Page 106 of All You Need is Alien Love
He slumps in his chair in relief. “Thank the galactic gods for that.” He stares at my lower abdomen. “So tell me how this is going to work.”
My grandma chimes in again. “Like we’ve said, we’re going to have to go back and consult some records about men who underwent Tentaculum Gestarium in the past, but my vague recollections of the history books are that it’s exactly the same as what happens with women of our species. Female Iyarans do not have vaginal births like human women do. Because we possess apouch that contains our tentacles, not unlike a marsupial pouch among certain species on this Earth, the prenatal chambers gestate the embryos as they remain attached to the fifth tentacle, which is the one positioned furthest inside our bodies. The other tentacles act as protective shields while the embryos are gestating. This takes several years. Noticeable changes to the body only occur in the final year of gestation, the fifth one. At that point, when the embryos transition from their embryonic state to a fetal one, the fifth tentacle eventually emerges from the body to ensure there is sufficient space for the prenatal chamber to expand. It gradually evolves into a larger, fluid-filled natal sac to grow outside of the body. This is the most vulnerable period in the gestation. Eventually, when the gestation is fully complete, the natal sacs rupture and the baby emerges.”
River stares at her, unblinking, through this whole explanation, and I feel my cheeks flush. I’m oddly embarrassed about all of this, and I don’t quite know why, but my mom grins at River.
“But you see, the thing is, Iyarans generally go back to the waters of our home world when it is time for the external period of gestation to end and the baby to be born. Iyaran children are born with tentacles, and it is most natural for them to first emerge from the sac into water.”
River’s eyes are as wide as the flying saucers he loves. “Holy space balls, Batman. We’re going to get to travel in outer space and go to your home planet?”
I nod. “As long as this gestation goes to term successfully.”
My father adds, “You’ll need to leave early in the final year when the fifth tentacle descends from the body. Kai will be vulnerable at that time and won’t be safe on Earth with that showing.”
River’s eyes sparkle and he is so excited that he looks like he might explode out of his seat any moment now. “This is sofreaking amazing. We’re gonna get to go to outer space and travel to your home world, and we’re going to have cute little Iyaran babies with adorable little tentacles!”
He’s gushing now, and I feel an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude.
I should have known River would be able to handle something like this. I know he’s young, but he is wise beyond his years, and so adept at adapting to whatever life throws at him. Also, his serious love for all things sci-fi is a daily blessing in our union.
He’s going to make an amazing father to our kids.
River beams at me. “Okay, boo. I’m feeling much more chill about all of this. We have five years to prepare and read as many parenting books as we can get our hands—and tentacles—on. I mean, I’m going to be so much more ready at twenty-seven than twenty-two.” He winks at me. “We’ve totally got this, babe.”
“And we’ll be here to help the whole way,” my mom says.
“Us too,” Melody and Chris add.
“And me!” Grandma Iris declares. “I’m not leaving Earth until it’s time for my great-grandchildren to be born. Your grandpa will just have to deal with it or come and join me here. Who cares about work when there are great-grandbabies on the way!”
Our families are clearly over the moon about all of this.
My mom’s always wanted grandchildren but thankfully never put any pressure on me or Mal. My grandmother, however, is rubbing her hands together with glee at the prospect of three great-grandchildren right out the gate.
From the ecstatic look on her face right now, I have a feeling I might, not so secretly, become her favorite grandchild for a while, just because I’m gestating her great-grandchildren.
But that’s fine with me. River and I are going to need every bit of help she and the rest of our family are prepared to offer.
Besides, my grandmother is nuts about kids and always has been. She was only able to gestate my father, even though she’d wanted more children. Unfortunately, there had been complications with her gestation, and she was never able to have any additional offspring afterward. I’m pleased to know that she’ll be able to enjoy watching her great-grandchildren grow up, and I fully intend to make use of her services as a babysitter when River and I need a break—or just a nap.
Despite the challenges ahead, I’m relieved to know that I have so much of my family here to support me. Melody and Chris also seem ready to step up to the plate, which is going to mean so much to River. They couldn’t be there for him when he was growing up, but I think they can go a long way toward making that up to him with their grandkids. With someone else, I would worry, but I know my sweet River won’t be jealous. If anything, I think his parents being grandparents to his kids might be just the kind of healing experience he, and they, need. Already, I can envision Family Bonding Nights in onesies with River, his parents, me, and our three little munchkins.
I’m a little surprised to find I can hardly wait.
Holding River close, I take it all in. So much has happened and so fast, but right now there’s a sense of optimism and hope in the air that’s energizing.
Our children will be the first of their kind in the universe—that we’re aware of, anyway. We will have to take a lot of extra precautions to keep them safe. It’s all incredibly overwhelming thinking about the future, but I find I’m calmer about it than I maybe ought to be. Like with so many things, as long as River is by my side, I know we can do whatever needs to be done, and we’ll be just fine.
One of the tentacles still in my pouch wraps protectively around the prenatal chambers, and I smile.We’re going to be phenomenal parents. The universe better look out!
EPILOGUE
A few months later…
River
“What are you doing, dearest?”Kai asks.
I flip another page ofWhat to Expect when You’re Gestating. “Just getting a little bit of research in while we wait.”Who’s quietly panicking while seeming to do research? Not me, that’s for sure.
