Naggar Residence, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
evening of 8 Sept. 824 A.S.
"I'm a doctor. I know when someone isn't right."
Erik chuckled. "Hehe... not right. I suppose I'm not... sometimes." His logical mind considered her to be right... As a doctor, it would be natural for her to notice these things and she'd also be willing to listen. But she wasn't just a doctor to him anymore. She was a work colleague, a friend... and maybe more than that. He couldn't tell exactly what, but at this very moment it became clear he felt something for her.
He stood upright, pushing himself away from the door and backwards a few steps. "Well, we best be going. I'm sure we both need to get to work early tomorrow." - he commented, changing the topic. He then shouted "Peter! Come on, lad, everyone needs to rest."
As the boy came outside, they said their goodbyes - both with huge smiles - and went on home after a day well spent.
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
later the same evening
Peter had just tucked himself into bed when Erik entered his son's room, slowly taking a seat on the side of the bed. He caressed his son's face for a second, then asked in a kind tone... "Peter... do you miss mom?" - it was a question he never dared ask before. He knew the answer, but that's not why he asked now.
Naggar Residence, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
It was about 2100. Doreen was putting her son to bed. He was tucked in as she sat next to him on his bed. It had been a day of excitement for him. He had never had a birthday such as he had.
"Thanks, Mom, for the birthday," he said to her, "it was the best ever."
"You're welcome, Sweetie," she answered with a smile.
"Mom," he said inquisitively before she could move, "I won't tell you my wish but I do have a question and please, don't change the subject."
"OK," she replied. She had an idea of the question. She didn't want to answer it but she knew she would have to sometime.
"Tell me about my father," he said kindly. He had seen how tight Peter was with his father and knew that his mother was killed. It was something that was playing with his mind.
"Well," she said kindly as she put her hands on the bed at her sides, "Your father." She paused. She wasn't sure what to say. She didn't want him thinking negatively of her or even of himself.
"Your father was someone I knew little about," she began. "I was young......desperate to find my own father and I reached out to him for help."
"But Opa is still alive," he interrupted.
"Yes, he is," she answered with a chuckle, "It's a long story but he went to find work and didn't come home. As I said, I was young and thought he ran off. I wanted to find him. So, I met a man who said he could help me and well...."
"My father?" asked Ben
"Yes, your father," she replied. "As I said, I was young and I thought I loved him but.....I didn't."
"So what happened to him?" she asked.
She sighed, "He was killed taking me to where Opa was, killed by enemy pilots."
"Oh," he said dejectedly. "But, what was he like?"
She thought a moment. She never really liked him as she was treated like a slave more than anything. She didn't want to tell Ben the truth....not now. But, she had to give an answer.
"He was tall....handsome....and very skilled," she remembered aloud, "He was very protective of me right up to the end. He was attacked by three pilots and killed two of them before the last got him."
"What was his name?" he asked.
She paused again but answered simply, "Gunther." She then turned to kiss Ben good night but he again had a question that wasn't expected.
"Mom, do you like Erik?"
She was taken back by the question but was able to answer it as asked, "Do you like Erik?
"Yes, I like Erik," she replied smiling. "He's a nice man, a good father and a good friend. Why?"
"No, Mom," he said, "Do you love him?"
She paused again. This time more than before. Her feelings said yes. She did like him more than a friend but he was a co-worker and a friend but there was something deeper that was building. She didn't want to answer the question because she knew how children talked. She again leaned over and this time, she kissed him and told him "Gute Nacht." She stood up and went to the doorway of his room.
As she went to leave, he asked her, "Do you, Mom?"
She stopped and looked skyward a bit. She knew that he must have seen them interacting in some way. Without turning around, she simply answered, "Yes." She then bid him "Gute Nacht" and closed his door.
She returned to her living room somewhat shocked. Did she just admit that? Was Benjen so wise beyond his years that he could read it on her? She poured herself a glass of Gallic Wine and sat in front of the window. Her thoughts were overwhelming her at this point as she stared out in silence.
