The Radix

Chapter Fifteen - Seeds of Cohesion

" " talking
~ ~ thinking
(( )) flashback

The next morning Lex awoke in a foul mood. The sun was shining, he could smell breakfast cooking, the hay bed in which he resided was one of the most comfortable he'd slept in since the virus, his tribe was reunited and he'd found his beautiful wife after being seperated for a year... yet he boiled with anger. And once again Lex had no one on which to unleash said anger.

It had all started the night before with yet another failed attempt at his being intimate with Taisan. The first couple of nights when he'd tried to initiate anything physical with his wife, he had backed off like a gentleman when she politely declined. Not only had Taisan been raped but she was also pregnant and hormonal.

Lex knew and understood that they needed to take it slow but still, he was only human. He wanted to feel Taisan in his arms again, her skin sliding against his. The need to completely own that beautiful body, to re-stake his claim was overwhelming and eliminated any rational thought or sensitivity. Which is why when Taisan once again gently brushed him off, Lex's temper got the best of him.

(("Come on San!" He snapped irritably as he flopped down on the bed. "What's with you? You act as though we're strangers."

Turning from the makeshift vanity which held her meditation candles, Taisan gave her husband a calculated look. "In some ways that assessment is correct."

"What? What are you on about? We're married!"

"Yes we are but that doesn't change the fact that we've been apart for quite some time and have both gone through a variety of changes."

Lex rolled his eyes. "What changes?"

"We're not the same people we once were."

Frowning, the black haired man stared at his wife. "I'm exactly the same guy I always was. It's you whose changed. Don't you love me anymore?"

"Of course I do!" She exclaimed.

"Then what's the problem?"

Taisan sighed and tried to think of a better way to explain herself. "How did you feel when you believed that Bray and I were together?"

"What? Is this a joke?"

"Just answer the question Lex." Taisan insisted. "How did you feel?"

With an exxagerated sneer he looked away. "I wanted to kill him."

The Asian beauty nodded. "Imagine how I feel about the girl who replaced me."

Lex's head snapped back to look at Taisan in surprise. "What! I never said..."

"You didn't have to." She interrupted softly. "I know you Lex. You require companionship, always have. And as much as I knew you loved me, I also knew that while I was gone, you'd seek solace in the arms of another."

Lex narrowed his eyes and swallowed down the urge to lash out. Taisan wasn't saying anything he didn't already know about himself. In fact it was practically considered common knowledge among the resident females. Yet he had somehow fooled himself into believing that Taisan was blind to that particular flaw of his. He NEEDED to believe that she saw something special when she looked at him. So hearing the truth from her lips was really quite heart wrenching.

"If you think that, then why did you marry me in the first place?" He finally spat bitterly.

"Because there's more to you than that." Taisan stated simply as she ran tender hands over her bump. "Anyway, that's not the point I'm trying to make."

"Oh?"

"We've been through so much..." She paused and stared at his bent head. "I don't know who she is or why it ended and I don't want to. I'm not angry with you. In some small way I'm glad someone was there for you when I couldn't be... but it still hurts. And after my... ordeal," Lex looked up in time to see the pained expression cross his wife's beautiful features. "I simply can't bare to be touched."

Remembering how Taisan had embraced Cipher so warmly, Lex allowed his fears to be known. "Touched in general or just by me?"

Taisan's lip trembled. "I... I don't know." What she couldn't admit was that Lex's touch frightened her. It was sexual and ignitde a heat under her skin and sex was the last thing Taisan wanted. What had once been something she embraced as natural and beautiful was now tainted by one violent act. And the expected mother wasn't sure if she would ever recover. "I need time."

He didn't want to get angry but it hurt. It hurt so bad. Taisan not only thought he was a male trollop, but she couldn't stand to have him touch her. And to top it off, she was pregnant with the offspring of a rapist all because he hadn't been there to protect her. To think that he'd been sleeping with a Techno while his wife was being violated by one. It was too much. Lex was emotionally overstimulated and ready to explode. And as usual, he exploded on the wrong person.

