Leaving Saha took considerably longer than arriving.
Part of the delay was Theodore.
Dax wanted another ten minutes with him. Chris claimed Dax had already had twenty and took Theo anyway. Nayra appeared with a soft cloth book she insisted was small enough to fit in the travel bag, while Jax contributed a wooden puzzle designed for a child at least two years older and defended himself by saying Theo would grow into it.
Lucas and Trevor were marginally more reasonable.
Lucas held his grandson near the entrance to the private departure hall, smoothing the dark hair away from Theo's forehead while Trevor checked, for the third time, whether Dean had everything necessary for the flight.
"We have bottles," Dean said.
"Medication?"
"Yes."
"Extra clothes?"
"Three sets."
"Four," Matthias corrected from beside the luggage.
Dean looked at him.
Matthias remained expressionless.
"Four."
Trevor appeared satisfied.
Nero did not.
