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"Considering everything's a mess…"

"Pinch Me" - Barenaked Ladies

It had been two weeks since our wedding, blissful weeks spent relaxing in our cabin on the hill in Evergreen, hiking the mountain trails together, and shopping in downtown Denver - this last not for souvenirs, but because Gaelen continued to grow taller and was frequently in need of longer jeans or skirts. (We never went to the same store twice.) She'd gone from five feet even to five feet eight and, as she put it, no longer had to stand on a box to kiss me. She didn't say much about any other changes, but I could tell that she was growing stronger, even though there were no more energy transfers when we made love and her body had stopped glowing.

We could have gone literally anywhere on our honeymoon, but just having Gaelen all to myself was a dream come true. In my opinion, there is nothing like summertime in the Rockies, and we made the most of it.

I did get around to asking Gaelen for details on what had happened to her home planet. Again, we talked celestial navigation, and I formed an idea of where its star system had been located when her planet was destroyed. After a talk with Star, he and I remembered a history lesson about a hostile race who raped planets for their natural resources, sometimes including the humanoid inhabitants, who were often sold into slavery, and then destroyed anything that was left behind. The Federation had originally been formed to guard against just such depredations.

I wondered if any more of Gaelen's people had escaped the pirates' destruction, but she seemed uncomfortable talking about it, so I let it go.

* * *

Vai kept inviting us to their house, and after a while we went for dinner and a visit. The kids were thrilled to see both of us. Gaelen made sure to pay equal attention to the boys and the girls, and I think all of them were equally fascinated with her.

I guess Vai wanted another woman around to discuss baby stuff with, and one afternoon I was surprised to find she'd arranged a baby shower for Gaelen.

It wasn't your usual party, not that I've been to a lot of them, but there were more males there than females. Gaelen hadn't had time to make a lot of friends in Denver, so it was mainly the family, with the addition of Zee and a few of her best girlfriends and Mr. D and a few other vampire buddies of mine from the Affair. It was nice, with flowers and cake and balloons, and Gaelen seemed to have a good time. I did notice that Zee's expression was often rather wistful. It made me wonder why she and the D-man had never had kids; they had certainly been together long enough. I didn't ask, however. It didn't seem appropriate to just burst out with it.

Gaelen got a lot of practical gifts as well as some I couldn't make heads or tails of. What good is a breast pad, anyway?

I'd asked Gaelen what we should do about a doctor, or at least a midwife for the birth. Of course, Suria was out of the question.

Zee came up after the party and surprised the hell out of me. "I'm sure Vlad would be glad to attend Gaelen. He's a licensed physician, you know."

"Who?" I asked.

"Vlad." She pointed over at the tall, thin vampire, wearing his usual charcoal gray and presently standing in a corner discussing God knows what with Star. Zee looked at my expression and shook her head. "He may call himself Phillip Drackett for business purposes, but Vlad is his real name. I thought he would have told you that by now."

Curiouser and curiouser. He looked up, and Zee motioned him over. He came, gliding across the floor like he always did. He gave a small nod to Zee and a deeper one to Gaelen, then looked up at me. As usual, I had trouble deciphering his expression.

"I was just telling them that you're a doctor, Vlad."

His eyes widened, but he nodded, gaze never leaving mine. I cleared my throat to speak, but Gaelen beat me to it. "Are you a good doctor?" she asked. "Evan never told me that you practiced."

He half bowed again, turning to face Gaelen. "Evan did not know. Yes, I have kept my license current, and I donate my services at a community clinic downtown. I believe I am an adequate physician."

Gaelen looked at him. I was doing my best not to gape. "And modest too," she said. "That's rare for a sawbones. Okay, I don't know anyone else I'd trust more with my babies; will you be my doctor?"

He gave Gaelen one of his rare smiles, then actually took her hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it. "I would be honored, dear lady," he said.

Zee smiled, and I had no idea what to say, so I just smiled too.

"If you will call at my office at the Affair tomorrow, I will examine you, and we will go on from there." He and Gaelen drifted away together, chatting, and I was left standing next to Zee.

She reached up and tapped me on the chin. "Close your mouth," she said, "you'll catch flies."

