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Fiera stared at herself in the mirror. “Blue has always been your best color, Fury,” Kuen said from where he sat on their bed. “Where in the name of all the stars did your mother get that dress?”

“It’s one of her old ones,” Fiera said, twisting as the soft fabric clung to her wiry frame. She had lost a lot of weight and was still trying to pack it back on. The dress hid that fact well though, and with a fresh haircut she looked as ready as she could be to face the townsfolk. “How ma found somethin’ t’fit you is beyond me.”

“She says she knew who to ask,” Kuen said. He stood up and took her hand. “You look beautiful, my phoenix.”

Fiera blushed. “Oh hush. I look like an under ripe blueberry, but it’ll do. Ma said she’d send Nev in a skimmer t’get us and I think I hear it comin’.”

The two walked out of their bedroom in time to catch Phelix and Gaspare coming out of theirs. “Blue is definitely your color,” Gaspare said, echoing Kuen’s comment.

“She always does look prettiest in it,” Phelix said, giving his twin an admiring smile.

“Oh hush,” Fiera said, blushing fiercely. “You two look good.”

They walked outside in time to see Neven pull up. “Skathi, you four put the rest of us t’shame, I swear,” Neven said.

“Look who’s talkin’,” Phelix said with a laugh. “The peacock of the family strikes again. I swear we’re all unfledged baby birds compared t’you.”

Neven snorted. “You might, but Fiera’s practically shinin’ tonight.”

“You and the other Roughlings know the plan, Nev?” Fiera asked as she accepted his help in climbing into the skimmer.

“We do. Ma doesn’t though. We kept it from her,” Neven said, grinning.

“Good. Flicks and I don’t want her knowin’ we’re singin’ it fer her tonight,” Fiera said.

“Yeah, but what are you singin’?” Neven asked.

“Somethin’ new I wrote,” Fiera said.

“You wrote somethin’ new? Starfire, Fury. That’s excitin’ news,” Neven said. “We haven’t heard a new song from you in forever.”

“Keep it quiet, Nev. I don’t want anyone knowin’ that either,” Fiera said with a frown.

Neven nodded as the men climbed in. He eased the skimmer into gear and zipped off towards the town. Skimmer rent was free on festival days since outlying farms had to be picked up. Neven was collecting more than their farm, and they’d have to hop out quickly so he could go pick up his next family.

Once they reached the gathering area, they joined the rest of the Rezouac family while Neven headed off again. “This is the largest gathering we’ve seen since we got here,” Gaspare said. Fiera saw how he and Kuen stiffened, and the look of strain around their eyes spoke volumes of how they were feeling.

“Just sit down and don’t let them see yer scared,” Phelix said, pulling him into a chair beside him.

Fiera sat down and Kuen settled into the chair beside her. “How often do you gather like this?” Kuen asked quietly.

“Summer festival is the only time we’ll do this,” Fiera said. “It’s the only time there’s a lull in the work long enough fer us t’gather. Spring is plantin’, fall is harvest, winter is too frakkin’ cold.”

“Fury, who’s this handsome man?” a young woman asked, coming up and all but flinging herself at Kuen.

“My husband, Sella. Back off,” Fiera snapped.

“What? You have a contract? Not fair. How did you snare him?” the woman asked, pouting.

“Right place, right time. Go pester someone else,” Fiera said.

“What about the brunette next t’Flicks? He’s new too,” Sella said.

“That’s his husband,” Fiera said. “Hands off of him too.”

“Wait, the brunette’s antero? Skathi, why are all the good-lookin’ ones all taken?” Sella stormed off.

“She seemed desperate,” Kuen commented dryly.

“She’s the local whore,” Fiera said without any hesitation. “She’ll sleep with any male of legal age she finds attractive, and then dump them when the next good-lookin’ guy comes along. No one takes her seriously and most don’t take her at all.”

