"I have missed you as well." He smiled gently wrapping his arms tightly around her. "How did everything go?" He grinned leading her into the center of the village.

The treelocks hurried around them setting up the festivities for the evening. "Would anyone like something to eat while you are waiting." A tall girl with slender legs approached the group. "It will only be a short while but I am sure you must all be hungry."

*****************

Onyx carried her baby off the shuttle. The two were quiet tired from the excursion and decided to take a rest. "I will see you all in a little." She smiled waving to them before disappearing into the hut.

"Suppose he'll be around for a while.....hasn't been quite the relaxing break we were hoping for, has it?" He said, with a small smile. He reached up and brushed a few errant strands of her hair with his fingers.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" He said quietly, the smile growing, brightening. "How're you doing?" He asked.

"If there's one thing I've learnt over recent months it's this....life with the Misfits is never ever relaxing!"

She hugged him tightly

"And no...I don't believe you have! Why don't we follow Sumel's lead...let's go and get cleaned up, then I can tell you how I am and just how much I love you too"

Singer wanted the privacy for many reasons...time to think, a chance to change into the last clean clothes possessed, but most of all a bath.

Singer harvested handfulls of cleansing herbs along the way, so as to not foul the pool.

The woods were cool, and the water deliciously crisp as Singer stripped and stepped into its waiting embrace.

Cassandra looked toward the back of the crowd and spotted her husband. Racing over to him she wrapped her arms around. Her mate kissed her and smiled warmly. "How are you?" she asked him.

"Sounds good to me.....so long as we share the shower, or bath, or whatever they have here...." He said with a sly wink.

Later....

As they sat in the hot water of the bath, relaxing from the battle of some hours ago (as well as the more recent and enjoyable exertions...), Adam wrapped his arms around his wife and nuzzled against her.

"You know, I've been thinking.....there are still a few months left on that treatment Onyx gave you...." He recalled. "But now that my condition is no longer an issue, maybe we could get her to reverse the process early....."

He shifted to look at her. "I know things have been chaotic for us lately, but I don't think that's going to change anytime soon....and Onyx didn't let that stop her and Caz.....I know we've talked about it, and that you want children. So do I....and now that we know I'm finally free of my curse, I think it's time we started really planning for a family of our own..."

He caressed Katya's cheek. "What do you think?" He asked.

"What do I think......what do I think?"

She knelt up in the water and threw her arms around her mate

"I think that is the most wonderful idea I've ever heard! as soon as we leave here we'll speak to Onyx......in the meantime.."

She winked

"How about we practice some more"

"That....is a wonderful idea..." He breathed, and kissed her deeply.

Fade....

Abruptly she remembered the Amulet that she still wore around her neck. She'd forgotten it was there. She traced it's outline with her fingers for a few moments, remembering what it was for. Tiona shook her head before removing her fingers and resumed her quiet walk.

Jasper approached the purple pixie slowly. "Samul, have you forgotten?"

"forgotten what?"Came the reply.

"You offered to take Brazil as a host. He will not last much longer."

"Lets go."

Jasper waved the pixie to follow him. The two men dropped down to a lower level where the huts stood quiet. Most of the residents had already left for the party. "He is in there." Jasper moved the curtain to the side.

Sumel walked in quickly, slipping his shirt off

"This will not hurt." Jasper extended his hand into his coat pocket pulling out a white stone. The stone pulsed with light as it came near Samul's forehead.

Sumel smiled, totally relaxed. "i know" as the stone came closer he close his eyes

"Lay on the blanket and I will place it on you." He whispered.

Sumel silently did as he was told

The process began immediately once the gem was set. The pixie didn't even realize his stomach was being sliced open. Jasper Argon reached over to the Parasetic and gently placed him into his new host. "You will feel the connection,...now."

Sumel did feel it, a presence, as if another mind was suddenly connected to his own. "welcome Brazil, i hope you like it here" he said under his breath.

"Ha," the symbiont laughed. "I hope you are as strong as my last hope that you killed."

"I killed him didn't I?

"I suppose you are right." He smiled mentally. "I suggest we get back to the party before the others miss us.."

Sumel looked down at the fading scars on his chest and stomach, and saw that the marks fro mthe shrapnel were almost gone."Yeah, i suppose so "he said as he slipped his shirt back on.

He looked at Argon "anything else?"

"No," Jasper stood up. "It will take some getting used to, and he can be cranky at times." The stalker's smile curved at the side of his mouth.

