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"It won't be too painful," Jake promises. "Lots of diplomatic language about partnership program success and cultural exchange benefits. You just have to stand there, look appropriately grateful, and try not to laugh when they start talking about 'unprecedented human adaptability indicators.'"

Despite my nerves, I find myself grinning. "Sounds like a typical Tuesday."

"Pretty much. Though the food at the reception afterward is actually incredible. Zeph's been teaching me about Nereidan cuisine, and it's nothing like what I expected."

As we start walking toward what I assume is the entrance to the main facility, I fall into step beside Kav'eth, our hands still linked. Jake and Zeph'hai walk slightly ahead of us, and I can hear them talking quietly in what sounds like a mixture of English and Nereidan.

"You okay?" I ask Kav'eth through our bond as much as out loud.

"I was not prepared for your former partner to be our official escort," he admits quietly. "I knew he was on the planet, but the Council did not mention he would be greeting us personally."

"But you're okay with it? With him being here?"

Kav'eth considers this as we walk. "He seems to have found happiness with my brother. And his presence will likely make your transition easier, having a familiar face available." He pauses. "Though I admit I was unprepared for the casual physical contact."

"Different cultural norms," I agree. "But you know you're the only one I want, right? Jake and I are ancient history. We're better as friends anyway."

"I am aware," Kav'eth says, his bioluminescence pulsing gently. "Though I confess I appreciate the reassurance."

I squeeze his hand. "Any time you need it."

We continue walking through corridors that are unlike anything I've ever seen, walls that seem to be made of some kind of living coral that glows softly in response to our presence, ceilings that shift and flow like water, floors that somehow feel perfectly comfortable despite being completely alien.

"This is incredible," I murmur, looking around in amazement.

"Wait until you see the residential areas," Jake calls back. "Zeph and I have a place near the water with these pools that are basically natural hot tubs. You're going to love it here, Derek."

I'm about to respond when I remember something that's been nagging at me since our phone call weeks ago. "Hey Jake," I call out, making him slow down. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"That day I called you from the ship, right before we hung up, you said something I couldn't understand. It sounded like... another language?"

Jake stops walking entirely, his face flushing red. "Oh. That."

"Yeah, that. What did you say?"

Jake glances at Zeph'hai, who gives him an encouraging nod. "I... well, my Nereidan isn't perfect yet, but I was trying to say that you deserved to be loved completely. And asking Kav'eth to take care of you."

I stare at him. "You were speaking Nereidan. On a phone call. Which means..." The pieces click together. "You knew. You knew I was with an alien."

"Yeah," Jake admits quietly. "And it wasn't a call from Earth. It was ship to ship, I was already here. I knew."

"How long did you know? Did you know I was going to get abducted?"

Jake's flush deepens. "I... yes. I knew it was going to happen."

"And you didn't warn me?" I can't keep the hurt out of my voice. "Jake, what the hell? You let me get kidnapped by aliens?"

"Because you deserved to find love too," Jake says, stepping closer, his expression becoming earnest. "Derek, you were so focused on your career, so caught up in optimization and performance, that you were missing out on actually living.

I could see how unhappy you were, even if you couldn't. And when I learned about the program, about what they were looking for.

.." He shrugs. "I thought maybe this could be good for you. Maybe you could find what I found."

I stare at him, processing the implications. "You orchestrated my alien abduction because you thought I needed to fall in love."

"I didn't orchestrate anything," Jake protests. "I just... didn't interfere with something that was already going to happen. There's a difference."

"Is there?" The betrayal stings, even though part of me understands his logic. "Jake, that's... that's huge. You basically let me get taken from my life without any warning."

"I know," Jake says quietly, his expression genuinely apologetic. "And I know that probably feels like a betrayal. But Derek, honestly, are you happy? Are you glad this happened?"

I glance at Kav'eth, whose bioluminescence is pulsing with mild amusement at this very human conversation. At this incredible alien who loves me exactly as I am, who's helping me build a life I never could have imagined.

"Yeah," I admit. "I'm happy. Really happy."

"Then you're welcome," Jake says with a grin.

I shake my head, but I'm smiling too. "You're insane."

"Maybe. But I'm insane and in love on an alien planet, so I think I'm doing okay."

And looking around at this beautiful, impossible place, walking hand-in-hand with Kav'eth toward a future I never could have imagined, listening to Jake and Zeph'hai resume their quiet conversation in a mixture of languages, I think Jake might be right about everything.

This is going to be an adventure.

The End