Title: Grief and Comfort

Author: Olivia V.

Fandom: Andromeda

Pairing: Tyr/Harper

Status: Complete

Rating: NC-17

Archive: Ask first by e-mail at oliviav@att.net

Feedback: Would love it, please.

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. Just playing with them… The plot line of this story, however, is mine. If you want to use any part of it in any way, please do me the courtesy of asking first.

Summary: Tyr does some thinking about his relationship with Harper after the events of IP.

Spoilers: DH, Season1 finale, TWG, ATH, IP, and one spoiler for Season three.

Note: I need to thank Maryavatar for her feedback on how well I got Tyr’s POV and Sienna Edwards for her suggestions. And I need to thank both for their beta work.

They look at each other and nod in agreement.

“Everything I do… I do for our son.”

“I know.” It is the last thing Freya says to Tyr before she gives her life to save their son. Attacking one of the Genites, Tyr’s only wife shows the love she has not only for him but for their only child.

Freya strikes one of the Genites and breaks free, turning to run. A Genite dog shoots her in the back.

“Freya!,” Olma screams, hugging their son close to her.

Tyr takes Olma and his son and flees for the slipfighter, hoping his sacrifice of Orca pride will save the Messiah despite giving his son the appearance of being inferior in the eyes of other Nietzscheans by being forced to grow up prideless.

Save his son…

Suddenly things change and Tyr is in bed with Freya one more time, holding her lovingly, without a care in the world, whispering his plans for a new pride of his own. And for the death of the Drago Katsov ...

“And when we have a child of our own, I know of this small planet, out of the way with only a small colony of settlers in a hard-to-find system that we can settle on. We’ll have a pride of our own, Freya. And our children will grow and aid in helping us take what is rightfully ours – the remains of the Progenitor. We will unite the prides. And we’ll be safe.”

“I love you,” she says suddenly before pulling him down for a kiss.

When Tyr breaks the kiss and looks at his wife, she is staring up with empty eyes, dead in his embrace.

“Freya… No, Freya…” Tyr mumbled before he opened his eyes.

He awoke to the feel of an arm draped across his belly and a calf draped across his knees. In his muzzled state, he reached out and ran his hand along the arm that was holding him so gently.

Still in a daze from his dream, he half expected soft skin and bonespurs. Instead he felt a thin but muscular arm with fine hair and no spurs at all. Inhaling, Tyr smelled faint musk and the familiar Commonwealth issue soap the Andromeda had in stock. Tyr looked down, spotted spiky hair and smirked.

Harper. It figured. Harper used to climb into Tyr’s bed like a child when he was first infested, still afraid of the stench the Magog had left behind after the encounter with the Worldship. Harper had simply started to crawl into Tyr’s bed, curled up on one side so as not to wake him.

Despite the uniqueness of the situation, it had made Tyr feel good to be able to comfort Harper any way he could, especially since Trance’s cure had worked on him but could not be performed on Harper. That he was cured but Harper was dying had made him feel guilty. After the first week of Harper crawling into bed with him, Tyr had started wrapping his arms around Harper as they slept. Harper had never made any indication to stop him, nor did he comment on it.

And Tyr had found that he’d liked it. The more often Harper had snuck into his bed at night, the more Tyr had wanted Harper in his embrace. Just to know he was still safe. Harper’s presence both soothed and confused Tyr.

Harper never explained his behavior, but Tyr assumed that he needed the company to fall asleep. He couldn’t explain Harper’s choice of bed mates—why himself and not Beka or Trance—but it was the only answer Tyr could think of. He felt it best not to pry into such matters.

He continued to pet Harper’s arm. Harper mumbled in his sleep and snuggled closer.

After Machen Alpha however, Harper had stopped coming into his room completely. Tyr didn’t want to admit it to Harper—or himself—but he found that he missed Harper’s company.

Tyr carefully tucked his free arm behind his head to stare at the ceiling and thought about Freya and Tamerlaine. He missed his wife and son and would give anything to have them back.

But his son wasn’t really his and never would be. Tamerlaine was the Messiah; the DNA match confirmed this, and therefore Tamerlaine was lost to Tyr the moment he’d been born.. Just as Freya had been lost to him once they’d agreed to sacrifice anything for their son. It was an agreement that had needed no words.

It meant that Tyr had to lie to his crewmembers about his son. Tyr shuddered. It meant that he couldn’t trust Dylan or Beka or any of the crew with the truth. Not even Harper.

Distrust and deception were both things that could adversely affect one’s personal survival. Tyr knew instinctively that if you wanted to live, you had to trust someone. Usually this person was your mate.

Harper moved slightly but did not loosen his grip on Tyr. Tyr couldn’t help but smile down at him and moved his hand to touch his hair. Harper stirred slightly in his sleep before opening his eyes and looking up. The navy T-shirt Harper wore nicely brought out the blue in his eyes.

Amazing. After two years on the Andromeda, five with Beka, and twenty on a slave world, the little professor still managed to maintain that look of almost childlike innocence. Tyr wondered briefly what it took for Harper to keep that look on his face. He found it oddly enchanting.

Tyr made a point not to look lower at Harper’s underwear, and then wondered why he wanted to in the first place.

“Hello, Harper.”

Harper sat up. “Hi. I guess you’re wondering why I’m here.”

Tyr nodded. No sense in saying anything until he got a little information first.

Harper chewed on his lower lip. “Okay then, I wandered into the wrong room.”

“Your quarters are nearly five hundred meters down the hall.”

“I was cold?”

“I am not a quilt, Harper.”

“Okay, okay. Well big guy, it’s like this. We spent five days looking for you, and I just wanted you to know that we were all worried. I mean, we really were but we all showed it in different ways. Dylan wouldn’t stop searching, Beka played mom to everyone, Rommie and Trance played the waiting game, and I… well, I guess what I’m trying to say is, I assumed the worse.”

“Is there a point to your rambling?”

“I wanted you to hear it from me. You know, so that there’s no misunderstanding.”

Tyr rolled over onto his side and studied Harper’s expression. It was similar to, but not the same as, the one he wore right after he was cured of his infestation. On the one hand Harper was happy to be alive. On the other, he was distraught that someone he cared for had to die in order for him to live.

Tyr knew the dichotomy of the feeling all too well. He sat up next to Harper and pressed his palm against Harper’s cheek briefly. “I understand the need to be… pessimistic in order to cope. I’ve done it myself back when… back in the day. You need not fear my anger.”

“Yeah, but…” Harper’s eyes seemed to focus on Tyr’s shoulder as he gave a faraway, distracted expression. Interesting.

“But?”

Harper took his time in responding. “It’s just that until Machen Alpha, you and I were kind of becoming, you know, close.”

“Close?”

“Yeah, and I was wondering if you wanted to…” Harper bit his lower lip. He was clearly afraid that whatever he wanted to talk about might not be something Tyr wanted to hear. And there was something faint underneath that fear he couldn’t quite identify yet. Tyr could just smell whatever it was on him.

Tyr leaned in closer in the hopes that it would help Harper calm down, but did not touch him. The problem was that he wanted to. “Child, why are you in my room?”

Harper looked up and met Tyr’s gaze. “I… I wanted to know if you wanted to talk about her.”

“Her?”

Harper nodded. “When my parents died, talking about them helped. I mean, you don’t have to tell me everything, obviously, I never said everything to Brendan or Beka, but it does help.”

Tyr weighed this in his mind briefly. He could not talk about his son, but he saw no immediate reason why he could not talk about Freya. Lying on his back, he sighed. “She had… she had hair the color of Vedran wheat. Her eyes were…” Tyr paused, looking at Harper. Something about Harper’s eyes caught his attention. “They were the same color as yours, actually. It reminded me of the seas where I was born. And she was tall and tanned. Freya was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Tyr saw Harper prop himself up on one elbow out of the corner of his eye. “What was she like?”

Tyr smiled to himself. “Ambitious, cunning, and intelligent. She wanted to be the first wife of an Alpha, perhaps a Matriarch herself one day. It was why she chose not to marry Guderian or his sterile brother. And she valued the life of her child over her own. As a Nietzschean female, she was exquisite in every sense of the word.”

Harper seemed to have been staring at the threading of Tyr’s sheets. “You really loved her.”

“I did. And I can’t help but feel pride when I think about her.”

“But I thought dying at the hands of a kludge was…” Harper stopped the second Tyr shot him a look. He refocused his eyes back down on the sheets.

“Freya died protecting her husband and child. That kind of sacrifice shows devotion to the pride and family. If you were a father, would you not sacrifice your life for your child so willingly?”

Harper traced the lines printed on the sheets with a finger. “My parents did that for me.”

“And mine did it for me.” Tyr’s hand touched Harper’s cheek. “Would you not do the same for your child?”

Harper nodded. “If I ever have any children, yes I would. Tyr… I’m sorry about your family.”

Tyr closed his eyes and nodded. “Thank you.” He heard the rustle of the sheets and felt the bed move.

“I should go let you sleep now.”

Tyr opened his eyes and saw Harper heading towards the door. He let his gaze wander down past his back to his shorts and smiled. Harper was wearing polka dot shorts.

Tyr wasn’t sure whether he wanted to laugh or pounce, but he knew he didn’t want Harper to leave. “Stay.”

Harper stopped inches from the door and turned around. “Stay?”

Tyr looked at the clock. “It’s nearly four in the morning. No point in leaving now.”

Harper hesitated for a moment, and then crawled back into bed with Tyr, curling up on one side. Tyr wondered if putting his arms around him would somehow be crossing the line after all this time. But he suddenly wanted to feel someone against him. And Harper was his friend.