"Time." He growled. "Time?! Don't talk to me about time Taisan! I just spent the last year falling apart at the seams because of you. Everyone wanted to beat the Technos and all I wanted was to find you! I wouldn't believe you were gone and everyone... EVERYONE told me to move on, forget it, and all that rubbish. Not a one of them understood that without you nothing else made sense." Jumping up in his anger Lex began pacing the small herb scented shack. "You think you're the only one who's had a rough time? Do you have any idea what it's like to have finally found you only to learn that some bastard had the nerve to put his hands on you? You lot act as though we left you to be punished by the Technos. You forget that we were the ones left behind. We didn't know where you'd been taken or if you were even alive! Bray... Cipher... whatever the hell he calls himself!" He shook his head in agitation. "He acts so put out because Amber found someone. Like she's betrayed him or something! But has he even considered what it was like for her? She was left alone in a barn, in labor mind you, bleeding to death! If Trudy hadn't found her... Ellie near went mad when they took Alice and Jack! She even tried to murder Ebony! Pride was killed... You lot may have been taken but we were left to pick up the pieces. Our world fell apart taisan!" Lex now stood glaring down into his wife's astonished face. "And now here we are feeling guilty for crimes we didn't even commit. My own wife was raped and is pregnant with another man's baby and she wont even let me touch her!" He spat angrily. "There isn't enough hate on this planet to express how I feel! And now you wanna judge me for the small bit of happiness I managed to find in the middle of all that mess?" Taisan jumped as Lex roughly grabbed her shoulders. "You wanna JUDGE me!? You're not the only one who's suffered! All I know is after all this I still love you and all you can say to me is that you need time... well you can take your time and shove it!"

There was a terribly strained silence as husband and wife stared at one another. Lex still trembled from his outburst as she fought back angry tears. Finally Taisan, eyes narrowed, slapped Lex's hands off her person as she stood and stormed out of the cabin tossing a clipped "Goodnight" over her shoulder.))

Lex sat up and looked around. It didn't look as though Taisan had returned even after he'd succumbed to a troubled sleep. Swinging his legs out of bed Lex dropped his head into his hands, laden with guilt. He hadn't meant to go ballistic on her but she'd pressed all the wrong buttons. Something she'd always been able to do. Still, it wasn't Taisan he was really angry with. None of this was her fault. In fact the only person who could truly be blamed for any of this was Ram. But as always, time had tempered the fury caused by his actions and like his predecessors, he was let off the hook.

Lex growled inwardly as he remembered last night's dinner announcements. Ram wasn't being punished for his crimes... any of them. And his fate had been decided by people who hadn't even known him, hadn't seen what he was truly capable of. True, Mega was far worse but Ram certainly caused his fair share of damage. Not that Lex was disregarding the ill treatment taisan and the others received at the hands of Ram's men but he felt it didn't quite compare to the year of hell he and the city kids went through.

At least Bray had been able to kill their tormentors. Any guilt he may feel was outweighed by the relief of never having to look those men in the eyes again. With Mega's dying as some sort of martyr and Ram under the Radix protection, Lex didn't have that satisfaction. Punching his leg in frustration, Lex stood ubruptly. It wasn't fair. Someone had to pay for crimes committed to his person. Someone had to answer for both Taisan and siva. Pulling on his shirt the black haired teen made a decision. He would have his vengeance. There was no doubt about that. As Taisan said, it would just take time.

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"So how many you reckon we need?"

Rider shrugged and inhaled another piece of unleavened bread before answering Kye. "Twenty at least."

"Twenty?!" Kye raised a pale eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit overzealous? We don't want them to go into extinction over a party."

"Nose down." Rider chuckled. "They're not all for the festival. I was just talking it over with Cipher and we thought it would be a good time to stock up our reserves. Kill several birds with as few stones as possible."

"Literally." Kye smirked, thinking on the day of hunting he now had ahead of him. "Why Pheasant anyway? They're not very big and not even a challenge. Why not some Turkeys? At least they'll feed more."

Rider shook his head. "No, Brock said to leave the Turkeys 'till Spring. He says they've had a bad season and need time to breed. Besides, Pheasant's sweeter and keeps better." His breakfast finished Rider paused before standing. "Oh and we could do with a few Swallows as well. We'll need the feathers for the ceremony."

Kye nodded before looking across at the table adjacent to his and calling out. "Hey Archer!" The shaggy blond head turned to him expectantly. "Get your long bow. We're going bird hunting." He was answered with a grin as Archer returned to his conversation.

"Guess that means I'm off."

Jay watched his brother stand. "What, now?"

Archer nodded. "Games easiest in the morning. Besides, we don't have any time to waste. Festival's tomorrow night."

"And if you're all taking the vows we definitely need more Swallow feathers." Cloe offered.

"Why Swallow feathers?" Amber asked while adjusting lil Bray on her lap.

"We all wear them." Alice spoke up, dodging the spoon her son Tamson weilded. "Haven't you noticed? They symbolize our unity. The Swallow is a very family oriented bird."

