Page 22 of Alien’s Love Child

CHAPTER 22

JESSE

T he morning sun streams through the viewport of our latest ship, casting a golden glow across Leo as he zooms his toy spacecraft around the galley. His giggles echo off the metal walls, bringing a smile to my face as I prepare breakfast.

"Mama, look! We're going to another adventure!" Leo swoops the toy in elaborate patterns.

"Just like us, huh buddy?" I ruffle his silver hair, so much like his father's. "What's our destination this time?"

"Space pirates!" He crashes the toy into my hip.

"I thought we were the good guys now," Davin says, ducking through the doorway. His blue skin gleams in the artificial light as he scoops up Leo, tossing him into the air.

"Higher, Daddy!"

I slide a plate of protein cakes across the counter. "Breakfast first, space adventures later."

"But Mama-"

"Listen to your mother," Davin says firmly, settling Leo into his chair. "Even space pirates need fuel."

Leo attacks his breakfast with gusto, syrup dripping down his chin. "Can we stay here longer? I like the purple trees."

Davin and I exchange glances. We've been on this moon for three weeks – longer than anywhere else since we ran.

"We'll see, little star," I say, wiping his face. "Maybe a few more days."

"I still haven't picked up any chatter from them," Davin murmurs, his hand finding mine under the table. "We should be safe here for now."

I lean into him, watching Leo recreate a space battle with his fork. Several months of running, of late-night ship changes and close calls, but our son thinks it's all one grand adventure. Maybe that's the greatest gift we could give him – turning fear into wonder.

"More syrup please!" Leo brandishes his empty fork like a sword.

"What do we say?" Davin prompts.

"More syrup please, space commander sir!"

I laugh, reaching for the bottle. Some things never change, no matter which corner of the galaxy we hide in.

I trace my finger along the nav display, the familiar star patterns bringing back memories. "You know, we're not far from Rivina. Beautiful little place - waterfalls that glow in the dark, floating markets."

"Another smuggling hotspot?" Davin raises an eyebrow, cleaning up the remains of breakfast.

"Actually, no. That's what made it perfect for certain... discretionary shipments. The locals mind their own business, but they're kind. I delivered medical supplies there during the drought two years ago."

Leo looks up from his toys. "What's a waterfall, Mama?"

"It's like... remember the shower on the last ship? But bigger, and prettier, and outside."

"Can we see it?" His eyes light up.

I catch Davin watching me, his expression thoughtful. "What do you think?" he asks softly. "Rivina's pretty far from the regular patrol routes."

The possibility settles in my mind - a real home, not just another temporary hideout. "Leo needs more than ship cabins and quick getaways. He should have friends his age, maybe even school someday."

"But?" Davin prompts.

"But staying in one place..." I run my hands through my hair. "It's risky. If they find us-"

"We can't run forever, Jesse." He moves closer, his voice low enough that Leo can't hear. "We've got enough credits saved. I could find work in security, you could-"

"What, become a respectable citizen?" I snort. "I wouldn't know where to start."

"You could start by teaching Leo to swim in those waterfalls you mentioned."

I watch our son, making explosion sounds as he crashes his toys together. He deserves more than this perpetual chase across the stars. "The northern continent has these amazing mountain ranges," I say slowly. "Small communities, mostly farmers. Easy to blend in."

Davin leans against the counter, his expression softening as he watches Leo play. "You know this is the right choice. Not just for him, but all of us."

I smile at the thought of playing family with Davin. "The great bounty hunter, settling down?" I bump his hip with mine. "What would your old military buddies say?"

"They'd probably die of shock." He pulls me closer, his arm warm around my waist. "But I've missed enough of his life already. And yours."

Leo crashes his toy ship into Davin's leg. "Daddy! Be the bad guy!"

"Sorry, kid. I'm retired from being the bad guy." He scoops Leo up, settling him on his shoulders. "How about we be explorers instead?"

"Like Mama?"

I laugh. "More legal than Mama's old exploring."

"We could get a place near those mountains you mentioned," Davin says. "Something with a yard. Maybe even a workshop where I could teach him to fix ships."

"And a garden," I add, surprising myself with how much I want this. "I always wanted to grow real food, not just hydroponics."

"A garden?" Davin's eyes crinkle. "Never figured you for the farming type."

"Hey, I'm full of surprises." I tap his chest. "I've spent so much of my life in sterile space, dirt is just so appealing now. Besides, someone needs to teach our son that food doesn't just appear in storage containers."

Leo bounces on Davin's shoulders. "Can I have a tree house?"

"We'll see about that, little star." I reach up to steady him. "First we need to find the right place."

"Rivina," Davin says firmly. "Let's do it. We can start looking for property as soon as we land."

The certainty in his voice makes my heart skip. After months of running, of watching over our shoulders, we're choosing something different. Something permanent.

