Small Miracles

Small Miracles 5.

McQueen strolled through the Saratoga’s hallways with a gleam in his eye. If he hadn’t been so aware of his rank he would have had his hands in his pockets and been whistling a jaunty tune.

Cameron had been released from sickbay, and judging by the temper tantrum he’d thrown when Izzy had dared to touch Cashus without his permission, he was well on the way to recovery. Dill had been casting longing looks in McQueen’s direction every time she saw him, so he’d made his plans and spoken to Lt. Crowe in Communications. Crowe had stared at him as if he was mad, but with the promise of a bottle of whiskey had agreed. Hawkes was babysitting, happy to spend time with Izzy who he absolutely adored. And it seemed she adored him just as much.

Now he was on his way to see Dill. They were going to spend the night together in his quarters and pretend they had no children at all. He’d planned the evening with military precision. They’d have dinner together, go to the Tun for a drink or two, and then he’d take her back to his quarters. Ty smiled to himself. He’d taken a lot of care over the choice of his clothes for this evening, and had attracted several wolf whistles already, which he hoped were from female crew members. He wore a pair of black chinos that Dill had added to his wardrobe, telling him they showed his butt off to perfection, and a blue shirt that exactly matched his eyes, tonight a dark royal blue. Another addition by Dill. He’d even donned the silk boxers she’d bought him, though he found them a little too loose for comfort. He’d stood in front of the mirror for ages trying to decide shirt in or out, before finally deciding tucked in. But not too tucked. After all he wanted her to have something to pull out. He’d even splashed on some aftershave, something he rarely did, and dispensed with his usual undershirt so that he could unbutton his shirt just that one extra button.

Ty arrived to collect Dill and got raised eyebrows from Hawkes, who sat on the sofa reading his GI Geequed comic. Those eyebrows were raised even higher when Dill walked out of the bedroom. She was once again wearing the short velvet dress. This time she also wore the sapphire earrings McQueen had bought her for their very first wedding anniversary, and a matching necklace with a sapphire pendant that fell to just above the swell of her breasts. On her feet she wore a pair of the highest heels McQueen had ever seen. She took one look at the dropped jaws of both men and gave them a twirl.

“You like?” she giggled. “I borrowed the shoes from Vanessa. Otherwise I would have had to wear those trainers you bought me.

“I like very much,” McQueen almost drooled. He sniffed. “Perfume too?” For a moment he was tempted to forego his plans, as he could feel himself hardening already.

“Vanessa again,” Dill smiled. “Apparently what they could salvage of my belongings will be arriving tomorrow. I’m so glad I stashed this necklace in Izzy’s nappy bag though, in case anyone tried to steal it. I mean who’d look in amongst nappies?”

“You do realise you’re only going to dinner at the officers mess, don’t you?” Hawkes asked. ”You look like you’re going to some fancy restaurant.”

“See Hawkes, that’s the difference between me and you,” McQueen smiled. “I went to the effort of asking the head chef real nice if he would make us something special for tonight. Of course it helps that he’s a good friend of my father–in-law, so he was only too pleased to. It gives him a chance to prove that he really can cook.” He looked at Dill and licked his lips. “Come on, gorgeous, let’s go eat. I’m famished.”

~~~~~~~~~~

They’d had a lovely meal at a table laid especially for them in a corner of the mess, and to McQueen’s amusement more than a few eyebrows raised sky high when they arrived at the Tun. He’d not even got angry when he overheard a comment about why would a woman like that be wasting her time with a tank. He’d just smiled to himself at the reply, which had been along the lines of the man was a fool - it was McQueen’s wife he was lusting after, and if he so much as spoke to her, the 58th would wipe the floor with him.

Now as he closed the door to his quarters, Ty saw Dill watching him closely. He smiled at her and drew her into his arms for a kiss - a long, slow, languorous kiss - before he released her and kicked off his shoes, pulling her onto the bed with him.

“Oh Ty,” Dill moaned, as he rained kisses on her face and neck, before burying his face in her breasts.

“I have a present for you,” he whispered, his face close to hers.

“I can feel it,” she sighed, as her hand slid down to knead him through his trousers.

“Not that,” Ty groaned, getting up from the bed and rummaging in a drawer. ”This.”

“A camera? Ty, I have a camera.” Dill was confused.

“But not one of these,” Ty grinned wickedly. He lifted it and took a picture of her, grinning as seconds later out popped an instant photo. “I thought maybe we could make a start on that album of yours. If you want to.”

“Really?” she whispered, her face glowing with delight.

He nodded and began slowly to remove his clothes. “Just my cover, wasn’t it?”

Dill gulped. “Yes,“ she said in a very low voice.

There followed an active half hour or so while McQueen posed for pictures wearing little more than a smile. He managed to ensure that each time he moved or stood up he presented her with a view that would have her licking her lips. And eventually, after the film ran out, he was lying naked on the bed as she removed her dress, revealing the lacy black panties and stockings she wore.

“I think, Ty, that it’s time to play,” Dill giggled, running her hands up and down his body, stroking him gently, enjoying the feel of his muscles under her hands.

“Oh yeah,” he moaned, as he felt her mouth clamp down on a nipple. He glanced quickly at the clock on the wall and smiled.

Suddenly the room filled with electronic crackling, and Lt. Crowe’s voice could be heard. “Colonel McQueen, please report to the bridge on the double.”

“Damn!” Dill cried. “Ty, no!” she pleaded, as he sat up and shrugged.

“Sorry, Dill - duty calls.” Ty quickly dressed in his flight suit, and was lacing his boots almost before Dill had shimmied back into her dress. “Go back to your quarters, Dill. If I can, I’ll join you later.” He kissed her and ran from the room, trying not to laugh out loud. Withhold conjugal rights, would she, he chuckled.

