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Fiera opened her eyes to bright sunlight. Neven was checking her feeds. “How do I look?” she asked. Two weeks of being on display in the living room was wearing a bit thin.

“I’m goin’ t’have Kuen move you upstairs today. Ma wants her livin’ room back,” Neven said with a grin. “Don’t need t’keep you on the feeds either. But eat when we bring you food. Don’t care if you don’t feel hungry. Yer body is still pretty tore up and you have t’have the food in order t’heal.”

“Seems like it’s takin’ too much time fer this,” Fiera muttered.

“It wouldn’t be if you’d just said somethin’ t’the giant. He’d have pounded that Core medic and made her listen t’you back before you came home,” Neven said.

“I could barely speak up ‘bout needin’ t’use the bathroom, Nev. You think I was goin’ t’say anythin’ ‘bout this?” Fiera asked.

“Fury, Thea wants t’talk to you. I’ve kept her back ‘til you were set t’move upstairs. Figured you didn’t need no one listenin’ in on yer problems. But I think you should talk to her once yer back in yer room,” Neven said. “She can seriously help. She’s the whole reason Marc, Keo, and Flicks are still with us.”

“Think she’d let me keep Kuen in the room? He’ll stay quiet if I tell him to,” Fiera said.

“You really don’t want him out of yer sight, do you, Fury?” Neven asked, concern flooding his face.

“Nev, I’m scared someone’s goin’ t’shoot him. Yer not stupid. You know where he came from,” Fiera said.

“I do. And no one else seems t’care, near as I can tell. Most just figure he’s a sympathizer, like the rest of ‘em who ran out this way. Fury, it’s not like it is on the closer worlds. If yer out here, you have to want to be out here.” He sighed. “The one everyone’s tryin’ t’figure out is that Gaspare. He doesn’t seem like the type to run but he’s out here. Him and Flicks are doin’ a contract, but no one can tell if they’re actually together or not.”

“Gaspare’s what ma calls an odd duck, but he’s a good one. He kept Kuen from killin’ himself more’n once. They don’t talk much ‘bout it, but I know ‘em and I know he’s the only reason I’ve still got my husband to be runnin’ with me,” Fiera said quietly.

“Thea might insist on talkin’ t’you alone. Just have ma put Kuen t’work here at the house. Unless Flicks grabs him t’go help build the new house. You know that’s part of the expenses yer goin’ t’have,” Neven said.

“Yeah, fair point.” Fiera sighed.

“Kuen, can you carry her upstairs?” Neven said, looking over her head.

Fiera turned and smiled at Kuen, her whole world brightening as he walked into the room. Thea was with him. Her green eyes flickered with worry, but Fiera didn’t care.

“Of course,” Kuen said. “I take it I’m allowed to take her up to her room?”

“Yeah. We just have t’make her eat now, and she should recover,” Neven said. “Thea, can I talk t’you fer a minute? Then you can go up and chat with Fury.”

“Okay,” Thea said.

Fiera held out her arms and Kuen carried her up the stairs. “I am so tired of bein’ on display fer everyone t’see,” she muttered.

“Well, your room will give you some privacy,” Kuen said.

“Much as I can get with Thea comin’ in t’check on me, and Neven pokin’ his nose in t’make sure I’m eatin’,” Fiera said sourly.

“They’re as worried about you as I am, Fury,” Kuen said. He got her up to her room. Herry opened the door for them before scampering down and out the front door for school. Gaspare and the girls – along with a handful of other Colony trained engineers – had managed to patch the pipes without needing to indenture the children, something that was a relief to the citizens of the town.

Kuen got Fiera settled. Thea tapped on the door and poked her head in. “Kuen, Alena needs yer help with the sidin’ again. Nev’s goin’ up on the roof and yer the only other person who’s home right now that can do it,” she said. “I’ll sit with Fiera until yer done.”

“Okay Thea.” Kuen kissed Fiera’s forehead and walked out of the room.

“Does ma really need his help?” Fiera asked.

“I wouldn’t lie, Fury. Yer ma isn’t kind to liars in this house,” Thea said. “However, I do need him out of the room so I can talk t’you ‘bout somethin’ Nev and I have noticed that’s got both of us really worried.”

