Epilogue

The sun was shining, and birds happily sang as a gentle breeze blew through the trees, rustling leaves. The green grass gently rolled and waved as the soft spring breeze rolled across the gentle hills.

Upon one hill, a figure was laying, enjoying the warmth of the sun. The figure was that of a human man. He was dressed in an off-white tunic that stretched down almost to his ankles. Soft brown hair fell long down his shoulders, spread out around him. His clean-shaved face had a soft, gentle roundness to it, and a kind demeanor. His lips were curved in a soft smile as he smelled the scent of grass and flowers and blossoms on the air. The scent of apple blossoms and other trees was heavy in the air. His smile grew as the wind gently caressed his face, gently blowing his hair.

Not far from the man, several dark forms lay like large cats, napping in the sun. They stood out as much as he did from the green surroundings, the light glinting off shiny exoskeletons as the Xenomorphs contentedly napped on a lovely spring day.

Teddy! The man smiled and opened his eyes at the mental call, followed by a soft trill. He gently sat up as a large Xenomorph approached on all fours, gently purring.

Hi, Nyx, he greeted his big sister. She purred as she settled next to him and wrapped her arms and tail around her beloved little brother.

No matter how big he got, he would always be her little brother, and she would always love him, regardless. In the years that had passed, Teddy had grown into a tall, svelte young man. While nowhere near as tall as Nyx, let alone his Mother, he was of a good height for a human man. Nyx purred as she cuddled him, her Sisters awakening and yawning, some stretching, mental feelings of greetings and questioning flowing back and forth.

What do you need? he asked as he pulled back to look at her. Even all these years later, Teddy still could not speak verbally. However, this hardly mattered, as the way he and his beloved Sisters and Mother communicated was far more meaningful, deep and tender than the most eloquent of spoken words. One of the other Xenos gently laid her head in Teddy's lap, purring as her arms encircled his waist.

Did you have a nice nap? she asked. Teddy smiled and gave a positive to Ellie, who was the first Sister he saw born, all those years ago, back in the asteroid. In all that time, they hardly ever went anywhere alone, and were almost always together. Next to Nyx and his Mother, he had the closest bond with Ellie. The others purred as they began stroking Teddy's hair and grooming him, as they did as a form of social interaction and sharing.

Nyx purred happily as she watched her little brother, happy beyond all words that he had grown up safe and well.

The hunt is done. We're cooking the meat. Mother wants you to come back for supper. Teddy smiled and nodded, the others trilling and purring with excitement. With that, Teddy stood up, his Sisters following. He looked out at the valley.

Lush green forests of deciduous trees stretched as far as the eye could see around the base of the mountains, which were just as lush and green as everything else. Rolling hills of green grass stretched out in the other direction, a few small creeks and rivers flowing here and there, and a few scattered smaller forests and single trees dotting the hills. It was a beautiful paradise, and he was grateful every day that it was their home. They all were. He turned back to Nyx, who purred tenderly as her hand gently caressed his face. I love you so much, my wonderful little brother. My sweet Teddy. He hugged Nyx, letting his feelings of happiness and love flow into her mind.

I love you, too, Nyx. Every single day, I remember how you saved me, how you've been there for me, held me, kept me warm and safe. I couldn't ask for a better sister than you. She purred as she rocked him, happy at his words and the feelings. The others snuggled close, purring as they rubbed against him and hugged him as well.

They truly were his family, in every sense of the word. He loved them, and they loved him, with every fiber of their being. Nyx purred as she knelt and let Teddy get on her back. He smiled as he sat on her back, almost like a horse. With this, Nyx and the other headed back towards the mountains, where their Hive was.

As they stopped at the crest of the tallest hill, Teddy looked up and the sky and smiled.

XXX

Elizabeth watched as Teddy looked up, seemingly at the camera, and she knew he knew she was watching him. She smiled warmly at the grown man, who once was the little boy. She was happier than words could say, seeing him safe and happy with his family. With a smile, she closed the window of the computer and logged out of the satellite feed.

It had been fifteen years since they had arrived in the UPP, since Teddy and his family had been placed in their Preserve. It still amazed her that the UPP Government was so understanding, and willing to give Teddy and the Xenomorphs Refugee status, let alone place them on a protected preserve. While she knew it was more to spite the USM than out of true altruism, she was still happy at the outcome.

She switched to the news feed, and couldn't help a grim smile at the news. Another USM figure has died. She couldn't help a bit of grim satisfaction.

One of the first things they did upon arriving, and making sure Teddy and his family were kept safe, was to give the UPP News agency the classified files on Project Dreamscape. The fallout had been huge. There were protests in almost every major city in USE space, and more than a few turned into riots or even small wars. Nobody bought the excuses from the United Systems Congress that they were out of the loop. There were calls for resignations left and right, and a few Congress members committed suicide. What was interesting, was the fact that the Generals and Colonels involved never lived to stand trial. A Five-Star General died in a plane crash, another of an apparent suicide, while a Colonel was killed by an unknown assailant in his home. It was way too convenient. All that being said, some good did come from it, and now the public had demanded more accountability and transparency from their military.