~~~~~~~~~

The following evening, after Dill had put the children to bed, Ty arrived at her quarters with a smile on his face.

“We were interrupted last night,” he murmured, taking her in his arms and pulling her in for a kiss.

She pulled him down onto the sofa and began unzipping his flight suit. “God, Ty, I could have screamed when you had to leave,“ she told him. “Tonight you’re mine.” Her hands slipped inside his suit, reaching under his turtleneck to stroke his chest and abdomen. She pushed the shirt up and sucked on his nipples.

“I’m tired, Dill,” Ty groaned, faking a yawn. “Let me take a shower to wake up a bit.” He sat up, shedding his clothes as he left the room and disappeared into the bathroom.

Dill sighed as she heard the water running, and gathered up his clothes, taking them into the bedroom.

He emerged wearing only a towel. “That feels better,” he smiled. “Are you gonna take one?”

“I think so,“ she nodded.

Ty waited until he heard the water running, then he flung the towel off and leapt into bed, snuggled himself down, and fell asleep almost instantly, a skill picked up early in his life.

Dill came out of the bathroom and stood staring at him. He was flat on his back, mouth open snoring for all he was worth. “Good grief, Ty!” she exclaimed, giving him a shove to wake him up. All it did was get him to roll onto his side and snuggle with a pillow. Sighing, she turned out the lights and slid into bed beside him.

~~~~~~~~~~

McQueen woke up to the feel of a warm body lying on top of him and a hand gently stroking his stomach. He lay there for a moment until he realised the body was far too small to be Dill. Opening his eyes, he saw Izzy examining his stomach thoroughly.

She looked up at him as he smiled at her. “Button?” she asked.

Ty shook his head. “Nope, don’t have one.”

“Blowing?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“Nope, can’t inflate me using my belly button,“ he told her, smiling.

Izzy looked at him and then looked at his stomach again. With a frown she clambered off him and ran from the room. Minutes later she was back with the boys in tow. She clambered back up onto the bed and pulled the sheet down, revealing his flat, smooth belly. She turned to the boys. “Button!” she cried.

They stared at her. Then as one they lifted their pyjama tops and looked at their own belly buttons, whilst Izzy stared at Ty’s flat stomach. Her gaze wandered further up his body, and her fingers reached to touch his nipples. She looked at the boys. “Got?” she asked.

Off came the boys’ tops as they investigated to see if they too had nipples.

Her hand wandered to the scars puckering her father's chest. She frowned. “Ouchies?” she asked him.

Ty nodded. “Ouchies.”

She turned to the boys. “Ouchies?”

Hamish shook his head. “Got a ouchie on my knee.”

Izzy hadn’t finished yet. Her hands flew over Ty's face and neck until her fingers touched his navel and he turned his head so she could see it. She leaned in close to get a good look at it, her finger gently poking at it, before with a grin she kissed it. “Mummy kisses,” she smiled, before turning to the boys.

They turned and showed her their necks. “Not like daddy,“ Cameron told her. “We don’t got that.”

Izzy ran her hand over her father's head and though his short hair. She frowned as she looked at the boys. “Same?”

Cameron grinned, running his hand over his shaven head. His hair was just starting to grow back in. “Same,“ he chuckled.

To McQueen's amusement, his daughter continued with her examination of him, carefully investigating his armpits and arms, and checking the size of his hands against her own. As she wandered back onto his stomach and began pulling the sheet further down, he panicked and grabbed for the sheet.

Izzy frowned at him. “Daddy?” she queried.

“No, Izzy,“ he told her, fighting with her to keep hold of the sheet.

“Daddy!” she yelled at him. “Izzy look!”

He lay back and thought about it. Why was he worried? The children had seen both him and Dill naked often enough. He relaxed his grip on the sheet.

Izzy smiled at him, her big beaming smile that showed she knew she’d won. The sheet was pulled further down, uncovering him completely. She sat and stared at him for so long Ty began to feel mightily embarrassed. He jumped as he felt her touch him.

“No, Izzy,” he said sternly. “No touching!”

“Only mummy touches,” Hamish giggled.

Izzy stared at the boys. “Got?” she demanded.

Two pairs of pyjama bottoms hit the floor as the boys both climbed onto the bed.

“Penises,“ Hamish told her. “We’s guys”

Izzy looked from McQueen to them, and back again. “Daddy big,” she announced.

McQueen closed his eyes. He felt like he was in some surreal alternate universe.

“Daddy?”

He opened his eyes. “Yes, Hamish?”

“When we’s growed up will we get a big penis too? And hairs?”

“Yes,” Ty sighed. How come no one had warned him he’d one day be lying naked in his bed with two naked small boys and a toddler busy examining his private parts? He flinched as once again he felt Izzy touching him.