“What is it?” Fiera asked, a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Thea closed the door and sat down on the foot of the bed. “Fury, please don’t take this the wrong way. Nev and I think yer too dependent on Kuen. There’s a fine line between lovin’ someone and becomin’ co-dependent, and when yer dealin’ with PTSD and other trauma related stresses you can easily slide into co-dependency without realizin’ it.”

Fiera’s hands clenched into fists. “I am not dependent on Kuen, Thea.”

“Nev told me you want him in the room with you when we have our sessions, and how you don’t want him out of yer sight. I know you worry ‘bout him but that isn’t healthy, Fury. You two do need time apart. He has t’get used t’bein’ on Sorus and havin’ him with you every wakin’ moment won’t make the transition any easier on him,” Thea said.

Fiera felt the panic attack as it started. She couldn’t stop it. Thea just took her hands and spoke soothingly, talking her through it. Once she came out on the other side she stared up at her sister-in-law with haunted eyes. “Thea, I’m scared,” she said. “Scared he’ll walk out of my life again and I’ll lose him. Scared da will show up and kill him. Scared somethin’ else will go wrong and he’ll get killed by someone who hates the Core more’n they care ‘bout the Colonies.”

“These are perfectly normal fears, Fury. Don’t think they’re not,” Thea said, hugging her tight. “The fact that you recognize you have them is important. Do you trust him?”

Fiera nodded. “With my life.”

Thea looked at her. “Do you trust me?”

“With my sanity, what’s left of it at least,” Fiera said.

Thea chuckled. “Then let him help out more around the farm. Let him be out of yer sight. Let him expand his horizons and explore what it means to be a Colony brat, Fury.”

Fiera clung to Thea. She could see the logic in what Thea was saying. Kuen had to learn these things if they were going to make the farm work. Gaspare was already out and exploring, sometimes with Phelix and sometimes with one of the other Rezouac brood. Alena didn’t let him go off alone.

“Ma won’t let him go off on his own,” Fiera said slowly, trying to make her brain work instead of reacting to the panic. “She’ll keep him from gettin’ himself into too much trouble.”

“Right,” Thea said. “I’ll have a word with her t’make sure she knows yer not happy with Kuen bein’ gone fer long, so she doesn’t send him off all day. But let him go explore, Fury. It’ll be good fer the both of you.”

“I – I can do that,” Fiera said. “Thea, if I need you, will you be here?”

“I’m not goin’ anywhere, Fury. I don’t have any serious clients right now, except fer the Roughlings. Yer part of my family and I’m goin’ t’help take care of you,” Thea said. “Once you’ve got some strategies of yer own t’work with you won’t need me as much. It’s just a matter of gettin’ you t’that point. And that’s what we’ll work towards.”

There was a commotion downstairs. “Thea, can you go find out what’s goin’ on?” Fiera asked. “I don’t think Nev wants me walkin’ right now.”

“I’ll go down right now,” Thea said. She left the room but didn’t close the door so Fiera could hear what was going on.

“I don’t care what you were told. My boy isn’t goin’ with you,” Alena was saying loudly. Someone said something in a calm, even voice. “What do you mean it’s a planetary indenturement cull?”

“What?” Fiera gasped. She struggled to get out of bed, but she was just too weak. Her hands clenched the blanket as the person explained what was happening.

“He’s just a little, barely twelve years old. What’s he got to do with payin’ a tax we didn’t even know about?” Alena yelled.

“Wait.” That was Callie’s voice. Why was she out of the fields? “Does it have t’be him? Or just one from each family?”

“Callie?” Alena’s voice shook. “What’re you doin’?”

“Tryin’ t’save Herry, Ma. Answer me. Does it have t’be him? Or can it be anyone in the family?” Callie demanded of the ISRS agent downstairs. He answered reluctantly. “Then get that stars-cursed armband off of him. He’s too young t’do a good day’s work anyway. I’ll take his place.”

“Callie?” Herry squeaked.

