Epilogue

THEY HAD A FINE DINNER. BEN MADE CREOLE, THOUGH JOSEPH INSISTED on doing the roux himself, convinced that kava flour needed the attention of a master. They all stayed up late, talking, laughing. Dad wandered off to bed after a time, Jake doing the same not long afterward, a handful of holovids and a bowl of jumja ice accompanying him. Judith followed, pronouncing herself too full of creole to stay awake. They’d all be leaving soon, too soon; Jake had gained some very adult perspectives in his brief absence, and was itching for some space to stretch into, to explore further. Jude and his father both had lives to get back to. He would miss them, but was glad for the time they’d shared, and for the time they had left.

While Kas gave Rebecca her last feeding, Ben closed everything up, savoring the simplicity of it all. He loved the house, loved shutting the doors and windows, loved turning out the lights and feeling its quiet spirit settle in for the night. It was the house he’d dreamed of, and that Kas had built it

it was all the more special, knowing that what she had done was out of love, out of a readiness to be his family.

They went to bed, talking softly about nothing important as they got ready, as they slipped beneath the coverlet and Kas tapped the light panel at the headboard. Outside, a gentle wind blew across the silent fields. They held hands, facing each other, their fingers touching beneath their sleeping daughter’s feet. Ben took a deep breath, in-haling the warm, baby scent of her, feeling it fill him up. Kas smiled, at Rebecca and then at him. He smiled back. In her sleep, Rebecca splayed her fingers, then relaxed them.

This is home, he thought, watching as Kas’s eyes closed, listening as her breath became deep and even, much slower and deeper than Rebecca’s. A part of him would always be in the Temple

but he was where he belonged, where he needed to be.

And where I’ll soon be needed. The Prophets had revealed as much before letting him go. What was happening, what was going to happen to Bajor and its people, was of great importance to Them. His role wouldn’t be easy; he’d need the help of old and new friends. Kira, of course, and Dax

and Eli, who’d been set on a course by the Prophets that led him to DS9, that sent him to meet Benny in the Temple. Because he’d needed help, himself

but also to remind Ben of his own humanity, to show him how to follow his lifeline back to his own people.

Elias, he reminded himself. Elias Vaughn. He smiled. The commander had already called him “Benny,” more than once.

All that was later, though. Soon, but not now. For now, he decided that in the morning he’d make a big breakfast, flapjacks and eggs and juice, fruit and sausage, coffee

maybe he’d talk Dad into doing up a fine batch of his spicy home fries, too, Jake loved them

Life was in the details, he thought, and thinking it, fell into a deep and peaceful sleep, at one with himself and the people he loved.