The Rim was stunning in its fierceness. On any given planet, humanity and etiquette clashed with the harsh reality of eking out an existence without the comforts afforded to Core dwellers. But the harsh truth of life on the edge of the verse allowed for fulfillment and exuberance in its willing colonists that couldn’t be duplicated in the monotone world at the center of civilization. True intoxicating joy can never be felt without an understanding and acceptance of eventual grief, pain and loss. Beauty was a green shoot pressing forth from dried cracked earth, a flushed face and cry of release from a young and willing partner or sunset watched with and aching back and sleeping, well fed children.

Beauty was a 15 year old girl shaking her fist at the powers that be and running, not away, but towards her life.

**************************

The day he moved Lily and Nana into the little house, it rained. The skies split apart and soaked the world. They spent the day grimly running their meager belongings from his father’s ancient transport to the small watertight home, then they rode back to his parent’s place where they stood before the Town Authority with dry palms and no expectations. Abby watched her youngest son. He looked so solemn, shame he didn’t know yet.

The day the two children (God above! So young, but so genuine) actually discovered what she saw, clear as spring water, would be a beautiful day indeed.

***************************

As the Authority asked their intentions and they answered honestly, Lily suddenly felt unnerved. She was no fool. Young, yes. Naïve, of course. But she had a baby on the way and was marrying a man seven years older for the sake of saving face in a town that knew the truth. She didn’t care about herself. Ethan was nice, smart. He asked her opinion of things not necessary, considering her answers on worldly topics with gravity. He made her laugh at herself, at him, at the inanity of the ‘verse around them.

It hurt deeply that her family wasn’t there. Nana was there, looking on proudly, but the lack of her parents and only brother on her wedding day seemed achingly tragic. Her dress was old and too large. Her hair was frizzy and wet. She wore no make-up and held no flowers, only Ethan’s calloused hands. She kept her eyes on the Authority as he spoke, fearful to take in the solemn faces of Ethan’s parents. She heard the door to the Cobb house opening and closing, suspecting that Ethan’s mother was coming and going. Couldn’t blame her for being overwhelmed at the plight her youngest son had put himself in. Lily felt a sting at the back of her throat. ~*Don’t let me cry*~ she repeated over and over in her mind. Praying for distraction, it arrived perfectly in the form of a small child’s giggle.

She startled at the sound and turned her head slightly to see where the child had come from. She expected to see Nana and Mr. & Mrs. Cobb. The sight that met her sidelong glance almost stopped her heart.

The living room was filled with people. It took her only a moment to realize that they were all the Cobb boys and their families, those that had them. The men jokingly jabbed at each other, making silent taunts at Ethan. The women observed the happenings with misty eyes and small smiles, sharing knowing glances and occasionally flicking the ear of an errant child or husband. The children stood in various poses from romantically fixated preteen girls to clearly repulsed young boys, but they were all respectfully silent…except for one small boy in Abby’s arms, giggling as his grandma kissed his head. Abby looked up and met Lily’s surprised gaze, and smiled.

Somewhere above the roaring wind of astonishment in her head, she vaguely heard the Authority say, “So…Congratulations you two!” This proclamation was followed by whoops and hollers more befitting a raiding party of a thousand than of 4 grown men…and their father.

Ethan gave her hand a light squeeze and she turned to look at him. His gray eyes seemed to apologize to her for the ruckus his brothers’ made and he gave a small shrug.

“Welcome to the family, Lily.”

She looked around her, at the sea of welcoming faces, swept away by the deluge of warmth radiating from them. They all regarded her expectantly. She knew she had to say or do something, so she did the most natural thing. She burst into tears.

Collectively all the men in the room, except Ethan, took a sizable step back while the women surged forward, cooing and comforting. They whirled around her, hugging and soothing, until she felt as though she were floating, spinning apart. Ethan tugged her hands lightly to draw her closer and get her attention.

~*Are you okay?*~ he mouthed. Gravity returned and she stood in her body once more. As the tears coursed down her cheeks, she nodded at him and smiled. She was a kite, flying on currents of emotion yet tethered safely, her fingers entwined with his. She shook her head and a flush crept up from toes to hair.

“Oh! Look at me,” she murmured to the group surrounding her. “I’m a mess!”

She pulled one hand away from Ethan to wipe at her cheeks, gripping harder with the other. Someone produced a tissue, she gave a whispered thanks. “I must look a fright! I didn’t know that all you would be here…I just guess…it’s all a little much. I should have worn something grander, something beautiful, but I just…”

Ethan pulled her to him, not quite embracing her. He had been raised with men. God knew his mother tried with all of them, but she was no fool. Romance and love were things to be mocked. Words were tools only, to forge a purpose. He was never eloquent, wasn’t meant to be, but this girl and her need pulled the best from him.