Keoni choked. “Fury, not in front of the littles,” he said, passing her a flask.

“Not my fault. Sella started it by tryin’ t’poach Kuen,” Fiera protested, taking a sip of what was in the flask. It was just juice. She raised an eyebrow at Keoni.

“No intoxicants or it’s six months in the DC,” Keoni said. “They don’t want rioting at these festivals.”

“Got it.” She handed it to Kuen, who also took a drink.

Three people were hauled off to the detention center for bringing intoxicants into the festival before it even started. Then the food was served, and the entertainment began. Each performer chose who went after them.

It took a while, but someone spotted Fiera and called her name. She got up and moved to stand in the firelight. Phelix brought her a guitar and sat back down. She made sure it was in tune before beginning her song. It was about the loneliness of two lovers trapped on opposite sides of a war, aching to be together but knowing it was impossible.

When she finished, she glanced at her siblings. “Okay Roughlings, get up here,” she said, grinning. Alena gasped as most of her children joined Fiera in the middle of the clearing. The group began their performance, singing their song praising the strength of the women in their lives including their mother as well as the women who’d founded the colony.

Phelix pointed someone else out and the Rezouacs flopped back in their seats. “What a performance to follow,” the man said with a groan. But he began his act.

“Fury, you wrote that first song right before Junna?” Kuen whispered.

“I did,” Fiera whispered back.

“That was beautiful,” he said. “That song for your mother was incredible too. I didn’t even know anyone could make the range of sounds you and your siblings did.”

“We’re a talented bunch, when we’re not knockin’ heads together,” Fiera said with a small laugh.

The festival went on until midnight, when everyone was sent home. Those who lived close enough were required to walk home while the rest were taken home in skimmers by family members. Neven collected Fiera and her household.

As they walked towards their assigned skimmer, two soldiers from the CAF approached them. “Excuse me, that song you sang – the first one – was it about you and your husband?” one of them asked.

“It was,” Fiera said. “I wrote it one night, close t’the end of the fightin’.”

“Were you really a CAF soldier?” the second soldier asked, looking at Kuen.

Kuen sighed. “I was. I got very lucky that the two of us encountered each other in a situation that allowed me to bring her home rather than see her live as a POW.”

“Why did you join the Colony troops knowing he was serving the CAF?” the first soldier asked.

Fiera realized these were young men, probably new recruits brought in after the war ended. “‘Cause both of us had our duties t’our people and we weren’t goin’ t’back down from those. We knew there was a chance we’d end up killin’ each other. I dreaded goin’ out in the field every day thinkin’ I might see him.”

“Did you ever see each other?” the second soldier asked.

“Twice. Both times I was very lucky I wasn’t the one fighting her,” Kuen said. “It came close the second time.”

“In the end, we’re just two humans who love each other and when he found me, we decided we were done bein’ enemies. I brought him home, and we’re settin’ up our farm together like we always talked about,” Fiera said.

“Is something wrong?” their senior officer asked as he came up on them.

“Nothing sir. We were just complimenting the young lady on her music,” the second soldier said.

“I see. Well, there is a curfew in place so unless you want to be responsible for these people violating it, I suggest you let them go,” the senior officer said.

“Yes sir.” The young soldiers stepped back and the group made it to their skimmer.

“Think they know who you are?” Phelix asked as they climbed in.

Kuen shook his head. “They’re new recruits, probably recent Academy graduates.”

“Their senior officer isn’t a veteran of the war either. I’d put him as being in one of the Academies during that whole mess,” Gaspare said.

“Which means they’re combat trained – they’ve been on a few deployments – but they aren’t familiar with me or Gaspare,” Kuen said.

“Did either of you drink or eat from the common utensils?” Neven asked.

“I drank from Keo’s flask and only ate finger foods,” Kuen said.

“Same. I know the tricks for gathering someone’s genetics,” Gaspare said.

