Page 394 of Gladiators of the Vagabond Boxset

Jenny

“Do you like it?” Akri asked from behind me.

I was standing in the converted crew quarters that his friends had prepared for us the moment they discovered they weren’t just rescuing Akri, but me as well.

I was touched by that, and a little amused by the assumption that Akri and I would be bunking together based on a single wanted poster.

Jakar and Da’vi had worked on setting up these quarters, which they called Mate Apartments.

At least, that’s what I’d heard the big red Pretorian call them.

The mechanic didn’t say much at all, being more a man of action than words.

It was a conversion of two sets of quarters into a single apartment, allowing for a living area and a separate bedroom.

Our quarters had been converted in a hurry.

They had less than a week to work on them, but that didn’t show in the craftsmanship.

We even had a fake window installed on one wall, a viewscreen that allowed us to see the stars outside the ship, but which could also be used for entertainment if we felt like it.

It was still bare of decorations, but someone had thoughtfully placed a vase of beautiful purple flowers on the coffee table; a single splash of color.

Beyond the open door to the bedroom, I could see a big bed covered in many soft blankets and pillows, some of them handcrafted crocheted items. A lot of thought and care had gone into that area; it was very welcoming.

“I love it. I can see myself living here for sure, Akri,” I said, because I knew he secretly really needed that reassurance.

I really could, too, this was better than any apartment I’d lived in back on Earth.

This would have Akri in it, and friendship and company right outside the door whenever I felt like it.

We’d already shared a big meal in the mess hall, made by Tori, a shy, blonde human girl who was accompanied everywhere by the cutest little pink and purple toddler.

Some of the foods she made were so close to actual Earth foods that I’d been struck with a surprising little pang of homesickness.

Akri had noticed immediately, and I was fairly certain that he was now on a mission to source actual chocolate for me. What more could a girl ask for?

I’d also gotten to observe Akri interact with his best friend.

The captain of the ship had known him the longest, and they’d been through a lot together.

I couldn’t think the giant, green Lacerten was scary when I saw the way he was with my guy, the friendship they clearly shared.

I also had a vague recollection of this particular gladiator, the Beast, when I first woke up here.

It had been huge news that he’d escaped, and I’d seen special after special about him on the viewscreens in Drova’s bar.

Of course, my old boss had grunted at me that I shouldn’t get any ideas, I was just a weak little human, and escape for me was futile.

Well, look at me now—ready for my happily-ever-after with my very own superhero to love for the rest of my life.

Teenage me would have had a conniption if she heard that those silly fantasies had actually come true.

She wouldn’t have been able to wait for this future to get started, but I was grateful that I got to spend time with my mom before she passed away.

As hard as that had been, I wouldn’t have been able to survive—or appreciate—what little I had when this adventure started.

“Hey, Akri, did you know that captains are also allowed to marry people?” I asked while I shrugged out of my shirt. Walking toward our bedroom, I cast a look over my shoulder and caught the heated glint in his eyes.

“Is that so, sweetheart?” he drawled. He shrugged out of his own coat but, seeming unwilling to make a mess on the floor, went over to the door to hang it on a peg.

His eyes never left me. “Then the wedding can go through? I shall arrange it.” He grinned, his Liades writhing along his shoulders, eager to reach for me.

“But first, I believe we need to uphold another custom, this one more universal to all species.”

He reached me in two big strides, picked me up, and tossed me onto the colorful bedspread.

“We will initiate this bed, then the couch, then the bathroom. And then we’ll get married.

” I was fairly certain that initiating places was what you were supposed to do after the wedding, but I didn’t correct him.

I just spread my arms and welcomed him into them.

*

Akri

Three weeks was a long time when you wanted something as badly as I wanted Jenny to be officially mine.

I thought it wouldn’t take more than a day to get everything prepared, but Jenny and the other humans had thoroughly proven me wrong.

Oliver, as the only Earth male on the ship, had sat all of us males down and explained it, but it was still a little hard to understand.

A dress couldn’t be that hard to find, could it?

We’d stopped by the nearest planet to buy one, but now Arianna was making alterations, and Hina was growing special flowers.

Not to mention Tori, who was planning all kinds of foods.

I just wanted to be Jenny’s, now and forever.

I didn’t need all this extra stuff. That was just things.

What mattered was vowing my love and devotion to my mate. What else did we need?

Then Jakar took me on a walk around the ship, showing me the mood that clung to every corner: the happy, excited faces as everyone worked on a little part of this celebration.

We snuck a peek at Ziame rehearsing a speech in front of Abigail.

Jakar showed me Da’vi hunched over his workbench in the engine room, working on a gift.

“That’s what this is all about,” Jakar said.

“This is a celebration, and everyone is happy to share in it. That’s why Meena and I had a big celebration too, but yours is going to be even better! ”

He was right, this was more than things.

It made everyone happy to make this happen, and it was growing bigger and more elaborate by the day, but that was all right.

That was just an expression of how excited everyone was.

So I stopped trying to rush things along, though I never stopped checking with Jenny to see if this was making her happy too.

I set myself my own task, and that made time fly.

Suddenly, the day was there, and I was standing in the mess hall in the suit Arianna had made for me to wear.

Everyone was dressed exceptionally nicely, and there were flowers everywhere, including an arch that Jakar and Hina had put together.

I was standing in front of it, anxiously waiting for Jenny to arrive.