Tyr placed a hand on Harper’s back, sliding closer to him. He let his hand slide down and come to rest on Harper’s hip lightly. “Good night, Harper.”

“Night, big guy.”

Tyr watched Harper’s breathing even out before he fell asleep.

---------------------------------------------------------

Tyr opened his eyes a few minutes before the alarm went off. The first thing he felt was Harper’s spiky hair just under his chin. It tickled.

It was the first night in two weeks since Freya’s death that he had managed to sleep soundly without a second nightmare. Tyr smiled at Harper and thought of making breakfast to thank him. He sighed and pulled Harper’s body closer to his, not wanting to get out of bed right away.

His hand pressed against Harper’s cock through his shorts. Harper’s cock twitched slightly under his touch and stopped. He blinked and wondered how his hand got there.

Harper snored soundly, oblivious to Tyr’s predicament. Experimentally Tyr let his fingers slide along Harper’s length. It began hardening at Tyr’s touch. He mentally chastised himself for touching Harper.

It wasn’t that Tyr didn’t find Harper unattractive. Quite the opposite, in fact. It was more that… Harper, for some reason, had become… dear to him. He’d never admit it, but he would never intentionally do anything to hurt the boy in any way. And he never got the impression that Harper might see him as anything other than a friend, so he didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. Besides, if whatever came out of Harper’s mouth was any indication, he was heterosexual.

Tyr, however, was not. He loved his wife, and he loved his son, but the men in his pride saw same sex relationships as a way of expressing to a close friend how much you cared for them without a marriage bond. It wasn’t seen as recreational sex, merely one way to show closeness.

Tyr honestly did not know if he could show that kind of closeness to anyone after Freya. And Harper was just a boy. He couldn’t…

The alarm went off suddenly and he closed his eyes, faking sleep. In order not to startle the boy, he kept his hand where it was for now.

It was probably the last time he would be able to cup Harper like this anyway. Tyr was curious as to Harper’s reaction. He felt horrible wanting to know what it was, however.

Harper groaned as Rommie’s morning alarm tone went off and the light began to turn on. “Rommie, snooze mode.”

“Snooze mode engaged. You two have ten minutes.”

“Okay Romdoll…Two?” Tyr cracked his eyes open to see Harper’s eyes pop open. He looked around for a second, panicked over what he could have gotten himself into this time. Harper recognized Tyr’s Spartan looking quarters along with one of Tyr’s knives on the night table. He sighed in relief.

And then Harper must have felt where Tyr’s hand was, because he could feel his body tense against him. Harper looked down to see Tyr’s hand covering his crotch. Not groping, just resting there. Tyr had to admit to himself that his hand felt good there and its placement was not exactly helping with his own morning erection, which was now pressing into Harper’s back. But he couldn’t use Harper like this, not in his current state of mind. Harper turned his head to look at Tyr who continued to fake being asleep through the morning alarm.

Carefully Harper covered Tyr’s hand with his own. Tyr noted that at first he kept it there, slightly pressing his hand further against his cock. Tyr could feel Harper’s erection through his clothes. But then Harper began to move it, and Tyr could feel Harper keeping his eyes on his face to make sure he didn’t wake him. He managed to get his hand just up past his cock when Tyr slowly opened his eyes and looked at Harper.

Tyr looked down at the location of his hand, and then chose to play the confused role for this. “Please tell me that there is a reason my hand is inches from your…”

“Belly button. And would you believe that we woke up like this?”

Tyr sighed and moved his hand. Harper let out a breath and Tyr suddenly felt a bit disappointed. Only the contact had made him hard. Clearly Harper did not want to be touched like this. He wanted to frown in confusion and disappointment.

“Don’t worry, big guy, we’ll just keep this between us.” Harper rolled over and looked at Tyr. His eyes looked so sad. “Were you just dreaming about your wife?”

He’d just provided Tyr with a change in subject. Tyr took it with relief. “I was when you first came here. But just now, my sleep was dreamless for the first time in two weeks.”

Harper looked as if he didn’t know what to do to make Tyr feel any better, but then he slipped his arm around Tyr’s waist, resting his head on his chest. “Trance used to say that sometimes a dreamless sleep is a good thing.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. And Beka used to say that sometimes, when talking doesn’t help you should show how you feel.”

“Somehow I don’t think the ship would appreciate it if I ripped out Deck twenty seven in a state of anguish.”

“No… but that wasn’t what Beka meant, exactly. She meant that you should show your friends that you care instead of talk about it. I used to be afraid of anyone who would try to touch me after I joined the Maru. So Beka just started to slowly touch me. You know, a hug goodnight, a peck on the cheek while we played cards, a pat on the small of my back while I was working. I think at the time she thought if she showed me how much she cared about me as her friend, then I’d calm down around her. Maybe even learn to trust her.”

“Did it work?”

Harper blushed. “A little too well. We uh…” Harper blushed. “But she’s one of my best friends, and I’d trust her with my soul, if that means anything.”

So the two of them once… “So the more affectionate you are, the closer you feel to your friends.”

“Some of them.” Harper smiled softly. It reminded Tyr of his wife for some odd reason. Harper had a much nicer smile than he thought, and Tyr found himself watching that mouth curl so slightly.

Tyr suddenly wanted to kiss Harper, but bit the inside of his cheek instead. Harper sat up and stretched. “I should go back to my room and change before the work shift. I’ll catch you on the Command Deck?” Harper got up and left.

Tyr got up, walked to the bathroom, and turned the shower on to its coldest setting before taking his shower.

Even before he stepped in under the water, he was shaking like a leaf.

--------------------------------------------------

Tyr arrived at Command late for his shift just as Dylan had Andromeda call for him. He’d skipped breakfast and was already in a foul mood.

If he were only human, he would have stopped at the Mess for coffee. Even though he’d slept soundly for the first time in a long while, Tyr felt exhausted.

“There you are. I was about to send another search party,” Dylan said. Tyr shot him a look and Dylan looked down. “Sorry, bad joke.”

“Captain, you need not worry. I merely woke up late.” Tyr went to his station and was about to get started with his routine when he noticed Harper. He was in a pine green shirt and charcoal slacks, working on the terminal across his way.

Where did he get that shirt, and how come Tyr had never noticed it on him before? Tyr shook his head to clear it and focused on his station duties.

“Look Tyr, if you feel you need time, you can have it. If you want time off, you’ve got that too.” Dylan sounded concerned. There was a bit of suspicion behind the concern, but still concern nonetheless. Tyr took a deep breath.

He knew Dylan didn’t buy his lie about his son. Maybe he’d had Harper put tracking devices on the slipfighters and the Maru so he could be watched more closely. Or maybe that was the real reason Harper had been in his bed last night.

Harper looked up at Dylan. “I think Tyr could use a week off.” He beamed at Tyr. “In fact I know a nice quiet place with lots of sun that would do you wonders…”

“If you mean that last resort planet you dragged Trance to on your last vacation, I think I’ll pass. However, I would like a few days off to get some personal business taken care of.” This would be a good time for Tyr to check on Tamerlaine, if nothing else than by coded message to Olma.

“Granted. You can leave when your shift ends. Harper, what’s the status on Roseanne?”

Tyr watched as Harper leaned over the side of the terminal, giving him a view of his ass. Those slacks seemed a bit tighter than necessary. Tyr refocused his attention on his work.

“Roseanne’s built. She just needs a couple more… additions to make her go.”

Roseanne. After eight months of work on the project, which had started soon after Harper’s infestation, Tyr still didn’t know what this Roseanne was. All he knew was that she was big, and was intended to destroy the Magog World Ship that had nearly taken all their lives, not to mention almost robbing Tyr of the opportunity to save his son.

“Good. Then if Tyr doesn’t have any objections, you can take your leave with him.” Dylan smiled. Tyr wanted to hit him all of a sudden.

Damn, so much for checking on his son at his leisure, Tyr thought. It might be just as well not to check on him so soon. However, he might be able to accommodate Harper and his son as well. Tyr said, “I don’t mind one bit… but I get to choose the destination.”

Harper pouted and rested his elbows on the terminal, making himself look much younger than his twenty something years. Tyr wondered if the boy knew what his age really was. “No resort planet then?”

“Would you settle for a quiet cabin by a lake in the woods? I can take care of my business by messenger from there easily enough.”

---------------------------------------------------

“Ship, where is Harper?”

Andromeda’s hologram materialized in front of him as he was putting his hunting knife in his bag. “He’s already on the Maru with Beka. She’s giving him the usual don’t-break-the-Maru discussion.”

Tyr nodded and grabbed his bag, leaving his quarters and heading for the Hanger Deck. Arriving at the Maru, he was about to enter the crew quarters when he heard Beka say, “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yeah, I think so. It’s just a few days on a small out of the way planet called Anoda. A friend of his from his mercenary days had a cabin there. A hideout.”

“Old hideouts are not places where one goes to on vacation.”

“I’m sure we’ll be fine, Beka.”

“Harper… you just told me you weren’t sure if Tyr felt you up on purpose this morning.” Tyr heard Beka draw in a sharp breath. “And Tyr is still grieving over his wife. Plus he’s a Nietzschean…”

“But he’s a Kodiak, not a Drago Jerk-off. So I know this probably isn’t some sick way of trying to degrade me. I trust him.”

Tyr couldn’t help but smile at that.

“And I trust him too, but Tyr does what Tyr needs to do to benefit himself, remember?”

