Homecoming (R)

[imloco2]

Date originally posted at Kansas: November 3, 2004
Replies: 19
Views: 1397




This is dedicated to m. The Kansas webmistress extraodinare without whom we wouldn't have a home. And my friend, who has been through some tough times, but just gets stronger.  I hope you have a blast and enjoy every microt while you can.  This one is for you...


Rated: R
John and Aeryn and D'Argo (the younger)
Spoilers for PKW (oops)
4 cycles from now
Farscape is a Henson production. I have no claim. Just playing once a year or so.

Thanks to Auna for taking the time to read and give some good advice. I don't know how well I implemented it though. And especially to aeryncrichton without whom this would have read and looked a whole lot worse. *g*



Homecoming

Boom.

The speed of the ship overhead managed to shake the walls just enough to send a box of ammo cartridges crashing to the floor and Aeryn moved quickly to pick them up before smaller hands tried to help her.  She could get used to being in the flight path of landing craft, if they would just slow the frell down. Fortunately, there were only a few flights a day, but there were times when John’s instance on living close to the hela port was a pain in the eema.

Of course today it seemed like everything was a pain in the eema.

“Pffft” Aeryn blew upwards trying to keep a stubborn strand of hair out of her eyes. She needed both of them to keep watch on the demon that was running around the room. Hezmana! She needed four eyes and eight hands to keep the creature under control. She had come up against some strange life forms in her days, especially since meeting John, but this….

“D’Argo! No. Don’t touch the Burl ball. Put it down!”

Her son’s small four cycles old body stopped but didn’t turn. He’d learned young that it was better not to look. He slowly put the bright orange object down and made his way to the opposite side of the room.

Aeryn watched as he nonchalantly reached a finger out to poke a filla gourd on one of the shelves that wrapped around the room.

“D’Argo!”

This time he turned to her and bounced his way across the room to land at her feet. He knew from her tone that she wasn’t seriously upset. He knew the ‘no more’ tone and he knew better than to disobey it. But this wasn’t it.

“Mommy! Can I go to Ebbie’s and play with Shanella? Please?”  He wrapped his arms around her leg and looked up at her, his blue eyes shining, and smiled.

Frell.  Well demon or not he was the cutest thing she had ever seen.  It was another aspect of parenthood that had remained hidden until she had had this little one.  Apparently, little ones could drive you absolutely fahrbot, but when they smiled at you and hugged you tight, none of that really mattered.

“Come here, you.” She bent down and picked him up into her arms. “Oh, my, you’re getting so big.”  He ducked his head into her neck and giggled.  Of course she could have carried him like this on a 20 metra hike, but he liked to think he was getting a lot bigger so she indulged him.

She smoothed the silky brown hair that reminded her of his father so much. But then, everything reminded her of John.  And the questions that burned in her day and night. Where the frell was he? Was he okay? When would he be back? Questions without answers.  She kissed a chubby cheek.

“Ebbie's? We’ll see. First, you…” She drew back and caught little D’Argo’s eyes.  “…are going to have to do better than that.”

“I know. Burl ball is bad.”  His face scrunched. “Why is it bad?”

“It’s bad because it can hurt you.”

“Why?”

“Because…” Aeryn sighed. How did you tell a 4-cycle-old that something would blow you to bits? “It’s bad…it’s bad because I say so.”  Frell, that should satisfy him. When it rained in the Sumaran maybe.

“But why?”

“Because…because it will blow you to pieces and I’ll have to clean it up and it won’t be a pretty sight.” Double frell. She was glad for a microt that John wasn’t there.


He gave a resigned sigh, his little face was solemn now.  A study in childish concentration. “Burl is bad.” It was one of ‘those’ lessons and he had to learn it.

“That’s right. A Burl ball is bad. You mustn’t touch it. Can you remember that?”  She was teaching him the way she had been taught. Put the shiny enticing deadly objects in the room with everyday things and make you learn to differentiate the good from the bad. But her punishment for D was not the neutral rods that had been used on her. And only very occasionally did she wish for one.

He nodded his head and looked at her expectantly.

“Good.” He wiggled and she set him down. “Now, go on. Ebbie is waiting for you.”

With a screech that made her wince he was out of the door and running down the path to their neighbor's dwelling. House. John called them houses. So she called them houses. She watched out the window as D'Argo disappeared from view. He loved Ebbie and his family and would gladly play there for hours if she didn’t go for him.

