"Auntie Syllie, Uncle Sally - do it again! AGAIN!" chorused the voices of my five nieces and nephews. My twin and I seemed to frequently be the entertainment of every family gathering for the past eight years. It all started with volunteering to entertain the eldest, Esther, when she was an infant.
The newest, Julie and Paul, were a pair of one-year-old twins that my parents swear up and down are less of a handful than Salmar and I ever were. That'd be Fes, I mean. I like when we get together with family, because Momma demanded there be no monikers at home.
I just like being able to convince the kids to call him 'Uncle Sally'. The lucky little brats all got their father's ears, so not one point among them. I pass mine off as "a foolish choice of plastic surgery I made when I was younger, and I don't feel like it's worth the effort to fix it now". Mine were fixed when the Healers on Atlantis were dealing with the Kessel Fever, I suppose they thought they were helping. Salmar, lucky man that he is, escaped it simply because he was awake to say 'no thank you'.
"I think it's time to give them a break, don't you?" asked their mother, my little sister Fiolla. "It's time to wash up for supper anyhow."
A chorus of complaint followed the children into the house while she stayed outside with us. "Why don't you move back here, Syl? I know that the protector of the Earth thing ended for you a few years ago." She frowned at me. I frowned back. Even after three years, that was still a sore point for me. She just didn't get it. Luckily my parents did.
"It may have done, but I'm still needed there. I feel more like I need to stay there than to come home. Besides," I grinned, crossing my arms, "I'm the best damn doctor they've got!"
Sal tsked. "Military life corrupted you."
"Didn't."
"Did!" Arrek appeared with us and slung his arm around my shoulders. "You used to hit me for cussing."
"Hmphf."
"And it hurt."
"I can still kick your arse."
"And I can still take the both of you at once," interrupted my twin before either of us could build up a good head of steam.
"Spoil sport."
"SUPPER!" called our mother from inside - and true to fashion, we all raced in to eat.
*
The house my parents moved into shortly after Arrek and I began our grand adventure, nearly a decade ago, was simply adorable. It was situated farther up into the mountains, tucked away just as much as the home we'd lived in together. There was a large open yard in the back with a barn and a pond beside it, and two and a half acres of cleared land around that for the pair of horses my parents bought. Past that, trees forever.
It also happened that the yard was the right size for a few X-wings or a small transport when necessary. Which was excellent, because that meant Sal could visit them whenever he was able - and so could Hobbie if I was there when he made it to system for a visit. It was never a problem for them to visit Mendellia ... until recently.
I admit I'm still grumpy about whatever bureaucrat decided to take away our awesome toys... and friends even. Grace, but I miss Fate flailing along in my wake. Sal arrived just a few days too late to hide our 'mechs on his ship. When the judgement was made, execution was swift and heartless.
Okay, so I was a bit attached to my 'mech, but we HAD been through a lot together over the years. I even got over my landing phobia. Hobbie and some others worked with me for ages to get me to the point where, not only do I not turn into a gibbering mess of Post Traumatic Stress panic upon descent, but I can even fly and land many Terran aircraft, along with X-wings and a few shuttles (not that that is a skill I need any more) if the pilot I'm with is incapacitated. Just don't try to get me into a dogfight - I'm all about relatively straight lines and descent patterns.
That reminds me, I need to buy a charger tomorrow for my mobile - I left mine back at the palace, and my phone went dead a couple days ago. Ah, my kingdom for a commlink. Those things ran forever.
Rent-A-Rogue have been darlings at the Spaceport. They've let folks dock there and get the current accepted Terran route du-jour to visit. The visits now, unfortunately, are somewhat restricted, but are possible nonetheless with a bit of careful planning.
I must admit, Hobbie's sporadic visits are a highlight in my life. Yes, I've gotten over referring to him as Derek. I save that for when I'm miffed with him, just to make sure he knows I'm serious. Don't worry, he has plenty of his own payback. No, I'm not telling how. He may be getting older, who isn't?, but he is as fit as ever, and we both happily play each other's thief. He told me just yesterday that they'll have to kick him out of the military before he retires, but that's fine with me. I'm not going anywhere.
It's good to see Arrek again as well, I see him less often - and he's on the same planet! A couple of years after our induction into Terra Group, he left to 'get on with living'. More of the being human, and a part of things. He's settled himself in the U.K. and is likely, in my opinion and with the experiences we've had, the best Paramedic they've got in that country. I'd be glad to have him working at my side, and I can be rather picky.
He's happy where he is though, and Da drove him to the airport after supper was done so that he could get home before his shift late tomorrow. He has built a really great life for himself over there, and I'm happy for him. In a way he's done better than I have these past three years. I'm one of the few who stayed in Mendellia when all was said, done, and dusted. I have found it difficult to move on.
As I stood on the porch looking over the land, an arm came from behind me, wrapping around my shoulders. I leaned back against the familiar figure, and turned to accept the expected kiss.
"Watching the moon rise again?"
"Obviously."
"Mind some company?"
"I won't say no - let's go sit on the swing."
Then again, curling up on a swing, with a warm arm wrapped around my shoulders to ward off the chill, is a great place to be. There are a lot of things I miss, and would jump at the chance to be a part of again. Moving on's hard to do, when life changes around you.
Then again, moving on can be overrated.