"But you lot have all sorts of feathers in your hair." Ellie, with her nephew Jake eating from her hand calmly, looked around noticing numerous types of avian plumage decorating the heads of the villagers.

"Yes, they each symbolized something." Cloe explained and gestured to the two colorful feathers adorning her own crown. "The Falcon is for Humter and the blue is the Swallow."

"What are the other types?" Ellis asked with sudden interest.

"Well," Alice began. "The Watchers have the Hawk, the Trackers wear those red Rosella feathers, the Warriors; the Blackbird and the Archers," She nodded her head at Archer with a smirk. "they wear the Skylark."

"And each bird has a characteristic of what they stand for." Amber added as she caught on to the significance.

"Exactly."

Jay grinned at his younger brother. "And what's the Skylark represent?"

Archer gulped down the rest of his water. "Speed." He grinned back and stood. "Which means I gotta go."

"Maybe you should take Jay." Cloe glanced between the blonds. "Bet he'd like to see you in action."

Archer paused for a moment looking as though he might argue before tilting his head at his brother. Catching the unasked question Jay nodded. "Sure. Give me a chance to see how you earned your name."

"Just make sure you don't blink." was Archer's cocky reply as he strode off.

Jay just smirked before pecking Amber's cheek and standing. "See you later."

Two tables over Sammy was awestruck as Dozer explained to him, Salene, May, Trudy and the other kids the many uses of plant toxins. The promise of a lesson in making tranqilizer darts had he, Lottie, Bird and Colt grinning like Cheshire cats. Next to them Malon and KC argued over a trade while Gel had finally found a suitable female companion in Brienna. A dark skinned, violet eyes beauty around the age of thriteen. Though no where near as distracted by her own loos, Brienna and her love of hair care and makeup was more than a fair opponent for Gel.

Down the table Ethos sat with his family,trying to ignore the fact that Salene was barely ten feet away. He and Astrid shared uneasy smiles while talking with Taisan and others and passing platters of food around. A couple times Ethos would look up, catch Salene's nervous gaze before quickly going back to smiling at his little girl as he fed her from his plate. He knew they needed to speak and soon, but he wasn't ready for that conversation.

"Hey Taisan," He looked up. "Where's Lex? I was hoping to opologize for blowing him off yesterday. I think," The blond paused. "I think he's the first of the Mallrats I should deal with."

"Uh, still sleeping I think." Taisan gave Ethos a weak smile which Astrid knew meant something more.

"Are the two of you alright?" She asked her friend while offering her husband a nappy in which to wipe Naima's messy mouth. "He's been attached to your side since he arrived."

"I... really don't want to talk about it." Taisan said apologetically.

Astrid gave her an easy smile and nodded.

"Well if you don't wanna talk about it I think you better go," Ethos looked past the girls. "because here he comes."

Taisan immediately stiffened and gave them a desperate look. "I can't see him right now."

Astrid understood. "It's okay. Ethos, could you?"

Giving his wife a warm smile, Ethos nodded as he stood. "Sure." He handed the baby over to Astrid and gently tapped Taisan's shoulder. "I'll head him off. We've got a lot to catch up on anyhow."

Giving both he and Astrid a grateful smile Taisan quickly left the table and disappeared from sight. Salene was so intent in watching the proceedings that she hardly noticed the change in conversation around her.

"So are you interested?"

May frowned at Dozer. "What? You mean, helping you skin animals?"

He nodded. "That and other things. There's a lot of preparation to be done. We don't like to waste any of it."

"That's disgusting."

Dozer looked taken aback. "Well how else do you think we get our food, leather, tools, medicines...? A bladder canteen doesn't fall out of the sky ya know. It's really quite interesting once you look past the gore."

Pretending to gag May shook her head. "Well no thanks. You can count me out of your little massacre."

Before he could respond Trader nudged May from behind. "Hey, we need to talk."

She glared at the boatman. "About what? I'm eating."

"It's important." He snarled. "Besides, you owe me."

They glared at one another for a moment before May rolled her eyes in aquiescence. "Fine." Turning to Salene and Trudy. "I'll catch up with you lot later."

Dozer watched her go with an affronted yet disappointed look on his face. "Is she always like that?"

"No." Trudy smirked. "Sometimes she can be real mean."

Salene was glad that Trudy's teasing made Dozer smile. "She wasn't meaning to be rude. She just doesn't get into all this outdoorsy stuff."