“I just want to know if he did it on purpose, Beka. If you were in my shoes, wouldn’t you want to know?”

“Let me tell you something Harper. Last year while you guys were out on a supply run, and it was just me and Tyr alone on the ship, and I wondered. You know, what it would be like to be with a Nietzschean. So I flirted as a way to try to find out. And you know what I found out about Tyr Anasazi? He thinks that sex should only be for procreation. That leaves me out because I’m not Nietzschean, and you because you’re a man. Harper, I don’t want to see you get hurt if you try to initiate anything.”

Tyr heard a bag drop on the floor. “Look, I won’t leave him alone if he asks to share sleeping quarters, okay? He did it for me when I was dying and was too afraid to sleep with you or Trance for comfort. And just look at him. He’s lost his family. He needs a friend. But… I won’t make the first move on the big guy, okay?”

“Good, because if I find out you used him just to get laid, I’ll hurt you.”

“Hey, whose side are you on?”

“My crew’s side. And you’re both my crew.”

“I thought you said you only trust Tyr to do what benefits Tyr.”

“I do, but he’s still my friend. Just like you. So just… don’t do anything rash. I care too much about both of you.”

“Yes, mom.”

The room went silent for several seconds before Tyr purposefully made a sound like he was clearing his throat. Tyr turned the corner to enter the room...

...and saw Harper kissing Beka. Harper looked up and smiled at Tyr. “Hey big guy.”

Tyr gave them an inquisitive expression, and tried not to show that his heart had just sank. “Am I interrupting?”

Beka stood up and patted Harper on the arm. “Not at all. I just worry about my crew, that’s all. Remember you two. Break the Maru, and I’ll break your legs. I don’t care how big you are.”

Interesting woman, that Beka Valentine.

------------------------------------------------------

Tyr watched from the railing as Harper set the Maru on autopilot for the night. Harper stretched his hands over his head with a yawn. “Man, what a day. Full shift, a long trip, and my back is killing me. What do we have to eat?”

Tyr shrugged. “I had Andromeda pack some rations for the week on Anoda. The kitchen should be well stocked.”

“Great.” Harper walked past Tyr and headed for the kitchen area. Opening the fridge, he took out a prepared meal and put it to heat, then grabbed a Sparky. Grabbing a second can he tossed it to Tyr, who caught it easily.

“I don’t drink this, Harper.”

“Oh come on, live a little.” Harper took a gulp. “We’re on vacation.”

“Correction. You are on vacation; I am tending to personal business.” Tyr put the can down without opening it and turned on the tap to get some water.

“You’re not going to be on personal business the entire trip are you?” Harper grabbed his now heated plate and took out a fork. Shoveling food into his mouth at a speed which surprised Tyr, he said, “I mean, I don’t want to spend the entire time alone.”

“You won’t. I just… need to see that a death certificate is issued for my wife.”

Harper stopped, the forkful of food he was about to put into his mouth suspended in midair. “Death certificate?”

“Yes. So that anyone in her lineage who was not of Orca Pride will be notified.” Tyr sat down at the table across from Harper. “I did the same for my pride with the few survivors there were before we scattered.”

“Humans don’t get to do that on Earth.” Harper pushed the plate away. “Are you sure you want me on this trip with you?”

Tyr nodded. “Out of all the crew, you know what it feels like to lose family.”

Harper slowly picked up the fork and stabbed at an unidentifiable piece of meat. After a few minutes he said, “How much time do you think you’ll need for…”

“Several days. And a lot of correspondence. I’m afraid you might only see me at night for the first two days. You’ll have things to do at the cabin.” Tyr looked at the Sparky can. “What makes a human drink this stuff anyway?”

“It’s sweet and sometimes better than coffee.”

Sugar rush and caffeine. A mild form of chemical addiction. Tyr crossed his arms. “Didn’t you just tell me you were tired?”

Harper smirked. “Yeah well, I still have some work to do before I go to bed. Beka always sets the external sensors before we turn in. That’s going to take a bit to set up.”

Tyr watched Harper as he threw out what was left of his dinner. “So you’ll be up for a while…”

“Uh huh.” Harper grabbed Tyr’s can and shrugged. “Hey, if you’re not going to drink this, I will.”

“Be my guest.”

Harper headed back towards engineering. When Tyr was sure Harper was far enough out of sight, he kept his back towards the cockpit and sent out the first of several coded messages to Olma.

-------------------------------------------

By the time Harper came back to the crew quarters, Tyr had showered and changed into a pair of black boxers. Reclining on his side, he turned the page in his book before looking up at Harper.

Harper’s green shirt and gray pants were covered in oil and dirt. “Is setting external sensors always this messy?”

Harper shook his head and flopped down on the empty bunk. “No, I saw that a leaky valve pipe needed fixing so I decided to take care of it now rather than tackle it once we reach Anoda. Only problem was, it was too far gone and had to be replaced outright and that’s what got so messy.” Harper closed his eyes and let gravity pull his body backwards onto the bunk.

“Don’t sleep that like, little one. You’ll wake up with a crick in your neck.”

“I just need to rest my eyes for a minute,” Harper slurred slightly. Tyr put down his book and got up off his bunk.

Before he realized what he was doing, he was unlacing Harper’s shoes and pulling them off. Harper opened his eyes and watched him.

“Tyr, I’m not a baby that needs undressing you know.”

“I know, but you are fatigued and I can practically smell the exhaustion on you.” Tyr pulled off Harper’s socks and stood up to help him stand. “Now I suspect I do not have to help you with the rest of it?”

Harper gulped visibly and shook his head. “I got it.” He stood, turned around and took off his shirt, tossing it onto Vex’s bunk. Tyr took in the sight of lean muscle and scars along his back and shoulders. He wondered if Harper would have a similar skin tone to Freya if he were tanned.

Tyr turned his head away to pick up his book. “I’ll… leave you to it then.”

“Thanks.” Harper’s tone was soft, even to his Nietzschean ears. He heard Harper’s steps toward the shower stall, but didn’t hear the bathroom door close.

When he looked up, he could see the silhouette of Harper’s body behind the shower stall door. Tyr chewed on his lower lip and sat back down on the bunk quietly. He tried to ignore the beginning of an erection he was feeling.

He was not sure what he should do. Last night he’d been grateful that Harper was his friend and willing to lend him an ear. This morning he’d wanted to touch Harper intimately but assumed that Harper was straight and therefore did not. This afternoon he’d learned that if nothing else, Harper was almost as confused as he was right now. Throw in the fact that he needed to check up on his son without Harper’s knowledge…

This was going to be a very complicated trip, indeed. Tyr looked up and into the bathroom door and was greeted with the fuzzy image of Harper soaping up his legs. He gulped and stared at his hands.

Tyr realized that he wanted to share the shower with Harper, and it shocked him.

Finally Tyr could not take any more, and he stood up to leave the crew quarters. Just as he reached the door, he heard the shower stop and saw Harper step out the shower stall.

Harper looked up, his eyes full of concern. He seemed completely unembarrassed with the fact that was naked and dripping water in front of another man. “Tyr?”

“I need some water. Do you want anything?”

“Just my towel. I forgot it on my bunk.” Harper walked right past Tyr and started to climb the ladder to his bunk. He leaned over, leaving nothing to Tyr’s imagination. “Are you sure you’re all right?

“Yes.” Tyr walked out of the crew quarters before he did something he’d regret. He got as far as the cockpit chair before he couldn’t take it anymore.

Sitting down, he reached into his boxers and pulled out his cock. Biting his lip to keep from screaming out and attracting Harper’s attention, he stroked himself off quickly.

Tyr felt horrible. Freya was not gone one week, and he was hiding in the Maru’s cockpit, masturbating and thinking about one of his crewmates. A human male, no less. He wondered if he was going insane. Slowly he got up and went to one of the bathrooms to clean himself off.

By the time Tyr returned to the crew quarters, Harper had not only dried himself off, but was in a pair of green striped boxers and a white t-shirt. He was sitting on the floor playing with a deck of cards.

“Took care of that thirst?”

Tyr growled and got on his bunk. Laying on his back he said, “I am no longer thirsty. Do you plan on playing cards all night?”

Harper put a band around the deck and left it on the floor. “No, just waiting for you so we can get some sleep.”

Tyr nodded and scooted over; hoping Harper would take the hint and join him instead of sneaking into his bunk later. He did, and rolled over onto his side, facing outward. “Night Tyr.”

“Goodnight Harper. Tyr closed his eyes and began to drift off.

-----------------------------------------------

Freya shows him a DNA sample of one of her ancestors as they speak. “ My great-great-grandfather Bolivar was also an Alpha. As was his father's father, all the way back to Saladin.”

Tyr smiles back, impressed. “Saladin? Saladin Cree?”

“ Founder of my line. Olma says that my offspring can't help but be Alpha's. And what about your pride, the Kodiak?”

Tyr frowns as he takes a seat and pulls Freya closer. Looking into her eyes, he believes he can easily lose himself in them. “My lineage was also proud. The Kodiak were entrusted with the remains of the original Progenitor.”

Freya’s eyes go wide with wonder. “You've actually seen the body of Drago Museveni?”

“As a child. His mummified remains were enshrined in our fasthold. Nietzscheans from all over the known worlds would make pilgrimages to see it. We lived under a permanent truce, and our allies guaranteed our safety. Until the Drago-Kasov pride claimed they were the Progenitor's rightful keepers. We fought so very fiercely. Foolishly, we thought our allies would protect us, but on the day of battle, the other prides abandoned us. Those of the Kodiak that weren't killed were displaced – exiled. I saw my mother... she was slow. I became a mercenary. And I gave up looking for a home.”

