I tapped keys on the hyper-relay while Talia watched approvingly. There was a short pause, and the screen lit to show Beth and Sarah, sitting side by side in the conservatory, sunlight streaming through the glass. Sarah no longer had her baby bump - I smiled to myself as I remembered her insistence that my sticky fluid must be good for her stretching skin, and could I come here please? Instead our newborn nestled comfortably at her breast, cradled in her arms.
Beth on the other hand was still very much pregnant, and she waved as she saw our faces appear. "Hi, you two."
The view on our screen split, the other half now showing Marie, the UN logo in the corner of her display. In the background I could see Francesca, headphones on, obviously busy with simultaneous translation work, and she lifted a hand in greeting.
"How's everything going?" asked Marie.
Beth was the first to respond, putting her hand on her stomach. "Well, she's kicking like anything - I wish you could feel, Tim - so she must really want out."
She grinned. "Of course Charlie's volunteered to take me to the hospital if you can't make it in time, so you'd better make sure you get back here when I call, Tim."
"I will," I promised. "How about you, Marie?"
She'd accepted a temporary post at the UN to coordinate between the Terran authorities and Talia's people during the reconstruction. Before they were pushed back, the Magellans had managed to deploy a handful of their asteroid-based weapons, and we were still coming to terms with the loss of New York, Berlin, Delhi.
Marie nodded. "For once the political maneuvering is at a minimum, and we have portals set up to receive essential supplies in most places they're needed."
She glanced aside, then back to the camera. "What's the news from the front?"
Talia and I were on a warship patrolling the newly-agreed Magellan border, watching for incursions. Thankfully the Magellans seemed to be complying with the terms of the agreement, but we were taking no chances. "We'll be here for a few more weeks yet, until the permanent bases are established."
"OK. Well, I'd better get back to it - speak again tomorrow?"
"Definitely."
Marie gave a final wave before the image of Beth and Sarah grew to fill the whole screen again. "Is there anything you need?" I asked. "Mum and Dad can drive down anytime."
Beth shook her head. "You know what I really want, but the war comes first."
She glanced at Sarah. "Anyway, when little Jacob's finally down for the night, we know how to make one another comfortable, right, Sarah?"
Sarah nodded a little shyly. "Wouldn't do to get out of practice."
I took a deep breath. "If there weren't a couple of hundred light years between us, I'd be seeing if Jacob was ready for a nap right now..."
"Maybe we can call you again later," Beth offered with a knowing smile. "You've not forgotten that night you and I had to sleep apart before we both left home, have you?"
I opened and closed my mouth. "As long as Talia doesn't think it's a misuse of military communications," I teased.
Jacob started to cry, and Sarah gave a resigned smile. "Better find out what he needs."
"OK," I said reluctantly. "But we'll talk later, remember."
"Can't wait."
I closed the connection, and Talia put her arms around me. "I know you miss them. We're still off duty for a couple of hours - what was that word Beth used? Perhaps we could make one another comfortable for a while."
I chuckled. "I love the way you never stop picking up new phrases."
I kissed her, lightly at first then losing myself in her golden eyes as she responded to my lips on hers. "Mm..."