“Burl ball is bad,” she said beneath her breath. “Burl bad. Bad, bad Burl.” She closed her eyes. “Bad, bad mommy.”  Sometimes she thought she was getting the hang of the whole mother thing, but then again… Where was John when she needed him?


She moved across the room, kicking the offending imitation Burl ball out of her way, and left the cluttered living area to wander back into the cool recesses of the house where she and John had their quarters. Bed room.  Her favorite place. She stretched out on the bed and tried to let the tension flow from her. 

The quiet was a little unnerving at first, but she had grown to appreciate the silence. If she closed her eyes she could almost be back in space, the stars a glittering blanket surrounding her, comforting her. But no, those days were past and she was grateful to be where she was.  It had taken them a few cycles to find a planet where the people didn’t drop down to their knees in awe -- or start firing at them on sight. But Undola had welcomed them. They were a kind people that sought to see only the good in others. And she and John had so needed someone to find the goodness in them.  There had been so much death.   But that was over. At least here. Where John was, who knew…

He had left six monens ago to answer a call from Rygel, begging him to come to Hyneria.

Hyneria.

A place far, far away and in the midst of an all out civil war. They had wanted nothing to do with war ever again. But Rygel called so John answered. And she understood the need for him to go.  The old crew of Moya knew there was only one thing they could each count on. And that was each other.

Oh, she had protested of course. It had been their most bitter fight yet.

“No, Aeryn. They don’t want you there. ‘I’ don’t want you there. It’s too dangerous.  Rygel says it has to be me so I’m going.”

“So you’re just going to leave me here while you play hero again? Will that make you happy?” 

“No, I am not happy about it, but that’s the way has to be. I love you. You’ll be fine here till I get back. And besides, little D needs you right now.” 

“Oh, and he doesn’t need his father? Well let me tell you something John Crichton. Even little children need their fathers!”

Frell him anyway. She was the soldier, she was the one who should have gone. Rygel be hezzed. Let John stay home with their son and worry and wait. But in the end she knew it had to be him. So he had gone…leaving her and little D behind. He had gotten messages to her letting her know he was all right of course, but it wasn’t the same as having him here, and the feeling of relief she felt when she heard from him only lasted as long as it took to read each message.  She took a deep breath.  He had promised that their son would never know war. Hopefully he could keep that promise. Hopefully that promise wouldn’t leave them alone.

She just missed him so much. She felt her eyes fill with water. This was one aspect of being more that didn’t impress her. She had never cried before John had come into her life. At least after she’d made pilot. Now it seemed she cried at the drop of a helmet. And it never did one bit of good.

Which didn’t stop the tears from leaking and sliding down her temple into her hair.

John.

He had been gone so long and her body was aching for him. She usually managed to ignore the ache during the daylight hours when she was busy with D’Argo and neighbors. But it was at night or when she found herself alone, like now, that the ache grew and threatened to consume her. Sometimes she could close her eyes and almost feel his touch on her skin. A finger sliding up her arm, down her breast. She could smell him. The scent he had had made just for him. The underlying aroma of male that was all John.  She took a breath and it was as if he were here, next to her.  She shifted restlessly on the bed with a low moan.  Frell…

“Aeryn.”

Now she was hearing things. Could six monens without your man drive you mad?

“Aeryn.” 

The voice was more insistent now. She had to be dreaming, but if she was she didn’t want to wake up. If she opened her eyes, what would she see? An empty room? Or the love of her life?

Her eyes opened into blue. Blue, the color of the Ceurlean Sea. Blue, the color of a rare Shafferine gem.

Blue. The color of love.

“Hey.”  His head was close to hers and he came down the rest of the way onto the bed beside her.

Her heart gave a resounding thud before it resumed its pace in triple time. 

“Hey,” she countered, the tears coming easily now. Not that she noticed.  Her arms flung themselves around his neck and she scooted slightly to make room for him. He slid in beside her, his warm body seeking the contours of her own.  He was home!



Reunion



“God! You feel so good.”  John pulled Aeryn closer and slid a leg over hers.   They were both fully dressed, but it didn’t matter. He could feel her heart beating against him and just knowing they were together again was enough for the moment.

“I missed you.”  He reached a hand up and wiped away the tears running down her face.

“I missed you too.” Another tear fell.

“Hey, you.  Stop that.  Or I’m going to think you’re not happy to see me.” He got a brief glimpse of that brilliant smile before she leaned in to kiss him senseless. God, how long had it been since he’d tasted her. Too long.