“No!” he snapped.

“Good grief! Is this a private orgy, or can I join in too?” Dill laughed from the doorway. She’d gone for a shower, and stood wearing only a towel. “Izzy, no touching daddy please. He said no.”

Izzy scowled at her. “Mummy touch.”

“Yes, darling, but that’s a mummy and daddy thing. It’s not for children.” Dill sat on the bed and began rubbing her hair. “Boys, put your pyjamas back on please. And Izzy, cover daddy up.”

Laughing, the boys pulled their clothes back on and ran from the room, followed by a scowling Izzy.

“What on earth was going on?” Dill asked him.

“She was fascinated by my lack of a navel. She got the boys in to compare. Then she examined me from top to bottom. She’s a helluva lot brighter than I gave her credit for,” Ty admitted. ”I wasn’t keen on her checking me out totally, but I figured they’ve all seen us naked. It was a bit late to turn prudish.”

“That’s true,” she chuckled. ”I don’t blame her wanting to touch you though. I’d like to myself.”

“Go on then,” he whispered.

“Don’t tempt me. The children are awake.”

“Then kiss me instead,” he smiled, reaching to pull her into his arms.

“If you insist,” she giggled.

They were still lying there kissing when the children came back in, toys in hand, to play on the bed next to daddy.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dill was delighted and sad, all at the same time. Her belongings had arrived from Mir. Almost everything was there, and all that had really been lost were toys from the children’s room when the wall had ruptured. Everything in her bedroom had been parcelled up, and sent on to her aboard the Saratoga, along with a message that her contract had been cancelled and passage was being arranged back to earth for her.

She was determined to actually spend a whole night with Ty, preferably without any interruptions or him falling asleep. If she was going home she wanted to give him good memories before she left. She hated it when Cameron told her daddy was feeling sad and missed her.

“Okay guys, who wants to go to the gym and do some climbing?” she asked the children, who were sprawled on the floor, drawing.

Hamish looked up, thinking about it. “Nope,” he said. “I wanna draw.”

“Okay, but I think maybe we’ll go and get some exercise after you finish drawing. Then we’ll get you some dinner, and you can come back and watch a film while I put the Izzy to bed,” she told them.

“Will daddy be here then?” Cameron asked.

“I’m not sure, my lover. He did say he’d meet us for lunch, but he didn’t, did he?”

“Coop!” Izzy grinned.

“I know, my sweet. You love him to bits, don’t you? Just don’t forget who your daddy is,” Dill smiled at her.

Cameron looked up at her. “Mummy, you’re so silly. Izzy knows who daddy is. He’s her bestest. She just loves Coop too.”

Dill smiled. “That’s okay then, because I’m sure daddy would be sad if any of you forgot about him.”

She got three patent McQueen glares, making her laugh out loud.

“Daddy’s scared that you might kiss someone else when we go home,” Cameron told her. “Who will you kiss, mummy?”

“Why would I want to kiss anyone else? Daddy gives me the best kisses. I don’t want anyone else’s, only you guys,” Dill said, surprised.

“He gets sad about it sometimes,” Cameron told her, before turning his attention back to his drawing.

“Well, when you feel that he’s sad, you let him know that I’m waiting for his kisses,” Dill smiled.

Cameron looked up at her. ”I’ll try.”

“Thank you. Now then, shall we go to the gym?” she tried again.

“Okay mummy,” Hamish said with an exasperated sigh. ”If you want us to.”

“Of course we could go swimming instead, if you’d prefer?” Dill said. ”Now that our things have arrived we all have swimming costumes.”

All three children brightened at that. “Yes, please!” Hamish almost yelled.

”Wimmin!” crowed Izzy.

Even Cameron smiled. “Can daddy come too?”

“Yes, I can,” McQueen said as he came through the door. ”I’m sorry I missed you for lunch. Glen and I were busy. We worked through and had a sandwich brought to us.” He kissed Dill and bent to hug and kiss the children. “So, where are we going?”

“Swimming,” Dill smiled. “I take it you do have a costume?”

“Of course. I like swimming. I can think while I do lengths,” he told her, whilst trying to sound affronted.

“I hope it’s not a pair of tiny Speedos,” Dill winked. “They show far too much.”

“Dylan McQueen!” Ty chuckled. ”You really do have a one track mind. You really think I’d wear tiny swim trunks?”

“Oh no. Knowing you it’s probably a full body suit!” she giggled. ”Which is fine by me.”

McQueen grabbed her round the waist and lifted her off the floor. “Iona is right, you really are a monster!” he laughed, kissing her.

“How can you say that?” Dill chuckled. “And I thought you loved me!”

“I do, and that’s why my swim trunks are shorts. Nice sensible navy blue shorts. No one sees more than I want them to.” Ty kissed her again. “Come on then, are we swimming or not?”

