TEMPUS TWO CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.
Audrey Hepburn
Cristian, Tiffany, and young Mary left the Planet and went back into the ship. They were in the captain’s cabin. Tiffany saw that Cristian was deep in thought. She knew what he was planning on doing.
“Cristian we need to discuss a few things.”
“Yes, Tiffany.”
“First Lorelei made me promise two things.”
“Yes.”
“That I would take care of you.”
“What was the second thing?”
“That I keep you from going into the past to change things. Cristian I promised her.”
“I want to try Tiffany.”
“It was her dying wish, she was afraid it may change the outcome of the battle. Billions of lives hang in the balance. You cannot do this. It would be selfish.”
“I know.”
“Think of your children.”
“I am Tiffany, I am not sure how I can do this without her.”
“I will be here Cristian. I am not going to try to replace her. I know I never could, I will keep my promise to her. I will help with the children.”
“Why would you do that Tiffany? It is too much to ask. You are already carrying our child.”
“Cristian I will be here. Promise me that you will not go back to try to change Lorelei’s death?”
He thought about what Tiffany had said and she was right. It would be selfish and a risk that he would not take. “Tiffany I thought about what you said I promise that I will not.”
“I am going to move into the children’s room.”
“You will need to replace me as weapons officer, for now.”
“I think young Mary would like that. I was about to search for a P.A. that is good with children.”
“I think I know one,” said Tiffany.
“Through all this, I never asked how you were doing?”
“I am doing okay Cristian, it itches where they made the incision. There is something else you should know.”
“What is it?”
“Check your list of hybrids. Check under the name Swanson.”
“Cristian I missed this, the Gray didn’t tell us the truth about the number of female Hybrids,” said Watcher.
“When did we ever get the truth from them. Watcher better go through the entire list and find the location of everybody. Now that we are in a peaceful period. Humans may start to resent us.”
“Working on it.”
“Randall is a name from a marriage that only lasted six months. The Doc told me I was a hybrid when she moved the baby.”
“Funny how we all end up together. I am sure that the Gray have something to do with that.”
“Watcher I think we should go to Thu-ban and check on the fleet.”
“Going to see the Chancellor Cristian?”
“Yes, Watcher.”
“Tiffany we are going to Thu-Ban to check on the repairs. I need to contact Bob.”
“Bob Thanks for your support during the funeral and what you did for Lorelei.”
“She was a hero. Cristian we have awarded her medals for what she did. I have them here.”
“Keep them until I get back. Bob we are leaving for Thu-Ban to check on repairs to the fleet.”
“What will you do when they are done?”
“I plan to send them through the rift to help free worlds that still may have the mind control satellites over their planets. I want to make sure that we did get all the bad guys.”
“That sounds like a plan. Will you leave some of fleet here?”
“I will leave you one ship as an escort for the Magellan. Maybe you can use the ships to establish bases on the Moon and Mars. It’s time we got those done.”
“That’s a good idea Cristian.”
“I am on my way out. Take care, Bob.”
The ship Prodigious folded space and headed out to Thu-Ban the homeworld of the Gray. Cristian met with the Chancellor and got exactly what he expected double talk and non-answers. They talked about the fleet now down to Twenty working ships. He asked about his wife’s ship.
The Séadhna suffered major structural damage. The damage was too severe. A decision was made to turn the ship into a hospital and housing for the school.
Cristian liked the idea he didn’t want anyone else flying her ship again. Her ship was renamed the Lorelei Wolf Center. The dedication and opening was to happen in six months. The ship was placed on permanent pilings just north of the school and airbase. The captain’s Cabin was welded shut never to be used again and a memorial Plaque was put on the door.
Within a couple of months, the ships were ready and they were sent into the Rift to search for enslaved worlds to free. Cristian took the Prodigious through.
The first stop was a visit to Gatera to introduce Young Mary and Tiffany to the Chieftain.
“Cristian how are you? This must be Mary Wolf and you must be the one who saved Lorelei’s child.”
“This is Tiffany. Tiffany this is the Chieftain of the Gaterans.”
“Will you stay long Cristian?”
“We will stay the night but only if there is food.”
“We will always have food for you.”
“If you have a bigger ship come down we would be happy to supply your ship with fresh food to take on your voyage.”
“I am sure my people would enjoy that.”
“Come to the meeting hall it is almost time to eat.”
They had a great meal. Tiffany was treated like she was royalty. Cristian thought it was good. Tiffany should be treated well. He was sorry he couldn’t give her more of himself. He wasn’t sure where to put the memories of his dead wife and where to fit Tiffany into his life. He was more than thankful that she was here. When he looked at her he felt guilt, like he was cheating on Lorelei.