“It’s okay, Herry. Better than you goin’. I’ll be fine. You stay with ma. Ma, don’t start squawkin’ ‘bout it. I can do this and be back faster than you know. The tax isn’t that high, and it’ll be paid off with his season’s harvest. I’ll be careful and stay out of trouble, so my debt won’t be too high,” Callie said. “Tell Fury I said good luck with her farm and if she gets it up and runnin’, she needs t’make these vapor brains pay fer this.”

“I’ll tell her,” Alena said, her voice cracking.

Fiera put her hands over her mouth. She let out a choked sob. She heard feet running and the stairs creaking. Thea was back in the room in a heartbeat. She wrapped her arms around Fiera’s shoulders. Fiera broke into wild sobbing.

“It’s my fault,” Fiera sobbed. “I failed. It’s my fault.”

“It’s not yer fault, Fury. The Core leveled a planetary tax on all the worlds, but the news never got out t’Sorus,” Thea said. “The tax isn’t too high. Callie’s right. We’ll pay it off this harvest, along with this year’s obligation.”

“But I should’ve stopped the Core from even doin’ this. I was supposed t’help win the war and we lost it,” Fiera sobbed.

“You couldn’t win it yerself, Fury,” Thea said. She stroked her hair. “Yer just one woman. There were so many mistakes made, not t’mention the CAF had us out-manned and outgunned. We weren’t goin’ t’win from the start. Just took ‘em a while t’figure out how t’beat us.”

Fiera continued sobbing into Thea’s shoulder. Another weight settled on the bed. Familiar arms, strong from years of labor and carrying around squirming children, pulled her away from Thea and into a rough embrace. Fiera buried her face into her mother’s shoulder.

“Ma, I’m sorry,” she sobbed.

“Not yer fault, Fury. Lay the blame on the Core, where it belongs. We’ll get her back. Kuen’s down there on the comm now, makin’ calls tryin’ t’find where she’s likely t’be sold. He’s determined t’make sure she’s kept safe as he can, and t’help us get her home soon as possible. He wants t’bring all our babies home faster than a ship in darkspace can go from here to Icrtara,” Alena said. “You found yerself a real good man, Fury.”

Fiera lost control even more. She couldn’t stop crying and finally Neven came in with something in a syringe after Thea ran to get him. The stinging liquid soon caused her to fall into a light doze which deepened into true sleep.

It was dark when she woke. She gasped and reached blindly. A hand caught hers. “Deep breaths, Fury. I’m here,” Kuen whispered.

“Kuen, I’m scared,” Fiera whispered.

“I can’t fit up there with you, or I’d curl up beside you,” Kuen said.

“You got room t’push over?” Fiera asked. Ma’s goin’ t’have kittens, but she can shove it.

“I have plenty of space for you to come tuck in with me, my phoenix. Let me grab your pillows and we’ll move you down,” Kuen said. He helped her shift around to the floor. Her back was against his chest and soon she drifted back to sleep.

Kuen woke her. “Don’t want to move,” she mumbled.

“I know, but I promised your ma I’d help with breakfast,” Kuen said. “I should probably put you back on your bed before Thea comes in.”

“Okay.” Kuen settled her on the bed and kissed her on the forehead. Fiera grabbed him and gave him a proper kiss before he headed off to get ready for the day. He left her door open so she could hear what was going on.

Thea came in a short while later. “Did you manage t’sleep last night? I’m sure I heard you gasp,” Thea said.

“I did.” Fiera blushed. “I had Kuen move me down on the floor with him. It helped.”

Thea smiled. “That’s fine, Fury. You needed the extra comfort and as long as you don’t hurt yerself down there, I’m not sayin’ anythin’ t’yer ma or to Nev. Just make sure yer back on yer bed before breakfast.”

“That’s what Kuen suggested,” Fiera said.

Thea closed the door. “Now, we need t’talk again.”

“Yes, we do.” Fiera took a deep breath.

For the next month Fiera spent her mornings talking to Thea, her days in bed, and her nights curled up in Kuen’s arms. She only got up when Neven said she could. He relied on Thea and Kuen to make sure she bathed and ate when he had trays brought up but mostly she was left to her own pursuits.