He heard her give a watery giggle that told him as much as anything about what Aeryn had been through while he was gone. Aeryn didn’t giggle.  She moved her hand lower, down his belly to the stiffness of his leathers.

“Well, someone is happy to see me!” and she gave another blinding grin as her fingers rubbed slowly down, then up his growing length.

Oh boy.   

“Uh, Aeryn?” He couldn’t stop the reflexive movement of his hips in time with the rhythm of her hand and his eyes closed involuntarily. God!

“Yes?”

She’d somehow managed to untuck his shirt from his pants with her other hand and he felt the delicious pressure ease up, only to feel a hand trying to dip beneath the leathers. Although he didn’t know why. The pants were as good as any chastity belt had ever been, a fact that he had lamented many times; like in the kitchen, trying to get it done before D came back home, or behind the supply shed when everyone else was occupied. You just couldn’t go for a quickie in these suckers. And even though Aeryn seemed to hate that as much as he did, still, she wouldn’t let him get rid of them.

The hand gave up trying and began to fumble with the buttons instead.

He covered her hand with his to still it.

“Aeryn. Before we get to the good part.” He couldn’t resist pressing her hand against him once more. “The very good part,  I need to ask you a question.”  He grinned at the puzzled look on her face. “Where’s little D?” He tightened his fingers around her hand and ground it against his hardness once more. “I don’t really want to have to explain to him what Mommy and Daddy are doing in here buck nekkid and moaning and...and…twitching.  Do you?”

“Well.” She pressed a soft kiss on his lips and swiped her tongue across her own, leaving them gleaming. “He would probably think we were doing the same thing he caught us doing at the lake right before you left. What was it you told him then? We were playing doctor?”

John couldn’t help the snort of glee at the memory. After the embarrassment had worn off it really had been too funny. “How could I know he would wake up from his nap early? And besides...” he moved closer to whisper against her lips, “…you were an excellent nurse.”

“Yes, well, then I had to explain to the elders why D’Argo was asking the girls in the village to take off their clothes and play with him.” She hit his chest lightly as he started to laugh, but she laughed softly with him.

“I don’t think you need to worry about D,” she said.   “He just left for Ebbie’s house. He’ll be occupied for arns.”  She began working on his pants again and he got up to give her greater access while he got to work on hers. 

After a struggle that left them breathless, both from laughter and from arousal, they fell back into bed.

Then all laughter fled and there was no more talking as his mouth found her breasts, his fingers dipped into her warm wet places.  He groaned as she cupped the softness of him, her fingers stroking the hard length of him.  Fuck! It had been too damn long and he didn’t know how long he could hold off. 

“Aeryn, I can’t...” he came up over her and positioned himself.  Then he was sliding home, feeling her warm and tight around him as he pushed deep inside her.  He shook as tremors ran through his body at the sensation.   He heard her groan and at the evidence of her excitement he almost came then and there.  He went wild and so did she, meeting him thrust for thrust.  And then they were bucking and straining and panting and yelling. He wondered vaguely if they could hear them all the way to Ebbie’s and he hoped to God Aeryn was with him because he couldn’t stop.  Then even that thought vanished as the tide of sensation rose higher and higher until it crested, flowing through and out of him, filling her. His lungs heaved as he gasped for air and he continued to give short mindless thrusts as the pleasure pulsed through him over and over.   The sensations gradually subsided until he sank on top of her, sated and content for the fist time in what felt like years.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too.” She lifted her head to give him a light kiss on the forehead, the only place she could reach.

He lay there for a moment pondering the mysteries of the universe.  They were right. Abstinence did make it better.  And since his marriage to Aeryn, his five-fingered friend just wasn’t doing the trick any more. But then nothing did except Aeryn.

He fought to stay awake.  He raised his head with great effort and opened his eyes to see her looking at him. God. Had she even come? He hoped so. His body was so spent he didn’t think he’d ever get hard again.

His tongue felt dry and too big for his mouth, but he had to speak.  “I’m sorry baby. I’ll try and do better next time.” If there was a next time.  He felt his arm muscles quiver as he tried to take his weight off her, but she tightened around him, not letting him go, and he gave up the struggle, sinking back down into her softness.

“Don’t worry about me,” she said softly.  Her hand reached up to smooth his sweat-dampened hair back from his face.  “I was with you all the way.” She arched an eyebrow. “But surely you’re not through?”