"At least this time he's a he, the other symbiont I had to carry was a she, and BOY was that interesting!"

"We take on the sex of our last host. She was probably bounded with a she, but in actuality. We have no sex." Jasper headed for the door.

"I know, but she had a very decided preference for females. Sumel walked out the door.

Singer stared at the outfit unhappily. It had been handcrafted for happier times, for high ritual days and the festivities that surrounded them.

Slowly Singer donned the heavily beaded and fringed vest that barely concealed Singer's breasts, then the skin tight leather pants that did nothing to to hide the fact that Singer was a hermaphrodite.

The Treelocks knew what Singer was and had always been accepting of it.

Heavy gemstone beads were woven into Singer's warrior braid, a bone and meteoric iron choker went about the throat. Rings and gemmed bracers, carefully crafted and given with joy by memebers of Singers no longer exant birth Pride followed.

Made surer by the contact with the embodied menories, Singer returned to the Treelock willage.

Singer had not partied in far too long.

[This message has been edited by Bandit (edited November 13, 2002).]

"We should go join the others....sounds like a party's getting started, and we wouldn't want to give our hosts the impression we're anti-social, now would we?" He said, smiling. "Besides, all that practice has worn me out..." He chuckled.

“You..worn out..somehow I doubt it Adam”

She pulled on her boots and quickly combed her hair

“Ok..I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be..let’s go and join the party”

He glanced at his wife, and stole a brief kiss. "Want to see what the snack bar has to offer?" He asked.

"That sounds like a good idea, it seems an age ago since we last ate!"

As they headed towards the food, she smiled at the other pride members, everyone looked so relaxed, she hoped this party would pass without incident

*************************

JP with Tyr's girl and me

Jasper watched Samuel leave. "He is doing fine. It will just take a while for the two to bond." He smiled softly. "How are you?"

"I'm fine.", she replied smiling back.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" He began to walk towards the party.

"Yes, it's nice to relax. Story of our lives,", she added. "Put our lives in deadly danger, then go party. Isn't it great?"

Jasper Argon laughed as he wrapped his arm around his mate. "That is an interesting way of putting it. Care to dance?"

"I'd love to.", she answered smiling warmly. They walked out to the dance floor and started dancing. "So how are you doing honey?", she asked him.

"Good, just mentally calming down." He smiled. "I was worried I was about to lose one of my brothers. There isn't many of us left any more. I don't know how many of us are out and about in the universe. I am afraid more then I realized died to the hands of Prodigy."

"I'm glad he's all right," she said holding him close. "Don't worry about Prodigy. We'll deal with her eventually. Tonight let's just celebrate. Everything will be all right," Cassandra spoke reassuringly. She felt a wave of sadness pass through both for her husband and then for herself because she would never have that sort of connection with her family. Shaking off that feeling she smiled brightly at him.

"Hi.....thought we'd come over and see how you were doing..." He smiled. "We hadn't had a chance to meet the little one yet...."

"Alone too long..." Singer muttered softly.

Singer made up a small plate of the various foods that had been prepared, and sought a vantage point to watch the ongoing festivities.

Onyx, the doctor that had saved Singers life, had an utterly adorable daughter, and Singer chose a spot that kept them in view.

Singer, as the Pridetribe's Winkte, had attened all birthings and spent a great amount of time with the children, as one who was one of the primary spiritual teachers should. Onyx's daughter seemed to be the sole child of this odd Pride and Singer had a feeling that she had a great destiny before her.

"She's adorable Onyx, a credit to both of her parents"

She sat down next to Onyx

"This might not be the right time, but then again when is! Adam and I have been talking...we..."

She looked up at her husband and smiled

"We were wondering if ...well you know the contraceptive you administered, it's nearly run it's course..but I...we...we'd like to try for a baby of our own, as soon as possible....is there anyway you could give me something to counteract it's effectiveness.....when we get back to the ship that is"

"Why don't you sit with us?" She called to her. "Have you met Singer?" Onyx turned her attention back on Katya and Adam.

"Thank you Onyx. And no I don't belive I've had the pleasure"

She extended her hand in greeting

"It's a pleasure to meet you Singer, I'm Katya and this is my husband Adam"

"A pleasure, Singer. With all that's been going on, we haven't had the chance to meet everyone.....I hope that, despite the earlier unpleasantness, we can still come to a peaceful resolution between the Treelocks and the Inari..." He suggested.

