Later that night, Althea finally had the time to check her luck for hiring aborgines.
Territory-related things were effective distractions from the worry of potentially destroyed friendships.
Of course, another distraction (Garan) offered to 'help', but she put a hold on it for a while. She was determined to do something productive for the territory today.
She pecked on his lips as he reluctantly watched her go. She pinched his cheek, "It's only half an hour."
He frowned and his face didn't change, it didn't help that he was a bit drunk and was thus a lot more pouty. She found it adorable and placed a few more pecks on his lips. His eyes darkened but he was holding the babies in both hands—to move to the crib, apparently—so he couldn't pull her to him.
She knew this and chuckled, before turning to look at the babies snoozing peacefully in the comfort of their father's warmth.