Almost

Chapter Five

The walk back to the shuttle was almost antagonizing.

Almost.

"Looks like you can finally do something right, Kaz."

He rolled his eyes at Tam's remark as he held Annie. "I used to babysit all of the time on Prime."

"Did you trip over toys?" Tam teased.

"Haha." Kaz said as he batted one of the little girl's hands away from poking at his ear. "I got the hang of it pretty fast."

"Really?" Tam giggled. "To be honest I think it's kinda cute."

If Kaz wasn't embarrassed before, he was now. His cheeks flushed slightly and he had one of those looks of an elementary kid whose mom just introduced them as their pride and joy.

They soon reached the shuttle, and Kaz handed Annie over to her.

"You can hold a kid, right?"

"Er- Kaz!"

"I gotta get us home!"

"Kaz!"

Tam glared at the small doors as the slide shut.

"Can I touch your hair?"

"What?"

"Please!" The young Aeosian looked up at her with big, pleading eyes.

"I- I uh, sure, I guess."

The small girl ran her webbed fingers through Tam's frizzy hair. "I've always wondered what it was like to have a hairy head."

"Well to be honest I've always wondered what it would be like to not have a hairy head."

Annie giggled, continuing her stroking.

"Here." With a bit of a struggle, Tam managed to free her fluffy hair from its bounds. "That should make it easier."

Anastasia let out a gasp, and Tam couldn't help but feel proud of the expression on the little girl's face as she drove her fingers into the dark- chocolate colored waves that were Tam's hair.

Kaz's face popped around the corner. "Everythings running good so we'll be there shortly, ladies."

"Kaz Kaz!" Annie squealed, grabbing a fist-full of Tam's hair. "You have to feel! It's sooooo soft!"

"Um", Kaz uttered, throwing a concerned look at Tam. "I will later."

"Promise?" She squeaked, giving Kaz the same look she just gave our young heroine.

"Promise."

"Yay! The girl cheered, and Tam winced as she gave her hair another tug.

"Just remember that the hair has someone on the other side." Kaz slipped back around the corner.

"Oh. Sorry."

"You've been saying that a lot."

Annie cracked a grin. "I don't want to make any enemies."

Tam chucked. "Clever girl."

Anastasia blinked. "Kaz's name."

"Huh?"

"His name is what got me out of the wall, if you were wondering."

"I was wondering about that." Tam said, a bit amused. "Am I aloud to ask why his name drew you out?"

"My mother said he helped our people when they first came." Anastasia replied, continuing to play with Tam's hair.

The bronze pilot looked away. "You mean the First Order."

"Yes." She whispered quietly. "That is their name."

"You are too grown up for a child."

"Mum said that after my daddy died."

Tam looked back at Annie. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok. Well, that's what everyone says. At least he's part of the Tide now."

"The tide?"

"The Tide. It surrounds us, penetrates us, binds the galaxy together. My daddy could use the Tide."

"You don't have to explain it to me." Tam mumbled.

"Why? Do you already know about it?"

"No." Tam said, sadly smiling. "I can tell you don't want to, though."

Anastasia sniffed as Tam wiped a tear off of the Aeosian's face. "It's hard to talk about my daddy sometimes. I know he is always in here", she pointed at her chest where her heart should be. "but why did the Tide have to take him so soon?"

Tam was right. This child was far too young to understand such things- and she did, in her own innocent way. But there are some things a child cannot comprehend.

Tam felt her eyes become wet. How was she supposed to explain something like this to a child?

"I think it was the right time for your father to join the tide, young one."

Annie looked at her with such confusion Tam thought about starting over all together.

"I am sorry about your father." She continued cautiously. "But sometimes people leave for reasons no one knows." The pilot fumbled with her words, trying to find an explanation. "It really... sucks."

Annie furrowed her brow. "That's dumb."

"Sorry. I'm not good at explaining these kinds of things."

Her aquatic company looked up at her. "I'm sorry that I've burdened you with these things."

"Don't apologize. Kids are supposed to be nasty brats who don't apologize."

The girl's face broke out in a smile. "I will continue to be strong. Just because one thing doesn't make sense doesn't mean it won't eventually."

Tam shook her head. "You are too wise."

The young Tide-user giggled.