<snip>

: : The last few steps to her quarters felt like the longest. It seemed as if quicksand was weighing down her progress but finally she had made it to the doors to her quarters and muttered an override for entrance. Panic filled her face when she saw the room in such a mess and she instantly confirmed her fear an intruder broke in. Her eyes finally rested on the lone male figure standing there, holding her only child. Unlike most officers who would have hit their comm badges and called Security, a fire within the polynesian woman as she grabbed a vase off the nearest book shelf and held it above her head. "Let go of my child or else."
: :
:
: He heard the door open and with his back to it said in a whisper. " This is the part where mommy trys to brain me over the head with a really horrible vase that Uncle robinson gave her for christmas last year."
:
: Kai's little eyes widened. " Eh ah?" he asked.
:
: "Yeah doubt that'll cut it little guy...cute but shes in a rage and wont actually notice i havent strangled the life out of you yet despite having ages to do so in if i had wanted."
:
: "Oooh?"
:
: "No no... females need to be dealt with in a firm but slightly sarcastic manner watch a master in action."
:
: To the woman behind him he cleared his throat and said slightly louder. " I dont think OUR child wants me to put him down right now."
: He turned and in a stoic manner said carefully. " But i will if his mommy tells me to again. Hello Kali."
:
: : It finally dawned as her that this was no stranger, this wasn't some transient who broke into her quarters to snatch her son. No, it was her soulmate, the only man she ever truly and deeply loved. And when she finally comprehended that, tears filled her dark brown cherry eyes as she threw the vase down and quickly crossed the room to him. She was careful of the baby as she gave Ryley a tight hug and broke into sobs.
: :
: Ryley watched the vase smash someplace off to his right and had time to blink and with one arm moved Kai so he wouldnt get too crushed. " Out of the way shortie adults need a moment." His leg throbbed slightly under the increase in weight on it but not enough to need to sit just yet.

: : She started to laugh at herself for being so emotional. She had been strong for so many months that it seemed irrational to her to suddenly break down in his presence. Afterall, she was now so full of joy, it was as if her tears of sadness deceived even her. "Alexx...oh Alexx, how I have longed to hold you my 'uhane hoa (soul mate), like this, forever if I can."
: :
:
: He held her and waited for a moment one eye still on the kid. " I know Kali....shhh it's ok. I'm here now."
:
: After a few moment staring at his parents Kai frowned, huffed and started to Lalalalala as loud as he could. The big man with the beard just stared at him and he lost focus and could only quietly blink back untill the man looked away.
:
: : Kaliona closed her eyes and smiled as she felt his crumpled shirt against her skin. She finally pulled away as she stepped back to look at Alexx holding Kai. "Isn't he amazing? Have you ever seen something so beautiful? Oh Alexx, you need a haircut...and possibly a shower."
: :
: : Lt. Mahikoa
:
: When she moved back Ryley brought the child closer to him again and looked down. In truth he was perfect... beautiful and clearly intelligent as his little hand and eyes, now with a confused frown, searched Ryley's face. He drew back as he encountered the texture of Ryley's beard again and his frown deepened. He looked to his mother and said.
:
: "Uuuuf!"
:
: Ryley said over the top of him in a nonchalant manner" He seems great i guess as far as kids go. Havent had a chance to take a tricorder near him or anything but hes so far scoring a 9.6 on the first stages of the Hettinger Steiner IQ test." his eyes told a different story however he looked exceptionally proud and at peace if not stil la bit akward. He would never admit that so istead he said.

The pride in his eyes was enough for her, she knew him well enough not to press him for much more of an answer. It just wasn't his style and thats what she liked about him. He was a rock to her, his emotions hidden within when hers were always wild and outwardly. This was also why she never played poker. "He's already been walking with the furniture as support, but his muscles aren't as quite up with him yet to do it for a long period of time. He's only seven months and just sat up on his own three and a half weeks ago. This one is a real go getter."

: " What you dont like my new look?"
:
: Ryley
: MD

"If I liked that particular hair style, I would have married a man from my heritage. At least their long hair flows." She teased with a smile. "Honestly, I will take you anyway I can. " She brushed Kai's dark hair with her hand, smoothing the down like folicles as Kai turned to look at her again. "Kai, this is Daddy. Promise me you will never listen to him." She laughed.

Kai's face lit up as he saw his mommy laugh. He started to babble once more and flay one arm as the other reached out towards her. She allowed him to grip her index finger as he squealed.

"Are you going to be staying with us long? Or does Star Fleet have another assignment for you elsewhere? And Robinson, has he come too? I would like to get Kai baptised and ask Robinson and Relann to be the godparents. If that is alright with you of course. I know it's an old tradition, but it would make me feel a bit better in case...in case something ever happened to us Kai would be looked after." Kaliona said as she detached her finger from Kai who whimpered for a second and then started to look at Ryley with fascination again.

She walked over to the replicator and got a bottle of milk at the right temperature for Kai. As far as she could tell by the mess in the room, he hadn't had his nap yet, which upset her a little because she would have been off in an hours time regardless and it seemed as though the holonanny wasn't up to par. She brought the bottle back to where Kai was. "Now it's time for this little Ryley to go have a nap or we will have one cranky baby this evening."

Lt. Mahikoa