She heard the door swish open, and looked up as Grunmann entered the room.

"Hey," he greeted, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Hey yourself," she replied, holding his hand.

"How's the little Prince doing?" Grunmann asked, a grin on his face. Elizabeth smiled at him.

"Wonderful." He nodded. She still remembered the last time she saw him.

It was the hardest day of her life, but she knew it was the best choice. Teddy would be safe and with someone who loved him with every fiber of her being. More than one. The whole Hive loved him, and would die to defend him. She could ask for nothing better than that. Even so, it still hurt. She recalled the last time she hugged him, how Nyx and her Sisters, and the Queen embraced her as well, all at once. She even recalled that Nyx had fixed Teddy's bear, making a patch of silk that perfectly matched Bear's fur. It made her heart feel warm, and heavy as well. She felt her husband's hand on her shoulder, and looked up at him.

"You did the right thing, Beth. Teddy's safe and happy. But I miss the little guy, too. Heck, I miss Nyx and the rest. Though, I can't say I miss that little one." Elizabeth laughed as she remembered little Ellie, who liked to chew Grunmann's socks, underwear and anything she could get a hold of. Indeed, Grunmann had named her an unholy terror. She smiled as she closed down the browser.

She glanced up as the setting sun turned the world various shades of golds and pinks. She stood up from her chair, stretching.

"Where's Heather?" Elizabeth asked. Grunmann smiled.

"She should be home from school any minute," he replied.

"Let's go watch the sun set while we wait." Grunmann nodded, holding her hand as they walked to the front door.

XXX

The Hive was filled with happy purrs and trills as they finished the wonderful meal. The hunting in the forests of their world was superb. The boars that roamed the forests were succulent and tender from the moss and acorns they ate, the deer sweet and tasty. The fish were healthy and delicious, not to mention plentiful. What's more, they had learned from Grunmann how to cook and use fire and tools. They had a beautiful life and home. The Queen purred as she finished her leg of boar. She sat in the middle of the huge circle of her children, Nyx and Teddy sitting right beside her. She gave a satisfied sigh as she finished crunching the bone. She purred as she gently caressed Teddy's hair. He looked up at her and smiled.

Her lips curved upwards into a very human gesture of a smile as her hands delicately caressed her son's hair. Feelings of love and tenderness flowed across their mental link, and to the whole Hive. More so than by anything else, their Hive was bound by love, and that would never change. The Queen loved her children, and they her. They loved each other and supported one another in everything that they did. That was how a Hive, no, a family was.

With their supper finished, they turned in for the night, some extinguishing and banking fires, others lighting tiny candles they had made for light. Doors of resin were closed and sealed for protection, rounds made to ensure no intruders had came snooping. Once all was done, they all snuggled in their main room, beds of silk and resin cradled tired bodies tenderly as they laid down.

Teddy slept right next to his mother, in a bed she had made herself, just for him. Nyx and Ellie were right beside him, arms, legs and tails gently enfolding him in a tender embrace. Teddy smiled as he, Nyx and Ellie were embraced and kissed by their mother, who let her feelings of pure maternal tenderness and love flow freely into their minds, a gentle croon escaping her lips, a soft lullaby for her beloved babies, who were more precious than all the gold, all the jewels, all the technology, all the power in the Universe. They were what mattered most to her.

I love you, my sweet, wonderful children. I will always. Teddy hugged her back, kissing her on the head.

I love you, Mom. Thank you, for everything. For being my friend, for my sisters, for our home. She purred as she stroked his hair as she settled down over them, the Queen's great body acting like a fortress of chitinous armor around them, keeping them warm, safe and protected.

You're welcome, my little Teddy. I'll always be here for you, as will all the others. That was a promise that went beyond any empty words of a spoken language. It was a fact. They were all there for each other. In good times, and bad. Nobody was ever left behind, or abandoned. The Queen kissed Teddy on the forehead, one of her smaller hands gently placing his teddy bear in his arms, pulling up the sheets as Nyx and Ellie cuddled close. Gentle purrs filled the Hive as candles were blown out, last reports made with a quick thought, before the last of them curled up to sleep. Nyx purred as she slid her arms around Teddy's waist.

I love you, my little brother.

I love you, too, Teddy! You're a wonderful brother! said Ellie as she snuggled him, tail gently wrapping around his legs. More mental calls of love and tenderness flowed from all his sisters, and Teddy smiled.

Thank you all. For being there for me. Being my family. I love you all. A few tired coos were heard as the queen purred.

Goodnight, my children. Sleep well . . . said the Queen as they slipped into that ethereal land of dreams, always together, even in sleep. Always and forever.

The End

Author's note: So, here we are, finally. I hope you all have enjoyed this story. More so, I hope it's message has touched you. While I rarely am direct about such things, with such a vital message, I felt I should be: This story is about child abuse and Domestic Violence. If this story touched you, than please do what you can to help. You need not donate money, but if you can, volunteer time, donate unused clothes, toys, shoes, food, anything you can, to your local Domestic Violence shelter.

"Thou need not carry a shining sword, nor slay a tyrant like Nero. Thou can be very humble, and still be someone's Hero . . ."