A chorus of 'yes daddys' rang out as the children, excited by his sudden arrival, danced about his legs.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dill sat on the edge of the pool, Izzy beside her splashing her feet in the water. Dill watched as Ty played with the boys, diving under the water, coming up underneath them and throwing them into the air to land back with almighty splashes. Hamish had early on realised that if he jumped as Ty threw him he could land with an even bigger splash. Cameron, however, wasn’t happy with the splashing involved. Dill could see the look on his face, and knew he was close to reaching his limit. Soon there would be tears.

“Ty!” she called, as he yet again launched Hamish into the air. Her husband looked up and swam over to her.

“Yes, my sweet?” he grinned. “You want a turn?”

“I think you’d better offer Cameron a way to back out gracefully. He’s trying really hard, but he doesn’t really like it. I think it’s all getting a bit much for him,” she whispered as he came in close to her.

McQueen turned and looked at Cameron. He was swimming towards the edge of the pool, away from Hamish, who was diving down and splashing up. Ty turned back and pulled himself out of the water, leaning to kiss Dill as he did so. “You know, if these kids weren’t here, I’d lock the door and ….”

“I thought it was me who had the one track mind!” Dill laughed.

“Well, if you will sit there looking so deliciously edible,” he grinned, before diving back into the water and swimming over to Cameron. “Hey, little guy, fancy a swim on my back? I’m too tired to throw you up into the air any more.”

Cameron grinned and clung onto his back as McQueen ploughed through the water towards the far end of the pool. Dill smiled. Ty’d wondered about Hamish’s ability in the water. The little boy swam like a fish. Watching McQueen, she knew exactly where he’d got it.

“I’m going to get Izzy dressed now,“ she called. “Her little feet are turning blue. I’ll take her and get her some dinner, then put her to bed. Will you be able to manage with the boys?”

McQueen swam over to her, Cameron still on his back. ”If you ask him, Hawkes will baby-sit for you. Then you can come and eat with me and the boys. Unless…,” he smirked, “you ask him to baby-sit for them as well, and we go and eat once we’ve put them to bed.”

“I’ll ask him to see after Izzy for me, and I’ll come eat with you and the boys. Then we’ll put them to bed,“ she smiled. “And if you’re a good boy, I’ll put you to bed, too.”

“Is that a promise?” Ty whispered, pulling her head down to kiss her.

“Absolutely,” she murmured.

“Good, because that patch is still clinging to my butt,” he grinned. “It’d be a shame to waste it.”

“It’s had hardly any use at all,” she sighed. “I do have some wonderful pictures though.”

“And if you ever show them to anyone, I will divorce you,” he told her seriously.

“Oh no. They’re strictly for me, when I’m missing you like mad,” she giggled, standing and picking Izzy up. “Come on, dumpling, let’s go get dressed.”

“Come on, Daddy, more!” Cameron urged.

“Yes, sir!” McQueen chuckled, and ploughed back through the water towards Hamish, as Cameron squealed in delight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner in the mess, during which McQueen waved over Corporal Hudson to come and say hello to Dill and the boys, McQueen was in the bathroom. Having showered both boys, he was getting them to brush their teeth.

“Daddy?” Cameron asked as he stood on a stool in front of the sink.

“Yeah?” McQueen replied absently as he squeezed the toothpaste.

“Did your daddy make you brush your teeth before you went to bed?”

“Er…,” he hesitated. “I didn’t have a daddy. I had to learn how to brush my teeth by myself.”

“But your mummy could have showed you!” Hamish declared loudly.

“I didn’t have a mummy either,” he told the astonished boys.

“Everyone has a mummy,” Cameron said, in a tone of voice that implied his father was seriously stupid.

“No, that’s not true. Cooper doesn’t have a mummy or daddy either, and neither does grandpa.”

Hamish stared at him, unsure whether to believe him or not. “But daddy, you growed in your mummy’s tummy, just like Izzy growed in mummy’s.”

“No I didn’t. I grew in a growth tank. That’s a special place for babies who don’t have mummies or daddies. I grew in there until I was all grown up.”

Both boys stared at him in disbelief.

“Daddy, you’s making it up!” Hamish accused. “McQueen’s don’t tell lies, daddy!”

“No, I’m not. You can ask mummy if you want, but in the morning. Right now it’s time for bed,” he told them.

“That’s not fair daddy,” Cameron cried.

“Yes, it is. It’s time to say goodnight. I’ll read you a story, and tomorrow you can ask mommy about it. But it’s my turn to have mommy all to myself now.” He shooed them out of the bathroom and into their bedroom. ”Don’t wake Izzy,” he whispered.

Ty supervised the boys as they ensured that Stirrup, who he’d moved in with them once they were onboard, had fresh water and food. And then after forcing them to wash their hands again, he tucked both boys into bed and read them a story. Before he’d finished it both were sound asleep. He kissed them and crept out to see Dill.