“Good. We’ve managed so far in keepin’ them from gettin’ yer genes. I can’t say it’ll work forever, and you might end up gettin’ outed. But we’re still fightin’ t’keep yer secrets,” Neven said.

They got back to the farm and Neven headed off immediately. Gaspare opened the gate and both pairs went to their rooms after Kuen checked the cameras. Kuen started to peel off his clothes. Fiera, taking a deep breath, went and helped him.

She ran her fingers along his chest. “You’re a tease,” he whispered hoarsely.

“Am I?” she whispered back, her other hand moving lower.

“Fiera.” Her name was said with such desire it almost broke her self-control right there.

“Kuen, tonight I want to forget everythin’,” she said. “The war, what happened, everythin’. I just want it to be us again, like it was before.”

“Yes, my phoenix,” Kuen said, leaning in and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. His hands found their way to the fastener of her dress. He was careful and slow, making no sudden movements. Fiera realized he was making sure he didn’t frighten her and that made her love him all the more.

He finished unfastening her dress and she slipped it off. She helped him out of his clothing. He guided her to their bed. Much like their first time it was slow, gentle, and much of it was spent in relearning each other’s bodies. When he took her there was no fear, no memories of what had happened. It was just the two of them and Fiera reveled in the joy.

The next morning, they were woken up by the incessant chiming of the comm. “Skathi, who’s calling this early?” Fiera muttered. She dragged on some clothes and headed downstairs. She answered it. Her blood ran cold. “What do you want?” she demanded.

High Admiral Fabrice Benoit glared at her. “I want to talk to my son.”

“Does he want to talk to you? That’s the question,” Fiera said. “Kuen, go knock on their door. Let Gaspare know who’s on the comm. Ask him if he wants me to end the call.”

“Right,” Kuen said. He went back upstairs and knocked on the door. There was a muffled conversation and Gaspare appeared a moment later, pale but spine stiff.

“Go ahead and move, Fury. I’ll have to have it out with him eventually,” Gaspare said.

“You sure?” Fiera asked.

Gaspare took a deep breath. “I’m sure.”

Fiera got up and moved out of the admiral’s line of sight but not out of the room. Kuen joined her and Phelix slipped up on her other side. There was worry plain on his face. It was clear he didn’t think Gaspare should talk to his father either.

Gaspare sat down. “What do you want, old man? I thought I made it clear I was done with you.”

“You’re done with the whole family, Gaspare. As of this moment you are cut off completely,” High Admiral Benoit said.

“I thought moving out to the Colonies made it pretty obvious I didn’t want anything more to do with you anyway, Father,” Gaspare said.

“No, you don’t understand, Gaspare. You don’t even have the right to call me that anymore,” High Admiral Benoit said. “I have publicly disowned you. Your mother refuses to accept my decision, as she always does, but that means very little to me. You hold no right to the Benoit family name, can make no claims on the family, and are forbidden from ever contacting your sisters or their families.”

“Does me moving out to the Colonies bother you that much, Admiral Benoit?” Gaspare snapped.

“Oh, it’s not just that you’ve thrown your lot in with the Colonies,” High Admiral Benoit said, his voice now low and venomous. “It’s that you’ve let yourself become something filthy.” Gaspare turned white. “You knew my feelings about those who are antero and yet you went ahead and flaunted your marriage contract with a man anyway. Did you think I wouldn’t recognize my own mother’s maiden name? Please, Gaspare. I’m not an idiot. As far as I’m concerned, you’re no better than the child molesters I execute every time I find them at the Academies.”

Fiera watched as Gaspare’s world shattered. He bolted through the door. “Kuen, go after him. Flicks, you too,” Fiera said. “Before he hurts himself.” Both men took off. Fiera went to the comm. “You are the worst kind of human I have ever encountered, and that puts you on par with Michi Nakano and my own father.”

“How dare you compare me to those two traitors?” High Admiral Benoit demanded. “And who are you to –?”

