Roger powered down Big O and opened the cockpit. He stood, looking up at him, smiling.
"Thank you my friend… for helping me protect what matters most."
Roger then held up his right arm in solidarity to Big O. Big O flashed his eyes at him and Roger nodded his head.
"DADDY! DADDDY!"
Roger turned around to see his family on the catwalk running, trying to meet him. Roger pointed his comm link at a nearby rafter and grappled down to the catwalk, squatting down as all three of his kids tackled him to the ground. Norman chuckled, holding Daniel, while Dorothy patiently waited her turn. His sons asking for all the details that happened, Roger wiping the tears away from Rose's eyes, kissing her on the forehead, telling her it was going to be alright. When Roger managed to get the kids to calm down, he stood up, looking at the one person he wanted to embrace the most. But before he could have a chance, Dorothy ran to Roger, jumping in his arms, and kissed him passionately on the lips. Roger was first surprised, but responded with equal fervor, closing his eyes.
"EWWWW! Gross Dad!" his sons yelled. Rose said nothing, giggling instead at her parents' embrace.
Roger pulled away slightly, nuzzling Dorothy's head.
"Thank you for everything, Dora Girl," he whispered. He opened his eyes, smiling at her.
"Always," she whispered, kissing him once more.
Roger took Daniel from Norman.
"I'm starving! Let's get some breakfast!"
The kids cheered and they all began walking to the control room. Beck observed the chaos from a distance as Yumi handed him Marcus. He shook his head, smirking.
"What's so funny?" asked Yumi, laughing.
"That stupid moron," Beck said, grinning, walking with Yumi, shaking her head, and his son back to control room for a debrief.
*********
Beck and I briefed the council of what happened during the fight, after breakfast. Of course, now with the threat gone, we were able to fix the bridge. The SCA and the Paradigm Electric Research Group went out in undersea submersibles to see if we could find a nest that Beck and I may have missed. The trip would end up being a waste though as autopsy of the female serpent found she hadn't laid her eggs yet.
I asked Big Ear if it was possible that something larger than the serpents could exist in the ocean, and even he didn't have answer for that. Everyone in the SCA and in the Military Police went on full alert, figuring a mad scientist had created the monsters. But it turns out, it was natural when the bodies were examined, what was left anyway. Big Ear said that probably because the world is not as populated as it once was, nature had found a way to flourish. I added it to one more mystery that the SCA needed to figure out. Though, if they decided to build the nest in the harbor because of something bigger was out there… I rather not go looking for that kind of trouble just yet and just leave it well alone.
But the following weekend, I got another kind of trouble I didn't bargain for.
Roger was standing under the tree overlooking the cliff. It was night and everyone was asleep, except for him. Only a week had passed since the giant serpents' appearance. However, it was the council's meeting that was weighing heavy on his mind from earlier in the day.
The council had once again asked him to lead an expedition into the Wastes. Roger had denied their request once again, stating his role was a protector of the city, not an explorer of the world. And yet… he felt restless. He wanted to go explore the world, that he couldn't deny. That was part of the reason why he founded the organization. But the thought of leaving Dorothy alone with the kids and Norman…
I can't do that to her. But every time they ask me to go… I have to wrestle with myself… no… damnnit!
The world had changed so much in the past four years after the fight with Big Gamma. Was it wrong of him to wonder about the world around him?
"Now there's a face I haven't seen in a long time…"
Dorothy was in her night gown, the wind rippling through it. Her hair was down, framing her face, blowing in the wind. Roger felt himself choke on his breath at the sight of her.
"Hello… Dorothy. You're not missing much. Just me with my inner monologuing."
"Well, that's dangerous."
Roger smirked. "I know, right?"
Roger leaned against the tree, staring out at the beyond. Dorothy now joined him, standing next to him, holding his hand.
"This is about the council's meeting today, isn't it?"
"You know me too well. It is. You think by now they would stop asking."
"And they don't, because you're one of the founding members of the SCA. You said our primary goal was to connect with humanity and protect it. They feel you're the champion of that cause."
"What do you think?"
"What I think on the matter is irrelevant. However, I haven't seen you like this in a long time. And that, is what worries me. Talk to me."
Roger looked at Dorothy.
"It's kind've a long talk."
"We have time. Come, let's sit by the tree."
Roger didn't argue and sat down on the ground, with Dorothy sitting in between his legs as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I feel like the council's baiting me. I want to go explore and see the world, but… I don't want to leave you here, alone, and with the kids. I also don't want to leave. It would be nice to go see the world, but… I dunno…"
"In other words, it would be good to visit, then you would want to come home?"
"Yes… that's literally it. But… I only wrestle with this when the council asks me. Other than that, I'm quite happy."