Alena brought her own precious tablet up with books on it so Fiera could read. When she was allowed to go downstairs, she helped Alena by taking up some of the neglected sewing. It gave her something to do with her hands while she read but kept her mostly sedentary.

She knew Kuen was worried about her, but Thea insisted he spend time away from the house. She was worried about co-dependency with him too. Fiera had to admit that her sister-in-law was probably right. The two had become too dependent on each other and being apart was helping both of them heal in ways that neither of them could do while attached at the hip.

Herry was very subdued and didn’t stray far from home. He clung to Alena any time someone knocked on the door and hid if it was someone he didn’t know. The ISRS had scared him to the point where the usual wild, rambunctious child he’d been was almost completely gone.

At the end of the month, Neven gave Fiera a clean bill of health. “Work up to a full day of movement though, Fury. No kickin’ the post fer a while either. Start small with cookin’ and helpin’ ma clean a bit. You’ve got another month before yer house is finished. After that, yer on yer own,” he said.

“Thanks Nev,” Fiera said, hugging him.

“That’s what I’m here fer,” Neven said, hugging her back.

“Nev, can we take her up and show her how the construction is comin’?” Phelix asked. “I’ve got a skimmer reserved fer a few hours today and I’m sure she’d like t’see it.”

“Don’t overdo it. If you get tired, get the giant t’carry you,” Neven said. “I mean it, Fury. I don’t want you needin’ my services again so soon.”

“No worries, Nev. I don’t want t’end up back in bed. I’ll be good,” Fiera said.

“Come on, Fury. Let’s go. I’ve only got the skimmer until noon,” Phelix said. Kuen helped her up and the four headed out.

They reached the valley where the farm was being set up. “That’s a lot of progress,” Fiera said, noticing that the house was framed and some of the walls were already on. The outbuildings she’d expected were also under construction.

“We’ve been busy,” Phelix said with his lopsided grin.

“While Kuen’s been helping Alena, Flicks and I have been out here almost every day dealing with the farm,” Gaspare said. “Flicks is saying peas and peppers for the first crops.”

“That’s what I was figurin’,” Fiera said. “Good way t’judge the quality of the soil and how much work we’re goin’ t’have to put into it.”

Phelix nodded. “Got some ground cover fer winter too, since we’ll have t’let the fields go fallow fer the season. Ma found a winter hardy one a couple years ago and it’s amazin’ what it does fer the fields when you have to keep ‘em all runnin’ durin’ the growin’ seasons.”

“Sounds good, Flicks,” Fiera said.

“I want to go make sure they didn’t mess up the roof again,” Gaspare said. Phelix groaned and nodded. The two left Kuen and Fiera to survey the countryside.

“This is a beautiful area, Fury,” Kuen said. He slipped an arm around her shoulders. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m all right,” Fiera said. “It’s nice gettin’ out of the house.”

“You seem to be doing better,” Kuen said. “Is lying in bed with me at night helping?”

Fiera’s hands wrapped around her stomach, and she started shaking. “I can’t do more than that right now, Kuen. Don’t ask me to. Please.”

“Fury, look at me.” He turned her so she was facing him. He put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up so she had to look into his eyes. “I told you before, I wouldn’t force the issue. I will not ask. It will happen on your time, at your pleasure.”

“Thank you, Kuen.” Fiera smiled.

“You’re welcome, my phoenix.”

The sound of the rifle shot reverberated in the valley. It could have come from anywhere. Kuen crumpled to the ground in the front of her, blood pouring from his mouth.

“Flicks! Gaspare!” Fiera grabbed for the gun she knew Kuen was carrying and looked around frantically for the shooter.

“Drop it, Fury. Or I shoot him in the head next.”

“Da, pop yer head out so I can blow it off,” Fiera snarled, rage bubbling up inside of her.

She felt the gun press up against her skull. “I said drop it, Fury. Don’t make me shoot you too.”

“Why not? Yer nothin’ more than a murderer. What’s killin’ one more person?” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Phelix grab Gaspare and hold him in place.

“Slag it, Fury. I don’t want t’kill you. Just him,” Eire snapped.

“And I don’t want you killin’ him ‘cause that’ll mean you’ve taken someone else I care about from me,” Fiera hissed.

