fandomania | The Adventure continues... (Reply)

I was ransacking the house for any sheets, tablecloths, or bedding that I could turn into swaddling cloths for the journey. Traveling with a newborn was going to be a challenge at best. I wasn't going to be able to wash and reuse any cloth because there would be no way to dry them properly. So I was going to have to have enough to use and discard that would last long enough until we got to a town where I could buy more. Babies use up a whole lot of cloth and boys were especially problematic in that regard.

Donal was off somewhere. I had been hearing the sounds of a saw and a hammer, but I wasn't sure what he was making. He hadn't told me anything.

I was totally engrossed in my project and missed the sound of his footsteps approaching.

"I have made something for little Jayzon. It is a portable cradle, so that he will have a proper bed when we have to camp outside. Let me show you how it works." Donal took out what looked like a few wooden boards and unfolded them. Within a minute, he had set up a simple rectangular box cradle with rockers. "It is very sturdy. It would be much better for the baby than sleeping on the cold, hard ground. And it folds down easily, so that I can carry it in my backpack."

I didn't know what to say. It was so beautiful and thoughtful. "Oh, Donal. It is perfect. You are so good us. Thank you."

"Patra, look me straight in my eyes, so that you will know that I am sincere." I complied. "I am only going to say this once and won't distress you about this again. I love you. I will always love you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me my entire life. I will always be there for you when you need me. I know now that you are not free. But I will wait for you until you are, even if it takes a hundred years. I. Will. Wait. For. You." He bent down and kissed me, with a kiss so passionate, so soul-shattering, earth-shakingly passionate, that it left me stunned, aroused and breathless all at the same time. He then let me go, turned around and walked out of the room. It took all of my energy to keep standing upright and not fall into a heap on the floor.

Our eggs:

An hour later, we were all outside, getting ready to leave. The children were sullen and resentful. "But I like it here. I don't want to go...""I don't like traveling, Mommy, why do we have to leave?" and "I am NOT going. You can't make me leave!" were some of the things that I was hearing from them. The hatchlings were not much better.

"I am sorry, but we have to go. We can't stay here any longer. I know that the journey is hard, but we have to get to Rawn-Devu."

"But whyyyyyy...?"

"Because I say so, that is why."

"But Mommy...!!!"

"Children!" Donal exclaimed. "Orlando, your mother and I are leaving. You can stay if you like. But who will make you dinner when you are hungry? Who will tuck you in at night and tell you bedtime stories? Who will give you love and hugs and kiss your boo-boos when you skin your knees? Huh? Who?"

The children reflected on what he said and stopped their whining.

Everyone put on their backpacks, ready to leave. I struggled with mine, while trying to hold on to Jayzon. Donal quickly came to my aid. He took my backpack and removed a swaddling cloth from inside it. He then started wrapping it around me and created a sling for me to carry the baby without having him in my arms. Donal then rifled through my pack and removed a lot of things and added them to his pack. When I protested, he said, "You already have enough of a burden. Let me do this." Acquiescent, I found it much easier to put on the much lighter backpack.

Cutting through fields and avoiding the main highway, we continued on our journey.