Page 32 of Alien’s Love Child

CHAPTER 32

JESSE

T he scent of Rena's perfume mingles with the wine as we sprawl across my living room floor, surrounded by scattered datapads and empty bottles. My ceremonial dress hangs by the window, catching the light from the setting sun.

"Remember when we first met?" Rena tops off my glass. "You were trying to hotwire a junker on that satellite."

"And you caught me red-handed." I take a sip, letting the sweet burn coat my tongue. "Then helped me steal it anyway."

"Look at you now. Getting mated to a Kaleidian." She shakes her head, blonde hair swaying. "A former bounty hunter, no less. The universe has a sick sense of humor."

"Speaking of settling down..." I nudge her with my foot. "When's it your turn?"

"Please." She rolls her eyes. "You know me better than that."

"Come on, there must be someone who catches your eye. That mechanic, what was his name…?"

"The one with the cybernetic arm? Pass." Rena stretches out on the floor, glass balanced on her stomach. "Some of us prefer the freedom of being perpetually single."

"You can't run forever."

"Watch me." She grins. "Someone has to keep your old ship running while you play happy families."

"I don't know if I'd call this playing." I gesture at the dress. "This is pretty permanent."

"Good. After everything you two went through?" She props herself up on an elbow. "If anyone deserves their happy ending, it's you."

"What about you? Don't you want-"

"Nope." She pops the 'p' sound. "I've got the stars, a fast ship, and the occasional exciting job. That's all I need."

The wine warms my chest as I look at my oldest friend. "I wouldn't have made it through these past few years without you."

"Don't get sappy on me now." But her smile is genuine. "Save it for tomorrow."

"No, I'm going to get sappy, and you're going to deal with it." I sit up, wine sloshing dangerously close to the rim of my glass. "You and Paraxan kept me sane when Davin vanished. You helped me raise Leo. Hell, you've saved my life more times than I can count."

"That's what family does." Rena's cheeks flush pink from the wine.

"Remember when Paraxan made that soup for me during morning sickness?"

"The one with his fur floating in it?" She wrinkles her nose. "You ate three bowls."

"It worked, didn't it? And when Leo was colicky, he'd purr him to sleep."

"That old furball loves that kid more than his ship engines, and that's saying something."

My vision blurs with tears. "I never thought I'd have this. A real family. Not just blood relatives running cons together."

"Hey." Rena reaches over and squeezes my hand. "You deserve every bit of happiness coming your way. Even if it came packaged as a stupidly handsome bounty hunter who tried to con you."

"Life's funny that way, isn't it?"

"Hilarious." She tops off our glasses again. "But watching you two together? It's like those old stories about fate and destiny actually mean something. Plus, Leo needs someone to teach him how to shoot straight, because we both know your aim is terrible."

"My aim is fine! I took out half a warehouse full of mafia cronies!"

"Tell that to the cargo container you hit instead of that pirate."

I throw a cushion at her head. She dodges, laughing, and raises her glass. "To unexpected happy endings."

"To family," I counter, clinking my glass against hers.

My dress whispers against the wooden floor as I approach Davin. The setting sun streams through the windows of the small temple, casting his blue skin in shades of purple and gold. His silver hair catches the light, making him look ethereal. Our eyes meet, and my heart skips – just like that first time in my ship's kitchen.

The priestess, her elaborate robes adorned with traditional Kaleidian symbols, stands between us. Leo squirms in Rena's arms behind me, but settles when Paraxan starts his gentle purring.

"The path that brought you here," the priestess begins, her voice carrying through the small space, "was not straight, nor was it easy. But that is the beauty of fated bonds – they persist through the storms."

Davin's lips quirk up at the corner, and I know he's thinking of our first meeting, when he infiltrated my crew. The priestess raises her hands, palms facing outward.

"In our tradition, we believe souls recognize each other across lifetimes. They dance around each other until the moment is right, until both are ready to complete their journey together." She looks between us. "Sometimes, that recognition comes in the midst of chaos. Sometimes, it comes despite our best efforts to deny it."

My fingers twitch, remembering that rainy alley where we first kissed, when everything was complicated and nothing made sense except the way he looked at me.

"You've already created life together," the priestess continues, nodding toward Leo. "You've faced death together. You've lost and found each other across the stars themselves. Today, we merely make official what the universe has already decreed."

Davin reaches for my hand, his skin cool against mine. His thumb traces my knuckles, and in that simple touch, I feel everything we've been through. Every fight, every laugh, every moment of desperate fear and overwhelming joy.