Freya lays a gentle hand on his shoulder and Tyr shudders. Perhaps with her, he’s found one.

Suddenly he sees a Genite come in, firing. He turns to grab Freya and run.

And is greeted by the sight of a skeleton.

“Tyr. Tyr, wake up.”

Tyr mumbled and pushed against the person who was trying to hold him still. He opened his eyes warily to find his fists bunching the front of Harper’s shirt. “What?”

“You were mumbling in your sleep. I figured you had a nightmare.”

Tyr nodded and loosened his grip. He looked up at Harper. Harper smiled. Tyr couldn’t help but stare at his mouth.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Not… really.”

“Okay.” Harper put his hand on Tyr’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You want to get up and get some water or read a bit before trying to go back to sleep?”

Tyr shook his head. “I’ll be all right, Harper… Thank you.” Tyr closed his eyes and turned over. He felt Harper’s hand slide around his waist from behind. It felt good. Tyr felt another pang of guilt. Tensing up slightly, he asked, “What are you doing?”

Harper sighed. “Well, when I was dying and came to sleep in your room, you used to hold me. I thought it was okay return the favor.”

Tyr turned his head and stared into Harper’s eyes. “Is that the only reason why you are here?”

Harper started rubbing small circles lightly over his stomach. Despite the adrenaline rush from the dream Tyr was beginning to relax. “No… I’m here because I care for my friend. Isn’t that enough?”

Tyr blinked. When had Harper suddenly become so wise for his years? “I’m used to my friends putting a knife into my back.”

Harper leaned over and kissed Tyr’s forehead. The gentle pressure of his lips against Tyr’s skin was enough to nearly make him sigh. He let Harper pull his body close, and Tyr settled his head against Harper’s shoulder.

“So am I. Or at least I was until I met Beka.”

“Are you seriously saying that she has no ulterior motives?”

Harper’s lips moved over to Tyr’s temple. “I’m saying that when she really cares, she’s loyal to her friends first. The same goes for her crew. Now, get some sleep.”

Tyr closed his eyes and tried his best not to enjoy the feel of Harper’s hand lightly rubbing his stomach as he drifted off a second time.

-----------------------------------------------

Tyr opened his eyes the next morning to find that he was hugging a small pillow. There was the smell of coffee in the air. Lifting his head he strained to hear where Harper might be in relation to the crew quarters, and heard soft, off-key singing coming from the cockpit.

Tyr slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes before padding, barefoot and shirtless, to the cockpit. Harper was already fully dressed in a black T-shirt and matching pants. He was humming to something that sounded horrible.

“What is that?”

Harper turned his head to look at Tyr. “Oh, that’s jazz music. Some ancient guy named B. B. something or other. Do you like it?”

“It’s hurting my ears. Turn it off.”

Harper leaned over and shut the music feed. “Sleep well?”

Tyr shrugged as he checked a nearby console. “I’ve had better nights. We should be arriving in another hour.”

“Good. I… made breakfast for you. It’s on the counter.” Harper turned his attention back to his piloting. Tyr padded back to the kitchen to see what Harper had prepared.

It was eggs, toast, and coffee. Two weeks ago, Tyr would have been angry at Harper’s choice of breakfast. But the sentiment touched Tyr’s heart and, giving one last look at the cockpit, he sat down and took a sip of coffee.

Tyr was nearly done with the eggs, which were better than he expected, when he heard Harper’s footsteps coming towards the kitchen. Harper moved around to the counter to pour himself a cup of black coffee.

“So, what is there to do on Anoda?”

Tyr took a bite of toast and studied his friend. “There is a rather large lake by the cabin. You may go boating or swimming at your leisure, or you may go hunting with me once my business is complete. And my friend had a rather extensive library collection.”

Harper nodded and stared at his cup of coffee. “This is probably too personal to ask, but do you want any help with obtaining that death certificate?”

Tyr looked at Harper. His eyes were downcast and he was running a single finger along the edge of the coffee cup as he spoke. Tyr sniffed and noticed that there were no smells of deception or guilt in Harper’s scent.

Harper had nice hands. “This is your vacation. You should go find yourself a woman to enjoy it with.”

Harper’s looked up. “There are babes at the lake?”

“There are human females that I believe will be adequate to your liking.” Tyr ripped off a piece of his toast and chewed on it thoughtfully. He noticed Harper was staring at him as he ate.

“Gee Tyr, I think I’d feel kind of bad about looking at the babes while you’re still grieving here.”

Tyr wasn’t sure what to make of Harper’s expression. “I’ll be fine, Harper. I need to send out another message to my contact.” Tyr got up and put his dishes in the sink.

----------------------------------------

The cabin was just as lovely as he remembered it. It was a shame that Freya would never be able to raise Tamerlaine on this spot as they’d planned a year ago.

Harper dropped his bags and looked around at the living room. “Wow, this place is huge.”

“Yes. Darwin and I spent an entire season hiding out in this place with seven other men once. When the food ran out, we hunted. And when the time was right to lure and kill our enemies so we could go back to earning our living, we did. I love this place.”

“Where is Darwin now?”

“He’s dead. The cabin was left in my care.”

Harper started looking through some of the books located in the area behind a desk. Picking up a book at random, he looked at Tyr. “What did you do with the bodies?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Oh… kay. So where do we sleep around here? I need to know what to do with my bags.”

“There are three bedrooms down the hall to your right.” Tyr picked up a box of food supplies and rations and put them in the cooling unit. Turning around to grab a second box, he noticed Harper bending over to pick up his luggage.

Tyr found himself staring at Harper’s ass again when he should have been grieving over his wife. Tyr felt like he was the worst mate in all the known worlds. Mentally shaking his head, he said, “I believe I left some of the supplies on the Maru.”

Harper turned his head and looked at Tyr. “I got it.”

“No, you go unpack. I’ll handle it.” And Tyr left to make his way back to the Maru. Once there he immediately made his way to the cockpit to see if he could find any messages from Olma.

There was only one. Tyr used the contact information to see if he could get in touch with Olma. He did.

Olma’s eyes went wide as she stared at Tyr though the monitor. “I thought we agreed not to see each other until it was safe.”

“It is. I told my captain that I wanted a few days to file a death certificate so that prides related to Orca pride would know of Freya’s death. Hunt sent a crewmember with me, but he thinks you’re my lawyer.”

“I’m surprised he bought that flimsy excuse for a story.”

“It’s not a story. I did come here to file the certificate. I just didn’t bother to tell him who you were. Now, if my crewmate asks, Tamerlaine is your grandson and you are my lawyer. Are we clear?”

“Yes, but how will your crewmember even see me?”

“Because Olma, I need to see my son, and I need to know you are both safe.”

“I’ll arrange to come by tomorrow.”

Tyr cut the connection and bent over to pick up a box of cola as he thought about Harper in the shower from the night before.

He nearly dropped the case as his stomach did a lazy roll. He wondered briefly what it might feel like to have his hands rubbing soap over Harper’s back.

But he was grieving, and he shouldn’t be thinking of Harper like this. Even if relationships like this between men were not taboo in his own pride, he would still feel as if he were cheating on Freya’s memory somehow.

Was this kind of relationship encouraged in Orca pride? Not every pride held the same belief that same sex relations were acceptable. And unfortunately Olma was the only member of her pride left to tell him this information.

Tyr frowned and walked back to the cabin with the box. When he arrived he found Harper sitting at the desk with a copy of The Fountainhead in his lap.

“Found something to read?”

“Think so. I’m uh, gonna go for a walk by the lake. I’ll see you later tonight?”

Tyr nodded, not looking up at Harper as he left.

------------------------------------------------

Freya crawls over the bed in front of Tyr, the armband representing their union in her hand. As she reaches the edge of the bed, she puts the armband over his arm before kissing him.

It’s time for them to mate and make the marriage legal in the eyes of the pride and the Progenitor. Finally Tyr will have a wife of his own, a place to call home, and a pride that will accept him as one of their own.

All he needs to do is destroy the Captain and the crew that accepted him first. Something he may not yet be willing to do. Just in case he chooses to switch sides and stay with Hunt, Tyr has a back up plan to destroy the cannon should things not go in the Orca Pride’s favor.

Either way, he’ll have to remove Freya from the asteroid first. He only hopes he has enough time to save his wife.

As he kisses Freya and they fall back onto the bed, he tries to think of the many reasons why he should just go ahead and stay with Orca Pride instead of stealing Freya away onto the Andromeda before destroying the cannon. As Freya bites his ear and he feels his wife’s legs wrap around his waist he thinks of all the members of Hunt’s crew, including the mudfoot.

These are the people he is just beginning to learn to call friends, and in order to survive, everyone needs at least one friend.

Tyr finds it odd that the image of the mudfoot makes him to thrust into his wife harder than he intends to. Why he’s the first reason why he feels he can’t betray Hunt in favor of his new station in Orca Pride, he can not understand or say.

As he feels his wife tense, and then contract all around him, Tyr makes up his mind. The plan that benefits him the most would be to kill Guderian, abandon Hunt, and flee with Freya.

He wonders if he can convince the mudfoot to come along.

Tyr awoke from the sofa with a start. The cabin lights were all out, but he could easily navigate the cabin and turn on the lights.

When he did, and had checked all the rooms, he had still not found Harper. One of the bedspreads was missing from Harper’s room. Where in Tarn Vedra was he?

