Page 77 of Warrior
“Everyone is excited to meet their new family,” Ewok offered, trying to stave off the inevitable.
"Your kida and her friend Emmy worked very hard to ensure the younglings found the best possible home," Daicon told him, settling his large frame on the edge of the tabletop."I don't scrutinize potential warriors as stringently as they did potential families."
Ewok gave another jerky nod and meandered to the window. If he kept looking at his kida, he feared his eyes would do that leaking thing that signaled sadness. He didn't think Kerzak would do that, but he was so sad he didn't want to take the chance.
“I guess you’ve realized by now we didn't find you a family on Tau Ceti." His kida's voice didn't hold the sadness he would have expected to accompany the news.
Ewok steeled himself with as much courage as he could muster. "I know it is because I am Kerzak. No one wants me because they'll think I'll be mean like others of my kind."
Daisy practically ran to his side, her hands landing on his shoulders. "No, Ewok honey, that's not it at all. We didn't give anyone on Tau Ceti the opportunity to adopt you because …" She glanced at the big warrior, and the two of them shared a smile. "We want you to stay here with us.”
“Really?" Ewok blinked, unsure his ears worked correctly as his gaze bounced between them. ,"You want me to stay on the Bardaga?"
“Really,” Daicon agreed, abandoning the pastries to stride to Daisy’s side.
Ewok would not let this opportunity go to waste. He rushed to the big table and began straightening the trays and dishes. How in the stars had Daicon eaten so much in so few minutes? It didn't matter. The warrior could eat as much as he wanted, and Ewok would gladly clean whatever mess that entailed.
"I'll work really hard," he promised, hands sweeping away a pile of crumbs. "If Bartuk doesn't want me as an apprentice, perhaps Orzon will. I like helping in the kitchen... like I helped you, kida. I'll cook and clean and be so much help to you…."
"No, Sweetie."
Daisy watched him, her eyes shimmered with wetness, on the verge of doing that leaking thing. Ewok knew that meant she felt sad.
"Come here, Ewok." Daicon gestured.
Ewok shuffled his steps, moving as slowly as possible. His heart sank when he reached their side and felt the consoling touch of Daicon's hand on his shoulder.
Daisy's soft fingers made furrows in the fur next to his cheek. "Ewok, we don't want you to serve us or be anyone's apprentice. We just want you."
It wasn’t what he expected at all.
“I don’t understand?”
Daisy and Daicon shared a glance, and a single drop of water snaked down his kida's cheek.
“We want you to belong with us… as a part of our family.”
Ewok gawked at them, twitching the ear his translator lay near to ensure it functioned properly.
The hand on his shoulder squeezed tight. When the warrior spoke, his voice was thick and husky. "As our son."
“Really?” Ewok blinked up at them, that awful worry that threatened to crush his heart disappearing with a pouf.
"Really." Daisy ruffled the hair on the top of his head. "We love you, Ewok."
Happiness bubbled in his body with such force it flew out of him in an excitedwhoopas he danced about the room. His kida stood with the warrior's arm around her shoulders, laughing as wetness streaked her cheeks. So, tears weren't only for sadness but also great happiness. Ewok flung himself toward them, caught in a tight embrace.
He wasn't sure he understood the human concept of love. Still, it was the only word he thought might fit the unbelievablejoy and sense of belonging coursing through him as he gazed into their smiling faces.
"I love you too, kida." His dark eyes bounced from Daisy to Daicon as he added, "Kidara.”
As the word forfatherescaped his lips, the warrior coughed, blinking furiously before his arms tightened, sandwiching Ewok between them… between his parents.
He cuddled close, basking in the bliss of being held with such affection. His cheek pressed near Daisy's stomach while Daicon stood at his side, the warrior’s strong muscular arms surrounding them both. His kida and kidara… his family. The faint, happy thumping of Daisy's heartbeat against his ear only increased his joy. Ewok snuggled closer, realizing with curiosity that the beat underneath his cheek wasn't his kida's heartbeat. That rhythmic sound was louder, stronger, and in perfect rhythm with his kidara’s heart.
This was something else beating low in her stomach. Ewok pressed closer, the smile on his face growing to the point of aching. Thebop, bop, bopwas faint but steady and strong… healthy. The only thing Ewok couldn't tell from the sound was whether it was a boy or a girl.
He had his kida and kidara and now a baby brother or sister.
