Page 103 of All You Need is Alien Love
“Remember,” Mom says softly, “if you don’t want to complete Tentaculum Gestarium, you can opt to end things before they progress any further. You’re well within the safety window for that.”
A hush falls over the room.
“Uh… this has kind of become a super personal medical matter,” River says, getting to shaky feet. “Could we have some privacy?”
I nod to him gratefully, and the med tech as well as our family members exit the room.
When it’s finally just River and me, I move to one of the chairs and pull him into my arms, letting out two more of my tentacles so they can wrap around him too.
Intuitively knowing what I need, he strokes my tentacles and clutches me tight. By degrees, my body starts to relax, releasing the tension I’ve been holding.
“Better?” he asks.
I nuzzle his neck, closing my eyes. “Thank you.”
“Good. So… uh… this Tentaculum Gestarium is the Iyaran equivalent of a pregnancy?”
I sigh. “In simple terms, yes. But reproduction is quite different among my species. Our biology is radically divergent. We prefer to think of this process as one of gestation rather than pregnancy. Our birthing process is completely distinct as well.”
River squeezes my hand. “Cool. I can use the preferred language, babe. It’s totally your body, your gestational choice. I’ll support you one hundred percent.”
I search his guileless green eyes.
“And if I decide I want to go through with this gestation, how would you feel about that?”
Rationally, I know this has got to be shocking to him. He’s so much younger than me, and his own childhood might make him reluctant to dive into the role of a parent so early in our marriage. Yet I hope he can look beyond all that and see the beautiful gift the universe has given us.
His answering smiles is brighter than a supernova, and I realize I never should have been worried for an instant. “Kai Genaro, I just completed that damn Sanctioning Ceremony with you not too long ago. No matter what happens, you’re stuck with me for the long haul. I’ll support you and your choice. If you want us to be parents, then I’m ready to step up and put my dadhat on. Granted, I don’t exactly know how to be a dad but I’m sure we can figure it out. Together.”
My hearts flutter and my tentacles coil happily around his waist. His words mean so much more to me than I can begin to express right now.
“Are you really willing to be a parent?” I ask, wanting to be absolutely certain. “It’s a lifelong commitment. I know it’s something we talked about as a possibility in the future, like maybe adopting, but this is a whole other story. If the timing isn’t right, I don’t want to force you into something you could resent me for.”
Even if I already know that I want to go through with this gestation. How could I not? The very idea of children that would be part of both me and River fills my hearts with joy and eager yearning to meet them. What happened could very possibly be a onetime occurrence and I don’t want to lose this chance to have offspring we created together.
But what if River isn’t ready for that?
Not long ago, he said he might be prepared to be a parent someday, but neither of us thought that someday might happen so soon. Galactic gods, we’ve only known each other a few months. We just got married and haven’t even had our honeymoon yet. But now we have a huge, life-altering choice in front of us.
River continues to pet my tentacles, his eyes warm as he studies me. “Kai, I can handle whatever the Time Lords, or galactic gods, or any other all-powerful beings of the universe may decide to throw at us. I was prepared for that when I agreed to marry you.” A nervous laugh escapes him. “And if they decide to launch triplets at us like terrifying but awesome asteroids of fate, then by golly, we will rise to the challenge.” He huffs loudly, a determined gleam in his eyes. “In fact, we will be the most epic dads in the entire universe!”
My hearts ache with so much adoration and deep appreciation for this remarkable man. River always finds the bright side to any situation, no matter how challenging or terrifying. And he’s ready to stand unwavering by my side, no matter what comes our way.
There’s no one else I’d rather co-parent children with.
“By the galactic gods, I love you. I would cross all the galaxies in existence just to be with you.”
“And I would walk five hundred miles for you,” he says, waggling his eyebrows.
I arch an eyebrow. “Seems less impressive.”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s a song reference, boo. I’ll explain it all another time. Suffice to say, I’m down to be a dad if it’s being a co-dad with you.” He reaches up a hand and cups my cheek. “And trust me, there’s no way in hell I would ever resent you or the totally epic kids we make together.”
My whole body warms with happiness. “Epic, huh?”
He sniffs haughtily. “Of freaking course. How could our children not be the most amazing ever? As if you even had to ask.”
“Naturally. How foolish of me to question that.”