“Who am I? I’m one of your son’s closest friends. I consider him as close as my own brothers. I have watched him grow and thrive out here and I just watched you, with the vilest words ever uttered by a human being, destroy that life,” Fiera said. “How dare you equate those of us who are antero to that filth you just spewed? I don’t know or care what happened to you that makes you think we would even dream of doing that. Not a single antero person I’ve been privileged to meet has touched a child, and absolutely none of them would be so cruel to their own children as you just were to your own son. Go fly into the heart of a supernova, High Admiral Benoit. Because if that man commits suicide, I swear to all the stars I will hunt you down personally and kill you myself, because it’s going to end up costing me my twin brother as well.” She slammed her fist into the comm unit, ending the call.

It took several minutes for her to calm down. Kuen came in. “I can’t find him. Neither can Flicks. Fury, in his current state…”

“Did you check the outbuildings?” Fiera asked.

“We did. And the fields, such as they are,” Kuen said.

“What about the hills behind us?” Fiera asked.

“Flicks is going up there,” Kuen said.

“I’m goin’ up there too. There’s lots of hidin’ places and he’s not goin’ t’be able to search them all,” Fiera said. “Call my ma. Tell her what that frakkin’ useless bag of genetic waste just did. We’re prob’ly goin’ t’need Thea.”

“All right.” Kuen hugged Fiera before she ran out the door.

“Flicks, take west, I’ll go east,” she yelled as she vaulted the fence.

“On it.” There was such pain in her twin’s voice. “Can I kill that bastard?”

“If somethin’ happens to Gaspare? I’ll drag him here so you get the chance,” Fiera said.

“Fair deal,” Phelix said.

Fiera climbed and clambered to one of the few places she thought Gaspare might be hiding. She heard him first. “Gaspare, I know yer up here,” she said.

“Go away, Fury,” came the muffled reply.

“No.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause if I go away, yer goin’ t’do somethin’ stupid and that’ll hurt everyone in our house. I’m not lettin’ that happen.” It took a little more climbing, but she found where he’d shoved himself behind some rocks. Fiera got herself in a position to look at him. “Gaspare, talk t’me.”

“Am I really what he said?” Gaspare looked at her with a dusty, tear-streaked face. “Am I that…awful?”

“No, Gaspare. You aren’t. Yer father is a frakkin’ idiot and I told him that. T’be honest, I dressed him down ‘cause I don’t care what his past is. T’blame an entire group of people fer one man’s cruelty is a horrible way of dealin’ with his issues,” Fiera said.

“Fury, what if he’s right? What if I am something disgusting?” Gaspare seemed trapped between wanting to believe he was normal and the cruel things his father had said.

“Is Flicks somethin’ disgustin’?” Fiera asked, silently hoping Gaspare didn’t say what she was thinking he might.

“No. Not at all,” Gaspare said.

Fiera breathed a sigh of relief. “If he’s not, why would you be? You two are so much alike it’s scary, Gaspare. It’s why I was hopin’ you’d be antero ‘cause you’ll make a great partner fer him.”

“Wait, you think, you mean you really believe I’m antero?” Gaspare asked.

“Would you come out of there? This isn’t comfortable and I’m startin’ t’hurt,” Fiera said.

Gaspare emerged from his hiding place. “I don’t want to go back down there just yet, Fury.”

“Then let’s sit here. But at least I don’t have t’bend at an awkward angle t’talk to you anymore,” Fiera said. They sat down with their backs against the stone. “Yes, Gaspare. Kuen and I are both pretty sure yer antero. Kuen doesn’t think yer a terrible person. Neither do I. We don’t believe that drek yer father spewed either. I’ve known Flicks all our lives and never once has he done anythin’ like what that vapor brain suggested.”

