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“Daddy wanted me to remember him,” she said then peered at Nerx. “Did he die too?” She pulled up her other sleeve, showing three more scars. “They don’t hurt anymore. Does yours?” She faced Aldur. “Angel says scars can be deep inside. Do you take away those too?”

“Heal it, Aldur,” Nerx commanded in Etterian.

Aldur stepped back and lowered his med-gun. “Do you want me to heal Nerx’s scar, Lily?” he asked the damu instead.

“Nah, it’s for his brother.” She twisted to brush her fingers over the jagged edges. “This one is a deep, like mine. It still hurts, right?” She touched his chest.

Nerx found himself nodding at her, admitting to the pain he kept inside.

“May I heal your scars?” Aldur asked her.

She tugged off her tunic, revealing her damaged body.

“Pretty please, and leave one to remember Bad Daddy.” She held out her arms and waited while Aldur scanned her with his med-gun.

“Hungry?” Nerx asked to distract her for she’d started to swing her backside and fidget. Any moment now, he expected her to break into birdsong.

“Pizza?” She froze, her eyes wide and hopeful.

He’d spent three nights in the barracks in Issneen for Lily to become used to him. She’d adapted quicker than anticipated, choosing to eat with him, sleep in a bed in his room, and let him care for her as a parent. Her unwavering acceptance had put Oliva’s mind at ease.

Now they would leave soon for Earth.

Queen Macera needed a female doctor for her…twins.

Nerx’s chest warmed, and he rubbed it. King Xeus had found his Dar Eth, the Ethera triggered. It meant that even the elders may find their soulmates, as the human women called it. Hope had swept across Etterians throughout the galaxies.

“They’re gone,” Lily squealed, whipping up her discarded garment to bolt for the rehydrator. “Pizza for me, pizza for you,” she sang, bouncing on the spot in some sort of dance.

“Peejays on first.” Nerx laughed as he bounded to her to pick her up. Together, they leaned over the list of pizzas available.

“Uncle Aldur, you want pizza?” she asked, peering over Nerx’s shoulder.

Aldur hesitated, casting Nerx a glance. “I—”

“You are welcome to stay for dinner, Medic Aldur,” Nerx said, gesturing to a comfy. “Any preference?”

“Lily can choose for me,” he said as he sank into a comfy.

“Oh, risky,” Nerx said and held her over the menu to make a selection. He’d changed each meal to display as images. “She is in a banana phase.”

“Banana?” Aldur’s eyelids fluttered as his O.D.I. explained the word. “A versatile fruit.”

When a pizza appeared on the rehydrator’s glass surface, Lily slapped her palms together in what she called ‘clapping.’ She wiggled for Nerx to lower her, then under the weight of the plated pizza, she hurried to slide it on the table in front of Aldur.

Then she waited, rocking on her toes with her hands clasped behind her back.

A smile teased her mouth but didn’t fully form.

When Aldur had yet to take a bite, worry darkened her eyes. “You not hungry?”

“Oh, I am,” he hurried to say. “I thought I should wait for you to have your pizza too. Or will you share with me?”

She darted around, unhooked a triangle, then offered it to Aldur. When he took it, she tore off a slice for herself. Again, she watched until Aldur took a bite.

Nerx laughed at Aldur’s confusion. “Banana is an acquired taste. Try this.” He slid a pizza onto the table. “It has four meats and two cheeses.”

As Aldur ate, Nerx scooped Lily into his arms and settled her beside Aldur. She scooted forward on the comfy to take another slice.

“I do like this one,” Aldur said after he’d eaten half of the pizza.

“Nerxie, me thirsty,” she said and held up greasy hands. “Up.”

“Stay. Strawberry?” he asked and hurried to the rehydrator.

‘Watch what you feed her. Children will live off junk food if you let them,’ Lady Olivia had said. But Nerx figured a kreso knew to eat grass, therefore a human damu or child would know what was good for them too. Balancing a small pink milkshake and two cherry sodas, he returned to the table.

He handed the milkshake to Lily and popped the can for Aldur. With Aldur and Lily beaming at him, he tore off a slice and bit into it.

After dinner, Aldur excused himself. Nerx helped her clean up and wash her hands, ready for bedtime.

Lady Olivia had been adamant about a child needing sleep, so early to bed he ushered Lily.

She asked him questions about leaving tomorrow, and whether she could have a new toy; easy enough for him to answer.

With a kiss to her temple, he dimmed the lighting in her room and rose.

“Do you miss him?” she asked, her voice slurred.

He drew in a ragged breath. “I do.”

“I don’t miss Daddy.” She rolled over. “Night, Nerxie. Love you.”

He didn’t move for a while, his heart pounding in his ears. This was what Etterians missed, giving up their children to a training regime and not raising them. If, Maker willing, he found his Dar Eth, he’d love her and their damu with every ounce of his being.

No way would he be anything like his father.