My first Nation fanfic. Please R&R.

-Beth M

~LINE BREAK~

Daphne's father sat on the beach of Nation. His daughter was tending to a new arrival at the Women's Place, and Mau stood a few yards away, standing guard against the night. The man was staring up into the stars, still marveling at the changed constellations, so different from those in the Northern Hemisphere, those in England.

Daphne…

She hadn't seen him watching her, that night at the top of the stairs. She hadn't seen him staring past her at the two coffins. His beloved wife, and his newborn son, old before their time.

She was so much tinier in death than she seemed in life…

"The stars are bright tonight," Mau said, never moving his eyes from the horizon.

The king started; he'd forgotten he was there. But he followed Mau's gaze up into the night, and saw what Mau saw: the path of stars to Heaven, the path the perfect took.

The father smiled. Perhaps that was the path his baby child had taken, too young to sin. Perhaps that was the path his wife had taken, too old to dream of evil.

Perhaps they were watching from Heaven now.

Far off into the sea, a dolphin leaped.

~Line Break~

That was… interesting, to say the least. Let's just say that I didn't see this coming, okay?

Review please!

-Beth M