She was stretched out on the sofa, her eyes closed. He crept over and laid himself full length on top of her.

“Hey Dill,” Ty breathed in her ear, making her squirm.

“Hey handsome,” Dill sighed, her hands reaching to stroke his back. “Let's go somewhere more comfortable.”

McQueen stood and reached for her, pulling her up and into his arms he swung her up off her feet, and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and knelt between her legs, pulling her shirt out of her jeans and slowly undoing each button, his eyes fixed on her face as she watched him. Once he had the shirt undone, he slid it to the sides, revealing the flimsy black lace bra she wore. With a smile, he bent to suckle the nipples he could see peeking through the lace.

Dill moaned as she felt his hot mouth engulfing her, suckling and gently biting at each nipple until they were hardened nubs. Lifting his head, Ty took hold of her bra with both hands and ripped it, revealing her breasts fully to him as, once again, he bent his head to lavish attention on them, his hands this time sliding down her body to undo her jeans.

“Do you have any idea how much that bra cost you?” Dill groaned, as Ty's mouth moved downwards kissing his way to her navel.

“I don’t care,” he said softly. ”It had to come off.”

“Now I’ll have panties that don’t match,” she gasped, as his tongue began to swirl around her navel, every so often dipping into it.

“Are you wearing them now?” Ty asked, a glint in his eye.

“Yes,” she said tentatively, wondering what he was going to do.

With a smirk, Ty moved lower and dragged Dill's jeans down her legs, revealing the tiny black lace panties she wore. He climbed off the bed and fully removed her jeans, before once again kneeling between her feet. This time his hands gripped her thighs firmly as he bent his head to her underwear. He glanced up, grinning wickedly.

“Ty, no!” Dill squealed, wriggling to get away from him.

“I think so,” Ty chuckled. “Can’t have you wearing unmatched undies, can we?” He gently gripped her panties in his teeth and tugged on them, trying not to laugh as she shrieked when, with a violent tug, they tore and came away in his mouth. “There you go, no need to worry about it now.”

“You’re awful!” she squawked, as his tongue prodded at her.

Dill hands flew to his head, fingers trying to grip his short hair, as he began to suckle on her clit whilst gently inserting two fingers inside her and stroking her softly. She moved her legs, giving him easier access, and with his spare hand he lifted her hips higher as he pumped her faster and harder with his fingers. When he had her gasping for breath, he replaced his fingers with his tongue, and gently rubbed her clit with a thumb, until feeling her body tense and her legs start to tremble. He gripped her hips firmly and sucked, licking and thrusting for all he was worth, until she was crying out his name as she came onto his face. Ty waited for her to finish shaking and licked her clean, before moving up the bed to lift her shoulders and remove the shirt and remains of her bra. He laid her back down and gently stroked her stomach until her eyes opened and she grinned at him.

“I know there’s a God. Otherwise we would have been interrupted again.” She smiled up at him contentedly. “Ty, my lover, you have far too many clothes on.” Dill sat up and pushed him onto his back. Climbing off the bed, she knelt to remove his boots and socks. ”These are going,” she grinned. “Making love whilst wearing your socks is a real turn off.”

Ty lay back and enjoyed it as she moved to unzip his flight suit, reaching inside to stroke his chest and stomach before pulling him up and slipping it off his shoulders and down his arms. The turtleneck came off next, and the tank top underneath it. Dill laid him back down and massaged his chest.

“Feeling cold, were you?” she smiled. “I’ll warm you up.” She straddled his hips and began to trace the outlines of his scars with her finger, followed by her mouth gently kissing each scar and licking it, tracing it with her tongue.

Ty lay with his hands reaching to knead her breasts as she bent over him, tweaking at her nipples as she began grinding herself into his hips. With a sigh, she moved off him and tugged the flight suit down his legs and off, quickly followed by his boxers, before once again straddling him and continuing with her caresses down his chest and stomach until she reached his erection.

“Hmmm,” Dill murmured before taking him whole into her mouth, making him buck his hips upwards as she sucked him hard. Once she had him bucking furiously, she let him go with a final suck, smiling as he cried out for her not to stop. She turned, and watching him over her shoulder, used two fingers inside herself until they were wet and dripping with her moistness. Then she positioned herself over him and slid down onto his length as she gently slid a finger inside him.

