By Ellen Lindow
One terran year later, spring was nearly over. An Eagle landed in the same clearing. John and Helena exited the Eagle and headed down the familiar path.
"We can't stay long, you know," John reminded her, helping her over a boulder. At six months pregnant her center of gravity wasn't where it should be.
"I know, but we won't be able to come back again until fall, and who knows what the heat will do to the waterfall. It may not look the same."
"Have you enjoyed your vacation?" he asked.
"Yes, immensely, but I wish we didn't have to go back to Alpha so soon."
They encountered their first sight of the valley then. It was just as it had been before, with tiny rainbows playing over rocks and water. John helped her sit on the boulder in mid-stream and sat behind her so she would have something to lean against.
His arms encircled her, hands on either side of her belly. The baby gave two quick bounces against his right hand.
Their roles had reversed. As soon as Helena could feel the child growing within her she seemed to quit worrying about his well being. Along with the extensive tests, her son's movement brought a contented optimism. John had felt reassured by the tests as well, but when Helena had first placed his hand on her belly and he felt the tiny butterfly-soft movements of his son, he had worried about the life the child could expect, his safety, his future, and his health. He became extremely cautious about Helena's well being and worried about the effects of their activities on their son-- everything from lovemaking to travelling aboard an Eagle. Instead of taking their 6 month turn planet-side he had opted for a short working vacation of one month so that Bob Mathias would be able to keep a closer eye on Helena. He wouldn't have come at all if Helena hadn't insisted and Bob concurred that a vacation would do them both good.
Since his hands were placed on her belly, he felt the contraction almost as soon as she did. "Helena, was that-" he began, alarmed. "A contraction," Helena confirmed, altering her breathing to alleviate the strain.
"We've got to get you back to Alpha!" John moved to get up, but she held him tight.
"It's okay, John. It's only a Braxton-Hicks contraction--false labor," she explained. "It's perfectly normal. I've been having them off and on for a couple of days now, and they'll continue through the rest of the pregnancy."
The baby kicked quick and hard against his father's hand, as if to confirm her diagnosis. "You're sure?"
"I am a doctor," she reminded him dryly.
"And I'm a nervous father-to-be, ok?"
"I really am fine," she assured him. "We both are." She patted his hands and relaxed against him again as the contraction passed. Together they listened to the quiet sound of the waterfall and watched the sunlight sparkle across the valley. Helena couldn't remember being happier.
Spring passed, and summer. Fall arrived and the Alphans returned. They revived their facilities and planted the crops they had been planning all summer long. The Alphans had spent their time off Loki mining asteroids and expanding their base. They had also expanded their population.
It had been four terran years since John and Helena had last visited the valley. The Eagle touched down in a clearing that had changed little. This time sturdy four-year-old Alex who marched along quite independently, clambering happily over boulders and peering fearlessly over the drop-offs accompanied them. He had his mother's white-blond hair and high cheekbones and his father's deep blue eyes and full lips. He delighted in the new surroundings and wanted to explore everything.
Eighteen-month-old Emma was more than content to ride on her father's arm, her arm draped regally around his neck. Her wide green eyes peered out from under a mop of jet-black curly hair, taking in the sights with solemn awe. With his other hand John steadied Helena, her round belly announcing the imminent advent of their third child. Helena smiled broadly when they came in sight of the valley. It was as beautiful as it had been when they had first seen it. Emma held out her hand, reaching out for the rainbows. Alex walked fearlessly into the water, reaching out a chubby hand to try to touch his rainbows. John put Emma down and she joined her brother trying to catch the sparkling lights and laughing with delight.
The day was spent picnicking, wading and climbing rocks. The children's laughter rose above the chatter of the river. Emma worked hard trying to capture the tiny rainbows and solemnly handing them to her father, who accepted all gifts with a delighted grin.
The family packed up as the sun began to set Helena as tired as the children, but the valley had been beautiful and the trip an energizing experience once again.
