Page 11

Gendry

“Christian?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have any of those round green things? The ones that burst when you sink your teeth into them? They’re sweet and juicy? I forgot the name but I would like some sooner rather than later if you have them.”

Christian opens the fridge and pulls out a bag, handing it over to me. “They’re called grapes.”

“Grapes! Yes! Thank you so much.” I pop one into my mouth and immediately moan in pleasure. Oh by the ancestors! Nothing has ever tasted as good as these grapes. They’re pleasing me the same way scratching an itchy spot would feel.

“What’s gotten into you lately?”

“What do you mean?” I ask, tilting my head to the side. “Am I acting strangely?”

“Kinda? It’s hard to put my finger on it,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me. “You’re having strong cravings, you’ve been kind of touchy feely lately, and I caught you crying during a movie the other night.”

“It was an emotional moment! The two characters finally found each other in the crowd, Christian! It was beautiful!”

“Mhmm. Right. That makes total sense.”

There’s a sensation at the back of my brain, telling me that Christian is right. But what could it be that’s different? Things with Aldo are going good. Better than good, things with him are perfect.

Yet there’s something different.

I look down at myself, trying to take stock of my body. My tail flicks behind me in irritation, slapping a paper plate off the counter and onto the floor.

“Sorry,” I mumble, bending down and picking it up. That’s when I notice something. My stomach. My stomach has a soft swell to it that wasn’t there before. I’ve apparently gained weight while I was here.

I place a hand on my stomach. Christian makes a strangled noise, his eyes widening.

“What? What is it?”

“Oh my god. No fucking way,” he says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I did not think I needed to give you the safe sex talk, Gendry!”

“The sex I am having is very safe! No one is getting hurt! There is always plenty of lubricant and consent!”

Christian makes a growling noise in my direction. “Not that! I mean, have you been bottoming without Aldo wrapping it up?” I tilt my head to the side. Before I can ask what that means, Christian continues. “Have you guys been using condoms? The little plastic thing you put on your dick so that your cum doesn’t go inside someone? You know, the love juice that makes a fucking baby?”

That makes a baby .

Oh.

That would explain the cravings, the heightened emotions, and the weight gain. That would explain everything.

Oh my gods. By the Ancestors! I’m pregnant with Aldo’s baby!

“How can this be?”

Christian groans as he covers his face with his hands, rubbing at his eyes. He looks up at me. “Okay, so when two people really love each other…”

“No, not that. I know the mechanics. I just didn’t think. I am just surprised. I should have known better, knowing that Miles and Timalah conceived but I wasn’t thinking.”

I knew we were capable of breeding with other species but the thought never even crossed my mind with Aldo. As far as I know, this baby will either be human, Layperry, or a hybrid.

I lean against Christian’s counter, slowly eating his grapes as I try to process what I’ve just learned. Placing a hand on my stomach, I do my best to connect with the life inside of me. There’s a small blip of something, small and gentle. They don’t reach back so they’re either human or a hybrid incapable of telepathic bonds. Just feeling them like this sparks something inside my heart.

The feeling of love and adoration washes over me. This little life inside of me is still so new but already, I love them, whoever they might be. They’re a part of me and a part of Aldo. They’re the product of our love for each other.

“Are you umm, are you okay? Are you happy? Do you like, need anything?”

“Christian,” I say slowly, looking up at him. “I am happy . I did not think this possible but now that it is happening, I could not contain my joy even if I wanted to.”

“Okay. Cool. That’s good.”

I step away from his counter and pull him into a tight hug. He makes a surprised noise before patting my back.

“There, there,” he says, making me smile at how awkward he is around affection. I pull away, holding him at arm’s length.

“Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for being my friend.”

“Umm, yeah, whatever. It’s no problem.”

“It’s a big deal to me. Miles is very lucky to call you his best friend, Christian.”

His face takes on something wounded. “I miss him,” he says, just barely loud enough for me to hear.

“I know you do. Which is why you should come back with me.”

“I didn’t belong there. I’m alone here. Gendry, what am I supposed to do?”

“You come back with me and make yourself belong. I heard a saying when I met Aldo’s mother. Live life balls to the wall. Stop holding yourself back from feeling, Christian, and yes, I’m talking about Ghenie.”

“Fuck you,” he says right away but there’s water in his eyes and a smile on his face. “Fuck you for being so insightful. Fuck you for making me think I could actually have a place. Just, fuck you, man.”

“That’s Aldo’s job but I appreciate the gesture.”

Christian shoves me away and chuckles to himself. “You should umm, probably go talk to him about this new revelation huh?”

“Oh gods, yes!” I look down at the grapes in my hands and he snorts.

“Take them.”

“Thank you! Wish me luck!”

“Good luck, but I don’t think you’ll need it.”

I rush from Christian’s home over to Aldo’s knocking on the door and waiting. I bounce from foot to foot, anticipation making me giddy all over. I feel like my heart is soaring through the clouds. I don’t think I’ve ever felt joy like this before and I cannot wait to share this joy with Aldo.

Aldo opens the door, a wide grin across his lips when he sees that it’s me.

“Aldo! I have to talk to you about something. It’s important.”

Aldo holds out his hand and I realize he’s waiting for the translator. Shit. It’s in my apartment. I barely give Aldo time to grab his keys before I’m tugging him outside and towards my apartment door.