He turned his chocolate brown eyes on the redhead. "And what about you?"

Salene frowned in confusion. "What about me?"

"Would it offend your delicate sensibilities too much to see how we work leather?" There was a definite flirting edge to his tone and the redhead was hard pressed not to blush.

"I... dunno."

"Come on Salene." Trudy encouraged while keeping an eye on Brady who'd climbed down from her seat and begun to wander. "It beats peeling potatoes." She'd noticed how Ethos' presence was affecting her friend and worried one of Salene's familiar bouts of depression would resurface in the wake of stress.

"You wanna join us as well?" Dozer looked pleased.

Trudy smiled. "As long as the invitations there. It could be interesting. I just don't want Brady to see some of the messier bits."

"Don't worry. We'll find something clean and kid friendly to keep her busy." Looking back at Salene's somewhat melancholy expression. "So what say you?"

The redhead shrugged. "Sure. I guess."

Dozer contemplated the young woman across from him for a moment. "Tell ya what, since you're being such a good sport, afterwards I'll take you round the animal pens. Do you like horses? Cause we've got a pony with a wounded leg who'd love the attention."

Looking up Salene finally favored the dark skinned teen with a genuine smile. "Okay, you've twisted my arm."

Trudy regarded her companions with a satisfied look on her face. She was amazed how Dozer had not only honed into Salene's sensitive mood but also known exactly what to say to raise her friend's spirits. Under his tough warrior image he was as gentle as they came. The revelation pleased her greatly.

Back where Alice, Cloe and the others sat, Amber was getting up and clearing her place. She was hoping to get a chance to speak with Cipher. So far they'd only spoke of their son and what they'd both been doing since their untimely separation. Neither had yet brought up what this reunion meant for their not-quite-dead-and-buried relationship. Amber had no clue as to how she planned on bringing up this sensitive topic but the niggling in her stomach told her that she had to find a way. And soon. Nothing would be resolved until she and Cipher knew exactly where they stood in one another's lives. On cue, the subject of her thoughts came over to the table.

"Morning." The blond looked up surprised.

Cipher gave her a nod, seeming pleased that Jay was nowhere in the vicinity. He reached out a hesitant hand and tussled his son's hair. "Hey kiddo. Being good for your mom?" Bray answered with a contented burp causing his parents to share a smile. "Jack," Cipher turned his attention to the redhead sitting beside Ellie. "We're setting up to smoke and cur the meat for jerky. Thought you might wanna come along."

Looking bewildered Jack shook his head. "Eh... yeah, that's okay Bray. I'll stay here."

Ignoring the name slip the tall brunette made a face. "You sure?"

"Yeah." The bumbling scientist nodded. "You go on."

Glancing between the two friends Darryl made to stand. "I'd like to come. I mean, if that's alright."

Cipher gave him a nonchalant shrug. "Well come on then. It's Darryl isn't it? Nodding the dark haired boy stood and started to follow Cipher away from the tables.

Ellie nudged Jack's elbow. "Why didn't you go with him? You know he's only trying to help us feel involved."

"Eh... it's not my thing."

The blond narrowed her eyes at her pouting boyfriend. "What's wrong with you? You've been in a mood all morning."

"It's nothing Ellie." Jack tried to brush her off impatiently.

"Don't give me that. I know when seomthings bothering you. Now spill."

Sighing, he turned to her. "I'm just not interested in CURRING meat, alright. This is Dal's scene, not mine."

Taking in his sarcastic tone Ellie suddenly understood. "Oh, I get it. You're out of your element aren't you? In the city you were the brain, the go to guy on all things scientific and electronic. And now you're..."

"Useless." He finished bitterly.

"That's not true Jack. Not unless you make it so."

"Well what am I supposed to do Ellie?" he asked exasperated. "I'm no good at this Eco warrior stuff. If left to me you lot would starve. Or die from poisoned berries or something."

"Well maybe it's time you got good at something that doesn't involve wires. Technology doesn't hold all the answers you know."

"Yeah well at least Technology is progress." Jack looked around with a barely disguised grimace. "This place is like the stone age."

"Yeah and you're the only cave man complaining about it." Ellie teased. "Come on Jack. It'll do you some good to learn something new. You might even discover a scientific way to approach some of their mundane chores. As far as progress goes, you're still our best bet at moving forward." Though not entirely convinced Jack did appear interested. "Besides, what else are you going to do? Sit around with us girls sewing and weaving baskets?" the startled frown on his face made Ellie laugh. "now go find Br... Cipher and learn how to be a barbarian. And when you get done this cave woman will be waiting to hear all about it."

