Homecoming
                 by Rick Federle
                         
     
     
          The Guardsman shifted slightly in his seat, trying to reign in
     his impatience.  It'd been months since he'd seen his wife and he
     was worried.  He'd taken a long range, high speed courier shuttle
     ahead of the fleet in order to arrive back at Crystal Tokyo as fast as
     he could.  He'd ordered the fleet back to Earth when word arrived
     of the Negamoon's attack, but they were months away by then.  He
     knew then that it would be long since over by the time they got
     back.
          Venus been upset that he'd had to leave her side once again
     and refused to so much as say "goodbye" to him.  She'd stood
     there with her back to him and her arms crossed, refusing to look at
     him or speak to him.
          He felt the soft thump as the shuttle landed and focused on
     controlling his figiting until the ramp on the right side of the shuttle
     began to lower.  He released the catch on the safety belt and rose to
     his feet, absently adjusting his sword to a more comfortable
     position.  He walked to the doorway and treaded down the ramp,
     stopping at the bottom.  A squad of Endymion's personal guard
     waited outside the landing circle.
          "Welcome home, my lord."  The head of the honor guard
     detachment sent to meet him saluted as the squad snapped to
     attention.
          He nodded in return and the salutes disappeared.  "Thank
     you.  Where are their Majesties?"
          "Their chambers, my lord.  I was told that they would meet
     you there."  The head of the honor guard informed him.
          He nodded his thanks and began to walk toward the
     entrance to the palace proper. The honor guard fell in behind him in
     pairs.  As he entered the palace, he felt his wife's emotions through
     the link they shared, love with an undercurrent of pain and worry. 
     He walked in silence, his worry gnawing on him, heading for
     Endymion and Serenity's personal chambers.  He waited outside the
     entrance to the chambers until the guard posted there indicated that
     he could enter.
          He entered the chamber and he could hear the soft murmur
     of voices from the next room.  He walked across the receiving area
     and entered the study where the others waited for him.
          The pair's intent eyes locked with his as he paused just
     inside the doorway, but before he could speak, Venus flung her
     arms around him and pressed her face into his chest.  He blinked
     once as he put his arms around her and looked down as he felt her
     love and concern for him flow across the link to him.  His worry
     vanished at her touch, replaced by relief and his love for her flowed
     back across the link they shared.  "Venus, I . . . "
          She raised her head and pressed her right forefinger over his
     lips before he could continue, stilling him.  "Ssh."  She shushed
     him.  She locked his eyes with hers and the love they shared filled
     the link between them.
          "Go back to your chambers."  Endymion instructed them. 
     "I'll talk to you later."
          He nodded slightly in agreement and Venus stepped out of
     the circle of his arms and took his left hand in her right, lacing her
     fingers with his.  "Come, my heart."
          They walked in silence to the chambers they shared, and
     Venus led him to the bedroom without a word.  She sat down on
     one end of the bed and he sat down next to her.  She put her arms
     around him, hugging him, as she pressed her face into his chest.  "I
     missed you so."  She whispered.
          "I missed you, too."  He told her quietly as he hugged her
     close.  He closed his eyes as they clung to one another and lowered
     his cheek onto the top of her head, inhaling the smell of her hair.
          "I know you had to leave."  Venus said after a while, raising
     her head to look at him and he raised his head in response, locking
     her eyes with his.  "I'm so afraid that something will happen to you
     and then I'll never see you again."  A single tear glistened as it
     rolled down her right cheek.
          "I'll always be there for you when you need me."  He
     reminded her.  "And I'll always come back to you."
          He lowered his head as she leaned forward to kiss him and
     he felt her desire to be with him.  He luxuriated in the kiss and
     reluctantly they pulled away slightly.  He rested his forehead against
     hers.  "Now where are the children?"  He asked.
          "Serenity and Endymion said they'd watch them for a
     couple of days."  She told him.  "Serenity knew we'd need some
     time together."
          "I'll have to thank them later."
          "I already did."  She explained.  "I knew you'd be grateful
     for any time we could get together."
          Silence lingered for a moment.  "Well, since the children are
     gone, why don't we . . . " He trailed off suggestively.
          "I thought you'd never ask."  She said as she pulled him
     down onto the bed with her.