The following spring the Koenig family found the time to camp near the valley. The morning of the third day of their visit Helena and John were packing a picnic lunch for their brood while Alex and Richard made last minute adjustments on a model sailboat they planned to launch that morning. Eight-year-old Alex was carefully using the pocketknife he had recently been allowed to carry to pare down one last rough spot on the plastic body of the little vessel. His four-year-old brother Richard crouched close, watching with great seriousness. Emma was perched on a nearby rock, her own boat waiting nearby. She was drawing a picture of their Eagle on the small computer-slate that David Kano had designed for Alpha's children. Small as a laptop, it was notebook, drawing tablet, computer interface, entertainment center and communications device in one package.
Emma heard the approach of the other Eagle first. It appeared over the ridge and neatly touched down close to the first Eagle. The landing was so smooth that no one was surprised to see Alan Carter step out of the Eagle. The three children gave their favorite uncle a boisterous greeting, all talking at once. Carter had no children of his own, but was the favored babysitter and playmate for the Koenig children. Once the initial pandemonium died down, John was able to ask the reason for his presence.
"The new mining base at Ceres Two is ready to begin operations. We only need your word to get things started."
"But that's weeks ahead of schedule," John exclaimed. "I though I would be back on Alpha."
"Nearly a month early," Carter confirmed. "I did a final walk through with Osgood yesterday."
"You're satisfied that everything is ready?"
"Completely."
John clapped him on the shoulder. "Then I'm satisfied. I'll send off a message to Pat right away authorizing it and I'll take a look once we get back to Alpha."
Carter nodded and John headed aboard the Eagle to call Alpha. The small base on the asteroid would be a permanent mining platform and home to twenty Alphans and their children. It was a small, but substantial first step towards expansion.
Helena continued putting food in the hamper. "You could have called us, you know."
Emma was showing Carter the picture she had drawn of the Eagle. He picked her up and admired the drawing. "Well," he answered Emma's mother. "I could have, but I was hoping I might be invited on a picnic if I dropped by."
"You can come with us, Uncle Alan," Emma spoke up quickly. "Can't he, Mama?"
"Of course he can," Helena smiled at her daughter and her old friend. "Consider yourself invited."
"Thank you," he grinned.
Emma insisted that he inspect her boat and Alan kept the children entertained until John was ready to go. The three adults had every bit as much fun as the children did sailing the toy boats.
As the sun set they returned to camp and sat at the camp table with a pot of coffee and the picnic leftovers. The boys ate quickly and pulled out their computer-slates, both involved in a game. Emma crawled into Alan's lap and leaned her head against his shoulder. She dozed as the adults talked. Carter was catching the Koenig's up on the latest gossip, including a recent budding romance between an unlikely pair.
Emma stirred against his shoulder. "Why aren't you married, Uncle Alan?"
John grinned at his daughter and put his arm around his wife, "Yes, Uncle Alan, why aren't you?"
Carter reacted well to the teasing. He had been romantically linked to several lovely young women on Alpha, but it never lasted. "Well, sweetheart, I guess I just haven't found the right girl to settle down with."
Emma nodded seriously. She sat up and looked him in the eye. "I'll marry you, Uncle Alan."
Her parents laughed, but Carter was careful not to hurt the child's feelings. "That's the best proposal I've ever had," he answered in a tone as serious as her own. "But I think your dad would be happier if you wait until you're at least eighteen to get married."
Her father agreed. "That's true. And right now, it's time for you to get some sleep." He stood up and lifted her off of Alan's lap. "Say goodnight to your fiancé."
Emma waved and laid her head on her father's shoulder, her black curls escaping the headband that pulled them back from her face. John herded Alex and Richard ahead of him, both protesting that their game wasn't over. Richard, the family redhead, was yawning when he stopped to kiss his mother goodnight. He handed her the slate, asking her to save his place in the game. Helena collected the slate and a kiss from the eldest child too.