RITA2’s delicate eyebrow rose and a mischievous smile curved her lips. “You bet your server I do,” she growled. “Make it late, Merrick. I might need more time.”
Merrick and Addie watched in a combination of astonishment and amazement as the two figures dissolved. Merrick turned to look back down at Addie’s glowing face. Late afternoon would work for him as well.
Epilogue
Two months later:
Merrick stood looking out the window. He had been traveling back and forth to Earth over the past two months. He had made a promise to Addie and he had kept it. It had taken that amount of time to get everything approved and set up for her parents to come to Baade. Today was the big day. Addie would be coming out of surgery in the few minutes.
He glanced at the older couple sitting at the table in the corner. They had agreed that for now, they would be the only ones to know about him and Addie. His thoughts flew back to the day two months ago when he and Addie had slipped through the Gateway into the living room of Robert and Helen Banks’ home. It had helped that Avery had agreed to be there before they arrived to apprise them of what to expect.
Both of them had still been stunned when they walked through the Gateway. Well, stunned might be a little mild. Shaken, certainly, shocked, undoubtedly, terrified… positively. But, they had listened to them. He remembered talking to Robert alone later that evening while Addie, Avery, and Helen sat outside on the deck.
“Is she safe on your world?” Robert had asked, nervously twisting the glass of whiskey he held between his hands.
“Yes,” Merrick replied. “I would protect Addie with my life.”
“You know about her… hearing loss,” Robert continued with a deep sigh. “Helen has always felt guilty about Addie losing her hearing. She hadn’t realized just how sick Addie was. She thought it was just a bad cold.”
“Addie does not blame anyone for her hearing loss,” Merrick replied in a low voice. “I want you to know that there is a chance that Addie’s hearing can be restored. Our medical technology is more advanced than yours, but there is still a chance that it will not work.”
“What does Addie say?” Robert asked.
“She is excited,” Merrick said, deciding it was probably best not to tell the man that he could talk to his daughter without the need to say anything out loud. “I would like for you and your mate to be there when Addie has the procedure done. I know she misses you, but she wanted to prove that she could be independent.”
“We miss her, too,” Helen’s soft voice had said from the doorway of the kitchen. “I’m afraid I became overprotective after… after her illness. I would like to be there when she has the surgery, if you are sure she won’t be upset.”
Merrick shook his head. “She would be honored to have you there, just as I would,” he said, rising out of his seat. “We would like to visit again, if you don’t mind. I think Addie would enjoy it.”
The first visit had gone better than either one of them had expected. Helen had finally broken down and talked to Addie about her feelings of guilt at not taking her to the doctor sooner. Addie admitted that while being deaf was difficult, she had also learned a great deal about herself and discovered that she was much stronger than she realized.
After several visits, Addie decided to tell her parents about the surgery. She had been afraid if it didn’t work, they would be disappointed and feel guilty again. It had taken some gentle persuasion from Merrick to convince her that they would support her either way.
“I hope the surgery works,” she said late one night after they returned from another brief visit. “I told my mom about it tonight. She wants to be here.”
“If you wish for them to be here, I will make sure they are,” he promised. “They love you very much. They will support you whatever happens.”
She had sighed again before nodding. “You’re right,” she agreed. “I love you, Merrick. Thank you for supporting me.”
Merrick bowed his head, remembering how nervous she had been when the healer took her back for the surgery two hours earlier. He turned when the door opened. The healer, followed by RITA2, stepped into the room. The pleased smiles on their faces was encouraging.
“She is in recovery,” the healer said. “The surgery went well. The crystal regeneration and rebuilding of the hair cells needed for hearing were successful. I must caution though, her left ear was in worse condition so she may still have a minor hearing loss in that ear.”
“When can we see her?” Merrick asked.
“You can go in now,” the healer said. “We sedated her so that she would not move during the surgery, more for her own comfort than a necessity.”
