The family gathered at the table, and the bodyguards sat at the bar that separated the kitchen from the dining area. As the pizza and soft drinks were passed around, Alexis soaked it all in. She was finally back on Earth, though not in her childhood home. Everything felt strange. She missed her father and Wyoming. It was hard to be here and not remember her past life. It was gone, and that broke her heart. Though she truly loved Nancy and her mother, this was no longer where she belonged. She had made an entirely new life on Milisaria. It was the place that she could call home and felt as if she belonged. Here, she felt empty and awkward, despite her family’s welcome. Nabvan must have caught on to her nervousness because he reached for her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.

The pizza disappeared quickly, with Nexxa and the knights eating more than anyone thought possible. The soft drinks were a hit with the Milisarians, who found the carbonation and the burps it caused hilarious. Promises were made to send cases of the drink and stacks of frozen pizzas back to Milisaria. Conversations drifted to what had been happening in all their lives over the last decade.

Nancy talked about proms, college, and her efforts to defend human rights and add aliens to the mix. Her mother brought tears to everyone's eyes by speaking of losing her beloved husband and the emptiness it left in her life. Nabvan told of the advancements on Milisaria and its colonies. He explained about Urim finding Josephine with the Pura and the battle over the faraway planet. Alexis spoke of her work in the lab, setting up a medical facility, and teaching the young Milisarian females to be scientists. She admitted that she was revered on her new planet, instead of pushed aside as she had been on Earth.

Nexxa was intrigued by a music video on the living room screen, so her grandmother felt it was safe to ask Alexis, "Do you plan on giving me more grandchildren?"

A sudden sadness flitted over Alexis and Nabvan. Their eyes met and held for a moment, then Alexis answered, "We have tried. It appears I can't have more children. The damage to my body from the pregnancy and birth of Nexxa, mixed with the serum we used to save me, has made me barren. All of those we saved from death back then cannot have more children. However, I'm happy to say, I've changed all that for the women who came later. I found a way to give small doses of the serum, added to a formula that blocks it from reaching the fetus, all through the pregnancy. It makes the gestation period normal, and the birth is no longer life-threatening. Valeri followed the regimen, and her daughter was born without incident. She should be able to have as many babies as she wishes."

Nabvan added, "Queen Destiney is pregnant again. She shows symptoms of it being a female this time, so she has begun taking the medication. I am so proud of Alexis for discovering many medications that are used on our planet as well as others."

Nancy asked, "How many children of mixed species are there on Milisaria?"

Alexis replied, "The queen has three sons. Scyon is the oldest at ten. He is very intelligent and strong. He is being groomed to take over as king someday. Nexxa and he are usually inseparable. He begged to come with us, but King Siefer wanted him to be part of the negotiations with the other planets. Valeri has twin boys and the daughter I spoke of. Among the women who left Earth with me, there are a total of six more children. I hear that the Arkani have mixed children as well. Last count was twelve."

Her mother patted her hand and said, "I'm so sorry that there won't be more babies for you, but I bet you're happy despite it. You've got the job and recognition you've always dreamed of, a handsome husband, and a precious child. I am so glad you made the journey."

It was time for Nexxa to open her gifts. Nancy had bought canvases and paint for her to make pictures of the four moons and green seas of Milisaria. She also presented her with nail polish and dozens of recorded music videos. Her grandmother gave her books, a gaming system, boxes of candy, lots of clothes, and movies. There were extra treats to share with the other children and a game system for Scyon so he could learn to play against her. Each gift was opened amid squeals and laughter. Alexis relaxed her tension and began to enjoy the evening.

Srath was uncomfortable. The small condo felt foreign and crowded to him. Though it was his job to stand on the sidelines, he felt as if he was invisible. Everyone had included the bodyguards during the meal but seemed to have forgotten them in the excitement of opening gifts. Everyone, that is, except Nancy. He caught her watching him at odd moments. It made him squirm on the small barstool. He was attracted to her, and it made him nervous. Normally, if he had an attraction to a female, he would just let her know he wished to have her and she would either reject him or comply. He could not do that with his commander's sister-in-law. In fact, he was not supposed to do it on Milisaria either. Mating was for marriage and Milisarians were supposed to be monogamous. He had always liked King Shene's philosophy. The king had many concubines and used them until he tired of them. The women of Milisaria were mixed in their attitudes toward promiscuity. Some held true to the old ways, but there were others that enjoyed the forbidden assignations. Srath was adept at seeking those out.

