Part 16

It has been a pleasure. I'm very sorry if these last portions were disappointing, but I actually feel very good about the content in my chapters which is a bit of a surprise for me, I usually feel like there is a lot to improve on. Anyway, I may return to do little things when I'm inspired by these characters again, but for now, this story is officially finished. I am reuploading all parts to Deviantart along with the author notes attached.

I have no idea when I may write more about Aliens or even Predators, but this has been so much fun and a great outlet for me, creatively and emotionally, so thank you for reading and sticking with me as I try to wrap this up.

As asked, there is no sequel. Everything after Prince's POV on the Reunion can technically be considered the sequel and finalization of what happens after they reunite. I'm not even sure what I'd write about for a sequel and no, no government is going to catch them or some random crap like that – too cliché and too expected at this point. Let's just leave this story at a happy note.

One last thing, I'm afraid this story came out quite late do to some issues I was having with . I apologize for that and hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.

Merry (Late) Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

.

.

.

Noise thundered above them. Hemsing had warned them about the new arrivals coming at dusk and so, the xenos had taken refuge in their tunnels. They nestled directly underneath where Henrietta sat on the deck with bated breath.

The day had finally arrived. The empty stall in the barn was to be filled with some new residents.

Over the course of a few months, the farm had taken some dramatic changes. For one, a new shed disguised the xenomorphs' tunnel entrance. Secondly, said xenomorphs, along with Henrietta, had witnessed their first live birth.

Carla and Guru had their first kid just a few weeks prior. The new addition had been the fifth girl welcomed into the family and named fittingly as Quintessa, Tessa for short.

The lafhwaz had finally buried their last eggs for their fertile season. Their chicks had been cleaned, weighed, and fed and before long, they were sold off to a multitude of people. Some were bought by families, but most had been taken to new farms.

Sheelia had been delighted at seeing the babies squawking around the yard and keeping them from wandering too far from their mothers. Most days, she spent her nights curled just outside the coup to keep watch of any predators that occasionally roamed too close to the farm.

Another change had also occurred since the aliens' arrival. Hemsing had removed the security system and allowed the goats to freely roam at night as well. The predators that lurked about were no longer a problem with the 24/7 security team they had.

A small door for them had been cut into the side of the barn, that way they could move in and out as they pleased, but not touch some of the equipment they were fond of playing with or bother Miss Bear. The large barn doors were kept closed at night and locked, but the windows that had once kept the predators out as well, had been uninstalled and allowed the xenos to easily get inside if they so choose.

Prince, per usual, kept watch just above Henrietta's window on the roof. Very rarely did he descend into the tunnels to sleep at night. He reserved that as a napping place during the day and a place to eat privately.

Rogue had become much more relaxed being introduced to the farm. Most days he kept to the back of the fenced area where Miss Bear liked to graze and would keep watch of anything approaching from the woods. At night, he took naps next to Uncle Hemsing and kept watch of the woods by perching in the trees.

Comet kept his perch on the barn and, as instructed by his older brother, watched the goats with a keen eye.

The new residents had been delayed due to some complications. One being the young foal that now accompanied its parents into the pasture where they acquainted themselves with not only the area but the various objects it contained.

Murjura were nocturnal creatures by nature hence why their stall had been placed in a corner with no windows and a large sheet like curtain to help block the sunlight out. They were also family oriented much like wolves. Their packs consisted of a father and mother along with any offspring they may have. It was uncommon but not unusual for several packs or families to join together in grazing and sleeping.

On their home planet, cool, dark caves could be found in abundance in their northern regions. Hemsing did his best to reconstruct the cave in their stall with air conditioning and the curtains. Naturally, the valley kept pretty cool and the chilly air would take over the valley at night.

The overly large stall would be enough for them to sleep in and keep close.

The goats shouldn't be a bother to them especially since they were smaller and Murjura were known for their friendly temperament towards smaller animals, but to larger creatures, it was a gamble.

Most likely, they wouldn't encounter Miss Bear and Hemsing highly doubted any trouble. With xenomorphs on the farm, it worried him quite a bit of their reaction, but as long as they had time to adjust, he was sure everything would be okay.

The male of the trio took the lead in discovering the area, huffing at Comet who had retaken his position on the barn as soon as the truck driver had left.

In the morning, Hemsing would introduce them to their overly large stall. For now, it was time for dinner and he led Henrietta back inside where Rogue had already taken residence on the couch.

The young foal kept close to its mother, no antlers growing from its head just yet. She sniffed around her mother's hooves, anxious about the new place. However, with its mother close by, its anxiety eased slightly.

