Chapter 6 #3
“The Combine shouldn’t have any further reason to come after us,” she said.
“If Ronn had been a born member instead of bloodsworn in, then yes, his family would want Darien and I’d fight to my dying breath to keep him out of their clutches.
But no matter how much he wanted it, Ronn wasn’t family.
The others will squabble over whatever fiefdom he managed to build and carve out pieces.
Violently. But neither Darien nor I hold any value. ”
Colvin was afraid she was talking herself into resuming life as it had been on Resort Planet but before he could object, she was shaking her head.
“But none of that matters because Darien and I went through hell today and maybe he’s so young he’ll forget except in vague nightmares, but I’m going to have hypervigilance and anxiety for a long time, believe me.”
He hugged her. “I’ll be there every step of the way. Did Darien understand that was his father?”
“Not really. Evidently the horrible woman who grabbed him told him she was taking him to see his daddy, which scared him actually, but his concept of a father is fuzzy. He was so little and doesn’t remember much about living with Ronn.
I never talked to him about it after we escaped my ex.
I guess I was avoiding the subject. We ran at the first opportunity I had. ”
“No more need for running either. We’ll go to Ardanna Prime on the Famptror, I’ll introduce you to my mother and the rest of my family, Darien will have cousins to play with and aunts and uncles to make a fuss over him, and we’ll work out our future together.
I’m going to resign my commission as soon as we get there. Do you believe in long engagements?”
Ivy laughed. “Considering I’ve known you all of three days so far, why should our engagement last much longer either? Bring it on.”
He fished in his pocket and brought out a blue velvet box.
“I had Delain get me this while I was talking to his security guys for endless hours. He says it’s from the most exclusive shop and gave me a whole tray to choose from but all I know is this one is beautiful enough for my beautiful woman and I’d be honored if you’d accept it and my proposal of marriage. ”
She took the box and flicked her gaze to him before opening the lid to reveal a huge marquise cur diamond, offset by rubies. “Oh Colvin, this is exquisite!”
He took it from the box and slid it on her ring finger. “I take that as a yes then?”
“Absolutely. Can you friend the captain conduct marriages or is that just a human tradition?”
The breath knocked out of him by her unexpected question, he thumped his chest as if to restart his heart before replying. “He can. He would if I ask him.”
“Would your mother forgive us? We could let her throw a big party instead.” She studied the ring, turning it this way and that to allow the facets to catch the light.
“Today made me realize life is so short and nothing is promised, not really. I don’t want to waste any more time before becoming your wife. ”
“I want to adopt Darien,” he said. “It’ll take longer, there’s probably a lot of Sectors rigamarole to get through but I think of him as mine. The regimandane also believes he’s ours to protect, just like you are.”
“And I want to take care of you,” she said. “Ride the wind on your AGcycle with you and have more kids and live to be very old and never lose our spirit of adventure. Or our love for each other.”
“I can’t imagine anything better,” he said.
They kissed, which became quite involved and passionate until the sound of Darien’s small voice calling out from his bed broke through their absorption in each other.
“I’m ready to get up now,” he said. “Fred and I want a snack.”
“I think that can be arranged,” Colvin said, going to the bed and picking the toddler up, to swing him in the air, which left Darien chortling with glee.
Ivy joined them, picking the stuffed Moomenny up from the deck where it had fallen as Colvin lifted her son. “I think I might be a little hungry too, now I think about it. And you did tell me you had a high requirement for calories, right? Shifting into a lion must take a lot of energy.”
“Be a lion now,” Darien demanded.
“This room isn’t big enough,” Colvin said with perfect truth. “I promise I’ll do it for you when I can but probably not today. The lion can’t come out often.”
“You have Fred,” Ivy reminded him, handing the boy his favorite toy. “Where are we going to find this food?”
“Officers’ mess,” Colvin replied. “I’m sure the staff will enjoy the challenge of feeding a three-year-old and a beautiful woman as a change from dealing with all of us grumpy officers.”
