Page 33 of Princess (Marinah and the Apocalypse #5)

Marinah

When I finally returned to my room, I was exhausted. Mikayla began to fuss. She decided fussing wasn’t getting her anywhere and screams might work faster while I changed her diaper.

I’d arranged transportation to the citadel for the women and children.

We were now at full capacity. There were buildings surrounding us that held human families.

Some unmarried Shadow Warriors turned several buildings into dorm-like living quarters.

If the outposts sent more children, we would have trouble fitting them here.

“There, there,” I told Nikayla when I lifted her to my breast and she gave up her tears so she could latch onto my nipple. A few whimpers interspersed with the sucking noises made my heart swell.

Nikayla’s tiny fingers wrapped around one of mine when she finally relaxed.

Her large blue eyes opened. They said most babies were born with blue eyes and they could change.

Mine were brown which was strange for a Shadow Warrior.

Hers matched her father’s perfectly and I had a feeling; they would stay blue.

“What wonders do you hold?” I asked softly.

Neither King nor the Shadows knew what to expect from her. Amissa said she would assure lasting peace. Getting to that peace was my job.

Nikayla eventually stopped nursing and fell asleep. I placed her in the center of our bed. A soft knock sounded at the door. Axel and Garret stood waiting.

“You just couldn’t stay away could you?” I asked Garret.

He smiled and tried looking over my shoulder and into the room.

“I am sorry I wasn’t here for the birth. This man,” he nodded to Axel, “insisted I care for other patients while he had all the fun. Where is the princess?”

I gave an internal groan. If people continued calling her princess, spoiled rotten would be an understatement. I didn’t want to ruin Garret’s mood so I let it go. For now.

“She’s sleeping but you can come in. I haven’t noticed that talking disturbs her. Please take one of the chairs.”

“I came to see how you are doing,” Axel said, after we were seated.

“Of course you did.” I smiled. “A little tired, but overall, I feel good.”

“A little tired in Marinah speak means you are exhausted and overdoing it. You need protein and sleep. The second part, I can do nothing about unless I drug you. The first part I can handle. I’ll speak with the kitchen staff and make sure you are given an overabundance of meat.”

Just the thought sent queasiness through my stomach. My internal protein regulator knew exactly what I needed. “Check to see if they have tofu,” I said. “Lots and lots of tofu.”

Axel’s face scrunched.

“I lived off tofu and vegetable proteins until the hellhounds attacked the first time. For some reason, I’m craving tofu.”

“What about beans and rice?” he asked.

My stomach gave a small rumble. “Those sound wonderful too.”

“Interesting,” the doctor said.

“Is that good interesting, or bad interesting?”

“I’m unsure. Ask me in a week or two so I have time to study this strange phenomenon. As far as I know the word tofu has never been spoken by a Shadow Warrior in my lifetime.”

I shook my head slightly and grinned. I wanted what I wanted.

Garret kept looking toward the bed or I should say the middle of the bed.

“Go ahead and pick her up,” I told him.

He did exactly that. I won’t say he ran to the bed, but he had the baby in his arms within seconds.

“Meet Nikayla Labyrinth Greystone,” I told them.

“Quite the name,” Axel said.

She’ll need to grow into it,” I said with a smile. “Did you hear about the Shadows arrival?”

“Yes. I want to introduce myself and see if anyone needs medical attention,” Axel replied.

“From what I saw, they were healthy but you should introduce yourself.” I remembered the looks they’d cast at Caleb. “Don’t expect instant comradery,” I said. “They gave Caleb the cold shoulder.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Axel replied.

“You can go alone,” Garret said. “I’m going to hold Nikayla for as long as she and her mother allow.”

The baby squirmed a bit and he raised her to his shoulder and gently pat her back. Within a minute a small burp released and she settled down.

“I forgot about burping,” I said slightly panicked.

Garret laughed. “I had younger sisters and brothers who I cared for while my mom and dad worked. I can give you all the pointers you need.”

I didn’t ask about his family because he’d always seemed content.

For the most part, families surviving the apocalypse were rare.

Cuba, the island where we stayed had a better family ratio than most places but the hellhounds and the fallout after the electro-magnetic pulses had still taken a toll.

Shadow Warriors lost nearly everyone. We seldom discussed our previous families.

With everything that had happened since my labor pains started, I just remembered his dinner with the two young kids.

“What happened with the twins. How did your evening go?”

Garret’s eyes went even brighter. “The dinner was perfect. Becky and Derrick want to live with us. Suzie, one of the older teens is moving in with us too.” He hesitated.

“Go on,” I told him.

“She doesn’t want to fight with Ruth’s group. She’s willing to care for the twins when we’re at work. She told us she would find another job if we didn’t need her.”

“But she can fight,” I said carefully.