“I think – I think I like Flicks as more than just a friend. I just don’t know yet. He’s being very patient with me, never pushing, never going farther than what I’m comfortable with,” Gaspare said. He laughed shakily. “He doesn’t even really flirt with me much. When he does, I get so flustered I don’t even know what to think. It – it scares me, Fury. And then with what that bastard said to me today, I just – I just…”

Fiera moved closer. She dropped her Colony accent to be sure she was fully understood. “Gaspare, I love you like my own brother. So I’m going to be honest with you.” Gaspare nodded. “If I thought you were the type of person who could do what that skybrained bastard suggested I’d have shoved you out an airlock before we ever got to Sorus. I certainly wouldn’t have let you around Herry or the other littles. I am very protective of my family. I also wouldn’t have let Flicks take out the contract to marry with you if I thought you were capable of that because I won’t let him get hurt again.”

“You trust me that much, Fury?” Gaspare asked.

“Gaspare, you realize how much I trust Kuen, right?” Fiera asked. Gaspare nodded. “There is only one thing I do with Kuen that I would not do with you.”

It took Gaspare a minute to realize what she meant. He turned beet red. “I love you like a sister, Fury. But no. I’m not interested in you like that at all and never have been.” He glanced down at the ground. “Swear you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to say?” Fiera nodded. “I used to – to have a crush on Kuen. I was so confused. I never understood why. Now, now I know it’s natural and I understand so much more.”

“But you’re not sure you’re ready for that kind of relationship,” Fiera guessed.

“Especially not after what he just said,” Gaspare said. “I don’t actually believe what he was saying. Not anymore, at least. It still – it still hurts though, Fury.”

“Of course it hurts, Gaspare. Deep down you were hoping he’d see you were right about things and come to respect your decision.” She slugged his arm gently. “I’m not an idiot. I might not be great with people, but I still remember enough of my training as the Blue Butterfly to read into certain situations enough subtext to sort out people’s emotions.”

“You think Thea could help me out with some of this?” Gaspare asked suddenly.

“I do, and I told Kuen to call my ma and have her send Thea over as soon as possible,” Fiera said. “But there’s someone else tearing himself apart over this. He feels really guilty over it, Gaspare. He’s probably being more reckless than he needs to be looking for you too.”

“Flicks. Stars, Fury. I don’t want him getting hurt because of me,” Gaspare said.

“Let me whistle him up, let him know I found you. That’ll settle him some. But I think you two need to talk about this,” Fiera said.

“I’d like to talk to him too. I want – I need to explain some of this to him,” Gaspare said.

“Right. Give me one second.” She stood up and put her fingers to her lips, letting out a shrill whistle. Almost immediately she heard Phelix’s answering call. He couldn’t whistle because of his jaw but he’d heard her and knew what it meant. She waved and once he saw her, he waved back. He wasn’t that far away. “When he gets here, I’m going down with Kuen. You two stay up here and talk as long as you need to. The fields can wait for a day.”

“Thanks for understanding, Fury.” Gaspare paused. “Where’d your Colony accent go?”

“I drop it when I need to be understood more clearly. This was a point where you needed to hear me properly,” Fiera said. “You won’t have that luxury with Flicks, so you’ll really have to pay attention.”

“I will.” Gaspare hugged her.

Phelix showed up a few minutes later. Gaspare still looked awful but at least he was a little calmer. “I’m goin’ back down, Flicks,” Fiera said, picking back up the Colony accent. “You two talk. I got Kuen talkin’ t’ma and gettin’ Thea out here. There’s a lot t’be said here and you need t’really listen t’each other.”

“Thanks, twint,” Phelix said.

Fiera headed back to the house, already hurting. “Slag it,” she muttered. “Overdid it with the jumpin’ and climbin’.”

Kuen handed her a cup of tea when she walked through the door. “Nev said give this to you when you came in, that you’d need it,” he said. “And Alena says as soon as they can get a skimmer Thea will be over. She’s sent Marc in to rent one since Neven’s used up all his good credit with people to help us.”