Tyr went outside to look along the lakeside for Harper, half worried and half scared that Harper was missing. When he reached the door, he looked around quickly, knowing that the twin moons of Anoda would provide enough light for him to be able to see for nearly a mile.

Tyr did not have to look far. He saw in front of the house a lone figure lying on a blanket face up. As he crept closer, he recognized it was Harper. Harper appeared to be sleeping.

“Harper?” Tyr walked right up to the blanket and saw that Harper’s eyes were closed, his breathing was steady, and he held an open book face down in his lap. He must have fallen asleep reading. Tyr carefully wrapped Harper up in the blanket and picked him up.

For someone who looked as small as Harper did, he was quite solid. Harper’s head rolled to the side and came to rest on Tyr’s right shoulder as Tyr carried him back to the cabin. The light of the twin moons of Anoda lit the way back. Harper stirred once or twice, but did not wake up until they reached the front door.

“Tyr?” he muttered softly.

“I found you outside, asleep.” Tyr set Harper gently onto his feet, rewrapping the blanket around his shoulders. “Do you always sleep so heavily?”

“It depends on how safe I feel,” Harper said as he rubbed his eyes. “I came back from my walk and saw you sleeping, but I didn’t want to wake you. So I came back out here.”

Tyr nodded and looked at the boy. He looked downright irresistible wrapped in the blanket like that. Picking Harper up again, he strode into the house.

Harper smirked. “On Earth, husbands used to carry wives like this over the threshold.”

Tyr stopped in the middle of the living room, still holding Harper as a look came over his face. Harper realized how bad his remark was too late. He looked nearly as hurt as Tyr felt.

“Shit Tyr, I’m so sorry I said that. I didn’t mean…”

“I was planning on raising my sons here with Freya. She never got to see this place.” Tyr set Harper back down on his feet again. “We were going to start our own pride here.”

Harper looked up at Tyr with sad eyes. He could see the tears in Tyr’s eyes that the Nietzschean refused to shed. Harper rested his head on Tyr’s chest, wrapping the blanket around the both of them.

“I didn’t know… I’m so sorry.” Harper looked up into Tyr’s eyes.

Tyr looked down and, before he was aware of his own actions, pressed his lips against Harper’s gently. Harper didn’t pull back, but he didn’t respond either. Tyr broke the kiss.

“I should not have done that.”

“Tyr, it’s okay. I just…” Harper pulled Tyr’s head down for a second kiss. Where the first kiss lacked emotion on his part, the second seemed to have all of Harper’s passion put into it. Tyr was vaguely aware of the blanket falling softly to the floor as Harper let go of it to pull Tyr closer. Tyr opened his mouth and Harper used the opportunity to explore it with his tongue.

When they finally broke the kiss, Harper was panting heavily. “You’re probably going to kill me, but I’ve been wanting to kiss you like that for days.”

Tyr blinked for a moment, and then slowly sank down to the floor.

Harper had actually kissed him.

Looking up at Harper, he said, “I believe I understand the feeling. Why didn’t you?”

Harper shuffled back and forth on his feet. “I kinda promised Beka I wouldn’t make the first move. Even if I hadn’t made that promise, I wouldn’t have. I was afraid that you’d regret anything that happened if I did.”

Tyr nodded. “What would Beka think if you and I…”

Harper grinned. “Don’t worry about Beka. She’d be okay. Worried as a momma bear would be about her cubs, but still okay. And she’d probably want details.” Harper leaned against the wall. “So now what?”

Tyr rubbed his eyes. “I miss my wife, Harper. And while my pride finds that comfort is acceptable for grieving over a mate, I don’t want to use a friend.”

Harper slid down to the floor. “I didn’t kiss you for comfort, Tyr. I kissed you because I wanted to.”

They were both silent for a long time. Tyr listened to the steady sound of Harper’s breathing as he looked at him. He took his time trying to formulate what he wanted to say next.

“Harper, I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” Tyr’s voice was barely a whisper. “I need to finish what I came here to do before I can even think about it.”

Harper made a face Tyr couldn’t identify briefly before he nodded and got up. Then Harper looked hurt and confused. “Okay. I’ll sleep in my room then. If you need me, let me know.”

Tyr watched as Harper went to his room and shut the door behind him quietly. When he was sure Harper was gone, he buried his head in his hands.

--------------------------------------------

Tyr spent the night on the couch in the living room, sleeping dreamlessly. When he opened his eyes, it was sunrise.

For the first time in his life, Tyr felt he could do with a bit of coffee. While it was brewing he heard Harper stir in his room as he prepared some fruit for breakfast. He was already eating when Harper wandered into the kitchen in his underwear.

“Hey Tyr.”

Tyr pushed a plate of food onto the table in front of Harper. “Eat that.”

Harper looked at Tyr and started to eat slowly. “Thanks.”

They ate in a thick, tension filled silence. Neither of them quite knew exactly how to break it. As Tyr poured himself a cup of coffee, he looked pointedly at Harper.

“Harper, about what I said…” Tyr stopped and looked up as he saw Olma’s face in the doorway. “Excuse me; I believe my contact has arrived.”

Olma smiled as Tyr opened the door for her. She carried a basket as she entered though the doorway. “Tyr. It’s good to see you again.”

“Yes, it is. Olma, I’d like you to meet…”

When he turned around, Harper was gone. “Harper?”

“I’ll be right out, Tyr,” he heard faintly from the back. Tyr turned back to Olma and looked at the basket. Inside was a tiny hand reaching upward. The cartilage on the baby’s prespurs were already poking through the skin.

Olma cleared her throat and smiled. “I brought my grandson with me today. Eve couldn’t make it, but I thought you’d like to know that she sends her love to you.” She handed the basket to Tyr.

Tyr took it, noting that his son’s eyes were staring up at him, full of curiosity.

Damn whoever he was supposed to be the genetic reincarnation of. This child would always be his son. Tamerlaine cooed softly. Tyr choked back a sob. “Your grandson is just as beautiful as you described, Olma.”

“Thank you.” Olma looked up at Harper, who had just walked in. He had changed into a red shirt and navy slacks. “I take it this is your traveling companion?”

Harper walked up to Olma slowly and held out his hand. “Hi, Seamus Harper. And you are?”

“Olma Cree, out of Athena by Absalom, former Matriarch to the Kodiak pride. And… I am a kin of Tyr’s.”

Harper shot Tyr a look, but said nothing.

“Olma is my great aunt. After the Kodiak were betrayed, we scattered for our own safety.” Tyr could not help but keep staring at the basket in front of him. He felt Harper lean over the basket and look inside.

Harper smiled. “And this cute little thing?”

“That,” said Tyr, “Is Olma’s grandson… Ezekiel.”

Harper held his arms out to take the basket. “Can I? I mean, I know you guys are going to be busy with the death certificate. I’ll watch him for you.”

Olma gave Harper an uncertain look, but Tyr smiled. He was touched. “Of course. Just be careful. He’s the first child born of a Kodiak in nearly two decades.”

“Great, no pressure.” Harper smiled at Tamerlaine, who reached up and grabbed his finger with his fist. “I’ll treat him as gently as I do Rommie.”

“That’s not helping boy, I’ve seen how you treat Rommie.”

Harper smirked and took his son to the back room. Tyr turned to Olma.

Olma shot a worried look to where Harper was taking Tamerlaine. “Are you sure we can trust…”

“Shh… Yes, I can trust him with my son. But I can’t trust him with the truth of who Ezekiel really is,” Tyr whispered, going behind the counter to get Olma some fruit.

“A Nietzschean trusting a human? That’s new.”

“Harper is not like most humans. He stood by my side despite his fear against the Magog. For a human who was raised on Earth, that speaks volumes.” Tyr poured himself some water and took a seat by the counter.

Olma’s eyes narrowed. “Hmmm… I guess that explains the kinship. Tyr, it is good to see a friendly face again.”

“Yes, it is. How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. I took a position in one of the small towns to pay for the bills. No one asked any questions.”

Tyr nodded slowly. He wondered how safe it would be to have Olma work out in the open like this. “If you need help providing for him…”

“I wouldn’t be able to ask without arousing any suspicion. I think one crewmember thinking you have family on this world is enough risk.” Olma stared in the direction of Harper’s room. “Shame too, that one looks like he really cares about you, Tyr. You could use that to help protect your son.”

Tyr nearly dropped the glass he was holding. “What did you say?’

“I’m a former Matriarch, I can tell these things. That man is at the very least attracted to you. Freya used to give you that look, right after she chose you over Dimitri.”

Tyr looked away from Olma, crossing his arms. “I have no idea what you think you see, but I believe this particular Matriarch is losing her touch.”

Olma eyes brightened. In Harper’s room they could both hear the baby giggling. “Why Tyr Anasazi, I believe you not only know what I see, but see it yourself. Why are you not using him to help protect your son?”

“Olma…”

“Freya would have approved of the action.”

Tyr was getting a headache. “My wife is dead, Olma. You can’t tell me what she would have approved of. As for Harper, he’s my friend. I can’t use a friend in good conscience.”

Olma’s head tilted to one side. “We all use our friends, Tyr. The real trick lies in whether or not you can use a friend and have it be mutually beneficial.”

“I don’t want my friendship with him to be mutually beneficial. That boy has been used all his life, until someone took him off his homeworld. I will not do the same.”

“Oh, I see. It’s that type of friendship.” Olma took a bite of fruit.

Tyr threw his hands up in frustration. “What are you driveling about, woman?”