The blocks clatter against each other as Leo stacks them higher and higher, his tiny tongue poking out in concentration. Davin steadies the tower with one hand, his movements gentle despite those battle-hardened reflexes.

"Red one next," Leo demands, shoving a block into Davin's palm.

"Where should it go?" Davin asks, and my chest tightens at the tenderness in his voice.

"Top!" Leo bounces on his knees, nearly toppling the whole structure.

I trace the edge of my PerComm, the property listings for Rivina blurring together. The Lightyear gang isn't known for letting go of grudges. Even when they find out we destroyed Xander's data, they'll want revenge for the betrayal. For the embarrassment.

"Mama, look!" Leo's voice pulls me back. "It's bigger than Daddy!"

"That's quite the achievement. What are you building?"

"A castle. For us!"

Davin catches my eye over Leo's head. He knows that look on my face, the one that means I'm running scenarios, plotting escape routes. Old habits.

"Your mother's thinking too hard again," he says to Leo, but his words are meant for me.

"We can't just pretend they won't find us," I whisper.

"No." He hands Leo another block. "But we can't let them steal his childhood either."

The tower sways dangerously as Leo adds another level. Just like us – one wrong move and everything could come crashing down. But watching them together, seeing Leo's face light up when Davin praises his engineering skills, I know we can't keep running. Some risks are worth taking.

"More blocks!" Leo demands, and I join them on the floor, choosing a blue one that matches Davin's skin.

The mountain air hits my lungs, fresh and clean, so different from recycled ship atmosphere. Our boots crunch on the gravel path leading to the weathered stone house. Wildflowers dot the surrounding meadow, their purple petals swaying in the breeze.

"And what brings you folks to Rivina?" The property agent's PerComm clicks as she inputs information.

"I'm Mira," I say, the practiced lie flowing easily. "My husband Kane works in deep space communications maintenance. We're looking for somewhere quiet to raise our son."

"Space maintenance? That explains the..." She gestures vaguely at Davin's blue skin.

"Kaleidian engineering programs are the best," Davin says smoothly, adjusting Leo on his hip.

"I'm Captain Leo!" our son announces proudly.

"Oh, he's precious." The agent laughs. "Playing pretend?"

"He loves his space adventures." I ruffle Leo's hair. "Don't you, sweetie?"

"Shh, Mama! We're undercover!" Leo stage-whispers, making the agent coo.

The house itself is perfect - sturdy stone walls, large windows overlooking the valley, and enough land for that garden I've been dreaming about. The previous owners left years ago, letting nature reclaim parts of the property.

"The nearest neighbors are two kilometers that way." The agent points north. "Perfect for privacy, though the isolation isn't for everyone."

"It's exactly what we're looking for," Davin says, examining the security system. "The solitude will be good for my work."

"And the mountain air will be wonderful for Leo's health," I add, maintaining our cover story. "The station we were on was so industrial."

"Well, the price is negotiable, given how long it's been empty." She taps her PerComm. "Shall we discuss terms?"

Leo squirms down from Davin's arms, running to the window. "Mama, look! Purple trees, just like before!"

I catch Davin's eye and smile. Maybe this time, we really can make it work.

The mountain breeze carries the scent of fresh-cut wood as Davin and I arrange furniture in what will become Leo's room. Our son naps downstairs, worn out from "helping" us unpack all morning.

"This doesn't feel real," I say, smoothing the star-patterned blanket across Leo's new bed. "Having an actual house. Staying in one place."

Davin pauses in mounting a shelf, his tools spread across the floor. "You know what's stranger? I actually want to stay."

"Really?" I lean against the doorframe, studying his profile. "The great wanderer, ready to settle down?"

"Trust me, I'm as surprised as you are." He secures the last bracket. "Growing up, I couldn't wait to leave. My family had this estate on Kalei - generations of military service bought a lot of land. But it felt..." He gestures vaguely.

"Suffocating?"

"Exactly." He tests the shelf's stability. "I used to climb out my window at night just to look at the stars. Drove my parents crazy."

"And now?"

"Now?" He crosses to where I stand, his fingers brushing my hip. "Now I look at this place, and I see possibilities instead of walls. A home instead of a cage. Some place to call my own."

"That's... surprisingly poetic for you."

"Don't get used to it." His smile softens. "But thank you."

"For what?"

"For this. For Leo. For giving me something worth staying still for."

I stretch up to kiss him, my hands finding familiar purchase on his shoulders. "We make quite a pair, don't we? The smuggler and the bounty hunter, playing house."

"Playing? I'll have you know I'm very serious about my domestic duties." He pulls back, mock offense on his face. "I'm going to be the best damn gardener this mountain's ever seen."

"You keep telling yourself that, spacer."