They left the cabin and Colvin led the way to the wardroom, which was up a few decks.
Darien was fascinated by everything he saw on the way and enthralled with the gravlift between decks.
. The chief steward consulted with Ivy as to what might tempt her son’s palate and sent one of her minions rushing off to the galley to obtain a selection of dishes.
Captain Degrasay came in, full of good cheer. “I hope you and your boy will be going to Ardanna Prime with us,” he said to Ivy.
She checked with Colvin and he said, “Actually yes, they will be. And we have a favor to ask.”
“You know I don’t have any bigger quarters to offer, right?” the captain joked. “I love you like a brother, Colvin, but I’m not giving up my own cabin.”
“Oh too bad,” he said. “I was going to ask to borrow it for my wedding night.”
Degrasay stared at him, laden fork in his hand forgotten. Then he glanced at Ivy’s hand, which she lifted above to table to better show off the engagement ring. “Oh well, in that case, I’ll make an exception, as my wedding present to you. Congratulations!”
There was a round of well wishes from the other officers at the table.
A bubbly feelgood was brought out by the chief steward after a quick consultation with the captain and a toast was drunk to Colvin and Ivy’s happy future.
Darien made do with fruit juice but he loved clinking cups with everyone and wanted to keep doing it.
“Actually, I have another present as well,” Degrasay said when the toasting was over and Ivy had redirected Darien to his green vegetables. “I’m going to assign a pair of ensigns to you for the duration of the voyage home.”
“Do I need staff?” Colvin asked, puzzled.
“They both come from large families and have extensive experience minding young ones,” the captain replied with a mischievous grin.
“Of course they volunteered for the duty—it’s an honor to be of service to the famous war hero General Colvin Lawben and his fated mate.
I don’t expect them to be full-time childcare but they’ll be on call and certainly for the wedding night they’ll keep young Darien company.
He won’t even miss you.” Giving Ivy a half bow, he added, “Assuming of course you’re comfortable with them.
My adjutant has set up an interview for tomorrow morning to get your blessing on my choices. ”
“I’m sure the ensigns will be terrific babysitters and it’s a nice gesture on your part,” she said. “A meeting will be good though—I can tell them about Darien’s quirks and preferences.”
“I’ve set aside a space in the ship’s exercise facility for Darien to use as a play area. Can’t have a toddler running around a battleship. The ensigns are getting it ready today so he can use it as soon as tomorrow if you like.”
“You’re going above and beyond,” Ivy said in a delighted tone. ”I wasn’t looking forward to keeping him amused in Colvin’s cabin for the entire cruise. Darien always has a lot of energy to expend and the cabin is a bit cramped with three of us in there.”
“Everything’s settled then,” Colvin said, feeling content. “Delain can have his staff pack up your things and Darien’s and we’ll transfer it up here. Your household goods as well.”
“I need a nice dress to wear for my wedding,” she said with a flash of her old spirit, which he was glad to see. “And flowers. I assume you’ll wear your dress uniform?”
He nodded, considering the logistics of the wedding.
“Tell me who you want brought aboard as your attendants and any special guests and I’ll take care of it.
We should keep the attendee list on the small side though.
The chapel on board isn’t large.” Colvin was willing to go to any amount of effort to ensure the wedding took place the way Ivy wanted it to be, even if the venue and the officiant were unusual.
All he cared about was they’d be married and she’d be his wife as well as his mate.
And he was keenly anticipating his wedding night in the borrowed captain’s cabin, with Darien being cared for by trusted junior officers elsewhere.
Grudgingly agreeing to show up for his assigned stint as a ‘date’ for an unknown human woman had been the best decision of his life as it all turned out and he guessed he owed the Intergalactic Dating Agency a huge debt for matching him with Ivy.
He wasn’t about to do a holo endorsement for them or anything but he would definitely speak well of the program to his superiors and to anyone else who asked.
Life changing was the only way to describe it. And he was blessed by the Ardannan gods to now have a fated mate, a son and the ability to shift into his regimandane.
Who could ask for anything more?