down at the little baby in his arms. Blue eyes and a fuzz of blond hair, tiny nose and rosebud mouth, melted his heart. He looked at Justin who sat beside him, Keisha staring hard at the baby. 

Justin’s eyes teared as he watched the baby he held through Keisha’s eyes. Brian’s hazel eyes stared up at him with love and defiance. “I love you my child.” Justin spoke the words like a prayer. And he did love the bit of child he held. His reward for the words was a smile that rivaled his own. 

“I guess it’s true.” Brian chuckled, “We make good looking children.” He looked at the Chief. “Where are their mothers?” 

“I’m sorry, I thought you understood. These children had no mother the way you think of a mother. They are a combination of the two of you. The Noorn who gestated them has now moved forward with her life.”

“Only one mother?” Brian asked, looking from one child to the other.

“Only one gestational womb.” The Chief corrected. “I’ll have your home altered for you to care for your children. I know you will want to spend time with them here before you leave for earth.”

“Excuse me. In all this excitement I forgot about Michael and Ben.” Justin turned to Brian. “We crash landed.”

“Yes, your ship has landed with some force.” The Chief agreed. “Your friends are fine, shaken up, but they are healthy. The Noorn have found them and taken them to their village.” 

“Isn’t that just peachy.” Brian drawled, his eyes still on the babies. “Chief, I know nothing about babies. How in hell am I supposed to look after a child this young?” he didn’t mention the fact that Justin being blind wasn’t going to find it any easier.  “How old are they?”

“The children were born earlier this morning.”  

Brian started, if he wasn’t nervous before, he was now terrified. “Fuck, are you guys nuts?” he growled, though he kept his voice neutral so as not to frighten the child. “And what sex are they?” 

“Boys, Brian they’re boys.” Justin had unwrapped the baby he was holding. He felt all over to make sure he was as perfect as what Keisha’s eyes had told him. “Trade me. I want to see the one you have.” 

Brian nervously handed over the baby he held while juggling the one Justin gave him. “We have to name them.” He said. “They look so much alike.” 

Justin laughed out loud. “Brian, this one has blue eyes, the one you have now has hazel eyes. They aren’t the same.”

“They’re both tiny, wrinkled, red and slightly balding. And this one is leaking.” He held the baby away from his body. “Hey Liam.” He tested the name on the baby who smiled at him despite his wet wrapping.  

“Liam, I like that name.” Justin said with a smile. “I think maybe this fellow should be Aaron.” 

“Now that that’s settled, can we do something about Liam’s dampness?” Brian felt a tug on his pant leg. He looked down to see Zuni smiling up at him. 

“Brian, my mother and her friends will help you and your husband care for your children. They understand you will need to familiarize yourself with them and what they need.”

“But Zuni, the babies are rather large, your mom isn’t.” Brian began. 

Zuni giggled. “And they will grow quickly here on Tilak, much more quickly than on Earth. Please put Liam down on his bed, mother will show you how to keep him clean.”

That was Brian and Justin’s introduction to married life with children on Tilak. It would keep their minds off other things for the next week.

At the crash site, Michael and Ben searched the ship. There was definitely no chance that Justin and Keisha were aboard. “I don’t know where they went.” Ben said, finally establishing the two were definitely missing.

“He freaking bailed and left us to die a fiery death.” Michael grumbled. 

“We’d need fire for that.” Ben grinned and gave his partner a quick hug. “Everything is fine in here, well with the exception of no fuel and the hull breach. I suppose the no fuel thing helped with the no fiery death thing.” He grinned at Michael who grinned back at him. 

“It’s like a Captain Astro story.” Michael’s passion was ancient comic books. He had a collection that had been handed down through his family. “Next thing you know we’ll step out of the ship into a flock of bird people like in issue 234.”  He hit the release button for the hatch and stepped outside with Ben. Face to face with a party of Noorn dressed in feathered robes and ceremonial feathered headdresses. Michael looked at Ben and fainted in his arms. 

“Hello Ben and Michael, we’ve been expecting you.” One of the Noorn stepped forward. “Melanie and Lindsay and their children await you at their home. We’ll escort you. Don’t worry about your ship. No one will harm it. I’ll send a crew to patch the hull.”

