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A slight advance in time of a few days
About three days later, Doc returned, the shuttle landing where it had been before. When the door opened, it was evident by the somber look on his face that something had gone very wrong. With him were his children, all three very Kusari looking and two of the three being identical.
"Daddy," asked the eldest, "may I take the twins over to see George and Gracy?"
"Of course," he answered, "I need to talk with Ashlea." With that, the children headed for the stable, all three almost forcing a smile with a friendly hand wave as they walked by her.
Doc hugged Ashlea and just held on for a few minutes, "I'm so sorry, Dahlin'. I had no way of knowing what I was going to run into." He held her tighter and sighed. Finally, he held her back a bit, his hands on her sides with the somber look in his face. "Their mother passed away a few days ago in child birth and they were brought to Tombstone."
Doc turned, visibly upset and sighed, "We stayed friends after we split. I warned her not to try bearing children again after a sever hemorrhage after the twins were born but she tried it with her new husband. The child lived but she didn't." He continued looking off as he tried keeping himself composed, "Emiko was so broken up and is taking it the hardest. The twins? I'm not sure they totally understand."
He finally turned back to her, choking a bit, "Dahlin' I'm so sorry for still having old feelings considering I'm about to make a life with you but if you saw that young lady's face......."
He held her tight again. "Just don't ever leave me."
After several minutes, he continued, "That wasn't the extra time though. I had to perform some emergency surgery for an old friend. Amazing how barbaric these Order agents have become."
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