“What do you mean someone else?” Eire asked.

“Yer stupid war killed more of my friends than I can count, Da. And now ‘cause you made them mad, the Core took Callie and indentured her. They were tryin’ t’do it t’Herry but she stepped up and saved him,” Fiera snapped. She held onto Kuen, dragging him into her lap. “Now yer tryin’ t’take the man I love, the man who saved my life, away from me. Yer worse than Michi Nakano.”

Eire jerked like he’d been shot. He staggered back before disappearing into the shadows. Phelix and Gaspare ran up to her. “Fury, let me see,” Gaspare said. “He got him in the right lung.”

“We’re too far away from Nev, and the town’s even farther,” Phelix said.

“I’m not losin’ him,” Fiera said, her voice cracking. “Gaspare, you know how t’get back to the farm?”

“I do,” Gaspare said.

“Go get Nev. I don’t care if you redline the skimmer. Get him back here fast,” Fiera ordered.

“On it,” Gaspare said. He scrambled to his feet. A moment later the skimmer screamed away.

“Fury, why did da shoot him?” Phelix asked, switching to twinspeak.

“Prob’ly ‘cause he’s a Nakano and da’s got a twist in his afterburners ‘bout that family,” Fiera said. She held Kuen who was already unconscious. His breathing came in gurgling gasps. She kept her hand over the hole in his back. Blood seeped out over the fingers. “Da wanted to kill him and I wouldn’t let him. I’m tryin’ very hard not t’be co-dependent with him but if Kuen dies Flicks, I don’t know that I’m goin’ t’last much longer than him.”

“In this case I’ll block Thea and ma until yer gone,” Phelix said, resting his hand on her shoulder. “‘Cause I won’t be the one t’force you t’live without yer other half.”

“Thanks Flicks,” Fiera said. “I’m hopin’ Nev can make this work though.”

A very tense hour later the skimmer shrieked as it returned and lurched to a sudden halt. Neven vaulted out, his kit in his hand. Phelix moved and Neven got to work.

“His lung’s collapsed and it’s full of blood, Fury. Looks like we’re using yer farmhouse fer some quick triage,” Neven said. “Gaspare, Flicks, go find me a clear spot to put him in. I need to get the blood out of his lung. Then I can slap a regenerator on him.”

“You got one that’ll work?” Fiera asked.

“I don’t use them often. You know how frakkin’ hard they are t’charge out here. But I got one with a full charge for emergencies like this. Who shot him?” Neven asked.

“Da,” Fiera said.

“Ma will kill him soon as she sets her sights on him fer this one, Fury. You have t’tell her,” Neven said.

“I will, Nev. Just fix Kuen up,” Fiera said in a rough voice.

One of the worktables was quickly converted into a surgical table. They got Kuen up on it and Neven got to work. A small siphon pulled the blood out of Kuen’s lung. Neven then slapped the regenerator on him.

“We’ve got to get him back t’the farm, Nev. We’re runnin’ out of time on havin’ the skimmer,” Phelix said.

“No worries. So long as you don’t knock the regenerator around it’s safe t’move him now,” Neven said.

It took some work, but the whole group piled into the skimmer. They got back to the farm. Alena saw them as they arrived. “What in the name of all the stars happened?” she demanded.

“Da shot Kuen, tried t’kill him,” Fiera said. “I wouldn’t let him.”

“Fury, I know you love yer da,” Alena began.

“Blow his head off if he shows his face here, Ma,” Fiera said. “He doesn’t deserve mercy after what he’s done. And I don’t just mean Kuen.”

“Sounds good,” Alena said. “Let’s get him up t’his bed so the regenerator can finish its work.”

Fiera went in and laid down on her bed once they had Kuen settled. She watched the readout on the regenerator until it beeped that it was done. She pulled it off and took it to Neven. He came in with his scanner.

“Fury, this is bad. There’s clots all through that lung. If I don’t get him t’the clinic he’ll die,” Neven said.

“You take him t’the clinic they’ll let him die ‘cause they’ll do a gene scan and see who his ma is,” Fiera said.