“Dill!” Ty gasped, as her finger found his prostate instantly and stroked it gently as she began to slide up and down him. He grabbed her hips and held her steady as he thrust to meet her, not sure if he was thrusting towards her fingers or upwards to meet her as she slammed down on his aching cock. His hands kneaded her buttocks as he wished she were facing him so he could pull her down to suckle on her breasts. He tried to tell her to turn around, but Dill's fingers were stroking him faster, and he could barely breathe, let alone speak. Ty's whole body shook with the force of the orgasm she gave him. He was convinced something inside him had burst as she rode him relentlessly, drawing out every drop of semen she could, before she slid off him and again took him in her mouth, sucking him dry.

Dill crept up Ty's body until she was lying on top of him, and he wrapped his arms around her. Kissing him, she gently stroked a hand through his hair, stopping to trace the outlines of his ear, her finger very softly stroking a tiny mole on his right ear before she moved to kiss it, her breath hot on it.

“I love you, Tyrus McQueen,” she breathed. ”Right down to this tiny, little mole. I love you so much it hurts unbearably when you have to leave me. Don’t leave me any more, Ty. Come home with us. Come home forever.”

“I wish I could, Dill. I know how much it hurts. It hurts me too. You don’t mean it. You know you don’t. After the war I’m yours, forever and for always. I promise.” Ty hugged her close, hearing the small sobs as she cried into his neck. ”Don’t, Dill. Please don’t cry.” He rolled them over so that he could hold her more comfortably and waited for the sobs to subside. “What brought that on?” he asked, once she was calmer.

“I got notice today that my contract is cancelled, and arrangements are being made to take me and the children home,” she said in a tiny voice. “I don’t want to go, Ty. I want to stay here with you. I miss you so much. Don’t make me go, Ty. Please. Let me stay with you.”

“A carrier is no place for you and the children, Dill. It’s not safe. The ‘Toga‘s usually right on the frontlines. We’re only here now because we took a helluva beating recently and need repairs.” Ty stroked her hair, wondering why now? Why suddenly now was Dill losing it? She’d never behaved like this before.

“I’ll send the children home to mother, but let me stay, please. I promise not to get in the way, and I’ll stay in your quarters if that’s what you want,” she pleaded.

“No, Dill, you can’t stay. I’m sorry. It’s not safe, and I need to know you and the children are safe at home, waiting for me.”

“Please, Ty,” she wept, burying her head in his chest. “There must be something I can do to make myself useful.”

He lifted her head and kissed her tears away. “This isn’t like you, Dill. There’s something else going on that I don’t know about, isn’t there?”

She shook her head. “I just need you so much I can’t cope anymore,” she whispered.

“Yes, you can,” Ty told her. “You have to, for the children’s sake. For mine. You have to take care of them, Dill. Concentrate on them, those three monkeys of ours. Hell, if you really want me to, I’ll rip this patch off and do my damnest to send you home carrying another. Give you something to take your mind off missing me.”

Dill looked up into his face. “You don’t want any more children.”

“Yes, I do, but I wanted to wait until I could be there the whole time. If it would help you to have another now, then I’ll willingly do my best to oblige.”

“I don’t want another child. I want you,” she said seriously.

“I’ll remind you of that next time you’re bugging me about babies,” Ty smiled. ”Now come on up here and give me a kiss because I want you too.”

He moved so that Dill could feel his erection pressing against her thigh. He rolled her onto her back, and positioning himself so that he was pushing against her hot core, kissed her. His tongue gently but insistently pushed into her mouth, tasting her. He ran his tongue around her lips, sucking gently on her bottom lip. He pulled back and looked at her. She had her eyes closed, and for a second he wondered if she was asleep.

“Why’re you stopping, flyboy?” Dill complained, as her eyes opened to look at him. “It's awful bad manners to be such a tease.”

“I’m a tease?” he smiled. “We’ll see about that!”

TY reached to hold her shoulders and slid himself inside her with one mighty thrust. Pausing only to kiss her some more before he started to move, he built slowly to the hard, fast pace he knew she liked. He bent and licked at a nipple as he continued his thrusts, feeling her hands on his shoulders, her breath hot against his neck as she urged him on, her legs wrapped firmly around his waist. He released his hold on her shoulders and shifted her legs, lifting them to his shoulders as he increased his pace. ”Dill,” he cried, as he felt his own climax approaching. Grabbing at her shoulders again, he pushed himself as hard as he could, feeling her thrusting upwards to meet him.

“Come on, flyboy,” she moaned. “Faster than that.”

