May, 2268
The door to Security Central didn’t have time to open all the way before Angel burst in at full speed to the shouts of the security guards who tried to stop her. She skidded to a stop and tried to speak, but was too short of breath.
"Angel, get out of here! This is a restricted area!"
"Hey pritty," a disheveled man muttered, shifting in his restraints before the guard standing next to him roughly hauled him off down another hallway.
Gasping once more, Angel straightened up and grinned before shouting joyfully, "Mommy just had a baby brother! And they’re gonna name him after daddy!!"
Then she ran out again, off to tell more people while the group of officers blinked at each other and started to smile.
"Frank, pull out the betting pool slips, it seems we’re about to find out who won."
"Not me, I lost a week ago when I missed the due date."
"I guessed today!"
"So did I!"
"So whoever is closest on the weight will win. Stop yapping and get back to work! The Chief’s a tad busy at the moment, you should be too!"
"Yes, sir," came a small chorus.
********
December, 2268
"Hi, love, how did - oof!" Zack took a step back from his attempt to kiss his wife hello as a small bundle was shoved into his arms.
"*YOUR* son learned how to *BITE* today!" Lyta snarled, and sulked off towards to bathroom. A few seconds later, they heard the shower coming on.
Zack stood there, blinking down at the fussing child in his grasp. "uhhhhh!"
"Um, daddy?" Angel asked from where she sat at the kitchen table, coloring. "Want me to unwrap that new sippy cup you bought a while ago?"
"Please. I think little Z might like some juice or something."
"uuuuhhhhhh . . ." the baby continued to fuss.
"Does this mean he’s gonna be start to be weaned? Mommy seemed really upset. And sore. I could feel it right through my shields."
"I think you maybe right. Come on, sweeties, I think we’ll fix something mommy really likes for supper." He gave them both a kiss on their foreheads.
"Okay, daddy."
"WAAaaaaahhhhh!"
"He’s wet, too, daddy. And it’s your turn."
Zack smiled to himself. [Blessed Chaos. How did I ever live alone?]
With Lyta’s bright red hair and gentle brown eyes, Zackary Allan Jr. was a little replica of his mother, but not as much as Angel had been. His father’s rougher features were already evident, and he was bigger and huskier than his sister had been at the same age. In other words, Zack was completely in love all over again.
"Daddy?" Angel asked a few minutes later, while helping set the table.
"Yes, love?"
"Is mommy going to be a spy, like Shawn says?"
Zack nearly choked on his fake coffee. "What?"
"Is mommy going to be a spy, like Shawn says."
"Uh – no, of course not. It’s only in movies that Diplomats are spies."
"Lair! Just last month on the news, that man who-"
Lyta came into the room and interrupted her, saving Zack some discomfort. "I’m a public relations representative for the Alliance, Angel. All I do is look pretty and keep the people who ARE spies from getting bored by talking with them, and get out of the way when the cops come to arrest them."
"LYTA!" Zack said, horrified.
"Yes, dear?" She replied innocently, toweling her hair dry.
"Oh, wow," Angel whispered to herself. "I have the best mom in the universe."
"Angel, don’t listen to her! She’s got to be kidding, right?"
Lyta smiled and kissed him. "Some. What are you making? It smells delicious."
"Lyta, I spend enough time worrying about you as is. Don’t change the topic!"
"I didn’t. THIS is changing the topic," and she buried her tongue in his mouth while climbing onto his lap.
Angel sighed, and went to look at her brother. "You’ll get used to it, little Z. They're always kissing and hugging and locking their bedroom door behind them. A credit says they don’t get supper done because they get distracted."
"aaa?" He blinked up at her uncomprehendingly.
"Deal. Shake." Angel reached into his cradle and shook his meaty little fist. Then she turned back towards the table. "Yo! Get a room!"
Lyta and Zack stopped kissing, surprised. "Angel, dear, where did you hear that?"
"From an old movie uncle Mike send you last month you haven’t watched yet. The crystal’s just over there," and she pointed it out.