“Merely that I now see the attraction is… mutual.” Olma took a piece of melon from her plate.

Tyr reached out and slammed her hand onto the table. Leaning in close he said, “Let us say, for the moment, that this attraction is mutual. I’m Nietzschean, he is human. We are both men. Considering that procreation is the basis of our existence, wouldn’t acting on such an impulse be counterproductive?”

“Only if you were fatherless. You and Freya have fathered the richest gift the Nietzschean people could ever want. And because of it you have lost your wife and your son the only mother and pride he has ever known. Don’t you think that, under the circumstances, you deserve a little bit of happiness?”

Tyr let go and slumped his head on the table. Olma touched his head and he fought an urge to pull away. As much as he might not like Olma, she was raising the fate of the Nietzschean people and he had to try to respect her. More giggling came from the baby in Harper’s room.

“Let me ask you this, Anasazi. How long have you known this young man? You said you two faced Magog together. When was that?”

“A year ago. We both nearly died from an infestation. I was treated quickly but he… he had to find his own way to treat the condition.”

“Impressive. If what you say is true, that he is from Earth and has suffered so, then it sounds to me as if that boy deserves a little happiness of his own, just as you do. Again, I venture to think Freya would approve. I know as a former Matriarch I would.”

----------------------------------------------------

When Tyr went looking for Harper and his son, he heard the sounds of them laughing. He paused at the door, listening.

“You have got to be the cutest little Uber child I have ever seen, yes you are. Hmm… You look like your cousin. Tyr’s looks must be hereditary.”

He heard Tamerlaine squeal in response. Harper chuckled.

“Well, as long as you take after Tyr and don’t enslave people or use them out of cruelty just because you think you can benefit from it, then you’ll have Nietzschean babes knocking on your door. Oh yeah, you’ll break lots of Nietzschean hearts. Now, again?”

Tamerlaine made another happy sound. Tyr chose this moment to open the door.

Harper was on his back on the bed, holding his son above his chest. Pushing up, he tossed Tamerlaine into the air a bit and caught him. The baby squealed.

Tyr couldn’t help but smile before he cleared his throat. “Are humans always this careless with their children?”

Harper turned his head, smiling. “Kids love being played with. My dad used to do this with me until I was five, I was so little.” Harper sat up, cradling Tamerlaine, who reached up and gripped Harper’s shirt, prespurs flexing. “Are you and Olma done with the certificate?”

“I just need to pick it up on the way home. So I’m free for the rest of the vacation after lunch.”

“Oh.” Harper looked at the baby. “So it’s time to give the baby back then.”

“It’s time to eat lunch.” Tyr held out his hand to help Harper up. Harper took it and was pulled into a standing position, close enough to Tyr so that Tyr could feel his body heat and smell the soap off his skin.

“Thanks, big guy.”

“Don’t mention it. So… friends?”

Harper looked at the baby he was holding, then at Tyr. “I think we need to talk first, but we will be.”

Tyr nodded and ruffled Harper’s hair. “Olma’s waiting.”

And when they got back to the kitchen, Olma was already seated at the table, making sandwiches from the rations. A jaw of prepared baby food was out on the table. “There’s my grandson.”

Harper handed Tamerlaine over to Olma. “He’s a great kid. Very aware of everyone and everything around him.”

“Thank you. Tyr, I’ve left a draft of the paperwork on the coffee table.”

“Thank you, Olma.” Tyr sat down and took one of the sandwiches. Harper sat across from Tyr. Olma didn’t eat, but made sure Tamerlaine did. Tamerlaine cooed and made noise, occasionally throwing baby food in Tyr’s direction.

Tyr scowled. Harper giggled. Olma watched them both and studied their body language. After they had lunch, Olma replaced Tamerlaine back into his basket.

Harper leaned over the basket and whispered something to the baby before he looked up. “So I take it we don’t get to see you again?”

“Not unless there is a problem. You will take care of Tyr for me, will you not? He is very dear to me, and my family.”

Harper couldn’t help but blush. “I think he can take care of himself, ma’am.”

“Not always, and not with everything. And Tyr, I should very much like it if you brought Harper around again. I’ve not seen Ezekiel this quiet for this long in over two weeks.”

Tyr nodded with a frown. He didn’t want a reminder of Freya’s death at the moment. He had to speak with Harper, and needed to think things through. “I’ll be sure to bring him around.”

Tyr watched Olma walk down the path to the lake, knowing that this would be the last time he’d see his son for a long time. Thinking about what Olma said, he turned to Harper, who was washing the dishes.

Watching Harper, Tyr was reminded of the sight of Harper playing with his son in the bedroom. The image made him smile. So did the memory of Olma’s words.

Walking up to him from behind, he put his hands on Harper’s shoulders. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“For?” Harper didn’t look up from the plate he was washing at the sink.

“Making Olma and my… cousin feel at home.” Tyr pulled Harper into a hug before he could protest. “It means a lot.”

Harper leaned backwards against Tyr with a soft sigh. “I need to finish the dishes before we talk, okay?”

“Okay. I’ll be outside lying in the sun when you are ready to speak to me.”

----------------------------------------

Tyr was nearly asleep under the shade of a tree, on his back and shirtless, when Harper finally came out, humming softly. Looking up, Tyr saw that he was carrying a bottle and a blanket with him. And there was a faint smell of bananas in the air.

“I was beginning to think you’d chosen not to talk to me.”

Harper lay out the towel and sat down, pulling his shirt over his head. Tyr studied the lean, slightly muscled chest for the second time in three days. He wanted to reach out and touch him but forced himself not to.

“I wanted to think about it first.”

“About the kiss.”

“Both of them, yeah.” Harper took off the cap from the bottle. After taking a swig, he passed it to Tyr. “It’s banana flavored liquor. Careful, cause this shit is strong and it will sneak up on you.”

Tyr sniffed the bottle and took a cautious sip. The taste of banana and strong alcohol slid down his throat, reminding him of one of Trance’s medicines. “I made you drink?”

Harper shook his head. “No, I made me drink. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that last night. I’m sorry.”

Tyr shook his head and took another sip before passing the bottle back to Harper. “I kissed you first.”

“Why? You had every right to react the way you did. I mean come on; I’m hot even when I’ve just woken up. I took advantage of the situation.” Harper took a long swallow of liquor this time and coughed. He’d be drunk soon if he kept that up.

Tyr took the bottle away and put the cap back on it. “What would you say if I told you that I probably wanted you to kiss me, but that I had trouble admitting it?”

Harper picked at a piece of grass on the ground, not looking at Tyr. When he finally did look at him, his eyes looked almost hopeful. “Let’s say for a moment I believe you. I still did it too soon. You said so yourself. Besides you’re…”

“I’m what, Harper?” Tyr said softly. He had a feeling he knew what the answer was going to be.

“You’re a Nietzschean. The only exception seems to be the prides that let the men rape their male slaves.”

“That’s not entirely true, Harper. Some prides do allow for same sex relationships for a variety of reasons.”

Harper began to rip up blades of grass from the ground. “But not with humans, right?”

“Depends on the pride. Freya’s allowed it if both males had already had children. Mine allowed for it only between very close friends or sterile but otherwise healthy men. And only if that relationship did not get in the way of procreation.” Tyr sighed. “I don’t know how the Drago Kasov see it, but if anyone committed rape for degradation in my pride, he’d be castrated.”

“Okay, then why not Beka when she hit on you last year?”

Tyr pretended to look surprised by the fact that Harper knew this. “I can get her pregnant. That wouldn’t have been fair to her, me, or the resulting child, believe me.”

Harper curled his knees into his chest. Tyr noticed he was barefoot. He couldn’t help but stare at Harper’s feet as he waited for Harper to say something. Harper had very nice feet.

Finally Harper reached for the bottle. “I think I need another drink.”

“No you don’t. You’ve already had enough.” Tyr moved the bottle to over to the other side of his body.

“Tyr, I’m not your kid, you don’t have to tell me what to do.” Harper leaned over Tyr’s body to grab the bottle. As he did, he felt Tyr’s hardening cock press into his side and stopped. “Tyr?”

Tyr wrapped his arms around Harper and rolled over so he was on top of him. “I said no more liquor.”

Harper nodded, pressing the palms of his hands against Tyr. “Sure big guy, just get off me.”

“No.” Tyr pressed his lips to Harper’s, returning the type of kiss that Harper had given him the night before. Harper froze for a second, and then responded in kind. It was one of the most incredible kisses Tyr had ever experienced. Only Freya had kissed better.

When they finally broke the kiss, both of them were breathing heavily. Harper gasped. “That was…”

“What I’ve been trying to tell you. I wanted you to kiss me. And you shouldn’t be sorry that it was too soon. You should not feel rejected.” Tyr lowered his head to Harper’s jaw line, kissing along it gently. He felt Harper shudder in his embrace.

“And you really wanted me to kiss you?”

“I did.” Tyr’s lip ran across Harper’s collarbone. The felt Harper begin to shake under his weight. Lifting his head, he said, “Are you all right?”

Harper nodded. “I shake when I’m excited.”

“You must be excited pretty often.”

Harper smirked. “So what made you change your mind overnight?”

“I had a long talk with Olma… about this and a lot of things.” Tyr moved his lips over Harper’s chest and began to nibble at one nipple, causing Harper to moan.

“You had a discussion, with your lawyer, about this.” Harper looked as if he was about to burst out laughing.

“She’s a former Matriarch. Matriarchs are good for discussing personal matters with.” Tyr could feel Harper’s hands against his back, rubbing gently. Tyr began rubbing Harper’s belly. He wanted to get him out of his pants, but he also wanted to take his time. He felt there was no rush.