“Oh, baby. I am so through,” he said into her neck. He wasn’t a young man anymore. Those days were probably over. Of course she didn’t need to know that.  “Um…just give me a few arns and we’ll see.”

“Uh, huh.”  He was still lodged inside her, although the little appendage was smaller than it had been.  She moved slowly and gave a few strategic pulls of internal muscles that had him groaning. He lifted his head again and looked her in the eye. “No, Aeryn. It’s not…” He hissed. “…possible.”  Her muscles rippled along his length and pulled at him, doing things that surely no human could have done.  He felt himself hardening again.  His breath quickened and he felt the blood start to pump through his veins once more. Oh boy, he was in such trouble.

But then trouble was his middle name.





Thanksgiving



Aeryn sat on the low couch, her feet up on the cushioned stool, as she watched the fire.  She had grown to appreciate a good fire since coming to live here.  It snapped and crackled and had a life of its own that she enjoyed. As long as she didn’t get too close.

John was lying next to her with his head in her lap and her hand ran through the soft brown locks in a steady rhythm. His hair was longer than he usually kept it and it fell through her fingers like the softest rain.   She could never get enough of touching him. They had both replaced leather with the soft loose material the natives of Undola wove as their main trade.   Cool in the summer, warm in winter and tough enough to stop a pulse shot, it was their lounge wear of choice, if they had to wear anything at all, and D would be coming home soon.

John's eyes were closed and she thought him asleep so it startled her when he spoke.

“I talked to Finell. He said we could use the lake house for a few days if we wanted. I don’t know about you but I could use some time alone with you.” He opened his eyes and looked at her, the love in his face making her go weak inside.

“What about D’Argo?”

“I’m sure Ebbie won’t mind taking him for a few days. He’ll be okay. And when we get back we’ll all do something together. Take a weaving class or…something.”

“Then I think it’s an inspired plan.” One of her hands ran over his chest and back up to his face. “Let’s just hope it goes better than some of your others.”

“It’ll be heaven.”  He closed his eyes again and for long moments there was only the hissing and popping of the fire.

“John?” Her voice broke the stillness.

“Yeah?”

 “Is it very bad there?”

He didn’t answer for a moment.

“Yeah.” He took a breath. “It’s bad.” He turned his head into her stomach and gave her a light kiss, then looked up at her. “Half of them want peace and Rygel as ruler and the other half are devoted to Bishan and just want to fight. Rygel tried bringing ‘the Great John Crichton’ out on his side, but the little toads just don’t seem to understand the meaning of the word annihilation. Or they don’t care.”  He took her hand and brought it to his lips to brush a soft kiss across her palm.  “I think there’s just too damn many of them.”

“Will Rygel stay?”

“I think so.” John worked his way up until he was sitting beside her, and he slipped an arm around her.  She let her head come to rest on his shoulder.  “I think his time with us gave him a different perspective on a lot of things, but he’s still Hynerian. I actually think he wants to do what’s right for his people.” He paused.  “As long as he can be Dominar, of course.”

“Of course.” She answered his quick grin with one of her own.

“It’s just hard to know what’s right,” he said.

She could see the weariness in his face and she ached for him.

“And the non-Hynerian provinces have broken away. So it’s just Hynerians killing Hynerians now.  Men, women, children.  It’s just all so…” He ran a hand through his hair before finishing, “…pointless.”   His head bent, he added, “I was really hoping I wouldn’t see another war.”

“I know.” Aeryn leaned over and, turning his head with her hand, she kissed him softly, but thoroughly. “But you’re home now. Rygel will find another way to stop the war. Or he can leave again…”

“Sshhh” He put a finger to her lips.  “Aeryn. I have to go back.”

She shook her head. “Back? You just got here!  Tell Rygel to frel…”

“Aeryn.” His voice cut her off. “It’s okay. I don’t have to go back yet. I’ve got a few weeks before I leave again.”

“But why do you have to go back? You said yourself they won’t listen. What else can you do?”

“They’re going to try one more time to negotiate a treaty. There are signs that even Bishan is getting tired of all the killing.  Rygel thinks he can offer enough concessions that this time they might actually listen. And to hedge his bets he’s bringing an Eidelon in and he wants me to be there. Thinks they're more likely to listen to the puzzle person if I am.” He pulled her into his arms and pressed her head against his chest while he watched the glow of the fire. “God knows I don’t want to go back. I want to be here with you and little D.  But I swear to you, the microt the negotiations are over I’m out of there. Either way.”

