Chapter 49

Sati smiled as Percussion and Symphony came running at the sound of the suite doors opening. Percussion rubbed against her legs then wandered off settling on one of the chairs. Symphony allowed Sati to pick her up and cuddle her.

Sati smiled and addressed Percussion. "I know your angry with me, I'm sorry I was gone so long."

Percussion stared at her for a moment then turned away and started grooming herself. Symphony purred from her perch in Sati's arms as Sati stroked her fur, as far as Symphony was concerned Sati was forgiven.

Sati sat down and continued loving on Symphony, listening to the familiar sounds of the house. It was naptime for the children so it was relatively quiet, but she could hear someone working in the kitchen. Normally Sati shut the main suite doors, thus effectively shutting out sound, but today she wanted to hear it. The cats never ventured out, they were quite happy in the large suite, and stayed put, even if the doors were left open all day.

Sati turned on the television and checked to see what DVD was in the player, laughing when she saw the title.

"Sas and Tony must have been hanging out in here while I was gone" she thought.

She hit play and settled back, Symphony curled up on her lap and to her surprise Percussion joined her as well. Letting her know all was forgiven.

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"Why didn't anyone come tell us she was home?" Tony's voice drifted into the room form the foyer.

"She's had several hard days and some difficult decisions to make." Row replied. "I just figured she'd need some quiet time."

"To heck with that!" Came Sas's voice. Followed by what sounded like a herd of elephants rampaging towards her suite.

Sati stood up at they burst through the doors. Tony rushed forward for a hug. Sas joined them and looked her over critically, before swooping her up in a bear hug.

"Hot Rod, you look like you need some fun, your all kinds of stressed out aren't you?"

Sati smiled grimly, "Its been one of those weeks."

"Shoot woman, You've been gone more than two weeks." Sas replied. "Seriously, your looking kind of, oh, I don't know, unhappy for one, tired, and dammit woman those cloths are hanging on you, one of these days your going to disappear!"

Sati frowned. "I've been busy!"

Tony frowned back. "Mom, you gotta slow down, your gonna burn yourself out!"

Sati nodded. "Well I'm home now, I'm sure you two can help me distress. Has Cloe come back yet?"

Tony shook his head negatively. "She sent a message saying the project was taking longer than expected, so she wont be back for a couple more weeks."

Sati bit her lip. She'd been hoping for some heart to heart conversation with Cloe.

Sas eyed her. "What's wrong Sati."

Sati cocked a smile at him. "nothing." she replied.

Sas rolled his eyes. "No, it's not nothing, its something, come on I'm just as good a listener as Cloe, plus, I'm prettier." He finished, batting his eyes and posing.

Sati laughed and shook her head. "Ya big goof, sometimes a woman just needs another woman to talk to."

"Aw, come on Sati, I've got big shoulders, you need a place to vent, or one to cry, its right here. You can talk to me, you used to."

Sati bit her lip and sighed gesturing for the 2 men to sit, she sat back down on the couch, pulling Symphony back onto her lap and stroking her soft fur, as she began talking.

As she finished up Sas moved off his chair and knelt in front of her, reaching for her and pulling her towards him for a hug.

"I'm sorry you had to get through all that alone." he said against her hair. "That's a tough decision to make, and all the things that guy did, ugh.." he shuttered, shaking his head he pulled back to look at her.

Tony had moved as well and grabbed her hand as Sas pulled away.

"Sounds like you made the right choice though, that guy was just evil." Tony said quietly.

She nodded. "I couldn't blame the others for what they had done in the fire fights with the Zenti. In another time it could have been us in their place you know."

The 2 men nodded and Sas said. "Don't beat yourself up over that one guy, he was psycho, you made the right choice."

Sati nodded and sat back against the couch. "I didn't realize until today just how hard some of the thing I have to do are, the decisions I have to make, the people I'm responsible for. It scares me a little bit." She sighed. "uh, Tony, Row carried out the sentence, could you go check on him, make sure he is doing okay, I mean I know he's a soldier, Its probably not the first time he's had to execute someone but…….." her voice trailed off.

"Of course" Tony said jumping up immediately.

As he walked out Sas took his place next to Sati on the couch. "That may explain why the boy was looking kind of pale when we got home."

Sati looked up at him in surprise. "Was he?"

Sas nodded.

Sati bit her hip and stared hard at the floor, fighting against the tide of tears she'd been holding back since announcing her decision.

Sas sighed and pulled her onto his lap, as he wrapped his arms around her she burst into tears, burying her face in his neck so sobs wracked her body.

"Let it all out baby." Sas said gently, his large hands soothing on her back.

Finally her tears stopped and she took a deep breath, sat up, and wiped a hand across her face.

Sas smiled at her. "Feel better?" he asked.

She smiled tremulously "Not really."

He laughed and wiped away some of the tears from her face. She looked up at him, surprised by the gentle touch. His eyes were dark and sympathetic.

Impulsively she leaned forward and kissed him, and was surprised by the feelings that hit her as her lips touched his. She pulled back quickly, her eyes sought his and saw her surprise mirrored there. Though his was a the kiss, while hers was at the desire to do it again that consumed her.

"Sati?"

"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that" She stammered, trying to get up. Sas tightened his arms around her.

"Why are you sorry Sati? I've been waiting for years for you to kiss me."

Sati's eyes widened in surprise at his words

"Only in my dreams, it wasn't so quick" He went on.

Sati sat completely still staring at him. Sas slid his hand up her arm and cupped the back of her head, pulling her towards him.

"I've always imagined a kiss between up lasting a little longer" he said just before his lips met hers again.

Involuntarily Sati's arms slid around Sas, and her fingers found his hair as she pulled him closer. A flame lit inside her and she felt desire for him sweeping though her. Their tongues met and gently fenced each other, and finally after a while they pulled apart.

Sati's eyes were emerald, the desire and passion consuming her showing in her eyes.

Sas's eyes were dark, filled with an unnamed emotion and his face was flushed. Sati could feel the affect the kiss had had on him from her seat on his lap. His fingers stroked her face, his thumb brushing across her lower lip.

"Uh, Mom." Tony said from the doorway.

Sati started in surprise and sprang from Sas's lap. "Yeah?" she questioned

"Rows okay, he's kind of going through some of the stuff you are too. You might want to go talk to him, he thinks your upset with him."

Sati sighed and nodded and headed out to talk to Row.

Once she was clear of the door Tony turned on Sas. "What the hell was that?" He demanded.

Sas shifted uncomfortably. "You know how I feel about your Ma, she kissed me, I kissed her back, it was amazing."

Tony shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose in an unconscious imitation of Sati. Sas chuckled at the similarity.

"I swear Tony, you may not have any blood in common, but you sure as hell are her kid!" he laughed.

Tony lowered his hand and glowered at Sas. "I don't want you to hurt her Sas."

"You know better than that Tony, I would never hurt Hot Rod. Truth to tell, I'm the one who'll probably get hurt here. But I don't care. I'll take whatever she'll give me."

Tony shook his head. "Your on dangerous ground Sas. I know you love her, you know she doesn't even know what she wants right now, you, Dax, it could get messy."

Sas folded his arms across his chest. "I've been waiting for Satin for seven years. I'm NOT throwing in the towel now that I might actually have a fighting chance."

Tony sighed.