In Kazon society, their marriage wouldn’t even be allowed, Anara had said… Among the Ocampa, even though they would be largely ostracized, at least no one would say they couldn’t be together. No one would think they were like… objects, just because of their gender. No one would doubt that they were married just like anyone else. After all, why else would two women (or two men) take on the burden of being all but outcasts if they didn’t love each other that much?

”…You want to claim her, don’t you?” Tresit finally spoke as they walked.

Kes stopped and looked at him. She was a little taken aback, but managed to hide it quickly. ”…Not exactly… but yes.” Kes admitted. ”How did you know?” She asked.

”It’s easy to see…” Tresit told her softly. ”I don’t know much about… things like that. But I know enough to tell.” He told her, looking like he was thinking very hard about the subject, trying to figure it out. ”What did it mean, ’not exactly’?” He asked.

Kes sighed and continued walking with him, making their way through the rocks. ”It’s just… it’s different where I come from. People don’t claim each other… it’s more like… friends, just… a lot closer friends.”

”Well… however it works… I want you to know that I think it’s good.” He told her. ”You make her happy… even more than Lanam and I do. She smiles all the time now… I think you should claim her… or whatever the other word for it is.” He told her.

”…You do?” She asked softly.

”Of course. Why not?” He asked. ”If it’s because you’re not Kazon, I don’t think that should matter. Some people think it does – my uncle hates other races. I think he’s wrong though. I think he’s wrong about everything and right about nothing.” He pronounced bitterly. ”…And I think father would have wanted mother to have someone to protect her, if he couldn’t anymore.”

Kes smiled fondly. ”She’s got you, you know.” She told him softly.

”…I’m not enough. It’s obvious I’m not, and I was stupid to think I could be. I’m small, and young… I’ll grow to be strong one day, if I survive that long, but… that’s not today. And even then, it… I’m her son. It’s not the same. It’s not enough.” He told her.