"They're finished." Count Vorkosigan's deep voice startled all of them. Miles wondered how long he'd been standing there. As he passed, his father gripped his shoulder for a moment. The Count's expression was unreadable.

"It's actually been about half an hour since they closed. Laisa is awake and resting. She insists that we come in to see Prince Leo." Miles reminded himself to ask Gregor if they'd picked the name before or after meeting Emperor Leo.

Aral stopped and turned to the siblings, who were still seated. "All of us." He was frowning.

"It's safe," said Alex, apparently continuing an earlier discussion. "Sebastian can't even entertain the idea. Pentacrine is a derivative of fast-penta. Raina and I have natural allergies, and Cora was artificially induced when she accepted the ambassadorship."

Felice nodded. "I'll stay here."

The operating suite seemed too large for the number of people there. There were a handful of specialists and surgeons, just the core of the original medical team. ImpSec's presence was limited to Allegre and two other men. Galeni had been assigned before, but he was off the list, being too obvious a target for Sebastian. Miles wondered how long they could ride the edge between prudence and suspicion.

On the other hand, there was an overflow of relatives, maintaining a low conversational buzz. Laisa's parents were by her bedside. Gregor, the Countess, and Ekaterin sat just behind her. The Emperor looked relieved and happy, for once leaving the worrying to the guards.

Allegre nodded at Miles and Aral as they entered. He got noticeably twitchy when Alex and Cora followed, but nonetheless gave Alex a proper ImpSec analyst salute.

There was the replicator. Prince Leo. Miles wondered at the tiny life stranded inside. Gregor caught his eye and grinned. Miles returned a wistful smile. He felt a sudden desire to have children and be a father. And yet here were his children: Alex, Raina, and Cora, Felice standing guard in the hall outside. My children... me to mine... Miles's mind was reeling. No! I am Lord Vorkosigan. They are Count Vorkosigan's children. And I belong here and now, even if it's only a time fragment.

The Countess received them warmly. "You know, Miles, this reminds me of your birthday. Of course, there weren't this many people, back then, and we were cracking the bottle---"

Allegre suddenly stiffened. Miles turned, hand on his stunner. But it was only Raina.

And Emperor Leo. The room fell silent. As they walked side by side, Miles belatedly realized that Leo, though quite tall, was actually the shorter of the two. The way he held his shoulders and eased into each step gave the illusion of a greater height. His calm bearing hinted at reserves of power held in check. Only Leo can truly stabilize Raina, Cora had remarked.

A younger man trailed them. Leo was wearing what looked like an expensive hospital gown. The other man was dressed in full Vorbarra House uniform. The two holos were careful not to step through anyone or anything in the room. Raina handed Cora a device which Miles recognized as the projector.

Emperor Leo spared a nod at his parents as the three of them came to a stop before the replicator. Allegre moved aside, stunner in hand. Alex also slipped in behind Raina, weapon drawn.

Miles felt a hand on his, and realized it was Ekaterin. Their fingers laced as they watched the scene.

"There you are, Leo." Raina said. She looked upon her husband, eyes crinkling with suppressed laughter. Only her hands betrayed her; they twitched between limp and clenched, too quickly. 'Past overload and out the other side,' thought Miles.

Raina took in Miles and Gregor's expressions. "God, I feel young again." She said to Leo. "Why, at a time like this…? Remember when Alex claimed the first dance on your behalf? You went around, all the girls waiting expectantly---"

Leo grinned. "---and led you onto the marquetry. The look on our fathers' faces…"

"At least your dad could still talk. Father was struck speechless for at least a minute. That's never happened in my lifetime."

"Good stage management," said Leo. "Though you certainly weren't expecting the ring."

Alex cleared his throat. "Time," he reminded.

Their smiles faded. Leo's arm jerked up, as though he wanted to pull Raina close. Instead, he raised it to her eyes. Insubstantial fingers moved through her hair. "You told me something, all those years ago when we walked barefoot through the North Garden. 'The death matters not, only the dying.' " Raina mouthed the words. "And I said you had to choose to live, if you meant to die well."