“Melanie and Lindsay are here?” Ben asked. “And they have children?”

“Yes, they’re here, and they have many children.” All of the Noorn grinned. 

Ben carried Michael until he recovered from his faint, then they all walked to the Noorn village while Ben tried to catch Michael up on what had happened to Brian’s two passengers. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A week later found Brian and Justin old hands at dealing with their children who were now the size of an average six month old. “I see now why the Gloinzen think we should leave Tilak soon.” Brian laughed. He was watching Liam and Aaron who were sitting on a mat on the floor, playing with a ball. “At this rate they’ll be our size before the year is out.” 

“I wonder what makes human children age so quickly here?” Justin asked. He watched Liam crawl over to Keisha and wrap his small fingers in the cat’s fur, pulling Keisha’s tail toward him. “The Chief says it stops when they reach puberty. They begin to age properly then.” 

“I don’t want to wait.” Brian sighed. 

“Hello Brian and Justin.” The two turned to see the Chief standing in the doorway. 

“Hey.” Brian looked at the Chief from his place on the floor with the children. “What’s up?” 

“It is time for you and your husband to make a decision.” The Chief began. “But first I feel you both should visit your friends in the Noorn village.”

“We can’t leave the children.” Justin began. 

“You can take them with you. A change of scenery will do them good.” 

“What about their nanny, will she be coming?” Justin asked.

“No, I’m sorry, but the Noorn have no knowledge of our kind. I’m afraid you’ll be on your own. But don’t worry, we’ll be with you in spirit.” 

“If they don’t know about you, then how were the children… uh… incubated?” Brian asked.

“I’m afraid in a similar way that you were made to rest.” 

“The end justifies the means.” Brian said shaking his head. “Chief, I love my children, but I feel that you’ve used both Justin and I, not to mention the Noorn woman who slept for three months.”

“I know how you feel.” The Chief said. “We held a high council meeting and discussed your situation. There have been some unfortunate events on earth that required these interferences. It wasn’t done lightly.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Well, well Mikey, you seem rather comfy.” Brian drawled. Michael was lying on a bench near a swimming pool, a cold drink on a nearby table. 

“BRIAN.” Michael jumped up and threw his arms around his friend. “You’re alive.”

“And so are you.” Brian smirked. “Where’ the hubby?” 

“Ben is inside playing with the kids. Did you know Mel and Linds have kids and do I mean kids. I guess they each had one and they gave a bunch of eggs up and now there’s like dozens of them.” Michael grinned. “It’s amazing.”

“Brian.” Justin had arrived with Keisha. He had both children in his arms. “Would you take one of these guys please. I think they gained ten pounds in the walk.” 

Brian took Liam in his arms. “Mikey is here.” He announced.

“I see that.” Justin smirked, though he looked toward Brian and not Michael. He was seeing through Brian’s eyes, and knew it would piss off Brian’s old friend. “How are you doing Michael?” 

“Just fine, no thanks to you.” He looked at Brian. “He bailed on us when we crash landed.”

“Actually, I had nothing to do with that.”  Justin shrugged. “But you think what you like.”

“Brian, Justin, I see you found us.” Ben smiled as he walked out of the apartment he’d been in. He had a small child in his arms. 

The next few hours were a blur of talking and laughing as all the friends, including Melanie and Lindsay, got to tell their story of the last few months. It ended when the babies were all put to bed except Liam and Aaron. They slept in their father’s arms, heads on strong shoulders, hands rubbing circles on small backs. 

“We have to go back to Earth.” Brian said. “I think the Noorn have the Siddhartha ready to fly.” His voice had taken on a serious tone. “We need to leave tomorrow.”

“I’m not going.” Lindsay declared. 

“Neither am I.” Melanie took Lindsay’s hand. “We’re making a life here and we’re happy.” 

“What about your life back on Earth?” Brian had to ask.

“It wasn’t that great Brian, if you must know.” Melanie put her head on Lindsay’s shoulder. “But it’s better than great here.”