* * *

I was glad that Gaelen was getting to know Zee and… Vlad. Even though she didn't seem bored with my company, I did want her to make other friends. It became our custom to spend time at Star's house a couple of times a week, as I had done before meeting Gaelen. The kids had few people they could be themselves around, and as they got used to Gaelen, they all seemed happier. Roca was still bringing home what seemed to be a different girl every other day, while Racho was still stuck on Andrea. Those two were always giggling together, and Racho told me that he'd shared a bit about the family with her, and she seemed fine with it. I liked Andrea a lot, but hoped she wouldn't spread private things around.

Lana and Mari's main love was still horses, and Zee had given them several of her special breed. There was one stallion the girls called Big Boy, which was appropriate because he was the tallest horse I've ever seen. I might have worried about the kids riding him, but Lana was his favorite. She could do anything with the big white monster, and he only rolled an indulgent eye at her.

I found out that Gaelen could cook, and cook well. Star's house had an industrial sized kitchen, and it wasn't unusual to find her out there, giving lessons to the boys as well as the girls.

Vai smiled a lot, and she always treated Gaelen with courtesy, but I thought I saw the occasional speculative glance directed her way. I had no idea what might be going on in that devious head of hers, but I was always slightly on guard around Vai, so I just added another bit of watchfulness to my usual.

Gaelen and I were relaxing in front of the fireplace after one of those great dinners she cooked. It was Star and the boys' turn to clean up the kitchen, and you could hear laughter out there, along with the occasional crash. Vai was getting little Vrai ready for bed. I put my arm around Gaelen, and she leaned into me. I still couldn't believe how wonderful it was to have a special person to love - someone who loved me back. Sometimes, especially during sex, I could feel our minds touch. We didn't discuss it, but she would give me the occasional intense look, and I figured she'd feel comfortable enough to talk about it one day. I was in no hurry.

Never having spent a lot of time around a pregnant woman, I'd offered to cut back on sex. All that earned me was a dirty look, and the assurance that she'd let me know when and if that became necessary. The babies had just started to "show," and that put an entirely new level of reality on the whole father thing. The idea of holding our babies in my arms filled me with a warm glow.

Right now I could feel Gaelen's mind drifting, warm and happy, then suddenly stop to consider something.

"You know," she said, "there's a big difference between Racho and his brother."

I nodded. "You're right, but they both seem happy and well adjusted - in their own ways."

"Yeah, but did you ever notice how Racho treats Andrea? They're not at all like boyfriend/girlfriend… more like brother and sister… closer than that, even, and without the sibling rivalry."

Of course, I'd had the same sort of thoughts myself, many times. I don't know why Gaelen's thoughtful words made me wonder enough to act, but they did. "Racho," I called, loud enough to be heard in the kitchen. "Could you come here for a minute?"

Roca was tall, but so muscular as to seem almost stocky; the boy who came walking toward us was very different. Racho was a few inches shorter than his brother and thinner too, well built but seeming almost delicate when they stood side by side. You could tell he was Roca's twin and Star's child by the dark skin and pale hair, and his black eyes sparkled in the firelight. "What is it, Evan?" He included Gaelen in his smile. "Is there something I can get for you?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, thanks, it's just…." Odd ideas were trying to force their way into my mind, and for some reason I was growing more uneasy by the moment. "Would you let me hold your hand for a second?"

He cocked his head to one side, but held his hand out immediately. "Sure, Evan. But what's it all about?"

I took the delicate, long fingered hand in mine, smiled up at Racho, and then let instinct lead me. Closing my eyes, I looked down inside that hand, past obvious physical structures, into the heart and soul of a single cell, and there I found my answer.

I opened my eyes and gave Racho's hand a squeeze before releasing it. "Go get your dad for me, will you?"

He gave me puzzled eyes, but turned and walked back into the kitchen. Gaelen was staring at me. "What is it?" she said softly.

I just shook my head; I couldn't talk about it yet. She put an arm around me, and I was glad for the warmth. I was only beginning to see the implications of my discovery.

"What's wrong, Evan," Star said, appearing before me. I knew he'd walked from the kitchen in the ordinary fashion, but I hadn't seen him. I nodded to a chair, and he sat down, continuing to watch me intently.

I swallowed. "Racho isn't male," I said. "He's median."