Nikhil(62)

"True, but maybe these Kaliszians will be."

"Seriously? They carry swords, Jen, and it looks like they rely on brute strength. We haven't been like that since the middle ages."

"True, but I can't say automatic weapons and nuclear bombs are that much better. At least theirs seem to take some strength and skill to use. While all ours require is some idiot willing to either pull a trigger or push a button."

"That's true too." Paul looked up and smiled as Eric moved to sit on the other side of her.

"Hey, beautiful, how you holding up?" Eric asked.

"Eric..." Jen felt her eyes fill again. She knew she was no longer beautiful, especially not on the side where Eric was sitting.

"Shhh. You will always be beautiful to me. To us. Now," Eric put his arm around her thin shoulders, pulling her close and her head shifted to his shoulder. "Rest."

Knowing arguing would do no good, Jen settled deeper into Eric's embrace and felt Paul move in closer, putting his arm around her as he gripped Eric's waist. Knowing she was safe in their embrace, she let sleep claim her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Mac rolled onto her back, stretching her arms up over her head and yawned. God, she felt good. The sound of water shutting off had her eyes opening and her head turning to see Nikhil walking out of the cleansing room. A towel was wrapped low around his hips while he used another one to remove the moisture from his hair. His hands stilled seeing her watching him and he was immediately moving to the bed.

"You're awake," he said moving to sit down next to her.

"I am."

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel good. Really good." Reaching up, she cupped his cheek. "I suppose I should get up so we can go to last meal." She frowned at the strange look Nikhil gave her. "Nikhil? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Mackenzie. It is just that it is morning."

"Morning? I slept through the night?"

"Yes. I thought to wake you for last meal, but Luol said if you were hungry you would wake on your own."

"You contacted Luol?"

"Yes. I was concerned. I..." He looked away.

"It's alright, Nikhil." She pulled his face back to her. "He's right. I've eaten so much in the last few days that all I needed was sleep. But what about you? Tell me you didn't skip last meal."

"You think I would leave you unprotected? That because of my size, food would be more important to me than you!??"

"Nikhil?" Mac flinched back, her eyes widening at the venom in his voice. "That's not what I was implying. I just... I don't want you to do without because of me."

Nikhil forced himself to relax the fists he hadn't realized he'd clenched. Where had that come from? It had been years since he'd let what someone else thought about his size bother him, but this wasn't someone else. This was his Mackenzie.

"I'm sorry, Mackenzie, I shouldn't have spoken to you like that." When he would have risen from the bed, her hand on his arm stopped him.

"I take it that's a sensitive subject for you." Sitting up, she caught the sheet, keeping it from falling and held it across her chest.

"Yes... growing up it was. I am sorry, Mackenzie, I should not have reacted like that."

"You were bullied." Mac couldn't believe anyone would be brave enough to do something like that to Nikhil. It just went to show that anyone could be bullied.

"I do not know this word, but when I was a great deal younger, others would comment that I must be receiving more than my fair share of the food stores to reach such a size." He felt his face flushing at the remembered taunts. "It was an untruth," he growled.

"Of course, it was an untruth," she immediately agreed.

Reaching out, he touched the bead she wore, and was humbled by the absolute belief she had in him, but he still found himself asking. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know you, Nikhil. I don't need you to wear my bead, to have to touch it, to know you would never do such a thing." Her fingers tightened on his arm. "It must have hurt to have others think something like that about you."

"It was long ago," he said quietly.

"But it still affects you, just like my mother's abandonment still affects me."

"How does it affect you, my Mackenzie?" He reached out to run a gentle finger along the curve of her breast that was pressing up because of the way she held the sheet. "When I see you, all I see is a strong, confident female."

"Who deep inside always fears that everyone she loves will leave her and never return."

Nikhil just stared at his Mackenzie. He wanted to vow to her that he would always return to her, but he knew he couldn't. He was an Elite Warrior. A Squad Leader. What he did was dangerous and he would never lie to her, so he gave her what he could.