Nothing lifts the soul like the emergence of new life.
- Writings of the Sol Empress, Words of Faith
[Moon]
The howl tore through the night, a mournful sound laced with terror and despair. It ripped Moon from his sleep. He sat straight up in the bed with heart racing.
Celeste!
Bolting out the open hatch, he raced down the passageway into the guest bedroom. Celeste laid trembling on the floor in the dim light, curled into a ball against the back wall with arms around her belly. Raspy sobs tumbled from her lips. Kneeling on one knee, he put a hand on her shoulder.
Brushing long dark hair back from her face, Moon said, "Celeste... It's okay. You are safe."
Celeste's far-away eyes slowly changed focus to his face. On the floor, she reached out to him. He sat down beside her and drew her into an embrace until the sobs ebbed. The tears had wetted the neckline of the white t-shirt she wore as a nightgown.
Moon stood and bent down, sliding an arm under her legs to lift her. He gently placed her on the bed and sat beside her. "The nightmare again?"
Celeste nodded and leaned her head into his shoulder, wiping wetness from her eyes. "I'm sorry, I should be stronger."
He spoke to the ceiling. "Lights." The lighting panels glowed, bathing the room in a comforting brightness.
Even before he scanned the room, he knew her terror was not here. Besides the bed fixed to the floor on one side, all it contained was a short cushioned bench on the opposite side, a few built-in drawers, and a small mirror on the otherwise plain gray walls.
Not exactly cheery.
Celeste broke the embrace and he helped her lay back on the pillow. She said, "I know it was not real, but within the dream, it was."
Moon felt so helpless. "Can I get you anything?"
She shook her head. "No. I think I'm okay now." Fluffing her pillow, she turned to one side. "Thank you."
Moon nodded as he stood. At the doorway, he looked back one more time. She had already turned away with legs curled and a spare pillow between her knees. "Lights low," he said as he left.
He strolled slowly to his bunk, then plopped down on his back with hands folded under his head. Celeste was a strong dedicated woman and nearly imperturbable, but with what she went through at the Oracle station, the night terrors were understandable. That they tortured her so much told of their severity. His heart ached for her suffering.
If only there was something I could do.
A soft knock caught his attention.
She stood hugging the door frame, backlit by the hallway lights. Even in the low light, her eyes pleaded. "Moon... I don't want to be alone. May I...?"
This he could do for her. "Of course." Lifting his arm, he invited her to his bed. She laid beside him, facing away. Moon spooned behind and wrapped a protective arm around her. Within a moment, Celeste drifted off to peaceful sleep.
*****
"Oww!"
Celeste's voice pulled Moon from slumber. Sitting up, she had a hand on her extended belly. He snapped his head up off the pillow. "What is it?"
Her smile eased him. "It's your children. I think they are fighting again." She gasped. "Oh..."
Moon put his hand next to hers, feeling the rumbles that came from within. He whispered to her belly. "Easy now, little ones."
My little ones.
Turning on a side, he propped himself up on an elbow. "How did you sleep last night?"
Celeste laid back down on her side, facing him. Her eyes sparkled. "Wonderfully! It seems you not only protect me from real dangers, but unreal ones as well."
He plopped down on his back, his shoulder touching her arm, and grinned. "Yup, that's me. A regular knight in shining armor."
"You are my brave knight, but your armor is not always so shiny. Thanks for letting me sleep with you, Moon."
"Well, I had gotten used to your scent on my pillow back when we were hot bunking."
Celeste slid her head onto his chest and allowed his arm to encircle her. Moon let out a deep breath. A blissfulness swept through him like a warm breeze.
This feels good.
But a coldness persisted within a deep part of him, like the anticipation of loss. "Celeste, what will happen when we reach the sanctuary?"
"Hmm?"
"The babies, what will happen to them?"
She answered, "They will be taken and raised in a loving environment and given the best training. Eventually, one will become the Sol Empress."
Moon was not skilled at reading emotions, but the way Celeste tightened her lips and turned away suggested she was uneasy with this as well. "What about me?" he asked.
"Well, I will arrange payment and you may go on your way. That was our agreement."
"I know." Moon's gut tightened. It felt uncomfortable bringing this up. "But what if I want to be a part of their lives, to be more than just a sperm donor?"
Her eyes grew. "Moon? I thought you never wanted to be a father?"
"Yeah, well, things have changed." He turned his head to look directly into her eyes. "And what about you, Celeste, don't you want to be in their lives? To be more than just a borrowed womb?"
Celeste laid silent for a moment, then replied in a weak voice. "Yes... But that is not the traditional way."
Sitting up, he yanked his arm out from under her. The tone of his voice came out angrier than he wanted. "Screw tradition! Everything has changed."
Celeste sat up and put a hand on his shoulder. "Moon... I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Moon pushed himself off the bed and walked to the door. Pausing, but not looking back, he said, "Well, now you do."
He turned his head back to her. Her wounded, moist eyes invoked an uncomfortable twinge of guilt. His chest tightened as the emotions became too much. He had to get away.
In the galley, Moon took out a bottle of ale from the chiller. But after a deep breath, put it back. Instead, he put a kettle of water on the induction heater.
Feeling a presence, he turned around to find Celeste at the doorway. She bit her lip as they locked eyes.
He turned away. "Tea?"
"Yes, please."
After preparation, he placed two steaming cups on the table. He dipped his head. "Celeste, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken this out on you."
She reached across the table to take his hand. "I understand. The children have become so much more than duty to the Sol Way." Waiting until his eyes lifted, she said, "You are right, everything about this breaks tradition. Moon, we will find a way."
He nodded. "Okay."
A voice came from the ceiling. "Priestess, would you tell us how this makes you feel?"
Celeste pulled her eyebrows together. "Sai?"
Moon slapped a palm to his forehead. "Sai, everything is good. We don't need conflict resolution. Put away your therapy sub-routine."
"Sir, denial is often the first response to--"
"Not now, Sai!" His eyes widened. "Wait, were you spying on us in my bedroom? I thought I told you not to do that unless there is an emergency."
"Yes, sir. But the Priestess appeared to be distraught. Given your experiences with bringing women into your bedroom, I thought it prudent to monitor the situation."
Moon put his head on the table. "Sai, please, not now... Besides, they didn't all go so bad."
Celeste failed to stifle a chortle with her hand. She said, "It's okay, Sai. Moon helped me through a rough moment. He was a perfect gentleman."
"I am happy to hear that, Priestess. There was a time when--"
Moon jerked his head up. "Sai, don't you have some ship diagnostics to run, or something?"
"Sir, I am multi functional. I may run full diagnostics and still be able to--"
"That will be all, Sai."
"Yes, sir."
As Celeste giggled, Moon grumbled. "I really need to teach Sai about boundaries."