Page 13

Gendry

Are you sure about this? This is the last time I can ask before we leave .

Aldo looks up at me with a grin. Inside my head, I hear his voice. I’m sure, Gendry . It’s still a marvel that I get to hear him inside my head. Our bond has formed beautifully. I’m not sure there’s any distance we could go where we wouldn’t be able to reach each other.

I feel closer to Aldo than I thought was possible. He is my delgando, my reason for rising in the morning, the sunshine that leaves me recharged and refreshed. He is my matron , my mate, my partner. I love him.

Taking his hand in my own, I turn towards Maria. Aldo explained that the translator was broken and how I needed to reach into her mind to speak with her. Are you sure you want to come along?

Maria slaps my chest playfully. “Of course I’m sure! Like I’d let you take my grandbaby to another planet where I can’t visit.” She makes a fart noise. “As if.”

My chest feels near bursting with joy. I have my matron . I have my mother-in-law. I have my family. We’re going to be going back home where my Layperry brothers will be waiting for me. I cannot wait to see Timalah once more. I can’t wait to hug Ghenie, my Toralleh .

When the ship arrives, my stomach erupts with excited butterflies. Aldo stares at it in awe, his Mama mirroring the look as they watch it land and then open.

Three Layperry step out and I don’t hold myself back. I turn to them, pulling them into my arms. They’re dressed in their usual leather pants and harnesses and I can admit I miss wearing my usual clothes. Jeans are rough on my tail!

“Darthleem! Shuntar! Plan! I’m so happy to see you!” Having them this close reignites my connection with them. I suddenly feel less alone, like a new limb has formed after being missing for too long. It’s warm and comforting. I didn’t realize how much I needed this until I had it again.

“Gendry,” Darthleem says, looking down at my stomach in shock. “Are you well?”

“Very,” I tell them right away. I turn towards Aldo, gesturing for him to come close. Maria comes along as well. “This is my matron , Aldo. This is his mother, Maria.”

“ Matron ?” I nod my head. I can feel them inside my head, feeling for my emotions. They’re good brothers, wanting to make sure I’m truly happy and well. “Gendry, I’m so happy for you. You’ve left your home but found something greater than gold.”

“I have,” I tell him, resting my hand on his shoulder. My tail reaches out, wrapping around Aldo’s waist, keeping him close.

Darthleem, Plan, and Shuntar help us carry our bags onto the ship. They’ve brought extra translator devices and I make sure both Aldo and Maria have one so they can understand all of the Layperry here on the ship and those they will meet when we arrive on my planet. Then I stand at the opening of the ship, waiting.

There are other people who come onto the ship, ready to embark on their own exchange program. Plan and Shuntar plan on staying here for the next year. But they’re not who I’m waiting for.

Before leaving today, I stopped by Christian’s apartment. He hugged me and wished me the best before closing the door in my face. He’s always been a man of few words, but I know he’s been thinking long and hard the last few months.

“Gendry,” Darthleem says softly, resting a hand on my shoulder. “We must leave.”

“Just one more minute. Just a little longer. Please.”

Darthleem sighs. “I can give you five, but that’s it. We have to leave if we’re to stay on schedule.”

I nod my head. “I understand.”

Standing in the opening of the ship, my hands resting on my round stomach, I wait. Just as the five minutes come to a close and the doors begin to move, I see him.

“Wait! Wait, there’s one more!”

The doors halt as Christian leaps onto the ship, out of breath, face red from running. There’s a bag slung over his shoulders and nothing else. He looks up at me with his eyes narrowed.

“Don’t. Say. A. Word.” Christian says between pants, doing his best to catch his breath.

I slap him on the back, humming happily to myself. I knew he’d come, I just knew it. He might be stubborn and grumpy, but he knows his place is with us, with the family that’s adopted him into their hearts. His place is with his best friend, Miles, being the honorary uncle to Miles’ and Timalah’s children.

Plus, it’s about time Christian actually sat down and talked with Ghenie about their feelings for each other. This is a good thing.

“I’m glad you are here,” I say as the ship doors close behind Christian.

“Whatever,” he says before pushing deeper into the ship, finding his seat and strapping in. He crosses his arms over his chest and stares out the window as we set off.

I rub at my stomach, wondering if the pressure difference of moving through space is making me cramp up or if maybe I ate something weird for breakfast that’s causing indigestion.

Everything okay? You look like you’re in pain, Gendry.

I turn towards my mate, coming to sit beside him. The Earth outside grows smaller and smaller until we can no longer see it.

I think I’m okay. My stomach is hurting a bit. I must have eaten something strange .

Aldo shakes his head. You didn’t eat anything strange that I can remember.

My brows wrinkle and I’m about to suggest maybe it’s something else when my bottom half grows wet all at once. I look down at myself, my eyes wide.

“What the fuck?” Christian blurts out, staring over at me. “No fucking way. Did your water just break?”

Just as he says it, my middle ripples with a tight cramp, pain exploding through me. Oh. Oh, by the Ancestors! This baby couldn’t decide to come just a little bit later?

“I think Christian is right,” I say, holding my stomach. “I think our baby is coming. Now.”

“Now? On the ship? In space?”

Maria jumps in, reaching across Aldo and taking my hand. “Everything will be okay.” Then she turns towards Aldo. “Stop panicking! You’re not helping your partner. You need to stay calm and in control, mijo.”

