Without even seeing him move, Sil stood, came to her side and wiped the tear from her face. He wrapped his arms around her. He lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, and placing her head on his shoulder. Within moments, the tears started to flow.
"I've missed you so much…," Minx said haltingly through sobs.
"I've missed you, too," He held her even tighter, "I can't stand this distance."
She nodded into his neck, not trusting her voice.
"Since it's so late, let's go shower. Please? I want to take care of you." Sil implored.
Minx nodded and she allowed him to remove her clothes but he refused to let her lift a finger to help him do the same. "You do everything for everyone. Tonight, I do everything. I'm the one getting up with Angelina in the night. I don't care how many times that is. Clear."
Minx chuckled, "as long as you're willing to alternate the duty so neither of us gets too tired, sure."
Sil agreed, got the water going, then picked up his wife and cleaned her body. After he cleaned himself, he turned the water off, picked her up out of the shower and gently lowered her to the floor.
"It always feels strange being pampered like this," she smiled up at him.
Sil offered her a soft smile, "I don't know any other way to make up for having to leave you alone for so long. I hate this. I feel trapped in between two different worlds."
Minx nodded, "you've been in many worlds throughout your life. I wonder if you're still trying to figure out where home is."
Sil shook his head, "home is where you are. That is absolute. But I do feel like I'm still searching but I don't know what." He finished drying them off. "No, that's not true. I'm searching for a way to guarantee that I won't become like him. That I won't become the thing I hate. That I won't start hurting my family."
Minx looked deeply into her husband's eyes, "that's not you. If you could see you the way I do… Hilston never read stories to you. He never showed you any love. If anything you are the opposite of him. People were just a tool for him to get stronger. It isn't that way for you. I know me telling you that won't be enough … but I want you to carry your memories of being home with you. Promise me, if you start to doubt yourself, you'll think of us and know that love is here for you. The love you have always been denied is right here," she said as she touched his chest and placed his had on hers.
They were now both crying, holding each other tight. "How did I get so lucky…" Sil broke their embrace and carried her into the other room. He got her dressed, made sure she had fresh milk catchers. He pulled back the covers on her side of the bed and slid her in. He simply put on a pair of comfortable shorts and slid in next to her. She turned off the light and rolled to face her husband despite it being dark. She couldn't help herself but to trace his muscles with her fingertips. The amount of training he had been doing in his absence was obvious.
"My Love… I…," Sil waited silently in the darkness for his wife to find the words she wanted to convey. He wrapped his arms around her, hoping it was enough to comfort her. "I want to apologize for my behavior... before."
She sighed and tucked herself even closer into her husband's embrace. "I get so used to being alone, doing everything. It's very difficult for me to share my responsibilities. This planet is mine to protect. I know you want to protect me but you can't strip me of my responsibilities in the process. You can help me defend the planet, but not take over the job. Okay?"
Sil kissed the top of her head, "I understand. But why didn't you want me to help you down into the ship? That wasn't taking over your job but helping you do it."
"I was in combat mode and didn't want to be touched. I think it would be different if we fought side-by-side more. We always do so well when we are together. It doesn't happen enough."
"I have an idea, maybe after the kids are grown, we can go on adventures together, or maybe make it a family thing once they are big enough. What do you think?"
Minx chuckled, "I have obligations here. We'll have to think about that and discuss it more into the future."
Sil nodded against her head, "can we talk more about this return of your nightmares? Is this my fault for not being here?"
Minx took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, "like I told you last time we talked, it's not you. Mona told me to try looking into the crystals that mom had. Eno told me they were memory storage crystals. I thought that meant I'd learn about my family. Instead… I learned about the war they were fighting in. The things…. Sil those beasts or whatever they are … they are damned near unstoppable. This sword, that belonged to mother. It was designed to take them down. I need to find a way there to help them end the war."
Sil seemed to stop breathing. "We'll work on that after the dalki are no longer a threat. One serious war at a time."
Minx nodded, "I don't even feel safe to spend any real time in the lab in case an emergency happens. Communications devices don't work in there."
Sil nodded, "did you say your other nightmares came back as well?"
Minx nodded, "along with all those old feelings of being inadequate. That's why I was going to go to the orphanage. Maybe being there as an adult I could confront the issues in my mind."
She felt Sil nod against her head. "I promise, as soon as I can get time, I will take you there."
Minx exhaled softly into Sil's embrace and was soon asleep. He held her tightly despite her being asleep. He was still beating himself up inside but he felt a little better after their talk. She wasn't pushing him away. He just had too many obligations. He took that as a task to address in the future.
Not long later, as he was just drifting off, Angelina woke up. He pulled his arms from his wife, fed and changed his daughter. Not long after, he was asleep at his wife's side.