The family vibe in the room left him bored. He had never felt such a bond with his parents or siblings. Srath was a rebellious loner. He did not need to seek out trouble. It seemed to find him without any effort on his part. That was fine with him. At the moment, he wished to be set free in this world. The lights of the city suggested entertainment, women, and a possible fight or two. He was disappointed in the lack of rioting. He had expected to be using his sword to aid his fellow Milisarians, even though Nabvan had warned him against it. He let his eyes settle on Nancy once more, undressing her in his mind.

The evening was turning out better than Nancy had hoped. Alexis was loosening up, and her mom's joy was obvious. Nabvan was involved in a video game with Nexxa. Her sharp mind and quick hands quickly overcame the knight's strategy.

Nancy's gaze continued to stray to Srath. She could feel his discomfort in the situation, along with a magnetism she couldn't deny. She had met many Milisarian males in her line of work, yet never had she been attracted to them. Something about Srath was different. There was an aloofness and predatory manner in him that drew her interest. He was the consummate bad boy. She felt a tingle of excitement at the idea of kissing those full lips and feeling those muscular arms around her. As if he could read her thoughts, Srath gave her a feral smile. She quickly turned away and pretended to watch Nabvan and Nexxa battle it out.

Alexis noticed how Nancy kept glancing at the bodyguard and frowned. Srath was not who she thought of as a good influence for her sister. He could get Nancy in a lot of trouble. In an effort to distract Nancy from her imagination, Alexis asked, "How many of the protests have you been a part of?"

Nancy replied, "Dozens, both for humans and aliens. I can't stand back and watch anyone treated as if they aren't important. I'm not the same person you left behind. I was rude and judgmental of you. I grew up. Earth changed, and I changed with it."

Alexis responded, "I saw you on the news feed. Your speech was powerful. I think it reached the deepest parts of those listening. I'm proud of the changes in you. The way you can explain a situation and come up with sensible solutions is genius."

Nancy was shocked. Alexis had never praised anything she did, and she had appeared so disinterested when they had met that morning. She answered, "I always thought that you were the genius in the family. You're a scientific whiz, coming up with new medications and treatments for diseases I've never even heard of. It's amazing to me how your mind works."

Their mother spoke, "It is I who is amazed. Both of my daughters have brilliant minds. You make me proud. You've accomplished what I dreamed you would and then surpassed that by a hundredfold. It's good to see you together and not arguing."

The sisters looked at each other and burst into laughter. They knew that every moment of their childhood and teenage years had been spent in a battle for attention. Even though they had called a truce for now, they both realized the battle was not over. They would have difficulty working together on the alien rights resolution, not because they didn't believe in the same things, but due to their differences. in the ideal way to handle it.

It was getting late, and the city had a curfew due to the riots. The Milisarian contingent needed to leave so they could reach the spaceship without incident. Nexxa pleaded to spend the night with her newly discovered grandmother. Nabvan deemed it to be safe enough, so her wish was granted. Her grandmother promised to teach her a card game, watch an old animated movie about princesses, and make her pancakes for breakfast.

Srath took the lead as they walked through the now locked down neighborhood. Alexis and Nabvan came next, followed by the other bodyguard. They kept their eyes open for trouble. However, the night remained peaceful.

Nancy stared out her window at the group. She had mixed emotions watching them leave. Her nervous tension disappeared along with Alexis and the sexy Srath, but she felt a loneliness that seeped into her soul. Not sure where it was coming from or why she was experiencing it, she decided to busy herself with something else entirely. She went about her nightly rituals, checking the news feed for riot information, her communicator for messages, and making hot chocolate with marshmallows to help everyone sleep. She hoped Nexxa would enjoy the treat.

Knocking softly on her mother's door before she entered, she could hear the sound of Nexxa asking question after question about the card game they were playing. She took in the hot chocolate and discovered the child dressed in one of her oversized college t-shirts. Nexxa explained, "Grandma said I could use it to sleep in. Is that okay with you?"

"You can have it, if you want. I have lots of them. They are very soft and comfy. I brought hot chocolate. Do you wish to try it?"

Nexxa replied, "Everything you have shared with me so far has been yummy. That smells delicious."

"It's my favorite bedtime treat, sweet and warm,” Nancy declared. She handed out the cups and put the princess movie in to play. The threesome relaxed against the headboard of the bed, with Nexxa in the middle, and settled down to sip their drinks and watch the princess find her prince charming. Nexxa fell asleep halfway through the movie, but neither adult moved until it ended. The love and companionship were too overwhelming to break the spell.

Nancy's dreams that night were all mixed up. She dreamed of winning a Nobel Prize for her contributions to the alien rights. Then, that dream disappeared and was replaced with one about Srath. It was so erotic, she awoke drenched in sweat and shocked to the core. It seemed her subconscious was working overtime and knew more about her desires than her conscious self. She needed to get control of her mind.