“You and ma keep talkin’ about that. What’s so bad about who his parents are?” Neven asked.

“Don’t know his da, but let’s just say his ma is big name Core and I don’t want none out here t’know it,” Fiera said.

Neven scowled. “Fury, I don’t have the anti-clottin’ stuff here and I don’t know if I can get it without explainin’ why I’m not bringin’ him in.”

“Just say he’s critical and can’t be moved. Doesn’t that work anymore?” Fiera asked.

“Only if I can get around the Core medic they put in charge there. Otherwise she’ll make me bring him in anyway,” Neven said.

“Nev, they’ll kill him,” Fiera all but wailed.

Neven threw his hands up in the air. “I’ll do what I can, Fury. Don’t expect a miracle.” He stormed off.

Alena came in and hugged her daughter tight. “Nev’s angry but he’ll get what he needs, even if he has t’pull a typical Roughling tactic and steal it.”

“He can’t steal this, Ma. It’s too well protected. Kuen has clots all up in the bad lung. If one of them breaks and goes t’his heart, he’s dead. If he goes t’the clinic, he’s dead. If I move him, he’s dead. If I do anythin’ but sit here and watch him fight t’keep breathin’, he’s dead.” Fiera punched her mattress. “He saved me. Why can’t I save him?”

“You did save him, Fury. You kept yer da from shootin’ him again. Let Nev worry about the medics. Keep breathin’ in and out and we’ll get him through this,” Alena said.

“Alena, Herry’s in hysterics and he doesn’t want me,” Thea said from the doorway. “If you want, I’ll sit with Fury.”

“None of us are havin’ a good day, are we?” Alena sighed. She got up and left while Thea took her place.

“If he dies, what will you do?” Thea asked.

“Don’t care what you say, Thea. I’m followin’ him. I’m done if I lose him. Don’t care if it’s selfish and I know it’ll hurt ma. But I can’t do this anymore if he dies,” Fiera said.

“I thought that would be your answer. Would it surprise you if I said I won’t stop you?” Thea asked. Fiera looked at her in shock. “Fury, I’ve seen what happens when I try t’stop those who’ve reached that point. Yer not as dependent on Kuen as you were, but it would be like me and Keo. If we didn’t have the littles and he died, I’d follow him. I’m not an idiot. I know what that kind of love is like. Just give me a little advance warning so I’m ready t’handle Flicks and Alena.”

“Flicks promised t’make sure no one stopped me,” Fiera said.

“Then he’s accepted it too? Makes my life easier,” Thea muttered.

“It’s Gaspare and ma you’d have t’worry about,” Fiera said. “Losin’ both of us is goin’ t’hurt Gaspare and ma won’t take well t’me dyin’ so soon after makin’ it home.”

“I’ll keep my eye on both of them.” Thea paused. “But I don’t think it’s going t’be necessary. Neven will find a way t’save Kuen.”

“Not this time, Thea. He can’t unless he can get the anti-clottin’ meds out from under the nose of the Core medic. You think that’s goin’ t’be easy?” Fiera asked.

“No, but Nev’s got friends among the medics. He knows who t’ask fer help. He might surprise us yet,” Thea said.

“I don’t have any hope left,” Fiera said, despair radiating from her.

“Would you like to lay down next t’him, Fury?” Thea asked. Fiera nodded. Thea helped arrange the bedding to keep Fiera from jarring Kuen’s wound and helped her lay down beside him. “I’ll check back on you soon as we hear from Nev.”

“Thanks Thea,” Fiera said.

Thea left her alone with Kuen. But she wasn’t alone for long. “Do you really think I’m going to let either of you go?” She lifted her head. Gaspare was in the door, his eyes shadowed. “I don’t care what it takes. I’m not losing my two best friends. You’re all I have left, Fury.”

“Gaspare, I don’t think we can save him,” Fiera said, tears filling her eyes. “And I won’t go on without him.”

Gaspare came over and sat down on the bed. “What am I supposed to do then? Go on with my life alone, knowing I had to watch my two best friends die?”

“You’ve got Flicks. He’ll make sure yer taken care of,” Fiera said.