Finally smiling Jack nodded. "Alright." leaning in to kiss Ellie, he was rewarded with a spoon to the eye as Jake used it to drum the table. "Ouch!"

"Jake!" Ellie admonished with a laugh and took the spoon. "Jack are you okay?"

"Yeah," Holding a hand to the sore spot he frowned at her laughter.

"I'd kiss it better but I think Jake's a bit over protective of his auntie."

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"You want what?!"

"You heard me. I want what you and your little family owe me for getting your arses out of the city."

May rolled her eyes. "You're kidding, right? You didn't actually think we were serious?"

"Hey!" Trader's face went red with the realization that he'd been taken. "You promised me that if I helped you out of the city you'd make it worth my while. Now I did my part. I even wasted all my fuel getting you here..."

"Right cause your REAL plan was to host whale watches."

"Shut up!" trader snapped. "I saved you lot and I want payment!"

"Okay," May's sarcastic tone belied the sickeningly sweet smile on her face. "And what exactly should we pay you with? Twigs, berries, feathers...? If you hadn't noticed we jumped ship with next to nothing but the clothes on our backs. Ya know we were kinda running for our lives and all that nonsense. Speaking of which..." She continued as Trader's sneer grew. "If we hadn't approached you in the first place, you'd be dead by now since you had no clue what was going on. Taking that into account I'd say we're even. Wouldn't you?"

Trader now glared at may's smug expression knowing he'd been outwitted. "I should've left you lot on the docks and set sail alone."

"And how far do you think you would've gotten? It's not like you had a lot of fuel to begin with. we're the ones who found this place. Without us you'd have been stranded at sea. Not fed, clothed and sheltered. All things considered you're lucky we haven't demanded payment for saving your sorry butt. Now, why don't you do something useful and leave me alone?" Patting his back condescendingly May left Trader fuming, a little smirk playing on her lips.

He stared after her wanting nothing more than to wring her neck. Unfortunately murdering a Mallrat wouldn't make him very popular in these parts. Even a lying, manipulative one. Instead he picked up a palm sized rock and hurled it at the first dwelling in sight. the clear, plastic panel covering the window cracked from the force of the impact, leaving a lightning shaped line. The evidence of his anger put a small smile on Trader's face. Man, he hated it here. He didn't think he could spend another boring night in silence with that annoying, red headed, science geek as a companion without getting stone cold drunk. Looked like he was heading back to his boat early after all.

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"So," Lex spoke after an awkward moment of silence. "How'd you two meet?"

At first glance his old mate appeared exactly the same, aside from a few cosmetic changes (longer hair, leaner build) but a deeper look proved that Ethos had changed far more than his outward appearance. Though he still presented an open kindness in his persona, the once wide, naive eyes had shuttered. Even when he smiled, which he still did quite often, there was a cautious wariness in his expression. He now exuded a confidence he once lacked. Lex could see that should he goad, aggrivate, terrorize or even so much as push Ethos as he'd often done in the past, Ethos would't push but shove back as hard as possible, perhaps even pummel him into the ground, old friends or not. This reminder of how much had changed only proved to dampen Lex's spirits more and made his attempt at conversation stilted.

"She saved me." Ethos smiled fondly. "The Chosen left me for dead and she found me." There was a pause as his smile faded slightly. "Did the others tell you about Patsy?"

Lex shook his head. "You found her then?" A silent nod was his answer and Lex sighed with realization. "She's dead isn't she?" Another tight nod and the two men sat quietly. Patsy had never been one of his favorite people she'd been in his tribe, his family. Something that, despite his claims of denial, meant so very much to him. She'd been just a kid, unlucky enough to be caught up in the ruthlessness of their world. Something, for all their efforts, they couldn't protect her from. She hadn't deserved to die. Lex damned the Chosen once again in his mind before clearing his throat. "Well, may she rest in peace."

Ethos gave him a gentle look. "Careful Lex. You're letting your heart show."

Ignoring the accusation that he even had a heart, a fact that few even believed possible, the dark haired man kicked at the dirt. "So how did you get caught by the Technos? Seems everyone has a dramatic story to tell."

"Not much to say really. We just ran into them on our way to the coast. We should've stayed at the cabin." Ethos muttered as he remembered their attack.

