This is wonderful. Angsty and rich and the quintessential Rygel, who was changed by his experiences just as the others, though maybe not as obviously. And Rygel *would* be the one to hold it together, afterward, the only one of them capable of compartmentalizing and making practical decisions... and there is still that hint of grief and guilt, because Rygel loved the baby too.

You thought it was Aeryn's blood. You did.

I love how you added to the backstory, what happened with Aeryn and D'Argo and the baby, the circumstances behind Chiana's apparent decision to leave Moya. I beta'd that fic and I think this is a fabulous companion to it, though kickass enough to definitely stand on its own merits.

This was a fantastic read. Thank you so much for writing it.