Page 50 of Alien's Love Child

Footsteps pad down the corridor, and Jesse appears in sleep shorts and an oversized shirt that slips off one shoulder. For a moment I'm pleased I let them bring their luggage on board. Her hair's a mess, curling wildly around her face. Something in my chest tightens at the sight.

"Leo, what did we say about bedtime?" She crosses her arms, but there's no real heat in her voice.

Leo, still pressed against my chest, waves at the viewport. "But Mom, look! Tyren's teaching me about the stars. Did you know there's special fruit on Kalei that changes flavor while you eat it?"

"Time isn't real in space anyway." The words slip out before I can stop them. "The stars don't set or rise here."

"Don't encourage him." Jesse's eyes meet mine, and something flashes in them – recognition, hurt, hope? The mate bond pulses stronger, and I have to look away.

"He's right though." Leo bounces in my arms. "No sun means no bedtime."

"Nice try, spaceman." Jesse steps closer, close enough that I catch the faint scent of engine grease and something floral. "But growing boys need sleep, even in space."

"But Mom-"

"Bed. Now." She holds out her arms, and I transfer Leo over, trying not to notice how our fingers brush in the exchange. "Say goodnight to Da- …to Tyren."

"Night!" Leo wraps his arms around Jesse's neck. "Can we have space fruit tomorrow?"

"We'll see." Jesse's voice softens as she carries him away. "Sweet dreams, little star."

I watch them disappear down the corridor, my hands still warm from where they touched them both. The name feels wrong now – Tyren. Like wearing someone else's clothes.

The smell of coffee draws me to the kitchenette. My steps falter at the doorway as Leo's giggle echoes off the metal walls.

"No, Mom, you're doing it wrong!" He waves his spoon like a conductor's baton. "The spaceship goes whoosh, then zoom, then kaboom!"

Jesse arranges protein cubes into a pattern on his plate. "Oh, excuse me. I didn't realize I had a flight instructor at my table."

"I learned from the best." Leo beams at her. "Remember when you showed me how to dodge asteroids?"

"That was a simulation, mister. And you crashed into every single one."

"Did not!"

My head throbs. A flash of Jesse in the captain's seat, giving orders while Rena's hands dance over controls as she guides us through... No. That never happened.

The mate bond pulses, and Jesse's head snaps up. Our eyes meet across the room. The spoon slips from her fingers, clattering against the table.

"Good mor-" she starts.

I turn and walk away before she can finish, my boots heavy against the deck plating.

Hours later, I'm organizing supplies when voices drift from the cargo hold. Curious despite myself, I follow the sound.

"And this goes here?" Leo sits cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by spare parts. He holds up what looks like a burnt-out power coupling.

"That's right." Jesse helps him connect it to something that might have once been a data pad. "Now we just need to route power through-"

"The auxiliary battery!" Leo finishes. "I remember. You showed me how to fix the com unit last time."

My vision blurs. Jesse's hands covered in engine grease, Par teaching me the peculiarities of the ship's systems. The proud smile when I improved the shield configuration...

The memory slams into me like a physical blow. I stumble back, knocking over an empty crate.

"Are you okay?" Jesse stands, concern etched across her features. "You look pale."

"Fine." The word comes out rough. "I'm fine."

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