“I’m going as fast as I can,“ Ty gasped, dropping his head onto her shoulder, but using reserves of strength he didn’t know he had to thrust even faster.

He felt Dill's body tense as her orgasm peaked - the sudden rigidity of her limbs - before, with a tremendous sigh, her whole body relaxed and she lay calm and smiling as his body begged for release. Ty closed his eyes as his body took over, and cried out as he felt her muscles contracting around his thrusting cock. He opened his eyes to see her smiling up at him, reaching out to pull his head down for a kiss, her hand gently kneading his shoulders as the muscles quivered from the strain. Seconds later he came, emptying himself into her as he collapsed on top of her, his mouth firmly clamped to hers.

Ty broke the kiss to breathe. “I love you so much, Dill,” he gasped. “Please don’t be sad any more.”

She looked up into his worried face, and smiling, stroked his jaw. “I scared you, didn’t I? I’m sorry. I know you’d be at home with me if you could be. I know I have the children to look after. I just miss you more than I can possibly say.”

“I miss you too, Dill. And the children,” Ty said, as he rolled onto his back and pulled her in for a hug.

“I know you do, my lover,” Dill sighed as she snuggled close. “Would you really be prepared to try getting me pregnant again?”

“Yes, if that’s truly what you want. If it would help you not miss me. I’d try.”

“And you wonder why I love you,“ she smiled. “That’s why, Ty. Because even though you don’t really want more children, you’d still try to make me happy.”

“I’d do anything for you, Dill. You know that, don’t you?”

Dill heard the fear in his voice. Seeing her cry had really frightened him, she realised. She hadn’t given into her feelings like that in front of him for quite a while, and he probably was scared that his capable Dill wouldn’t be able to look after him anymore.

She heaved a great weary sigh. “Yes, my lover, I know that. Bbut even I sometimes need to let it out, Ty. The only person I talk to about it is Iona. She gives me the support I’d get from you if you were there. Mother tries, but I can’t talk to her the way I talk to Iona. I need support too, Ty. I’m not superhuman. I can only take so much before I lose it. I’m sorry I scared you, but I need you to be strong for me too. This should be a two way thing, not the one way street it is now. I’m not your mother. I’m your wife. I need my husband to be strong. To be my comfort, my support.... Not always, but sometimes. And after all this time I shouldn’t have to tell you when I need you to be there for me. You should be able to tell that for yourself.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“It’s not enough, Ty. Sorry just isn’t enough. You’re not a child. You’re twenty six years old. You offer comfort and support to the 58th. Why not to me? You can do it. You have done it, but you so rarely do. Do you really feel that you can only do that as Colonel McQueen? Because I married him as well. Why doesn’t he ever take care of me? He used to. He did when Cameron was pining. He took total control. It was lovely. I felt completely cared for... completely safe. Lately, however, he’s hidden away, and I’ve had this dependant, clingy child who looks to me for comfort.”

Dill looked up at Ty and sighed as she saw the worry in his eyes.

“Do you hate me?” he asked, his voice small and childlike, perfectly illustrating her point.

“Of course not, but I married a man who regressed to a child. I know that as you’ve grown more comfortable and secure, you’ve let your demons out. And that’s because you’re not afraid I’ll change my mind and decide I don’t love you anymore. But I’m left to deal with those demons all by myself. I’m glad that the last two times you flipped mother was there to help me cope, because I don’t know how well I would have otherwise.”

McQueen lay there thinking about what she had said. “You’re right,” he finally said. ”I do rely on you far too much.”

“That’s not what I’m saying, Ty. You should be able to rely on me, just as I should be able to rely on you. What I’m trying to get across is that we should be equal partners in this marriage. Yes, I’ll be there when you need me to be. I’ll offer you comfort, and I’ll support you when you need it. But I need you to do the same thing for me. Currently you very rarely do. I know you desperately need a mother sometimes, and that’s okay. I can deal with that. But I never need another baby. What I need is a husband. Someone who’ll see that I’ve had enough and can’t cope any more. Who’ll hold me and tell me that everything will be okay. A husband who’ll take charge and let me just rely on him. ”