It was past the grieving period and he was sure he loved Tiffany. He seemed to run into a wall when he tried to reach out to her. Tiffany was patient and never pushed him. Young Mary loved her, the cats loved her.
Pretty soon Tiffany would have Lorelei’s child. He was sure that it only complicate things even more.
“Cristian you seem to be deep in thought?”
“Yes, Tiffany just thinking about our next mission.”
“You better have some of this food it is wonderful.”
“Cristian will you tell us more stories? I am sure there are many that came tonight just to hear more” asked the Chieftain.
“I will tell you the story of humans from Earth.”
Cristian told them that in the beginning there was muck and heat from volcanoes. God sent a spark into the muck. Out of the muck came life. That life became fish and the fish swam in the water on the planet earth for thousands of years.
Some of the fish grew legs and walked on the bottom of the ocean. One day some of those fish walked onto the shore and became Giant lizards, some ate plants some ate other lizards. Some learned to fly, some learned to run. Some became monkeys who climbed in trees. In time some of the monkeys became Apes and started to walk on two legs. Some became smarter and started to make tools then houses and farms.
They started to explore and they became the dominant species on their planet. They built cities and ships, and machines. They made machines that could fly. Then they made ships that could fly in space.
Then they got help from another race of beings who gave them ships that could fly to the ends of space in the blink of an eye.
One of those ships found a planet that was enslaved and they freed those people and came down to have a great meal. And that is the story so far.”
“Cristian you sure know how to spin a yarn, fish that turn into monkeys that fly in space. Quite a story. What is a monkey?”
“That is another story. I think it is time for bed Chieftain.”
“I will take you to your room.”
The chieftain took Tiffany, Mary and Cristian to a room, then he left them.
“Tiffany there is only one bed and a crib. I will sleep on the floor.”
“No Cristian you will sleep beside me,” she said sternly.
“Tiffany?”
“No arguments we can just sleep.”
Tiffany took her clothes off in the bathroom and wore just a shirt to bed. Cristian climbed into bed before she came out to save any embarrassing moments.”
When they were both in bed. Cristian turned the lights off.
“Cristian the baby is kicking.” She took Cristian’s hand and put it on her bare belly.
“I felt that” Tiffany turned on her side and moved closer in, her back to him. Afraid to move in any direction, he kept his hand on the baby and fell asleep.
Nothing else happened, there were no other moments of intimacy that night.
In the morning he noticed that Tiffany was weeping and he knew why. He knew he had to open his heart or risk losing her.
“Tiffany I think it’s time we talked.” Tiffany turned to hide her tears.
“What about Cristian?” Her voice wavered as she spoke.
“About us Tiffany. I know this has been hard on you. I know it is me that is causing your tears right now. Tiffany, I want to try to make things work between us. Tell me how I can make things better.”
“You could kiss me Cristian.” He walked over and gave Tiffany a long kiss. Tears streamed out of Tiffany’s eyes even harder.
“Looks like I made things worse Tiff.”
“You ass, I am crying now because you made me happy.”
“Oh, some kind of Alien genius I am” that brought a smile to her lips and he kissed her again.
This was going to be different he thought to himself.
“I need to get cleaned up before we leave Cristian.”
Tiffany poured a bath and climbed in. Cristian came in and washed her back and then moved to the front of her body. He soaped and washed every part of her body.
Tiffany climbed out and Cristian took a large towel and dried her from head to toe.
“Cristian that was nice, I am sorry I doubted you.”
He didn’t say any words he just held her for a few minutes. His actions were enough.
It was time to say goodbye and thank the people of Gatera. Cristian and company went back to the ship.
Tiffany and Cristian were eventually married. They soon were the parents of a red-haired little girl named Lorelei. Soon after Tiffany was pregnant with a child of her own. Cristian was happy to have more children.
Paul and Mary were attentive grandparents and helped with the children. They were both happy that Cristian had Tiffany, and were not resentful about her. They loved her as one of their own.
Cristian had the family he always wanted and it was going to get bigger. Tiffany was a good wife and treated Cristian very well as he did for her. There was more than enough love to go around.
Tiffany couldn’t make apple pie and really couldn’t cook, but she was a great mother to Mary and Lorelei. She treated them both as if they were hers.
There was an age difference of about 15 years between them. It didn’t make a difference they loved each other. Tiffany continued to help Cristian with organizing his work life.
They had a good life aboard the ship and would take time off and go back to the cave. The primary dwellers were Albert and Stephen and a few of the original scientists. Lucy was left behind to keep them safe.
Albert continued to work in his greenhouse and listen to classic rock. It was in the greenhouse he would work out equations and discuss them with Stephen who could be found close by with a tablet.