Lyta, blushing, moved to her own chair, and Zack got up to check on the readiness of their meal.
"Mommy, are you not going to feed little Z like you were before?"
"I don’t know, Angel. He will take a bottle, so maybe not. He hurt me, even if it wasn’t on purpose."
"You’re not mad at him anymore?"
"No, of course not."
"Good, because he’s scrunching his face up again. His diaper’s gonna be full in a minute and I don’t wanna do it." She smiled at them innocently before going into the bedroom she shared with her sibling to play.
[Mommy,] she called back telepathically.
[Angel! You’re not supposed to do this,] Lyta replied. [It’s not fair to daddy.]
[But this way he won’t worry, mommy. Are you really going to be a spy?]
[Angel.]
[Please?]
[ (sigh) Only some of the time. And not for anything that might get me hurt or killed, ok? None of the secrets will be big ones. Please don’t worry.]
[What are you going to do the rest of the time, mommy?]
[Some of it is PR stuff, like I said. Like at the parties for the grownups that you find so boring.]
[The one you were at last week was really funny. Mr. Gideon was *all* *over* Captain Lochley. It was funny! And Dureena taught me the neatest trick-]
[Dear! No, not that kind of ‘talking’. I plan on leaving the gatherings alone, not attached to someone by the lips. Unless you dad is there, of course. (grin) What I’ll do is look pretty, and talk to people who think they’re more important than they really are, and try to let ambassadors know how important supporting – or joining – the Alliance is. But most of it is courier work.]
[You’re gonna be a delivery girl? But they have robots for that sort of stuff!]
[Robots can’t really think for themselves, and besides, they look silly in a dress.]
A few seconds later, Zack looked over at the doorway. "Any idea what suddenly got into her?"
"Not really," Lyta said. "She just started to laugh," and she grinned into her cup of fake coffee.
"Women," Zack summed it up. "Angel! Dinner!"
~~~~
January, 2269
Angel sat on the edge of her parent’s bed, sulking in every way possible. "I don’t want you to go."
Lyta sighed, shuffling papers and placing them in the bag she was taking with her. "Angel, please, don’t start this. Less than two weeks. That’s all, then I’ll be back. You were so proud of me when I was training, why get upset now? I need to use what I’ve learned, I need to start to pay back all the effort that’s been put into making sure I can do the work."
"I don’t want you to go."
"Angel, we’ve been over this many times. I have to go. It won’t be for long, and I promise to bring back something really special for you to play with, ok?"
"I don’t want you to go."
Lyta kissed her daughter’s cheek. "I’ll record a message for you every day I can, my love."
"I don’t want you to go."
Zack walked in with little Z, who was snoring softly as he dozed. "Your suitcase is checked in and on board safely. She’s still pouting, I see."
His wife nodded. "She knows I’m coming back, it’s just . . ."
"I know, love, I know." He hugged and kissed her, and held up the sleeping baby for similar attention. "Hurry back. My bed will get cold."
"I don’t want you to go," Angel whined again.
[Angel, you know darn well I’m able to whip the butts off anyone who tries to hurt me. I’ll be fine, and I’ll be back in less than two weeks, ok? Please don’t try to guilt trip me.]
[Take me with you then!] Angel looked at her mother, tears forming.
[You have school, love. It’s time to learn coping skills. I love you.]
"Bye, mommy," Angel whispered. "Stay safe!"
[I will, my Angel, my daughter. I love you, and will return as soon as I can. I can’t call you while I’m gone, but I’ll remember you and daddy and your brother every day. Hug?]
Angel hugged Lyta, and they both tried not to let tears show as Lyta walked out the door.
********
Insert a couple of years of adventures, until July ’70. Zack Jr. is 2 months and 2 years old, Angel is a month away from turning 8, Lyta has long finished her training and has worn a Ranger Uniform for past year. After an incident of saving a whole lot of people, her face was all over the news, so she was quietly retired from ‘undercover’ spy stuff. Still works as important courier.