Nexus Seklar - How things should be

Posted on Sunday 15 October 2023 @ 19:53 by Commander Seklar

Mission: The Search
Location: Nexus
Timeline: unknown
562 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Warm arms circled around him with a familiarity he vaguely remembered, yet it felt oh so right. "You're home." The Irish lilt in her voice startled him and he whirled, staring into her sparkling green eyes. Her flaming orange hair fell in waves around her freckled face.

"Jadhen," he breathed, "how?"

"How am I? Just fine darling. Dinner's almost ready." Jadhen took him by the hand, gently pulling him over to what appeared to be a large dining table. Heavy too, by the looks of it, and it was set for two, not four. "Why don't you go look in on the wee ones, I'm sure the'll need feeding soon."

As if walking through a fog, Seklar just stared at her for a moment, surely the twins were older? Weren't they? He wasn't entirely sure now. Managing a smile, he pulled her towards him, circling his arms around her waist in a very rare sign of affection. "I will. Have they been behaving?"

"They're newborn Seklar, of course they behave."

Seklar froze at that revelation, but still.... she was here, all was well wasn't it? But why did he have that nagging feeling he couldn't explain? Something wasn't right, right here and now, something just wasn't right. But who was he to complain? The only woman he had ever truly loved was right here. He walked into the bedroom and scooped up the tiny infants into his arms, gingerly carrying them back as though afraid something might happen. "They are so small," he marveled.

"Well yes.." Jadhen walked up to her husband and pressed the back of her hand first to his forehead and then to his cheek. "Are you feeling alright honey? You're not going to go through that pon farr thing on such a short notice again are you? And you're not coming down with something else?"

Startled, Seklar took a step back. "No, that will not happen for another seven years. And no, I am not I'll. But..." he paused, not sure how to tell her. "The last I remember, Salai and Ishara are ten years old, and I have been raising them alone. You..." He shook his head, the horror of that memory had never ceased to haunt him. "Never mind, I must have been dreaming. You are here, we are together, as we should be."

He handed her one of the infants then cradled the other to his chest. "Can I help you feed them?"

"Of course you can, you don't have to ask me love, we're a family we'll do this together. I'm not going anywhere Seklar,I understand that this is forever. I told you that when I decided to help you out. I know what I got into, and I love you so..." she nudged him playfully. "Get used to it alright? You're not alone anymore, you're never going to be alone anymore. I won't leave you. We're one remember? You told me as much, you promised me as much, when we bonded. Never parted wasn't it?"

Seklar nodded, unable to stop the tears from forming in his eyes. Yes, he was finally home. He was where he belonged, with his first love. Everything was as it should've been from the beginning. "I love you," he echoed, emotion clear in his voice. "I always will."

Commander Seklar
Chief Engineer

Jadhen
Seklar's first (deceased) wife