“Actually Brian, if there was any way we could stay here we would.” Ben admitted. “I can really see having a life here. Michael and I have a lot to offer the Noorn, including our genetics.” He pulled Michael down on his lap. “We could have a family here.”
Brian looked at Justin and nodded. Justin had been in his head and they knew just what to do. “The Siddhartha is ready for you if you want to leave. Justin and I, well we’re going back to Earth with our children. Justin has some plans for the Pitts, the Kyllo have plans for bringing the Earth back to life. Our children will be part of those plans.”

“How are you going to get there, your ship isn’t going anywhere?” Lindsay asked.

“Well Linds, let’s just say Justin and I have our ways.” Brian stood up offering his hand to Justin, who stood beside him. “Later guys, we’re heading back to Earth now.” And to everyone’s astonishment, Keisha, Brian, Justin and the children faded from view. Leaving only the red bag that held Reggi. Reggi was Brian’s gift to the girls.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The trip to Earth wasn’t instantaneous, but close enough that the children and Keisha barely noticed. Brian had held tight to Justin’s hand, afraid to let him go. Keisha had wrapped herself around their feet.

Brian and Justin stood swaying slightly on the patio outside Justin’s apartment while the world continued to spin. They both waited for everything to regain the correct shape, colors to return and Keisha to stand up and shake from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail.

“Honey we’re home.” Brian quipped ,kissing Justin on his nose. “We need to put these guys to bed.”

“We need to put ourselves to bed.” Justin shivered. “I’ve forgotten how cold it can get here in the Pitts. But oddly enough, I never planned for overnight guests that required cribs.” He kissed Aaron on the forehead. 

“We’ll call Emmett, I’m sure he can come up with a couple of cribs.”  Brian smiled and led his husband into the apartment. 

Three hours later, a lot of tears on Emmett’s part, a few growls of warning from Keisha who took guarding her babies as a serious job, Justin and Brian were finally able to relax.

“I had no idea how much I missed a good cup of coffee.” Brian was sitting on a sofa, his head back and eyes closed. “Not to mention the smells of the Pitts.” 

“I could do without the smells, but I agree about the coffee.” Justin was snuggled close to Brian. He too had his eyes shut. He didn’t need to see to know that Emmett was bustling around the kitchen, having checked on the children at least a dozen times. Even Keisha didn’t bother looking up the last time. Keisha lay on the floor between the two cribs. 

“I do declare those are the cutest little babies in the whole world.” Emmett said coming into the living room and finally sitting down. “Justin honey, there was a lot of talk among the Kitwanga that you were never going to return. I’m glad you came home.”

“I’m glad I’m home too, not that I consider this home. It’s just a place to stay in the city.” He sighed deeply. “I can’t wait to return to the Kyllo holdings with my husband and children. 

As he said the words, there was a loud crash in the lower part of the building. Justin jumped to his feet and suddenly the room went dark and silent. Almost like a blanket had been placed over the world. A voice was heard that Brian and Justin knew to be that of the Gloinzen Chief.

“It was thought that your return with your husband and children would put an end to the Kitwanga evil. But apparently that is not to happen. Once again the Gloinzen have had to intervene, making good on a promise we made. From this moment on, all of the Kitwanga Clan, all men, women and children, all animals owned and worldly goods that will not harm another, have been removed from the planet Earth and sent to a planet called Salvation where they have been relocated on the southern part of the planet, well away from the present settlements.” 

When the words faded so did the heavy atmospheric blanket. Justin, Brian and Emmett ran into the children’s room stopping at the door. Aaron and Liam, along with Keisha, were curled together on the floor sleeping peacefully. “So much for your cribs.” Brian muttered as he found a blanket and covered the sleeper-clad boys. This is how the children had slept on Tilak most nights. Neither Brian nor Justin had ever figured out how the children had managed to find their way to the big cat each night. 

“Ahhhh.” Emmett smiled before backing out of the room. 

“We’re leaving early tomorrow for Kyllo land.” Justin said to Emmett. “I want to thank you for your help and friendship.” 

Brian put his forehead on Emmett’s and whispered. “Thanks Em,”before picking Justin up in his arms to take him to bed. “Make sure the door is locked on your way out.” He called to his old friend. It wasn’t the life he’d planned, but it was the life he’d always wanted. And it was beginning now.

The end
February 1st, 2007