A sister and an aunt

The expression on Sammie’s face, as it turned out, was one of absolute surprise and delight. Dustin had managed to get her down to the airlock on the pretence of helping to check over one of the station’s shuttles that the locals were worried about - but when the door slid back to reveal Eve, the pilot was totally blindsided.

“Sis! Why didn’t you say you were coming?! Why didn’t mom or dad say anything? How did you get here so fast?!” Sammie’s glee radiated around the cramped space, and it was all Dustin could do to welcome the newest Coastwood arrival aboard and ferry the sisters to where Sammie’s parents were waiting on the observation deck.

Eve’s replies about how she’d gotten there so fast were cagey; Dustin and Sammie could both spot the tells of someone that’d been told at length not to share classified military secrets and so didn’t push her - but as to her reasons for coming… “I wasn’t about to let you get married to some rando on your own sis. Plus, I don’t trust dad’s judgment so I had to meet him properly for myself. And they didn’t say anything because I didn’t tell them until we dropped into the system - I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone.”

The siblings began talking animatedly as they approached the deck, more or less ignoring Dustin as they caught up on months of life experiences. It was a convenient thing too, as no sooner had he reunited all four of the Coastwoods than Sola chimed to let him know his other guests had also arrived.

Izzy and Terri were stood holding the handles of wheeled suitcases when he met up with Emely who’d let them on board, the trio of women merrily chatting and heading in the direction of the nursery. Raising an eyebrow, he gestured to the cases. “You planning on staying long term or something?”

Terri blushed at the remark, but Izzy just grinned at him. “Nope; half of what’s in the cases is just presents for my niece and nephews, tho we will be staying a couple of days so packed enough for that. There’s no point us heading back to the planet later today just to have to turn around and get an orbital flight again so that we can be here for your wedding.”

He couldn’t really argue with that logic. Opening the door to the nursery, he glanced at Emely as their guests pushed past. “Can you find them a spare cabin…” he began, before the fox girl flashed him one of her mischievous smiles and he realised she’d already done so - probably before his friend and her partner had even left the planet below.

Inside the nursery, Izzy was already cooing over the trio of babies while Terri exchanged a few respectful words with Meli. Stepping in and letting the door close behind him, Dustin smiled to himself as he watched his old friend get her fingers caught in his son’s vice-like grip; Izzy had wanted to be an auntie, and judging by her smile it looked like she was enjoying the role very much.

Dinner that evening was a raucous affair. In light of all the recent arrivals, they’d opted to eat in the ready room, Naera making use of the smaller kitchen off the ambassador’s quarters; Dustin had been intensely grateful they’d cleaned up the bedchamber beforehand when Leora had insisted in accompanying the shortstack through the wall into the ambassadorial rooms, although the raised eyebrow the older woman had given Sammie at the soft mattress-like floor had somehow managed to both cause his pilot to blush and look smug at the same time.

The food itself was fiery, flavourful and clearly the product of a chef who never stopped looking for ideas combined with a woman who’d learned long ago how to make the most of a small galley on a starship. Dustin smiled as he watched Izzy sit half-out of her chair as she tried and failed to both look professional, and also encourage her girlfriend to eat more of the spiced side dishes than it seemed Terri was entirely comfortable with.

Emely giggled at the expression the other Feliax made at a particularly hot mouthful, before wrinkling her nose in annoyance as Bleu deftly swapped the plates in front of her. “That one has too much of a spice you should avoid in your current state. Eat this instead,” the medic deadpanned, before grinning as the fox girl took a bite of the meat she’d been given then lunged for her drink. “I didn’t say what you’d picked was too spicy. Just that it had something you should avoid in quantity,” the slime chuckled.

Devin was busy in discussion with Rye and Sammie, Leora and Naera had been cornered by Meli - Bleu having agreed on the entire family being present for this meal - and Trea’k was lounging in her seat, occasionally eating tidbits off the tip of a tendril Defia had formed while the Vex’ess gently rocked Dustin’s sons in her arms. The Fractal moved her dark tentacle with a mechanical grace as she speared meat and potatoes in careful measure, occasionally reaching under one chunk or another to select the best possible morsels for the envoy.

Across the table from him, Yril’k smiled as she stabbed down with her bladed arms, the chitin weapons making swift work of carving the pie she’d taken from the smorgasbord into pieces before she shifted to using her more delicate fingers to raise the food to her lips. Seeing his expression the warrior shrugged, before turning to talk to the butterfly woman beside her as she resumed eating.

Shaking his head at the Vex’ess’s table manners, Dustin glanced around to check on the others. Yaerwen sat on the floor nearby, the Hoxx having eaten her fill quickly and now appearing quite content with just gently rocking the crib where C’harl’ette lay dozing despite the party atmosphere surrounding them. Dustin smiled down at the pair, before being aware of a presence by his side. Turning, he saw that Jaisyl had moved to sit closer, the princess seemingly struggling with the sudden influx of new people, not to mention the fact that she had been invited to this gathering.

“I… umm… that is to say, Dustin, I am err…” The Tho’unn woman struggled to start, then lightly slapped her cheeks before her words tumbled out. “Sorry, Dustin. I wanted to say that I have finished the work the lady Sammie asked me to do, and I was wondering if you wished for any embellishment for your own ceremonial garb for the wedding? I believe you intend to wear a suit rather than a uniform, but if you wish I can provide some decorations. I am sure I will be able to complete them in time, I swear!”

The princess’s declaration seemed heartfelt, and Dustin smiled warmly at her. “That’d be great, Jaisyl. I’ll grab my suit before we all head to bed - something simple is all it needs, nothing too overstated okay?” She nodded frantically, before turning and hunching over her food, that small interaction seemingly draining what was left of her social batteries given the current state of the ready room.

True to her word, Dustin got his suit back late the next day. Taking it into his private quarters, he opened the package Jaisyl had brought it back in and marvelled. When he’d given it to her, he figured the worst that would happen is he’d need to grab one of the spares he’d had made up after his wedding to Meli. He hadn’t expected… this.

De Vici was a master of his craft, and all of Dustin’s suits had been expertly tailored. Dustin had also asked Jaisyl to keep any work she did simple - and so she had. The jacket remained almost identical to the one he’d handed her the previous night - until you got closer. Using threads so minutely different in colour from the fabric’s tone as to be near invisible, she’d sewn a picture of Earth onto the breast, while the trousers had a narrow band of flowers and grasses around each ankle.

It was flawless work. Unless you were a few inches away the colours blended into the suit making it look like any of the others he possessed. But up close - where his bride-to-be would be looking the following day? It was a soft statement of their homeworld, something that would remind him where he came from every time he put it on. As that thought passed through his mind, Dustin squinted, leaning closer before pulling back with a whistle. No, it was more than that, it was more than just their homeworld. In stitching so fine he couldn’t begin to work out how she’d achieved it, orbiting the Earth that would sit over his heart on his wedding day there flew a tiny starship. A tiny Solar Ascent.