Fiera winced. “That’s rough on Nev then.”

“She said not to worry about that. Give him a few weeks and he’ll have it banked up again. He’s a popular medic and always in high demand,” Kuen said. He glanced out the window. “How is he?”

Fiera sighed and dropped into a chair. She sipped the tea and let herself become the Blue Butterfly again. “He is extremely distressed, Kuen. High Admiral Benoit is more of a space brained bastard than my own father, since all my father does is kill people. At least that’s quick and over with fast. High Admiral Benoit destroyed his son’s happiness with some of the nastiest things that can be said to someone who’s discovering what it means to be antero.”

“Do you think that’s going to affect his relationship with Flicks?” Kuen asked.

“It could, but I don’t know in what way. It might push them closer together. It may break them apart. It may just mean more of the same thing,” Fiera said. “I left them talking, and I made it clear they really needed to listen to each other. Flicks’ Colony accent is going to be worse than usual, and with that slur of his Gaspare’s really going to have to pay attention to understand him. I’m hoping Flicks will hear what Gaspare isn’t saying as well as what he is. Flicks was always better at that than I was, but this is his own heart we’re dealing with and that may make it harder for him to focus.”

“Hopefully Thea can help them work through this,” Kuen said.

“I hope Gaspare opens up to her. He seems like someone who stays pretty closed off,” Fiera said.

“He does, and that’s what worries me.” Kuen rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Thea showed up a couple hours later. “Where is he?” she asked, worried when she didn’t immediately see Gaspare.

“Up there. You can’t miss the red,” Fiera said. “Calm down, Thea. That’s not blood. That’s our hair. He and Flicks have been talkin’ since I dressed down the bastard who tore Gaspare apart. I also had t’talk Gaspare out of hidin’. I don’t know how open Gaspare’s goin’ t’be, but he did ask fer you, so we’ve got hope.”

“Fury, just who is Gaspare’s da? And why is yer ma ready to take on the entire CAF t’get to him?” Thea asked.

“Starfire, ma’s got her temper on today,” Fiera said. “Thea, can we call this doctor patient privilege?”

“I’m goin’ t’regret this, but yes,” Thea said.

“You know the name Benoit?” Fiera asked.

“I’ll kill the admiral myself if he’s hurt Gaspare,” Thea said through clenched teeth.

Kuen handed Thea a glass of juice. “This whole family is bloodthirsty.”

“I didn’t have to see what the CAF High Command did to the Colonies firsthand, Kuen,” Thea said. “Though like everyone here I did live through the bombardment. I dealt with the aftermath of that conflict. I have lost more patients to suicide than I care t’count. That man is part of the High Command, and responsible fer those deaths. I’m not lettin’ him claim another life ‘cause he’s a bigoted pile of genetic waste and can’t see the amazin’ human he has fer a son.”

“I’m glad you agree with us,” Fiera said. “Let me go whistle them up to let them know yer here. They may come down, they may not. It’ll depend on if they’re done with their convo or not.”

“Their convo is more important, Fury,” Thea said.

“Come outside with me. They’ve got a good view of the farm from up there,” Fiera said. The two women walked outside. Fiera whistled. She saw the red head pop up, wave, and lean back again.

“They know I’m here. We’ll let them come down when they’re ready,” Thea said.

“Thea, I wanted to tell you somethin’,” Fiera said.

“What is it?” Thea asked.

“Kuen and I did somethin’ last night I didn’t think I’d be able t’do,” Fiera said with a grin. “And nothin’ went wrong. You were right. It was worth waitin’ and workin’ through it slowly.”

Thea hugged her. “I told you. Don’t overwork yourself though, Fury. Or Nev will have yer hide.”

“We’re havin’ whatever’s left in the cooler for dinner tonight. I’m too tired to cook, Flicks won’t be in any shape t’do it either, and I still don’t trust the boys t’make a full meal without help,” Fiera said with a laugh. “We’re goin’ t’rest the whole evenin’.”