“I thought I did, when you cried earlier,” he said, confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Even then, Ty, it was what you needed. You needed me at home. You needed to know we were safe. Well, what about what I need? I need to know that you’re safe. I need you at home. I need you to take charge for once... to say, ‘Hey, Dill, I can see you’re feeling sad. Come here to me. Let me hold you. Tell me all about it. Let me make it better.’ But you don’t. You come running into my arms, just like the children do. You’ve had a bad day, so what do you do? You clamp yourself around my breast and comfort suckle. That’s okay to a point, and I really don’t mind, but I need you doing the same for me occasionally. And don’t even say it, Ty! If you say I can suck your nipples anytime, I swear it won’t be the chigs who hurt you. It’ll be me!”

Ty was quiet for a while as he thought about what she’d said. “I’m sorry, Dill. I didn’t realise how you felt. You’re right. After six years I should know, but I’ve been too busy being happy that I’ve found someone to take care of me, to see that I need to take care of you too. I’ll try, I promise. I can’t guarantee success all the time, but I swear I’ll try not to burden you too much.”

“You still don’t get it, do you? It’s not about being a burden. I’m your wife. You should be able to share your burden with me. You hear that? The word is share. I’m happy to share your burdens, Ty, but you offload them onto me. You need to learn that you can’t always do that. I’ll help you with them, and you help me with mine. That’s how it should be. Sharing, and taking care of each other.”

“I’ll try,” Ty whispered.

“That’s all I ask,” Dill said wearily, smiling as she felt his arms tighten around her.

“Go to sleep, Dill. Go on. I’ll get up if I hear the kids in the night. You need to get a good night's sleep for a change,” he said softly.

“See? You can do it when you think about it,” Dill smiled.

“I’m going to do my best to be a proper husband to you, Dill. Not another child.”

“Good boy,” she yawned.

“Trouble is you keep saying things like that. You’ve mothered me for so long it’ll be a hard habit to break.”

“I don’t want to break the habit. Sometimes you need it. But sometimes I need you to mother me, and you seem incapable of recognising those times.”

“Go to sleep. Let me think about what you’ve said. I know you’re right. Hilary tells me so all the time, but I like you looking after me. I need to learn to look after you. I need to think. Sleep, Dill. Go to sleep,” Ty told her, kissing her forehead.

“Yes, Ty.”

He lay there, his mind turning over everything she’d said, smiling to himself as he heard her start to softly snore in his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ty still lay awake an hour later. Looking at the clock on the wall, he saw that it was likely that Ross would still be about. Slipping out of bed, he quickly got dressed and went to talk to him.

“Who’s at my hatch?” came Ross’s familiar growl.

“McQueen, sir.”

“Come on in.”

As McQueen stepped through the doorway, Ross quirked an eyebrow. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight. Or are you still doing the dirty on Dylan?”

McQueen looked at him. “Doing the dirty?” he asked.

“You asked Lt. Crowe to call you back to the bridge at exactly 23:05. Did you think he wouldn’t put it in his report? The whole ship knows you wined and dined your wife that night, Ty, so why the getaway?” Ross chuckled. ”Help yourself to a drink, and I’ll have another rum.”

“Ah, that,” McQueen smiled, as he poured them both a drink. ”Let's just call it payback. Except she doesn’t know that’s what it was, so I guess it didn’t really work.”

“Dare I ask payback for what?” Ross queried, taking his drink from McQueen.

“It’s probably best we don’t go into that,” McQueen grinned, sitting down. “I need to talk to you, Glen. I need your help.”

“Well, that’s what friends are for, Ty. If I can help, you know I will.” Ross reached for Rosalyn, his guitar, and began to softly strum.

“It’s about Dill,” McQueen started. “She said some things to me tonight, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Ross looked at him. “Have you been pissing her off again, Ty? What did you do this time?”

“It’s more a case of what I didn’t do. How the hell am I supposed to know when everything has all got too much for her? I mean, she copes with everything I throw at her. How am I supposed to know?”

”Oh no, I’m not getting involved in one of those discussions.” Ross shook his head. ”When’s your next session with Hilary?”

“Tomorrow. Why?”

“Get over to my net link and send her a mail saying that you and Dylan need to speak to her tomorrow. And tell her briefly what about,” Ross told him.

McQueen got up and did as he was told. Sitting back down, he asked, “Why, Glen?”

“Because this is your marriage we’re talking about here. You have a professional therapist - let her help you both with this.”

McQueen gaped at him. “You think it’s that serious? Dill might leave me?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” Ross told him. “Now get out of here. Go back to your wife, hold her tight, and tell her you love her. That’ll help till you speak to Hilary tomorrow.”

Downing his drink, and with even more fear in his mind, McQueen said goodnight and went back to Dill. He undressed slowly and slipped back into bed with her, his heart leaping as she rolled over into his arms and mumbled his name in her sleep.

~~