Baby Cap

by Seven


Disclaimer:  Earth: Final Conflict and its characters are copyrighted by Tribune Entertainment Company.  All rights reserved.



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Housecleaning was always a disgusting chore, and Augur had gone longer than usual without doing it. Boxes littered the tabletop and floor, spilling their motley contents onto the carpets.

Augur shifted the box resting on his knee, digging through the piles of clothing in it. He frowned as something thin wrapped itself around his thumb, and he quickly drew it out. Then he stopped, and stared at it.

A cap, tiny and fitted. Sea-foam green, with tiny strings hanging from the front. Augur slipped it over his fist and studied the small hat.

He remembered the day he had first seen the cap. Lili had bought it, the one thing she could keep under control amidst the chaos after Ha'gel's death...

****

"How's Beckett?" Lili said, lurching out of the elevator.

"As well as can be expected," Augur replied dryly, his hands resting on the computer keyboard. "Where've you been?"

"Out," Lili replied cryptically. But as she passed by, Augur spied a sleek white paper bag slung under her arm. He had slipped it from her grasp before she could react.

As Lili spun indignantly, Augur peeked into the bag, keeping it out of her grasp. "Baby clothes?" he asked, wrinkling his nose.

Lili's face betrayed concern and more than a little irritation at having Augur looking at her purchases. "It's for Beckett's baby," she said, crossing her arms. "Put the bag down and stop making faces."

"You're buying clothes for Beckett's baby?" Augur asked incredulously.

Lili snatched back her bag and fished out a tiny, sea-green pilot cap. "Doctor Parks's scans show that it's a humanoid. It's going to need clothes--the poor thing can't stay naked."

Augur shrugged. "I guess you're right."

****

Many months later, Augur smiled sadly as he fondled the little cap. Liam hadn't stayed a baby  long enough to wear any of the soft, tiny garments Lili had purchased. And now Lili was gone...

They were a memory, he thought with a smile, setting the cap down carefully. A memory of Lili's kindness...