“Good,” Thea said.

Fiera caught a flash of movement. She looked up. Phelix was waving and pointing down. Fiera waved back. “They’re comin’ down.”

The two men came down. Phelix went inside but Gaspare took Thea’s arm and led her to one of the outbuildings. It was the workroom where he and Phelix would fix the machines. There were benches and it offered a modicum of privacy.

Fiera followed her brother inside. He was resting his forehead on his good arm and leaning against the wall. “Do I want t’ask how it went?” she asked in twinspeak.

“He’s antero all right. And he’s tryin’ t’accept it, but after what that bastard did, I’m not even goin’ t’try anythin’ for a while. I’m too worried I’ll scare him worse than he already is,” Phelix replied the same way. “Twint, he seems so strong but he’s really as fragile as the rest of us. He just hides it better.”

“That’s what I was worried about,” Fiera muttered. She put a hand on his shoulder. “Flicks, how much do you like Gaspare?”

Phelix looked away from the wall, the haunted look in those teal eyes breaking Fiera’s heart because she recognized that expression. “I’ve done somethin’ stupid and gone and lost my heart t’him. I’ve known him two months. Ma was right. I’m a slaggin’ idiot.”

“No, yer a man who goes all in when he finds what he wants. You want Gaspare. That’s not bein’ an idiot, twint. That’s bein’ in love.” Fiera smiled ruefully. “You two are so much alike it’s scary.”

Phelix snorted. “You think he’ll come around t’my way of thinkin’ one of these days, Fury?”

“I do. You talked to him. What did he tell you?” Fiera asked.

“He told me a whole lot about himself, what he grew up with, and why he’s so scared of admittin’ what he is,” Phelix said. “He also told me what the admiral said hurt him ‘cause he did respect his da and havin’ that man tear him down like he did ripped his heart out.”

“It’ll take time, Flicks. But he’ll come around. You’re just goin’ t’have to be a rock again for a while,” Fiera said.

Phelix groaned. Then he noticed Kuen sitting there. “Sorry, Kuen. Sometimes it’s just easier to talk in twinspeak,” he said.

“I figured. I take it Gaspare is talking to Thea now?” Kuen asked. Phelix nodded. “Then why don’t you go lay down for a bit, Flicks? You look like someone dropped a freighter on your head.”

“It feels like they did,” Phelix muttered. “Twint, you care if I go pass out for a bit?”

“Go on. I’m goin’ t’prop my feet up and wait for Thea and Gaspare t’come in,” Fiera said.

“Thanks, you two.” Phelix went upstairs to the room he shared with Gaspare.

It was almost dinner time before Thea and Gaspare walked in. Gaspare still looked very pale, but he was calmer. “I need t’get the skimmer back,” Thea said. “Gaspare, I’m serious. If you need me, call. I can always find a ride out here if I need one.”

“Thanks, Thea. I’ll probably need you again at some point because I know this isn’t going to go away,” Gaspare said.

“No, it won’t. Yer feeling better now, and I really would go talk t’him. But you will still have yer bad days,” Thea said. “Kuen, Fury, you two doin’ okay?”

“We’re fine,” Fiera said. “Get that skimmer back before the owner charges you double.” Thea laughed as she left.

“Here,” Kuen said, handing Gaspare a large tray of food. “Flicks hasn’t been downstairs at all. Take some dinner up to him and see if you can convince him to eat.”

“Thanks, Kuen. I’m glad I’ve got you three as family,” Gaspare said, taking the tray. “Otherwise I’d be a worse mess than I am now.” “Gaspare, before you take the food up, wash yer face. It needs it,” Fiera said with a grin. Gaspare chuckled, cleaned himself up, and took the food upstairs. Kuen and Fiera ate their meal and went to bed. Kuen held her and let her cry into his shoulder as she worried for Gaspare and Phelix.