Chapter Text
Adrian had been working on the plans for Erid’s newest biodome to protect the most vulnerable of their ecosystem from the cooling temperatures when Marble ran into his and Rocky’s workshop. Most people now only called it Adrian’s workshop, but to Adrian it would always be his and Rocky’s. He still kept Rocky’s side clean and ordered just how he liked it, ready for the day Rocky returned, and Rocky would return.
There were others that thought Rocky and the rest of the crew sent into space to find a solution to the star-killers were dead, that he should stop waiting for Rocky who was never coming back and re-mate—but Adrian never gave up hope.
There was still time for them to return, and Rocky was smart smart smart. Even if there were issues with the ship, Rocky could fix it. They would return to Erid with a way to stop their sun from being eaten.
They had to.
And even if they never returned, Adrian would never re-mate. If Rocky truly was dead, then Adrian would live the rest of his life as a widow. The others would look at him in pity, but Adrian didn’t care. He loved his smart smart smart Rocky who had built so much of their ship and was so brave to go into space when asked to join the mission because he was the best engineer.
Adrian’s thoughts were interrupted by Marble who was trying to tell him something, but their excitement made their words unintelligible.
“Why are you here?” Adrian asked Marble.
It took a few tries for Marble to calm down enough to be understood as they shouted, “It’s Rocky! He’s back!”
“He’s back?” Adrian asked.
Marble was bouncing in excitement. “He is! I was sent to inform you so you could be there to greet Rocky when he returned to Erid!”
“When? Where?” Adrian asked. All thoughts of the biodome he was working on fled his mind. That didn’t matter when Rocky was coming home. And then Adrian had another thought, “What about the rest of the crew?”
Some of the enthusiasm left Marble at Adrian’s last question. “He’ll be docking at the biggest space elevator. He’s supposed to arrive in two days.”
“And the rest of the crew?” Adrian pressed. He didn’t know them very well, but they were Rocky’s crew. Rocky would be devastated if anything happened to them.
Marble’s tone dropped. “I wasn’t told, but I don’t think the rest made it.”
Oh.
Adrian had to pack Rocky’s favorite blanket. Rocky needed all the comfort Adrian could give.