Once inside, I quickly find the translator and hand it over. Then I pull both of us over to the couch in order to sit down.

“Sorry,” I say, rubbing my fingers over Aldo’s hand which is in my lap, my other hand still clutching my bag of grapes. “I just really needed to speak with you.”

“That’s okay. Is everything alright? Whatever is going on seems really sudden and has you on edge.”

“I’m not on edge. I am excited !”

Aldo’s shoulders relax and he breathes out in a way that makes me realize he was nervous. I guess I could have gone about this in a less stressful way but now that I know what’s going on, I can’t contain it. I need Aldo to know.

“Well then, don’t leave me in suspense. What’s going on, Gendry?”

“I have some news that I need to tell you. Don’t worry, it’s good news. The best news. I hope you’ll agree.”

Aldo pulls my hand towards his face, kissing my knuckles. “I’m listening.”

There’s no better way to break news than to be swift and to the point. No holding back. No mincing words. “Aldo. I am pregnant.”

I watch Aldo’s face, my stomach clenching as his entire body seems to lock up with shock. This whole time, all I’ve been feeling is joy but now I’m realizing that maybe this joy isn’t shared. We never talked about this. By the Ancestors, we haven’t even fully talked about whether Aldo would like to join me on my journey back to Deltourah.

Have I completely blundered this moment?

Aldo stares at our hands for a long time, processing the news. Finally, he blows out a long breath through his nose, his brown eyes darting up to meet mine.

“This isn’t something I even thought was possible,” he says, his voice achingly soft. “I think I’m in shock.”

“Oh, Aldo. I am sorry to have sprung this on you this way. I was so excited that I didn’t think about how this must be for a human. I have always known I was capable of carrying my young, every Layperry is.”

“Right,” he says, nodding his head. “You sort of told me that when you talked about being intersex. I just didn’t realize. I just didn’t think. Shit, okay. Yup. This is totally happening. For sure, for sure,” Aldo begins to mumble, his free hand coming up to rub at his eyes.

“This is a lot,” I whisper. “Maybe this is too much?”

Aldo shakes his head. “It’s not. I’m just trying to wrap my head around this. I never thought about having children, especially because two cis gay men can’t have biological children together. I just assumed I would always be the kickass gay uncle to all my nieces and nephews.” He squeezes my hand.

“Are you okay?”

“I think so. At the very least, I will be okay. I guess this is how my mom always feels when I throw her plans for my life out the window and do my own thing,” he says with an amused snort.

I wrap my other arm around his shoulders, tugging him towards me. He wraps his arm around my middle, putting his head against my chest. He listens to my heartbeat and I wonder if he knows that it beats for him, for our baby.

Tentatively, Aldo’s hand moves lower, resting against my stomach.

“I can feel them,” I say softly. “Already I can feel their lifeforce, feel some of their newfound emotions and I love them so much, Aldo.”

“I can’t believe we’re having a baby together. Will they be purple?” Aldo’s voice is barely above a whisper but I can hear the way his emotions have changed. He’s no longer surprised, instead he sounds like he’s in wonder at the idea of starting a family with me. It’s enough to bring tears to my eyes that I quickly do my best to blink away.

“I don’t know,” I say with a wet chuckle. “I can’t seem to get them to reach back to me telepathically so I have a feeling they’re not fully Layperry . Maybe human or a hybrid. Hybrids can come in colors, the same way Layperry’s do. If they’re human, I have a feeling they’ll be this beautiful shade of brown that you are.”

“I’ll have to learn more about the Layperry ,” Aldo says, his hand rubbing little circles against my stomach. “I want to know everything so I can be a good dad to them. You’ll teach me, right?”

“Yes,” I say right away, emotions welling up inside of me. “I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” A single tear slides down my cheek, landing on Aldo’s head.

Aldo pulls away in order to look at me. He makes a soothing noise and cups my cheeks in his palms. “Hey, you’re okay. What are these tears for?”

“I’m just so happy,” I tell him. “I am happy that I met you, Aldo. I’m happy that we are together. I am overwhelmed by how happy I am for our baby.”

“Oh, Gendry,” Aldo breathes out, pulling me close so he can kiss the tears from my cheeks. Then he kisses my lips achingly gently. “Gendry, I’m happy too. I still need a little time to take this news in, but I promise you, I am very happy. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Truly?”

Aldo smiles. “Yes, truly. Gendry, I love you.”

My mind goes blank as the words refuse to register. It’s like Aldo is speaking a completely new language, one my translator chip can’t seem to figure out. I stare at him for a long time before it finally hits me square in the chest.

Oh.

Aldo loves me. He loves me!

“You love me?”

“Yes,” he says simply, his thumbs carefully wiping my face. “I love you.”

“You are making me cry,” I say but we’re both smiling. “I love you too, Aldo. I love you so much and I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I will do everything I can to keep your heart from hurting. I promise to love you until I’m called to the stars with my Ancestors.”

“That’s a big promise, big guy,” he says with a warm chuckle. “I promise to take care of you and our baby to the best of my ability.”

Aldo shifts from the couch onto my lap. My hands go to his hips, holding on tight as he kisses me, cementing our confessions with a kiss. I’m swept away in the feeling of Aldo kissing me, his hands on my body, his soft whispered words.