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Chapter 6[]
Dead Man's Hand: Family Values[]
Lazy S Ranch
Ia Drang, Kowloon
Bucklands Province
Lyran Commonwealth
October 7th, 3057
"You could have picked somewhere less... rural." Liz complained.
"It's your families holding." Joker pointed out as she lounged on the patio, trying to enjoy a decaffeinated coffee, "Consider it payback for making me drink this swill."
"Too much caffeine can be bad for the baby." Liz pointed out, "One cup of regular coffee or tea per day. And you can consider that an official ruling as the Duchess."
"My Loki is in the barn, you realize?" her guest pouted, "Liberté, égalité, fraternity!"''
Liz simply smiled, reaching into her pocket.
"You even think of lightning up one of those around me, while forcing me to go into caffeine withdrawal, and I will kill you." Joker warned.
"Sorry, force of habit." Liz took her hand off of her cigarette case.
"So's my caffeine habit." Joker decided to change the subject, "So, how's Roshak in the sack? Those 'enhance' genes worth the questionable philosophy?"
A stream of ice tea shot forth from Liz's mouth as she almost chocked in surprise.
"Excuse me?" she managed to asked between sputters.
"Oh some on: I've seen the way he hovers around you like an overly protective dog marking his territory." Joker smiled coyly, "With my hormones all over the place, I've been wondering if I should have taken him up on the offer of some zero-g nooky when I had the chance."
"Nathan... propositioned you?" Liz asked, somewhat shocked.
"He's a man, I'm an apparently somewhat attractive woman... when I don't resemble a crashed DropShip." Joker shrugged, "And it's my understanding that Clanners have a far less restricted view on recreational sex."
Liz started to say something, then stopped herself, and thought carefully.
"I don't exactly have anything to compare him to." The Duchess admitted, "But he makes me happy."
"Then take my advice, don't let go of that." Joker reached down and placed a hand on her swelling abdomen where her unborn child was growing, "You never know when that happiness will be ripped away from you."
"You don't talk about your..." Liz started, then realized that she didn't know how to finish.
"Alex was a tech in the militia we were training. One night in a bar just of base, he asked me to dance, and the rest is history." Joker admitted, "I didn't exactly plan to fall pregnant, certainly not so soon, but... if there was ever someone I could see myself settling down with, it was him."
"We are far too young to be talking like this. Or, at least, I am." Liz shuddered, "Are you sure Nathan will be okay?"
"Worried about your big, strong Star Colonel?" Joker couldn't help but laugh, "Don't worry, they'll bring him back to you in one piece. Or, at least, the bits that matter."