Yuma Robotics HQ, Central Dome, New Astarte, Planet Yuma, Coronado
11 Sept. 824 A.S.
Although Peter and Ben kept seeing each other to have fun, Erik had avoided Doreen these past few days, since Ben's birthday. It wasn't intended, considering he was once again swamped with work, yet he appreciated the situation because it gave him time to think. Today was no different. He was busy tweaking with a malfunctioning drone model while he kept rewinding the conversation he had had with Peter the other night. Both of them missed Cynthia, but they had managed to move on long ago... together. It was talking about it that finally made it a reality though, which was comforting.
Erik had always tried to put his son first... and the question of missing his mother wasn't just referring to Cynthia, but to the presence of a mother in Peter's life. For both of them, this was complicated. Still, Erik couldn't stop wondering. It was too early to tell - especially for him who had found love once before - yet Doreen seemed like someone who would, at the very least, be a good mother for Peter. He didn't tell Peter anything about this, but he subtly questioned the boy about what he thinks of Doreen. He had thought about it before - that, no matter the person, Peter still needed the guidance of a mother - but now, with Doreen, it finally felt like there's a chance. And somehow, it was all thanks to these two rug-rats becoming friends.
As his mind kept drifting away from what he was doing with the drone, he didn't realise a spring was loosening. Before he could react, it spiraled out of it's sheath and hit him in the side of the head. - - A yelp of pain. THUMP.
She was at her desk this morning. Her mind was anywhere but work. Ben forced an answer out of her that she wasn't yet ready to reveal nor did she know existed. But the fact she confessed it to her own child was well, troubling. One word to Peter and well, that was it. She never felt like this before....about anyone. While Benjen was a source of her pride and joy, she still never opened up about the circumstances leading to his conception. It was that reason she hid the truth from him and anyone else.
Erik was troubled. She didn't know the pain of losing a spouse. Asides the Rheinland government splitting her family up, she had never experienced heavy, personal loss. Yes, she had to tell families that a loved one didn't make it and that was the hardest thing she had to endure as a surgeon but that was the extent of loss to her. What was going through Erik's mind? She didn't know. No medical journal, no text book covered something like that. She wasn't a stranger to wartime having grown up in Rheinland. She remembered Erik talking about a memorial. Perhaps that would give some answers. But where was it? She wasn't about to ask Erik about it but.....Catherine might.
She looked at her surgical schedule. She had surgeries scheduled all week but today wasn't too bad....providing another arrival of trauma patients from the combat field didn't arrive which was common.
"Ah hell," she said, "I'll try it." She sent a message to Catherine.
To Catherine Corvin,
If you get a chance, could you swing by my office at the hospital? There's something I want to ask you face to face and please, don't tell anyone you're coming over. I promise I won't keep you long. Thank you.
Yuma Robotics HQ, Central Dome, New Astarte, Planet Yuma, Coronado
11 Sept. 824 A.S.
A mild headache ensued, but it was enough to motivate Erik to focus on his job and leave any other thoughts aside for the moment. After all, the best thing to do was to just move forward. He knew he'd have to meet up with Doreen sooner or later at work, and whatever would happen... so be it.
A few floors above the lab Erik was working in, Catherine was sorting through some materials in a storage room when her pager picked up Doreen's message.
New Hippocrate, Planet Yuma, Coronado
an hour later
Catherine walked down the hospital's hallway with a smile. It always cheered her up to see medics hard at work, trying to save lives. It gave her an odd sense of hope. It took her a few good minutes to find doctor Naggar's office, but eventually she was right in front of it. She knocked, then opened the door slowly.
"Good day, doctor!" - she greeted with a short hand wave. "I was on my way home so I figured I could drop by today. So... what did you wish to discuss? Your message sounded a bit ominous..."
Office of Dr. Naggar, New Hippocrate Medical, Planet Yuma
It was obvious that she was a bit....uncomfortable. She wasn't sure how one of Erik's family members would react but Catherine was here and it was now or never.
"Please, Sit," Doreen requested, motioning to a chair in front of her desk. Doreen was a bit withdrawn.
"I'm not sure how to talk to you about this but I won't have a clear mind until I do," she stated taking her own seat. "Erik doesn't know you're here nor does he know that I sent for you."