"As long as I live, and remember, you will live," she said.

Reluctantly Leo tore his gaze away and looked at the replicator. "Trust these people, Raina. Trust yourself. You know Sebastian's games better than anyone else. I'll let you hunt, now." He turned to the younger man. "Nikolai?"

"Yes, Father?"

"You will be the Emperor, in your own right, even though the formal title is Regent. Whatever happens, it's yours to keep or cede. It's a hell of a job, son. The only advice I can give you is: make it your own. I trust you will."

The Crown Prince stood straighter. "Yes, sir."

"You'll do fine job, Nikki. You're ready," said Raina. Ekaterin squeezed Miles's hand.

"We have transfer at T-minus thirty," Cora broke in. She had slipped on her headset. "Temporal field lock at T-minus ten seconds… T-minus twenty and counting…" A crimson light began to fill the room.

"Good luck, son," Leo said. "Raina…"

"Goodbye, love," she said.

"…fifteen and counting…" Alex and Allegre nodded to each other, and took their places next to the replicator.

"No, I'll see you again---" said Leo, as he dissolved.

Ten seconds later, the light grew blinding, and the room tilted.

Afterwards it took a few minutes for everyone to get their bearings. Ekaterin offered her chair to Cora, who had turned a shade of green from her exertions.

Alex and a technician checked the replicator immediately. "It's fine. And Emperor Leo's safe in stasis," he said to Laisa. The Empress smiled grimly in return. She looked as though she were ready to keep vigil in this room until Sebastian was safely dead.

It took Miles a moment to realize that the holo of the other man, the Crown Prince, was still present. The Regent, now. He had his parents' height, though his frame looked thin next to Raina's muscles. Though he had to be at least twenty years old, he looked younger.

"Are you going to be all right, Ma?" Nikolai asked cautiously.

Raina looked up and flashed him a sad smile. "I expect so. Don't you have, I don't know, Imperial things to do? You should get back to the office before Yzegny starts chasing his tail."

Nikolai relaxed as his mother opened up. "Heh. I'll be fine. Oh yes, I was thinking that we should hold the Birthday Dinner, as usual."

"Good. Very clever. That will keep morale up." Raina tilted her head. "In that case, Eugenia ought to accompany you."

"Mother, it's going to be an exam week at the Academy!"

"You're the Regent now, you can pull her out of class. Unless you want to open the dance with Adrienne Yzegny."

Nikolai smirked. "I'm not talking about that. Genia's not going to like it. And she hates the dress uniforms."

"She's allowed to make alterations. Tell her I said it was all right to bend the regs. Speaking of dresses, tell Anna I'll let her pick between her beaus, on one condition. She's got to wear the frilly red dress for Vincent or the light green one for Dominik."

"And I have to tell her this? Hm. The red one with the odd collar, right? Anna doesn't like that one."

"I know," said Raina, smiling. "Any alterations should come out of her allowance as usual. If she wants to match Vincent's House colors or Dominik's dress greens, then she'd better wear those. Don't worry about Anna, your aunts will back you up."

"All right. Well, the session's about over."

"Tell your brother Philip 'good luck' on his exams."

"I will. Just… behave. Okay?" Raina favored him with a glare. "Don't kill anyone you don't have to." Nikolai exchanged ironic salutes with his mother, and then bowed respectfully to Gregor and Laisa. He vanished.

Raina turned to the replicator. Her breathing slowed. She was beginning to lean towards it, arm outstretched, when Alex grabbed her. She looked at him, unsurprised. Her twin studied her for a few seconds before finally letting her go. Eyes shut, her hand touched the surface of the replicator. Miles was once more riveted by the gold ring on her finger, trembling slightly.

She leaned against it, barely breathing, for several moments. Then she straightened up and turned to Gregor and Laisa. "Congratulations. I'm sure he'll be a beautiful child."