Nelek gently tapped Aislyn to wake her.

"I don't wanna wake from this dream. It's too wonderful being with my husband and little one again."

"Aislyn, wake up." Nelek said, touching her cheek.

"Wanna stay here with Nelek and Kady. Safe," she mumbled.

"It's real, wake up." Nelek gently shook Aislyn's shoulder. "I think our son needs us."

Aislyn sighed and opened one eye.

Lek sniffled. "I ruined every chance I could ever get."

"What do you mean, darling?"

"I asked Pinja to marry me..." Lek confessed.

"Marry?" Aislyn sputtered. "That was a sudden move to make."

"Maybe if I'd said something to her before the raid..." Lek hunched his shoulders.

"Sweetling, I don't know that it would have helped. Jack inflicted so much damage before she even arrived at the village," Aislyn said softly.

"I want to help her." Lek said.

"I know you do, darling. But it does pain me to say that sometimes, sometimes people can't be helped, because they are too broken."

"There has to be something I can do." Lek said.

"If I think of anything, I will let you know." Aislyn sighed. Her son seemed set on the path of a fool's mission.

Lek buried his face in his hands.

"You have to be patient." Nelek said. "Your mother and I did not even discuss getting married until we had known each other for quite some time, and things were... less complicated... for us."

"We don't have much time, in just a couple of months..." Lek was miserable. "I let her know I wouldn't touch her if that was what she wanted."

"Darling, she may not even be planning on keeping the babe. There are far too many unknowns involved in this."

That had not even occurred to Lek, he was so intent on raising the child to help her. "Oh."

"I know you care about Pinja, we all do. But I don't know if she would ever be able to make a real marriage with you."

"I don't want a real marriage... I just want to help her." Lek said. "I love her."

"Oh, Lek, you deserve a real marriage. A woman who loves you,  a passel of children. A future."

Lek flushed. "All I want is her. We could always adopt more kids like Uncle Shawn and Aunt Brie."