A NEW Beginning - Book 1

Chapter 5 - Day 1 - Lance

I made my way through the yard, and let myself through the side door.

Romelle was standing by the counter, three highchairs, with three crying babies stood in front of her. She looked up as the door opened, and smiled, a look of relief coming over her face.

"Good morning Romelle, good morning my little imps!" he greeted them with a chuckle.

"Ance! Up!" cried the chubby little red haired girl in the middle.

"Okay Cora!" he agreed, "But you have to help me feed Hiero, and then it's your turn!" he said, swooping her up, and resting her on his hip, as he picked up a bowl, and began feeding the young girls twin.

*****

Ina Leifsdotter and Romelle had surprised everyone aboard the Atlas. 

Ina had mostly spent time by herself, keeping the people she freely spent time with to a select few. I got to know her through Veronica, and I'm glad I did, often spending time with her, Axca, and the other MFE pilots when Allura and Keith were busy, and I didn't have training to do. Ina had a brilliant mind, and was interesting to talk to if you gave her the chance, but so many others chose not to get to know her, unwilling to get used to the unusual way she interacted.

Romelle, however, found the way she spoke, and interacted intriguing, and her little quirks and the way her brain worked fascinating.

We watched as she constantly followed Ina around, often showing up where she knew she would be, taking an interest in what she was doing, both surprising and confusing Ina.

Ina was not used to interacting with people, other than when work deemed it necessary, and we could see she found Romelle quite overwhelming at first. Slowly, though, she allowed Romelle to be around her more, she began looking out for her, waiting for her to arrive, and she eventually began seeking her out.

Before long, the two were inseparable, Romelle wanting to learn as much as she could about her human, how to make her smile and laugh, about her fears, her insecurities, her dreams (which confused Ina), how to look for signs and triggers of what might upset her, and how to calm her down if things became too overwhelming. Ina helped Romelle learn about Earth, happily answering, in great detail, any question Romelle had, and took a great interest in learning about Alteans, their customs, and The Colony.

She also took a great fascination in Romelle. We watched as she watched Romelle, how her eyes lit up when she heard her voice, how she couldn't help smile when Romelle laughed. Ina had became much happier, and interacted with the rest of the crew more comfortably, with Romelle to guide her with a small smile, a shake of the head, or a squeeze of the hand, unnoticeable to most of the crew, unless you really knew the pair.

We knew, without a doubt, that those two would end up together once we got back to Earth.

What was a surprise, however, was when they approached Coran only 2 months later, asking him to help them start a family. It had taken them another 2 months to go through the process of IVF, and for Romelle to fall pregnant. Triplets had been more than they had bargained for, but all three of them were incredibly happy, and we were all happy for them.

Coran had to return to Altea before the children were born, but spent as much time on Earth as possible, and sent plenty of unusual gifts back when he couldn't be there.

The babies had been born healthy 8 and a half months later. The identical, curly, red-haired, girls were named Cora and Hiero, a tribute to Coran, as well as Ina's mother Caroline, and her grandmother Hermione. The bouncing baby boy was named Bandor, a fitting name, as the tiny blonde was the spitting image of his uncle when he was a young child.

Ina had to return to work 3 months after they were born, leaving Romelle with her hands full, but when she was there, she spent every second with the babies, reading them stories, teaching them things, showering them with hugs and kisses.

The triplets were almost a year old now, and, although not your typical family, Cora, Hiero and Bandor had three doting parents, who loved them very much, plus a community of 'aunts and uncles' who they had adoringly wrapped around their little fingers, so they were always cared for, and never went without.

*****

"You're a lifesaver, Lance!" Romelle cried, as she spooned some cereal into the mouth of the young boy in front of her. "You know I couldn't do mornings without you!"

"Always willing to help," he beamed, "I love kids. It's the thing I missed the most when I was away. We always had a big family. By the time my parents decided it was time to stop, my brothers and sisters decided it was time to start. There were always children running everywhere, and they all loved their Tio Lance!"

I saw the look in her eyes as she watched me.
"Don't feel bad for me, pollito, I know where my heart is, I've made my decision. And anyway, this gives me the best of both worlds, I can come play, and dote on them, I don't ever have to be the bad guy, and I can give them back when I've had enough!" I laugh, "Not that I'd ever have enough of these sweethearts!" I say, making a fish face at Hiero as I spooned the last bit of mushy cereal into her mouth. I left her with the spoon, and put Cora back in her chair, trying to avoid Romelles gaze.

"Lance..." she starts,

"It's okay Romelle, I'm fine, leave it..." I say, feeding Cora.

"Okay." she says reluctantly. "Are you okay with the girls while I start running the bath?"

"Of course!" I say, turning to her, and shooting her my trademark smile. "We'll be good and messy by the time you're ready for us!"

Romelle laughed as she scooped Bandor up, "Oh, I don't doubt it!" she chuckled, as she carried him upstairs.