Merrick nodded, standing to the side as Robert and Helen asked numerous questions. He didn’t care about any except the fact that Addie would be awake soon. At least, he didn’t think he cared about anything until he heard RITA2 congratulating Helen and Robert.
“Congratulations?” Merrick repeated. “Congratulations for what?”
RITA2’s laughter filled the area. “You are going to be the father of twin girls,” RITA2 replied. “Prime males are extremely potent. There is a chemical in their bites that is released during mating that has a huge effect on human females causing them to have twins. Not only that, just about all the babies born are female. The Prime males love it!”
“Twins…,” Merrick said, swaying as what RITA2 was saying sunk in. “Does… Does Addie know?”
“Not yet,” RITA2 said mischievously before she began to fade. “The scans indicate she is almost a month along.”
Merrick nodded, a grin lighting his face as he remembered her complaining just this morning of being sick at her stomach. They both thought it was because of her being nervous about the surgery. Now, he realized the nausea might have been caused by an entirely different reason.
He followed behind the healer, Robert, and Helen as they walked down the corridor in the medical unit. Turning the corner, he recognized the room they were entering as the one he had occupied a few short months ago. He stood behind them as Addie turned her head to look at her parents.
“Addie,” Helen said, smiling hopefully as she stepped into the room.
“What…?” Addie whispered, shock flickering across her face as she stared back and forth between her parents, the healer, and Merrick. “Mom,” Addie said hoarsely, raising her hand up to her. “Mom, it’s okay….”
“Oh, Addie,” Helen said in a voice thick with tears. “I thought… I hoped… It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you are happy and that you and the….”
“Helen, let Merrick sit with Addie,” Robert interrupted, pulling her away from the side of the bed.
“Oh, Robert,” Helen whispered. “I really hoped it would work.”
Merrick stepped around the healer, Robert and Helen and sank down on the bed next to Addie. Brushing her hair back from her forehead, disappointment for her fought with the overwhelming happiness. It wasn’t a very difficult battle. His joy over her expecting their babies was too much to be shadowed.
I love you, Addie, Merrick said in a voice filled with tenderness. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we are together with the babies.
Babies?! What babies? Addie asked in confusion.
Ours, Merrick replied, lifting her hand to his lips. RITA2 says that you are almost a month along with twin girls. We are going to be parents.
He watched as Addie’s face softened with love and amazement. Gripping his fingers, she pulled his hand down over her stomach. A mischievous grin lit her eyes.
“I love you,” Addie whispered, staring up into his eyes. “Mom, Dad...”
“Yes, sweetheart,” Helen said, turning to look back as Merrick helped her to sit up.
“I can hear you,” Addie whispered, her eyes glowing as she stared up at Merrick. “Have I told you how much I love the sound of all of your voices?”
Shock and joy flashed across Merrick’s face as he pulled her into his arms. Addie bu
ried her face in his neck, uncaring that she was crying. She could hear the laughter and choked sobs coming from her and her mother. But the greatest thing was she could hear Merrick’s rich, smooth voice telling her over and over how much he loved her.
“I love you, Merrick,” she sniffed, wiping at her tears as she looked up at him.
“I love you more, Addie,” Merrick said, brushing a kiss across her damp cheeks. But, I still plan on thinking too much.
A rosy blush swept across her cheeks as some of the things he was thinking formed in her mind. The healer, seeing Merrick’s glance, chuckled as he ushered Helen and Robert out of the room and instructed RITA2 to lock the door. Some things were best said in private.