“He’s a good man, and I do like him a lot. But he’s not the man who literally saved my life more times than I care to count, or the woman who I love more than my own sisters,” Gaspare said.

His voice was breaking and so was Fiera’s heart. She started crying and didn’t know what to say. Gaspare just fell over on the bed and curled up, facing the two of them. Tears streamed from his own eyes. Fiera held out her hand and he caught hold of it, clinging to it as if it were a lifeline.

Thea found them like that an hour later. Gaspare was dozing but Fiera was awake. As soon as Thea walked in, she tugged on Gaspare’s fingers, waking him instantly. “We heard from Neven. He pulled off a frakkin’ miracle, Fury. He not only got the anti-clottin’ drugs, he got another fully charged regenerator, pain killers, and some other meds that will be needed fer Kuen’s recovery. He says he’s cashed in most of the favors he was owed, so he won’t be able t’do this again,” Thea said, smiling. “He’ll be back home soon. He wants us to figure a way of extending yer bed and moving him up there because it’ll be better if he’s up higher while we get his lung fixed.”

Phelix poked his head in. “We can get some crates down from the attic, and a bunch of that extra paddin’ from the old couch ma threw out when we were littles, Fury,” he said, using twinspeak to get his idea out fast. “Won’t be perfect but we can make it work.” He saw her holding Gaspare’s hand. “You makin’ a move on my husband already, twint?”

“Just comfortin’ my other brother. He needed it as much as I did, ya daft twint,” Fiera said with a smile. She switched out of twinspeak. “He’s got a way fer us t’fix up the bed. Gaspare, can you help him?”

Gaspare squeezed her fingers once more. “I can.” He rolled off the bed and caught Phelix’s hand. Phelix seemed startled by the gesture but let himself be pulled out.

“That man’s sendin’ mixed signals all over the place. Poor Flicks,” Thea said with a shaky laugh.

“Gaspare isn’t sure about his feelin’s himself. It’ll sort itself out eventually,” Fiera said.

“Want some help up?” Thea asked.

“Not until they fix the bed. Then I’ll move,” Fiera said. “I’ll rearrange the beddin’ down here after he’s up there to make a comfy nest fer myself. I’m not leavin’ the room fer nothin’.”

“Wouldn’t dream of askin’ you, Fury,” Alena said, joining them. “Even Nev said t’tell you so long as one side of the bed was clear you could have the other side.” She raised an eyebrow. “You look pretty comfortable down there, like it isn’t the first time you slept like that.”

“It’s not,” Fiera said. “I’ve slept down here a lot. I needed the comfort, Ma.”

“So long as I’m not a grandma by you lot until yer farm is established, I don’t care,” Alena said and walked out.

“Nothin’ like that’s happenin’ anyway,” Fiera muttered.

“Yer still not willin’ t’do it?” Thea asked. Fiera shook her head. “Makes sense. It’ll take time fer that trauma t’fade. Be patient with yerself and one day you’ll want him again.”

“Trouble is, Thea, I do want him but every time I think of startin’ somethin’ I just see those two ketches and their frakkin’ torture devices,” Fiera said.

“Yer goin’ about it the right way, Fury. Start slow, just sharin’ a bed again is a huge step. When yer ready, try somethin’ else. If it triggers a flashback, go back to just sleepin’ together. It’ll get easier as time goes on,” Thea said.

“I am so glad Keo married you over Grete,” Fiera muttered.

“Is that who he was debatin’ on me with?” Thea laughed. “I’m glad he picked me too. Grete’s a handful and a half fer her poor husband and he don’t need that. Besides, she wouldn’t know how t’handle all of you and yer issues.”

“She’d prob’ly be makin’ them worse,” Fiera said.

Thea hugged Fury before heading out of the room. Fiera stayed beside Kuen until Phelix and Gaspare came back. They got the modified bed set up and helped her up. Phelix got Keoni to help Gaspare move Kuen since it was just too dangerous for Phelix to try with only one arm and heavy lifting was still not allowed for Fiera.

Fiera started remaking the bed on the floor for herself. Phelix got down to help her. Gaspare slipped out of the room with Keoni so only the twins were together. “Twint, you okay?” Phelix asked, switching back to twinspeak.

