“How much longer will it be?” I ask him because I do not wish to interrupt the captain right now.
“Probably a little while longer. Meanwhile, you and I can talk some more.” Dr. H’looder leads me to the lift that will take us to his ship’s landing bay, where they will eventually bring Davies to me.
“I think it’s safe to breathe again,” he comments to me as we walk.
I know he is trying to lighten the mood, and I do appreciate it, but I am in no mood for smiles.
What I need is my mate safely in my arms, so I can check for myself that he is unharmed.
So that I can hold him and hear his breath and taste his lips.
This has taught me a valuable lesson in fear and waiting.
Procrastinating.
Life can move ever so quickly and fate is fickle, indeed.
As Davies himself might say, screw my family.
Screw Colarmin.
Screwcontracts.
Thatis something I never in my life dreamed I would ever say, especially with such passion and conviction.
“You two love each other a lot, don’t you?” Dr. H’looder asks.
I nod. “I am certain he is my mate.”
I do not understand the melancholy expression that suddenly overtakes the Veraci’s features. “Don’t ever leave anything unsaid to him, Olarte,” he tells me. “Make every day count. Don’t hold back.Ever. Never forget that.”
I nod. “That is my plan from this moment forward,” I admit. “Even if he will not sign a mating contract. I would rather have him in my life without a contract than to lose him and not have him because of a principle.”
“You are very lucky,” he tells me. “Many people never experience real, true, deep, passionate love in their lifetime. I don’t think it’s a violation of patient privacy to tell you that he loves you as much as you love him.” He pulls out a com unit and operates it with two of his hands, while his other two hands remain clasped in front of him. “Oh, he signed a waiver allowing me to speak completely with you.” He looks to me again. “Davies will do anything for you,” he tells me. “Because he loves you and wants to prove to you how he feels.”
He glances around, as if to ensure we’re alone, which we currently are. “Don’t worry what your sibling says, either. Or the rest of your family. If they really love you, they’ll accept Davies eventually. You need Davies as much as he needs you to be happy. He’s been alone for so long. He’d honestly never imagined he’d ever find a partner like you.”
I nod again. “Likewise. Except I have family and he does not.”
“Hedoeshave family.” He smiles as I try to process that, worried perhaps Davies lied to me. “Youare his family,” he continues.
More relief fills me as I process his words. “You scared me for a moment, Doctor.”
He flutters his body a little, even inside his mech suit. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Davies has not lied to you. Rest assured, if I thought he was not a quality person, I would not have worked with him, and I would be warning you right now to run. Instead, the warning I’m going to give you is do not waste a second of your potential time together on fear of making the wrong decision, or inaction because you worry about your family’s feelings.”
He waggles a finger at me. “Listen to your doctor.” He smiles. “Consider it doctor’s orders, if you must. I love happy endings. I am a romantic at heart, and love seeing what I can do for people used to further their happiness.” He looks wistful again. “Happiness can be snatched from you in an instant. Live to the fullest.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Excellent.” He bobs his head from side to side. He starts to add something when his com unit whistles an alert, and he checks it. His smile widens. “They’re transporting him now.”
Eager anticipation races through me. He is right, of course. Everything the doctor’s said reinforces what I have come to believe.
I only hope for Davies’ sake that my family comes to love him even a fraction as much as I do, because I know he has longed for a family.
And if they do not?
Well, as the humans say, fuck them.