Aeryn wiped her wet eyes on his shirt. “You promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”

Silence.

“Tell me the translator microbes got that wrong.”

“Probably not. You, um, had to be there.”

About that time they both lifted their heads as the sound of excited voices grew closer. Aeryn recognized the voice of their son as well as Ebbie’s eldest daughter, Shanella.

“I think we’re about to have company,” she said.   

“God, Aeryn. What if he’s forgotten me already?” 

“Don’t be silly.  Of course he remembers you. Every night it’s ‘tell me a Daddy story, Mommy.’  You don't have to worry.”

“Stay here, Shanney.” They heard D’s voice, and then the pounding of little feet that somehow had the volume of a herd of Narna beasts.

“Mommy, Mommy. Shanella said a ship landed arns ago! From Hyneria!” He flew in the room at a run and skidded to a halt in front of Aeryn. He was so excited that it took him a microt to notice the man at her side. She watched as his face went solemn for a microt and he looked shyly at John.  Then his little face lit up like a sun going nova and he launched himself at John.

“Daddy!”

“There’s my little D!” John had D up and wrapped in a bear hug, looking like he’d never let him go before the words were out of his mouth. “I missed you so much.” John bent down to place a kiss on his head and Aeryn felt the familiar moisture in her eyes again. By the Gods, she loved this man and child. She didn’t know how she could let him go again. But she would. She was stronger than she used to be and if that’s what he needed her to do, then she’d do it. 

“So, little man, are you hungry?” D’Argo wiggled to get free and John sat him down on the floor.

“Yeah!”  His little body quivered with excitement. “But did you get me anything?”

John snorted. “Get you anything? What do you think I’m made of, boy?! Money? Money doesn’t grow on trees you know. Well, not many places.”  This caused D to giggle, knowing that his father always made him work for his presents, but he’d never failed to deliver.

“But first,” John said, “I need food! I’ve worked up quite an appetite getting here.”

At his sly look her way Aeryn felt the heat creep into her face. No. She wasn’t blushing. She never blushed. Ever. It must be the frelling fire.

“You surprised me! I’ve been stocking the larder for two, not three!” she said.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. On the way back here I came up with another great plan.”

Aeryn and D stared at him, and then looked at each other.

“What? My plans aren’t that bad.”  He held up his hands imploringly at Aeryn, who just shook her head. “This plan is gonna knock your socks off.” He went and sat back down on the couch and patted the cushion on either side to invite D’Argo and Aeryn to sit with him.  “Have I ever told you about Thanksgiving? You remember Thanksgiving don’t you?” he said to Aeryn. “Back on Earth?” He put an arm around each of them as they sat down.

She nodded, but D’Argo looked puzzled.

“Well, back home we pick one day and we have this massive feast, with all kinds of great food. Turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy, green beans and cornbread. Mmm, mmm.” He smacked his lips.

“But you know what the best thing was about that day?” Little D shook his head, his eyes never leaving John. “The best part was giving thanks.  Thanks for having all that wonderful food. Thanks for the people you loved who were there with you. And especially thanks for the people you had known and… loved who weren’t there anymore.”  He looked at Aeryn and the memory of their Luxan friend flickered in both their eyes.

John shook his head slightly. “So, we’re going to have Thanksgiving while I’m home. And I’m going to say the biggest thank you of all that I have my two favorite people in the whole universe to share a feast with.”

“John? What are you talking about? We don’t have…”

“Hush, woman. You didn’t think I came unprepared did you? I’ve got some rasinn berries, some fried garba roots, and even some weird noodle dish, I didn’t ask. And for the piece de resistance, on the way home I picked up something that is guaranteed to put Keedva to shame. This is going to be a hundred times better.”

He got up and walked outside. He wasn’t gone long before he came in dragging what looked like an old blanket behind him.

“I thought…” John knelt and started unwrapping the surprise. “…that we could have a barbeque and the man, um, critter, on Darnoth said this was the best he had.”

He flung the last of the cloth off his prize and stood back to let them see.

Aeryn could only gaze, speechless, at the carcass there at his feet. 

They had a couple of weeks he said. She’d just have to make sure that they crammed enough living and loving into those weeks that it would get them both through until he could come home to them for good.

But, in the meantime, what was she going to do with the drannit?



The end