“No, I’m not okay. Thea told me if they can’t save Kuen she won’t stop me from killin’ myself ‘cause she knows it would just hurt me even more,” Fiera said. “How pathetic am I if the therapist is lettin’ me kill myself if the man I’m not even married to yet dies?”

“Yer not pathetic, Fury. Yer hurtin’ and none of us knows what to do ‘cause we’ve never seen you like this. Not even ma knows how to handle it. It’s why she’s down cookin’ more food than we can even eat ‘cause that’s how she deals with a problem. Plus losin’ Callie is buggin’ her. She and Gaspare have been talkin’ a lot about how to find her once her debt’s been bought,” Phelix said.

“How’re they goin’ t’find her? Planetary indenturement works different, doesn’t it?” Fiera asked.

“Not really. The same division of the indentured happens, though in this case more are goin’ t’end up as servants to the wealthy elite than in the mines,” Phelix said. “Callie’s young and pretty. Ma and Gaspare figure she’ll be sold to someone tryin’ t’train her up like you were. If she’s sent t’be a Pleasure Seeker it’s a matter of findin’ the House that buys her, and gettin’ her contract bought out. Gaspare can’t do it anymore and he’s scared to call his da ‘cause of the way things are between them.”

“He can’t call his da, Flicks. His da will hunt him down, maybe even kill him as a traitor,” Fiera said.

“That’s what Gaspare said. He’s havin’ t’go slow through agents and friends. Ma’s sure he’ll find her though, and that’s got him stressed. He’s terrified of lettin’ her down,” Phelix said.

“Ma can do that t’you,” Fiera said quietly.

“Fury, are you scared of lettin’ ma down?” Phelix asked.

“I’m supposed t’be the strong one, Flicks. I was the main scrapper in the Roughlings. It was my job t’protect everyone while the rest of you did what you were best at. I can’t do that anymore. I’m too weak,” Fiera said.

“Is that what’s eatin’ at you?” Phelix paused in his work to put his good hand on her arm.

“I should’ve seen da pointin’ the gun at Kuen before he shot. I didn’t. I should’ve protected Callie and Herry. But I didn’t. I can barely walk from the door t’the gate. What use am I?” Fiera asked.

Thea couldn’t help her with this feeling. She wouldn’t understand. But Phelix would. In spite of being apart for almost a decade, he was still her twin. He was the closest person to her, and he knew her best. She hoped by telling him how she felt he’d be able to give her something to work with.

Phelix gently whacked her with his good arm. “Ya daft twint,” he said with a grin. “How do you think I felt when I learned the nerves were too badly damaged in my left arm fer me t’use it again? And me bein’ a lefty t’begin with? I’m still not completely okay with it. But I’m learnin’ t’get by. Fury, you’ll make closer to a full recovery than me or Keo.”

“Still feels like it’s takin’ too long,” Fiera muttered.

Phelix snorted. “Yeah, it does. Especially when yer in the early stages and think you should be back t’normal right away and why aren’t you? I know that one very well, twint. Thea had to sit on me a few times ‘cause I got real testy with ma and the medics.”

Fiera cracked a smile. “I can actually see her doin’ that.”

“She doesn’t understand us well ‘cause you and me, she never got to know us that well. We were out of the house most of her married life with Keo doin’ our schoolin’ and work and…other stuff.” He didn’t say it directly but both of them knew he was thinking of her time in the Core. “That’s where she’s goin’ t’have the most trouble workin’ with you. You ever need an ear t’chew when she gets on yer nerves, come grab me. I’ll let you rant at me all you want.”

“Thanks, twint. Don’t know what I’d do without you,” Fiera said.

“Make a mess of things, as always,” Phelix said. “Now, we got yer nest fixed. I’m goin’ t’go stop ma from wastin’ all our food supplies. You try to rest a bit.” Fiera nodded and curled up. Phelix ruffled her hair and left the room. Fiera watched Kuen breathe. She could hear the struggle as he fought to draw in air around the clots in his lung. “I’m sorry, Kuen,” she whispered. She didn’t take her eyes off of him until she slipped into a light doze herself.