Aldo nods his head. He takes a few deep breaths before turning back towards me. “Everything is going to be fine,” he says slowly, like he’s trying to convince himself. He’s adorable. “What do you need?”

I look down at myself. “New pants and some towels to clean up this mess.”

“I’ll take care of that. You just umm, breathe? Or something? Fuck, I feel so unprepared for this.”

Maria stands up and calls over one of my Layperry brothers. “I need some bottled water, some towels, some new pants for my son-in-law, and maybe a bucket, just in case Aldo throws up.”

Aldo’s face goes white. “Throw up? Why would I throw up? Is something wrong with me?”

Maria shakes her head. “Deep breath, mijo. You’re fine, but I know you get squeamish sometimes. It’s just to be safe.”

“Right. That makes sense. Fuck,” Aldo turns back towards me, holding my hands. “I’m so focused on myself. I’m being a terrible partner. Are you still okay? How’s the pain? Should I rub your back?”

I can’t help but chuckle, watching my mate flounder like this. He’s usually so in control, able to face situations head-on without faltering. Seeing him this way is amusing and helps distract me from the pains cramping my middle.

“I’m okay.” I lean forward in my seat. “You may rub my back.” I look over at Maria and she gives me a wink, knowing I’m doing this to keep Aldo busy and his mind off his anxiety.

Darthleem comes with blankets, towels, and water. Maria gently cleans me up and helps me out of my pants. I would be embarrassed if she wasn’t so lovely and kept reminding me that I’m her son now, just the same as Aldo. Christian squeezes my shoulder, silently letting me know he’s here for me as well. Darthleem keeps coming and going, making sure I have everything I might need.

I’m surrounded by people who love and care for me. What better place to bring a child into the world? They’re going to know love from the moment they join us.

I’m not sure how long it takes, but eventually the contractions running through my body intensify, coming quicker and quicker until they’re too hard to ignore. I position myself on my knees in front of Aldo’s chair, tucking my face against his stomach. Aldo runs his hands up and down my back as best as he can, massaging my shoulders.

Thankfully, by this point he’s calmed down. “You’re doing so well. You’re almost done. Our baby is almost here,” he murmurs, his voice soothing me to my core.

Darthleem and Maria are behind me, ready to catch our baby. I squeeze Aldo so tight I worry for his health as I bear down, letting my body follow the lead of my contractions.

“I see them,” Maria says from behind me. “Almost there, Gendry.”

Aldo wipes the sweat from my brow. “You’re almost done, love. Keep going. You can do this.”

My tail flicks out as pain lances through me, connecting with someone. Maria makes a startled noise and I look back over my shoulder, finding her holding her cheek. We all freeze and a moment later, the four of us burst out laughing.

“I am so sorry!”

“It’s okay, it’s fine! Just focus on getting this baby out,” Maria says with a grin.

The laughing forces my muscles to contract in a new way and a moment later, I feel our baby slide free from my body. Relief like I’ve never felt before washes over me and I fall forward into Aldo again. I’m careful to keep my tail to myself.

“Oh, boys,” Maria says, her voice soft and filled with awe. “She’s beautiful.”

I quickly lift my head and turn so I can see our baby. Maria is correct. Our baby is beautiful. She looks completely human but for the two little antennae sprouting from her head. She’s a hybrid, a perfect mix of myself and my matron .

Aldo holds out his arms, taking our baby from his mother. He cradles her in his hands, staring down at her. Maria helps clean me up quickly before helping me to sit beside Aldo. There are tears in his eyes as he looks at her.

“I love her so much,” Aldo says, his voice shaky. “She’s the most perfect little person I’ve ever seen.”

“Just like her human father.”

Aldo hands her to me and I bring her to my chest, allowing her to feed for the first time. He places his hand over mine where it lays against our baby’s back. Then he leans up and kisses my lips, conveying all his emotions in that simple kiss. I feel cared for. I feel loved. I feel cherished.

She looks so much like you. I feel so happy, delgando.

I’m happy too. I love you so much, Gendry.

“What’s my granddaughter’s name? Have you decided?” Maria asks, handing me a bottle of water.

I look to Aldo and he nods. “We’re going to call her MJ. Maria Jooth. Maria after you, and Jooth because it’s a Layperry name. She has both of our heritages, she deserves a name that reflects that.”

“Oh,” Maria breathes out, holding a hand over her open mouth. “You two,” she says, tears welling up in her eyes. I reach over and take her hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Thank you for your help. Thank you for raising Aldo. Thank you for seeing me as your own son.”

“That’s because you are,” she says, standing up so she can kiss my head, careful not to touch my antennae. Then she walks over to Darthleem, helping him get everything cleaned up.

A surprise birth on the ship wasn’t what I had planned for this trip home but neither was finding love while on Earth. Apparently, the Ancestors enjoy keeping me on my toes. I went to Earth to experience everything I could and in the process, I found Aldo.

I send up a silent prayer to my Ancestors, thanking them for guiding my path. This might not have been a traditional matrous trial , but I know they had a hand in guiding the two of us together. I thank them for everything they’ve brought me and ask them to help guide Ghenie into our future. Our trials and traditions did what they needed to do in the past, but now, it feels like times are changing. It’s time for the Layperry people to allow their hearts to lead them.

Mine has led me to Aldo. If mine can do that, I can only imagine where everyone else’s will lead them.