She sighed in discomfort of a situation that seemed strange if nothing else.
"I'm having feelings that I've never experienced before," she declared, "You know, from one woman to another, I hope we can keep this between us for now." She started fidgeting with a pen on her desk, "Erik......you know him both as a family member and a co-worker. I feel funny talking to you about him like this but I think.......that......I feel for him beyond that of an associate or friend. Our children have become close."
She stood up as her nerves were on edge. She was still fidgeting with the pen in the fingers of her left hand. "I know his wife was killed not long ago and well, it frightens me....frightens me that I shouldn't feel this way...that for him it's not right or if it is, it's too soon. I'm not even sure why I'm asking you these things but, I needed another woman's perspective, someone I know a little...someone I can trust.....someone that knows him......even someone who is family."
She then gave her a look of question, "Do you......get what I'm asking?" She then looked up and sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you."
Catherine sat in a chair silently and allowed Doreen to speak. At first, she was surprised to hear someone speak of her uncle on a first name basis. As the doctor went on though, Catherine just kept a straight face, feeling it best not to reply right away... She realised what she was hearing was serious and didn't want to derail Doreen's train of thought.
"I feel for him beyond that of an associate or friend."
This phrase made Catherine's face change subtly, with a look of combined joy and shyness taking over. Doreen's stuttering monologue became clearer in purpose. So, after the doctor sighed and apologised out of courtesy, Catherine just tried to widen her smile a bit and did her best to reply. "There's nothing to be sorry for, doctor. To be honest, I don't know if I'm the best person to discuss such an issue, considering I haven't had the chance to find someone special yet." - she paused - "Uhm, still... What I can say is that I believe it's never too soon or too late. We Crayterians have always found value in new beginnings."
"I'm sure my uncle still thinks of aunt Cyn, but he has moved on, as we all do in the Corvin family. You see, Our lineage draws back to the days of Crayter, my uncle was born there. And so... we've had the blessing of moving forward with our family. But it has also been a curse of seeing too many of our closest people die, my brother and my cousin included."
Catherine stopped a tear from rolling down her cheek, then went on "For what it's worth, I noticed uncle Erik looks at you with approval and he mentioned he's truly happy about Peter having found such a good friend in your son. Still, I have no idea if he feels the same as you do for him..." She tried smiling again as a sign of reassurance.
When she saw the tear rolling down Catherine's cheek, her smile of....approval....she took a deep sigh.
"I didn't know who to talk to," she kindly answered, "not about this. If there is someone better then let me know but I guess I wanted a woman's perspective.....weird as that may sound." She threw on a quick smile and a chuckle, "Especially when you're his family."
She then sat back down and wheeled her chair around to be closer, her hands clasped together as she leaned on her elbows, "Tell me about your Aunt Cyn. Tell me how she lived. Tell me about the memorial. I mean, I'm no spiritual woman but maybe in some way, I could talk to her by knowing her.......by visiting her memorial."
Catherine kept still. It was slightly odd for her to be talking about such a subject, even more so considering Doreen was older than her. But, she felt somehow happy about what she kept hearing. To see someone with such interest in her uncle, in her family... was a reason for hope.
"Tell me about your Aunt Cyn. Tell me how she lived. Tell me about the memorial. I mean, I'm no spiritual woman but maybe in some way, I could talk to her by knowing her.......by visiting her memorial."
She pointed her eyes upwards in remembrance... "Cynthia was... well, driven, even to a fault. She never backed down from a challenge and was quite proud of it, which is probably how she managed to balance her military career with her home life. She was a Captain in the Crayter Military forces and loved her job, loved protecting everyone. I like to think she died happy, ensuring the survival of others." Catherine allowed herself to chuckle for a second. Talking about these memories felt far less painful than she expected.
"And... if you want to visit the Corvin memorial, it's in the south side of New Thessalonica, along with all the other memorial plaques and statues."
It was a general truth for Crayterians that graves were no longer needed. The vast majority of dead never had their bodies recovered from the various conflict-ridden places they were in. As such, the Republic's citizens, after New Thessalonica was built, decided to etch the names of their lost ones in stone, so they may never be forgotten.