“Tyr, I don’t… I don’t want to hurt you if you’re not ready.”

Tyr stopped nibbling and looked up. Looking Harper in the eye he said, “Last night you said you kissed me because you wanted to. Right now, I’m doing this because I want to.”

Harper smiled very slowly. “Okay.” Sitting up, he took Tyr’s face in his hands and kissed him deeply before standing up. Unzipping his pants, he pulled them down. To Tyr’s surprise, he was wearing no underwear. Tyr stared at Harper’s naked body.

Harper cleared his throat. “Come on, don’t tell me I’m the only person sitting here thinking about what’s going to happen next,” he grinned. Tyr reached up and pulled Harper into his lap.

Tyr ran his hand over the curve of Harper’s ass. The skin there was softer than he’d expected. “No. I just could have sworn you were wearing underwear.”

“I took them off after I did the dishes. Just in case.” Harper yelped when Tyr ran his hand lightly over his cock. Tyr felt small hands fumbling at the zipper of his pants. He pushed Harper off his lap long enough to take his pants and underwear off. When Harper sat back down, he was straddling his hips.

When Tyr leaned back so that Harper could sit on top of him, Harper whispered, “Uh… you don’t think anyone would see or hear us, do you?”

“The nearest residence is several miles away. Why?”

“Because, I can get kind of loud.” Harper blushed. Who would have thought that this man would look so beautiful when he blushed? He started to rock his hips against Tyr, who bit his lip to keep from making noise himself. He growled under his breath.

This felt different than it had been with Freya. Incredible, but different. Tyr’s hips began to buck against Harper’s to increase the friction. “Boy, where did you learn how to do this?”

“From Beka. And stop calling me ‘boy’ already.” Harper bit on one of Tyr’s nipples, which didn’t help with Tyr’s control over his actions. Tyr grabbed Harper’s hips and pulled Harper’s body closer to him. Looking up, he could see that Harper’s blush had gone down his neck and chest, and Harper’s cock was pushing against his belly.

Rocking against each other like this, neither of them lasted long. Tyr came first with a shout that would have been heard all the way back to the house. Gasping, he grabbed hold of Harper’s cock and pumped until Harper locked his hips, spilling all over his stomach. Harper fell against Tyr, limp.

When Tyr recovered his breath, he reached up and ran his fingers through Harper’s hair. Breathing in, he could smell a mixture of sweat, semen, and his own scent all over Harper.

Harper’s breathing had evened out. “All right, now what? Are we just friends?”

Tyr held Harper close. “No, we’re a bit more than that. But I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that you are closer to me than anyone else alive. I’d also be lying…”

“...If you didn’t warn me that one day you’d be looking for another mate,” Harper finished for him. He smiled. “I figured that out already. And just so you know, the same goes for me.”

“Good, because I’d hate to see the genes that created your intellect wasted.” Tyr closed his eyes, intending to rest only for a moment.

---------------------------------------------

Tyr woke up to a sudden chill in the air and a Harper’s hand gently rubbing his back. He felt something being draped over his body and someone press their body close. He inhaled and recognized Harper’s scent.

“What time is it?” he whispered.

“Late. We both fell asleep until after dark.” Tyr felt Harper’s thin arm slide around his waist. “I uh, went back to the house to get a couple of quilts. I had no idea it got this cold out here after nightfall.”

“We could go back in.”

“Nah, always had a fantasy about sleeping out in the open after sex. I’ve never gotten the chance to actually do it though.”

Tyr rolled over and pulled Harper close. Kissing him briefly he said, “Is this a hint, boy?”

“Maybe. Just stop calling me ‘boy’.” Harper grinned, showing off his dimples. “Did you have any more dreams?”

“Not today.” Tyr yawned, more relaxed than he had been in weeks. He ruffled Harper’s hair. “I’m hungry.”

Harper sighed and Tyr could practically feel the pout in the darkness. Sitting up he wrapped a quilt tight around his shoulders. “All right, we can go back in.”

“Harper, we do have four days of vacation left. We have time.”

“I know. I just don’t want to waste any of it, you know?”

Tyr thought about it. All the time he felt he’d wasted with Freya, his son, and now Harper. All the time he’d spent making plans to take revenge on the Drago Kasov, to steal back the remains of the Progenitor. All the time he would be spending on keeping his son safe.

Finally he gave a short nod. “How about we settle for a quick bite, and then come back out here?”

Harper threw his arms around Tyr’s neck in response. Tyr couldn’t help but smile. “It’s good to see you smiling again, Tyr.”

“Oh, I think you can make me smile in more ways than one, little man.”

“I hate it when you call me… MMMMM!!!” Tyr pressed his lips against Harper’s. When Tyr broke the kiss, Harper said, “I thought you said you were hungry and wanted to go back in.”

“Food can wait.” Tyr pushed the quilt aside. His lips trailed across Harper’s stomach, pausing to nip at his navel. Harper let out a shuddering breath.

“I did mention its cold without the quilts, right?”

“Uh huh.” Tyr grabbed the quilt covering him and put it over his head so Harper could not see him, only feel what Tyr was doing. Tyr had to rely on his hands and lips and where they were trailing to know what to do next. He let his fingers trail down past Harper’s navel, located Harper’s hardening shaft and wrapped his fingers around it.

“Oh, my God!” Harper shoved his hand under the blanket to touch Tyr, but Tyr pushed it away gently.

“Shh…God is dead. Now lay back and feel this, okay?”

Harper whimpered. Tyr smiled and ran his lips in the dark down to where his hand was. As he ran his tongue along Harper’s shaft, Tyr ran his thumb down and over the head. Harper gasped, and tried to touch Tyr again.

Tyr pushed Harper’s hand away a second time, just before he swallowed him whole. Using his hands Tyr held onto Harper’s hips as he began to bob. He could hear Harper gasping and straining under his touch.

“Jesus…” Harper put his hands under the quilt again and ran his fingers through Tyr’s hair. Tyr could feel Harper tensing up under him and let go of one hip to cup his balls gently. Harper made several noises as he began to thrust in Tyr’s mouth. Tyr smiled and began to growl around him.

Harper screamed as he came. Tyr held him still, still bobbing, until he felt Harper relax. Only then did he come out from under the quilt.

Harper was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. He was still panting as Tyr gathered him in his arms. “Now we eat.”

-----------------------------------------

Tyr rolled over onto his back and stared at the pipes running along the bulkhead of the Maru for what he hoped would be the last time in a long while. He felt tingly all over, and more alive than he’d felt since before Freya’s message.

Catching his breath, Tyr sighed and turned his head to Harper. “We should get dressed. We’re less than an hour away from the rendezvous point.”

“Don’t want to,” came the muffled reply from Harper. “My vacation practically flew by as it is.”

Tyr didn’t want to go back either, but he’d accomplished what he’d needed to do on this trip. And for Tyr, it was leave, not a vacation. Leaning over to kiss Harper’s cheek he whispered, “Would you prefer it if Beka found us on the bunk like this, boy?”

Harper lifted his head from the pillow quickly, a slight look of fear on his face. “No, Beka would kill me.”

“Why?”

“Cause, she’ll think I started it.”

Tyr suppressed a smile as he pulled Harper into a quick hug. “You go take a shower.”

Harper nodded and after a moment of hesitation, kissed Tyr hard on the lips. “Take it with me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Tyr sat up and searched around in his bag, looking for a set of clean clothes. “If I did, we’d never be ready on time.”

“I tired you out again, huh?”

Tyr looked up at Harper, grinned, and let out a loud growl. Harper yelped as if he’d been hit and ran for the bathroom. With a soft chuckle Tyr pulled on the rest of his clothes and padded to the cockpit barefoot.

Looking at the controls he realized that the Maru had nearly reached its destination and they were receiving a hail from the Andromeda. “Harper, incoming message.”

“Tell them I’m naked.”

Tyr shook his head and opened the comm. channel. “Maru here.”

Beka’s face appeared on the monitor in front of Tyr. “So, how was the trip?”

“It was… eventful. I got what I needed done. I see Dylan managed not to get you blown up while we were out.”

Beka shook her head with a smile. “Nope, we just spent the week on inventory. I kinda wish I got to go with you guys, but you know how thrilling inventory can be.”

Tyr smiled. “How long before you arrive?”

“We’re actually only twenty light seconds from your location. Where’s Harper?”

“In the shower.”

“But he never showers in the morning unless…Oh.” Beka stopped talking. She shook her head. “I’ll see you two when the Maru docks.”

Tyr nodded and cut the connection. Twenty light seconds. That meant that the Andromeda was nearly a half hour away, forty if he set the Maru on autopilot and self docking. Tyr considered fulfilling that fantasy with Harper in the shower. With a smile, he took off his clothes and headed for the bathroom.

----------------------------------------

Tyr saw Beka standing in front of the hatchway with her arms crossed as he and Harper got off the Maru. She approached them as they dropped their bags, and as she stepped up to Harper, took his chin in her hand. She tilted his head to one side, looking at his neck before tilting his head the other way. Not seeing any tell tale bite marks, she huffed.

“Beka, cut it out,” Harper stammered before jerking away. He glared at Beka.

Tyr crossed his arms and watched, for the moment anyway. He found her attitude amusing.

“All right, who was she?”

“Huh?”

“You never shower first thing in the morning unless you’ve been sleeping around with somebody the night before. Now, who was she?”