To Be continued…. Core’s Attack
Characters’ Relationships:
Teriff, Prime Leader of Baade - mated to Tresa: four sons, J’kar, Borj, Mak, and Derik and one daughter, Terra
Angus and Tilly Bell, humans – married: three daughters, Hannah, Tansy and Tink
Warriors of Baade:
J’kar ‘Tag Krell Manok mated to Jasmine ‘Tinker’ Bell: twin daughters, Wendy and Tessa
Borj ‘Tag Krell Manok mated to Hannah Bell: twin boy & girl, Sky and Ocean
Mak ‘Tag Krell Manok mated to Tansy Bell: twin daughters, Sonya and Mackenzie
Terra ‘Tag Krell Manok mated to Cosmos Raines
Derik ‘Tag Krell Manok mated to Amelia Thomas aka Runt
Members of Cosmos’ security team:
Garrett Avery
Trudy Rose
Rico Maria
Prime Warriors of Bade:
Merrick, Eastern Clan Leader, mated to Addie Banks
Core mated to Avery
Lan mated to Natasha
Brock mated to Helene
Lal mated to Ava Raines
Gant, Western Plains Clan Leader
Brawn, Desert Clan Leader
Bullet, Southern Clan Leader, mated to Maria
Hendrik, Northern Clan Leader – Trudy Wilson
RITA (Earth) zapped by FRED
RITA2 (Baade) zapped by DAR
If you loved this story by me (S. E. Smith) please leave a review. You can also take a look at additional books and sign up for my newsletter at http://sesmithfl.com to hear about my latest releases or keep in touch using the following links:
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Additional Books by S. E. Smith
Paranormal and Science Fiction short stories and novellas
For the Love of Tia (Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 4.1)
A Dragonlings’ Easter (Dragonlings of Valdier Book 1.1)
A Dragonlings’ Haunted Halloween (Dragonlings of Valdier Book 1.2)
A Warrior’s Heart (Marastin Dow Warriors Book 1.1)
Rescuing Mattie (Lords of Kassis: Book 3.1)
Science Fiction/Paranormal Novels
Cosmos’ Gateway Series
Tink’s Neverland (Cosmo’s Gateway: Book 1)
Hannah’s Warrior (Cosmos’ Gateway: Book 2)
Tansy’s Titan (Cosmos’ Gateway: Book 3)
Cosmos’ Promise (Cosmos’ Gateway: Book 4)
Curizan Warrior
Ha’ven’s Song (Curizan Warrior: Book 1)
Dragon Lords of Valdier
Abducting Abby (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 1)
Capturing Cara (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 2)
Tracking Trisha (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 3)
Ambushing Ariel (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 4)
Cornering Carmen (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 5)
Paul’s Pursuit (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 6)
Twin Dragons (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 7)
Lords of Kassis Series
River’s Run (Lords of Kassis: Book 1)
Star’s Storm (Lords of Kassis: Book 2)
Jo’s Journey (Lords of Kassis: Book 3)
Magic, New Mexico Series
Touch of Frost (Magic, New Mexico Book 1)
Taking on Tory (Magic, New Mexico Book 2)
Sarafin Warriors
Choosing Riley (Sarafin Warriors: Book 1)
The Alliance Series
Hunter’s Claim (The Alliance: Book 1)
Razor’s Traitorous Heart (The Alliance: Book 2)
Zion Warriors Series
Gracie’s Touch (Zion Warriors: Book 1)
Krac’s Firebrand (Zion Warriors: Book 2)
Paranormal and Time Travel Novels
Spirit Pass Series
Indiana Wild (Spirit Pass: Book 1)
Spirit Warrior (Spirit Pass Book 2)
Heaven Sent Series
Lily’s Cowboys (Heaven Sent: Book 1)
Touching Rune (Heaven Sent: Book 2)
Excerpts of S. E. Smith Books
If you would like to read more S. E. Smith stories, she recommends Abducting Abby, the first in her Dragon Lords of Valdier Series
Or if you prefer a Paranormal or Time Travel with a twist, you can check out Lily’s Cowboys or Indiana Wild…
About S. E. Smith
S. E. Smith is a New York Times, USA TODAY and #1 International Amazon Bestselling author who has always been a romantic and a dreamer. An avid writer, she has spent years writing, although it has usually been technical papers for college. Now, she spends her days and weekends writing and her nights dreaming up new stories. An affirmed “geek,” she spends her days working on computers and other peripherals. She enjoys camping and traveling when she is not out on a date with her favorite romantic guy.
S. E. Smith, Merrick's Maiden
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