“Aw hell, Lily. Why waste the money on something pretty to wear when you’re the most beautiful thing here.”

She smiled. She closed her eyes and hesitantly rested her head on his shoulder. She breathed in. She breathed out. She felt beautiful.

**************************

As autumn waxed and waned to winter, Lily swelled. Her new sisters’-in-law dropped by with maternity clothes and well wishes. She began to work for Ethan’s brothers, on occasion, in varying capacities, waving clients or balancing accounts. Nana took over many of the household chores for her, creating a home out of simple walls and furnishings. She kept busy, never spending more than a moment on thoughts of being married, but separate.

Ethan gave her space. They spent the evenings together, with Nana, talking and laughing, retiring to their separate rooms with an easy hug or small chaste kiss. At some point they broke through being friends to become family, even with the occasional argument rearing up. Courtesy gave way to honesty; pleasantries became candid wisecracks and quips. Affection between them became more natural, but still, their thoughts never strayed far from the truth. This was all for the little soul they had yet to meet.

***************************

The first tracking job Ethan contracted with the Alliance took him off world for two and half weeks. A shipment had gone missing on a planet in their quadrant and they needed someone who could find their way through tough terrain. The squadron they sent to pick him up couldn’t have found their way back to their own ship without a guide.

After the first few days out, he realized he had nothing in common with any of them. Homesickness was a constant twist in his gut, gnawing and niggling at him to the point of distraction. The only true release from its grip was during the long days focusing on the surrounding landscape, searching for clues only he could see. No one traded wits with him, his dry humor lost on them. In the evenings, he found himself an out of the way place, away from the constant light and movement of their camp, where he could stretch out and stare up at the ‘verse around him. Try as he might, he couldn’t pick out home.

He closed his eyes, picturing the small house with its tidy porch and yard. When it brought him no comfort, he visualized the inside, placing the kitchen table just so in his mind. Nothing. The ancient rocker and much abused sofa in the living room, with the stain – there – from the night about a month ago that he fell asleep holding a cup of brew. Empty. The hollowness of longing still consumed him.

‘Just things anyway, I guess. Why the ruttin’ hell would a stained couch make me feel better? Spilled that damn brew everywhere!’ he absently pondered to himself. Lily and Nana had seen him nodding off, knowing the inevitable outcome, but they just stifled their giggles and let it happen. The instant the mug had slipped from his lax fingers and covered him in lukewarm alcohol all pretenses vanished. As he jumped up startled and swearing, the women had doubled over in fits of hysterics. Shock quickly gave way to a brief surge of anger, which in turn, was extinguished in the torrent of laughter. God, he could still picture Lily, one hand curved over her belly, the other alternately wiping at her eyes or pounding the table in fits, actually snorting! When she finally composed herself enough to look up at him, dripping, shaking his head, she smiled warmly.

“Y’all are just evil folk, you know…” and that just set them off again. He could hear Lily’s laugh clear as crystal. He saw her face, eyes closed tight, nose wrinkled up, hair falling loosely around her face…

He fell asleep full.

**************************

The seven cases of God only knew what were found with two surprised enlisted men in a well-appointed cave. Ethan figured the fugitives thought they could hole up there for a couple of months, then scoot off with their bounty. As his momma would have said, they thought like lint. Within twenty-four hours all of them, and the cases, were back on the shuttle, heading into the black. Twenty-one hours after that he stood, in the dusky evening, just yards away from his own front door with a pocket full of more money than he thought he’d ever see at his age…and a promise of more contracts to come.

He waited for the feeling of homesickness to slack. He was home, steps away from the door. He walked up the steps and stood, hand poised to grasp the handle. Anxiety stilled the movement, bringing his heart to his throat. This was just a place. He broke out in a cold sweat. Only a roof and walls, no comfort. What the hell had he been missing all this time?

The door swung open.

“I’ll just run over…waddle over… and drop it off to her, Nana. I’ll be…” Lily turned to walk through the doorway and let out a blood-freezing scream. Ethan stepped back and his eyes went wide. Before the scream died in the air, she clocked him upside his head. He ducked another blow…

“Oh!! Ethan! Oh my God!! You scared the hell outta me!” She clutched her hand to her neck, and then realized what she had done. “Oh! Oh, Ethan! I’m so sorry, I didn’t expect you to be there…”

He looked at her, her blue eyes wide, cheeks flushed appalled at her actions. The cold void vanished instantly. Warm chuckling bubbled from him as he stood and wrapped his arms around her. As she encircled him with her own arms, she tilted her face up towards his and furrowed her brow. He kissed her forehead. She smirked and gently shook her head, never taking her eyes from his. He kissed the tip of her pointed nose. She held the corner of her lip between her teeth. He smiled, and kissed her lips, fully. She closed her eyes and whispered, “Welcome home.”

“Mmm…I surely do have a beautiful home.”