"Roger, humans are naturally curious beings. Our only con in this innocent nature is that sometimes, we don't know when to stop. Case in point, my father."
"So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying to try to quell something that's natural is a lost cause, but to overindulge is not good either. And, you're The Negotiator. Are you telling me you haven't been able to find a compromise with this nature within you?"
Roger turned pink, slightly flustered to be put on the spot.
"No," he denied, "It's just… I'm not a kid anymore. I'm 32 years old with a family that I need to take care of…"
"Roger, you're making this much harder than what it needs to be." Dorothy sighed, slightly annoyed with her husband and she stood up, confusing Roger. She stood on one leg, holding her other leg up.
"What am I doing?" she asked Roger.
"Uh, I'm not sure what answer to give…"
"Stop being a louse for a moment and just answer the question based on your observations. What am I doing?"
"Balancing on one leg."
"Okay… and?"
"And what?"
"Roger, I know you can be thickheaded, but not that thickheaded."
"Balancing… balance… OH! Balance… finding balance between what I want and my responsibilities."
Dorothy put her leg down and sat back down with Roger, kissing him. "Exactly."
"Question is, how do I do that? It's not like I can afford a three-day vacation every week."
"Why don't you involve our kids in it? Instill that desire for them to explore. You can start here. I mean, this property is huge. Norman hasn't even finished mapping it with you. So, why not take the kids when they're older, like on one of those camping trips in the stories we've read to them? Or fishing? I guess, what I'm trying to say is, you're already on an adventure, Roger. It's only natural to look at things that are being offered to you, but at the end of the day, life is what you make of it through your own perceptions. You can still indulge in the things you want, but it's perception that matters. You've never been a man to take others' perceptions and call them your own. You make your own perceptions based on what you see and observe. And it's not a sin to be curious about the world. This is something new for everyone. The young, the old, and us. We're still learning about it."
Roger smiled, looking up at the night sky. "You're right. I've been so caught up in what they would call an adventure, I forgot I was living one. And it has been a great adventure, especially with you."
Dorothy turned around and kissed Roger passionately on the lips, Roger wrapping his arms around her lower back. Dorothy pulled away, looking slightly flustered, full of passion and longing. She began to kiss Roger again, but Roger grabbed her hands in a gentle, but firm hold.
"Dorothy, what are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Roger smirked, nuzzling her head.
"But I thought…"
Dorothy put a finger to his lips and using her weight, steered Roger toward the ground, unbuttoning his shirt. Roger gasped, feeling her cold hands on his skin, then held her hands as he raised himself up, kissing Dorothy passionately. His hands were now lifting her night gown off of her, so that he could admire her under the cool moonlight. He kissed her again once more as his hands began trailing her naked body, the stars being the only witnesses as they continued making love to each other into the night.
Two Months Later….
It was Heaven's Day, and the kids were still asleep. However, Dorothy was wide awake. She had received news from Dr. Plebanski earlier in the week and was wanting to share the news with Roger. However, she decided to save it for today as it made more sense to tell him and make it a part of his Heaven's Day gift.
She poked Roger gently and Roger rolled over.
"Five more minutes…" he grumbled.
Dorothy hovered over his ear, to see if he had ear plugs in them, and Roger did not. She grabbed a present from her nightstand and cleared her throat, leaning closer to his ear.
"Roger, I'm pregnant."
Roger's eyes snapped awake, and he slowly rolled over to face her.
"Huh?" he asked sleepily.
"I'm pregnant!" Dorothy giggled and handed him the box.
Roger sat up, still looking unsure, and he began unwrapping the box. Inside, he found a photo of the pregnancy test and confirmed results from Dr. Plebanski. He slowly broke into a grin, then began laughing, before planting a large kiss on Dorothy, who was laughing too, as the kids burst into the bedroom, wanting to open presents.
"You're pregnant?" he asked, a grin growing on his face as the kids were jumping all over the bed, "Kids, stop jumping on the bed! Ma has great news!"
"What is it?" asked Rose.
"Well, your ma just told me… you guys are having another sibling!"
Tim frowned.
"Another brother or sister? Whhhyyy?"
Dorothy smirked.
"Yes, dear husband, why are we having another child?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Roger coughed, flustered. "Uhh… who wants to open presents?"
The kids cheered and ran out while Roger held onto Dorothy in a tight embrace.
"The last I checked, it takes two dance, Miss Dorothy Smith," he said, smirking while Dorothy kissed him on the side of the face. Dorothy grinned and took Roger's hand, pull him out of bed to follow their children. They were arguing which one should open theirs first as Norman came out of the nursery with Daniel, stating the youngest should get their opportunity first as the other kids groaned. Roger and Dorothy laughed.
And that was how I found out Alexandra Renee Smith was our fifth and final child.