Collision Course (Class 5, #6)

Chapter 47

The lights were gentle and low, and Rose moved Lilian a little higher up her chest. She had named her for her mother, who’d passed away when Rose was eighteen.

Lilian lay with her cheek against Rose’s skin, and Rose ran a hand gently down her back.

“When will you come back to the Class 5?” Sazo whispered in her ear.

“Tomorrow.” Rose smiled up at the lens in the ceiling. “I can’t wait to get home.”

“She’s very tiny.” Sazo sounded a little freaked out.

“She’ll grow.” Rose nuzzled her hair. “Although hopefully not too fast.”

“She has Grihan ears,” Sazo said.

“Grihan ears but her mother’s hair.” Rose kissed her head again. “Time will tell if she has Grihan height or she’s more Earthling sized.”

“I have a present for her.” The door opened, and Rose lifted her head slightly.

A tiny hover cradle slid gently into the room.

“I sent it over on the runner.” Sazo sounded shy.

Thinking of a gift. Creating that gift.

Rose blew a kiss at the lens. “It’s so thoughtful, and so beautifully designed.” It had come to a rest beside her bed, and Rose could see the sides were nice and high, and beautifully decorated in what looked like carved relief, with flowers, birds, and there was a tiny Sweetpea, peering through the leaves. The inside was already made up of soft bedding and a tiny blanket.

Rose gently set Lilian down inside it and lifted herself up a little in the bed.

“She likes it.” Sazo’s pleasure was clear. “You need to rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Rose knew he had withdrawn from the lens feed, giving her privacy. As she swung out of bed and reached for the water Dav had left for her, he stepped into the room.

His gaze went to the cradle, and both his eyebrows rose.

“Gift from Sazo,” Rose whispered.

Dav looked down on his daughter and gently ran a finger down her cheek. “She has my ears,” he said. Then tilted his head. “And I couldn’t help noticing when she was born, a loud voice.”

Rose grinned. “That’s normal for human babies. We all start out like that.”

“So she still might develop the beautiful voice of her mother?” Dav asked hopefully.

He sat down next to her, drew her close, and she laid her head on his shoulder as they both looked into the crib.

The moment of perfect peace was suddenly shattered by a cry of outrage from their child, as she discovered she was no longer lying on her mother’s chest.

Rose lifted her carefully, and started to sing to her, and she stopped crying immediately. Her eyes fixed on Rose and she blew a bubble with her tiny mouth.

“She’s Grih in her appreciation for music,” Dav said. He kissed the top of Rose’s head. She could feel a slight tremble in his hand as he ran it down her arm.

“We’re safe and well,” she said. “We made it.”

“I thought for a while there that this would all happen on Dimal. In trying circumstances.” His voice was rougher than usual.

Rose sighed. “I did, too. But it didn’t. I hate them for making me worry about it. For making a stressful time even more stressful.”

“Yes.” Dav’s answer was clipped. “I’ve put my full weight behind sanctioning the Kimol if we do end up trading with the Fisone. They deserve to be out in the cold.”

Rose realized she didn’t care any more. The Hasmarga had wiped out what little of the bunker was left after Sazo had shot it. She didn’t even want to go down to Fisone and spend some time on-planet, as they’d been invited to do by Utwick.

She had everything she wanted right now.

There was a thread of sadness that she couldn’t share the joy of Lilian with her sister and her sister’s family, but she had made peace with that loss a year ago.

She snuggled back under Dav’s shoulder, handed Lilian over and closed her eyes.

She would need to be rested for the adventure that lay ahead.