Hijra [A few weeks later]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was catching up on emails from home--news about the Sith, the latest gossip from Jag and Jaina's corner of the galaxy and whatever Allana had gotten herself up to while being unsupervised (there was a lot of "it'd seemed like a good idea!!!" in her correspondence)--and then poking around scientific journals about advancements in reproductive technology.

You know. For no real reason. Cough.

He drank tea and really missed having those yummy red fruits around. He'd need to ask when they came back the next time he went to the market.

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"And Val," Ben said, smiling a bit.

[endsthegame]

"Two out of three that we're sure of," Ender noted. "Those aren't terrible numbers."

[momslilassassin]

"We'll just have to pay attention to Kol," Ben said.

Don't overcorrect already, Ben.

[endsthegame]

"We can talk about that one later," Ender said, poking him with his foot under the table. "After we manage the first two."

[momslilassassin]

Ben slid his foot along Ender's leg in reply. "Apparently we'll be astral with the first two."

[endsthegame]

Ender glanced briefly around, but no one seemed to have noticed Ben's maneuver. He relaxed. "Keep that in mind," he said. "I wonder if we'll meet Cade's Nat at any point-- he seems like the kind of guy who'd try to run interference."

[momslilassassin]

"Cade or Nat?" Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

"Cade," Ender said, resisting the urge to poke Ben with his foot again. "Nat seemed happy to see us. Well, his younger self."

[momslilassassin]

"It was genuine," Ben said with another smile. "He likes us."

[endsthegame]

The waiter slipped in and put their dishes down on the table. He vanished back into the kitchen a moment later.

"God knows why," Ender said, "But let's hope that won't have soured in the decades since."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, biting his lower lip. "He sent Cade to Fandom. It could go either way."

[endsthegame]

"I think we're probably dead in his time," Ender added quietly. "That may help. Or hinder."

[momslilassassin]

"You're just full of happy thoughts," Ben muttered, digging into his food.

[endsthegame]

"It doesn't need to be such a terrible thing," Ender said, taking a bite of his own food. "How would you feel, meeting a younger version of your mom?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled. "It'd be weird," he said, "like seeing tiny, spastic Luke."

[endsthegame]

"True," Ender granted. "But I don't think you'd hate it."

[momslilassassin]

"I wouldn't hate it," Ben said. "Not now. A few years ago and it would have been really, really painful."

[endsthegame]

"So what do you think?" Ender asked. "Should we meet him?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "Yes."

[endsthegame]

"Okay," Ender said.

He concentrated on his food for a few minutes.

[momslilassassin]

"But only if you want to as well," Ben added after finishing a falafel.

[endsthegame]

"I do," Ender said. His mouth quirked a little. "I just wanted your assessment of the situation."

[momslilassassin]

"I want to see Cade graduate," Ben said. "I think it's a bigger deal than he will, but I want there to be faces out in the crowd who support him. He hasn't had a lot of that."

[endsthegame]

"I think there's very little as important as showing Cade that he has family," Ender noted, putting down his cutlery. "He'll never admit to needing it, and he'll push back hard if we try to make demands. But our presence in the background - it might help."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "He won't say thank you or anything...but he did hug us that time."