The priestess raises her hands, palms facing upward. "Let us begin the mating ceremony. Please take your positions."

Davin's fingers slip from mine as we step apart, then face each other across the sacred circle etched into the temple floor. The dying sunlight catches the silver threads in his ceremonial tunic, making them shimmer like starlight.

"Why's everyone so quiet?" Leo's voice pipes up from behind me. "This is boring."

My lips curl into a small smile, but I keep my eyes locked with Davin's. His expression mirrors mine – that mixture of amusement and solemnity that seems to define our relationship.

"Shh," Rena whispers to Leo. "Remember what we practiced?"

"But-"

Paraxan's soft purr grows louder, and Leo's protests fade into giggles. The sound echoes off the temple's high ceiling, breaking through the reverent silence.

The priestess begins tracing symbols in the air between us, her movements fluid and precise. The incense burns stronger, filling my lungs with the sweet-spicy scent of ceremonial herbs. Davin's gaze holds mine, steady and unwavering, just like that first night in my ship's kitchen when neither of us knew what we were starting.

"Mama, your dress is pretty," Leo stage-whispers.

A few quiet chuckles ripple through our small gathering. I bite my lip to keep from breaking into a full grin, maintaining the ceremony's required silence. Davin's eyes crinkle at the corners – the closest he'll come to laughing during this sacred moment.

The sunlight paints patterns across the floor between us, and I focus on breathing, on this moment, on the man before me who started as my greatest deception and became my truest truth.

The last rays of sunlight fade from the temple windows as the priestess's hands trace the final symbols in the air. My skin tingles where the ceremonial markings wrap around my wrists, matching the ones on Davin's arms.

"By the ancient laws of Kalei, and the powers vested in me, I pronounce you bonded mates." The priestess lowers her hands. "May your souls continue their dance through this lifetime and beyond."

We stand. Davin steps forward, closing the space between us. His fingers brush my cheek, cool against my flushed skin. When his lips meet mine, the world narrows to just this moment - this kiss that tastes of promises and new beginnings.

"Is it over?" Leo's voice breaks through. "Can I hug them now?"

I break away laughing as tiny footsteps thunder across the temple floor. Leo crashes into our legs, and Davin scoops him up with one arm, keeping his other hand firmly in mine.

"What do you think, little one?" Davin asks. "Should we keep her?"

Leo nods vigorously. "Forever and ever."

"Good answer." I reach up to ruffle Leo's silver hair, so like his father's. "Because you're stuck with both of us now."

Leo's eyes go wide. "That's awesome!"

We stand there, the three of us, as our friends approach with congratulations and embraces. The setting sun paints the temple in deep purples and golds, and for once in my life, I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

The smell of Paraxan's cooking fills our small home as music plays softly in the background. Leo dances with Rena, standing on her feet as she guides him through the steps. My ceremonial dress rustles as I brace myself against against the kitchen counter, watching my family celebrate.

Davin's cool fingers brush my arm. "Come with me for a moment?"

He leads me onto the small balcony under the light of the stars. The night air carries the scent of night-blooming flowers from the garden below.

"I know it wasn't a human ceremony," he says, reaching into his pocket. "I did some research though."

"Research?"

He opens his palm, revealing a simple silver ring with a small blue stone that matches his skin. "I found this in that market in town. The merchant said it was Earth-made."

"It's perfect." My throat tightens as he slides it onto my finger. "But you didn't have to-"

"I wanted to." His thumb traces over the ring. "I've seen you reading those old Earth novels. The ones where they exchange rings."

"Those are just stories." I twist the ring, watching it catch the city lights. "I wouldn't know a proper human ceremony if it bit me in the ass. My family wasn't exactly traditional."

"No?" His lips quirk up. "You mean smugglers don't have elaborate wedding traditions?"

"Unless you count shotgun weddings in dingy spaceports." I lean into him, breathing in his familiar scent. "This was perfect. All of it."

Through the window, I see Leo attempting to teach Paraxan a dance move that mostly involves spinning in circles until he falls over. Rena catches him before he hits the ground, all three of them laughing.

"Look at what we made." I gesture to our mismatched family inside. "Who needs tradition when we have this?"

Davin's arms wrap around me from behind, his chin resting on my head. "Still, I wanted you to have something from your heritage."

"My heritage is right there." I point to where Leo has now convinced Paraxan to spin with him. "Family isn't about blood or ceremonies. It's about who stays."