“She can, but she would rather help in other ways. She’s worried that she will be forced into being a soldier.

Her parents were taken years ago by the Federation.

They hid her beneath the floorboards so she would survive.

She never saw them again and believes they are dead.

She learned to fight because she had no choice. ”

“She will make a wonderful addition to your quickly growing family,” I assured him.

His shoulders relaxed and he put all his attention into cuddling Nikayla.

“How do you feel about your instant family?” I asked Axel.

His eyes shifted to Garret who was looking at the baby. I saw so much love in his expression. “Like I have the family I thought would never be mine. The twins are a delightful handful. Thank you for putting a good word in for us.”

“I’m glad it worked out. Now go and check on the women.” I looked at Garret and then turned back to Axel. “The baby hog has this covered and while he holds her, I’m going to lay down and rest.”

Axel nodded, rose from his chair, and left me alone with Nikayla and Garret.

“I won’t take the princess from the room,” Garret said after Axel closed the door behind him. “Sleep if you can. I’m sure food will arrive within the hour now that Axel wants you fed.”

I yawned. “Thank you. I don’t know when King will return.”

“I have it covered.”

I smiled but didn’t hear Garret say anything more because I fell asleep.

∞∞∞

A very fussy baby woke me. My mind felt cloudy from the nap and it took a moment to realize it was King jostling Nikayla as he carried her around the room.

“Bring her here,” I said, lifting my arms. “How long did I sleep?”

“Three hours. I sent your food back to the kitchen to let you rest.”

My stomach growled. “I’ll feed her and then I need to eat. Did you change her?”

“Was I supposed to?” King asked with true curiosity.

I laughed as I put her to my breast. “We have a lot to learn. I forgot to burp her earlier. And yes, she needs to be changed regularly.”

“What if I become the hunter and kill our food, while you change diapers?” He looked completely serious.

“What if I hunt and you change diapers?” I countered.

“Is this a negotiation?” he asked.

“No because you’re not getting out of diaper duty. And you don’t have time to hunt.”

“It was worth a try.”

“Grab a diaper and cover. I’ll show you how to do a poor job of it as soon as she finishes eating.”

Noises came from Nikayla’s stomach followed by loud gas and the smell of poop.

“We need a nanny,” King said. “If not, I’ll make time to hunt.” He placed his hand on his heart as a promise.

“Watch it or I’ll will one of the guards to interrupt and tell me there’s been a catastrophe that needs my attention. You’ll be left alone with your daughter and then what will you do?”

“Call the other guards to save me,” he said.

Nikayla finished nursing and I went through the finer points of diaper changing.

“What is that gunk?” King asked when he saw what was in her diaper.

“Axel told me it’s part of the process after a baby is born and not to worry about it. I’ll let you do the cleaning.”

“With what, a bulldozer?” King asked.

“Haha, grab one of the cloths stacked in the cabinet in the bathroom and get it wet. This will be good for you.”

“You’ll need to make this a command or it won’t work.”

“Sure thing. I command you to clean every dirty diaper Nikayla has from now until she’s potty trained. Does that work for you?”

“I take it back. I’m happy cleaning this one.” He winked at me before entering the bathroom.

“You know this is disgusting, right?” he asked when the job was about half finished.

“She’s staring at you and listening to your words,” I reminded him.

King looked up from his task. And changed his tone. Not baby words but softer. “Okay, not disgusting, but definitely, not sweet either.”

She sneezed.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“I didn’t do anything. Is it normal for babies to sneeze?”

“I have no idea. When you’re done, could you find Axel and send him here? Afterward stop at the kitchen and bring my food up. I’m starving.”

King went fast after that. Her diaper looked a little less secure than the ones I’d done, but I knew mine needed work too. I was more worried about the sneeze.

I studied Nikayla after King left. She didn’t look sick, but she’d been passed around to the women on the ship. I shouldn’t have allowed it. I examined her chest and back then her arms and legs looking for any sign of illness.

King entered the room carrying a large tray of food.

“Where’s Axel?” I asked.

“He’s doing doctor things. He said sneezing is normal.”

“He didn’t want to examine her?”

“He wasn’t the slightest bit moved to check her. We may need a new pediatrician.”

“He’s the only certified doctor on the island,” I replied.

“There is that. I threatened him and he laughed at me. Even Garret laughed. This entire baby thing is hard work.”

I gave him a bland look. “For whom?”

He set the tray down on the table and reached for Nikayla. “For both of us. Try not to think about the diaper I just changed or you won’t be able to eat.”

I loved him so much. I looked at our daughter and realized that love could expand in your heart to infinite proportions.

We had to fight for our family, the island, and the people holding out in the U.S. to rebuild the country that we wanted to return to.

We would win this war.