"I have been on planet for just over four years. Duties have kept me in the deepest parts of the forest, but even there Inari's depredations have made themselves felt. I fear a peaceful resolution is unlikely. I have had not a single contact with the Inari, yet they abudcted and imprisoned me."

"That would be most pleasant, thank you"

Smiling Singer took the extended hand and followed him to the dance floor.

"A wonderful suggestion.....care to join me in a dance, my love?" He asked, gallantly bowing and holding out a hand....

"Why thank you kind Sir, I would be delighted to dance with you"

She took his hand and squeezed it gently

"Adam I'm so happy, everything is finally working out for us..we've come a long way in such a short space of time, suffered more trials than most.....you know I love you more with each pasing day"

"Shhh...don't jinx it, love.....and I love you so much.....every day, I don't think it can get any stronger, but I see your face, and my heart swells even bigger....I can't imagine a life without you anymore, my heart.....I know our children will be wonderful, with such a mother as you...."

He leaned forward and kissed her with all the passion in his heart.

He smiled as he entered where everyone and saw them all engaged in conversations. He decided to grab a bit to eat and let them interact for a bit more...

********

Onyx kidded with a half frown. "Just a kiss on the cheek. You are making me old before mey time." The black kitty stood up from the bench. Her arms extended for Amber. "I better put her to bed before she becomes cranky, like someone esle I know." SHe smiled.

Onyx laughed with a smile. "Oh really." She kidded. "Well then you must be the new joyous Cazando." She smiled. "The pride won't know how to take you anymore." She winked.

Caz snorted slightly, "Who said anything about being... joyous? Well... maybe a little more because of this little one here..." He looked down at Amber in her mother's arms.

"I am glad to hear that. Care to help me put her to bed." Onyx began to head towards one of the quieter huts.

He nodded, "Of course." He smiled and followed her from the area they were in. He put a protective arm around her as they walked to the hut they were given to use while they were there.

"What do you think will happen now? It sounds like some of the Misfits are concerned that the treaty won't last but, we still have Prodigy out there. Also is it really any of our business?" She asked him while she gently placed Amber down in the cradle.

Cazando came up behind her and placed his arms around her in a protective gesture. He held her close to them as the looked down on their sleeping child, "All we can do is hope for the best. we are not a police force... we can't be here to enforce the treaty or anything. We have to take our chances and live our lives the best we can... besides, we have another more important matter in our lives right now..." He smiled down at Amber.

"Yes we do, but does the pride agree. Cazando, I have been thinking. I think I would like to find a place to eventually settle down in. I don't want to run around in outer space anymore. Especially now that we have a little one. We have to think of her to now."

He turned Oynx around in his arms, "Are you suggesting we leave the Pride? Or try to convince them to find a place to settle down?"

"I think its time this pride found its own home to settle down. Adam and Katya are also talking about having a child now. Space is no place to bring up a child." Her wide green eyes stared intensly into his.

He could not help but fall into her beautiful eyes. He nodded slowly, "Well, I think that as long as she has the two of us, she could be happy being raised anywhere..."

Onyx pressed her lips together tightly in thought. "I guess." She whispered dropping her head onto his chest.

He gently stroked her hair, "Well, we can still run it past the others. I am not totally against finding a place to call our own."

She pulled her head away with a smile. "Thank you." She whispered. "It would really mean a lot to me." She leaned up to him and gave him a soft kiss.

He amswered with a kiss of his own, holding her even closer. "You know that you have me wrapped around your finger..." He laughed softly, "And I am sure our daughter will have me that way soon enough..."

She laughed. "Really, I'll have to remember that." She winked. "Should we go ask the others now?" Onyx asked tugging him towards the exit.

He allowed himself to be tugged, "Why not? Now is as good a time as any others. Besides, it will give us an idea on what to do next."

"Yeah," She grinned holding his paw tightly in hers.

He smiled and squeezed her paw in his, "Well, let's go." He walked with her back to the others.

“Come, my love…let’s join the others. Cazando has that look on his face….I’m guessing he has something important to say”

They made their way off the dance floor and went to stand next to Onyx

“You’re looking extremely happy Onyx, care to share your thoughts with us”

Catching sight of the growing gathering, Singer thanked Lion and slid into the shadows. Moving quietly, Singer found a spot where overhearing would be easy.

[This message has been edited by Shalamar (edited December 20, 2002).]

"Yeah, you two look like you have something on your minds.....don't tell me you're already thinking of a brother or sister for little Amber...." He half-joked, smiling.