“There wasn’t a ‘she’ within miles, Beka. I swear, no ‘she’.”

Beka looked unconvinced. “Well if it wasn’t with a woman…” Beka turned red and sniffed at Harper. “Harper, you didn’t. You promised you wouldn’t.”

“I swear I didn’t make the first move.”

Tyr grinned broadly. “He’s telling you the truth. Trust me.”

Beka’s turned her face back and forth between Harper and Tyr in disbelief. “What about you saying you never wanted to have sex with a non human?”

“It’s different with Harper.” Tyr picked up his bag, along with Harper’s and strode out the doorway. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do now that I’m back on Command.”

He was at the door when he heard Beka say to Harper. “Lucky bastard. I want details.”

“Hey! A gentleman never tells, remember?”

“You’re a gentleman and I’m the first Than queen.”

Tyr couldn’t stop the grin on his face.

--------------------------------------------

Tyr was exhausted as Trance came onto the Command Deck. Rubbing the back of his neck he looked at her and said, “It certainly took you long enough.”

“Sorry, I was working on something with Rommie.” Trance took her station and looked at Tyr. “I take it you’re going to see Harper now?”

“I was hoping to shower first.”

“Oh.” Trance punched in some command codes. She didn’t look at Tyr.

He hated when she did that. Clearing his throat he said, “Should I go find him before my shower?”

“I don’t think you need to. I was just wondering that’s all.”

Tyr shrugged his shoulders and went to his quarters. When he arrived, he asked for the hologram. “Ship, where is Harper?”

“Just beyond that door, sleeping. Should I wake him for you?”

Tyr smiled. “No, I’ll handle it. Thank you.” Punching in his personal code he walked in and saw Harper curled up on his side. The lights to his quarters were out, but he could see just well enough to know that Harper had fallen asleep. Tyr crawled across the bed slowly and leaned over to nuzzle Harper’s cheek.

Rolling over and rubbing his eyes, Harper said, “Hey.”

“Hey. It’s late.”

“I know. I thought I’d spend the night here.”

“Any reason why you are not sleeping in your own quarters?”

“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about Olma and Ezekiel.” Harper sat up.

Tyr felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand. Looking as impassive as he could he said, “What about them?”

“Just that I want to see them again. You know, to keep an eye on them both. I mean, if he’s the first Kodiak born in nearly two decades, then he’s going to mean a lot to you, right? And I was figuring, don’t you think he should learn a thing or two about what humans are really like before he hears how inferior we are supposed to be?”

“I don’t follow.” Tyr sat back on his heels. He wondered what the boy was up to.

“Look, you were raised in a pride environment, right? And I was raised in a slave environment. I was just thinking that it be good for the boy if he learned what the best and worst that Nietzscheans are capable of from two men who’ve lived in both environments?” Harper looked dead serious. Tyr wondered if he had managed to overhear anything during Olma’s visit, then thought better of it.

They’d been careful, and Harper had been with the baby in a well insulated bedroom. His former partner Darwin had seen to the insulation of the house himself. There was no way he could have possibly guessed who ‘Ezekiel’ really was. “Harper, is this what you really want?”

“Yeah. This is what I want.” Harper gave him this slight pout. It was an expression Tyr found he had trouble resisting. He wondered how often Harper used that same look with Beka.

Tyr sighed. “All right. We’ll plan at least one trip back to Anoda a year to see them. Will that make you happy?”

Harper gave Tyr a soft kiss and let his head come to rest on his shoulder. “Yes. Yes it would.”

-------------------------------------------

(Seven Years Later)

Tyr leaned against the doorway to his son’s bedroom as he listened to Harper tell his son the story of Paul and Drago Museveni for the first time.

Harper’s choice of story was unusual, but appropriate. He smiled when Harper first suggested telling his son their story on the trip back to Anoda this year. Harper liked telling Ezekiel, as he was now called, stories about the history of Earth and of the Commonwealth.

“… So Paul decided that if he could enhance Men to survive in any condition, then they would be able to adapt as well as the Than or the Vedrans, so he purchased a station outside of the Commonwealth territory and named it after an ancient writer called Ayn Rand….”

His son was nearly five feet tall already, and he was barely eight years old. Ezekiel’s hair and skin tone matched Tyr’s, but his son’s hair was soft to the touch like his mother’s, and his eyes had lightened to the color of honey. He’d inherited his mother’s laugh, cunning, curiosity, and some of her temperament. He was also beginning to show signs of Freya’s ambitiousness.

Tyr liked to think that if Freya were with them, she would have been as proud of their son as he was.

Harper had taken on the role of an uncle over the years and as long as Tyr kept the promise that they would visit Anoda at least once a year, Harper stayed by his side.

Seven years together, and they only seemed to grow closer. His relationship with Harper was probably the longest one he’d managed to keep. Tyr felt warm whenever he thought about it.

They loved each other, and they both knew it but never said the words.

“And Paul did all this at a place called Ayn Rand Station?” Ezekiel asked.

“Yep. Paul wanted to create a Man who could survive in any setting. His son Drago was the first Nietzschean ever to walk in the Universe. All Nietzscheans come from him, Zeke.”

Ezekiel’s eyes went wide. “Every single one?”

“Every one. Even you, your grandma Olma, and your cousin Tyr.”

“Wow… What did Paul and Drago look like?”

“Well… I don’t know for sure, but I can check and bring a picture of them back if the Andromeda has one for you.”

“Okay.”

Tyr cleared his throat to get Harper’s attention. As Harper looked up he said, “I’ve prepared dinner if you are interested in something other than storytelling.”

“But Tyr, I want Harper to finish his story. I want to know what became of Paul and Drago.”

Tyr raised his eyebrows at Harper, who shrugged. “What can I say; the kid loves a good story.”

“Harper…”

“Okay, okay.” Harper smirked and looked ahead. Tyr bristled and Ezekiel giggled looking back and forth between Harper’s left arm and his own. Ezekiel reached out with his fingers and ran them along Harper’s forearms as if he were looking for something.

When Harper looked at Ezekiel, he pulled his hand away. “Harper, can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Did you lose your bone spurs like Tyr did?”

Harper shrugged. “Never had spurs, Zeke. I was born without them.”

“Never?”

“Never.”

Ezekiel looked confused. “But I thought that only stupid kludges didn’t have bone spurs.”

Tyr watched as Harper sighed. Usually when someone called humans by that name Harper would become angry. Seeing how he didn’t like being referred to as an Uber, Tyr understood why. He wondered what he would say to his son.

“Zeke, I am a human,” Harper said softly.

“Oh. But you’re smart and strong like Tyr…”

“Well, I’m a genius anyway. But I don’t need to be a Nietzschean to be smart or strong.” Harper slid over and patted the child on the head. “Nietzscheans are humans too, but they were made to be smart and healthy. They are no different than Castalians in that respect.”

Ezekiel thought hard. He looked back and forth between Tyr and Harper. “So you’re not… you’re human.”

“Yes, Zeke. I’m human. And I think you should hear it from us first that a human deserves every bit as much respect as your grandmother and Tyr do.”

Ezekiel looked at Tyr, who nodded. “He’s right. We need to look to our own survival, but if we can do it without creating unnecessary enemies, all the better.”

Ezekiel nodded. “Okay, Harper. I’ll remember that.”

Harper smiled and played with Ezekiel’s hair. “Okay, now go to sleep. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

The boy sighed and settled into bed. Looking up at Harper, he asked, “Are you coming to play with me tomorrow?”

“I plan to.”

“Okay.” Ezekiel closed his eyes. Harper got up and left the room. As Harper closed the door behind them and they headed to the kitchen, Tyr looked at Harper.

“You did well.”

Harper smirked. “Yeah well, I’m not about to tell the kid that we kludges aren’t worth a damn. I think Zeke should know as much about who and what he is as possible, don’t you?”

“He’s Kodiak. He’s also a Nietzschean. I believe that Ezekiel knows these things already.”

“Well yeah, that’s just the basics. But I’ve never heard Ezekiel talk about his lineage. That’s important too, right?”

Tyr tensed up, wondering where Harper was going with this. “I’m sure Olma has instructed the boy in keeping such talk to a minimum since our pride has been scattered. Even I knew little about my own lineage at his age.”

Harper stopped, tilted his head up, and kissed Tyr. Tyr put his arm around Harper’s shoulder and pulled him close without so much as a thought.

Breaking the kiss, Harper said in a very low voice, “I hope Ezekiel lives up to his full genetic potential. I know it would mean a lot to you if he did.”

Tyr thought that last statement was odd. He could feel Harper shaking the way he did whenever he felt any emotion intensely. Tyr pulled back and looked at Harper.

As he stared into his eyes, he realized that Harper knew. Maybe not that Ezekiel was his son, but that Ezekiel was the Progenitor. Tyr shivered as he held Harper.

“I love that kid, Tyr. You know I’d do anything to protect him as if he were my own son, don’t you?”

Tyr inhaled Harper’s scent. He detected no deception, no hint of a lie or guilt. Only something he’d pick up on whenever Harper made a promise. And Harper never made any promise lightly. Tyr nodded slowly.

“Good. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m starved. What’s for dinner?”

Tyr took his time to reply, afraid to let go of Harper. Finally he said, “Chicken Diablo. I made a chocolate mousse cake for dessert.”

“You can make cake out of a moose? Cool, never had that before.” Harper pulled away from Tyr.

Tyr watched Harper as he went into the kitchen and sighed.

He would have to trust Harper completely. And as he realized he was ready to do just that, he smiled.

-- End --

Home