Chapter 54
Chapter fifty-four
Atlas
Atlas gently shook Anna awake. Their baby was rooting, turning her head looking to nurse. “Anna? I think she’s needing to eat again.”
They had been home around two days now, settled back into their home with a tiny bassinet by their side. The door locked, even though no more threats were coming. The days blurred, the way caring for a newborn should, instead of other stresses.
“Okay.” Anna rolled over, propping herself up. She was tired, her eyes lidded as she raised herself. After finally returning home she almost collapsed in the bed, trusting Atlas to stand guard. To protect them.
And he did. He always would.
“Here. Let me help.” He arranged pillows behind and around her before bringing the baby over. “Do you want me to get a bottle next time? To let you rest.”
“No.” Anna shook her head, groggily. “I am okay for now.” She grimaced, shifting her body on the bed. “Maybe some medicine.”
“Alright.” He brought her some pain medicine and water.
None of the stitches in her vaginal area had torn, but everything was angry and swollen when he’d inspected them earlier.
Thankfully, he had stocked up with supplies before and was able to make a compress out of witch hazel. Plants coming to the rescue again.
That and ibuprofen. Lots and lots of ibuprofen.
He sat next to Anna on the bed, reaching over to turn the lantern light up.
Something in his processors ached at the sight of them together, nursing.
With Anna gently humming down at her baby, both sleepy in the night.
He committed the scene to his memory. They almost took this away.
Stella and the others. They almost . . .
“You really ripped Stella’s head off?” Anna said, half asleep.
“Absolutely.” He grinned. “They are putting her back together though.”
“That’s a shame.” She sighed. “I never really want to see her again. With or without her head.”
“I know. You won’t.” He kissed her forehead. “If she tries to come out here I’ll pull her head off again.”
“Good.”
“I mean it.” He shifted closer. “I think everything is settled. You’re officially allowed to live here in peace.”
“Finally. It took them long enough to decide.”
Atlas watched them together. Anna and their baby. The communal connection had been restored yesterday, and he connected earlier with the communal mind to let them know of Stella’s actions. And finally, there was consensus to leave them be. Even Stella, fully activated again, held no sway.
They were to live here without any further interference.
He kept the connection open in the background to monitor it and make sure no further threats emerged. There weren’t, but a request had been brewing in the background. Something he hesitated to even bring up, not wanting to destroy any peace that they now had.
“But there is one thing they want.” He said. “Anna? Love?”
“Hmm?” She looked up, sleep in her eyes. Immediately wary, her hands tightening around the baby, now back asleep and content. “What do they want?”
“Zero and the others want a photo. They are curious.” He said. “They deserve nothing, but not all of them are evil.”
“No. They aren’t.” Then Anna reached out, giving him a shy smile. “You aren’t.”
Atlas didn’t push her on what to share. It was her choice. They all knew she might say no. Heaven forbid he sent anything to them without her permission.
She traced her baby’s face. “They did give her back to me.”
“Yes, they did.”
“Fine.” She quickly covered her breasts and held the baby closer, forcing a smile. “One photo?”
He blinked, capturing the picture, but waited to send it off. He didn’t want to deal with any of their reactions while Anna still needed him. “Here.” He pushed the medicine toward her. “You didn’t take this yet.”
Anna’s eyes were as heavy as the baby’s. On the bed next to her, he changed the diaper and took the soiled one away before swaddling and picking the baby back up again. Slowly he rocked her, bundling her tight, until she fell back asleep.
Anna rolled on her side. “Thanks, Atlas. Glad you know what you’re doing with her.”
“Yes.” He cooed down at the baby girl. “I downloaded every care manual.”
She gave a tired chuckle. “Of course you did. You’re a good daddy.”
The night had deepened, the baby was making a suckling face in her sleep, and Anna’s eyes were glazed, likely from both pain and a lack of sleep.
But there was one last thing undecided. One touch that would feel sweet to send off to the communal mind with the baby’s first photo. Besides, the time was right.
The baby needed a name. Their baby needed a name.
He scooted in next to Anna, holding the baby securely in his arms. “Do you have a name? For baby girl? Now that she is here?”
Anna halfway smiled. "Yeah. I have one, yes.” She reached out to touch his arm. “I was thinking of that beautiful flower you showed me when I first got off the ship. It should be something from Earth, and from nature maybe?”
“. . . The roses?”
“Yes, Rose.”
Atlas looked down at the baby’s upturned nose that matched Anna’s. “She’s prettier than a flower. But Rose suits her. Rosie girl.”
Anna smiled. “Yes. Now she’s your favorite plant.” She touched the infant’s little hand. “Rosie girl.”
The name fit and Rose lifted her hand as if to agree. Rose. More beautiful than any flower, more precious than any plant.
Anna fell asleep soon after and he stood, gently rocking Rose when she stirred, walking around the room quietly to not disturb her.
The baby frowned in her sleep, stretching, yawning, and settling.
Trusting him. He smiled down at the little baby girl as she stretched in his arms. “That’s my Rosie girl. ”
Then he finally sent the picture to the communal mind with the name Rose attached. And this time, there was no disagreement over the line, only a consensus that said back congratulations.