The murjuraa continued to huff at Comet until finally he came down. They sniffed at each other and the murjuraa hit his antlers lightly against his shoulder. At the motion that Comet believed threateningly, he jumped back onto the roof and away from confrontation.

Prince joined him there, watching as the goats came scuttling out to meet the new guests and Torro came to join the bigger residents on the roof.

Finally, the male turned from them, taking a small interest in the goats that had joined them as he returned to his mate's side. Over the course of the night, they seemed to relax, the foal straying from its mother to explore the enclosure.

Inside the home Henrietta sat at the kitchen table, questions flying out of her mouth a mile a minute.

"Alright, alright, alright. After dinner, we can go back out. For now, eat your soup." Uncle Hemsing slid her bowl to her and offered a bowl of water to Rogue.

Then, he joined her at the table.

"So, what do they do?"

"What do you mean 'what do they do?" He gave her a raised eyebrow, his eyes pointing to her soup. "Eat."

"I'm not hungry." Henrietta crossed her arms, a stubborn pout forming on her lips.

Giving an exasperated sigh, Hemsing motioned for her to continue.

"Well, the lafhwaz lay their eggs and we sell the chicks to other farms and stuff. The goats are pets. Miss Bear gives us some milk that we sell to that old fart-" Hemsing gave her a stern glare, but she continued on anyway, "what do the Murjura do?"

"Nothing. Like the goats, they're pets. They were also suppose to help keep predators away at night and allow the goats to roam whenever but with the shipment and the design of the barn, I just didn't think everything through. Probably should have gotten separate places for them all, but it just seemed easier…" Hemsing continued to talk about the placement of everything, but Henrietta had zoned him out, mindlessly petting the top of Rogue's head as he sat by them.

"Finish your soup and we'll get acquainted with them." His command caught her ear and she sat up straighter in her chair to pretend like she had been listening.

Hemsing knew better.

Back outside, Sheelia stuck her snout through the fence to sniff at the foal. She seemed curious but delighted and playful with her. However, her father came up in a rush, snorting his displeasure and stamping his hooves into the ground. The foal quickly ran back to her mother.

He's only agitated. Relax Comet.

His younger brother's hackles were raised at the murjuraa's aggressive display. Sheelia on the other hand remained completely calm and not in the least offended.

I'm fine. He's being protective and doing his job.

Why's the mom so calm then?

Perhaps just more focused on her baby?

Their conversation cut short as Uncle Hemsing came out of the house with an excited Henrietta in tow.

They both came up to the fence, catching the attention of everyone. The goats greeted them, happy to see them per usual before sprinting across the yard in play.

Lamps lit the edge of the fenced area with a warm glow just to give everything a short shadow.

"Alright, we're going to hang by the barn and let them come to us and get use to us. Just be slow to not frighten them." Uncle Hemsing led her over to the locked barn doors and leaned against the wood.

Like he said, the Murjura came to sniff at them before returning to the pasture. The foal wagged her tail in contained excitement, enjoying the attention she received from Henrietta.

"This has been the best three months in my entire life." Her words caught Hemsing off guard and he could do nothing more than gape for a moment at her.

But then, he had to admit he enjoyed the previous months too. Henrietta always had a smile on her face nowadays and was always up before him. That in itself was a feat.

She continued to try to take the pictures of birds that had nestled all around them and learn more about the wildlife that was right at her back door. She spoke a lot more fondly of friends from school, some having known her on the ship while others had never known a life among the stars.

Henrietta considered herself lucky to have been able to travel at such a young age. While she hated the confinement of the metal, she admitted on several occasions that she missed the view of the stars and seeing the planets spin about.

She couldn't see herself going back, not when her family remained on this planet and there was no way she could possibly think of uprooting them to take them back to the stars.

Hemsing himself knew how she felt. He had wanted nothing more than to enter space and seek adventure ever since he heard of their first successful landing on Mars. Now, they had colonies reaching far and wide and were in alliance with hundreds of other species.

Yet, the earth beneath his feet, fresh oxygen filling his lungs, and the brief but warming rays of sunlight was something he too had missed. In his old age, Hemsing knew it was best to retire on land.

Good thing too he had volunteered or else he wouldn't have ever experienced a family quite like the one that surrounded him now.

"Mine, too. Why don't we pick out some constellations on the upper deck, hmm?" He wrapped an arm around her leaving the animals to settle in for the night.

Prince met them up there, already curling around Henrietta's favorite chair while Rogue balanced himself on the thin railing like a cat. Comet and Sheelia eventually wandered their way up to the roof, just above their heads, and listened as Uncle Hemsing took the constellations Henrietta pointed out and brought life to them through stories.

He never told the same story twice.