Right behind was Shalt with three juvenile macavities. They all climbed up on the bed and cuddled with Minx. The macavities were loving having a baby in the house which was to be expected. Sil had left to get food the minute the baby showed up. After the way he was always gone, he wanted to make sure he was more attentive while he was there. He didn't know how long he'd be gone for this time.
Sil's POV
On the way to the traveler's center, Sil was wondering if he was doing right by his family. He had been doing everything he could to get stronger to create a safer world for those he loved. Every time he would finally get time to come home, they seemed more and more distant. The time between home visits was also increasing. He loved his family, his wife, more than anything.
Why didn't she want help on the ship, but she was fine with it once she was in pain and she's fine with it now? Did I do something wrong? Is she mad at me for going away so much? Doesn't she know my love for her is the reason I'm fighting? Have I not made that clear enough for her? Am I even good enough for her? Do I deserve her love? Raten is always telling me to grow up and stop acting like a child. What does that even mean? He was right on one thing though. They are my responsibility and another man is taking care of them instead of me. No. A vampire is taking care of them instead of me.
At the traveler's center, Sil expressed his request for food for his family. He looked so down when he got there, both cooks gave him a big hug.
"Care to talk about it while we cook?"
Sil paused for a few minutes, then he spoke very softly, "does she ever talk bad about me?"
Tania snapped her face his direction, "excuse me son? Who exactly would speak ill of you?"
Sil looked at the floor, "Minx…. My wife…"
Tania looked very confused, "she has never said one bad thing about you. She loves and misses you. She tries to hide it, but she has been seen moping around here and there. It's hard having your loved ones away, especially when they are in danger or they can't be reached."
Pinky added in, "some think the reason she pushes herself so hard is because she misses you terribly and it helps her forget that emptiness. We all do the best we can for her. At this point, we cook all her meals and send them to her. People go to her home if they have business for her to help with. Her family is her priority. ALL of her family. Doesn't she still wear your ring?"
Sil nodded, "she didn't want my help out there. We were in danger and I was trying to keep her safe. That's my job as her husband."
Tania looked him in the eyes, "no. Your job is to be her partner, to help her through life. As is hers for you. You work together on things. How much do you contribute to decisions with the household? Your new son?"
"I don't. I always thought of it as her job."
"Are they not yours as well? Did you not help make them?"
"But I'm not here…"
"Is there ever going to be a time when you will be or do you plan for your wife to act mostly single for the rest of her life? That's what an absent husband does to his wife. She married you, not your job."
Sil sighed, "the danger to my family is out there."
Tania nodded, "I understand that. So does she. It doesn't make it easier."
Tania began plating their food. "Do you need help carrying this back?"
Sil shook his head. "I got this. Thank you."
Sil carried all the food back home feeling even worse than when he left to get the food. He set the food for Shalt at his seat at the table. He put a smile on then went into their room. Could he even call it that? How many nights have I even slept in this room?
Minx's POV
Minx saw the look on Sil's face when he returned to her with food. His facial expression did not match what it was when he walked out of there.
"Are you okay, My Love?"
He nodded, "I put Shalt's food on the table. Can I bring Caser and his family in here so we can all eat as a family?"
"Of course you can!" Minx replied.
She heard him walking upstairs then a lot of feet coming down, "there's food for you as well, Fiza."
"Caser and Griddlebone aren't back yet but I brought their babies down," Sil explained.
Fiza smiled, "I'll eat at the table. You guys need family time," and she quickly extracted herself from the room.
Sil brought in a chair and the rest of the food. Minx still held a sleeping baby as she smiled at her beautiful husband. She carefully put little Owen down in the bassinet and went to grab her food to find a fork heading her way.
She stared at it, confused. Her eyes followed the hand to the arm to the shoulder to the face. She opened her mouth, heart breaking a little at the sadness she saw there. She wanted to cry. This distance was killing them.
The kittens jumped on the bed and nuzzled them both, purring. Alice meowed at Sil and flipped her tail scoldingly which made him chuckle. Adam lay on the bed next to the bassinet, squeezing himself between it and Minx. Stephie curled up on the other side of Minx and purred.
Sil resumed feeding her, eating alternatingly, from the same plate. While she chewed, she put the milk catchers back on. She didn't want waste, or worse, to wake in a pool of wetness due to leaking milk. She found this all fascinating.
She wanted to go to the lab and research how her DNA changing affected her child and any they would have in the future. At least she hoped these answers would be in in her mother's lab. Which meant this war needed to end so she could feel confident going without worry of being needed for emergency response.