Selma's Note: Like Shipbound 1, this was basically an advice session.

Shibpbound 2
by Selma McCrory and Deb Cebulski
Copyright 2000

Ra'das stops before a certain door, knowing that the occupant is most likely in. Remembering human manners, he knocks on the door.

Moira Ni Suilleabhain Beckett opens the door. Her eyes sparkle, and her mouth turns up in a smile. "Why, Ra'das! I wasn't expecting you quite so soon. Come in."

Moira shuffles into the room, Ra'das closely following. She settles into an overstuffed chair, and motions Ra'das to take a seat in the matching chair across from her.

He takes the chair, aware that there is some human ritual he should follow. "I have come to ask you some advice."

Moira's eyes narrow slightly. "Well, now. There's something I never expected to hear from you, dear." She sighs. "I expect the advice concerns my great-granddaughter?"

"Both of my mates, actually. Alex brought it to our attention that the three of us needed to work on communicating better. I, myself, want to correct my errors that I have made."

Moira grins. "I think my Mari and her Alex have had quite an effect on you, dear. I don't think you'd have had a second thought about your actions before meeting them." She leaned forward. "The fact that you've admitted your mistakes is the first step to solving them. You can't solve a problem if you don't know what it is." Moira settled back into her chair. "Have you discussed your views with Mari and Alex?"

"We have clarified some of the problems we've been having with each other. I just do not know how to bring up my goals without upsetting them. Or ast least Marianne. I seem to get along well with Alex, most of the time."

Moira's eyes go distant for a moment. "Hmmm. Son, you have to start somewhere--why not share your feelings with Alex? See how he feels, and then the two of you can sit down with Marianne."

"Because the most hurtful issue to them is related to what I want to talk to them about," Ra'das says, struggling to explain the mess in such a way that yet another human wouldn't condemn him for something perfectly within his rights.

Moira shakes her head. "Ah, you poor dear. You've been hiding something, and it sounds like it's going to come round and bite you if you don't do something soon. Well, it's a good thing you've realised it now. What's the issue you're so afraid to discuss with them?"

Ra'das wracks his brain trying to explain things without exciting controversy. "Children," he said, figuring that was explanation enough.

Moira's eyes unfocus for a moment, and she slumps back into her chair. Ra'das leans forward to see if the elderly woman is all right, but as he does so Moira's head snapped forward. "Ra'das! You didn't try to force Mari, did you?"

"How could I? She is pregnant with Alex's child. It is further children I wish to discuss. Traditionally, it is the Kimera parent who controls the amount and timing of children, but both of them seem to have a problem with that."

Moira shakes her head and laughs. "Son, it may be a Kimera tradition, but these two are human." Ra'das opens his mouth to object, but Moira silences him with a glance. "I know that you consider Mari to be Kimera. Biologically she is Kimera, but culturally, she's human, and you are going to have to deal with her as a human." Moira's eyes transfix Ra'das'. "Son, if you don't take their feelings into consideration, you're going to lose both of them. I don't think you want that."

"I know. But it has become an uncomfortable issue for them because I did some things before I learned this. I wish not to press them, but they must think of future children, now that we are all three together."

Ra'das speaks awkwardly, not knowing quite how to explain things to the human woman in a way that would make sense to her. "I long for a child with all our blood."

Moira unexpectedly smiles. "I know you do. When you love someone, that's generally the way things happen. Liam shared some of his memories with me, including the one of his conception. The overwhelming emotion I got from Ha'gel was the absolute physical need to reproduce, to continue the species. I've seen this in Liam as well--that's how Marianne came into the world. Rosemary eventually learned to adapt to Liam's Kimera need to reproduce, but it took many years. I love my grandchildren, but I've got to be honest with you, Ra'das--Mari may never be capable of that kind of adjustment in her thinking. You have a decision to make, son. Can you stay with them, even if they determine how often you reproduce?"

Ra'das makes a sighing gesture with his hands. "I must. I have no other choice. I cannot conceive of having children without them."

Moira's voice is filled with pity. She wishes with all her heart that she could touch Ra'das, to offer him a physical gesture of comfort--to pat his hand, to offer a sympathetic hug--but how do you comfort an energy-based lifeform? She wishes she were better with words, because words are all she could offer Ra'das.

"My poor son."

Moira leans forward. "If you love the two of them that much, then tell them! Tell them how much you care, and find out how they feel. If the three of you work together, you can make this relationship work. You can't take the burden entirely upon yourself. If you try, you're going to weaken the relationship you have with them--and you may lose them."

Moira pauses. "Actually, if you don't involve them on this, you will lose them."

She lifts a cup of tea to her lips. "What are you still doing here, Ra'das? Go! Talk to them!"

"And let me know how it works out, won't you, dear?"

"I will," he says, and leaves, leaving Moira with her tea.