He and Astrid had found shelter in a cabin in the moutains for the few months after she'd found him on the brink of death at an old Chosen mine. There they fell in love and when they discovered she was pregnant, headed to the beach to start their life as family. The short but tedious journey was interupted by the sound of a plane and soon there were young men dropping out of the sky. Ethos remembered how his heart hammered in his throat as he and Astrid were over taken. He'd sensed something bad was going to happen and the deja vu was too much for him to handle. He'd fought, yelled at them to leave her alone and was then blind sided by a terrible ringing pain in his head. Astrid's scream was the last thing he heard before succumbing to darkness. To say he was furious when he awoke at the compound was an understatement. He was a prisoner again and like before he had a girl and an unborn child to think about.

The only remotely good thing about their imprisonment was the fact that he found some of his friends. Their presence and Astrid's trust gave him the strength to get them through this ordeal. They kept the pregnancy a closely guarded secret, even from those they trusted. Ethos wasn't taking ANY chances this time around. He would KILL someone before he lost Astrid or their child. He could still remember a conversation the two of them had when he'd caught her lifting planks of wood for the building of a shack. They'd been imprisoned for nearly five months and he was becoming increasingly worried and agitated.

(("What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Ryan's bark startled Astrid and she dropped her burden with a loud clatter.

"Geez, Ryan. Trying to give me a heart attack or what?"

"You shouldn't be carrying anything heavy. It could be dangerous." He admonished.

"Will you calm down?" Astrid glanced around nervously to see that they weren't being watched. The Technos were wary of closely knitted groups, couples especially, and did their best to break them up. "They weren't that heavy. Besides I'm only six months in. I can still function like a normal human being ya know."

"I don't care." Ryan muttered angrily as he picked up the wood and tossed it over a broad shoulder. "No wife of mine is gonna work like a farmhand while she's carrying my kid."

Astrid stifled her laugh as she followed him over to where the planks were being laid out and prepared. "I'm not your wife silly."

Ryan looked at her, slightly flustered before dropping his bundle, barely missing the foot of another laborer. "Yeah well, as soo as we're outta this hell hole that's the first thing we're gonna fix."

Taken aback she simply stared at him. "You really wanna marry me?"

"Of course." Ryan was surprised and a little afraid that Astrid didn't share his deep feelings. "That's the idea. I mean unless you don't want to..." He dropped his eyes to the ground and swallowed over the lump that had formed in his throat. If Astrid didn't want him he wouldn't push her. No, he wasn't making the same mistakes again. he loved her too much to risk asking for more than what she willingly gave.

His crestfallen expression snapped Astrid out of her shock. "Ryan," She approached and gently lifted his head so he could look into her slanted eyes. "I'd love to be your wife."

It took a couple seconds after her whispered statement before he regarded her with his beautiful smile and Astrid answered in kind. Though he wanted to swoop her into his arms and sog her senseless, they both knew to keep their distance in view of the guards. Instead Ryan discreetly took Astrid's hand and kissed the fingertips.

Blushing, she attempted to step back but Ryan kept a warm grip on her hand. Cautiously looking around at their distracted watchers, he placed it and his own over the small bump of her midsection. Astrid felt a flush of warmth flutter over her at the comforting contact.

"We won't be able to hide it for much longer." He said quietly, a hint of fear in his expressive eyes. Despite there having been a baby born to a single mother during their stay, Ryan wasn't taking any chances with the Technos. A child between he and Astrid only made them more vulnerable to their captors. He didn't know how he was going to do it but he was determined to get the two of them out of there before their baby came into the world.

"Don't worry." Astrid whispered back, a look of determination crossing her features momentarily. "I'd KILL them before I'd let them take our baby away. You won't lose us."

Ryan knew she was sincere and wasn't remotely disturbed by this considering he felt the same. If anything, her fierce words brought warmth to his heart. Here was a woman who knew him, understood him and his fears. He suddenly realized that he'd waied all his life for her. The revelation nearly knocked the breath from his body.

"God I love you." he finally gasped out wanting nothing mroe than to find a quiet place where he could ravish her properly.

Astrid smirked at his heated expression and squeezed his hand. "I know."))

They were married a month after they defeated the Technos at the first Moon festival. Less than four weeks after that their daughter was born. He'd never forget the gentle glow on Astrid's face as she said "I do" or the look in Naima's eyes as she first opened them to peer up at her father. Those two moments would stay with him until his dying breath and beyond. Though the journey to this point in his life had been unorthodox, Ethos knew he wouldn't change a thing as long as he had those two females in his world.

"Are you happy?"

Lex's question shook Ethos from his deep thoughts and he smiled up at his friend. "Hell yeah."