40. Libby

"Isee the shuttle!"

Turning around, I step closer to the edge of the balcony to see where my daughter Lea is pointing. A smile forms on my face when I see the shuttle she's pointing at.

They're home. My children are home.

Lea is all but bouncing. "Can we go meet them?"

I laugh. "Of course we can! Just don't get too close until they've landed."

"I know, I know. We do this every year." And then she's off, rushing down the stairs and racing towards the shuttle.

At least she didn't jump off the balcony and fly there.I think to myself.

The first time that Sarai had done something like that, it had nearly given me a heart attack. Logically, I knew they could fly just fine and weren't as breakable as humans. But the mom in me absolutely panicked at seeing her baby suddenly launching themselves off a flight of stairs.

Once I had sufficiently calmed down and made Sarai promise to never do something like that without warning me, Hyx had a good laugh. "They're all going to do that."

From then on out, it had been a house rule to not jump off high places. Most of my children had listened to that rule.

For a long time, I was so worried about my kids flying around the property. It almost knocked me over when they began flying the nest, though.

Somewhere in my heart, I knew not all of them would want to stay here. As much as it was a place of rest for me, they hadn't had the chance to experience life beyond Jwoon III. And so, as much as it hurt, I let them go and hoped they returned safely.

We'd raised our kids to be strong, and they prevailed. They'd become explorers, scientists, doctors, teachers, mothers, fathers, and so many other wonderful things. As a mother, I couldn't hope for more.

Well, maybe except to see them come home every now and then. And thankfully, they did. Some came back more than others, but they all came at least once a year. On the anniversary of the day we were given this safe haven and left here in peace.

We call it Gathering Day.

I walk quickly to try and keep up with Lea and reach the shuttle. As we walk, I look around and take in our growing home.

More houses had been built up as the children had gotten older. Some of them had decided to come home for good, while others only stopped by.

There were also other structures like the dining hall and schoolhouse and communications tower. That last one had been built by Osian and I to better reach our family wherever they may be in the galaxy.

The landing pads and small shuttles had been another great feat of ours. Raylia had recruited some of her friends to come back with her and help us build it all. We really looked like a cozy port town now. It might sound like a lot, but with our Ishani lifespan, we have time to accomplish great things.

"Come on, Mom. Everybody's already there!" Lea shouts.

It's true. Most of the family is already gathering around, with Sarai at the front shouting out instructions. Though Hyx and I will always be the patriarch and matriarch of our little paradise, Sarai handles most of the day-to-day leadership by this point.

When there is a problem, Sarai has a solution. When there is a squabble amongst siblings, Sarai sorts them out. When we need supplies from somewhere else in the galaxy, Sarai makes some calls.

Lea and I reach the landing pad just as the shuttle touches down. It is one of Kai's ships, one he always uses to take the family back home for Gathering Day. He owns a whole fleet of shuttles and has made a small fortune for himself hauling cargo.

The ramp opens, and my children start coming off the shuttle one by one. And some of them even hold their own children in their arms or by the hand.

Grandchildren. I have grandchildren.I think in awe. How many lifetimes had I dreamed of having something so wonderful?

We all rush to greet each other in a flurry of hugs and shouts of greetings. I squeeze all my children and son-in-law's and daughter-in-law's and grandchildren tightly as I can, savoring every second.

As much as I hate seeing my children leave me, I'm so glad so many of them have found their fated mates. Seeing them as happy as I am always brings me joy. And, of course, it means more grandkids for me to spoil.

And it's not all just family that my children bring home. Sometimes it's friends, too.

Raylia may have no interest in finding her mate, but she loves bringing her friends along. Which unexpectedly led to Sarai finding her own fated mate one Gathering Day.

"Mom!" a voice calls out. I look around until I see my little Vin bounding up to me. I rush to meet her and squeeze her even more tightly than the others. This has been her first year away from Jwoon III. Like all her siblings, it had been hard to let her go.

I pull back from her and look her over. Before I can speak, she starts talking, counting off a finger as she lists each item. "I've been eating well. I haven't gotten in, or started, any fights. I get a full night's sleep, and my studies at the university are going great!"

I laugh. "How did you know what I was going to ask?"

She snorts. "I heard you ask the others enough times that I know the list by heart."

I let out a long sigh. "I suppose you do, but you know how I worry."

"Do we ever," Kai says as he gets off the ship last. I pull him into a hug.

"I especially worry about you," I say teasingly. "My little troublemaker."

He scoffs. "Mom, please, I've grown out of that."

"No, he hasn't!" his mate calls out.

We all laugh at that.

"Alright, everyone," Sarai calls out. "Gathering Day is tomorrow so we have a lot to set up. I'll assign teams to clean, cook, set up decorations and tables, and corral children."

"We should have come tomorrow," Kai mock-whispers to Raylia, who snickers.

"Kai, Ray, you two are on cleaning duty," Sarai says, a smile on her lips.

By the evening, we've all stopped for the night and are gathered around a bonfire eating a late-night meal.

I cuddle up close to Hyx, and he wraps his arm around me.

"Look at what we made," I murmur.

He smiles and nods. "It really is incredible. There were so many times when I never thought we'd get any of this. But now that we have it, it's better than I could have ever imagined."

It really is. We have eighteen children so far – I'm still not certain I'm done, and with our advanced lifespan, I don't have to decide yet. In addition, we can claim thirty grandchildren and lots of friends and mates. All of us are here together, celebrating.

My children are showing their own children around, their eyes wide in wonder. It makes my heart melt to know the next generation will love this world as much as we do.

The next day is Gathering Day. We celebrate the whole day, eating food, lighting sparklers, and telling stories. Some of our kids even give us gifts they brought with them.

As the sun starts to set, we all gather at the ravine overlooking the lake. Hyx and I stand in front with all of our family before us.

"Today we celebrate the homecoming of our family members who have gone off on their own journeys," Hyx begins. "And we also celebrate the wonderful gift of this world, fifty years to this day exactly. Of the place of solace we can call home."

I speak next. "By now you all know just how much I worry when one of you gets the bright idea to up and leave me."

They all laugh at that.

"But I'm so proud of the men and women you all have become. Of the lives you've made, and the mates and friends you've brought to us. I imagined a thousand possible lifetimes that I could have had, but none of them compare to what we have here. Let us never take for granted the laughter and togetherness we have now. This is the life I would choose over and over again. I love you all, my family.."

Everyone begins to cheer. It is nearly fully dark now and so Raylia starts to shoot off the fireworks she brought

As we all gather to watch, I realize something. Though I'm not having as many children anymore, I'm mostly content to let my kids make babies and bring them to visit. But those kids will have children of their own, and then they'll have kids, too. On and on and on.

A legacy. We've truly built a legacy here. And what a remarkable legacy to have built.

As I look over all my children, I see a bright and beautiful future. A new generation of Ishani even greater than the last.

I take Hyx's hand in mine and together we look upon the wonderful life we've created for ourselves. A life of peace and happiness and love.

What could be better than that?