The custom was that the father of the bride walked her down the aisle, the aisle having been created by rows of chairs and tables pushed to the side to make space. Jenny’s father had passed away, so Sunder had volunteered for the job, as he was the oldest male on the ship.

Then there she was, and I could barely breathe from how beautiful she looked.

The white dress fit her figure perfectly, the long, wide skirt glimmering like stars.

She wore a radiant smile, and her eyes locked onto mine and never left.

I wanted to record every second of this in my memory, but it all became a blur.

The only thing I could focus on was her—on her beautiful face, her smile, and the love I could see reflected there.

Our vows made me feel like this was finally real.

I was going to be a man for the rest of my life, and I would share that life with her.

I would spend it here, on this ship, enjoying adventures with my friends, my family.

And when I struggled with my feelings, I knew that Jenny would always be there to help me understand them.

*

Jenny

After our dance, Akri projected a slideshow of photos on the biggest viewscreen, images he’d carefully curated from the video records of the Vagabond. These were all candid shots, in a manner of speaking, and everyone laughed or reminisced as he showed them highlights of their adventures thus far.

From the dramatic rebellion, with a beautiful action shot of the gladiators retaking the bridge—to sweet images of the various couples sharing lovelorn looks, he laid out their story for them to see.

I saw more than a few tears being wiped away and several deep embraces.

I couldn’t feel anything but pride and love for my former AI turned flesh and blood; he’d done something very thoughtful and sweet.

Hugging him for doing something in return after they’d made this big day possible, I left him to talk with his closest friend.

I beelined for the table with the drinks and food.

Tori had outdone herself with all of it, everything looked and smelled delicious.

I wasn’t the only one who had that thought; Abigail was there, piling a plate high.

The mate of the Captain who had officiated this wedding, she was also the quartermaster on the ship, handling our income, supplies, and the occasional jobs the gladiators took on.

“Hi,” I greeted her as I grabbed my own plate.

Unable to help myself, I threw a look over my shoulder to check on Akri, spotting him with his head bent close to that of the Captain as the two talked.

He was smiling, he hadn’t stopped smiling all day; it was super cute.

I felt the same way. Today was amazing, and it was just the start of many more days with him to come.

Offering to pour Abigail a cup of Aderian wine, I watched as she shook her head. “No, just some fruit juice, please.” Her tone was casual, but I hadn’t worked at a bar for over a year and not learned to pick up on certain tells. I grinned at her and picked up the alcohol-free beverage for her.

“Are you pregnant? Is that what this is?” I said as I held out the cup to her, and I had the pleasure of seeing her dark skin flush, a smile breaking out on her lovely face.

That was definitely a yes, even though she was shaking her head.

This was only confirmed by the way she cast a furtive look over her shoulder, checking to make sure nobody had overheard me.

“You are! Don’t you want to tell everyone?” I asked, excited for her. I’d already had my dose of cuddles with Terry, the newborn from Luka and Noa. He was the cutest, and imagining a half-dragon baby just made me smile; that would probably be equally amazing to see.

Abigail shook her head. “I just found out this morning, but this is your day. It can wait.” She dropped her overburdened plate on the table and grabbed one of my hands. “I’m so glad you and Akri found each other. He’s so happy, I can see it in everything he does.”

I hugged her, but I was too excited about the news of a baby to keep it in.

This wasn’t just my celebration; this was for all of us.

I’d gotten to know all the girls as they worked on making this happen.

I loved Arianna’s always cheerful spirit, she’d done an amazing job on my dress.

I adored Meena’s no-nonsense attitude, coupled with her bawdy humor.

Why wouldn’t we make this day even better by sharing that news?

I said as much to Abigail, and she hugged me again, tears in her eyes that I was certain were at least partially hormone-induced.

“Okay, okay, we’ll announce it. You are right. ”

I didn’t let her change her mind, grabbing my drink and clanging the nearest piece of cutlery I could reach against it.

“Hey, guys! Abigail and Ziame have some news! Listen up!” Everyone hushed, except Terry, who made some cute gurgling noises from Noa’s arms. When I had everyone’s attention, I pointed at Abigail with the spoon I’d picked up, and she blurted out her news.

Cheers and stomping followed immediately, and people rushed over to hug Abigail or congratulate Ziame.

The big Lacerten male had only one goal in mind: he waded through the crowd of well-wishers and picked up his mate in his arms. Green eyes glowing, he growled out, “You are pregnant? Truly?” That was when I realized he hadn’t even known yet.

When the crowd settled down, Meena made eye contact with me from across the room, a mischievous look on her face.

“Well, if we’re making announcements… I’m pregnant too!

” That started the whole round of cheers and well-wishing all over again, but this time it was obvious that Jakar did know.

I had already noticed that he was even more possessive of his mate than usual, never letting her get far enough that he couldn’t have at least one of his many hands on her.

Now, wearing a rakish pirate hat of all things, he picked Meena up and settled her on one of his shoulders so everyone could see her.

When Thorin joked that he’d wasted no time, Jakar preened and announced that he was indeed very potent, which made Meena laugh and slap him on the back of the head at the same time.

“Dude, you don’t say that, even if it is true! ”

Akri was suddenly next to me, his Liades curling around my shoulders. “So much happiness today. I’m glad we threw such a big party… Now, I’ve heard it’s customary for the bride and groom to leave early. What do you say? Ready to start this sweetmoon?”

Yes, yes, I was. And every other moon that was to follow.

THE END